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🕑 Added 2024-09-07 06:03:47 +0000 UTCThe Black Moon Assassin
Chapter 32: The Keiyou Campaign
In the vast corridors of history, where the footprints of the past intertwine with the faded dreams of men, there stands a grim and moving tale of what was and what was not.
In its pages, the roar of conflicts has echoed throughout centuries, blurring the lines between civilization and barbarism, revealing a humanity trapped in its own snare of self-destruction.
War, a monster with a thousand faces that does not distinguish between civilizations, has been the constant backdrop of the human saga.
Beyond its visible consequences of devastation and ruin, war is a visceral experience that affects both the body and the mind of the individuals caught in its vortex.
Prolonged stress, relentless violence, and immense suffering create a devastated landscape not only on the battlefield but also in the innermost fibers of human existence.
Physiological reactions to conflict, such as the excessive release of adrenaline and cortisol, serve as silent witnesses to a story written in blood and sweat.
From the golden thrones of kings to the desolate camps of soldiers, the narrative of war reveals a cycle of ruthless decisions and insatiable sacrifices.
Leaders, cloaked in power and ambition, orchestrate strategies that unleash storms of suffering, ignoring the human cost in terms of physical and psychological health.
These monarchs, often distant from the brutal realities of conflict, represent the rise and fall of a system that perpetuates chaos while proclaiming glory.
In every corner of this war story, there is a dark echo that resonates with a fundamental truth: the capacity for violence is inscribed in the darkest folds of human nature.
As battles are fought and empires crumble, a terrifying paradox is revealed: humanity, despite its potential for greatness, remains trapped in an endless cycle of destruction and regeneration. History becomes a mirror of human fragility and strength, a reminder of the biological and moral limitations that challenge our evolution.
"Boss, are you sure about this?" Trevor looked at Jun, who was lost in his thoughts while reading the war notices.
"What exactly do you mean?"
"We’re traveling on donkeys; when do you think we’ll reach the battlefield?"
Jun looked at Trevor and said, "When it’s time. Let’s take our time. If the current King of Qin likes to play politics, I think I know a thing or two about that as well."
"Well, that should be fine."
“We’ll have to walk at times; I even think we might need to carry the donkeys at some point.” Jun lightly shook the reins of his donkey, named Starfish, and their journey toward that famous campaign to which they had been invited began.
He didn’t know how far it was, but one thing was certain: they had to travel to the border with Wei to fight a war that this kingdom had brought upon itself.
"Don't you have stories to tell while we travel?" Trevor was bored, which was unusual for him, but in recent months he had grown accustomed to a more interactive lifestyle, training his soldiers, and now, traveling alone with Jun on a donkey was slightly dull.
Jun thought about it and said, "I’ll tell you about war."
Trevor waited patiently, knowing that Jun liked to remain silent at times to think about what to say. If he didn’t think carefully, he might say something outrageous that could trigger any kind of reaction.
"The War of 500 Years, also known as the Warring States Period of Spring and Autumn. In this era, precisely, we live in an unrelentingly harsh world; one might say a 'Dragon' has invaded. A dragon called the ‘era.’ Desire, pain, pleasure, despair, fear..."
“The dragon slithers through China, devouring everything in its path. And what drips from its gleaming body is blood and passion.”
Jun, speaking in a neutral tone, paused for a long moment and said, “We are in that era, but fortunately, I think we are at the end of these five hundred years of war.”
“Really?” Trevor’s eyes showed suspicion, but after realizing it was Jun who said it, he silently accepted the possibility.
Jun had brought good inventions to the nearby villages, made fair deals with merchants by selling their products, and within less than six months, he was generating a good amount of wealth.
All of it, for better or worse, was being invested in weapons, research, and territory development.
Jun was unpredictable; his personality was not clear. Perhaps because he had not yet found his destiny, he was like a free fish in a long river, waiting to find one of his best options to deviate from what he had planned.
Maybe participating in this campaign would be different, something that could improve his state of mind.
“Is that a donkey? Ha, ha, ha! At this pace, you’ll reach the border with Wei in years.”
Jun looked at a group of children mocking his starfish. He was about to draw his sword, but Trevor stopped him, reminding him, “They’re just kids.”
“Damn it, I’m a kid too; I’m fourteen.” Jun was angry because they mocked his donkey, not himself; he was worried his donkey might suffer some sort of depression that would prevent it from continuing their journey.
“You are anything but a kid.” Trevor smiled warmly as he waved goodbye to the children, but when his gaze shifted, the children who were mocking them ran away in fear.
Jun, on the other hand, returned to his calm demeanor and said, “I’m thinking we should have come on horseback.”
“I didn’t mention that.”
“It’s hot…”
“I didn’t mention that either.”
