Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me-Chapter 1800: The Burden of Betrayal and Sacrifice

Beheading the Human King like this.

King Wu’s betrayal of the clan is the same.

Once King Wu betrays the clan, it sets an example for future generations of the Human Race. If even the Human King can betray the clan for his future, how can we not?

Once this mindset appears, those who betray the clan will only increase in number.

Therefore, Jiang Chen wants to prevent this at its root. Once he confirms King Wu has signs of betrayal, he will act immediately.

This is his purpose in coming to the Human Race of the Immortal World, to confirm King Wu’s intentions.

"The Human Race gave me life and raised me; I will never betray it."

King Wu first expressed his stance that he will never betray the Human Race.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but nod, though his ideals differ, King Wu ultimately hasn’t abandoned the greater good of the Human Race.

But then, King Wu continued, "However, my master has also shown me great kindness, how can I face him with blades drawn?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen was somewhat displeased. But he also understood King Wu; in such circumstances, the choice is difficult.

However, there is still a way to resolve this. If he doesn’t want to be an enemy of the Master of the Heavenly Palace, then he can avoid opposing him. After all, the Human Race has no shortage of enemies.

King Wu doesn’t want to clash with the Master of the Heavenly Palace; he can go after the Fierce Beasts or embark on a campaign against the myriad realms. If all else fails, he can go to Chaos to convert energy — there are places that need him.

"Your Majesty need not worry, I will betray the Human Race. At this moment, I am resolved to die. If Your Majesty hadn’t come, I would have already gone to the Demon Clan and myriad clans, seeking mutual destruction."

King Wu said expressionlessly.

Honestly speaking, he now feels Jiang Chen is somewhat meddling, delaying his trip to die.

If Jiang Chen hadn’t come, he would have already been slaughtering among the Demon Clan and then be killed by Taiyi, never to be troubled again.

"???

Jiang Chen looked at King Wu bewildered, unable to fathom King Wu’s decisive stance, intending to end things through death due to the lack of solutions.

Does he think that by dying, things will be resolved? What about the Human Race in the Immortal World? With him dead, he might not need to worry, but all these issues will fall onto Jiang Chen.

"You’re being presumptuous. You are also a Human King, carrying the fate of billions of clansmen. How can you be so irresponsible?"

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but reprimand.

Ending things through death might indeed be the best choice for King Wu, allowing him to be free of stress. But it’s not a solution; it’s evading responsibility, an act of cowardice, and extremely irresponsible behavior.

"I have considered the fate of the Human Race in the Immortal World as well. If they are willing, they could fight alongside me against the Demon Clan." frёewebηovel.cѳm

"Dying in the war against the Demon Clan is better than bearing the eternal infamy of a traitor."

King Wu’s expression did not change, revealing his thoughts entirely.

Good heavens!

Jiang Chen was even more speechless, not only wanting to die himself but wishing his clansmen to die with him. Yet, he had to admit, it was indeed a problem-solving idea.

The Human Race in the Immortal World has reached an awkward position. On one hand, they have practically fallen out with the Master of the Heavenly Palace, who is their support. On the other hand, they aren’t liked much by the Nine States Human Race, who are their peers.

Both sides dislike them, making their future a major issue. King Wu’s method does offer a solution.

Even if war is waged against the Demon Clan, only high-level cultivators would engage, unlikely to affect low-level cultivators and mortals.

These high-level cultivators would fight against the Demon Clan, dying on the battlefield.

Then their clansmen would become martyrs, and no matter how much the Nine States Human Race disliked them, they would take in their clansmen and arrange things properly.

King Wu’s method is to sacrifice himself to pave a way for future generations.

The method isn’t wrong; they chose the wrong path and have to pay the price. But their descendants are innocent, so they use their death to secure a future for them.

This is considered a tacit, unwritten rule, specifically for Human Race experts who have erred. Killing them outright would be too wasteful. So they are sent on suicide missions, and in return, the Human Race won’t hold their descendants accountable.

King Wu’s resolve to die and seek mutual destruction with the Demon Clan fundamentally abides by this rule. Having said this, Jiang Chen should not prevent him according to logic.

I’ve erred; I admit it, and now I’m going to die to repay my wrongdoings — surely you can’t stop me?

There’s no reason! Even a Human Emperor can’t stop someone for the sake of future generations, right?

But Jiang Chen, being Jiang Chen, quickly found the loophole in King Wu’s words. What does it mean if you are willing, then you can join him to battle the Demon Clan?

Isn’t such atonement usually enforced, how can it be entirely voluntary?

Those willing are atoning, but what about those unwilling? What does it mean, are they truly planning to listen to the Master of the Heavenly Palace, preferring to become traitors of the Human Race to cooperate with Taiyi?

"Human King, tell me, what does willingness mean? Shouldn’t you forcefully order all the experts to kill the Demon Clan with you?"

Jiang Chen asked unhappily.

King Wu’s choice was originally a good thing, but doing only half makes it a bad thing.

Half remain loyal to the Human Race, half betray it. The informed know of internal discord; the uninformed might think they’re hedging bets.

Matters concerning the Human Race’s fundamental principles? Hedging on such matters will only end in ruin.

It’s no big deal if one or two people from the Immortal World Human Race betray, but if too many do, having people loyal still can’t change the fact they are labeled as a clan of traitors.

The best outcome might be the Human Race annihilating the Immortal World Human Race and raising monuments for heroes who were loyal to the Human Race as recognition.

"They came here to secure a future. Now knowing I will surely die, I am ashamed to ask them to die with me."

Does King Wu not understand what Jiang Chen said? Of course, he knows, but what can he do? If his orders worked, why resort to voluntary following?

There was something King Wu had not mentioned: Law Venerable had already chosen to stand with the Master of the Heavenly Palace, and in the Immortal World Human Race, his status was second only to King Wu.

If he forced others to attack the Demon Clan recklessly, Law Venerable would immediately seize his power.

Law Venerable had the ability as the Immortal World Human Race’s leadership didn’t want to die. If King Wu insisted on sending them to death, they wouldn’t mind joining forces to dethrone him and build a new leadership.

If Law Venerable became the Human King, undoubtedly, the entire Immortal World Human Race would be dragged into the abyss.

King Wu was helpless, thus allowing voluntary followers to avoid giving Law Venerable an excuse to seize power.

Obviously, these matters couldn’t be disclosed to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen, being who he is, King Wu understood that if Jiang Chen knew their thoughts, he would eliminate them swiftly. Their deaths wouldn’t matter much, but afterwards, Jiang Chen would certainly purge the Immortal World Human Race extensively.

Matters concerning betrayal, especially with questionable stances of the Immortal World Human Race. If purging starts, the principle would certainly be it’s better to mistakenly kill than to let go.

King Wu unwillingly allowed his clansmen to be purged, so he dared not disclose this to Jiang Chen.

"Righteousness doesn’t govern finances; kindness doesn’t govern troops. What you said isn’t what a ruler should say."

"Moreover, since they chose back then, they have to bear corresponding responsibilities, taking the benefits without obligations isn’t reasonable."

"You haven’t deprived them of wealth and honor, yet you want to die now, they should surely follow you, there’s no saying pursuing individual paths."

"Even if that future involves betrayal of the clan?"

"Human King’s level shouldn’t be so low. Are you hiding something?"

"By the way, where’s Law Venerable? I’ve been here so long, yet he hasn’t appeared?"

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