The Innkeeper - Chapter 1307: Why can't it be both?

“The concept is not bad, but without a Dao Lord, no matter how high we climb, no matter how steadfast we become, humans will always be servants and slaves for others. Then, it will become in the interest of others to ensure that we never gain independence. Right now, humans are in the unique position where we are weak enough that no one particularly wants us, but not so weak that we cannot rise.

“You talk about the battles in Orion, but it’s a fact that no matter how hard we fought, now well we defended, how well we attacked, from the very onset our defeat was set in stone. All races, no matter how noble or powerful, are led by a few individuals. The rest rise up under their umbrella of protection.”

Though Cornelius raised a few good points, Cassandra was not convinced. She had lived through the decline of humanity.

“We humans were not always like this. We did have some who achieved the Dao. We too were once paragons of power. The human race was looked up to by many, so long ago. But as the first Kings of humanity fell, one by one, the situation deteriorated. There was no lack of chivalrous people back then. There was no lack of those with courage and determination, and while their sacrifices have saved humanity from much harsher fates, where are we now?

“We have no voice in the universe, no say. If things do not change, it won’t be much longer before we too are sent out to the battlefields like the Kraven. We will endure the labor of war for hundreds of years, all so that our masters can have a single day’s convenience. Without a leader, we are nothing.”

It seemed an impasse had been reached, for neither of them were willing to budge on their opinions.

Cornelius shook his head.

“Maybe we had a graceful decline, but no matter how chivalrous our people were at one point, it wasn’t enough. The Celestial race tolerates not a single slight to one of their people. Attack one unjustly, and it is as if you have crossed the whole race. Maybe we can follow the example of other races, and find and invest in a single leader, and hope to god that the man or woman we choose to follow has some sense.

“But Cassandra, should such a day come, it won’t be the rise of the human race, it will be the rise of that one person. If you become a Dao Lord tomorrow, even with all your ideals, you will not bring about the era of humanity. No, the name of that era in history books written by humans will be named Vans Agnew.

“Fates forbid, if the Dao Lord we nurture is an arrogant man, or worse yet, a good yet flawed man, what will become of the human race then? To follow a bad leader is worse than to follow no leader at all.

“Do you know, I built this empire with my hands. I shed my own blood to make it, and the blood of my sons and daughters. I laid my best friends to rest, and my favorite wives. Who can deny that if it weren’t for me, this empire would not exist? For all that I have paid, for all that I have suffered, for all that I have done for this empire, is it not right for me to claim that without me, this empire would fall to dust?

“Yet I am not an arrogant man. I do not let these things go to my head. I always remember that without the people who make this empire, it would be nothing. To ensure that I never forget that for all the sacrifices I have made, the people in it have made more, I named this nation Hum! Lest I forget that it is a nation for humans. Lest I forget the goals I started this struggle for.

“Whether a Dao Lord is born or not, I cannot control. Whether the humans get a realm of their own or not, I cannot control. But the destiny of humankind, I can influence. Maybe someone will achieve the status you desire, and they will lead us like you wish. But the rise or fall of mankind cannot be determined by any one person, no matter what kind of cultivation they have. It will be written by every man, woman and child who will be born of this race.

“Whether they have noble goals or raising up the whole race, or selfish motives to maybe just survive another day, or see their own people flourish, it is in their hands.”

Lex raised an eyebrow. Although he had, just moments ago decided that his impression of the king had fallen, he was proving himself to be a very complicated man. There was more to him than just seeking out more wives, apparently. For a time, Cassandra did not respond. Instead, she just kept looking at Cornelius, lost in thought. Her body was losing energy rapidly, so Lex could tell that she would be here for only a few more minutes at most. One way or another, this conversation was coming to an end.

“I see,” Cassandra finally said, a flicker of an unknown emotion flashing through her eyes. It was rare for Lex to be unable to detect someone’s emotions.

“I understand now why the Innkeeper wanted me to meet with you. Cornelius II, you are an impressive man. It is not a common man who can speak their mind so determinedly in my presence. In certain things, you are still misguided. For all your exposure, you still do not understand what it truly means to have, and to not have a Dao Lord for a race.

“Yet what you have is something I have lost. I have maintained too broad a view from too far, for too long. I have become far too removed from the rest of humanity to the point where I can barely be considered human – at least in terms of my heart and mind.

“Keep struggling, Cornelius. I want to see, when I wake up from my next cultivation session, how far you bring humanity, or if you fail along the way. If you impress me, then maybe I will also show you something impressive. In the meantime, ponder this.

“Why can humanity only have a leader as a Dao Lord, or why can it only grow on its own as a whole? Why can it not have both?”