Different Perspectives . . .
General Lan was effectively safeguarding the southern front, having wiped out the Grassland Folks in the north. Among the four sides of the Kingdom of Chen, only one remained in peril, and the Kingdom of Lan-Feng represented the last hope.
If they couldn't conquer Iron Peak before Cha Nantian arrived and proceeded directly to Chen-Xing City, everything they had worked for would crumble.
The entire kingdom had invested heavily in preparations for this war, and if they ultimately failed, they would bear the shame of initiating this conflict. However, this wasn't Wenren Jianyin's primary concern. He was willing to sacrifice himself for the cause. His chief worry was the eradication of the Grassland Folks. With them gone, the Kingdom of Chen would enjoy decades of peace in the north, unburdened by threats. Cha Nantian's Northern Army would be free to march elsewhere, putting the entire world at risk.
For Wenren Jianyin, it was a matter of urgency. He needed to act now to prevent the Kingdom of Chen from becoming an unstoppable force. He had to be relentless and daring in his approach, even if it meant taking extreme measures.
The battle commenced according to his orders. He had initially planned to launch an all-out attack on Iron Peak, but the vast size of the structure made it impossible to crowd all of his forces there simultaneously. Iron Peak had three sides suitable for attacking, but trying to cram too many soldiers onto those sides would expose them to the archers' fire.
Cha Eun Xiao watched the enemy's waves of attacks, and it didn't surprise him. What truly concerned him was the cost of Brother Egg's growth. It absorbed the souls of countless warriors from both the Kingdom of Chen and the Kingdom of Lan-Feng, converting their life force into its power. This made Cha Eun Xiao uneasy. He pondered the senselessness of kingdoms waging war against one another, and the countless lives lost in the process.
He expressed his thoughts to Song Jue, who dismissed his concerns as naïve. Song Jue believed that Cha Eun Xiao's perspective was unrealistic and disconnected from the realities of human nature. He argued that people were driven by ambition and that, without wars and competition, society would stagnate.
Song Jue ridiculed Cha Eun Xiao's idealistic views, emphasizing that he was too young and inexperienced to grasp the complexities of the world. He viewed Cha Eun Xiao's opinions as naive, akin to looking at life from a godlike perspective and deeming humans as insignificant ants. Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but reflect on Song Jue's harsh response, questioning the validity of his own beliefs.
"Your thoughts, your views, and your mind, they all seem to share a common naivety. You're undoubtedly your father's son, Cha Nantian. When your father first arrived in the Land of Han-Yang, he held similar idealistic views. However, over the years, he learned to see things differently. My dear child, you're simply too young and inexperienced.
In your eyes, the causes they're fighting for, the sacrifices they're willing to make, seem utterly meaningless. Your perspective on this matter is exalted and somewhat misguided.
Who do you think you are? How can you judge them from such a lofty vantage point?
People occupy diverse roles, living distinct lives. It's unjust to place them in the same mold.
Don't get me wrong; I understand your viewpoint. I want to ask you this: What motivates your arduous efforts, your dedication to cultivation, your battles, and your pursuits? What's your primary objective? Ponder it. Deep within your being, what separates you from those you've critiqued? Are you truly all that different?"
Song Jue mocked Cha Eun Xiao and continued, "You're astute enough to comprehend that in the eyes of the deities in the Human Realm Upon Heavens or the prominent figures in the Qing-Yun Realm, those beneath them mean very little. Regardless of how diligently they labor, if they can't transcend the boundaries of the Qing-Yun Realm, they're no different from those who have faded into obscurity."
Cha Eun Xiao fell silent for a moment. Then he spoke with a deep resonance, "You're right. I have placed myself on an undeserved pedestal. I've passed judgment on others while neglecting the same reflection on myself. I am, indeed, naive and youthful."
Enlightenment washed over him. The shadows in his heart dispersed, and he realized that different perspectives yielded varied interpretations of the same reality. One hundred gold pieces might be a lifeline for a beggar, merely an inconsequential sum for an average person, and insignificant to the wealthy. Their diverse perspectives formed the basis for these contrasting views. Cha Eun Xiao had carelessly disregarded these differing viewpoints and had made judgments solely from his own perspective.