Way of Overlord-Chapter 266: Sharp Sword

Jayeux did not understand his teacher action. At least in this matter, he did not understand it

He knows his teacher.

He is not envious of Jayeux talent and when he teaches him, Mayeux spare nothing to teach him. Mayeux basically tries to teach him everything he knows.

But, he could not understand that while his teacher has always had nothing but praise for his talent, he never seem to want to introduce him to the Kan.

If he did not introduce him to the Kan, how could his talent be used?

What use of all of this learning if he could not apply it to the real world?

So, today, he is presumptuous, asking for this request. And he wanted to know the answer.

There is silence. The silence felt longer than it was but Jayeux was the first one that broke the silence

"Teacher, I always wonder...why do you not introduce me to the Kan?"

And right there, that is the question. Why, after everything, Mayeux still did not introduce him to the Kan.

Tonight, he is determined to know the answer. Mayeux sighs. And he nodded.

He never tell Jayeux about this. But since tonight he wanted to know the answer, Mayeux would tell him.

"You....are too sharp"

Jayeux heard his teacher words. He did not raise his head but he clenches his fist. He could not accept it.

"Am I stupid?" he ask. His head still bow down.

Mayeux answer

"You are the brightest child I have ever met"

"Would me giving advice to the Kan make teacher position become lower?"

Mayeux answer

"No. The Kan is someone who loves talent. Even if he hated me, he would still serve me well to give his name a good reputation among the warriors and those who would surrender to him later"

"Will the Kan hate me if he heard my views and my strategies?"

Mayeux answer again.

"No. Even if it is a strategy that he did not agree with, he would listen intently and he would not hate you unless you are against him. Knowing your views would not change his evaluation. If your plan works, and it suit the time, place and the circumstances, he would not hesitate to use your strategy"

And Mayeux chuckles a bit and then said

" Our lord is one that pays attention to reward and punishment. It is easy to say this but it is really hard to implement it. But, our lord did it. Those who help him, aid him would be rewarded. And those who err, who did not follow orders would be punished heavily. If you give our lord god advice and that advice leads to a victory, he would have honoured you with titles and wealth"

For a moment, Jayeux waited for a moment. Maybe, he is digesting the answer. Or maybe he is thinking another question ask

Whoosh!

The cold wind from the outside blows into the tent, the candles flicks and the silence is oppressing.

Jayeux did not ask anything. Maybe he is waiting for his heart to calm down.

And Mayeux waited for a question. He could tell that his disciple is dissatisfied. Jayeux has shown him his talent.

And why did he show Mayeux his talent?

Because he wanted to be appreciated. Why?

Because he wanted to be used by the lord

If he could not be used by the lord, how could he show his amazing talent to the world?

"Since that is the case, why would Teacher block me from seeing the Kan?"

"You are too sharp"

"Sharp is good" Jayeux retorted

"A sharp sword without a sheath harm other and the wielder. You are like that" Mayeux paused for a second. He look at his disciple and shook his head.

His eyes seems to be able to see everything and for a second Jayeux feel like everything about him was stripped open

You want to integrate your method to have revenge. You wanted to turn the Great Steppe like a sharpener. A sharpener of knives. And who would be your knife? You know the answer to that"

Mayeux scoffed. He did not finish and expose everything because he still love his disciple. If not, he would not be so cryptic.

But Jayeux understand the underlying meaning of his teacher word.

The knife is the Kan. And how could his teacher, the advisor of the Kan let his disciple, his pupil to treat his lord like a knife in his hand, to use as he sees fit?

"Is it wrong to avenge my mother?"

"It is not. A debt of life must be settled with a life. It is the way of the Steppe. The people of the Steppe would not find anything wrong with you trying to avenge your mother. Even people of Yan would respect such people"

"But, a strategist should not be too affected with emotions. Either that, or merge your emotion with your strategy. But you could not do that"

There is a brief moment of silence and then Mayeux continue by saying "If I show you to the Kan, I fear that while the sharp sword you held in your heart could cut the world, it would also cut my lord"

Mayeux sighed for a bit and then said

"The Kan Aeryon is someone I recognize from the bottom of my heart. In him I could see that the Marynku, the Eresian and the Ashran could be united. I could not break him by giving a sharp sword without a sheathe. What my lord wanted is a world born anew. What you wanted is the world burning"

There is another brief of silence. Jayeux lifted his head slightly, his eyes is full of rebelliousness.

"Both would be renewed" Jayeux could not help but wanting to have the last word. The wind blows, the song of the Steppes echoes, the unsaid words hide behind the eyes, behind the tongue

Mayeux sighed and then he said

"You wanted to prove yourself. You wanted to be known by the Kan. So, be it. I will give you a chance"

Mayeux close his eyes for a moment and then opening back his eyes, he said.

" There is a young warrior named Burchu. It is recruited by the Kan wife. Knowing my lord, he would probably use Burchu to test him. I would give you a position in Burchu entourage. Help him and aid him, accumulate real experience and see how the world works, how battle is fought and how war is won. How you settle this matter would determine whether I would let you see ethe Kan or not

"What if I just sneak out and meet the Kan and told the Kan all my plans and strategy?"

Mayeux laughed.

"It means I have failed to make you respect me. Since that is the case, then there is nothing I could teach you. You do not respect me; then why should I love you? "

Mayeux did not have to say more as it is clear what he is implying.

The meaning is clear.

The teacher should be respected, the disciple should be loved.

Mayeux words simply said, if you do that, you do not respect me as a teacher. You do not believe him as a teacher.

The bond of trust between teacher and student has been broken.

So, why should the teacher love the disciple like a son if the son did not treat you like a father?

If Jayeux sneak out and meet the Kan without Mayeux permission, then this relationship of teacher and disciple would end.

Jayeux could only sigh and nodded

"Then, I will follow teacher guidance" Mayeux nodded. Jayeux got up and leave the tent

Going out of the tent, Jayeux sighed as he look back at the tent.

Then he shakes his head.

"Teacher, a benevolent rule could only be applied in a benevolent time, a peaceful era. It requires the help of those scholars bureaucrat. It requires an educated populace. Peace should be the norm" he sighed again

"but the world right now is a cruel world. Only domineering people would stand out in this current world. There is no scholar bureaucrat among the people of the Steppe. Educated people is even more scarce. Complicated laws would unable to be followed through. There is war all over and war is the fastest way to create an empire"

"And to rein the people of the Steppe, harsh punishment, powerful discipline needs to branded in their minds. Only then the Steppe people could be powerful. The ruler needs to be strong. Domineering and command respect"

Jayeux close his eyes and his mind is seeing the future. The future he imagine. The world is in chaos and a hero of chaos is needed.

Not a peaceful lord, or a benevolent monarch. A domineering monarch that could calm down the chaos.

And only through force of arms that this chaos could quickly be pacified.

"This are the world of wolves. There is no place for sheep in this era. The strong would thrive and the weak would die out. The world needs to be bathed in fire before it could rejuvenate" Jayeux respected his teacher.

Immensely so.

He loves and respect his teacher.

In his teacher he felt that fatherly love.

And he would never betray Mayeux.

Mayeux save him and now even took him as his disciple. He also admire Mayeux intelligence.

And Jayeux knows the Mayeux would someday introduce him to the Kan so that the Kan could appreciate his talent.

In this era, it is very hard to go beyond your station and Mayeux is kind enough to point him the way and even took him under his wing

But....but...he did not agree with all of Mayeux thoughts and his ideas.

It is ironic that Mayeux who had lived his life among the people of the Steppe is more approving of Yan method of governance but Jayeux who lives among the people of Yan wanted to implement harsh measure and believe in the power of force even more so than Mayeux and even more extreme

Jayeux shakes his head.

" I would not sneak to the Kan to meet him. I will wait. And when I meet I will present my ideas"

And Jayeux returns to his tent.

Teacher and disciple should have the same thoughts and the same teaching and the same learning.

It is very odd that Mayeux and Jayeux this pair of teacher and disciple, learns from each other and disagree on how things should be.

One wonders what would happen when these two ideals clashed with each other. And what would Aeryon choose when he is given the chance.

....