What He Relied On

In ancient times, there was a common saying that went like this.

Dogs belonging to wealthy families will bark incessantly at people. This is because in the dog world, there is a clear hierarchy. If the owner is poor, they will naturally stop the dog from barking and then apologize with a smile.

Perhaps in the dog's eyes, its owner is at the bottom of the hierarchy, so it, as the pet, should also be at the bottom.

Wealthy families wouldn't act this way, and those of lower status wouldn't dare to have any complaints about dogs. As a result, the dogs develop the idea that they are above the human in front of them.

It bows its head when facing someone of higher status than its master, but barks fiercely to warn those below it. This is what is known as "a dog relying on its master's power."

But what dogs rely on is never their courage, but rather the power of their masters.

But what happens when relying on power becomes ineffective?

Bai Mo coldly looked at Duryodhana and slowly extended his hand.

"I am not Yudhishthira or Arjuna, and I will spare your life. Duryodhana, I will kill you." Bai Mo raised his hand slowly, long enough for Duryodhana to pick up his weapon, but no matter what, he could not bring himself to reach for the iron pestle with his trembling hand.

"Wait!" A trembling voice rang out from the high platform. It was Dhritarashtra, the blind man who immediately tried to stop Bai Mo after hearing his words. Bai Mo glanced coldly at Dhritarashtra, looking at the blind king.

No, it should be called the acting king.

"What's wrong, Dhritarashtra?" Bai Mo looked at Dhritarashtra and said coldly, "Aren't you the king? If that's the case, what you should do is not ask me to wait, but order someone to stop me, right?" Bai Mo questioned, Dhritarashtra was also speechless.

Just like Duryodhana, if an order is given, it is a declaration of war, a declaration of war against the man before him.

You'll die.

Dhritarashtra couldn't do it; he knew very well that even though his grandfather Bhishma had the blessing of near immortality,... the immortal Bhishma was not him.

If the person in front of me wanted to kill me, they absolutely could.

"You're lucky; the Duryodhana hasn't raised their arms yet. If you declare war, at least you can guarantee you won't see your son die."

His throat was dry, and his tongue felt like withered grass. With his parched voice, Dhritarashtra produced a hoarse sound:

"Am I... are you going to kill me too?"

"Isn't that obvious? Look at your position. Oh, right, you're blind." Bai Mo rubbed his eyes, and then a Magnetic Field Power surged into his brain. Instantly, the Magnetic Field Power gathered on his forehead, gradually forming an eye.

Although his blindness is not as simple as being blind, if it is just about inputting external things into his brain, then both Magnetic Field Power and Rune Runes can do it.

Dhritarashtra saw it all: the burning palace, the ministers struggling in the flames, his own children, his brother's children, and his grandfather Bhishma, with the look of disappointment and unbearable pain on his face.

"What have you done... Even though you're the acting king, you've done a terrible job! You've turned a blind eye to this ugly gambling, just like you pretended nothing happened after the fire at Palace of Lac."

I have heard that in Hastinapura, you often allow your children to harm the people at will in order to please you.

"Dhritarashtra, you are not worthy of wearing that thing on your head. You are incapable of justice, tolerance, or even compassion."

Bai Mo lifted his clothes, revealing a knife at his waist. He Beginning and End drew it out, Dhritarashtra saw it, saw the chilling glint of its blade.

"You've been mistaken from the start. This isn't your throne; you're just a regent. The so-called division of territories is merely a mistake made by Bhishma. The moment you returned from the Yudhishthira, you should have taken your possessions and gone back to the forest, never to concern yourself with worldly affairs again."

"Throw down the crown, or I'll let your head and the crown fall to the ground together." Bai Mo walked up the steps one by one, Dhritarashtra trembled like a leaf. But no matter what, he was unwilling to throw down the crown. He had fought his whole life, and as the eldest son, the throne was his.

And look, I can see, so I must be king!

Tears streamed down Dhritarashtra's face as fear and inner obsession tore him apart.

Just as when facing Duryodhana, Bai Mo moved very slowly, giving Dhritarashtra the opportunity to issue an order and exercise his Kingship.

But, if you can't do it, you just can't do it.

Just as Bai Mo was about to step onto the last step, someone stood up. When no one else had the courage to stand in front of him, someone stood up and stood in front of him.

It was a middle-aged woman with a red cloth wrapped around her head, obscuring her eyes.

"Gandhari, what are you doing, blocking the way of these two men?"

Gandhari looked at the man before her, her legs went weak, and she knelt before him. Her words were almost a plea:

"Warriors, our hearts are filled with remorse for allowing this evil to occur in the court, for failing to stop the humiliation of the future daughter-in-law of Hastinapura, and for letting this evil be born. But I beg you, we have already suffered this fire, and whatever the Pandavas and Draupadi desire, we are willing to accept."

"It's too late." Bai Mo looked at the woman in front of him and said coldly, "You also bear some responsibility for how Duryodhana Dhritarashtra have become like this. But perhaps you are the only one who can argue back when facing Enma."

If you wish to curse me, I will accept it; I will give you the right to retaliate.

The words were like a death sentence. Gandhari knelt on the ground, while in the distance, Kama watched this scene and slowly drew back his bowstring.

Bai Mo currently has no merit, while Gandhari, having voluntarily blindfolded herself and lived in darkness for the Dhritarashtra, naturally possesses the Power of Austerity. She can transform this power into a curse and cast it upon Bai Mo.

This is Kama absolutely cannot allow to happen, even if it means she has to deal with this woman first.

Just then, Kama felt a gaze upon him. Krishna's face turned ashen for some reason, and he shook his head at Kama.

The next moment, Gandhari knelt on the ground, weeping incessantly. "Do you want me to curse you? Do you want me to curse you, the one who saved my life on the training ground?"

I can't do it, warrior! I can't curse the person who saved my life! Please, kill me first! Don't let me hear the sounds of my child and husband dying.

She was crying and pleading, tears streaming down her face, when just then, a hand landed on Bai Mo's shoulder.

Draupadi shook his head, while Krishna, not far away, lip-read a message to Bai Mo.

Gandhari wept, and gradually, footsteps sounded.

Instead of taking action, that person left. If Gandhari, as an enemy, had cursed Bai Mo, then Bai Mo would have killed him as an enemy in return.

But if she doesn't go this far, she's just a woman whose crimes don't warrant death. Bai Mo won't kill her, nor will he kill her child in front of a mother, or her husband in front of a wife.

A flash of cold light, and the crown of the Dhritarashtra was split in two, falling to the ground.

This was the first time Dhritarashtra had seen what a crown looked like.

The Pandavas, along with Karna and Kunti, left without looking back. Krishna turned back to look at the group, exhaled, and said:

"It's all destined, gentlemen. Cherish this last night. Tomorrow, your sun will not rise."

These words were somewhat eerie; Bai Mo had already spared their lives, yet it seemed they would still die. With that, Krishna face ashen.

"Son, husband!" Gandhari joyfully embraced Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana, rejoicing at their survival. But Duryodhana shed tears; he wept, tears of shame, tears that even the Pandavas had never made him shed.

But this time, he cried.

It wasn't for any other reason, but because for the first time he saw himself, and saw his true nature.

He had always considered himself a proud Kshatriya, a man of great courage and strength. He was a warrior, a crown prince, and... a man.

But what about today? Why did he survive today?

Because that man was unwilling to kill his mother's son in front of her.

The fear of death completely tore away his pretense. When facing the Pandavas Pandavas, he relied on their adherence to the Dharma, their ridiculous trust in him, and Bhishma's affection.

They've always relied on other things.

But what about this time? When he truly needed to step forward, like a Kshatriya facing a powerful enemy, he didn't even dare to touch his weapon. At that time, Bai Mo was willing to bind his own power, and even willing to let him have thirty moves, perhaps even more if he had thicker skin.

When Bai Mo walked toward his parents, he didn't dare say a word.

He dared not move, dared not pick up a weapon to fight back, dared not even shout at him. Faced with a real threat of death, with nothing to rely on...

He relied on his mother.

But this also means one thing.

Duryodhana was neither a Kshatriya nor a warrior; he was simply a boy who needed his mother's protection when in danger.

He is no longer a man.