Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 7

Namgoong Daesan’s face turned as red as a ripe persimmon.

“A good-for-nothing wench, you say? Watch your tongue!”

“You’d do well to watch your own.”

Yeon-Wi didn’t get agitated like Namgoong Daesan, nor did he try to assert his dominance.

He was calm and composed. His characteristic stoic expression remained unchanged.

“Did you properly ascertain the cause of the incident?”

“Cause? Is this the time to be discussing such things?! What in the world did you hear! Even if there was a dispute, how could you break the limbs of a young girl who hasn’t even reached adulthood? How did the family head raise his son!”

His rudeness was excessive, but Namgoong Daesan’s frustration was understandable.

Even if she wasn’t his own child, his beloved niece had been crippled. Anyone would be furious.

Yeon-Wi understood Namgoong Daesan’s feelings.

However, he could not condone his words and actions, nor those of Namgoong Sang-hwa.

“I’m actually disappointed in my son’s restraint in ending it there.”

“What!”

“If it were me, I would never have forgiven someone who not only mocked the family but also tried to kill my children.”

Yeon-Wi’s voice grew a little colder.

“My son’s mercy saved your family’s daughter. You should be grateful.”

“You… you vile creature!”

Namgoong Daesan trembled with extreme rage.

However, he couldn’t unleash his anger any further.

The words he had initially brushed aside were being repeated by the Yeon family head. This repetition slightly cooled Namgoong Daesan’s head.

‘Mocked the family and tried to kill my son? What is he talking about?’

As if reading his mind, Yeon-Wi spoke.

“I heard that your family’s Sang-hwa, while drunk, said that the Namgoong family had never considered the main family as an equal among the Seven Great Clans.”

Namgoong Daesan gritted his teeth.

“Is that why you consider it mocking our family? Just for that reason…!”

“I don’t believe the words of a child who hasn’t even cultivated her character represent the Namgoong family’s will. Moreover, she was drunk, so it should be dismissed as the ramblings of a drunkard.”

Even though he knew it was true, Namgoong Daesan felt even angrier. The Yeon family head was calling his beloved niece someone who hadn’t cultivated her character and a drunkard.

How could he not be angry?

“However, if she went as far as to reveal her intent to kill and force the Yeon family’s children to kneel, then the story changes.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

“I don’t know how the Namgoong family head raised his child, to not only try to kill but also humiliate them.”

Namgoong Daesan’s eyes wavered.

Even though its history was short, the Byeoksan Yeon family was one of the Seven Great Clans. [The Seven Great Clans are the most powerful and influential martial arts families in the Central Plains.]

Being counted among the Seven Great Clans with only fifty years of history in the Central Plains meant that the Yeon family’s power was in no way inferior to the other clans.

In fact, their potential was considered even greater. A family with no power would not be mentioned alongside the most prestigious families in the martial world.

Namgoong Sang-hwa had not only tried to kill the sons of such a family but had also humiliated them.

“I can’t believe it!”

Namgoong Daesan’s face turned red again.

“Do you have any proof? If you intend to insult the Namgoong family based solely on the words of the family head’s son…!”

“This is a matter between the children of the Seven Great Clans. Do you think I would have investigated it carelessly?”

“Fine! Then bring the parties involved! I’ll hear the family head’s son’s words directly…!”

“Listen here, Namgoong Clan Head.”

Yeon-Wi’s eyes deepened.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“……”

“My children were insulted and even threatened. If I had my way, I would have cut your niece’s throat.”

“What I mean is!”

“Even if the Namgoong family head himself came to apologize, it wouldn’t be enough to quell my anger. And yet, a mere outer clan head dares to come here and cause this ruckus?”

Yeon-Wi didn’t say anything more.

“Do you wish to die?”

In a flash!

A faint killing intent emanated from Yeon-Wi’s eyes, which had never lost their composure.

Feeling that killing intent, Namgoong Daesan felt as if he had stepped into an ice cave. It was so cold and sharp that his inner energy stirred involuntarily.

“If this is the will of the Namgoong family, then so be it. I will see for myself how sharp the Namgoong sword is. I will cut off your head and go directly to the Namgoong family.”

Namgoong Daesan involuntarily shouted at the chilling voice that pierced his ears.

“W-wait a moment!”

“Do you have something to say?”

Namgoong Daesan swallowed hard.

He had only revealed a needle-sharp killing intent, but he hadn’t felt any further pressure. Yeon-Wi was still stoic and composed.

However, Namgoong Daesan could tell from that killing intent alone. Yeon-Wi’s martial arts had reached a level that he could not even dream of reaching.

“Please wait a moment. I think I might have misunderstood something.”

“Misunderstood? Are you in a position to utter such nonsense in front of me?”

Namgoong Daesan bit his lip.

Even he thought his response was truly humiliating and pathetic.

However, he couldn’t help it. Not only was he unable to handle Yeon-Wi in front of him, but if Yeon-Wi’s words were true, this could escalate into an unbelievably big problem.

‘Damn it!’

He regretted it. All his brothers held important positions in the Namgoong family, but he was still the head of the outer clan.

Within the family, he was treated like a member of the leadership, but he was still just a clan head. His older brother, the family head, had not given him much power.

It was because he was too hot-tempered. He was afraid that he might ruin external affairs, so he had remained a clan head even at this age.

He had been resentful about it more than once, but perhaps his older brother’s judgment was correct.

“For now…”

His lips were dry.

Namgoong Daesan, with his strong pride, gritted his teeth and said,

“I apologize for coming here without considering the situation.”

“……”

“I was blinded by rage because my niece was in such a state. I have no face to show the family head.”

Yeon-Wi silently stared at Namgoong Daesan.

His gaze was as clear as glass. Namgoong Daesan’s mouth opened involuntarily.

“I-I will investigate the situation again. So, about today…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t forget it.”

“Family Head!”

“I will make sure that the entire White Path martial world knows about this. If your family does not offer a proper apology.”

Namgoong Daesan’s face turned pale.

This was it. This was what he was worried about.

If Yeon-Wi’s words were all true, the Namgoong family’s reputation would be tarnished. And the responsibility would lie not only with Namgoong Sang-hwa but also with him.

This was a big problem. He had stormed in here out of anger, and now his hot-tempered nature was about to tarnish the family’s reputation.

“F-Family Head…”

“I don’t want to see your face, so leave now.”

“……”

“I will be watching closely to see how your family responds.”

Yeon-Wi turned his back.

Namgoong Daesan, biting his lip, left the main gate. The entrance he had broken through now looked like the mouth of hell.

Thus, Namgoong Daesan left the Yeon family estate.

Yeon-Wi shook his head as he looked at the broken main gate.

“What a waste.”

It was a waste, but it was better this way.

“Where is the chief manager?”

“You called for me, Family Head!”

A slender man came running from afar. He had learned martial arts, but it didn’t seem like he had trained deeply.

The man, who looked to be in his mid-thirties, was Tae-gyeong, the chief manager of the Yeon family.

“Ask the old man at the government-run workshop to make a new gate. Tell him to use better quality wood than before.”

“Ah, yes!”

Tae-gyeong spoke with a somewhat anxious expression.

“But Family Head, are you alright?”

“Hmm?”

“I wonder if you were too harsh…”

He must have watched everything from afar.

Yeon-Wi shook his head.

“Clean up this mess, and look into it immediately tomorrow.”

“Ah, yes! I understand.”

Yeon-Wi, having entrusted the cleanup to Tae-gyeong, walked alone towards the inner courtyard.

At that moment, a shadow appeared.

It was Yeon Ho-jeong.

“Father.”

Yeon-Wi wasn’t surprised. He had already sensed his eldest son’s presence.

“It’s late. Go to your chambers.”

“I couldn’t fall asleep.”

Yeon-Wi stopped walking and looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.

It was a night with an exceptionally bright moon. The eyes of his eldest son, who had stepped out of the shadows of the building and into the moonlight, looked very deep.

Yeon-Wi, who was about to tell him to go to his chambers again, suddenly wanted to ask his son a question.

“What do you think?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you think the Namgoong family will do?”

Yeon-Wi didn’t know why he had suddenly asked that question.

However, he was inwardly surprised by Yeon Ho-jeong’s answer.

“Isn’t what’s important not the Namgoong family but our own family?”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if the Namgoong family doesn’t apologize, you will let this matter slide.”

“Why do you think so?”

“There’s no need to set the house on fire just to brush off some dust on your clothes.”

To think he could even think like this.

Putting aside the uncomfortable analogy, Yeon-Wi thought his son’s insight was not bad. No, considering the way he had been acting, it was an incredible improvement.

Perhaps, his belief that he knew his son well was just arrogance.

Yeon-Wi, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-jeong, turned his back again.

“Do you think this is a trivial matter that can be easily resolved?”

“Yes?”

“You are my son.”

Yeon Ho-jeong blinked.

Yeon-Wi, who had already finished speaking, was walking away in the distance. His gait was no different from usual.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been staring blankly at his father’s back, scratched his head.

“Who doesn’t know that?”

* * *

The next day.

“Ugh.”

The cool autumn breeze couldn’t cool his body down.

The sweat dripping down had already formed a puddle. However, Yeon Ho-jeong’s posture remained unchanged.

Creak.

The door opened, and Yeon Ji-pyeong appeared.

“Brother, I’m here… Huh?!”

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s eyes widened.

“Brother, what are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m training in the horse stance.”

“H-Horse stance?”

Yeon Ji-pyeong had reason to be flustered.

The horse stance, which strengthens the lower body, is the foundation of all martial arts. However, there was no need for his brother, who had even mastered the Flying Swallow Heart Method, to train in the most basic of basics. If he wanted to train his body, there were many other training methods.

Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.

“It’s a punishment from Father.”

“P-Punishment with the horse stance? Wait, how long have you been doing this?”

“Mao hour.”

“Gasp! That’s almost two hours?!”

“It’s not much time left.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s body was not yet fully developed. If anyone did the horse stance for half a day without using inner energy, they would die.

Yeon Ho-jeong grumbled inwardly.

‘Doing this won’t change anything.’

He had received a message from his father early in the morning through the chief manager, Tae-gyeong.

‘Given the situation, it doesn’t seem like you did anything wrong. However, you have one sin. The sin of a martial artist. Cruel methods will inevitably lead to bloodshed, and that is not the White Path. Regain your initial intention with two hours of horse stance training.’

If his character could be changed by horse stance training, he wouldn’t have survived in the Black Path. [The Black Path refers to a path of martial arts focused on power and ruthlessness, often associated with darker or morally ambiguous practices.]

At first, he wondered what this was all about, but he still did his best, thinking of it as training. He also reviewed the Flying Swallow Heart Method and checked what he needed to do in the future.

Yeon Ji-pyeong whispered softly.

“Brother, stop now. It’s almost been two hours.”

“It’s fine.”

He didn’t think of it as a sin, but what could he do when the family atmosphere was like this? There would be many things to complain about, but he should at least try to get used to it.

After a while, when it was a little over two hours.

Only then did Yeon Ho-jeong release the horse stance.

“Ugh, my legs are shaking.”

“Are you tired? Wait a moment, I’ll go get you some food.”

At that moment.

Thump. Thump.

Someone knocked on the main gate.

“Is the Great Young Master here?”

“Ugh, who is it?”

“The Family Head is calling for the Great Young Master.”

Yeon Ho-jeong grumbled as if disgusted.

“Looks like he’s going to check my homework. Sigh, really.”