Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 85

Clang!

“Kuh!”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong staggered backward.

“Again.”

Yeon-Wi stood like a bamboo tree, unyielding.

His left hand was behind his back, and his right hand held his sword pointed downwards. His back was straight, and his eyes were fixed forward.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong felt a sense of despair.

‘There’s no opening.’

It seemed like he could attack anywhere, but he couldn’t find a single place to strike.

His father’s martial arts were like an iron wall. The sword force that cut through the air was as powerful as a wave, and the sword techniques that deflected attacks were as flexible as the wind.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, who had been staring at Yeon-Wi, took a moment to catch his breath and then relaxed his stance.

Yeon-Wi’s eyes gleamed.

He relaxed his stance even though the sparring wasn’t over?

‘He hasn’t given up.’

Although he had relaxed his stance, the aura he emitted did not diminish. In fact, it was even sharper than before.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong tapped the ground with his toes.

Thud!

After loosening his entire body, he instantly tightened his muscles to increase his forward speed.

Swish, swish, swish!

It seemed like he was running straight ahead, but that wasn’t the case. Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s footwork, which approached in a zigzag pattern with terrifying elasticity, was fast and flexible.

It was an impressive approach, but Yeon-Wi’s expression remained cold.

‘He should know it won’t work.’

It was then.

The moment Yeon Ji-Pyeong, who had approached from ten steps to the left, moved to a distance of seven steps to the right.

Whoosh.

A light palm strike was fired towards Yeon-Wi’s chest.

Swoosh!

Yeon-Wi’s sword coldly cut through the palm strike.

At that moment, Yeon Ji-Pyeong charged in from the left middle path.

It was half a beat faster than before. He wasn’t completely moving to the left either.

In other words, it was a feint in his footwork, a sharp psychological tactic. After making the opponent familiar with the approach direction, he would launch an explosive attack from an unexpected direction at the decisive moment.

Yeon-Wi’s sword soared upwards.

Clang!

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s body abruptly stopped.

He had launched an attack with great force, but it failed again.

Of course, with his current martial arts, Yeon Ji-Pyeong couldn’t even leave a scratch on Yeon-Wi’s body. But he had thought he could at least make him feel rushed, but even that didn’t work.

Yeon-Wi opened his mouth.

“Enough…”

Flash!

In an instant, Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s sword shot out like lightning.

It was a thrust, not a slash. A small surprise flickered across Yeon-Wi’s face.

Clang!

The father and son’s swords collided and stopped.

Yeon-Wi, looking down at his son with cold eyes, nodded.

“Stop.”

“Hoo!”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong staggered backward.

It was a strike he had unleashed with all his might. But as expected, it was blocked again.

His pelvis, knees, and entire right arm were numb. But he couldn’t show it.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, having sheathed his sword, lowered his head.

“Thank you.”

“Not bad.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, surprised, looked at Yeon-Wi.

Yeon-Wi sheathed his sword and continued.

“It was impressive how you shook the opponent’s mind and unleashed a swift strike at the decisive moment.”

“Ah… Th-thank you.”

He had never received such praise from his father. Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face flushed red.

Yeon-Wi couldn’t help but be impressed.

‘This child is using such tactics.’

In real combat, all sorts of variables abound. Martial arts learned only honestly may strengthen the roots, but they are difficult to utilize in actual combat.

In the meantime, Yeon Ji-Pyeong had strengthened his roots as a martial artist. They were thick and solid roots that wouldn’t be pulled out even after a hundred years.

He had been thinking of teaching him some unconventional martial arts, but he had already researched and demonstrated them on his own. Such a change surprised Yeon-Wi.

And most importantly.

“About that last strike.”

“Ah, that one?”

“How did you unleash that sword technique?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong rubbed the bottom of his nose, looking embarrassed.

“I realized it while practicing the Flying Swallow Eight Swords and the Raging Wave Nine Swords. It’s a bit crude, but when I mixed the swiftness of the Flying Swallow and the continuous strikes of the Raging Wave, a lightning-like powerful sword technique came out.”

“…”

“It’s not quite complete, but I thought I needed to refine it a lot if I were to use it in a fight. That’s why I haven’t shown it to you until now, but I thought it might be possible now…”

“No, you can complete it.”

“Yes?”

Yeon-Wi said in his characteristic blunt voice.

“Combining the characteristics of the Flying Swallow Eight Swords, the Raging Wave Nine Swords, and the Sohyun Great Sword to create a high-level martial principle is the Iron Sword Great Evolution Thirty-Six Forms.”

“Huh?!”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was startled.

The Iron Sword Great Evolution Thirty-Six Forms was one of the three great sword techniques of the Yeon family. Among the three great sword techniques, its sword force was the lowest, but it was a martial art that implemented every characteristic of the sword without missing a single one.

Therefore, the Iron Sword Great Evolution was both a sword technique and a divine art. Yeon-Wi himself had first mastered the Iron Sword Great Evolution Thirty-Six Forms among the three great sword techniques.

“By practicing the Iron Sword Great Evolution, you can obtain a sword of the middle path that does not lean to any side. The move you just unleashed is a technique called ‘Lightning Flash’ from the latter twelve forms of the Iron Sword Great Evolution.”

“Ah…!”

“You have implemented a martial principle that you have refined yourself, a martial art that I have not even taught you.”

Yeon-Wi nodded.

“Well done.”

An honest joy appeared on Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face.

He was much happier to receive praise from his father than to have awakened and used a martial art he had not been taught. He felt like he had finally been recognized as a swordsman.

“Thank you.”

“Change and combination of swords. You no longer need to be tied to the basics. While we’re at it, I will pass on the Sword Extremity Thought Energy and the Iron Sword Great Evolution starting tomorrow.”

This meant that he would pass on all the divine arts and sword techniques that represented the Yeon family. Yeon Ji-Pyeong lowered his head deeply.

“I will work hard.”

“I believe in you.”

‘I always believe in you.’

Yeon-Wi didn’t bother to utter the unspoken words that came to his mind.

Was it because they had clashed so much over various things? He occasionally revealed his inner thoughts to his eldest son. But it was still not easy to do so with his second son.

‘He’s fast.’

Whatever the reason, Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s martial arts mastery speed was incredibly fast. He himself had been recognized for his outstanding talent in the previous generation, but Yeon Ji-Pyeong had far surpassed him.

‘He’s five years faster.’

He had started practicing the Sword Extremity Thought Energy at the age of seventeen, but he had started practicing the Iron Sword Great Evolution well past twenty.

Moreover, he had never even thought of combining the principles of intermediate sword techniques.

He was a talented individual in many ways. He didn’t rest on his talent and practiced diligently every day, so his future was truly promising.

Moreover, his second son had not yet fully bloomed his talent.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was naturally gentle and kind. It was a personality that didn’t suit a swordsman where victory or defeat was decided in a split second.

The moment that personality was carved and refined into a single jade, that would be the real beginning.

‘….’

However, Yeon-Wi didn’t think that Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s gentle nature was bad. No, if he had his way, he would want him to keep that purity for a long time.

Not to mention himself, his eldest son had also been too tainted by the world. Was that why? Yeon Ho-Jeong harbored a ruthless disposition that seemed excessive in the corner of his heart.

Yeon-Wi didn’t want Yeon Ji-Pyeong to have such ruthlessness. It was the fate of a martial artist in the Jianghu [the martial world], but he wanted his second son to be free from that fate.

Yeon-Wi sincerely hoped so.

“Let’s end today’s training here.”

“Yes! You’ve worked hard!”

“Alright.”

It was when the father and son placed their swords on the rack.

“Patriarch!”

Lee Baek-Hyun came running in a hurry.

“A letter! We’ve received a message from the eldest young master!”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face brightened.

“H-hyung-nim [older brother]?”

Yeon-Wi received the letter from Lee Baek-Hyun’s hand. He almost snatched it, but he didn’t realize it.

He unfolded the letter.

As Yeon-Wi unfolded the letter, Yeon Ji-Pyeong cleared his throat and subtly stood next to Yeon-Wi.

‘I apologize. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to contact you often. I heard that the Beggars’ Sect contacted you separately. Things have worked out well, and I am safe as well.’

Yeon-Wi, who had his eyes fixed on the letter, opened his mouth.

“Pyeong-ah.”

“Yes?!”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, startled, took a step back without realizing it.

Yeon-Wi said calmly.

“In the future, when you go out into the Jianghu, you must not act with your brother.”

“…Yes?”

Yeon-Wi closed his mouth.

‘A heartless fellow.’

How busy could he be that he couldn’t even send a letter on time?

If this was unfilial, then it was unfilial. Would he scold him for being insincere if he just wrote a few words? The important thing was not the content, but whether he was safe.

His eldest son was good at everything else, but he had a problem with this.

He was a despicable fellow.

‘It seems that I will have to be investigated as a witness in this incident. It will be over soon. But it will take some time before I can return. It’s nothing serious, I’m just going to look around the world, so please don’t worry.’

He was an even more despicable fellow.

Once the work was done, he should come back and greet them before going out again. It seemed like he had found another problem with his eldest son.

‘I wonder if the family affairs are over. I hope Ji-Pyeong is doing well too? I’m already looking forward to seeing how much he has grown.’

Yeon Ji-Pyeong grinned.

Yeon-Wi glanced at his second son. Yeon Ji-Pyeong quickly tried to manage his expression.

He turned his gaze back to the letter.

‘Ah, and please send me the evidence of the salt tax that the Myeong family illegally obtained by threatening the Donghae merchants. I would also appreciate it if you could send me the documents of the Western Region merchants who were kidnapped and sold as slaves in the black market.’

Yeon-Wi said to Lee Baek-Hyun.

“There’s a ledger in the library labeled ‘Red Sandalwood Books’. Give the thickest document among them to the branch manager of Cheolgon. It should be sent to the temporary Martial Alliance.”

“Yes, Patriarch.”

Lee Baek-Hyun ran off quickly.

‘I apologize for not informing you in advance and handling things on my own. I will receive my punishment when I return. It’s very hot. Please take care of your health.’

At the very bottom of the letter, it was written ‘Unfilial Son, Ho-Jeong’.

“…He knows it.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong blinked.

Yeon-Wi, who had folded the letter, looked up at the sky.

The clouds were quite scattered, but the sky was clear. Summer had truly arrived.

‘Since you’ve gone out into the world, grow even bigger and come back.’

* * *

“Huh? What’s this? Where are you going?”

Ga Deuk-Sang looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with a puzzled expression.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was wearing neatly laundered martial attire, was even carrying an axe. Just by his appearance, he looked like he was about to leave at any moment.

“I’m about to leave Hanam.”

“What? Now?”

“Is there a problem?”

“Uh… well, no, there’s no problem, but…”

The investigation as a witness was over. Several days had passed, and he was now free to move, so there was no need to stay in Hanam any longer.

“If I hadn’t come looking for you, you would have left without saying a word?”

“Probably?”

“You heartless man!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Anyway, Hu Gae [a position in the Beggars’ Sect] also has to return to his main job, right? We’ll meet again if fate allows it.”

“My main job is to watch over you.”

“What do you mean?”

“My master told me. He said that you’re a dangerous guy, and if you fall into evil, I should blow your head off. In other words, I’ve been given a special mission.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“Is the Hu Gae position that relaxed? Aren’t you busy?”

Ga Deuk-Sang smiled weakly.

“I’m a little busy. So, I can’t follow you right now.”

“It would only be tiring to travel together anyway.”

“You terrible man. You cold-hearted man.”

“See you later.”

“Wait a minute.”

Ga Deuk-Sang handed over a dirty pouch from his pocket.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression was a sight to behold.

“Take it.”

“…”

“Why? Is it dirty?”

“I’ll take it. But what is this?”

“It’s an Ojeong Token.”

“That’s a masterpiece of a name.”

Ga Deuk-Sang shrugged.

“I don’t know where you’re going or what you’re going to do, but if something happens, take that and go to any branch. You’ll be able to get the information you want.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just trying to watch over you with that, so use it as much as possible.”

“I understand.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong stepped out the door.

“Then I’ll be going first.”

“Young Master Yeon.”

“Hmm?”

Ga Deuk-Sang clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

“I wish you good fortune.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not take that greeting lightly.

He put down his axe and clasped his hands in return.

“See you later.”