Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 95

Namgoong Shin’s eyes, as he looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong, were filled with genuine admiration.

“Are you Yeon Ho-Jeong?”

“Do you know me?”

Whoooosh.

A chilling aura emanated from the swordsmen standing behind Namgoong Shin.

Namgoong Shin was the last direct descendant among the eight elders of the Namgoong Clan. His status was equivalent to that of the family head.

Yet, the way this young man, who looked barely past twenty, spoke was truly unpleasant. It was enough to irritate the swordsmen.

However, Namgoong Shin, the person in question, seemed unconcerned and nodded.

“Of course, I know you. Just by looking at that enormous axe you’re carrying, I can guess. Besides, the energy unconsciously radiating from you is far from that of a young man.”

Surprisingly, Namgoong Shin seemed to be enjoying himself. His face was filled with pure admiration and joy.

“They said you showed the guts to face the greatest family in the world alone, and indeed, you are a remarkable talent. The moniker ‘Byoksan Tiger General’ suits you perfectly.”

Byoksan Tiger General?

‘How ridiculous.’

It wasn’t long ago they were calling him Gwangpungsa, and now it’s Byoksan Tiger General. He was a martial artist himself, but the fuss that martial artists made was truly something else.

“Ah, my apologies. I haven’t even introduced myself while keeping you standing here. I am Shin from the Anhui Namgoong Clan.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong blinked.

Namgoong Shin smacked his lips.

“Never heard of me?”

“I’m not usually interested in others.”

No matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t something to say to a senior in the martial world. Moreover, Namgoong Shin was older than even the Yeon family head.

The swordsmen’s gazes gradually turned colder. The subtle aura they were emitting grew stronger.

Namgoong Shin burst into laughter.

“What a bold young man. Yes, a man should have that much courage.”

“Anyway, I’ll be on my way. Please clear the path.”

“Before that.”

“……?”

“Is that man by your side, Myeong Heo-Rim?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

For a moment, he thought, ‘How did he know?’

But the Namgoong Clan was a central force in the Martial Alliance. It was understandable that they knew Myeong Heo-Rim was heading to Anhui.

“Yes, he is.”

“I knew it. The young hero who exposed the true face of the infamous Myeong family has even captured the son of a fugitive. Your fame will once again shake the entire Jianghu [the martial arts world].”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head. It was an action that showed his annoyance.

“Please clear the path. I’m in a hurry.”

“Ha! That’s what we were going to do first, but it’s a shame. Well, who captures him doesn’t matter. As long as he’s captured, that’s all that matters.”

Namgoong Shin, who glanced at Myeong Heo-Rim with a hint of regret, stepped aside.

“Clear the path.”

The thirty swordsmen lined up to the left and right.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘They’re formidable.’

The aura emanating from both sides was tremendous.

They were not an ordinary martial arts organization. They were likely one of the top combat units in the Namgoong Clan.

But it was not a problem for Yeon Ho-Jeong. He walked straight ahead.

Then it happened.

“By the way, young man.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong stopped walking.

“I heard you gave my nephews quite a hard time in the past.”

“……”

“Haha, no need to be nervous. Although they are my nephews, I think they went too far. Hyeon committed fraud, and Sang-hwa was frivolous, showing childish and petty behavior.”

“So?”

“So…”

Namgoong Shin’s smile remained.

“While I understand those two incidents, there’s one other incident that I can’t understand, no matter how hard I try.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned around.

He frowned.

“Stop beating around the bush and say what you want to say.”

Namgoong Shin nodded.

“Since you’re being so straightforward, I’ll drop the formalities and speak plainly.”

The smile on Namgoong Shin’s face instantly turned cold.

“I heard you’re acquainted with the girl who is to be Hyeon’s betrothed?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong immediately thought of one person.

“Jeagal Ayeon?”

“Yes, Jeagal Ayeon. I’m talking about her.”

“Acquainted… I wouldn’t say we’re that close.”

“Haha, it won’t do if you’re thinking of slipping away with such words. In fact, it’s not my place to interfere with how close you and Jeagal Ayeon are, but the situation is strangely bad.”

Namgoong Shin frowned.

Even he seemed reluctant to get involved in this matter. But he couldn’t help it. As an elder of the family, and as an uncle.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the main family has sent a matchmaker to the Jeagal Clan. To Jeagal Ayeon, that is.”

“I know.”

“You know? Haha, then this will be quick.”

Namgoong Shin said in a cold voice.

“Don’t meet the eldest daughter of the Jeagal family again. She is to be the wife of the young master of the main family.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t help but chuckle.

Namgoong Shin’s eyes deepened.

“Why are you laughing like that?”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

The Jeagal Clan seemed to be planning to reject the marriage proposal from the Namgoong Clan. Yet, the Namgoong Clan was telling him not to spread rumors about her being their daughter-in-law.

He wondered if they were trying to pick a fight, but it didn’t seem like it.

‘Either way, they knew.’

What was important to Yeon Ho-Jeong was not the marriage between Jeagal Ayeon and Namgoong Hyeon.

‘These guys knew I was here.’

This was something only Moyong Gun and he knew. At least, on the surface.

Did the Namgoong Clan also dispatch troops to capture Myeong Heo-Rim? It was possible. But that didn’t prove that this meeting was a coincidence.

‘Moyong Gun.’

It was an obvious ploy. It was clear that Moyong Gun was behind this.

The reason was that even if he knew, he couldn’t argue. There was no evidence, and there was no need to cause unnecessary conflict and stir up rumors.

And that was the same for the Namgoong Clan.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged.

“Don’t worry. I never asked to meet her in the first place. She was the one who sought me out.”

It was a relief.

It was a relief, but it was a strangely unpleasant thing to say. It would be one thing if Yeon Ho-Jeong had feelings for Jeagal Ayeon, but if it were the other way around, it would be a headache for the Namgoong Clan.

“So, you don’t need to glare at me like that.”

Tzzzzzz.

A faint blue true energy [internal energy] rippled from the swordsmen’s bodies.

It was the Azure Sky Energy. They had all mastered the Namgoong Clan’s ultimate martial art, the Azure Sky Energy.

And they had all mastered it deeply. The waves of energy pressing in from both sides were surprisingly intense.

Namgoong Shin, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong for a while, regained his smile.

“You are an arrogant man, but at least you don’t seem like a liar.”

He would if he needed to.

“I’ll believe your words. Please be careful in the future.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t want to be the one ruining someone else’s marriage.”

“Haha, you’re a young man who understands what I’m saying.”

Namgoong Shin raised his hand.

At the same time, the energy flowing from both sides subsided.

“Sorry for holding you up for no reason. Go on your way.”

“Take care.”

“You too. Ah! Just one more question.”

Namgoong Shin frowned.

“Have you seen any archery masters around here?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“Archery?”

“Yes. I don’t know if you know, but there’s a demonic figure called the Anhui Blood Bow, who destroyed the Geumgeom Gate five years ago. It seems that the demonic figure has recently appeared near Palgong Mountain.”

“……!”

“You captured Myeong Heo-Rim, which is good enough, but we must capture the Anhui Blood Bow.”

Namgoong Shin scratched his head.

“We saw some violent traces not far from here. I didn’t examine it closely, but it was an incredible archery technique that incorporated qi [life force]. I believe it was the Anhui Blood Bow’s martial art.”

“……”

“Weren’t you waiting here to capture Myeong Heo-Rim? Did you not feel such a powerful energy?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said nonchalantly.

“I haven’t seen anything. I only arrived a day ago.”

“Is that so?”

Namgoong Shin smacked his lips.

“I understand. If you see anyone suspicious carrying a bow, please inform the nearby branch.”

“I will.”

“Go on your way. Congratulations on capturing Myeong Heo-Rim.”

“I wish you good fortune.”

With that, Yeon Ho-Jeong moved away from the Namgoong Clan’s forces.

How far had he come down the mountain?

“Hah… Hah! Y-Yeon Young Master?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.

“Branch Leader So Cheong?”

“Cough! Hah… Hah! J-Just let me catch my breath…”

So Cheong sat down on the spot, panting heavily.

Behind So Cheong was Baek Hyang, with a serene expression.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes lit up.

“Muk… Baek Hyang?”

Baek Hyang looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong silently.

Her eyes were unfocused. The aura of emptiness emanating from her entire body was dark and gloomy.

So Cheong said, panting,

“T-This young lady was looking for Yeon Young Master, so I brought her. Hah! Hah!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong put down Myeong Heo-Rim.

“I didn’t expect you to find me so quickly.”

Baek Hyang, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, lowered her head.

“I came to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?”

“I’m going back to Gwanil Valley.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smacked his lips.

“To become that betrothed or whatever?”

“No.”

“…Then?”

Baek Hyang spoke with a blank face, uttering terrifying words.

“To eliminate them with my own hands.”

“……!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face hardened.

“Brother Gungcheon told me. He said that you could protect me. But Gwanil Valley is strong. And they will try to capture the runaway betrothed no matter what.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I don’t know the Jianghu, but unless it’s a prominent sect in the Jianghu, they won’t be able to face Gwanil Valley.”

“So, you’re going to eliminate them all with your own hands?”

Baek Hyang’s eyes darkened even further.

Beneath that deep darkness lay a subtle anger and killing intent.

“I hate them. All the people I could call family are dead anyway, and they will try to capture me no matter what.”

“……”

“It’s better to just eliminate them all.”

She was truly ruthless.

It was difficult to make such a resolution. Even so, wasn’t Gwanil Valley her hometown?

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked into Baek Hyang’s eyes.

It was as if she was trying to absorb all the light in the world. It was that dark and gloomy.

‘It’s not just because of this incident.’

He had a feeling that this betrothal battle was just the trigger, and that she had been hating Gwanil Valley all along. Of course, it was just a guess.

“Can you handle it alone?”

“I’m familiar with the terrain there. There are many experts, but none are more skilled than those who participated in the competition.”

“Still, it will be a difficult fight.”

“……”

“It’s a fight that might be hard to come back from, right? Is that why you came to say goodbye?”

“…That’s right.”

Baek Hyang lowered her head again.

“Thanks to you, Brother Gungcheon passed away peacefully. I also owe you a debt, so I wanted to say goodbye, which might be my last.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

“I advised you to live proactively, but the person in question is saying she’s going to die.”

“I don’t want to die.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t want to die. But unless I eliminate them, even if I live, it won’t be living.”

“……”

“They are that ruthless.”

“So, this is also an unavoidable choice, you’re saying?”

“…Yes.”

“Is that so?”

It was a somewhat sly answer.

Yeon Ho-Jeong suddenly put his arm around Baek Hyang’s shoulder. Baek Hyang flinched.

“Hey, Muk… no, Baek… ah, never mind! From now on, you’re Mukbi. I’m going to call you Mukbi.”

“Y-Yes?”

“I have a good idea, would you like to hear it?”

“…A good idea?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked up at the distant mountain ridge.

His eyes sank deeply.

“Shall I give you some advice for the world you’re about to enter?”

“…?”

“If you’re going to get your hands dirty, it’s better to do it yourself. But if it’s a troublesome task, it’s okay to leave it to someone else.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I’m saying that you don’t have to feel bad for not doing what you should have done. Especially if the opponent deserves to die.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said to So Cheong.

“Branch Leader, please bring Myeong Heo-Rim. I have something to talk about with this friend.”

“Hah… Hah! M-Me?”

“Please.”

“Hah… Hah. O-Okay.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and turned to Baek Hyang.

“Hey, have you ever heard of the ‘borrow a knife to kill’ strategy?”