Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 98

Yeon Ho-Jeong bowed.

“I’m back, Father.”

“Hmm.”

Yeon-Wi nodded.

“Get up.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong rose and straightened his clothes.

He still looked rough. It seemed he had continued his training on the way, as his clothes were torn and stained in several places.

Even with a guest present, he couldn’t help but ask.

“Did you train on the way here again?”

“Yes.”

His tone was matter-of-fact.

Yeon-Wi was pleased with his son’s unremarkable answer.

A martial artist should always maintain their best physical condition. At the same time, they should strive to improve daily to reach their peak.

Most martial artists neglect this obvious training and perseverance. But his son was different.

He adhered to the basics and followed the truth. His son was bound to achieve great things.

No, he was already great.

‘He’s amazing.’

He couldn’t say it out loud with people watching.

Yeon-Wi’s eyes showed genuine surprise as he looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘When did he grow so much?’

His inner energy was unstable due to the harsh training. It seemed he had pushed his inner power to its limit.

And yet, he was this strong.

He had felt it when he approached with a natural, flowing gait, but it was like looking at a solid rock. Though his inner energy was unstable, the energy flowing through the center of his body was unwavering.

At first glance, he seemed no different than before, but Yeon-Wi could sense the terrifying explosive power emanating from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

And those eyes.

Even before he left the family, his eyes were unwavering, but now they were like steel. It meant he had no doubt about the path he was pursuing.

‘Mind, energy, body. He has cultivated them all well without lacking in any area.’

Yeon-Wi opened his mouth.

“They say a man becomes an adult when he goes out into the world. It seems this trip to the Central Plains has been a great help to you.”

It was a roundabout compliment. Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I’m still far from it. I can’t be satisfied with just this.”

If nothing else, his personality was still the same. No, it seemed even more stubborn.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts were beyond his age now.

Even among top experts, there were levels. Just looking at the outer energy Yeon Ho-Jeong was emitting, it was surprisingly comparable to the elders of the Nine Great Sects and the Six Great Families.

He was his son, but his growth rate was hard to understand. It was unprecedented.

‘But what is that energy?’

The mastery of the Biseokjin Style [a martial art style] was already at nine-tenths.

That was surprising, but what was truly astonishing was the unique energy enveloping the Biseokjin energy. There were not one, but three of them.

Each one was unique, yet they were all interconnected and did not harm each other.

Yeon-Wi, who had been quietly observing his son’s body, asked.

“Did you obtain a fortuitous encounter?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and replied.

“Every meeting and clash with people is a fortuitous encounter. Compared to that, this is nothing much.”

“You speak well.”

There were many things to observe about Yeon Ho-Jeong’s inner energy and martial arts. Yeon-Wi decided to talk about that later.

“And…”

Yeon-Wi looked at Muk Bi.

She was quite tall for a woman. Her body was slender, with long arms and legs. At first glance, she seemed incredibly flexible.

She was tanned from the sun, but her skin was flawless. She was a beauty with a healthy appearance and striking features.

But her appearance was not important.

Yeon-Wi’s eyes gleamed.

‘A master?’

Surprisingly, the woman his son had brought was also a master.

And not just any master. The inner energy she possessed was even greater than Yeon Ho-Jeong’s, almost at the level of a transcendent master.

He didn’t know how she had obtained such immense inner energy. However, more than half of her energy was scattered throughout her body’s meridians, so it seemed she couldn’t use it immediately.

‘Excellent inner energy. But her skill…’

Seeing her unstable inner energy, similar to his son’s, it seemed they had trained together. But overall, she seemed dull.

‘She’s below Ho-Jeong.’

Her inner energy surpassed Yeon Ho-Jeong’s, but her actual skill was lower.

At Yeon-Wi’s level, he could see through an opponent’s abilities just by looking. In his eyes, this woman lacked the sharp edge of a martial artist.

‘Still, she’s impressive. Especially considering her age.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong nudged Muk Bi with his elbow.

Muk Bi, realizing her mistake, lowered her head.

“My name is… no, I’m Muk Bi.”

“Muk Bi?”

“Yes.”

Yeon-Wi tilted his head.

‘A strange name.’

Well, what did it matter? There were many people with strange names in the world. Especially in the martial world.

“Are you Ho-Jeong’s friend?”

Muk Bi hesitated.

Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly answered.

“She is my friend.”

“Is that so?”

His voice was still monotone, but it seemed slightly less forceful.

But that was only for a moment.

“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Muk. I am Ho-Jeong’s father.”

“N-Nice to meet you.”

Muk Bi was in a daze.

‘He’s incredible!’

She had never seen a master like Yeon-Wi.

He didn’t emit any energy, but that was just on the surface. What was hidden inside was a divine sword as massive as a mountain peak.

He was an incredibly powerful master. The moment she sensed his immense energy, her whole body froze, and she couldn’t even move a finger.

‘Even Brother Gongcheon and the Clan Lord wouldn’t last ten moves!’

It was more than that.

Even if all the Guigong masters who participated in the Yesinhapjeon [a martial arts competition] attacked him, they wouldn’t be able to win. Until she mastered the Nine Dragons Piercing Sky Bow, she wouldn’t even be able to draw her bow in front of him.

Yeon-Wi noticed the bow and quiver hanging at Muk Bi’s waist.

“It seems you use archery.”

“…Yes? Ah, yes! That’s right!”

It was an unusually loud answer for Muk Bi.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned. He wondered why she was acting like this.

Yeon-Wi nodded.

“You’re a very skilled person. Since you’re my son’s friend, I’ll treat you comfortably.”

“Yes!”

“…?”

“…”

“Ahem.”

Yeon-Wi cleared his throat, dispelling the strange atmosphere, and asked Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Why did you bring a friend with you?”

“I have a favor to ask of you, Father.”

“A favor?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed at Muk Bi and said.

“Can this one stay at the main house from now on?”

Yeon-Wi’s eyes flashed.

At the same time, Muk Bi’s face turned pale. Just the change in Yeon-Wi’s gaze sent a chill down her spine.

“Are you saying you want to accept her as family?”

“Yes. If that’s too much of a burden, could she at least stay in the guest quarters…”

“Nonsense.”

Yeon-Wi firmly shook his head.

“I don’t know what the story is, but since she’s my son’s friend, it’s only right to treat her as a guest.”

“Ah, yes.”

Yeon-Wi said to Muk Bi.

“Miss, do you have any other connections?”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

It was a topic that could make Muk Bi quite depressed, but because it was Yeon-Wi who said it, she could easily brush it off. That was how great Yeon-Wi’s presence was.

“If you have nowhere else to go, you can think of the Yeon family as your home and stay here.”

“…Yes?”

“You’re the first friend Ho-Jeong has ever brought. For that indifferent fellow to even suggest accepting you as family, you must be very special to him.”

“…?!!”

“Make yourself comfortable. Don’t worry about food or shelter.”

Muk Bi looked at Yeon-Wi in surprise.

His eyes were still intimidating. In his clear eyes, like a mirror, was the sharpness of a peerless sword.

But it wasn’t just the sharpness of a martial artist. Muk Bi, who had always been cautious, could read genuine goodwill in Yeon-Wi’s eyes.

It was a favor without any conditions. Because she was his son’s friend, he naturally thought of her as family. It was a pure trust that even Muk Bi, who didn’t know much about the world, was surprised by.

‘Ah…’

Muk Bi’s eyes gradually turned red.

She couldn’t help but feel emotional. Muk Bi quickly lowered her head.

“T-Thank you.”

Yeon-Wi nodded.

“Vice-Captain Lee.”

“Yes, Clan Leader.”

“The Yeonryeowon next to Ho-Jeong’s residence will be her quarters. Please guide her.”

“Understood.”

Lee Baek-Hyun smiled and said to Muk Bi.

“Please follow me.”

“Yes.”

Before following Lee Baek-Hyun, Muk Bi bowed to Yeon-Wi once more.

“I look forward to your kind guidance. Thank you, Father.”

“You’ve had a long journey. Rest well.”

“Yes.”

And so, Muk Bi followed Lee Baek-Hyun to her quarters.

Yeon-Wi shook his head.

“She has achieved amazing martial arts that don’t match her age, but her heart is as fragile as porcelain.”

“That’s the problem. She needs to become a bit tougher.”

“It’s not easy to become like you. It’s not something you can force.”

“Isn’t that something that can’t be forced? If she thinks she needs it, she’ll become tougher on her own.”

“It’s not just that. From what I see, it seems she has a deep wound in her heart.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“Yes. It’s understandable.”

“Wounds on the body can be healed, but wounds on the heart cannot be healed by anyone’s help. But it’s better to have someone by her side than to be alone, so take good care of her whenever you have time.”

“Yes.”

Yeon-Wi nodded repeatedly.

“Anyway.”

Yeon-Wi’s gaze towards Yeon Ho-Jeong suddenly turned cold.

It was as if he had become a different person in an instant. If Muk Bi had seen Yeon-Wi now, she might have fainted on the spot.

Even Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was known for his indifference, couldn’t help but flinch at his father’s change.

He tried to change the subject, sensing the increasingly tense atmosphere.

“Ah! By the way, where did Ji-Pyeong go? His older brother is here, but not a single hair of his…”

“I knew you were indifferent, but it’s beyond my imagination.”

His throat felt dry. Yeon Ho-Jeong unconsciously swallowed.

Yeon-Wi said in a ruthless voice.

“The concept of ‘heavenly relationships’ refers to the duties that parents and children, blood relatives, must uphold. Those duties are not grand things. They are simple but obvious things that people should naturally have.”

“Cough!”

“I have never thought of my son as a terrible person who doesn’t know his heavenly duties. I didn’t expect to receive daily letters from my son who went out into the world to learn about it, but were you so busy that you couldn’t even send a simple letter to let me know you were doing well?”

“Well, Father, what happened was…”

“Be quiet!”

His ears seemed to ring. Yeon Ho-Jeong shrank his neck like a turtle.

Yeon-Wi turned his body.

“I will not listen to excuses about being tired from the journey. Follow me.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t help but sigh.

The reality of being scolded by his father at this age was deplorable, and the fact that he was the one who was at fault made him unable to blame anyone else, which made him feel depressed.

In the end, he had to follow his father like a lamb being led to the slaughterhouse.

That day, Yeon Ho-Jeong had to memorize the passages on filial piety from the Myeongsimbogam [a classic text on moral teachings], which he couldn’t even remember when he had last read.