Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 107

“It’s been a while.”

“Indeed. It’s the first time since we met in Hanam.”

“So it is.”

“I never thought we’d meet again like this. It seems fate is fate.”

Well? No one knows if that fate will be just a connection or a deadly feud.

“By the way, who is this?”

Muk Bi, flustered, looked up at Moyong Yeonhwa.

“Ah, I’m…”

She felt like she should introduce herself, but she was at a loss for how to do it. She had become close with the Yeon family, but she was still awkward around strangers.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said,

“She’s a friend.”

“A friend?”

Moyong Yeonhwa’s expression became strange.

“…I see. A friend.”

She thought that someone like Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t possibly have many friends. So, when he confidently introduced someone as a friend, she couldn’t help but be curious.

“Anyway, it’s a strange coincidence. Do you also have business in Zhejiang, Master Yeon?”

Zhejiang.

Yeon Ho-Jeong realized something from Moyong Yeonhwa’s words.

‘Not Hangzhou, but Zhejiang. Then that means she will be leaving Hangzhou soon.’

At the height of their youthful energy, it would be hard to easily escape the allure of Hangzhou.

But Moyong Yeonhwa was different. Although she didn’t have much experience in the martial world, she was smart. Smart enough that Moyong Gun entrusted her with family matters directly.

What exactly was her purpose?

‘…I was going to rest, but this won’t do.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“I came to look around.”

“Hoho, looking around… Looking around is good. Zhejiang has many famous scenic spots.”

A glint of scrutiny flickered in Moyong Yeonhwa’s clear black and white eyes.

She didn’t think Yeon Ho-Jeong was the type to come all the way to Zhejiang just to look around. That was a separate issue from whether she acknowledged him or not.

Yeon Ho-Jeong wasn’t someone who would move without a reason. That’s how she saw him.

“Then, enjoy your meal. I also have company.”

“Alright.”

“If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

Moyong Yeonhwa finished speaking and returned to her group. Knowing that Yeon Ho-Jeong was a sharp person, she decided it would be difficult to dig anything out of him.

Her judgment was correct.

It was correct, but her judgment was too slow.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Huh? Ah, food? I don’t know. There are so many kinds…”

“Then let’s order three or four dishes.”

“Isn’t it expensive?”

“So what? When else would we get to eat like this? And…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Moyong Yeonhwa.

Moyong Yeonhwa, who was smiling sweetly among the young men and women, also looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

The two’s gazes collided in the air, sparking like flames.

“…We need to eat well now so we don’t regret it later.”

“Huh?”

“Eat and rest. I have somewhere to go. It’ll take about a day.”

Muk Bi was flustered.

“You’re not taking me with you?”

“It’s better if I go alone right now. And, shouldn’t you rest a bit too?”

“Well, yeah… If it’s better alone, then I guess there’s no helping it.”

“Make sure you eat your meals.”

“I’m not a child.”

“If you were a child, I could at least leave you somewhere.”

“Tch.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked out the window.

He focused his inner energy and enhanced his eyesight, and he could see a few beggars loitering far away south of West Lake.

That night.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having returned to his lodgings, put on a rather luxurious robe and picked up his axe.

‘Shall I go?’

Whoosh!

The moment he seemed to step onto the window frame, his body was already cutting through the air.

Smooth and silent. Even amidst that, a subtle elegance could be felt. The fragrance of a gentleman blooming in the stillness, the Heavenly Movement Step was a martial art that showed the characteristics of the Yeon family’s martial arts very well.

He arrived near West Lake in an instant.

It was then.

‘They’ve attached themselves.’

The Wall of Azure Energy made his senses even more sensitive.

‘One, two, three. There are three.’

It was a stealthy and quick movement technique.

Standing by a large willow tree next to West Lake, Yeon Ho-Jeong maximized his senses while looking at the calm lake.

‘The distance is twenty yards. Good, that’s enough.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s pupils gradually turned blue.

Within his dormant energy, the mad killing intent of the Dark Emperor, which had been calmed by training with the family’s warriors, was released.

‘Moyong Yeonhwa… You shouldn’t spy on people carelessly.’

He returned to the front of the willow tree and stuck to it. It was a blind spot that the observers couldn’t see from their positions.

A moment later.

Swoosh.

A masked man cautiously approached the tree.

In an instant, his eyes wavered.

The person who should have been there was not visible. Flustered, he scanned his surroundings.

The target was still not visible. He couldn’t even feel a presence.

It was then.

“The scenery is nice, isn’t it?”

The masked man, startled, reflexively turned and threw a punch.

Thwack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand grabbed the masked man’s fist.

Crack, crack, crack!

“Kuh!”

The masked man knelt down. It was a suppression technique that used the flow of power and reverse joints. It was difficult to escape even with a flexible body.

The masked man looked up at Yeon Ho-Jeong with trembling eyes.

“Gasp!”

He gasped without realizing it.

The opponent, standing with the full moon behind him, looked like a dark shadow. Within that dark shadow, a pair of blue eyes were pressing down on him.

It was the gaze of a ghost.

“Your friends have already been sent to the Sanzu River [a mythical river in Buddhist cosmology, similar to the River Styx].”

“…!!”

“You’re from the Yellow Wind Hall, right?”

The masked man’s eyes wavered.

His mind was already in disarray. His wavering eyes were enough of an answer.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

Even a hidden energy had its own color. He had felt their energy many times before.

“Didn’t the girl tell you? That you could die if you got caught.”

“…Kuh.”

“Well, she doesn’t have her father’s eyes yet. That’s why she’s so reckless.”

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, leaning his Dragon Axe against the willow tree, brought his index and middle fingers together.

Thump!

The masked man’s eyes became bloodshot.

The energy that penetrated the Dumb Gate acupoint severed the flow of energy connected to the root of the tongue.

Slurp.

The area around the masked man’s mouth became wet with saliva. A large amount of saliva suddenly came out, and he couldn’t close his mouth. It was difficult to even swallow.

It was an extremely delicate manipulation of inner energy. If he had forcefully pushed in the energy, he would have become an idiot or died.

Thud!

The masked man vomited blood. His Sea of Qi acupoint was shattered.

He was in a daze from the severe internal injuries. He couldn’t put any strength into his legs.

Yeon Ho-Jeong patted his back.

“Go to your master.”

Twitch!

The masked man felt goosebumps all over his body.

His head instantly went cold. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words became a forceful command, swallowing his reason.

“Cough!”

He took off his mask, coughing up blood, and ran towards the Grand Lake Delights Restaurant. His gait was unsteady, but it was a desperate sprint.

Blood dripped in spots.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who should have been where the most blood was spilled, was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

“Branch Manager, I’ve sent a letter to the Zhejiang Trade Alliance.”

“Good job.”

Lee Geon sighed.

“They said they’ll send a representative envoy by noon tomorrow.”

“I see. You should go in and rest now.”

Lee Geon tried to say something more, but then bowed his head.

“Then.”

As Lee Geon left, Moyong Woo put down his brush.

Thud!

He slammed the table and stood up, filled with unknown anger and sadness. He tried to calm his rough breathing, but it wouldn’t easily subside.

He looked out the window.

The dark night, the canal flowing far away, was visible. The canal flowed quietly, as if it knew Moyong Woo’s heart, and soothed his mood with a desolate sound.

Moyong Woo sighed.

“Who can I blame? It’s all because of my lack of ability.”

He truly thought so. He had talent in martial arts and business, but he couldn’t fully spread his wings.

The reason was simple.

He was a member of the Moyong family. No matter how much the family suppressed him, how could he rebel against it?

Even if he did rebel, it would be dangerous. He was stronger than any of the younger generation, but Moyong Gun’s martial arts were on a different level.

Moreover, the power of the family gathered under Moyong Gun’s ruthless politics was immense. Just sending two of the family’s elders would make it difficult to guarantee his survival.

‘Brother… Brother.’

Moyong Woo lamented.

‘How did you become such a monster?’

He remembered Moyong Gun from his childhood, who had cared for him.

But around the age of ten, after confirming that he had mastered seven levels of the family’s basic martial arts, Moyong Gun’s kindness disappeared.

And a few years later, Moyong Gun killed or absorbed his brothers and became the new head of the Moyong family.

Moyong Gun’s intention was clear.

He did not forgive anyone who had the potential to threaten his authority and throne. To survive in that brutal world, one had to either run away or become his person.

Moyong Woo was someone who didn’t belong to either category. He neither ran away from his older brother nor became his person.

The reason he had survived until now was thanks to his talent.

Moyong Gun recognized Moyong Woo’s business acumen and sent him to the Zhejiang branch. It meant that if he served the family in Zhejiang, his life would be spared.

Moyong Woo couldn’t stop his brother, nor could he take his own life. When he thought he had to eliminate the ruthless family tradition, it was already too late.

Thus, he was appointed as the head of the Zhejiang branch at a young age, and for several years, he greatly expanded the family’s business. In the end, he lived as Moyong Gun had wanted him to.

‘This can’t go on. If the main family doesn’t abandon this tyranny… it will cause a great disaster someday.’

It would happen someday. Even if the Moyong family was fine, countless people would shed blood because of it.

But….

“I’m also an unavoidable Moyong.”

Moyong Woo’s eyes slightly reddened.

“Even in this situation, I’m a pathetic fool who worries about his own family more than the safety of the world.”

It was right to care for one’s family. But if that family chose a path that could plunge the world into chaos, what should one do then?

Should one face them with tears in their eyes, or should one live in compliance?

Should one risk their life to stop them, or should one hide and help the innocent?

At that moment, Lee Geon’s voice was heard from outside the door.

“Branch Manager.”

Moyong Woo controlled his agitated breathing.

“What is it?”

“A letter has arrived from the Beggars’ Union.”

“The Beggars’ Union? For me?”

“Yes.”

“Come in.”

Lee Geon handed the letter to Moyong Woo.

Moyong Woo’s expression was puzzled as he opened the letter.

“Why do you look like that?”

“…”

“Branch Manager?”

“Hmm?”

Moyong Woo folded the letter.

“It’s nothing. Go out now.”

“Ah, yes.”

As Lee Geon left, Moyong Woo opened the letter again.

“They’ll send someone, so don’t turn them away…?”

It was a letter sent directly by the head of the Beggars’ Union’s Hangzhou branch.

He remembered the head of the Beggars’ Union’s Hangzhou branch. He had met him a few times, but they didn’t have a personal relationship that warranted exchanging letters.

‘Who exactly are they sending?’

The letter ended with the statement that they would arrive before dawn. In other words, it was a request to give up sleep. Staying up all night was no problem, but the point was, was there a need to be so rude?

‘It’s not like he’s someone who would make unreasonable requests…?’

Moyong Woo sensed something unusual. At the very least, he felt like he shouldn’t ignore this letter.

Thus, Moyong Woo sat in his office and reviewed documents. Even without the head of the Hangzhou branch’s words, there was a mountain of work piled up.

How much time had passed?

It was well past midnight, and it was already past the hour of Yin [the period from 3 AM to 5 AM in the traditional Chinese time system].

Whoosh.

Moyong Woo’s face hardened at the strange presence that came with the cold wind.

“Who is it?”

The voice coming from the right window was surprisingly that of a young man.

“I’m a guest.”

Moyong Woo slowly turned his head.

There, was a scholarly-looking young man holding a huge Dragon Head Axe.

Moyong Woo swallowed his surprise and said,

“Are you the one sent by the head of the Hangzhou branch?”

“That’s right.”