Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 129

That night.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having left the completely drunk Ga Deuk-Sang behind, went to the back garden of the Pagun Pavilion and sat in a lotus position.

Whoooosh.

A subtle blue aura enveloped his entire body.

It was a much deeper and more beautiful energy than it had been two months ago. Even while emitting this energy, he didn’t release any energy waves beyond a certain range.

This meant his control over his inner energy was perfect even during his cultivation. He was becoming more skilled at regulating his power as time went on.

‘My body is finally catching up.’

Mentally, he had already summoned all of the Divine Energy of the Four Gods and mastered the Byukra True Energy [a powerful internal energy technique]. Not only that, but he had also completely mastered all five of the Yeon family’s divine martial arts.

However, reality was not so simple. All elements of his body, including his bones, meridians, and organs, were not yet sufficiently trained to fully absorb his enlightenment.

But now, it was different.

‘I’m slowly surpassing it.’

To become stronger, something more than just effort was needed.

It was different for everyone, but for Yeon Ho-Jeong, that something was faith. It was believing in his experiences and enlightenment as the Dark Emperor who had conquered the dark path.

That faith was gradually bearing fruit through rigorous training and intense study.

‘My body is keeping up. My energy, my enlightenment, my will, they are finally keeping up.’

Evolution is the process of changing from an inferior state to a superior one. And one of the essential elements of that evolution was the environment.

Just as living things evolve to suit their environment, Yeon Ho-Jeong had drastically changed the environment of his body.

He expanded his energy and pushed his body to its limits. Even when his body rested, his mind was always controlling his energy, keeping his physical activity vigorous. He had created a hellish environment where he couldn’t survive unless he grew stronger.

With ordinary mental strength, his body would have collapsed, or the upper dantian [an energy center in the body], unable to withstand the pain, would have broken down.

And now, at this very moment, having overcome all of that.

His body was finally completely under Yeon Ho-Jeong’s control.

Swoosh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, with his eyes closed, extended his right hand.

From his naturally extended fingertips, strands of White Tiger energy were released.

Whoooosh.

It summoned the wind.

The White Tiger energy, creating a comfortable warm breeze on a cold winter night, spotted a moderately sized tree in the distance.

He slowly clenched his powerless hand into a fist.

Whoooosh!

An invisible wind swirled around the tree.

The wind became noticeably stronger as time passed. A semi-transparent white aura began to form around the wind, which was circling only one tree.

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his eyes.

Crack!

The surface of the tree was marked with traces of the whirlwind.

He hadn’t broken it, but he had left traces of a fierce wind on the bark. He had imbued the White Tiger energy with a strong will.

Normally, the tree should have been crushed and broken, but the concentration of the White Tiger energy was not yet that dense. However, even this was a great success.

“Telekinesis…?”

A voice filled with shock was heard.

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his head. Muk Bi was there.

“Aren’t you sleeping?”

“W-what you just did! Wasn’t that telekinesis?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“No, it wasn’t.”

Telekinesis refers to the state of using inner energy imbued with a strong will to move objects without touching them.

The ability to use telekinesis is akin to entering the initial stage of sword control. Of course, to unleash the true power of sword control, one would need to undergo excruciating training and achieve ultimate enlightenment.

“If it’s not telekinesis, then what is it?”

“It’s just one of my inner energy techniques. My body is changing, but my energy and body are not yet trained enough to manifest telekinesis.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“It’s fast if you think about it… but I didn’t expect it to take this long.”

After returning to the past, he initially thought he could quickly become stronger with the Dark Emperor’s enlightenment. He thought that if he repeated hellish training, he could reach a level equal to his father’s within at least a year.

He was wrong.

Murtial arts were not that easy. The Dark Emperor’s enlightenment was one of the best of his time, but it couldn’t unleash divine powers.

‘Still.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong had no doubt.

‘I can become stronger faster. If the necessary conditions are met, I can definitely become faster.’

And he knew what kind of environment would allow him to grow explosively.

‘The battlefield.’

Fighting.

In the past and now, he had always grown while fighting. The environment where he could most explosively feel the gap between life and death, the need for evolution, could completely transform his martial arts.

The growth that bloomed as he approached death. He was truly worthy of being a descendant of the Four Gods.

“If that took a long time, then I should just die.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I have tricks that others don’t know about. But you don’t. In that sense, you’re more amazing.”

“Tricks?”

“There are such things.”

“You sure have a lot of secrets.”

Muk Bi, who had walked over with a shuffle, sat next to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Why did you come out in the cold? You should go inside and rest.”

“I slept earlier, so I can’t fall asleep.”

“Is that so?”

The two looked up at the sky.

It was winter, but it didn’t seem like it would snow for a while. The moonlight was beautiful.

“Did you finish all the alcohol?”

“I finished it all, so I’m sitting here in the cold, training my inner energy.”

“What about that beggar?”

“He’s sleeping. He seems like a good-natured fellow.”

“I know, right? He seems so shameless.”

“He is actually shameless. It’s no joke.”

Muk Bi chuckled.

She turned to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“This is a bit out of the blue, but can I ask you something?”

“Ask away.”

“What’s your dream?”

“Dream?”

“Yes, your dream.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I don’t have any grand dreams. I do have a goal in life, though.”

“Is it about preparing for the future you mentioned before?”

“Yes.”

“That’s more important than your dream?”

“Of course. What’s the point of achieving a dream if my foundation is gone and all my people are dead?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Well, I guess there are people who don’t care about that. But I’m not like that.”

“I see.”

“But why are you asking?”

“That’s why I said it was a bit out of the blue.”

“Silly.”

Muk Bi clicked her tongue.

“At least we have something similar.”

“Hmm?”

“I also want to protect my people.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Am I one of your people too?”

Muk Bi frowned.

“I don’t want to admit it, but yes. And I owe you a lot.”

“Haha.”

“It would be really nice if you didn’t play those pointless pranks sometimes.”

“It’s the driving force of my life. Don’t ask for the impossible.”

“You make it sound grand, but it just means you’re a morally bankrupt person who loses energy if you can’t make fun of others.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong wanted to ask the Muk Bi of the past.

‘You, with such a good vocabulary, why did you live with your mouth shut?’

“Ugh. I’ve been sitting in the cold for too long, I can’t feel my butt. I’m going inside to sleep.”

“Already?”

“Already? It’s past midnight, you know.”

“Tch.”

“You should get some more sleep too. You must be tired from the journey.”

“I told you, I can’t sleep. And what, do you think something will happen? This is the headquarters of the righteous White Path Martial Alliance [a coalition of righteous martial arts sects].”

“Well, you never know.”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong gave a chilling smile.

“I’m starting to smell something fishy.”

The Three Divine Artifacts hummed.

* * *

The next morning.

“Have you arrived?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“Why did it take so long? The leaders of the Nine Sects and Six Great Families haven’t all gathered yet.”

“Almost everyone has gathered, so we had a long discussion about the establishment of the Martial Alliance.”

“Well, I guess that’s understandable.”

Even though he had spent the whole night discussing things, Yeon-Wi didn’t look tired at all.

“Do you have time?”

“I do, but aren’t you going to sleep?”

“Let’s talk when you have time.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed. He had sensed an unusual tone in his father’s voice.

“Understood.”

“By the way, where is Huga?”

“He’s still sleeping in his quarters.”

“…”

“Don’t expect too much from that guy, Father.”

A little while later, the two were sitting face to face in Yeon-Wi’s room.

Yeon-Wi spoke directly.

“It seems like the establishment of the Martial Alliance is almost certain.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“I thought so.”

“Did you expect it?”

“The Moyong Family Head has made a great contribution by invoking the right to convene a meeting and declaring the Nine Great Families as enemies of the martial world. He has created an environment where the leaders of the Nine Sects and Six Families cannot help but pay attention.”

“That’s right.”

“And the Moyong Family Head wants the Martial Alliance to be established.”

“Hmm.”

“The flow of the times cannot be resisted. Moreover, the Moyong Family Head is the type who excels in all-out wars rather than localized battles. He must have led the flow.”

Yeon-Wi nodded.

“It’s exactly as you said. To be honest, even though I know he is a clear enemy, I was swayed by the Moyong Family Head’s eloquence.”

“I understand.”

What was important to Yeon-Wi was not the fact that Moyong Gun was an enemy.

What was most important to him was the path of chivalry and the safety of the people. For that, he could even join hands with his enemy. There was a reason why the world praised him as a great hero.

That was why it was possible for him to be swayed by Moyong Gun’s words.

And Yeon Ho-Jeong thought his father was amazing because of that.

“Some of the leaders of the forces that have not yet arrived are all of a belligerent nature. They will probably openly support it.”

“In other words, we can assume that the establishment of the Martial Alliance is confirmed.”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“As I said before, I also support the establishment of the Martial Alliance.”

“Hoo.”

Yeon-Wi sighed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“Now that it’s decided, don’t be too disappointed. If the Martial Alliance improves the security of the world, that would be good too…”

“That’s not why.”

“Huh?”

Yeon-Wi’s eyes, looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, were filled with confusion.

In that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong sensed that something related to him had happened.

“What is it?”

“The Moyong Family Head… no, it started with the Moyong Family Head, but most of the leaders of each sect showed enthusiasm for one thing.”

“…?”

“The newly established Martial Alliance does not have a proper combat unit. In fact, the Martial Alliance is just a gathering of the forces of the Nine Sects, Six Great Families, and minor sects.”

“That’s right.”

“But they seem to think that they need to create a combat unit that is not affiliated with any sect, but only under the Martial Alliance.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

Yeon-Wi shook his head.

“I also agree with that. If the Martial Alliance is to be established, it would be good to have a strong force. But…”

“…”

“They wanted to create a combat unit with masters from each sect as leaders.”

A cold smile appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

“The power struggle has already begun.”

“Yes.”

“What was the result?”

“First of all, the decision to create several direct units under the Martial Alliance was unanimous. However, four people, including me, opposed the idea of having masters from each sect as leaders.”

“Four people?”

“Me, the Jeagal Family Head, the Abbot of Shaolin, and…”

Yeon-Wi’s eyes turned cold.

“The Moyong Family Head.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was not surprised. He knew why Moyong Gun had opposed it.

‘He probably wanted to control only his own forces when he becomes the leader in the future. If a combat unit with masters from each sect as leaders is created, he would have to be mindful of those around him.’

He was already preparing for the future. He was a man with great drive.

“Since the Martial Alliance is a symbolic group, it is right to minimize the colors of the Nine Sects and Six Great Families.”

“I think so too.”

“For now, it’s too far off. We should think about it later…”

“The Moyong Family Head recommended you.”

“Huh?”

Suspicion appeared on Yeon-Wi’s face.

“The compromise he offered was to have masters from each sect lead only half of the combat units. And the Moyong Family Head recommended you as the leader of one of those combat units.”

“…Oh?”

“Do you know what his intention is?”

“I know one thing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong gave a wicked smile.

“That man, he must be quite scared of me.”