Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 254

“I see.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Well, that’s just like him.”

Yeon Wi shook his head.

“That snake. He barely returns and calls a meeting, then tries to disrupt the atmosphere. What a terrible person.”

“A protruding stone is bound to be struck. I, too, acted without thinking.”

“Don’t think like that. If we’ve truly gathered for the sake of the world, we should feel bitter seeing the next generation of martial artists, not try to tear them down.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes. At least, that’s how I believe a leader of the White Path [a righteous martial arts faction] should act.”

Yeon Wi sighed.

“Even if reality isn’t like that, nothing will change if we don’t dream of an ideal. We must acknowledge reality, but we must always seek a better path to progress.”

This was the difference between Yeon Wi and Moyong Gun.

Moyong Gun was at the stage of accepting reality, while Yeon Wi accepted reality but still dreamed of an ideal. And he believed it was the right thing to do.

Yeon Ho-Jeong agreed with his father’s philosophy.

‘That’s right. If we settle for the present just because the current reality doesn’t change, we’ll only end up being buried by it.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong was like Yeon Wi.

He was someone who didn’t settle for the present. He always thought about the future and dreamed of a better tomorrow.

Of course, their methods were very different.

“Anyway, Moyong Gun reported it that way.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Wi’s eyes gleamed.

“Now, let’s hear it. What happened there, and how Moyong Gun harassed you with his schemes. I need to hear every detail.”

“Understood.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong leaned forward.

“What happened there was…”

It was then.

‘…?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his head towards the window.

Yeon Wi’s face hardened.

“I didn’t expect this.”

“…Indeed.”

“To come here first, what a reckless man.”

The corner of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth twitched.

“Whether he’s reckless or has brought everything with him, we’ll find out when we meet him.”

Outside the window where Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze was directed.

Moyong Gun was walking through the main gate of the Pagun Pavilion.

* * *

“Hmm.”

Moyong Gun looked around the room.

“It’s very simple. Just a bed, a table, a chair, and weapons.”

“I don’t need anything more.”

“That’s like you. It looks barren at first glance, but it has everything you need.”

“That’s right.”

“Why don’t you put a piece of pottery or something?”

“I don’t have an eye for aesthetics. And it costs money.”

“Tsk, it’s not like it costs that much.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I’m glad you returned unharmed.”

Moyong Gun smiled back.

“You can say that again. To be honest, I thought I was done for this time.”

“Then you should have been more careful.”

“How much more careful can I be? I’m disappointed.”

“That’s a boring joke.”

“Hahaha!”

Moyong Gun looked out the window.

“By the way, does Lord Yeon have something urgent? He left in a hurry.”

“He has a strong stomach, but not as strong as mine.”

Moyong Gun shrugged.

“Do I smell bad or something?”

It was a very relaxed response. It was unlike the proud Moyong Gun.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Moyong Gun with deep eyes.

‘He came here first?’

Moyong Gun was not someone who sought out others. Rather, he was someone who made others come to him.

That was another pride that Moyong Gun himself was not aware of. The one who is in need moves first, and in politics, the one in need naturally becomes the weaker one.

In that sense, Moyong Gun was always the stronger one. In the past, he had come first regarding the Anhui Blood Palace incident, but at that time, Moyong Gun did not consider Yeon Ho-Jeong a rival.

A political rival capable of a power struggle.

He was coming to him first for the first time. This time, even Yeon Ho-Jeong found it difficult to read Moyong Gun’s intentions.

“But you, aren’t you being too much?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t I treat you to good wine before? Even though I came without notice, are you not going to offer me even a cup of tea?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Wait here.”

After a while, Yeon Ho-Jeong brought two bottles of liquor and two cups.

Moyong Gun frowned.

“Fire liquor?”

“Please understand.”

“I rarely say this, but if you have money, use it. Saving isn’t everything.”

“I’m spending a lot elsewhere.”

“Hmph.”

Moyong Gun smacked his lips.

“I guess I have no choice. Give me a cup.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong filled his cup.

Moyong Gun also filled Yeon Ho-Jeong’s cup.

“Now, let’s drink it down.”

The two emptied their cups at the same time.

Unlike the calm Yeon Ho-Jeong, Moyong Gun’s face was distorted.

“It’s strong. And the aroma is strange.”

“You’ll get used to it. It’s good for getting drunk on the cheap.”

“Is there more?”

“Plenty. I bought about a dozen bottles…”

“There’s definitely more information you haven’t given me.”

He suddenly brought up the mission.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“Information?”

“Yes. You clearly said it yourself. You asked me to buy you some time. You said you’d get top-secret information.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled coldly.

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? You know it was part of a plan to stab you in the back.”

“Hmm.”

“And yet, you’ve returned alive and well… Actually, I expected Yang Cheon to move personally.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

‘So that’s how it was.’

This guy was clearly looking that far ahead. He must have foreseen that Yang Cheon might move personally and bury him.

‘What a monster.’

What a truly terrifying guy.

Unless he had a perfect grasp of how the Mukryong Division [a shadowy intelligence organization] would react, he couldn’t have come up with such a plan.

‘Just what is this guy?’

After this incident, one question arose.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was strangely familiar with the Black Path [a term for the underworld or evil martial arts factions]. Although he hadn’t seen it directly, he could tell from his response and the reactions of the Twelve Zodiacs [likely referring to a group of powerful figures].

Although they were Black Path thugs, they were also leaders of a group. In particular, Yang Cheon had overwhelming martial arts and insight, surpassing any master of the White Path.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had gained Yang Cheon’s trust in just a few meetings and had secured one of the highest positions in the Mukryong Division.

It was something that could not even be attempted if he had not properly grasped Yang Cheon’s personality. A single mistake could cost him his life.

‘From the moment he created the organization chart, he was confident he could become the head of the intelligence department.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong attracted the attention of the Black Path informants, imprinted the existence of Dang Sang-A, aroused interest, and met Yang Cheon directly to put the reorganization chart on the gambling table.

Everything flowed naturally. It must have been a series of tense days, but at the same time, it was a method that could never have been used if he wasn’t sure he would take on a key role.

‘I have a hunch, but no proof.’

Moyong Gun smiled.

‘But this guy has proof that he can’t let be exposed.’

It was intuition.

If Yeon Ho-Jeong intuitively knew of Moyong Gun’s survival, Moyong Gun also intuitively realized that Yeon Ho-Jeong was hiding something.

They had shown each other a lot in the meantime.

Now, the two no longer needed to gauge each other’s limits. They had entered a match where they would simply dig into what each other was aiming for and what they were hiding.

“So, you’ve already handed over all the information?”

“There’s no reason to extract top-secret information separately, is there?”

“You never know. You might have taken business-related documents. If it’s economic documents, they’re treasures in themselves. If the Yeon family preempts what the Mukryong Division is eyeing, they could make a lot of money.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Are you serious?”

“I’m serious. Of course, considering your boldness, I don’t think you’d do such a petty thing.”

“You see well.”

“I never thought you’d try to kill the commander of this mission and the head of the Moyong family.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes turned cold.

“Do you think I crossed the line? No. I didn’t cross the line. But you’re different. You clearly crossed the line this time.”

“I don’t want to hear such abstract talk. The clear thing is, you did something you shouldn’t have, and I couldn’t forgive it.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled coldly.

“Do you think I’m hiding something? I’m sorry, but what I’m hiding is just the claws I haven’t fully revealed yet.”

“…”

“I thought I could tear you to pieces with a couple of claws, but you’ve returned alive and well. So what can I do? I have no choice but to take out the remaining claws one by one.”

The corner of Moyong Gun’s mouth curled up.

“Let’s go for a mud fight?”

“Has our fight ever been clean?”

“At least there were implicit rules.”

“You were the one who broke the rules first.”

“I think differently.”

“Then you should be a little more nervous from now on. You never know when I might chop you with an axe.”

Moyong Gun, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, tapped his cup.

“The cup is empty.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong filled his cup.

Moyong Gun smiled.

“This method was quite impressive. I’m not someone who will fall for the same trick again, so you’ll have to come up with a more innovative plan next time.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“In a dirty fight, there’s no need for innovative plans.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“And dogfights are my specialty.”

Moyong Gun raised his cup.

“Let’s have a drink.”

Clink!

The two who had clinked their cups emptied their drinks.

Moyong Gun got up from his seat.

“I was well treated. As you said, after drinking a few cups, I’m getting used to it.”

“That’s the charm of fire liquor.”

“It was a conversation with no real substance, but your conversations are always interesting. It’s good to feel the tension that had loosened tighten again.”

“I’m glad I could be of some help.”

“Hey, Ho-Jeong.”

“Yes?”

Moyong Gun’s eyes turned cold.

“A politician doesn’t forget what they’ve suffered. This move was quite painful. I’m going to pay you back properly, so be prepared and wait.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said with a blank face.

“The back of my head is still throbbing from your hit. I regretted not treating you more cruelly, but I’m rather grateful that you came back alive like this.”

“You’re still the same.”

“I’ll return that to you.”

Moyong Gun turned around.

“I’ll be going now. See you later.”

“Let’s do that.”

Moyong Gun left the room.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was quietly looking at the liquor bottle, turned his eyes to the window.

Moyong Gun’s figure was gradually moving away, and his long shadow looked like a ghost clinging to a person.

“…He met him.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“That man met Yang Cheon.”

What was even more surprising was that he had returned alive after meeting Yang Cheon.

“He faced Yang Cheon, who was blinded by anger, and returned alive… How? Why would a man who could kill a weakling in three moves let him live?”

The answer was one.

“They made a deal.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled coldly.

“Yes, he came back after successfully completing a deal that had been shattered.”