Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 278

“Hmm, the tea tastes quite good.”

Moyong Gun smiled, savoring the tea’s fragrance.

“It certainly does taste different. Perhaps it’s because the physician brewed it himself, but just the aroma makes me feel like my blood is being purified.”

“Haha, you flatter me.”

“So, what brings you to summon this humble one?”

Ha Gok waved his hand dismissively.

“Who am I to order the Moyong Clan Head around? I simply wished to offer you a cup of fine tea, hence this invitation.”

“Hahaha!”

Moyong Gun burst into laughter, then spoke with a smile.

“Physician Ha.”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

“Let’s set aside unnecessary formalities and trivial matters.”

“…….”

“I’m busy, and you seem quite occupied as well, Physician Ha. If you have something to say, let’s get straight to the point. If there’s any calculation to be done, let’s prepare immediately.”

Ha Gok thought to himself that he had chosen the right person.

Moyong Gun was rumored to be a man who would use any means necessary to gain power, unlike his public image. It was also said that he had no qualms about giving and receiving bribes.

Of course, this information was top secret. If this information were to leak from the Medical Society, the Moyong Clan, which was vying for the top position among the Six Great Clans, might launch an attack.

Ha Gok smiled and placed a large bundle on the table.

“First, please accept this.”

Moyong Gun didn’t ask what it was.

He immediately opened the bundle and his eyes widened at the contents.

“Is this not a Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng? And three of them?”

“Haha, although I may not know much about the martial world, I know that you, Clan Head, are a man of great importance. You’ll have many things to deal with in the future, so I thought it would be good for you to brew one whenever you’re tired.”

A strange smile appeared on Moyong Gun’s face.

The Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng was an excellent elixir. It couldn’t compare to the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, the Great Elixir of Shaolin, or the legendary inner cores of mythical creatures, but it was still a significant bribe.

Moreover, it wasn’t just one, but three. The Moyong Clan also had Thousand-Year Snow Ginsengs, but only six in total.

It was a considerable bribe, but Moyong Gun was not surprised.

He pushed the ginseng aside and asked with a smile.

“So, what would you like this Moyong Gun to do for you?”

Ha Gok burst into laughter.

“Haha, you are truly straightforward. As expected, there’s a reason why the world calls you a hero of the age. The rumors were not exaggerated.”

“You flatter me.”

“Then, this old man will speak without shame.”

Ha Gok said in a more subdued voice.

“You must be familiar with the Martial Alliance’s Yu-gun unit, the Myulsa Army [Special Forces], correct?”

Moyong Gun’s eyes flashed with interest.

“Of course.”

“I heard that the commander of the Tangma Army, another Yu-gun unit, is your younger brother.”

“That is correct.”

“To be direct, our people had some conflict with the two commanders of the Tangma Myulsa Army recently.”

“Oh, a conflict?”

“Let me explain…”

Ha Gok briefly explained what had happened.

Moyong Gun stroked his chin.

“The Medical Society… So there was such a group?”

“Haha, it can’t be called a sect. It’s not even quite an organization. It’s more like a gathering of physicians who inherited the medical lineage of the Central Plains, united to benefit the world.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, it is. Anyway, it seems there are various complex conflicts with the two commanders…”

“But I didn’t know about it until now.”

“Yes?”

“Considering its secrecy, it seems even the Beggar Clan doesn’t know much about the Medical Society.”

Ha Gok smiled.

“It’s not so much secrecy as it is that we haven’t revealed ourselves to the world. In fact, it’s not really a sect or a group with vested interests, just a gathering of close physicians.”

“Impressive.”

“What do you mean?”

“A gathering of physicians with close ties? A simple gathering, yet you went to the leaders of the Martial Alliance’s Yu-gun units and even asked them to refuse official orders. It seems like a very tightly knit group.”

Ha Gok tried to maintain his smile.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. We are just…”

“Also, even if one is the head of a prestigious family vying for the top spot among the Six Great Clans, to casually hand over three Thousand-Year Snow Ginsengs… Haha, no matter how I think about it, the Medical Society seems like no ordinary organization.”

“Clan Head, please don’t misunderstand. We are by no means a great organization.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. What power could a gathering of powerless physicians have?”

“They may lack practical martial strength.”

Moyong Gun smiled faintly.

“Did you join hands with the government?”

For a moment, Ha Gok almost screamed.

He managed to stop the sound from escaping, but his surprise was clearly visible on his face.

Moyong Gun nodded.

“I thought so. Currently, in the black and white martial world, there is no organization as powerful as the Martial Alliance. To challenge such a group, you would need a powerful backer that the Martial Alliance would be hesitant to touch, and naturally, that would be the government.”

“……!”

“But Physician Ha.”

“…Please speak, Clan Head.”

“I don’t care whether the Medical Society has joined hands with the government or any other organization, but why did you have to provoke those two?”

Ha Gok quickly interjected.

“That’s why we came to see you, Clan Head. Especially since your younger brother was also present, we felt we had greatly offended you, so we wanted to show our sincerity…”

“It’s not Woo that I’m concerned about.”

“Yes?”

“Woo is my brother, and if I soothe him, he’ll let go of his anger. Besides, he’s a man who can see the big picture. There’s a reason why he’s called a genius.”

“Th, then…?”

Moyong Gun gave a mocking smile.

“Do you know what kind of man Yeon Ho-jeong is?”

“……?!”

“There are three people in the Martial Alliance that I fear and am wary of the most. The first is Great Master Gong Gong, the second is the military strategist Jeagal Mun-Ho. So who would be the last?”

“Could it be…?”

“That’s right. It’s that Yeon Ho-jeong.”

Ha Gok’s face hardened.

The head of the mighty Moyong Clan feared and was wary of a mere junior?

Ha Gok felt speechless at this unbelievable statement. He had heard that Moyong Gun was unparalleled in martial arts, as well as in political power and schemes.

Yet, such a man feared a young man who was barely over twenty, even if he was the best junior in the world?

“As I said, Woo is a genius. He’s good at everything, from martial arts to insight and talent. But Yeon Ho-jeong is different.”

“…….”

“If Woo is a genius of the age, then Yeon Ho-jeong is a monster with three heads and six arms. I don’t even understand how he became such a monster.”

Ha Gok swallowed involuntarily.

A monster with three heads and six arms. He had heard many people described that way, but when the mighty Moyong Gun said it, the weight of it was different.

“You must have thought that even if they were talented, the two of them wouldn’t be enough to make the Martial Alliance act rashly.”

“…….”

“You’re half right. My brother, Woo, wouldn’t be able to. But Yeon Ho-jeong is different.”

Moyong Gun smiled coldly.

“Whether the Medical Society has joined hands with the government or not, even if they have direct ties with the emperor of the nation, he will try to crush them if he doesn’t like it.”

“Th, that’s impossible!”

“Oh? Do you really think so?”

“Even if Yeon Ho-jeong is a monster as you say, how can one individual stand against the government?”

“Surely, Physician Ha, you don’t think that I fear Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial prowess?”

“Yes?”

“The reason I fear and am wary of him is because of his terrifying insight, drive, and unimaginable schemes and execution.”

“……!!”

“He never forgets what he has set his mind on. In that respect, Yeon Ho-jeong is similar to me. A politician should be like that. Never forget what you’ve suffered. Only consider when to attack.”

Ha Gok swallowed again involuntarily.

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“You have chosen the wrong opponent this time. Even I would find it difficult to stop him once he starts going crazy. Moreover, from the Martial Alliance’s perspective, Yeon Ho-jeong was simply following the orders of his superiors.”

“……!!”

“Besides, you’ve come to the wrong person.”

“Wh, what do you mean?”

Moyong Gun smiled bitterly.

“I am currently in a bind. I attend the Alliance Council meetings every time, but I’m being cautious because of the things I’ve done in the past.”

“That is…!”

“Although, if I were to step in directly, there’s nothing I couldn’t do.”

Moyong Gun smiled and tapped the Thousand-Year Snow Ginsengs.

“Three Thousand-Year Snow Ginsengs are not enough to make me move. I have my own preparations to make.”

“Clan Head.”

“Even if you had brought Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginsengs, I would have hesitated. That’s my current situation.”

“Then…”

Ha Gok asked cautiously.

“If you are in such a situation, could you perhaps use the members who have joined hands with you?”

“…….”

“Of course, we will show our sincerity.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“There’s another mistake you’ve made, Physician Ha.”

“Yes?”

“I am not the kind of person who can be moved by a direct bribe. A bribe is just a key to open the door for conversation. If you truly wanted something from me, you should have brought a gift of ‘the future’.”

“The future?”

“Are you willing to cut ties with the government and join me?”

“……!!”

“See? You didn’t even consider that, so you’ve wasted three Thousand-Year Snow Ginsengs for nothing.”

Moyong Gun picked up the bundle and stood up.

“As you said, Physician Ha, I will take this as a token of apology for offending my brother.”

“Cl, Clan Head!”

“Also, neither I nor the Martial Alliance have any desire to be enemies with you. So, I will try to mention it to them.”

Moyong Gun smiled and turned his back.

Ha Gok, who had been swindled right under his nose, stared blankly at Moyong Gun’s retreating figure.

Before opening the door, Moyong Gun spoke.

“Physician Ha, although we’ve only met a couple of times, we have some acquaintance, so let me give you some advice.”

“……?”

“From now on, that crazy monster, Yeon Ho-jeong, will start to rampage.”

“……!”

“It’s not much to say, but just endure it. Don’t provoke him. If you provoke him any further, the Medical Society, which you call a gathering, might be uprooted.”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“Stop all activities from now on, and tell the high-ranking official in the government you’ve contacted that you will resolve this matter on your own. Otherwise, a few pillars of the government will be destroyed.”

“…….”

“Remember my words.”