Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 340

“Did you break a sweat this morning?” Even with Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sudden visit, Tang Gwan was not surprised.

“What is it? The axe isn’t finished yet.”

“I have something to say besides the axe. But, why is your energy so unstable?”

Tang Gwan scoffed.

“It’s none of your business. Besides, your body isn’t normal either. What kind of trouble did you get into this time?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I had a real fight with Moyong Gun.”

Tang Gwan’s expression instantly changed.

“With Moyong Gun?”

“Yes. I tried to take him on, but he was no joke.”

“What happened?”

“Before I tell you that, I have something else to say. Do you have time?”

Tang Gwan saw it for the first time in a long while. The seriousness and tension on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

“Come in.”

“What did you say?”

Was it a reaction befitting the head of the Shaolin Temple, the greatest sacred place of the orthodox martial world? Great Master Gong Gong didn’t seem surprised. His prayer was unwavering, and he didn’t make a fuss.

However, Jeagal Mun-Ho knew that Great Master Gong Gong was more surprised than ever. His prayer was still like a deep, clear lake, but his eyes, full of Buddhist faith, were shaking as if an earthquake had struck.

Jeagal Mun-Ho opened his mouth again.

“……”

A moment of silence fell.

Gong Gong, who had been quietly watching Jeagal Mun-Ho, moistened his throat with a sip of tea. His prayer was still calm.

“The Three Evil Cults…”

“That’s right.”

Gong Gong looked at Jeagal Mun-Ho with profound eyes.

Despite being equals in their positions, Jeagal Mun-Ho was kneeling.

It wasn’t just a simple act of apology. Jeagal Mun-Ho wasn’t there as the head of the same orthodox faction or as a top leader of the Martial Alliance.

Right now, he was a junior who had come to rely on a senior who was wiser and more respected than himself.

Jeagal Mun-Ho, who was clear about public and private matters, was acting so humble. Gong Gong sensed that the matter was serious.

“So, the fact that the strategist is only now telling me about them means that they are such a terrifying organization that he had to be careful about speaking of them?”

“That’s right. They have successfully infiltrated the imperial court and government, and even the group called the Evil Sound Cult played a crucial role in establishing the Mukryong Unit.”

“……”

“It’s unlikely, but if their influence has spread to our orthodox faction, there might be spies among us. That’s why I’ve been cautious.”

Gong Gong’s eyebrows twitched.

‘There’s a chance there are spies among us.’ It was a truly dangerous statement.

Jeagal Mun-Ho lowered his head.

“I know that the abbot’s Buddhist faith is more than enough to cover the world. However, given the circumstances, I couldn’t treat all the members of the alliance equally.”

“Does that mean you investigated the members of the alliance?”

As expected, Gong Gong was no ordinary person. He immediately noticed the hidden meaning in Jeagal Mun-Ho’s words.

“That’s right.”

“……”

He admitted it in such a calm voice.

How much hardship must he have gone through to make his voice so firm? Aside from anything else, Gong Gong knew that the agony Jeagal Mun-Ho had endured was beyond imagination.

Gong Gong sighed.

“Raise your head.”

“……”

“Although I am older than the strategist, I have not accumulated enough virtue or am I a noble person to be treated as a senior.”

“That’s not true.”

“I know that the strategist is not lowering his head to ask for my pity.”

“……”

“It seems impossible to have a deep conversation in this state. Please raise your head.”

“I’m sorry.”

Only then did Jeagal Mun-Ho raise his head and sit comfortably.

Gong Gong’s face became serious.

“I know you’re not one to joke about such matters, but I’ll still ask. Is it true?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho took out a dozen neatly folded documents from his chest and presented them.

“Please look at this.”

Gong Gong received the documents.

The documents were filled with detailed information about the Three Evil Cults, written in fine script.

As Gong Gong read the documents with a heavy heart, surprise appeared in his eyes.

“The Physician Lord?!”

“That’s right. The Physician Lord is a member of the Shin Hwa Cult [Divine Flower Cult] and was converted by Commander Yeon, giving us a lot of information.”

“……”

“Please continue reading. There are many surprising things.”

Gong Gong calmed himself for a moment and then calmly read through the documents.

After a while.

“Hah.”

A hollow laugh finally escaped Gong Gong’s lips.

“Such things were happening in the shadows, and I was living leisurely, unaware of anything.”

“It’s not the abbot’s fault. How could you know what was happening around you without seeing or hearing it? I am the one who blocked your eyes and ears. I will take all the blame.”

“……That doesn’t seem to be the issue to discuss here.”

Gong Gong calmly dismissed the statement and nodded, asking.

“Who among the alliance members knows about this?”

“Yeon Wi, the head of the Byeoksan Yeon family of Gangdong, Moyong Gun, the head of the Moyong family of Honam, and Tang Gwan, the head of the Tang family of Sichuan.”

“……”

“Currently, there are five of us, including you and me.”

“You don’t plan to tell the other alliance members?”

“Not yet… that’s right.”

Aside from the importance of the matter, it was clear that he was being so cautious for a reason.

If he had gathered this much information about an organization that had been hidden until now, Jeagal Mun-Ho must have been extremely busy. Considering the efforts he had made to maintain secrecy, he couldn’t bring himself to tell him to reveal it to everyone.

“Strategist.”

“Speak, Abbot.”

“If everyone finds out about this in the future, you may have to step down from your position.”

It was a cold reality. Jeagal Mun-Ho lowered his head.

“If I am stripped of my position as strategist, I will humbly accept it. After that, I will fight with my life to drive out the Three Cults. And if I survive, I will pass the position of family head to the rightful heir of my family and spend the rest of my life in the Martial Alliance prison.”

It was a terrifying resolve.

It was even more terrifying because it wasn’t just empty words. If Jeagal Mun-Ho were to be imprisoned in the Martial Alliance prison, the name of the Jeagal family would inevitably fall to the ground.

Jeagal Mun-Ho had done all this while accepting all of that.

Gong Gong sighed.

“If everything you said is true, and if the moment comes when we all have to fight them…”

“……”

“I too, will lend my meager strength and then step down from my position as abbot.”

This was it. This was why Jeagal Mun-Ho felt sorry for Gong Gong.

Gong Gong was a flexible person, but he was also someone who never tried to exercise that flexibility unless it was necessary.

The moment he shared this secret, Gong Gong would also be on the same boat as Jeagal Mun-Ho. If Jeagal Mun-Ho had to step down from his position as strategist, he too would have to give up everything.

Jeagal Mun-Ho lowered his head once more.

“I’m sorry.”

Gong Gong slowly closed his eyes.

His voice was unwavering, but he was not someone who couldn’t read the deep emotions contained within it.

“I believe you did what you had to do. Of course, the process may not have been entirely righteous, but how wonderful would it be if everything in the world could be resolved by doing things right?”

It was not something that should have come from the mouth of the owner of the Shaolin Temple’s abbot’s residence.

However, that was also what Shaolin was. It was one of the sacred sites of Central Plains Buddhism and was called the sun of the martial world, but because of that, the abbot was also bound to be well-versed in worldly affairs.

He would let most minor evils flow according to the natural order. However, he would actively intervene in disasters that were too difficult to handle and uphold justice.

There were hundreds of years of agony before Shaolin laid down its sacred Buddhist faith.

“However, even if I have to step down from my position as abbot, I will try to ensure that you do not rot in prison.”

“Abbot. Please don’t do that.”

“Your eyes are fixed on justice. If you hadn’t made such a decision, who knows what would have happened to the world?”

“You flatter me. All I did was make a decision. All the merits I think I have achieved were done by the Yeon family, so please look at that part clearly.”

Gong Gong smiled bitterly.

“How wonderful it would be if everyone in the Martial Alliance were like you.”

“……”

“I understand well. I will keep my mouth shut for the time being.”

“Thank you.”

“If you have time tonight, let’s have a cup of tea together.”

“Of course. Then.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho gave his final greeting and left the residence.

Gong Gong closed his eyes.

“If the Tao is one foot high, the Devil is ten feet high…” [A common saying that good is always challenged by evil]

Suddenly, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s bold words came to mind.

‘The Taoist and Buddhist masters always say, ‘If the Tao is one foot high, the Devil is ten feet high.’ Evil and wickedness always surpass goodness.’

‘If you have power, you must strive to become three feet high, seven feet high, through constant self-cultivation.’

Gong Gong was greatly surprised when he heard those words.

If you have power, use it for righteousness. The reason why Shaolin was involved in the affairs of the martial world was because of the will of such masters.

Perhaps it was a forgotten, yet obvious duty.

Gong Gong opened his mouth.

“Is anyone there?”

“Yes, Abbot.”

“Send a message to Master Seung-Hyeon of Wudang. Tell him I will visit at noon today.”

* * *

“Have you arrived?”

Tang Gwan nodded and sat down on any chair.

His arms were crossed, and his eyes were turned to the window, making him look strangely cold. He seemed to be in a rather bad mood.

Yeon Wi sighed.

“Did you hear it from Ho-Jeong?”

“I heard it, so isn’t that why I came to this uncomfortable place?”

“I’m sorry.”

Tang Gwan scoffed.

“It must have been very fun all this time. The thought of you all laughing and joking in front of someone who didn’t know anything still makes me angry.”

“Tang Family Head. We never did that. Rather…”

“Shut up.”

Tang Gwan glared at Yeon Wi.

He didn’t say much.

“Is there anything else you’re hiding?”

“No.”

“Hmph! How can I believe that?”

Tang Gwan growled as if he was still angry.

“If you hide such a crucial matter again, then it’s over.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Tang Gwan kicked the table with his foot.

Thud.

“Rude.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“Did you call for me?”

“What are you doing? Hurry up and bring some tea.”

In the room were Yeon Wi, Tang Gwan, Muk Bi, Yeon Ji-Pyeong, and Yeon Ho-Jeong. Jeagal Mun-Ho and Moyong Gun would also come.

There were more people than expected. Yeon Ho-Jeong cleared his throat and stood up.

“Understood.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong quietly stood up.

“I’ll help…”

At that moment, Tang Gwan glared at Yeon Ji-Pyeong with terrifying eyes.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong hiccuped without realizing it. Yeon Ho-Jeong waved his hand.

“Stay seated. I’ll bring it.”

“Yes, yes!”

“…Ah, damn it, making it so uncomfortable.”

As Yeon Ho-Jeong muttered quietly, Tang Gwan flared up.

“Stop talking nonsense and bring it quickly!”

“I said I would.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, grumbling, quickly left the room.

“……”

Silence became the weight of ten thousand pounds, pressing down on the air.

After a while, Tang Gwan asked as if throwing a question.

“Did you say Moyong Gun is coming too?”

“That’s right.”

“If that bastard disturbs my mood, I’ll cut his head off immediately, so don’t you dare stop me. Do you understand?”

Yeon Wi sighed.

“…I’ll try my best.”

It was a truly difficult situation. Even the great Yeon Wi’s mouth felt dry and rough.