Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 385

“They must have met by now.”

“They probably have.”

Yeon-wi’s face, as he sipped his tea, was utterly expressionless.

Though he had shown a more relaxed side recently, Yeon-wi was originally quite a stern character. The fact that he was drinking tea without any expression made the atmosphere in the room incredibly heavy.

Even the great Tang Gwan was clearing his throat nervously while looking at Yeon-wi’s face; anyone else would have been too intimidated to breathe.

Jeagal Mun-ho spoke.

“Because Grandmaster Yeon’s abilities are so outstanding, he often takes the lead. Every time he does, he always says the same thing to the family head. He tells you not to worry.”

“…….”

“I know that those words don’t offer any comfort to you, his parents. However, this time too, we have no choice but to trust Grandmaster Yeon. As you know, Grandmaster Yeon doesn’t throw himself into battles he can’t win.”

Yeon-wi remained silent.

Jeagal Mun-ho looked at Tang Gwan with a troubled expression, signaling for him to offer some support.

Tang Gwan smacked his lips.

“It’s only natural for parents to worry about their children. But Grandmaster Yeon is all grown up, isn’t he? He’s old enough to handle his own affairs. He was raised well and has grown well, so now all we can do is watch.”

Normally, he would have called Yeon Ho-Jeong a brat or a madman, but Yeon-wi’s expression was so unsettling that even Tang Gwan had to be careful with his word choice.

However, given his personality, comforting words were unlikely to come out properly. Jeagal Mun-ho’s expression immediately became awkward.

At that moment, Yeon-wi spoke.

“I have always been prepared for this.”

The two men looked at Yeon-wi.

Still focused on his teacup, Yeon-wi said,

“As the Tang family head said, Ho-Jeong is all grown up. Even Ji-Pyeong has started to do his part. And it’s not just my children. The children of the Tang and Jeagal families have also grown enough to do their part.”

“…….”

“I’ve been thinking. What can we, as parents, do for our children who are already grown? But no matter how much I think about it, there’s nothing more I can do. I can take care of small things, but anything more than that is just parental greed.”

“Family Head Yeon.”

“Then, as parents, as martial artists, what more can we do for our children?”

Yeon-wi’s eyes turned cold.

“Revenge.”

“……!”

“My children are martial artists. As am I. If that’s the case, then the only thing I can do is avenge my children if they die somewhere.”

Jeagal Mun-ho and Tang Gwan were taken aback. They never expected such words to come from Yeon-wi, who was praised as a gentleman.

Yeon-wi calmly drank his tea.

With that one sip, his complicated feelings calmed down considerably.

“When a chick starts to flap its wings, the mother bird no longer brings it food. It’s the same with people. But people and animals are different. The only thing I can do for my children now is that.”

“…….”

“I apologize for ruining the mood. Even though I say this, I can’t shake off my worries, just as Jeagal family head said. From now on, I’ll keep these worries to myself, so there’s no need to be concerned about me.”

Yeon-wi sighed.

“I only hope that the day when I have to fulfill that last role as a parent never comes.”

Jeagal Mun-ho nodded heavily.

“I will do my best to ensure that Family Head Yeon never has to use that last right.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Gwan smacked his lips.

“Well, Family Head Yeon’s words are right. If a martial artist’s child has grown enough to do their part, then all that’s left is revenge.”

Revenge, retribution.

For a member of the Tang family, there were no words that resonated more deeply. Tang Gwan’s face, as he pondered Yeon-wi’s words, became very serious.

Jeagal Mun-ho said,

“In any case, given Yang Cheon’s personality, he will never harm Grandmaster Yeon. He can’t. He is the King of Fighters, but he is also the leader of the Black Path, commanding tens of thousands of subordinates. He can’t act rashly.”

Tang Gwan shook his head.

“He is also the King of Fighters. Not because he is a member of the Black Path, but because he is the King of Fighters, he won’t let things slide easily.”

“Of course. However, Grandmaster Yeon said he had a deal with Yang Cheon, so if the deal is to be made, he won’t be able to harm Grandmaster Yeon.”

It was about the Yin-Yang Divine Palm. Jeagal Mun-ho and Tang Gwan didn’t know the details, but Yeon-wi had already heard about it from Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Still, the worry was unavoidable.

“We’ll hear from them soon.”

Jeagal Mun-ho’s eyes gleamed.

“If it’s Grandmaster Yeon, he will surely achieve the best possible outcome.”

* * *

Pow! Pow! Pow! Bang!

The battle between the two masters was reaching a fever pitch.

‘Amazing.’

Bu-seon’s face was filled with astonishment.

‘It’s becoming a real fight?!’

What was certain was that her master was not using his full power.

She had seen her master fight seriously before. It was a long time ago, but if he unleashed even that level of power, that young man named Yeon Ho-Jeong would have fallen long ago.

However.

‘But he’s not fighting carelessly either.’

Thwack! Pow!

Blood spurted from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth.

Clang!

From Yang Cheon’s forearm, which had blocked Yeon Ho-Jeong’s elbow, a faint white smoke rose.

The cumulative impact was different. The more he defended against Yang Cheon’s attacks, the more violently Yeon Ho-Jeong’s energy fluctuated, while Yang Cheon’s energy, as he defended against Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attacks, remained as stable as ever.

Still, they were holding back.

Although Yang Cheon was not using his full power, a hand-to-hand combat was taking place.

It was a fight in the truest sense. Not a bloody battle between warriors fighting for their lives, but a contest of martial arts between fighters on a sparring platform.

Of course, even in a sparring match, one could die in an instant. But it was not quite a life-or-death struggle.

It was like when the leaders of the back alleys would come out to decide the winner.

The fight between Yeon Ho-Jeong and Yang Cheon was surprisingly thrilling.

“…Incredible.”

Bu-seon was startled and looked to her side.

The young swordsman, who she thought was arrogant but was actually more skilled than her, was shaking his head in disbelief.

“I knew my brother was strong, but I never imagined he could engage in hand-to-hand combat with the King of Fighters.”

As they moved to avoid the clash between the two supreme masters, they had somehow gotten closer.

Bu-seon’s eyes sharpened.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Hmm?”

Gang Ryang, glancing at Bu-seon, said calmly,

“It was just a soliloquy, don’t mind it.”

“That he can engage in hand-to-hand combat with my master?”

Gang Ryang pointed his chin at the two men.

“Can’t you see it? They’re fighting well, aren’t they?”

“That’s ridiculous! Anyone can see that my master is holding back. If my master were to use his full power, he would be done in three seconds…”

“Then, is what’s happening now not a fight?”

“……!”

“If it were you, would you have the confidence to engage in a hand-to-hand fight with the King of Fighters like that?”

Bu-seon was momentarily speechless.

Gang Ryang shook his head.

“Talk of the opponent hiding their strength or playing around is just armchair theory. What matters is this moment.”

“He’s just playing around. The moment my master gets bored, that guy is dead.”

“That’s something we don’t know. Because it hasn’t happened yet.”

“You’re just playing with words…”

“And look.”

Gang Ryang smiled.

It was a strange smile, as if he was amused or perhaps bitter, and Bu-seon felt a strange pang in her heart.

“Where do you see boredom on your master’s face? Far from being bored, he seems to be enjoying this fight more than my brother, a fight he hasn’t had in a long time.”

Bu-seon turned her gaze to Yang Cheon.

‘……!!’

That’s right. Gang Ryang was right.

Yang Cheon’s face, as he responded to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s punches and kicks, was expressionless.

But Bu-seon knew. No, anyone could tell.

Yang Cheon’s cheeks were flushed. His eyes were brighter than ever, and his energy, as he reacted to his opponent’s movements, was stable but filled with a strange excitement.

Gang Ryang was right. Yang Cheon was enjoying this fight.

“If he used his full power, my brother would lose? That’s probably true. The odds are overwhelmingly in his favor. But the important thing is that the King of Fighters is not using his full power.”

Even as he spoke, Gang Ryang’s eyes were following every single one of the two men’s movements.

Not a single action, not a single clash, would be overlooked. His eyes showed that kind of determination.

“To bring joy to the King of Fighters, to make him enjoy this fight for as long as possible.”

“……!”

“To make sure the King of Fighters doesn’t use his full power in this fight, that’s why my brother is so amazing.”

“…Did he approach him with that in mind from the start?”

“That’s something only the person himself would know. But the brother I know is not someone who would throw himself into enemy territory without any preparation. He must have had confidence.”

Gang Ryang’s smile deepened.

“Confidence that he could prevent the King of Fighters from killing him, and confidence that he could use this as a foundation for the development of his own martial arts.”

Whoooom!

With a tremendous explosion, Yeon Ho-Jeong was thrown five yards away and rolled on the ground.

“Cough!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been holding back, spat out blood and looked at Yang Cheon with bloodshot eyes.

Yang Cheon’s stance was even lower. It was the stance of a lion about to pounce on its prey.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been staring at Yang Cheon, grinned.

“I lost.”

“……?”

“Let’s stop here.”

Yang Cheon’s eyebrows twitched.

“Stop here?”

Fwoosh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong calmly gathered the inner energy he had pushed to its limit. It was an expression of his will not to fight anymore.

“What are you doing? The fight is not yet…”

“It’s over. I’ve reached my limit.”

“……?”

“However, if you want to enjoy a fight like today again, I’ll stop by on my way back after this mission is over.”

“What?”

“Was it okay? The fight with me?”

Yang Cheon, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, relaxed his stance.

Yang Cheon’s face became strange.

“It was okay. It was more than okay. Since I bathed in the starlight of the Limitless [a reference to a high level of martial arts], this was the most thrilling martial arts exchange I’ve ever had.”

“I’m honored.”

After a moment of silence, Yang Cheon asked abruptly,

“Was this what you were aiming for?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“It’s hard to kill an evil friend who is worth sharing blows with, even if he’s an enemy. Thanks to you, I had a good time, but for me, it was a fun game, while for you, it must have been a life-or-death game of wits.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“That’s how I started, but as the fight went on, that thought disappeared from my mind. It wasn’t a fight where I had the luxury of thinking about other things.”

“…….”

“However, if you thought I was an evil friend worth keeping alive, then help me now. Let’s destroy the Three Sects together. Of course, if you also think you have a debt to repay to them.”

Yang Cheon chuckled.

‘He’s a guy you can’t hate.’

He didn’t expect things to turn out this way. Of course, he never intended to kill Yeon Ho-Jeong from the start, but he didn’t expect it to end so pleasantly.

“A smart enemy is always the number one target for elimination. But you’re too good to kill right now.”

Yang Cheon turned his body.

“Follow me. At least this time, I’ll welcome you as a guest.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

“Are you inviting me to the Mukryong Clan?”

“Why? Are you scared? That I might take you there and kill you?”

“Of course not. If you were going to kill me, you would have done it already. I’m honored. However, I won’t be able to stay long because I have a mission.”

“Just heal your body and leave. You’ll get the information about the Hong Gwan after my body is fully recovered.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong grinned.

“That’s a deal I like.”