Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 444

“What did you say?”Jeagal Mun-ho’s face turned serious.”Explain in detail.”The Beggars’ Sect disciple, a direct subordinate of Ga Deuk-sang, had relayed everything: the current situation of the Righteous Army, the political landscape of Guangdong, and even the approach of a branch of Bota Hermitage. “Bota… a branch of Bota went to Yeon Dae-su….”They had received a report that the representative and successor of the Lotus Flower Gate [a branch of Bota Hermitage specializing in healing and spiritual practices], one of the three branches of Bota Hermitage, had headed towards the Mukryong Stronghold in Hunan.He had informed Gong Gong about it first, and because of the nature of the matter, it had not yet been revealed at the Bonggong Council. They would reveal it soon, but the times were so chaotic that they were waiting for the right moment.Of course, that would be after they received a reply to the letter Gong Gong had sent to Bota Hermitage.‘But another branch went to Yeon Dae-su?’Jeagal Mun-ho’s index finger tapped the table repeatedly.‘Why on earth?’The reputation of Yeon Ho-jeong, the commander of the Righteous Army and the left general of the Martial Alliance’s integrated forces, was quite significant.Considering his age, it was not easy to achieve such fame at such a young age. Some even viewed it as a bubble, claiming that the Martial Alliance was pushing a young master too hard.Of course, that was a misunderstanding. Considering Yeon Ho-jeong’s abilities, the reputation of the Azure Wall Tiger General that had spread throughout the Central Plains was actually quite understated.Whatever the case, Yeon Ho-jeong’s reputation was the highest among the younger generation. However….‘They wouldn’t have gone to Yeon Dae-su personally to ask for something. If anything, they might have been trying to ask something of the main alliance through Yeon Dae-su.’No matter how outstanding Yeon Ho-jeong’s reputation was, he was still a member of the younger generation.In other words, he could not surpass the reputation of the Martial Alliance as a group. That was only natural. Even a powerhouse of the Saintly Sky could not overcome the reputation of a group as an individual.But the representative and successor of another branch of Bota Hermitage, the Thousand Eyes Gate [a branch of Bota Hermitage known for its intelligence gathering and strategic thinking], went to Yeon Ho-jeong?‘It’s one of two things. Either they intend to win Yeon Dae-su over, or….’Someone was playing tricks in the middle.The possibilities were endless. If one were to think a bit more radically, one could even imagine that Yeon Ho-jeong and Bota Hermitage had some kind of connection from the past, unbeknownst to the Martial Alliance.Of course, Jeagal Mun-ho dismissed all such absurd imaginings. Before his trust in Yeon Ho-jeong, he was not the kind of person to do such a thing.‘There are three branches of Bota Hermitage. Among them, the Lotus Flower Gate went to the Mukryong Stronghold, and the Thousand Eyes Gate went to Yeon Dae-su. Then what about the remaining one?’Jeagal Mun-ho’s eyes deepened.The information was too lacking. In the first place, because it was a sect belonging to Buddhism, even though they had received information that internal conflicts were ongoing, they had not properly investigated it.It was a natural thing to do. Bota Hermitage was not affiliated with Buddhism or the Martial Alliance. They had not committed any heinous acts that anyone would recognize, so conducting their own investigation would be crossing the line.‘Whatever the case, the conflict that erupted in Bota Hermitage seems to be bigger than I thought. Before Yeon Dae-su, the fact that the representative of an affiliated branch visited the Mukryong Stronghold itself….’After thinking about this and that, Jeagal Mun-ho nodded.“I understand for now. You’ve worked hard.”“Thank you. And this is….”The Beggars’ Sect member took out a small letter from his chest.Even though he was wearing tattered clothes, the letter was clean.Jeagal Mun-ho’s eyes gleamed.“After conveying his message, the successor told me to deliver this letter as well.”“I see.”“Then, I’ll be on my way.”“Thank you.”As the Beggars’ Sect member left, Jeagal Mun-ho immediately opened the letter.His eyes sparkled.…Therefore, both Yeon Dae-su and I suspect that the Mukryong Stronghold is actively involved in this situation. There is no clear evidence, but considering that a letter came directly from the Mukryong Stronghold Lord, it is almost certain based on the circumstances.However, given the unique nature of Bota Hermitage and the lack of a clear causal relationship with the Mukryong Stronghold, there is a risk of political pressure if we conduct an unreasonable investigation. If you organize this part and give me instructions, I will have the Beggars’ Sect investigate it as a solo operation.‘So, something like this happened.’Jeagal Mun-ho’s mind raced again.‘Bota Hermitage… the symbol of Bota Hermitage is the Sword Empress. With the Mukryong Stronghold Lord’s martial arts, even the Sword Empress of the world would not be afraid, let alone the power of a group, which cannot even be compared. If the Mukryong Stronghold Lord really instigated the conflict in Bota, then the reason would be…?’At that moment, Jeagal Mun-ho exclaimed.“Certainly, the current Mukryong Stronghold would not be pleased with the existence of the Sword Empress.”In order for the final candidate of Bota to rise above the Sword Empress, proof of good and evil is needed in addition to martial arts.Therefore, the Sword Empress candidates came out to the Central Plains every generation, secretly accumulating good deeds and punishing evil before returning to Bota Hermitage.Of course, not many people knew this fact. It was the same for the high-ranking officials of the Martial Alliance.The female swordsman, who had deliberately hidden her existence, would perform acts of chivalry for a short period of several months or a long period of several years under the determination to punish evil. As a candidate who had already reached perfection in martial arts, it would not have been difficult to hide herself.Jeagal Mun-ho would not have known this fact either if he had not heard it from Gong Gong.‘The Mukryong Stronghold is a newly formed alliance. Although the presence of a big figure like Yang Cheon is very significant, it is still difficult to maintain a stable foundation when viewed as a single group. That is something that can only be left to time.’What people misunderstand is that they think it is easy to establish a group if they have enough power and wealth.It is possible. The problem is sustainability.Whether it will shine for only one generation and disappear, or continue for hundreds of years, depends on the authority, nature, and direction of the sect.What kind of evaluation has it received over a long period of time? How much power does it use, and for what purpose?Time, of course, must be right, and the public sentiment and relationships with other sects are also important.In that respect, the Mukryong Stronghold had not yet shown much to the world. In other words, it was still carrying the bad image of the black path that people thought of.In this situation, what if a Sword Empress candidate came out into the world to punish evil?‘They will be challenged unconditionally. The Sword Empress candidate will not be able to pass by the Mukryong Stronghold, a black path alliance, in order to prove their own strength and ideology. No matter who loses, the fact that Yang Cheon is challenged will act as a factor that causes him to lose his dignity.’Yang Cheon, an invincible fighter who has lived by fighting with the world.No matter how great the Sword Empress candidate’s martial arts are, it will not be easy to surpass Yang Cheon.Of course, Yang Cheon would not have put Bota Hermitage in that state because he was afraid of the Sword Empress. What he was afraid of was not defeat, but the influence and presence of the Mukryong Stronghold.‘As expected of Yang Cheon. If he can see that far, he is truly no ordinary person.’Although there is no clear evidence yet, Jeagal Mun-ho was already convinced that Yang Cheon was behind the conflict in Bota Hermitage.For a strategist, a conviction without evidence is a dangerous choice. Nevertheless, the reason he is confident in this matter is because he trusts the abilities of Yeon Ho-jeong and Ga Deuk-sang.‘Let’s assume that for now and move forward. Then there is one question left.’Yang Cheon can give power to one of the three branches. If that happens, the possibility of a Sword Empress being born from that branch will increase, and furthermore, the Mukryong Stronghold and Bota Hermitage could become allies.In other words, the conflict in Bota Hermitage must not be discovered by anyone. But even so, Yang Cheon sent a letter to Yeon Ho-jeong, telling him to take care of one of Bota’s branches.What on earth was the reason?‘The goal is not to take over Bota Hermitage.’Nor is the goal to completely destroy Bota Hermitage. If he had intended to erase Bota Hermitage, he would have rather directly attacked and cut off the heads of all those involved. Yang Cheon had that much power.Then?‘A scheme to use Bota Hermitage for something.’Originally, a strategist must be able to read the circumstances, the personality of individuals, their positions, and the flow of the times, and see one step ahead, even in situations where nothing can be certain.In that respect, unlike Yeon Ho-jeong, who predicts one step ahead with experience and intuition, Jeagal Mun-ho was definitely a strategist.Jeagal Mun-ho quickly wrote a letter.‘Now is not the time to move rashly, Vice Leader Yang.’The atmosphere in the Martial Alliance’s leadership had become as cold as an ice rink due to the explosive remarks of the Deungcheon Sect.The existence of the Three Teachings had already been revealed to everyone. If Yang Cheon was planning to do something to the Three Teachings using Bota Hermitage, it was something that had to be stopped unconditionally, regardless of the black and white path.“Are you outside?”“Yes, Strategist.”The door opened, and a warrior from the Strategy Department entered.Jeagal Mun-ho handed over two letters.“Give this to Hu-gae, and leak this to the information unit of the Mukryong Stronghold in Hunan.”“……Yes?”“There is no time! Hurry!”“Ah, yes!”The warrior took the letters and left the room.Jeagal Mun-ho also got up from his seat.The situation was turning quite urgent. It was not the time to sit leisurely in his office and look over his work.Jeagal Mun-ho, dressed in his official attire, left his office.The place he was heading to was Moyong Gun’s residence.* * *Hwa-un, shocked by Beom-oh’s rebuke and the aftermath of the Buddhist internal energy, shed tears of blood and fainted.Hwa-un, who had fainted, did not wake up even after three days. It was not that her body was strained from internal injuries, but because Beom-oh’s Prajna Great Power [a powerful Buddhist technique focused on wisdom and insight] had shaken the Buddhist internal energy she had cultivated, clearing the confusion that had settled in her middle dantian [an energy center in the body].The middle dantian, shaken by external force, had surged up to the upper dantian [another energy center, associated with the mind and spirit], shocking her soul. She would not be able to get up for a while.“By the way, it’s amazing again.”At Yeon Ho-jeong’s words, Beom-oh, who was drinking tea, blinked.“What do you mean?”“For such a strong person to be unconscious for three days. It seems that Monk Beom-oh’s Lion’s Roar [a powerful Buddhist shout that can dispel negative energy] was quite powerful.”Beom-oh smiled wryly.“The Prajna Great Power is one of the best divine arts of Buddhism. Anyone who has mastered the Subduing Demon Buddhist Energy will be helpless in the face of the power of Prajna.”“Oh.”“However, it was a technique that was possible because she herself was clearly aware of her own mistakes. If she had not felt even a shred of guilt, the power of Prajna would have been useless.”The Lion’s Roar was not a simple martial art.It was the sound of enlightenment that shook off the agony with a single shout. Of course, the caster’s internal energy and enlightenment had to be exceptional for its effectiveness to be properly displayed.“In any case, will she be a little different from before when she wakes up later?”“That is also something I do not know. If it were possible to make someone gain enlightenment with a single shout, who in the world would not be an enlightened one? That is something that is impossible unless one is a Buddha.”“I guess so.”“I merely showed her that the path was wrong and created a crack in her agony. In the end, everything depends on her.”Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.“Now you really seem like a proper monk.”Beom-oh laughed awkwardly.“I have shown Yeon Dae-su a lot of embarrassing sides.”“It was full of humanity and good, though.”“Hahaha.”It was around the time the two were having a peaceful conversation.“Yeon Dae-su!”Ga Deuk-sang’s voice was heard from far away by the window.“What’s going on?”“I received a message from the Strategist! But….”“Hmm?”Ga Deuk-sang, who had reached the window, had a face full of worry.“It is said that the existence of the Three Teachings has been revealed at the Bonggong Council.”Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned cold.