Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 457

A heavy silence descended. No one in the main hall dared to speak.

Recently, Yang Cheon, the Lord, had become quite lenient. He was so relaxed that he would even correct his subordinates’ martial arts, a rare occurrence before. For the Twelve Zodiac Generals, Yang Cheon’s change had inspired even deeper loyalty. Especially Baek Seo and a few others, who received more advanced martial arts training, felt like they were learning from a true master.

Yet, even they couldn’t meet Yang Cheon’s eyes now.

How much time had passed?

“Hmm.”

The silence was long, but Yang Cheon’s expression wasn’t as severe as expected.

“That guy, at least he didn’t neglect his training.”

Jeon Hong, wrapped in bandages from head to toe and lying on the main hall floor, was in a terrible state. However, everyone present knew that Jeon Hong’s condition wasn’t as critical as it appeared. He had suffered considerable internal and external injuries, but he would definitely survive.

The real problem was his arm.

Whether a martial artist was a fist fighter or a swordsman, losing an arm meant their combat power was reduced by more than half. Moreover, Jeon Hong was still a young man, not even thirty years old.

Squeak.

Yang Cheon, rising from his seat, walked over to Jeon Hong and sat down on the floor.

Thud.

As Yang Cheon sat, the Twelve Zodiac Generals and the combat unit leaders, who were lined up on either side, all prostrated themselves. Ignoring them, Yang Cheon unwrapped the bandages tightly wound around Jeon Hong’s body.

Swish. Swish.

The bandages around his upper body were completely removed, revealing gruesome wounds. There were dozens of sword wounds with scabs, some deep and some almost healed, leaving only red marks.

Yang Cheon’s eyes gleamed.

“Look at this guy?”

Yang Cheon chuckled as he pressed his fingers into Jeon Hong’s muscles.

“It seems he has put in a lot of effort. It’s really hard to build muscles like this. There’s nothing lacking in elasticity, strength, or flexibility.”

These were the words of the King of Fighters. If he was saying this to a disciple he had been displeased with, it was high praise indeed.

“But still, his training period wasn’t long enough.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes turned cold.

“Isn’t he truly a pathetic fellow?”

The atmosphere in the main hall grew even heavier.

“Insufficient martial arts can be improved with effort and experience. That also requires luck, but for a disciple of this Yang Cheon, filling in the gaps in strength isn’t difficult. But the mindset is different.”

Looking down at the unconscious Jeon Hong, Yang Cheon’s face was very cold, as if he was truly disappointed.

“When one reaches a certain level, mental strength often takes precedence over martial arts. I’ve told him dozens of times why those pale, white-clad fools [referring to the orthodox martial sects] emphasize mental discipline and training, but it seems he hasn’t understood.”

The Nine Great Sects possessed many of the best martial arts in the world. If they had taught all those martial arts to their disciples, their power would have been much stronger than it was now.

However, the Nine Great Sects, and most of the White Path sects, didn’t teach their disciples advanced martial arts from the beginning.

The reason was clear. If the mind and heart couldn’t support the martial arts, even the highest level of martial arts would be meaningless.

There were many martial artists who were strong and good at fighting. However, there weren’t many who possessed the integrity [貞心 – jeongsim, meaning a steadfast and righteous heart] to not be swayed by the martial arts they had learned.

Of course, the integrity that Yang Cheon thought of was different from the integrity that the White Path martial world thought of.

The important thing was that he deeply understood that martial arts and the mind had to be balanced.

“When one gains great power, one may become dissolute for a while. If one overcomes that dissipation and begins to look at the sky, then one can finally hold the light.”

Yang Cheon rose from his seat.

“Raising disciples is no less difficult than raising children; it’s truly not as I wish.”

What was fortunate for Yang Cheon was that the affection he gave wasn’t unlimited, even to his disciples.

Just because someone was accepted as a disciple didn’t mean they were recognized by Yang Cheon. Depending on how they lived as his disciple, Yang Cheon’s interest and affection would change.

Just like Bu Seon now.

“Clean him up. When he regains consciousness, bring him back to me.”

“Understood.”

Shortly after, as his subordinates dragged Jeon Hong out, Yang Cheon said,

“I heard there were guys who brought that fellow here?”

Baek Seo answered cautiously.

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Did you check their identities?”

“There was no need to look into it further. They were the warriors that the Third Young Master had taken as his subordinates near the training grounds.”

“Subordinates?”

Yang Cheon burst into laughter as if he was dumbfounded.

“A guy who can’t even take care of his own martial arts was acting like a leader there?”

Jeon Hong’s level was already quite impressive. Considering his age and the time he started learning martial arts, the expression ‘impressive’ wasn’t enough to describe him. It was because Yang Cheon, considered the strongest in the martial world, was saying this that his words had credibility.

“What did you do with those guys?”

“Since they are the Third Young Master’s people… we have prepared a place for them in the guest quarters for now.”

“Chase them out.”

“Understood.”

Considering Yang Cheon’s anger, it was fortunate that they hadn’t all been beheaded. If it had been before he had detoxified the Yin Poison, they would probably all have died miserably.

“Only Baek Seo remains, the rest of you may leave.”

“Understood.”

Shortly after, only Yang Cheon and Baek Seo remained in the main hall.

Yang Cheon asked,

“Have you figured out who is behind this?”

“Yes, we have.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s… an unexpected person was involved.”

“So, who is it?”

“Yeon Ho-Jeong was among that group.”

For a moment, surprise flickered across Yang Cheon’s face.

“Yeon Ho-Jeong, that guy, came to Honam?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“If he had entered Honam, I would have known long ago, why haven’t you reported it?”

“I apologize. Even the information unit of the Mook Ryong Faction lost track of Yeon Ho-Jeong. It seems that they were unable to operate detailed information because they had focused more than eighty percent of their information power to the north.”

“So, the remaining twenty percent was just playing around? It’s Yeon Ho-Jeong, not just anyone. It shouldn’t have been easy to miss him.”

“It seems he came secretly.”

Yang Cheon scoffed, finding it ridiculous. However, he also knew that with Yeon Ho-Jeong’s level of martial arts and insight, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to move around without attracting attention.

“Let’s hear the situation first.”

“Yes.”

Baek Seo spoke almost as accurately as if he had seen the situation himself.

The information power of the Mook Ryong Faction was focused on the outside world and the Martial Alliance, so it wasn’t as good as before, but it still showed great ability in grasping what had already happened.

Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened as he listened to the situation.

“The young master of the Black Steel Sword Clan.”

“…”

“Come to think of it, when Yeon Ho-Jeong came to treat my body before, there was a guy he brought along as an attendant. He had quite the presence for a young man, so I took a brief look at him.”

“Since the Vice Chief didn’t pay much attention to him, I didn’t mention it separately, but that young man was Gang Ryang, the successor of the Black Steel Sword Clan.”

“I see.”

The corners of Yang Cheon’s mouth curled up.

“Amazing. Even if the third is mediocre, he has mastered the Strange Rock Martial Art. Looking at the quality of his muscles and the remaining energy, he is on the verge of reaching the Martial Ancestor level, but the martial arts of the Black Steel Sword Clan’s successor were more than expected.”

“Looking at the traces of the battle, it seems they had a close fight. However, considering that Gang Ryang suffered no significant damage, it seems the outcome was decided in an instant.”

Yang Cheon said in a nonchalant voice.

“That is what capability is. Even if you have mastered the best martial arts in the world, you can lose your head in an instant if you are careless. Moreover, if the conversation in the tavern was true, it seems that the third was looking down on that guy from the start.”

“That seems to be the case.”

“Pathetic fellow. The martial world is a place where even a three-year-old can defeat you, yet he looked down on an opponent who wasn’t much different from him, it’s a wonder he didn’t lose his life.”

“Perhaps the other side had no choice but to hold back.”

“Of course, that must be the case.”

Yang Cheon asked, resting his chin on his hand.

“Was it Gang Ryang? Even if that’s the case, there’s no way Yeon Ho-Jeong would just let this go. Has there been any separate contact?”

“As a matter of fact, our information unit has received contact.”

“What did they say?”

Baek Seo took out a letter from his pocket. It was a letter directly written by the information unit.

Yang Cheon received the letter from Baek Seo and unfolded it, then burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! This guy’s rude way of speaking makes it feel real.”

“Are you planning to go?”

“Of course? If that guy doesn’t want to come here, I have to go, what else can I do?”

“How dare he order the Sect Leader around. You shouldn’t respond to this request…”

“If there was nothing else to say, I wouldn’t, but I also have something to ask him, don’t I? I have something to say, but he doesn’t want to come, so I have no choice but to go.”

Baek Seo didn’t try to stop Yang Cheon any further.

“When will you depart?”

Yang Cheon rose from his seat.

“If he was the type to be anxious, I would play around for a few days before going, but that guy has a very thick nerve. Let’s not waste time and leave right away.”

“I will prepare everything.”

“Do that.”

Yang Cheon, with his hands behind his back, smiled and looked up at the ceiling.

“Yeon Ho-Jeong… Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

His eyes turned cold for a moment.

“Do you know? I like you more than you think. But you know, if you say the wrong thing during this meeting, even you won’t be safe.”

* * *

“You didn’t have to go to such lengths.”

At Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words, Song Dap, the owner of Inhwa House, bowed his head.

“I am a merchant and a person who knows what is right. You have given a clueless merchant an enlightenment that cannot be bought with money, so I must repay you as much as I can.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly.

“I am truly grateful for your kindness, but if you give me the entire fourth floor, how will the owner do business?”

“If you hadn’t enlightened me, I might have been ruined soon. If I think of it as assets I would have lost anyway, this is nothing at all.”

“Hahaha.”

“However, I am just embarrassed that I can only repay you with such a small thing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“It is said that even if they owe the same debt, a warrior repays with a sword, and a merchant repays with money. Since you say so, I will gladly accept this excessive repayment.”

“It is an honor, sir.”

Thanks to Song Dap’s kindness, the group was able to rent the entire top floor and enjoy food and drinks. There was no greater luxury.

Song Dap asked,

“If you need anything else, please call me.”

“There is nothing like that, but there is one thing the owner should know.”

“Please tell me, sir.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said with a cheerful face.

“The Vice Chief of the Mook Ryong Faction will come to see me in a few days.”

“…Yes?”

“It won’t change much if he comes, but I thought the owner should know in advance since a big shot from the Black Path martial world is coming.”

“…”

“Ah, just in case, there is no need to give Yang Cheon any special treatment. Just know that… Owner?”