Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 589

“……?!”

Dang Ho’s face hardened.

He was so surprised that he even jumped up from his seat without realizing it. It was an uncontrollable reaction.

‘What is this energy?’

It was an immense power.

A chilling energy, like a raging fire, erupted from the outer perimeter where the invaders had appeared. It flashed for a moment and then disappeared, but the sheer force felt in that instant was enough to make his legs tremble. Dang Ho had never felt such an intense and destructive energy in his life.

“What on earth is going on…?”

At that moment, the door to the office burst open, and Dang Yeo-Seon rushed in.

“Father!”

Dang Ho frowned.

“This is an official setting, Yeo-Seon.”

Dang Yeo-Seon, looking chagrined, lowered his head.

“I apologize, Clan Leader. Did you perhaps feel it as well?”

“Yes, I felt it.”

It wasn’t just Dang Ho who had felt it. It was an overwhelming energy that anyone who had reached the peak of martial arts, or even those who had trained in internal energy cultivation for a few years, would have felt.

“It’s from the direction where the invaders infiltrated! Something is definitely happening there!”

‘Who doesn’t know that!’

Dang Ho almost shouted that out loud. For a moment, he found his son’s obvious statement irritating.

Dang Ho spoke in a calm tone.

“Dispatch the Black Wind Squad and the Green Robe Squad.”

“Ah, understood!”

The Black Wind Squad and the Green Robe Squad were elite units belonging to the inner compound of the Dang Clan.

Being the elite of the inner compound meant they were the most elite units of the Dang Clan. They were comparable to the Red Scorpion Corps and the City Guard sent to Dang Gwan.

They were authorized to use some of the Five Great Poisons and some of the Ten Great Hidden Weapons, the Dang Clan’s ultimate secrets. Not only were their individual martial skills top-notch, but the poisons and hidden weapons they wielded were also of the highest quality.

Dang Yeo-Seon left the office again.

Dang Ho’s face twisted.

“What is going on?”

He looked out the window.

“Dang Gwan, who on earth did you bring?!”

A leader should not move carelessly. If a leader is too quick to act, the organization becomes unstable.

However, there must also be the courage to step forward without hesitation when the time is right. Knowing when to act is a fundamental virtue of a leader.

Unfortunately, Dang Ho lacked that.

Even if he didn’t go himself, he should have sent a transcendent master, not just combat units. For reconnaissance and resolution, a small elite group is much better than a large organization.

That was Dang Ho’s limitation. For the past dozen years, he had seen, heard, and experienced things being done by others, and this had become his natural way of acting.

Dang Ho, who had been lost in thought, called for his subordinate warrior.

“Bring the Elder Council Head here immediately.”

“Understood.”

Shortly after, an old man entered the office.

While the elders, including Dang Muk, were in their fifties and sixties, this old man was different. He looked at least seventy, with drooping eyelids that made it hard to read his eyes.

Looking at his age, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was from a previous generation.

In fact, he was indeed a master from a previous generation. The Elder Council Head appointed by Dang Gwan was currently imprisoned in the dungeon.

“You summoned me, Clan Leader.”

There was no perfect formality.

In the old Dang Clan, this would have been unimaginable. The moment one became the Clan Leader, even the previous Clan Leader would use honorifics towards the current Clan Leader in official settings. That was the culture of the Dang Clan.

Dang Ho spoke quickly.

“Did the Council Head also feel it?”

“I did. Who wouldn’t have felt it? It was just for a moment, but that energy was truly extraordinary.”

“It’s highly likely to be a master that Dang Gwan brought.”

The Elder Council Head, Dang Hyang-Mun’s old eyes, flashed with a fierce glint.

“Dang Gwan…”

“Yes.”

“I heard you sent your subordinate elders.”

Dang Ho frowned.

“Only the Fourth Elder returned alive. He said he needed to see the enemy himself.”

“He tucked his tail between his legs.”

“His abilities are undeniable. However, the Third and Fifth Elders wouldn’t have been defeated so easily, so Dang Gwan must not be in good shape either.”

Dang Hyang-Mun shook his head.

“That’s unlikely.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Although Dang Gwan has a personality unsuitable for ruling over others, his abilities are among the best of the current generation in the Dang Clan.”

“I admit that. But his limitations are also clear. Three elders and even the City Guard were sent, how could he be unscathed….”

“Didn’t the Fourth Elder say he needed to go with them?”

“……”

“If Dang Gwan was injured, that sly fox wouldn’t have said that. He would have called for all forces to concentrate their attack.”

Even a poor-quality ginger is spicy when it’s old. Dang Hyang-Mun was seeing things more deeply and broadly than Dang Ho.

“Also, Clan Leader, you must not forget that the one who taught him was the Dark King.”

“……!”

“Although they are not on good terms now, Dang Gwan, who not only received the Dark King’s teachings but also went through all sorts of trials to become the Clan Leader, has abilities that are among the best in the clan’s history.”

A faint displeasure flickered across Dang Ho’s face.

He acknowledged Dang Gwan’s abilities, but he couldn’t help but feel bad when he heard praise for Dang Gwan. To him, Dang Gwan was just an arrogant being that he could easily catch up to with a little effort.

“Then what do you suggest?”

Dang Ho’s voice was laced with barely concealed irritation.

Dang Hyang-Mun said,

“If you want a quick resolution, it would be best to use ‘that thing’.”

“……!”

Dang Ho’s face hardened.

“If you send masters to capture Dang Gwan alive, the damage will only increase. Furthermore, the fact that the Fourth Elder was sent back means that Dang Gwan is also fully aware of the current situation, doesn’t it?”

“……Hmm.”

“If you act rashly, you might suffer humiliation. In that case, it would be better to use ‘that thing’ and kill him outright.”

Dang Ho knew how much Dang Hyang-Mun hated Dang Gwan.

But his words now were far from hatred. Although he had developed powerful martial arts, he didn’t have much time left to enjoy a comfortable old age. Maybe twenty or thirty years at most.

It wasn’t out of hatred for the opponent, but rather he thought it was better to take drastic measures for his own future.

Dang Ho thought that Dang Hyang-Mun’s will was not bad.

“For now.”

Dang Ho shook his head.

“It seems we need to deal with the intruders before Dang Gwan.”

“Of course, that’s true.”

“If you are not going to step forward yourself, Council Head, I ask that you order your subordinate elders to capture the intruders.”

Dang Hyang-Mun’s eyelids twitched.

Dang Ho continued.

“I have already sent the units. But I still don’t feel at ease.”

“Hmm.”

Dang Hyang-Mun, who had been quietly looking at Dang Ho, nodded.

“Very well. The Elder Council will handle this intruder matter.”

“Understood.”

“And Clan Leader.”

“Yes, speak.”

“It is said that one must know their time. I don’t know how persuasive an old man’s advice will be, but I believe that using ‘that thing’ to kill Dang Gwan is the best course of action.”

“I understand.”

He understood, but it seemed he had no intention of using that thing.

Dang Hyang-Mun was frustrated with Dang Ho.

But his nature wasn’t bad. Dang Ho had seized the Clan Leader position in an instant, but it wasn’t entirely due to his own abilities.

Dang Ho was more indecisive than he seemed, and he liked to be praised. With this kind of personality, he could be easily manipulated until he enjoyed his comfortable old age.

“Very well. Then this old man will take his leave.”

“Please do.”

Thus, Dang Hyang-Mun left the office.

Bang!

The table that Dang Ho had struck was split in half.

“How dare he….”

Dang Ho’s face, as he gnawed on his lip, was filled with madness.

“I treated an old man who was waiting to die in the dungeon well, and yet he dares to play above the Clan Leader’s head.”

He couldn’t do anything about it right now, but what a terrible old man.

Dang Ho realized anew. New wine must be put into new wineskins. He had reached out to solidify his power for now, but he realized that there was another person he would have to send to the grave when the time came.

‘But the old man’s words aren’t wrong either.’

Dang Ho stroked his lips.

‘If I use that thing, I can guarantee a comfortable victory, not only against Dang Gwan but even against my father. The problem is that there are too many eyes watching.’

‘That thing’ was a weapon of destruction that only the person who had ascended to the Clan Leader position could activate.

Dang Ho had revealed the existence of that weapon to a few people. He knew well that he couldn’t completely take control of the Dang Clan with his own power alone.

Still, he had to be the one to decide whether to use it or not. Even if everyone gathered their wisdom, it could never be used unless the decision-maker gave permission.

‘What should I do.’

Dang Ho bit his lip again.

‘The longer it takes, the more we lose.’

The Dang Clan’s elite units were stationed near the Green Water Inn. Even if they had no interest in the Dang Clan’s internal strife, people from other clans would inevitably feel uneasy at this point.

No, it would be fortunate if it ended with just feeling uneasy. If Dang Gwan were to announce this fact and start attacking his legitimacy, things would become very complicated.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’

How long had he been pacing like that?

“Clan Leader!”

A hurried voice came from outside the office.

Startled, Dang Ho shouted in a cracked voice.

“What is it?”

“It’s a disaster! The City Guard and the Red Scorpion Corps dispatched to the Green Water Inn have been annihilated!”

“……!!”

The time for decision had come.

* * *

Srrr.

The old man, who had been meditating on a rock, slowly opened his eyes.

“How noisy.”

The energy and killing intent felt from someone who was not a member of the Dang Clan.

The urgent release of poison and hidden weapons, as well as the chaotic movements and the tearing voices of those people.

The old man’s eyes deepened.

“It is truly noisy. Has there ever been such a commotion in the main family before?”

He was neither a monk nor a Taoist. Of course, he had no divine powers, nor could he see a thousand miles while sitting still.

But he could feel it.

His senses, which had been recognized as the most dangerous martial artist in this vast continent, reached throughout the entire Dang Clan.

So he could tell. That someone was coming here.

A genius martial artist on the verge of the realm of the Absolute [a level of martial arts mastery], full of youthful and vibrant energy, and an experienced master who had grown up under strict discipline were coming.

The old man pondered for a moment. Should he stop the two from infiltrating, or should he let them be?

‘…It’s pointless.’

He was a forgotten person in the clan anyway. Whoever came or went, he could just send them back if he didn’t like them.

The old man closed his eyes again.

How much time had passed?

“It’s quite secluded here.”

Chiriring.

The sound of clanking chains was heard very clearly.

“The world outside the cave is a living hell, but this place is so quiet. It seems like a great place to relax and live in peace.”

The old man, who had opened his eyes, turned his head.

There, two men stood.

“Who are you?”

The young man, Yeon Ho-Jeong, clasped his hands in greeting.

“I am Yeon Ho-Jeong, the Left Commander of the Martial Alliance’s Yu-Gun Unit, here to see the former Clan Leader of the Dang Clan.”