Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 679

As soon as Myeong Geuk disappeared, Yeon Ho-jeong immediately headed towards Jongnam.

His movement speed was, as he had said, faster than Myeong Geuk’s Cheokgongbipo [a movement technique]. Although it consumed a bit more internal energy, it was definitely faster.

If a direct confrontation had been necessary, Yeon Ho-jeong would have moved at a speed Myeong Geuk couldn’t catch.

‘The gamble paid off.’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘Halfway.’

Whirrrrr!

Yeon Ho-jeong, having closed the tens of miles at an incredible speed, arrived at the gates of Jongnam Mountain.

“Hoo.”

Even a master of the highest order would naturally need to regulate their breathing after running tens of miles with all their might.

“You’ve arrived!”

Paeyul and the elders of Jongnam approached Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong looked around.

‘Good.’

Though it was a bit late, he could feel countless groups of masters moving around Jongnam Mountain.

They were dispersing their forces and arranging personnel to enable efficient combat. Fortunately, it seemed Gu-yun had understood the situation.

Paeyul asked hastily,

“How did it go?”

“I bought some time, but it’s ambiguous.”

“What does that mean?”

“I made it clear that they shouldn’t advance until dawn tomorrow, but…”

Paeyul didn’t ask how he had persuaded them. If it was Yeon Ho-jeong, he would have been able to do it somehow.

However, the word ‘ambiguous’ bothered him.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“They agreed and went back for now, but I’m not sure if they’ll really keep their word.”

“Why not?”

“I wasn’t confident that I could fight their leader one-on-one and kill him. If I could have, I would have taken up my axe right away, but I had no choice but to pressure him by means other than force.”

“And?”

“The problem is that the guy’s head is very sharp. They won’t attack right away, but conversely, it also means that we don’t know when they’ll strike between now and dawn.”

Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.

“Of course, it’s fine since we already know they’re coming. But, I’m left with the question of what kind of tactics they might use.”

“Tactics?”

“Sadoam and Cheongmokae, these are the two places where we should concentrate our forces first. If we hadn’t met the enemy, we would have attacked those places as expected.”

“You mean it’s different now.”

“To be precise, it’s more accurate to say that we can’t predict how they’ll come out. An ordinary guy would be gleeful, but after meeting him in person, their leader is definitely extraordinary. They might cause chaos with tactics we haven’t even thought of.”

Hongjeok burst out,

“Then wasn’t that meeting meaningless!”

Paeyul glared at Hongjeok with menacing eyes.

“How can you say that… !”

“That’s not true, disciple.”

It was Gu-yun who interrupted Paeyul.

Gu-yun looked at Hongjeok with a gentle yet stern gaze.

“Many martial artists are coming to help Jongnam right now. Grand Master Yeon Ho-jeong risked meeting the enemy’s leader to buy us that time.”

“… !”

“We don’t know the enemy’s tactics, but at the same time, we’ve gained time for our allies to arrive. If you were in his shoes, what path would you choose?”

“That is…”

“Furthermore, the situation is so chaotic that I couldn’t make a quick decision, but Grand Master Yeon Ho-jeong is working hard for Jongnam. Regardless of his motives, how can you speak such nonsense to someone who risked his life for us?”

Hongjeok’s face turned red.

“I, I’m sorry.”

“I understand your feelings, but we must be calm, especially at times like this. As a terrifying war cloud gathers over Jongnam Mountain, we should strive to help each other rather than fight and criticize each other.”

Gu-yun looked at the elders and said,

“You all keep my words in mind, and return to your assigned positions to encourage the swordsmen. Make sure they never let their guard down.”

The elders bowed their heads and moved away. Even then, Hongjeok didn’t move, so it seemed he wasn’t assigned to command troops.

Gu-yun said to Yeon Ho-jeong,

“You’ve worked hard. I heard your body isn’t in good condition.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly.

“It’s alright. This is nothing.”

As Yeon Ho-jeong spoke, he suddenly felt a presence in his senses.

It was a familiar presence. It was rapidly approaching the mountain gate, and its martial power was comparable to that of a sect leader.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes lit up.

‘Yeo Gwang?’

That’s right.

The one rapidly approaching from afar was none other than Yeo Gwang, the Great Elder of the Jongnam Sect.

Gu-yun and Hongjeok’s eyes widened.

“Great Elder?!!”

“You two…?”

Yeo Gwang, who was looking at the two with puzzled eyes, suddenly turned cold. He had found Yeon Ho-jeong and Paeyul.

“Why are you here?”

His tone was overbearing. His voice was filled with a nervous feeling.

Yeon Ho-jeong said,

“The enemy is targeting Jongnam.”

Yeo Gwang was startled.

“What, what did you say?!!”

“It wasn’t Hwasan, but Jongnam. It’s an urgent situation, so Senior, please prepare for battle.”

“That’s nonsense!”

“Anyway.”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“Where are the Jongnam swordsmen who were with you? Unless you gave them separate missions, you should have brought them all.”

Yeo Gwang, who was huffing, said coldly,

“It’s very rude of you to try to pry into the affairs of another sect.”

“Is that so.”

Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t bother to deal with Yeo Gwang properly. He was the kind of person who would only tire him out.

Paeyul was the same. He was looking at Yeo Gwang with displeased eyes, but he didn’t step forward unnecessarily. He didn’t feel the need to.

“By the way, is that true? Is Jongnam in danger?”

Gu-yun nodded.

“It seems to be true. So, I’ve deployed the swordsmen under my command throughout the mountain. The elders are in charge of each defense area, encouraging the disciples.”

“It seems to be true? Is it something that hasn’t been properly confirmed?”

“Yes?”

“I asked if it was something that hasn’t been properly confirmed.”

“That is…”

Gu-yun looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.

“Grand Master Yeon Ho-jeong has just returned from meeting the enemy leader. Originally, they seemed like they would attack as soon as the day was over, but he somehow managed to buy us time until dawn tomorrow.”

Yeo Gwang looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t even look at Yeo Gwang.

“In any case, those ruthless bastards might attack before dawn. That’s something we need to keep reminding the swordsmen.”

“Of course, I will.”

“Perhaps the elders of the previous generation…”

It was then.

“Are you sure?”

Yeo Gwang asked Yeon Ho-jeong.

“What are you talking about?”

“I asked if you were sure. About the enemy attacking.”

“Then, would I have come all the way here and made a fuss about gathering troops if the enemy wasn’t coming?”

He spoke with a calm face, but Yeon Ho-jeong’s tone wasn’t very pleasant either.

It couldn’t be pleasant. In his eyes, Yeo Gwang was a man full of stubbornness and self-righteousness. He wasn’t a respectable elder, but a person he didn’t even want to give the minimum respect to.

“Bring me solid evidence.”

“…?”

“You’re the only one who knows that you met the enemy leader, no one else has seen it, have they?”

Shock was evident on the faces of Gu-yun and Hongjeok.

Yeo Gwang’s words were going too far.

Yeon Ho-jeong was the Grand Master of the Righteous Army, the strongest unit of the Martial Alliance, and a general of the Alliance whose skills were directly recognized by the Alliance’s officials and elders. Considering his official position alone, he was someone that even the elders of the sects shouldn’t treat carelessly.

Yet, he was being told to bring solid evidence?!

“Great Elder. That’s too…”

Yeo Gwang shouted,

“What have you been doing all this time! You’re moving the swordsmen under your command in a panic over something that hasn’t even been properly confirmed!”

“Great Elder?!!”

“Think about what others would think if they heard this! The entire Jongnam Sect is making a fuss over the words of a young martial arts junior! If this gets out, what will happen to Jongnam’s reputation!”

Gu-yun’s eyes deepened.

“Before his age, Grand Master Yeon Ho-jeong is the top general of the Martial Alliance who has achieved numerous feats. Moving based on his words is by no means a disgrace.”

“This person? Before being a general of the Martial Alliance, he’s a junior in the martial world! And a very young one at that!”

Anxiety was evident on Hongjeok’s face.

Subtle anger was also evident on Gu-yun’s face.

“Are you saying that we should distrust the words of a young junior unconditionally?”

“That’s not what I’m saying! How many times do I have to say it! Check properly first, then… !”

“Not a junior in the martial world!”

Yeo Gwang was startled by Gu-yun’s voice, which suddenly burst out.

“Not a young junior, but a general recognized by the highest echelons of the Martial Alliance, and an influential member of the Alliance who is more influential than our elders!”

“First Elder?!!”

“How can you speak such harsh words, unlike a senior? Moreover, in this urgent situation, how can you insult someone with such absurd logic!”

“Hey!”

“With the Great Elder’s remarks, the Jongnam Sect is becoming a sect that does not recognize the Martial Alliance, a coalition of the righteous sects!”

Yeo Gwang’s face turned red.

“Gu-yun, how dare you speak such nonsense to your senior?”

“Why are you doing this? Please stop talking nonsense and get a hold of yourself… !”

“Now, you too don’t recognize the elders of the sect?!!”

Elders.

Elders refer to adults who deserve respect. Of course, Yeo Gwang was much older than Gu-yun, but considering their positions, it was absurd to use the word elder.

Gu-yun’s eyes sharpened.

“…Did you just say elder?”

At that moment, Yeo Gwang realized his mistake.

Because he was so angry, he had unconsciously made a slip of the tongue, just like when he was dealing with his disciples.

He couldn’t stop himself from getting angry. His wounded pride was constantly stimulating his inner anger, causing him to make mistakes.

Of course, it was a slip of the tongue, but if he hadn’t always thought of himself as an adult worthy of respect, he wouldn’t have made such a remark.

Yeo Gwang tried to speak calmly.

“I got excited and said something strange. Please understand.”

As expected, there was no word of apology.

Yeo Gwang cleared his throat and continued,

“Whatever the case, it’s not right for the entire sect to act like this over something that hasn’t been confirmed. Call the swordsmen back right now…”

“Grand Master Yeon.”

Yeo Gwang’s eyebrows furrowed.

Gu-yun said to Yeon Ho-jeong,

“We are not disregarding the authority of the Martial Alliance. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”

He was speaking to him politely, unlike before when he had been casual.

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

“I understand. I’m not so stupid as to think that the entire group is strange because of one strange person.”

Gu-yun sighed.

In fact, it was a great relief for Jongnam that Yeon Ho-jeong had been patient so far. It wouldn’t have been strange if he had tried to arrest Yeo Gwang in the name of the Martial Alliance.

If that had happened, it would have been a disgrace to Jongnam’s reputation.

“The battle preparations will proceed without any setbacks.”

“They should.”

It was then.

Did he feel ignored? Or had he really gone mad?

Whoosh!

A strong killing intent emanated from Yeo Gwang’s body.

Hongjeok shouted in surprise,

“Great Elder!”

Gu-yun’s face contorted.

“Senior Yeo Gwang!!”

Swoosh!

Yeo Gwang’s figure moved at a terrifying speed.