Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 777

“Hoo.”

Peng Mu-Gang, who had been carrying stones among the workers, slumped down, gasping for breath.

“Are you alright, Clan Leader?”

At the worried question from a Peng Clan warrior, Peng Mu-Gang waved his hand.

“I’m just a bit empty inside. A drink will fix it, so don’t worry.”

“We can do your share, Clan Leader. Why don’t you rest a bit?”

“Tsk, you there. Just because I’m older, are you treating me like an old man already? I’m still more energetic than all of you combined!”

The warrior lowered his head and stepped back.

Peng Mu-Gang, who had been smiling as he watched the retreating warrior, frowned and pressed his side.

‘It’s still not healed.’

After the spectacular clash between Yeon-Wi and Gwak-Jun, the remaining enemy forces were in disarray.

Anyone would have been. Three masters of disaster-level strength had suddenly appeared and turned the outer castle upside down. It was questionable whether to continue fighting, let alone maintain morale.

At that moment, the forces of the Murim [martial arts world], led by the Peng Clan, poured in from the east, and a chaotic battle ensued.

The result, of course, was a victory for our side. Although Yeon-Wi was on the verge of death, there were two masters of the Supreme Realm on our side.

Several heat bombs exploded, causing considerable casualties among our forces, but Yeon Ho-Jeong and Gok Gyeong’s valiant efforts, along with the subsequent arrival of the Imperial Guards, wiped out the enemies.

Peng Mu-Gang also sustained considerable injuries in the process. He was already suffering from internal injuries from his fight with Gi Cheon-Hyeong, so he was bound to get hurt more in the chaotic battle.

“…….”

Peng Mu-Gang, who had been touching his side, looked up at the sky.

‘I am truly sorry.’

They had saved the Imperial Palace, but many of his clan’s warriors were injured.

Out of the seven hundred reinforcements, there were four hundred casualties. One hundred of them died without a trace, and more than one hundred and fifty of the remaining three hundred were killed.

They had protected His Majesty the Emperor and saved the Imperial Palace from foreign hands, so it was a truly glorious battle. However, as the head of the clan, Peng Mu-Gang could only grieve over the deaths of his warriors.

He had returned to his clan briefly for a memorial service, but eventually had to come back here with his entourage. It was because His Majesty the Emperor had asked to see the key figures of the Imperial Palace battle.

He had returned, but since he had not yet been summoned, he worked with the laborers. When he was sweating like this, he could escape from the sorrow of losing his warriors.

‘You wouldn’t blame me. I know that well.’

Peng Mu-Gang closed his eyes.

He did not shed tears. He had fought alongside countless warriors for decades. He had survived, but the number of warriors who had died was countless.

He had no more tears to shed in this life. He would save these tears and shed them when he met them in the afterlife.

‘Still, I wish you would blame me.’

Whoosh.

The wind that blew cooled his heated heart.

Peng Mu-Gang opened his eyes and groaned as he stood up.

“Hah, shall I move again?”

It was then.

“Clan Leader Peng!”

“Hmm?”

He turned his head and saw Cheol Gon-Gae running towards him from afar.

Peng Mu-Gang burst into laughter.

“What brings the busiest man in Hebei to me?”

Cheol Gon-Gae bowed his head.

“The Head of our Bang [a type of organization or gang] has arrived outside the outer castle. He wishes to see you, Clan Leader. Would you have some time?”

Peng Mu-Gang’s eyes lit up.

“The Dragon Head Bang Leader has come?”

“Yes, he has.”

“I heard he was in Shandong. Has he come all the way here already?”

Cheol Gon-Gae scratched his head.

“It seems he came in a hurry, given the situation.”

“Hoo.”

Peng Mu-Gang wiped the sweat from his face with a cloth and straightened his clothes.

“Lead the way. Let’s go see him quickly.”

“Understood.”

“But I’m happy to see him, but is there a specific reason why he wants to see me?”

“I don’t know the details, but it seems he wants to hear the details of what happened inside.”

“Hmm, I suppose so.”

“And…”

“Yes?”

Cheol Gon-Gae tilted his head slightly.

“You talked about Hu-Gae and some Taoist, but I don’t know what it was about.”

* * *

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having removed all his armor, entered the imperial court.

Hwang Bo-Jeok, who was guarding the court, shouted from outside the newly made door.

“Your Majesty, the Yeon family member you mentioned…”

“Let him in.”

“…Yes.”

Clunk!

The huge doors opened to the left and right.

Yeon Ho-Jeong involuntarily flared his nostrils. He could smell a very pleasant tea fragrance inside the court, even more so than outside.

‘Is it Longjing [a type of green tea]?’

He didn’t know much about tea, but he knew Longjing. However, the tea fragrance in the court seemed different from ordinary Longjing.

‘The fragrance is very strong, yet strangely refreshing.’

It was the first time he had smelled a tea fragrance that seemed to improve his health just by smelling it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong walked straight on the red carpet.

‘That must be him.’

The path continued straight on the carpet.

On either side, about twenty officials were kneeling. As the Imperial Palace was in this state, the high-ranking officials who were nearby had rushed to the palace.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

‘Look at the atmosphere?’

It was extremely solemn.

He had heard that the current Emperor, who had lost his brilliance in his youth, had become terribly incompetent, indulging in wine and women and neglecting state affairs.

‘He’s different.’

Only some of the officials had come, but they were all renowned high-ranking officials.

These people, who were well-versed in politics and quick-witted, were all kneeling with great tension. No matter how much of an Emperor he was, it would have been difficult for a person with such a reputation to create such an atmosphere.

It was when Yeon Ho-Jeong had walked to the center of the carpet.

“Your Majesty, I, Jo Chung, a scholar of the Hanlim Academy [a prestigious academic institution], would like to offer my opinion.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong stopped walking.

Jo Chung, an official, continued.

“Even though he is a martial artist from the Jianghu [the martial arts world] with shallow learning, he is still a son of Your Majesty and a subject of the Empire. Yet, he shows only an impudent appearance without any etiquette. This is a great crime worthy of execution. I beseech you to punish this impudent martial artist severely and show Your Majesty’s majesty to the world…”

“Jo Chung.”

In an instant, the atmosphere in the court became frighteningly cold.

The Emperor called him Jo Chung. Even if he was the Emperor, it was customary to call officials by their official titles in formal settings.

Jo Chung’s face turned pale.

“Yes, yes! Your Majesty.”

“Did I allow you to speak?”

“……!”

“I did not.”

His voice sounded somewhat like a joke.

But that made it even more frightening. His joking voice seemed to be showing off that he could crush them with his fingers at any time.

Jo Chung’s pale face turned even whiter.

“I have committed a crime worthy of death! Please forgive my rashness!”

“You say that the innocent appearance of a martial artist who is ignorant of the Imperial Palace’s etiquette is a crime worthy of death and should be severely punished, but you, who have uttered nonsense without my permission, are asking for forgiveness.”

“……!!”

“Even if one has a lot of knowledge, if one’s character is wicked, it will become a harmful knowledge that will harm the world. Even if one does not know much, if one’s character is righteous, one can have the wisdom to establish the destiny of one’s life. Which side do you think you are on?”

Thud!

Jo Chung slammed his forehead on the floor.

“I have committed a crime worthy of death, Your Majesty! Please, kill me!”

The Emperor opened his mouth.

“Is anyone outside?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Imprison Jo Chung.”

The Emperor did not call him by his official title until the end.

The doors of the court opened, and Hwang Bo-Jeok and Imperial Guard soldiers entered.

Hwang Bo-Jeok bowed to the Emperor, and the Emperor gestured with his hand. At the same time, the soldiers walked in with precision and dragged Jo Chung out.

Clunk!

The doors of the court closed again.

Now, the court was so quiet that even the sound of breathing could not be heard properly.

The Emperor reached out his hand.

“Come forward comfortably.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong bowed his head and reached just below the steps.

He had only walked for a moment, but he had already reached there. The kneeling officials were inwardly surprised by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fast pace.

The Emperor did not waver at all.

“Sit comfortably.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong knelt down in that spot.

The Emperor smiled.

“I told you to sit comfortably, why are you kneeling?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong bowed his head and replied.

“I do not know the etiquette of the Imperial Palace, so I must take the most sincere form of respect that I know.”

“Your heart is commendable, but there is no need to do so.”

“How many people can sit comfortably in front of the owner of a nation and the Son of Heaven? Please understand my heart.”

His tone was bold, even arrogant, but it somehow felt respectful.

The corners of the Emperor’s mouth rose.

“You are the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family of Gangdong?”

“Yes, I am.”

“You are so different from your father.”

“……”

“But your boldness is exactly like the head of the Yeon family. Though the grain is different, the blood is the blood. Indeed, like father, like son.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong hardened his face and bowed his head even deeper.

“My father is a great hero who has lived for the world with a gentle nature and a clear distinction between public and private matters. I, who am lacking, cannot even reach my father’s toes.”

“Oho.”

Interest flickered on the Emperor’s face.

“A man who is bold even in front of the Son of Heaven is so humble in front of his father.”

“……”

“Although you are arrogant, I can see that your character is not bad. As you said, you may not reach your father, but at least it is fortunate that you do not seem to be a person who would tarnish your father’s reputation.”

“I am sorry.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong silently bowed his head. His posture was more respectful than before.

He neither liked nor disliked the Emperor. He had never met him, and in his world, there was the Murim, but not the Imperial Palace. In the first place, he was a being in a world too far away, so there was no reason to like or dislike him.

However, the Emperor knew his father, Yeon-Wi, and had a good opinion of him. That alone was enough reason to be more polite to the Emperor.

And the Emperor, watching Yeon Ho-Jeong’s actions, could see through what he was thinking.

“Hehehe.”

The laughter coming from the dragon throne shook the court.

The high-ranking officials were inwardly surprised. It was because they had never seen the Emperor laugh so loudly and openly.

“When you first opened that door and came in, I thought you were just a common wild man from the Jianghu. I thought it was possible, since there are those who are inferior even under a good father.”

“……”

“But seeing you like this, your heart for your father is very beautiful and righteous.”

“……”

“It is said that even a wicked person who has committed an unforgivable crime will die as a human if they cherish their parents, and even a loyal subject of all ages will die as a beast if they turn away from their parents. I have seen that you are a human.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong bowed his head even more without a word.

The Emperor raised his hand.

“Raise your head.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong slowly raised his upper body.

The Emperor said.

“A person who loves his father knows how to love his teacher. A person who loves his teacher knows how to love his lord. The grace and love of the lord, teacher, and father are one, and this is called the unity of lord, teacher, and father.”

“……”

“Are you married?”

“……Yes?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was unusually flustered.

“Are you talking about… no, are you talking about me?”

“That is so.”

“I haven’t met a woman I like yet…”

“You are a wild man of the Jianghu, so I don’t think there is anything else I can teach you. But I think I can be a lord and another father.”

“……?!”

“I have a daughter of marriageable age. Will you marry her?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth dropped open.