Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 826

“Sub-Chief.”

“Come in.”

Thud!

The door to the main hall opened, and Baek Seo entered.

Yang Cheon, who was drinking alone, grumbled quietly.

“I need to move this place soon.”

“Yes?”

“This cave, I mean.”

Yang Cheon clicked his tongue.

“Every time someone comes in, that huge stone door opens with a loud bang. It startles me every time.”

“Ah, yes.”

Baek Seo’s face became awkward.

“So, what brings you here?”

“It’s about a report from the intelligence unit in Zhejiang.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s about the place where we reported that some experts were coming and going.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Recently, we found out that various supplies coming from Zhejiang are heading to Jiangxi. It was such a quiet movement that neither we nor the Martial Alliance knew about it.”

“How carefully did they move?”

“They were distributing the supplies through various merchant guilds and escort agencies to transport them to Jiangxi. The destination is presumed to be near Jade Flower Mountain in Jiangxi. But the amount…”

Baek Seo’s face hardened.

“It’s said to be enormous. We don’t know the exact details, but when we estimated the amount of silk, timber, and weapons, it could be equivalent to the Mukryong Unit’s annual budget.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes gleamed.

The Mukryong Unit’s annual budget is incomparable to that of any other major sect.

Of course, the Mukryong Unit earns astronomical amounts of money every month and doesn’t spend it unnecessarily. They are bold when investing, but they don’t start unnecessary projects.

Even considering that, the Mukryong Unit’s annual budget is beyond imagination. It would probably be equivalent to the combined annual budgets of the Nine Great Sects [the most powerful martial arts sects in the Central Plains].

That much money is gathering in Jiangxi?

“What happened to the group of experts we talked about before?”

“I was about to tell you that. Some of those experts are near Jade Flower Mountain, and the rest have scattered. We don’t know where the scattered ones went, but we assume they went to escort the supplies being transported to Jade Flower Mountain.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.

“You must have investigated their identities separately, right?”

“Yes. We conducted a thorough investigation, but they are people whose origins we cannot trace.”

“What do you mean by ‘origins we cannot trace’?”

“It’s exactly as it sounds. Judging by the energy and movements they display, they are clearly people who have trained in martial arts of the Central Plains, but we have not yet been able to trace their origins.”

Swoosh.

Yang Cheon’s relaxed posture changed to a more restrained one.

“Martial arts whose origins are hard to trace?”

“That’s right.”

“…Even the martial arts from beyond the borders are difficult to trace.”

It was a remark considering the Three Teachings [a collective term for Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, often associated with hidden or unorthodox martial arts practices].

Baek Seo lowered his head.

“We are investigating that possibility. However, it is said that they are not the evil arts rooted in the Demonic Sound Sect or the Fiery Yang Arts of the Divine Flame Sect. Since it’s not demonic arts, the possibility of it being from the Blood Demon Sect is also small.”

“They are a bunch of guys who have accumulated all sorts of bizarre martial arts. They’ve been operating secretly in the Central Plains for decades, infiltrating sects and embezzling funds. They’ve also taken many strange martial arts, so they’ve had enough time to create new ones and train experts.”

“Yes.”

“Give more support to that intelligence unit.”

“Understood. And lastly, there is one more thing to report.”

“What is it?”

“There has been a movement of numerous laborers near Jade Flower Mountain.”

“Laborers?”

“The surrounding security is so tight that even the intelligence unit cannot approach, but there are sounds of hammers and various…”

“Are they building a fortress or something?”

“That’s what we are assuming.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes flashed.

‘The Three Teachings.’

He thought they had all disappeared from the Central Plains.

Since the Beggar Clan and the Black Path information network agreed on the matter, it was certain that there were no groups openly active.

But if they were determined to hide, they could. The land of the Central Plains is too vast. Martial artists may wander from region to region, but for ordinary people, even the next region is as distant as a foreign country.

‘No matter how great the information power of the world is, it is impossible to know what is happening in small villages in each region.’

It is spread throughout the world, but there is a limit to its detail. That is natural. Unless they have hundreds of thousands of informants, it is impossible to handle all the private information of the region.

Rather, the Black Path’s information network should be praised for noticing such a movement of supplies and the appearance of martial artists. There are many martial artists in the world, and there are many merchant guilds and escort agencies.

“Did the Beggar Clan show any signs of noticing?”

“I don’t know if it has been reported to the Beggar Clan’s leadership, but it is reported that the Beggar Clan members active near Jiangxi and Zhejiang are also likely to be watching them.”

“I see.”

Baek Seo cautiously asked.

“What are you going to do? Should we inform the Martial Alliance about this information?”

Yang Cheon, who had been deep in thought, shook his head.

“If we rashly dispatch personnel, their vigilance may increase.”

“The intelligence unit also analyzed it that way.”

“Since the movements of the Beggar Clan members are unusual, they will probably notice soon.”

“But if we inform them too late, there may be a problem with trust between allies.”

“That’s why I’m thinking of informing Ho-Jeong.”

“Yes?”

“Ah, didn’t you meet him? He left a little while ago.”

Yang Cheon shook the liquor bottle.

“I gave him three cups of the liquor you gave me and sent him off. He said he was going to the Martial Alliance.”

Baek Seo’s eyes widened.

“A-Already?”

Yang Cheon burst into laughter.

“I didn’t know you could make such an expression. You’ve definitely changed a lot.”

“Ah.”

Baek Seo quickly composed himself, but his face still showed surprise and bewilderment.

“How can the person who should be dealing with the Black Path sects go to the Martial Alliance already?”

“My friend, are there no other people in the headquarters besides him? There’s me, and there’s you guys, right?”

“O-Of course, but…”

The policy of controlling the Black Path sects this time was carried out entirely under Yeon Ho-Jeong’s leadership.

Many people were surprised by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s logical and swift handling of matters. Moreover, since his handling of matters had a practical effect, many of those who had secretly been dissatisfied with him as a successor from the White Path were impressed by his abilities.

Baek Seo was no exception. As Yang Cheon’s closest subordinate, he had seen firsthand how outstanding Yeon Ho-Jeong’s abilities were, but he could not give him complete trust because of his background and past actions.

However, this incident made him completely trust Yeon Ho-Jeong. Even though they had to join forces to fight against the Three Teachings, it was not easy for someone from the White Path to put so much effort into strengthening the Mukryong Unit.

With his abilities, sincerity, and even his natural charm, it was impossible not to trust him. Perhaps Yeon Ho-Jeong’s true ability was not his strength or talent, but his unique way of speaking and acting that turned his rough and unconventional appearance into trust.

“Since that guy has stirred things up this far, it’s only natural that we clean up the mess. That’s a good picture.”

Yang Cheon shook his head with a wry smile, as if he couldn’t help it.

“I told him to rest for a day or so, but he wouldn’t listen. He must have been very busy, but he has his own reasons. If he alone does well and brings the Black Path under his control, how will people see me or you guys?”

“… !”

“Even so, the reason I chose him was to properly establish him as my successor.”

“Isn’t the Overlord already the successor?”

“Even in those few days, the way people see Ho-Jeong will change again, won’t it? From someone who quickly brought the Black Path sects under control to someone who actually integrates those sects and makes them his own.”

“… !”

Yang Cheon filled his own cup.

“A kidney stone inside the body doesn’t come out easily. The same goes for trust and distrust. Once you trust someone, you trust them to the end, and once you are disappointed in someone, you don’t trust them easily.”

“…”

“Even if he creates enemies, the praise he receives will be ten times greater than it is now. There will be far more people who see him favorably than those who see him negatively, and that stone of trust will be a great help in his future activities. He refused that and left.”

Baek Seo’s eyes wavered.

“Did you stop him from going to the Martial Alliance with that in mind?”

“I trusted your loyalty, so I was going to give it all to him. I also have a stone, don’t I? A stone of trust in him.”

“…”

“He knows it too. That in order to do that, I and you guys have no choice but to be buried in the shadows.”

Yang Cheon, who had emptied his cup, let out a chuckle.

“Everything is good, but he’s being considerate in such unnecessary ways. Well, that’s his charm, though.”

Baek Seo thought.

‘He has changed.’

Since making Yeon Ho-Jeong his successor, Yang Cheon had shown a clear change.

His personality was the same, but he had become more relaxed, and his perspective on things seemed to have deepened.

He was already as sharp as anyone, but now he exuded an aura like that of a sage. Nevertheless, the power he held in his hands would remain the same.

Yang Cheon had become more outstanding and more terrifying.

And regarding Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had changed his lord in such a way, Baek Seo could not help but feel a complex mix of surprise, bitterness, worry, and anticipation.

“Anyway, since the leader who handled all the hard work has left the core behind, we should quickly reap the harvest.”

Yang Cheon spun the liquor bottle around.

He brought the bottle’s mouth to his nose, as if the aroma was becoming more alive, and nodded.

“Tell them to get the sickles ready.”

“Understood.”

“And when things are roughly finished, Baek Seo, you should prepare to go to Bota Hermitage.”

Baek Seo’s eyes gleamed.

“Are you planning to proceed with the matter you mentioned before?”

“I’m trying to achieve the dream of conquering the world in a different way. If so, shouldn’t we also fix the pitchfork we were going to use?”

“Understood.”

Yang Cheon, who was filling his cup, suddenly looked at the stone door of the main hall.

“The Martial Alliance… I wonder what kind of treatment they will give Ho-Jeong there.”

* * *

“Are you really going to do that?”

“Why are you asking that now, out of the blue?”

Paeyul said, polishing his spear.

“Judging by the fact that I haven’t received any separate contact from them, it’s clear that I’m an outcast from Mount Emei [one of the major martial arts sects].”

“But the situation will change when you arrive at the Alliance.”

“Of course, it will.”

“There was no time to prepare. You might really be expelled.”

“Didn’t I tell you? Is expulsion a big deal? Just help me avoid having my limbs and meridians severed. Even if I’m marked by my sect, I don’t want to become a cripple yet.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly.

“I don’t know if I’m holding a weapon or carrying a burden.”

“Show your abilities so that it can become a weapon, not a burden.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed and looked around.

Muk Bi, Gang Ryang, and Jin Yang were visible in turn. And on one side, Mak Won was smiling brightly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked Jin Yang.

“Did you go see Jeong-Gwang?”

“I stopped by once, but it wasn’t an atmosphere to talk to him. It was the first time I’ve seen Jeong-Gwang like that.”

“It seems like he’s properly focused. It can’t be helped. I can’t interrupt his training.”

“His energy is already unusual. I wonder if he’ll be stronger than me when he comes back.”

“Then that’s a good thing.”

“It would be a bitter thing. By the way…”

Jin Yang turned his eyes to the woman standing next to Mak Won.

“…Is that woman really going with us?”

“Is everyone ready?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, ignoring Jin Yang’s question, stretched out greatly.

“Let’s start moving. To the uncomfortable home.”