Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1035

A quietly burning incense.

A wisp of smoke gently rises to the ceiling. The smoke, having reached the ceiling, gradually fades and disappears.

However, it was different in Namgoong Pyo’s eyes.

The faintly scattered smoke gathered again, showing numerous scenes from the past.

Namgoong Pyo’s eyes trembled.

Among the many scenes, there was his father.

A father who tried to possess what he could not. A father who did not acknowledge reality and rushed blindly, but did not make the right efforts.

At first, he didn’t know, but after receiving training again from his grandfather, he realized that his father’s way was wrong.

He knew, but he tried to erase that thought from his mind. He had long wanted to be the best alongside his father. The moment he denied his father’s way, his own past would also be denied.

‘It’s my fault.’

A shadow fell over Namgoong Pyo’s face.

‘If I had stopped my father, at least this kind of situation wouldn’t have happened.’

It was then.

“That’s not true.”

Startled, Namgoong Pyo turned around.

His grandfather was already looking into the room with his hands behind his back.

“Grandfather.”

“Your face is full of self-reproach. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but don’t regret what has already passed.”

Namgoong Pyo’s face was filled with a complicated feeling.

“If I, as the eldest son of the family, had been more mentally focused, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“That’s a very admirable statement, but it’s something that cannot be known.”

“I know my abilities are lacking. But if I had stepped forward and persuaded my father, he would have….”

“No.”

“……”

“Your father would never have stopped.”

Namgoong Seung entered the room and sat down heavily next to Namgoong Pyo.

One memorial tablet, and one incense.

He had escaped the emptiness of losing his son, but Namgoong Seung still looked exhausted.

The body of his only son was entrusted to the family’s warriors and sent to Anhui [a province in China].

He wanted to go with them, but he couldn’t. The Martial Alliance was now changing anew. At such a moment, the Martial Alliance’s elder and the successor of the Namgoong family could not both be absent.

“Your father became so rigid. He wanted to be the best, but he became someone who couldn’t make the right efforts to become the best. He lived for years in a state where he couldn’t give up, nor could he move forward.”

“……”

“People change. But my advice or yours would not have been able to induce that change.”

Tears flowed from Namgoong Pyo’s eyes.

“I miss my father.”

The world saw Namgoong In in a bad light, but he was still Namgoong Pyo’s only father. The image of his father, who had laughed heartily, saying that he had to conquer the world as the next head of the Namgoong family when he showed outstanding talent in swordsmanship, was still vivid in his mind.

“I miss your father too.”

He was a lacking son and a misguided son, but he was also a son he wouldn’t trade for the world.

The image of his son, who had insisted that his father had to step in because he lacked natural talent, was vivid in his mind.

“But even if I could go back to the past, I would not have granted your father’s request. It’s not because of my training. It’s because I know very well that it’s not the right path.”

“……”

“However… even knowing that he wouldn’t change, I would have persuaded your father again and again.”

Namgoong Pyo lowered his head. Droplets of tears fell and wet the floor.

“I lost a son and a grandson. Although there are many Namgoong family members who have branched out, now only you and Sanghwa remain for me, who doesn’t have much time left to live.”

“……”

“Swear. That you will not cry again until you become the head of the family.”

“……Yes.”

“Good.”

Namgoong Seung rose from his seat.

“Come outside.”

“Yes?”

“Until they call me from the Alliance Lord’s Hall, I will pass on everything I have to you.”

“……!!”

“Old Jongri and his disciple have also agreed to join. Now is not the time to mourn, but to move forward. The war is not far away.”

Namgoong Pyo’s eyes flashed.

Turning his back and walking out, Namgoong Seung said,

“Before the war breaks out, I will make you at least stronger than your father.”

* * *

“Father?”

Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes trembled.

Jeagal Mun-Ho shook his head.

“I will not listen to any objections. This is an order as the head of the family, not as a father.”

“But…!”

Jeagal Ayeon unconsciously looked at Jeagal Jun.

Jeagal Jun had a calm expression. He seemed to have no wavering in his heart.

“Jun, you too…?”

“Yes, of course.”

Jeagal Jun smiled.

“It doesn’t matter to me at all.”

“You idiot! Why doesn’t it matter!”

Jeagal Ayeon said to Jeagal Mun-Ho.

“Please reconsider, Father. If we are not careful, we could set a bad precedent.”

“I have been negligent in family matters since becoming a soldier of the Martial Alliance, but I am still the head of the family. Your father is not so foolish as to do something that would harm the family.”

“……!”

“I have already spoken with Jun. Jun readily nodded his head.”

“But!”

“I believe in my children. Neither Ayeon nor Jun have I raised to be bad enough to shed blood for mere power. I have made this decision because I believe in both of you.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho pushed a book on the table towards Jeagal Ayeon.

“You will be able to set the basic framework yourself.”

Jeagal Ayeon looked at the thick book.

Starry Sky Divine Art (星羅神功).

It was a secret martial art that only people of the Jeagal family could know.

There are many first-class martial arts in the Jeagal family. But the reason why this Starry Sky Divine Art is passed down as a secret is because, with this martial art, one can change existing divine arts to their liking and induce higher achievements.

The Starry Sky Divine Art itself is a top-class divine art, and it can be combined with other martial arts to create extreme power. In particular, there is no better martial art for increasing the density of true energy and activating the senses, so the successive heads of the family have always mastered the Starry Sky Divine Art.

What does that mean?

It means that the Starry Sky Divine Art is the study of the family head. It was a secret martial art that only the head of the family and the next head of the family could master, and the report of enlightenment where the martial principles of the Jeagal family were concentrated was the Starry Sky Divine Art.

“Jun is already using the Starry Sky Divine Art to break down his martial arts and modify them into martial arts that suit him. This father, lacking talent, was only able to do it after the age of thirty. Jun is ten years faster than this father.”

“……”

“Don’t worry. Jun is growing smoothly. If this continues, he will become one of the top ten family heads in the history of the main family in terms of martial power alone.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled faintly.

“Since your talent is outstanding, train in this and help Jun a lot in the future. Of course, if you find your own life, you don’t have to help.”

“Father……”

“To be cold, the martial arts you have learned now are also very outstanding. But after examining your true energy, blood points, and dantian [an energy center in the body] over the past few days, I have concluded that it will be a very good fit with the Starry Sky Divine Art.”

“……”

“Instead of thinking about mixing it with other martial arts, it would be better to train in the Starry Sky Divine Art itself.”

Confusion settled on Jeagal Ayeon’s face.

She knew well how much her father and younger brother cared for her. But now that she was given the martial art to learn the study of the family head, she felt a strange sense of disappointment.

Even though it was not the intention, it felt as if they were trying to send her away.

Noticing that, Jeagal Mun-Ho continued.

“You are my only daughter. But even if you were a son, I would not have given you the position of the young family head.”

“Yes?”

“It’s not a matter of talent or character. You are not the type of person who is suitable for the position of the head of the main family.”

“……!”

“Your eyes have always been on the world. You yearned for freedom and constantly tried to find the principles of life. How can I entrust the position of family head to such a child, even if they have heaven-sent talent? It would be a great misfortune for both the family and you.”

“……”

“Despite your innate talent and goals, you stubbornly stayed here and helped your father. Your father knew that, but he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. Honestly, it was a difficult task.”

“Father.”

“But not anymore. You also have to find the path you want. Realize that not being able to properly find your own life because you are worried about your father and younger brother is an insult to us.”

“I, I didn’t have such thoughts……”

“I know. That you didn’t have such thoughts. So don’t misunderstand and accept this martial art.”

Jeagal Ayeon, who was looking at Jeagal Mun-Ho with trembling eyes, slowly picked up the book.

It was heavy.

It was thicker than any other secret manual. But the weight of the heart contained in this secret manual was much heavier than its actual weight.

Jeagal Mun-Ho, who was quietly looking at his daughter, said as if throwing it away.

“With your mind and talent, you will be able to get used to it within ten days.”

“……”

“When you have mastered it, go to the young vice-leader of the Yeon family.”

Jeagal Ayeon was startled.

“Father?!”

“The young vice-leader of the Yeon family doesn’t need soldiers. But the young vice-leader of the Yeon family only has one body. There will definitely come a time when he will have to entrust work to someone.”

“Father! I am in the Martial Alliance…!”

“Do you really want to stay here? Or do you want to be with him?”

“……”

“Life is a repetition of success and failure. But those who have tasted success and those who have tasted failure have one thing in common: they have all challenged passionately.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s face was stern.

“Whether you like it or not, no matter what the outcome, if your heart is the same as his, you must run forward without hesitation. You are all grown up. You must no longer deceive your heart or turn away from your dreams.”

“……”

“I will contact the young vice-leader of the Yeon family separately.”

“But……”

“Rather, from a strategic point of view, it is also beneficial to the Martial Alliance if you go to the Mukryong Unit [a military unit]. The young vice-leader of the Yeon family came to the Martial Alliance as a bridge between the black and white. There was a big incident, but thanks to his presence, the relationship between the two groups was not broken.”

“……!!”

“Now it’s your turn. As an envoy dispatched by the Martial Alliance, become a strong bond so that the relationship between the black and white does not break down. With your abilities, you will be able to gain enough recognition from the black warriors of the Mukryong Unit.”

Tears welled up in Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes.

Looking at the results alone, it might seem like a heartless father sending his daughter to a place that could become an enemy, but when you know the inside story, Jeagal Mun-Ho was trying to make his daughter independent.

He wouldn’t have done this if his daughter didn’t want it. The heart of a father who sends his child on a path that could be dangerous is much more miserable and painful than the heart of the person involved.

Jeagal Ayeon lowered her head.

“Thank you.”

What other words were needed besides that?

Because he understood her heart, Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled. He would be sleepless with worry, but now was the time to rejoice at his daughter’s courageous decision to take a step towards the world.

“Don’t forget. You are my daughter and the sister of the next family head. Although it is unlikely, if anyone tries to harm you, the main family and the branch families, as well as the Confucian scholars who are connected to us, will rise up.”

“Yes!”

“Don’t worry about this side and spread your dreams.”

Thus, Jeagal Ayeon’s trip to the Mukryong Unit was decided.