Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1144

As Yeon Ho-jeong conversed with Chal Geuk-pyeong, Yeon Wi, observing the retreating Golden Sky Cavalry, also withdrew his troops. Naturally, Oh Hwa-wang Cheol Heum-gi, having received the signal, retreated with his forces as well.

“What’s going on?”

Yeon Wi shook his head at Mu Heo Daesa’s question.

“It seems they are trying to negotiate something.”

“Negotiate, you say.”

Mu Heo Daesa shook his head.

“Is there a need for negotiation in the midst of all this?”

“If not, there would be no reason for them to talk without fighting.”

Pyeong Mu-gang nodded.

“Perhaps the enemy side declared a ceasefire first.”

Yeon Wi considered the thought.

“I think so too. Furthermore, Ho-jeong would have refused it.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Ho-jeong is striving to lead this battle to a complete victory, so they won’t even think of coveting this place again.”

“Hmm… I know the Lord’s resolve is great, but if that’s the case, why would such a long conversation be necessary?”

“It seems the enemy commander’s proposal gave Ho-jeong some inspiration.”

“Inspiration?”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“A complete victory isn’t necessarily achieved by killing all the enemies.”

Pyeong Mu-gang, who had been tilting his head, suddenly widened his eyes.

“Could it be… to kill only the enemy commander?”

“It could be to exploit an opening and eliminate him…”

Pyeong Mu-gang inwardly clicked his tongue. If even his own father, Yeon Wi, thought this way, it showed how ruthless Yeon Ho-jeong had been to his enemies.

“If not, it could be a diversion. Whatever it is, we can catch our breath for a moment.”

Mu Heo Daesa glanced at Cheol Heum-gi’s side and said,

“There is one thing I find strange.”

“Please speak, Daesa.”

“I was thinking while fighting… their army aiming for the North Fortress seems somewhat ambiguous.”

“Ambiguous, you say?”

“Not in their hearts or spirit, but when looking at the overall situation. If the remaining forces of Shanxi and Gansu hadn’t helped, wouldn’t their attack on the Imperial Palace have been much more difficult and dangerous?”

Yeon Wi’s eyes flashed.

“That’s right. I didn’t think of that.”

Mu Heo Daesa shook his head.

“They must have had some plan. The important thing is that we still don’t know much about them. Although I have never studied military strategy, their existence itself feels somewhat unclear.”

Just then,

Some of the Golden Sky Cavalry quickly rode towards the Imperial Palace.

“What is that now…?”

Yeon Wi silently looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.

The distance was too far to see his expression, only his silhouette. Even with the enhanced eyesight from drawing on the inner energy of the Limitless [a martial arts technique], it was the same.

However, he could tell that his son’s aura was calm.

It seemed things were going well.

“Let’s rest for now. But don’t let your guard down.”

How much time had passed?

Cheol Heum-gi, unable to hold back any longer, led his troops towards Chal Geuk-pyeong’s side.

Of course, his movements were cautious. Since a signal had been given, they couldn’t start a fight, and they couldn’t make the enemy feel like they were being attacked.

Naturally, the troops led by Yeon Wi also moved towards Yeon Ho-jeong.

Neither Cheol Heum-gi nor Yeon Wi could get too close.

However, they could get close enough to send a comfortable telepathic message. Of course, Yeon Wi could use a thousand-mile telepathic message, but there was no need to unnecessarily distract each other.

[Ho-jeong. What’s going on?]

[Please move the troops back. I’ll explain the details later.]

[Understood.]

Yeon Wi sent the Murim Alliance forces [a coalition of martial arts clans], the Imperial Palace Northern Army, and the Hebei Murim forces behind the Golden Sky Cavalry.

Again, time passed.

The world began to darken little by little.

The sun was setting in the west, and scattered clouds screamed as they called to each other.

The half-moon was meager, but the stars that adorned its surroundings shone more brilliantly than ever.

The moon and stars, adorning the curtain of darkness, gazed upon both armies, sending countless signals. Some stars whispered of advance, some of retreat, and some of the need for sleep and food.

At the moment when fatigue gradually settled on the faces of the soldiers, as numerous as the stars.

Kugugung.

The sound of the city gate opening was heard from afar.

The majestic sound that cut across the desolate plain was as intense as the sudden burst of cannon fire.

Dudududu.

The cavalry that had entered the city came rushing out again.

And a streak of flame three times faster than those cavalrymen cut across the cold plain.

Hook!!

A presence that heated the cold night air in an instant appeared.

Step by step.

Red and blue flames surged and disappeared beneath his feet as he walked across the Emperor’s army. It was as if he was summoning the spirits of fire with each step.

And finally, Gi Cheon-ung stood before Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong silently moved the Black Blood Demon back.

The fire that had been swirling around Gi Cheon-ung’s body disappeared.

However.

Whirr.

The entire force of twelve thousand men emitted fire.

In that fire, there was no sign of military discipline or killing intent. Their fire was filled only with surprise and trembling.

Gi Cheon-ung calmly looked around at the troops.

There was no dramatic emotion. Just calm and plain.

Rather, his appearance made the Divine Flame Church forces even more agitated.

The appearance of the former cult leader, who had drawn the power of the Divine Flame to its limit.

The object of their love and hate, who had suppressed the power he had gathered, finally appeared before them.

And right in front of him was Chal Geuk-pyeong.

Gi Cheon-ung opened his mouth.

“Have you fought enough to relieve your resentment?”

“……”

Chal Geuk-pyeong couldn’t answer easily.

Even now, his mind was in turmoil. Considering his originally strong-willed personality, it was unexpected, but it also meant that Yeon Ho-jeong’s words had given him a great shock.

Gi Cheon-ung smiled bitterly.

“No, you haven’t relieved your resentment. What you wanted was…”

“Is it good?”

“…?”

“Leading a thousand followers to the Central Plains, was that life good?”

Gi Cheon-ung did not get agitated. It was neither a situation to be agitated about, nor were those words.

“It wasn’t bad.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s eyes wavered.

Unlike his expression, his words were venomous.

“Of course, it wouldn’t have been bad. Knowing that your life was one that would have been better off dead, yet you ignored your fate and entrusted yourself to the enemy, how could that life have been bad?”

“Do you know what my fate is?”

“I know. Not just yours, but the fate of all the past cult leaders was the same.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong swallowed hard before speaking.

“As the proxy of the Fire God, to live a life like a single flame and then pass away.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“You were ultimately defeated by the young cult leader. Whether it was a dismissal or a transfer, you were stripped of your position as cult leader, so you should have given up your life of fire and ascended to the heavens.”

“You discuss the fate of the cult leader while ignoring the legitimacy of the cult leader.”

“…!”

“No past cult leader has ever taken power without the legitimate transfer from the previous cult leader.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.

Gi Cheon-ung shook his head.

“At the same time, no cult leader has ever been betrayed and ousted by his son like me.”

“……”

“Therefore, it is all my fault that the Divine Flame Church has come to this state.”

“You are not such a great being. You were once, but not now.”

“That’s right. Not now. Because I was defeated like that, I became insignificant, and in fact, even when I was the cult leader, I was not such a great person.”

Gi Cheon-ung looked up at the sky.

The sun they had so devotedly served was not here.

“There is only one thing I desire. To make the Divine Flame Church worthy of its name.”

“The current Divine Flame Church is also the Divine Flame Church.”

“The reason for the Divine Flame Church’s existence is purification.”

“…!”

“And that purification does not mean killing someone. It was like that when the church was one of the Three Noble Families of the Blood Cult, but it is not now.”

Confusion settled on the faces of Chal Geuk-pyeong and Cheol Heum-gi.

The Three Noble Families of the Blood Cult.

It referred to the time before the Divine Flame Church became an independent religion, when it was one of the noble families that served the absolute religion called the Blood Cult. [a powerful and ancient religion]

A time when they supported the highest, not being the highest themselves. Naturally, to those who considered the Divine Flame Church to be the highest, those words were uncomfortable to hear.

Gi Cheon-ung spoke calmly.

“The reason for the Divine Flame Church’s existence is purification, and that purification means burning away false desires and suffering.”

“……”

“It is similar to Buddhism on this continent. Well, religions generally have similar aspects.”

“……”

“I am a dark ruler who could not eliminate my own desires and therefore did not properly see the desires of the followers who followed me. I am not a failure because I was betrayed by my son, but because I was a failure from the start.”

Was it because it was night? Or was it because his heart had been greatly shaken by his conversation with Yeon Ho-jeong?

Or was it because he had been hit by Yeon Wi’s Asura Eight Swords, which had the power of the Mind Sword infused in them?

Chal Geuk-pyeong could not control his wavering self.

Regardless, he was glad to meet Gi Cheon-ung again like this.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s words were true. He liked and trusted Gi Cheon-ung as a cult leader and as a person.

But now, he was filled only with the identity of the Divine Flame Church’s King. He had believed and acted that way until now.

“I know because I was ousted from the position of cult leader. The current Divine Flame Church has lost its way. I know it well because I, of all people, failed to correct its path.”

“……”

“Then what about my son? Although he is my son, I thought he was not ready. But he was much worse than that. After coming out of seclusion, he threw himself into an evil desire that blinded his eyes and reason.”

“……”

“I cannot forgive that guy who betrayed his parents, his cult leader, and the Fire God.”

“So.”

Sparks flew from Chal Geuk-pyeong’s eyes.

“So that’s why you joined this war. To fight against us.”

“My opponent has always been my son. The only reason I entrusted myself to the Central Plains was to seek revenge and to correct the Divine Flame Church.”

“Nonsense! Before the first battle broke out, you…”

“And if, in that process, I must kill those who formally betrayed and followed the new cult leader.”

Gi Cheon-ung’s eyes filled with sorrow.

“I was going to kill them.”

“……”

“Because I was sure that you would not overthrow the cult leader and make the Divine Flame Church worthy of its name.”

“……”

“But if you change your minds… no, if you want to create the righteous Divine Flame Church with me, there would be nothing more grateful to me. So…”

Gi Cheon-ung lowered his head.

“Please, join me.”