Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1000

Krrrrrr! Krrrrrr! The sound was similar to thunder, but it was much darker and deeper. Most of the warriors who had blocked Yeon Ho-Jeong’s path staggered and touched the ground at the explosive roar.

“Huuuk!”

“Hup!”

Their faces, pale to the point of being white, were filled with instinctive fear.

Whoooosh!

Hot air rushed in. The air, boiling like a hot bath, was clearly filled with killing intent.

It was killing intent, but it was fundamentally different from the killing intent that ordinary warriors emitted. It was not killing intent that stemmed from any reason, but a primal killing intent that sought to kill without reason.

Naturally, its nature was different from the killing intent emitted by a person. Aimless killing intent meant destruction in itself. There was no need for interpretation of the will to kill and destroy everything in sight.

‘Crazy…’

Jin Yang, who had unknowingly stepped back a few paces from Yeon Ho-Jeong, swallowed hard.

‘Is this guy suddenly crazy?!’

It wasn’t just that he was releasing killing intent in this situation. It was the thought that he must have lost his humanity to emit such brutal killing intent that made him seem crazy. Seeing this killing intent, it even made him think that a place called hell might actually exist in the world.

‘No way. A human can’t be like this. This is dangerous…!’

At that moment, Jin Yang looked into Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

In his stern gaze, his deep and clear pupils did not contain even a shred of malice.

He was calm and prudent. Yet, there was a hint of sadness.

‘…’

Why?

It was an aura so filled with malice that one would think no one in the world, past or present, could emit such a thing, yet Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes were so transparently revealing his identity.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was not some demon spoken of in Buddhism.

He was still human.

As Jin Yang watched Yeon Ho-Jeong with trembling eyes, a light of determination flickered in his face.

Whoooosh!

Jin Yang’s energy, like fire, no, like a flame itself, could not penetrate Yeon Ho-Jeong’s killing intent at all.

However, it served to further fuel Yeon Ho-Jeong’s killing intent. Now that he had confirmed that Yeon Ho-Jeong was not a real demon, he would always be with his leader.

Kugugung! Kugugugung!

The cracks that started from under Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet extended to the gate of the Namgoong family.

They were cracks that spread in a zigzag pattern like a lightning strike. The warriors who had fallen on their butts saw a hallucination of sulfur flames erupting from the cracks.

“Aaaah!”

They screamed and scattered left and right.

No one was an exception. Their eyes, once filled with conviction, were now filled with utter terror.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking around at them, slowly began to move.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

With each step he took, golden smoke rose from the ground.

Jin Yang, who was walking behind him, suddenly noticed that the golden smoke rising from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet was quite dark.

That smoke was the process of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s inner energy being released uncontrollably, taking shape, and scattering into the air. In other words, it had the same properties as the golden energy waves that Yeon Ho-Jeong emitted.

Yet, it was dark. The gold light, having lost its original luster, looked dull like an old piece of yellow cloth.

That wasn’t all.

The golden light burning above Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulders was also tinged with a dark yellow. It was slowly, but surely, being dyed with darkness.

Jin Yang’s eyes wavered.

‘It’s changing.’

The inner energy was changing.

Even Jin Yang, a master of the highest level, had never seen the color of materialized inner energy change in real time. He didn’t know what it meant either.

However, it was clear that this change was unusual.

Swoosh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, standing in front of the gate, looked at the two guards guarding the entrance.

They couldn’t even dare to look at Yeon Ho-Jeong. They just stared straight ahead, swallowing hard with pale faces.

‘Indeed.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s ability to control his upper dantian [an energy center in the body] was not yet at its peak. He had tried his best not to cause any damage, but the energy waves that had leaked out had probably reached the guards as well.

Yet, they did not fall. Even though their whole bodies were drenched in cold sweat, they stood firm to the end.

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“I’ve come to see the Namgoong family head.”

“…”

“Open the gate.”

The guards’ hands trembled.

They almost opened the gate without realizing it. It wasn’t just the force, but the voice itself was filled with tremendous majesty. It was the command of a transcendent being that they could not dare to refuse.

One of the guards closed his eyes tightly and said,

“If, if you haven’t contacted us in advance… you can’t see the family head…”

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes?!”

“Unless Senior Noh is here, you must clearly understand that I can blow this entire place away if I so choose.”

“…!!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around at the warriors who had stepped aside.

The warriors could not dare to make eye contact with Yeon Ho-Jeong. They were startled, lowered their heads, and trembled.

It was an overwhelming sight.

Most of them were first-rate, and there were quite a few masters of the highest level among them. Yet, even they were overwhelmed by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s force and could not dare to make eye contact.

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his gaze back to the guards.

“If I had the will to destroy this place, I would have come in wielding an axe from the start.”

“…!”

“Don’t worry. Nothing ominous that you’re thinking of will happen.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his gaze to the gate.

“Open the gate. I don’t want to break it.”

In the end, the guards lowered their heads and opened the gate.

Although they were overwhelmed by his force, the Namgoong guards did not actually see Yeon Ho-Jeong in a bad light. Rather, most of them admired Yeon Ho-Jeong after his duel with the Supreme Family Head.

Yeon Ho-Jeong also knew this, so he did not push them as forcefully as he had done with the other warriors earlier.

Creak.

The gate opened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong and Jin Yang immediately moved forward.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

Even after entering, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s murky yellow energy waves flowed out like smoke.

The guards slowly closed the gate.

And just before the gate was completely closed.

Whoosh.

The yellow haze that had been flowing out had turned almost completely black.

Thud!

* * *

Even after entering the Namgoong residence, Yeon Ho-Jeong did not say a word.

Nor did he release his force. The inner energy that had been emanating had disappeared, but his unique overwhelming majesty remained intact.

‘He shows so many different sides of himself.’

A complex look appeared on Jin Yang’s face as he looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s back.

Even the easygoing Jin Yang could not dare to say a word. That was how serious Yeon Ho-Jeong’s atmosphere was.

‘Is he angry?’

Yes. Yeon Ho-Jeong was angry right now.

But it wasn’t just anger. Even while emitting that destructive killing intent, his eyes were so deep and clear.

His eyes, which showed a hint of sadness, seemed to be mourning the reality that was about to come.

Jin Yang followed him, his mouth tightly shut.

There was no one visible inside the residence. However, it wasn’t as if there were no signs of people.

Namgoong guards were stationed throughout the buildings. However, none of them appeared before Yeon Ho-Jeong.

And so, they easily entered the inner courtyard.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“Do you think there are ways to manipulate others besides power or affectionate appeals?”

It was a sudden question.

Jin Yang said in a somewhat subdued voice.

“Are you talking about soul-capturing techniques?”

“That’s a sorcery, so exclude it.”

“Well… I wonder if there is such a way? Well, if it’s something like threats…”

“Threats would be a good method too.”

“…”

“People can manipulate others. In fact, I’ve manipulated many people. Of course, I’ve failed many times too.”

“What do you mean?”

“A prime example was the previous family head.”

The previous family head referred to Tang Gwan’s father, the Dark King Tang Hyeong.

“He absolutely refused to come out of the family’s territory. Even though the family was being trampled by external enemies. No matter how great the conflict with his son was, I wondered if he really had to do that.”

“…There are all sorts of people in the world.”

“It wasn’t entirely because of my persuasion that he participated in the war. There must have been another reason. But if it hadn’t been for my persuasion, he wouldn’t have come out even when the family was collapsing.”

“…”

“In other words, as a result, I manipulated a person.”

“It sounds a bit strange… well, you could say that.”

“You did too.”

Jin Yang chuckled.

“That’s right. If you were to say I was manipulated, I was more severely manipulated than the previous family head. With just a few words, I threw away my position as sect leader and joined you.”

“That’s right.”

“But why are you suddenly talking about this?”

“You were easy to persuade. I looked into your heart. I made you realize what you truly wanted, and I brainwashed you by saying that I could give you more.”

Jin Yang chuckled. It was the first time his face had relaxed.

“You’re right. That brainwashing was really terrible. Even now, hearing the word ‘brainwashing’ doesn’t make me feel bad.”

“That’s because there was sincerity.”

There was not a single tremor in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice.

“I sincerely wanted you. I wanted you to be with me, but even if you couldn’t be with me, I wanted you to soar to greater heights. I sincerely wished for that.”

“…”

“It’s a cliche, but you could say that my sincerity got through.”

“And your way with words was excellent.”

“Rhetoric… yes, rhetoric is also an important weapon. A weapon to manipulate others.”

“But why are you suddenly saying all this?”

Clunk.

As they opened the inner gate and entered, a pavilion could be seen in the distance.

And on top of the pavilion, a middle-aged man was drinking alone with his back turned.

Looking at the man, Yeon Ho-Jeong said,

“To be called a regional overlord, one must have a certain level of conviction. With a soft personality, you can never be called an overlord.”

“I absolutely agree.”

“In other words, the Namgoong family head wasn’t persuaded like you. He was threatened.”

A faint fire flickered in Jin Yang’s eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong walked towards the pavilion.

Jin Yang walked with him for a while, then drew his sword from his back and looked around. He was acting as a bodyguard.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, leaning the Light Dragon Axe against a pillar below the pavilion, approached Namgoong In.

“…”

Namgoong In’s face seemed to have aged even more than the last time he saw him.

His eyes were dull, and his beard was growing haphazardly. It was unlike him, who had always maintained a neat appearance.

Thump.

Yeon Ho-Jeong sat down opposite Namgoong In.

Namgoong In smiled bitterly.

“Was it yesterday?”

“…”

“As soon as I heard that you had joined the alliance, I thought. That you would come to me soon.”

“Namgoong Family Head.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze sank.

“Who is it?”

It was a nonsensical question.

His words, cutting off the beginning and end, meant who was the one who had threatened the Namgoong Family Head.

Namgoong In, who had been quietly looking down at his cup, emptied it.

“Yeon Family Head is fortunate. To have two such robust sons…”

“I didn’t come here to listen to your complaints.”

“…”

“If it weren’t for my connection with Senior Sword Saint, I would have already cut off one of your arms and started.”

Namgoong In glared at Yeon Ho-Jeong with bloodshot eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze grew colder by the moment.

“Who is it?”

Namgoong In’s gaze, which had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, gradually lost its strength.

“How much could it take for a person who is called a regional overlord to collapse?”

“If you try to change the subject one more time, I’ll just kill you.”

“…”

“Who is it?”

Namgoong In closed his eyes tightly.

“…It’s my son.”