Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1016

The martial arts alliance was in an uproar. The head of the Namgoong family, the hegemon of Anhui, was dead, and the head of the famous Cheongsaja Clan of Shanxi was also dead.

Rumors spread that Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had last met the Namgoong family head, was responsible for his death. However, thanks to the decision and swift action of the alliance leader, Gong Gong, it remained a suspicion rather than a fact.

However, before anything could be properly resolved, news arrived that the head of the Cheongsaja Clan had died.

Surprisingly, it was said that Gong Gong and Seung-Hyeon Jin-In were the last people to be with the Lion Clan leader.

When this fact spread, the alliance members could not hide their confusion and surprise.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was known for his unconventional actions and young age, and he was famous for his terrifying talent rather than his virtue.

However, Gong Gong was a person known throughout the world for his deep compassion and virtue as the abbot of Shaolin and the leader of Mount Tai, rather than his martial achievements.

That was why everyone recognized him as the alliance leader. Even though Gong Gong was at the center of the anti-Black Faction [a faction that opposes the demonic or evil sects], very few people believed that he had killed the Lion Clan leader.

Only then did the alliance members realize that something they did not know was happening within the martial arts alliance.

Because Gong Gong’s reputation was so great, the public opinion that the alliance’s leadership was running wild to eliminate the anti-Black Faction could not even surface.

At that time, Sword Saint Namgoong Seung transferred his grandson to the military affairs department and revealed in detail what he had done.

Like Gong Gong, Namgoong Seung’s honest remarks turned the martial arts alliance upside down.

No matter how much they hated the anti-Black Faction, they would not use their grandson or tarnish their family’s name to push forward.

In an instant, public opinion was reversed, and the atmosphere became both fierce and heated.

The martial artists who hated the Black Path [demonic or evil sects] and belonged to the anti-Black Faction had no choice but to shut their mouths. Even though they did not know the details, they intuitively knew how fatal their words and actions had been.

The momentum of the anti-Black Faction subsided in an instant.

Unable to leave the alliance, they confined themselves to their residences, trembling with anxiety. If they were expelled from the martial arts alliance, they would have to withdraw from the White Path [righteous sects] righteous sects before the war even began.

Even in the midst of this, there were some who grumbled that this was also part of a larger conspiracy.

Of course, they were a very small minority and dared not speak out in front of others. This was because their words could be seen as an insult to Gong Gong and Namgoong Seung, as well as a denial of the martial arts alliance itself.

The boiling atmosphere had subsided in an instant due to several incidents.

The martial arts alliance, which had been trying to appease public sentiment, had no choice but to glare at the anti-Black Faction martial artists in this absurd situation. It was only logical.

However, the martial arts alliance did not officially expel the warriors or sects that belonged to the anti-Black Faction. They were angry, and the situation was indeed serious, but if they could not embrace this, it could reveal the limitations of the martial arts alliance.

Everyone swallowed hard and was tense in the calm before the storm.

At that time, Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had caught the culprit, headed to the alliance leader’s residence with the warriors dispatched by the martial arts alliance.

He walked with a confident stride, as if he had nothing to hide. Although his arms were formally restrained by the alliance’s warriors, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s skills were such that he could break free from such restraints in an instant.

The martial arts alliance was not only full of warriors belonging to the anti-Black Faction. It was just that the anti-Black Faction’s momentum had been too strong recently, but there were also many who believed in the policy that the Black and White Paths should join forces to prepare for war.

They cheered for Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had confidently revealed himself, and clicked their tongues as they watched the culprit who had led to this situation.

And when it was revealed that the culprit was the young leader of the Gangseo Commerce Alliance and a spy dispatched by the Three Sects [a group of powerful demonic sects] long ago, the alliance members’ shock soared to the sky.

This was the second time that the martial arts alliance had been turned upside down by an enemy spy. The leadership did not want to reveal this fact, but the incident had become too big to cover up and gloss over.

In the end, even if it meant losing trust in the martial arts alliance’s capabilities, they had no choice but to reveal the truth. The culprit’s identity and how he had manipulated people while working as a spy were revealed.

The alliance members could not easily believe that the Namgoong family head and the Lion Clan leader had committed suicide due to the culprit, Hong Ik-cheon’s, rhetoric, and that Namgoong Hyeon had even equipped himself with a fire bomb.

On this point, the alliance’s leadership had no choice but to explain that it was a terrible demonic art that was mixed with illusion and sorcery. It was because they thought that even if they told the truth, people would not accept it.

Even the leadership found it hard to believe that a person could be manipulated to that extent with just rhetoric.

The atmosphere of the martial arts alliance, which had been filled with cold silence, turned into a funeral home overnight.

Among them, the anti-Black Faction warriors could not even lift their heads. They realized that they had made a big mistake due to the spy dispatched by the Three Sects, and that they had been swayed to shake the martial arts alliance. Many sects were terrified and shut themselves in.

Some, feeling guilty, even volunteered to leave the martial arts alliance.

They were in a situation where their entire sect could be erased due to sedition. They judged that it was better to confess their sins and withdraw first, so that they could at least continue their sect’s history.

The martial arts alliance did not respond to their withdrawal.

The anti-Black Faction warriors became more and more anxious as time passed, not knowing what to do. They would have been relieved even if they were disappointed if they had received an official answer, but the fact that they remained silent made them feel like their blood was drying up.

And another day passed.

The culprit, Hong Ik-cheon, and some of the anti-Black Faction warriors who had spoken with him were dragged to the interrogation hall for questioning. Of course, Yeon Ho-Jeong was also questioned.

Hong Ik-cheon answered all the questions honestly, and the warriors who had been at the center of the instigation due to their connection with Hong Ik-cheon were completely dumbfounded during the investigation.

Naturally, the story of the investigation also spread throughout the martial arts alliance. Because Jeagal Mun-Ho deliberately spread the rumors quickly, everyone knew the general outline of the incident in less than half an hour.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s status changed from a suspect to a victim in an instant. Moreover, the fact that he had managed to catch the spy even under that pressure made the alliance members feel a feeling that was hard to describe in words.

And another day passed.

The atmosphere of the martial arts alliance had frozen so coldly that it could not go any lower.

* * *

“It’s not good.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s face was serious.

“The atmosphere of the alliance has become too turbulent. This atmosphere is definitely not good now that we don’t know when the war will break out.”

If there was no immediate danger of war, they could use this incident as a stepping stone to create a more united and trustworthy martial arts alliance.

However, the timing was too bad.

The anti-Black Faction warriors’ spirits were broken to the point of hitting rock bottom, but the martial arts alliance leadership could not see it as a victory.

As one side’s public opinion was dying, the fear of war and the Three Sects was slowly rising.

Before trust, the martial arts alliance was the largest alliance of the White Path righteous sects. The fact that such an alliance had been shaken twice by a spy alone meant that the morale of the alliance members could not help but plummet.

They could not trust each other, and it was difficult to even express the right opinions. This was because they thought that they might be branded as spies if they made a mistake.

With just one act of espionage, the alliance’s unity was shaken from the roots. It was a different level of impact than the previous spy incident.

Hatred and a moderate fear of the Three Sects were good. Since they would have to fight them someday, such emotions could maintain the unity and tension among the alliance members.

However, the atmosphere had now gone too far.

“Is this really the end?”

Gong Gong’s face also became serious.

“This incident was clearly a fatal situation that would shock the world, but looking at the incident itself, it feels like it was resolved too quickly.”

It was thanks to the quick actions of Yeon Ho-Jeong and Moyong Gun.

However, considering Hong Ik-cheon’s formidable abilities and the scale of the incident, it felt like things had been resolved too quickly and cleanly.

In particular, Hong Ik-cheon confessed everything without any lies.

He confessed everything, from the fact that he was from the Sayum Sect among the Three Sects, to how he had flowed into the Central Plains, how he had met the last successor of the Water Dragon Divine Needle Technique, and how he had created the subsequent incidents.

With that level of mental strength, it seemed like he would not open his mouth even if he was subjected to terrible torture, but the words he actually spoke were all true.

“It doesn’t feel good.”

“I feel the same way.”

“But it doesn’t seem like there’s anything more than this. If there was, I don’t think the spy would have revealed all the truth.”

“We have re-investigated all the warriors in the inner city, starting from the interrogation hall. This was because we could not rule out the possibility of another spy or informant related to Hong Ik-cheon. However…”

“There won’t be any.”

“Although we cannot be sure of anything, it seems to me that there are no other spies or informants.”

“Hmm.”

Gong Gong looked at Jeagal Ayeon, who was sitting next to him.

Jeagal Ayeon’s face was somewhat pale. She had been greatly shocked by the fact that Namgoong Hyeon had tried to kidnap her.

However, she was coping well. This was because she was facing a much bigger problem.

Gong Gong sighed and said,

“I don’t know what’s going on. However, the atmosphere of the alliance is too bad. We need to find a way to break this atmosphere as soon as possible.”

“I think so too.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was sitting next to him, drinking tea.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression was calm. He didn’t look relaxed, but he didn’t look too serious either.

An expression that was hard to read.

Jeagal Mun-Ho asked,

“What do you think of this situation, Vice Leader?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been sipping tea, suddenly stood up.

“Military Advisor, and Alliance Leader.”

“Speak.”

“Please let me meet Hong Ik-cheon.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at Gong Gong.

Gong Gong, who had been quietly observing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face, said in a slightly nervous voice.

“It’s not a difficult task. However, there is one thing I want to ask.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“In your opinion, do you think there could be another incident related to the spy?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“I also think that the spy has finished all his work.”

“…Is that so?”

“However, the problem will be what happens in the future.”

“Are you talking about the martial arts alliance?”

“It could become a problem for the martial arts alliance, and even the entire Central Plains martial world.”

“Why do you think so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong lowered his head.

“May I speak after meeting the spy? There is something I need to confirm with him.”

Gong Gong nodded.

“Do so. But be careful. I know your abilities well, but I’m still worried because he’s the kind of person who can manipulate people to that extent with just rhetoric.”

“Then I will go with a trustworthy person.”

“A trustworthy person?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Jeagal Ayeon.

Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes widened.

“Me?”

“You two are busy. You must be out of your mind because of this incident, so come with me and at least try to calm your mind.”

“That’s…”

Jeagal Ayeon looked at Gong Gong and Jeagal Mun-Ho.

The two nodded.

“Go. This will also be a good learning experience.”