Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1028

“……!”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes wavered.

“You said such words…?”

“Yes.”

Moyong Gun’s face looked somewhat troubled.

“At first, I didn’t understand that conversation. But after thinking about it carefully, it seems like…”

“…….”

“They seemed to have made several preparations.”

“……!”

He was the one who told Jeagal Mun-Ho about the conversation with the Three Great Kings in the prison.

At the time, Moyong Gun couldn’t understand exactly what their conversation meant.

But now he knows. He can deduce it.

It was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s early departure from the alliance, which was understandable but also a bit strange.

“It was strange. Although the Anti-Black Faction causing a stir and being swept up in it is a big problem, if Yeon Ho-Jeong had said he would hold out to the end, there wouldn’t be any fools who would point fingers at him and tell him to leave.”

“But he left. Because he knew that him leaving the alliance was a much better choice for everyone.”

“That’s right. I think so too. And this picture was what the spy wanted.”

A strategy that you can’t help but fall for even if you know it.

Isn’t that the mark of a first-rate strategy?

“I was a bit puzzled by that part. It caused strong distrust between the black and white factions, but that doesn’t mean the alliance would break. If Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t been swayed by public opinion or if the spy hadn’t been caught, we would have faced a different situation than now, but it still wouldn’t have led to the dissolution of the alliance.”

“I think so too.”

“But the spy was very satisfied. No, I don’t know if he’s the type to feel satisfaction, but at least he seemed confident that his scheme had worked well enough.”

“…….”

“The alliance remains, but only Yeon Ho-Jeong and his group leave the Martial Alliance? The Martial Alliance is not an easy place. They wouldn’t have thought that everything would be fine just because Yeon Ho-Jeong was gone.”

“But.”

“…….”

“They wouldn’t have underestimated the abilities of Vice Leader Yeon either.”

“That’s right.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

“In other words, what the spy wanted was the departure of Yeon Ho-Jeong ‘personally’.”

“……!”

“No matter how I think about it, that’s the only explanation. Of course, the Martial Alliance will unite like an army because of this situation, and the Three Sects will also respond accordingly, but the name Yeon Ho-Jeong will be classified as the most important figure in the Three Sects as well.”

“Then!”

Jeagal Mun-Ho jumped up.

“This is not the time to be doing this!”

“And Yeon Ho-Jeong said this.”

“……?”

“Suspicion breeds ghosts.”

It was a saying that suspicion can even create non-existent ghosts.

“What the spy wants is chaos in the martial world. Yeon Ho-Jeong voluntarily stepped away from the center of it. Even if we go to help him now, there’s a high probability that we’ll actually harm his plan.”

“Th, this!”

Jeagal Mun-Ho slammed the table.

“Why didn’t you say so! If you had told me sooner, I would have sent some masters to help him, even if it was difficult!”

There was a combat unit that could be deployed immediately. If they had sent some, Yeon Ho-Jeong could have factored that force into his plan.

Ten hands are better than one. Why didn’t Yeon Ho-Jeong ask for help when there was an easier path?

If the combat unit was a burden, he could have asked Namgoong Seung or Jongli Baek.

“He went on his own because he’s confident.”

“But…”

“The reason I’m telling this to the strategist is not to worry about him.”

“……?”

“I’m telling you this so you can focus on your own work.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes wavered.

Moyong Gun, who had been looking out the window, turned his gaze directly to Jeagal Mun-Ho.

“Combat unit? Seongcheon [a high-level martial arts realm]? Yes, even if we set aside the combat unit, if we had sent a Seongcheon-level master, we could have solved the problem much more easily. Then what about the Martial Alliance?”

“What…?”

“With such a great force gathered, what are they doing now?”

“……!!”

“From now on, the Martial Alliance must prepare for war without wasting a single person. In that process, the Sword Emperors must play an absolute role. The same goes for the elders and the council.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

“Do you think the Martial Alliance has too many people, strategist?”

“…….”

“If there were too many, why didn’t you suppress the Anti-Black Faction’s tendencies sooner? If the preparations had been perfect, you could have controlled them sufficiently. Isn’t that right?”

He had no words.

Jeagal Mun-Ho had been extremely busy. However, as the strategist, he couldn’t make excuses for his own mistakes.

Moyong Gun rose from his seat.

“The reason he didn’t say anything and left is because he knows my personality. He must have believed that I would tell you all of this.”

“…….”

“In other words, Yeon Ho-Jeong is warning not only the Anti-Black Faction but also you, the strategist, with this incident. He’s telling you to properly wield the treasured swords and prepare.”

“…….”

“Stop thinking about helping someone. Instead of helping others, properly reorganize the Martial Alliance. Make it an elite force that won’t be shaken by just one spy, a force that won’t be shaken even if a hundred thousand troops attack.”

Moyong Gun rose from his seat.

Jeagal Mun-Ho couldn’t lift his head at his calm yet stern words.

He had pride in the work he had done so far, but he had also made many mistakes. If there were mistakes, he shouldn’t repeat them next time, but how many times had he repeated the same mistakes?

He was busy, so busy. To the point where it affected the preparations for the expedition.

But when war breaks out, such excuses won’t work.

“But… still, Vice Leader Yeon’s importance hasn’t changed.”

“That’s also true. I’m jealous, but his presence encompasses the world. If he dies at the hands of the enemy, we will be as shocked as if we had lost a hundred thousand troops.”

“That’s why!”

“He knows that too! The fact that he went without the help of the Martial Alliance, even knowing that, means that he can solve the immediate problem.”

Moyong Gun crossed his arms and looked out the window again.

“What worries me is how much the spy estimated Yeon Ho-Jeong’s abilities when he first devised the plan.”

* * *

“A trap?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then…?!”

Bu Seon was startled, but she soon calmed herself.

“You’re confident you can handle it.”

“I’m not such a fool that I would push forward with only my pride without being confident in handling it.”

His calm voice completely washed away Bu Seon’s anxiety.

“Of course, it won’t be easy.”

“Is that so?”

“But it’s okay. We have a weapon that transcends imagination.”

Bu Seon didn’t ask what it was. She believed that he had his own reasons.

How long had they walked like that?

“…….”

Yeon Ho-Jeong slowed his horse.

In the distance, the entrance to a narrow canyon came into view. If they went inside, they could easily be ambushed from both sides.

Although it was narrow, it was wide enough for even a supreme master to run wild. The problem was the cliffs on the left and right and the rear.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

Not only the terrain but also the unpleasant feeling that was slowly rising was stimulating his upper dantian [energy center in the body].

Crack.

His figure, slowly turning his neck and loosening his body, was still fiery.

Bu Seon swallowed hard and asked.

“Are they coming?”

“They’re already here.”

“It’s amazing. If the spy really aimed for this, they couldn’t have stationed that many troops here all the time. Do they have an information network that works with them?”

“That’s possible, but I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“The spy would have contacted them right before starting the operation. Whether the operation succeeds or fails, they will meet within at least fifteen days.”

Fifteen days.

It was more than enough time to survey the surrounding terrain and become familiar with the environment.

However, there are several routes from the Martial Alliance to Honam. If they were to choose one and move, they would also need their own time.

Thinking about it that way, fifteen days was just the right amount of time.

“Then that terrain is…?”

“Yes.”

Clang!

With the Azure Dragon Axe on his shoulder, a faint fighting spirit rose on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

“It’s a battlefield I chose. I know this area like the back of my hand.”

Bu Seon looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with strange eyes. Her admiration was evident in her gaze.

“Is my junior sister ready?”

“Of course.”

“If you feel like you’re going to die, don’t fight back and retreat. Originally, I was going to end this fight alone.”

“Understood.”

With that, the two of them rode their horses to the entrance of the canyon.

“……!!”

Bu Seon sharply looked around.

She couldn’t find any signs of movement, but she felt an unknown fighting spirit. Her senses were also unusually sharp.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke calmly.

“Come out.”

Would they really come out just because he said so?

“……!!”

Bu Seon’s eyes wavered.

Two men and women walked out of the shadows inside the canyon.

Chills!

As soon as she identified the two men and women, Bu Seon felt goosebumps all over her body.

‘This can’t be!’

They didn’t exude a ferocious aura or display a great presence like Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yet, for a moment, she had a vision of her neck being severed. They were sinister and strange beings.

Whoosh.

The Yellow Dragon Energy flowed from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

Bu Seon’s mind became much calmer by his side. It was because the Yellow Dragon Energy permeated her, caressing her middle and upper dantians.

After calmness came fighting spirit.

The Yellow Dragon Energy, containing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s heart, eliminated Bu Seon’s fear and awakened her dormant fighting spirit.

“Who are you?”

The man chuckled at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s indifferent question.

“It’s been a long time. Now that we finally meet, I’m rather glad.”

It was a frivolous voice.

Although his voice was frivolous, his energy was no joke.

‘He’s stronger than that guy.’

There was a guy named Hoyeon Jong that she had fought when she met Ha Eun-Gyo in the past.

This guy is stronger than him. Yet, he was exuding a similar aura to that guy.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes blazed.

‘Yin Desolate Martial Arts!!’

To have mastered Yin Desolate Martial Arts meant that he was a guy with the blood of the cult leader mixed in, like Hoyeon Jong.

The veins on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand holding the Azure Dragon Axe bulged.

“Are you from the Evil Yin Cult?”

“Oh, you recognized it at a glance? Well, I heard you had a fight with that Three Protectors guy?”

The Three Protectors must mean Hoyeon Jong.

A person who has mastered the Yin Desolate Evil Energy, and the term Three Protectors.

The answer was simple.

“Are you also some kind of fledgling protector of the Evil Yin Cult?”

“Look at this young one’s manners. You’re the fledgling, you brat.”

His voice was full of composure.

In reality, the man was well over fifty years old. In terms of age, Hoyeon Jong was much older, but he was a master who had surpassed Hoyeon Jong in skill and obtained the position of the second protector.

The Evil Yin Cult’s Second Protector, Hoyeon Gwang.

Like Yeon Ho-Jeong holding the Azure Dragon Axe, he also had a heavy weapon resting on his shoulder.

There was an iron mace connected to the shaft of a steel long staff. The thickness of the iron mace, which was longer than the blade of a glaive, was almost the size of an adult woman’s torso.

Hoyeon Gwang smiled and pointed his heavy weapon, the Giant Dragon Mace.

“No questions asked. Let’s see the skills of the rumored young master of the Dark Dragon Axe!”