Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1039

“Black Emperor Star?”

“Yes.”

Muk Bi’s expression turned peculiar.

She was the only one besides Yeon-wi who knew about Yeon Ho-jeong’s regression [reincarnation or return to the past].

“Are you following the past?”

“Rather than following, it’s more like…”

Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.

“It’s better than the Mukryong Unit, right?”

Muk Bi smiled back.

Though she said that, she could tell. Yeon Ho-jeong, under the name of the Black Emperor Star, was determined to accomplish what he couldn’t in the past this time.

It was after she had decided to fully believe in Yeon Ho-jeong’s regression. Muk Bi felt a strange flutter in her heart at Yeon Ho-jeong’s actions, who was shaping the past into the present with the name of the Black Emperor Star.

“Why? Are you nervous?”

“Huh? About what?”

“The corners of your eyes are twitching, and your pupils are moist.”

Muk Bi was flustered and rubbed her eyes.

She didn’t notice the twitching, but her pupils didn’t feel wet.

“Don’t tease me.”

“Hahahaha.”

“Anyway.”

“Changing the subject.”

“Never mind, what’s that?”

On the table, a rather large piece of paper was spread out. Except for some margins, the paper was densely filled with writing.

“An organizational chart.”

Muk Bi’s eyes sparkled.

“Is it the new organizational chart for the Black Emperor Star?”

“Yes.”

“I thought the existing organizational structure was sufficient? After all, it was Young Master Yeon who reorganized the Mukryong Unit’s organizational chart.”

When he infiltrated the Mukryong Unit as a spy, he had created a new organizational chart for his dealings with Yang Cheon.

The organizational chart itself was based on the convenient aspects of leading the Black Emperor Star. Although Jeagal Ayeon had helped, it was no exaggeration to say that Yeon Ho-jeong had created the big picture.

“It’s not bad. But it’s not what I want.”

“What kind of organizational chart does Young Master Yeon want?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Simple and fast.”

The current organizational chart of the Mukryong Unit was quite detailed.

The reason for making it that way was simple. At the time, it suited the Mukryong Unit.

However, if a war was assumed, a strong organizational reform was needed.

“I don’t think we should only focus on the war.”

Muk Bi’s point was valid.

“Of course, our top priority is how to wage war. But we can’t ignore life after that. Especially with an organization of this size.”

It was a valid point.

One might say it was a carefree remark when war was just around the corner, but war was ultimately a human endeavor.

If they started creating an organization solely for war, problems would inevitably arise later. It wasn’t enough to say, ‘Let’s win the war first and think about it later,’ because everyone had different circumstances and ideologies. Moreover, Yeon Ho-jeong was a person who had gone from being a member of the White Path to the leader of the Black Path.

The most famous person in the current Jianghu [the martial world] was undoubtedly Yeon Ho-jeong. The moniker ‘Black and White Martial Emperor’ itself was a title that came from both the Black and White Paths.

However, not everything was covered up by that moniker and his achievements. If they started questioning legitimacy within the Black Path, the Black Emperor Star itself would face the risk of division.

Of course, Yeon Ho-jeong wouldn’t let that happen, but there was a need to consider the existing people. That was why the organization couldn’t be too combat-oriented.

“You judged well. You have a better eye than I thought.”

“How bad did you think my eye was?”

“Shall we get back to the organizational chart?”

“You’re changing the subject.”

Yeon Ho-jeong stroked his chin.

“When renaming to the Black Emperor Star and reorganizing the organizational chart, the biggest problem I see is the conflict between the existing forces and the new forces.”

“I think so too.”

“Well, the new forces aren’t that many, but we can’t not build new strength when war could break out at any moment. How quickly the conflict between the old and new is resolved will be the key to strengthening the Black Emperor Star’s power.”

Muk Bi asked.

“Do you have any specific plans for the new forces?”

“I do.”

“Where are they?”

“I’ll tell you the details later. It’s not to the point where I can be certain yet.”

“I see.”

“The only place I can be somewhat certain about is Sama Hyeon’s assassination unit.”

Muk Bi’s eyes flashed.

She had heard everything about Sama Hyeon. That he had companions who had joined him when he escaped from Yul, the former Shadow God and spy of the Evil Sound Cult.

And that they had established a new unit over the past few years.

“But they are…”

“There are many children. They can’t be deployed in actual combat with just a few years of training, and I didn’t intend to use them as a fighting force in the first place.”

“Then they have flaws as a new force.”

“The instructors alone make it a great unit. There are no assassins in the Central Plains who can compare to them.”

Sama Hyeon alone boasted a terrifying stealth technique that could momentarily deceive even the eyes of a Saint-level expert [a very high level of martial arts].

Of course, hiding and then attempting an assassination were different. Even if a Saint-level master didn’t notice the stealth, they could read the killing intent at the moment of attack and avoid it.

In other words, they were monsters capable of assassinating all masters below the Saint level if they set their minds to it.

“In war, sometimes it’s as important to cut down the enemy’s numbers as it is to take out the leader. It’s even more important if it’s a war to seize hegemony over the entire Central Plains.”

“So, the card called Sama Hyeon, depending on how it’s used, could determine the outcome of this war.”

“Exactly. And…”

“…?”

“All of you are as important as Sama Hyeon.”

Muk Bi’s eyes widened.

“All of us…?”

“You, Gang Ryang, Jin Yang, and So Jeong-gwang.”

“…!”

Yeon Ho-jeong said with a serious face.

“New units need new blood. The master has passed the position of vice-chief, no, the lord, to me, so I need people who can move forward with me like the Twelve Earthly Branches [a reference to the twelve divisions of the Chinese zodiac, implying a close and supportive relationship].”

“That’s us.”

“Yes. It’s you.”

The Five Great Generals of the Black Emperor Star.

The unparalleled geniuses, who were even called the Five Great Martial Gods, had been together in the past.

One of them had died, but if Sama Hyeon filled that void, it would be no different from the resurrection of the Five Great Generals.

“But… the Five Great Generals of the past and the Five Great Generals of the present are different.”

“That’s right.”

The reason why the Five Great Generals of the Black Emperor Star could spread fear throughout the Central Plains was very simple.

It was because they were strong.

Muk Bi’s archery skills as the Divine Bow were beyond compare, and Gang Ryang’s domineering swordsmanship as the Sword King even overwhelmed the enlightenment of the Martial Alliance Leader, Moyong Gun.

Jin Yang’s swordsmanship as the Demon Blade was specialized for large-scale battles and was capable of mass slaughter, and So Jeong-gwang’s strategies as the Blood Demon of Chaos made the Evil Sound Cult tremble with fear.

Compared to them, Ham Mu-heon’s achievements as the Southern Water Bow were not as noticeable, but just by being responsible for the body of the Black Emperor, the most powerful weapon and the master of the Black Emperor Star, his importance was no less than the other Five Great Generals. Furthermore, he defeated enemies with martial arts that were second to none in actual battles.

In other words, the Five Great Generals were the strongest masters of the Black Path, each possessing the power to change the course of the war. Moreover, they had subordinates who they had directly taught and worked with.

When the five dragons of the Black Path began to rampage, the northern region held its breath.

Even though it was wartime, the power of the Five Great Generals was so overwhelming that such rumors spread.

“We are different from then.”

Different.

Their skills, their insights, and their environments were all different.

However, there was one more crucial difference.

“I’m here.”

“Yes?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Back then, you all approached me first. You were the ones who pulled me out of despair, fighting against the world. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here, and the Black Emperor Star wouldn’t exist.”

“…!”

“But now it’s different. If you were the ones who led me back then, now I can lead you. If there’s something lacking, I’ll fill it, and if there’s something overflowing, I’ll trim it. Even if you’re not as strong as you were then, you have a much more complete mindset now than you did then.”

“…”

“That’s enough.”

The Five Great Generals weren’t strong from the beginning.

Rather, if you compared now and then, the current Five Great Generals had grown much faster.

What is needed for a novice to transform into a master? Talent, martial arts, circumstances, experience, luck, and so on. There would be countless things needed.

However, the most important thing was a clear belief in oneself.

At that time, Muk Bi had an incomplete self, not speaking a word to anyone except Yeon Ho-jeong, and Gang Ryang was wielding a heinous sword, burning with revenge.

Jin Yang and So Jeong-gwang were close friends, so they made up for each other’s shortcomings, but there were also organizational damages caused by their friendship.

It was different now.

Muk Bi had found a clear self, and Gang Ryang had grown to the point where he could use even his revenge as a stepping stone for development. Jin Yang was the same, and So Jeong-gwang was working hard in his training, burning with the passion he lacked, so as not to fall behind his friend.

At this level, even if they couldn’t boast the same power as in the past, they were more than capable of being a pillar of a large organization.

“Don’t worry. You’ll do well. With who you are now, you’ll be able to see the world from your own positions without my help.”

Muk Bi, who had been listening silently to Yeon Ho-jeong’s words, chuckled.

“You’re good with words.”

“It’s one of my weapons.”

“Whatever, I understand. In the end, you need friends to work with you, Young Master Yeon, who will become the lord, and that’s us, right?”

“That’s right.”

Muk Bi’s eyes deepened as she looked at the organizational chart.

“Dealing with the leaders of the Black Path sects is a top priority.”

“You see it accurately. You’re exceptional.”

The leaders of the Black Path sects who were currently serving as elders were all proud and experienced old snakes. To subdue them and have them act like the Twelve Earthly Branches, considerable difficulties were expected.

“Don’t worry. I’ll move tomorrow.”

“Move tomorrow, but don’t force results.”

She already knew enough about Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“Why?”

“To properly subdue them, it’s important to demonstrate the abilities of the king’s closest aides, not the overwhelming power of the king. If Young Master Yeon steps forward, it might be okay for now, but it would be a temporary measure in a situation where war could break out at any moment.”

As she led the Myeolsa Army and the Uijeong Army, Muk Bi’s innate talents began to blossom brilliantly.

She was no longer someone struggling to adapt to a new world. She had reached the level of a master who pondered how to make the new world her own.

“Just set the stage. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“I understand what you mean. But can you do it well?”

Muk Bi grinned.

“If we were thinking of showing off as the Five Great Generals with idiots who couldn’t even do that much, we would be disappointed.”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“The student surpasses the master.”

It was then.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned towards the door.

Soon, surprise appeared on Muk Bi’s face as well.

“Oh ho?”