Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 109

Even as his body stiffened in surprise, Moyong Woo was certain of one thing.

This was someone he couldn’t handle.

He was not someone to be underestimated just because of his young age. His voice, the aura he exuded, and his brilliantly shining eyes all proved that he was a master of his generation.

An indescribable shock was etched onto Moyong Woo’s face.

‘Why am I only seeing this now?’

A frank question arose, and at the same time, he found the answer.

‘It’s because he’s the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family.’

The Mad Wind Swordsman, the Byeoksan Tiger General.

A passionate young master who once tried to take on the Nine Great Families, who had once been known as the best in the world, single-handedly.

A peerless warrior who had faced the might of the great families with a burning sense of justice and a tiger-like courage.

That was the impression the world had of Yeon Ho-Jeong. And Moyong Woo, having heard the rumors about him, had somehow managed to create an image of him in his mind, even though he had never met him.

‘I was wrong.’

That’s right.

He was wrong, completely different. Moyong Woo now realized that the Yeon Ho-Jeong he had imagined was worlds apart from the real Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘He’s extraordinary. So extraordinary that he feels out of place!’

Just how extraordinary was he?

He was an extraordinary figure who could seriously utter the words ‘the best in the world’.

“Stand at the pinnacle of the White Path? What, what are you talking about?”

“Just as I said.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“The White Path Alliance [the righteous martial world]. I’m saying become the leader of the Martial Alliance and take control of the world.”

Moyong Woo’s mouth gaped open.

He was someone who could come out of nowhere and spout such shocking words so easily. Moyong Woo realized that his cognitive abilities were struggling to keep up with Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words.

Looking at Moyong Woo’s shocked face, Yeon Ho-Jeong unconsciously smiled.

‘He’s so innocent.’

His expression was a masterpiece. Despite possessing both martial talent and the ability to see through people’s true nature, he had a gentle disposition.

It was rare to find someone like him. He had been the branch leader of Zhejiang and had surely experienced the chaos of the world, yet he had maintained his honest and straightforward nature.

He was naturally pure and kind. He lacked decisiveness, but he was too attractive to ignore just because of that one flaw.

“Even if you suddenly… say something like that…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“I apologize for startling you. It was a joke.”

Moyong Woo looked relieved, as if to say, ‘That’s more like it.’

“It was a bit of an over-the-top joke. Asking if I’d like to become the leader of the Martial Alliance? That’s a very dangerous thing to say, so please don’t say it anywhere else…”

“What are you talking about?”

“…?”

“What I said was a joke was about receiving Moyong Gun’s apology through you. My belief that you should become the leader of the Martial Alliance remains unchanged.”

Moyong Woo said in a shocked voice.

“You were serious about that?”

“Yes, I was.”

At first, he had intended to approach him slowly.

To build a friendship and overcome various challenges together. He had planned to naturally create a bond and encourage him to become the leader of the Martial Alliance.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong abandoned that idea.

He was not someone who could be swayed by a forced friendship. Furthermore, it was not something that suited Yeon Ho-Jeong’s personality.

If he had already marked him as the right person to be the leader of the Martial Alliance, then he would just have to drag him there by the hair.

He could give up when he thought it was absolutely impossible, when he judged that there would be more harm than good.

‘If I keep weighing the pros and cons, I’ll just end up losing a good person. Now is the time to be bold.’

Moyong Woo shook his head.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“You don’t like it?”

“It’s not a matter of liking it or not. The leader of the Martial Alliance? That’s absurd. I’ll just assume you were trying to lighten the mood with a bad joke.”

It was then.

Tsutsutsutsu.

Moyong Woo flinched.

Whoooooooosh.

A sharp, cold energy emanated from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

It was a terrifyingly intense aura. A fiery, stormy, and overwhelming despairing energy bound Moyong Woo.

‘Hah!’

Moyong Woo’s eyes trembled.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said in a cold voice.

“Do I look like someone who would travel a thousand miles just to make a joke?”

“…!!”

“If that’s truly how you see me, then I have nothing more to say. I guess I misjudged you.”

He emitted a terrifying aura and said he had misjudged him.

Since the content was so shocking, it would be better to just let him go back. That’s what Moyong Woo thought.

But he couldn’t turn away from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze.

Because of the sharp eyes, the disappointment that was cast in the blue lightning of his gaze.

Because he knew what it meant for one person to be disappointed in another, Moyong Woo couldn’t help but open his mouth.

“I… I’m not someone who deserves to sit in such a grand position.”

“I think so too.”

“Th-Then why?”

“Not now.”

“…?!”

“Let’s skip the trivial talk. I saw potential in you. You’re weak enough to turn a blind eye to your own family’s wrongdoings, but if you’re enduring it not because you’re afraid but because they’re your family, then I think you’re the perfect fit for the position of the leader of the Martial Alliance.”

Moyong Woo’s face was filled with shock.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Let me tell you one thing. The flow of the times has changed, so I can’t be certain, but within the next twenty years, a great calamity will occur in the Central Plains.”

“A calamity…?”

“That’s right. That calamity will be so great that it will sweep through the entire Central Plains. Blood will flow like a river, and death will pour down like rain. Their power is that strong.”

Moyong Woo’s eyes deepened.

‘Within twenty years? They? A calamity?’

Everything he was saying was hard to understand.

If it weren’t for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s confident eyes, he might have dismissed it as nonsense.

“And even one of them is that strong. If all three of them decide to come out, then no one will be able to stop them. At least, not with the current power of the martial world.”

“Three?!”

“The Mad Faith Trinity. That’s what those who will become the great enemies of the Central Plains are called.”

It was a name he had never heard before.

Moyong Woo felt a momentary dizziness.

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But know this one thing. If you don’t prepare now, I guarantee you won’t be able to stop them.”

“That’s…”

“Should I make it easier for you? It means your family will die too.”

“…!!”

Moyong Woo’s eyes widened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong continued in a calm voice.

“I’m not a saint. I don’t feel any emotion for the deaths of strangers I don’t know. But if my family’s lives are at stake, then it’s a different story.”

“…”

“That’s why I came to you. Because I know you’re the most suitable person for the position of the leader of the Martial Alliance.”

He spoke of the death of his family. Now, this conversation could no longer be dismissed as a joke.

Moyong Woo, who had been lost in thought for a moment, opened his mouth.

“Let’s summarize.”

“…”

“Your purpose in coming to me is to make me the leader of the Martial Alliance. The reason is that I am suitable for the position of leader in your opinion, and also to prepare for the enemies who will invade the Central Plains in the future. Is that correct?”

“Good summary.”

“Then I hope you understand that I can’t help but feel bewildered by this summary.”

“I understand. But I’m serious.”

“I know. If you weren’t so serious, I would have ended this conversation immediately.”

There were always ears everywhere in the world. The same was true for this Zhejiang branch. He had made them all his people, but what if they weren’t? What if a master so skilled that they could deceive his senses was eavesdropping on their conversation?

Then things would become complicated. Moyong Woo didn’t want that.

“And as you might have expected, even if I believe your words, it’s something I can’t help but hesitate about.”

“That’s exactly it.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong adjusted his posture.

“If you truly understand that I’m serious, then that’s enough. And if you know that I’m not crazy, then that’s enough.”

“…You’re a harsh speaker.”

“I don’t intend to make you do something you don’t want to do. I’m just going to show you the world.”

“Show me the world? What do you mean by that?”

“The world you don’t know. And I’ll also show you the abilities of the person who will make you the leader.”

“…”

“Make your choice later. But I want you to think about it seriously. Think about why I came all the way here to suddenly bring up such dangerous things.”

Moyong Woo, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong with a complicated look, let out a deep sigh.

“This is just like being possessed by a ghost.”

“It couldn’t be helped. I didn’t plan to meet you this quickly in the first place. If it weren’t for Moyong Yeon-Hwa, I would have taken my time.”

At that moment, a look of surprise crossed Moyong Woo’s face.

“You know Yeon-Hwa?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re both descendants of the Six Great Families.”

“No, what you said…”

“Moyong Yeon-Hwa was in Hangzhou. I met her at the Hoseon Grand Theater.”

“Ah!”

“And I thought, I wondered why Moyong Yeon-Hwa came here.”

“…”

“I don’t know the reason, but I couldn’t let it interfere with what I had to do. So I came here quickly, even if it was a bit rushed.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong read Moyong Woo’s expression.

“Judging by your reaction, it seems I did well to come. Moyong Yeon-Hwa, she was planning to visit the Zhejiang branch, right? Of course, she wouldn’t be coming for a visit. Moyong Gun must have ordered her to come and see the situation for herself.”

He was a terrifying person.

Moyong Woo was shocked by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s insight. It was as if he had seen his past from the side, grasping the situation as it unfolded like a ghost.

Martial arts, strategy, insight.

Someone who had obtained everything that could not be obtained at a young age.

‘Where did such a monster come from?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong said plainly.

“Before becoming the leader, do you have any desire to fix your family?”

“…!!”

“I don’t know when Moyong Yeon-Hwa will come. It will take time for you to think and make a choice. Don’t waste time, and answer my question clearly.”

“…Yes. If I can fix my family, I’ll do anything.”

“Even if you have to fight your own family?”

“…!!”

“I’ll ask again. Do you want to fix your family even if you have to fight your own family?”

“If I could…”

Moyong Woo nodded with a heavy face.

“If I could, I would have done it.”

The reason why he had to secretly support them while shedding tears of blood, even as innocent people were dying.

It was because he didn’t have the power.

The world was scary. You couldn’t fight the world with just your martial arts and justice.

No matter how talented Moyong Woo was, he couldn’t face his family alone. Aside from family ties, he was simply no match for them in terms of power.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled with satisfaction.

“You seem to have the will. That’s a relief.”

“But the main family…”

“How do you think I dealt with the Great Families?”

“…?”

“Surely you don’t think I’m strong enough to handle all the power of the Great Families? Only the Thirteen Seats of the Holy Heaven could do that.”

“Th-Then?”

“Instead of matching my strength to the opponent, I have to make the opponent match my strength.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong stood up from his seat.

“Depending on how you handle the power you have, you can either control the situation as you please or have it taken away by others.”

“Control…”

“Put the idea of becoming the leader aside for now. After all, even if you become the leader, it will be dangerous if you can’t overthrow the Moyong family.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong extended his hand.

His fingers, long like a woman’s but moderately thick, were calloused at every joint.

“I’ll ask you one last time. Do you need my help?”

Moyong Woo, who had been looking at his hand, shook his head.

“I don’t need help.”

“Is that so?”

“However, I’ll make a deal.”

The corners of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth curved upwards.

Moyong Woo said confidently.

“I can’t just live by receiving help. If you help me, I will also give you help in return.”

“You could just sit still and get a free meal, why would you want to do that?”

“It’s my nature.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“Alright.”

Only then did Moyong Woo take his hand.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Likewise.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

“Strike while the iron is hot, you said you were having trouble with the trade union, right?”

“Yes. Their representative is supposed to come around noon today…”

“Come? What do you mean come? Tell them not to come.”

“Wh-What?”

“Aren’t you trying to mediate between them?”

“…That’s right.”

“Instead of letting them come to demand food, you should make them come begging for forgiveness.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong picked up his axe.

Moyong Woo felt a strange sense of dread.

“Wait here. I’ll drive the prey to you before noon. When you think it’s an opportunity, bite their throats right away.”