Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1117

That night.

Yeon-wi, having gathered the unit leaders and commanders of the two thousand troops and explained all the operations, entered the imperial palace.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was alone in the throne room, studying a map. His gestures and gaze, as he intently examined the map and moved dozens of small wooden figures, were like those of a seeker of truth.

Yeon-wi hesitated, unsure whether he should interrupt his son.

Fortunately, his son resolved his dilemma.

“You’ve arrived,” Yeon Ho-Jeong said, placing a wooden figure to the west of the imperial palace and looking at Yeon-wi.

A look of concern crossed Yeon-wi’s face.

His son had seemed quite well-rested after sleeping for five days. However, less than a day later, he already looked exhausted.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m just looking at maps and using my head. I’m fine.”

“You foolish boy. As the Grand Military Advisor of the imperial palace, you govern the imperial forces, and on a larger scale, the entire Hebei army. You must not overexert yourself.”

“Using my head isn’t overexerting myself. Rather, I’m more worried about you and the soldiers. I only have to worry about my eyes, but others have to worry about their lives.”

Yeon-wi was proud of his son.

‘He has truly grown magnificently.’

He recalled the time when his son had first changed.

The son who had returned from living as a Black Path Grand Master [a powerful martial artist who follows a dark and unorthodox path] was, unlike before, bold and sharp, and he mastered martial arts with terrifying talent.

Afterward, he had overthrown the Nine Great Clans, entered the Martial Alliance, engaged in all sorts of political strife while also eliminating the vicious Black Path, and defeated the spies of the Three Teachings [a collective term for three major religious or philosophical groups].

Even then, Yeon-wi had been both positive about his son’s changes and greatly worried. Although he said he was fine, his son’s nature of turning into a demon and drawing blood whenever he saw the followers of the Three Teachings was beyond excessive.

But what about now?

Through numerous conversations and experiences, his son had become a completely different person.

It wasn’t because he had returned to his position as a Black Path Grand Master. That wasn’t even that important.

His son, who had been more extreme than the Black Path, and who, while often exhilarating, was so overbearingly domineering that he could have incurred the wrath of many, was now the Grand Military Advisor of the imperial palace.

He had become the master of the outstanding organization known as the Black Imperial Castle, and there were many subordinates who would throw themselves into fire at his command.

Yet, his son never treated his subordinates’ lives carelessly. Rather, if a subordinate was in danger, he would often step forward himself to eliminate the threat.

He must have been like that even before his regression. But now, unlike his past self who had acted like a madman, Yeon Ho-Jeong was simultaneously displaying the dignity of a martial arts master and the poise of a leader.

Yeon-wi was proud of his son.

Even when his son surpassed him in martial arts, Yeon-wi had been worried. But seeing his son as the master of the Black Imperial Castle, standing in this position for the sake of the world, Yeon-wi finally realized that his eldest son had become an unparalleled absolute being.

An absolute being possessing morality and conviction, dignity and compassion, strength and mercy, and coldness and decisiveness.

‘I have no regrets.’

At least when it came to his family, he felt he no longer had to worry about anything. In other words, after this war was over, he could truly live a life just for himself.

“The Grand Military Advisor’s eyes must not fail. Your judgment can save hundreds of soldiers and kill thousands. Do not overtrust your body that has reached the pinnacle and take good care of yourself.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Yeon-wi sat down in front of the map.

“I have delivered the orders to the unit leaders and commanders.”

“How are they?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“I mean their trust in you, Father. It’s not like they haven’t respected the head of the Yeon family, but they’ve never fought alongside you, so they must have some unease.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

It was a statement that could have been taken as disrespecting his father, but he was once again impressed and moved by his son’s cold assessment of the situation.

“There are still some awkward parts. I am just grateful that the overall training is good.”

“Father is both a commander and a strategic weapon. If they don’t immediately follow the orders of such a person, they could suffer unnecessary losses.”

“I know. I will also try my best.”

“The problem is that there’s only half a day left until departure… I’ll meet with them later.”

“Alright.”

Yeon-wi nodded and then coughed briefly.

“There’s one thing I want to ask.”

“You’re talking about Great Master Mu Heo, aren’t you?”

“You’re like a ghost.”

Confusion appeared on Yeon-wi’s face.

“I know that your military strategy and your ability to use people are second to none, but why did you bring in Great Master Mu Heo?”

He wasn’t worried about Great Master Mu Heo’s martial arts. In terms of martial arts alone, he was the closest to being the strongest in the current martial world.

The problem was Great Master Mu Heo’s actions. He had traveled the Central Plains for a long time, yet the number of villains he had killed did not exceed ten. He had given even those who had reached the depths of evil a chance, and only took their lives if they did not change.

To bring such a person into the war? Yeon-wi couldn’t easily understand it.

“Senior Tak Mu-Ja also said the same thing. He told me not to trust Great Master Mu Heo’s combat abilities.”

“Did he say that?”

“Yes. The fact that even his closest friend said that means that Great Master Mu Heo is truly an extraordinary person, doesn’t it?”

Yeon-wi nodded.

“Indeed. To cultivate such great martial arts and still possess deep compassion is truly a great thing.”

“Hmm? Ah, I misspoke.”

“…?”

“Great Master Mu Heo is not great because of his compassion.”

“What?”

“Even his closest friend didn’t know his true nature, which means that Great Master Mu Heo’s ability to hide his true self is extraordinary.”

Yeon-wi’s eyes widened.

“Great Master Mu Heo… is hiding his true nature?”

“I didn’t know either until I met him separately.”

“…Huh! Does that mean Great Master Mu Heo is truly prepared to shed blood?”

“It seems that my Yellow Dragon Eye [a metaphor for keen insight] is sharper than Father’s mind’s eye in that regard.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled like stars.

“If Mu Heo decides to do something, he will do it. He is a person who can become more extreme and terrifying than anyone else.”

* * *

Creak.

The door to the prison cell opened.

Rustle. Rustle.

The sound of fabric brushing against the damp floor was strangely eerie.

Flash.

The monster imprisoned in the iron cage opened his eyes.

Even though his dantian [an energy center in the body] was destroyed and he had lost all his martial arts, the monster’s eyes shone with a blue light. His gaze was so reminiscent of a demon that anyone with a weak heart would have fainted on the spot.

However, the person facing the monster across the iron bars was chillingly calm.

“…Who is it?”

The monster’s hoarse, cracked voice did not sound human at all.

“Am I dreaming? Well, I guess I could be. I’ve been locked up here for too long.”

“…”

“Yeah, it doesn’t seem like a dream. Even though my inner energy is gone, my soul, which I’ve cultivated my whole life, still keeps me from going insane.”

“It’s been a while.”

“I never thought I’d see you in a place like this.”

The monster chuckled.

“Why? Did you come all the way to this filthy place just to see my miserable state, Mu Heo?”

Great Master Mu Heo smiled wryly.

“You haven’t changed at all. In fact, you seem more extreme than before.”

“My alias is the Blood Jade Demon Lord. Did you think I would have attained enlightenment and gone to the Pure Land [a Buddhist concept of paradise]?”

The monster, Gwak Jun, the Blood Jade Demon Lord, contorted his face grotesquely.

Great Master Mu Heo shook his head.

“Enlightenment is open to everyone. Although you have committed unforgivable sins, if you had repented and opened your heart, even belatedly…”

“If you came here to spout that kind of nonsense, then get out. I don’t want to see the face of a ghost pretending to be a Buddha.”

“…”

“By the way, your face looks pretty worn out too. Does time not spare even the Fist God? You seem to have lost quite a bit of weight too?”

His body had long been filled with hellish energy. Although he had recovered, he could not return to his former self.

Not just his body, but his lifespan was also short. And Great Master Mu Heo felt no regret about his condition.

“Anyway, it’s good to see you again, even like this. And it’s a shame.”

“What is such a shame?”

Gwak Jun’s lips twisted.

“Before rotting in this place, I should have torn off some of the flesh covering your face. Then I could have shown the world the face of a ghost pretending to be a monk.”

“Yes, you could have.”

Great Master Mu Heo’s eyes deepened.

“Because of who I am, you were bound to be obsessed with me.”

Gwak Jun’s face contorted even more.

“I despise you.”

“…”

“I despise you more than the most vile and filthy person in this world.”

“I know.”

“Why do you hide your true nature so much? Just because of those pathetic religious teachings? You think you’ll reach Nirvana after you die? Do you really think that’s possible?!”

“…”

“You could have become greater than anyone! The world calls that guy Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi a demonic immortal and praises him, but that guy hasn’t even stepped foot on the demonic path! You were the one who was more suited to the demonic path than anyone else! If you hadn’t ignored your true nature, you could have ruled the world as the greatest demon of all time!”

“…”

“I despise you! You forgot your own talent and became a shaven-headed monk, clinging to an intangible enlightenment! You’ve tarnished such a precious jewel and piled up a mountain of stones, making it lose its value. I don’t understand what you’re doing!”

“You saw it as a jewel, but I see it as a devil’s temptation that leads to sin.”

“Shut up with that nonsense! There is no such thing as sin in this world! The current world, which limits people with nice-sounding words like morality and law, is completely wrong!”

“If everyone lived as you say, this world would turn into a hell ruled by mad murderers. Countless people would groan and suffer.”

“That is the providence! That is the reason we were born into this world! Therefore, the demonic path is the one and only absolute law to reach the truth!”

“Because I knew that the one and only absolute law you think of is actually an illusion, the cry of beasts that cannot even control their desires, I washed away my vicious talent with the teachings of Buddha.”

Gwak Jun glared at Great Master Mu Heo as if he would kill him.

“You are a traitor to the demonic path. At least that Yeon Ho-Jeong hasn’t forgotten that he himself is an unparalleled killing demon.”

“I haven’t forgotten either.”

“…What?”

“I also haven’t forgotten that I am a beast that could become closer to the demonic path than any demon of all time.”

Great Master Mu Heo looked at Gwak Jun with deep eyes.

“In this place, I have once again become aware of that fact.”

Great Master Mu Heo stood up and turned around.

“Thank you. Meeting you has allowed me to return to a winged wolf wearing a rabbit’s skin.”

“…?!”

“Only for a very short time.”

With that, Great Master Mu Heo left the prison cell.

Gwak Jun stared at the door for a long time after Great Master Mu Heo had left.