Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1143

Chal Geuk-pyeong felt a hollow laugh rising within him.

“Do you really think I would accept that proposal?”

“The army has retreated, and there’s no one around to hear us, so let’s talk frankly,” Yeon Ho-jeong’s voice grew increasingly calm.

“You asked earlier if I was confident. I’ll ask you again. Were you truly confident that you could lead this initial battle to victory?”

“Of course.”

“You positioned troops in Liaodong to draw the attention of the Imperial Palace and the martial world, intending to concentrate your forces there, right?”

“…….”

“But you didn’t attack immediately. Judging by the timing, it’s easy to predict that it was even before we sent troops to Liaodong.”

“…….”

“It would have been good if you could have launched a surprise attack with the forces coming from Liaodong, but even if not, it didn’t matter. The important thing was to disperse our forces here. Because the Imperial Palace is vast, concentrating forces in one area makes it much easier to break through elsewhere.”

“…….”

“In other words, you were already considering the forces in Gansu and Shaanxi while preparing for the surprise attack.”

Though his expression didn’t change, Chal Geuk-pyeong felt a chill run down his spine.

‘He knew everything after all.’

Indeed, if he hadn’t predicted that, he wouldn’t have been able to lead the Western battles to victory.

“One thing that’s puzzling is what would have happened if the battles in Gansu and Shaanxi had ended in the Three Sects’ victory. If that had happened, the forces of Gwanghyeol and Saeum would have immediately rushed inside or busied themselves with occupying the regions. If that were the case, the plan to join forces with you to target the Imperial Palace would have become meaningless.”

“……!”

“There’s no way you wouldn’t have known that. And yet, you’re trying to challenge the Imperial Palace with only 25,000 troops based on that ‘confidence’? That’s absurd.”

“…….”

“It’s also awkward to target a region other than the Imperial Palace. This isn’t about marching. Even though you’ve learned martial arts, it’s not easy to immediately change the destination of an army of 25,000 and attack somewhere else.”

What did that mean?

Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with conviction.

“Even if the battles in Gansu and Shaanxi end in your victory, your target wouldn’t change. The 25,000 troops would have targeted the Imperial Palace alone, even without any supporting forces.”

“…….”

“Even if all the troops were annihilated in the process, you would have done it. No, to be precise, that so-called Oh Hwa-wang might not have, but you would have.”

“…….”

“Why is that? Is it because you don’t know what forces are gathered at the Imperial Palace, so you’re just going to clash and see? Without any plan?”

“…….”

“In that crucial initial battle?”

Chal Geuk-pyeong listened to Yeon Ho-jeong’s words in silence.

His expression remained unchanged. But Yeon Ho-jeong could tell. Chal Geuk-pyeong’s eyes, his breathing, were subtly wavering.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“It was truly astonishing. To operate the spirit beast-like Jeonseo-eung [a type of war beast] depending on the situation, or to switch commands on the fly with small cannons, means you had prepared for all possible scenarios in advance. Preparation is something anyone can do, but to respond and move such a complex command system in an instant shows that the command and the army are skilled in battle.”

“So.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s voice became even colder.

“Why are you talking so much? What do you want to say?”

“It was the cult leader’s order, wasn’t it?”

“…….”

“To clash and be annihilated even without supporting forces. Wasn’t that the cult leader’s order?”

“……!”

“My guess was right after all.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s face slightly contorted.

“What does it matter? The master of the Divine Flame Church is the cult leader. It is the duty of the believers to give their lives for the cult leader’s orders…”

“And yet, you’re not following that order.”

“What?”

“You’re saying you’ve fought enough and are going to return? That wasn’t the cult leader’s order, was it?”

“……!!”

“I already suspected it, but it seems you’re pretending not to know.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“Your cult leader has made you a scapegoat.”

“……Shut up.”

“What needs to be shut is your pretense of ignoring reality, and what needs to be opened are your ears.”

“…….”

“The Divine Flame Church started this war themselves. Even if you win this initial battle and occupy the north, the blame for starting the war will fall on the Divine Flame Church. Furthermore, if you were to ask which of the Three Sects suffered the most damage in the invasion of the Central Plains, it would undoubtedly be the Divine Flame Church.”

“You…!

“The Divine Flame Church suffered the most damage among the Three Sects, and it will take many years to recover from that damage. And yet, you’ve started a war, which is no small feat.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s jaw jutted out.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s voice became increasingly colorless and transparent.

“The Divine Flame Church leader has made the 25,000 troops a scapegoat to gain even a small amount of absolution.”

“I said shut up!”

“I know the power of the Three Sects better than anyone. The reason they haven’t joined forces to start a war until now is because they want to minimize the damage. That’s why they’ve been plotting for decades to bring the power of the Central Plains to its knees.”

“…….”

“But even without that, they were confident that the Three Sects would win, even if it meant taking greater damage.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“The Saeum Church and the Gwanghyeol Church. Both have the power to wage war against the martial world on their own. And the war has begun. Now, Saeum and Gwanghyeol can’t just lukewarmly carry out schemes. They can’t ignore the eyes of their followers.”

“…….”

“The war has begun. Regardless of the outcome, Saeum and Gwanghyeol will also shed much blood.”

“…….”

“In that situation, the Divine Flame Church should be conserving its strength. Because Saeum and Gwanghyeol might not be able to contain their anger and attack the Divine Flame first. But looking at the facts, the Divine Flame Church leader is satisfied with the fact that he started the war, and is even thinking of eliminating 25,000 troops.”

“…….”

“There’s only one answer.”

The hand holding the Gwangryongbu [a type of weapon] tightened.

“The current Divine Flame Church leader has abandoned the Divine Flame Church.”

“Can’t you shut up!!”

Kuururung!

The surging power of the Flame Emperor Divine Art unleashed a terrifying wave of energy. The force was so intense that the Black Blood Demon almost took a step back.

Yeon Ho-jeong, calming the Black Blood Demon with the Divine King’s Aura, continued.

“To be precise, he has abandoned the Divine Flame Church that you desire. I don’t know what kind of person the current cult leader is, but his goal is limited to slaughter and destruction, and he has no desire for a better group.”

Kuururung. Kuururung.

Red flames surged around Chal Geuk-pyeong’s hands.

Even a faint electric light flickered around the flames. It was clear that he had pushed his power to the limit.

Yeon Ho-jeong was not flustered.

Because he was not flustered, he could deliver a fatal blow.

“Do you and that Oh Hwa-wang have the cult leader’s trust?”

“……!!”

“Answer me. Why did the cult leader make you two the generals of the initial battle?”

“…….”

“Is it because he trusted you two that much?”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s face turned red.

But the flames emanating from his hands gradually lost their intensity.

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“A warrior speaks his true feelings through his martial arts. From the moment I appeared, you already sensed defeat.”

“…….”

“That’s why I was confident I could defeat you. You don’t want to kill this unit. You don’t want to eliminate it. Whether it’s to plan for the future or whatever, the morale of you and the army you brought is far from military spirit.”

“…….”

“If you had come to win unconditionally with the cult leader’s trust, your energy should have burned more brilliantly.”

Huuuung.

The power of the Flame Emperor Divine Art had decreased to less than half.

Now, Chal Geuk-pyeong even had his eyes closed. Even during a conversation, closing one’s eyes in front of an enemy general meant that the shock he had received was that great.

Yeon Ho-jeong had no intention of attacking him by surprise.

“Weren’t you and Oh Hwa-wang the ones who lost the cult leader’s trust?”

“…….”

“Or perhaps it could be seen as having lost your necessity. Either way, the cult leader thinks it’s okay if you two die. And my guess is…”

“…….”

“Your reaction has made it a fact.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong opened his eyes.

An indescribable emotion swirled in his eyes.

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“Don’t give your life for such a person, Chal Geuk-pyeong.”

“Who are you to judge the value of my loyalty?”

“Your enemy.”

“…….”

“That’s why I’m doing this. It would be good if you just died like this, but if I can change your mind, that would also benefit us.”

Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with excessive honesty.

“After much effort, the Central Plains has become one. Looking at the masters, the Three Sects are still superior, but you are the invaders, and we are the defenders. It will be a tough fight. In that situation, if a master like you completely leaves the front lines or joins hands with us, there could be nothing better.”

“…….”

“I don’t know what your dreams and goals are. But I can be sure of this one thing.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes narrowed.

“You trust and like the former cult leader, Gi Cheon-ung, who led the thousand followers to the Central Plains, more than the current cult leader.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong shouted involuntarily.

“Shut up!”

“Isn’t that so?”

“Even if that’s the case, are you telling me to betray again! I’m not that…!

“This isn’t betrayal, it’s opening your eyes.”

“……?!”

“Betrayal cannot be repeated. You’ve already betrayed once. All that’s left for you is to open your eyes.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s fist clenched involuntarily.

“Do you want to end your existence as a traitor, or do you want to remain as the Ilwang [a high-ranking title] of the Divine Flame Church, who once made a big mistake but corrected it himself?”

“…….”

“If you want to die as a traitor, we have no problem with that either. But if you want to remain as the Ilwang of the Divine Flame Church, go and meet the former cult leader, Gi Cheon-ung.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s lips twitched.

“All that remains between him and me is life and death.”

“And forgiveness and loyalty too.”

“……!”

“If you are willing to bear the consequences even if the price of loyalty is death, then it’s fine to die. But you were not loyal to the ‘current’ Divine Flame Church leader. You just wanted to move forward.”

“How do you know that…!

“If the Divine Flame Church leader isn’t a fool, he would know whether your loyalty is genuine or not.”

“……?!”

“And the result is like this. He didn’t receive your loyalty. Because you didn’t give it.”

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed his hand towards the Imperial Palace.

“Over there, there is a man who has been betrayed by only one person. A man who has been betrayed by his own child. He is a naive man who believes that no one else has ever betrayed him.”

“…….”

“You betrayed, but the former cult leader, Gi Cheon-ung, doesn’t see you as traitors. To be precise, you couldn’t even betray him even if you wanted to.”

Chal Geuk-pyeong’s eyes shook greatly.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“You are here because you are the ones who couldn’t even betray properly.”

“…….”