Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1151

“Shanxi?”

“Yes.”

Gang Ryang stroked his chin.

“If that’s where you’re going, 형님 [hyungnim – older brother or respected male], then I must go too. That’s a given…”

He glanced around cautiously.

Inside the imperial palace, there was no one except Yeon Ho-Jeong. Yet, looking around was a kind of habit.

Gang Ryang spoke carefully.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright? The people of the imperial palace won’t let you go easily.”

He was referring to the Emperor, specifically. Even the bold Gang Ryang couldn’t mention the Emperor in the heart of the imperial palace.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“It’s already settled. I said I would leave as soon as this northern war ends. I’m only acting as a temporary supreme commander, after all.”

“Hmm.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong knew what Gang Ryang was worried about.

Gang Ryang had traveled the Jianghu [martial world], experienced countless things, and witnessed political relationships beyond imagination. Naturally, he knew that people’s minds change from when they enter the privy to when they leave.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, beyond his martial prowess, was a giant who could influence the entire Jianghu. Such a person was saying he would leave again as soon as the imperial palace battle ended.

The martial artists who were close to him would understand, but the people of the imperial palace would not easily let him go. If he ignored them and left, even if not immediately, public opinion would eventually rise, demanding that Yeon Ho-Jeong, the divine steed, be reined in.

It was essentially the same worry the Emperor had. The immediate danger was so great that they sought to survive, but at the same time, preparing for the future was also human nature.

The officials and politicians of the imperial palace would not leave Yeon Ho-Jeong alone. They would remain silent while Yeon Ho-Jeong was present, but when he was gone, their movements would gradually become apparent.

“It’s alright. Not only is His Majesty helping us, but the highest authority in the imperial palace is also helping us. Furthermore, after this war ends, we’ve agreed to step down from our positions along with the existing officials.”

“You don’t actually believe that, do you?”

“I don’t believe their words. But I believe the situation.”

“What situation?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“The reality that we are saving the Jianghu, that situation itself.”

Gang Ryang chuckled. It meant that if even a hint of such a move was seen, he would personally sweep away the officials and everything else.

Of course, it would be done very secretly, behind the scenes. If they openly crushed the imperial palace officials, it could cause great harm to the empire.

“And those fellows don’t have the time to even think about that right now.”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong told him about the plan to relocate from the imperial palace.

Gang Ryang was startled.

“You were working on something like that?”

“Yes.”

“Heo… We helped too?”

“The Black Heaven Castle’s treasury has become quite depleted. The Martial Alliance and the imperial palace are similar.”

Gang Ryang shook his head.

“Then they’ll make even more of a fuss, won’t they? It’s Jiangsu Province, of all places, which your family has a firm grip on.”

“Firm grip? Don’t you know my father’s personality?”

“That’s why it’s more of a problem. There will be so many people praising Lord Yeon that you’ll trip over them.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“We can think about that later.”

Gang Ryang, who had been quietly watching Yeon Ho-Jeong, sighed deeply.

“Well, worrying about such things during a war will only give us headaches. We’re already struggling to figure out how to crush those bastards.”

“You’re right.”

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t take Gang Ryang’s words lightly. If Gang Ryang hadn’t mentioned it, it was an issue he would have thought about to some extent but would have easily overlooked.

This was precisely why one needed to have excellent companions by their side. Someone who could see what you couldn’t and fill in each other’s gaps.

With the thought that he could entrust the future politics of the Black Heaven Castle to Gang Ryang without much issue, Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke.

“This is a letter directly from 형님 [hyungnim]. Take a look.”

Gang Ryang’s eyes widened as he unfolded the letter from Moyong Woo.

“The handwriting is a bit rushed. It seems he wrote it in a hurry.”

“Your perception is getting sharper.”

Even with the praise, Gang Ryang’s expression didn’t relax.

“…This is a bit strange.”

“Why do you think so?”

Gang Ryang shook his head.

“The war has already begun. Even though the Divine Flame Church started it, the Evil Sound Sect and the Blood Fiend Sect have also dispatched their forces. That means, regardless of their individual circumstances, they were ready to fight whenever and whatever happened.”

“And?”

“Their forces are ambiguous. Let’s assume they’re from the Evil Sound Sect since they appeared in Shanxi. Then, they should have sent them along with those Silver Phantom Horsemen or whatever, but why send a small elite force with the Limitless Master at this point after the battle is over? It’s strange, isn’t it?”

“Could they be from the Blood Fiend Sect?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. That’s unlikely.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and nodded.

“Yes, I think so too.”

The three sects each took charge of one region. It was also a war that broke out somewhat abruptly.

To dispatch a master to a region controlled by another organization so quickly? If they were an organization that couldn’t coordinate that well, they wouldn’t have been able to take charge of a region and dispatch troops in the first place.

“They might have dispatched troops late to drive a wedge into the chaotic Shanxi after the battle. But the number of troops is too small for that.”

It wasn’t a matter of the strength of the forces. It was a matter of absolute numbers.

“If they really intended to put a period on the Shanxi battle with this small number, that’s a huge miscalculation. The Evil Sound Sect guys aren’t that stupid.”

“They’re definitely not stupid.”

Gang Ryang’s eyes sparkled.

“There’s an intention behind it. It’s not about Shanxi. They didn’t come to fight, but rather, they’ve made an extraordinary move to strategically gain an advantage.”

“Have you gotten close to Jeong-Gwang? Your mind is working unusually well.”

“I’ve always been like this. I just didn’t show it.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled and nodded.

“You’re right. The troops were dispatched at a very unexpected moment. But the number is too small to pacify a region, and yet, they’re too strong to simply ignore.”

Just the Limitless Master alone could cause a disaster if he went berserk. Naturally, the hundred or so troops who came with that unknown Limitless Master would also be extraordinary.

But they alone couldn’t control the vast region of Shanxi.

“Is that why you’re going there yourself?”

“Yes.”

After pondering for a moment, Gang Ryang tilted his head.

“If it’s that urgent, you wouldn’t have needed to call me here, would you?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“We’re departing tomorrow.”

It was an urgent matter. Yet, he was saying they would depart tomorrow.

“From now on, I’m moving as the Lord of the Black Heaven Castle.”

At that moment, Gang Ryang’s eyes flashed.

Not as the supreme commander of the imperial palace, not as the eldest son of the Yeon family.

To move as the lord of the Black Heaven Castle, the pinnacle of the Black Path martial world, implied many things.

“I’ll leave first, but I won’t move hastily. Another message came from Shanxi. They said the enemies aren’t moving quickly or secretly either. Rather, they’re moving south at a pace that seems almost too slow.”

“They’re definitely aiming for something.”

“Yes. Even if we don’t make it in time, in the worst case, Senior Namgoong will step in.”

“And the young leader of the Martial Alliance is there too.”

Gang Ryang stroked his chin.

“You mean to bring the kids along.”

“That’s right.”

Even as the Lord of the Black Heaven Castle, Yeon Ho-Jeong moved with a small elite force as before.

Of course, he would do so this time as well. But if he was moving as the Lord of the Black Heaven Castle, some preparation was needed.

“The Lord’s personal guards are already stationed at the Henan secret base.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Shall I bring them all?”

“Unless there’s something special, from now on, they’ll always be with me.”

Gang Ryang grinned.

“They’ll all be happy.”

The leader of an organization was someone who absolutely needed to be protected. Until now, Yeon Ho-Jeong had left everyone behind, saying they were cumbersome, and roamed the Jianghu, but from now on, it would be different.

It wasn’t simply about asserting authority. To move as the pinnacle of the Black Path martial world, not as an individual, meant shifting the balance of power that had been dormant in the Black Heaven Castle to himself.

Though thousands of miles apart, from now on, Yeon Ho-Jeong was the Black Heaven Castle. The highest-level guards and the leader of the Dark Mist Group, an information organization, would be with him.

“I’ll bring the kids to the intermediate base.”

“Yes, do your best.”

“No need for that.”

He chuckled as if it was nothing, but Yeon Ho-Jeong was inwardly sorry to Gang Ryang.

The new five great generals of the Black Heaven Castle were all people he had personal connections with, and they were all top masters with the martial prowess of a sect leader.

Considering their positions, they weren’t people who should be doing such things. Yet, they moved immediately without complaint at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s word.

Among them, Gang Ryang was special.

‘He’s managing well.’

Yang Cheon was here.

Yang Cheon had now become the Emperor’s son-in-law. He had no personal grudge against Yeon Ho-Jeong, but for Gang Ryang, Yang Cheon was an irreconcilable enemy.

Someday, in some way, a showdown would occur.

For that showdown that might happen someday, Gang Ryang was enduring. Yeon Ho-Jeong, as he had told Yang Cheon before, had no intention of stopping or mediating Gang Ryang because of their master-disciple relationship.

Even if Gang Ryang got the chance to kill Yang Cheon in the future, Yeon Ho-Jeong would never interfere. It was something the two of them had to settle.

‘Perhaps a showdown won’t happen.’

If one of them died during the war, it could be so.

And Yeon Ho-Jeong absolutely hoped that wouldn’t happen. The showdown had to happen in some way.

That was the right thing to do.

“By the way.”

Gang Ryang scratched his head.

“What about 누님 [nunim – older sister]?”

“How can I take someone who hasn’t even recovered yet?”

“There will be quite a backlash, I think.”

“That won’t happen.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Even though she throws tantrums sometimes, she’s not stupid enough to forget what she has to do.”

***

After sending Gang Ryang away, Yeon Ho-Jeong headed to the stable next to his residence.

There, the Black Blood Demon Horse was sleeping as if dead. The Black Blood Demon Horse, occupying the huge stable alone, was truly magnificent.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at the Black Blood Demon Horse with calm eyes.

‘Indeed.’

He had thought about it once. If there was a good way, could they create such a demonic creature on their side, like the Evil Sound Sect had done?

Unfortunately, that was impossible. At least for the current Yeon Ho-Jeong.

But.

‘It’s swollen a lot.’

Whoooom.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes glowed faintly.

In the middle of the line connecting the Black Blood Demon Horse’s brain and heart, a streak of pure white light flickered. It was the Divine King Qi [a type of powerful energy].

Its entire body was still filled with terrifying demonic energy, but the Divine King Qi, which had become a seed, was blooming and erasing a significant portion of its unique demonic nature.

The reason the Black Blood Demon Horse was sleeping as if dead was because of that. In human terms, it was as if the upper and middle dantian [energy centers in the body] were being reversed. It would be difficult to endure that change with a clear mind.

But soon, this demonic creature’s mind would be completely subordinate to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘Many people have died because of you. I want to let you run free, but you must settle your grudges. After you help me lead this war to victory, I will release you.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong placed his hand on the Black Blood Demon Horse’s forehead.

Whoooom.

As the stronger Divine King Qi seeped in, the Black Blood Demon Horse’s demonic nature screamed.

After using the Divine King Qi for a long time, Yeon Ho-Jeong removed his hand.

As if waiting for it, someone spoke to him.

“Are you busy?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his head.

There stood Mo Ja-Seon.