Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 118

The rhythmic sound of a hammer striking echoed.

Moyong Gun, looking down from the window of the five-story building, wore a deep smile.

“Truly vibrant.”

An uncountable number of workers were repairing the Martial Alliance building.

The Martial Alliance’s main headquarters were located in the Dabie Mountains of Henan Province.

The Martial Alliance, with a perimeter of dozens of miles of walls and numerous large and small buildings and fortresses within, was like a nation in itself.

However, due to the peaceful times, the Martial Alliance was just a foundation, with no one living inside.

Nevertheless, the Nine Great Sects, the Six Great Families, and other affiliated sects contributed monthly to the maintenance of the Martial Alliance headquarters.

Perhaps that was why? The buildings were well-maintained, and there weren’t many places to repair.

“The sight of those workers toiling away is quite invigorating. There is life within that. Those who do not sweat cannot demand a reward.”

“……”

“But we are different from them. Those who live in the martial world, when they sweat for something that is not right, they lose everything they have.”

“……”

“What about you?”

“……”

“I know you’ve suffered a lot under an incompetent leader. You haven’t received proper treatment, and the blood on your sword hasn’t been wiped clean.”

Moyong Gun smiled faintly.

“How about it? Why not join the main family this time?”

The man with the dark expression finally opened his mouth.

“Are you saying you’re better than my previous contractor?”

“Well? That’s for you to judge. I’m just making an offer.”

The man’s eyes darkened.

It seemed like a significant change was occurring in his mind. Moyong Gun didn’t miss the opportunity.

“If your judgment is decent, you’ll know that I am the right person to be your lord.”

“Your confidence is remarkable.”

“I like to show humility and virtue only as much as needed.”

Moyong Gun picked up his teacup.

Zzzzzing!

A thin blue ray of light spread out like a thread, and soon the cold tea was steaming again.

A rare look of surprise appeared on the man’s face.

“Lightning energy?”

“You recognize it.”

The energy of thunder and lightning was known to be a power only allowed to the heavens. No matter how great a martial artist’s inner energy was, they could not generate lightning energy on their own.

That was common sense. But Moyong Gun was completely overturning that common sense.

“It’s not real lightning. But if I can cultivate this power into something no different from real lightning, no one in this world can stop me.”

Moyong Gun added with an awkward smile.

“Among humans, that is. It’s questionable whether I can even reach that level in the first place.”

“……”

“However, I believe I have the capabilities to be your lord as a martial artist. What do you think?”

The man was silent.

He was a man who used to belong to the Guju Myeongga [Nine Great Families], once called the best family in the world.

The Myeongga was determined to expand its influence and did not hesitate to recruit even the hidden warriors who could not be shown externally.

Cheongrang was one of those shadow warrior groups. They were a group that could be called human scum, but in other words, it could be seen that their desire for talent was that great.

And this man, Mong Ui, was one of the most powerful among those shadow warriors.

How much time had passed?

“I have one question.”

“Ask me anything.”

“Currently, there are thousands of Myeongga experts imprisoned in the Martial Alliance, regardless of whether they are yin or yang.”

“Exactly two thousand six hundred and seventy-two. As of yesterday. Originally, there were two thousand six hundred and ninety-five, but some died from the shock of their internal injuries.”

Mong Ui’s eyes gleamed.

“You probably know that not only you but also most of the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and Six Great Families are trying to recruit useful forces.”

“Haha.”

“What I’m curious about is this. Why me, out of so many people?”

Moyong Gun inwardly sneered at him.

‘This guy is too confident.’

He had made this kind of arrangement six times today. And he had made all of them his people. Mong Ui was no different.

However, Mong Ui had value as a ‘gift’ and a ‘warning’.

Moyong Gun smiled gently and said,

“I simply value your abilities. It’s a waste of your skills to rot in prison, isn’t it?”

“I am proud of my skills, but a family head like you must have more needed talents than me.”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“I don’t intend to tell you about my or my family’s situation.”

“……”

“However, I will tell you this much. My late brother was the most talented person in the history of the Moyong family.”

Moyong Gun’s smile was filled with a chilling murderous intent.

“I am the one who stepped over that most talented person.”

“……!”

“I am not someone who is obsessed with expanding power like the Myeongga lord. I won’t make empty promises about saving the world. However, I am someone who will definitely protect those within my fence.”

“Anyone can say that.”

“Anyone can say it, but only a handful of people keep their word.”

“And you are one of them?”

“That’s me. I am not someone who would talk to someone who won’t become my person. Unless I’m afraid someone else might take them first and burn them.”

It was a chilling statement.

Even Mong Ui, who had been confident that he had nothing to fear in the world, felt a chill run down his spine for a moment.

Moyong Gun’s voice was full of sincerity. He was like an embodiment of greed.

“Ah, now that I think about it, there is one thing.”

“……?”

“I have a late-born youngest sibling. Almost twenty years younger than me. I have spared that child.”

He had a nature that would ruthlessly cut down even his own flesh and blood if they stood in his way. As the conversation continued, Mong Ui felt overwhelmed by Moyong Gun’s cold-bloodedness.

“That child is as talented as my brother, who was said to be the best in history.”

“……But why did you spare them?”

“Well? Why would I?”

Moyong Gun scratched his head.

“I don’t know exactly. But if it’s that child’s nature, I’m sure they would never stab me in the back.”

“……”

“They have a lot of affection. Especially for their own family.”

Moyong Gun turned his gaze to the window.

There was no change in his expression, but his eyes, which seemed somewhat wistful, proved that he was also human.

“They are a burden, if you will. Perhaps I might be hoping that the child will willingly come under me.”

Mong Ui shook his head.

“It’s better to let go of vain hopes.”

“That’s right. It’s a vain hope. But you are not.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes changed.

“I saw an unfulfilled desire in your eyes.”

“……”

“Come to me. I will make sure that the blood on your sword, which you cannot easily show anywhere, never dries. Also, I will always clean your sword when it is clogged with blood and cannot be used.”

It was then.

Coo-ook!

A rather large pigeon flew in from the other side of the window. It was heading directly towards Moyong Gun.

Flap! Flap!

A blue-tinged messenger pigeon landed on the window frame.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

There was a rather thick letter rolled up and tied to the pigeon’s leg.

Moyong Gun unfolded the letter.

On the small paper, extremely thin and small letters were densely written.

‘……?!’

Moyong Gun’s eyes lit up.

“……Oh ho?”

He looked at the letter several times.

No matter how many times he looked, it was the same content. He hadn’t misread it.

“Hahaha!”

Moyong Gun burst into hearty laughter.

“It seems today is a lucky day. I’ve received the contact I’ve been hoping for from someone I didn’t expect.”

“……?”

“It’s a letter from my youngest sibling I just mentioned.”

Moyong Gun handed the letter to Mong Ui.

“Would you like to read it?”

Mong Ui flinched.

It was clearly a letter containing important family matters. He was handing it over so confidently, as if to say, ‘Read it if you want.’

‘This man.’

Mong Ui looked into Moyong Gun’s eyes.

His eyes, full of laughter, were filled with a burning flame of desire.

Mong Ui, staring at those eyes, took the letter.

At the same time, Moyong Gun’s smile deepened.

“……Doubling the Zhejiang business?”

“That child is the head of the Zhejiang branch. They are talented in martial arts and business, lacking in nothing.”

“……”

“They were always doing as they were told, but now they are taking the initiative to expand the business. I don’t know what they’re thinking, but something must have changed in their mind.”

Moyong Gun shrugged.

“It seems today is an auspicious day for me.”

“Indeed.”

Mong Ui placed the letter on the table.

The moment he received the letter, he had already decided to entrust himself to him. Moyong Gun knew that too.

Mong Ui, who had risen from his seat, walked to the side and knelt down.

“I greet my new lord. As long as you do not betray me first, I will never betray you.”

Moyong Gun laughed loudly.

“I look forward to working with you. I will use you greatly.”

“I will do my best to meet your expectations.”

“Hahaha!”

Moyong Gun, who had been laughing heartily, said with sparkling eyes,

“Since we’re on the topic, would you like to take on a task right away?”

Mong Ui lowered his head.

“A lord does not ask a subordinate. They simply give orders.”

He showed a stubborn side in the hierarchical relationship. Moyong Gun thought he had made the right choice in selecting Mong Ui.

‘At least this guy doesn’t talk too much.’

Moyong Gun said,

“It just so happens that today, when I gained you, I also received a message from my sibling. My sibling is determined to expand the business, so how can I, as their older brother, refuse to support them?”

“……?”

“It will be easier to expand the business if we bring in merchants from Jiangsu Province, which is adjacent to Zhejiang. However, there is a big pillar standing in Jiangsu Province.”

“The Byeoksan Yeon Family.”

Moyong Gun’s smile disappeared.

“That’s right. And that Yeon family’s eldest son is the one who destroyed the Myeongga with me.”

Mong Ui’s eyes flashed.

A cold look appeared on Moyong Gun’s face.

“He’s not an ordinary man. I don’t know the Yeon family’s situation, but perhaps the Yeon family’s future actions will be changed by him, not the Yeon family head.”

“……”

“After you’ve recovered a bit, try to capture Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

“……Not the Yeon family head, but the eldest son of the Yeon family?”

“Yes. Byeoksan Tiger Yeon Ho-Jeong. Capture the young tiger of Gangdong.”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“I don’t want you to think of it as a warm-up. Yeon Ho-Jeong is strong. He is the most outstanding talent I have ever seen. It won’t be easy.”

“……”

“If the eldest son of the family is killed or goes missing, the Yeon family head will also lose his mind. If we take advantage of that gap, wouldn’t my sibling’s work be much easier?”

Mong Ui lowered his head.

“I will obey your command.”

“I believe in your skills, the one who killed the former head of the Jeomchang Sect.”

The Jeomchang Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects. [Powerful martial arts sects]

The strongest of the White Path martial world, considered to be superior to the Six Great Families. A master who killed the head of one of those sects was hard to find even if you searched the entire martial world.

Moyong Gun believed in Mong Ui’s skills.

He believed in Mong Ui’s killing sword, who was said to have been born with the worst talent in the history of the Jeomchang Sect.

“I will depart immediately.”

“Your body is not in normal condition, is it?”

“I can recover while moving.”

“Haha, good. If that’s what you say, then so be it.”

“Just let me know Yeon Ho-Jeong’s location.”

“Don’t worry. I’m keeping an eye on him in my own way.”

“Then.”

Mong Ui bowed his head once more and disappeared.

Moyong Gun looked at the window. The sunlight was clear.

“I’ll send you a gift, so rest well until the end of the year, Tiger.”