Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1188

The area in front of the Great Buddha Pavilion was devastated. It was the site of a fierce battle between three masters who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts. The ground was deeply cratered, and cracks ran everywhere as if an earthquake had struck. Some areas, spanning over ten yards in radius, were blackened, clearly dead land. Although no poison was felt, it would take a long time for life to return. And beyond that, a black hemisphere, seemingly alive, lay there. Tang Gwan’s eyes wavered.

“The Wind and Earth Sealing Formation….”

Tang Yu-Gwang looked at Tang Gwan, curious as to how he knew of the ancient knowledge. But upon reflection, it was not strange. If he had already reconciled with Tang Hyeong, Tang Hyeong would have passed on the secret knowledge of the past.

“Help me sit.”

Tang Gwan carefully sat Tang Hyeong opposite the Wind and Earth Sealing Formation.

*Woong.*

Even though he had exhausted all his inner energy, the light returned to Tang Hyeong’s eyes as soon as he sat down. His eyesight had not returned, but his gaze was sharp. A man who had not even had the strength to move a finger now sat cross-legged, his legs folded. He straightened his slightly bent back, and his hands naturally rested on his knees. It was impossible to know where that endless power came from. Perhaps the vengeful spirits of the Sichuan people, whom he held so dear, were giving him strength.

Ga Deuk-Sang closed his eyes. He looked incredibly solemn. It wasn’t just his posture. The aura and atmosphere that Tang Hyeong himself exuded were like that.

Tang Hyeong spoke calmly. “I had hoped you would never come, but since you have, what can I do? Fortunately, one of my formidable enemies is sealed, and the other is dealt with, so there will be no harm to the family head. It is truly a relief.”

“……”

“Sit.”

Tang Gwan sat opposite Tang Hyeong. Even though he couldn’t see, Tang Hyeong’s eyes were fixed directly on Tang Gwan. It was a strange thing.

“Gwan-ah.”

“Speak.”

“In my life, I have had many regrets. I have dealt with one of the two greatest regrets, and the other is in the process of being dealt with.”

“……”

“As a father, not as the Supreme Elder, I hope you will complete the family legacy that I could not.”

“What is it?”

“I have left traces of my regrets in my residence. I believe you will be able to handle it well.”

“I understand.”

It was a nonchalant answer that matched his father’s plain words. However, everyone gathered here knew that a nonchalant answer did not mean a lack of sincerity. As a son and as the family head, Tang Gwan would surely complete the task that Tang Hyeong had left behind.

“It is not my place to interfere, but as someone who has lived in this world longer, I will give you some advice.”

“……”

“My grandson and your son, Yang-Seon, is currently imprisoned in the family’s dungeon.”

“That is correct.”

“With your level of mental fortitude, you would not lose yourself even after decades. But Yang-Seon is different from you. It is your fault that Yang-Seon was raised that way. He is probably a wreck by now.”

“I think so too.”

Tang Hyeong nodded.

“Release him now.”

In that instant, all the Beggars’ Union members felt a chilling sensation run down their spines. Tang Hyeong had just told his son to kill his own grandson, his son’s child. He had said it directly to his son. Surprisingly, there was not a hint of agitation on Tang Gwan’s face.

“If he shows the last bit of spirit as a Tang family member, I will never give up on him.”

“That is how it should be.”

“But if he has lost his mind, I will send him to our ancestors myself.”

“That is indeed right. It is the parents’ fault that Yang-Seon has become like that, but no matter the reason, he has gone too far. If it is the parents’ duty to raise their children well, it is also their responsibility to ease their children’s suffering.”

“……”

“Never pass that responsibility on to someone else. Only by dying at your hands will he be able to go to our ancestors.”

“I understand.”

It was a terrifying conversation. Not the kind of talk one would expect from a dying man. But that was why they were the people of the Sichuan Tang family. They had become much more lenient and started to follow common sense, but they were Tang family members because they could coldly cut off even their own blood if they were not qualified.

Tang Hyeong continued. “You are the head of the Tang family before you are a person named Tang Gwan. It is because you are the head that I am telling you to kill your unqualified son. There is no need for overly strict laws and unnecessary rules, but such leniency cannot be applied to the leader.”

“……”

“The leader must be strict with himself for happiness to come to the family members. Never forget that you are the one who must wield the sword with tears in your eyes for the sake of all the family members as the head of the family.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Only then could the Beggars’ Union members understand Tang Hyeong’s words. Of course, even with that reason, it was a harsh measure. But it was not their place to interfere in the affairs of the Tang family. They were living according to their own rules and their own history. This was the reality of the Sichuan Tang family, the Tang clan that was called the strongest in the Western Martial World.

“Even if Yang-Seon reflects on himself and repents, he cannot be made the successor. Merit is merit, and fault is fault, but his faults make him unsuitable to be the successor.”

“I think so too.”

“In the past, I realized that Sang-Ah’s talent was among the best in the family’s history, and I was saddened. I had no doubt that if she had been born a boy, she would have made the family even greater.”

“You did.”

“But now I realize. What does it matter if it is a boy or a girl? Sang-Ah has more talent than you. Unlike Yang-Seon, she has never become twisted despite living under all sorts of burdens and trials. You must know that too.”

“She is a daughter too good for me.”

“Therefore, even though it is the head’s duty, as the Supreme Elder, I recommend Sang-Ah as the next family head.”

It was another statement that surprised everyone. Even though the martial world was less conservative than the ordinary world, it was rare for a woman to become the head of a family. And yet, in the Tang family, which was said to be the most ruthless and conservative in the martial world, a female family head was about to be born?

What was even more surprising was Tang Gwan’s reaction.

“If she brings a decent son-in-law, I plan to actively support her.”

It did not mean that he would entrust the Tang family to a son-in-law. If a woman became the family head, especially the head of the Tang family, she would have to live as a spinster for the rest of her life. That was natural. No prodigy from any other sect in the world would marry the female head of the Tang family. In other words, Tang Gwan was saying that he would hand over the position of family head if Tang Sang-Ah got married and started a family first.

The Tang family ancestors would have been shocked to hear this, but Tang Hyeong and Tang Gwan continued their conversation with indifferent expressions.

“If your intention is the same, then I am truly relieved. In my opinion, there is no one as capable as Sang-Ah right now. The fate of the family will be determined by how you handle her, so I hope you will not follow in my footsteps and lay a good foundation for the family for the sake of future generations.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“However, Sang-Ah’s temperament may not be suitable for the head of a clan. If, by any chance, Sang-Ah actively refuses the position of family head, you must put all your efforts into finding a new successor, regardless of whether they are from the direct or collateral line.”

Tang Yu-Gwang’s eyes wavered.

Tang Gwan nodded with a nonchalant face.

“I was thinking about that too.”

“Yes, I know. I just wanted to say it one more time.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

Tang Hyeong’s breathing gradually became rougher.

“Gwan-ah.”

“Speak.”

“Although I spent over twenty years in regret, if I think of it as a time of crouching down to do great things for you and the family in my later years, then it was also a good time.”

Tang Gwan swallowed hard. It felt like something would surge up if he didn’t.

“The children of the family head have unstable childhoods. I knew that. I knew it, but I didn’t think of fixing it. It’s just an excuse to say that I was busy with family affairs, I had too much time.”

As a man who was close to a tyrant but also a wise ruler, Tang Hyeong led the family. It was all fate that under such a Tang Hyeong, a son like Tang Gwan, who was arrogant yet insightful, a son like Tang Ho, who was twisted, and a son like Tang Yun, who had an upright character, were born.

“But since it is something that cannot be fixed, I will not regret the past. However, I was always sorry to you.”

“I know.”

“Forgive this incompetent father.”

“What is there to forgive, Father? I am more lacking than you.”

“Whether you are better or worse than me, it does not erase my fault of neglecting you and your siblings, and you also made great sacrifices because of me. I should be sorry to you.”

Tang Gwan smiled.

“The apology you feel, Father, I received it all back then, and it’s all resolved.”

A smile spread across Tang Hyeong’s face as well.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So……”

Tang Gwan paused for a moment to clear his throat. Again, something was about to surge up. But he had no intention of letting out that unknown something. The greatest family head in the history of the Tang family was returning to nature. He was a great warrior, a family head, and a father who would be missed even if he was sent off with a smile.

“So, please let go of all your worries and go in peace.”

“The blood of the Tang family always has a rebellious madness ingrained in it.”

“……”

“I can never go in peace. What if the enemy sealed there escapes and once again plunges Sichuan into war? My last breath……”

“From then on, I and the people of Sichuan will stop that wicked demon.”

Tang Gwan’s voice began to tremble slightly.

“You can leave it to us. Don’t worry.”

“……Is that so.”

Tang Hyeong, who had slowly closed his eyes, then exclaimed.

“Yes, that is enough. Perhaps I was trying to leave my mark on this world until the very end under the guise of worrying about the family and Sichuan.”

“Father.”

“You are giving me enlightenment until the very last moment.”

It was then. From that moment, faint dust began to fly from all over Tang Hyeong’s body.

“With this, I can end my life.”

“……Father.”

At that moment, an enormous light burst from Tang Hyeong’s eyes.

“The family head must live a life without regrets!!”

*Fwoosh.*

With a tremendous shout, Tang Hyeong’s entire body turned to dust and flew into the sky, having given his last words to his son. Only a small sword remained where he had been sitting.

Ga Deuk-Sang closed his eyes, and the old members of the Tang family sighed and shed tears. Tang Yu-Gwang wept loudly, and Tang Gwan slowly rose from his seat and knelt before the small sword. A single tear finally fell from Tang Gwan’s eyes as he held the small sword. The fallen tear soaked the small sword and became hundreds of lives, falling onto the black earth.

“Farewell.”

It was the passing of Tang Hyeong, the Supreme Elder of the Tang family, one of the Saintly Heavens, and the man called the most dangerous in the martial world, the Dark King.