Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1303

Is it a dream, or reality? Is it an illusion, or is it real? At this moment, such questions held no meaning for Yeon-wi. The one person he had loved from the moment they first met until this very moment was there. No, he loved her even more than when they first met, and after she had left this world so cruelly, his love and regret had only deepened, keeping him from even a moment’s sleep. That person was there. A partner of three lifetimes. He would have loved her in his past life, he loves her now, and even if they were to meet again in a future life, she would be ten thousand times more precious than his own life. ‘My dear.’ He spoke the words, but no sound came out. It was empty, so empty. It was as if his soul had traveled from another world to the place where his partner resided. The woman smiled. It was the same face she had when she left this world after giving birth to Ji-pyeong. Despite being in her thirties, she possessed the freshness of her twenties. Her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, her skin and hair. All the concepts he had loved were melted into every part of her. The appearances of his two sons were all there. It was the reason why his partner had to be everything to him. “It’s been a while.” Yeon-wi felt tears welling up. Even after twenty years, her unforgettable voice echoed vividly in his ears. Within that refreshing yet mischievous voice was an unimaginable calmness and vitality. ‘My dear.’ Yeon-wi’s wife, the mother of Yeon Ho-jeong and Yeon Ji-pyeong. The last descendant of the fallen, most prominent literary family of Gangdong, the Chae clan, Chae Gong-hwa. “You’ve aged a lot while I haven’t seen you, haven’t you?” That voice, that expression, asking as if teasing him. Yeon-wi couldn’t bring himself to speak. He wanted to run to her and embrace her right away. He wanted to bury his face in her chest and cry like a child. He wanted to be reassured, asking if she knew how hard it had been without her, and if he had lived well enough. But he couldn’t do that. The mistakes of the past were too great to say such things. He couldn’t bring himself to do it when he thought of the years he had been so strict with his sons, the years he had pushed himself too hard to rebuild the family. Did she know Yeon-wi’s heart? The pitiful look on Chae Gong-hwa’s face, which had been full of smiles, deepened. “You were always like that. You could have lived for yourself, but you were never in your own life.” Yeon-wi agreed and disagreed with those words. He was the head of the Yeon family. As the head, the life of the human Yeon-wi had to be secondary. So he agreed. He was also the father of two children and the husband of one woman. That alone completed his life. So he disagreed. Such contradictory feelings confused Yeon-wi. ‘But my dear, I now know the sword.’ He had tried to raise his family and children well so as not to be ashamed of his wife, whom he had sent away first. However, his children were now beyond his reach, walking in the sky, and the warriors of his family were also living and moving on their own, becoming worthy of being called heroes. Unconsciously realizing that, his growth had stagnated. And it was his eldest son, Yeon Ho-jeong, who had broken that stagnation. The realization at the moment of reaching the Supreme [a martial arts realm]. Even with the regret for his wife who had gone first, he had boldly declared that he would live his life as a swordsman and had reached his current level. But seeing his wife like this, he wondered what that sword was all about. Cold weapons were of no importance. Yeon-wi just wanted to see his wife. “Let it go now.” Let go? Of what? “Even though you said you would live your own life, you didn’t. It’s because of your sense of responsibility. I was proud of you, but also felt sorry for you. I cried a lot watching you not live your life fully for yourself.” Tears finally flowed from Yeon-wi’s eyes. His wife had never said such things. And now, she had come to him like a dream, comforting him. “It’s good to focus on swordsmanship, and it’s good to read books. It’s good to travel around the Central Plains [the heartland of China], and it’s good to farm or fish.” Tears were also welling up in Chae Gong-hwa’s eyes. “So, be at peace now. I don’t want you to be in pain.” Yeon-wi lowered his head. Tears dripped down from his lowered head. Unspeakable pain and joy, sadness and relief were shaking his head. Chae Gong-hwa approached. As always, she smelled of white magnolia. “My dear.” Her hand slowly rose. In that instant, Yeon-wi unknowingly took a step back. Chae Gong-hwa didn’t seem surprised. She just looked at her partner with sad eyes. After shedding tears for a long time, Yeon-wi raised his head again. ‘It’s enough to have seen you like this.’ His voice still didn’t come out. But the meaning seemed to have been conveyed. Chae Gong-hwa forced a smile and said, “Isn’t it fortunate that we can see each other like this?” He still didn’t know. Was this really an illusion? Or had she truly come to him, even as a spirit? Or was it just a simple dream? Yeon-wi smiled. ‘I thought I had never lived for myself. And I thought my life was complete with just you and our children.’ Chae Gong-hwa smiled and nodded. ‘But now I know. The life of the human Yeon-wi is not over yet.’ Yeon-wi reached out his hand. Even though it was an unreachable distance, the act of reaching out as if to touch his wife’s face was filled with unspeakable sorrow. ‘I will travel and fish. I will eat foods you never tasted in your life, and I will farm. It will be ten million times harder than wielding a sword.’ His outstretched hand gradually gained strength and turned into a fist. ‘However, not doing those things doesn’t mean I’m not living my life.’ Yeon-wi’s gaze turned upwards. There was a soft light filling the ceiling in the distance. ‘If there is no homeland, there is no me, and if there is no Central Plains, there is no foundation for our children. I am not fighting for someone, but for everyone, including myself.’ “…….” ‘I am now, truly living a life worthy of a human being.’ The smile on Chae Gong-hwa’s face grew brighter. At that moment, Yeon-wi realized. Whether it was an illusion or not, his wife had come to awaken him. She knew her husband better than anyone, and by deliberately telling him to live only for himself, she made her husband, who was experiencing confusion, look back at himself. Yeon-wi was living a life worthy of Yeon-wi. Because he himself wanted it, no one could say whether his life was good or bad. But at least Yeon-wi himself was confident that he was living a life he was not ashamed of. Unlike before, he could now be confident in front of everyone, even this wife. Having thrown away the habitual guilt and sorrow, Yeon-wi could finally stand tall in front of his wife. Yeon-wi opened his mouth. “It was truly good to see you like this.” For the first time, his voice came out. Yeon-wi was not surprised even though he knew it. Chae Gong-hwa smiled and nodded. As always, her comfortable and beautiful, yet mischievous smile that made people excited was a masterpiece. “Me too.” “I’ll be going now.” “Come back safely.” Whenever there was work outside the family, she always said these words. Even though it was the first time he had heard her unique voice and tone in twenty years, it was as vivid as if he had heard it just yesterday. Yeon-wi smiled and turned his body. Even though he didn’t know where to go, he did so. He couldn’t see it. The face of his smiling wife was covered in tears and sadness. The light wept. * * * Swoosh. Yeon-wi, who had opened his eyes, raised his upper body as if it were natural. “L, Lord!” “Lord!” The retainers, including Wang-jeon, were startled. Yeon-wi calmly removed the phlegm and asked, “How is the situation going?” Wang-jeon bowed his head and replied, “It’s a stalemate. The two Supreme Masters are keeping the enemy’s feet well tied, so we are not being pushed back any further, but we are also not able to drive them out.” “I see.” “Lord. For now, leave the battle to the two of them and take care of your mind and body.” Yeon-wi smiled. “I’m fine.” “Lord.” “I’m not saying this to reassure you. I really am, more fine than ever before.” Wang-jeon’s eyes deepened. In fact, Yeon-wi looked fine. Although his internal injuries were not completely healed, all the turbid energy had been extracted, and the true energy circulating throughout his body was very active. ‘The nature of the true energy has changed.’ It was not Sword Extremity Qi [a type of martial energy]. Some kind of mysterious energy was circulating through his body along with the Sword Extremity Qi, healing his internal injuries at an incredible speed. It was a very sacred energy that he had never seen before. ‘It’s the power of the Yeon Clan’s Divine Core.’ Wang-jeon inwardly clicked his tongue. ‘To think such a thing is possible.’ The Yeon Clan’s Divine Core, located in the Upper Dantian [an energy center in the body], was rotating, converting its vast Upper Dantian Divine Energy into internal energy, and adding power to the Sword Extremity Qi, drastically increasing its healing power. It was something that only Yeon-wi could do in all the world. It was something that could never be attempted without the size of the Upper Dantian that was said to be the best in the world and the extreme spiritual power. “If that’s what the Lord says, then I understand.” Yeon-wi reached out his hand. Whoosh. Thud. The Imperial Sword, which had flown from the corner, was caught in his hand. He naturally came out of the tent and looked around. ‘It’s rough.’ Whoosh! Whoosh! Due to the divine energy spreading throughout his body, his senses had slightly decreased. Yet, somehow, he seemed to see better and feel more keenly. It was as if a translucent curtain that had been covering his eyes had been pulled away. “Father!” Muk-bi ran from afar. “Father! Are you alright?” “Yes, I’m fine.” Yeon-wi patted her shoulder. In that instant, Muk-bi flinched involuntarily. An unknown energy that had entered through her shoulder instantly enveloped her entire body and began to heal her internal injuries. ‘Huh? Huh?’ Yeon-wi didn’t tell her to rest. “The enemy general who fought me hasn’t come forward yet. It must be because of that that this situation is being maintained.” “Yes? Ah, yes! That’s right.” “But…” Yeon-wi’s eyes deepened. “They’re plotting something strange.” “Yes?” “Why didn’t I notice it before? It seems like death energy and evil energy are flowing towards a certain point…” Muk-bi couldn’t understand what he was saying. Yeon-wi, who had been staring at that distant place, suddenly lit up his eyes. “I see.” “…?” “I heard that they were up to something in the battles of Shanxi and Shaanxi… Is it something similar to that?” Muk-bi tilted her head. Shanxi and Shaanxi? There hasn’t been any contact from that side yet, has there? “Bi.” “Yes!” “I’m going to charge into the heart of the enemy lines with you. Can you do it?” The heart of the enemy lines. It meant going straight to the enemy’s commander-in-chief, breaking through the battlefield. Inwardly startled, Muk-bi soon ignited her fighting spirit. “Don’t worry. My bow will protect you, Father.” “That’s why I’m taking you with me. Who else is more trustworthy than you on this battlefield?” Yeon-wi smiled and slung the Imperial Sword behind his back. “Now, shall we go?”