Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1328

“So, that’s what happened?” His voice was still unsettling. Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a chill run down his spine. Even though there was no emotion in it, an unimaginable madness was evident. It was a madness that even the Blood Sect Leader, who was burning his soul for the Blood Sect’s dominance, could not dare to compare to. Was this what he was like from the beginning? “To think the Young Sect Leader harbored such thoughts. This is why things in the world don’t go as one pleases.” “……” “Sa Mun-hyang.” “Speak.” “You are the most outstanding of the demonic insects raised by the main family. Your talent truly reaches the heavens.” “You flatter me.” “However, talent in martial arts and one’s nature are different. I know that you have given your sincere loyalty to the Young Sect Leader.” Another chill went down his spine. But Yeon Ho-Jeong did not apologize. He did not cry out to be killed. He simply looked at the head of the Demonic Yin Clan with calm eyes. The clan head, seeing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attitude, smiled instead. It was a demon’s smile. “Very good.” “……?” “That’s why I raised you as a demonic insect.” It was an incomprehensible statement. As a demonic insect of the Demonic Clan, he was supposed to plant the seeds of Yin within the Blood Sect’s main headquarters, but he had stopped giving information about the Blood Sect to the Demonic Clan. He was only loyal to the Young Sect Leader. Naturally, the clan head should have rebuked him. He should have been furious. He should have grabbed him by the collar and shaken him, asking how he could do such a thing. “The Blood Sect Leader is not someone to be trifled with. Not to mention the Young Sect Leader, who is said to have been born with the greatest talent in history. The Young Sect Leader was especially problematic. Unlike you, he is a genius who was born with both talent and natural gifts.” “……!” “I knew that your nature, your soul, would inevitably be drawn to the Young Sect Leader.” Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t believe it. How could the clan head have known that? You can know the depth of ten fathoms of water, but not the depth of a man’s heart. Yet, he had known from long ago that he would be loyal to the Young Sect Leader as a Blood King, not as a demonic insect. “Looking at you now, I see that you are finally ready to take on your full mission as a demonic insect.” “Yes?” “Help the Young Sect Leader.” “……?!” “Help him stop the Blood Sect’s main headquarters.” “C-Clan Head?!” “Only when the sect’s power weakens can we, who have been crouching, raise our heads. You are the Unending Water that has been raised for that purpose.” “……!!” “Also, there is no need to do that as a demonic insect. You are now a being who lives only for the Young Sect Leader. And the Young Sect Leader is trying to stop the Blood Sect.” “……” “Your heart already desires to be with the Young Sect Leader. Then, just do as it wishes.” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes trembled greatly. From what point to what point is this person looking ahead? What does this person truly want? If the power of the Blood Sect’s main headquarters weakens, is he planning to become the new sect leader based on the power of the Demonic Clan? Even if that were the case, the other two Demonic Clans would not leave the Demonic Yin Clan alone. The power of the Mad Blood and Divine Fire was no less than that of Yin. Is this person trying to become a god? Or is he just a simple demon? What kind of future is unfolding in his mind? But Yeon Ho-Jeong’s answer was already decided. “I understand.” His eyes shone. It was the light of a demonic insect who, for the first time in his life, wanted to live this world according to his own will, not the clan head’s. “I will do so.” “How did you get here…?” After searching for months, Yeon Ho-Jeong, having finally met his god in the northern part of the continent, immediately knelt. “Young Sect Leader.” “How did you know I was here?” “That is not important.” “……?” “I, Sa Mun-hyang, humbly offer my advice to you, Young Sect Leader. My life is already yours, so I can bear the consequences of my disloyal words. Please, listen to my advice.” “……Speak.” “Bring down the Blood Sect.” Cheon In-ryong’s eyes trembled greatly. Yeon Ho-Jeong did not see it. “Do as you wish, Young Sect Leader. I, Sa Mun-hyang, will be the vanguard and fight against them if you so desire.” “Mun-hyang.” “However, the Blood Sect’s followers who have not learned martial arts are innocent. They are people who have lived their entire lives worshiping the Blood God. If the Blood Sect collapses, they will lose their way and wander aimlessly through the world, dying miserably.” “……” “Please, become the sect leader for their sake.” Cheon In-ryong’s face hardened. “Do you know what you are saying?” “I know.” “Stopping the Blood Sect and bringing it down to become the sect leader are completely different matters.” “I know.” “Do you truly know? I could have become the sect leader even if I had stayed still. The reason I left that position and came into the world was because I realized that the sect’s teachings and goals were wrong.” “……” “If I bring down the Blood Sect and become the new sect leader, I will become a power-crazed person who colluded with the martial world to usurp the sect leader position early on.” “That is the path you are taking, Young Sect Leader.” “……!” “To stop the Blood Sect means to oppose the sect leader and all the demons of the Blood Sect. In the end, whether you want it or not, people will see you as a usurper.” “……” “If you are going to be a usurper anyway, please live for the Blood Sect, not for the Blood Sect’s dominance.” Yeon Ho-Jeong closed his eyes. He was waiting for his punishment. He didn’t care if he died. He had already lived several times over thanks to the Young Sect Leader. Still, he hoped that this person would understand his heart. He sincerely wished for it. If not……. “Go back.” “Young Sect Leader?” “Go back now. From now on, you and I are strangers.” Yeon Ho-Jeong tasted a sadness as if the sky was falling. “How can you say such things, Young Sect Leader!” “You have always lived for me. There was no more loyal subject than you. I mean it sincerely.” “……!” “But you were not simply worshiping me as a god. You were not just admiring the human Cheon In-ryong.” Cheon In-ryong’s eyes had become deep and clear. “You dreamed of living as the king of the Blood Sect with me, who had become a god.” “……!!” “As a demonic insect of the Demonic Yin Clan.” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face turned pale. How did he know that he was a demonic insect? When did the Young Sect Leader know that he was a spy sent by the Demonic Yin Clan? “Even if I knew you were a demonic insect, I didn’t care. Even though you were a spy of Yin, you were sincerely loyal to me. How could I not know that your heart was not a lie?” “……” “However, you and I have different paths and look in different directions. You will never understand me, and you will constantly try to shake me.” “Y-Young Sect Leader!” “Don’t say it’s not true. Your loyalty was genuine, but you always wanted something from me. And I am someone who cannot give you what you want.” “……” “You don’t know how grateful I am to you. Thanks to you, I was able to grow this much. But you and I have different paths.” “……Young Sect Leader.” “Forget about someone who will neither become a god nor control the Blood Sect, and live for yourself. You have lived for others for far too long.” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes became bloodshot. He had never even imagined that there would come a moment when he would be angry at the Young Sect Leader. “Why! Why are you being so stubborn!” Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted as if roaring. For the first time, he showed his resentment towards the Young Sect Leader. And he revealed his anger. Even as he spoke, he didn’t know what he was saying. He just shouted out the accumulated emotions and the fragments of a shattered future. Cheon In-ryong was still calm. No, he had become calmer and more peaceful. After glaring for a long time, Yeon Ho-Jeong was panting. His throat was completely blocked from how much he had shouted. “Do you want to become the king of the Blood Sect? Then put more effort into your martial arts. Your talent is great. If you work hard for ten years, you might become the strongest, except for my father.” “Young Sect Leader!” “Or, do you want to become the god of the Blood Sect?” At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong was speechless. Did he want to become a god? He had never even thought about it. To him, god was Cheon In-ryong, the Young Sect Leader. But his mouth did not open easily. He couldn’t ask how he could say such a thing, if he saw him as such a person. His heart was just pounding. His breathing quickened, and his face flushed red. He, not the Young Sect Leader, would become a god? Could he really do that? “I was wrong.” Cheon In-ryong let out a bitter laugh. “You didn’t want to become the king of the Blood Sect who serves me as a god, did you?” Don’t say it. Don’t say it! “You knew you couldn’t become a god, so you just wanted to become a proxy of god, didn’t you?” Yeon Ho-Jeong immediately got up from his seat and turned his body. Was he ashamed that his inner thoughts were exposed? Could he not control his anger? It wasn’t that. He just had to move like that at that moment. He couldn’t look at Cheon In-ryong’s face, nor could he hear his voice. He just felt that he had to get out of this place right now to not lose himself. He felt Cheon In-ryong’s gaze from behind. He became darkness and avoided the god’s gaze. Again, after a month, he entered the sect and greeted the sect leader. “Currently, the Young Sect Leader is in a land called Shanxi, far away on the continent.” “……” “The Young Sect Leader is still experiencing great confusion. He was unable to find his way. However……” “……” “He was longing for the sect leader.” “……!” “I dare to say, although the Young Sect Leader has not made up his mind, he has been directly gathering information about the continent for the sake of the sect.” Yeon Ho-Jeong took out a thick bundle of documents from his chest. They were information documents secretly collected by the Demonic Yin Clan for the conquest of the continent. “The Young Sect Leader is just confused, but his heart has not left. He has been wandering the continent alone and gathering information directly. If the sect leader makes a decision, the Young Sect Leader will also respond to it.” Cheon Gwak-ryong’s face brightened. Yeon Ho-Jeong was certain. Now, the conquest of the continent was no longer important to Cheon Gwak-ryong. The sect leader was just happy that the Young Sect Leader, the man who would become the god of the Blood Sect, had not betrayed him. He believed without a doubt that even if he failed, his son would surely achieve the Blood Sect’s dominance. The fact that the Young Sect Leader had actively gathered information was enough to greatly reassure him. “You have done well.” “Thank you.” “You shall return to Yin by this road.” “Yes?” “We will conquer the continent with the three Demonic Clans. You were the one who acted as the Young Sect Leader’s instructor. You do not understand anything about our sect’s forces. It would be better for you to be with Yin.” Cheon Gwak-ryong raised his chin. “If you achieve great merit in this war, I will appoint you as the Young Sect Leader’s personal guard.” Yeon Ho-Jeong bowed his head. “I will follow the sect leader’s orders.” Thus, the war broke out. A war that the people of the continent would later call the Blood Sect Rebellion. And that war changed the fate of many.