Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 160

‘Hmm? Okcheong, Fellow Daoist?’

‘Ah… It’s been a while.’

‘What do you mean it’s been a while? It’s only been a day.’

‘Is that so…?’

Yeo Guk’s face was filled with bewilderment.

‘Why do you look so glum? Did something bad happen?’

‘No.’

His pale face and trembling hands were a sight to behold. He looked so obviously troubled that it made one wonder if he was actually fine.

‘What’s wrong? Anyway, did you hear, Fellow Daoist Okcheong? That Commander Yeon broke through the Wall of No Form [a significant milestone in martial arts cultivation]. Huh! I knew he was amazing, but now he seems like a complete monster…’

‘……’

‘Hmm, you seem very tired. Go inside and rest.’

‘……I’m not worthy of rest.’

What is he talking about now?

Yeo Guk, who usually didn’t care about other people’s business, couldn’t help but notice that Okcheong’s expression was very unusual.

Yeo Guk asked,

‘Tell me, what’s wrong?’

‘I think…’

‘You think?’

Finally, Okcheong let out a heavy sigh.

‘I think I shouldn’t have joined the Myulsa Army [a special military unit].’

‘Huh?’

Yeo Guk was startled and looked at Okcheong.

Although he seemed gentle and easygoing, there were few people in the Myulsa Army as passionate as Okcheong. Not only in martial arts training but also in his focus on missions.

He was a very hardworking person, regardless of his skills, so why was he suddenly saying this?

Okcheong touched his forehead.

‘I can’t do this. I need to go see the Commander.’

‘What…’

‘I’ll see you later.’

With those words, Okcheong quickly ran off. His direction was towards the Pagun Pavilion, one of the residences of the Six Great Clans [powerful martial arts families].

Yeo Guk clicked his tongue.

‘What on earth is wrong with him?’

* * *

It seemed that nothing was visible to Master Seung-hyeon, not even the gatekeepers. He looked like he was about to break down the Pagun Pavilion’s gate at any moment.

In the end, Yeon Ho-Jeong stepped forward.

‘Are you?’

‘I am the Head of the Wudang Sect [a prominent Taoist martial arts school]. I wish to see the Commander of the Myulsa Army.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong politely clasped his hands.

Master Seung-hyeon’s face, which had been flushed red, had regained its normal color. Seeing the person in question had calmed him down.

‘Hmm.’

Having regained his composure and calmed his excitement, he could now fully focus on the young man named Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Master Seung-hyeon’s eyes widened.

‘Hoo.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong calmly asked,

‘What brings you here?’

He wanted to issue an order to leave, but he couldn’t because of who the other person was.

Master Seung-hyeon was Okcheong’s senior disciple and the giant leading the Wudang Sect of this era. Crucially, he was also a member of the Martial Alliance, like his father.

Unless there was a conflict beyond a certain level, he had to show at least the minimum courtesy.

‘Are you Commander Yeon?’

‘Yes, I am.’

‘Hoo, hoo.’

Master Seung-hyeon, who was making strange sounds that were neither admiration nor sighing, finally opened his mouth.

‘It’s nice to meet you. I am the Head of the Wudang Sect of this era. My Daoist name is Seung-hyeon.’

‘I know.’

His words and actions were full of courtesy and propriety.

In the midst of it, there was a subtle sense of ease. His clear eyes and relaxed posture seemed very flexible.

Master Seung-hyeon was inwardly flustered.

‘Is it because he rested? Or is it because his martial arts have improved…’

He seems much more human.

When he reported his return, he had briefly seen him at the Museong Hall. At that time, Yeon Ho-Jeong had a strong murderous aura. It was because he had unknowingly developed a killing intent from defeating countless enemies.

But now it was different.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such deep and clear eyes.’

Even in Wudang Mountain, the sacred place of Taoism, there are not many who have such clear eyes.

Master Seung-hyeon subtly turned his head.

In the distance, there was a woman standing awkwardly. She was not as skilled as Yeon Ho-Jeong, but she was a great master considering her age, and her eyes were especially clearer than Yeon Ho-Jeong’s.

‘Wasn’t she the Vice Commander of the Myulsa Army?’

He had come here in a fit of anger, but seeing the man and woman with clear eyes, he had regained his composure.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Hmm.’

He had a lot to say, but when he faced him, he couldn’t easily open his mouth.

In the end, Master Seung-hyeon sighed.

‘Could I get a cup of tea?’

‘Of course. Please come in.’

A little later, the two were sitting across from each other at a table in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s room.

Now he had to say what he needed to say. Master Seung-hyeon asked directly,

‘I came because of Fellow Daoist Okcheong.’

‘Okcheong?’

‘Yes.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

‘Is there a problem with Okcheong?’

‘I think there is.’

Master Seung-hyeon’s eyes deepened.

‘I looked at my junior disciple’s martial arts after a long time. It had changed surprisingly. He properly understood the essence of Wudang martial arts. From a junior disciple who had walked the path of seeking the Dao [the Taoist path] through the thorough training of form, I could now smell the scent of a warrior.’

‘That’s a good thing.’

‘Yes, it’s a good thing. If it had ended there.’

Only then did Yeon Ho-Jeong realize what Master Seung-hyeon wanted to say.

‘You’re talking about the murderous intent in his martial arts.’

‘That’s right.’

Master Seung-hyeon’s face had become stiff.

‘It wasn’t a simple change. Each move was an extreme killing technique that aimed to rupture the opponent’s meridians [energy channels in the body] and strike their vital points.’

‘I suppose so.’

It was a strange answer.

It sounded as if he knew that it would change like that.

Master Seung-hyeon’s eyes sharpened.

‘It’s fortunate that he hasn’t lost the essence of Wudang martial arts even with such murderous martial arts. However, it is said that if the Dao is one foot high, the demon is ten feet high [a saying about the dangers of straying from the righteous path]. If you practice martial arts tainted with killing intent, there is a high probability that you will lose the innate divine energy of Wudang martial arts.’

‘That could be the case.’

This time, it was also a strange answer.

Master Seung-hyeon’s neck was slowly turning red. The heat that had calmed down a little while ago seemed to be rising again.

‘I know Fellow Daoist Okcheong. No matter how hellish the situation he has experienced, he is not the type of child who would practice such martial arts.’

‘I think so too. At first, I thought he was a lazy genius trapped in his own fixed ideas, but it turns out that he is so pure that he is suitable for inheriting the lineage of the Tao.’

‘That’s right.’

Master Seung-hyeon paused for a moment and asked directly,

‘Did you change it?’

‘Yes, I did.’

It was an expected answer. But he said it so plainly that it left him speechless.

Master Seung-hyeon, who was staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, said,

‘Do you know that the person who taught Fellow Daoist Okcheong martial arts is the greatest elder of our sect and the Sword Immortal [a legendary martial artist], who is praised by everyone?’

‘I know.’

‘People change according to their environment. No matter who he learned from, if Okcheong himself had come forward and transformed his martial arts, I would have understood it.’

‘……’

‘However, that child’s change is not due to his own enlightenment but due to the coercive teaching of others…’

‘I’m sorry to interrupt, but what exactly do you want to say to me?’

It was a bold question.

Surprisingly, Master Seung-hyeon couldn’t easily open his mouth to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words.

Take Okcheong away? He couldn’t do that. Since Okcheong had joined the Myulsa Army, the only person who could decide his future was the Commander of the Myulsa Army. The Bonggong Council [a governing body] had acknowledged that, so it was not Master Seung-hyeon’s place to argue about it now.

However, he thought that Yeon Ho-Jeong’s method was clearly problematic.

‘Did it have to be like that?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled faintly.

Master Seung-hyeon immediately continued,

‘The Myulsa Army has done great work. It’s all thanks to you, and it’s also the result of the soldiers’ efforts. I understand that martial arts filled with murderous intent are more advantageous for survival in a deadly place. But…’

‘You’re saying that in the long run, it could cause great harm.’

‘That’s right.’

‘Then please let the elders of Wudang take care of that.’

‘What?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes shone.

‘More advantageous for survival in a deadly place. For that reason alone, I taught them practical combat and killing techniques. Considering long-term development is, at least from my perspective, a matter of no value.’

‘……!’

‘The Myulsa Army had to achieve merit. But merit can only be achieved if the soldiers are safe. Furthermore, even if the Myulsa Army fails to achieve merit, the soldiers must not die.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

‘Most of the soldiers did not join the army willingly, so their safety is my top priority. However, the Myulsa Army is also an independent unit, so it must achieve merit. In this contradictory situation, the only method I could choose was to sharpen the soldiers’ swords.’

That was why he had been so tense while watching the Myulsa Army’s battles, unlike his usual self.

And it would continue to be so. Until they truly regarded the Myulsa Army as their own sect, as their family.

Also, even after that, he would have to constantly pay attention. Because he had promised that they would not die in vain.

‘……’

Master Seung-hyeon’s face was filled with bewilderment as he looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘So that’s how it was.’

He had many things he wanted to argue with Yeon Ho-Jeong about.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s firm answer made Master Seung-hyeon look back at himself.

‘Commander Yeon cares for his soldiers in his own way.’

It was an obvious fact. He had come here in a fit of anger, just because Okcheong’s martial arts had become too brutal, to scold him.

If it had been his usual self, he would never have acted like this. The position of the Head of the Wudang Sect was not something that could be obtained just because one was strong in martial arts.

Master Seung-hyeon said honestly,

‘I haven’t seen far, wide, or deep enough, unlike someone who leads Wudang.’

He stood up and bowed with his hands clasped.

‘What else can I say? You must have made your choice after much deliberation. I have committed a great discourtesy due to my ignorance. I apologize like this.’

It was not a greeting that could be taken lightly. Yeon Ho-Jeong also stood up and bowed in return.

‘No, it’s okay. I think it’s understandable that you were worried.’

Master Seung-hyeon smiled.

Even in words that could sound like empty words, there was a strong sincerity. It meant that he cared about the other person that much.

‘Okcheong is a good child. It’s difficult for anyone to maintain their purity even at that age. That’s why all the Daoists in our sect cherish Okcheong.’

It meant that his strong affection for his youngest junior disciple had clouded his judgment.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

‘If the day comes when the Myulsa Army is disbanded, I will try my best to remove the killing techniques I taught Okcheong.’

‘I would be grateful if you did. Although I don’t know how that would be possible.’

Master Seung-hyeon burst into laughter.

It was a situation where the relationship could have gone wrong. However, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s strong response and Master Seung-hyeon’s flexibility made the relationship even stronger.

That’s how human relationships are. You have to be able to distinguish when to step back and when to push forward, and you also have to be able to reflect on your own words and actions.

‘He’s a good person.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a subtle liking for Master Seung-hyeon.

He liked people who knew how to take care of their own people, and he also liked steadfast wise men. Master Seung-hyeon was a person who had both of these characteristics.

‘He grew up among such people, so Okcheong won’t go astray.’

It was then.

‘By the way, you.’

‘Yes, please speak.’

‘If you can influence even the extremely detailed forms in Okcheong’s fist and sword techniques, you must be quite familiar with Wudang martial arts.’

‘……Ah, that’s…’

‘Tell me.’

Master Seung-hyeon asked with a mischievous face,

‘How much did you steal?’

It was the moment when the control of the conversation was reversed.