Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 163

The founding ceremony of the Tangma Army was much grander than expected. It was distinctly different from the Extermination Army right from the start. Tangma Army Commander Moyong Woo, along with the five hundred warriors under his command, were all clad in luxurious light armor and carried regulation weapons.

The people who attended the founding ceremony couldn’t help but be impressed by the Tangma Army’s outstanding might. Perhaps because they hadn’t undergone any real training yet, each of them had a unique personality, but the stern aura they exuded was enough to mark them as an elite force.

And Moyong Woo, standing before them, was by far the most impressive of them all. Countless people were in awe of Moyong Woo’s appearance and chilling spirit.

Thus, the founding ceremony of the Tangma Army concluded.

Of course, the Tangma Army’s founding ceremony wasn’t the only event of the day. Following that, the founding ceremonies of organizations under the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance] continued, and the event that had begun at noon only concluded when the sun began to set.

As the long founding ceremony ended, a festival immediately began. The martial artists gathered in small groups, eating and drinking.

The Extermination Army was absent from that convivial gathering.

* * *

“Hahaha!”

On the way back to his residence, Moyong Gun burst into hearty laughter, as if something was incredibly amusing.

“Well done. Truly well done. I knew you were no ordinary man, but you made your presence known in front of so many people.”

Moyong Woo smiled wryly.

“It was all for show.”

“Many people fall behind because they can’t even put on a show. I know you must have suffered a lot with your straightforward personality, but it’s all necessary.”

“I understand.”

“Hahaha!”

He seemed genuinely happy. He hadn’t stopped laughing the entire way from the Musung Hall to here.

Moyong Woo bowed his head.

“Then, I will take my leave.”

“Hmm? Where are you going? At least today, let’s drink until we’re drunk together.”

“The Tangma Army is a formidable force. But an army that can’t unite is nothing more than a disorganized rabble.”

“Hmph, wouldn’t it be alright to rest today?”

“I plan to let the soldiers rest, but I shouldn’t. Only when I do my job properly will the Tangma Army shine. And only by controlling them as quickly as possible can I be of help to you, brother.”

“What? Hahaha!”

Moyong Gun smiled contentedly.

“You don’t have to push yourself that hard. I know you’ll take care of it.”

“Problems always arise when people let their guard down when everyone is excited. Even to keep myself in check, it would be best for me to spend today alone.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

Moyong Woo was right. The enemy always strikes when their opponent is off guard. Of course, there might not be anyone who could be called an enemy within the Murim Alliance, but such vigilance wasn’t a bad thing.

“If that’s what you think, then so be it. I shouldn’t stop my younger brother when he’s determined to do his best.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Before that, there’s something I want to ask.”

“Please, go ahead.”

Moyong Gun asked subtly.

“Are you planning to work with the Tang Family Head’s daughter?”

That was one of the reasons why he was in such a good mood.

Moyong Woo had accepted Tang Sang-ah into the Tangma Army. Like other organizations, the commander’s orders are absolute in a military unit. If Moyong Woo hadn’t wanted her, she wouldn’t have been able to join the Tangma Army.

Moyong Woo clicked his tongue.

It wasn’t what he had wanted, but since he had accepted her, he had no choice but to take her along.

“It’s hard to know a person’s true nature after just one meeting, no matter how good they are. However, her first impression wasn’t bad, and her abilities are outstanding, so she will be of help to the Tangma Army.”

“Hahaha! Well done, truly well done.”

Now he had something to say to Tang Gwan as well. Hadn’t he been dragging this issue for quite a while? It felt like a thorn had been pulled out.

And before that, he liked the audacity of using even his future wife for his own gain.

‘I knew I had an eye for talent.’

Good. Very good. Moyong Woo, who hadn’t shown his presence before, had recently begun to prove his abilities in earnest.

Moyong Gun was very satisfied with his younger brother’s progress.

“It’s getting late. Don’t overdo it.”

“I understand.”

Moyong Woo bowed his head.

“Then, please rest well, brother.”

“Alright. Let’s have lunch together tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

After seeing Moyong Woo off, Moyong Gun headed to his residence with a smile.

How long had he walked?

Just as the gate to his residence came into view.

‘…….’

The smile on Moyong Gun’s face froze over.

Tsutsutsutsu.

A subtle presence was stimulating his five senses.

A terrifyingly deep energy. Although it was being suppressed, the subtle, murderous aura was spreading beyond the walls and reaching this place.

It was an energy that even a master of the highest level would have difficulty sensing. It was a presence that could only be felt by those who had surpassed the peak, transcended the wall of martial arts, and whose senses were highly developed and whose energy density had increased.

‘Interesting.’

A cold smile formed on Moyong Gun’s face.

‘To come at this hour. You always defy expectations.’

Shortly after, Moyong Gun arrived at the gate.

At the same time, a young man emerged from the shadows inside the gate.

“Have you been well?”

Moyong Gun smiled. The coldness was gone, and his face was full of composure.

“Have you been well?”

“As you can see.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong spread his hands. The fluttering hem of his robe looked like wings.

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

‘A prodigy is a prodigy.’

His seemingly slender body was likely well-built with extremely compressed muscles. But wearing such a luxurious robe, his aura was different from before.

He looked like a scholar with noble ideals. Just looking at him, it was hard to imagine him wielding a massive axe weighing over eighty pounds.

“What brings you here at this late hour?”

“If it weren’t this late, there would be too many eyes on us.”

“Do you have something to say?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“It was called a grand festival, but I haven’t had a single sip of alcohol yet. I would be grateful if the person who excluded the Extermination Army from the founding ceremony would offer me a drink of consolation.”

Moyong Gun said firmly.

“There is no consolation drink for you.”

“You’re being so rigid.”

“Haha, I don’t think we’re on the kind of terms where we can share a drink while laughing, are we?”

“But we’re not so cold that you can’t even pour me a single drink, are we?”

That was a strange thing to say.

Moyong Gun sensed a peculiar atmosphere in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words and actions.

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s here to cause trouble.’

From the moment he created the Extermination Army and used the Mong card [a strategic move], there was no reason for the two of them to meet face to face. They would simply work for their own desires in their respective positions.

‘You should know that too.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong was a genius in battle.

Whether it was martial arts or politics, he was a man who achieved victory with skillful tactics. Moreover, he was very bold and didn’t get caught up in trivial matters.

He wasn’t the type to come and complain about being excluded from the founding ceremony. Although they were enemies, Moyong Gun acknowledged Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘Then, is he here to ask for something? Or…….’

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“If you’re curious, let’s go inside.”

It was as if he had read his mind.

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“I can’t offer a common drink to the leader of the Extermination Army. Come in. There’s no consolation drink, but I do have some good liquor. I recently acquired some fine wine.”

“Very well.”

Shortly after.

“Oh, the aroma is quite rich?”

Moyong Gun burst into laughter.

“It’s Wuliangye from Sichuan [a type of Chinese liquor]. It’s rich, but the aftertaste is strangely light.”

“A famous wine from Sichuan?”

“I received it from the Tang Family Head.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“So, you’re not hiding anything anymore?”

Moyong Gun said as if there was no problem.

“You already know everything, so there’s no need to hide it, is there?”

“You’ve become bolder than before.”

“I’m the same as before. It’s just that my evaluation of you has changed.”

“Has my evaluation gone up a bit?”

“I’ve adjusted it upwards.”

“I’m honored.”

Moyong Gun smiled and raised his glass.

“Let’s have a drink.”

Clink!

The glasses clinked together, making a clear and beautiful sound.

Yeon Ho-Jeong emptied his glass and coughed lightly.

“It’s stronger than I thought.”

“You won’t even notice how strong it is as you drink. This is actually just average.”

“I see why it’s called a famous wine.”

“Right? I haven’t enjoyed drinking much, but if I could drink only this kind of wine, I think I’d become a drunkard in no time.”

“Do you have plenty? I want to drink a lot.”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry. I have enough to get you drunk.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong grinned.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a good throat-cleansing.”

The two of them drank back and forth.

Surprisingly, they didn’t talk about worldly affairs or politics at all. They mainly talked about trivial everyday topics or things they didn’t know about each other.

It was a peaceful drinking session. It was as if a senior martial artist who had established himself was treating a talented junior to drinks.

At least, that’s how it seemed on the surface.

How much time had passed?

“Do you know?”

“Know what?”

“I’ve had this thought from time to time. Ah! I want to make this guy my man, I want to keep him under me.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“You and I are different species.”

“Do you think so? That’s unexpected. I thought we were the same species.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s hard to find people as fierce as us in the current Murim. Aren’t you and I just beasts looking for an opportunity to tear off a piece of meat?”

He could agree with the word beast, if nothing else.

The fierce political strife between Yeon Ho-Jeong and Moyong Gun was a fight between beasts. Although it looked sophisticated on the surface, it was filled with a base desire to destroy the other and achieve one’s own goals.

It was right to burn one’s life to achieve one’s goals. But on the other hand, there was no need to fight this hard.

A beastly fight that only humans could engage in.

For Yeon Ho-Jeong and Moyong Gun, there was no right path.

“So, I’ll ask you.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“I won’t tell you to come under me. You’re not the type to be under anyone. However, how about joining hands with me?”

“Join hands…….”

“That’s right.”

It was an incredible offer.

Moyong Gun had always made his own choices, and he wasn’t the type to make offers to others. Especially not when he was in a good position.

That meant he highly valued Yeon Ho-Jeong.

At the same time, he felt sorry for Yeon Ho-Jeong.

There was a way to develop his terrifying talent more easily and quickly, yet he insisted on fighting a battle of wits with him. If he just went a little more smoothly, he could reach the top faster than anyone else.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled faintly.

“Just in case.”

“Hmm?”

“I hope that when I defeat you in the future, you’ll change your mind. I also regret your abilities.”

“Haha.”

“It seems we’re destined to live like this.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“Did you really just come here to drink today?”

“There should be days like this, shouldn’t there?”

“That’s true, but as I said, we’re beasts. We’re not the type to visit each other without a purpose.”

“I suppose so.”

“Tell me. What do you want from me?”

“I was trying to go a little easier.”

“What do you mean?”

Tick, tick.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tapped the empty glass with his fingernail.

“The person who gave you this wine.”

“……?”

“Please arrange a meeting with that person. I have a feeling they’ll turn me away at the door if I go myself.”

“The Tang Family Head?”

“That’s right.”

Interest sparked on Moyong Gun’s face.

“If I grant that request, what will you do for me?”

“I’ll protect the Tangma Army Commander.”

“……?!”

“I gave up the position of the Dae Su [a high-ranking position], but I was still thinking about it. How to deal with him.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll be a shield, not a sword. At least for this time.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

He thought that was very like Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“It seems my good mood today has benefited you.”