Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 166

The Essence of Dark Strife (1)

Yeon-wi, returning to his residence to rest, saw Muk-bi staggering into the yard.

Yeon-wi’s eyes widened.

“Bi-ah.”

“Huk! Ah, Father, you’re back?”

“Yes. But…”

Swish.

Yeon-wi appeared in front of Muk-bi in an instant.

His face turned cold as he examined her pulse.

“Who did this?”

“Huh?”

“Who in the world made you like this? Your internal injuries are severe.”

“Ah, this is…”

Muk-bi stammered as she explained the situation.

Yeon-wi clicked his tongue.

“You’ve been doing dangerous training.”

“I, is that so?”

“Reversing your inner energy and twisting your existing breathing technique to attempt an attack… It sounds easy, but it’s not easy to put your soul into a single, fatal attack.”

It wasn’t just difficult. In everyday life, where it’s hard to feel danger unconsciously, it was practically impossible.

“Your concentration is truly amazing.”

Inner experts stabilize their inner energy and optimize their body movements with their own breathing techniques.

In other words, it was the unification of mind, energy, and body. This could be seen as a preparatory stage for the complete harmony of spirit, energy, and essence.

To forcibly distort such a structure and realize an extreme martial art, it was no wonder her body was breaking down. If Muk-bi’s level had been higher, it would have been even more dangerous.

Of course, if her level rose, there would be no need to do such training.

“What was the core method of your inner strength again?”

“The Living Bow Steel String Method.”

“Yes, I heard that method is clearly focused on thorough dynamic movements.”

“That’s right.”

Muk-bi awkwardly moved a step.

“So, I came out here to practice my energy circulation.”

Yeon-wi shook his head.

“That’s not good.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t know if you did that before, but when you have internal injuries, dynamic training is not efficient. Have you learned any methods that allow for static training?”

“Ah! I did learn one.”

Hongcheon-gi [a method focused on explosive inner strength enhancement].

Since it focused on explosive inner strength enhancement, it was naturally good at controlling the increased inner energy. It was perfect as a supplementary method for the Living Bow Steel String Method.

“Good, then use static training to heal your internal injuries. I’ll call my physician.”

“Huk! You don’t have to do that…”

“You shouldn’t take internal injuries lightly. Especially for martial artists like Ho-jeong and you, who are often in real combat, you need to be more careful.”

His stern voice contained subtle concern and affection.

‘…’

Why was this?

Was it because she had never experienced such severe internal injuries before? Was that why she felt so strangely unsettled?

A question she would never normally ask slipped out of her mouth.

“Father.”

“What is it?”

Muk-bi asked with a confused expression.

“Why are you so good to me?”

It was quite a bold question.

Yeon-wi answered with a look of surprise.

“Aren’t you my son’s friend? As I said before, you were the first friend Ho-jeong brought home.”

Muk-bi was curious about that.

She now knew a bit about the world. Especially in this martial world, there was nothing as dangerous as trusting someone without reason.

But he was being so good to her just because she was his son’s friend.

Yeon-wi was the head of the Yeon family, one of the six great clans. It bothered her that such a great person would be so good to her for such a simple reason.

“Maybe I’m a spy. Like the spy the Moyong family sent before…”

Yeon-wi smiled.

It seemed he was getting used to smiling. Muk-bi felt her heart warm as she saw Yeon-wi’s smile.

“What spy would be as clumsy as you?”

“…Ugh.”

“While exposing the Moyong family’s spy with Ho-jeong, do you know what I learned?”

“…”

“Sincerity cannot be cultivated through training.”

Muk-bi’s eyes wavered.

Yeon-wi shook his head.

“The reason it’s difficult to expose spies is because you don’t intend to read their sincerity. At least, that’s what I think.”

“…”

“You find me difficult, don’t you?”

“Yes? Ah! Th, that’s…”

“I know why you find me difficult. However, I have no intention of making you uncomfortable. And I have no intention of appealing or forcing that feeling on you.”

“…!”

“Won’t there come a time when you recognize the sincerity of me, whom you call Father?”

Muk-bi felt a sudden surge of emotion.

“I… I trust you, Father.”

“Yes, that’s enough.”

Although she was his son’s friend, Yeon-wi had come to regard Muk-bi as a daughter. He only had two sons, but he liked Muk-bi’s character that much.

Muk-bi was pure. She had lost some of that purity as she experienced the world, but her innate nature was gentle. In a way, that gentleness was more impressive than his second son’s.

“More importantly, where is Ho-jeong?”

“Ah! Young Master Yeon went out for a while because he had an appointment.”

Yeon-wi nodded.

He was the leader of an independent military unit. It was a position where he would have various appointments.

“Start your energy circulation first. At your level, you should be able to use your martial arts without much difficulty in three or four days.”

“Yes!”

It was then.

“Excuse me.”

Yeon-wi turned his head. It seemed someone had come to visit the Pagun Pavilion.

“Who is it?”

“A delivery has arrived for Yeon Ho-jeong of the Byeoksan Yeon family, Pagun Pavilion, within the Martial Alliance.”

“A delivery?”

“Yes, it’s from Gangso Province.”

What was it?

Yeon-wi opened the gate. Then, a warrior placed a large box down.

“I’ve delivered it, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Yeon-wi picked up the box and shook it.

Scrape. Clink.

The sound of the box scraping and small pieces of metal clinking together could be heard.

Yeon-wi was inwardly puzzled.

What could this be? It seemed to be made of metal, but it didn’t seem to be a sword or blade.

At that moment, Muk-bi’s eyes lit up.

“Could that be…”

“Hmm?”

“Could it be something sent by your grandfather?”

“Grandfather?”

“Ah, I mean, Master Pyeon Shin.”

Yeon-wi’s eyes lit up.

Muk-bi’s face showed a strange excitement.

“It seems Young Master Yeon’s item is complete.”

* * *

‘It’s been a while.’

His chest was burning, but his head was strangely cold.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve met someone like this.’

It had been a long time since someone had been so brazen as to complain about the poor treatment from the head of the Tang Clan and demand liquor.

No, it was safe to say it was the first time. Those who had faced Tang Gwan so far had all been anxious and trembling with fear. They had heard of the infamous reputation of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the most vicious in the world.

Of course, being brazen was one thing, and being rude was another.

Tang Gwan had no intention of forgiving Yeon Ho-jeong’s arrogant attitude.

“Bring me liquor?”

“Wuliangye [a strong Chinese liquor].”

“You must be completely insane. You should be grateful that I haven’t killed you with one palm.”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“What is the reason for your anger?”

“What?”

“If anyone should be angry, it should be me. Even if you are older, it seems you look down on people too easily.”

It was an absurd statement.

Murdurous intent formed in Tang Gwan’s eyes.

“You can hear the reason in the afterlife.”

Tsutsutsutsu.

Yeon Ho-jeong looked at his left hand.

The energy that was rising was truly formidable. Before the poison, the density of his inner energy itself was tremendous.

With that level of inner energy, he was almost comparable to Moyong Gun. It was no wonder he was the master of Sichuan.

‘He’s still the same.’

He wasn’t talking about Tang Gwan’s character.

He was talking about the beginning of his martial arts.

“Is that the Forbidden View Hundred Poison Hand?”

Tang Gwan’s eyebrows twitched at that moment.

He looked at Yeon Ho-jeong quietly and opened his mouth.

“Do you know this martial art?”

“You use the Forbidden View Hundred Poison Hand to drastically reduce combat power, then use the Iron Net of God’s techniques to wrap around and end their life with the Severing Life Palm.”

“…!!”

“Choosing a three-strike combo means you think I’m a formidable opponent. If you had looked down on me, you would have tried to end it with one strike using the Ten Essence Poison Palm. Isn’t that right?”

Alarm spread across Tang Gwan’s face. He was so surprised that he didn’t even notice that Yeon Ho-jeong’s tone had subtly changed.

“You…?!!”

“How do I know your martial arts habits?”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly.

“Why didn’t you properly educate your son?”

“What?!”

“He was so scared that he told me everything without me even asking.”

“…!!”

“Since you beat your son to a pulp, I thought I would clash with you someday. I’m glad I memorized it.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes wavered.

“Yang-seon told you?”

“Who else would have told me?”

“Nonsense! There’s no way Yang-seon would have told you that!”

“Believe it or not, it’s up to you. The important thing is that I’m a guest, isn’t it?”

Yeon Ho-jeong had already set up the fallen chair and sat down.

Tang Gwan, who had been glaring at him with a shocked face, soon gave a cold smile.

“You’re lying.”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“You’re an interesting person. Do you really think I would have been spying on you?”

“…”

“Anyway, when are you going to serve me liquor?”

Confusion settled on Tang Gwan’s face.

‘Could it really be?’

He looked at Yeon Ho-jeong’s face again.

‘…!’

Unbelievably, Tang Gwan couldn’t read Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.

Even though he was criticized for his narrow-minded and harsh personality, he was the one who ruled the most dangerous Tang Clan in the martial world. His intuition was as good as any old master in the martial world.

But even his eyes couldn’t read it. The other person’s true intentions.

The ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood at a glance didn’t work on Yeon Ho-jeong.

Tang Gwan opened his mouth.

“…So, Yang-seon really told you?”

“Isn’t that not important right now?”

“Shut up! Answer my question first!”

“Why should I?”

“…?”

“I came here because I have something to ask you. I didn’t come here to be interrogated.”

Yeon Ho-jeong muttered quietly.

“That moron Dang Yang-seon also acted like he was in the right, are all the Dangs like that?”

Tang Gwan was dumbfounded.

“You, have you truly lost your mind?”

“Of course not.”

“Otherwise, how dare you act so arrogantly in front of me…!”

“What did you say?”

“…?!!”

“You seem to think very highly of yourself, but that’s just arrogance. A truly great person knows how to look at themselves objectively.”

It was an outrageous remark.

As the situation reached this point, admiration arose behind the rage that was about to explode. Except for his father, no one had ever provoked him this much.

Saaaak.

The murderous intent emanating from Tang Gwan’s body intensified exponentially.

“I understand one thing.”

“Hmm?”

“The Moyong Clan Head misjudged you. If you’re annoying, you can just kill them, I don’t understand why he praised you as a monster.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled coldly.

“The Moyong Clan Head is smarter than you. He knows how to worry about the aftermath.”

Tang Gwan also smiled coldly.

“It must be because your poison is weak.”

“You seem to be thoughtless.”

“There are already more than enough reasons for you to die, you don’t have to be so impatient.”

“That’s interesting. I also have a move to destroy you, would you like to hear it?”

“That’s ridiculous…”

“Why did you do it?”

“What?”

Whirr!

Yeon Ho-jeong’s pupils turned red.

“I’m asking why you tried to kill us by using the Hongyo Society, you bastard.”