Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 17

“Hoo, this is frustrating.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, knees drawn to his chest, looked utterly dejected.

“Was I wrong?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was consumed by frustration.

Having lived his entire life adhering to the Yeon family’s rules and teachings, he was deeply shaken by his older brother’s actions at the Choseong Tower [a significant location or landmark] two days prior.

‘Brother.’

Yeon Ji-Pyeong recalled Yeon Ho-Jeong from that day.

A gaze so cold that even the harshest winter wind would flee in terror. His brother’s indifference, showing no concern even when someone fighting an evildoer was in danger.

In the end, his brother did help the Jeagal siblings, but until then, he had shown no behavior that could be called righteous.

Some say the result is what matters, and what’s the problem with that? But for Yeon Ji-Pyeong, the process was just as important as the result.

He didn’t know what his brother was thinking, but his actions at that time were clearly wrong.

That’s why Yeon Ji-Pyeong was confused. Although his brother had once made things difficult for him, he had never thought of his brother as a bad person.

Rather, he thought of him as kind and somewhat weak. He had also regretted his thoughtless actions that had caused his brother frustration.

‘Yes, there must have been a reason. He was being attacked by an evildoer… If there wasn’t a reason, there’s no way my brother would have acted like that.’

That’s right. It was bewildering, but he could somehow understand it up to that point.

However, his brother’s appearance when killing the arsonist and the horse thief was truly shocking.

‘It was too gruesome.’

Thinking back to that time, Yeon Ji-Pyeong felt a chill run down his spine once more.

After subduing his opponent with incredible martial arts, his brother grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the flames.

The cold-blooded act of throwing the evildoer into the fire with a blank expression.

‘To burn a person alive…’

Even after killing so cruelly, his brother didn’t seem shocked at all.

If he had at least shown a hint of satisfaction, it might have been different. But the look in his brother’s eyes as he watched the horse thief die was the epitome of apathy.

He wouldn’t look at a stray stone on the street with such indifference. That action, that look, that atmosphere was a huge shock to Yeon Ji-Pyeong.

‘Brother. Are you really the brother I know?’

Now he couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

After burying his face in his knees for a long time, Yeon Ji-Pyeong sighed and stood up.

“How foolish of me.”

If there was a question, he could just ask, and if there was a misunderstanding, he could clear it up. There was no point in worrying about it anyway. Yeon Ji-Pyeong wanted to go to Yeon Ho-Jeong and talk.

As he walked towards where the group was, Yeon Ji-Pyeong suddenly noticed two figures walking away.

‘Huh? Brother?’

It was his brother and one of the Jeagal family’s children.

‘Where are they going?’

After hesitating for a moment, Yeon Ji-Pyeong followed the two of them.

How long had it been?

“This should be far enough.”

“…”

“I have something to ask you.”

“Ah, yes!”

Ask what?

Curiosity filled Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face. Normally, he would have felt uncomfortable eavesdropping on other people’s conversations, but now he was somehow drawn to watch them as if he were hypnotized.

“How much do you know about your family?”

“Yes?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

In the dark forest, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s blue eyes shone eerily like phosphorescence. Jeagal Ayeon gasped involuntarily.

“The martial arts you used when fighting the arsonist, it was truly extraordinary.”

“Th, that was…”

“Judging by the level of your martial arts, it was worthy of being a secret technique of a sect [a school or group with shared beliefs or practices]. It’s just that your level of mastery was low, but the completeness of the martial art was very high.”

“…”

“If you weren’t the next head of the family, there’s no way they would easily pass on such martial arts, even to a blood relative.”

Jeagal Ayeon’s neck flushed slightly.

“Is Yeon Gongzi [a respectful title for a young master] saying that I stole the martial arts?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then…?”

“I’m asking if the Jeagal family has so many martial arts that they would pass on secret techniques even to those who are not successors.”

Jeagal Ayeon tilted her head.

It was hard to grasp the intention of the question. Having many martial arts? Of course, a family like the Jeagal family would have hundreds of martial arts.

“Let me put it more simply. Does your family possess any martial arts of a different kind?”

“By different kind, do you mean…?”

“I’m asking if you have any orthodox martial arts that have never been shown in the Central Plains [a historical region in China, often used to refer to the heartland of Chinese civilization].”

Even if he asked such a question, it was up to the other person whether they would answer honestly. But Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t expect the other person to tell the truth in the first place.

There was only one thing he was looking at.

The other person’s eyes.

His insight, honed from a life in the underworld where he had been betrayed countless times and nearly killed countless times, was second to none. Not only Yeon Ho-Jeong, but such insight was almost a basic requirement for those who had survived long in the underworld.

The sharpness to see through a person’s nature just by looking at their eyes and exchanging a few words.

The meticulousness and stubbornness to reconfirm even after the confirmation was complete.

That was why Yeon Ho-Jeong was called the Dark Emperor, and why he was able to survive for so long even at the pinnacle of the underworld.

“I don’t know why you’re asking such a thing… but even if I knew, I couldn’t tell Yeon Gongzi about the family’s affairs.”

Jeagal Ayeon answered calmly.

Although they had never had a private conversation, she already recognized Yeon Ho-Jeong as a dangerous person. He was someone she shouldn’t tell even the smallest thing to.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

Jeagal Ayeon swallowed involuntarily.

‘What on earth is this person’s identity?’

Is he really the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family? [a fictional family name]

If he was the eldest son of a prestigious family that was counted among the Seven Great Families, he should be different in some way. But Yeon Ho-Jeong was far beyond that.

It wasn’t about his martial arts. That look and atmosphere were that of a warrior who had experienced all sorts of hardships.

It was like seeing a barbaric warrior who had defeated countless enemies and was walking leisurely through the wilderness.

‘He’s like Uncle Hwang.’

It wasn’t his strength, but his temperament. Uncle Hwang was the most rough, sharp, and scary person she knew.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been silently looking at Jeagal Ayeon, nodded.

“I see.”

“Yes.”

“…”

“Yes?”

“I said I see. You can go now.”

Jeagal Ayeon was once again taken aback.

‘What is this guy?’

When he first called her to talk, his eyes were so fierce that it seemed like he would devour her at any moment. But now, he was telling her to go as if he had lost interest and was bothered by everything.

…It’s insulting, isn’t it? Why should I be treated like this?

“Excuse me.”

“What?”

As soon as she asked, she couldn’t think of anything to say.

Jeagal Ayeon was embarrassed for the third time by her own hesitation. She was always confident, but strangely, she felt intimidated in front of Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘What did I do wrong to this guy that I keep…’

Suddenly, Jeagal Ayeon’s expression hardened.

She bowed her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“It was an incident that happened because of our siblings, or rather, because of me. I put you in unnecessary danger because of my actions. I sincerely apologize.”

She bowed deeply with a respectful fist salute [a traditional greeting or gesture].

It was a sincere action. Although her face was not visible as she bowed her head, it was easy to imagine that her expression was full of self-reproach.

“Were they people who had a grudge against you?”

“Rather than a grudge…”

Jeagal Ayeon briefly explained the situation.

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“Then there’s no need to apologize.”

“Yes?”

“It was something that happened because you helped someone out of good will. The people who should be punished are those who chased you to the end, not you. Since it’s not your fault, there’s no need for you to apologize.”

“B, but still…”

“If you’re still bothered by it, go find the tavern and the people who were harmed and give them some material support. That’s what you should do.”

Jeagal Ayeon couldn’t easily speak.

It wasn’t a sin because she helped someone out of good will?

That was right. If Jeagal Ayeon were Yeon Ho-Jeong, she would have said the same thing.

However, it was strange that Yeon Ho-Jeong had said these words. The Yeon Ho-Jeong she had seen was closer to a ruthless pragmatist.

“That’s… I must do that.”

“Okay.”

“…”

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going?”

“Can I ask you just one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Let me say in advance that I’m not questioning you. I don’t have the right to question Yeon Gongzi either. I’m just asking because I’m really curious, so I hope you don’t take it too badly.”

“So what is it?”

“Don’t you think it was a bit cruel?”

“Hmm?”

“That guy who burned to death. The one who called himself the Lord of the Thunder Fire.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“Why is that cruel?”

“It could be seen as cruel enough by ordinary people. Everyone who saw that scene was shocked, you know?”

“Just that?”

“…It’s not just that. Even if he was an enemy, you burned a person alive, you know?”

“Well, I guess you could think that way.”

He brushed it off lightly. Jeagal Ayeon clicked her tongue at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s indifference.

“He was an evildoer who tried to kill innocent people by setting fire, but I think it was a bit excessive. At least it wasn’t a normal method, was it?”

“Then is it a normal method to kill him with a single slash of the neck?”

“…Well, no, but at least there wouldn’t be any pain.”

“Then that won’t do. That guy has to die in pain.”

Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes widened.

“If that guy had only targeted you siblings, it would have been different, but he even set fire to kill countless innocent people. That’s a crime deserving of death.”

“That’s true, but still.”

“Death is fair to everyone. To evildoers and to good people. So, my thought is that at least the process leading up to death should be painful.”

“Do you think of yourself as a judge?”

“I’m not a judge, so I’m killing him instead of locking him up in prison.”

What a ruthless person.

Jeagal Ayeon was surprised by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words, but at the same time, she felt a strange envy.

She didn’t know how deep his contemplation had been, but Yeon Ho-Jeong had conviction. He had his own firm standards.

Sometimes, living simply is more difficult than living complicatedly. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s ideology was simple, but it was a simplicity accompanied by unimaginable anguish.

Coming this far, it was even more unbelievable.

‘How old is this person anyway?’

His words, ideology, decisiveness, martial arts, etc., none of it seemed to match his age.

Jeagal Ayeon, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, chuckled.

“Thank you.”

“How many times are you going to say thank you?”

“Wasn’t it Yeon Gongzi who treated my internal injuries and extracted my brother’s poison?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t answer.

Jeagal Ayeon bowed her head once more.

“Yeon Gongzi is the benefactor of our siblings. I will repay this favor somehow.”

“No need.”

“Do you know that? Your way of speaking is like that of an old person.”

“Shut up.”

“Tch, you’re so stiff.”

Jeagal Ayeon turned away, grumbling.

“I’m hungry after talking so much right after waking up. I need to find something to eat. Do you want to come with me?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong glanced at the bushes.

Rustle.

The movement of the bushes gradually moved away. It was a movement like a mole.

“Sure.”

“Hehe.”

“Don’t stick so close to me.”

“Ah, my apologies.”

“…”

“But, how old are you?”

“Forty-six.”

“Don’t lie, mister.”

“Eighteen.”

“Eek?! What? I was the older one! Hey! I’m a year older than you!”

“…”

“Want to be friends?”

“No need.”