Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 186

“Did you have a good trip?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Of course not. I’m a military strategist, after all. I don’t fight on the front lines.”

“A strategist who moves with the troops is a prime target for the enemy. If the strategist is eliminated, the unit loses its head. A headless unit’s combat power will inevitably plummet.”

“Fortunately, the Myulsa Army [Army of the Extinguished] has another incredibly intelligent person besides me.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“Are you talking about Military Chief Yeon?”

“Yes.”

Jeagal Ayeon sighed.

“Even though he didn’t receive formal training in strategy and tactics, he uses amazing tactics. In terms of localized tactics, he might even be better than the scholars of the main family.”

“Everyone knows of Military Chief Yeon’s excellence. But the enemy doesn’t know that, so you, as a strategist, must always be careful.”

“They were just a bandit group anyway. They probably don’t have any experience fighting a unit with a strategist.”

“That’s why I think it’s fortunate.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho took a sip of his tea.

“So, how was the Hoerangdan [Flower Knights]? What impression did you get from them?”

Jeagal Ayeon’s answer was striking.

“They’re just a bunch of strong bastards.”

That one sentence was filled with Jeagal Ayeon’s anger and disgust towards the Hoerangdan.

“They’re weak to the strong and strong to the weak. You know how terrible such people can be to the weak. But those guys went too far.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“They’ve been operating for ten years, covering thousands of miles from Seojang to Cheonghae and Gansuk. If they’ve been stagnant for ten years, it’s hard to imagine how deep their evil is.”

“Anyway, I feel so relieved.”

“Hahahaha.”

She was a very assertive daughter, but he didn’t know she would say such things.

Was it because she worked with the Myulsa Army? Or was it because she finally saw the evil side of the world?

Jeagal Ayeon had changed a lot too. Her gaze was sharper than before, and the glint in her eyes as she aimed her military strategy at evil was like a cold, sharp sword.

“So, are you going to rest for a while?”

Jeagal Ayeon blinked.

“Well? If no other orders come down, I guess I’ll take a temporary break? Of course, I won’t just be resting.”

“Hmm.”

“You’re going to the Bonggong Council [Council of the 봉공] too, Father. Isn’t that a question I should be asking you?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled wryly.

“That’s true. But I wanted to say this.”

“Yes?”

“If…”

“…?”

“…”

“Father?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed deeply.

“If, by any chance, Military Chief Yeon asks you to join another operation, I hope you won’t join him this time.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho himself couldn’t understand what he was saying.

It was his intuition, not reason or logic, that had taken over. He had a feeling that Yeon Ho-Jeong would be at the forefront of dealing with this Black Path matter.

“I don’t know either. But I have a feeling that Military Chief Yeon might take on another mission soon.”

“A mission?”

“Yes.”

Jeagal Ayeon smiled.

“Father, I belong to the Myulsa Army. Ho-Jeong is my friend, but he’s also my superior. If the Military Chief orders me to join him, I have no choice but to follow.”

“I know.”

“You know, but you’re still saying this.”

“But I am the strategist of the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance]. Since the Alliance Leader hasn’t been elected yet, it’s the Bonggongs who give orders. Thanks to that, your father has some power too.”

Jeagal Ayeon’s face was filled with bewilderment.

“Why are you acting so unlike yourself, Father?”

“I’m saying this because I think it might be that dangerous.”

“Yes?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho closed his eyes.

‘Am I worrying too much?’

He was devising various strategies to probe Yang Cheon. And those strategies would soon narrow down to one.

But why?

He had a feeling that Yeon Ho-Jeong would get involved in that strategy.

It was a very sudden thought. It was true that Yeon Ho-Jeong had been moving a lot, knowingly or unknowingly, since the founding of the Murim Alliance, but there had been many movements that he hadn’t seen, even in places he couldn’t imagine.

There was no guarantee that Yeon Ho-Jeong would get involved in this matter. In the first place, the Myulsa Army was a regular army unit, not a special forces unit.

But why?

He had a feeling that Yeon Ho-Jeong would be eyeing this matter.

‘Why do I have such a thought? It has nothing to do with that child.’

While pondering, Jeagal Mun-Ho suddenly realized the reason.

‘Moyong Gun.’

That’s right.

Moyong Gun was the one who conceived the core of this plan. And wherever Moyong Gun was, Yeon Ho-Jeong was always there.

Moyong Gun and Yeon Ho-Jeong. Yeon Ho-Jeong and Moyong Gun.

If one of them set foot in one place, the other would follow.

That was the case even before the Murim Alliance was founded. The two worked together to bring down the Guju Myungga [Nine Great Clans].

‘They were always together. They were helping each other reach higher places, giving and taking.’

Moyong Woo, the Tangma Military Chief [Military Chief of the Tang Clan]?

He was also a great talent, but in the end, Yeon Ho-Jeong would be watching Moyong Gun through Moyong Woo. In other words, Moyong Woo was just a chess piece that Moyong Gun was using.

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed once more.

“No. This father was just talking nonsense for a moment. Forget it.”

“…Yes.”

He looked out the window.

A cool breeze was blowing.

‘Military Chief Yeon. What are you moving so quickly for? Is it really to prevent power from concentrating on Moyong Gun?’

* * *

Clang!

A deafening sound of metal clashing against metal echoed from the sword strike that slashed through the air.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

The sword lightning, which had drawn a brilliant afterimage in the air, disappeared with a flash of sparks.

‘It’s getting stronger.’

The lightning that discharged throughout the long sword was becoming clearer.

Not only that, but the stream of lightning had also become thicker, and the power itself that enveloped the sword had greatly amplified.

Even without separate training, the mastery of the Thunderclap Art had deepened. As the mastery of the Thunderclap Art deepened, the density of the Thunderclap Qi [energy] also increased as soon as he drew his sword power.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Looking down at the menacingly flashing sword, Moyong Gun opened his mouth.

“I didn’t think you didn’t know that it’s not polite to secretly watch someone else’s training?”

As if he had been waiting, a young and energetic voice was heard.

“I knew you knew I was here, but you ignored me, so I thought it was okay to watch.”

A smile appeared on Moyong Gun’s lips.

“It seems your tongue has become more venomous in the short time I haven’t seen you.”

“While my tongue has become more venomous, your sword seems to have become sharper.”

“Is that so? I don’t think you were able to fully grasp my skills in that duel back then?”

“Not all of it, but I saw some of it. Your internal energy density wasn’t that deep back then.”

‘I really can’t beat him.’

‘A genius is a genius.’

How sharp must one’s eyes be to see the density of internal energy possessed by someone of a higher level than oneself?

Suddenly, Moyong Gun felt a surge of competitiveness.

“How about it? Since you’ve seen my sword, would you like to try blocking it with your axe?”

“No, thanks.”

“Are you scared?”

“Yes. If I get hit by that destructive lightning energy, I think I’ll be sick for months.”

“Oh ho.”

“Wouldn’t you? There’s no one around, so if we fought, wouldn’t you be planning to go all out?”

Moyong Gun laughed heartily.

“I really can’t beat you.”

Whoooosh.

The menacing lightning gradually subsided. Then, the air that had been heated up quickly cooled down.

Swoosh.

Moyong Gun, who had sheathed his sword, turned around.

There was Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“It’s been a while.”

“Indeed it has.”

“I heard you’ve been staying quiet.”

Moyong Gun burst into laughter.

“What else could I do? Some person threw the unprecedented challenge of the Murim Alliance Vice Leader position at me, so I, who hadn’t even thought about it, had no choice but to tuck my tail and sleep.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong grinned.

“I’m glad it seems like you got a good hit.”

“It was the most painful punch I’ve ever taken. I was dizzy for a moment.”

“So, let’s put aside our ambitions and work together to create a beautiful flower garden.”

“There isn’t a single weed in the flower garden of the main family’s head. I won’t tolerate even a single petal or bug that I don’t like in the flower garden I see.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

“So, is that why you helped? Because it would be troublesome in many ways if Yang Cheon gathered power?”

Moyong Gun smiled.

“No matter who becomes the Alliance Leader, no matter who gains power, Yang Cheon is a problem. In this regard, shouldn’t I lend my strength?”

“Is that intention pure?”

Moyong Gun said as if it were obvious.

“Of course not.”

“I thought so.”

“Neither you nor I are naive enough to help others without any intention, are we?”

“I’m sorry, but don’t lump me in with you. I still have some purity left that I haven’t shown you.”

“Don’t make me out to be the only bad guy. You, in some ways, are more ruthless than I am.”

Moyong Gun sat down on a flat rock. Then, Yeon Ho-Jeong also leaned against a tree with his arms crossed.

“Well, you must be tired from your journey. What brings you all the way here?”

“Don’t you know?”

Moyong Gun, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, chuckled.

“You know, you might not live to your full potential.”

“Hmm?”

“I know your skills, your father knows them, and the entire Murim Alliance knows them. But why do you think they say that geniuses die young? If you don’t know your limits and keep running wild, you’ll fall into the Samdo River [River of Three Crossings] before you know it.”

“That could happen.”

Moyong Gun’s expression became serious.

“Do you want to be the core of this operation?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to be.”

“You need to be? I don’t understand. What kind of gift will this operation to stir up Yang Cheon bring you?”

“A beast doesn’t only move when it’s chasing prey. It also moves when a predator appears.”

“You’re not trying to gain something, but to escape danger?”

“That’s right.”

“There are many experts even if it’s not you.”

“I know.”

Moyong Gun, who had been looking up at Yeon Ho-Jeong, opened his mouth.

“Let me be clear. The main player in this strategy is not Strategist Jeagal, but me. And I’m willing to accept a certain amount of sacrifice to get what I want.”

“…”

“Did you know that?”

“If I didn’t, I would have gone to Strategist Jeagal, why would I have come to you?”

The corners of Moyong Gun’s mouth turned up.

“Do you trust me?”

“I trust your abilities.”

“I could pretend not to and throw you into a pit of death. I dare say that you will absolutely not be able to get out this time.”

“I’m sure you would.”

“And yet, you’re willing to fight under my command?”

“Because that’s how we can minimize the sacrifices.”

Moyong Gun burst into laughter.

“A saint has appeared. Don’t act so unlike yourself.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“We don’t know when or what will happen. This isn’t about getting one over on you, but about going for ‘us’.”

“…It seems you’re serious.”

“Then let me ask you one thing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face also became serious.

“Do you trust me?”

Moyong Gun, who had been quietly watching Yeon Ho-Jeong, had a bitter smile on his lips.

“I don’t trust you. But I trust your abilities.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

“I look forward to working with you. This time.”

Moyong Gun waved his hand.

“Go ahead and run wild. Just this once.”