Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 188

“What did you say?!”Muk Bi’s eyes widened. “The chief of this operation?””More accurately, the hidden power behind it, I guess?” Yeon Ho-Jeong said, looking awkward. “In practice, I’ll be the one acting as the leader, but since Huga is going with us anyway, the highest title will probably go to Huga.””That’s not the problem right now!””Then what is the problem, you rascal?”Concern clouded Muk Bi’s face. “They say that the Fighting King, Yang Cheon, is a monster that even Father can’t handle, right?”She knew enough about the martial world by now. Even so, it was hard for her to imagine the power of a master she hadn’t seen in person. However, she couldn’t help but worry, as he was said to be a master that even Yeon Wi, one of the strongest she knew, would have trouble dealing with. But what she was really worried about was something else.”Still, you have to go.””Okay, let’s say you have to go. But they say that the operation will be commanded by the Moyong Clan Head?”That’s right. That was what Muk Bi was worried about. Over the past time, Muk Bi had witnessed countless times the things Moyong Gun had done while being by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s side. Although she didn’t think he was as bright as Yeon Ho-Jeong, wasn’t he dangerous enough?”If the Moyong Clan Head is determined…!””He won’t this time.””Huh?””He won’t target me this time. Of course, he might play some tricks.””Are you sure?””I think so.”In other words, he wasn’t sure. Even Yeon Ho-Jeong, the genius, couldn’t see through Moyong Gun’s mind, so it was natural. Anxiety clouded Muk Bi’s face.”If he just says he won’t this time…””I said I would.””Huh?””It wasn’t an operation that originally included me. I asked the Moyong Clan Head directly. That I would go there.””…Why?””There are many reasons. I thought I could reduce unnecessary sacrifices and move much more flexibly.””Is that really all?”Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.”Of course, that’s not all.”Muk Bi didn’t ask for more details. He was the type of person who would have told her before she asked if he was going to tell her. However, there was one thing she wanted to confirm.”I’ll go too.””No.””……””I can’t take you on this operation. You should rest for a while.””Why?””Both you and I have very distinct characteristics. As we annihilated the Black Path sects, rumors about you must have spread a lot in that area.””But that’s the same for you, Young Master Yeon.””I can do quite well even without wielding an axe.””……””Your bare-handed fighting skills are decent, but not enough to use in a life-threatening situation. If you make a mistake, you could really lose your life.””The countless real battles we’ve experienced so far were just as dangerous.””The level is different. Putting out a fire in a village is a different matter than jumping into a wildfire.”Seeing him say this much, it seemed like it was really dangerous. Yeon Ho-Jeong said with a serious face.”However, there is a role I want you to take on.””…What is it?””I don’t know how long it will take. There are too many variables.””……””But in the end, we have to get out of Yang Cheon’s territory. I guess that a leisurely escape or a secret getaway is unlikely.””……””When I think the job is roughly done, I’ll immediately request support. I want you to participate as part of that support unit.”Muk Bi’s eyes wavered. She knew. In fact, she didn’t necessarily have to be part of the support unit. Yeon Ho-Jeong was trying to persuade her. He would have readily said something that would have hurt her feelings, but he was asking her to stay as a support unit. Muk Bi, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, sighed.”When do you leave?””It’s not certain yet. I heard it will be as early as seven days, or at most within fifteen days.””Seven to fifteen days…”Muk Bi nodded.”Okay.””I’m sorry.””Why are you sorry, Young Master Yeon?”Yeon Ho-Jeong said with a truly pitiful face.”I’m sorry for asking a notorious demon who has a taste for chopping off people’s heads to be patient…”Thwack!”Cough!”Yeon Ho-Jeong staggered. He had been hit squarely in the abdomen.”D-did this bastard just hit me?!”Muk Bi snorted loudly.”Go and die for sure!””That damn thing!”Muk Bi stomped into her quarters. She seemed to be fed up with Yeon Ho-Jeong’s ridiculous jokes. Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was still rubbing his stomach, chuckled.”Tsk, tsk, she seems worried after all.”For a moment, he frowned.”But when did she train so much again? Ouch, damn it, that hurts like hell. I almost threw up?”Even if she didn’t know martial arts, the power of her fist was undeniably great. Even a casual hit was this strong, so if she were to strike with intent, she could shatter a rock. He sat on the floor and sighed deeply.”Hoo, it seems like there’s no time to rest.”That was the truth. Since the Gwangsin Three Sects were constantly aiming for the Central Plains, they had to move without rest. They needed to strengthen their forces and concentrate them to prepare for the enemy’s invasion. Yeon Ho-Jeong composed himself. ‘Perhaps this incident could unite the White Path martial world.’ If there was solid evidence that Yang Cheon was connected to the Gwangsin Three Sects. If that happened, everyone would turn their eyes to the outer regions without him having to say anything. ‘If that were to happen, there would be nothing more to wish for.’ Of course, the Black Path would also have to be united. That task alone was not an easy one. Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been deep in thought, scratched his head.”Damn it, let’s put aside complicated thoughts for now. It’s time to focus on the immediate task.”At that moment, a blunt voice was heard.”I didn’t know that the immediate task would be something like that.”Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly. He had already sensed his father’s presence.”Have you come?””Yes.”Yeon Wi asked directly.”I heard you’ve become a key figure in this operation?””That’s right.”Yeon Wi was silent for a moment. Yeon Ho-Jeong was inwardly nervous. His father had changed a lot from before, but a person’s inherent nature doesn’t change easily. It wouldn’t be strange if he were to be scolded. About half a moment passed.”I gave you one, so I said I would take one back. But now that I see it, it’s as if you’ve jumped into the enemy’s mouth instead of taking anything back.””How could that be?””What do you mean?””I plan to use that mouth to bite off the enemy’s flesh. If it were anyone else, they would be eaten before they could even bare their teeth.””……””Of course, there was something else I wanted to bring back.””What was that?””A party member.”Yeon Wi’s eyes sparkled.”A party member, you say?””I was trying to take away one of the party members who were on the same boat as Moyong Gun.””Is that even possible?””Of course. Well, I might not have been able to change their mind right away.”It was an unexpected remark. Seeing this, it was clear that his son’s mind was indeed outstanding. Regardless of whether such a method would actually work, the direction of his thinking was different from his own. Yeon Wi sighed.”You should have told me beforehand.”Yeon Ho-Jeong slightly lowered his head.”I’m sorry. I have no excuse for this matter.””Hoo.”He must have felt frustrated. The head of the first military unit of the Martial Alliance? Of course, that was something to celebrate. But no matter how glorious the position, once you enter a combat unit, you will inevitably experience more real battles than anyone else. Some say that as a martial artist, gaining more experience is something to be happy about. Yeon Wi also agreed with that statement. But a person’s heart doesn’t move only according to reason. Yeon Ho-Jeong was his son. Apart from his son learning a lot, it was not something a parent would welcome to see their child being put in life-threatening situations every time. And now, he was not only being put into a more dangerous operation than ever before, but he also had to be wary of betrayal from his own side, so he couldn’t help but worry even more.”I heard Huga is going with you.””Yes. I didn’t expect it.”Yeon Wi nodded.”I’ve had many conversations with Huga. Although he has a frivolous side, I’ve found that he is a deep and compassionate person. Not to mention his abilities.””That’s right.””It’s a relief that such a talented person is going with you.”Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.”I will return safely. Please don’t worry.””How can I not worry?”Yeon Wi looked up at the sky. The sun would soon be at its zenith. There was still time before the meeting. ‘Danger… danger, huh.’ Yeon Wi closed his eyes. His son was going to a dangerous place, and there was nothing he could give him. He was already an outstanding individual, but as a parent, he wanted to give him something more.”You’re leaving the axe behind, right?””Yes, I am.”Yeon Wi turned around.”Follow me.”The father and son headed to the open space where they had sparred with Gong Gong. Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around. ‘It’s changed.’ It seemed that someone had been training intensely here. The scenery was completely different from what he had seen before. The ground had been compacted, and the broken or cut trees had been cleared, but they couldn’t completely cover the traces of the fierce battle. ‘Hmm?’ At that moment, a strange light flashed in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes. ‘That is…?’ There was a chilling mark on the stump of a cut tree. The stump, filled with a dozen or so stab wounds, looked like it would crumble if you just touched it. The marks themselves were nothing special, but the penetration of the inner energy [internal energy or qi] that had entered through those marks was immense. ‘Penetrating Sword Energy… it’s at a great level. It seems like he made those marks with a single strike.’ What if that sword strike had landed on a person’s body? ‘The sword energy that entered through the stab wounds would have torn apart the nerves throughout the body and shattered the internal organs.’ It was a terrifying martial art. What was even more surprising was the familiarity he felt from the traces of that sword strike.”Yes, your father did it.”Yeon Wi said, as if he had read Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mind.”While practicing the Iron Sword Great Evolution, I trained to maximize the killing power of the sword.”Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.”It’s an unlike-father-like martial art.””That’s right. At the same time, it’s not.””Huh?””What I pursue is the martial art of the Middle Way. The Middle Way is connected to all martial arts. If you can wield a flowing sword, you must also be able to wield the most terrible killing sword in the world.””……!””I intend to embrace the path of that brutal killing that I have been trying to avoid.””……I see.”Amazing. Just by changing his mindset, he could unleash such a terrifying sword technique. It was the martial path of a swordsman who had begun to rise to the peak, beyond just a family. Yeon Wi asked with an unusually stern face.”You and your father have had quite a few fierce spars, haven’t you?””Yes, we have. We even used killing moves.””That’s right. But this father has never used a truly sincere killing move against you.””……””I plan to use one today.”Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered again. Whoooom. A beautiful, light green glow emanated from Yeon Wi’s fingertips.”I will not draw my sword. But for a moment, I will think of my son as an enemy worthy of death and engage in a match.””……!””Prepare yourself. I’m telling you in advance, I will give it my all.”