Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 21

The conversation abruptly stopped mid-fun.

Jeagal Ayeon was flustered but didn’t show it. She smiled and pointed to the opposite side.

“It’s…”

At that moment, Jeagal Ayeon glanced at Yeon Ho-Jeong for no particular reason. She knew his social skills weren’t the best.

Unexpectedly, Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded. He knew that if the group grew larger, there would naturally be more opportunities to observe the surroundings, no matter who the new person was.

“Please, sit down.”

Before he even finished speaking, Dang Yang-Seon had already taken a seat. It was unclear whether he knew the others wouldn’t refuse or if he intended to sit down regardless of their wishes.

Jeagal Ayeon asked with a smile,

“Are you from the Dang family?”

“That’s right.”

He spoke casually, as if it were a lifelong habit.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Ayeon from the Jeagal family.”

“Jeagal Ayeon?”

“Yes.”

“You have a pretty name.”

It was a rather frank and bold statement. Jeagal Ayeon tilted her head.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, your parents chose a good name.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Jeagal Ayeon pointed to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Ah, let me introduce you. This person is…”

“It’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“I know who he is. No need for introductions.”

Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes widened.

“Oh? It seems you’ve met before?”

“He’s the eldest son of the Yeon family, isn’t he?”

“That’s right. Then at least say hello…”

“It’s fine.”

“What do you mean, ‘it’s fine’?”

Dang Yang-Seon shrugged.

“I didn’t come here to see him anyway.”

Jeagal Ayeon was slightly taken aback.

Quick-witted, she knew that Dang Yang-Seon’s purpose was her. However, she didn’t expect him to be so straightforward.

Dang Yang-Seon held out his empty glass.

“Pour me a drink.”

It was a brazen action.

Pouring a drink wasn’t difficult, but being treated like a subordinate from the start was bound to make anyone feel unpleasant. Jeagal Ayeon, who was trying to be as polite as possible given the setting, was also annoyed by his tone.

“Here you go.”

Jeagal Ayeon placed the bottle in front of him.

Dang Yang-Seon tilted his head.

“I said, pour it for me.”

Jeagal Ayeon smiled sweetly and said,

“I don’t feel like pouring for you.”

“You don’t feel like pouring for me?”

“Yes.”

“You were happy to pour for this guy, but why not for me?”

He openly called him ‘this guy’.

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t care about the way he was addressed. As soon as Dang Yang-Seon sat down, his senses were scanning the younger generation disciples gathered in the banquet hall. He had no intention of reacting to each one.

However, Jeagal Ayeon was different.

“This guy is my friend. He’s a bit prickly, though.”

Dang Yang-Seon asked with a smile,

“I can be your friend too, right?”

“Anyone can be a friend. As long as they have manners.”

“Oh ho?”

“Is it a custom in the Sichuan region? To ask a stranger to pour you a drink as a greeting? If so, I apologize for my misunderstanding. But I still have no intention of being friends with you.”

Her voice, while smiling, was laced with a sharp edge.

Dang Yang-Seon, who had been looking at Jeagal Ayeon with a strange gaze, chuckled.

“You’re quite cute, aren’t you?”

“I often hear that I’m pretty, but it’s been since I was nine years old that I’ve been called cute. I’ll take it as a compliment.”

“In Sichuan, there were always only obedient girls. They were all the same, so it was boring, but you’re refreshing.”

With just this one sentence, Jeagal Ayeon could grasp how Dang Yang-Seon had lived his life.

In Sichuan, the Dang family’s name was absolute. Among the Nine Great Sects, the Qingcheng and Emei Sects were also in Sichuan, but those two were martial arts sects that were also Taoist temples and Buddhist temples, so they didn’t interfere much in worldly affairs.

In other words, the Dang family was practically the number one sect in Sichuan. Born as the eldest son of the family head, he must have lived a life of privilege.

In fact, Dang Yang-Seon had never attended the previous gatherings of the younger generation disciples. Perhaps this was his first time venturing out into the world.

Jeagal Ayeon smiled wryly.

“It seems the Dang family’s specialty isn’t just poison and hidden weapons.”

“Hmm?”

“Would you mind leaving now? It’s uncomfortable.”

“Then I can’t.”

Dang Yang-Seon tapped his glass.

“You haven’t poured me a drink yet, have you? I have to get what I came for.”

“…”

“Hurry up and pour it. Or do I have to throw some money at you?”

It was no different from treating her like a courtesan from a brothel.

At this point, Jeagal Ayeon couldn’t help but get angry. And that was the same for Jeagal Jun, who was watching from afar.

Jeagal Jun strode towards their table.

“Hey…”

That’s when it happened.

“You there.”

A dark shadow obscured Dang Yang-Seon.

Dang Yang-Seon spoke without turning around.

“You don’t stand behind a member of the Dang family without permission. If you want to see me, come forward and show some respect.”

Namgoong Hyeon said with a smile,

“I don’t think the gathering of the Seven Great Families is so trivial that they would allow someone with such a poor character to attend.”

“What?”

“Don’t cause unnecessary trouble and just get up and leave.”

“Trouble?”

“Surely you don’t think you can master the Dang family’s delicate martial arts with a mind so foolish that you don’t even realize how rude you’re being.”

“Ha!”

“No need for long words. Don’t create unnecessary conflict and quietly get up.”

Dang Yang-Seon shook his head.

“They say there are so many ignorant fools in the world, and my father was right.”

It was getting worse.

Thump!

Dang Yang-Seon slammed his glass down and turned around.

He saw Namgoong Hyeon.

“You look pale and weak like a girl. What’s your name?”

“I’m Namgoong Hyeon.”

Dang Yang-Seon’s eyes sparkled.

“Oh, so you’re from the Namgoong family? I thought your aura was decent.”

He had heard it from his father. Among the Seven Great Families, most were not worth talking to, but at least the Namgoong and Moyong families were the real deal.

Dang Yang-Seon didn’t believe everything his father said. He respected him, but he also believed in his own experiences.

The world’s perception of the Dang family was one of fear.

It wasn’t limited to Sichuan. The Dang family was in Sichuan, but also in the world. No one who messed with the Dang family in the martial world could sleep soundly.

Power is fear. The most feared group in the martial world is the Dang family.

Therefore, the Dang family is the true number one family in the world. Just look at his grandfather, who is considered the most feared expert among the Saintly Thirteen Seats, the top experts in the martial world.

“If you’re a descendant of the Namgoong family, known as the best swordsmen, you have the right to be arrogant.”

“It’s getting more and more ridiculous.”

“But even if you’re the best swordsman, you shouldn’t act up like that in front of the best family in the world.”

Namgoong Hyeon couldn’t help but laugh.

“The best in the world? Who are you calling the best in the world?”

“Of course, my family is the best in the world.”

“You’re a fool who doesn’t know the world.”

The smile disappeared from Dang Yang-Seon’s face.

His relaxed expression turned blank, and that alone created a chilling atmosphere.

“Kneel.”

“What?”

“I’ll give you a chance. Kneel and apologize. Then I’ll pretend your arrogance never happened.”

Namgoong Hyeon’s eyes also turned cold.

“I thought you were just ignorant, but now I see you’re crazy.”

That’s when it happened.

“The best in the world?”

A clear voice echoed throughout the banquet hall.

Dang Yang-Seon’s face showed surprise. On the other hand, Namgoong Hyeon frowned.

‘Incredible internal energy!’

The internal energy resonating from the voice was truly remarkable. Just hearing the voice made his body feel like it was vibrating.

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes blazed.

“You dare talk about the best in the world in front of my family? And from the Dang family?”

A young man was slowly descending the stairs.

He looked at least six or seven years older than Namgoong Hyeon. He had a noble appearance, but it was hard to call him handsome like Yeon Ho-Jeong or Namgoong Hyeon.

His physique was as ordinary as his face. The clothes he wore didn’t look particularly luxurious either.

However, the presence he exuded was extraordinary.

Woong! Woong!

It felt as if the air was trembling.

There was no one in this place with weak internal energy, but most of them felt like they were experiencing tinnitus.

“Well, if it were Namgoong or Moyong, I could understand them saying that. But the Dang family? I can’t understand it.”

Dang Yang-Seon’s face twisted.

The increasingly loud voice kept digging into his ears. The sensation was extremely unpleasant.

“I’ve heard it said that there are many eccentrics among the Dang family. Now I see, you’re one of those eccentrics?”

Dang Yang-Seon shouted without realizing it.

“Who the hell are you!”

It was a thunderous voice.

The voice was much louder than he expected. Dang Yang-Seon himself was taken aback.

It seemed like he had overreacted. Dang Yang-Seon’s neck flushed slightly.

“Is it because you’re young? Your words and actions are all clumsy.”

“You!”

“Listen carefully, young friend from the Dang family who doesn’t know the world. In this martial world, you don’t just throw around the term ‘the best in the world’.”

“I asked who you are!”

“One more thing. Don’t be so irritable.”

The young man smiled.

His appearance was ordinary, but his smile was quite charming.

“You look weak, you know?”

Dang Yang-Seon could no longer hold back.

Woo woong!

Namgoong Hyeon involuntarily took a step back. It was because of the poisonous aura emanating from Dang Yang-Seon.

‘Poison?!’

It was poison qi. It wasn’t that he had released poison, but the nature of his internal energy itself was poison.

Jeagal Ayeon shouted,

“Young Master Dang!”

Fwoosh!

A group of people rushed in from afar. The bodyguards of each family, startled by the sudden release of poison, were rushing over.

The young man looked at Namgoong Hyeon.

“Brother Namgoong.”

“…”

“It’s nothing serious, right?”

Namgoong Hyeon nodded with a displeased expression.

“Then shouldn’t we explain the situation to the guards who are working hard day and night because of these immature young people? And also prepare a separate drinking session for them. This gathering was hosted by the Namgoong family, wasn’t it?”

“…”

“I’m asking you this.”

“I understand, Brother Myeong.”

Even in the midst of his anger, he had managed to hear the title ‘Brother Myeong’.

Dang Yang-Seon growled softly.

“You, are you from the Myeong family?”

“That’s right.”

The young man, Myeong Ho-Rim, said,

“I am Myeong Ho-Rim, the third son of the current best family in the world, the Nine Provinces Myeong Family.”

Dang Yang-Seon scoffed.

He had shown great composure in front of Jeagal Ayeon, but not now. His explosive nature was being provoked by Myeong Ho-Rim’s strong aura.

“Myeong Ho-Rim? I’ve never heard of that name.”

“That’s why I say you don’t know the world. At least you should memorize the names of the strong who will live in the same generation as you, so you don’t make mistakes.”

“Mistakes? I’m sorry, but I don’t make mistakes. I’m not in a position to make mistakes.”

Myeong Ho-Rim looked at Dang Yang-Seon with pity.

Dang Yang-Seon’s face twisted. He could have tolerated anger and insults, but he couldn’t stand that arrogant look.

“…You, don’t even think about going back alive.”

“Y-Young Master!”

Han Ho-Myeong’s shout was heard from afar, but Dang Yang-Seon didn’t hold back.

Tsutsutsutsu.

A faint purple aura surged from Dang Yang-Seon’s body. He was beginning to unleash his poison techniques in earnest.

Startled, Jeagal Ayeon stepped back and then suddenly looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was still sitting in his seat. He even still held his glass in his hand.

Jeagal Ayeon shouted urgently,

“Young Master Dang! There’s someone next to him…!!”

That’s when it happened.

Peeeeeeng! Thwack!

A sharp sound of air being torn apart shattered the tense atmosphere of the banquet hall.

Myeong Ho-Rim looked at his hand, which was now raised to his shoulder. In his hand was a shattered wine glass.

He looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong raised his hand with an indifferent expression.

“Oops.”