Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 217

“So, you lost him?”

“…I apologize.”

Mu-yeon rarely showed himself. This was true even before his lord, Moyong Gun.

Yet, here he was, appearing and bowing his head. It was clear that he was beyond words with regret this time.

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“No, it’s not your fault. I should have told you beforehand how clever that guy is. If there’s any fault, it’s mine, not yours.”

It was a statement that only made him feel more uncomfortable, especially knowing it was sincere.

“Remember one thing. That guy can never harm me. At least, not here.”

“Yes.”

“If something like this happens again, just follow my orders without question.”

“Understood.”

“You’ve worked hard. You should rest too.”

Swoosh.

Mu-yeon disappeared without a word.

It was an incredible movement technique. Even while watching, Mu-yeon scattered and vanished like mist. It was reminiscent not of a movement technique, but of a Taoist art or sorcery.

Moyong Gun smiled.

“That guy, was he that desperate that he had to resort to such tricks?”

Forgiving Mu-yeon was a given. In reality, Mu-yeon didn’t know much about Yeon Ho-Jeong. He had been with the family, not the main branch, until now, and had only followed along starting with this incident.

Moreover, Mu-yeon’s presence showed just how desperate Yeon Ho-Jeong was.

It would have been better if he had found out the opponent’s identity and why Yeon Ho-Jeong was in such a hurry, but this was still a decent gain.

At that moment, a carrier pigeon flew to the window.

With familiar movements, he took the pigeon and untied the letter from its leg.

“Hmm, quick.”

A satisfied smile spread across Moyong Gun’s face.

“Even if nothing else, we’re better than the Beggars’ Sect in Hunan Province.”

The Mukryong Faction [a powerful martial arts group] were truly audacious.

Well, considering that one of the Divine Immortal Kings [a title for extremely powerful martial artists] was their master, it wasn’t incomprehensible that they had set up shop in a place where one of the Six Great Clans [the most influential martial arts families] was located.

However, preparations for them had to be more thorough.

The Mukryong Faction would never know how ferocious and ruthless the Moyong Clan could be when they were determined.

Moyong Gun carefully folded the letter he had written beforehand and attached it to the carrier pigeon’s leg.

Flap, flap!

After sending the carrier pigeon away again, Moyong Gun sipped his tea.

“The tea tastes good.”

Now, the preparations were complete. Once he received a reply, all preparations would be finished.

“Do your best, Commander Yeon. You need to make a proper scene for me to save face.”

* * *

Four days later.

“Whew, it’s done.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“What hard work? You’re the one who’s been through a lot.”

“Then let’s say I did all the hard work.”

Jeagal Ayeon chuckled.

“Yes, you did all the hard work.”

She said it jokingly, but it was also Jeagal Ayeon’s true feeling.

‘What is this guy, really?’

She had thought about it countless times, but she really couldn’t even guess the extent of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s abilities.

He had broken through the wall of the Martial Ancestor [a legendary level of martial arts mastery] at just over twenty years old? It was something that would shock the world, but if you thought of him as having been born with extraordinary talent, it was understandable. There had been such geniuses throughout history.

But that wasn’t why Yeon Ho-Jeong was so amazing. Jeagal Ayeon didn’t think Yeon Ho-Jeong’s true terror was his martial arts.

‘Is this guy really born to be a king?’

While creating the Mukryong Faction’s organizational chart, Jeagal Ayeon couldn’t help but admire Yeon Ho-Jeong’s insight several times.

He pointed out errors in places she never even thought of, and most of them were in areas that were hard to find flaws in, almost to the point of being missed.

Designing an organizational chart wasn’t much different from creating strategies or tactics. If that was the case, then she, a descendant of the Jeagal Clan, known for its strategic geniuses, should have been better than Yeon Ho-Jeong.

But the results were completely different.

“What exactly are you?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Are you still saying that?”

“No, I’m really curious. I can understand the martial arts, but these things are something that even most scholars wouldn’t think of.”

“While I was loafing around when I was young, I studied a lot of things.”

“What did you study that you’re so good at everything?”

It was understandable that Jeagal Ayeon was dumbfounded.

In reality, Yeon Ho-Jeong had never properly studied in this field. However, he had the experience of flying the flag of victory on battlefields where it was difficult to survive even if you racked your brain every day.

He had established the massive organization called the Black Emperor Fortress, and he had directly participated in selecting personnel and creating the organization.

He had over ten years of experience looking into the strengths and weaknesses of organizations in the field, not from books. It was only natural that he was better than Jeagal Ayeon.

“Anyway, this is good enough to pass.”

“Good enough to pass?”

Jeagal Ayeon rarely became serious.

“Are you really going to give this to Yang Cheon?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be honest. I think this is dangerous.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“There’s a saying that you should deceive your allies to deceive your enemies, but I don’t want to use that method if I can help it. Instead, I’m sure that when you trade with an enemy, you shouldn’t offer something sloppy.”

“Huu.”

“Don’t worry. No matter how solid the organizational chart is, the organization is ultimately made up of people.”

Jeagal Ayeon said, as if dissatisfied.

“I know that too. That’s why I made it that way. For the future of the Mukryong Faction.”

“That’s right. But even if we hand this over, they can’t organize it like this right away. Because there aren’t enough talented people who can be called experts in each field.”

“We should give this to the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts sects] instead…”

“No.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong flatly rejected it.

“The Murim Alliance is a coalition. Although they don’t show it on the surface, each has their own clear interests. An organizational chart like this doesn’t suit such a place. It’s an organizational chart that would turn into chaos as they fight for power.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Look at Moyong Gun. He doesn’t say it, but his party members are also just trying to become the best by using Moyong Gun, not actually making Moyong Gun the party leader.”

Jeagal Ayeon frowned.

“Then you’re saying the Black Path [a term for the evil or unorthodox martial arts world] is different?”

“At least for now.”

“Why do you think so?”

“The Black Path is vicious. The truly vicious ones among them fight without even the minimum rules. But the Black Path has one advantage that the White Path [the orthodox martial arts world] doesn’t have.”

“What is it?”

“They’ve been oppressed for a long time.”

Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes widened.

“Why is that an advantage?”

“It’s an advantage. If you think about how much passion and hope their resentment can turn into when they unite.”

At that moment, Jeagal Ayeon felt a chill run down her spine.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“Isn’t that how the world is? Stagnant water is bound to rot, but conversely, murky water can become clear at any time. The White Path and the Black Path are the same.”

“…”

“So, I think the White Path is also clearly responsible for the Black Path becoming such a cesspool.”

“The White Path is also responsible…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged.

“It’s just my opinion. Don’t worry about it too much.”

Jeagal Ayeon chuckled.

“I’m not worried? I’m just trying to memorize it because it sounds like a cool thing to say.”

“You’re hilarious.”

“So, when are you going to Yang Cheon? Was it tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

Deep fatigue settled on Jeagal Ayeon’s face. She slumped in her chair and grumbled.

“Then can I just rest today? There’s nothing to do.”

“Yes. Get some rest.”

“…Somehow, it sounds like you still have things to do?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged.

“Even if it’s just in name, I’m still a leader, so I can’t just rest all day when there’s no work, can I?”

“Instead of that, why don’t you have a drink with me?”

“Have you forgotten that you’re on a mission, strategist?”

“Bull.”

“Rest.”

With those words, Yeon Ho-Jeong left the room.

Jeagal Ayeon smiled and looked at the door.

“Really, how did I get tangled up with you like this? It’s a really strange fate, isn’t it?”

Outside, Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around at what Ga Deuk-Sang and Pa Yul were doing.

Ga Deuk-Sang was facing the wall every day, receiving information from the guards. And based on that information, he organized and reported the current atmosphere of the marketplace, Akrok Mountain, and even the entire Hunan Province.

On the other hand, Pa Yul’s days were a continuous cycle of training. He was training the swordsmanship he had shown Yeon Ho-Jeong before, and his proficiency had increased surprisingly in that short time.

And then there was Dang Sang-Ah.

‘…’

Yeon Ho-Jeong fiddled with the thin, long cylinder in his pocket.

It was a little less than a foot long, and not even a finger’s width thick.

But inside, there were hidden weapons that could send hundreds of people to hell. It was a type of feather needle, with extremely poisonous needles as thin as hair.

Of course, there were no hidden weapons in the cylinder Yeon Ho-Jeong had brought. It had already been fired once.

Yeon Ho-Jeong made a decision.

‘There’s no reason to hide it unnecessarily. Let’s show it.’

The reason he hadn’t shown it to Dang Sang-Ah until now was because of her personality.

She had little experience. This was her first mission.

If so, she would surely be obsessed with finding the source of this object, and the probability of her making a mistake at a crucial moment would increase.

‘But I can’t hide it forever.’

It was better to show it and do a little more investigation. He decided that was the case.

Just as Yeon Ho-Jeong was about to head to Dang Sang-Ah’s residence.

Creak!

The front gate was roughly opened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned. The person who entered the manor was Hwa-Won.

‘What is it?’

Whoosh.

A strange energy emanated from Hwa-Won’s body.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“What’s going on?”

Hwa-Won stared at him without answering.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“If you have something to say, say it quickly. And before that, get rid of those ugly eyes.”

“Is it you?”

“Don’t you usually get praised for your great speaking skills? Making the other person curious, that’s also a skill if you think about it.”

It was a rather sly response. But Hwa-Won didn’t seem to be in the mood for jokes.

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t know why a monkey keeps talking nonsense.”

Tzzzz.

Raw killing intent rose from Won-Gak’s body, who had followed Hwa-Won.

Thud!

With Hwa-Won’s unusual energy and Won-Gak’s killing intent added, the group couldn’t stay still.

Ga Deuk-Sang, Pa Yul, Jeagal Ayeon, and Dang Sang-Ah appeared.

Hwa-Won growled.

“I’ll ask one last time. If you don’t answer honestly, all of you will be…”

“I’ll say it one last time too.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes became as clear as glass.

Whoosh.

The subtle energy that emanated instantly took over the entire manor. The blue-green majesty, the manifestation of the Azure Dragon Energy [a powerful martial arts technique].

Surprise flickered in Hwa-Won’s eyes.

“If you don’t withdraw your killing intent right now, I’ll cut off the head of that bug who doesn’t know where to act up and punish you.”

“… !”

“Don’t like it? Fine.”

Whoooom!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s pupils turned blue in an instant.

“I was already in a bad mood, and you just walked right into it.”

Hwa-Won shouted.

“You guys are the ones who…”

At that moment, she saw an illusion of flames rising from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

Whoosh! Thud!

“Kuaaak!”

With a terrible scream, Won-Gak collapsed. Startled, Hwa-Won turned around.

Crack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Hwa-Won while stepping on Won-Gak’s chest.

As if languid, or perhaps indifferent.

At the insane glint in his eyes, which was hard to describe in words, Hwa-Won swallowed involuntarily.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled brightly and said.

“Would you mind waiting a little? I need to rip this guy’s head off first.”