Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 220

Srrr.

The sound of fabric fluttering was incredibly natural.

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Indeed.”

Moyong Gun sipped his tea. His demeanor, without even turning around, was full of a composure that wouldn’t disappear even if the world turned upside down.

Jang Han’s eyes flashed.

“…Have you become stronger?”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“Is the progress of martial arts something that’s as obvious as a child growing taller?”

“Your energy flow has become more subtle and natural.”

“You’re certainly not ordinary either, to sense that.”

“Isn’t that why you made me the Lord of the Desolate Wind Pavilion?”

“Hahaha! It seems you’ve adapted quite well to this life. You’re even capable of saying such things.”

Back when Moyong Gun and Yeon Ho-Jeong met regarding the Anhui Blood Palace incident.

The person who came to see Moyong Gun, who was drinking alone after sending Yeon Ho-Jeong away, was none other than him. The Lord of the Desolate Wind Pavilion, the head of the Desolate Wind Pavilion, the best intelligence organization of the Moyong Clan.

Surprisingly, he wasn’t a member of the Moyong Clan. To be precise, he had come under Moyong Gun’s command and worked for the Moyong Clan, but it was a stretch to call him a member of the Moyong Clan.

A person who only followed Moyong Gun’s orders. A master who had killed his past self and hidden in the world of shadows, forgotten by the demands of the times.

The Lord of the Desolate Wind Pavilion, Eon Ja-Bang, a peerless master of fist techniques and assassination arts, was that very person.

“So, why did you call me?”

“Why call you? Is there any other reason for the head of the Moyong Clan to call the head of the family’s intelligence organization?”

“……”

“Haha, you still don’t like jokes.”

Moyong Gun pulled out a chair next to him.

“Have a seat.”

Eon Ja-Bang, who had been quietly watching Moyong Gun, sat down.

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“Are all the things I mentioned before prepared?”

“They are in the final stages.”

“Well done. I knew I could rely on you.”

“Did you call me to hear about the progress of the work?”

“That too. And there’s something else I need you to do.”

“What is it?”

Moyong Gun’s face turned serious.

“I heard that tomorrow at noon, the Guizhou Merchant Guild’s trading caravan will be heading to Sichuan.”

Eon Ja-Bang frowned.

“The Guizhou Merchant Guild?”

“That’s right. The best merchant group and money lender in Guizhou Province.”

“……?”

“Currently, the Guizhou Merchant Guild’s trading caravan is in Hengshan, Hunan. It’s not far from here.”

“I know that.”

“Oh, is that so? Well, there probably isn’t anyone who knows the situation in Hunan as well as you do.”

He spoke as if he wasn’t talking to someone under his command.

Moyong Gun was always like that. When dealing with Eon Ja-Bang, he spoke in suggestions or requests rather than orders. Even though he was clearly his subordinate.

Surprisingly, Moyong Gun’s way of speaking played a big role in soothing Eon Ja-Bang’s pride.

“So, what do you want me to do with them?”

“There’s no need to do anything to them. I just want you to make some kind of deal with them.”

“What kind?”

Moyong Gun took out a neatly folded letter from his chest and handed it to Eon Ja-Bang.

Eon Ja-Bang’s eyes wavered as he unfolded the letter.

“Aren’t they the ones we have to deal with sooner or later anyway?”

“……”

“Go and shake up the trading caravan with them.”

“They are the ones we have to deal with, but… isn’t the Guizhou Merchant Guild a pretty important trading partner for the Moyong family?”

“That’s right.”

“…They have done nothing wrong.”

“They are guilty.”

“Of what?”

Moyong Gun gave a chilling smile.

“Of catching my eye.”

“……!”

“This matter is unknown to the Martial Alliance, and even Yeon Ho-Jeong doesn’t know the details. Only you and I know the truth.”

“……”

“Keep it quiet.”

“If this matter becomes known to the Guizhou Merchant Guild’s main branch…”

“That will never happen.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, I’m sure. Yang Cheon will take care of the aftermath.”

Eon Ja-Bang’s eyes widened.

Moyong Gun’s pupils slowly turned red. They were the eyes of a devil, ready to do anything for his ambition.

“The Guizhou Merchant Guild, which has been so arrogant, will now be begging us. With this one move, we can accomplish the Alliance’s mission, gain a large sum of money, and if we’re lucky, even suppress the Guizhou Merchant Guild.”

“……”

“You should move right away.”

“Understood.”

Srrr.

Eon Ja-Bang disappeared.

Left alone, Moyong Gun burst into loud laughter for a moment.

“Hey, Ho-Jeong. What can I do? I have to make a living too. Even if you find out about this later, I hope you won’t be too angry. If things go wrong, I’ll frame you as an accomplice.”

* * *

Thud.

The door of the Mukryong Hall opened.

Unlike before, Yeon Ho-Jeong ascended the ninety-nine steps without hesitation. His steps were without a trace of doubt.

“You’ve come?”

Yang Cheon was the same as ever. Sitting on a large grand chair, his gaze looking down was full of an overwhelming dignity that made it hard to breathe.

Yeon Ho-Jeong respectfully clasped his hands.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you.”

Yang Cheon, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, smacked his lips.

“Before we talk, I heard there was an unpleasant incident with my subordinate?”

He spoke very directly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled faintly.

“Has the report already been made?”

“It has.”

“They must have been quite anxious.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.

“From the report, it doesn’t seem like you were completely innocent either.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong either. But they clearly did something wrong.”

“What did they do wrong that led to the killing of someone from the headquarters?”

“Someone from the headquarters? Wasn’t she that woman’s subordinate? She seemed to be very loyal to her master.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes twitched slightly.

Even though they were his subordinates, those subordinates needed other subordinates they could trust. All organizations in the world were structured that way.

But why? Hearing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words, he felt like he was an unacknowledged master.

“The approach was wrong from the start. I’m not yet a person of the Deputy Leader, and the Deputy Leader doesn’t know my abilities, so he doesn’t trust me, right?”

“……”

“Do you understand? To put it bluntly, we’re like strangers who don’t even need to acknowledge each other if we pass by on the street. If you’re going to treat such a person as a VIP, you should have at least said a word to treat them well.”

“……”

“It’s fine to think of that woman looking down on us as a dog barking, but Deputy Leader Yang shouldn’t have done that.”

He didn’t shout that he was innocent or that he was wronged. Instead, he rebuked with a stern voice.

Regardless of anything else, that terrifying audacity was unparalleled.

“So, the fault lies with me?”

“And you are also responsible for apologizing.”

“Haha.”

“But I won’t accept the apology. It’s just a mistake made by youngsters, and I don’t think Deputy Leader Yang’s capacity is small.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“But if it is small, what can I do? I’ll have to help you grow it somehow.”

Yang Cheon, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, suddenly burst into a fit of laughter.

“Hahahaha!”

The entire Mukryong Hall shook as if there was an earthquake.

It was a laugh that felt threatening enough. However, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a strong liking for him in Yang Cheon’s laughter.

His senses were accurate.

“Do you know? I’ve seen countless talents, but there’s never been anyone like you.”

“You wouldn’t have needed to meet someone like me. When you were traveling the world alone.”

Yang Cheon chuckled.

“What kind of modesty is that? It’s not like you. You have every right to be confident. Apart from your abilities, if there was another talent with your audacity and straightforwardness, I would welcome them with open arms.”

“That’s a shame. If I had known Deputy Leader Yang’s personality earlier, I wouldn’t have had to bother with the deal.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong took out a thick letter from his chest.

Yang Cheon’s eyes sparkled.

“Is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Are you confident?”

“If my companions hadn’t stopped me, I would have killed even the Deputy Leader’s direct subordinates.”

He meant that if he wasn’t confident, he wouldn’t have thought of going that far.

Yang Cheon smiled with satisfaction.

“Give it to me.”

Whoosh.

The letter that left Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand flew through the air and landed in Yang Cheon’s hand.

Telekinesis. And it was a technique that had reached its peak. It wasn’t Yeon Ho-Jeong who used it, but Yang Cheon who took the letter from his hand.

Flap.

The letter that floated in the air unfolded on its own.

It was a truly magical sight. It was the martial art of an absolute being who stood at the pinnacle of the martial world, one of the Seongcheon Thirteen Seats [a group of the thirteen most powerful martial artists].

But.

‘As I thought.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘The sense of incongruity I felt back then wasn’t a mistake.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong could clearly feel it. Yang Cheon’s energy flow was not normal.

It was a subtle gap that even a master stronger than the current Yeon Ho-Jeong wouldn’t have noticed. It was a gap that Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had aspired to a level equal to or greater than Yang Cheon, could recognize.

‘Does he not know it himself?’

It seemed that way. If he knew, he wouldn’t have the composure to sit there and smile at him.

‘A demonic influence? No. It’s not a qi deviation either. I don’t know why he became like that, but…’

Yang Cheon was reading the letter floating in the air at a rapid pace.

‘It will get faster and faster.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes shone brightly.

‘The loss of internal energy and the instability of his energy flow will accelerate day by day.’

A problem with the true energy itself that could not be solved by enlightenment.

Moreover, it had noticeably weakened compared to five days ago. The actual loss of internal energy was extremely subtle, but because a gap had appeared in his originally perfect power, the problem was particularly noticeable.

‘He’s still strong. It would be difficult for me to withstand five moves from Yang Cheon in my current state. But…’

He was no longer the Fighting King. [A title given to the strongest martial artist]

It would be difficult to use martial arts worthy of being called a king anymore. Yeon Ho-Jeong could instinctively sense that.

A single gap. That subtle gap had made the perfect imperfect.

With that imperfection, it would be difficult to keep the name of the Fighting King.

‘Is he poisoned? Or is it a problem with the martial art itself?’

He couldn’t figure it out at all.

It was hard to believe that a master of the Seongcheon Thirteen Seats level had fallen into such a state. At least at this moment, he was purely curious about Yang Cheon’s condition.

‘He’s still unaware of his condition. But as time passes, he will feel something is wrong. And he will realize it. That there’s a problem with him.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes darkened.

‘Yang Cheon…’

At that moment, Yang Cheon reached out and grabbed the letter.

“Amazing.”

Pure admiration appeared on Yang Cheon’s face.

“Did you make this all by yourself?”

“Yes.”

In fact, Jeagal Ayeon had helped him, but there was no need to say that. It was because he shouldn’t let Yang Cheon become interested in Jeagal Ayeon.

The object of his interest should be entirely himself. That way, he could minimize the potential danger to his companions.

“You’re truly an amazing fellow. Although I’m not very proficient in this area, even at a glance, it seems systematic and seamless.”

“I’m glad you see it that way. Then…”

“Wait a moment.”

Yang Cheon snapped his fingers.

Srrr.

An old man walked from the other side of the corridor. It was Baek Seo.

“I’m fine. You guys can review it in detail.”

“I obey the Deputy Leader’s command.”

Baek Seo, who had received the letter, went back into the corridor. There would be those who were known to be clever in the underworld swarming inside.

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“How long do I have to wait?”

“Until they’ve all seen it.”

“It’ll take a while.”

“That’s right. So, how about we talk a bit?”

Yang Cheon asked with a smile.

“The successor of the Guicheol Sword Sect [a famous sword sect], was it really not your doing?”