Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 222

The group that had returned to the manor gathered together.

“Wow, it actually worked.”

Ga Deuk-Sang clicked his tongue.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it would be this easy to gain Yang Cheon’s trust.”

Dang Sang-A shook her head with a serious expression.

“It wasn’t easy. It just felt easy.”

She had been reminded of the difficulty of this mission during her conversation with Yeon Ho-Jeong. Although the series of events had flowed smoothly, when she thought about it calmly, it was all thanks to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s negotiation with Yang Cheon.

“Well, that’s true. Young Master Yeon has worked hard.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“No. Hu Gae is also right. It was easier than I thought. Especially considering the opponent is Yang Cheon.”

And one more thing.

‘Yang Cheon’s current state is quite unstable.’

It was evident just by reading Yang Cheon’s energy.

The higher the level of internal energy, the more strongly the energy permeates the mind and body. Mind, energy, and body are aligned with the unification of essence, energy, and spirit. If the energy is disrupted, the harmony of mind and body is bound to be broken.

Of course, it’s rare for one’s accumulated skills or mental state to be shaken simply because of a disruption in true energy.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong was certain that Yang Cheon was one of those rare cases.

‘Even if his true energy is unstable, he wouldn’t be so sloppy with telekinesis.’

Telekinesis itself is a skill that only a master can demonstrate. Yang Cheon deserved respect just for using such a technique as naturally as breathing.

However, the flow of internal energy he used in the process of using telekinesis was too erratic. It was strange that he didn’t realize his internal energy control was a mess.

‘Was he like this in the past? I don’t remember.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong could grasp Yang Cheon’s condition because he had already broken through a level higher than Yang Cheon’s.

However, when he killed Yang Cheon in the past, he had not reached that level. That’s why he didn’t know what Yang Cheon’s condition was like at the time.

Well, he didn’t have the time or the leisure to analyze such things back then.

“So, what do we do now?”

Paeyul frowned.

“We’re supposed to infiltrate by achieving that ‘feat,’ but is that plan that Moyong Clan Leader set up really reliable?”

Jeagal Ayeon smacked her lips.

“I think it’s not bad. We didn’t have much time, and I think it was the best we could do under the circumstances.”

“The merchant group of the Guiju Trading Company staying in Hunan’s Mount Heng is to be annihilated… That merchant group, Moyong Gun, replaced them with other people, right?”

“Of course, they did.”

Jeagal Ayeon scratched her head.

“It seems the Moyong family has been doing business with the Guiju Trading Company. Well, it’s not strange since they’re in adjacent areas, and Moyong Clan Leader wouldn’t want to pour cold water on this mission, so we have no choice but to trust it. Right?”

Jeagal Ayeon asked, looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“We have to trust it. And frankly, what can we do even if we’re suspicious?”

“True.”

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes narrowed like threads.

“Do you really think so?”

“Huh?”

“Let’s be frank. Among us, or rather, in the Murim Alliance [martial arts world alliance], the person who knows Moyong Gun best is you.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“That’s a misunderstanding. I think Military Advisor Jeagal knows him much better.”

“I don’t think so. If Military Advisor Jeagal is a hawk soaring in the sky, you and Moyong Gun are tigers and lions. The person who knows a rival best is another rival.”

“Let’s say that’s true. But what’s the problem with that?”

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes sparkled.

“It’s a bit late to say this now… but can we really trust this information manipulation?”

“Hmm.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong stroked his chin.

“The stage is reliable.”

“What does that mean?”

“No matter what he’s plotting behind the scenes, I’m confident that the play will end properly.”

The group’s eyes sharpened. That meant that Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t completely trust the plan that Moyong Gun had set up either.

Dang Sang-A cautiously asked.

“Then, shouldn’t we set up some countermeasures?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Even if we try to set up countermeasures, we have no way of knowing what he’s plotting right now.”

Paeyul clicked his tongue.

“No matter what scheme Moyong Clan Leader has, shouldn’t we just do our job? If we see anything suspicious, we can just smash it then.”

That was a very Paeyul-like thing to say.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and took his words.

“Senior’s words are correct. Now that we don’t know what Moyong Gun’s trick is, we just need to do what we have to do. Besides, there’s no proof that he’s even playing a trick.”

Paeyul raised his chin as if to say, ‘See?’

“Let’s summarize.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face became serious.

“From now on, we will go to attack the Guiju Trading Company’s merchant group. That merchant group is a fake that was replaced by Moyong Gun, who is in charge of this mission, and the real merchant group has secretly hidden and is about to leave the area.”

Everyone nodded.

Yeon Ho-Jeong continued.

“The merchant group’s trade route is the Murim Alliance of the White Path, and the goods they are transporting are treasures worth a thousand gold. We will deal with the merchant group and take all the transported goods.”

“I have one question.”

Paeyul asked.

“What exactly are those transported goods? How great are they that just seizing them would be a great feat?”

“The important thing is the act of cutting off support to the Murim Alliance itself, not the value of the goods.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“However, Senior’s question is also valid. The goods they are transporting are said to be worth the equivalent of a five-year budget of a great sect of the Nine Great Sects [powerful martial arts sects] in terms of the monetary value north of the Yangtze River.”

“Gasp!”

Not only Paeyul but also Dang Sang-A and Jeagal Ayeon were surprised.

A five-year budget of a great sect of the Nine Great Sects was truly an astronomical amount.

The great sects that have a great reputation in the Murim all have branches in various parts of the Central Plains. The annual budget of just one branch exceeds the annual budget of a decent small to medium-sized sect.

The five-year budget of a great sect that has countless such branches was an amount that even the Murim Alliance, a huge coalition, could not ignore.

“That much? Even if it’s for a mission, is this really okay?”

Even Paeyul, a battle maniac, couldn’t help but hesitate.

Ga Deuk-Sang said.

“It’s okay. Moyong Gun has agreed to connect the Guiju Trading Company with the Murim Alliance in exchange for investing this fund.”

“What does that mean? Wasn’t the merchant group heading to the Murim Alliance in the first place?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“The Guiju Trading Company was planning to go to Sichuan Province, not the Murim Alliance. The fact that they were heading to the Murim Alliance was manipulated information.”

Ga Deuk-Sang smiled triumphantly.

“It was our group that manipulated that information.”

Jeagal Ayeon said, as if dumbfounded.

“And Moyong Clan Leader set up the plan based on that information?”

“Well, they started first, but what does it matter who did it first?”

“Wow!”

The three men and women clicked their tongues. A plan had been laid out without them knowing.

Dang Sang-A asked.

“The Guiju Trading Company is not ordinary either. Even though the Murim Alliance is huge, they’re investing that much money just for the purpose of establishing a trade relationship with the Alliance…?”

“That’s underestimating the influence of the Murim Alliance too much. The Murim Alliance is the core of the Central Plains Murim. At least, that’s how it is so far. The Guiju Trading Company wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity either.”

“I, is that so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said.

“That’s the general situation. Actually, I thought it might be better not to reveal these details, but I decided that everyone should know at least how things are going.”

Everyone nodded.

On the outside, they were calm, but inside, they were greatly surprised.

‘It was a huge mission.’

A fact that they had overlooked because things were progressing quite easily.

The opponent was Yang Cheon, and at the same time, the entire Black Path Murim [underworld martial arts world]. To exaggerate a bit, this one mission could change the landscape of the entire Murim world.

That was evident from the amount of money that the Guiju Trading Company had put out. To easily cough up the five-year budget of a great sect, it made them realize how important this mission was.

“Now, I will issue the mission.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Ga Deuk-Sang.

“Hu Gae will play the role of a bridge in this operation. You will stay here at the manor and analyze the surrounding information from moment to moment and inform us and the commander.”

“Understood.”

“We have put out a warning that no one can come here under the pretext that there should be no connection with the Mukryong Clan, but you never know. You must not let your guard down at any moment.”

“I understand.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes turned to Jeagal Ayeon.

Jeagal Ayeon blinked.

“Do you have something else for me to do?”

“This.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong took out a small letter from his pocket.

“It’s a mountain not far from here. I’ve already told him, so you just need to bring him here secretly.”

“Huh? Who is it?”

“The successor of the Guicheol Sword Sect.”

“Eek?!”

The group looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with dumbfounded eyes.

“What? Was that monkey’s words true, then?”

“Yeah.”

“Why, why?!”

“I’ll explain the details later. What’s clear is that we shouldn’t let him know that we belong to the Murim Alliance yet.”

“…I understand, but why me?”

“You know the basics of illusion arrays, right?”

“Of course. What do you think my family is?”

“He’s someone that the Black Path’s informants are looking for with their eyes wide open. In the meantime, he’s full of vigor and blinded by revenge, and he doesn’t have the experience to come here alone.”

Jeagal Ayeon nodded heavily.

“I understand what you mean. Even if it’s a bit late, you want me to bring him here without getting caught by the Black Path’s informants, right?”

“Exactly.”

“Okay, you have to explain it to me later.”

“Of course.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Paeyul and Dang Sang-A.

Paeyul spoke first.

“Sorry, but my only specialty is swordsmanship.”

He was preempting in case he was given a soft mission like Ga Deuk-Sang and Jeagal Ayeon.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“I know. I never intended to exclude Senior from the operation to rob the merchant group in the first place.”

“Hmph, that’s a relief.”

“However, what I must tell you is that you must not reveal the Wudang martial arts [a famous martial arts school] during the battle. Please use extremely practical martial arts.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said to Dang Sang-A.

“You too. You must never use the Tang family’s hidden techniques [a family known for hidden weapons and techniques]. If even the slightest trace is seen, you will surely be suspected.”

“Don’t worry.”

Paeyul asked.

“No, but battle? You said you replaced the people? Even though you’ve already set up the plan, does that mean there’s a real fight?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“It’s possible.”

Paeyul’s eyes flashed.

“You were worried that Moyong Gun might be up to something.”

“Rather than a trick… anyway, that’s it. It’s in case of an emergency, so please keep this in mind.”

“Understood.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong rose from his seat.

“You’ve all worked hard so far. With this mission as the last, we will enter the depths of the Mukryong Clan, extract all the information we want, and return.”

“…”

“Since each of you has a role to play, it will be difficult to expect outside help. Let’s stay alert.”

A determined light flickered in everyone’s eyes.

Slowly folding his sleeves, Yeon Ho-Jeong said.

“Now, let’s shake the board.”