Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 227

Moyong Gun’s face hardened. At that moment, it was a name he never expected to hear from the mouth of Pae Yul, an elder of the Jeomchang Sect.

‘This guy, could it be?’

He was genuinely taken aback.

Mong-ui was a master of the Jeomchang Sect whom Moyong Gun had previously sent to Yeon Ho-Jeong along with assassins.

Of course, he was merely from Jeomchang, practically a disgraced figure. He had killed the sect leader and was a heinous traitor who had stolen the ‘Sun-Shooting Sword Technique,’ the greatest secret of Jeomchang, and fled. [Jeomchang Sect is a fictional martial arts sect, and the Sun-Shooting Sword Technique is a powerful, secret martial art.]

The problem was that before he came under Moyong Gun, he had worked in the shadows for the Myeong family.

The Myeong family had been declared enemies of the martial world, and all those involved were punished. Even now, the Myeong family’s warriors were swarming in the prison of the Martial Alliance. [The Martial Alliance is a governing body for martial arts sects.]

In other words, Moyong Gun had secretly taken a person who deserved punishment and made him his subordinate.

Moyong Gun wasn’t the only one who had done such a thing. However, this was something that should never be known, and if it became public, not only Moyong Gun but all those involved could be punished.

‘Is this how you’re going to play it?’

The reason he hadn’t worried about Mong-ui was because he had settled the matter through a deal with Yeon Ho-Jeong. Both Yeon Ho-Jeong and he would do anything to get the better of the other, but they never brought up past issues again.

In other words, that was their unspoken rule. The moment that rule was broken, it would turn into a real mud fight.

“Mong-ui, huh….”

“That’s right, Mong-ui.”

Moyong Gun looked into Pae Yul’s eyes.

They were blazing as if they would explode at any moment, but he was maintaining that brilliant flame with an icy cold reason.

‘Unexpected.’

Although not in detail, he had already investigated Pae Yul. It was natural since he was a member of this mission.

‘A typical battle maniac. I heard he was a hot-blooded, heroic type who hated using his head.’

In other words, he was similar to Zhang Fei Yide from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. [Zhang Fei Yide is a famous general known for his bravery and straightforwardness in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.] That was what he had been told in the reports.

‘Well, Yeon Ho-Jeong is not one to take just anyone under his wing.’

Moyong Gun nodded.

“I know.”

Pae Yul’s eyebrows twitched.

Moyong Gun said with an indifferent face.

“So, what about it?”

“Do you know that Mong-ui is a disciple who was excommunicated from the main sect?”

“I also know that.”

“That guy not only stole the main sect’s greatest secret but also killed the sect leader and ran away.”

“So, what is it you want to say?”

He was utterly shameless.

Pae Yul struggled to suppress the surging killing intent.

“The Nine Great Sects and the Six Great Families are prestigious groups that walk the path of righteousness. If you knew about it, you should have at least informed the main sect.” [The Nine Great Sects and Six Great Families are powerful and influential martial arts organizations.]

Moyong Gun smiled coldly.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t know he was excommunicated at the time. I only heard about the situation later.”

“What?”

“Even if I had known, what am I supposed to do when he came to me first?”

Pae Yul’s neck flushed red.

“Are you really going to play it like that?”

“I’m just stating the facts.”

“You made Mong-ui…!”

“And I’ll say one more thing.”

Crack!

The air momentarily heated up with Moyong Gun’s lightning-like gaze.

“I have no reason to be questioned by you. Besides, this is an official setting. My patience is quite deep, but don’t think I’ll keep letting a mere member of the working group climb over me.”

Stop bothering me with useless words and get to the point.

Pae Yul, who had been staring at Moyong Gun, spat out as if chewing his words.

“The inauguration of the head of the information department, Yeon, is in two days. The time for information theft is ten to fifteen days. The message is to get the Mukryong Unit well-heated within that time.” [Mukryong Unit is likely a special task force or military unit.]

“Is that all?”

“……”

“I understand. You may leave now.”

Pae Yul, who had risen from his seat, opened his mouth.

“That’s all for the official message. And he also asked me to deliver this message.”

“Speak.”

“I will deliver it as is. ‘You were the one who crossed the line first, so this is like a declaration of war. I saw your guts in turning a crisis into an opportunity, so now watch carefully what I will do.’”

“……”

“That’s the end of the message.”

Pae Yul left the room after saying that. He felt like he would really draw his sword if he stayed any longer.

Moyong Gun, left alone, looked out the window.

“Crossed the line?”

Moyong Gun’s lips twitched.

“Are you living too softly? You can’t say you’ve crossed the line with just this much.”

The act of annihilating the merchant group of the Guiju Merchant Association and erasing his own flaws from the world. [Guiju Merchant Association is a fictional merchant organization.]

If they were fools who talked about morality and ethics but didn’t know the ways of the world, they might make a fuss, saying that they should immediately rise up in arms.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong was not like that. He thought he would be angry, but he didn’t expect him to say he had crossed the line over such a trivial matter.

“Don’t wear a mask that doesn’t suit you, Ho-Jeong. You’re someone who can be a hundred times more ruthless than this.”

That was why Moyong Gun highly valued Yeon Ho-Jeong.

He had the flexibility to put aside morality and ethics for a moment if necessary.

That was why he was great and also dangerous. Because there were only a handful of people in the vast world who could make an immoral choice at a crucial moment.

“However….”

Moyong Gun smiled bitterly.

“You’re really quick to catch on. It seems like you saw through why I moved like this just by looking at the series of events.”

Turned a crisis into an opportunity?

This meant that he had guessed why he had come to Honam himself.

‘You wouldn’t know what I’m planning. But since you know why I did it, you will respond in some way.’

Moyong Gun’s face was momentarily stained with intense killing intent.

“……If you keep acting like this, I might really bury you here.”

He probably wouldn’t provoke him any further. He wouldn’t provoke him any further either.

However, since he had declared war and said he would also make a grand display, he must be planning to sharpen a sharp dagger.

‘You won’t be able to touch the Guiju Merchant Association.’

He knew that the merchant group of the Guiju Merchant Association was all dead.

However, Moyong Gun was certain. Yeon Ho-Jeong would not bring up that part and shake it.

The truth was that the commander had smoothed over the work, but in any case, the entire working group was caught up in it. For the sake of the Martial Alliance or the Yeon family, Yeon Ho-Jeong could never bring up that matter.

‘Then?’

Moyong Gun’s eyes sparkled.

“Mu Yeon.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Tell Un Jeong-Ju. Tell him that the information department of the Mukryong Unit might be digging into the main family. Tell him to prepare in advance.”

“Understood.”

* * *

A sip of strong liquor felt like his throat was burning.

‘Moyong Gun.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face, staring at the glass with cold eyes, was more ferocious than ever.

Ga Deuk-Sang and Tang Sang-A were nervously watching him. It was the first time they had seen Yeon Ho-Jeong with such a terrifying face.

He refilled the glass and emptied it again, his neck turning red. He wasn’t suppressing the alcohol with his inner energy.

‘I know you’re desperate, but this time you went too far.’

With this move, he not only erased his flaws but also intended to gain an advantage in the deal with the Guiju Merchant Association.

Too much speculation? Not at all. Moyong Gun was more than capable of doing that.

‘I won’t stop you from gaining power, but you can’t play like this.’

Is it something that has nothing to do with him?

Yes, in a way, he could just give him a lot of abuse and be done with it. It was like he was being used by Moyong Gun, but he hadn’t suffered any real damage.

He could just bury it like this. People wouldn’t know anyway.

However, the reason why Yeon Ho-Jeong was so angry was because he was convinced that what Moyong Gun had done this time was just the beginning.

The Guiju Merchant Association? It was just that much at first, but later he would drag in not only the Martial Alliance but even innocent civilians who had nothing to do with this fight.

No, it was as good as already dragging them in. The shadow warriors who were made into the execution team must have families, and those families were clearly being held hostage by the Moyong family.

It was not a fight for the fate of the entire Central Plains, but he had not only killed people for his own personal gain but also touched the common people. [Central Plains is a term often used to refer to the heartland of China and is a common setting in martial arts stories.]

Yeon Ho-Jeong could not forgive such a Moyong Gun.

‘Even beasts hunt, but they don’t trample on flowers. You’ve now turned over even the flowerbeds that have nothing to do with you.’

It was a good thing in a way.

After focusing on the Myeolsa Army, his tension towards Moyong Gun had somewhat loosened. [Myeolsa Army is likely a military unit or group.]

With this move, Moyong Gun had reminded him of how dangerous he could be.

‘I will show you the fight of the Black Emperor of the Dark Path, not the human Yeon Ho-Jeong.’

He would no longer be soft. Yeon Ho-Jeong vowed again and again.

At that moment, Ga Deuk-Sang filled his glass.

“Ahem! Come on, man, without any snacks.”

“……”

“Cheer up. It’s so scary, I can’t live. I keep feeling like I need to pee.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed softly.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you don’t have to be sorry.”

Ga Deuk-Sang smacked his lips.

“That bastard went a bit too far this time.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t help but chuckle. Ga Deuk-Sang was probably the only person in the world who would say that about Moyong Gun.

“But we can’t just catch him and kill him right now. What that bastard did deserves criticism, but unfortunately, we are on a mission. Even if we want to stab him in the back, it will be difficult for now.”

Don’t forget your duty.

Ga Deuk-Sang’s words contained that meaning. And Yeon Ho-Jeong also agreed with that.

“I’m sorry. I made you worry for no reason.”

“It’s okay. To be honest, when I first heard about it, I thought my head was going to explode. You took all the anger I was going to feel, so I’m actually grateful.”

A bitter look appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

“It’s my fault. I knew that guy would play tricks, but I thought that since we were in a shared fate this time, he wouldn’t cross the line.”

“You wanted to believe he wouldn’t cross the line.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ga Deuk-Sang sighed.

“It’s unfortunate, but what can we do? I don’t want to say this, but even if we had known in advance, it would have been difficult to stop it.”

That was true. It was not something that they could handle in the first place.

“All we can do is break the legs of that crazy bastard so he can’t do that kind of thing again.”

“That’s right.”

“Cheer up. The mission isn’t over yet. Let’s be more vigilant since it’s the last one.”

“Hu Gae is right.”

It was then.

“Uwaaa! We finally arrived!”

It was a familiar voice.

Pshhh.

A strong scent of alcohol wafted from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body for a moment. He had completely evaporated the alcohol with the Azure Dragon Qi. [Azure Dragon Qi is likely a form of internal energy or martial art technique.]

The group left the room and headed to the yard.

There, two men and women were entering through the gate. One was Jeagal Ayeon, and the other was a sturdy young man with his face covered by a bamboo hat.

Swoosh.

The young man soon revealed his face.

A somewhat haggard face. His expression was full of confusion.

“Gang Ryang.”

“……I greet you, benefactor.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed to the guest hall with his chin.

“Inside.”