Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 236

Paah!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s movement as he sped along the main road was truly like that of a bird.

His movements were incredibly light, and despite holding a spear in his hand, he seemed as free as if he were carrying nothing at all.

‘Impressive.’

The Water Dragon, following behind him, was inwardly amazed by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s agility.

‘I heard he’s not even reached the age of thirty yet… How can his martial arts be so outstanding?’

Just by looking at the movements of his feet as he performed his lightness technique, it wasn’t hard to guess his level.

He had heard about it, but it seemed he had truly broken through the wall of martial arts at such a young age.

‘So this is what they call a genius.’

The Water Dragon felt a bitter taste in his mouth for no reason.

‘They say there are many monsters in the world.’

Martial arts, strategy, you name it.

He was truly a master of both literary and martial arts. Even at just over twenty years old, he was already at this level, so in ten years, he might truly reach a level where he could discuss the fate of the world.

‘How boring.’

He was even said to be higher in rank than the Twelve Earthly Branches within the organization.

The entire Twelve Earthly Branches claimed to be Yang Cheon’s loyal followers, and they were satisfied with that. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“We will be staying at the Cheonseong Inn about three hundred paces ahead. You all have worked hard running. We will depart early the next morning, so please refrain from drinking if possible.”

A Flower Garden member, following behind, snickered for no reason.

“Can’t we even drink? I can’t sleep well if I don’t drink.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s reply was the highlight.

“Once this mission is over, you should get a check-up from a doctor. Your liver must be completely rotten by now.”

The Flower Garden member’s face turned red.

“You… !”

At that moment, the Illusionist stepped forward.

“Flower Garden.”

“…”

“He is the Head of the Intelligence Department. Show some respect.”

The Flower Garden member snorted.

“Why is the great Illusionist being so submissive? Why? Did that guy buy you some good liquor or something?”

“Flower Garden!”

“Shut up! Don’t interfere with whatever I say!”

The Mad Dog, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth.

“You can say whatever you want, but if you plan on whining about the consequences, you’d better shut your mouth now.”

The Flower Garden member’s face twisted horribly.

They say dogs and monkeys don’t get along? In reality, the two of them hated each other terribly.

“Do you want to die?”

“Do you have the skills to kill me?”

“You son of a bitch!”

Thud!

A powerful wave of internal energy shook the entire main road.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke calmly.

“We are not going on a pleasure trip.”

“…”

“If you cause any more unnecessary disturbances, I will execute you on the spot, no questions asked.”

He turned his head.

His chilling gaze was directed at the Flower Garden member.

“You, in particular, should be more careful. I’ll tell you in advance, the mission won’t be affected if you’re gone.”

The Flower Garden member’s face turned bright red.

She felt like her eyes were about to pop out of her head with anger, but she didn’t dare open her mouth. She knew that this crazy bastard might actually kill her.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had quickly resolved the situation, began running at the front again.

The Mad Dog glanced at the Illusionist.

‘He’s quite a ruthless fellow, isn’t he?’

The Illusionist only nodded slightly, and there was no reply.

The Mad Dog shrugged his shoulders and quietly followed behind.

Thus, the group arrived at the Cheonseong Inn.

Bang!

Guided by the waiter, the Flower Garden member immediately went to her room.

The Mad Dog clicked his tongue.

“That woman, she won’t live long if she keeps living like that.”

The Azure Fox said.

“This is the Head of the Intelligence Department’s message. Rest in your rooms today. We will gather at the entrance of the inn by the middle of the Yin hour [around 3-5 AM] tomorrow morning.”

“Alright.”

“You should think of it as the mission has already begun. Don’t cause any unnecessary trouble and stay quiet.”

There was no specific ranking within the Twelve Earthly Branches, but usually, the four people of Zi, Chou, Yin, and Mao [the first four of the twelve earthly branches, often associated with leadership] often took the lead when a mission was assigned.

That was why the Twelve Earthly Branches, who were full of pride and individuality, listened silently to the Azure Fox’s words.

The Illusionist said.

“I’ll talk to the Flower Garden separately. She seems the most unstable.”

“Do that.”

“By the way, where is the Head of the Intelligence Department?”

“He went up to the top floor. It seems he’ll be up all night.”

“I understand. Let’s disperse now.”

Thus, the five members of the Twelve Earthly Branches went to their respective rooms.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had gone up to the top floor alone, ordered a simple meal and a cup of tea.

‘Hmm.’

While leisurely eating, Yeon Ho-Jeong suddenly sensed a subtle presence approaching.

‘They’ve come.’

Shortly after, he heard a voice in his ear.

[It’s the Beggars’ Union.]

[Tomorrow, at the beginning of the You hour [around 5-7 PM], you will meet with the Moyong Clan Head. Inform Hu Gae of this.]

[Understood. And there was a message from Hu Gae.]

[Speak.]

[He asked if you needed reinforcements.]

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

‘Reinforcements, huh?’

If everything went according to plan, reinforcements wouldn’t be necessary.

However, one could never be sure of anything in this world. In the first place, he didn’t expect Yang Cheon to collapse like this, and before that, he didn’t expect Heuk Yang to approach him.

There was no harm in being prepared.

[I authorize the request for reinforcements. The unit to request is the Myeolsa Army.]

[Understood.]

With that, the presence of the Beggars’ Union disappeared.

The Beggars’ Union was also being quite cautious. Yeon Ho-Jeong had also been extremely sensitive to his surroundings, so he knew they were approaching, otherwise, he would have missed them.

It was rare to find someone who could use stealth techniques to this extent.

‘Reinforcements, huh?’

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

‘I wonder how they are doing.’

The Myeolsa Army.

Although they hadn’t been together for very long, they had crossed countless life-and-death situations together.

Before the life-and-death situations, he had also worked hard to refine the Myeolsa Army. If he had approached them recklessly in the way of the Black Path, there would have been resistance, so he had patiently and sincerely taught them one by one.

And then came the actual battles.

The Myeolsa Army, who had fought in countless battles, had surprisingly not lost a single member so far. There had been many close calls, but thankfully, they had all overcome them.

‘I wonder if they have been training hard.’

In fact, it hadn’t been that long since they had left the organization.

But perhaps because life here had been so eventful? The two months or so felt almost like two years.

‘Muk Bi must have trained them well.’

Although he seemed shy on the outside, Muk Bi was someone who showed more strength than anyone else when needed.

That was the case before he returned to the past, and it was the same after he returned.

Moreover, the current Muk Bi had a great weapon that he didn’t have when he was called the Divine Bow in the past.

That was popularity.

‘He must have been very busy, but my father must have helped Muk Bi whenever he had time. He must be a completely different master by now.’

His heart was pounding.

How much had Muk Bi, Ok Cheong, Peng Man-Ho, and the entire Myeolsa Army improved?

‘If you haven’t improved much, you’re going straight to hell training as soon as we get back, you bastards.’

Just as Yeon Ho-Jeong was smiling contentedly without realizing it.

“Hmph!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his head.

The Flower Garden member was walking towards him from not far away.

“I thought you were a cold-blooded person, but you can make that kind of expression?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I’m also a person with flesh and blood.”

The Flower Garden member frowned. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s composure didn’t sit well with her.

Yeon Ho-Jeong sipped his tea.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I came to have a drink.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong picked up a piece of meat with a nonchalant expression and said.

“Do you want to die that badly?”

The Flower Garden member grumbled.

“That’s why I came to get permission.”

“…”

“It’s not a lie. I can’t sleep if I don’t drink.”

“At your level, do you really need to sleep? It’s not like you can’t perform at your best if you skip a day.”

“Are you serious?”

“…”

“Let me be clear. I hate you. Just the fact that you, who I hate, are higher in rank than me, a member of the Twelve Earthly Branches, makes me furious.”

“I can tell that just by looking at your face.”

“But a mission is a mission. I need to be in the best physical condition, right? Who knows what might happen there.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I guess that makes sense in its own way.”

The Flower Garden member took her hands off her back. She was already holding a bottle of liquor in her hand.

“Can I sit across from you?”

“Suit yourself.”

The Flower Garden member quickly sat down, opened the bottle, and started drinking.

She drank it down well. As if it wasn’t a lie, her face was already full of ease after gulping down a few mouthfuls of liquor.

Yeon Ho-Jeong focused on eating his meal without even looking at her. He had skipped lunch, so he was very hungry.

“Hmm.”

The Flower Garden member watched Yeon Ho-Jeong with her arms crossed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked calmly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just curious.”

“About what?”

“How did you become such a monster at that age?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at the Flower Garden member.

The Flower Garden member’s face was flushed. She had deliberately dispersed her internal energy to prevent her energy from becoming scattered.

“There are too many geniuses in the world to call me a monster.”

“That’s a really annoying thing to say.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“If you’ve had enough to drink, go back now.”

“I’m going to finish this whole thing.”

“It wasn’t just a few drinks, was it?”

“I use a bowl instead of a cup. I don’t lie.”

The Flower Garden member’s gaze turned sly.

“Unlike you.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s lips curled up.

“Do you still doubt me?”

“I don’t have any evidence. But I’m a very twisted person. Until the truth is revealed, I’ll keep doubting anyone I’ve doubted once.”

“You have a rather tiring personality.”

“I hear that a lot. Especially from the Mad Dog, that bastard always says it.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t answer and continued to eat.

The Flower Garden member, who had been watching him quietly, smiled.

“Have a sip.”

“…?”

“Don’t you want a drink with that greasy food?”

“I don’t know?”

“If you’re worried about losing face in front of the others, you don’t have to. I’m pretty good at keeping my mouth shut.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been looking at the Flower Garden member with an unreadable expression, chuckled.

“I’ll believe that.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong snatched the bottle from the Flower Garden member’s hand and drank it down.

The Flower Garden member frowned.

“Ugh, it’s strong.”

“There’s half left, what are you going to do if you drink it all?”

“The liquor is all gone, so go back to sleep. That’s enough.”

“Tch.”

The Flower Garden member grumbled and stood up.

“We’re free from tomorrow, right? After the mission is over.”

“Yes. Once the mission is complete, you can all go your separate ways. My mission ends there.”

“Good. No take-backs.”

“Go.”

“Hmph!”

The Flower Garden member, who was turning to head towards the stairs, suddenly stopped as if she had remembered something.

“Do you know what, Head of the Intelligence Department?”

“…”

“Unlike the other members of the Twelve Earthly Branches, I’m a true member of the Black Path [a term for a morally ambiguous or evil martial arts sect].”

“So?”

“That means I have a generous side. Unlike those idiots who forget favors but always repay grudges, I know how to repay favors too.”

“What are you trying to say?”

The Flower Garden member smiled brightly.

“I’ll repay you for letting me drink later.”

“That won’t happen.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Go.”

The Flower Garden member smiled and turned her head.

Her face, which was turned away, was twisted like a demon.

‘You bastard. You’re a dead man now.’

With that, the Flower Garden member went down the stairs.

Yeon Ho-Jeong rested his chin on his hand.

“…That damn woman is begging to be killed.”

Fss fss fss.

Black smoke rose from the back of his hand.

It was poison.