Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 25

“Ugh, it’s cold. Why did it get so chilly all of a sudden? I’ll freeze to death if I keep wandering around in just this rag.”

His body was shivering, but his expression was bright.

“We’re finally here!”

Ga Deuk-Sang gazed at the massive manor. More precisely, he was scanning for signs of life within.

‘There are a lot of them, as expected.’

He could sense the presence of countless people. What was surprising was that most of them were experts worthy of being called first-rate.

Ga Deuk-Sang rubbed his hands together with an excited look.

‘So these are the talents who will carry on the family name? They even sent out top-notch guards.’

The energy of the confident young masters was impressive, but the subtle yet sharp energy of the guards was even more so. Well, it was only natural to assign experts when sending heirs to the unpredictable martial world.

“Alright, then, shall we go in and see the faces of the young masters and ladies…”

It was then.

“Who are you?”

“Gasp!”

Ga Deuk-Sang quickly straightened his posture and turned around.

A middle-aged swordsman stood there. Unlike his stern expression, as if carved from stone, his sharp aura was striking.

Ga Deuk-Sang cleared his throat.

‘I made that mistake again.’

If he couldn’t sense a swordsman with such an aura approaching, he couldn’t call himself a martial artist. Once he focused, he completely forgot his surroundings.

“You’re concealing a great inner force. You don’t seem like a simple beggar… Are you from the Beggars’ Union?”

“Yes, Great Swordsman Gwangpung.”

Shin Mo’s eyes widened.

“You know me?”

“Haha, a beggar who lives by begging must at least be quick-witted.”

The Beggars’ Union’s martial arts were comparable to the Nine Great Sects [major martial arts schools]. However, surprisingly, their strength wasn’t in martial arts.

It was information. The Beggars’ Union’s intelligence network was the best in the orthodox martial world. Naturally, to be part of the Beggars’ Union, one had to be quick-witted and intelligent.

Shin Mo looked at Ga Deuk-Sang’s waist.

‘Eight knots?’

Eight knots on the belt.

Surprise flickered across Shin Mo’s face.

“A successor?”

Ga Deuk-Sang scratched his head awkwardly. Flakes of white dandruff fell like rain.

“I’m just a good-for-nothing who gets beaten by my master even at this age.”

He described himself humorously, but no one in the world could ignore a successor of the Beggars’ Union.

The Beggars’ Union was a group considered equal to the Nine Great Sects and the Seven Great Families. As the single largest sect in terms of members, they were also known as the Ten Thousand Beggars’ Union.

The king of all beggars scattered throughout the Central Plains. The top figure in the orthodox information network.

Ga Deuk-Sang was the successor of such a person.

Shin Mo clasped his hands in respect.

“I apologize for my rudeness. I didn’t realize you were the successor of the Beggars’ Union.”

“Oh, please don’t apologize like that! You’re being too polite to a lowly beggar like me.”

A martial arts giant who could openly call himself lowly.

That very attitude made him seem even more impressive. Although they had just met, Shin Mo was certain that Ga Deuk-Sang was not someone to be taken lightly.

“But what brings you here so early in the morning…?”

“Ah! Ahahaha! I just happened to be in the area on some business, and I heard that the young masters of the Seven Great Families were having a meeting? I was just wondering if I could get a free meal or something.”

Shin Mo’s eyes gleamed.

There was no way a successor of the Beggars’ Union would have just found out about the Seven Great Families’ meeting. He must have come to investigate something.

“I’m sorry. I’m a warrior of the Yeon family, so I don’t have the authority to let you in.”

“Oh, it’s alright! A beggar shouldn’t cause trouble for the guests of a feast!”

Shin Mo nodded.

“Then, I’ll go in first.”

“Yes, please go ahead… Huh?”

Ga Deuk-Sang tilted his head.

“But what’s that bundle you’re carrying?”

“Ah, this is…”

Shin Mo cleared his throat.

“It’s a task from the eldest young master of the main family.”

“A task? What kind of task is so heavy…”

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Yes? Ah, yes! Please go in!”

Shin Mo entered the manor.

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes shone sharply.

“The eldest young master, Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

The one who burned the arsonist alive at Choseong Tower. The eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family, once rumored to be a dog under the tiger.

He knew that Shin Mo was the leader of Changungdae [a special guard unit] and that he had played a big role at Choseong Tower. But he didn’t ask him about Yeon Ho-Jeong, even though they had met by chance. He didn’t think he would tell him anyway.

‘Well, these things are best when you meet them in person and poke around a bit.’

Ah, I’m excited.

Ga Deuk-Sang banged loudly on the closed gate.

“Hey there! Is there a feast going on? It smells amazing from the morning! If there’s any leftovers, can I have some too!”

* * *

“Hoo!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, drenched in sweat, threw the iron staff down carelessly.

He had woken up early in the morning and had been swinging the iron staff non-stop until the end of the Jin hour [around 9-11 AM].

‘The Whirlwind Staff is good enough for now. I can move on to the spear.’

His body wasn’t as strong as he had hoped, but he had mastered the basics of spear techniques. He had been eyeing spear techniques while practicing staff techniques, but wielding an actual spear with a blade was a different matter.

It was progressing much faster than he had expected. As he mastered the Black Tortoise [one of the Four Divine Beasts], the subtlety of his martial arts came alive, and the time it took to master them was twice as fast.

‘Spear… I guess I shouldn’t skip it.’

His real weapon was a massive axe weighing over several tens of pounds.

To wield that axe like an extension of his limbs, he had to master spear techniques to the level of a master. As the Black Tortoise energy deepened day by day, he would soon master spear techniques as well.

‘Weapons are important, but awakening all four divine energies is also important. If possible, starting with the White Tiger [another of the Four Divine Beasts].’

If the Black Tortoise of the Four Divine Arts was specialized in perfect defense, the White Tiger was specialized in relentless offense. There was no martial art better than the White Tiger for combat and advancement.

Thinking about the Four Divine Arts, he suddenly thought about the Four Directional Martial Emperor.

‘Perfect offense, defense, and evasion, and he wields a golden dragon?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong stroked his chin with a serious expression.

‘There are many martial arts that have raised offense, defense, and evasion to a high level. But the golden dragon part is concerning.’

What if the Four Directional Martial Emperor was truly a master of the Four Divine Arts?

‘He even reached for the Yellow Dragon Energy [the ultimate form of the Four Divine Arts].’

The Yellow Dragon Energy was the ultimate of the Four Divine Arts.

He believed that there was no absolute invincibility in the world, but he thought that the Yellow Dragon Energy was a martial art that was as close to absolute invincibility as possible. It was an esoteric art with such a high level of difficulty that even Yeon Ho-Jeong during his time as the Black Demon Emperor had not been able to enter.

‘If it’s a martial art that can draw out the Yellow Dragon Energy, I’m confident that I won’t lose to anyone. At least in this life…’

This time, he would never leave behind the same regrets as before.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tried to forget about the Four Directional Martial Emperor. He had been pestering Jeagal Ayeon about the possibility that he was a successor of the Four Divine Arts, but now was not the time to look into the past of someone he didn’t even know.

After finishing his cold water bath, Yeon Ho-Jeong suddenly sensed a presence in the room.

“Is that you, Ji-Pyeong?”

“Yes, brother.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong smiled and greeted Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Did you just finish washing up?”

“Yes.”

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let’s go together.”

“Let’s.”

The Yeon brothers left the room and headed to the dining hall.

The brothers were silent on their way to the dining hall. It was understandable for Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was not talkative, but it was unexpected considering Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s personality.

Yeon Ho-Jeong glanced at Yeon Ji-Pyeong.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s expression was bright. But his eyes were sharply scanning his surroundings.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Yes?”

“I’m asking what you’re thinking about.”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been staring at Yeon Ji-Pyeong, sighed.

“You don’t have to be so worried about your surroundings.”

“Yes?”

“I’m saying you don’t have to be nervous because of what happened yesterday.”

“Ah…”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong scratched his head.

“I was just being cautious.”

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

“No, brother. What happened yesterday was because of the Tang family’s eldest son. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s expression was quite serious. It didn’t sound like he was just saying it to be nice, but that he genuinely thought so.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“But the fight with the third young master of the Myeong family…”

“Haha, I’m not going to think about that.”

“Huh?”

Not going to think about it? What does that mean?

Yeon Ji-Pyeong smacked his lips.

“Coming here, I realized something. I was just a frog in a well. The world is much more interesting and dangerous than I thought.”

That’s true.

“But you were different, brother. No matter how much I think about it, it didn’t fit with the main family’s rules, but you had strong confidence and a clear conviction.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes became strange.

He confidently said that it didn’t fit with the Yeon family’s rules. That meant he understood the family’s teachings well.

“I don’t think I’m as smart as you, brother. But I know one thing. You would never do anything that would harm the main family.”

“…”

“I’ll think about whether your way of handling things is right or wrong later. But I believe in you, and you’re not wavering either. That’s what’s important.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong smiled.

A strength that didn’t seem like the smile of a fifteen-year-old boy was evident.

“But I didn’t know your martial arts were so strong, brother. I think I’ll have to learn from you from now on?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

No, it wasn’t. Rather, he felt like he should learn from Yeon Ji-Pyeong.

His younger brother, who had lived his whole life according to the family’s teachings. But even though his younger brother was flustered by his brother’s unconventional behavior, he did not abandon his faith in him.

He had thought enough on the way here, and now he would trust his brother and follow him.

‘Did this guy have this side to him?’

He’s strong.

Perhaps his younger brother was born with a strong nature. It was just that he hadn’t needed to show it until now.

“But why are you looking around so much?”

“You said it yourself, brother. That even in temples, murderers are born, and in back alleys, saints are born.”

“Hmm.”

“Who knows? Maybe someone will try to harm you because of what happened yesterday.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Even if someone tries to harm me, do you think you can stop them with your skills?”

“Why are you like this? I’m not as good as you, brother, but I’m still pretty good.”

Considering his age, he wasn’t just good, he was amazing.

Yeon Ho-Jeong ruffled Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s hair.

“Ugh!”

“Don’t waste your energy and relax. If anything happens, I’ll stop it.”

“You’re messing up my hair!”

“That’s why I’m doing it, you idiot.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s tone changed subtly.

When he returned to the past and was in the family, his tone was exactly like this. But after he came out into the world, his attitude towards his younger brother was more like a father than a brother.

It was because it was dangerous, as Yeon Ji-Pyeong had said. To protect his younger brother, he had naturally adopted the demeanor of the forty-six-year-old Black Demon Emperor.

But Yeon Ji-Pyeong was not weak. Seeing that, Yeon Ho-Jeong was able to treat Yeon Ji-Pyeong as he had in the family.

“By the way, what’s for breakfast today?”

“I don’t know either? But it smells like Dongpo pork [braised pork belly].”

“A meat feast from the morning, they must be rolling in money.”

As the Yeon brothers were chatting and arrived at the dining hall, it happened.

“Burp! Wow, am I getting old? I’m already full from just eating this much!”

A beggar came bursting out of the dining hall, patting his stomach.

Surprisingly, a beggar had entered, but the eyes of the young masters showed no contempt. There was a hint of displeasure, though.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘A beggar? Is he from the Beggars’ Union? The knots are… eight?’

He looked at the beggar’s face. The beggar also looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong saw a vision of the past.

A hero who never stopped his hearty laughter while constantly stroking his dirty, half-white beard. The one who didn’t spread the true identity of the Black Demon Emperor, even though he knew it.

The chief of the Beggars’ Union who greatly helped push back the forces of the Demonic Cult, and one of the few heroes who treated him, the king of the underworld, the same as the leaders of the orthodox martial world.

Yeon Ho-Jeong superimposed his past memories onto the beggar’s face.

What if the dirty, black beard was a little longer, and half of it was white?

What if the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth were deeper, and his disheveled hair was tied up tightly?

What if the knots increased from eight to nine, and he had a stylish short staff with embedded jade at his waist?

“Ga Deuk-Sang, the Dragon Head Chief?!”