Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 260

The silence between father and daughter stretched on, longer than either had anticipated.

The tea, once warm and fragrant, had grown cold. The delicate aroma that had filled the room was now a faint memory.

How much time had passed?

“You’re quite late,” Tang Gwan finally said, his voice carrying its usual stubborn edge.

“It’s been several days since you returned, and yet you found it so bothersome to come greet your father?”

Tang Sang-Ah replied calmly, “I belong to the Tangma Army [a specialized military unit of the Tang family]. I had to return to my duties and catch up on the schedule I’d been putting off.”

“You are a member of the Tang family before you are a soldier of the Tangma Army.”

“You were going to send me to Moyong Gun, abandoning the Tang name.”

“…”

“I had already half given up the Tang surname. Surely, I wasn’t mistaken, was I?”

Tang Gwan’s cheek twitched.

“So, have you decided to marry Moyong Gun?”

“Not yet.”

Bang!

The table shook, and the teacup overturned, the sound of tea dripping onto the floor creating an unsettling rhythm.

“I have overlooked your recklessness because you are my child and a member of the Tang family. But if you truly intend to abandon the Tang surname, then from that moment on, I will not treat you as my child either.”

“You already said all that before I left for the expedition.”

“What?!”

“To be clear, it was you, Father, who tried to cast out your daughter by bringing up the family’s history.”

“……!”

“I’m the one who should be feeling hurt and angry, but why are you the one getting angry? Surely, you don’t think of me as a soulless doll, do you?”

“……If you were a doll,” Tang Gwan growled.

“If you were a doll that couldn’t speak, I wouldn’t have asked you to understand my choices.”

“I do understand. But the disappointment and anger are all mine to bear.”

“You!”

“Father,” Tang Sang-Ah said with a smile.

“Don’t be angry with me.”

“…”

“It’s all your own doing. You should take responsibility for what you’ve done. I clearly learned that when I was young. From you, of all people.”

Tang Gwan’s fist clenched.

Tang Sang-Ah continued, “I came here to get angry, but you’re acting like this, so I’m losing my motivation.”

“……Get out.”

“Take responsibility first.”

“What responsibility!”

“I should have been the one getting angry, but instead, you stabbed me in the heart. You have to take responsibility for that.”

Tang Gwan felt dumbfounded.

“Are you threatening me with such ridiculous words?!”

“If you don’t want to take responsibility, how about a favor?”

“What?!”

“If you still think of me as a member of the Tang family, would you grant me just one request?”

“Enough! I will no longer consider you my child, so get out of here right now……!”

“There’s someone I rely on quite a bit. Oh, don’t misunderstand. There are no romantic feelings involved.”

“……?!”

“Would you meet that person once?”

Tang Gwan stared at Tang Sang-Ah without a word.

Tang Sang-Ah took out a letter from her bosom and placed it on the table.

“This is my last request as your child. I hope you’ll grant it.”

“…”

“I won’t be visiting you again. Please take care of yourself.”

With those words, Tang Sang-Ah rose from her seat.

There was not a hint of hesitation in her steps as she turned away. Watching his daughter’s cold, unwavering departure, Tang Gwan thought.

Though their relationship was stained with hatred and resentment, Tang Sang-Ah was indeed of the Tang family bloodline. That fiercely resolute determination was something not just anyone could display.

Just before Tang Sang-Ah stepped out the door, Tang Gwan spoke.

“To give up the Tang surname is the same as giving up all the Tang martial arts you’ve learned.”

“…”

“I believe you understand what I mean.”

“Patriarch,” she called him Patriarch, not Father. Tang Gwan felt his face flush red.

Tang Sang-Ah smiled faintly.

“I already gave up my life before the expedition.”

“……!”

“If you want to take it back, feel free to do so. I’ll be waiting.”

Thud!

The door closed.

Tang Gwan, who had been glaring at the door with rage-filled eyes, let out a sigh.

“You’re better off. You seem more ruthless than this father, whom the world calls cruel.”

After a long period of self-reproach, Tang Gwan’s eyes suddenly turned to the letter on the table.

He stared at the letter for a while before reaching out his hand.

* * *

Whish, whish.

The sharp wind, dulled by brushing against the trees, grazed his collar.

The sun was setting on the horizon. It was definitely winter; the sun was setting much earlier than in summer.

Tang Gwan’s face was as red as the blood-red sky.

‘Red.’

It was quite a beautiful sight. Although it was a forest not well-known within the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance], the scenery was surprisingly magnificent.

Of course, Tang Gwan was not in a state to leisurely admire the scenery. He was still feeling uneasy from his conversation with his daughter earlier.

‘I was the one who abandoned her first……?’

Tang Gwan’s eyes became bloodshot.

‘Abandoned? Don’t put it that way. Only a man can be the head of the main family. No matter how much you train and improve, you can never become the family head.’

His daughter’s face came to mind.

Her face, always smiling, yet hiding a deeper sense of emptiness than anyone else.

‘Father is wrong. Upholding the family’s traditions isn’t being stubborn. Tradition has meaning in itself.’

For the sake of tradition, if it meant the family could shine on a solid foundation, he would be stubborn and obstinate. And he would pour venom into the mouths of those who clicked their tongues at it.

‘I’m not wrong!’

It was then.

Crunch. Crunch.

The sound of footsteps crunching on snow came from afar.

‘He’s here.’

Tang Gwan turned around.

‘Just who is this guy……’

In that instant, Tang Gwan’s eyes widened.

“You?!”

“Starting with ‘you,’ that’s a bit harsh,” the young man, Yeon Ho-Jeong, smiled calmly.

“How have you been?”

“……Could it be that you were the one who asked my daughter for this meeting?”

“That’s right.”

Fwoosh.

A chilling, dark green light emanated from Tang Gwan’s body.

Tang Gwan, extremely enraged, revealed the immense power he had been suppressing.

Chiiiiiiiiik!

The area within a five-jang [approximately 15 meters] radius of where he stood began to melt at an alarming rate.

It wasn’t just the snow that melted. The surface of the frozen ground was becoming completely muddy.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face showed admiration.

“Indeed, a formidable poison technique. It seems to have become even more potent than before?”

“How dare you use my daughter to lure me out?”

“It’s a bit tiresome for me to have to use your daughter, a reasonable person, just to meet someone like you.”

“What?!”

“Enough. Isn’t it better to let bygones be bygones? Put away that bizarre energy, and let’s talk.”

“You bastard!”

“Or.”

Flash!

Murderous intent flickered in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

“Do you need this young man to start cursing again for you to calm down?”

“……!”

“I haven’t forgotten about the Hongyo Society incident. Of course, we agreed to bury that matter, but the feelings remain. You can call me petty, but I can’t help it.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled brightly.

“Don’t make this young man use harsh words. You’ve come all this way, so listen to what I have to say.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Hmm?”

“I came here because of my daughter’s request, but if I had known it was you, I would never have come. In other words, you’ve wasted the time of the head of the Sichuan Tang family.”

Swoosh.

The poison energy that had been spreading in all directions was instantly drawn back into his body.

It was an astonishingly fast speed. To release such power at once was impressive, but to gather the released energy in an instant was something impossible without extraordinary enlightenment.

Truly, the head of the Sichuan Tang family. He had the skills to claim to be the master of one of the Six Great Clans [powerful martial arts families].

“Whether you were worth my time to come here is something I will judge for myself. If it’s not that important, I will turn you into a puddle of blood, even if it means being locked up in prison.”

His voice was filled with sincerity. It wasn’t like before, when he was full of pride or blinded by rage.

A calm and deadly murderous intent. Tang Gwan was genuinely intent on killing Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘Interesting.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

‘I was going to shake his mind with nonsense before attacking, but it seems he’s already shaken enough?’

He seemed to know the reason why. It was probably because his conversation with Tang Sang-Ah had made his mind very complicated.

“I doubt you have the skill to kill me.”

“Would you like to find out?”

“Finding out is fine. However, I’m also a busy person, so let’s get to the point.”

Before Tang Gwan could reply, Yeon Ho-Jeong continued.

“What is it that you want? The Alliance Leader position?”

“……?!”

“Let’s start with that answer.”

Tang Gwan’s expression changed.

No matter how angry he was, there were words he could ignore and words he couldn’t.

Even now, the leaders were busy watching each other because of the upcoming election next year. In such a situation, to suddenly ask if he wanted the Alliance Leader position?

“……What nonsense are you spouting?”

“I know you have a desire for power. However, while I know what Moyong Gun wants, I don’t know what position you desire.”

“……!”

“Tell me. Do you want the Murim Alliance Leader position?”

“I knew you were an arrogant bastard from before, but you truly surpass all imagination.”

“Well, you are the head of a stubborn fool who thinks the Sichuan Tang family is the best in Murim, so you wouldn’t be interested in the Alliance Leader position. Let’s move on to the next thing.”

“You madman! Are you truly so desperate to die?!”

“You can never escape the Murim Alliance.”

“What?”

“You knew that Moyong Gun was working to undermine Gong Gongdaesa [a high-ranking member of the Murim Alliance], didn’t you?”

“……?!”

Tang Gwan’s eyes changed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong could see that change like a ghost.

‘He doesn’t know?’

Even if it was Moyong Gun’s doing, Tang Gwan might not know.

To be precise, he thought there was a fifty-fifty chance. Tang Gwan’s personality was so sharp that there was no need to take the risk of telling him.

At the same time, if Tang Gwan helped, things could proceed much more easily. That’s why he thought there was a fifty-fifty chance.

‘It might not be Moyong Gun’s doing. But there’s a high probability that it is. If so……’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s lips curled up.

“It seems Moyong Gun didn’t tell you. Then my guess is correct.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Moyong Gun won’t let you go. The reason is that you want to be a power behind the scenes, even though you have no interest in the Murim Alliance Leader position.”

“……!”

“Do you think you’ve formed an alliance with Moyong Gun? Nonsense. You might think you can control Moyong Gun as you please, but the reality is the opposite.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Do you know that Moyong Gun is grooming you to be a pawn he can discard?”

“……!!”

“If we expose the scheme to undermine Gong Gongdaesa, who do you think Moyong Gun will point to as the culprit?”

Tang Gwan’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said in a sinister voice.

“For Moyong Gun, you are just another pawn.”