Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 261

Whirr!

The sun set, and the world was already dark.

The darkened sky was as black as the darkness that had fallen over Tang Gwan’s heart.

“…Is that all?”

“Hmm?”

Tang Gwan gave a twisted smile.

“You called me out just to sow discord between me and Lord Moyong?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“I’ve noticed it before, but you tend to overrate yourself.”

“What?”

“Poisons and hidden weapons are frightening. But we are all within the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance]. As long as we are within the confines of the Murim Alliance, there is something more frightening than poison and hidden weapons.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tapped his head.

“Do you understand? If you want to kill me with your poison and hidden weapons, you have to risk your life. Even if you kill me, the Tang family will inevitably lose its leader. But those who use their heads are not like that.”

“…”

“They control the world with their minds. And Moyong Gun, too, is not just a schemer; he has an excessively sharp eye for expanding his own faction as well as his power.”

“Such childish games…”

“You’re wrong.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said seriously.

“As you said, this is a childish game. But children’s games end when the sun goes down, while adults’ games only end when one side dies.”

“…!!”

“That’s why I keep an eye on Moyong Gun and fear him. That’s why I oppose him, and why I’m running around like crazy to try and stab him in the back.”

“So.”

Tang Gwan asked sharply.

“What are you trying to say? That I shouldn’t join hands with such a man and return to Sichuan?”

“Then you’ll die.”

“What?!”

“If you break off your alliance with Moyong Gun and return to Sichuan, the Tang family will not be able to avoid annihilation.”

A sudden, shocking statement was thrown out.

Tang Gwan’s face flushed red.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“That’s what I’m saying. It’s truly ridiculous. To think that someone who has already stepped into the mud can return home unscathed, you are truly ignorant of the ways of the world.”

“…!!”

“Until Moyong Gun dies or falls, our childish game will not end.”

Tang Gwan, who had been glaring at Yeon Ho-Jeong as if to kill him, spoke, spitting out each word.

“You’re being unnecessarily long-winded. Get to the point.”

“Don’t get involved in factional fights, and join forces with Gong Gongdaesa.”

“…What?”

He never expected to hear such words. Tang Gwan was inwardly startled.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“I’d like to ask you to side with us, but the truth is, neither we nor you trust each other. But if you return to Sichuan, Moyong Gun will somehow brand the Tang family as an enemy of the Murim and burn it to the ground.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“A sword that has left my hand can always harm me.”

“…”

“Look. You’ve joined hands with Moyong Gun, yet you still know nothing about him, do you?”

Tang Gwan’s cheek twitched.

Yeon Ho-Jeong continued.

“Go to Gong Gongdaesa. Go and help him. As you know, Gong Gongdaesa’s Buddhist faith and harmony are so great that everyone in the Jianghu [the martial world] acknowledges them.”

“…”

“It’s not too late now. Stop doing foolish things and join him.”

“…That’s laughable.”

“I’m also laughing. I didn’t think you’d be this hard of hearing.”

“You’re saying Moyong Gun will point me out as the culprit?”

“Maybe?”

“Why do you think so? Without a clear explanation on that point, you won’t be able to leave this place alive today.”

As if he had been waiting for it, Yeon Ho-Jeong took out a handkerchief from his pocket.

Tang Gwan frowned.

“What is that?”

“Take it.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong threw the handkerchief.

Whoosh.

The handkerchief, carried by powerful internal energy, landed in Tang Gwan’s hand.

“What are you trying to pull?”

“Look closely at the handkerchief.”

Tang Gwan frowned and looked down at the handkerchief.

“What’s so special about this…?”

He flinched at that moment.

‘This smell?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong said.

“It’s quite faint, but isn’t it a considerable concentration? I didn’t think it was something to just pass over, so I asked Tang Sang-Ah Gunbyung [Tang family’s military strategist] for advice. Do you know what she said?”

“…Cheongeum Poison.”

“As expected, you know it well. That’s right. Tang Sang-Ah Gunbyung said the same thing.”

Disbelief clouded Tang Gwan’s face.

“I can’t believe it. Cheongeum Poison is one of the main family’s most potent poisons. Where did you get this poison?”

“From the source of the rumors.”

“What?”

“It’s poison extracted from an inn outside the Murim Alliance where Moyong Gun started his groundwork. It’s been quite a while, but the poison is still potent.”

“…!!”

“Tang Sang-Ah Gunbyung said that Cheongeum Poison itself doesn’t harm people. But it can react to the internal energy of someone who has mastered the Tang family’s Samyang Gong [a martial art], and cause them to die of poisoning at any time.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes trembled.

“Do you understand? The person who spread that poison could be seen as having their subordinate spread it to cut off the tail if an investigation were to take place.”

“…”

“But, has Moyong Gun mastered Samyang Gong?”

“…”

“No. The only ones who have mastered martial arts based on Samyang Gong are you and Tang Sang-Ah Gunbyung.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“So, did Tang Sang-Ah Gunbyung spread this? I don’t think so.”

Tang Gwan didn’t think so either.

No matter how skilled Tang Sang-Ah was, she couldn’t have stolen Cheongeum Poison from within the Tang family.

It was the same for Tang Gwan. The Tang family’s secret poisons were protected by all sorts of mechanisms and formations, so stealing them secretly was impossible unless one was a member of the Seongcheon Thirteen Seats [a high-ranking position in the Tang family].

Moreover, Tang Sang-Ah had never come into contact with Cheongeum Poison except when she was a child. Then how did this poison, which could only be made by the Tang family, leak out?

“It’s Moyong Gun’s doing.”

“…That’s absurd.”

“I don’t know how he got his hands on this poison. But who else would do such a thing if not him?”

“Stop talking nonsense! Do you know what kind of poison Cheongeum Poison is?! It’s from a forbidden area where even elders cannot enter without the family head’s permission…!!”

“Then it’s an even more certain trap. It’s a forbidden poison that no one can steal, so who else could be the culprit but someone from the Tang family?”

“…!!”

Tang Gwan froze.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes darkened.

“I dislike Moyong Gun. But I have no doubt about his abilities. He’s a madman who will get what he wants by any means necessary.”

“…”

“Don’t be complacent and become his stepping stone. Open your clouded eyes and see the world.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned around.

Tang Gwan, who had been staring blankly at the handkerchief, shouted reflexively.

“You! Can’t you stop there?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned to look at Tang Gwan.

“My business is done.”

“Shut up! If you take one more step without my permission, I’ll melt you into a puddle of blood!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Try it if you can.”

With those words, he turned again and walked away.

He was really leaving. Even with Tang Gwan’s extremely agitated threats, there was not a hint of hesitation in his steps.

Tang Gwan’s pupils turned a deep green.

“You little brat!”

Phew-woo-woo-woo!

An invisible finger wind was shot out at tremendous speed.

It was a terrifying martial art. The speed of the finger wind was faster than Muk Bi’s arrows. It was truly like a beam of light.

Flames ignited in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

Boom! Whoosh!

The finger wind was shattered into pieces by a palm strike of crimson flames. The scattered finger wind was engulfed in red flames, and the poison carried by the finger wind was burned away.

Tang Gwan’s eyes wavered.

‘He blocked it?!’

He was too agitated to properly load the poison, but it was a finger wind with enough power to pierce through an iron plate. Yeon Ho-Jeong had blocked that finger wind with his bare hand.

And not with both hands, but with one hand.

“There’s something I didn’t tell you.”

“…?!”

“This meeting was first requested by Tang Sang-Ah Gunbyung.”

“…What?”

“No matter how deep the rift, a father and daughter are still father and daughter. Tang Sang-Ah Gunbyung said she didn’t want to see her father fall miserably. So she asked me to persuade you.”

“…!!”

Tang Gwan’s eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.

He recalled his daughter’s voice.

‘My life was already forfeit before I left for battle. If you want to take it, please do so. I’ll wait.’

The back of his daughter as she turned away, smiling and saying that, was the very picture of coldness.

Tang Gwan couldn’t help but feel a sense of emptiness.

She had come to worry about her father, but the rift between father and daughter had only deepened. She had only spouted monstrous words about being a puppet and taking away his martial arts.

An indescribable feeling, and confusion.

As Tang Gwan, momentarily drained of strength, looked up at the sky, Yeon Ho-Jeong said.

“If you’re thinking of confronting Moyong Gun, it’s best to avoid a place where you’re alone.”

“…”

“If you’re going to confront him, do it in front of everyone. That way, Moyong Gun won’t be able to talk nonsense.”

“…What kind of trick is that?”

Tang Gwan’s voice sounded particularly weak.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged.

“I got a little help from Tang Sang-Ah Gunbyung in this mission. I’m saying this for Tang Gunbyung, not for you, so you don’t need to thank me.”

“…”

“I’ll be going now.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having left the forest, headed towards the Pagun Pavilion.

At that moment, Tang Sang-Ah appeared from an alley.

“Is it over?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said with a troubled expression.

“You said it was okay, so I did it, but is it really okay?”

“Of course.”

“…”

“If breaking the alliance with Lord Moyong is ultimately beneficial for my father, then I have to endure the immediate confusion and pain.”

That’s right.

It was Tang Sang-Ah who had spread the Cheongeum Poison. And it was also a pre-planned act to meet Tang Gwan and provoke his anger.

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

“I’m sorry.”

“If you say that, Commander, I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“It might have taken some time, but I would have found a way. There was no need to push yourself this far.”

“Commander.”

“…Speak.”

“Do you know what I learned while working on this practical affairs team?”

“…”

“It’s the importance of time.”

Tang Sang-Ah smiled bitterly.

“My father is trying to kick me out of the family anyway. I don’t care about using the affection between parents and children.”

“…”

“I just hope that this will get my father out of this dirty game. That’s all I want.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Tang Sang-Ah, asked as if throwing a question.

“Do you have time?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you have time right now.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Let’s go to the Pagun Pavilion. Muk Bi must not have eaten yet, so let’s have a meal together.”

“I’m fine with that…”

“I’m not fine. Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

And so, the two headed towards the Pagun Pavilion.

“By the way, about the Cheongeum Poison. Where did you get it?”

“I made it.”

“You made it? The Tang family’s secret poison?”

“I learned all the knowledge about poison and hidden weapons from my grandfather, as well as martial arts.”

“…The Poison King.”

“My father still doesn’t know. That Cheongeum Poison can be made by mixing a few cheap medicinal herbs.”

“…”

“I guess our father and daughter are destined to live like this. Maybe we’ll never understand each other.”

* * *

The next day at noon.

Bang!

Moyong Gun, who was having a meal with the Mount Hua Sect Leader Yong Hwa Jin-in, the Namgoong Family Head Namgoong In, and the Gongdong Sect Leader Deung Cheon-Gyo, was startled by the person who suddenly burst in.

“Family Head Tang?!”

“Oh, Family Head, you’ve arrived?”

Tang Gwan glared at Moyong Gun with cold, gleaming eyes.

In that instant, Moyong Gun sensed that something was wrong.

Yong Hwa Jin-in subtly rose from his seat.

“First, take a seat…”

At that moment, Tang Gwan said in a chilling voice.

“Is it true that you are targeting Gong Gongdaesa?”