Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 263

In the dimly lit room, Tang Gwan’s face was shrouded in deep shadows as he drank, the only source of light a single flickering candle.

“…Damn it.”

Empty bottles, half a dozen of them, were scattered across the table.

While the effects vary depending on what one seeks through cultivated inner energy, a typical master of internal energy doesn’t get drunk easily. This is because their true energy constantly protects their internal organs and removes impurities.

Furthermore, once one breaks through the ‘no-seed’ [a state of advanced internal energy cultivation], true energy flows freely through even the smallest meridians. Unless one forcibly blocks the flow of true energy, it’s almost impossible to get drunk.

Moreover, Tang Gwan was a master of poisons, having handled and ingested thousands of different kinds. Even if he suppressed his true energy, a few bottles of strong liquor wouldn’t make him drunk.

But why?

For some reason, Tang Gwan felt himself getting drunk for the first time in twenty years.

“Don’t be pathetic.”

Tang Gwan gave a twisted smile.

The sharp smile that appeared on his shadowed face looked as chilling as the edge of a dagger.

“I never had great expectations anyway. I’ve always had to rely on myself. There’s no one to hope for anything from, no one to be disappointed by.”

Though he said that, Tang Gwan knew it too. That he, after joining the Martial Alliance, was very different from the man who had once reigned as a king in Sichuan [a province in China known for its martial arts traditions].

He just didn’t want to admit it. His change, and the reality that he was no longer the center of everything.

Clink, clink.

Now, he could barely smell the aroma of the liquor rising from the glass being filled.

Tang Gwan closed his eyes.

“What the hell is the problem…”

With a sigh that was almost a lament, Tang Gwan suddenly sensed a presence.

‘…?!’

Tang Gwan’s eyes immediately sharpened.

Fwoosh.

He circulated his inner energy and instantly expelled the alcohol. He thought he had absorbed it all, but there was definitely a reason why he was drunk.

‘A master.’

A remarkable master was standing beyond the door.

A stable yet restrained energy. He wasn’t revealing himself, so there was no overwhelming aura, but it was the composure of a lion hiding its claws.

‘When?’

His senses must have been dulled by the alcohol.

Tang Gwan shouted sharply.

“Who is it!”

Then, a deep voice came from outside the door.

“It’s me, Family Head Yeon.”

In an instant, Tang Gwan’s eyes deepened.

‘Yeon Wi?!’

It was surprising.

Although he had never paid much attention, they had met several times at the Bong Gong Council [a council of martial arts families]. He had had many opportunities to gauge the other’s martial arts.

But the Yeon Wi he had encountered at the council and the Yeon Wi now were worlds apart in terms of the energy he exuded.

‘Has he improved this much in such a short time?!’

Or was he hiding his strength?

Tang Gwan, who had been staring at the door, turned his head.

“I’ll overlook the rudeness of coming without notice. Now, I…”

Tang Gwan, who was about to tell him to leave, flinched.

‘I think I respect you enough. In some ways, even more than the two people here. It’s not because I’m afraid of you, but because I know your personality.’

Moyong Gun’s voice seemed to echo in his ears.

Tang Gwan’s face contorted.

“…Please leave now.”

At the same time, Yeon Wi’s voice was heard.

“I came because I was in the mood for a drink. I don’t have any official business, so let’s have a drink if you have time.”

“I told you to leave.”

“I brought some fragrant liquor.”

“…”

“If you really want to be alone, I understand. I’ll come back later.”

Tang Gwan, who had been staring out the window, let out a deep sigh.

“If it doesn’t suit my taste, I’ll throw you out immediately.”

Shortly after, the two men sat across from each other at the table.

“You deceived me.”

“Don’t you like the liquor?”

Tang Gwan frowned.

“Is that even a question? You bring cheap white liquor that even a butcher in the marketplace wouldn’t drink and say it’s fragrant?”

Yeon Wi said nonchalantly.

“Even if it’s fragrant liquor, would it even register with Family Head Tang, who has been trained with poison?”

“…”

“I put a lot of effort into choosing this one. It’s the most potent liquor I’ve ever tasted.”

In a way, it was the right thing to say.

The corners of Tang Gwan’s lips curled up.

“That’s a good excuse.”

“Let me pour you a drink.”

Yeon Wi filled Tang Gwan’s glass.

Tang Gwan, who had been quietly watching Yeon Wi, asked in a rough voice.

“So, what’s the real reason?”

“I told you, I don’t have any official business. I just came because I wanted to have a drink.”

“Is that lie true?”

“It’s not a lie.”

“It’s not a lie? You expect me to believe that?”

“Why wouldn’t you believe it?”

“Am I supposed to suddenly trust someone who comes to have a drink at such a perfect time? Don’t you think it’s too obvious?”

Yeon Wi filled his own glass with a stoic expression.

Unlike Tang Gwan, Yeon Wi’s face, with shadows on the right side, had a classic atmosphere, like a masterpiece painted with bold strokes.

“If you really thought that, you’ve completely misjudged me.”

“What?”

“I don’t know who you’ve been dealing with, but I’m not someone who hides a dagger behind a smile.”

Tang Gwan chuckled.

“A saint has appeared. So, if it’s not official business, and you’re not here to persuade me, then what exactly did you come for?”

“I came to keep you company.”

“Hahahaha!”

Tang Gwan burst into mad laughter.

“Keep me company? What do you gain by being my companion?”

“I’ll get to know you better.”

“… !”

It was an unexpected answer.

Tang Gwan, who had been glaring at Yeon Wi with cold eyes, emptied his glass.

“If you have nothing to say, leave now.”

“Your daughter is very upset.”

“…What?”

Yeon Wi’s voice was extremely indifferent.

“She pretends not to be, but she’s very worried about you.”

“…”

“As you know, your daughter is friends with my son. Thanks to that, we were able to have dinner together yesterday.”

Thump!

The table shook.

Fierce killing intent emanated from Tang Gwan’s eyes.

“Leave now.”

“Are you going to keep being so stubborn?”

“I said leave now!”

“Do you want to lose your daughter like that?”

“Enough! You need to mind your own business! It’s not for a third party to interfere in someone else’s family matters!”

“It’s arrogance to be criticized for interfering with others. Don’t be arrogant with your children.”

“Tsk!”

“And did you just say it was meddling?”

Yeon Wi’s eyes turned cold.

“That’s right. It’s meddling and advice. But you shouldn’t be angry with me.”

“What?!”

“When it comes to matters concerning your children, you should listen to the advice of even a butcher in the marketplace. You should open your ears wide even to the advice of the lowest person in the world.”

“… !”

“Even if you try that hard, it’s still difficult when it comes to your children. If you just close your ears and shout like you do, you might never see your children’s faces for the rest of your life.”

Tang Gwan’s cheeks twitched.

Surprisingly, he could no longer shout at Yeon Wi. Considering his personality, he would have already attacked, but he didn’t recklessly unleash his poison skills.

Seeing Tang Gwan like that, Yeon Wi finally realized.

‘This guy is more level-headed than I thought.’

He was a man who could become more ferocious than anyone else if he truly exploded.

But the line before that explosion was much deeper than he thought. He seemed reckless, but at least he instinctively knew which was better between the worst and the second worst.

‘And.’

Yeon Wi’s eyes deepened.

‘This guy also loves his daughter in his own way.’

Of course, his way was twisted and self-righteous.

But the important thing was that he considered his daughter as his child. That was the really important thing.

The heart that values the other person. If that heart is genuine, the relationship can be improved enough, even if the process is somewhat difficult.

“I’ve also done a lot of terrible things to my children.”

“…”

“I raised them too strictly. Until a few years ago, my second son couldn’t even talk to me, and my eldest son went astray and just drank all the time.”

“…”

“Is it their fault? No. It’s all the parents’ fault that the children turned out that way. If parents don’t properly care for their children, they will be ruined.”

Tang Gwan’s eyebrows twitched.

Yeon Wi emptied his glass and said.

“I was lucky. My two sons grew up well on their own without my help. So I thought, maybe I’m the luckiest guy in the world when it comes to children. Regardless of the guilt I feel towards them.”

“…”

“But looking at you, you seem to be quite lucky too.”

Yeon Wi leaned forward.

Tang Gwan unconsciously leaned back in his chair.

“Family Head Tang.”

“…”

“I came to see you not because your relationship with Moyong Gun is strained, nor to persuade you.”

“…”

“I went to the point of no return, but I improved my relationship thanks to my children. So I know. If you wait a little longer, you will also go to the point of no return like me.”

Tang Gwan’s lips twitched.

“So, are you expecting to be treated like a senior?”

Yeon Wi shook his head.

“The Family Head’s daughter is my son’s friend. What brought me here was the concern of a father with children.”

“Don’t pretend to be nice.”

“I’ve never thought of myself as nice.”

“You came because of me and Sang-ah? Don’t be ridiculous. You came to tell someone you’re in a hostile relationship with to take care of their children? Who would believe that…”

“What you need to take care of is your pride, which is only useful in useless situations.”

“… !”

Yeon Wi stood up.

“We’re not even in a hostile relationship anymore, are we?”

“You’re delusional.”

“You can’t even be in a hostile relationship, you.”

It was a statement that provoked his pride. Tang Gwan looked up at Yeon Wi with bloodshot eyes.

Yeon Wi, who had been quietly looking at Tang Gwan, smiled for a moment.

“I want to ask you one thing.”

“…”

“Did you ask Moyong Gun about the source of the Blue Sound Poison?”

Tang Gwan did not answer.

Yeon Wi nodded.

“I thought so. The source of the Blue Sound Poison wasn’t important to you. No, to be more precise, you had an idea of who made the Blue Sound Poison on that handkerchief.”

“…Leave now.”

“In other words, you also wanted to end your relationship with Moyong Gun, so you went along with my eldest son’s persuasion, didn’t you?”

“…”

Tang Gwan turned his head to his glass.

Yeon Wi, who had been quietly watching him, clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

“I know you wanted to be alone. Although my words were somewhat harsh, I committed a great discourtesy because I really wanted to say what I said.”

“If you know, then that’s enough.”

“I’ll make up for today’s discourtesy with fragrant fine liquor. If you give me the word, I’ll make time.”

Yeon Wi left the room.

Tang Gwan, who had been staring blankly at his glass, poured white liquor.

He gulped down the full glass, and his throat felt rough.

“Father and son, they both have daggers on their tongues.”

Tang Gwan drank the white liquor straight from the bottle.

The heat that rose from his chest spread all over his face.

“…It’s bitter.”

* * *

“What are you doing?”

“Hmm?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was sitting alone on a chair looking out the window, turned her head to look at Muk Bi.

“What is it? When did you get here?”

“Just now. I’m on my way back from training. I saw the light was on.”

“I just had something to think about.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“You’ve worked hard today too.”

Muk Bi also nodded.

“You’ve worked hard. Get some rest.”

“Okay.”

As Muk Bi left, Yeon Ho-Jeong looked up at the sky outside the window again.

The twinkling starlight was beautiful.

“…It’s time.”