Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 283

The Conflict’s Origin (4)

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The pure, blue energy that enveloped his entire body was so clear and profound that it was refreshing just to look at.

That was Moyong Gun’s energy. The color of his energy, condensed and compressed to the point of being visible, was as clear as his nature, making it a pleasant sight.

But why?

Perhaps it was because of the recent turmoil in his mind, but the deep blue energy seemed to be fluctuating slightly, as if uneasy.

Swoosh.

After a long period of internal cultivation, Moyong Gun finally finished his breathing exercises.

“Impressive.”

Moyong Gun opened his eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was sitting on the windowsill.

“I had a rough idea, but it’s rare to find someone whose inhale and exhale times are so long. I can barely tell when you’re inhaling or exhaling.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

“That is the nature of my martial arts.”

“But you’re not showing martial arts that match that breathing.”

“Haha, that’s right. It’s not easy.”

Those who have properly cultivated their inner energy generally have long breaths. However, it is rare to find someone with such an extremely long and shallow breath like Moyong Gun.

Moyong Gun’s breathing was much longer and calmer than Yeon Ho-Jeong’s. This indicated his martial arts characteristics; Moyong Gun was stronger in continuous, flowing techniques rather than single, decisive blows.

Therefore, he had good stamina, was seamless, and had the tenacity to revive a broken flow.

However, Moyong Gun did not fight like that when he sparred with Yeon Ho-Jeong. Although Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts were fierce, if he had countered with continuous techniques like his breathing, the match would not have ended so quickly.

“You, Yeon, also show martial arts that don’t match your breathing in a different way.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts focused on explosive power and the essence of a single, decisive blow.

Such martial arts tend to be extreme in their techniques. Whether I die or the opponent dies, they are full of tactics to achieve a result in a single blow, making it a life-or-death decision the moment the sword is drawn.

A martial art where if the opponent doesn’t die, I die. Naturally, it has little variation, is full of killing intent, and favors martial arts that break the opponent’s spirit from the start.

What was surprising was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s breathing.

He was someone who could control his breathing freely. However, his normal breathing was long and gentle.

However, unlike Moyong Gun, who used martial arts that didn’t match his breathing, he needed that level of breathing to prevent his usual stamina from being depleted.

“I’ve trained my body to the point of death. Seeing that I still feel lacking, there’s no end to the martial path.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong had experience.

The experience from his time as the Dark Emperor, that one experience of reaching the ultimate realm, had brought him to his current level in just a few years.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong was now walking a path that was similar yet completely different from his past self. Based on the enlightenment he gained as the Dark Emperor, he was striving towards a new direction, a higher realm.

‘So, it’s slower than I thought.’

If he had followed the same martial path as when he was the Dark Emperor, he would have already surpassed his father’s level, or even more.

However, there was no point in doing so. Considering the enemies he would face in the future, and to fully embrace the countless martial principles he had not obtained at the time, he had to endure the current slow growth.

Also, Yeon Ho-Jeong had no doubt.

Even if he lagged behind for a year or two, he would be able to reach a completely different realm in the next three or four years.

He was walking a path that would allow him to reach the summit of the high mountain peaks he could not even look up to during his time as the Dark Emperor, faster and more surely.

“By the way.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

“I knew you were coming, Yeon.”

“I made my presence obvious. I just stood guard since you didn’t stop.”

“How shameless.”

“Is that new?”

“Hahaha.”

Moyong Gun sat on the bed.

“Did you come because of the Western Divine Maiden?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flickered.

“You knew?”

Moyong Gun shrugged.

“I think I’m getting to know you a little better, Yeon. You tried not to show it, but I could tell you were uncomfortable with the Western Divine Maiden.”

“Uncomfortable…”

“To be precise, it seemed more like you were trying to keep your distance.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly.

“I must have made it obvious. Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Don’t say that. However, it didn’t seem like you were uncomfortable with the Western Divine Maiden because of her origin or skin color. You’re not that kind of person anyway.”

“…”

“If you have any concerns, Yeon, I might not be able to solve them, but I can at least share the burden.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Does that mean you’ve become that reliable?”

Moyong Gun patted his forearm.

“Of course.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been staring at Moyong Gun, sighed.

“I didn’t expect to reveal my secrets at a time like this.”

In the end, Yeon Ho-Jeong told Moyong Gun the truth that he had only told his father and Muk Bi.

Of course, he excluded the story about his past life. It wasn’t because he didn’t trust Moyong Gun, but because he thought such a story would only waste time in the current situation.

Thus, Yeon Ho-Jeong revealed everything about the Three Cults of Fanaticism.

‘…’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes shone with a different light after finishing his story.

Moyong Gun’s expression was calmer than expected. He seemed surprised, but not greatly shocked.

“I see.”

“You don’t seem very surprised.”

“I am surprised.”

“You don’t seem to disbelieve me either.”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“I know you’re not the type to lie about something like this, Yeon.”

“Really?”

“At the same time, I understand now.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

“It’s a bit awkward to say this myself, but it seems you genuinely want to make me the Martial Alliance Leader.”

“…Yes, I’m serious.”

“I’ve been thinking. Why would a talented genius like you want to make me the Martial Alliance Leader? I wondered if you were trying to use me for something.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“So, you’re not completely naive?”

“Even if I were naive, I had to be suspicious. Of course, that was at first. I don’t think that way at all now.”

“If you had such thoughts, you wouldn’t have asked to become sworn brothers first.”

“That’s right.”

Moyong Gun closed his eyes.

“If you simply wanted to build a friendship, a lively exchange would have been enough. But you were different, Yeon. You were looking at me directly, but at the same time, I knew you wanted something from me.”

“…”

“I was curious, but I didn’t ask in detail. I didn’t think the brother I made for the first time in my life would betray me, no matter what it was.”

“Or, you might have just wanted to believe that.”

“Of course, that could be true. The important thing is that I trust you, Yeon.”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“Yes, this is it. I don’t know what my brother saw in me, but you believe that I need to become the Alliance Leader to stop them.”

“That’s right.”

“Also, hearing this, their power seems to be unprecedentedly great.”

“It’s immense.”

Moyong Gun, who had been lost in thought for a moment, clasped his hands together.

“Let me summarize. There is a group called the Three Cults of Fanaticism in the outer regions. And each of their powers is comparable to the Martial Alliance, and they are working behind the scenes to take over the Central Plains.”

“That’s right.”

“Among them, the Evil Sound Cult secretly supported the Mukryong Clan, but now the Mukryong Clan’s leader, Tu Wang Yang Cheon, has realized the Evil Sound Cult’s purpose. Therefore, Yang Cheon is also watching the Evil Sound Cult.”

“That’s right.”

“The reason why Yeon didn’t inform the Martial Alliance’s leadership about this is to prevent chaos within the Alliance, and also because he was worried that if we moved rashly, the Three Cults would hide again.”

“Furthermore, there might be those who are in league with them.”

“Yes. Finally, the people who currently know about their existence are Military Advisor Jeagal, the Yeon Clan Head, and Chief Muk. Is there anything I’ve misunderstood?”

“No. You understood it correctly.”

“I see. And…”

Moyong Gun’s eyes flashed.

“You think that the Western Divine Maiden is a spy for the Three Cults?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“I’m not sure. But I think there’s a high probability.”

“Why?”

“Because I sensed the Three Cults’ inner energy from the inner cultivation method she has learned.”

“…You know a lot about the Three Cults, Yeon.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“I know them well. Especially the Evil Sound Cult.”

“I see.”

Moyong Gun didn’t bother asking how Yeon Ho-Jeong knew so much about them.

“To be honest, I haven’t talked to her much, and it hasn’t been long since we met, but the Western Divine Maiden I saw is the real deal.”

“…”

“Her nature is definitely closer to good than evil. I believe that.”

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“For me, whether she is good or evil is not important.”

“…”

“What’s important is that she has learned the Three Cults’ martial arts, which means there’s a high probability that she’s connected to them in some way.”

Moyong Gun felt a chill for a moment.

The eyes of his sworn brother, who was smiling coldly at him, were flickering with a ghostly fire. And in that ghostly fire, there was a terrifying rage and resentment that he could not understand.

“Are you thinking of harming her?”

“If necessary.”

“…”

“If she enters the Alliance with an agenda? The moment I’m sure of that, her nature or past actions mean nothing to me. The only thing that matters is that she could cause the Martial Alliance and the entire Central Plains to suffer.”

“…”

“I don’t care what kind of life she has lived. There are too many lives at stake to worry about such trivial things.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s smile disappeared.

“The countless enemies I’ve killed also had their own stories.”

Moyong Gun closed his eyes.

“…Okay, if that’s what you think, Yeon, I don’t want to change your mind.”

“I want to change your mind, brother. A soldier who can’t act in a crucial moment is not a soldier.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s okay to see her in a good light, but the moment you’re sure she’s a spy for the Three Cults, you shouldn’t hesitate to act.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been looking at Moyong Gun, sighed.

“However, since we didn’t meet on the battlefield, I’ll try to find out more about her.”