Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 296

297. A Fight Without a Bell (1)

“Are you inside?”

“…Knowing I am, don’t ask and just come in.”

“Understood.”

Creak.

The door opened, and Yeon-wi appeared.

Tang Gwan scoffed.

“The son comes to stir things up, and the father comes to smooth things over. A truly well-matched father and son.”

Yeon-wi tilted his head.

“What are you talking about?”

Tang Gwan, who had been quietly observing his face, turned his head away.

“Never mind. Come and sit down.”

“Very well.”

Soon after, the two sat facing each other at the low table.

Yeon-wi, enjoying the tea’s fragrance, smiled.

“Did you brew this tea yourself?”

“Since the servants are gone, I had no choice but to do it myself.”

“Where did you send the servants?”

“Poison cultivation involves many dangers. If they stayed in this building, they could be poisoned to death.”

“You did well.”

Tang Gwan turned his head.

“I just needed someone to handle the chores after training. If they’re not around, I have to do it myself.”

He really was a person who couldn’t be honest.

But it was fine. Yeon-wi was genuinely pleased with this change in Tang Gwan.

“By the way, your tea-brewing skills seem to have improved.”

“……”

“If you hadn’t learned, you wouldn’t be able to draw out such a rich fragrance in such a short time. The temperature is also perfect.”

“What is it you want to say?”

Yeon-wi subtly asked.

“Did you learn from your daughter?”

Tang Gwan frowned.

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, leave now.”

“Haha, my apologies. I spoke out of turn.”

Yeon-wi, who had moistened his throat with a sip of tea, continued.

“I heard you were going to Sichuan.”

He spoke in a natural and gentle tone, but the words were undeniably abrupt.

The corners of Tang Gwan’s lips curled up.

“Who told you that?”

“I just heard rumors. But if you were really going, I thought I’d say goodbye.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes narrowed.

He silently studied Yeon-wi’s face, and it didn’t seem like a lie. Besides, he was not the type to lie about something like this.

Tang Gwan turned his head.

“I’ve decided to postpone my return to Sichuan.”

Yeon-wi’s eyes widened.

“You’ve changed your mind?”

“That’s right.”

“Haha, I guess I can postpone my farewell then.”

Tang Gwan, who had been staring at Yeon-wi, asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

“Are you really the Yeon Family Head?”

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”

“The first time I saw you was at the Bonggong Assembly [a martial arts gathering]. Back then, you were definitely not like this.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“Then, what kind of person was I?”

“Frustrating, aloof, and someone who couldn’t read the times.”

“Hahahaha.”

It was a cold and honest assessment. In fact, Tang Gwan had seen Yeon-wi as such a person.

“Are you different now?”

“Yes.”

“How do you think I’ve changed?”

Tang Gwan just drank his tea without answering.

Yeon-wi also guessed that he wouldn’t say anything. And even without hearing his words, he knew better than anyone that he had changed.

‘Indeed.’

Yeon-wi recalled his past self.

‘I’ve changed a lot.’

Because of the family’s reputation, his dead wife’s last words, and the heavy workload, he had developed a particularly rigid personality.

In a way, it was a defense mechanism to protect himself. He was so mentally overwhelmed that he wouldn’t have been able to maintain his ego if he hadn’t done so.

But it wasn’t like that now.

He had seen the change in his eldest son, and he had seen the world changing.

As the world rapidly changed, his son went out into the martial world, and countless things happened after that.

In the process, Yeon-wi also gained great enlightenment.

‘I can’t turn back the time that has already passed.’

The thing he regretted the most was not giving his children proper love.

It was more regrettable than when his wife died. More than the time when he was powerless in the face of the death of the woman he loved more than his own life, he regretted not taking good care of the fruits of his love with that woman.

The moment he realized that, Yeon-wi was able to let go of everything. It was to avoid any more regrets.

Yeon-wi opened his mouth.

“I ask for your understanding in advance, as I am not very familiar with the situation in Sichuan.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you, by any chance, have a wife?”

He was asking if his wife had passed away before him, just like his own.

Tang Gwan shook his head.

“She passed away ten years ago.”

“I see.”

Yeon-wi didn’t ask why his wife had died. It wasn’t a good story to hear, and it would be difficult for the speaker as well.

However, he really wanted to say this.

“Did you love the deceased?”

Tang Gwan openly frowned.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Although arranged marriages are common in this era, I don’t think the Family Head would have married a woman he had no affection for.”

“You’re wrong. I’ve never been swayed by sweet emotions like love or whatever.”

Yeon-wi shook his head.

“Even if it was an arranged marriage, I believe that the Family Head I see would have cared for the deceased.”

“……”

“Be good to your children. Your children are the result of your love with the person you loved. As they are more precious than anyone to the Family Head, let’s not create any more regrets before we die.”

Tang Gwan coldly laughed.

“Is giving advice disguised as teaching your hobby? I think I’ve heard similar words before.”

Yeon-wi gave a bitter smile.

“I’m sorry. My regrets are so deep that I sometimes say these things without realizing it.”

“Hmph.”

Tang Gwan crossed his arms.

“Let’s stop with the useless talk. Did you hear it from your son?”

His tone was full of sarcasm.

Yeon-wi tilted his head.

“If you mean my son, are you talking about Ho-jeong?”

“Yes.”

“Did something happen?”

“He came to me like a dog needing to pee since morning and asked me to run as a candidate for the Martial Alliance Leader election. Didn’t you know?”

“I didn’t know.”

Yeon-wi, who had been lost in thought, chuckled.

“That’s just like him.”

Tang Gwan frowned.

“Just like him… that’s quite a strange thing to say. Did you know your son would do that?”

“I didn’t know he would do that, so I was surprised. But after hearing it, I understand. Ho-jeong is capable of throwing out such a countermeasure.”

Curiosity filled Yeon-wi’s face.

“So, how did the Family Head accept that proposal?”

Yeon-wi, who had been staring at Tang Gwan who was looking at him without answering, was soon filled with surprise.

“You agreed?”

“Yes.”

“Wh-why?”

It was understandable that Yeon Ho-jeong would make such a proposal.

Of course, it wasn’t Yeon-wi’s way. He adhered to fairness in both martial arts and politics, and he wasn’t good at setting up schemes or launching unexpected counterattacks.

However, what surprised him was the fact that Tang Gwan had accepted the proposal.

“The Family Head must also know what Ho-jeong’s proposal means.”

“I know. It means to have me stand as an opponent to Moyong Gun. To focus Moyong Gun’s attention on this side, to bring him down from the shadows, and to establish a Martial Alliance Leader that suits his taste, right?”

Yeon-wi shook his head.

“While there may be an intention to restrain Moyong Family Head’s ambition, there will be no intention to establish a Martial Alliance Leader that suits his taste.”

“There is.”

“……”

“That guy’s eyes were fixed on who should become the Martial Alliance Leader. At least, that’s how I saw it.”

Yeon-wi’s face hardened.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know that far. And I don’t think he’d tell me even if I asked. If you’re really curious, Family Head, ask your son yourself.”

Yeon-wi nodded.

“I understand.”

Tang Gwan smacked his lips.

“Whatever the reason, I will run in the election. And I will lose.”

He didn’t seem to think that he would win the Martial Alliance Leader election himself.

Yeon-wi nodded.

“That’s probably how it will be.”

Regardless of Tang Gwan’s popularity or ability, the intimidation and fear that the Sichuan Tang Family gave off was truly great.

For the head of such a family to become the Martial Alliance Leader? Even if he didn’t know, almost all the White Path [orthodox martial arts sects] people would rise up.

Furthermore, the unique stereotypes of the White Path martial world could not be ignored. To them, the Tang Family, who used poison and hidden weapons as their main weapons, had an image that was as bad as the Black Path [unorthodox martial arts sects].

“The problem is, Moyong Gun wouldn’t be unaware of that.”

“That’s right.”

“Of course, your son would have seen that far as well. In other words, it means that I will become a useless scarecrow.”

Tang Gwan tilted his head.

“I don’t know what he intends to do with such a scarecrow.”

Since he had already made his choice, he seemed willing to accept whatever he became, whether it was a scarecrow or something else. After all, he had agreed even though he knew he would lose the election, so he must have expected that much.

Yeon-wi, who had been staring at Tang Gwan, shook his head.

“The Family Head said that my eldest son has someone in mind to be the Martial Alliance Leader.”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t know anything about that part. However, I do know this one thing.”

“……?”

“At least, he won’t make you a scarecrow.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes flashed.

“What do you mean?”

“My eldest son is the type of guy who would calmly do things that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine if it meant winning. However, there is always a greater cause at the root of his desire for victory, so I’m still watching him, but he has done quite a lot of extreme things in the meantime.”

“Hmph.”

“However, my eldest son has a line.”

“A line?”

“That’s right.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“He won’t make someone miserable if they are not identified as a clear enemy, even if he uses them.”

Tang Gwan scoffed.

“You seem to see your son as too kind. In all my life, I’ve never seen a guy as reckless as your son.”

“He’s reckless, but the reason why he hasn’t caused great harm is because he has a line that he has thought out.”

“Interesting.”

“And, maybe I also have this thought.”

Yeon-wi’s face became serious.

“Even if he doesn’t intend to make you the Martial Alliance Leader, he intends to make you a big shot with a powerful influence in the political arena of the Martial Alliance.”

“……!”

Tang Gwan’s face hardened.

“How did you come to that conclusion?”

“Because only a big shot of that level can properly pressure Moyong Family Head.”

“……”

“And one more thing.”

A smile spread across Yeon-wi’s lips.

“My son seems to have seen your true nature as quite decent.”

Tang Gwan said as if he was dumbfounded.

“If that’s true, your son’s arrogance is truly the greatest in the world.”

“Why is that?”

“Not only did he evaluate the Family Head of the Tang Family as he pleased, but he also intends to make him the core of the Martial Alliance. He’s arrogant beyond measure.”

“Because of that arrogant guy, the Myeong Family has collapsed, and the political landscape of the martial world is being shaken.”

“……!!”

Yeon-wi smiled and got up from his seat.

“Please spare some time. There’s a place I’d like to go with you.”