Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 30

The heavy spear created countless afterimages, a fantastic technique like drawing giant flower petals in the air.

But these petals were red, dyed a deep, crimson red.

*Fwoosh!*

Blood gushed from Chu Seong’s entire body, soaking the center of the training ground.

“Huk!”

“S-Stop!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t stop.

If he said he would kill, he would kill. The killing intent swirled around the spear blade, which shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

“Kuh-heok!”

Chu Seong trembled, spitting blood.

His entire body was covered in a web of wounds. But they weren’t just simple cuts. The *Byukra* energy [a type of internal energy] carried on the spear blade was penetrating the wounds, worsening the internal damage.

The attack included both the technique and the penetration. Regardless of how high-level the martial art was, one wouldn’t go this far unless they truly intended to kill.

‘Death?’

Chu Seong’s eyes became bloodshot.

‘Am I going to die?’

In his blurry vision, he saw Yeon Ho-Jeong.

The demon who had rendered a man helpless with a flurry of spear strikes was coldly smiling, preparing for the final blow.

Finally, fear appeared on Chu Seong’s face.

That guy, no, that demon wearing a human’s skin, really intended to kill him.

“Cough! S-Save me…!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t respond.

He grabbed the middle of the spear shaft, pulling it back like drawing a bow, and then thrust the spear with all his might.

*Pa-aang!*

Chu Seong squeezed his eyes shut.

That’s when it happened.

*Ka-aang!!*

The spear stopped.

“Huk!”

The spear blade was an inch away from Chu Seong’s Adam’s apple. If it had been a little later, his throat would have been pierced.

Chu Seong’s trembling body went limp. He had fainted.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

The one who had blocked his spear strike was a steel rod and a hand. He had tried to deflect the spear shaft, but the force was too strong, so he had grabbed it with his hand and twisted it.

He looked at the person who had blocked his spear.

“…Yongdu Bangju [Head of the Dragon Head Faction]?”

“As I said before.”

His voice was trembling. The pressure of the spear pressing down on the steel rod was too strong.

“My master’s life is too tenacious. I’m still just acting as his successor.”

“…”

“Ugh! By the way, you’re incredibly strong. It hurts like hell.”

*Thud.*

Ga Deuk-Sang’s palm, which was holding the spear, was stained with blood.

This strike wasn’t just a simple thrust. It wasn’t just a forward stab, but also included rotation and transfer of force to maximize penetration.

Yeon Ho-Jeong stared at Ga Deuk-Sang for a moment, then released the force on his spear.

“Hoo!”

Ga Deuk-Sang removed the steel rod and his hand with a disgusted look.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression hardened.

“What are you doing? If you had made a mistake, your hand…”

“Would have been blown away. If I hadn’t poured my inner energy in time, I would have become a more miserable beggar.”

He shook his hand as if it was nothing, quite nonchalantly.

“Still, if one hand can save two lives, isn’t it a good deal?”

Two lives.

One was definitely Chu Seong. Then who was the other?

“It was an unnecessary worry.”

Ga Deuk-Sang replied.

His voice became noticeably smaller, just enough for Yeon Ho-Jeong to hear.

“The Namgoong family is strong. Before the Nine Great Clans gained power, they were considered the closest to being the strongest family in the world. You know that, right?”

“There are too many ways to bring down an elephant to count them all.”

“Are you planning to bring down the Namgoong family?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“If necessary.”

Ga Deuk-Sang forced a smile.

He was smiling, but his spine was chilled. Regardless of whether it was actually possible, this young man was serious.

‘Dangerous.’

His ability was secondary.

Ga Deuk-Sang felt a steel-like nature in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes and voice.

He didn’t care whether it was right or wrong. This young man had a fierce determination to achieve what he had set his mind to, even if it meant risking his life.

A strong will that made the word ‘determination’ seem inadequate.

If that will went down the wrong path, it would become madness, and if it followed the right path, it would become conviction.

“Anyway, there are many people watching. Let’s end this fight here.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, with his colorless eyes, looked at Ga Deuk-Sang and then around.

Many people were watching him. And most of them were martial artists.

What was unexpected was their gazes.

Normally, if they had witnessed such a brutal fight, they would be trembling with fear. That might be the case in the world of ordinary people.

But were these people also martial artists?

The eyes of the younger disciples watching this place were filled with a deep excitement, beyond simple surprise.

It wasn’t excitement from seeing blood. It was the excitement of martial artists.

The exhilarating and merciless spear techniques. Although the swordsman had been defeated by the spear master, the high-level swordsman’s persistence until the end.

Even though the finish might have been excessive, the clash of swords and spears and the flowing exchange had something that made one’s palms sweat.

For the younger disciples who had grown up practicing forms within their families, a real-life sparring match like this, where they hadn’t practiced together, was enough to stimulate their ambition. It didn’t matter if they were male or female.

Even that Namgoong Hyeon had a fiery look in his eyes. Despite being in a situation where he couldn’t possibly be happy, his heart was pounding from the unexpected, fierce competition.

“Those guys are all fired up? It’ll be easier than I thought?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Ga Deuk-Sang.

Ga Deuk-Sang shrugged his shoulders comically.

“Please wrap it up nicely.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t help but chuckle.

“It was a life-or-death match between martial artists. I will make sure to receive punishment for interfering with the fight.”

“You’re a strange one. You can’t even say thank you. Ah, whatever. Just wrap it up quickly.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong slammed his spear into the ground.

*Koo-oong!*

Everyone looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

He spoke calmly.

“I apologize for startling you all. But if the successor hadn’t stopped me, I would have genuinely killed this swordsman.”

*Ooo-sh!*

A chilling atmosphere took over the outer grounds.

They were excited as martial artists, but they were also the descendants of the righteous path who had been taught about justice. It was hard for them to look favorably upon Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had openly said he would kill his opponent.

“Is there a reason?”

A large young man asked. Unlike yesterday, his expression was serious and hardened. It was Peng Dae-Ho.

“Yeon Hyung’s [older brother] skill in defeating Chu Danju [a title of respect] was truly amazing. But wasn’t it too harsh in such a good place?”

He wasn’t helping Yeon Ho-Jeong like he had yesterday.

That was Peng Dae-Ho’s line. Although he was young, he saw yesterday’s incident and today’s match as separate matters. He had such a clear standard.

However, the fact that he unconsciously called him ‘Yeon Hyung’ showed that he had some goodwill towards Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“There’s no reason to hide it. This morning…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong explained the situation briefly and concisely.

His words were not verbose. But he didn’t miss the core of the situation, and he clearly explained the cause and effect of how things had come to this point.

Perhaps that was why? Although his words were short, the listeners felt like they had heard a long story. That meant that Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were coherent.

Ga Deuk-Sang couldn’t help but admire him inwardly.

‘He’s really not ordinary.’

His current demeanor was much more impressive than the martial arts he had used to push Chu Seong. He spoke calmly and coherently, and there was nothing to be missed.

The voice that flowed naturally, as if reciting, had power, and there was no room to interject in his chosen words and tone. It was almost like a speech.

This wasn’t something innate, but rather a familiarity that came from experience. It was a level of control that couldn’t be achieved unless one had led a crowd from a high position.

Ga Deuk-Sang, who had been looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong with admiration, gradually became suspicious.

‘Just what is his identity?’

The brutal skill that had defeated Chu Seong at an age younger than twenty.

The thoroughly honed conviction that naturally overwhelmed his opponents.

Not only was he not burdened by the eyes of the crowd, but he even had a strange charm that skillfully drew them into his atmosphere.

‘This is not enough to call him a genius. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I would have mistaken him for the leader of a large sect, not a young man.’

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes deepened.

‘Who are you?’

The outer grounds became quiet.

When Yeon Ho-Jeong finished speaking, people turned their attention to Namgoong Hyeon.

Namgoong Hyeon’s face was flushed red. He was trying hard to control his expression, but it was obvious to anyone that he was flustered.

“Tsk.”

Myeong Ho-Rim, with his hands behind his back, sighed.

“Namgoong, my brother, made a mistake.”

Namgoong Hyeon’s eyes wavered. He had never expected Myeong Ho-Rim to come out like this.

“Even if he’s a newcomer, isn’t he someone who hasn’t been in the Namgoong family for long? From Chu Danju’s perspective, he would have wanted to show something to your family. It’s also a virtue of a superior to encourage his subordinates’ enthusiasm.”

Namgoong Hyeon’s eyes lit up.

Myeong Ho-Rim continued calmly.

“I know the fatigue of the family hosting the gathering. It’s understandable that you might be on edge. But not being able to encourage your subordinates was your mistake. Shouldn’t you apologize in front of everyone?”

It was a clever remark.

Even so, wasn’t it too much? Wasn’t it a mistake to see blood in a good gathering, talking about insults? There were plenty of reasons to say that. There was enough of an excuse to attack Yeon Ho-Jeong.

However, Myeong Ho-Rim held Namgoong Hyeon responsible as the representative of the family hosting the gathering.

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes sparkled.

‘Are you going to completely bury this matter? How cunning.’

If Namgoong Hyeon took responsibility and apologized, this incident would be over. And bringing up a finished matter again would be petty. Just like Chu Seong had done.

At the same time, Namgoong Hyeon’s intentions would also be buried. The clear wrong would disappear, and only the ‘mistake’ of not managing his subordinates would remain.

Myeong Ho-Rim was trying to seal the incident while pretending to scold Namgoong Hyeon. At the same time, he was also showing his mature side.

Myeong Ho-Rim and Namgoong Hyeon’s eyes met.

‘You owe me one.’

‘I won’t forget it.’

‘Finish it quickly.’

Just as Namgoong Hyeon was about to open his mouth.

“That’s a good sight.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and looked at Namgoong Hyeon.

“He’s not that kind of guy, but if my ‘brother’ had made such a mistake, I would have thrown away all pretense and stepped forward.”

Myeong Ho-Rim frowned.

“Is there any need for pretense? It’s clear that Namgoong, my brother, is at fault…”

“I apologize.”

Myeong Ho-Rim was startled and looked at Namgoong Hyeon.

Namgoong Hyeon, who had already reached the front of the training ground, was making a fist and palm salute [a traditional greeting].

“It was me who ordered Chu Danju. It wasn’t a mistake by my subordinate, but something I intended.”

“Wh-What?!”

“I wanted to finish this gathering as wonderfully as possible. But I was flustered by yesterday’s events, and my anger hadn’t subsided. So, even though I knew it wasn’t Yeon Gongja’s [a respectful title] fault, I vented my remaining anger on Yeon Gongja.”

The crowd’s mouths dropped open.

Namgoong Hyeon was apologizing to Yeon Ho-Jeong. He was even admitting that he had ordered Chu Seong’s actions.

“As the representative of the hosting family, who should be more transparent and upright than anyone else, I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to Yeon Gongja.”

He could have just stayed quiet and let the matter be resolved on its own, but he suddenly confessed the truth.

Everyone was dumbfounded and looked at Namgoong Hyeon.

Namgoong Hyeon looked up at Yeon Ho-Jeong with trembling eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked down at him with a cold smile.

“So please, forgive my mistake…”

The mistake my brother made.

“Please forgive me.”

Shut your mouth.

Looking at Namgoong Hyeon, who was apologizing with all due respect, Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“I refuse.”