Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 307

“It’s like the calm before the storm,” Tang Gwan said abruptly, tilting his wine cup.

Yeon-wi tilted his head.

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“Just the atmosphere in the Alliance, I mean.”

Tang Gwan looked out the window.

As if it were the last cold snap of winter, a fierce blizzard was raging with the harsh wind.

“Ever since the informant of the Mukryong Unit died, the atmosphere in the Martial Alliance seems quite tense. Though on the surface, it looks like nothing’s wrong.”

“Indeed.”

“Oh, right.”

Tang Gwan’s lips curled up.

“What I mentioned a few days ago, is it true?”

“Hmm?”

“About the trouble that the family head’s son caused.”

Yeon-wi sighed.

“Yes, it is.”

The fact that Jamyeong Ilho was disguised as an informant of the Mukryong Unit and killed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had not only confessed this to Ga Deuk-Sang. He had also informed Yeon-wi and Jeagal Mun-Ho of the truth.

Jeagal Mun-Ho was very surprised, but he seemed calmer than expected. Of course, he knew that Yeon Ho-Jeong had crossed the line, but with the election just around the corner, he simply brushed it off, saying that the military advisor’s discretion could somehow smooth things over.

Perhaps he would have tried to suppress it no matter who had done it. In Jeagal Mun-Ho’s opinion, stabilizing the Alliance was a priority, at least for now, rather than adhering to principles.

However, Yeon-wi was not the same.

“I scolded him severely.”

Yeon-wi rebuked Yeon Ho-Jeong for the first time in a long while.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong also knew that he had crossed the line, so he did not make any excuses or strongly assert his position.

Yeon-wi also understood his son at heart. Aside from the fact that his son had done wrong, he understood his son’s desire to keep Moyong Gun in check. The reason was that he was one of the only two people, along with Muk Bi, who knew about his son’s past.

Still, wrong was wrong.

Even if he was called the Dark Emperor and had pacified the dark path, the white path had its own ways. Furthermore, Yeon-wi did not want Yeon Ho-Jeong to be tainted by the wicked schemes of the dark path again.

So, he scolded him severely, and Yeon Ho-Jeong also said that he would reflect on his mistakes.

“So, I was going to inform the Bonggong Council about my son’s actions.”

Tang Gwan’s eyebrows shot up.

“The Bonggong Council?” [A council of elders or leaders within the Martial Alliance]

“Yes.”

“Are you crazy? Doing so would only benefit Moyong Gun.”

“Even if it gives Moyong Gun an opportunity, wrong is wrong. If someone does wrong, they must be punished and take responsibility for it.”

“You’re so rigid. It’s true that your son did something quite brutal, but it wasn’t something that warranted such extreme measures.”

“It’s not extreme. To me, that is the right path.”

From the start, they were in positions where they could not understand each other on this matter. Tang Gwan did not want to have a pointless argument.

“But why didn’t you inform them?”

“The military advisor stopped me.”

Tang Gwan chuckled.

“Moyong Gun was right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Moyong Gun said that the Jeagal family head would work only for the Martial Alliance before the greater good. He said that no matter who becomes the Alliance Leader, as long as the leader is not someone who would plunge the world into chaos, he would do everything he could to help them and set the Martial Alliance right.”

“…….”

“But I agree with the Jeagal family head on this matter. You may be disappointed as his father, but if we assume that this is wartime, it’s a rather bold move that deserves praise.”

Yeon-wi’s eyebrows twitched.

“A bold move? That’s nonsense.”

“It makes sense. Think about it logically. We stepped up to fight with only a sword and shield, but the opponent is dragging cannons and firing them, right?”

It was quite an interesting analogy.

And it was true. Moyong Gun was skilled in scheming, and if he set his mind to it, he was someone who could get what he wanted with wicked plots that were hard for a white path person to even imagine.

“In that situation, your son secretly infiltrated the enemy’s side and soaked the gunpowder. For the time being, there’s no chance of the cannons firing, but instead of praising him, you’re scolding him.”

“…….”

“I don’t want to get involved in your family matters, but when you go back, give him a pat on the shoulder. To be honest, I feel refreshed by this.”

It was a very Tang Gwan-like thing to say.

Yeon-wi sighed.

“I don’t know. Of course, there’s some truth in what you say, but I don’t really want to agree.”

“Well, it’s up to the person who accepts it, and I don’t want to care either.”

Tang Gwan, having quenched his thirst with a glass of wine, asked again.

“By the way, how’s it going?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you become my sponsor? There’s still some time until the election, but the Central Plains are vast. You should start fanning the flames, shouldn’t you?”

“I have no idea where to start.”

Tang Gwan clicked his tongue.

“Well, I know that the family head isn’t very good in that area.”

At those words, Yeon-wi couldn’t help but laugh.

“Even though you knew I was like this, why did you choose me as your sponsor?”

“You know, I’m starting to regret it.”

“Hahaha!”

“If you’re going to start something, go back and talk to your son. This time too, the way he uses his head is an art.”

“I understand. I’ll start soon.”

“Good.”

Thud!

At that moment, the window shook violently from the raging wind.

Tang Gwan smiled.

“This year is going to be quite a brutal one.”

“Haha.”

“Why are you laughing all of a sudden?”

“That’s what my son said before.”

“So what?”

“I just remembered it.”

“How boring.”

“Shall I pour you more wine?”

“It hasn’t even touched my liver yet, did you think I was going to finish with just this? Pour me more.”

“I think you’ve forgotten, but this is your place.”

“I know, so just fill my glass.”

“Hahaha.”

* * *

Whishhhhh!

The fierce blizzard and the raging wind were tearing through the air.

Swish, swish, swish.

On a snowy evening.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was sitting cross-legged in the courtyard of the Pagun Pavilion.

Chiiiik!

Large snowflakes were falling heavily, and it seemed like he would be covered in snow in no time, but surprisingly, the fierce snowflakes melted and scattered before they even got close to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

It was because of the fire energy emanating from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body. The Vermilion Bird energy was burning fiercely, melting and evaporating the snowflakes before they even touched his body.

It was truly a terrifying fire power.

Muk Bi, who was looking down at Yeon Ho-Jeong from the second-floor window, clicked her tongue.

“It’s amazing. The heat is reaching even here.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong swallowed hard.

“That’s the Four Divine Beast Martial Art. As Sister said, it’s incredibly powerful.”

“I don’t remember it being this strong. I don’t know about the other energies, but at least the Vermilion Bird energy seems to be twice as strong as before.”

“T-Twice as strong?”

“Probably.”

Muk Bi’s eyes sparkled.

“After refining the Yeon Family Divine Elixir, his martial arts are taking another leap forward.”

As she said.

The reason why Yeon Ho-Jeong had deliberately come out into the open to practice was to stabilize the Four Divine Beast energies that had suddenly amplified due to the Yeon Family Divine Elixir.

Among them, the Vermilion Bird and White Tiger energies were particularly rampant. The energy of the Dragon Robe Divine Art was so fierce and rough that the two energies with similar properties were more ferocious than the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise energies.

And this fierce blizzard was the perfect environment to control the two divine energies. By borrowing the power of this weather, which was full of humid yin energy and cold air, he was stably implanting the amplified Vermilion Bird energy into his heart.

Thus, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s energy circulation did not end even after midnight. As if he had become a stone statue, he sat there, circulating his energy again and again.

And the next morning.

Like a lie, the blizzard stopped. The sunlight rising from the distant eastern sky was brightly illuminating the Martial Alliance.

“Hoo.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong breathed out lightly.

‘It’s done.’

He had matched the Vermilion Bird and White Tiger energies to suit the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise energies.

‘It’s become incredibly fierce in a short time. If I had made a mistake, the balance I had achieved so far could have been broken in an instant.’

This was the power of the Yeon Family Divine Elixir.

The Yeon Family Divine Elixir was like an inner core. For a person to possess an inner core meant that they had an inexhaustible source of true energy.

An inexhaustible source of true energy. On top of that, while training in the Dragon Robe Divine Art, the energy of the elixir became very rough and ferocious.

In other words, it was as if an endless supply of dry firewood was constantly seeping into his internal organs. So, naturally, the Vermilion Bird and White Tiger energies had no choice but to run wild.

‘It takes a whole day just to control it. It’s really not an ordinary power.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue inwardly.

When he had mastered the Byukra Divine Art, the power of the Four Divine Beast energies had overwhelmed the Byukra Divine Art, but it had never been pushed back.

But after creating the Yeon Family Divine Elixir, the Dragon Robe Divine Art, fueled by its momentum, was wielding the Four Divine Beast energies as it pleased.

‘It’s indeed worthy of being the main family’s greatest secret technique. It’s going to be quite a struggle to cultivate the Four Divine Beast energies to harmonize well with the Yeon Family Divine Elixir.’

It would be a struggle, but at the same time, it was something he had been longing for. Just by developing his true energy so that the two forces would not clash, his internal energy output would increase.

‘Good.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his eyes.

And in front of him, his father was standing, bathed in the sunlight shining from the east.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes, I am.”

He had already sensed his father’s presence.

Yeon-wi asked calmly.

“The energy of the elixir is so fierce, it seems it’s not easy to control.”

“That’s right.”

Yeon-wi’s eyes deepened.

‘Is it because of the Dragon Robe?’

He thought that the Dragon Robe energy had played a part in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s radical methods a few days ago.

The Dragon Robe Divine Art was the roughest power among the Five Great Divine Arts. No matter how righteous it was, if one possessed such true energy, it would naturally affect their temperament.

However, since his son’s level had reached the master class, the impact would not have been significant.

“Is the Dragon Robe Divine Art well controlled?”

“Only now have I been able to fully control it.”

“…Well done.”

Yeon-wi looked around.

“Thanks to your Vermilion Bird energy, it seems there’s no need to clean up separately.”

Since he had melted and melted the falling snow, it was natural that it wouldn’t have piled up.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Are you hungry?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, I knew you would say that.”

Yeon-wi reached out to one side of the window of the Pagun Pavilion. It was his room.

Whoosh. Thud!

The long sword that flew through the window was caught in Yeon-wi’s hand.

“A few days ago, I checked your younger brother’s martial arts. I should check your martial arts too, but I’ll be busy for a while, so it’ll be hard to make time separately.”

“Ah, yes.”

“If you’re not hungry yet, I’d like to see it now. I want to know what you’ve gained in the meantime and how you intend to move forward.”

It wouldn’t be limited to martial arts.

Just like what Tang Gwan had said, Yeon-wi also wanted to see through Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts. Not only his son’s martial arts, but also what kind of mindset his son would live his life with in the future.

Moyong Gun? Political strife? The Martial Alliance Leader?

They were certainly important issues, but at least for Yeon-wi, his son’s future was more important.

In the end, he would take care of his son first and then pursue the greater good.

If Tang Gwan had made a Tang Gwan-like choice, then Yeon-wi had also made a Yeon-wi-like choice.

Yeon Ho-Jeong rose from his seat.

A place to prove his worth through martial arts. It was ten thousand times more burdensome than the meeting with Tang Gwan.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course.”

“Come in first.”

Swoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong pulled out a hand axe from his waist.