Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 338

Yeon-wi showed no change in expression after hearing Jeagal Mun-Ho’s explanation.

He didn’t seem surprised at all. At least, that’s how it appeared on the surface.

Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke cautiously.

“I have given it considerable thought, but it seems we are in a dangerous situation right now. Originally, I wanted to discuss it further with the head of the family before making a decision, but…”

“It’s alright. You don’t need to worry about me so much. No one knows when or what might happen regarding this matter, do they?”

“Haha.”

“I’ve already spoken to Ho-Jeong separately. It’s best to proceed cautiously if possible, but if it’s urgent, we should trust each other’s decisions. It would be difficult to fight them without that level of trust, wouldn’t it?”

“You are right. Also, I was very worried about making a hasty decision. Even if we form an alliance, I said that I wouldn’t completely trust Moyong Gun and would conduct a thorough investigation. After all, there’s a high probability that he made some kind of deal with Yang Cheon, so he might have connections with the Saimyo Cult as well.”

“I understand. However…”

“Yes?”

Yeon-wi’s eyes deepened.

He knew about his son’s past life.

‘Is such a confirmation process really necessary? I heard he fought Moyong Gun to the death.’

Of course, the circumstances then and now are vastly different. According to his son, the Mukryong Army [Mukryong Army: A powerful military force] didn’t even exist back then.

Yeon-wi’s expression hardened as he spoke.

“Even if we form a temporary alliance with Moyong Gun, I’m worried about how far we can trust him.”

“That is a concern for me as well.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes gleamed.

“If he decides to join us, the situation will be different from when he had the Mukryong Army.”

“Because we’ll have to tell him that the Saimyo Cult is secretly targeting the Mukryong Army?”

“That’s right. Of course, this is assuming that Moyong Gun has no connection to the Three Teachings. We still need to keep an eye on him.”

Yeon-wi shook his head.

“I haven’t said anything until now, but I was at least relieved about that part.”

“Why is that?”

“I don’t know how the military advisor sees him, but Ho-Jeong views him as a poisoned blade. A rare and exceptional sword, but a poisoned one that can endanger even the wielder.”

“That’s an accurate analogy.”

“I see it differently. The Moyong Gun I saw is not a sword. He’s just a tiger with more greed than anyone else. A tiger only wants to be the master of the mountain and won’t share it with other beasts who might want to be king.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes lit up.

Yeon-wi continued calmly.

“The fact that he joined hands with Yang Cheon is just an anomaly. He had no choice because his life was in danger. Furthermore, Moyong Gun has no intention of dividing the world in half with Yang Cheon. From the start, he only wants to step on Yang Cheon and become the most powerful person in the world.”

“That’s correct.”

“And the Three Cults are involved? That’s impossible. In fact, his pride is just as erratic as he is. But I was certain about one thing. I don’t know if he knows about the Three Teachings, but he wouldn’t have joined hands with them.”

After a moment of thought, Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“I see. Thinking about it that way, it makes sense why the head of the family is so confident.”

Once you start doubting someone, you tend to focus on the process rather than the results of their actions.

In that regard, it was clear that Moyong Gun had no connection to the Three Teachings. If he had joined hands with them, he wouldn’t have needed to engage in such a greedy power struggle.

“It was the same with the Mukryong Army. He was thoroughly keeping Yang Cheon in check. The reason being, he was a formidable enemy that he would have to face someday.”

“That’s right. Of course, there’s always a chance, so let’s keep an eye on him for now.”

“Let’s do that. People can always change.”

Yeon-wi sighed.

“If he becomes our ally… we’ll probably clash a lot. He doesn’t know the meaning of good.”

“Perhaps, they might actually get along well.”

“Hmm?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled bitterly.

“I’ve also started crossing the line.”

* * *

Moyong Gun’s eyes wavered.

The unexpected, destructive attack shook him to his core. It was fortunate that he managed to block and deflect it, or he might have coughed up blood.

But that wasn’t the important issue right now.

“…What nonsense are you spouting?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t answer. He just glared at Moyong Gun with murderous intent.

Surprise flickered across Moyong Gun’s face.

“The Three Teachings? They helped establish the Mukryong Army?”

“Furthermore, they are currently operating secretly within the imperial court and government offices.”

“…!”

Moyong Gun, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong with a shocked expression, soon gave a bitter smile.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Are you trying to mock me with such ridiculous lies now?”

His voice trembled slightly. Though he said that, he knew that Yeon Ho-Jeong was being sincere.

Just like he had said, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s axe was filled with sincerity.

He was getting to know his opponent through martial arts. In his brief clash with Yeon Ho-Jeong, Moyong Gun couldn’t sense any pretense or falsehood.

“I’ll ask again.”

Whoooosh!

A fierce white storm enveloped the Gwangryong Bu [Gwangryong Bu: A powerful axe].

“The Fanatical Three Teachings, that is, the Saimyo Cult, the Sinhwa Cult, and the Gwanghyeol Cult, have you ever known any of them?”

“I told you to stop talking nonsense.”

His voice became calmer. He had instinctively composed himself.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes darkened like an abyss.

‘You killed me. Even though Sinhwa and Gwanghyeol existed openly, you did. No matter how much you feared my power, I can’t understand why you buried me, someone who could have protected you.’

The problem is this.

‘People can change at any time.’

Moyong Gun was a man who had built a family. But change doesn’t discriminate by age, gender, wealth, or even strength.

What if Yang Cheon had told him about the Saimyo Cult? What if Moyong Gun knew about it?

Of course, if it were the Moyong Gun that Yeon Ho-Jeong knew, he would have suggested stopping the power struggle and attacking them first.

But Moyong Gun didn’t do that. Therefore, the Moyong Gun that Yeon Ho-Jeong knew doesn’t know about the existence of the Three Teachings.

‘But I could be wrong.’

He had to approach this carefully. He had been bold up until now for the sake of this caution.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth opened again.

“I’ll ask one last time.”

Chiiiiik!

A cold wind raged fiercely in front of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s murderous intent.

“Moyong Gun. Have you joined hands with the Three Teachings?”

Moyong Gun finally exploded in anger.

“I told you to stop talking nonsense!”

Jjeoeoeoeong!

Yeon Ho-Jeong was sent flying backward by Moyong Gun’s explosive strike.

It was a strike that only focused on power, leaving a clear opening in his movements. It would have been easy to counterattack, but Yeon Ho-Jeong took the blow head-on.

Pajijijik!

Blue sparks flickered on the Gwangryong Bu before disappearing. Moyong Gun’s lightning energy couldn’t penetrate Yeon Ho-Jeong’s inner energy shield.

Pussshhh.

White smoke rose from the Gwangryong Bu.

Moyong Gun’s eyes were filled with murderous intent. The intensity was not at all inferior to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s.

“Your arrogance has gone too far. I won’t kill you today, but I will teach you a lesson.”

Before Yeon Ho-Jeong could respond,

Peoeoeong!

Moyong Gun shot out like a beam of light. It was an incredible speed, not unlike Yeon Ho-Jeong’s Bloodwing Sky Dance [Bloodwing Sky Dance: A high-speed movement technique].

Moyong Gun’s true power, clad in lightning energy, was unleashed. Blue sparks crackled as he swung his treasured sword with explosive force.

Yeon Ho-Jeong deployed the Tiger King’s Iron Wall Stance [Tiger King’s Iron Wall Stance: A defensive martial arts stance].

Kwarururung!

A loud explosion rang out, and the bark of several trees in the distance was torn away.

Pajijijik! Whoooosh!

A terrifying gale and chilling lightning energy swept through the area.

Moyong Gun’s power, unleashed without restraint, was truly extraordinary. Even Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was second to none in terms of strength, was momentarily swept away. His sword seemed even stronger than his father’s.

Moyong Gun swung his sword again.

Jjeoeoeong! Jjeoeoeong!

A sword is double-edged and thin, making it more suitable for thrusting than slashing.

But Moyong Gun’s sword was different. He struck down with immense force, as if Yeon Ho-Jeong was wielding an axe, each strike carrying the weight of ten thousand pounds.

Kwaaaang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet dug into the ground.

His martial prowess had grown even stronger after forming the Yeon Family Divine Core. Yet, he was being pushed back by force. It was clear that Moyong Gun’s level was higher, but this was the first time he had been pushed back by force in a battle against such a master.

However.

‘…’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes were clear and cold.

He was bleeding from the corner of his mouth due to internal injuries, but his expression and gaze remained unwavering. He was simply calmly deflecting each of Moyong Gun’s attacks.

‘Why is he so angry?’

There was no need to meet force with force.

Moyong Gun’s power was certainly great, but his attacks were full of openings because he was attacking almost mindlessly. If he counterattacked properly, it wouldn’t be difficult to land a fatal blow.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t counterattack. He didn’t exploit the openings.

He simply endured Moyong Gun’s powerful sword strikes.

‘Is he angry to hide his connection to the Three Teachings? Or is he angry that there are more people like the Uisin Society? Or is he angry that he was the only one who was fooled? Or is it that he is ashamed of himself for knowing but ignoring it until now?!’

He was observing the man through his martial arts.

To see the man, he had to read his sincerity, and to read his sincerity, their energies had to clash.

He was getting to know him. Each other’s true intentions.

In Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, Moyong Gun’s true intentions were slowly becoming visible.

Jjeoeong! Jjeojeojeong!

Speed was added to the power.

Just as Yeon Ho-Jeong was reading Moyong Gun’s true intentions, Moyong Gun was also beginning to feel Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sincerity.

That he wasn’t lying, that he genuinely suspected him.

Furthermore, how deeply he hated the unknown organization called the Fanatical Three Teachings.

In Moyong Gun’s eyes, a different scene slowly began to appear.

Hwarururuk!

The earth was parched, and the sky was dyed crimson by the rising flames.

Countless corpses were scattered everywhere. And within them, a young man was crying and wailing with tears of blood.

It was Yeon Ho-Jeong. Yeon Ho-Jeong was weeping as he embraced his bleeding father and younger brother.

In that moment, Moyong Gun felt a chill run down his spine.

‘This guy.’

It was like a hallucination, or perhaps not.

He could feel Yeon Ho-Jeong’s heart. He could feel his concern for the future, his tension and sadness about a world that would become hell even with sufficient preparation.

He could feel the sincerity of a warrior who was worried about his family dying.

‘Is that how far you’re going?’

Even when observing sincerity through martial arts, it’s not easy to read if the opponent controls their energy.

‘Is he showing me his true intentions for the first time?’

The steel gates were opening.

Energy is the heart, and the heart is the soul’s core that allows people to act like humans.

And now, Yeon Ho-Jeong was showing it without hesitation. He wanted Moyong Gun to understand through his energy.

How much he hated the Three Teachings, how worried he was about them.

In that moment, Moyong Gun’s eyes emitted a blue lightning flash.

Jjeoeoeoeong!

This strike was more perfect than any other before.

It contained everything: power, speed, martial principles, and timing.

“Cough!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had retreated about ten steps, coughed up a mouthful of blood.

It was a strike with immense power and penetration. It would have been best to avoid it, but he had endured even the last strike.

Yeon Ho-Jeong wiped his mouth and looked ahead.

Moyong Gun, who had lowered his sword, was looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong with a blank expression.

“…”

Silence fell again.

And it was Moyong Gun who broke the silence this time.

“Do you trust me?”

“Ptoo!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong spat out blood and replied in a cold voice.

“I don’t trust you. However, I trust your abilities.”

It was the same exchange they had when they were about to infiltrate the Mukryong Army in the past.

Moyong Gun, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, sheathed his sword.

Sreung. Tak!

The sound of the blade sliding into the scabbard was as smooth as a melody. His mind was completely calm.

Moyong Gun turned around.

“I will go to Pagungak [Pagungak: A specific location or building] at noon tomorrow. Gather those who know this fact.”

“Don’t do anything foolish in the meantime. I’m going to tell Hu-Gae right now to control all of the Moyong family’s residences.”

Moyong Gun stopped walking.

He turned his head and glared at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“You should gather all the information about those Three Teachings or whatever they are. If even a little bit of what you said today is a lie, Pagungak will be a bloodbath tomorrow.”

“I look forward to it.”

Moyong Gun turned around again and left the forest.

Thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had put down the Gwangryong Bu, sighed.

“Let’s live a little easier, you human.”

The emotions he had shown were genuine. But he didn’t know everything about Moyong Gun. He was that kind of person.

Now, there was only one thing left.

“If you pull any tricks like you did when I died, I’ll uproot the Moyong family, even if my brother asks me not to.”