Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 410

The young man’s eyes, holding a dagger with a strange grip as if it were both grasped and draped, were utterly dark.

‘It didn’t reach.’

The blade of the dagger was extremely sharp.

A suitable thickness, a suitable length, a reasonably good handle.

It wasn’t a common item, but it wasn’t something worth a fortune either. At least, that’s how it appeared on the surface.

‘I should have buried this in that bastard’s body. If I had, he would never have survived.’

The Twin-Headed Poison Dagger.

After regaining his memories, it was Sama Hyeon’s unique assassination technique, honed over the past three years solely to kill the Yin Spirit. [A title given to a specific type of assassin]

In reality, it was more accurate to call it Sama Hyeon’s unique method devised solely to kill the Yin Spirit, rather than an actual assassination technique.

For the Yin Spirit, who had achieved mastery by combining Yin Fire Red Flow and Yin Cold White Flow [Martial arts techniques], there was no poison that worked except for the Formless Poison of the Sichuan Tang Clan. [A clan known for their poison techniques]

A frontal confrontation offered no chance of victory, and assassination was even more impossible. In other words, the only remaining options were to hope for death by natural disaster or to dream of being killed by someone else.

Naturally, Sama Hyeon couldn’t wait until then, and he desperately wanted to achieve revenge with his own hands.

That’s why he had painstakingly created the Twin-Headed Poison Dagger over three years.

Since ordinary potent poisons wouldn’t work, he amplified the poison’s potency with a synthetic poison, temporarily reducing the opponent’s life force to near zero.

If he had perfectly understood the manufacturing method of the Death Flower Pattern, a unique potent poison passed down through generations of Yin Spirits, he wouldn’t have needed to come up with such a method.

However, the Yin Spirit, Sama Hyeon’s master and a spy of the Evil Sound Sect, had not given him information about the Death Flower Pattern.

To be recognized as a Yin Spirit, one had to master several secret arts. Sama Hyeon had mastered most of them on his own, but he had only grasped about seventy percent of the manufacturing method for the Death Flower Pattern.

That’s why he created a poison dagger designed to kill with two strikes instead of one. A death technique that would ensure the opponent’s demise.

‘Damn it.’

Sama Hyeon unknowingly clenched his teeth.

‘I should have just endured it.’

He recalled that moment.

The moment when Yeon Ho-Jeong’s chain was shot towards Yaryul Jeok at a terrifying speed.

Although he was at a lower level than them, Sama Hyeon could still tell. He could sense it.

Yaryul Jeok knew how to deflect Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attack. Regardless of whether it would work properly, he was already prepared for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s attack.

Furthermore, Yaryul Jeok was planning to escape. That was a fact he knew because he had been observing only Yaryul Jeok from the beginning to the end of the fight.

The escape of his enemy.

Sama Hyeon couldn’t bear it.

If he let him go now, he would never catch him again. Rather, after recovering, he would come to assassinate him.

And he could never stop the Yin Spirit’s ambush. So, he had to finish everything in that place.

Crack.

Sama Hyeon closed his eyes.

‘No.’

He blamed himself.

‘Maybe all of that was just my delusion.’

He knew as much as he could about the Yin Spirit. Especially after the Soul-Binding Technique was broken, he had tried to understand his every move, speech, and habit by monitoring him.

But what if the Yin Spirit had deceived him?

What if the image he showed to the outside world was entirely fabricated, not just because of him?

It was usually impossible. But it didn’t apply to the Yin Spirit. Besides, he was said to be a spy dispatched from that unidentified group from beyond the borders.

That meant he was more skilled than anyone at hiding and concealing. Considering he had even used the Soul-Binding Technique on him, it seemed he possessed many abilities he didn’t know about.

‘In the end, the fact that I made the situation worse doesn’t change.’

Thud.

The dagger fell from his hand and stuck into the ground.

It was a dagger he had sharpened and honed every single day without rest. It was so sharp that even though it had just fallen naturally, half of the blade was buried in the ground.

It showed how fiercely Sama Hyeon had lived to get that one chance.

“What are you doing?”

Flint!

Sama Hyeon turned his head.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was standing there.

“I knew you were a gloomy guy from our first meeting, but I didn’t think you were the type to wallow alone.”

Sama Hyeon silently looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face was expressionless. It was close to a blank expression, but it didn’t look cold or indifferent.

After a moment, Sama Hyeon opened his mouth.

“Is it time?”

“Time for what?”

“Because of me, you missed your target, and furthermore, your subordinate is on the verge of death.”

“So?”

“Are you here to kill me?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong thought. This guy’s personality certainly didn’t suit an assassin.

An ordinary assassin would only care about missing the target, not about their subordinate being injured.

Regardless of their nature, anyone would be like that if they lived in such an environment. But Sama Hyeon ‘understood’ Yeon Ho-Jeong’s anger and self-blame for almost losing his subordinate.

Understanding others starts with empathy. Unlike his words, Sama Hyeon was also a leader who cared for his people.

“If you thought I would, why were you waiting here?”

“Because it’s dangerous to go anywhere right now.”

The corners of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s lips curled up.

An expression appeared, but there was still no emotion.

“Are you worried that Yaryul Jeok might launch an ambush?”

“That’s right.”

It was an honest answer.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“You don’t need to worry about that. At least for the time being.”

“Why is that?”

“The Martial Alliance is after him. And we even had a good fight. Do you think he has any room in his mind for a small fry like you right now?”

“……!”

“Is it self-consciousness? Or has your vision narrowed from the shock of failing your revenge? Right now, that guy is desperate to reclaim his lost base. He doesn’t even have you in his sights.”

“…….”

Sama Hyeon’s expression didn’t change. He just stared at Yeon Ho-Jeong with slightly trembling eyes.

“And I don’t have any intention of killing you either.”

“Why is that?”

“Why?”

“Aren’t you angry? Because of me, you missed him?”

“I am angry. I was very angry at you.”

“But why?”

“If I killed everyone I was angry at, wouldn’t that make me a mindless murderer? Well, maybe my enemies see me that way.”

“……You should have at least slapped me.”

“Do you want to feel better?”

“…….”

“You’re not in a state to have a proper conversation. But I’m busy. So, I’ll have to force you to wake up.”

“What do you mean?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong crossed his arms as if to show off.

“Aren’t you angry? Yes, I was very angry at you. But the person I’m angriest at is not you, but myself.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes deepened.

“Yourself?”

“Anger at my incompetence for not being able to fend off a sneak attack from a mere kid like you. Anger at my own stupidity for not anticipating the actions of someone as easy as you.”

“……!”

“In the end, it’s my fault. I knew you were clumsy. Nevertheless, I was intoxicated by my own growth and failed to consider it. It’s a painful mistake.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes twitched slightly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong continued.

“In the same vein, it can be said that my subordinate was injured because of you, but ultimately, it’s my fault for not properly conveying information about you to my subordinate.”

“It’s not because of me?”

“It’s because of you. And it’s also because of me. The important thing is which part I feel more responsible for.”

“…….”

“If you feel even a little bit sorry, apologize to my subordinate later. That’s enough for me.”

“He might not be your subordinate.”

“That’s your problem, and it’s my subordinate’s problem.”

“…….”

“Just one more thing. Don’t look down on my subordinate too much. He may sometimes show a foolish side, but he’s far more capable than a small fry like you who doesn’t know how to wait for the time of revenge. He won’t even understand why you’re apologizing.”

Sama Hyeon’s face slightly contorted.

“I’m not sorry to your subordinate. He’s not my comrade in the first place, and you just told him to protect me as you pleased.”

“So what?”

“…….”

“If you’re not sorry, don’t apologize. A fake apology will only end up mocking the other person.”

“Are you really not angry at me?”

“Do you want me to be angry? Should I kill you right now, then?”

“…….”

“I don’t care what’s confusing you. The important thing is now. If you don’t have any hostility towards me, I don’t care if you follow me or not. But I refuse to have you follow me without being any help.”

Sama Hyeon, who had been staring up at Yeon Ho-Jeong, picked up the dagger stuck in the ground, wiped it clean, and put it in his pocket.

“What do you want to know from me?”

“All the information about Yaseong.”

“…….”

“Currently, Yaryul Jeok, your master and enemy, the Yin Spirit, is stationed near Yaseong with nine hundred elite assassins.”

In an instant, Sama Hyeon’s eyes lit up.

The enemy he had almost lost was stationed near Yaseong. That fact revitalized his disheartened mind.

At the same time, he was puzzled.

‘Near Yaseong… why?’

If it was a station, it meant that the assassins were lined up like soldiers, waiting for the time to attack, which was not a tactic an assassin would ever consider.

Assassins always assume the worst-case scenario. They would prepare second and third safe houses in case their main base was raided, and of course, the Yin Spirit Yaryul Jeok had many safe houses hidden in Guangdong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes darkened.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? There’s no need for that. Rather, he should have hidden himself more thoroughly. Instead, he’s openly summoning his forces and blatantly targeting us, Yaseong.”

“……That’s strange.”

“It’s because of the Evil Sound Sect.”

“……?!”

“He’s a spy for the Evil Sound Sect. And he needs to inform his headquarters about this situation. Whether it’s a spy or anything else, those who carry out operations in foreign lands have a duty to immediately report any sudden changes in the situation. That’s the same for any organization, whether in the Central Plains or beyond.”

“Are you saying that he’s trying to recapture his base to contact the Evil Sound Sect or whatever it is?”

“Even if it’s not a recapture, there’s a reason why he has to stop by there. I think it’s to send information to the Evil Sound Sect.”

“……No.”

“What?”

Sama Hyeon shook his head.

“Of course, that could be one reason. But that’s not all. He’s not the type to do such a reckless thing for just one reason.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression became serious.

“Then what do you think? What reason do you think he’s trying to recapture his base for?”

“To contact the Evil Sound Sect… and at the same time…”

“At the same time?”

Sama Hyeon unconsciously touched his lips.

“Escape… damage… if the forces are dwindling and they’re losing in the information war…”

“…….”

“It’s war.”

“What?”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes shone.

“He’s preparing for war.”

“……You mean he’s going to wage war against us?”

“Not the kind of war you’re thinking of, but a war in the shadows that only assassins can wage.”

“……!”

“And if my guess is correct… he’s already infiltrated Yaseong.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face turned grim.

“We’ll talk about the details later. Let’s move. Hurry.”