Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 412

Whirr!

The clothes fluttered wildly.

“Damn it!”

Muk Bi cursed, unlike her usual self.

“Then what happens? Is there going to be a tectonic shift in the entire Guangdong Province?”

“Yes.”

Thud thud thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face, riding his horse against the wind, was as stiff as could be.

“According to this guy, he already knows the locations of all the key figures in the Guangdong government. Right?”

Sama Hyeon nodded.

Was it because he learned horsemanship while mastering assassination techniques? His riding skills were quite seasoned.

“I didn’t get the details because we left in a hurry. When did this all start?”

“I don’t know either. But when I started to stand out among my disciples, they began training me as the next Eumsin [Shadow God]. From then on, they gave me information bit by bit.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes deepened.

“I’m sure it didn’t start from the previous generation. The Eumsin was just the strongest assassin that all assassins in the world revered like a god, not a king. That’s a fact that all assassins living in the shadows acknowledge.”

“To reign but not to rule….”

“Exactly. That’s why the Eumsin could be worshiped as a legend.”

A presence that commanded the respect of all assassins just by existing.

But Yayuljeok was not like that. As soon as he became the Eumsin, he took the life of his predecessor and began to seize control of his surroundings.

Yayuljeok’s control was astonishing.

From the start, when the legend of the Eumsin said he would create an imperial palace in the underworld, countless assassins had gathered without looking back. However, it was all due to Yayuljeok’s efforts that he thoroughly managed those many assassins and expanded his power so fiercely.

In other words, Yayuljeok was the one who brought the name of the Eumsin, who was revered as a legendary figure, into the real world and turned him into a ruler.

It was a grand statement, but in the end, it meant that he had established himself as an undeniable force in the southern part of the Central Plains.

That was why a small number of assassins had a very negative view of the current Eumsin. Many assassins respected the Eumsin, but they also followed him because of the dark romance unique to the Eumsin, who freely walked the line between life and death.

Even though they were killing people for money, it seemed like a romance to the assassins.

Originally, the more rough and dark the work, the more definite the rules that had to be established, and only by following those rules could one be treated well.

In that respect, the current Eumsin was showing a very different side from the previous Eumsins.

“Surprisingly, Honggwan, or the one you call Yayuljeok, didn’t seem to have any intention of bringing all the assassins in the world under his control.”

Muk Bi asked in a puzzled voice.

“He’s the one who gathered countless assassins and built his own kingdom. Wouldn’t he have such ambition?”

“That’s how it seemed to me.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Although he’s my enemy, Yayuljeok’s organizational control was amazing. Frankly, if he had wanted to, he could have unified the assassination world years ago. He has the ability to do so, and he also has the power that the name Eumsin gives him.”

“……!”

“Nevertheless, he didn’t leave Guangdong Province. He only raised the level of his assassins, and he didn’t aim for anything more than that. His stage was always Guangdong Province in the Central Plains.”

“Why on earth…?”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke.

“He’s a Saeumgyo [Cult of the Dark Sound] follower.”

“Huh?”

“He didn’t forget his duty. He’s a spy sent by Saeumgyo before he’s an Eumsin. In fact, when I fought him, he seemed to have more pride as a Saeumgyo follower than the superiority that the name Eumsin gave him.”

“……!!”

Muk Bi’s eyes wavered.

“Then, in the end, his goal is…?”

“Yes.”

Chiriring!

As if understanding its master’s heart, the Gyo Ryong Lock [Dragon Binding Lock] that wrapped around Yeon Ho-Jeong’s upper body let out a sharp cry.

“It’s to secure the south as a strong backing when Saeumgyo tries to advance into the Central Plains. In the unlikely event that Saeumgyo is defeated and cornered, it can also open a retreat route, and furthermore, it can become a real force to advance from the south to the north.”

“……!!”

“Saeumgyo is everything to him. It’s literally fanaticism. Yayuljeok is a guy who can give everything for Saeumgyo.”

Suddenly, Muk Bi felt goosebumps all over her body.

The Yayuljeok she had seen was strong. He was not just strong, but so strong that he surpassed the level of the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and the Six Great Families.

If the strong of Seongcheon were excluded, he was a master who could be called capable of competing for the world.

Such a strong person was risking his life for a single organization.

Although everyone had different goals, a master of that level would surely have the desire to establish his own faction. Nevertheless, Yayuljeok faithfully followed the orders of Saeumgyo.

‘How terrifying.’

Muk Bi was once again frightened by the Saeumgyo.

The doctrine that could receive such fanatical loyalty from such a master without a single doubt, and the boldness and confidence to believe in such a master and send him out, was terrifying.

The fact that they did so even though it could be an irreversible blow if someone betrayed them meant that Saeumgyo’s control over its followers was enormous.

Sama Hyeon said.

“As I said, Yayuljeok has already figured out the locations of all the key figures in the Guangdong government. And he has placed assassins next to them.”

“…….”

“I don’t even know how he will give the orders. However, I do know one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Due to his actions, the assassins staying next to the key figures will kill them all at once.”

“…….”

“Although the power of the imperial palace and the government is weak, the fact that the common people can live their lives is due to the government. If all the high-ranking officials of the government are killed, Guangdong Province will fall into chaos from that day on.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been listening quietly, added.

“It’s not just that. The Guangdong government is deeply involved in the daily lives of the local people and is in charge of the detailed management of fishing and trade. In terms of that detail and thoroughness, other regions cannot even compare.”

“Why, why?!”

“Guangdong Province is a place where many people from other countries across the sea come. That means there are many opportunities to encounter various cultures, which means that the system under the empire’s rule could be shaken.”

“……!!”

“Moreover, it’s incredibly far away from the imperial palace. It means that the influence of the central government is weak. In fact, the people living in Guangdong Province have a distinctly different culture from those in the central and northern regions.”

Muk Bi’s eyes wavered.

Even on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s stiff face, a sense of urgency began to slowly show.

“Do you remember when we defeated the Hoirangdan in Shandong? At that time, Ayeon said that if the Haeryong Merchant Group collapsed, the commercial world of Shandong would collapse, and if the commercial world of Shandong collapsed, public sentiment would be confused, and eventually the entire Shandong Province would fall into chaos.”

“……That’s right.”

“What Yayuljeok is trying to do is even worse than that. He’s not just trying to touch one organization, but he’s planning to paralyze the Guangdong government itself all at once.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes twitched.

“If the government is paralyzed, Guangdong Province will fall into chaos. And the central government will send many officials and troops to fix the chaotic Guangdong Province. Then who will benefit?”

“……!”

“It’s Sinhwagyo [Cult of the Divine Painting]. The lackeys of Sinhwagyo are still lurking in the imperial palace and the government. Taking advantage of the weakened power of the central government, the Sinhwagyo’s seizure of the imperial palace will accelerate, and if that happens, Saeumgyo’s advance into the Central Plains will also speed up.”

Muk Bi’s mouth gaped open.

Although she had not learned about the world for long, she was a possessor of a fairly excellent brain. She was even in charge of the tactical training of the Myeolsa Army in place of Yeon Ho-Jeong, so how could she not be?

However, the fact that she had little experience in the world was an unavoidable fact.

In terms of politics and seeing the big picture, her capabilities were still lacking, and naturally, she could not help but fall into great shock when she heard such a story.

‘This can’t be.’

For a moment, a hellish illusion was drawn before Muk Bi’s eyes.

A hellish scene of the Central Plains, where the common people were in misery and the world was in flames, was chaotic.

“Since the world of martial arts took root in the Central Plains, the politics of the empire had no choice but to be different from before. Everything, big and small, had changed, but one of the most important policies was the strong control of the regions bordering the sea.”

“The sea…….”

“If another world that deviates from the imperial law, like the martial world, appears, the foundation of the empire will be in a precarious situation. As I said earlier, Guangdong Province is a place where overseas cultures often come and go. If, by any chance, Guangdong turns its back on the central government, the empire’s position will be further reduced, and eventually the entire Central Plains will fall into a whirlpool of chaos.”

Sama Hyeon nodded.

“From the perspective of an invader, that period of chaos can be said to be the perfect time to strike. In other words, the one who takes the world first will be able to take everything.”

“An era of warring states must not come. At least not now. That’s why we’re stopping them.”

Muk Bi took a deep breath.

“In other words, to put it simply, we must stop Yayuljeok.”

“That’s right. But…….”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

Far away, five li [approximately 1.9 miles] ahead, a fork in the road began to appear.

“We might be too late. But we can’t just stand by and do nothing. You go to Yaseong with Sama Hyeon. Sama Hyeon will guide you.”

“What about you, sir?”

Sama Hyeon said.

“I’m going to Seongdo.”

“Seongdo?!”

“It’s a problem if any of the high-ranking officials die, but the most important people are gathered in Seongdo. And among them, there are two people who must never die.”

“Who are they?”

“The left and right Pojeongsa [Chief Administrators] of the Seungseon Pojeongsa, who are in charge of administration and governance.”

“Ah!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Muk Bi.

“I’m going to protect them. It might be too late, but.”

“Yes!”

“Please take care of it. Although he was critically injured, Yayuljeok is still a master. You must stop his scheme with Moyong Gun. Sama Hyeon will be your guide.”

“I understand.”

“Don’t die.”

Muk Bi smiled.

“You too, Young Master Yeon.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Not Young Master, but sir.”

That was the end of the conversation. Yeon Ho-Jeong spurred Jeokpung on with force.

Thud thud thud thud thud!

Jeokpung’s speed was amazing.

Jeokpung was a divine horse that could easily handle the weight of the Gwangryongbu [Dragon Light Armor]. As if reading its master’s heart, Jeokpung ran at twice the speed as before.

A speed faster than the divine movement of a top master. Jeokpung’s run, with its extreme strength and stamina beyond that of a Hanhyulma [Blood-Sweating Horse], made Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fighting spirit boil.

“Hyah!”

Kurururung!

Yeon Ho-Jeong headed north at the fork in the road.

Muk Bi looked at Sama Hyeon.

“Is your divine movement good enough?”

“Don’t worry. At least I’m better than you.”

“Then let’s run.”

Paah!

The two men and women who jumped off their saddles ran south.