Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 422

“……!!”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression changed drastically.

In that moment, he never imagined he would meet someone who knew about his master and the Four Divine Beasts.

Tamgyeong’s eyes, which had been shining with seriousness, returned to their usual calm state.

“So it was true. You have mastered the Four Divine Beasts.”

“You…”

Was it because he was too surprised?

Yeon Ho-jeong stuttered without realizing it.

“H-How do you know about the Four Divine Beasts?”

It was understandable.

The Four Divine Beasts martial art was a forgotten martial art in history. Even Yeon Ho-jeong himself only learned after his regression that the origin of this martial art was the legendary master, the Four Directional Martial Emperor (四方武帝) [a legendary figure who mastered martial arts in all four directions], three hundred years ago.

Of course, Yeon Ho-jeong was quite indifferent in that regard. But even considering that, there was no one who knew what the Four Directional Martial Emperor’s martial art was.

At best, the now-extinct Guju Myeong Clan had grotesquely modified the Four Divine Beasts martial art, turning it into a dark art (魔功) [a demonic or evil martial art] with bad consequences, but even they didn’t know it was the Four Divine Beasts martial art.

Whoooom!

A heavy energy rose from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.

It was the Black Tortoise energy. To defend his surprised mind, the Black Tortoise Art was activated on its own.

Tamgyeong’s eyes flashed.

“Is that the energy of the Four Divine Beasts?”

“…….”

“Heh heh, it’s much deeper and heavier than I thought. It seems to be based on water energy (水氣) [a type of internal energy associated with water], but it doesn’t suit your personality at all.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly watching Tamgyeong, spoke honestly without realizing it.

“It’s just a part of the Four Divine Beasts.”

“A part?”

“Yes.”

“Then, does that mean the martial art of the Four Divine Beasts is not one, but four?”

The Four Divine Beasts (四神) [the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise] are the gods of the four directions. It wouldn’t be difficult to deduce that the true energy (眞氣) [internal energy] also has four different attributes from the answer that it was just a part.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong could read more than just deduction in Tamgyeong’s words. He seemed to know about the Four Divine Beasts, but he didn’t seem to know the details of the martial art itself.

‘Just what is this guy?’

He was unique.

It was one thing that he knew about the Four Divine Beasts martial art, which only he and his master knew, but what was truly surprising was his naivety, which didn’t match his age.

Even though he was a junior, he was revealing his expressions and emotions as they were, without trying to hide them. The playfulness that didn’t suit his age was a bonus. If he was a person from the previous generation, he would be close to a hundred years old at the very least, but he was acting like a child who didn’t know the ways of the world.

‘What kind of person is he?’

He was called Tamgyeong. A person who seeks scriptures.

What kind of scriptures was he looking for, and how did he know about the Four Divine Beasts?

Could it be that the scriptures he was looking for were related to the Four Divine Beasts martial art?

“……That’s enough.”

Yeon Ho-jeong put aside his questions.

A person who knew his martial art, and a person who asked who his master was.

Since he had asked such questions, Yeon Ho-jeong had a mountain of things he wanted to ask. But what was important to him now was not about the Four Divine Beasts or what this old man was doing.

What was most important now was the mission.

Many of his subordinates had died in this operation to eliminate the Yin Assassins. Even if it was the best they could do, it was his responsibility as the leader.

No matter how great the Four Divine Beasts martial art was, could it be more precious than the lives of his subordinates?

Yeon Ho-jeong had a responsibility to successfully complete this mission, even for the sake of his dead subordinates.

“I’ve answered. Now, give me the answer to my question.”

Surprise flickered across Tamgyeong’s face.

“You’re not even curious about how I know about your martial art?”

“I am curious.”

“But why? As far as I know, the lineage of the Four Divine Beasts martial art has been cut off for three hundred years. Moreover, the last successor of this martial art…”

“Listen here, old man.”

No one would have imagined that the ordinary word ‘old man’ would sound like such a brutal title.

“How you know my martial art and what your intentions are in asking about my master are secondary.”

“……?”

“I’ve lost my subordinates, and despite that, I’ve come to this place for the remaining mission. I’m worried that your ridiculous pranks might affect our mission.”

Fwoooosh!

Yeon Ho-jeong’s pupils turned red.

It was the manifestation of the Vermilion Fire energy. The fiery killing intent in his eyes was pressuring Tamgyeong.

“Speak. Are you connected to the government? It was a nasty prank, but it didn’t sound like just a prank.”

“…….”

“If you are connected, tell me how far your connections reach, whether you will interfere with this matter, and whether you will hinder us.”

If Yeon Ho-jeong was greatly surprised a moment ago, it was Tamgyeong’s turn to be shocked this time.

‘Look at this guy?’

His curiosity must be incredibly high.

Despite that, he brushed aside the matter of the Four Divine Beasts.

Tamgyeong couldn’t help but ask again.

“Aren’t you curious about where your martial art came from, how I know about it, or what I do?”

“I clearly said that there is something more important than that right now.”

“More important than that! That’s nonsense! The martial art of the Four Divine Beasts is a legend from three hundred years ago…!”

Kwaaaang!

A tremendous stomp shook the entire mountain.

Beom Oh looked down at Yeon Ho-jeong’s feet with trembling eyes.

The ground Yeon Ho-jeong had stepped on was devastated. The spiderweb-like cracks that started right beneath his feet spread across all the ground within his sight.

‘Terrifying!’

It was a power that exceeded imagination. The fierce and heavy stomp, like a flame and a mountain, showed a shocking flow of power that he had never seen from any elder of the Shaolin.

Yeon Ho-jeong growled lowly.

“Shall I pick up my axe right now?”

“…….”

“I don’t know how old you are or how long you’ve been holed up in a cave, but if you’re going to spout nonsense, bark at the sky, not at people.”

Beom Oh shouted.

“Great Leader Yeon! If you utter such nonsense one more time, I will not forgive you!”

Yeon Ho-jeong also yelled back.

“The one who cannot be forgiven is that man!”

“What?!”

“People have died! My subordinates, and innocent civilians, have lost their lives! Because of those damn assassins who are disrupting the world!”

“……!!”

“How deep his curiosity is, is his own problem! If you think about the public sentiment that is wavering even at this moment, there is no room to humor that crazy old man’s nonsense!”

Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Beom Oh.

In that moment, Beom Oh felt a pain as if his eyes were burning.

“I’m giving you sincere advice. I won’t stop you from treating him as an elder since you’re from the same sect, but as a person, don’t try to learn from that man. He’s a petty man who makes a mockery of other people’s urgency under the excuse of having left the secular world!”

“Eek!”

“If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha! Instead of cultivating that ridiculous martial art, try to find yourself first!”

In an instant, Beom Oh’s eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.

A huge bell seemed to be ringing in his head. A teaching, disguised in harshness, that he had never heard from the elders of his sect, was shaking his soul.

Beom Oh, who was speechless with shock, froze with his mouth agape.

Yeon Ho-jeong turned his eyes back to Tamgyeong.

Tamgyeong’s face was stern. He was also quite shocked by Yeon Ho-jeong’s harsh words.

Swoosh.

The sound of the axe blade was chilling as he lifted the Mad Dragon Axe.

“I’ll ask one last time.”

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed the axe at Tamgyeong.

“Explain how far your connections reach within the government and what the gist of your previous statement was.”

“Listen…”

“I clearly said it was the last time. If you say anything unnecessary, the axe will fly immediately.”

Was it overwhelming?

He was emitting killing intent while pointing that menacing axe at an opponent stronger than himself, an opponent who should be absolutely respected considering the customs of the Central Plains.

Did he read the sincerity in that killing intent?

Tamgyeong spoke with a stiff face.

“What we do cannot be done without the government’s permission.”

“So?”

“There are many officials who follow Buddhism. Especially the higher-ranking officials.”

“In other words, you have connections with high-ranking officials.”

Fire ignited in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.

“I heard that not just you, but several eccentrics living in that cave moved. Despite that, you came to the Left Deputy Commander’s residence. According to the Beggar Clan, they only told you about those who were likely to be assassinated, but they didn’t tell you who was the most important or what the scope was.”

“…….”

“I don’t know about the Left Deputy Commander, but at least you have connections with high-ranking officials on the Right Deputy Commander’s side. Perhaps the same is true for the Provincial Military Command?”

“……Amazing. You can deduce that far?”

“Then that’s enough. Now, answer the one remaining question.”

“One remaining question?”

Even though he was extremely angry, Tamgyeong was responding to the young man’s impolite speech, who was nearly eighty years his junior, one by one.

Putting aside everything else, his generous nature was something to be acknowledged. In a world where people would get angry if they were not respected even if they knew their mistakes or faults, at least Tamgyeong was showing that he could accept the other person’s feelings.

“Will you interfere with the government’s affairs?”

“Heh heh heh.”

Tamgyeong chuckled.

“I’ve already apologized, but I apologize again. Did you really think I would get involved in secular matters? I’m a person who has been devoted to finding something my whole life, and I intend to continue to do so. How much of my life is left that I would get involved in such things?”

“In the end, it was just a prank.”

“I’m sorry. It seems I got carried away without realizing it, since it’s been so long since I came out into the world. I will clearly apologize for that part.”

“That’s not enough.”

“Hmm?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.

“Apologize not to me, but to the people of Guangdong who are groaning even at this moment.”

Tamgyeong shook his head.

“No matter what you think of me, I have no intention of interfering with the world. The reason I helped this time was purely because I didn’t want any evil (魔) [demonic or evil influence] to interfere with our work.”

“…….”

“We have forgotten Buddhism, and we have forgotten the world. We have already become such people.”

“Then I’ll return you to being human, even for a moment.”

“You can’t, and you don’t need to.”

“Go to the government. For the stability of Guangdong Province, you’ll have to persuade the officials with me.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to get involved that far.”

“I’ll tell you about the Four Divine Beasts martial art.”

“……?!”

Tamgyeong’s face hardened.

“What did you just say?”

“I won’t ask where you saw the Four Divine Beasts or what the Four Divine Beasts mean to you. However, I guess you are quite interested in the martial art I have mastered.”

“…….”

“I’ll tell you what kind of martial art it is. So, cooperate with us. If what you said is true, we can stabilize Guangdong as soon as possible.”

Thud!

Yeon Ho-jeong slammed the Mad Dragon Axe into the ground.

“It’s not a request, it’s a deal. And if this deal doesn’t go through, I’ll pick up the axe again.”

“……Heh heh, heh heh heh!”

“Decide quickly. There’s no time.”

Tamgyeong’s eyes lit up.

“If I agree to that deal, what benefit will I get?”

“I said it’s a deal. Don’t ask for more than that.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned grim.

He placed his hand on the axe handle.

“Yes or no. Decide quickly.”