Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 427

“Hmm.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“So, the Great Leader went with him?”

“Yes. He said he would return around this time tomorrow.”

“I understand. You’ve worked hard.”

“Then.”

Yunho left, and Moyong Gun, Muk Bi, So-bang, and Sama Hyeon remained.

Moyong Gun spoke to So-bang.

“You must have had a hard time on the road.”

So-bang scoffed.

“Your unit must be nice and comfortable.”

“Hmm?”

“The leader is better with words than martial arts. He could charm a ghost.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

“Eloquence is also a skill. Thanks to having such a leader, we don’t suffer losses anywhere, as you said.”

“It’s a pity that his great martial arts can’t keep up with his mouth.”

“At least I’m stronger than you, so isn’t that fortunate?”

Whoosh.

So-bang’s body emitted a murderous aura.

Even though his inner energy was sealed, his unique murderous intent was still present, instantly making the atmosphere ominous.

“If you’re so confident, why don’t you suggest we fight properly after releasing my inner energy?”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“We are not fighters but warriors. We don’t care about the means or methods to achieve our goals. We never do foolish things like releasing prey we’ve already caught.”

“Hah! Then your leader must be a fool. He publicly stated he would let me go.”

“He omitted the part about keeping you until you’re no longer useful. You don’t have to worry about that issue.”

So-bang, who had been glaring at Moyong Gun, growled softly.

“As soon as I gain my freedom, I’ll deal with you first.”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

After spitting out those words roughly, So-bang turned and entered his quarters.

Moyong Gun, watching So-bang’s retreating figure, asked Sama Hyeon,

“What was the name again?”

“It’s Sama Hyeon.”

“Not your name, the poison you made.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes gleamed.

“It’s called Accumulating Heart Powder [積心散 – Jixin San].”

“Can you explain it?”

Surprisingly, Sama Hyeon answered readily.

“Initially, there are no symptoms. The ingredients are actually beneficial to the body, improving its condition and promoting the circulation of qi [internal energy].”

“But?”

“Even good things can become poison if taken in excess. How much more so when it’s used as a poison? Accumulating Heart Powder is a poison that filters natural toxins and accumulates them in the heart meridian [a pathway for qi]. There are no immediate issues, but after a month or two, the chest will start to feel tight.”

“…….”

“Even if it’s discovered then, treatment isn’t difficult. However, to treat it with inner energy, an overwhelming density of power is needed. If that period is missed, self-detoxification is impossible unless you’re a master of the level of the Thirteen Seats of the Heavenly Star [a group of top martial artists].”

“Are you sure?”

“I am sure. Of course, I always believe there are exceptions.”

Judging by how he spoke, it was definitely no ordinary poison.

“What about an antidote?”

“There isn’t one.”

“……There isn’t?”

“That’s right. However, there is a medicine that can delay the period when the heart meridian starts to rot.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

“So, if the Accumulating Heart Powder cannot be detoxified, you have to live with that medicine for the rest of your life?”

“At most ten years. Even with medicine, you can’t live a long life. It’s a poison that rots the heart meridian and causes abnormalities in blood circulation, so how could you live long?”

“……That’s terrible.”

Sama Hyeon didn’t answer. Or perhaps he felt there was no need to answer.

He had lived more than half his life as an assassin. Even if he was naturally kind, he had killed countless people in that environment, making it impossible for him to imagine a life other than as an assassin.

Moyong Gun, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded lightly and dismissed him.

“You should rest now.”

“I was about to.”

“Ah, before that, can I ask you one thing?”

“……?”

“How did you end up here?”

Sama Hyeon said with a somewhat indifferent expression.

“I was planning to ask that person tomorrow.”

In any case, it meant he had come at Yeon Ho-jeong’s recommendation.

As Sama Hyeon also returned to his quarters, only Moyong Gun and Muk Bi remained.

Muk Bi said,

“It’s a relief that things worked out better than expected. The Guangdong people’s issue.”

“That’s true, but…”

Moyong Gun clicked his tongue.

“From what I heard, it seems he resolved it quite forcefully.”

“Considering how Young Master Yeon, no, Great Leader, usually handles things, it’s not surprising.”

“That’s right. But the opponents are officials of the Empire. They might be bowing their heads now, but if they harbor resentment, it could be a headache.”

“I heard they were the highest leaders of each department. They’re in such high positions, would they really hold a grudge?”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“I can’t confidently say I know the world better than you, but from my experience in the Upper Realm [a term for the central government or capital] and the Murim Alliance [martial arts world], I’ve learned one thing.”

“……?”

“Politicians never forget when they’ve been wronged or oppressed.”

“……!”

“If they bow their heads to someone once, they will make that person bow to them in the future. They think they can’t establish authority if they don’t do that.”

“That’s…”

“There are cases where people gain positions through effort and character, but there are also cases where the position makes the person. Such people don’t differentiate between authority and power, and they are mostly accustomed to rights without responsibility.”

A slight worry appeared on Muk Bi’s face.

“Then what should we do?”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“I don’t think the Great Leader’s method is right. No, there’s no need to discuss right or wrong in the first place. We just have to carry out the orders we’re given. However…”

“……?”

“Considering the Great Leader’s personality, I don’t think he would have acted so aggressively if he wasn’t confident in withstanding their attacks.”

Moyong Gun forced a smile.

“Well, let’s just think about the present for now. As a result, the officials’ minds have been turned, so the atmosphere in Guangdong will be corrected soon.”

“Ah, yes.”

“You’ve also had a hard time on the road. Go and rest.”

“Understood. Please rest as well, Commander.”

“I will.”

Moyong Gun looked up at the sky.

It was darker than he thought. The day was getting humid, but for some reason, he felt a chill.

“There won’t be any problems, probably.”

* * *

From the bottom of the mountain, any mountain would look the same, but Mount Bul was also large and wide.

Despite being so large and majestic, it exuded a serene atmosphere. Even though the sky in all directions was dark, the sky above Mount Bul seemed particularly clear.

“Do you see it? There, that place.”

“Yes.”

“That cave is the entrance. If you go through that entrance, there are many caves connected. We live right there.”

Yeon Ho-jeong narrowed his eyes.

Whoooosh.

The temperature was humid and the day was muggy.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong could instinctively feel it. The cool breeze blowing from that cave.

It was an unusual place. His senses were telling him so.

It wasn’t a place where the demonic people who walked the heretical path lived, nor was it a place where murderous killers with intense bloodlust resided. He didn’t feel that any bad things were happening there.

However.

‘They’re swarming.’

Now that Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts had improved after the battle with Yayul Jeok, he could better accept the enlightenment he had gained during his time as the Dark Emperor.

Even at the same level, the senses and the sensitivity to inner energy were different. It was a path he would have normally passed by, but as soon as Tam-gyeong pointed out the cave, all his senses focused on it, and he could read the subtle density of the flowing qi.

‘There are many strong people.’

The number was impossible to determine. The distance was too far, so Yeon Ho-jeong couldn’t tell how many masters were there.

However.

“They’re dull.”

“Hmm?”

Yeon Ho-jeong glanced at Tam-gyeong.

“The old man is an old man, but most of the masters living there have dull true energy [refined internal energy].”

“Ha! You can feel that?”

“It’s not that I feel it with qi, it’s just a sense. If there were masters who had been actively fighting in real battles, I would have felt it much more dangerous.”

Tam-gyeong couldn’t help but be impressed.

“How can you feel that from this distance? You truly amaze me.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It is something. I think your current level is at least that of a sect leader of the Nine Great Sects [major martial arts sects]. It’s impressive enough, but there’s probably no one with such sharp senses as you at that level.”

“Then I’ll take it as such.”

Tam-gyeong, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-jeong, smiled.

“You’re similar.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re very similar to that person.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“The person who is presumed to be your master.”

“……!!”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes widened slightly.

Tam-gyeong looked up at the sky.

“It was when I was a promising talent in Shaolin [a famous Buddhist monastery known for martial arts]. Unlike the expectations of those around me, I was filled with anguish. I had reached a strong plateau in my martial arts.”

“…….”

“At that time, I met him by chance. It was a dialogue without words. He smiled at me, and I unknowingly threw a punch. You can guess the result, right?”

“…….”

“It was a complete defeat. I would have preferred to be beaten to a pulp, but he didn’t even use inner energy and completely dismantled my Shaolin martial arts from the roots.”

“……Could it be.”

Yeon Ho-jeong stammered.

“Did you meet that person?”

“If I hadn’t met that person, I would never have known that you had mastered the Four Divine Beasts [a powerful martial arts technique].”

“……!”

“You’re very similar to him. Your appearance and physique are all different, but your eyes are exactly the same. But after experiencing you, I realized that it’s not just your eyes, but even the wisdom hidden behind your aggressiveness.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly looking at Tam-gyeong, asked in a somewhat subdued voice.

“Where did he go?”

“If that person is your master, wouldn’t you know better?”

He didn’t know.

Since his regression, he had never met his master, and during his time as the Dark Emperor, his master had left him first.

He was always like that. He would suddenly appear before him, embrace his broken soul, teach him martial arts for years, and then disappear again when he thought he had achieved some level of success.

Surprisingly, his master’s existence was shrouded in mystery even for Yeon Ho-jeong.

He was a caring person, but he didn’t give as much affection as a typical master-disciple relationship.

However, it wasn’t that he neglected his teachings. On the contrary, he was stricter than his father, Yeon Wi, and the wisdom of life and the truths of the world he taught were like treasures held by a sage.

He was a benefactor who taught him knowledge, martial arts, and even how to create his own path. But there was an invisible wall that made it difficult to approach him, a truly difficult and longed-for existence.

“He told me that if fate allowed, he would be able to meet his disciple someday. He also said he might meet the successor of the Four Divine Beasts.”

“…….”

“That was you. I knew it the moment I saw you. That you were his disciple.”

Tam-gyeong, who had been quietly looking at the sky, lowered his head and looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.

“The entire Buddhist sect is keeping silent, but I think I can tell you. What we, who were once monks of the Buddhist sect, are looking for here.”

“……What is it?”

“Eternal life.”

“What do you mean?”

Tam-gyeong’s eyes deepened.

“A life that doesn’t die. In other words, we were investigating immortality.”