Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 436

Once Muk Bi left, only three people remained in the room.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke to Moyong Gun.

“I’ll let you know if there’s anything else to pass on. Brother, please try to calm down the Tangma Army and the Myeolsa Army.”

Moyong Gun asked, puzzled,

“The Myeolsa Army too?”

“Why? You’re the second-in-command of the Righteous Army, isn’t that obvious?”

“Well… yes, but still.”

Being called the second-in-command for no reason made him feel awkward and sorry for Muk Bi.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said calmly,

“Regardless of how the Tangma Army sees me, the two units haven’t truly become one yet. Of course, it’s not something that can be solved just by our efforts, but at least we need to lay the groundwork.”

“Hmm, Yeonje’s words are correct.”

“The two units have very different characteristics, but there will be times when we need to carry out operations together depending on the situation. Now that one mission is over, I think it’s time for them to start learning about each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“I’ve been thinking about that too. However, I was planning to proceed when there was a strategist from the Myeolsa Army.”

“Sometimes, it’s good to just clash without knowing anything. It seems like there’s some downtime now, so how about we make them clash head-on?”

“I understand. I’ll do that.”

Moyong Gun stood up from his seat.

“If nothing special happens today, let’s have a drink later. How about it?”

“If nothing special happens, that is.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“As your older brother, I’m telling you, Yeonje, you need to learn how to rest. No one can deny that you’re a rare genius, but there are many talented people around you.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“That’s why I’m giving you the authority over the Tangma and Myeolsa Armies, right?”

“You’re something else.”

With that, Moyong Gun left the room.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Sama Hyeon.

Sama Hyeon also looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong and asked abruptly,

“What is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“You forced everyone out, what is it you want to say to me separately?”

“I didn’t force them out.”

“Whatever it is, it means you have something to say to me.”

“I have a lot. It’s just that the situation hasn’t allowed it.”

“I also have something I want to ask, so this works out well.”

“Oh, really? Then ask me first.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes darkened.

“Why did you call me here?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I thought you were going to ask a profound question.”

“For me, there is no more important question than that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll answer simply. Join us.”

“I refuse.”

It was a sharp refusal to a calm proposal.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked,

“Why?”

“Are you joking? I am an assassin.”

“I know that, you idiot.”

“Hong Kwan, or rather, Yayul Jeok, as he was called. That bastard killed my parents and raised me as an assassin after erasing my memories. The years I lived like that were longer than the years I lived normally.”

“I know that too.”

“If you know, that’s good. I have become an assassin. There is no way the knowledge I have seen and learned in my life will ever leave me.”

It was a situation he couldn’t shake off even if he wanted to.

Yeon Ho-Jeong understood Sama Hyeon’s words. His enemy had raised him as an assassin. He had killed his enemy, but now all that was left for him was his skills and life as an assassin.

Words like ‘shake it off’ or ‘live a different life’ would have no effect. Sama Hyeon’s body and soul were already specialized for that of an assassin.

At least, that’s what Sama Hyeon thought.

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not.

“So, are you going to continue living as an assassin? Do you want to become a new Sound God [a legendary assassin known for their mastery of sound-based techniques] and carry on the reputation of the legendary Sound God of the past?”

“……”

“It seems you haven’t decided yet.”

“That’s right.”

At least Sama Hyeon was honest. That was why Yeon Ho-Jeong highly valued Sama Hyeon.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t join us. It’s a shame for me, who made the offer, but if that’s your choice, I can’t force you.”

“……”

“As I said, I wanted to recruit you. That’s why I asked you to come here. However, I’ve been too busy with work, so I’ve kept you here until now.”

“It’s quite rude to call someone here and then do this.”

“But what did you do during that time?”

“……?”

“You had more than ten days, and you still haven’t decided what you’re going to do?”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes deepened.

“I don’t know if you have had this experience, but I don’t think it’s a light matter that can be decided in just ten days.”

“Just ten days? Don’t make me laugh. It took Muk Bu-jang [a military rank] three days to get over the death of his family-like brothers, and he didn’t even take a day to make the decision to take a step forward, even if he hadn’t decided on the purpose of his life.”

“……!”

“It’s good to think deeply, but there’s no need to think too much. If you can’t find an answer even after thinking about it, you have no choice but to take a step forward, right? Isn’t that life?”

“……”

“If you were born to live, and you live because there’s no reason to die, that’s your freedom. But if you’re going to live like that, at least don’t be an assassin.”

“Why is that?”

“The moment you kill people for money, you’ll have a reason to die.”

“……!!”

“I will kill you without hesitation. If you want to die, do that.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes slightly bloodshot.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Did it sound like a joke?”

“That’s ridiculous. The way the White Path sects leave no blade of grass in enemy territory under the guise of righteousness is no different.”

“You’ve said it well. At least we have the justification of righteousness, but what makes you so confident that you kill people for money? Without even a deeply considered justification, what kind of bastard are you to kill people to keep your measly life going?”

Sama Hyeon’s cheeks trembled.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were a denial of the very existence of an assassin.

“If you want to make a living, don’t kill people, farm. Do business, or go work under a merchant, do manual labor, do something ordinary. That alone is enough to make a living.”

“……”

“Why? Are you sad that you can’t use the assassination skills you’ve learned? Or do those jobs look easy to you?”

“Don’t speak so easily.”

“I’m speaking easily because I don’t think you’d understand if I spoke in a complicated way, you idiot.”

“……”

“I’ll give you a few more words of advice. You were forced to live as an assassin by your enemy? Get out of it. If you live by using the skills of the assassin who killed your parents and siblings against strangers, you will never be able to escape the shadow of Yayul Jeok, even if you die and come back to life.”

“……!”

“Conversely, if you think of it as just one of the countless things you will learn in the future, then don’t even think about taking the lives of people who have nothing to do with you, even if you can’t benefit the world.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes were filled with sternness.

“Power is responsibility. And that power comes from, in a small way, literature and martial arts, and in a big way, from organizations and society. Therefore, everyone in society cannot be free from the responsibility that power gives.”

“……”

“If you want to use assassination techniques, use them for the world. If you want to seal your assassination techniques, leave the martial world and live an ordinary life. These are the last gifts I can give to you, a hesitant guy who hasn’t decided anything for more than ten days.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong got up from his seat and continued.

“I received quite a bit of public funds from the Alliance. There’s no problem feeding one person. Whether you join us, live an ordinary life, or go back to being an assassin, feel free to think about it here.”

“……”

“However, we don’t know when we’ll leave. Make a decision within that time.”

Sama Hyeon said abruptly,

“You are a very simple person.”

“I live in a world where my life is in danger every moment if I don’t make things simple. That’s the same for you and me. But…”

“……”

“Hey.”

“……?”

“Come to think of it, isn’t this my room? Why do I have to get up?”

“……”

“If you have nothing to say, get out of here, you idiot.”

Sama Hyeon, who had been staring up at Yeon Ho-Jeong, suddenly got up and left the room with a thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“Is he sulking?”

He also thought he had said a bit too much.

Sama Hyeon was an honest guy. He was exceptionally accomplished for his age, and even though he was raised as an assassin, he could empathize with others.

That’s why he spoke so harshly on purpose. He had faith that he wouldn’t go astray with this level of stimulation, and it was to tell him to at least try to move if he couldn’t make a decision.

But talking about it made him frustrated, so he had been too harsh.

“There are so many difficult people.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong buried his head in the chair.

“Is that the same for me too…”

An hour later.

As Yeon Ho-Jeong was contemplating the power of the Yeongasin Dan [a powerful elixir] from various angles with his eyes closed, he sensed Ga Deuk-Sang’s presence.

‘His skills have definitely improved.’

Even though he was processing so much information, his skills had improved compared to a few days ago. The increased density of his true energy and his lighter steps proved it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his eyes and straightened his posture.

A moment later.

“Daesu. I’ll go in.”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Ga Deuk-Sang entered.

“How did it go?”

Ga Deuk-Sang’s face was quite serious and dark. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression also became serious.

“Things are turning out very awkwardly.”

“What do you mean?”

“He said he wanted to meet Yeon Daesu.”

“……”

“I tried to brush it off, but he was adamant. Of course, as an information advisor for the Martial Alliance, I could have refused his request. However…”

“You didn’t do it on purpose.”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes lit up.

“Earlier, Huga said this. The reason why Mukryong Bu-ju [a branch leader] Yang Cheon sent a letter to me first, not to the Martial Alliance headquarters, was because he knew my influence was significant.”

“That’s right.”

“But now, other branches of Bota Temple are also asking to see me. What does this mean?”

“They also know. Daesu’s influence.”

“Didn’t you say that Bota Temple is weak in terms of information?”

“I did.”

Ga Deuk-Sang frowned.

“It seems like Mukryong Bu-ju’s influence is involved.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Did he send a letter asking them to treat me well?”

This proved that Yang Cheon was deeply involved in the Bota Temple incident.

And Yang Cheon also guessed that Yeon Ho-Jeong’s side would look into it that far.

‘His work is fast and smooth. Much more than before.’

Maybe he gained some enlightenment in the process of expelling the toxins of the Yin-Yang Divine Palm [a martial arts technique].

The important thing is that Yang Cheon is determined to destroy Bota Temple.

‘This is hard to touch.’

He couldn’t tell him not to do it, or ask what he was doing.

The current Yang Cheon was not the Yang Cheon of the past. Although Bota Temple is a sect classified as White Path [a righteous martial arts faction], it has such an independent color that it is not easy to interfere.

‘The fact that he’s trying to involve me in this means he’s really confident in what he’s doing.’

Ga Deuk-Sang asked,

“Will you meet him?”

“You said you couldn’t refuse? Then I have to meet him.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. I’m rather grateful. It seems like Huga is finally starting to understand my way of handling things.”

“…Just in case, leave the axe behind.”

“I won’t cause any trouble.”

“You wouldn’t trust a drunkard with a liquor jar.”

“Then why did you tell me to meet him?”

“Damn it, you’re right.”

Ga Deuk-Sang grumbled.

“I’ll set it for noon tomorrow.”

“Huga.”

“Yes?”

After thinking for a moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong said abruptly,

“Keep a close eye on how the Mukryong Bu’s intelligence unit is moving.”

“Huh? Why Mukryong Bu all of a sudden?”

“Didn’t you say there are three branches of Bota Temple? If one is Mukryong Bu and one is here, what about the remaining one?”

“……!”

“I can’t predict how they’ll move. That’s why I’m asking you to keep an eye on them.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes turned cold.

“I don’t think they’ll move in a crazy way… but it seems like Yang Bu-ju has become a politician.”

A politician never forgets what they have suffered.