Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 442

It wasn’t just Hwa-un who was surprised.

‘This person.’

Jeong-an looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with trembling eyes.

‘Even if you don’t know the world, you can know people well. And if you know people well, you can know the world well.’

Jeong-an didn’t know the world or even people very well yet. That was because she hadn’t met many people with whom she had shared her true feelings.

However, if the other person opened their heart sincerely, she could read their inner thoughts.

So, Jeong-an could read Yeon Ho-jeong’s heart, his feelings, to some extent.

‘Anger? Pity?’

A person’s emotions are not governed by just one thing. They tend to act in a very complex way.

Jeong-an read Yeon Ho-jeong’s complex emotions. Among them, the most prominent emotions were anger and pity.

‘What is he angry about? What is he so sorry about?’

Yeon Ho-jeong continued, speaking to the unresponsive Hwa-un.

“I hope you don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that because so many sects have failed, Bota Temple will also fail. In the same vein, many sects have tried to achieve peace and tranquility, and there’s no reason why Bota Temple can’t advocate for the same cause. That is the freedom of an organization.”

“Of course.”

“However, from the perspective of this narrow-minded fool, your words seem inconsistent.”

“Inconsistent, you say?”

“You say you’re entering the martial world to save the suffering common people and promote peace and tranquility in the world? That’s fine. But, is it necessary for a Sword Empress to emerge from your sect for that to be possible?”

Hwa-un spoke calmly.

“As I said, this child is the most suitable candidate for the next Sword Empress. With this child’s fortitude and pure heart…”

“At the same time, you believe that Bota can only contribute to the world if a Sword Empress exists.”

“What?”

“Is the Sword Empress that great? How can one obtain the title of Sword Empress? Is it a title given to someone with outstanding martial arts? Or is it a title given to someone with exceptional enlightenment? Or is it like the Future Buddha spoken of in Buddhism, a divine being who will one day save the world?”

“…?!”

“If the opposing sect produces a Sword Empress, does that mean the method to contribute to peace disappears?”

“It seems you have misunderstood, Elder. To reiterate, this child is…”

“What is the reason for entering the martial world?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes narrowed.

“Do you have to enter the martial world, establish a sect, and become a recognized organization to contribute to peace? There are ways to blend into the lives of the common people, and even ways to use fame to enrich them with wealth. Why do you insist on entering the martial world?”

“Elder.”

“I said earlier that your words are inconsistent. For your words to be consistent, one fact must be corrected.”

“…?”

“If you want to produce a Sword Empress from your sect, become the master of Bota Temple, and live in luxury, then your words so far will become consistent.”

Hwa-un’s face hardened.

“Your words are harsh.”

“Am I misunderstanding?”

“Of course. I’ve said it many times. The Sword Empress, who was the symbol of Bota Temple, must now become a real force. And to do that…”

“So, why does it have to become a force?”

“What?”

“If you don’t enter the martial world, that’s fine. To be more frank, even if you enter the martial world, all you will gain is despair and self-loathing stained with blood and death.”

“Elder.”

“If Bota Temple is a temple, not a sect, then your true strength is not martial power but Buddhist faith. So why are you trying to enter the world with martial power?”

“…?!”

“Can’t you enter the world with the Buddhist faith that you are best at, the faith that holds your true heart? Is the Sword Empress a Buddha? Why are you so obsessed with the Sword Empress?”

“Obsessed? Your words are harsh.”

“If it’s not obsession, then you truly believe that Bota can only contribute to the world if a Sword Empress emerges from your sect.”

A sharp aura flickered in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.

That gaze was neither the Black Demon Emperor’s nor the Azure Wall Tiger’s. It was purely the gaze of a stern senior who had lived longer and experienced more than his opponent.

Perhaps that was why Hwa-un’s face, which had been distorted with anger and displeasure, instantly stiffened.

“If there aren’t only fools in Bota Temple, you must know how absurd that sounds. If, by any chance, you believe that is the only truth and salvation, then you should learn common sense before you go out into the world.”

“If you’re insulting Bota Temple…”

“Since when?”

“…?!”

“Since when did you start talking about outdated history and, under the guise of saving the common people, seek success in the secular world by using the symbol of the Sword Empress?”

“Elder!”

“Aren’t you ashamed? In front of your successor?”

“Wh-what did you say?”

Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Jeong-an.

Jeong-an was looking at Yeon Ho-jeong with trembling eyes.

“You have raised your successor well. Enough to make me, who once believed that power was the greatest value to end the chaos, look back on myself.”

“…?!”

“As you can see, I am stubborn, arrogant, and a blockhead who doesn’t listen to others. Even if tens of thousands of swords were pointed at me, would my thoughts change? Would I reflect on myself?”

“…”

“But this young lady did it. She made me look back at my past self. It was the power of her eyes and heart, not a sword. This young lady, who is weaker than me, did what tens of thousands of experts could not do.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

His smile towards Jeong-an seemed like that of a completely different person from when he had sternly rebuked Hwa-un.

“Power is necessary. I still haven’t changed my mind about that. However, the more people like this young lady there are, the less place there will be for power.”

“…”

“I believe that is the way to bring the era of peace, which may come someday, a little closer.”

Hwa-un said in a stiff tone.

“Elder, you are more foolish than I thought.”

“Do I seem so?”

“Yes. The world doesn’t change with the smiles of good people alone. That’s why Bota is trying to go out into the world. To become a force, even if it’s a weak one.”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

“I won’t stop you. I have no justification to stop you. But that cannot be the reason why a Sword Empress must emerge from your sect.”

“…That’s a shame.”

Thud.

Hwa-un abruptly stood up from her seat.

“They say the Azure Wall Tiger is a genius with insight as great as his skill, but he’s very different from what I’ve heard.”

“Rumors are often exaggerated. I am not as great as the rumors say.”

“Yes. I’ve realized once again that rumors are not to be trusted. This is why the world is so scary.”

Jeong-an looked at Hwa-un in confusion.

“Master! Your words are too much!”

“Shut up!”

It was a rebuke stronger than ever before. No, it was more like a nervous reaction than a rebuke.

Jeong-an was startled. Even though she had changed, her master had never reacted to her like this before.

Hwa-un glared at Yeon Ho-jeong with burning eyes.

“I heard that it would be difficult to get a proper answer by going to the Martial Alliance headquarters because they’re always fighting among themselves. That’s why I came to you. At least, they said the Azure Wall Tiger was a figure who could represent the current Martial Alliance.”

“Is that what you heard?”

“That’s what I heard, but it’s a shame that it’s different from the truth. Someone like you can never represent an organization.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“You see well. I am a person with excessive shortcomings.”

“It was a wasted trip. The tea was good. Jeong-an, get up.”

Jeong-an didn’t get up. She just looked at Hwa-un with trembling eyes.

Hwa-un shouted.

“I said get up!”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-jeong asked.

“What is it that makes you so angry?”

“I don’t want to hear any more.”

“Since when did you start prioritizing your own pride and desires over the eyes and heart of your successor, whom you have cherished like your own child?”

“Shut up!”

In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s tone changed.

“Do you think there haven’t been people like you?”

Hwa-un flinched. The change in the other person’s atmosphere in that instant felt like a subtle pressure.

“There have been many people in the world who have devoted their lives to changing the world. But only a handful of them were sincere in their words. And unfortunately, none of those few people achieved their dreams.”

“I won’t listen to anything you say.”

“Yes, most of them were like you. Enlightenment can be found even while walking down the street, yet you, a practitioner, have closed your ears and cannot even observe yourself.”

“…?!”

“That is what desire is. You have succumbed to desire.”

“Shut up!”

Whoosh!

A fierce aura erupted from Hwa-un’s body.

When it was contained, she looked like an ordinary person, but the aura that began to emanate transformed her into a great expert.

Surprisingly, the level of that aura was almost close to Yeon Ho-jeong’s. The power of Bota Temple was so great that it was proven just by revealing her aura.

“To insult someone who follows the Buddhist law like that! If you weren’t a general-level figure in the Martial Alliance, I wouldn’t have let you off!”

“Would you have killed me?”

“…Yes.”

Hwa-un’s eyes gleamed maliciously.

Wounded pride, especially in front of her sect’s successor.

She was now angry, wounded by the pride she had created for herself.

“I would have killed you.”

Jeong-an shouted.

“Master!!”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“You’re wrong.”

“…?”

“The one you should kill is not me, but Buddha. Even I, who am not a practitioner, know that you need the courage to kill even Buddha to reach the truth through enlightenment.”

“A mere commoner who has learned some shallow martial arts dares to discuss Buddhist law with me?!”

“At least right now, I seem closer to Buddhist law than you. Even though I’ve never read a single line of Buddhist scripture.”

“This bastard…!”

Swoosh.

Yeon Ho-jeong stood up from his seat.

“I’ll apologize in advance.”

“Shut up! I won’t listen to your apology!”

“From the start, I had no intention of just letting you go.”

“What?!”

Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head.

“Have you been watching well?”

Yeon Ho-jeong asked, addressing the empty air.

Surprisingly, there was an answer from the air.

“I have seen. And I have heard.”

Hwa-un, and even Jeong-an, were startled. Neither of them had realized that someone else was hidden here.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and said.

“What do you think, monk, who has killed Buddha before?”

“I can only feel pity.”

The voice of the person who said he felt pity did not contain any emotion other than pity. The words and emotions matched perfectly. It was a heavy voice that showed no trace of falsehood.

Hwa-un shouted.

“Who is it!”

Swoosh.

The one who revealed himself from the air was none other than Beom-oh.

“Amitabha. Beom-oh of Shaolin greets the enlightened ones of Bota.”