Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 460

That was a truly heart-shaking question.

Could he throw away everything to crush the Evil Sound Cult?

‘Of course.’

If it were the Yeon Ho-Jeong of the past, the answer would have come without hesitation.

Yes. The Evil Sound Cult was, in another sense, an irreconcilable enemy.

Is it different now? Don’t get angry over something that hasn’t happened yet?

That was nonsense. The Three Cults, with the Evil Sound Cult at their head, were already eyeing the Central Plains. In that process, countless people would die.

And among those in danger were his family.

In fact, not only Yeon Ho-Jeong but everyone who had joined this invisible battle had to fight with their lives on the line. Otherwise, they could not blow them away.

Moreover, for Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was filled with past regrets and anger, it was needless to say. He was prepared to throw his life away to destroy the Evil Sound Cult and drive out the Three Cults.

Yes. That resolve and sense of purpose had not changed.

But?

“The scope of the Vice Chief’s question is too broad, making it difficult for me to answer easily.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes gleamed.

“That’s unexpected. I thought you hated them even more than I do.”

“That’s a clear fact. It’s not just the Vice Chief. No one in the Central Plains hates and loathes them more than I do.”

“The power of the object you hate and loathe so much is unimaginably vast.”

“That’s right.”

“Then you should be prepared to throw away everything, but hearing your lukewarm answer, it seems that’s not the case?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I am prepared to sacrifice this body, but I have no desire to cross the line.”

“You don’t want to cross the line…”

Yang Cheon tilted his head.

“You said that before too. That you wouldn’t cross the line. But you yourself said that the concept of that line was vague.”

“It’s the same now. I still haven’t precisely defined what that line is. But I have a rough idea.”

“A feeling…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“My father hopes that his incompetent son won’t become a monster while catching monsters.”

Yang Cheon frowned.

“You’ve already established yourself. Whether it’s martial arts or spirit, or anything else.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“The teachings of parents and teachers do not discriminate against the state of their children. But I didn’t know you cared so much about your father’s teachings.”

“If it’s a difference in opinion, I’ll just take it into consideration, but I won’t change my own views.”

“But?”

“…Perhaps I was feeling uneasy myself. My appearance was gradually becoming the same as theirs.”

To be precise, it wasn’t that he was becoming the same.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s extreme hatred, the more he pushed them back, made him a monster beyond the Three Cults, not the same as them.

That was the problem. If it were just a matter of becoming the same, if it were just a matter of ruining himself and eventually perishing, he wouldn’t have worried this much.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was certain. If he were to abandon that abstract and vague concept of ‘the line,’ he would become a natural disaster that no one could stop in the future.

It wasn’t a matter of his ability.

The problem was the presence that Yeon Ho-Jeong, as a figure in the current martial world, created, how much influence his words had, and what he could do if he set his mind to it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s abilities were extraordinary. If he were to attack the imperial palace based on the trust he had built up so far, and if he could thoroughly prepare for it, at least the Martial Alliance could fight against the imperial palace.

Is that an overinterpretation? No, it’s not.

Bu Seon had turned Botaam into that state in just three years. If Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was superior to Bu Seon in all aspects, were to shake the world, it wouldn’t be entirely impossible.

That’s why.

He was aware of his own power, his current status, and his influence.

That’s why he was worried. He knew the repercussions of his choices, and he could vaguely foresee a future that wouldn’t end with just him being ruined.

Looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s troubled face, Yang Cheon asked,

“May I say something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Your self-esteem is so excessive that it borders on arrogance.”

“…”

“I don’t think you’re scared. I don’t think your feelings towards them have worn out either. But what’s clear is that you seem to have become too arrogant.”

“Does it seem that way?”

“There wouldn’t be a single person who would deny that you are a great talent. But, did the Central Plains martial world look so easy that it would be swayed just because you became a monster?”

“… !”

He hadn’t thought about this aspect.

Yang Cheon said with a somewhat displeased face.

“I’ve spared your life despite having many opportunities to kill you, partly because of various interests and partly because I was attracted to you as a person. But what’s clear is that if I decide to kill you, you will never survive.”

“…”

“And it’s not just me? Other strong people of the Holy Sky will be the same, and there are countless hidden masters who have not yet revealed themselves who have the same power.”

Yang Cheon’s lips curled up.

“Considering your age and status, it’s not a flaw to be that arrogant. But aren’t you excessively distrustful of people other than yourself?”

“It’s not distrust.”

“If it’s not distrust, then it’s even more arrogant.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

“It’s not easy to receive such a shocking self-reflection so gently.”

“Do you admit it?”

“I don’t know yet. However, there is definitely some truth in the Vice Chief’s words. Well, if I weren’t arrogant, I wouldn’t have had such thoughts.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes became strange.

‘As expected, this guy…’

Even though he had risen high enough, even when criticized by someone who was clearly not an ally, he was able to listen to those words and reflect on himself.

‘This is something.’

At first, he seemed weak, but then he spoke with arrogance, and I thought he was starting to fade.

But seeing this side of him again, it seemed like I was seeing another side of Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘Right, this guy wasn’t born like that.’

Insight that was worthy of being called a divine skill, martial arts of a super master that didn’t fit his age, and even a deadly sixth sense.

Literally, no one is born with such abilities. Clearly, Yeon Ho-Jeong had endured bone-cutting efforts and pain to become who he is now.

‘Still, it’s hard to belittle him, with such an open mind.’

It’s a world where a minor issue can lead to a sword fight due to hurt pride. At least in that aspect, Yeon Ho-Jeong had a good character.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Whatever the case, the final destination of my fight is clear. However, I will try my best to avoid selling my family or ignoring the minimum morality for that fight.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“But why did you ask that question?”

“I just wanted to hear it. Now it’s your turn to ask.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly observing Yang Cheon’s expression, opened his mouth.

“Is it possible that what the Vice Chief wants is a three-way battle with Bota [a Buddhist sect] as a proxy war?”

Yang Cheon was honestly impressed.

“You, did you see that far?”

“One is the Black Dragon, one is the Martial Alliance. Then there’s one left, and it can’t be that the one is…”

“The Evil Sound.”

“…”

“Your insight is amazing, even though I already know it, it still surprises me.”

Yang Cheon clasped his hands together.

It was a sign to start the real conversation.

“That’s right. I want to draw the Evil Sound into the war of Bota.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes turned cold.

“Aside from how difficult and dangerous that is, the Vice Chief also knows that it’s not a very desirable thing to do.”

“Why? Does it seem like a plan that crosses the line you mentioned?”

“…”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think so. Even if I crossed the line, I wouldn’t regret it. After all, Botaam is in a difficult relationship with the headquarters. By preemptively attacking and eliminating the risk factor, and further giving the Evil Sound a blow through Bota as a proxy war. I don’t think this idea is wrong.”

“You’re right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“At least that plan isn’t wrong for you. The problem is…”

“The problem is?”

“The problem is that the Vice Chief only knew one thing and not two.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes gleamed.

“I will listen carefully.”

“Botaam is a Buddhist sect. And most of the Buddhist sects in the Central Plains are connected as one, even if they are different factions. Even Bota and Shaolin have a decent relationship.”

“Hmm.”

“If this fact becomes known, the Buddhist sects will immediately rise up and start biting the Black Dragon Unit. There’s no guarantee that Shaolin won’t join either.”

“That’s right.”

“If that happens, it can be interpreted as the power to drive out the Three Cults being temporarily reduced due to the Vice Chief’s rash actions.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes grew colder.

“Do you understand? I know how much the Vice Chief hates the Evil Sound Cult, but because of that hatred and desire for revenge, the martial world’s power to face the entire Three Cults has been reduced.”

“…”

“If you wanted to end it, why didn’t you do it after the war? If you can’t win the war and lose, then isn’t it just a meaningless fight? But why did you rashly put Bota in that state?”

From a macro perspective, Yang Cheon’s actions clearly had a problem.

Yang Cheon opened his mouth.

“That’s why attacking Bota was…”

“If you’re going to say that you instigated them from behind the scenes, and that the Bota monks’ training was insufficient to be swayed by that instigation, then stop it. It’s putting the cart before the horse.”

“…”

“The Vice Chief shouldn’t have touched Bota.”

Yang Cheon frowned.

“Then what should I do? The situation has already become like this.”

“You have to fix it. But I won’t hide the fact that the Black Dragon Unit put effort into destroying Bota.”

“That’s a bit disappointing.”

“It’s an issue that can’t be hidden both publicly and privately. And it shouldn’t be hidden.”

“Don’t worry. I thought I would take responsibility for it when I started the work.”

“That’s a relief then.”

“The problem is, I have no intention of fixing Bota.”

“…”

Even as he looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong staring at him, Yang Cheon did not lose his smile.

“To be precise, it’s already out of my hands.”

“…?!”

“…”

“Could it be?”

“You’re right.”

A sinister shadow fell over Yang Cheon’s face.

“The last of Bota’s branches, the Heavenly Ear Gate, sent someone to the Evil Sound Cult. Just like the Heavenly Eye Gate went to you, and the Lotus Flower Gate came to us.”

“This damn…”

“What can we do? If the situation has already happened and cannot be fixed, then we have no choice but to push forward as originally planned.”

Yang Cheon raised his glass and made a mischievous expression.

“Aren’t you curious too? How the Evil Sound Cult will react. If things go well, it could be an opportunity to get a clear view of the Evil Sound Cult’s power and internal situation.”