Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 465

An axe? Or a sword?

Would he choose the eldest son of the Byeoksan Family, the greatest late-stage master in the world, or the genius who would later boast the reputation of a divine sword?

It was an absurd choice. In many ways.

“Hojang-nim!” [Hojang-nim is a respectful title, similar to ‘Master’ or ‘Head’], Jeongan called out to Yeon Ho-Jeong in surprise.

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t turn to her. He just stared at Yang Cheon with cold eyes.

Jeongan spoke with a calm face.

“You shouldn’t do this.”

Again, Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t answer.

Jeongan quickly continued.

“Even so, how could Hojang-nim sacrifice yourself?! I absolutely didn’t want this outcome…!”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“That’s enough.”

“Hojang-nim!”

“Your thoughts are right. Your heart is true. At least, you can’t even be compared to those two who are blinded by desire and swayed by a few words.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice was clear and resonant. It was so clear and distinct that anyone there could hear it.

Jeokyeon and Yeon Sim’s faces turned red. Especially Yeon Sim’s face, which looked like it was on fire.

It was because they felt a chilling shame at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words.

“But reality and ideals are different. You have a righteous will, but you don’t have the power to enforce that will. If I hadn’t been here today, the Vice-Chief wouldn’t have even met you. In the worst case, you could have died.”

“…!”

“Justice without power is incompetence, and power without justice is violence. A sword swing without courage is weaker than a brush stroke, and the courage of one who doesn’t know the madness of the sword is worse than the conviction of a coward.”

It was a tone as firm as bone-chilling cold. And those words made Jeongan ashamed.

She had clearly stated that the gap between reality and ideals was obvious, but in the end, it was also a light remark from someone lacking experience. She had come prepared for death, but it was also true that she felt reassured because Yeon Ho-Jeong was there.

“What led me here. It was possible because your heart was true. That’s it, that’s your role.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Be satisfied with that for now. There aren’t many who have shown me the right path in my chaotic life. In this situation, you’ve done your part well enough.”

It was an arrogant statement, if one were to call it that. At the same time, it was also a statement acknowledging her.

That there weren’t many who had shown him the right path meant that the world was not right.

In such a world, there were not many people who lived with a righteous heart like Jeongan.

Jeongan gritted her teeth.

“But… even so, Hojang-nim doesn’t need to sacrifice yourself because of the main sect’s affairs, does he?”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not a sacrifice.”

“Huh?!”

“Unfortunately, I’m not as righteous as you. I’m not naive enough to give up my life and future out of pity.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

It was a smile directed at Yang Cheon.

“Isn’t that right?”

Yang Cheon couldn’t smile.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“Did you really think I would come to the Mukryong willingly?”

“To confess, I thought you would.”

“You’ve become very honest.”

“There’s no point in deceiving you with lies.”

Yang Cheon frowned.

“You’re making an excessively unreasonable request to someone as greedy as me. Give up Bota? You should know. How much effort I’ve put in, and how angry I am.”

Effort meant breaking Bota’s spirit, and anger was directed at the leader of the Evil Sound Sect.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said.

“Life is a series of choices. A choice means giving up one thing, not possessing it.”

“As I said, I’m greedy. There have been many times when I’ve gotten both birds with one stone.”

“That’s unfortunate. Because I’m not a bird.”

“Think again. This is good for you too. Besides, one of the branches has already gone to them. It’s irreversible.”

Botaam was ruined. At least, the Botaam of this era would have difficulty recovering its former vitality. If so, it would be better to proceed as is.

If it were the Yeon Ho-Jeong of the past, he would have accepted it, saying it couldn’t be helped.

“I’ve made up my mind. And as I said before, this shouldn’t be happening. If you tear down a house to catch a single thief, a few of the Vice-Chief’s swords will break too.”

It meant the intervention of the Buddhist sect. To be precise, it meant that even Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t stop the wrath of the Shaolin.

“Let’s protect the swords that will break and repair the house that’s about to collapse. It might be regrettable for now, but it’ll be better in the long run.”

“Are you saying to throw away the efforts I’ve poured in for three years?”

“Didn’t you tell me? That a comfortable life is boring. It’s the unpredictable life that enriches life.”

“Sometimes you need to know how to go the easy way.”

“Unfortunately, all sorts of beasts are swarming on that seemingly easy path. You could end up as a beast’s meal while running with a smile.”

“…”

Yang Cheon, who had been glaring at Yeon Ho-Jeong with cold eyes, finally sighed.

“You’re truly unpredictable. Sometimes you seem so ruthless and vicious that I wonder if you’re a demon, and other times you seem like an old, stubborn righteous master.”

“Let’s put aside all the talk and make one thing clear.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed at Yeon Sim.

“That sword will take at least ten more years to wield properly. But aren’t I someone who can grab it and swing it right now?”

“…!”

“Even if you invest ten more years, it could break if you’re not careful. Then what about me? In the Vice-Chief’s eyes, do I also look like a sword that will break so easily?”

It was a sword that would never break.

Yang Cheon almost said that without realizing it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Decisively, there’s one thing the Vice-Chief has overlooked.”

“What is it?”

“If they start a war before the treasured sword becomes a divine sword, it’s all for naught.”

At that moment, Yang Cheon’s eyes wavered.

That’s right. The Evil Sound Sect, or rather the Three Sects, could start a war tomorrow.

Of course, the probability of that actually happening was almost zero. Considering their past secrecy and tactics, even if they launched a preemptive strike, it would be at least several years later.

The problem was that even that wasn’t certain.

“War can break out at any time. If you’re careless just because it’s peaceful now, you could become the enemy’s prey.”

“That is…”

“A wise king doesn’t start wars. But he’s always prepared for war.”

That was the final blow.

The Three Sects were trying to start a war. In other words, they wanted to become conquerors.

Yeon Ho-Jeong saw them as unwise.

At the same time, he was telling Yang Cheon. Don’t rashly start a war. It’s good to launch a preemptive strike against the conquerors, but don’t underestimate the enemy in a full-scale war without a deadline, and consolidate your power further.

Yeon Ho-Jeong continued.

“The divine sword of Botaam will unleash amazing power if it’s forged properly. But there’s no guarantee that the enemy will wait until then, and if you focus on forging the sword, the power of the Central Plains could be dispersed.”

“…”

“Please see the situation correctly.”

Yang Cheon, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, sighed.

“What you say always makes sense. That’s why I can’t ignore it.”

“At least, I hope my words are evaluated as the truth of this moment rather than just making sense.”

Yang Cheon took a deep breath.

“If I let go of Bota, you’ll come to the headquarters…”

“That’s right.”

“You’re saying you’ll become my right hand and fight for me for a while?”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I’m going to become the Vice-Chief’s loyal subject. Our goal is clear. We’re just going to run towards that one goal.”

“I know that. But…”

“But, I’ll also have to act cute, which doesn’t suit the Vice-Chief, to live here. At that moment, I’ll be looking at the situation as a Mukryong person, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“If what the Vice-Chief wants is clearly the destruction of the enemy.”

“Hmph.”

Yang Cheon shook his head.

“Choice is not possession but giving up…”

Yang Cheon, who had been pondering, turned his head and looked at Jeokyeon and Yeon Sim.

Yeon Sim’s face was still flushed red. She seemed very embarrassed and confused.

On the other hand, Jeokyeon’s face was different. It was red like Yeon Sim’s, but that redness was like a volcano about to erupt.

She didn’t fully understand the conversation between Yang Cheon and Yeon Ho-Jeong. But she knew one thing for sure.

They were ignoring Bota.

That a mere late-stage master was enough to replace Bota? Placing the two side by side was a challenge to Bota itself. It was an absurd deal.

What was even more surprising was that Yang Cheon was considering it, and furthermore, that he might join hands with that upstart instead of the Yeonhwa Gate.

Joining hands with Yeon Ho-Jeong meant joining hands with Jeongan. Joining hands with Jeongan meant giving power to the Cheonan Gate.

That’s how Jeokyeon read the situation. Her biased mind was that abnormal.

Yang Cheon said.

“Yeonhwa Gate Master.”

“…”

Jeokyeon didn’t answer. She felt like she would burst out with curses if she opened her mouth.

“It’s a shame. From my perspective, I wanted to help you and get this friend, but the situation isn’t favorable.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for making you wait so long. As an apology…”

“What on earth are you doing?”

A suppressed voice burst out from Jeokyeon’s mouth.

Yang Cheon’s eyes twitched.

“Doing?”

“Isn’t that right?”

It was only because the opponent was Yang Cheon that she didn’t curse. If he wasn’t a powerhouse of Seongcheon, she would have already drawn her sword and tried to cut his throat.

Jeokyeon shouted.

“We came ten thousand miles to meet you! We endured the humiliation while waiting for you, who wouldn’t meet us! And this is the result?!”

“Didn’t this friend say it? That’s how life is. You never know when an absurd variable will pop up.”

“Are you calling that a reason now!”

Jeokyeon was fuming. Yang Cheon looked at her with deep eyes.

After staring at Yang Cheon for a long time, Jeokyeon growled softly.

“I’m truly disappointed. When we meet again in the future, we’ll meet as enemies.”

“That’s why the world is interesting. Just like the reality you’re facing now, I never thought the day would come when I would calmly accept the rudeness shown by someone like you.”

Yang Cheon smiled.

“This is a world where tigers and lions roam. Don’t think you’re a beast just because you can swing a sword a little. You’re still a cat.”

“Hmph!”

Jeokyeon turned her body sharply.

“Yeon Sim! Let’s go back!”

Yeon Sim followed Jeokyeon with a bewildered face. Judging by her hesitation, she still didn’t seem to understand what was going on.

It was then.

“What are you trying to do?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice was unusually sharp.

Perhaps that’s why? Yang Cheon, as well as Jeokyeon and Yeon Sim, looked at him. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice was so full of power.

Yang Cheon frowned.

“What’s the problem now?”

“Didn’t I say? That even if the house the Vice-Chief destroyed can’t be rebuilt, it should be repaired.”

“…Hmm?”

Without turning around, Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed at Jeokyeon with his thumb.

“Aren’t you going to repair it?”

“…!”

“It seems you didn’t think that far. Well, I guess it’s not something that someone of the Vice-Chief’s stature would handle.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his shoulder.

Crack!

The sound was chillingly loud.

“Contact the medical department in advance. Tell them a patient is coming. They’ll probably have to rot for about ten years.”