Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 474

The two men’s drinking session ended only after midnight.

After Yeon Ho-Jeong left, Moyong Gun sat alone, finishing the remaining alcohol.

Despite drinking so much, he didn’t feel intoxicated. The lightning energy circulating throughout his body seemed to burn away the alcohol’s effects, and even though he tried to suppress it, he remained sober.

In fact, his mind was clearer than ever. Perhaps it was because he had focused solely on martial arts training, neglecting politics, but he felt much more composed than before.

How much time had passed?

“Is that Yeon-hwa?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Moyong Yeon-hwa entered.

“Did your drinking session go well?”

“Yes. It was good to see that fellow’s face after a long time.”

“Huhu, even though you dislike him so much?”

“I dislike him, but not to that extent. Honestly, where else would you find a talent as outstanding as Yeon Ho-Jeong in this era? I’ve tasted the bitterness of defeat a few times, but looking back, I think those were good matches.”

It wasn’t just lip service; he meant it sincerely.

Moyong Yeon-hwa, knowing his sincerity, found her father impressive. To think he could have such thoughts even after losing several times to a junior much younger than himself? It was a mindset difficult to possess with an ordinary character.

Of course, her father wasn’t weak enough to cherish his matches with Yeon Ho-Jeong as fond memories.

“Would you like a drink?”

Moyong Yeon-hwa smiled.

“I’d love to.”

She held up an empty glass.

Moyong Gun clicked his tongue.

“Isn’t that the glass he was using? Get a new one…”

“It’s fine.”

“Hmm?”

Moyong Yeon-hwa’s expression remained unchanged.

“What does it matter if it’s the glass Yeon Ho-Jeong used, or the Black Dragon Deputy Leader used? What if it was a beggar’s glass, or an assassin’s glass?”

“…”

“A glass is just a glass.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

“Yes, a glass is just a glass.”

And so, the father and daughter clinked glasses.

“It’s white liquor?”

“It’s bitter, isn’t it? But as I drink it, I find it has its own charm. Though I don’t think I’ll be looking for it often.”

“I don’t know about charm, but I think it’s something to look for when you want to get drunk.”

“Hahaha.”

Moyong Gun asked.

“Since we’re here, I’ll ask. What do you plan to do from now on?”

“I’m not sure.”

Moyong Yeon-hwa smiled faintly.

“I had many concerns, but somehow, I feel like I have something to do now?”

She had quickly realized that Moyong Gun had a task for her.

Moyong Gun burst into laughter.

“You’ve really become a ghost now.”

“I’m still far from it.”

“Go to Guangdong and find out something.”

Moyong Yeon-hwa’s eyes lit up.

“Is it related to Commander Yeon?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

Moyong Gun relayed the words Yeon Ho-Jeong had told him to Moyong Yeon-hwa.

Moyong Yeon-hwa’s eyes deepened.

“It’s definitely strange. If he had said it in passing, it could be possible…”

“Of course, he said it in passing. He acted like it was nothing. But when I saw it, one of the most important parts of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s story was how he managed to win over the officials.”

“Given Commander Yeon’s personality, he wouldn’t have left that part out.”

“Well observed.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

“Of course, it might be nothing. It’s possible that Yeon Ho-Jeong won over the officials on his own. But if that’s not the case, if there’s something there, it’s worth investigating.”

Moyong Yeon-hwa’s eyes sparkled.

“Won’t he be on alert?”

“Hmm?”

“Even if not immediately, if I leave the Martial Alliance, won’t Commander Yeon also find it strange?”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“That’s possible. No, if it’s him, he’ll definitely seek his own countermeasures.”

“Then…”

“Yes. What I truly want from you is to penetrate even his countermeasures and obtain information.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“Is it possible?”

Moyong Yeon-hwa lowered her head.

“I will try.”

“Hahaha!”

Moyong Gun took out a small iron token from his pocket and handed it over.

“This is the Great Army Token. I’ll also contact the main family separately. With this, you can freely command the main family’s major forces and intelligence capabilities.”

“Father…!”

Moyong Yeon-hwa looked at Moyong Gun with eyes full of emotion.

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“Even with that, it might be difficult. It would be easier if you were facing the Black Dragon Deputy Leader. He understands politics. But Yeon Ho-Jeong is a man without limits. This task will be truly dangerous.”

“It’s the moment I’ve been longing for.”

“Haha.”

Moyong Gun refilled her glass.

“Have a drink.”

Moyong Yeon-hwa, who had emptied her glass in one go, smiled and stood up.

“Then, I’ll make a move.”

“Already?”

“I need to catch him off guard. So that Commander Yeon doesn’t know, or if he does, he’ll know only later.”

Moyong Yeon-hwa bowed.

“I’ll return safely, Father.”

“Yes. Make sure to come back safe and sound.”

“Yes.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Moyong Gun, who had risen from his seat, took a book from the bookshelf.

Opening the book, there was a small letter tucked inside.

“I wrote this in advance, thinking such a situation might arise someday.”

“…?”

“Deliver this to Woo. In person.”

Moyong Yeon-hwa’s eyes lit up.

“Yes!”

Shortly after, Moyong Yeon-hwa left the room.

“Hoo.”

Moyong Gun, who had lightly sighed, smiled and looked out the window.

“This is better.”

What happened in Guangdong Province? How did Yeon Ho-Jeong persuade the officials?

‘I am curious, though.’

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

It was certainly a matter of curiosity. Yeon Ho-Jeong was hiding something from him.

However, it wasn’t something he wanted to find out by force. He didn’t think it was a secret that would affect the overall situation.

That’s why he sent Moyong Yeon-hwa.

‘Yeon-hwa is more of a hindrance in the process of rooting out spies.’

They were the ones who turned the Martial Alliance’s envoy into spies.

They could use any dangerous method. Moyong Gun didn’t ignore that ominous possibility.

Therefore, it was better to have her find out what Yeon Ho-Jeong was hiding and improve relations with Moyong Woo. The current Moyong Yeon-hwa wouldn’t cause conflict with Moyong Woo.

“Hoo.”

Moyong Gun closed his eyes.

“My heart is racing after a long time.”

* * *

“Huff! Huff!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had returned to the Breaking Formation Hall, was met with a rather absurd sight.

“You’re back?”

Yeon-wi asked with a calm face.

“Hah, hah, you’re here?”

Gang Ryang asked with a dying face.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face became awkward.

“What’s going on here?”

“T-Training, sir.”

He was practically dead.

It was clear at a glance that he could barely move a finger. He was struggling to get up, but his trembling knees and the hand that couldn’t properly grip his sword showed that he had already reached his limit.

Yeon-wi smiled and sheathed his sword.

“Let’s stop here.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard…”

Gang Ryang collapsed before he could even finish his sentence. He had fainted.

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“Were you sparring with him all this time?”

“Yes.”

“He’s relentless, isn’t he?”

Yeon-wi’s eyes sparkled.

“He’s amazing. I could tell at a glance that he was well-trained, but I didn’t know it was to this extent. His mind, body, and spirit are all at their peak.”

“He has worked hard.”

“It’s also amazing that he endured this much. It’s an act that disrupts balance, but he’s not afraid of that. Although it might be somewhat dangerous, his growth will be faster than anyone else’s.”

Yeon-wi’s face showed admiration as he looked at the fallen Gang Ryang.

“He will become a great swordsman in the future. It’s an honor just to have provided a little nourishment to the soil of such talent.”

That’s an excessively humble statement.

“By the way, how was it for you?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and said.

“It was exactly the kind of drinking session I expected. It was nice to see him after a long time.”

Yeon-wi smiled as if he couldn’t help it.

“He’s the kind of person who stabs you in the back with a smile. I know you’ll handle it, but never let your guard down.”

There aren’t many people Yeon-wi would say this to. Seeing that, Moyong Gun was truly an impressive man.

“I never let my guard down. That man has improved a lot, hasn’t he?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Honestly… I think he’s almost on par with Father.”

Yeon-wi nodded.

“Every time I saw him at the meetings, he was different. He must have been putting in a lot of effort.”

“He must have. He must have been greatly shocked. There are many who hate the outer world martial artists, but the head of the Moyong family’s anger was beyond measure.”

“It seems so.”

“Those he looked down upon possess many warriors stronger than him. This fact alone must have been a great insult to Moyong Gun. He might have worked as hard as Father.”

“Looked down upon…”

Yeon-wi, who had been pondering those words, sighed.

“How can they be looked down upon? Where in the world is there a lowly person? We hate and despise them because they trample on our land and try to make it their own.”

“You are right.”

“In the end, it’s a fight between people, a fight between ideology and peace. If their invasion brings only fire and death, then we must draw our swords to protect our land and our people.”

Yeon-wi looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with determined eyes.

“I can’t even imagine how much you hate them, but in the battles to come, never think of them as lowly.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t think of them as lowly.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong gave a chilling smile.

“This fight is not about status or birth. It’s a struggle between invaders and defenders. Their ideology and fanaticism are something I cannot stand by and watch, but I only think of them as different, not lowly.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“Yes, that’s it.”

In the end, they are just enemies. What does it matter if you think of them as lowly, or if you think of them as fools? They are enemies that must be killed anyway.

However, Yeon-wi didn’t seem to think that way.

There are no lowly people in the world. Each has their own position and ideology. That’s what Yeon-wi thought.

Yeon Ho-Jeong knew where his father’s heart came from.

‘Justice.’

Justice means the right path that aligns with truth.

Those who commit heinous crimes that make your blood boil, and yet feel no remorse, are evil.

Yeon Ho-Jeong doesn’t treat such people as humans. He thinks of them as trash, worse than beasts. It’s not a matter of being lowly or not, but rather that they are crazy people who have abandoned the path of humanity.

Yeon-wi was different.

No matter how much they deserve to die, if they were born as humans, they are humans. Therefore, they must live like humans, and if they deviate from the path of humanity, they must be punished.

Because there is justice, he sees all people without discrimination, and because there is justice, he is certain about rewards and punishments.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was truly proud of his father’s beliefs.

“Anyway, I need to move this guy first.”

Yeon-wi scratched his head with an embarrassed look.

“Yes, let’s move him quickly.”

“Heave-ho.”

Yeon-wi, watching Yeon Ho-Jeong carrying Gang Ryang, asked.

“Are you all prepared?”

“What preparation are you talking about?”

“Isn’t there a reason why you came to the Martial Alliance?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong grinned.

“I’m mentally prepared, and from tomorrow, I plan to run around until my feet catch fire again.”