Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 531

Mok Won’s eyes deepened.

Yang Cheon shook his head.

“It’s not something a leader of the Black Path [a term for a group of martial artists who often use underhanded methods] should say, but I like how steadfast you are. Although I’ve never met you before, just from our brief conversation, I can tell what kind of person you are.”

“……”

“You’re a good person. You know what’s right and you understand loyalty. Those who know these two things also know the ways of the world. There was a reason why people thought of the Hundred Battles Divine Lord [Mok Won’s former title] as someone from the righteous faction.”

“I…”

“But the reason you were able to receive such praise was because your martial arts were strong.”

Yang Cheon closed his eyes.

Was he thinking about the past? Or was he thinking about Mok Won?

“Because you possessed martial arts that overwhelmed everyone, you were able to live well without getting involved in the uncomfortable areas of the world.”

“I also know that my experience is shallow.”

“I’m not talking about the amount or depth of your experience.”

“……?”

“You’ve lived as a lone wolf in the martial world. You’ve helped others and punished evil, but you’ve only observed this martial world’s society, never stepping foot into it.”

“How does Vice Leader [a title for a high-ranking member of a martial arts group] know that?”

“Because I wasn’t as strong as you.”

“……?!”

Disbelief flickered across Mok Won’s face.

Yang Cheon was a powerhouse of the Holy Heaven, an absolute being known as the Divine Immortal Emperor. In other words, he was one of the Ten Great Masters of the world. He was one of the ten people who could aim for the title of the strongest in the world through martial arts alone.

For such a person to say he wasn’t strong? It was hard to understand.

“People think that I’m called the Fighting King because I’m good at fighting.”

“Isn’t that so?”

“That’s right. Partially.”

“……?”

“I fought because I was weak. I actually experienced countless defeats. In the Black Path, defeat means death. In other words, I’ve faced death countless times.”

Yang Cheon chuckled. Thinking about his past self made him laugh.

“To survive in this harsh martial world, I had to face death. As I desperately fought with gritted teeth, at some point, victories became more frequent than defeats. My martial arts grew stronger, and I began to learn how to survive.”

“……”

“And out of all the realizations I gained, do you know which one I trust the most?”

“……”

“To take something from others, you must be prepared to lose something of your own.”

“……!”

“That could be your life, your martial arts, your group, or even… your past.”

Yang Cheon turned back to look at Mok Won.

Mok Won’s eyes were as deep as a lake. His expression was no different from before.

“You should have thought about it. How we were able to see through your danger.”

“You must have investigated.”

“Of course. But in that investigation, did we only see your threat? What was the reason we specifically tried to save you? Did we only investigate the Hundred Battles Divine Lord, one of the three armies? Or did we also investigate the person named Mok Won?”

“……!!”

“You called us your benefactors. But you didn’t show us your ledger. You didn’t properly complete your deal with Vice Commander Yeon.”

Mok Won said in a somewhat subdued voice.

“No matter how much of a benefactor someone is, I have no obligation to reveal my personal affairs in detail.”

“Of course. You’re right.”

“Then…?”

“If you weren’t the Hundred Battles Divine Lord, and if the current atmosphere of the martial world wasn’t so volatile, you would be right.”

The corners of Yang Cheon’s mouth curled up.

“I told you, you’ve only observed the world. You’ve never been a part of it. If you had ever stepped foot into the world, you wouldn’t have said such things in front of me.”

“……”

“Ideals are something to be pursued. But don’t ignore reality. Reality is much more ruthless and absurd than you think. The reason you didn’t know that until now is, as I said, because you were strong.”

“……”

“And I am one of the strongest in the martial world, which is said to be the most vicious in this absurd world, and even the leader of the Black Path.”

Mok Won’s eyes wavered for the first time.

“Then what about Vice Commander Yeon? Yeon Ho-jeong is a monster that even I, the leader of the Black Path, find hard to handle. He’s younger than me and weaker in martial arts, but I’ve never treated him carelessly. No, I’ve never underestimated him. If I did, I’d be the one who suffers.”

Mok Won’s mouth opened involuntarily. He didn’t expect Yang Cheon to rate Yeon Ho-jeong so highly.

“Do you understand? You’re facing the leader of the absurd Black Path and a monster that even that leader is wary of, yet you didn’t reveal all your cards.”

“……”

“Now, do what you can do.”

It was a weighty statement.

Each of Yang Cheon’s words struck deep into his heart.

Mok Won was a well-educated man. He had learned more than most scholars while practicing martial arts, and he had applied that knowledge to create his own martial path.

But even with his vast knowledge, he couldn’t refute Yang Cheon’s words.

That was the difference in the weight of their words.

Books were a window to the world. They were also a way to learn about the world.

However, Mok Won had only learned about the world through books, while Yang Cheon had experienced it firsthand.

There was no right or wrong. But in the current reality, Mok Won couldn’t convince Yang Cheon no matter what means he used.

On the other hand, he understood. He had been persuaded by Yang Cheon.

Then he had to give what the other party wanted. He had to respond to the other party’s method of dealing. That was the rule here.

“It’s not a very grand past.”

Mok Won sighed.

“It’s just a past that can be seen anywhere.”

“But if it’s a story between absolute beings that can shake the balance of the martial world, it’s different.”

“It’s a trivial story, but if I’ve been rude because of it, I’ll tell you.”

Yang Cheon nodded.

“You must. The world isn’t divided into black and white, but war is.”

“Black and white…”

Mok Won gave a bitter smile.

“I thought the world wasn’t so easy.”

“It’s definitely not easy. It’s definitely not simple. But to live in a world that isn’t simple, you also need to know that you need to be somewhat simple.”

It was the most heart-piercing thing Yang Cheon had said today.

Mok Won went to Yang Cheon’s side and looked down at the canyon below.

It was an incredibly high drop. Even a powerhouse of the Holy Heaven would have a hard time guaranteeing their life if they fell.

After staring down for a while, Mok Won asked as if throwing a question.

“Vice Leader said you saw this person as honest and decent.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s a truly grateful assessment. It’s not something I should say to the person who said that, but…”

Mok Won turned his head towards Yang Cheon.

“I think Vice Leader Yang is a very ambitious person.”

Yang Cheon replied with a cheerful face.

“You’ve seen correctly. I am very ambitious.”

“How much is that ambition? I see it as an ambition that, if the war ends in victory, you might regroup your forces again, push against the righteous factions of the White Path [a term for martial artists who follow a more traditional and honorable path], and take over the world.”

If Mok Won had been surprised until now, it was Yang Cheon’s turn to be surprised.

“Do you think so?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

“And I don’t think that thought will change in the future. I don’t think Vice Leader Yang is someone who would give up his desires.”

What great insight.

Yang Cheon couldn’t help but be impressed. He had said that Mok Won hadn’t been able to blend into the world and had only observed it, but that didn’t mean he thought Mok Won was an insignificant person.

But he didn’t know that he would see through him to this extent.

While he was looking at the other person, the other person was also looking into his depths.

To be able to do that without proper experience in the world, it was no exaggeration to call it a divine eye.

“So, while I think of Vice Leader Yang as a benefactor, I don’t want to entrust everything to you.”

“Because of my desires?”

“Yes. I’ll join hands to overcome the immediate danger, but I don’t want to become a member of the Dark Dragon [a name for Yang Cheon’s faction].”

“So, you’re saying we’re comrades in arms.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s why it’s a shame. That you’ve only observed the world.”

Yang Cheon shrugged his shoulders.

“If you had properly grappled with the world, you would have been able to understand my desires.”

“I would have understood, but I wouldn’t have agreed. My mind is too set in its ways, and it’s too late for me to change my ideology and beliefs.”

“Hahaha.”

“Vice Commander Yeon was different.”

“Hmm?”

Mok Won put his hands behind his back.

“I didn’t know that Vice Leader would rate Vice Commander Yeon so highly. You must know Vice Commander Yeon’s abilities that I don’t. However, I also felt something while looking at Vice Commander Yeon.”

“……”

“Vice Commander Yeon has no ambition. He only has conviction.”

“Conviction, you say.”

“Yes. Vice Commander Yeon’s eyes, his killing intent, the burning heart of the greatest late-stage master in the world, are only aimed at the Three Teachings [a group that is the main antagonist].”

“……”

“I’m not a fortune teller, so I can’t predict a person’s future, but at least the Vice Commander Yeon I saw seemed like someone who, if he succeeded in stopping the Three Teachings, would leave the world and go back to his hometown to live a peaceful life.”

The more he saw, the more amazing his insight was. Yang Cheon also knew that the life Yeon Ho-jeong wanted was such a life.

Of course, whether he would actually live such a life was another matter.

“Not everyone needs to be like that. The world becomes desolate because of people with desires, and it also develops because of them. But…”

Mok Won chuckled.

“Right now, I really like that side of Vice Commander Yeon.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.

“Then? You’re saying you won’t join the Dark Dragon Faction?”

“I will join the Martial Alliance [a group of martial artists that opposes the Black Path].”

“……?!”

“Didn’t you say you formed an alliance with the Martial Alliance anyway? Then, no matter where I belong, it means you’ve gained one power in me. Well, that is if the Martial Alliance accepts me.”

“Hey, Mok Won.”

Mok Won shook his head.

“Don’t try to persuade me. You won’t be able to. You know that too, don’t you, Vice Leader?”

“……”

“We will join forces to face a common enemy. That’s what you wanted too, isn’t it? So, please be satisfied with my choice now.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes narrowed.

“As you said, after the war, there will be a power struggle between the Black and White Paths. In such a situation, I won’t be able to treat you, who was a member of the Martial Alliance, with familiarity.”

“Isn’t that obvious? If it wasn’t for the matter with the Three Teachings, you wouldn’t have worried about my life in the first place, would you?”

“……Ugh.”

Yang Cheon grumbled.

“You have a knack for making people’s minds complicated.”

“It seems to be my nature.”

Mok Won turned his body.

“Let’s go. Call Vice Commander Yeon too. I’ll tell you everything about the Sword King, no, my senior brother.”

With his hands behind his back, he walked down the canyon at a leisurely pace.

Yang Cheon sighed.

“Yeon Ho-jeong, you bad guy.”

What kind of charm does that guy have?

Why is it that everyone he meets tries to choose the path that Yeon Ho-jeong is looking at, instead of his own?

Of course, Yang Cheon knew the answer. But he didn’t want to admit it.

If he admitted it, he would become nothing more than a decrepit, old monster driven mad by ambition.

“Man, achieving a dream is never easy.”

Yang Cheon grumbled and followed behind Mok Won.