Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 566

“Hmm.”

The road to Sichuan was treacherous.

That was a well-known fact. He had actually visited Sichuan several times before.

However, this path from the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance] was truly brutal. It was so dangerous that even a skilled martial artist could lose their life the moment they lost their balance. The plank road was a plank road in name only; for those walking on it, it was no different from walking a tightrope.

“Indeed, Sichuan is a natural fortress. Just leading troops to attack would be difficult.”

Moyong Gun clicked his tongue.

He was also an absolute master who had cultivated peerless martial arts. Furthermore, he had been spending his days in extreme training to catch up with Gong Gong.

The level he had reached now was unknown to anyone but himself.

Even the Unja Clan, who had been his shadow and managed all sorts of information, did not know how high Moyong Gun had risen.

If even Moyong Gun was clicking his tongue at the difficulty of the path, one could imagine how treacherous it was.

The Unja Clan shook his head.

“You say that, but you seem to be crossing it quite easily.”

“It’s not difficult for the likes of you and me. The problem is the troops. No matter how great a master is, they can’t wage war alone. In a fight, the more the merrier, but if we try to cross this path recklessly, we’ll only lose innocent soldiers.”

“We can just cross slowly.”

“That’s the problem. You know how important speed is in war.”

The Unja Clan’s eyes deepened.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of going to war with the Sichuan Murim?”

“Of course not. However, you never know when something might happen, so I always keep such possibilities in mind.”

‘He lives so tiringly,’ the Unja Clan thought.

However, he had no intention of blaming Moyong Gun. Moyong Gun was originally that kind of person. Also, to achieve the ambition he held in his heart, such habits might be natural.

Moyong Gun, who had reached the top of the cliff, looked down at the land of Sichuan.

A vast basin came into view. It was a breathtaking expanse.

“Even aside from that, if by any chance the Sichuan Murim falls into enemy hands, we will have to send troops to reclaim Sichuan from the enemy.”

“……”

“I just hope that doesn’t happen.”

The Unja Clan looked at Moyong Gun with strange eyes.

In the meantime, the Unja Clan had handled all sorts of tasks in Moyong Gun’s shadow.

Sometimes, he had done things that were hard to even speak of. Even though it was because of a contract, he had often thought that Moyong Gun was no different from a demon.

‘Well, I’m no different since I helped him, even if it was because of a contract.’

However, Moyong Gun had been showing a subtly different side of himself lately.

He didn’t know what changes were actually in his heart. However, it was certain that the current Moyong Gun seemed much more relaxed than in the past.

To be precise, he looked like a member of the righteous path.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

“Hmm?”

“You were staring at me.”

The Unja Clan shook his head.

“I was just thinking that you are a truly unpredictable person.”

Moyong Gun burst into laughter.

“Why? Is it so strange that I’m worried about the Murim?”

“A little.”

“To become a landowner, the land must be intact. If the land I’m going to take is ruined by thugs, would I be happy?”

“I know. Still, you seem much softer than before.”

“If it seems that way, I’m glad. I’m actually trying to become softer.”

Moyong Gun smiled brightly.

“They say ‘honeyed words, a dagger in the belly’ and ‘a smile hides a knife.’ The truly dangerous ones aren’t the people who glare with their eyes like the Dang Clan Head. The ones who can hide a knife in their smile are the truly scary ones.”

“Are you trying to become such a person?”

Moyong Gun looked up at the sky without answering.

The amount of sunlight in Sichuan was known to be low. Perhaps that was why the sky was dark even in the morning, and a strange fog seemed to hang over the lower areas.

Moyong Gun shrugged.

“I heard you’ve made progress in restoring the Un Clan Fist recently?”

“……”

“Without progress in the Jiangshi [a type of undead] technique, it’s difficult for the Un Clan Fist to regain its power.”

The Unja Clan’s eyes deepened.

“What do you suddenly want to say?”

“I want to ask. Do you want to rebuild the Jinju Un Clan on this land?”

“……”

“When we first made a contract, you said this: that you would restore the Un Clan’s Jiangshi technique and the Un Clan Fist to restore your ancestors’ name.”

Moyong Gun looked at the Unja Clan.

“Is your dream to revive the Un Clan’s old reputation, or to reopen the Un Clan?”

The Unja Clan looked at Moyong Gun without answering.

Moyong Gun smiled.

“It seems difficult to answer.”

“……”

“Well, it’s okay. You must have a lot on your mind.”

“Why are you asking such questions?”

“This war is an opportunity for you.”

“……?”

“You want to restore the Un Clan’s martial arts and show them to the world? How exactly are you going to show them? Are you going to wander around the world and have duels? Even if you win every time, will people who have bad memories of the Un Clan properly acknowledge you?”

“……”

“But if you defeat the bandits in this war with your own two fists, the bad reputation of the Un Clan will be greatly reduced.”

The Unja Clan’s eyes deepened.

“I have my own personal dreams, but I don’t want the Central Plains to become a mess to achieve them.”

“I know. The important thing is that such a crisis is slowly approaching, isn’t it?”

“……”

“Even if you raise your fists for the world, not everyone will recognize you. If you die in a meaningless battle, the name of the Un Clan will only be forgotten faster.”

“I won’t die so easily.”

“You shouldn’t. What I mean is that you need to be a little more cunning. Whether you plan to reopen the Un Clan or are satisfied with proving your martial arts.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“I want you to prove your abilities in this Sichuan turmoil.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, go wild. You don’t want to waste your time doing information manipulation or control under me, do you?”

“……!”

“If you go wild properly, I will recommend you to the Murim Alliance. It might not be enough with just one time, but as your achievements accumulate, the world will see you and the Un Clan differently.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

“It might be impossible to get a position right away, but you could take on a major role in the Murim Alliance. With dignity.”

“……!”

“I will personally recommend you. But to do that, you need merit.”

Moyong Gun looked at the Unja Clan.

For a moment, the Unja Clan felt bewildered. He saw a strong ambition in Moyong Gun’s eyes as he looked at him.

What was even more terrifying?

His own face, reflected in Moyong Gun’s eyes, was no different from Moyong Gun’s.

“I will show you that your decision to choose me was right. So do your best.”

The Unja Clan nodded involuntarily.

Moyong Gun grinned.

“It seems like your morale is up. Now, shall we also start heading towards the number one family in Sichuan?”

* * *

“Hoo.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had returned in the early morning, ended up not drinking.

If things were over with this battle, it would be one thing, but he hadn’t even properly investigated the Sichuan issue yet.

He needed to get his body back to normal as much as possible. In the end, he spent the whole day healing his internal injuries with Qi circulation [a practice of circulating internal energy], and only after half a day did he finish his bath and come down to the second floor.

‘It’s night again.’

The inn was empty.

And Yeon Ho-jeong seemed to know why.

“Drinking alone?”

Dang Gwan was alone at the window on the second floor, pouring himself a drink.

Dang Gwan pointed with his chin to the seat opposite him. Yeon Ho-jeong sat down opposite him.

Yeon Ho-jeong asked.

“Where are the others? I didn’t feel any presence in their rooms.”

“Don’t know.”

Well, with his personality, he probably wouldn’t have had a proper conversation.

“What about the nun?”

“Sent her to the branch.”

“Hmm.”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

“Looks like they went to get Song Ha-shinni.”

Now that the battle was over, it was time to bring Song Ha-shinni and Deunghwa, who had been hidden in a safe place.

It seemed that although he said he didn’t know, the group had taken on the role of sending the nun to the branch. They would also bring Song Ha-shinni.

“How long have you been drinking?”

“Since you locked yourself in your room to circulate your Qi.”

He had been drinking since he returned in the early morning. Yeon Ho-jeong clicked his tongue.

“Aren’t you drunk?”

Dang Gwan said curtly.

“Who do you think I am?”

Indeed, he had immunity to poisons that were several times more toxic and deadly than alcohol.

His detoxification ability was on a different level from ordinary masters. If his stamina held up, he could drink for days.

Yeon Ho-jeong held out his empty glass.

“Why do you drink so much if you don’t get drunk?”

Dang Gwan silently filled his glass.

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“Isn’t this white liquor?”

“……”

“What happened to buying me good liquor?”

“Shut up.”

Yeon Ho-jeong emptied his glass in one go.

Dang Gwan, who had been quietly watching him, took out a small pill from his pocket and threw it to him.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s face was puzzled as he received the pill.

“What is this?”

“Hwabaekdan [a type of medicinal pill].”

“I mean, what are its effects?”

“It’s for internal injuries.”

It seemed to be a medicine for internal injuries exclusive to the Dang Clan. If it was something that the Clan Head, Dang Gwan, carried around, it would be worth a fortune.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly.

“Why didn’t you give it to me sooner?”

“If you use it when the healing isn’t progressing, its effectiveness is reduced.”

“You had it all planned out.”

“Even if I can’t give a knife to the guy I’m going to use, I should at least take care of what goes into his mouth.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

‘There’s a day like this.’

Dang Gwan had changed a lot in the meantime.

He had sparred with him, and they had worked together on things.

But he never thought the day would come when they would have such a conversation. In his past life, Dang Gwan was an enemy who had stabbed him with a poisoned dart in his heart.

‘It’s a strange feeling.’

But he didn’t dislike it.

The Dang Gwan in front of him was a different person from the Dang Gwan of his past life. Yeon Ho-jeong had made that distinction, and it was true.

“Have you sorted out your feelings?”

Dang Gwan chuckled.

“Do you think it’s something that can be sorted out by organizing them?”

“Well, I guess not.”

“We’ll leave tomorrow. Have a few drinks and go back to properly heal your body.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

The two silently emptied their glasses one after another.

Dang Gwan, who had been quietly looking down at his glass, got up from his seat.

“I’m getting drunk.”

There was no way someone who hadn’t gotten drunk after drinking all day would get drunk now. It seemed he wanted to be alone.

Yeon Ho-jeong opened his mouth.

“Can I ask you just one thing?”

“What is it?”

“What was your relationship with the previous Clan Head?”

In an instant, Dang Gwan’s eyes sharpened.

“Why do you ask that?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes were as sharp as Dang Gwan’s.

“Because that man’s existence could be a decisive variable in this match.”