Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 579

“It feels like just yesterday when I first saw you, and yet so much time has already passed.”

“…….”

“Back then, you seemed truly dangerous. There were many talks of you being a lion or a tiger, but to me, you were closer to a demon than a beast. Though, I never said those words to you directly.”

“…….”

“But now, it’s as if that perilous demonic nature has vanished, and you’re showing the true appearance of a mountain king. Even your eyes are different from back then. Your imposing presence has grown, yet your clear and deep eyes are filled with chivalry and justice. You’ve truly become a man worthy of the title ‘Tiger of the Azure Mountain’.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon smiled.

“It’s truly a good thing. I don’t know if it’s because you’ve cultivated yourself well or if your father has guided you well, but now I feel like I can trust you from the bottom of my heart.”

It was a peculiar statement.

The Union Leader of the Beggars’ Union was like a symbol of chivalry. And to practice that chivalry, he filters through a vast amount of information.

He values logic over intuition, and reason over emotion. Only after thoroughly examining every aspect, he acts when he is certain that it does not deviate from the path of chivalry.

That’s why he receives a lot of criticism, and that’s why he needs a strong character.

Thus, the position of the Beggars’ Union Leader has been a firm symbol of chivalry, passed down through generations.

Such a man is talking about eyes and discussing intuition. If Yeon Ho-Jeong was not the Yeon Ho-Jeong he is now, then Hwa Jin-Cheon was not the Hwa Jin-Cheon he used to be.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly gazing at Hwa Jin-Cheon, spoke in a calm voice.

“You’ve become very gaunt.”

“Hmm?”

“I know that you’ve transferred some of your inner energy to your successor. But I didn’t expect you to become this gaunt.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon burst into laughter.

“Goodness, my friend. Do you know how old I am? Aging is a problem that has nothing to do with the presence or absence of inner energy. I’ve roamed all over the Central Plains [the central region of China, often used in wuxia stories] my whole life, so now, as I approach my twilight years, this beggar’s life is slowly fading away.”

It was strange.

Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a peculiar mystery in Hwa Jin-Cheon’s appearance and voice.

The vibrant energy he once had was gone. His back was hunched, and he had lost weight. His tattered clothes and the mane-like gray hair were the same, but overall, he had become smaller.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong saw beyond Hwa Jin-Cheon’s appearance.

Though his physique had become smaller, the presence he exuded was far greater than before.

It wasn’t a matter of martial arts or inner energy. The very atmosphere of Hwa Jin-Cheon had changed. That changed atmosphere made the small old man look like a giant.

It was as if he had attained enlightenment. Over the small and shabby appearance of a beggar, the figure of Seung-Hyeon Jin-In, the head of the Wudang Sect [a famous Taoist martial arts sect], overlapped.

“I invited you, but we’re both busy, so let’s have tea later.”

“Understood.”

“Let’s sit first.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sat down on a chair in front of the table.

Sitting across from him, Hwa Jin-Cheon asked.

“Is that the famous Black and White Twin Dragon Blades?”

“Do you know my weapons?”

“Who do you think I am? I’m the Union Leader of the Beggars’ Union, who knows everything in the world. How could I not know the unique weapons of the peerless prodigy who has stirred up a storm in the current world?”

It was a truly grand expression.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“It seems that someone who knows everything didn’t know that such chaos was happening in Sichuan.”

“Heh heh, you’re right.”

His smile, which seemed to make anyone feel good, had turned into a sneer.

“I was chasing after what others were curious about, while not knowing the real problems. I’ve become quite something.”

“…….”

“It’s clearly my fault. I’ve handed over most of the Union Leader’s duties to my disciple. I was so relieved to pass on the work to a trustworthy disciple.”

“…….”

“It’s a lamentable situation. Even if I hold the position of the Beggars’ Union Leader, I shouldn’t have done that. I should have examined the world more carefully and delved deeper.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon sighed.

“I was talking about the principles of the world and the future with that damned Taoist, and I missed what I had to do. I have no excuse for that.”

He admits it calmly and honestly.

Even if the Beggars’ Union Leader could blame himself for not noticing such a thing in advance, it would not be easy to admit his mistake to others.

In that respect, Hwa Jin-Cheon was definitely a man of character. It meant that he knew the duty of a man with power, as Yeon Ho-Jeong had said.

“When you get old, you should die. But before I die, I must correct my past mistakes. My mistakes can be addressed after this matter is resolved.”

“I agree. And…”

A bitter look appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

“I’m not in a position to criticize you, Union Leader.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon smiled.

“You’ve really changed a lot.”

“…….”

Well, have I changed that much?

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t think deeply about it. If he had changed, he had changed. What was important now was not that.

Hwa Jin-Cheon, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, clapped his hands.

“Let’s not be so gloomy, you two. What’s important now is discussing the future, isn’t it?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong glanced around.

“It seems you’re not good at math. There are forty-two of us, not two.”

He was referring to the hidden experts throughout the tavern.

Surprisingly, the martial arts of the hidden experts were so great that even Yeon Ho-Jeong could only feel their presence faintly. Even if they had professionally learned the highest level of stealth techniques, it was extraordinary that they could deceive Yeon Ho-Jeong’s senses to this extent.

Hwa Jin-Cheon chuckled.

“You still haven’t cultivated the magnanimity to pretend not to know, even when you do.”

“Neither you nor I have a relationship built on trust yet, do we?”

“A relationship not built on trust… yes, that’s right.”

“I didn’t know that the people guarding the master of the ten thousand Beggars’ Union would be this great. Even the strong of Seongcheon [a legendary realm of martial arts] wouldn’t dare to approach.”

“That can’t be true. If the strong of Seongcheon were to attack with determination, no group of experts could stop them. Well, they could buy some time.”

“The fact that they can buy time is huge.”

“I won’t deny that.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Hwa Jin-Cheon, tilted his head.

“I really don’t understand.”

“Hmm?”

“Usually, after a conversation like this, I can understand at least some of a person’s inner thoughts. But I can’t understand your inner thoughts at all, Union Leader.”

In reality, it was unlikely, but if Hwa Jin-Cheon had joined hands with the executives of the Paradise Society, it would be a huge problem.

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not ignore that near-zero possibility. The opponent was that much of a big shot, and above all, he was the head of the top information organization in the Central Plains.

If such a big shot was working with the Paradise Society, it was understandable that they had been able to grow their organization to that extent while hiding from the world’s eyes for over a decade.

To be precise, the easiest way to interpret the situation was to assume that the Union Leader was involved.

‘And.’

If the Union Leader had really joined hands with those bastards, things would become very complicated and extremely easy at the same time. Because he could just kill him right here.

That’s why he dragged out the conversation, and that’s why he tried to look at Hwa Jin-Cheon more closely. He carefully observed everything, including the pitch of his voice, his eyes, his expressions, and his gestures.

But he couldn’t figure anything out. Looking at his voice and eyes, he could feel the sincerity of the words he spoke, but even that he couldn’t be sure of.

“Do you doubt me?”

Hwa Jin-Cheon’s insight was indeed great.

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not deny his words.

“Yes, I do.”

“Yes, I understand. If you were to look for a way that those bastards could have grown their organization in Sichuan for so long, there would be no easier explanation than that the Union Leader was backing them.”

“You know it well.”

“Then, why did you come alone? If I had really joined hands with the Paradise Society’s bastards, I could have killed you right here.”

“I don’t know if you know, but I’m quite skilled.”

“You’re someone who is on the verge of reaching the realm of Seongcheon, so I fully understand that confidence. But, as you said, I have guards protecting me. You wouldn’t be able to handle them with your strength alone.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tapped his chest with his hand.

“Have you forgotten that I was with the head of the Tang Clan?”

“…….”

“The moment a battle breaks out, most of the experts here will lose consciousness. Just in case, I’ve already taken the antidote.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon smiled.

“You didn’t come without any preparation?”

“I’ve often been told that I have good drive, but I’ve never been called stupid.”

“Hahaha!”

Hwa Jin-Cheon burst into laughter without realizing it.

“You’re truly a wicked young man. I thought you had grown into a majestic mountain king, but you’ve been hiding poison on your fangs and claws.”

“To keep the king’s seat, I have to win even if it’s ugly.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon, who had been looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong with a smile, shook his head.

“Don’t worry. Even if I’ve made a mistake that pierces my heart, I haven’t gone crazy enough to join hands with those bastards.”

“Understood.”

“Do you trust me?”

“How could I? But don’t be too disappointed. I’m thinking of it as a possibility that is infinitely close to zero.”

“That’s painful. Well, it can’t be helped. It’s my fault for being lazy.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon took out a few documents from his chest.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“What is this?”

“It’s a list.”

“A list of…?”

“It’s a list of the elders of our union who have connections with the high-ranking officials of the Sichuan Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Inspectorate, and the Provincial Administration Office.”

“……?!”

Hwa Jin-Cheon clasped his hands.

“It was only three months ago that I realized that the atmosphere in Sichuan was strangely changing. The Union Leader has a meeting with the elders of each region once a year. Three months ago was the meeting with the elders of Sichuan.”

The number of Beggars’ Union members is greater than any other sect in the Central Plains.

There are dozens of elders alone. They don’t appear on the front lines of the martial world, but it wasn’t for nothing that the Beggars’ Union was called the number one union in the world.

If they concentrated all their forces in one place, they could overwhelm the entire Nine Great Sects [the most powerful martial arts sects] combined with their sheer numbers.

That was the Beggars’ Union.

“At that time, I saw something that shouldn’t have been seen in the eyes of the elders who managed the information in Sichuan.”

“Something that shouldn’t have been seen?”

“Worldly desires.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon’s eyes deepened.

“Beggars are free. A single set of tattered clothes is enough to wear, and if they are hungry, they can beg. Depending on the situation, the members of our union could observe the public sentiment in that freedom. Even while being cursed and despised, they check every day to see if there is anything wrong with the lives of the common people.”

“…….”

“Do you understand? To become a member of the Beggars’ Union, you must be free from material desires. Rather than mountains of gold and silver, a few coins to survive today are enough. That is the way of the Beggars’ Union.”

“…….”

“But, in the eyes of the elders who should be the model for the Beggars’ Union, all sorts of greed were rampant. Intense material desires, strong avarice, and even lust were visible.”

“…….”

“I don’t know if they thought they wouldn’t be caught, or if they were in a state of self-abandonment. Well, they are no less experienced in the martial world.”

“Are you saying that…?”

“That’s right.”

Hwa Jin-Cheon closed his eyes.

“The reason why the Paradise Society could grow was not just a problem with the Sichuan branch of our union. The elders who managed the Sichuan region had been in contact with high-ranking officials of the government for over a decade.”

“……!”

“And under the permission of those high-ranking officials, the foundation of the Paradise Society was laid.”