Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 581

“Father.”

Tang Ho’s face hardened at the sight of his son rushing in.

Tang Yeo-seon swallowed hard and said,

“It’s been reported that someone presumed to be our granduncle has entered Sichuan!”

Just hearing those words made his heart race.

Tang Ho tried to maintain a calm expression as he asked. He knew Tang Gwan was coming anyway.

“Where has he been sighted?”

“He appeared in Daecheong County, in western Sichuan.”

“Was it a report from the Black Eyes [Tang Clan’s intelligence network]?”

“Yes, it was.”

“Then the information gathering period must have been short. It will take him a few days to enter the vicinity of Chengdu.”

That was enough time.

Even after ascending to the position of Clan Head, Tang Gwan had not neglected his martial arts training. In fact, he had reduced his sleep to train and work, all in an effort to surpass his father.

He had even consumed the Tang Clan’s Five Great Poisons to enhance his poison skills, a training regimen that could be called life-threatening. The current Tang Gwan was the best among the active martial artists, and even the old masters of the previous generation would not dare to face him, with the exception of a very few.

His skill in handling poison and hidden weapons was outstanding, not just his martial arts prowess.

‘Still, it’s alright.’

In the past few days, he had completely won over the Elder Council.

Of course, there were many who vehemently opposed him or were absolutely loyal to Tang Gwan. Most of them were currently imprisoned in the family’s jail.

Although their immediate power had decreased, the majority of the family’s forces were now in his hands.

Even if an elite force from the Martial Alliance attacked, not just Tang Gwan, he could easily stop them.

‘Besides.’

Tang Ho’s eyes turned sinister.

‘Even if I only get a part of that secret, Tang Gwan is as good as dead.’

He hadn’t known until he had taken control of the family. He didn’t know Tang Gwan was hiding such a move.

Perhaps it was a secret known only to the Clan Heads for generations.

And now, Tang Ho knew that secret.

He had not formally received the position of Clan Head, but he was practically the Clan Head in all but name.

“What about the secret envoy?”

“They are currently pursuing someone presumed to be Yeon Ho-jeong.”

“Presumed? Are they moving alone?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Moving alone…”

Tang Ho frowned.

‘What is he trying to do?’

He had long since abandoned the hope that the guy didn’t know about the Paradise Society. [A secret society with ties to foreign martial arts groups]

Furthermore, Yeon Ho-jeong was a very clever guy. The moment he touched the Paradise Society, he must have known that they would find out his identity.

‘He’s planning something.’

Tang Ho said,

“Keep track of Yeon Ho-jeong’s movements at all times. And where are the forces that entered Sichuan with him?”

“They are at the western end of Sichuan. Probably…”

“They’re going to join Tang Gwan.”

Tang Ho chuckled.

“Not bad. Rather than catching and killing scattered cats one by one, it’s better to bury them all at once, isn’t it?”

Tang Yeo-seon smiled. His smile, so similar to his father’s, looked very sinister.

“Indeed.”

Tang Ho took a deep breath.

“I should give the elders who have joined hands with me a chance as well. Those people have crossed the line. Once a person crosses the line, they start to calculate their gains thoroughly.”

If he set the stage properly, a competition for loyalty would begin.

That was the nature of the Tang Clan people, but especially the elders of the Elder Council were all proud individuals. They acknowledged Tang Gwan’s abilities and treated him as the Clan Head, but few of them liked him personally.

They were the kind of people who would turn their backs at any opportunity. But they were also the kind of people who wouldn’t break the rules because of their pride.

Such people had now abandoned their pride and deviated from the rules, becoming completely his people.

The Elder Council, whose power had been reduced after Tang Gwan took control, would explode their suppressed desires like a volcano.

“I’m curious. What will Tang Gwan’s face look like? How will he feel when the elders he once ruled deny him as the Clan Head and attack him?”

* * *

Flash!

Tang Gwan, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, opened them.

At the same time, Moyong Gun and Eon Ja-bang also opened their eyes.

“He’s here.”

As they got up from their cross-legged positions, Yeon Ho-jeong appeared behind them.

“Have you all been resting well?”

Moyong Gun asked directly,

“What did the Dragon Head [Leader of the Beggars’ Union] say?”

Yeon Ho-jeong recounted the conversation he had with the Dragon Head.

“…”

The group’s faces turned grim.

“Even the Beggars’ Union…”

It was only limited to Sichuan, but it was ultimately the Dragon Head’s fault for not managing them properly.

Tang Gwan asked with a calm face,

“So, as expected, the main family, along with Qingcheng and Emei [Famous martial arts sects], had ties with the foreign martial world.”

“That’s how it turned out.”

Tang Gwan nodded.

“Whatever the case, the priority now is to eradicate the seeds of evil that have grown in the main family.”

“You are right.”

It was the right thing to say, but he couldn’t even imagine how fiercely he had agonized and suppressed his burning emotions to think that way.

There was no one in this place who didn’t hate the Three Teachings. [A general term for foreign martial arts groups]

However, the person whose heart was probably the most complicated was Tang Gwan.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Yes?”

Tang Gwan said curtly,

“I am the master of the Tang Clan. I may have been disgraced for not managing the family properly, but I will not be accused of not correcting my family members who are running wild.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been watching him quietly, smiled.

“Yes, you must.”

Moyong Gun frowned.

“Let’s stop the conversation there.”

It was a mood-killing remark, but his mood had been at its worst since he was certain that they were connected to the Three Teachings.

“From now on, we have to face the dangerous Tang Clan. Time is gold. We need to quickly come up with a plan or something.”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

Tang Gwan looked at the Tang Clan Tower in the distance.

“That place may look like any other city, but the Tang Clan’s eyes are cast over the entire area. More than 70% of the people living there are Tangs.”

“I knew it, but it’s still surprising.”

“In other words, we have to break through that place without any damage before entering the outer compound of the main family.”

“That’s right.”

“I know a secret path. I also know someone I can trust. We can reach the front of the outer compound without being noticed by anyone.”

Moyong Gun interjected,

“The problem is from the outer compound onwards.”

“That’s right.”

“The Tang Clan side must already know your and our travel routes. They know that we are lurking around here, aiming for the family, so they must have prepared for it.”

Tang Gwan nodded.

Then, Yeon Ho-jeong said,

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“Hmm?”

“The Dragon Head has taken care of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Dragon Head had been watching Sichuan long before we entered it. He soon learned of the elders’ betrayal and even identified the Paradise Society.”

Since it was such a serious matter, even the Dragon Head of the world couldn’t move rashly.

He knew that the elders of the Beggars’ Union were involved, but it would have been difficult to know how many other members were connected to them.

So, he secretly selected those who were not connected to the Paradise Society and gave them orders. After the group entered Sichuan, he shook the Paradise Society’s information network.

“They will think that I am moving separately, and that the Tang Clan Head is still on the outskirts of Sichuan. They will expect us to meet up and launch a full-scale attack.”

If that was true, it was an unexpected help.

Moyong Gun asked,

“Can we trust the Dragon Head?”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly.

“I haven’t completely ruled out the possibility, even if it’s close to zero. However, the Dragon Head I saw didn’t seem like the kind of madman who would join hands with such fools.”

“If it’s your judgment, I can trust it, but…”

Moyong Gun trailed off.

That’s right. He trusted Yeon Ho-jeong’s abilities. Especially his judgment, which he thought was worthy of being called the best in the world.

However, the opponent was too dangerous to proceed with the plan based solely on his judgment. Even if they were just assuming a power struggle between families, they had to be careful, especially if the opponent was the Tang Clan.

Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Tang Gwan.

“That’s why I need the Tang Clan Head’s forgiveness.”

Everyone looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with puzzled expressions.

Tang Gwan’s forgiveness? What did that mean?

“The Beggars’ Union is the best information-gathering sect in the Central Plains. That’s why the position of the Dragon Head has always been held by someone whose integrity has been proven. Some of the Beggars’ Union may have been corrupted, but the Dragon Head has rarely been tainted by evil ways.”

“So?”

“To become the Dragon Head, one must be stronger than anyone else. They must be able to live on even if they are hated by everyone in the Central Plains.”

“You’re being long-winded. Get to the point.”

“Because it is the best information group in the Central Plains, the information network of the martial world is paralyzed if the Beggars’ Union is shaken. That’s why the Dragon Head has planted people in several major sects.”

“…?!”

“They are information agents who have been ordered to suspend their activities indefinitely, so that even in the worst-case scenario, the Central Plains information network can be revived. They are planted in the organizations that are considered the most important in each region.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes wavered.

Not only him. Moyong Gun, as well as the entire group, were shocked.

“An agent who can release the paralysis of the information network in each region at once. They do not act even if there is a war in the Central Plains, but they start acting when the Beggars’ Union is in danger.”

“… !”

“That agent was also in the Tang Clan.”

“That damn old man… !”

A terrifying killing intent surged from Tang Gwan’s body.

His reaction was only natural. How could anyone not be angry when they found out that a spy from the Beggars’ Union, who walked the same righteous path, was hiding in their family?

“That was why the Dragon Head called me. Currently, the Beggars’ Union cannot properly use its power in Sichuan. The Dragon Head is already making a considerable effort just by disrupting our current location.”

“…”

Yeon Ho-jeong took out a small pouch from his pocket.

“There is powder inside this. If you burn it, trained dogs will smell it. If the signal is passed on in succession, the agent will resume their activities.”

“So.”

Tang Gwan’s face was as if he was looking at a demon. He was already furious that his own family members were causing this mess, and now he found out that a spy from the Beggars’ Union was hiding in his family.

It was a reality that made his mind go blank. For the head of the Tang Clan, there could be no more shocking situation than this.

Nevertheless, Tang Gwan maintained his reason until the end. His insides felt like they were about to burst with extreme anger and murderous intent, but even in the midst of it, he did not let go of the thread of reason.

“If you burn that powder, the agent will resume their activities?”

“That’s right.”

“We can’t be sure whether the agent will help us or inform the traitors of the main family, who we would like to grind to dust, of our location, can we?”

“Yes, we can’t be sure.”

“Then what the hell!”

“Instead.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“I poisoned the Dragon Head.”

“… What?”

“I poisoned the Dragon Head with the poison you gave me. I only used a small amount.”

“…!!”

“He is resisting with his profound inner strength, but it will only last for two months at most. If we don’t go and detoxify him within two months, the Dragon Head’s life will be in danger.”

The group looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with stunned eyes. They had never imagined that they would play such a strong hand against each other.

“Do you understand? The intensity of our fight this time is that high. It’s a fight that even high-ranking figures in the martial world are risking their lives for.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.

“Now, we have to risk our lives too. Come what may.”

Half a day later.

Chiik!

The smoke from the burnt powder scattered and disappeared.