Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 590

The old man, Dang Hyeong, looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with indifferent eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke without avoiding Dang Hyeong’s gaze.

“Just in case, you should watch this place from outside the cave.”

“Understood.”

Hwang Seok-Tae clasped his hands towards Dang Hyeong.

Although they had never met, he needed to show respect to a master of the highest level in the martial world. A master of Seongcheon [a legendary realm of martial arts mastery] was worthy of respect, regardless of their ideology.

With that, Hwang Seok-Tae left the area.

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“I have committed a discourtesy.”

“…….”

“However, I have no intention of asking for forgiveness. If I did, I wouldn’t have bothered coming here in the first place.”

That was true.

Dang Hyeong remained silent. He stared at Yeon Ho-Jeong with his mouth tightly shut, and even Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was known throughout the world, found it difficult to read any emotion or thought in Dang Hyeong’s eyes.

‘He’s transparent.’

His transparency was like looking at a piece of flawless crystal.

That was why he was surprised, and why he felt a sense of danger. He didn’t know if Dang Hyeong was in complete control of himself or if he truly had no emotions, but at least he was not an opponent that he could handle in his current state.

How much time had passed?

“You are from the Martial Alliance?”

“That is correct.”

His voice was slightly hoarse.

From Yeon Ho-Jeong’s perspective, this was somewhat unexpected. He had imagined a much sharper and more dignified figure.

The reality was different. Aside from his eyes, Dang Hyeong had the appearance and demeanor of an ordinary village elder.

Dang Hyeong asked.

“How did you enter this place?”

“I walked in.”

Dang Hyeong’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Walked in? What an absurd answer. Dang Hyeong had never seen anyone speak such words in front of him, and with such confidence.

“Since you have two legs, you must have walked.”

It was a subtly chilling remark.

Although the words were ordinary, the fact that Dang Hyeong was the one saying them made it sound like he would cut off their legs at any moment. It was a very peculiar tone.

After staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong for a while, Dang Hyeong looked around.

“Was this commotion your doing?”

“Yes, it was.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not offer any explanation.

Dang Hyeong’s eyes deepened.

“I see.”

“…….”

“It has been a long time since I took interest in the world, but I would like to resolve this one question.”

“Please, speak.”

“While you were entering this place, was there no one who tried to stop you? Surely, you didn’t defeat everyone in your path.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“There was no one. Except for a few poison traps.”

The reason why Yeon Ho-Jeong and Hwang Seok-Tae were able to infiltrate this place so easily was simpler than one might think.

In the first place, the place where Dang Hyeong resided was at the far northeastern end of the Dang Clan. It was far from where the clan’s forces were concentrated.

Naturally, there were no warriors guarding this place. The reason was that since Dang Hyeong had confined himself, having warriors guard him would have been disrespectful.

First, Pae Yul drew attention, and then Moyong Gun infiltrated and caused chaos in the outer courtyard.

Moreover, with Dang Gwan wielding strong influence in Noksujurru [a region within the Dang Clan’s territory], Yeon Ho-Jeong and Hwang Seok-Tae were able to infiltrate this place very easily.

There were poison traps set up in various places, but Yeon Ho-Jeong’s power was enough to dismantle them.

“You speak the truth.”

Dang Hyeong nodded.

“It’s the same sensation I felt. I already knew what path you took and how you broke through to this place.”

He had expected as much.

He had expected it, but he was still amazed by Dang Hyeong’s incredible ability. Dang Hyeong must have been able to see everything inside the vast Dang Clan from where he sat.

He probably couldn’t eavesdrop on people’s conversations. However, he could certainly hear shouts or sense the atmosphere.

‘He probably knows what’s happening beyond the Dang Clan, even in Dangga-ta [the main territory of the Dang Clan].’

Of course, he would have to deliberately expand his senses.

It was hard to imagine that the seemingly listless Dang Hyeong would have been deliberately expanding his senses on a regular basis.

‘Whatever the case may be.’

Woo-oong.

Even without focusing his mind, the Yeon Family’s Divine Core [a core of energy within a martial artist] began to slowly rotate.

His body tensed up first. His mind was clear, but the unknown aura that Dang Hyeong exuded caused his body, and even his inner energy, to prepare themselves.

Blue energy formed in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

‘He’s truly a unique individual.’

Dark King Dang Hyeong.

The greatest master in the history of the Dang Clan, the most prestigious family in Sichuan [a province in China], and the peerless martial artist who brought the Dang Clan to its peak.

Before Dang Hyeong, the martial world considered the Dang Clan to be dangerous, but still a step below other sects.

This was entirely due to the pride of the Central Plains [the heartland of China] martial artists, who disliked poison and hidden weapons. Although they had elevated poison and hidden weapons to an art form, it was generally believed that they were no match for masters who had elevated orthodox martial arts to the realm of transcendence.

They were a family that had defended Sichuan from foreign invasions for hundreds of years, yet they were still evaluated in such a way. The world was that harsh and conservative.

The person who completely overturned that conservative evaluation was Dang Hyeong.

He defeated countless masters with just a single dagger, without using any poison.

Only a single dagger. With that short blade, he cut through the swords of sword masters, severed the arms of powerful ax wielders, and ended matches by embedding his dagger into the foreheads of fist masters without even clashing.

In the process, he never used poison or any strange hidden weapons.

That was why, before he was called the Dark King, his nickname was the Death God of the Lone Dagger. It was a nickname given to him because he showed the same actions as a death god with a single dagger.

An invincible master who reached the pinnacle of power without poison or messy hidden weapons.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was inwardly surprised by the hollow aura that this giant exuded.

‘Among the masters who have reached that realm, I have never seen anyone emit such a hollow aura.’

It was called hollow, but it was simply the epitome of emptiness.

The emptiness was so extreme that it seemed as if he had become one with nature.

‘He doesn’t seem to have lost his will to live, but…’

He also wasn’t the type to pay attention to his surroundings. He wasn’t pretending; he was genuinely like that.

“Are you finished?”

“……?”

“I asked if you were finished examining me.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

Dang Hyeong waved his hand.

“I am a person who has no interest in the world outside this realm. Since you are from the Martial Alliance, I will forgive your discourtesy of entering without permission.”

“…….”

“Please leave now. I am tired.”

It was a calm dismissal.

He had expected it to be difficult, but he had not imagined that the conversation wouldn’t even begin.

After staring at Dang Hyeong for a moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong let out a chuckle.

“The world is indeed vast.”

“…….”

“To be honest, I never imagined I would be dismissed like this.”

“How unfortunate would it be if the world were to go as you wished? Please leave now.”

He didn’t say ‘how happy,’ but ‘how unfortunate.’

It was difficult because the world didn’t go as one wished, but that was also why life was worth living. If everything was predictable and one could control everything, the world would be incredibly boring.

Yeon Ho-Jeong could glimpse Dang Hyeong’s philosophy in those words.

A son who didn’t go as he wished, a family that didn’t go as he wished.

However, he was not unhappy. It was because he knew that was how the world was.

Dang Hyeong had indirectly told Yeon Ho-Jeong that he was not unhappy.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Since I have already committed a discourtesy, how about you show a little more patience?”

“Leave.”

“Wouldn’t it be more desirable to correct what is wrong, rather than ignoring the reality of your children fighting and bleeding?”

Dang Hyeong looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Ssssh.

Even though there was no wind, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hair trembled slightly.

Dang Hyeong’s eyes remained the same, but the atmosphere had changed. Just a little.

That slight change alone made his hair stand on end. Not figuratively, but literally.

‘As expected.’

Despite all the talk, this man was still a Dang.

‘This man is dangerous.’

He was a man with dangerous martial arts.

It had been a long time since he had been tense because of someone’s skill, not their ideology or emotions.

Dang Hyeong spoke.

“It seems you know the affairs of the main family in detail.”

“That is correct.”

“If you know about the main family, you must also know this. The main family is not a family that is swayed by the evaluations of outsiders. There is no need for that, and it should not be so.”

“…….”

“Whether they fight and bleed or not, I have already stepped down from the position of Clan Leader. It is none of my concern what happens to the next generation.”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“That’s a lie.”

“…….”

“Until now, you were sincere, but that last statement was clearly a lie.”

“How do you know that?”

“I can feel it.”

“Nonsense. Even if it were a lie, it doesn’t mean I have to play along with your tune. I’ll say it again. Leave now…”

“Why did you teach them?”

“……?”

“Why did you teach your son martial arts? What was the reason for looking after your grandchildren’s martial arts? Did you teach them simply because you thought it was your duty as an elder of the family?”

“…….”

“No. That can’t be the case. The reason you give your children and descendants such generous teachings is because you want them to live safely in a better world, to live a wonderful life.”

“…….”

“And now, your wish has been shattered.”

Whoosh!

A faint heat emanated from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

His heart rate increased, and the Vermilion Bird Qi [a powerful internal energy] raised its head. The surging blood flow increased, making Yeon Ho-Jeong’s aura even sharper and stronger.

“If that is the family’s rule and tradition, then so be it. However, no law can take precedence over the collapse of my people, my family, my world.”

“You are an arrogant young man. I never thought I would learn about the family’s laws from a young man who is not even a Dang.”

“Especially if the reason for the collapse is not a simple internal conflict, but the machinations of external forces.”

“……!”

It was the first time.

For the first time, Dang Hyeong’s eyes changed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice gained strength.

“Very well. The family’s laws, traditions, rules. All of that is fine.”

“…….”

“However, if you know the ways of humanity, you must take responsibility as the one who gave birth to a monster, not just as a member of the family.”

“……Monster? Responsibility?”

“An incompetent monster. But that monster, with the help of external forces, has created a strange organization called Nakwonso [a sinister organization] throughout Sichuan. It is a place where civilians are kidnapped to satisfy the desires of the powerful.”

“……!!”

Dang Hyeong’s cheek twitched slightly.

“He is an incompetent man who cannot achieve anything properly on his own. But the moment that incompetent man’s desires were realized, he became a monster.”

“……That can’t be.”

“Do you think so?”

“Gwan would never do such a reckless thing.”

“That’s right. The Dang Clan Leader is not that kind of person. It was the doing of a brother who desires the position of Dang Clan Leader.”

At that moment, Dang Hyeong recalled Dang Ho’s face.

The face of his second son, who had brought wine and meat and bowed, saying he would visit again.

Yeon Ho-Jeong continued in a cold voice.

“As a parent, this is an opportunity to correct your wayward child. And if you want to save the lives of your other children who are innocent, this will be your last chance.”

“…….”

“Now, take responsibility.”