Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 598

“Master!”\n\n”I know.”\n\nTang Ho’s eyes no longer wavered.\n\n”Where is the Elder Council Head?”\n\n”Currently… their location is unconfirmed.”\n\nHe barely held back the urge to curse.\n\nTang Ho struggled to suppress his anger. Getting angry in this situation was pointless.\n\n”What about Black Wind and Green Robe?”\n\n”They are returning to the inner compound from the outer compound. It seems the target has broken through the outer compound’s guards and entered the inner compound.”\n\n”…”\n\n”The location and status of other available forces are currently being assessed…”\n\nThwack!\n\nThe floor of the office cracked open. It couldn’t withstand Tang Ho’s agitated stomp.\n\n”Seriously.”\n\nHe couldn’t contain his anger, no matter how hard he tried.\n\n”How can it be that with so many experts and units in this family, we can’t even properly track their locations and movements!”\n\n”We, we apologize!”\n\nIn reality, not all of the Tang Clan’s forces were stationed here.\n\nThey were a force that spread its influence throughout Sichuan. It was common for three or five tenths of their forces to be constantly rotating through the regions, carrying out their respective missions.\n\nIn other words, they weren’t at full strength. There were many empty spaces throughout the vast family grounds, which were larger than most cities.\n\nThat’s why he was even angrier. If it was less than half the force, they should have been able to track their movements and numbers more accurately.\n\nEven if it was only half, it was still enough to easily take on four or five medium-sized sects. That was just the units; if you included the actual experts, they could rival even the Nine Great Sects. Thanks to their poison and hidden weapons.\n\nAll of that power, and their intelligence was scattered.\n\nTang Ho was furious and, at the same time, flustered.\n\nThe white-masked man’s voice echoed in his ears.\n\n’Haven’t you learned anything from watching Tang Gwan all this time? Did you think that just by sitting in that seat, your subordinates would take care of everything?’\n\nTang Gwan, Tang Gwan.\n\nWhat exactly did Tang Gwan do? How great was Tang Gwan’s ability?\n\nTang Ho was also quite skilled in managing the family as the head. Although he hadn’t been able to fully focus on internal affairs since fifteen years ago due to his focus on external matters, he at least knew how the family business was run.\n\n’Is the difference really this big?’\n\nIt was absurd. He couldn’t accept it.\n\nHe hated Tang Gwan, but he acknowledged his abilities. And while secretly sharpening his fangs, he had watched Tang Gwan’s administrative and governing skills.\n\nUnless he was a fool, anyone who had watched someone for over ten years would be able to grasp at least a tenth of their abilities. In fact, Tang Ho didn’t think he was significantly inferior to Tang Gwan, even if he couldn’t say he was better.\n\n’Damn it.’\n\nTang Ho bit his lip.\n\nNow was not the time to be consumed by self-loathing and anger. He had to find a way to get through this situation.\n\n”How far has Tang Gwan come?”\n\n”He is currently walking from about two hundred yards away from the master’s chamber.”\n\n”…I see.”\n\nThere was no other choice.\n\nHe couldn’t let him reach the sacred master’s chamber.\n\nTang Ho took down the robe hanging on the wall and slipped his arms into the sleeves.\n\n”If he insists on seeing my face, I suppose I should grant him that much.”\n\nWhoooosh.\n\nThe wind blew.\n\nThe humid wind of Sichuan had become quite dry. Instead, it was hot. The fiery energy, like an erupting volcano, blew away the moisture, but it also raised the temperature.\n\nThud, thud.\n\nTang Gwan, keenly aware of the changed air, walked towards the master’s chamber.\n\nBy now, more than three hundred, almost four hundred, people were following behind him.\n\n’Seriously.’\n\nEven as he walked forward with an indifferent expression, Tang Gwan couldn’t hide his bewilderment.\n\n’Why is the family so empty?’\n\nIt wasn’t just that the units were missing.\n\nWhat puzzled Tang Gwan was that there were hardly any experts from the collateral lines.\n\nThe distinction between direct and collateral lines varied from region to region and family to family.\n\nHowever, in any region, the number of collateral lines was always much greater than the direct lines. In fact, experts from the collateral lines accounted for half of the Tang Clan’s martial power.\n\nOf the remaining half, three tenths was the Tang Clan head’s power. Mathematically, the power of the direct line, excluding the head, was only about two tenths.\n\n’Where did they send them all?’\n\nSwoosh.\n\nTang Gwan stopped walking.\n\nHe spoke without turning around.\n\n”Tang Suk-heon.”\n\n”…Yes.”\n\nThe one who answered in a subdued voice was Tang Suk-heon, the head of the Fox Iron Pavilion (狐鐵閣) [a division in charge of military supplies], which was in charge of military supplies for the outer compound.\n\nTang Gwan asked in a stern voice.\n\n”Why are there so few from the collateral lines?”\n\n”The collateral lines in the inner compound…”\n\nTang Suk-heon sighed.\n\n”They were largely expelled a year ago.”\n\n”…What?”\n\nThe collateral lines were expelled? Why?\n\n”The new head… said that this place is the Tang Clan’s main family (唐氏本家) [the core family lineage], so only the direct line should reside here.”\n\n”…”\n\n”Those from the collateral lines, except for irreplaceable personnel in their respective positions, have been scattered throughout Sichuan. Most of them have gone to the western and northern branches, or are setting up new estates, I hear.”\n\nTang Gwan’s cheeks twitched.\n\nTang Suk-heon lowered his head.\n\n”I, too, will have to leave soon after handing over my duties to my successor.”\n\nIt was truly unbelievable.\n\nTang Gwan was angry at Tang Ho’s policy, which defied common sense, and at the same time, he was dumbfounded.\n\nThe two secrets of poison and hidden weapons must never be leaked to the outside world. Furthermore, the collateral lines were the Tang Clan’s power in themselves, and they were also the ones who protected the direct line.\n\nHow could he be so thoughtless as to expel all of them? Did Tang Ho only see the direct line and not the collateral line?\n\n’…Perhaps.’\n\nTang Gwan closed his eyes.\n\n’Yes, I should have known from the start.’\n\nTang Ho had been training elite warriors outside the family for over a decade. And he had even taught them the Tang Clan’s martial arts, which should never be leaked.\n\nTang Ho was already a person who had completely deviated from the Tang Clan’s family laws and common sense. If he had taught the family’s secrets to complete strangers, would it be so surprising that he had expelled the collateral lines?\n\n’Could it be.’\n\nThe act itself could be understood somehow.\n\nWhat was unsettling was whether Tang Ho really intended to make this place only a base for the direct line.\n\n’You wouldn’t be planning to station foreign forces here, would you?’\n\nAt that moment, Tang Gwan recalled the words of the warrior he had met in the outer compound.\n\n’Don’t confuse us with your wicked words! We know that you betrayed the main family and are trying to hand over Sichuan to foreign powers!’\n\nHanding over Sichuan to foreign powers.\n\nThat was what Tang Ho had done. Whether he actually intended to hand over Sichuan was unknown, but it was clear that he had received great help from foreign powers in creating the Paradise and seizing control of the Tang Clan.\n\n”…Let’s go.”\n\nTang Gwan’s indifferent face hardened noticeably. He could no longer control his expression.\n\nIt was a place to uncover the truth. But there was something more important than that.\n\nIt was the soul (魂) [spirit or essence] that the Tang Clan had protected for hundreds of years.\n\nWhoooosh.\n\nHis steps forward were the same, but the Emperor Poison Art (帝王毒功) [a powerful and unique martial art focused on poison] swirling within Tang Gwan’s body was becoming sharper by the moment.\n\nThe true energy was baring its teeth as if it would explode at any moment. It meant that Tang Gwan’s feelings were that complex.\n\nTang Gwan suppressed it. His true energy, and his heart.\n\nHow long had he walked like that?\n\n”…”\n\nFinally, the massive door leading to the master’s chamber appeared.\n\nTang Gwan, walking steadily, placed his hand on the door.\n\nThwack!\n\nWith a loud bang, the door swung open to the left and right.\n\n”Stop!”\n\nAt the same time, a middle-aged man on the other side of the door shouted in a stern voice.\n\nTang Gwan looked around.\n\nTo the left and right of the middle-aged man, over two hundred experts were lined up.\n\nTheir aura was more formidable than the Red Iron Unit or the Tiger Guard Unit. In fact, it was the appearance of a unit that was as strong, or even stronger, and more difficult to deal with than them.\n\nIt was the Black Blood Unit (黑血隊) [an elite guard unit].\n\nThe strongest unit in the inner compound’s guard headquarters. As a guard unit, not a strike force, it was difficult to directly compare them to the Black Wind Unit or the Green Robe Unit.\n\nHowever, at least in terms of guarding and defense, the Black Blood Unit was superior to the experts of the Qingcheng and Emei sects, let alone the Tang Clan.\n\nAnd at the head of the Black Blood Unit, the middle-aged man standing proudly and looking at Tang Gwan was the Black Blood Unit Commander.\n\n”Tang Sa-beon.”\n\nBlack Blood Unit Commander Tang Sa-beon.\n\nSwoosh.\n\nThe killing intent that Tang Gwan had suppressed and suppressed again began to leak out of his body.\n\n”Did you also fall to Tang Ho’s side?”\n\nHis voice, each word filled with power, was laced with unbearable anger.\n\n”Shut your mouth.”\n\nTang Sa-beon said without changing his expression.\n\n”You are a great sinner who deserves to die a hundred times over just for bringing in outsiders and damaging the dignity of the main family. It is fortunate that the traitor who tried to sell out the main family and Sichuan by joining hands with foreign powers has come here on his own.”\n\nHis tone was as natural as flowing water.\n\n”I don’t know what sweet words you have used to deceive those who follow you, but they won’t work on us. You should know that we are only treating you with respect because you were once the head of the family!”\n\nIt was a scolding tone.\n\nTang Gwan sensed that Tang Sa-beon was different from the others.\n\n”Were you with him from the start?”\n\n”…”\n\n”You were with Tang Ho from the beginning.”\n\nTang Sa-beon raised his chin.\n\n”If you are talking about the time of the righteous revolt (反正) [a coup or uprising] to drive out the great sinner, then of course, I was with him.”\n\nIt was a blatant lie.\n\nTang Gwan, who had been quietly watching Tang Sa-beon, shook his head.\n\n”I may not have given my subordinates trust, but I was confident in my personnel placement based on ability, yet I am leaving another stain like this.”\n\n”Your personnel placement was excellent. That’s why I am in this position. To stop your reckless act of selling out the main family…”\n\n”Can’t you shut up!”\n\nClang!\n\nTang Gwan’s voice, which suddenly exploded, was so terrifying that it shook the entire inner compound, and even the outer compound.\n\nWhoosh!\n\nThe killing intent that had been slowly rising was no longer suppressed. The bursting anger and exploding killing intent seemed to swallow Tang Sa-beon and the Black Blood Unit whole.\n\nTang Sa-beon’s eyes wavered.\n\nWhoosh!\n\nFrom Tang Gwan’s body, a swirling, dark green aura soared into the sky.\n\nIt was truly terrifying power. He had suppressed his emotions for days, no, for dozens of days, and when he finally unleashed them, combined with his accumulated inner strength, it showed an absolute aura.\n\nTrickle.\n\nCold sweat ran down Tang Sa-beon’s forehead.\n\nEven though they were so far apart, he couldn’t control his trembling body. The aura pouring in was like a waterfall. The aura alone was enough to make his legs tremble.\n\n”Instead of that, shout proudly that you wanted to seize power, that you couldn’t overcome your greed and committed treason! Since when did the people of the Tang Clan learn such schemes and disguise the truth as lies! Are you really a member of the Tang Clan!!”\n\nThe resounding voice distorted the faces of Tang Sa-beon and all the Black Blood Unit members.\n\nThe voice itself was like sonic power. They protected their ears with inner strength, but their vision was shaking, and they felt nauseous.\n\nIt was an immense inner power. It was a more powerful inner force than anyone else present here.\n\nTang Sa-beon, who quickly regained his vision, shouted.\n\n”That martial art! Not only did you sell out the family to foreign powers, but you also learned their martial arts! I have never heard of such a bizarre martial art in the main family!”\n\nIt was a spectacle. Even as his mind was reeling from anger, Tang Gwan was dumbfounded.\n\nTang Sa-beon yelled.\n\n”You have tarnished the name of the great Tang Clan! The fools who followed you may have been deceived by your sweet words, but we are not! Kneel down and receive your punishment…”\n\nThat was when it happened.\n\n”Calm down.”\n\nFrom the direction of the master’s chamber in the distance, a man wearing a flamboyant robe slowly walked over.\n\n”Calm down, Black Blood Unit Commander. Even if he is a heinous sinner, he was once the head of the main family. If we can end this well, wouldn’t it be better for everyone to finish it as well as possible?”\n\nFlash!\n\nTang Gwan’s eyes emitted a light of destruction.\n\n”Tang Ho!!”