Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 6

7. What Takes Precedence Over Family Law (1)

“……”

The air in the room was heavy, suffocating.

It was the kind of atmosphere where even breathing felt like it should be done with caution. Yeon Ji-Pyeong glanced anxiously between his father and older brother.

“Gulp.”

The sound of swallowing echoed through the air.

After what felt like an eternity, about two *gaks* [a unit of time, roughly equivalent to 15 minutes], Yeon-Wi finally spoke.

“Explain.”

It was a simple statement, cutting straight to the point.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke calmly.

“There was a dispute, and we fought.”

“I didn’t ask for a summary.”

His voice was devoid of emotion.

And Yeon Ho-Jeong’s was the same.

“The Namgoong family’s girl started the trouble. She demanded we kneel. She even exuded killing intent, so I didn’t think we could just let it go, and I beat them all down.”

“I heard that the Yi family’s son’s face was smashed, and the Namgoong family’s daughter’s limbs were broken.”

“That’s correct.”

“Especially the Namgoong family’s daughter, they say she hasn’t regained her senses yet. Due to severe internal and external injuries, she’ll need at least half a year to recover.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then she won’t think about messing with us again.”

Yeon-Wi’s eyebrows twitched.

It was a subtle change in expression. Yeon Ji-Pyeong was even more tense, not knowing what it meant.

Yeon-Wi spoke again.

“Even if they started the trouble, it’s a big problem that two men beat up one woman.”

“Two men?”

“Hmm?”

“I did it alone. Pyeong-Yi didn’t get involved.”

Yeon-Wi looked at Yeon Ji-Pyeong.

“Is that true?”

“……Yes.”

He looked very nervous, but at least he didn’t seem to be lying.

Yeon-Wi was inwardly perplexed.

‘He took on two by himself?’

He knew his eldest son’s skills well. He wasn’t a talentless child, but he wasn’t yet skilled enough to be called first-rate.

He could believe it about the Yi family’s son, but the Namgoong family head’s daughter was different. He found it hard to believe that he had the skill to overwhelm her without taking any damage, let alone in a direct fight.

“You’re really saying you took on both of them alone.”

“To be precise, the Yi guy attacked first, so I took him down, and then I dealt with the Namgoong girl.”

“Dealt with…….”

Yeon-Wi’s voice grew heavier.

“I don’t want you to be gentlemen. But you should be more careful with your words and actions. A rough heart leads to rough words, and rough words dictate your actions.”

“Is that so.”

“There’s no greater loss than losing your composure over a few words.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t say anything more.

This wasn’t a place for debate, nor was it a place to instill ideology. He was the eldest son of the Yeon family, but at the same time, he was the Black Abyss Lord, the greatest of the Demonic Path. Naturally, he was bound to be different from the martial artist image that the family pursued.

Decisively, he didn’t want to argue with his father. That was why Yeon Ho-Jeong was keeping quiet.

Looking at his silent eldest son, Yeon-Wi said,

“Whatever the reason, the Namgoong family is one of the Seven Great Clans, a prestigious family in the martial world, along with the main family. It’s a big problem that the children of two families fought to the point of bloodshed. I believe you know that.”

It was a subtle reprimand. It meant that they shouldn’t have fought, even if it meant avoiding the situation.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“Is the main family really one of the Seven Great Clans?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“That girl didn’t acknowledge the main family as one of the Seven Great Clans.”

Yeon-Wi’s eyes changed.

But his voice was the same as before.

“That’s just a childish remark from an immature child. To judge the entire Namgoong family’s intentions based on that is no different from being smug, thinking you know ten things from seeing one.”

“I don’t have any complaints about the Namgoong family.”

“Then?”

“What’s important is the situation and who is at fault.”

“You’re saying we should look at the essence?”

“Yes.”

“The essence is always important. Similarly, it’s important to determine right from wrong and to reward and punish accordingly. But the world isn’t that simple. Especially when the opponent is strong, you have to be even more cautious.”

“I know.”

“If you know, you shouldn’t have acted that way.”

Again, Yeon Ho-Jeong kept his mouth shut.

There were many things he could say. He had witnessed the baseness and horror of the Demonic Path countless times in his life in the back alleys, but at the same time, he had also observed the hypocrisy and frustration of the Righteous Path.

But if this was the Yeon family’s law and his father’s opinion, there was nothing more to say.

Yeon-Wi, who had been looking at his two sons with indifferent eyes, spoke.

“Whether I give a reward or a punishment, I will decide after seeing how the situation unfolds.”

“……”

“Return to your respective quarters and reflect on your actions.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face turned pale at the unusual words.

His father had never ordered them to reflect before. His father’s eyes were always clear like a judge, and his choices and judgments were as decisive as a blade.

For him to order them to reflect meant that the situation was more serious than he had thought.

“Father.”

“Speak.”

“Th-that’s, maybe the fight happened because of me. If I had stopped it beforehand……”

“The deed is done, and people were hurt. And the one who hurt them is not you, but your brother.”

“Ah, Father!”

“Return to your quarters and reflect on your actions.”

“Just a moment, please let me say a little more……!”

Yeon-Wi’s eyebrows twitched. Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s mouth snapped shut.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong stood up.

“Then, I’ll be going. Pyeong-Ah, let’s go.”

In the end, Yeon Ji-Pyeong had no choice but to get up as well.

On the way back to their quarters from the family head’s room.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong hung his head low.

“I’m sorry, brother.”

“Hmm?”

“This happened because of me. If we had just eaten at our quarters……”

“Ji-Pyeong.”

“Yes?”

“It’s not something a brother who caused trouble should say, but there’s something I want you to keep in mind.”

“What is it?”

“There’s no ‘what if’ in this world.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s eyes wavered.

“Everything that happens in this world has a cause and effect. But ultimately, it’s people who create that cause and effect. It was you who suggested going to the Goryang Pavilion, but it was me who acted.”

“……”

“In the end, the result is what matters.”

“But still.”

“Let me ask you something. If I hadn’t acted, would you have acted?”

After thinking for a moment, Yeon Ji-Pyeong nodded.

“Yes, I think I would have.”

It was a short but sincere answer. Yeon Ho-Jeong knew Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s true feelings.

“But reality is different. Before you could act, I had already crushed those two.”

“……”

“If you’re going to blame yourself based on ‘what ifs,’ then even the ancestors who brought the Yeon family into the world should be blamed. Is that what you want?”

“N-no! That’s not possible!”

“I know. That’s why ‘what if’ is meaningless.”

“Still……”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong bit his lip and clenched his fist, shouting.

“If you get punished, brother, I’ll take it with you! I’ll definitely tell Father that!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and ruffled his hair.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was horrified.

“Uwaaak! M-my hair is getting messed up!”

“You idiot, where in the world is there a parent who punishes an innocent child?”

“Sniff. But still.”

“Don’t think about useless things and go back to your quarters. You must be surprised, so get some rest.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong shook Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sleeve.

“You too, brother. Okay?”

“Don’t worry, you little rascal.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong hesitated several times, as if his feet wouldn’t move, but eventually bowed his head and headed to his quarters.

Standing there, watching Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s retreating figure, Yeon Ho-Jeong muttered to himself.

“It’s probably natural for him to be so anxious. I was like that too.”

No matter how deep the love, if it’s not expressed, it won’t be known.

It was a shame, but his father wasn’t the type to show his emotions outwardly. Rather, he emphasized stricter rules for his own family and taught them to value the family code.

It didn’t matter to him, but he wished his father would be a little softer with Pyeong-Yi.

Yeon Ho-Jeong grumbled quietly.

“Anyway, what should I do about the *Byukra Jin Gyeol* [a martial arts technique]? Can I learn it now? I feel like I’m going to get severely scolded.”

* * *

Past midnight.

A powerful aura rose outside the Yeon family’s main gate.

“Family Head!”

A booming voice echoed, shaking the entire outer compound, piercing through the gate.

“You bastards! Open the gate! Bring the family head out immediately!”

“Who are you?”

“What? Are you asking me who I am? Fine! I’ll tell you!”

*Kwaang!*

The impact, accompanied by a deafening roar, shook the south gate of the outer compound.

*Crack! Thud!*

One side of the gate collapsed. The large gate, over one *jang* [a unit of length, roughly 3 meters] in height and half a *ja* [a unit of length, roughly 30 centimeters] in thickness, was shattered in one blow. In the center of the broken gate, a large handprint was deeply embedded.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

“Shut your mouth! I am Namgoong Daesan of the Namgoong family! Bring the family head out immediately!”

“No matter how much you are from the Namgoong family, how can you commit such an outrageous act!”

“Outrageous? Ha! You speak well! Then what is this family that protects a truly outrageous son! It’s no different from a gang of thugs!”

“What kind of insult is that?!”

Tadatak!

At that moment, dozens of martial artists rushed through the broken south gate.

They were the Iron Wall Hands (*cheolbyeoksu*), who guarded the Yeon family’s outer compound. Their martial arts, mainly focused on escorting and guarding, were all worthy of being called first-rate.

“Are these guys going to come out in full force now?!”

“We will no longer tolerate……!”

“Get out of the way!”

*Thud!*

The man who pushed past the gatekeeper of the south gate was a middle-aged man with a massive build.

He was nearly seven *cheok* [a unit of length, roughly 30 centimeters] tall, and on his back, he carried a greatsword (*daegeom*) that was three or four times larger than an ordinary longsword.

The Iron Wall Hands’ eyes gleamed.

The swordsman with the massive build exuded a truly rare aura. His energy, which was already strong, was rising like a tidal wave due to his anger.

He was none other than Namgoong Daesan. The man who had contacted them to visit at noon today had suddenly broken down the gate and invaded.

“Family Head! The family head must come out immediately! I am Namgoong……!”

“I’m already here.”

Namgoong Daesan looked towards the warehouse on the left.

A middle-aged man was walking along a small path next to the warehouse. A man who looked like a stubborn scholar at first glance, it was Yeon-Wi.

Namgoong Daesan’s face twisted.

“Family Head! How can you do this?!”

“That’s what I want to say.”

“What?!”

Yeon-Wi emitted a cold glint.

Namgoong Daesan flinched involuntarily at the look in his eyes.

“The main family accepts guests, but not ruffians. How can the head of the outer compound of the Anhui’s First Namgoong family act like this?”

Calm and cold. Yeon-Wi’s voice and tone were in stark contrast to Namgoong Daesan’s fiery demeanor.

Namgoong Daesan gritted his teeth.

Even he, who was known to be the most hot-tempered in the Namgoong family, couldn’t dare to utter harsh words in front of Yeon-Wi.

“I won’t make it long! I believe the family head has heard the situation!”

“What situation are you talking about?”

“Are you pretending not to know? The family head’s children did something to my family head’s daughter……!”

“You’re talking about the incident where your family’s ill-mannered girl not only mocked the main family but also tried to kill my children.”

Namgoong Daesan’s mouth dropped open.

“Wh-what did you say?!”

It was as if frost had settled on an ancient rock.

Yeon-Wi spoke in a clipped tone.

“I, I wanted to investigate it properly anyway.”