Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 634

Yeon Ho-Jeong thought, ‘He’s such a difficult man.’

“If I don’t kill you, I can’t stop you?”

“That’s right.”

“You have a lot of confidence.”

“Whether it’s confidence or something else, it’s a clear fact that this is the only chance to stop me.”

Moyong Gun’s face, as he spoke calmly, was filled with a sincerity that Yeon Ho-Jeong had never seen before.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘He’s not just saying that.’

The Moyong Gun he had met during the Dark Emperor era was also full of the qualities of a hero. It was just that those aspects hadn’t been so prominent because he had achieved his goals.

Moyong Gun was a man who would do anything to achieve his goals.

He would kill innocent civilians if necessary. He would take care of his people thoroughly, but he would also know how to abandon them coldly in urgent situations.

And Moyong Gun felt no guilt for such actions.

The reason was clear.

‘He applies the same standard to himself.’

If someone tried to use him to achieve their goals?

He would be angry and unforgiving, but he would understand and acknowledge their actions.

Moyong Gun was that kind of man. Rather, he was critical of those who had the ability but drew a line and didn’t try to use others. He thought they were living life too moderately.

However, he never expected him to go so far as to tell him to kill him.

Especially in front of an enemy who had become much stronger than himself, and with such confidence.

‘Is he even using his own life?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“Could you explain a little?”

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“I can’t reveal all my cards.”

“Then, telling me to kill you is just nonsense from my perspective. I don’t want to act without a reason.”

“…….”

“If you want to point out that’s my limit, go ahead. I don’t care anyway.”

“Is that so?”

“But I’m curious. You weren’t the type of person to tell others to kill you.”

“I think the same. I’m not this kind of person.”

“Then why…”

“It’s because of you.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

“You’re too much.”

It was a statement filled with many meanings.

“I’ve heard it countless times, but no matter how I look at it, you’re beyond the norm. Your insight, experience, combat ability, enlightenment, and so on at your age are all incomprehensible.”

“Is that so?”

“Now, I even doubt if you’re really that age. It would be more believable to think that a former master who had undergone reverse aging was deceiving the world.”

“That’s an overstatement.”

“Or, like those damned Blood Demon Cult bastards, the hypothesis that someone’s soul has entered your body is also interesting.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a twinge of guilt for no reason.

Moyong Gun shook his head.

“Whatever it is, you’re not normal. I knew that, but this time it was really too much.”

“…….”

“And I realized.”

“Realized what?”

“That I’ve lost.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression became strange. He never expected Moyong Gun to admit his defeat.

Moyong Gun was calm. At least, he appeared to be.

“I knew it even when we fought fiercely in the Martial Alliance in the past. I was serious. I was serious about destroying you. And you were the same.”

“…….”

“The problem is, I tried to destroy you to achieve my ambition, but for you, the fight with me was just one of many tasks. You didn’t give it your all when you fought me.”

“…….”

“If you hadn’t been concerned about your surroundings and had focused entirely on me, if that had really happened…”

Moyong Gun’s eyes wavered.

“Perhaps, I might not be here now.”

He must have thought a lot to say this. Acknowledging an opponent and conveying one’s feelings to them are completely different things.

Moyong Gun was doing that.

That’s why Yeon Ho-Jeong was tense. He was telling his arch-nemesis, with whom he had a long history, his sincere feelings, abandoning his pride. Just that alone showed that Moyong Gun had grown more than in the past.

For better or for worse.

“Of course, I didn’t care. I was shocked, but how many people always fight in their best condition? Everyone has their own circumstances, and they do their best in those circumstances. Saying things like, ‘I lost because of this problem,’ or ‘If I had been normal, I would have won,’ are just excuses of a loser.”

“…….”

“But when you opened the Limitless Path [a state of martial arts enlightenment], all those embarrassing excuses became the truth.”

“…….”

“You surpassed me. Not just me, but most people in the world can’t even reach your feet. It’s not about distinguishing talent, it’s just that you’re an exceptional person.”

It was an overstatement that made his face flush.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong was neither embarrassed nor did he acknowledge it. Rather, he was tense.

Moyong Gun continued, his voice slightly subdued.

“You could have stopped me in any situation. But now, you’ve reached a level where I can’t even compete with you in terms of power.”

“…….”

“I’ve lived for over fifty years, but I’m feeling a more profound sense of defeat than ever before. Truly.”

“I can feel it deeply.”

“I respect the strong of the Heavenly Realm [a legendary realm of martial arts masters]. But I’ve never thought of myself as a lesser talent than them. Because I believe I will reach that place someday. I have that confidence and belief.”

“…….”

“But you, you are superior to me and anyone else in the world. Today, I have sincerely, truly, and deeply acknowledged that.”

Moyong Gun closed his eyes.

“The best strategist is said to subdue the opponent without fighting. You are like that to me. You have given me defeat simply by showing your talent and ability.”

“…….”

“It’s a complete defeat. If you want to kill me, kill me now. If you kill me now, having fully acknowledged my defeat, I will go to the afterlife without regret, though I will have some regrets.”

‘He’s sincere.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong felt it. Moyong Gun’s words were not empty pride or a performance of lies.

Moyong Gun was genuinely frustrated. He had repeated countless failures throughout his life, but he had always risen and reversed the situation. This was the first time he had accepted defeat to the point of thinking about death.

‘This is unexpected.’

He never imagined that Moyong Gun of all people would show such a side, especially to him.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Moyong Gun, chuckled.

“Well, even if you die, there are many people who can replace you, so it’s not a big loss. Rather, it will be refreshing, like a tooth that has been bothering me has fallen out. I won’t have to use my brain because of you anymore.”

“…….”

“But if I kill you, I’ll have to start a new fight with those who will criticize and suppress me for killing you.”

“…….”

“I don’t know which fight will be harder, but if I have to choose, I’d rather fight a familiar enemy, wouldn’t I?”

Moyong Gun opened his eyes.

They were deep and clear like a lake, an unlike him look.

“You still don’t try to kill me.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Why is it obvious? If it were me, I would have sincerely wished that if you wanted to die so badly, you should just die on your own without harming anyone.”

“That’s quite an alluring statement.”

“…….”

“Whatever it is, I won’t kill you. At least not now.”

“…….”

“Also, your fierce anger towards the Three Sects [powerful martial arts factions] will surely be of great help to the Central Plains martial world. The problem is that you keep thinking about other things.”

Moyong Gun frowned.

“That’s an annoying thing to say. Other things?”

“Isn’t it?”

“It’s not something to be criticized for moving step by step towards one’s dream.”

“That sounds good. But if you think about the process, you are definitely someone who deserves to be criticized.”

“That process is…”

“Enough. Let’s stop talking about that. It’s just a repetition of what we’ve already said.”

“…….”

“However, let me make a suggestion.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

“How about giving up now?”

Moyong Gun’s eyes changed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Do you really have to become the leader of the Martial Alliance?”

“I’ve been running towards that my whole life. Are you telling me to give up my lifelong dream?”

“Then, do you have any intention of becoming the leader in a fair way, without harming the civilians or using other immoral means, and in a dignified and clean manner?”

Moyong Gun couldn’t answer ‘yes’.

He wouldn’t do it anyway, and he had no intention of doing so. Even if he answered, Yeon Ho-Jeong wouldn’t believe him, and in reality, Moyong Gun didn’t know any other way.

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“I think your abilities are great. If you had a clear line, would I be crazy enough to tell you not to become the leader?”

“…….”

“I’m telling you to give up because I know that no matter what I do or how I persuade you, the essence of who you are won’t change.”

“That’s a rather sad thing to say.”

“But you admit it, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

Moyong Gun frowned.

“I admit it. I can’t help but admit it.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong thought again. This man, Moyong Gun, was a difficult enemy, but sometimes he felt like he wanted to be friends with him.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked softly.

“Wouldn’t it be possible?”

“…?”

“I know it’s too late to say this, but… let’s join forces and focus on defeating the Three Sects.”

His calm voice was filled with strong sincerity.

Just as Moyong Gun had abandoned his pride and spoken sincerely, Yeon Ho-Jeong also began to speak his weighty sincerity as if talking to a close friend.

“Martial artists are people who don’t know when they will die. But both you and I have a strong attachment to this land, no less than anyone else, right?”

“…….”

“Even if we die, we should at least prevent our home from being devoured by foreign forces before we die. Isn’t that right?”

Would he die trying to achieve his dream, or would he die trying to protect his land?

If he were to die, what kind of end would he face?

“How much joy would there be in succeeding in a foreign land if we couldn’t even take care of our own home? And how much regret would there be?”

“…….”

“Let’s protect our home first. If we succeed in protecting it, and if we are still alive after that, and if you still don’t give up on your dream and try to move forward…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

“Then, let’s persuade you, argue with you, or literally kill you or let you live. Isn’t that the priority?”

“Priority…”

“Your dream is to become the master of a house with countless relatives. But if that house falls into the hands of others, what meaning does it have?”

“…….”

“If you sincerely agree to that, I will also sincerely not interfere with what you do. I can’t help but be suspicious, but I won’t be hostile.”

Moyong Gun felt Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sincerity.

Aside from anything else, there was no reason for Yeon Ho-Jeong to lie in this regard.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was different from him. He would always be suspicious even if he felt trust, but Yeon Ho-Jeong, once he trusted someone, would trust them until the end unless they betrayed him first.

Perhaps that simple trust was also due to his confidence in himself.

“Instead of trying to achieve your ambition while defeating enemies, how about we defeat the enemies first and then fight?”

“That’s right.”

Moyong Gun, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, said,

“I…”