Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 655

“Hah!”

With a rough breath, Ji So-hyeon opened her eyes.

“Are you awake?”

A strange man’s voice.

Startled, Ji So-hyeon raised her upper body and turned her head.

There, a young man with a huge axe slung over his shoulder was sitting on a flat rock, munching on jerky.

Ji So-hyeon’s eyes turned cold.

“Who are you?”

Yeon Ho-jeong spoke, chewing on the jerky.

“There’s water and rice balls behind you. You must be hungry, so eat.”

Ji So-hyeon involuntarily looked behind her.

There really was a canteen and rice balls wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Ji So-hyeon turned her head back and stared intently at Yeon Ho-jeong.

“What’s going on here?”

Yeon Ho-jeong just chewed on the jerky without a word.

Ji So-hyeon’s eyes grew even colder.

“You’ve sealed my inner energy, haven’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Why did you kidnap me? Who are you people?”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“If you’re including those bandits in ‘you people,’ then I’ve never met them before.”

“Then why…?”

“I don’t know. But I do know which group they belong to. They’re from the Chu Myeong Bang, a rather infamous assassin group in the Northern Martial World.”

“An assassin group…”

Ji So-hyeon couldn’t understand.

“Why would an assassin group want me?”

“I don’t know that either.”

Ji So-hyeon pondered for a moment, then asked again.

“Putting them aside, why did you kidnap me?”

Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t answer the question.

“Drink some water and eat. You must be very hungry.”

Of course, she was hungry. But she wasn’t naive enough to let her guard down in front of a stranger.

Ji So-hyeon stared at Yeon Ho-jeong silently, then suddenly looked up at the sky.

The sun was already setting in the west. Night would soon fall.

Ji So-hyeon said,

“I don’t know who you are, but I’m telling you nicely, let me go.”

“Before that, let me ask you one thing.”

“…”

“Is your master the Sound Demon, Ha Eun-gyo?”

Ji So-hyeon’s eyes wavered.

“Don’t tell me, you’re after my master, not me…?”

“I see.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, having finished the jerky, dusted off his hands.

“Only I can release your inner energy. Maybe the Sound Demon could, but you certainly can’t do it yourself.”

“…”

“Eat your food.”

“Why do you keep telling me to eat?”

“Because you’re hungry.”

“Does someone who cares about others kidnap their disciple to lure them out?”

“You’re right. I also find this situation quite deplorable.”

“Did you put some poison in the water and rice?”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“That’s a great misunderstanding. If I wanted to harm you, would I need poison?”

“I don’t know. But I’m sure you could be dangerous to me.”

“That’s true.”

Yeon Ho-jeong got off the rock and sat down on the ground. He looked very comfortable, as if he were in his own living room.

“If you don’t want to eat, don’t. You’re the one who’ll be hungry.”

Although she lacked experience in the martial world, Ji So-hyeon could instinctively tell. That young man had no interest in her. He had no intention of harming her.

That made her even more puzzled.

“You’re keeping me here to lure out my master?”

“…”

“Are you out of your mind?”

The Sound Demon’s martial arts were among the most formidable on this vast continent.

Even a strong person of the same Saintly Heaven level might not be able to win against such an absolute master. And you’re trying to lure them out by kidnapping their disciple?

“If my master comes here, you won’t survive.”

Yeon Ho-jeong gave a wry smile.

“Let’s see what the future holds. I’ll try to refrain from making rash statements.”

“…Are you kidding me? No matter how polite you are, the act of capturing me is…”

“That’s all my responsibility, isn’t it? You don’t need to worry about it, so let’s stop talking about it.”

He’s serious.

Ji So-hyeon realized. This crazy young man really wanted a one-on-one meeting with her master.

But his method was wrong. What master in the world would talk to a madman who kidnapped their disciple? They would draw their sword without a word.

‘That person…’

The young man, looking up at the sky with a seemingly carefree posture, had an unexpected, strange charm.

‘He’s not afraid.’

Just because her experience in the martial world was limited didn’t mean she was blind to people.

Ji So-hyeon had learned music before martial arts, and she had learned how to move people with sound. At the very least, she was more capable of sensing other people’s emotions than the average person.

And to her, that young man showed no fear at all. Unbelievably.

Ji So-hyeon asked,

“You said I’m not your target, right?”

“That’s right.”

“My master is your target, but you don’t seem to want to fight him.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“What madman in the world would want to fight the Sound Demon?”

“…I don’t know why you want to meet him, but okay. At least it doesn’t seem like you have bad intentions.”

“I’m grateful if you think so.”

“Apologize.”

“Huh?”

Ji So-hyeon spoke confidently.

“Apologize to me first.”

“A…pologize?”

“Even if your goal is good, the act of kidnapping someone is evil. I don’t think you’re going to harm me, so I’ll assume you’re a reasonable person.”

“…”

“And if you’re a reasonable person, you should be able to reflect on your mistakes.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been looking at Ji So-hyeon with a surprised expression, nodded.

“You’re right. Yes, you’re right.”

“…”

“I’m sorry. I should have apologized first, as you said, but I guess I was quite nervous. I’ll apologize like this.”

Yeon Ho-jeong bowed his head.

Ji So-hyeon’s eyes sharpened.

“Are you sincere?”

“I am.”

Ji So-hyeon’s sharp eyes slowly softened.

“I’ll accept your sincere apology.”

“Thank you.”

“No, it’s nothing. Come to think of it, I’m the odd one for getting an apology while being kidnapped.”

Is that so? She is an odd one.

Even Yeon Ho-jeong, who was often told he was unique, had never seen someone like Ji So-hyeon.

Ji So-hyeon wiped her nose with her sleeve.

“It’s cold. Do you have anything to wear?”

Yeon Ho-jeong took off his cloak and handed it to her.

Ji So-hyeon folded the cloak in half and knelt on it. Then, she placed the canteen on one side and the rice balls wrapped in bamboo leaves on her lap.

Yeon Ho-jeong scratched his head.

“What are you doing?”

Ji So-hyeon, who was unwrapping the bamboo leaves, hesitated.

“Why?”

“Weren’t you cold?”

“That’s why I laid it on the ground.”

“…Usually, people would think of wearing it, not using it as a blanket?”

“That’s my choice.”

“Are you going to eat?”

“You told me to eat, didn’t you?”

“You acted like you wouldn’t eat?”

“I’ve received your apology, so I’m thinking of eating now. I was hungry.”

She’s really unique.

Yeon Ho-jeong couldn’t stop the chuckles that kept escaping him.

Ji So-hyeon frowned.

“Why are you laughing?”

“It’s nothing.”

Just as Ji So-hyeon was about to say something, it happened.

Whoosh.

The canteen lightly floated into the air and was caught by Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand.

Ji So-hyeon was startled.

‘Telekinesis?!’

Yeon Ho-jeong shook the leather canteen, then focused his inner energy into it.

Ssshhh.

A strange sound was heard, and a faint wisp of steam rose from the canteen’s opening.

Whoosh.

The canteen floated back into the air and was placed back where it was. Yeon Ho-jeong crossed his arms, leaned against the rock as a pillow, and looked up at the sky.

Ji So-hyeon, who had been looking at Yeon Ho-jeong in surprise, suddenly touched the canteen.

‘……!!’

It wasn’t exactly hot, but it wasn’t just warm either. It was a perfect, subtle temperature.

Ji So-hyeon was in shock.

‘Such delicate inner energy control… He’s an unbelievable master!’

It was already surprising enough that he used telekinesis as naturally as breathing. But heating the water to the right temperature without damaging the leather was even more delicate.

She had heard that this level of skill was only possible for masters who had transcended the wall of martial arts.

“Who… who are you?”

“Hmm?”

Ji So-hyeon stammered.

“To be able to use such divine skills at your age, you’re definitely not an ordinary person?”

Yeon Ho-jeong scratched his head.

It was also unusual for someone to call the skills of the person who kidnapped them ‘divine skills’. She was a strange woman in many ways.

“I’m just an idiot.”

“…?”

“Because I’m an idiot, I kidnapped someone even though I know I shouldn’t.”

“…”

“It’s cold, so take a sip of water first. It’ll make you feel better if you have something warm.”

Ji So-hyeon, looking at Yeon Ho-jeong with wavering eyes, drank the water from the canteen.

It was as Yeon Ho-jeong had said. The warm water made her feel heat spreading throughout her body in an instant.

From then on, Ji So-hyeon ate her food ravenously. She must have been very hungry, as she devoured three rice balls, even getting rice stuck to her mouth. She looked like a starving beggar.

Yeon Ho-jeong sighed and took out some jerky from his pocket.

“Eat this too.”

Ji So-hyeon, who was looking down at the bamboo leaves with regret, flinched.

Wiping her lips with her sleeve, she spoke with a refined demeanor.

“This is enough. I’ve eaten well.”

“I can tell you ate well. You practically drank the rice.”

“…”

“I won’t spread rumors, so don’t worry.”

Ji So-hyeon coughed awkwardly.

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled and tore off a piece of jerky. It was quite charming to eat jerky while looking up at the star-filled sky at night.

And so, a moment of silence passed.

Was it an hour, or two?

“Let me go.”

Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Ji So-hyeon.

Ji So-hyeon, sitting neatly, spoke in a calm tone.

“If your goal is to meet my master, then let me go. I’ll bring him here myself.”

“…”

“I won’t say that you kidnapped me or knocked me out.”

“…”

“Of course, you might not believe me…”

“I believe you.”

“Yes?”

“I believe what you say. You’re definitely someone who would do that.”

It was an unexpected statement.

Ji So-hyeon spoke with a brighter face.

“Then right now… !”

“But it’s still not possible.”

“Why?”

“The Sound Demon might not come.”

“What do you mean? You said you believe me?”

“I believe you, but I don’t know if the Sound Demon will come to meet me as you say.”

“…”

She couldn’t argue with that.

Ji So-hyeon, who was momentarily speechless, opened her mouth again.

“My master likes to visit the village from time to time. If you see him then…”

“He might just pass by without talking.”

“Hey, from that point on, you have to make an effort yourself.”

“I’m making an effort now, without waiting until then. Do you think I like keeping you here?”

“…”

“Just bear with it a little longer until the Sound Demon comes.”

Ji So-hyeon was frustrated.

“I’m already so sorry for making my master worry.”

“That’s why I kidnapped you. I wouldn’t have been able to get you to cooperate without doing something like this. That’s why I apologized, and that’s why I’m even more sorry that I can’t let you go.”

“…”

“I don’t expect you to understand. But please, just bear with it a little longer.”

“Just…”

Ji So-hyeon gritted her teeth.

“Just what is your identity? Why do you want to meet my master so badly?”

“…”

“Answer me! You’re not going to let me go anyway, and you’re not going to kill me either!”

It was then.

Thump.

Yeon Ho-jeong, holding the Heaven Piercing Axe, slowly stood up.

Ji So-hyeon’s mouth snapped shut.

Whoooom!

A strange vibration emanated from the Heaven Piercing Axe in Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand.

Ji So-hyeon’s face turned pale.

“Y-you?!”

Could it be that he had changed his mind? Was he going to kill her?

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Clang!

A sharp resonance was heard.

The resonance, which had appeared without any warning, came from Yeon Ho-jeong’s shoulder. The fact that Yeon Ho-jeong’s upper body had momentarily swayed was also due to that resonance.

“I don’t know who you are…”

A voice that was unfamiliar to Yeon Ho-jeong but familiar to Ji So-hyeon flowed out like mist from one side of the forest.

“You have some skill.”

Ji So-hyeon’s face brightened.

Fwoosh.

A sharp presence.

With the appearance of a divine being, an illusion arose as if all the trees standing to her left and right were tilting.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Sound Demon.”