Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 665

“So that’s how it is….”

Hwang Seok-tae nodded.

Gang Ryang glanced at the hut.

“Then, what about our brother…?”

Paeyul answered instead.

“He’s in the middle of his cultivation. His internal injuries are quite severe.”

It seemed that was indeed the case.

The hut was quite large, with four rooms. From one of the rooms, an unstable energy was leaking out, and its density was terrifying.

It was Yeon Ho-jeong’s familiar energy. However, he had never seen it so unstable, which made him worried.

Ha Eun-gyo shook her head.

“If a master who has opened the Limitless Path [a state of martial arts mastery] doesn’t die, they can quickly recover from even the most severe internal and external injuries. It will take time to fully heal, but it doesn’t take long to get back to a certain level.”

Even Ho Yeon-jong had his hand pierced by a spear from the Tongcheon Faction, but he showed an incomprehensible ability to reattach his skin and muscles during the battle.

While not as powerful as a master who has mastered high-level demonic arts, it could be said that their recovery ability is monstrous.

“But….”

Ha Eun-gyo glanced at the side path leading to the cliff.

“Did you bring uninvited guests?”

Hwang Seok-tae politely explained what had happened earlier.

Ha Eun-gyo clicked her tongue.

“They’ll do anything for face. What’s the big deal?”

Hearing her say that, it felt like he had snitched for no reason.

Hwang Seok-tae coughed awkwardly. He felt embarrassed for no reason.

“Whatever the case, Yeon Dae-su told you to bring them here.”

Ha Eun-gyo, who had been stroking her chin for a moment, turned her gaze to the room.

“If you’re done, come out now.”

Whoosh!

As soon as she finished speaking, the energy that had been flowing out suddenly disappeared.

A moment later.

Creak!

The door opened, and Yeon Ho-jeong appeared.

“Brother!”

“Deputy Yeon.”

Gang Ryang and Hwang Seok-tae quickly approached Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly.

“I’ve caused you unnecessary worry. I’m sorry.”

“That’s not important. Are you alright?”

“I survived thanks to my senior.”

He survived thanks to Senior Umje, Ha Eun-gyo.

Hwang Seok-tae, who had been secretly worried that Yeon Ho-jeong might have fought her, breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, it didn’t make sense to bring an enemy they had fought to be treated, but you never know what might happen in this world.

Paeyul asked casually.

“Who was it?”

“It was a master from the Saim Cult.”

“I knew it.”

Paeyul’s eyes sharpened.

“I don’t think even a group of supreme masters could have done that to you.”

“……”

“Was there a master on their side who could match you?”

It was a question of whether there was a master who had opened the Limitless Path.

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded. He had managed to deal with most of his internal and external injuries, but he still seemed to lack energy.

“It was a close call. It was neck and neck.”

“There were no bodies.”

“They must have disappeared with their allies. I wasn’t in my right mind at the time.”

It was a statement that conveyed a lot.

He wanted to ask about everything that had happened, but Paeyul held back. If it was necessary, he would have told them everything, even if he was weak.

Paeyul asked Ha Eun-gyo.

“Is he really okay?”

“He’ll be fine. But not now.”

Ha Eun-gyo sat Yeon Ho-jeong on a mat. Then, she sat next to him and placed her hand on his Mingmen acupoint [a vital point on the back].

Yeon Ho-jeong said awkwardly.

“I’m fine, Senior.”

Ha Eun-gyo shook her head.

“You’re someone who has to do great things, so you need to get your body back to normal quickly. I didn’t know before they came, but after eavesdropping a bit, it seems like you need to recover as soon as possible.”

“But still….”

“Even if we both have the Limitless Path, you’re far below me. I don’t intend to take credit for it, so don’t worry.”

“Ah, yes.”

Whoooom.

A faint energy rose from Ha Eun-gyo’s hand and instantly penetrated Yeon Ho-jeong’s Mingmen acupoint.

Her true energy couldn’t directly heal Yeon Ho-jeong’s internal and external injuries. It was already amazing that she could so easily penetrate his internal energy with a different nature.

Her true energy would focus on empowering Yeon Ho-jeong’s Guangming Divine Art [a martial art technique] and Evil God Technique, maximizing his self-healing ability.

“How is it?”

“It’s refreshing.”

“You’re talking like an old man.”

Paeyul, Hwang Seok-tae, and Gang Ryang wore strange expressions.

The two of them sat side by side, and Ha Eun-gyo, with her hand on Yeon Ho-jeong’s back, showed no signs of discomfort. Rather, there was even a strange sense of familiarity.

Gang Ryang scratched his head.

‘That’s strange.’

Why did it look like a mother and son, rather than a man and a woman, when a young man in his mid-twenties and a beautiful woman in her early thirties were sitting together?

Considering Ha Eun-gyo’s age, it should be more than a mother and son relationship. On the other hand, considering her appearance, one might mistake them for siblings or even lovers.

Yet, they only felt like a close mother and son, and no other feeling arose. It was a truly bizarre atmosphere.

Yeon Ho-jeong asked.

“So, you got into a fight with Jongnam?”

Hwang Seok-tae clicked his tongue.

“Did you hear everything even while cultivating?”

It seemed that he had heard all of their conversation even while healing his severe internal and external injuries.

Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head.

“They’ve stopped.”

Ha Eun-gyo nodded.

“They’ve read our power.”

“It seems like Senior used some of her power?”

“It’s not just you here. My disciple is also being treated. There’s no point in creating unnecessary conflict.”

It seemed that she had released an overwhelming energy without anyone noticing.

By now, they would know. That there was a monster here that they couldn’t dare to face. And that the monster might be Umje.

Gang Ryang’s face was filled with delight.

“Tell them to come up? They won’t even be able to raise their voices, let alone swing their swords.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“Dealing with them is our responsibility. There’s no need to involve Senior.”

“……Tsk.”

“Still, it’s unexpected. Even if their pride is hurt, Hwasan is their neighbor, so why aren’t they thinking of helping immediately and instead waiting? They could have taken action first and reported later.”

Hwang Seok-tae nodded.

“That’s why it was strange.”

“It was strange, and you were disappointed, right?”

“……That’s right. To be honest, I didn’t know that those who claim to be righteous from the White Path were so narrow-minded and prideful.”

Paeyul coughed briefly. With Umje in front of him, he couldn’t bring himself to say harsh words, so he expressed his discomfort in that way.

Ha Eun-gyo spoke. Even as she sat side by side with Yeon Ho-jeong, with her hand on his back, it was hard to see her as an absolute being from beyond the heavens.

“There are many types of people in the world. Are there only evil people in the Black Path, and only righteous heroes in the White Path? I’ve never seen a normal person among those who view the world through the lens of factionalism and criticize others.”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

“You’re right.”

“Some people become wiser as they get older, while others only become more stubborn. Moreover, they are a sect that wields power like a king in a region, so it’s not strange that they would become stubborn if they grew up in such an environment.”

There was an unknown sense of wistfulness in Ha Eun-gyo’s voice.

Yeon Ho-jeong could feel a silent sigh in her voice.

She had been dragged around by the Saim Cult with the determination to see her child’s face one last time before she died.

If she had had eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mind to think, she would never have been swayed by them.

Since it was a matter involving her own flesh and blood, anyone could have done the same. However, from a broader perspective, Ha Eun-gyo had also caused harm to the world with her obsession, rather than her wisdom.

That was why there was a sense of bitterness in her voice.

‘It’s a relief.’

When he received this mission, he thought that in the worst case, he might have to fight Ha Eun-gyo to the death.

Considering that, this situation wasn’t bad. No, it wasn’t just not bad, it was quite good.

However, there was something that bothered him.

“Senior.”

“Hmm?”

“If you’re thinking of doing something dangerous… please reconsider it.”

Ha Eun-gyo flinched.

“Dangerous thoughts?”

“……It’s nothing.”

Yeon Ho-jeong forced a shake of his head.

“My body is in this state, so I’m worried about many things. It was just something that came out without me realizing it, so please don’t mind it.”

Ha Eun-gyo, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-jeong, smiled.

“Your parents must be proud.”

“Yes?”

“They have such an outstanding child, how could they not be proud? It must be hard for them to resist the urge to brag about you everywhere.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly without saying anything.

Ha Eun-gyo said to Paeyul.

“Since it has come to this, wouldn’t it be better to call them over?”

Paeyul’s eyes lit up.

“Is it alright to call them?”

“They can’t go back, and they can’t come here. It’s not a good feeling to see them not knowing what to do.”

“But your disciple….”

“Do you think they would dare to cause a ruckus here? There’s Seongcheon [a title for a powerful martial artist] here, and a master who has reserved the position of the next Seongcheon.”

The power of the Thirteen Seats of Seongcheon was beyond description.

However, if you just think about the simple numbers, it was said that one of them could face the power of a great sect.

In other words, they were like a walking Nine Great Sects-level power. In front of such a powerful being from beyond the heavens, even the most stubborn and prideful master wouldn’t dare to cause a disturbance.

“Then, I’ll call them over.”

A moment later.

A group of people appeared from the side path next to the hut.

Yeo Gwang, who was at the front, politely clasped his hands.

“I never thought I would see such great masters before I died, but I am honored to meet the greatest master of Yin energy in the world. I am Yeo Gwang of Jongnam.”

It was a very respectful greeting.

In terms of age, Yeo Gwang was a few years older than Ha Eun-gyo.

However, in a world where strength is the measure of status, Yeo Gwang was no match for Ha Eun-gyo. Even putting that aside, a master of Ha Eun-gyo’s level could easily wipe out the entire force of Jongnam here within a few moves if she wanted to.

Ha Eun-gyo smiled and nodded.

“You’ve come from Jongnam. I am Ha Eun-gyo.”

Ha Eun-gyo also spoke in a tone that respected her opponent. Although they were far below her in terms of power, they were still of a similar age, so she didn’t treat them carelessly just because she was a Seongcheon.

Yeo Gwang coughed awkwardly.

“I never imagined that Umje would be here. There was someone who had a conflict with our sect, so we came to chase them, but if I had known that Umje was here, I would have asked for permission in advance….”

“You heard about the danger to Hwasan, but you didn’t go to help immediately?”

It was a truly unexpected remark.

Yeo Gwang’s face hardened. The faces of the Jongnam swordsmen lined up behind him were even pale.

“That is….”

“I thought Jongnam was an old friend of Hwasan, was this person mistaken?”

“How could that be? Hwasan is indeed a friend of Jongnam.”

“They are a friend of Jongnam, and at the same time, a friend of the Nine Great Sects, and a friend of the White Path. If you heard that a wicked group was attacking such a sect, wouldn’t it be right to rush to their aid?”

Yeo Gwang swallowed hard.

“That is a very obvious point. However, I am from the main sect….”

“I’ve heard that there are rules and procedures in a sect. However, it seems that Jongnam needs such procedures even when it comes to friendship and chivalry.”

“……?!”

“That is Jongnam.”

Yeo Gwang’s eyes wavered.

“Umje, you seem to have misunderstood something….”

“Then, will you go to help Hwasan right now?”

Ha Eun-gyo smiled.

In the eyes of those who saw it, there was a beautiful yet deadly cynicism, like a blizzard.

“Or is it more important to capture the person who had a conflict with Jongnam from this person’s residence?”

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