Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 705

Yeon Ho-jeong, Muk Bi, Yeon Wi, and others.

People give nicknames to martial artists who stand out in the world. Naturally, these nicknames reflect the characteristics of the person.

Yeon Wi’s nickname, the ‘Judge’s Sword,’ implied that he was wise and sharp as a blade in carrying out his duties and upholding justice. Considering the meaning of ‘Judge,’ one could see how highly the martial world regarded Yeon Wi.

Muk Bi’s nickname, the ‘Ghostly Archer Goddess,’ had a clearer meaning. ‘Ghostly Archer’ and ‘Goddess’ meant that she was a goddess who wielded a ghost-possessed bow, signifying that her archery had reached an unprecedented level.

And then there was Yeon Ho-jeong.

The ‘Azure Mountain Tiger General’ meant that he was a tiger-like, brave, and strong general from the Azure Mountain Yeon family of Gangdong. [Gangdong is a region in Korea, and the Azure Mountain Yeon family is a fictional martial arts clan.]

A martial artist with the title of ‘General.’ This meant that he was not only excellent in one-on-one life-or-death battles but also in group battles, as well as in the art of using people, strategy, tactics, and having a broad perspective.

Thus, the nicknames of martial artists often represented the very characteristics they possessed. They were somewhat different from the pen names of literary figures.

Then, what was the nickname of Sun Woo, the Jongnam Sect Leader?

Surprisingly, Sun Woo had many nicknames. Among them, the most representative was the ‘Divine Sword of the Fiery Path.’

The meaning was simple. It meant a divine sword pursuing the path of fire, or a divine sword wielded by a fiery and fierce Taoist.

That nickname accurately described Sun Woo as a person.

His martial prowess was recognized throughout Shanxi, but once angered, no one could stop him. [Shanxi is a province in China, often used as a setting in martial arts stories.]

However, his anger and zeal were always directed towards evil and injustice, which earned him the respect of the world. In fact, within his own sect and among the common people, he was a reliable and kind person.

Such a man had come here with a face full of anger. It couldn’t be a normal situation.

“Great Commander Yeon.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s attitude was very respectful.

He was the leader of the great Jongnam Sect, but also a member of the Martial Alliance. [The Martial Alliance is a common organization in martial arts stories, uniting various sects.]

Sun Woo was an elder belonging to the Elder Council, not a member of the administration. Although he had virtually no real power, their status was more than that of a combat unit leader.

Furthermore, his reputation and his clear aura compelled Yeon Ho-jeong’s respect.

Sun Woo spoke in a voice full of anger.

“We’ve never even had a private conversation within the Alliance, so I don’t know if you’ll believe what I’m about to say.”

“Please speak.”

“I have always supported you.”

“I am grateful.”

“The merciless punishment of the wicked who suck the blood of the common people. Some of the leaders of the Alliance have expressed concern about the ferocity of the unit you command, but every time, I have said this: Great Commander Yeon is the very symbol of justice in this era.”

“You flatter me.”

“That feeling is still the same. I think highly of you. In some ways, more than any other Taoist in the sect.”

Sun Woo, already on fire, was praising Yeon Ho-jeong’s character without getting straight to the point. This meant that he was suppressing himself as much as possible.

“Thank you for your encouraging words.”

“And I know that you have abilities that are even greater than your bravery and integrity.”

“……”

“Why didn’t you contact me?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Contact, you say?”

“Yes, contact.”

Sparks flew from Sun Woo’s eyes.

What was in his eyes was not just simple anger. It was resentment, sadness, self-loathing, and bitterness.

“Why didn’t you contact me beforehand? That they were targeting Shanxi.”

Shanxi.

Not Jongnam, but Shanxi.

Did that mean that Jongnam was Shanxi?

No.

The moment the enemies entered Shanxi, Jongnam, Mount Hua, and any other sect were in danger. [Mount Hua is another famous martial arts sect often featured in these stories.]

Yeon Ho-jeong knew that. Yet, he did not directly contact the Martial Alliance.

If he had informed the Martial Alliance of this fact immediately?

Would the Martial Alliance have dispatched troops separately?

That was unknown. The Alliance had its own circumstances, and by now, Jeagal Mun-ho might have calculated the response methods of each sect and the degree of power distribution.

Even if it were more than that, they would not have been able to rashly dispatch troops to Jongnam. Yeon Ho-jeong also knew that.

However, even so.

Sun Woo’s anger was justified.

That the result would not change? That could be true.

But the master of Jongnam, Sun Woo, would have returned to Jongnam faster than anyone else. No matter what he did here, even if he himself died, he would have had no regrets as the leader.

Yeon Ho-jeong opened his mouth.

“I……”

“Are you going to say that even if you had contacted me sooner, the war would have been over by the time I arrived?”

“……”

“Even if that were the case, why didn’t you contact the Alliance? Was it because you knew the result wouldn’t change?”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly looking at Sun Woo, nodded his head.

“Yes, that is correct.”

Whoosh!

A terrifying aura spread from Sun Woo’s body.

It was an aura beyond his own power. Muk Bi, Jin Yang, and Seo Jeong-gwang were all surprised and took a step back as the hot, blazing energy covered the surroundings.

A voice that seemed about to explode finally burst from Sun Woo’s mouth.

“Yeon Ho-jeong!”

“I thought it would be more helpful if the Sect Leader was not present.”

“……What?”

“Apart from the Sect Leader’s martial prowess, I thought that the Sect Leader’s very presence could be harmful to this battle. That’s why I didn’t contact you.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?!”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the one who commanded this battle at Jongnam was the leader of the Black Dragon Iron Cavalry of the Mukryong Unit.”

Sun Woo’s body trembled.

Yeon Ho-jeong continued in a monotonous tone.

“You said that you’ve never had a private conversation with me. That’s right. I, too, have only inferred your character from rumors about you and the aura I felt when I passed by you a few times. I had no way of knowing what you would be like during a war.”

“So!”

“Anyone who could distract our forces is excluded from battle, even if they possess unparalleled martial prowess. This is because there is a risk of creating variables that are disadvantageous to our forces.”

“So! You didn’t contact the Alliance for that ridiculous reason?!”

“That is correct.”

“You thought that I! The leader of Jongnam, could actually destroy Jongnam Mountain?!”

“If, by any chance, the Sect Leader had arrived at Jongnam before the war, I could not entrust the Jongnam forces to the Iron Cavalry Commander. That itself would be an act of undermining the Sect Leader’s dignity.”

“Wh-what?!”

“The leader of a sect is one who must take the lead in protecting their disciples. However, in a war like this, the leader’s position is special.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Just seeing the Sect Leader in good health, standing on your own two feet in front of me, is enough to reassure me.”

“You’re just spouting nonsense with that mouth of yours!!”

Sun Woo’s voice, which echoed loudly, was like a hot wind.

Muk Bi was tense. It seemed like Sun Woo would draw his sword at any moment.

On the other hand, Yeon Ho-jeong was calm.

“Three days.”

“……?!”

“In three days, I think I’ll be able to recover somewhat.”

What was he suddenly talking about?

“I still have things to do. If I were to endure the Sect Leader’s anger in this state, I might risk my life. I cannot do that.”

“You…!”

“If you give me three days, I will accept the Sect Leader’s anger then.”

Sun Woo’s eyes were bloodshot.

Unlike himself, who was furious to the point of madness, Yeon Ho-jeong was cold and composed.

That made him even more heated, and he felt miserable.

After staring at Yeon Ho-jeong for a long time, Sun Woo finally let out a low sigh.

Swoosh.

The aura that had been raging as if it would blow away the entire area slowly subsided.

“……”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes trembled slightly.

Sun Woo’s face, which had lost its momentum, looked several years older in an instant. His eyes, which had been full of anger and resentment, had lost their focus, and even their vitality was fading.

Swoosh.

Sun Woo turned around without a word.

Sun Woo’s back as he trudged down the mountain path looked very pathetic.

After a while, Sun Woo’s figure disappeared from sight.

“Hoo.”

Yeon Ho-jeong slowly sat down on the steps.

Muk Bi asked worriedly.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just hope the Sect Leader recovers his strength as soon as possible.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, sighing, turned his head towards the side path on the left.

“Come out now.”

“I was about to do that anyway.”

Ga Deuk-sang appeared from beyond the side path.

Ga Deuk-sang’s gaze towards Yeon Ho-jeong was complex.

“Why did you do that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why didn’t you tell the truth?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Great Commander Yeon, you didn’t have time to contact the Alliance, did you? You clashed with Elder Yeo Gwang in the process of finding the Yin Sound, and you only found out about the Yin forces trying to attack Jongnam right before it happened.”

“……”

“There’s no way Great Commander Yeon would have intentionally excluded the Sect Leader. You must have been too preoccupied to even think of that.”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded silently.

Ga Deuk-sang asked again.

“But why did you do that? Why did you provoke the Sect Leader like that?”

“Why do you think the Sect Leader came to me?”

“……?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I’m sure the Sect Leader would have been angry at the Sword Saint Hwa and the people from Mount Hua as well.”

Surprise flickered across Ga Deuk-sang’s face.

“Did you know?”

“I just guessed.”

“How did you guess that?”

“Because I am a surviving leader. Because I am a sect leader who could not even fight.”

“……!”

Yeon Ho-jeong looked up at the sky.

The day was cold, but the sky was clear. A few scattered clouds stung Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.

“Imagine. While the sect leader himself is absent, a war breaks out in the sect he is responsible for.”

“……”

“How do you think he would feel?”

“It would be indescribable.”

“That’s right. It would be indescribable in words, in writing, or in any other form of expression.”

“……”

“And Mount Hua and I are the ones who led this war at Jongnam. In other words, we can be said to have taken over the role of the sect leader.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly.

“That means we are the only ones who can release that indescribable feeling, that resentment.”

Ga Deuk-sang sighed.

“Even so, there was no need to lie, was there?”

“It wasn’t a lie.”

“What?”

“I was too flustered at the time to think about contacting the Martial Alliance, but when I was preparing for the war, I thought it was fortunate that the Sect Leader was absent. That’s the truth.”

“……”

“I am that kind of person.”

Ga Deuk-sang closed his eyes.

“Great Commander Yeon.”

“……”

“I should have been the one to receive the Jongnam Sect Leader’s anger. Isn’t it ultimately our responsibility for not informing the Martial Alliance in time?”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“That doesn’t make sense. Normally, it might be different, but during a war, the value of information is higher than gold. If the arrow of anger is turned towards the Beggars’ Union, the Sect Leader might distrust the Beggars’ Union’s information in the future.”

“……”

“I’m better. I’m young, and I’m also known for being unlucky.”

“Still……”

Ga Deuk-sang shook his head.

“Still, there was no need for Great Commander Yeon to become the target of the Sect Leader’s resentment.”

“You’re wrong. There is a need.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it’s war.”

“……?!”

“The sadness of losing my people, the self-reproach of those who couldn’t take responsibility, the reality of having to smile in front of the enemy even after losing comrades.”

“……”

“It’s only natural for the Sect Leader to act like that. War can drive even the most cultivated Taoists and monks with high levels of inner energy crazy.”

A bitter look appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.

“Being able to be the target of resentment and anger. I’d rather be glad. When there’s not even a target to pour out my emotions, a person is bound to break down.”

“……”

“The Sect Leader will be fine soon.”

Ga Deuk-sang couldn’t bring himself to say the words that were rising to his throat.

Then, are you okay?