Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 712

“Hmm.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes sank deeply.

“How much of the world goes as one pleases, but to think that the Yin Lord would go off on her own.”

Baek Seo bowed his head.

“I can’t understand it at all. It seems there are reasons, but the letter she sent didn’t have any details.”

“Vice Commander Yeon’s reports are always clear and factual. But the fact that she didn’t write the reason means it’s something difficult to explain even in a letter.”

“That seems to be the case.”

Yang Cheon sighed.

“Whatever the reason, what a foolish woman. What could be the reason for going to such a dangerous place herself? Does she even know where it is… ?”

His sigh held a strange sense of pity.

It wasn’t just because of the absence of an absolute master who could be an ally. Although Yang Cheon was the king of the Black Path [a term for the underworld or the dark side of the martial arts world] with immense power as the head of the Mukryong Clan, there weren’t many people who had actually been with him throughout his life.

The Thirteen Seats of the Saintly Heaven [a group of powerful martial artists]. Yang Cheon had met very few of them. However, as those who had reached the pinnacle of an era, he felt a certain sense of familiarity with them.

To think that one of them had thrown herself into an uncertain future, it was truly regrettable.

“It’s about time he came back. I wonder how much he’s grown.”

“Pardon?”

Yang Cheon spoke in a cheerful tone.

“Didn’t it say in the letter? That there was a brief conflict with Yin Lord Ha Eun-Gyo. No matter how much of a genius he is, it would have been nearly impossible to close that gap.”

“……”

“I wonder how much he has grown.”

Baek Seo’s face hardened.

“Surely… you don’t think Vice Commander Yeon has grown enough to exchange blows with the masters of the Saintly Heaven?”

Yang Cheon shook his head.

“That’s impossible. No one can grow that much in such a short time. Not even a monster of the ages. However…”

“……”

“The content on the second page of the report. Using his disciple as bait to lure out the Yin Lord… this part bothers me.”

Baek Seo’s eyes wavered.

He had also been shocked when he read that part. He might have thought of some way, but it was an absurd act unless he was willing to risk facing the full force of the enraged Yin Lord.

Yang Cheon’s eyes narrowed.

“No matter what clever scheme he came up with, the strong of the Saintly Heaven have the absolute power to break through all of it. Vice Commander Yeon knows that too. Then it must be one of two things.”

“……”

“Either he has grown enough to withstand the power of the Saintly Heaven, or… although unlikely, he had a countermeasure to offset that absolute power.”

Baek Seo couldn’t believe it.

“Even if it’s Vice Commander Yeon, he couldn’t have gained that much power already.”

“Even if he doesn’t have the power to contend with the Saintly Heaven, I think it’s not impossible for him to gain the ability to withstand that power.”

“……Pardon?!”

“His martial arts had reached their limit. He was at a level where if someone just poked him with a needle, he could unleash his infinite potential.”

Yang Cheon chuckled.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I wonder how much he has grown through this trip to Sichuan and Shanxi.”

Yang Cheon rose from his seat.

Baek Seo bowed his head.

“I will prepare the meal.”

“No, it’s alright.”

“Pardon?”

“I need to go to my disciple. He must be racking his brain alone right now. Thinking about Vice Commander Yeon, I want to forcefully hammer enlightenment into his body.”

Yang Cheon looked up at the cave ceiling.

“My disciple’s talent is great enough… but to think that the next generation has to live with such a monster, it must be tough.”

Bu Seon came to mind.

He had made up for his lack of talent with hard work and had finally risen to become his successor.

That alone proved his worth. But that potential and worth alone would not be enough to rule this rough and ruthless Black Path.

‘Can he surpass Vice Commander Yeon?’

Yang Cheon’s eyes turned cold.

‘If he really can’t catch up to him, I will clear the obstacles in your path before I go in the distant future.’

He didn’t want to kill Yeon Ho-Jeong. Even if it was a grudging affection, their relationship wasn’t bad.

He hoped that Bu Seon would reach the Supreme Realm as soon as possible.

Even though he knew it was not easy, or rather, nearly impossible.

* * *

“Brother!”

Gang Ryang came to Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was in the middle of eating.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and said,

“Have you been well?”

“I’ve been fine. By the way…”

Gang Ryang examined Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body and shrugged.

“It’s still unstable, but it’s pretty good considering.”

“I guess so.”

“It seems you weren’t as broken as I thought?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

He knew it was a joke. Gang Ryang was not someone who didn’t know war. That was his way of expressing the joy of reunion.

“Sister.”

“It’s been a while.”

Gang Ryang’s face lit up with joy at seeing Muk Bi.

“It’s been a very long time. Have you been well?”

“Of course.”

“You’re still incredible. The energy I feel is different from before. You’ve gone even further in the time I haven’t seen you.”

Muk Bi shook her head.

“Your change is much greater. You’re a completely different person from when you left. It’s amazing that you broke through the Martial Ancestor realm [a high level of martial arts mastery], but you’ve improved even more.”

It was rare for her to talk this much to anyone other than Yeon Ho-Jeong. Gang Ryang scratched his head.

“I’m still far behind compared to you and brother.”

“That’s great enough. I didn’t reach that level at your age.”

“Haha, you’re even giving me a golden face [a Korean idiom for treating someone very well] just because we met after a long time.”

After catching up, Gang Ryang suddenly noticed the young man standing to one side.

He looked more like a scholar than a warrior. Yeon Ho-Jeong also sometimes looked like a stiff scholar, but this young man was hard to see as a warrior no matter how you looked at him.

Nevertheless, he was holding a halberd in his hand. It was the first time he had seen someone who looked so out of place with a weapon.

Gang Ryang’s face showed a question.

“Who is this…?”

“Seo Jeong-Gwang.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said, wiping his mouth.

“He is the vice leader and strategist of the Hwaung Clan.”

“Ah, yes.”

Seo Jeong-Gwang clasped his hands in greeting.

“It is an honor to meet the descendant of the Ghost Sword.”

“Oh? Do you know me?”

“It’s a clan where it’s hard to survive if you don’t get information quickly. Just by looking at your face and unique energy, it’s easy to deduce.”

“Th, that’s amazing?”

He was sincere. No matter how much information you had, it was impossible to recognize someone’s identity just by their appearance and atmosphere with ordinary eyesight.

“But…”

Gang Ryang glanced at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“What’s going on? Is he a new companion?”

“For the time being.”

“……What does that mean?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Seo Jeong-Gwang.

Seo Jeong-Gwang scratched his head.

“Our clan leader seems to be coming as well. I think we can decide whether it’s for a short time or a long time then.”

“I see. But if you’re coming, it’s better to come quickly. We have to go to the Mukryong Clan.”

Seo Jeong-Gwang’s face stiffened.

“The Mukryong Clan…”

“Weren’t you expecting it?”

“To some extent.”

“The Mukryong Clan would be more comfortable for you than the Martial Alliance [a large organization of martial artists].”

“Is that so…”

Seo Jeong-Gwang sighed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his head to look at Ji So-Hyun.

Ji So-Hyun’s face was quite dark. The internal injuries she had suffered from being exposed to killing intent had all healed, but she couldn’t be in a good mood.

“Since you came here with Gang Ryang, can I assume that you will be joining us as well?”

Ji So-Hyun shook her head.

“I…”

“The Yin Lord has left the Central Plains [the central region of China, often used in martial arts stories].”

“……!”

“She won’t be able to return until she finishes her business.”

She had guessed as much, but it seemed that was the case.

Ji So-Hyun resented the Yin Lord. And she missed her master so much that she could easily cover up that resentment.

Ji So-Hyun sighed.

“I don’t know. The reason I came with Gang Swordsman was to confirm with you, Vice Commander Yeon, whether my master had really left.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I’m sorry.”

He had nothing else to say.

Ji So-Hyun closed her eyes.

Her master had left alone. As a disciple, it was inevitable that she missed her master, but it was not right to live like a doll without any purpose.

But….

“Isn’t the scenery nice?”

“Pardon?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around and said,

“I’m talking about the scenery of Jongnam Mountain. It’s quite nice, isn’t it?”

“Ah, yes.”

Ji So-Hyun was bewildered. She couldn’t understand why he was suddenly talking about the scenery of Jongnam Mountain.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“I don’t know when it will be, but if the Yin Lord returns, wouldn’t it be likely that she would return to this area where she last stayed?”

“……Pardon?”

“I’ll talk to the sect leader, so how about staying in Jongnam Mountain in the meantime?”

Ji So-Hyun was surprised.

“M, me in Jongnam Mountain?”

“Even if you don’t become a disciple, it wouldn’t be bad to live with them. From what I’ve seen, the people of Jongnam all know righteousness and are deeply affectionate. Even if you’re an outsider, they’ll be able to take care of you well if you’re the Yin Lord’s disciple.”

“I, I…”

“If you’re feeling lost living alone, it’s good to rely on those who can be with you. If it’s not awkward, I think it wouldn’t be bad to form a relationship with Jongnam.”

Ji So-Hyun’s face was full of confusion.

But that was only for a moment.

“I learned my master’s martial arts, but that’s all. I still have a lot of shortcomings.”

“I know.”

“Even if I join, I’ll only be a burden to you, Vice Commander Yeon. If the elders of Jongnam allow it… it would be the best choice for me.”

It was an honest statement. She didn’t do things like wasting time with unnecessary modesty.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“I’ll talk to the sect leader.”

“However.”

Ji So-Hyun bowed her head.

“Even I, who doesn’t know much about the world, know that it’s not easy to ask the Jongnam sect leader for such a favor. I will work hard to improve myself, so if you ever need my help in the future, I will go anywhere.”

“I like that you’re honest. I don’t know if that will ever happen, but if it does, I will contact you without hesitation.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around.

He looked at the faces of Muk Bi, Hwang Seok-Tae, Pae Yul, Gang Ryang, and Seo Jeong-Gwang in turn and smiled as he stood up.

“Jongnam’s affairs will now be taken care of by them. Let’s go to the sect leader together to solve the issue of Miss Ji’s whereabouts.”

Seo Jeong-Gwang asked.

“Are you leaving right away?”

“There’s nothing else to do here, and if we just stay here, we’ll only get unwanted attention. Those who have to go should go.”

“……Hmm.”

“There are things we need to do along the way to the Mukryong Clan, so we can send a message through the Beggars’ Union [a network of informants]. If Jin Yang isn’t a fool, he’ll be able to find us before we enter the Mukryong Clan.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clapped his hands.

“Okay, let’s move again.”

It had been several months since they left the Mukryong Clan and came out into the world.

Finally, as they returned to the fortress of the Black Path, the cold winter weather saw them off.