Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 716

There was something he wanted to ask.

Unlike his somewhat naive and immature way of speaking, his tone now carried a formality and strength directed towards a superior.

“Who are you?”

It was a question with weight. It wasn’t a situation that could be easily brushed aside.

“Sect Leader, no, from now on, I’ll call you Jin Yang. Ever since the Great One scolded Jin Yang, I’ve been feeling puzzled. I suppose Jin Yang feels the same way now.”

“I understand.”

“From the first time we met, the Great One seemed to know us. Not just on a level of having heard our names a few times, but as if we had spent a long time together, like comrades in arms, if I had to put it into words.”

He was sharp as ever.

So Jeong-Gwang was the wisest and most perceptive of the Five Great Generals.

Sometimes, when they moved together, he would act as their strategist. If Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at the big picture and read the flow, So Jeong-Gwang showed a meticulousness in interpreting and judging the things that were easy to miss.

Though their approaches were different, he was a genius in strategy, comparable to Yeon Ho-Jeong. As such, even though he had shown a somewhat foolish appearance, he must have been thinking a lot until now.

“It doesn’t make sense. Maybe one of us, but neither Jin Yang nor I have ever seen the Great One before. Yet, the Great One treated us like close friends.”

“Indeed.”

“Please explain.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Is an explanation necessary?”

“Jin Yang is coming after dismantling his sect.”

So Jeong-Gwang’s eyes flashed.

Over his gentle and soft impression, a frightening sharpness flickered. So Jeong-Gwang’s serious gaze was so strong and sharp that it could shake the heart of anyone facing him.

“Leaving aside talent or desire, he is coming after completely dismantling the foundation he has built up until now. He has declared his will to gain enlightenment and live a new life, but in other words, he is that serious.”

“……”

“This is not something to gloss over. You are the one who made a man throw away his entire life. If you want to be with us, you must show your sincerity and take responsibility.”

“Responsibility, you say.”

“That’s right. That responsibility isn’t about giving us money or teaching martial arts to someone like me.”

So Jeong-Gwang’s voice deepened further.

“An explanation of who you are, how you know us, and why you looked at us with such… welcoming yet pitiful eyes. That alone would fulfill your responsibility.”

It was a series of resolute and correct words.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Even if I explain, you won’t believe it.”

“If you don’t even explain because it’s unbelievable, how can we be with you?”

“Even if it’s an incredibly unbelievable story, I don’t hesitate when showing my sincerity. But this matter goes beyond that.”

“Does that matter that goes beyond that, is it so bizarre that it crushes our will to demand responsibility?”

“……”

“Tell us. Otherwise, I will neither learn martial arts from you nor be with you.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at So Jeong-Gwang, looked up at the sky.

The day was cold, but the moonlight was beautiful, and the starlight was soft.

‘……’

Why was that?

Suddenly, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a surge of emotion.

‘An explanation.’

During the Dark Emperor era, they were a group that didn’t need explanations.

But now, his old comrade, who had fought alongside him, was demanding an explanation.

Of course, it was only natural. It was different from Muk Bi or Gang Ryang.

The persistent urging of a person who was both a subordinate and a brother, a friend and a comrade.

Yeon Ho-Jeong closed his eyes.

“You are right.”

“……”

“It’s absurd to say that you should follow me just because of my origin, my status, or my position. Such trivial things are not needed when people form a bond. As you said, since you are giving up your life until now, it is the least responsibility to tell you the truth, even if it is an absurd story.”

So Jeong-Gwang’s eyes trembled slightly.

The deep emotion felt in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice. From the voice of a young man not even thirty years old, a few years younger than himself, the sorrowful years of an old veteran who had lived for decades were emanating.

“The Black Emperor Fortress.”

“……?”

“I was the master of the Black Emperor Fortress and the first king to unify the Black Path.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It wasn’t because of my abilities. It was thanks to you all, who helped me, who was struggling to live like a human being, but who had lived without any particular purpose, that I was able to rise as the master of the Black Path.”

So Jeong-Gwang frowned.

“What are you suddenly talking about? The Black Emperor Fortress? The master of the Black Path?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you talking about the Black Dragon Unit? But the Black Dragon Unit is……”

“The Black Dragon Unit is the pinnacle of the Black Path in this era. But the Black Emperor Fortress is a fictional organization that exists only in the lost history, a huge military group that existed in a transparent future.”

“I don’t understand at all……”

“I died once. And I returned to the past.”

“……?!”

“And now, I exist here.”

“……Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong calmly recounted the past.

The Yeon family, destroyed by the invasion of the Nine Provinces Great Families. The benefactor who took in himself, the only survivor. The past when he entered the Black Path after descending the mountain and lived a tumultuous life.

The history of how he built the Black Emperor Fortress in the future, accumulating relationships with one person after another. The war with the Three Teachings.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice had no highs or lows. His voice, still subdued, flowed out calmly, and despite the lack of change, a huge emotion was surging like a wave.

“……”

So Jeong-Gwang’s face went blank.

After finishing his story, Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at So Jeong-Gwang with clear eyes.

After a moment of silence.

“A lie……”

“……”

“……It doesn’t seem like it. Just by looking at your expression and voice.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t answer.

So Jeong-Gwang’s cheek twitched slightly.

“Is this why you said we wouldn’t believe it?”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong composed himself.

In fact, there was no need to tell So Jeong-Gwang this story. He was a good speaker, and he could have gotten away with it like a slippery eel.

But he couldn’t ignore So Jeong-Gwang’s confident demand.

Furthermore, he decided to accept it. The fact that So Jeong-Gwang might think he was crazy and turn away.

And the intense sincerity and resignation that permeated the atmosphere were fully conveyed to So Jeong-Gwang.

‘Died and returned to the past? The Dark Emperor? The Five Great Generals?’

Was this even a plausible story?

‘It doesn’t make sense!’

The reason he seriously thought it didn’t make sense was because Yeon Ho-Jeong’s appearance was too serious.

So Jeong-Gwang was certain. That Yeon Ho-Jeong had revealed his sincerity now.

Even if he couldn’t guess his martial prowess, he could distinguish between sincerity and falsehood. If he didn’t have that kind of perception, he wouldn’t have been able to manage the Hwa Ung Sect so well.

“Even so……”

So Jeong-Gwang muttered to himself.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“It was you who demanded sincerity. It was I who said you wouldn’t believe it.”

“……!”

“I have shown my sincerity. It’s a story that’s hard to tell anyone. Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but don’t think that my sincerity is wrapped in lies.”

“……”

So Jeong-Gwang’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were clear. Belief is free, but he had taken the responsibility you asked for.

And the fact that he had taken sincere responsibility meant that this was the truth. Furthermore, it meant that if you believed it, you would be together, and if you didn’t, it was over.

‘It was me.’

So Jeong-Gwang realized.

‘It was me who ultimately made this relationship extreme.’

He didn’t regret it. Because he thought it was a fact he had to hear.

Silence fell again.

This silence was so long that it lasted more than a quarter of an hour.

Even during that time, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression didn’t change. Only So Jeong-Gwang’s expression changed from moment to moment.

And after another quarter of an hour.

“You’ve had a hard time.”

“Hmm?”

“You said it was a story you didn’t want to tell? You must have had a hard time bringing it up like that.”

A strange light shone in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

“Do you believe it?”

“I have to believe it. And……”

So Jeong-Gwang smiled bitterly.

“The Great One might think differently, but for me right now, whether I believe it or not is not important.”

“Why?”

“Because the Great One’s abilities are certain.”

“What?”

“It’s definitely a hard story to believe, but I couldn’t find any traces of falsehood in the Great One’s expression and voice.”

“……”

“If it’s the truth, then you’ve fulfilled my request, and if it’s a lie……”

So Jeong-Gwang scratched his head.

“It means you’re such a remarkable person that you can deceive me, who has lived by his wits, so wouldn’t it be worth taking a chance on life?”

A strange smile appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

‘People are responsible for their own lives. But well… just this once, shall I bet on you?’

A conversation that had been dormant in his memory came to mind.

So Jeong-Gwang was like that back then too. He seriously pushed him, and after hearing his answer, he said he would bet his life.

After that, So Jeong-Gwang never questioned his orders or requests and acted accordingly.

“However, I’ll think about how to handle the relationship when that friend Jin Yang comes.”

“Good.”

“Then, since we’ve heard the story, let’s learn that great martial art of yours.”

So Jeong-Gwang asked like a mischievous boy.

“The Five Great Generals of the Black Emperor Fortress, I, who was known as the terrifying Blood Demon of Chaos, what kind of martial arts was I practicing?”

“I don’t know.”

“……What did you say?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t even try to find out.”

“Did I hear that right?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I taught you martial arts. But after some time, you modified the martial arts in your own way and created a new divine art. Because you didn’t even give it a name, everyone just called it the Nameless Art.”

So Jeong-Gwang whistled.

“I must have been quite something? Even thinking about modifying martial arts.”

“Because you’re a genius.”

“……Ahem!”

“However, I will teach you the martial arts that were the foundation. I taught you this martial art back then too. The development is up to you.”

“Alright.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong closed his eyes.

“What I will teach you is the Byukra True Art of the main family and the Flying Blood Hawk Sword.”

“……?!”

So Jeong-Gwang’s eyes shook fiercely.

“The Byukra True Art is one of the five great divine arts of the Yeon family, and the Flying Blood Hawk Sword is a secret technique of the Yeon family completed by the Flying Sword Masters, the secret force of the main family.”

“Y-you’re going to teach me the martial arts of the Yeon family?”

“Your bones and blood vessels are almost perfect for learning the main family’s martial arts. However, the way you unleashed it was somewhat fierce and cruel, but its power was enough to make any expert shake their head.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his eyes.

So Jeong-Gwang seemed to be out of his mind.

It was no wonder, he was told he would be taught a new martial art, but now he was being told he would be taught the secrets of the Six Great Families. Anyone would be shocked.

“You will stay here for two days. While maintaining your dantian [energy center], I will burn all the true energy within your body. And then, fill that body with new power.”

“Two days…… O-okay, I’ll try my best.”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong took out a Taeul Pill [a high-grade medicinal pill] from his pocket and threw it to So Jeong-Gwang.

So Jeong-Gwang received the pouch containing the Taeul Pill in a daze.

“It’s a spirit pill that will help the new martial art settle into your body.”

“……!”

“It’s not an investment. It’s helping an old comrade and a new ally who will become a new force.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes blazed.

“Therefore, you must not disappoint me either.”