Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 723

The five people left the main hall.

“It’s still the same as ever.”

Gang Ryang sighed.

“It should be the same, but I suddenly feel so inadequate. I knew they were monsters, but I didn’t know they were this much…”

Paeyul snorted.

“They might lack manners, but their martial prowess is real. The name ‘Saintly Heaven’ isn’t for nothing. Though their individual characteristics differ, they’ve all broken through the limits in their respective fields. They deserve to be called monsters.”

“I’ve realized it anew.”

Paeyul looked at Gang Ryang.

Gang Ryang’s face was the picture of unease. It wasn’t that his fighting spirit had been broken, but he had just confirmed how high the summit of the mountain, previously hidden by fog, actually was. It was understandable that he felt frustrated.

Paeyul snorted loudly and said,

“Follow me.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s have a drink.”

“…Is this a consolation?”

“Are you already tired of living? Should I put a hole in your neck? You’d be able to drink twice as much then.”

“Tch. You can’t say anything.”

The two left, bickering.

Swoosh.

Muk Bi, who was also about to return to his quarters, suddenly turned around.

Jin Yang and Seo Jeong-Gwang’s faces were still etched with shock.

Jin Yang looked at Seo Jeong-Gwang and said,

“Jeong-Gwang.”

“What?”

“I wonder if it was the right thing to disband our sect.”

“I want to shout at you for saying something so ridiculous now… but honestly, I feel the same way.”

Jin Yang shook his head.

“He’s different from Yeon Ho-Jeong. It’s similar in that you can’t see the bottom, but… something’s different. That’s the feeling I got.”

“I agree.”

“A king of battle who started from the bottom and reached the pinnacle of the world… and such people have suddenly entered a world where they discuss the grand scheme of things…?”

Jin Yang let out a hollow laugh.

Seo Jeong-Gwang scratched his head.

“Well, we’re in a position where we’ve entrusted ourselves to Lord Yeon. But this isn’t Lord Yeon’s territory either, so let’s not cause any trouble.”

“I think we should, damn it.”

At that moment, Muk Bi opened his mouth.

“Do you perhaps have some time?”

The two simultaneously looked at Muk Bi.

Muk Bi, feeling awkward, cleared his throat and said,

“Shall we have a drink too?”

The two who were looking at Muk Bi turned their gazes to each other.

After a moment.

“Sure.”

Seo Jeong-Gwang cheerfully approached Muk Bi.

“I may not be able to beat him in martial arts, but I’ve crushed him several times in drinking. Look forward to it. I’ll test how much Deputy Chief Muk can drink.”

Muk Bi, who was smiling awkwardly, looked at Jin Yang.

Jin Yang, who had been standing with his arms crossed with a sullen face, slowly unfolded his arms.

‘……Hmm.’

Jin Yang felt inexplicably uncomfortable around Muk Bi. He even felt more comfortable around Yeon Ho-Jeong. Of course, he didn’t know why.

Seo Jeong-Gwang shrugged his shoulders.

“That bear seems to be uncomfortable with Deputy Chief Muk. Let’s go by ourselves.”

“Shall we?”

The two walked away, swaggering.

After hesitating for a moment, Jin Yang shouted loudly,

“Let’s go together! My throat is parched too!”

* * *

Yang Cheon’s expression immediately turned serious.

“You want to see the reaction of the Bi-Wang [a powerful figure]?”

“That’s right.”

“…Hmm.”

Yang Cheon, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, got up from his chair. Then, he walked to a table set up on one side.

“Let’s talk while drinking.”

“More drinking? You’ll really get sick at this rate.”

“That doesn’t sound sincere. It sounds like the concern of a master strategist worried about a useful piece in war. Or is that just my imagination?”

“What more do you want?”

“…You’re really rude. I heard the Tang Clan Head is very displeased with you? I can kind of understand why.”

After a while, the two sat facing each other with their cups.

Yang Cheon drank three cups in a row, but Yeon Ho-Jeong only received the wine and didn’t touch his cup.

Yang Cheon didn’t urge Yeon Ho-Jeong to drink.

“The Bi-Wang…”

“Before that.”

“Yes?”

Yang Cheon, who had put down his cup, asked in a relaxed posture.

“Tell me why Umje suddenly disappeared.”

“Ah, I didn’t mention that.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong explained the story about Ha Eun-Gyo in detail.

Yang Cheon frowned.

“So, you went to the main base of the Evil Sound Sect because of a child whose life or death is uncertain? A person who doesn’t even know where the main base of the Evil Sound Sect is?”

“That’s right.”

“…You’re something else.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes turned cold.

“It’s not wrong to be compassionate, but it seems you don’t have the wisdom to use that compassion in the right place. Even if you go to the Evil Sound Sect, you won’t be able to meet your child. No, in the first place, there’s no way the Evil Sound Sect would have your child, right?”

“That’s highly likely, but to ignore that slim possibility…”

“I know. That person must be in a terrible state.”

It was an unexpected answer.

“People, even those of us who have reached the pinnacle, can become blind to everything else when obsessed with one thing. Umje must be the same. Her actions are, in a way, close to a venting of her frustrations. Her pent-up resentment has exploded, so she might make such a foolish decision.”

“…”

“If only she had seen the world from a broader perspective.”

Yang Cheon’s voice was filled with regret for the sorrowful choice of a master who had reached a similar level in the same era.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly watching Yang Cheon, refilled his cup.

Yang Cheon shook his head.

“One’s life is decided by oneself. It’s foolish and regrettable, but it’s not for a third party to interfere with her decision.”

“That’s right.”

“However…”

At that moment, Yang Cheon’s eyes turned sharp.

“If, by any chance, she becomes a puppet of the Evil Sound Sect and attacks us, then she will become an irredeemable fool.”

“That’s also true.”

Yang Cheon sighed.

“I don’t feel good.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Are you worried?”

“Of course. That person is not someone who should disappear so meaninglessly. Such a master has thrown herself into a future that is clearly going to be unhappy. How can I not feel sorry for her?”

It was an unexpected side of Yang Cheon that Yeon Ho-Jeong had seen.

Yang Cheon’s regret was genuine. Even a tyrant who had been rampaging to conquer the world with intense desires had such human emotions.

Yang Cheon, who had slowly emptied his cup, took a deep breath.

“Let’s stop talking about Umje. There’s no point in talking more, as she won’t come back.”

“Alright.”

“You said you wanted to see the Bi-Wang’s reaction?”

“That’s right.”

“How?”

“I plan to use Doctor Gi.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes narrowed.

“The Western Region Goddess… You know that the pale brat was from the Divine Light Church, right?”

“Yes.”

“You told me before. Well, I don’t know if she’s a saint or a goddess, but she’s in a pretty high position there, right?”

“To be precise, she’s a half-blood. She’s the illegitimate child of the Church Leader. However, even as a half-blood, she has the blood of the gods, so many of her followers feel sorry for Doctor Gi.”

Yang Cheon’s lips curled up.

“So, is it okay to move her now, who is working as a double agent? You’ve been keeping her well-hidden, not just the Divine Light Church, but you too.”

“If the Imperial Palace falls into their hands, we’ll be at a great disadvantage in this battle.”

“…Hmm.”

“I only know as much about the Imperial Palace as others do. That’s why I’ve been thoroughly focused on the affairs of the martial world. But now that I have some leeway, and especially since it’s been confirmed that the Bi-Wang might be involved, I can’t just stand by.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong refilled Yang Cheon’s cup and continued,

“It won’t be easy, but… if we gain the upper hand in this power struggle in the Imperial Palace, they won’t be able to provoke us for the next few years.”

“A few years…”

Yang Cheon’s face became serious again.

“In other words, the more we can steer this Imperial Palace situation in our favor, the more time we’ll have to prepare.”

“Of course, the Three Sects won’t just be sitting idly by. Perhaps the agents spread throughout the Central Plains will stop their activities, making it even harder to catch them.”

“A lull?”

“That’s right.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes sparkled.

It was called a lull, but a few years would be more beneficial to the Central Plains than to the Three Sects.

For the past few decades, the Three Sects had been carrying out all sorts of schemes to take over the Central Plains without any losses.

And in the past few years, many of those decades of schemes had been destroyed by the power of the Martial Alliance, led by Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Emotionally, it would be hard for the Three Sects to endure any longer. Rather than just being on the receiving end, they might be willing to risk a full-scale war.

Conversely, if they approached it rationally, a full-scale war would never happen. Decades of effort would be wasted.

Like a one-on-one duel, war is also something whose outcome is hard to predict. Especially for the Three Sects, who had been drawing a grand plan, they would never try to conquer the Central Plains recklessly.

‘But that’s also a matter of probability. No one knows how they’ll react. Even as so many of their schemes were being destroyed, the real leaders haven’t shown themselves. Perhaps they might go crazy and draw their swords because of this incident.’

Yang Cheon’s eyes, looking down at his cup, twitched rapidly. He was deep in thought.

How much time had passed?

“Are you alright?”

“Yes?”

“You haven’t fully recovered yet. If you’re going to use Gi Woo-Hee, you’ll have to move alongside her. Are you okay?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“What martial artist fights in their best condition?”

Yang Cheon couldn’t help but laugh. It was what he had said before fighting Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“If we start, when would be a good time?”

“The sooner, the better.”

“The sooner, the better…”

Yang Cheon, with his arms crossed, stared at his empty cup.

After a moment.

“Damn it.”

Yang Cheon’s face, as he scratched his head wildly, was filled with annoyance.

“Whenever I try to do something, something happens. Whenever I think I can rest, there’s a fire in the neighborhood. This is ridiculous.”

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind.”

Yang Cheon slammed the table with his fist.

“Mukryong Commander.”

Swoosh.

Behind Yang Cheon, a warrior appeared.

The man in black uniform was the commander of the Mukryong Unit, the leader of the secret guard force that protected Mukryong Deputy Chief Yang Cheon.

“How many Mukryong Unit reserve members are left?”

The Mukryong Commander bowed and said,

“One hundred and fifty.”

“Take fifty of them. I need to send them on a special mission.”

“Understood.”

Swoosh.

The Mukryong Commander disappeared from the spot. It was an amazing stealth technique.

Yang Cheon looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong and said,

“I’ll assign the Mukryong Unit’s reserve members to Gi Woo-Hee.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.

“Is that alright?”

“Why would I call the Mukryong Commander if it wasn’t? If Gi Woo-Hee is harmed by the enemy, the foundation of this operation will collapse, won’t it?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Even though they’re reserves, their skills are no different from the active Mukryong Unit. They’ll protect Gi Woo-Hee no matter what, so don’t worry about that.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Yang Cheon said curtly,

“I’m much better than those stingy Martial Alliance guys, right? I’m giving you full support.”

“You could say that.”

“We don’t care about background. Give your family to your brother and come here.”

“You still haven’t given up?”

“I guess not? I can’t seem to give up.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and stood up.

“I’ll prepare.”

“Hey, Ho-Jeong.”

“Yes?”

Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.

“I’m serious.”

“…”

“I’m serious.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Yang Cheon, bowed deeply.

“I’ll bring good news.”

“…Alright.”

“I’ll visit you separately before I leave.”

With that, Yeon Ho-Jeong left the main hall.

Yang Cheon, left alone, looked up at the ceiling of the main hall. His face was somehow empty.

“Damn it. You should have just died. Why do you keep appearing in front of me? It’s making me uneasy.”