Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 76

“Do you truly think so?”

“Yes.”

“……”

“I’ll say this in advance, it’s not because I was saved by you.”

“I know. Even though you’re like a loose cannon, you’re still someone who can make reasonable judgments.”

“……Is that a compliment?”

“Actually, if it were a minor matter, I wouldn’t have even asked. My children owe you their lives. It’s only natural to help a benefactor in a difficult situation.”

“Then please help quickly.”

“It has to be a minor matter.”

“That’s why I told you. That guy, he’s absolutely not that kind of person.”

“I trust your judgment. But the matter has become too big.”

“The Myeong Family’s actions are excessive. Even if he really did do it, how can they send experts to escort him without any evidence?”

“It is excessive. Moreover, he’s a scion of the Nine Great Sects [powerful martial arts factions]. But the Myeong Family has that kind of power. If the rumors are true, the Myeong Family’s rashness should be criticized, but there’s nothing we can do about the Myeong Family.”

“Exactly! First, we need to urge the Myeong Family to restrain their excessive actions. As you said, Father, he’s a scion of the Nine Great Sects. This kind of behavior is unacceptable.”

“It is unacceptable. But you know why this father can’t act aggressively.”

“……”

“That young man, Yeon Ho-Jeong… he’s gone too far. It would have been better if he had been captured by the Myeong Family. But he injured the Myeong Family’s experts.”

“They drew their swords to capture an innocent person, so of course, he had to fight back!”

“The reason doesn’t matter now. It’s a situation where they’re pointing swords at each other, trying to kill each other. It has become a war between the Yeon Family and the Myeong Family.”

“……!”

“Fortunately, they don’t have a justifiable reason to pour out their full power yet. It’s a sharp confrontation maintaining a precarious balance. But the moment either side comes up with a proper justification, one of the two families will face annihilation.”

“Annihilation……”

“And the Yeon Family will most likely be the one to be annihilated.”

“……!”

“I am the Family Head. As a father, I should help our benefactor, but as the head of a family, I cannot act rashly. The main family’s power is already weakened. I must be even more careful.”

“……”

“So, you go.”

“What?!”

“Your younger brother is outstanding, but he doesn’t have your flexibility yet. I have to attend the Grand Assembly. So, you go and help our benefactor directly.”

“C-Can I really do that?!”

“You can’t.”

“Then why……?”

“As the Family Head and as a father, I want to stop you. But as a member of the righteous path of the martial world who follows justice and chivalry, I understand your heart.”

“……”

“Go. Do as your heart tells you. If you believe that is the right path, then stake your life on that choice and show the righteousness of a righteous path warrior.”

“……Thank you, Father.”

“Don’t say that. I’m a useless father who can’t even ensure my daughter’s happiness.”

“……”

“You will see the Namgoong Family Head at this Grand Assembly. I’ve been putting it off, but I don’t think I can anymore.”

“I understand, Father.”

“I’m sorry. I… I have nothing else to say.”

“It’s okay. I’m really okay.”

“I’ve informed the Hidden Forest. Go with them.”

“Yes! I’ll be back.”

* * *

Whoosh!

The wind is cold.

Even though it’s almost summer, the weather is particularly chilly today. After a few days of this chill, the real heat will begin.

Ga Deuk-Sang, walking along the main road, thought.

‘He sure came running fast.’

He saw the Chang-Eung troop, formed in a circle.

And within it, a large axe stood tall.

‘Actually, I was a bit uneasy. Ever since I agreed to that request.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong had asked him for three things.

First, the movements of the new martial artists.

Second, all information about Moyong Gun’s youngest sibling, Moyong Woo.

Third, the existence of the ‘dead swords’ that the Myeong Family was raising.

When you handle information and dig into people, there’s a skill you acquire at some point.

It’s the ability to discern the order of importance. In simple terms, it means your ability to read the big picture improves. It’s also synonymous with becoming more perceptive.

When Ga Deuk-Sang heard the list Yeon Ho-Jeong wanted him to investigate, he immediately knew.

‘The first and second requests are important too. But there’s time. However, the third request is different.’

The existence of the dead swords that the Myeong Family was secretly raising.

That was what Yeon Ho-Jeong wanted to know right away. And as expected, when he told him about that, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s reaction was incredibly intense.

‘That’s when it started. I had a feeling that I would somehow get terribly entangled with that crazy bastard.’

Ga Deuk-Sang chuckled.

He cursed him as a madman and a killer, but in truth, he enjoyed being with Yeon Ho-Jeong.

He was enjoying it even though it wasn’t a situation to be enjoying. The reason was that it was the first time he had ever run wild with someone like this.

And it was even better because it was for the sake of chivalry.

Though for Yeon Ho-Jeong, it might have been revenge, not chivalry.

Swish.

“Who are you?”

A Chang-Eung troop member asked, drawing his sword halfway.

There was no way they wouldn’t know him. Yet, they were asking as if he were a suspicious person. That meant the Chang-Eung troop was on edge.

“I am Ga Deuk-Sang of the Beggars’ Union. I’ve come to see your young master.”

It was then.

“Open the way.”

Thud!

The Chang-Eung troop member immediately sheathed his sword and stepped aside. Then, a path opened through the circle of the Chang-Eung troop.

Ga Deuk-Sang silently walked through the opened path.

‘They’re sharp.’

The gazes of the swordsmen watching him from both sides were ruthless. It felt as if his body was being cut by hundreds of swords.

You shouldn’t provoke them. Right now, the Chang-Eung troop was in a state where they would cut down even a high-ranking monk from the Shaolin Temple.

“Have you arrived?”

Ga Deuk-Sang looked at the axe.

The axe, with its shaft end buried two spans [a traditional unit of length] into the ground, was standing upright. It was a heavy weapon weighing eighty pounds, but it was fixed in place because its center of gravity was well-balanced.

Ga Deuk-Sang looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s complexion looked alright. It was hard to believe that he was someone who had been fighting an enemy in one place for over two days.

Ga Deuk-Sang snorted.

“Look at the blood on that axe. You’re really having a field day, aren’t you?”

“My body feels stiff.”

“What a load of crap. So why did you fight? Did you forget all the plans we made?”

“I didn’t forget.”

“If you’re going to smash heads, at least contact me first. What is this? I’m the only one who looks like a fool.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to contact you.”

“I heard your excuses well.”

“Haha.”

Ga Deuk-Sang ended up chuckling. Seeing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s uncharacteristically embarrassed smile, all his pent-up emotions vanished.

“Ugh, let me sit down too!”

Ga Deuk-Sang plopped down next to Yeon Ho-Jeong and looked towards the Myeong Family.

Three hundred experts were encamped about fifty yards away. It was the Myeong Family’s White Dragon Army.

“I’ve ordered the beggars to gather all the information about the Myeong Family.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“I trusted you.”

“Yeah, right. I don’t know what kind of trouble we’ll get into next, but if you act like this again, you’re on your own. I’ll just run away and leave you.”

“I understand.”

“Anyway, I thought you’d be fighting with blood flying everywhere, but it’s a lull?”

“They probably don’t need to send an unlimited number of troops.”

“When did the White Dragon Army arrive?”

“White Dragon Army?”

“The guys encamped over there. Didn’t you know?”

“I didn’t know. They arrived the evening before yesterday.”

“They didn’t attack?”

“They kept sending some experts. But they didn’t move.”

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes flashed.

“That’s dangerous.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

Indeed, Ga Deuk-Sang’s insight was extraordinary. He could see the essence of this fight just by hearing the situation.

“Since everyone’s attention is focused here, it’s hard to move a combat unit like the White Dragon Army. One-on-one duels are fine, but if they move, it’ll become a war.”

“That’s right.”

The Chang-Eung troop wouldn’t just stand by if the White Dragon Army advanced. In the end, many people would die, and if that happened, their justifications would be nullified.

“In other words, the moment they move is when a total war will begin.”

“You see it well.”

“It won’t be easy for them to move. The current standoff is like walking on thin ice. Unless they come up with a decisive reason, a justification that no one can deny, they absolutely won’t be able to move.”

“That’s probably true.”

“They also won’t send any of the family’s high-ranking members.”

“It’s a matter of status.”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was the eldest son of the Yeon Family. It was one thing if it was somewhere out of sight, but if an elder-level expert appeared here, where everyone’s attention was focused, it wouldn’t be appropriate.

“In other words, they’ve used all the cards they can use.”

Ga Deuk-Sang glanced at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

They’ve used all the cards they have left, except for the family’s high-ranking members? That meant Yeon Ho-Jeong had single-handedly dealt with all the experts just below the Myeong Family’s high-ranking members.

It was amazing. He was impressed not as a righteous path warrior, but as a martial artist.

“How did you become a monster at that age?”

“I’m still far from it.”

“Ah, you’re annoying.”

“Haha.”

Ga Deuk-Sang flopped down.

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s just relax and keep an eye on the situation.”

“But why are you trying to rest here?”

“Aren’t we in this together? Just my presence alone will make the Myeong Family move more cautiously.”

“That’s true.”

Ga Deuk-Sang didn’t mention the existence of Lee Cheol-Gyeong and another presence rising from Mount Rongzhong in Hubei. It wasn’t certain yet.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at the towering buildings beyond the White Dragon Army.

‘I can see it.’

He couldn’t see it when he first arrived here. But now he could see it.

His basic eyesight had improved. His vision had improved without even having to draw on his inner energy.

‘I can see it clearly.’

The White Tiger and Black Tortoise energies were much more refined than they were two days ago. That’s why he could see it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong recalled the several battles he had fought over the past two days.

‘They all learned the fake Four Divine Beasts Technique.’

No matter how much it was Yeon Ho-Jeong, he couldn’t face them all using the Black Demon Emperor’s enlightenment.

Yet, the reason he was able to defeat the Myeong Family’s experts alone was because of the martial arts he had learned and the martial arts the opponents had learned.

‘Was it called the Azure White Martial Arts?’

The man he had fought in the bamboo forest of Myeongchi Mountain hadn’t learned the fake Four Divine Beasts Technique. There were probably still many such experts in the Myeong Family.

However.

‘It’s okay now.’

No matter who came, he could handle that level of expert.

The Black Tortoise energy had grown explosively. And the White Tiger energy, to keep pace with it, was also growing on its own.

The person he was two days ago and the person he was now were completely different. If the opponent had learned a martial art derived from the Four Divine Beasts Technique, he could face even a supreme expert.

That was Yeon Ho-Jeong now.

The Myeong Family had sent experts to capture Yeon Ho-Jeong, but those experts had instead become the catalyst for growing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts.

He wasn’t afraid of anyone. At least, not from the Myeong Family.

Yeon Ho-Jeong closed his eyes.

A cool breeze rustled past his ears.

“The wind is nice.”

Three days later.

“Is today the day of the Grand Assembly?”

“Has it already come to that?”

“I know, right? Time sure flies, flies fast.”

Thud, thud, thud.

“Huh? What are those guys?”

Ga Deuk-Sang tilted his head.

“Why are they withdrawing?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was also puzzled. There was no reason for the White Dragon Army to withdraw in the current situation.

It was then.

“Huh?”

Ga Deuk-Sang perked up his ears. He was listening to a telepathic message.

After a moment, Ga Deuk-Sang’s face gradually turned pale.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

Ga Deuk-Sang turned to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“The Yeon Family Head has dropped a bomb.”

“My father?!”

“He threatened the Myeong Family Head! To protect you!”

Ga Deuk-Sang told Yeon Ho-Jeong the contents of the letter.

His face was filled with anxiety.

“Damn it, the board has been shaken! We don’t know how the Myeong Family will move!”

“I see.”

“Huh? What did you say?!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“I understand. I know how the Myeong Family, no, the ‘Myeong Family Head’ will move.”