Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 778

The startled high-ranking officials all raised their heads.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

“That is not acceptable!”

“How can you give a national… to a martial artist of the Jianghu [the martial arts world]!”

In that instant, the Emperor’s eyes flashed a sharp blue.

“Is anyone outside?”

Thud!

The door opened again, and Hwangbo Jeok entered.

“You summoned me, Your Majesty?”

“Bring in the soldiers of the Imperial Guard. From now on, anyone who speaks without my permission, regardless of their rank, will be immediately taken to prison.”

“I obey your command!”

Clatter!

Twenty Imperial Guard soldiers split into two groups and stood to the left and right of the officials.

“……!”

The officials’ faces turned pale.

They had already seen the Hanlim Academy scholar, Jo Chung, dragged away for a single slip of the tongue.

No one had imagined that such fierce decisiveness was hidden within the Emperor, who had spent decades indulging in wine and women. They lowered their heads again.

The Emperor clicked his tongue.

“Yeon Gaju’s [a respectful title for a leader in the martial world] words are not wrong. Where have all the loyal subjects, like dragons and tigers, who would risk death to speak their minds gone? Now, only petty men concerned with keeping their positions remain. Even the scent of dragon essence cannot mask the stench.”

The atmosphere in the throne room grew even colder.

“However, the fact that the Imperial Court has become like this is entirely my responsibility. I have endured hardship for the future, but in the end, I am the one who brought about the stench emanating from these people. I, too, will face the judgment of history.”

These words were more frightening than a scolding of his subjects.

In the language of the Jianghu, it was no different from saying, ‘You are all trash, but I am also trash for making you trash, so I will accept the consequences.’ Moreover, since the one saying those words was none other than the Emperor, some of the officials who had harbored discontent felt their minds reeling, even as they were gripped by fear.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘He’s very skilled.’

His personal dignity was impressive. But that alone was not enough to control subordinates.

Although the Emperor was the highest authority recognized by all under heaven, he could not treat his subjects like cattle without any foundation.

The Emperor used his authority to suppress his subjects with a strong tone, and at the same time, he used the special nature of his position to quell even the slightest discontent.

‘If his foundation had been solid, he wouldn’t have needed to resort to such methods.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled slightly.

‘But it’s not like just anyone can sit on the throne, is it?’

The Emperor, after looking around once, fixed his gaze on Yeon Ho-Jeong again.

“My words were interrupted by my ignorant subjects. I will ask again. Do you have any intention of marrying my daughter?”

“Does that mean you want me to become a member of the Imperial Family?”

“Why? Do you dislike it?”

After looking at the Emperor silently for a moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Regardless of my preferences, Your Majesty, you have already obtained what you desire.”

“That’s an interesting statement. Would you explain what you mean?”

“The Jianghu is broadly divided into the righteous White Path and the evil Black Path. They have been fighting each other for hundreds of years.”

“Of course, I know that.”

“They, who could not mix like water and oil, recently joined hands and became one. You are well aware of the reason, Your Majesty.”

“It is because of the external enemies, the Three Cults of Madness.”

“That is correct. And they have insulted Your Majesty and brought the Imperial Palace to this state.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.

“Does this mean that the Empire and the Jianghu have become one?”

“The righteous White Path has always been under the Empire. Although they did not interfere with each other due to the non-aggression treaty, they also played a role in filling the gaps in public order after the national power weakened.”

There was an implication in his words that the Black Path was not the same.

The Emperor nodded.

“The fact that the Central Plains has not collapsed and fragmented is because of you. I acknowledge that. You are indispensable to this Central Plains continent, whether in a good way or a bad way.”

“The White Path has joined hands with the Black Path. And the renowned experts from the White Path are trying to help Your Majesty punish the wicked and rebuild the Imperial Palace.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Even without forming a bond with a wild man like me, the martial world of the Jianghu will be a strong fence for Your Majesty to become a true Son of Heaven [a traditional title for the Emperor].”

At that moment, one of the officials swallowed hard.

The sound was very loud. Loud enough for everyone present to hear.

“……”

The Emperor looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with deep eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression remained unchanged. A smiling face, but his eyes were clear and deep. His eyes were full of determination, as if he would not waver even if lightning struck before him.

‘He’s a strange fellow.’

The Emperor thought.

‘He’s similar, yet also very different.’

He had said that Yeon Ho-Jeong had aspects that resembled his father, Yeon Wi.

That was sincere. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s determination and unconventional nature were certainly similar to Yeon Wi. Beyond just those words and actions, even the atmosphere itself was similar.

However, just because the atmosphere was similar did not mean that their roots were the same.

‘His character doesn’t even reach half of his father’s, but his perception is much sharper than his father’s.’

The Emperor tilted his head slightly.

‘Is he skilled in scheming?’

Even if he was known to be incompetent, the Emperor was still the Emperor. In front of such an Emperor, no matter how rough his nature was, it would be difficult to show such a demeanor.

From the moment he entered the throne room, this fellow had been reading the atmosphere of the court. And through several conversations, he had roughly predicted how he would react.

It wasn’t that he had decided to understand his opponent and then understood him. For him, understanding the surrounding environment and people’s words and actions was a part of his daily life.

If he hadn’t read those things in an instant, he wouldn’t have been able to continue such a comfortable conversation.

The Emperor, who had been quietly looking down at Yeon Ho-Jeong, smiled.

“You speak exactly what I want to hear, your wisdom has reached the heavens.”

The martial world of the Jianghu would become the Emperor’s fence.

Because of this statement, the officials would never be able to look down on the Emperor.

They were overwhelmed by the Emperor’s intense dignity and fierce decisiveness for now, but things would be different once they left the throne room.

Regardless of their character, most of them wielded great influence in their respective regions. If they gathered their forces and aligned their intentions properly, it was not impossible to weaken the Emperor’s power.

But now, that was also impossible.

The power of the martial world of the Jianghu was immense. If they were to support the Emperor, then no one would be able to undermine the Emperor’s authority, no matter what the future held.

Furthermore, the Emperor and the martial world had a great and powerful cause.

The invasion of the Three Cults of Madness.

The Emperor had remained in his position even though war had broken out right before his eyes, and the martial artists had protected the Emperor and repelled the external enemies.

If anyone were to point a finger at those who had fought against the external enemies and protected this land, it would be like a bolt of lightning falling from the sky.

“So, you are saying that since the Jianghu is already supporting me, there is no need to create a bond by sacrificing my precious daughter?”

“That is correct.”

“I am not trying to send my daughter to you because of my relationship with the martial world of the Jianghu.”

“Then…?”

The Emperor tapped the armrest with his finger.

“There are thirteen experts in the martial world of the Jianghu who are called living legends, and they are called the Thirteen Seats of the Sacred Heaven, is that correct?”

Sacred Heaven.

That was how the people of the Jianghu called them, but in reality, the title of Sacred Heaven was not something to be used carelessly in front of the Emperor.

However, neither the Emperor nor Yeon Ho-Jeong paid any attention to that.

“That is correct.”

“Unfortunately, recently, there has been a change in that legendary and mythical name. The King of the North, Gongson Baek-Ryong, has died, and the evil Blood Jade Demon Lord, who disturbed the Imperial Palace, is now a cripple imprisoned in jail.”

“……”

“Two of the thirteen unparalleled experts who were respected by all have fallen, so the seats of the Sacred Heaven have been reduced to eleven at once. However, I heard that one of the two vacant seats has been taken by a new rising expert.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face hardened.

The Emperor pointed at Yeon Ho-Jeong with his hand.

“I heard that it is you, Yeon Ho-Jeong, the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon Clan.”

“It is just an empty reputation.”

“Even humility, if excessive, becomes arrogance. Your self-deprecation is no different from declaring that the eyes of the world are useless.”

“I do not care about such things.”

“You should care. In order to truly reach the heavens.”

“……!”

It was like being hit by an unexpected blow.

Seeing Yeon Ho-Jeong flinch, the Emperor continued.

“It is admirable to go your own way without caring about the eyes and mouths of the world, but a person who ignores the eyes and mouths of the world and only believes what they want to believe cannot wash away the stain of being a petty person, no matter how talented they are.”

“……”

“I do not know why you are so uncomfortable, but it is good for you to clearly recognize the position you have achieved. For your own sake, not for anyone else.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking up at the Emperor, lowered his head.

“I will engrave your heartfelt teachings in my heart.”

The Emperor chuckled.

“I thought you were just a wild man, but it turns out you are a schemer with sharp wisdom. I thought you were looking at the world through the eyes of a dangerous schemer, but now you are showing the magnanimity to fill your shortcomings.”

“……”

“I am even more, greedy for you.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

The Emperor sighed softly. His thoughts were also complicated.

“I have lived like a fool for decades, buried in the scent of wine and women, but my eyes and ears have always been open to the world. It would have been better if I had paid more attention to the palace, but that was not an easy task for me. Seeing the Imperial Family falling apart every moment, it felt like I could not bear it with a sound mind.”

It was a voice filled with regret, longing, anger, and frustration.

“Thanks to that, I have come to know the world of the Jianghu better than others. The fact that the unparalleled expert, Gwanghon Guigun, came to my side was also thanks to my interest in that world.”

“……”

“That is why I know your value.”

“……”

“A genius expert who has come to stand shoulder to shoulder with the top experts of the Jianghu before reaching the age of thirty. A peerless warrior who destroyed the Nine Great Clans, once called the best in the world, and traveled the world with his soldiers, punishing all kinds of villains. Furthermore, not only that, but you have also won over the leader of the Black Path, eliminated the spies of the Three Cults, and become the head of the Alliance of the Fierce, making you the most influential figure in the Jianghu.”

The Emperor smiled.

On the other hand, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face was becoming increasingly stiff.

“You will become a giant who will cause an earthquake in the entire martial world with just one step in the future.”

“……”

“It would be a great pity for a ruler to ignore such a talent.”

“I am……”

“I do not want you to become a member of the Imperial Family and assist me by my side.”

“……?”

“It is fine for you to live in the Jianghu. Considering the character I have seen in you today, and the character of Yeon Gaju, even this Imperial Family is nothing more than a lake to you.”

The Emperor raised his chin.

“Take my daughter and go out into the Jianghu to spread your ambitions. If there is a situation that you cannot handle with your own power, I will step in. I do not think it is a bad proposal for you either.”