Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 795

796. The Black Emperor (1)

Why was it?

Yang Cheon pondered. Yeon Ho-jeong’s words, so sharp and cold they felt burdensome, seemed less shocking as time passed.

It was strange.

The aggression and coldness in his words, and the reality they presented, were growing more severe, yet the impact was diminishing.

‘Why?’

He couldn’t understand it. He should have been furious at this guy who so irritatingly poked at his core, but instead, he was gradually regaining his composure.

It was a bizarre thing. A peculiar situation.

His own aura, which had blazed like a wildfire, was now completely under control. Not just calmed, but perfectly managed as usual.

‘Why is that?’

In a situation where he shouldn’t be able to stay calm, why had he become so composed?

‘No, I’m not exactly calm.’

Yang Cheon’s reason examined his state closely.

That’s right. He wasn’t simply calm. His heart was experiencing intense emotions.

After examining his feelings, Yang Cheon was greatly surprised.

Within the churning emotions, there was a mix of relief, joy, and lingering attachment.

‘Relief?’

Relief about what, exactly?

‘Joy?’

What was there to be happy about?

‘Lingering attachment…’

What was he clinging to?

Yang Cheon’s eyes, as he looked at Yeon Ho-jeong, were empty.

“Unification is about reconciliation and integration.”

“……”

“The very idea of taking everything by force is wrong. You know that too, don’t you?”

“……”

“Even if you were to unify by force, if you haven’t designed a system and a clear future after unification, that world will collapse in less than a decade.”

“……”

“Do you think I betrayed the martial world?”

Yang Cheon’s eyes began to redden slightly.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly.

“For me to betray the martial world, one premise is needed.”

“What is it?”

Yang Cheon was quite surprised to hear his own voice. It was cracked and dull, not at all like his own.

“That the martial world and the imperial palace are separate realms.”

“……?!”

“Non-interference between the government and the martial world? That’s just a word game. The martial world has always been part of the empire. They just pretended not to know each other with that absurd non-interference treaty. Martial artists are also subjects of the empire.”

He thought he had become calm, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Yang Cheon also knew that the martial world was part of the empire. But knowing it in his head and accepting it in his heart were two different things.

Yang Cheon thought the martial world was a different world. And in reality, it was.

However, the members of that martial world were subjects of the empire. Therefore, the martial world was part of the empire.

“I haven’t betrayed the martial world. In the current situation, which is different from the past, I simply hope that the majority of the people who make up the world can live a slightly more comfortable life by reuniting as one.”

“……Do you think that’s right?”

“I don’t know. I just think it’s highly likely.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because of the martial artists.”

“What?”

“Martial artists yearn for freedom. They say there’s romance and elegance in the martial world. But the world isn’t always bright and beautiful.”

“I know that too.”

“You know it, but you haven’t felt it. Martial artists are people who are not subject to the law.”

“……!”

“Even the famous strong ones have a reputation, a mental restraint, even if it’s not a direct one. But the mediocre martial artists who haven’t made a name for themselves are nothing short of a disaster for the people.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed with killing intent.

“When three martial artists who aren’t even first-rate get together, they can devour a decent village. They kill, assault, rape, and abuse the people as they please, ruling as kings.”

“……”

“Who manages them? The righteous sects? Of course, they kill those guys as soon as they find them. But does that solve the fundamental problem?”

“……”

“Or will you do it? You’re living day by day with the thought of catching all those bandits and tearing them to pieces because you have to stabilize the world?”

“……”

“Unless the time comes when everyone in the world awakens, conflict will inevitably arise.”

“The law also infringes on freedom.”

“Freedom without law is licentiousness, and law that does not offer freedom is violence.”

“……”

“The law does not exist for a perfect world. It is about building up layer by layer, presenting a path to a slightly better world.”

“That’s not something that will work for those in power.”

“Are you trying to argue about the evils of the law by saying that those in power who use the law to fill their own bellies are a problem?”

“……”

“The law is not at fault. It’s the bastards who abuse the law who should be killed.”

“……”

“Even if there are those who manipulate the law, the law must exist. Of course, there are limits to the law alone. Law and morality must coexist to maintain a stable foundation.”

Yang Cheon scoffed.

“A great patriot has appeared. Since when have you been so worried about the world?”

“Since I started thinking about getting rid of the Three Teachings.”

“……?”

“If we leave them alone, they will eventually kill my family and friends. I thought about the world for the safety of my people. Having built up day by day like that, I am here now.”

Yang Cheon swallowed unconsciously.

Yeon Ho-jeong continued, his face troubled.

“I’ve said all this, but I don’t know what the world will be like after unification. I don’t know philosophy. I’m not a great thinker. I know a little about the law, but I have no administrative ability.”

“……”

“It’s just that the answer to my contemplation about what direction the world I’ve lived in should take… is this.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.

“Just as you think about the future of the world, I am only thinking about the future where I can unleash my ambition.”

“……”

“As you said, in order for the imperial palace and the martial world to merge and unify into a new empire, one premise is needed. That is, the disappearance of the Three Teachings.”

“That’s right.”

“Then your dream is also just a futile fantasy, like my ambition.”

“That’s why I can’t be the administrator of the new world.”

“What?”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“That’s a job for His Majesty the Emperor and the smart people under him. I’m just going to use any means necessary to get rid of the Three Teachings.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Then nothing changes in the end, does it?”

“It does.”

“What exactly changes?”

“It’s different to live as Yeon Ho-jeong, a martial artist, rather than as a descendant of a prestigious righteous sect.”

“……?!”

“That’s why the idea of becoming your successor came about. Even if the righteous martial world points fingers at me, I will eliminate the demons who invaded our world for the sake of a new era.”

“……!!”

“And I believe that my father will also accept this resolve. In other words, I’m doing this knowing that my father and family will have a very hard time.”

Once again, Yang Cheon swallowed.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes blazed.

“I have always lived with my life on the line. I had no backup. My goal was always one.”

“……”

“But another wish has arisen in me. The well-being of the people of the world.”

“……”

“And the reason that wish arose is thanks to a capable ruler who desires a better world than the one we have now.”

“Is that the Emperor?”

“Yes.”

“So, in your view, the Emperor’s abilities were outstanding, is that what you’re saying?”

“Even so, I have to risk my life. Just like always, as always.”

Why was it?

Yang Cheon noticed that Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes were particularly bright.

Not only that. Yeon Ho-jeong’s fingers were trembling slightly, almost imperceptibly. His Adam’s apple also twitched as if he was swallowing.

‘…Trembling?’

That’s right. Yeon Ho-jeong was trembling right now.

It was shocking. Why was this genius, this monster who always came up with solutions in any situation, trembling?

“I mean,”

Yeon Ho-jeong cleared his throat with a short cough. His breathing became slightly rough, as if he was calming something that was welling up.

“I have thought about the world for a while, but my goal has always been my priority.”

“……”

“But now, there are people who are firmly supporting me, who are determined to create a much better world by using my goal as a stepping stone.”

“……”

“Now, this fight is not just a fight to determine the outcome of the war, but a fight for the real future. At least for me.”

Yang Cheon silently stared at Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.

Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry to you.”

“……”

“Even if the result is clear, I don’t know if it’s right to deny a lifelong dream that one person has. I can’t imagine how you must feel right now. If someone told me a definite future where I couldn’t eliminate the Three Teachings, I too would have a hard time staying calm.”

“……”

“I want to apologize to you.”

Yeon Ho-jeong lowered his head.

He didn’t kneel, he just lowered his head while sitting, but that made it feel all the more sincere.

Yang Cheon, who had been quietly watching him, chuckled.

“You’re a funny guy.”

“……”

“Even if you talk about my future, the future hasn’t arrived yet. What kind of future to create is my problem, not yours.”

“It’s everyone’s problem.”

“That’s true for everyone. But not for me, who wants a different world.”

“The future of a person whose unification itself has become a dream and a goal without a clear plan is the same as everyone’s future. In the end, many ‘selves’ will be twisted.”

“……”

“Let me ask you one thing. If you unify the martial world, do you intend to lead that world well? Or do you intend to abuse the world for your own lust for power?”

“……!!”

Yang Cheon’s eyes shook greatly.

It was the second major shock he had received today. Yeon Ho-jeong’s question was so sharp.

‘After unification…?’

It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about it. But he had never thought about it deeply.

As Yeon Ho-jeong said, his dream had become unification itself, rather than the world after unification.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly watching Yang Cheon, threw out a word.

“You are not the kind of person who would abuse the world.”

“……!”

“But even if you, who have no proper governing system or plan, unify the world, the world will face another chaotic era.”

“……”

“Furthermore, in the current situation, there is almost no chance that you will unify the martial world.”

Yang Cheon’s breathing grew increasingly rough.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Where did the practicality and justification for your goal go?”

“……”

“Do you really want to unify the martial world? Or… as the leader of the Black Path, do you feel like you can’t live without such ambition, so you’re clinging to a lingering attachment called a dream that has no clear plan or burning passion?”