Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 810

Yeon Ho-jeong’s words struck the leaders like a bolt of lightning.

Yang Cheon addressed the startled leaders.

“He’s definitely different.”

Yang Cheon extended his hand to the side.

As if he had been there all along, the Mukryong Unit leader, having released his concealment, approached and handed him several documents.

Yang Cheon shook the documents.

“Do you know what these are?”

“……?”

“These are documents detailing your various misdeeds, investigated and written down without anyone knowing.”

“……!!”

The leaders’ faces turned pale.

“The reason I specifically called these ‘misdeeds’ rather than ‘crimes’ is because there are no proper laws or systems in place in this current world. Furthermore, even from the perspective of the Black Path [a term for the underworld or criminal organizations], these are things that are too much, so I specifically called them misdeeds.”

The Black Path is rough and barbaric.

That was the common perception, and there were indeed many like that.

However, the Black Path that Yang Cheon pursued was never like that. Sometimes it was cruel and barbaric, but it also had dignity, was magnanimous, weak to the weak, and strong to the strong. He had dreamed of such a world.

Of course, many things had to be sacrificed to reach that point. It could be said that he was willing to stain his hands with blood for the sake of a new world.

“These were my treasures. And I was waiting for the right time to use these treasures. However, I didn’t think the time was right yet. Because there was still much to extract from you.”

Yang Cheon smiled wryly.

“But my successor didn’t think so. The situation has changed, but our perspectives were different. And I liked my successor’s plan.”

Yang Cheon unfolded the hand holding the documents.

With a strange resonance, the documents floated up and flew towards Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong, having caught the documents, took one out.

“Seok-pae, the head of Gwangdo.”

Outside the carpet, the headless corpse that was still bleeding seemed to twitch.

“You secretly imposed ‘King Yama’s Debt’ [a metaphor for an impossible debt to repay, referring to the King of Hell in East Asian mythology] on the local civilians without the Mukryong Unit knowing. You monopolized and distributed the rice and silk coming into the region, disrupting the market economy and shaking the lives of the civilians from the roots. As a result, you accumulated enormous wealth and lived a life no less than an emperor.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned cold.

“This is why you can’t succeed. No organization can maintain its system without the common people. Even if it’s not about loving the people, if you want to create a solid and long-lasting organization, you must develop together with the local people’s livelihood.”

“……”

“If you are only obsessed with the greed in front of your eyes and commit tyranny that won’t even last a generation, everyone will perish in the end. If you are greedy, you should at least have the ability, but you’ve only learned bad things and are cutting into your own flesh.”

The leaders’ faces turned red.

Even amidst their fear, they felt shame. No matter how much of a sub-leader he was, being scolded by a young man not yet thirty for only learning bad things and being greedy was a terrible feeling.

Yeon Ho-jeong picked up the next document.

“Jeonryong Merchant Group.”

At that moment, Ho-eun, the head of the Jeonryong Merchant Group, flinched.

“Their main source of income is bringing in rare herbs from the south and trading medicinal and poisonous herbs throughout the Central Plains. However, behind the scenes, they created a cave where only authorized people could enter, and in exchange for satisfying the desires of officials and wealthy people with drugs and prostitution, they earned a fortune.”

Ho-eun’s body trembled.

“This is… I can’t even criticize the Samgyo bastards [a derogatory term for members of other religious sects]. I can at least understand that they would do anything to destroy us, but you, just to make some money, not only kidnapped innocent people but also destroyed the very officials who should be governing the region.”

“N-No, that’s not… !”

“Are you trying to say that they came and threatened you first?”

“……!!”

“Don’t play tricks. Those who firmly refused to join this membership-based place were killed or crippled without a trace. These are things that happened through the collaboration of the Jeonryong Merchant Group and its members.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned to Ho-eun.

Ho-eun’s body, which had been trembling like an aspen, suddenly stopped. He was suffocated by Yeon Ho-jeong’s killing intent.

“You don’t need to prove your worth.”

Thwack!

Ho-eun’s corpse, with its head gone, collapsed to the ground.

The leaders were terrified. Unlike Seok-pae, a colleague who had been kneeling right next to them had died without a sound. The splattered blood and brain matter covered their faces and clothes.

However, none of them dared to get up and avoid it. Their bodies were frozen with fear.

And one more thing.

“I will continue.”

“Do so.”

Yeon Ho-jeong killed Ho-eun without the permission of Yang Cheon, his sub-leader and teacher.

This act had enormous significance. It was as if Yang Cheon, the emperor of the Black Path, had given Yeon Ho-jeong, his successor, the right to immediate execution.

It was a completely different situation from when he killed Seok-pae. The leaders could not understand the past of the two people who had formed a strong bond without them knowing.

“Well, it’s not just Seok-pae or this guy’s problem. They’re all similar.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand, flipping through the documents, looked particularly rough. He was angry at their atrocities, even while pretending not to be.

“They’re all petty and cruel, only differing in direction… Hmm?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand, flipping through the documents, stopped.

His eyes shone brightly.

“Byuk Woon-ho, the head of the Moon Blade Sect.”

“…Yes.”

A middle-aged man, Byuk Woon-ho, raised his head.

His face looked tired and haggard. He had a lean and sharp impression, but he didn’t feel harsh.

Yeon Ho-jeong turned his gaze to Byuk Woon-ho.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“No.”

His voice was unwavering. Although he had come to the main hall together, he was different from the other leaders who were trembling with fear.

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“It seems like you have something to say?”

“……”

“You could say something like, ‘I’m different from these guys, I’m qualified to be the sect leader,’ couldn’t you?”

Byuk Woon-ho closed his eyes.

“What can I say, having lived a life no different from them? Please don’t make fun of me, Sub-leader.”

The corners of Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth turned up.

“You lived a pretty brutal life until five years ago.”

“……”

“You killed many innocent people. You destroyed several other sects to expand your power, even though there was no need to suppress them.”

“That’s right.”

It was a calm admission.

“Impressive.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook the document.

“After becoming the sect leader, you conquered the surrounding areas for nearly seven years. The Moon Blade Sect, which was originally called a prestigious Black Path sect but was among the weaker ones, has come to boast a considerable power under your leadership.”

“……”

“But five years ago, you suddenly stopped conquering the surrounding sects and secretly established a group to care for orphans and worked to stabilize the lives of those affected by floods.”

The leaders looked at Byuk Woon-ho in surprise.

Even under their gaze, Byuk Woon-ho’s expression did not change.

“Dipping a blood-stained sword in water a few times doesn’t make the smell of blood go away.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Why did you come to the main hall?”

Byuk Woon-ho shook his head.

“I have no other intentions. I think your actions were excessive, Sub-leader. That’s why I came here.”

“My actions were excessive?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think I beat up innocent fools?”

“No, I don’t.”

He doesn’t think so.

The leaders’ eyes were bloodshot. They never thought that Byuk Woon-ho, who had always been on their side, would say such things so openly.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled. Only he knew what that smile meant.

“Is it because I gave them a humiliating death that didn’t suit their position, without a proper judgment?”

“That’s not…”

“Or is it because I killed a son in front of his father?”

At that moment, Byuk Woon-ho flinched.

His eyes, looking at Yeon Ho-jeong, were bloodshot.

Surprisingly, his eyes were mixed with shock, sadness, and a hint of anger. And that anger was directed at Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong shook the document again.

“There was a master in your sect who was like a brother to you.”

“……”

“That master’s illegitimate child was a disciple of the sect you conquered.”

“Stop it.”

“I heard that the master, who did not reveal that he was an illegitimate child for the sake of the greater good, committed suicide because he could not overcome his suffering. And you found out about that situation belatedly?”

“Stop it!”

Byuk Woon-ho shouted without realizing it.

Everyone was startled, and Byuk Woon-ho himself, who had shouted, seemed the most surprised.

“……”

Byuk Woon-ho gritted his teeth. No one knew how he felt right now.

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“I don’t know why that master left his illegitimate child there. Or maybe he didn’t even know about it. But I don’t want to talk about the circumstances of people who are not here right now. I don’t know them well.”

“……”

“What I do know is that your life has completely changed because of that incident.”

“……”

“Frustration, regret, sadness, sympathy, self-loathing… I don’t know what emotions you lived with. However, judging from the contents of the document, you should have stepped down from your position as sect leader long ago, given your personality. You seemed like someone with that much responsibility.”

“……”

“Were you afraid that the sect would go berserk?”

Byuk Woon-ho’s eyes wavered.

“The closest confidants are bound to feel betrayed by a conquering ruler’s sudden appeasement policy. Are you still staying in that position to prevent their rampage?”

“……That’s not it.”

“You’re not good at lying. Even if you were impulsive and burning with ambition, at least you didn’t commit petty acts like these guys, blinded by greed. At least you had a goal that could be excused as a greater cause.”

“I’m not that good of a person.”

“Who said you were a good person? There are hundreds of people who died innocently because of your ambition. Some of them were children who were not even ten years old.”

“……”

“Anyway, you had enough conscience to look back on yourself, even belatedly. That’s the difference between you and these idiots gathered here.”

Byuk Woon-ho closed his eyes.

“And that is, surprisingly.”

Whoosh!

Fire ignited in Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand, and the information document about the Moon Blade Sect disappeared.

“Similar to my teacher and sub-leader.”

Horror filled the faces of the leaders.

Even Byuk Woon-ho looked back and forth between Yeon Ho-jeong and Yang Cheon with surprised eyes.

And Yeon Ho-jeong was calm even after saying such terrifying words. Even Yang Cheon, sitting in the grand chair, was only smacking his lips with his chin resting on his hand, not getting angry or embarrassed.

“There are many people whose lives have been ruined because of you. The dead can’t even receive an apology. Go and apologize to all of their families. If they want your life, die on the spot.”

“……”

“But if you are forgiven by all of them, then you will join us.”

“Sub-leader, I…”

“As a martial artist living in a chaotic world, it is your destiny to stain your hands with blood. But you went too far. You wouldn’t be afraid of losing your life now.”

“……”

“Will you accept?”

Byuk Woon-ho lowered his head without a word.

Yeon Ho-jeong turned his gaze to Yang Cheon and said,

“I think that’s it.”

“I see.”

“What about the rest?”

“What do you mean, what about them?”

Yang Cheon’s eyes turned cold.

“Kill them all here.”