Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 812

The question of the new castle’s name hung in the air. Even Yeon Ho-jeong, who always exuded confidence while managing his hectic schedule, paused, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

“Are you talking about the name of the castle?” he asked.

“That’s right,” Yang Cheon confirmed.

“We already have the name Mukryongbu [Black Dragon Manor], do we need another name?” Yeon Ho-jeong questioned.

“I wasn’t really thinking of changing it either,” Yang Cheon replied. “But when you look at it, the new world that’s emerging is so different from what it was before. The scope of that change is so vast that it feels right to start anew with a new name.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head. “It’s said that one shouldn’t change a person’s name carelessly. Moreover, if we change the name of a huge organization like Mukryongbu before even a generation has passed, many people’s faith will be shaken.”

“It’s strange if their faith is shaken by something like that,” Yang Cheon countered.

“Even among the timid and suspicious, there are capable people,” Yeon Ho-jeong explained. “Even if we can’t keep them by our side, wouldn’t it be good if we could embrace them all together?”

“That’s true, but…” Yang Cheon trailed off.

“If we started with Mukryongbu, it would be good to move forward with Mukryongseong [Black Dragon Castle],” Yeon Ho-jeong suggested. “In the current chaotic atmosphere of the Black Path martial world, there seems to be no need to create anxiety by changing the name.”

It was the most logical of arguments.

Baek Seo, listening intently, felt relieved by Yeon Ho-jeong’s words. He agreed with the sentiment.

Yang Cheon, who had been quietly observing Yeon Ho-jeong, nodded. “You’re right. Still, I don’t want the name to be engraved in the new history as something as dull as Mukryong.”

He wasn’t one to back down easily. It was clear he had been contemplating whether to change the organization’s name for some time.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wryly. “Since there’s still quite some time left, it would be good to think more about that part.”

“Hmm, that would be better,” Yang Cheon conceded.

If it wasn’t an answer that would come from worrying about it right now, it was better to postpone it.

“Baek Seo,” Yang Cheon called out.

“Yes, Vice Leader,” Baek Seo responded.

*Whoosh.*

The organizational restructuring plan that Yang Cheon had sent gently landed in front of Baek Seo.

“Read it,” Yang Cheon instructed.

Baek Seo looked up at Yang Cheon, surprised.

Yang Cheon smiled brightly. “While planning the future with that guy, I thought a lot about you. To be honest, considering your abilities, isn’t it a waste to leave you as just an advisor or a loyal subject?”

“…?!” Baek Seo was taken aback.

“From now on, you’ll be with us too,” Yang Cheon continued. “In a way, your role is more important than ours. You have to assist me, act as a bridge in the relationship with the Vice Leader, and also become a leader in charge of several organizations.”

“V, Vice Leader!” Baek Seo stammered.

“I’m sorry for making you busy,” Yang Cheon said. “But we need you.”

Yang Cheon looked at Yeon Ho-jeong and asked, “Isn’t that right?”

Yeon Ho-jeong bowed his head. “I don’t know how capable the loyal subject Baek Seo is. However, when I infiltrated as a spy, his insight in analyzing the situation and seeing through people’s hearts was impressive, and furthermore, his dignity as a superior was second to none.”

Baek Seo was flustered. “V, Vice Leader.”

“How could it not be an honor to be with such a person?” Yeon Ho-jeong added.

Yang Cheon burst into laughter. “As expected, you know how to see people. I am such a great teacher.”

“You haven’t been able to use such a person properly until now, so I guess even Master is just a person,” Yeon Ho-jeong quipped.

“…You always have to add one more word, now or then,” Yang Cheon grumbled.

Yang Cheon, who had been grumbling, said to Baek Seo, “Not only you, but also the other Twelve Zodiac Generals will be given positions and tasks that match their abilities.”

Baek Seo, who had been looking at Yang Cheon with agitated eyes, bowed his head. “I will do my best for the Vice Leader and the Black Path martial world.”

“Hahaha, haven’t you always been doing that?” Yang Cheon chuckled.

Yang Cheon, who had been laughing heartily, asked Yeon Ho-jeong, “Is there anything else to report?”

“No, there isn’t,” Yeon Ho-jeong replied.

“What’s the next thing to do?” Yang Cheon inquired.

“We need to hear the reports from the next generation successors called from each sect,” Yeon Ho-jeong explained. “Even if we want to push with force, each sect will have its own circumstances, so we need to listen to that, analyze it, and handle things in the most optimal direction.”

“Hmm, how about taking a break today?” Yang Cheon suggested.

“I told them to finish preparing the reports by today, so everyone will be waiting,” Yeon Ho-jeong said. “I’ll take a break after receiving those reports.”

“I understand,” Yang Cheon replied. “Then, I’ll call the Twelve Zodiac Generals and show them the organizational restructuring plan, so if you have time at night, let’s all have a drink together.”

“Understood,” Yeon Ho-jeong agreed.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had come out of the main hall, took a light breath. “Damn busy,” he muttered.

He was busy, but not tired. Rather, he felt a surge of energy and wanted to move faster.

*Whoosh.*

The Gwangmyeong Divine Altar [a place of spiritual practice] stretched and slightly cooled his heated head.

He had said he wasn’t in a hurry in front of Yang Cheon, but in fact, there were some urgent matters. It would be one thing if the only goal was to reintegrate the Black Path, but he also had to pay attention to the Martial Alliance and the Imperial Palace.

Moreover, he had sent a letter to the Imperial Palace, so an answer would come soon. The marriage wouldn’t happen right away, but at least he had to seize control of the Black Path martial world before setting a date.

“There’s no such thing as moderation,” he thought.

It was a self-deprecating self-assessment and at the same time, a cynical comment mixed with affection for the Black Path martial world.

“Okay, let’s try a little harder,” he resolved.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who was walking while tapping his cheeks, stopped the moment he felt a presence.

“…”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes changed. From eyes full of passion to cold eyes with caution. It was the unique look he showed just before a battle. When analyzing the opponent’s martial arts, personality, movements, and habits, he would show this look.

But there was no one in front of him right now.

*Twitch.*

Yeon Ho-jeong’s left thumb twitched.

‘Twenty steps,’ he calculated.

*Whoosh.*

Several caves opened in the distance. People moving busily, workers and warriors were moving energetically.

And in between.

‘Ten steps,’ he noted.

In that short time, the distance of twenty steps had been reduced to ten steps.

Someone was approaching.

If you focused your senses, it didn’t seem like they were trying to reduce their presence, but rather, that made it harder to read. It wasn’t a stealth technique that erased one’s own vitality and breath, but a technique that harmonized with nature.

The corners of Yeon Ho-jeong’s lips slightly curled up.

‘You’re really amazing,’ he thought.

Incredible.

The development of a master is not easy. Yeon Ho-jeong had achieved unimaginable progress in the past few years, but it was possible because it was a realm he had reached once before.

The stagnation is severe, but the degree of development at once is greater than that of a novice. Instead, if you make a mistake, you can regress. That’s why the development of a master is difficult, and that’s why it’s amazing.

But the development of this person who was secretly approaching now was at an astonishing level, even considering the explosive development of a master.

‘It’s almost not anymore. It’s more than perfect,’ he mused.

It seemed like just yesterday that he was running around trying to create a martial art, but now, using that perfected martial art as a stepping stone, he had been reborn as a master who had gained the martial power of a grandmaster.

‘If you can even read my breath that has reached the Limitless…’ he thought.

Of course, since he wasn’t burning with the will to fight, he would have counterattacked long ago if a life-or-death battle had actually broken out.

Still, it was amazing. If this person were to laugh and chat next to him and then try to betray him, it occurred to him that it might not be easy to avoid that fatal blow that would come in by reading his breath.

And.

‘Three steps behind!’ he realized.

*Flash!*

A streak of light pierced through the back of Yeon Ho-jeong’s head.

*Whoosh.*

The wind that had been pushed out in all directions quickly calmed down.

*Pss.*

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had already turned his head to the side and avoided the single spear attack, was unharmed.

However, a few strands of his hair were fluttering in the wind. He had perfectly avoided it and was protecting his whole body with true energy, but his hair had been cut off.

“At this rate, I’ll end up shaving my head like a monk,” Yeon Ho-jeong said calmly. “My hair is already short, and it’s being cut off so neatly.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had pushed away the single spear with a calm voice, turned his body.

And there, was Pae Yul.

“You dodged it, as expected,” Pae Yul said.

“Of course,” Yeon Ho-jeong replied.

“What the hell are you?” Pae Yul asked.

“Is that what you have to say after meeting after a long time?” Yeon Ho-jeong countered.

“I thought I had developed a lot, but you seem to have developed even more than that,” Pae Yul admitted. “I don’t know much about growth in the Limitless realm… but it’s definitely different from then.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled. “If it’s about external changes, Senior is more so.”

Pae Yul, who had finally broken out of seclusion and revealed himself, had changed.

He had shed his old ways and was dressed neatly, but even with loose clothes, he couldn’t hide his changed physique.

He was much thinner than before his seclusion. Of course, his skeleton was the same, but his exposed arms and chest were reminiscent of bamboo.

Naturally, his cheeks were sunken, and his eyes were even deeper. His already strong appearance looked much more ferocious.

‘But,’ Yeon Ho-jeong thought.

His body had become like a withered tree without any moisture, but his energy was not.

‘Vast,’ Yeon Ho-jeong observed.

The cool yet solid true energy unique to Jeomchang [a martial arts style] was packed into every hair on his body.

It was impressive how full and seamless his power was, as if his whole body was a dantian [energy center]. It felt smoother than before, but the solidity that maintained the center was incomparable to before.

To add an expression, if his previous true energy was like a well-maintained long sword, his current true energy was like a giant treasure sword forged by a master craftsman.

At the same time, the circulation of external and internal energy was so natural that he was able to achieve a natural harmony with his surroundings without having to use stealth techniques.

“It seems like it was a terribly harsh seclusion,” Yeon Ho-jeong commented.

“It was the pain of cutting flesh and bone,” Pae Yul replied. “Fortunately, there were results.”

“It’s not just a level of results,” Yeon Ho-jeong said. “This level of martial power is hard to find even among the leaders of famous sects. You seem stronger than the last time I saw the head of the Nine Great Sects, the head of Jongnam.”

“That’s something you won’t know until you actually fight,” Pae Yul said.

His voice felt much more relaxed. Unlike before, there was an absolute confidence in his own power.

“After a painful time, I wanted to eat a meat dish at Myeongju first after finishing my seclusion,” Pae Yul said.

“Everyone would be similar,” Yeon Ho-jeong replied.

“But that thought completely disappeared,” Pae Yul continued. “My hunger disappeared because of the betrayal.”

“Betrayal, you say?” Yeon Ho-jeong asked.

Pae Yul pointed his single spear at Yeon Ho-jeong. “I knew better than anyone that you were a troublemaker, but I never thought you would crawl under Yang Cheon’s tail.”

It was quite harsh language, but his voice was calm.

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled. “If possible, please call it a strategic partnership.”

“It’s good to try everything for the goal,” Pae Yul said. “But there are lines that should not be crossed.”

“A line that should not be crossed? I’ve never crossed it since I grew up,” Yeon Ho-jeong replied.

“You’re still not mature enough,” Pae Yul retorted.

“You can think whatever you want, Senior,” Yeon Ho-jeong said.

Yeon Ho-jeong turned his body. Even though he was openly showing his back, he didn’t feel a bit of tension.

“I’m busy, so if you have anything to say, follow me and say it,” Yeon Ho-jeong said. “I have a lot to report and hear before sunset today.”

Pae Yul frowned. “I don’t know why only the bad things are consistent. For example, that rudeness of yours.”

“I can’t hear you,” Yeon Ho-jeong replied.

Pae Yul, who had quickly caught up to Yeon Ho-jeong, asked. His body, which had already put the single spear on his back, looked light. As if it was natural, there was no hostility towards Yeon Ho-jeong.

“Do you think you’re the only one living in this world? Are you always busy?” Pae Yul asked.

“That’s what I’m saying,” Yeon Ho-jeong replied.

“What’s going on?” Pae Yul inquired.

“I’m trying to manipulate the successors of the Black Path sects to our liking,” Yeon Ho-jeong said.

“You’re really good at saying embarrassing things,” Pae Yul said. “What do you mean by manipulate, manipulate.”

“Since you’re here, would you like to help?” Yeon Ho-jeong asked.

“Do you need my help?” Pae Yul questioned.

“You’ve refined your martial arts well, so we need to test if it works in practice, right?” Yeon Ho-jeong said.

“…” Pae Yul was silent.

“Senior is a very easy person to read,” Yeon Ho-jeong added.

“Shut up,” Pae Yul retorted.