Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 815

Kugugung!

The door opened, and Yeon Ho-jeong and Pae-yul came out.

“Ptooey!”

Pae-yul, covered in blood, spat out phlegm. He showed no signs of exhaustion.

“Are you alright?”

“There’s no need to go all out to crush those morons.”

“For someone who didn’t go all out, you’re covered in blood.”

“It’s not my blood. You saw it yourself.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and pointed to Pae-yul’s shoulder.

“You were cut.”

“……”

Pae-yul looked down at his shoulder.

It was as Yeon Ho-jeong said. The fabric near his shoulder was slightly cut, and small drops of blood were seeping out from underneath.

It was his own blood, not the enemy’s. It was just a scratch, barely even a wound, but it was clear that the youngsters’ martial arts had touched him.

Pae-yul’s face twisted in displeasure.

Yeon Ho-jeong spoke calmly.

“The short spear and sword are certainly fast due to their length, but your martial arts cover a wide range. That’s because they are based on vast inner energy and high-level qi techniques [internal energy cultivation methods].”

“……”

“You’re not used to fighting in such a confined space.”

“……I have nothing to say.”

“Your martial arts are complete. It’s just a matter of experience. Once you get used to fighting in tight spaces, you’ll be able to handle them much more easily.”

It was obvious, but hearing it right after experiencing the fight made it hit home.

Pae-yul, still looking at his shoulder, asked,

“When did it happen?”

“Right before two of them died.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? That I succeeded.”

“You weren’t in a state to listen to any advice.”

“That’s absurd. If you had intervened……”

“Ultimately, I wanted to kill them all.”

Pae-yul’s eyes flashed.

“Did you use me as a weapon?”

“And you agreed to it.”

“When did I?”

“With your personality, if you didn’t like it, you would have left immediately, not drawn your spear and sword.”

He was right.

Pae-yul frowned.

“You seem different.”

“Is that so?”

“Weren’t you the type to keep your word no matter how trashy the promise was? But you just watched this happen?”

“That’s just your interpretation.”

“What?”

“When dealing with the Three Teachings [a term referring to Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism], I had no hesitation. It’s not just the Three Teachings. I’ve never kept a promise with those I deemed enemies. Rather, I’ve always thought about how to trick them to kill them easily.”

“……”

“After becoming the successor of the Black Path, it’s true that I’ve thrown away the mask I wore in the Martial Alliance. But nothing has changed. The method is the same. It’s just that the way I appear has become more forceful and rigid.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I have no desire to correct your thoughts.”

“You……”

“If you don’t like this side of me, you can go back.”

“……”

“At least, as long as I live as the young master of the Black Dragon Unit, I won’t be able to live as moderately as before, if not worse.”

Pae-yul’s gaze towards Yeon Ho-jeong grew colder.

On the other hand, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes towards Pae-yul held a strange calmness and curiosity.

“Before that, let me ask you something. Why have you changed so much?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I thought you had become stronger and more relaxed, but at times like this, you seem much sharper than before.”

“What did you say?”

“After the Jongnam War, didn’t you say something like this? That you didn’t actually want to fight, that you had to wield your sword for a better world.”

“……!”

“I remember it being something like that, am I wrong?”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“Somehow, the way you are now seems worse than when we first met. You seem more sensitive than back then, when you were satisfied as long as you could have a fight you were happy with.”

Pae-yul’s face hardened.

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“Everyone has the desire to achieve a dignified victory as a martial artist. But at least I’m not aiming for that kind of fight. The goal of my fight is the world itself.”

He doesn’t judge whether the method is right or wrong. He just has his own line that he shouldn’t cross.

And as long as he doesn’t cross that line, he can use any harsh method.

“It would be better for you to return to the Alliance now. There are no fights here where you can fully display your abilities.”

“I……”

“There’s no need to stay together with any lingering discomfort. I can live for the world in my own way, and you can live in your own way. Isn’t that right?”

“……”

Pae-yul stared at Yeon Ho-jeong without saying a word.

Yeon Ho-jeong briefly clasped his hands in a formal bow.

“When you make up your mind, let’s have a drink then. You’ve worked hard today.”

With that, Yeon Ho-jeong left with Byeokje-mun and Han Jong-rim.

Pae-yul stood there blankly.

“Huh? Senior?”

Gang Ryang’s eyes widened as he was training.

“When did you come out?”

“Not long ago.”

“I see. But you’ve changed a lot?”

His already sharp features looked even sharper due to his weight loss.

Pae-yul scanned Gang Ryang up and down.

“You’ve improved quite a bit too.”

“I’m still far behind. I’m nothing compared to you, Senior.”

It wasn’t just a polite remark. Gang Ryang could tell that Pae-yul’s martial arts had grown immensely, beyond comparison to before.

He couldn’t understand how he had improved so much in such a short time since entering seclusion. He was certain that the orthodox martial arts of the righteous sects were different from the fierce martial arts of the Black Path.

“Do you have any alcohol?”

“……”

Gang Ryang, who had been looking at Pae-yul, grinned.

“I have some good stuff stashed away. I was getting bored with sword practice anyway, shall we have a drink?”

“Alright.”

Shortly after.

“There’s no side dish.”

“It’s fine.”

Pae-yul, who had emptied his glass, looked at the bottle with admiration.

“What kind of alcohol is this? It’s incredibly clear?”

“It’s the alcohol that came out during the Young Master’s inauguration ceremony. It tasted so good that I saved a few bottles.”

“……”

“What’s wrong?”

Pae-yul didn’t bother to beat around the bush.

“I feel a bit strange.”

Gang Ryang seemed to understand his feelings.

Pae-yul was so rigid that he didn’t get along well with people around him. The person he had shared the most drinks with was Gang Ryang.

“It is a bit strange that the eldest son of the Six Great Clans became the successor of the Black Path, isn’t it?”

“Strange? Honestly, I almost fainted when I heard the news after coming out of seclusion. It’s not something to laugh off. It’s a major incident.”

“That’s right.”

“There have been many cases of masters from righteous sects defecting to the Black Path. But most of them lived dishonorable lives. Those who committed unforgivable crimes like murder and robbery would join the Black Path to save their lives. But he’s not like that.”

“Well, he’s been doing crazy things all along.”

“Weren’t you surprised?”

Gang Ryang spoke honestly.

“I was surprised. And my feelings were complicated.”

Pae-yul also understood Gang Ryang’s feelings.

For Gang Ryang, Yeon Ho-jeong was the first sworn brother he had made in the martial world. He was someone he trusted and followed like a real sibling, and his current growth was also thanks to Yeon Ho-jeong.

He was a teacher, a brother, and a benefactor. Such a person had become a disciple of Yang Cheon, his mortal enemy.

‘Come to think of it, this guy must have been even worse than me.’

He had lived with a burning desire for revenge. But the person he cherished like family had become a disciple of his enemy, so the shock must have been unimaginable.

‘But he accepted it.’

Whatever the process, he must have understood and accepted the situation. There was no confusion or doubt in Gang Ryang’s eyes now.

Pae-yul sighed.

“I’m angry at him.”

“I understand.”

“No matter how reckless he was, I thought we would live and breathe in the same realm. But not only did he become the young master of the Black Dragon Unit, but he also said such things……”

“What did he say to make you like this?”

Pae-yul told him about his conversation with Yeon Ho-jeong.

He wouldn’t normally say such things, but it seemed he was very frustrated with the current situation.

Gang Ryang tilted his head.

“Is that so?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ve changed too, just like he said. I do have the desire to show off this power I’ve gained. But that kind of……”

“Isn’t it that you couldn’t bring yourself to grab him?”

“……What?”

Gang Ryang refilled Pae-yul’s glass and said,

“It’s like this, Senior. You want to grab him, but you feel like you shouldn’t. But if you explain the situation, you think he’ll get angry. So, isn’t that why you said that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, that guy is usually very honest, but he always makes clumsy responses like this.”

Pae-yul was frustrated.

“What are you talking about?!”

“Senior, you’re an elder of the Jeomchang Sect [a martial arts school], aren’t you?”

“……Huh?”

“An elder of the Jeomchang Sect who is with the successor of the Black Path. How would the world see Jeomchang?”

Pae-yul’s mouth dropped open without him realizing it.

“You might not care. Even the sect leader of Jeomchang might not care. But would all the disciples of Jeomchang be the same?”

“……!”

“You’re different from us. Me, my sister, and the others have been with him from the beginning. But you’re not, are you? Moreover, you’re a pillar of the righteous path, an elder of a prestigious sect that is one of the Nine Great Sects.”

“……”

“He trusts you. You also trust him. But there are walls that cannot be overcome by personal trust.”

“……That’s true.”

“It’s only because the name Yeon Ho-jeong is shaking the world that it hasn’t become a big deal. But it’s different for you. That’s also because of the difference between the Nine Great Sects and the Six Great Clans.”

It was a sharp point.

Most of the Nine Great Sects started as religious or righteous groups formed by the wishes of the people. Therefore, the weight they carry is incomparable to that of the martial families of the secular world.

On the other hand, the Six Great Clans are different. Although they are part of the righteous path, they are, as the name suggests, families, so they tend to pursue practical benefits.

The way the world sees them is bound to be different. It’s partly because Yeon Ho-jeong has achieved so much and his reputation is so high, but if he had been from one of the Nine Great Sects, the world would have been completely turned upside down by now.

That was the difference between the Nine Great Sects and the Six Great Clans.

“I don’t know how much you’ve changed, but it’s clear that he thinks you shouldn’t be with him. It’s not your problem, but a problem of the righteous path, and also a problem of the Black Path.”

“……”

“He probably treated you coldly on purpose. Of course, it’s just a guess.”

Pae-yul’s eyes deepened.

Gang Ryang, who had emptied his glass, chuckled.

“I remember you saying that too, Senior. That you weren’t crazy about fighting itself.”

“……”

“I think there’s a world you want, a goal you want to move towards, and things you need to do for that.”

“……”

“But even if you operate in different realms, I don’t think the goals you and he are pursuing are that different. In the end, aren’t you trying to end meaningless fights and move towards a better world?”

“……I thought we could be together.”

“You can’t be together forever, can you? It’s the same for me.”

Gang Ryang looked up at the ceiling.

“Someday, there will definitely come a moment when he and I become awkward.”

“……”

“And he and I have decided to accept that.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had suddenly become the successor of the Black Path.

Due to the choice of that one person, so many things had changed.