Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 834

As Jeagal Mun-Ho returned to the Military Affairs Bureau, he noticed four figures standing at the main gate.

“Great Master. And…”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“Lord Yeon.”

The other two were warriors from the Hwaryong Unit [a special military unit], assigned to monitor them.

Great Master Gong Gong asked directly,

“Did your conversation with Lord Moyong go well?”

“Yes, it did.”

“What did he say?”

His voice lacked the usual composure of Great Master Gong Gong.

“Let’s talk inside.”

With that, the three entered Jeagal Mun-Ho’s office.

A moment later.

“…Hmm.”

Great Master Gong Gong shook his head.

“The Gangseo Alliance… Lord Moyong?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Wi said calmly,

“Since two people with such discerning eyes see Lord Moyong that way, he must have changed significantly.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho asked,

“What did you think, Lord Yeon?”

“We didn’t have a deep conversation, so it’s hard to know his true feelings. However, I could tell that he has changed a lot from before.”

“I see.”

Yeon Wi tilted his head.

“I know that the Military Advisor’s insight and work ethic are second to none, but there are things that I, a commoner, cannot understand.”

“You flatter me. What are you curious about?”

“Is it alright to let him go like this?”

Great Master Gong Gong also looked at Jeagal Mun-Ho with a hint of worry and curiosity.

In fact, Moyong Gun’s unilateral departure from the alliance was a violation of the alliance’s rules. Of course, the authority of the Bonggong [a high-ranking council within the Murim Alliance] was immense, and in an emergency, they could leave the alliance without the approval of the higher-ups, but this time was different.

Although he admitted his past mistakes and had changed greatly, the fact that he had secretly gathered his strength in Gangseo remained unchanged.

Of course, it was up to each sect or clan to build secret forces. They didn’t need to get permission from other organizations or be mindful of their opinions.

The problem was that the power Moyong Gun had gathered was significant enough to affect the entire nation.

Moreover, it wasn’t just a single clan’s organization, but a force that combined numerous small and medium-sized sects, merchant guilds, and escort agencies. Its actual military power couldn’t compare to the Murim Alliance [a large martial arts organization] or the Mukryong Unit [another military unit], but it was not a force to be ignored.

As a member of the Murim Alliance, and especially as a member of the Bonggong, forming an alliance unilaterally without the approval of the leadership was a problem. Naturally, Moyong Gun should have been detained, and even if it was frustrating, a hearing like Yeon Wi’s should have been held.

“Logically, he shouldn’t have been allowed to leave.”

“That’s right.”

“You are both right. Even if we had sent the Moyong Clan’s forces to the Murim Alliance and held them hostage, we shouldn’t have let him go.”

Even if they knew that Moyong Gun wouldn’t betray them, they shouldn’t have done this. It was a matter of procedure.

“But…”

Jeagal Mun-Ho closed his eyes.

Remembering Moyong Gun’s face as he turned away with a smile, he felt a strange sense of melancholy.

“Even if we had detained him, Lord Moyong would not have been upset. He knows that the Murim Alliance is such an organization, and it’s actually reasonable. Still, the fact that he tried to leave secretly at dawn was probably to avoid unnecessary conflict.”

“I think so too.”

“Detaining him there, in this foolish Military Advisor’s opinion, didn’t seem like a good idea.”

“What do you mean?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho opened his eyes again.

His eyes shone with a strange sadness and clear wisdom.

“It’s an inappropriate analogy, but I think there are times when parents have to support their child’s departure without saying anything, even if they are anxious and worried.”

“…”

“For Lord Moyong, the Murim Alliance was a lifelong dream and a home he wanted to obtain, and at the same time, it was his parents.”

“Parents…”

“Yes, that’s right. Of course, I did something that exceeded my authority. Even if the Murim Alliance held the Moyong Clan hostage, and even if we had secured his brother, Moyong Dae-Su, there was still the possibility that he would abandon his family and betray the Murim by establishing himself in a new place.”

Too much distrust? No, it wasn’t.

Moyong Gun had said that the fight for the head of the Moyong Clan was a battle of madness where one had to stab their own flesh and blood to win.

Since he was someone who had obtained the position of clan head by killing his own family, the possibility of betraying the entire clan, however small, could be considered.

“A Military Advisor must treat everyone equally. That is not just a virtue of a Military Advisor. Great Master and Lord Yeon, you are both members of the Bonggong, so I believe you must be certain about that aspect.”

“…”

“In other words, I gave Lord Moyong special treatment. Unilaterally.”

Great Master Gong Gong sighed.

“As I’ve said before, inflexible laws are bound to fail.”

“That’s right. Still, it was my fault for turning a blind eye to Lord Moyong’s departure from the alliance. Since nothing can be certain, if Lord Moyong really betrays us, I might have to give up my position as Military Advisor and live in prison for the rest of my life.”

“Military Advisor.”

“Even so, I did it. Because of an intuition that cannot be explained by logic, that no one can be persuaded by.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled wryly.

“I’m prepared to be criticized. I’m prepared for the worst-case scenario. But I truly felt that we shouldn’t detain Lord Moyong.”

Great Master Gong Gong seemed to understand Jeagal Mun-Ho’s feelings.

In fact, the one who felt the greatest change in Moyong Gun here was not Jeagal Mun-Ho, but Great Master Gong Gong.

For a martial artist, words are unnecessary. Only through the swords and fists that aim at each other, only through that intense clash, can one read the other’s heart and intentions. That is what makes a true martial artist.

Great Master Gong Gong felt a fundamental change in Moyong Gun during that short and violent match.

A soft and clear change that could not be explained in words.

“Judging coldly.”

Great Master Gong Gong and Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at Yeon Wi.

Yeon Wi said in a calm voice,

“There is absolutely no possibility that Lord Moyong will betray us and misuse the Gangseo Alliance.”

“I think so too, but do you have a reason for being so sure, Lord Yeon?”

“I don’t know much about Lord Moyong, but there are two things I am certain of.”

“What are they?”

“His affection for the Murim Alliance, and his blind hatred for the Three Teachings [a rival faction].”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes sparkled.

He recalled the words Moyong Gun had said to Great Master Gong Gong after the duel.

‘Please take care of the Murim Alliance.’

In that one sentence, he could feel Moyong Gun’s deep affection, regret, and lingering attachment that kept resurfacing even though he had abandoned it.

In fact, Moyong Gun had also said that he would help the Murim Alliance grow stronger, and that he would never betray them. It was said with a smile, but the sincerity in his voice was so deep that anyone could feel it.

‘Then what about the Three Teachings?’

There was no need to recall Moyong Gun’s statements on that matter. His hatred for the Three Teachings was probably the greatest in this vast Central Plains.

Yeon Wi said,

“It is said that you can know the depth of ten fathoms of water, but not the depth of a man’s heart. But even if you don’t know a man’s heart, if you know what is important to him, at least analyzing his actions is not difficult.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled and said,

“You sound just like Ho-Jeong.”

Yeon Wi smiled awkwardly.

“Thanks to him, my perspective on the world has broadened a little. Compared to the Military Advisor, it’s like reciting poetry in front of Confucius.”

“Not at all. Anyway, you’re saying that you’re not just sure that Lord Moyong won’t betray us, but that he can’t even do it, Lord Yeon.”

“That’s right. Besides, he is…”

Yeon Wi looked down at the table for a moment and chuckled.

“At least he’s definitely a man who takes care of his own people.”

He was merciless to his enemies, but he would never tolerate his own people being harmed.

In that aspect, he was very similar to Yeon Ho-Jeong. Of course, there was a difference in how they treated their people, but he had never betrayed anyone within his circle.

Great Master Gong Gong quietly uttered a Buddhist invocation. The four words, ‘Amitabha Buddha,’ contained worry and encouragement for Moyong Gun.

“Actually, what I’m worried about is not my own treatment. Like Lord Yeon, I know that Lord Moyong will never betray us. We will also have to send an envoy soon.”

“Then what is your concern?”

“My biggest concern is…”

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed and continued,

“The Alliance Leader.”

“…!”

The faces of Great Master Gong Gong and Yeon Wi became serious.

“As I’ve said before, I am against electing the Alliance Leader through a vote by everyone in the righteous Murim [the martial arts world].”

“Why is that?”

“It would take at least half a year just to deliver the ballots to all the sects in this vast land. Even if we could do that, who can guarantee the authenticity of those votes?”

“Authenticity?”

“I mean that the votes could be manipulated.”

Voting is inherently a process where votes are divided according to individual interests.

However, Jeagal Mun-Ho was not suggesting that individual freedom should be suppressed. The real problem was the intervention of a third party.

He had heard that the spies of the Three Teachings had disappeared from the Central Plains, but there would be those who were still operating in secret. Even if that wasn’t the case, there was a high risk of them sending spies again when the election was held.

In other words, what Jeagal Mun-Ho was worried about was the situation where individual freedom would be violated.

“We haven’t officially spread the word that the election of the Alliance Leader will be done through voting. Furthermore, we haven’t been able to establish a system or organization that ensures the authenticity of individual votes.”

“Hmm.”

“If it were a time of peace, we could take our time and proceed calmly, but in this situation where the Three Teachings are stirring, we can’t afford to solve things one by one. Leaving the position of Alliance Leader vacant is also out of the question.”

“That’s true.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at Great Master Gong Gong and said,

“Fortunately, there is a leader of a group that is recognized by the entire Murim.”

“Hmm?”

“We need to discuss it with the Bonggong members and get the consent of the Gangseo Alliance and various other sects, but… if that person steps forward, I think the Murim Alliance can quickly find stability.”

Great Master Gong Gong’s eyes wavered.

“Military Advisor?”

“Now is a time of war. It’s close to a truce, but we can’t simply see it as a truce. It’s a situation where anything could happen at any time.”

“Military Advisor, hear me out.”

“There are moments when everyone needs to make a decision. Frankly, Lord Moyong’s words are also correct. So many sects have suffered because of the sluggish meetings, and we can’t repeat that mistake.”

“Even so…”

“There is no perfect policy or politics in the world. Depending on the situation and social atmosphere, it may be better to be coercive at times, and lenient at others. There are times when we need to prioritize efficiency, and there are times when we need to pursue stability even if everyone suffers losses before efficiency.”

“…”

“If you feel too burdened, it would be good enough if you could act as the first Alliance Leader until this war ends.”

Great Master Gong Gong looked at Yeon Wi and said,

“Lord Yeon, please say something. How much this is…”

“I apologize for interrupting, but may I ask you one question, Great Master?”

“…Speak.”

“Why didn’t you ascend?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why didn’t you reach the light?”

“…!”

Great Master Gong Gong’s face hardened.