Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 838

“Oh ho.”

Admiration filled Mak Won’s face.

“Is that the Murim Alliance?”

Inside Daebyeolsan, where the snow hadn’t melted, the Murim Alliance was a sight to behold. An enormous gate surrounded countless buildings, resembling a small nation.

“Wow…”

Jin Yang stared blankly at the Murim Alliance.

Despite possessing immense martial prowess and influence beyond his years, he had always lived in the shadows, avoiding the world’s gaze. He had heard many stories about the Murim Alliance, but this was his first time seeing it in person.

It was indeed the White Path martial arts alliance that shared the world with the Black Dragon Unit. The view of the Murim Alliance from the mountainside was truly overwhelming.

“W-was the Murim Alliance always this grand?”

“It’s the headquarters of the White Path sects scattered throughout the endless world. It’s only natural that it’s this impressive.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, Muk Bi, and Gang Ryang, who were seeing the Murim Alliance after a long time, were filled with familiar joy.

On the other hand, Pae Yul’s face was filled with a unique sense of longing. Aside from Yeon Ho-Jeong, Pae Yul was the only one who belonged to a traditional Murim sect [a traditional martial arts sect]. Although his personality was rough, seeing the Murim Alliance, which was like his second home, was bound to evoke deep emotions.

Yeon Ho-Jeong glanced at Pae Yul.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course.”

After a quick reply, Pae Yul paused and smacked his lips.

“Honestly, I’m still a bit hesitant.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Me too. Just thinking about all the glares I’ll get makes my joints ache already.”

“You’re in a position to only get glares, but I might get beaten up by my Sect Leader.”

“That’s why I told you to go back sooner.”

“I said I might get beaten, not beaten to death.”

“Isn’t getting beaten up at your age as humiliating as dying?”

“That’s why I’m uneasy.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled and took a deep breath.

In the still-cold late winter air, the vitality of spring, heralding the beginning of all things, was slowly beginning to carry its blue fragrance.

“Alright, let’s go.”

The Murim Alliance’s south gate, the Vermilion Bird Gate, was wide open. And in front of it, countless people stood in lines.

At the forefront were the current Murim Alliance officials and elders, and behind them, the inner city combat units that had not been deployed for operations were lined up on the left and right.

That wasn’t all. Although they were making way due to their positions, countless Murim Alliance warriors behind the combat units were also fixated on the Vermilion Bird Gate.

“Hmm.”

Seung Hyeon Jin-in glanced back.

Behind the combat units, he could see the faces of countless warriors.

It was the dispatch of a special plenipotentiary envoy officially appointed by the Black Dragon Unit. Moreover, the envoy was the young master of the Black Dragon Unit, and the young master’s identity was the eldest son of the Yeon family, one of the current Six Great Clans [influential martial arts families].

It was a bizarre resume that was difficult to explain even with the word ‘unique.’ From the perspective of the Murim Alliance members, it was the return of a traitor at worst, and at best, the return of an unwelcome talent.

But what were the warriors’ expressions?

“It’s surprising.”

Bok Ho Sa-Tae’s face showed confusion at Seung Hyeon Jin-in’s words.

“Yes?”

“Honestly, I was secretly worried that the warriors of our alliance might start a riot. Although the higher-ups issued strict orders not to act rashly, mob mentality is a very frightening thing.”

“That’s true.”

“But look at their faces.”

The officials and elders looked back at the warriors.

Among them, there were definitely those who did not look favorably upon this welcoming ceremony. Faces stained with jealousy, anger, and betrayal were filled with a harshness that was difficult to describe as anything but cold.

However, they were less than one in ten. The faces of almost everyone else were filled with anticipation and admiration.

Seung Hyeon Jin-in smiled.

“Perhaps we, who claim to be the leaders of the alliance, were the blind ones.”

“Blind…”

“Envoy Yeon, no, Young Master Yeon has achieved countless feats since entering the martial world. He has gained fame at every moment, but he has never cared about that fame. His eyes were only burning with one goal.”

“Haha.”

“It seems they recognize that. It’s a great relief.”

Several officials and elders smiled.

At that moment, Sun Woo, the Sect Leader of Jongnam, shook his head.

“That’s not it.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Of course, they know about the achievements of Young Master Yeon. They also know that they are great accomplishments. But unless they have seen his actions firsthand, they cannot truly grasp how great his achievements are.”

“Hmm.”

“Right now, their eyes are shining with admiration for the strong.”

Sun Woo smiled.

“A genius of the younger generation, who has achieved countless feats and explosive growth before reaching the age of thirty, has finally made a name for himself in the heavens. He is more than enough to be an object of admiration.”

“Oh ho.”

“It may be a somewhat cold statement, but to them, Young Master Yeon’s talent is at a level that is difficult to even envy.”

“That’s true. Sect Leader Sun Woo’s words are correct.”

At that moment, Peng Mu-Gang said with a bitter smile.

“That’s also true, but my thoughts are different.”

“Clan Leader Peng?”

“The achievements of Young Master Yeon, the martial prowess he has built while traversing the harsh martial world. It’s more than enough for the world to be enthusiastic about. But the real reason they are enthusiastic about Young Master Yeon is different.”

“The real reason?”

“It’s unconventionality.”

“Unconventionality…?”

Peng Mu-Gang scratched his head.

“We, the warlike Peng family, are not as strict about etiquette as other sects, so we naturally lack dignity. What’s surprising is that the people of other small and medium-sized sects feel close to us.”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa said with a smile.

“The easygoing atmosphere of the Peng family is the ideal image of a prestigious family closest to the people.”

“Haha, thank you for the compliment. Anyway, the reason they are enthusiastic about Young Master Yeon is that he did not settle down.”

“Did not settle down?”

“Why would a person born as the eldest son of a prestigious family representing the White Path martial world turn to the Black Path martial world? Honestly, with Young Master Yeon’s abilities and Military Advisor Jeagal’s political skills, it wouldn’t have been difficult to maintain relations with the Black Dragon Unit if they had just made some adjustments.”

“Hmm.”

Peng Mu-Gang’s eyes sparkled.

“Despite being born as the son of a prestigious family of the White Path, he devoted himself to the Black Path for the sake of the world. And in the eyes of most warriors who are not from prestigious families, Young Master Yeon’s choices and actions would have looked completely different from those of other warriors from prestigious families.”

Yong Seon Jin-in, the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect, cleared his throat.

“That’s a statement that could be misunderstood.”

“It’s not that they view prestigious families negatively. However, to most martial artists, prestigious families are both objects of admiration and insurmountable walls. Honestly, our existence has sometimes made them feel self-conscious.”

At Peng Mu-Gang’s honest words, the other officials and elders also cleared their throats.

“Young Master Yeon was different. Despite being from a prestigious family, he never boasted or showed off his status. On the contrary, his personality cannot be called a model of the White Path. Rather, he was rough like the Black Path, and sometimes excessively aggressive.”

“…”

“However, that kind of personality of Young Master Yeon was more relatable to the public. He is the owner of behavior and personality that is not like a prestigious family, but he does not rely on his fame and does not hesitate to make the unconventional choice of turning to the Black Path for the sake of the world…”

Peng Mu-Gang burst into laughter.

“It’s impossible not to be captivated. Even I, the head of the Peng clan, sometimes feel my heart burn when I think of Young Master Yeon. What more can be said about others?”

It was a statement that was quite mixed with personal feelings. It was also a statement that excessively highlighted only the good aspects of Yeon Ho-Jeong.

However, he understood the public’s mind much better than Seung Hyeon Jin-in or Sect Leader Sun Woo.

In fact, that was the part that the warriors were enthusiastic about Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Walking steadily towards his goal without paying attention to the eyes of those around him.

When living in the world, one cannot help but be conscious of the eyes of those around them, even if they do not want to. It sometimes acts negatively and sometimes positively. It is an inseparable problem in human society.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was far removed from such social problems. That is why the evaluation of him can be good or bad.

However, to the public, the path that Yeon Ho-Jeong has taken so far has been more positive than expected, because, as Peng Mu-Gang said, he was not ‘like a person from a prestigious family.’

A person with a personality that is commonly seen around him. But a person who does not show off his own excellence.

It was impossible not to be captivated.

“You must be pleased, Clan Leader Yeon.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled and nudged Yeon Wi’s arm.

“How does it feel to be the parent of a child who is so recognized by the world?”

Yeon Wi smiled bitterly.

“Don’t tease me, Military Advisor.”

“Hahaha!”

“Whatever his choices, many people were embarrassed and harmed because of him. Before being an official of the Murim Alliance, as a father, I cannot simply overlook this matter.”

“Don’t be so stiff. He is Clan Leader Yeon’s son, but at the same time, he is a disciple of the Fighting King.”

“That’s why I have to scold him on behalf of others as a father. The position of the Fighting King’s disciple cannot be easily touched.”

“Hahaha.”

The officials and elders burst into laughter at Yeon Wi’s awkward and embarrassed expression, yet with an undeniable sense of pride.

Of course, not everyone felt that way. The faces of some sect leaders, especially Namgoong In, were stiff.

“Let’s calm down.”

Namgoong In said with a sigh.

“Whatever the case, it is still the visit of the successor of an uncomfortable allied force to the alliance. He is not a junior with whom we have a connection, but an envoy who has come for official duties, so we need to be a little more composed.”

He was no longer in a position to be called a junior. In a cold sense, he was a junior, but it was the return of a great master, making such an expression difficult to establish.

But it wasn’t wrong. Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“Clan Leader Namgoong is right. We will soon reach that path, so let’s prepare to welcome our guest.”

The leaders cleared their throats and straightened their postures.

And a moment later.

Among the awkwardly lined, bare trees, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group appeared.

Yeon Wi’s eyes trembled greatly.

‘You rascal.’

It hadn’t been long since they had parted, but seeing him again like this felt like they had met after several years.

‘He’s lost weight again.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group walked with confident strides.

They stopped three lengths away from the Vermilion Bird Gate.

Thud!

After putting down the Gwangryongbu [a type of ceremonial weapon], Yeon Ho-Jeong took a respectful bow.

“Black Dragon…”

Was it because of the awkwardness, or was it because of the unresolved tension?

After briefly moving his lips, Yeon Ho-Jeong lowered his head a little more and said.

“I am Yeon Ho-Jeong, the young master of the Black Dragon Unit, who has been appointed as the special plenipotentiary envoy. I am overwhelmed by your overflowing welcome.”

Gong Gong Dae-Sa spoke on behalf of the group.

“You must have had a hard time coming from so far away.”

“…Thank you.”

“Well, it’s cold, so let’s go inside.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong straightened his back and crossed the Vermilion Bird Gate.

“Waaaaaaah!!”

At that moment, a tremendous roar spread throughout the outer city.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group, as well as the leaders, looked at the warriors with bewildered faces.

The warriors’ roar was so loud that it seemed to overturn the heavens and the earth. The Murim Alliance warriors’ admiration for Yeon Ho-Jeong was much greater than the leaders had thought.

Peng Mu-Gang chuckled.

“I didn’t know they would like him this much.”

His entry into the alliance as the young master of the Black Dragon Unit, not as the head of the Righteous Army.

It was the return of a prodigal son.