Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 851

“Ugh.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face was contorted as he rubbed his shoulder.

“That damn old man. How can he be so strong even in his old age?”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“Judging by your grumbling, you seem to be doing alright.”

“You can say that again. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to end like this.”

“You say ‘like this,’ but you could have died if things had gone wrong.”

“It was brutal. But that old man was probably hiding some of his strength.”

“That’s what I thought. I was worried because his eyes were so fierce, but thankfully, he showed restraint.”

The group was startled by their conversation.

“He was hiding his strength? You mean Senior Sword Saint Noh?”

Muk Bi’s words made Moyong Gun look puzzled.

“Why are you so surprised? Isn’t it obvious?”

“O-obvious?”

“He was just bringing out his true enlightenment [a state of profound understanding in martial arts]. If he had fought to kill, none of you would have been safe. The entire training ground would have been devastated.”

“……!”

“And that goes for you too, my brother. You fought with all your heart, but you didn’t fight to kill.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know how great Yeon Ho-Jeong was. They had always been together, so even if they didn’t know the depth of his martial arts, they knew he was a stronger martial artist than anyone else.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts were far more impressive than they had thought.

They had only fought one-on-one in a huge training ground that could easily accommodate thousands of people. Yet, the entire training ground was cracked and shattered to the point that it couldn’t be used for a while.

And that wasn’t even a real fight.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly and said,

“I did use all my strength. But it was just a place to see each other’s enlightenment.”

“Come to think of it…”

Gang Ryang swallowed hard.

“When I think about it, the power you showed at the Tang Clan was truly incredible, Brother.”

That time when he reached the pinnacle while fighting the Vice Leader of the Blood Demon Cult.

Just by entering the realm of infinity [a state of martial arts mastery] and having his body and energy change, a shockwave was created that swept through the battlefield far away.

Of course, that was because Yeon Ho-Jeong’s condition was different from others. His martial arts were connected as one, but he possessed far more energy than others. So, to bring all that energy into the realm of infinity, he needed much more interaction with external energy.

That became a shockwave that created a whirlwind over an area of more than a hundred yards in radius. In reality, not many people create such a spectacle just by breaking through a realm.

“It was truly amazing.”

Muk Bi and Gang Ryang looked at Yeon Ji-Pyeong.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, who cherished his brother so much, was different now. His eyes were filled with a daze, as if he was still thinking about yesterday’s match.

“The clash between masters at the pinnacle of martial arts is definitely different. I couldn’t properly follow their movements, but… there was so much to learn that I don’t even know where to start.”

Gang Ryang’s eyes widened.

“You had a lot to learn?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, looking at Gang Ryang as if he was the one who was strange, still had a shocked expression.

“You saw it too, didn’t you, Brother? The subtlety of their inner energy control at its peak.”

“Of course… I saw it. Just a little bit.”

“I never imagined that it was possible to spread such powerful energy like a spider web without a single gap, and to change the formulas of attack and defense every moment.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong looked up at the ceiling.

His dazed eyes didn’t seem to be burning with determination, but rather still immersed in that fight.

“It was the epitome of beauty. Who could ever imitate such martial arts?”

Gang Ryang looked at Yeon Ji-Pyeong with a dumbfounded expression.

It wasn’t just him. Muk Bi and Jin Yang, and even Moyong Gun, were surprised and looked at Yeon Ji-Pyeong.

“You don’t mean…”

Moyong Gun asked hesitantly.

“You saw it?”

“Yes? M-me?”

“Yes, you.”

“…Of course.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was still intimidated by Moyong Gun. Even though he had become sworn brothers with his older brother, Moyong Gun was still a master of the Saintly Heaven [a high level of martial arts mastery], a legend of the martial world.

“I didn’t see everything. Even if I wanted to memorize the flow, the energy techniques changed several times in an instant, so I could only keep it in my eyes. It’s a realm beyond my reach.”

“…Huh.”

Moyong Gun let out a hollow laugh.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face turned red. He thought Moyong Gun’s reaction was because he was so lacking.

“Ah, I’m still very lacking.”

“You’re not lacking.”

“Yes?”

“You’re not lacking, you’re too outstanding, that’s the problem.”

“…?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s eyes widened, and his face looked very innocent. Even though he had become a fine young man, his nature hadn’t changed.

Moyong Gun looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong and said,

“What kind of bloodline is that? How can a child who hasn’t even broken through the Wall of Martial Arts [a significant barrier in martial arts cultivation] peek at the inner energy control used by the masters at the pinnacle of the Central Plains?”

“Haha.”

“It’s not something to laugh off, my friend. In some ways, he’s more amazing than you, you know.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“He’s much more talented and much more humble than me. Sometimes, it’s scary.”

Moyong Gun clicked his tongue.

“Instead of nurturing such a monstrous talent, you were wandering around the Central Plains? Weren’t you too negligent?”

“If he had traveled with me, he might have become stronger, but he wouldn’t have developed such an eye. For the future, it’s better this way.”

“Huh.”

“A genius must grow on their own to realize their talent. He’s not someone that a guy like me can touch.”

Gang Ryang laughed absently as if he was surprised again, and Muk Bi looked at Yeon Ji-Pyeong with warm eyes.

Jin Yang’s expression became a little gloomy.

“I can’t even compare.”

“Hmm?”

“Honestly, I’ve never cared about my talent. Not until I started following you.”

“And?”

“After that, I thought I was quite talented, but there’s such an unbelievable monster besides you?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“You’re a bit of a fool sometimes, but you’re also a genius.”

“When you say that, it doesn’t sound sincere at all, you know?”

“If you don’t want to believe it, don’t. Anyway, you should work hard too. If you get caught up by Seo Jeong-Gwang, I’ll be too embarrassed to walk around with you.”

“Wow.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong got up from his seat.

“Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

“Shall we?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said to Yeon Ji-Pyeong,

“Don’t let Father eat alone, you go now. I’ll stop by this evening.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“Don’t get too caught up in it.”

“Yes?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong lightly flicked Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s forehead.

“It’s enough to just watch, be amazed, and remember. If you keep getting too immersed, you won’t be able to train.”

“Ah, yes!”

“That’s poison, regardless of talent. It’s not that strong obsession itself is poison, but that it becomes poison when you obsess over things you shouldn’t. Make that distinction clear.”

“I understand, Brother.”

Jin Yang mumbled to himself, trying to remember Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words. They were quite impressive.

“Let’s go, shall we?”

“Let’s.”

It was then.

“…….”

The group all turned their heads towards the main gate of the Eight Sages Pavilion.

Moyong Gun’s expression became strange.

“My brother seems to be loved by many people?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I guess I’m just unlucky with food.”

Muk Bi shrugged and said,

“Let’s eat with Father this evening.”

“I guess we should.”

A moment later.

“I’ve come to see Vice Leader Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

A voice that was unfamiliar yet somehow familiar.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had come outside, opened the gate.

There stood Namgoong Pyo with a stiff expression.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“What brings you here?”

His words were short, but Namgoong Pyo’s expression didn’t waver.

“My grandfather wishes to see you.”

He knew it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly and said,

“Lead the way.”

Namgoong Seung was, of course, in the Namgoong Clan’s residence, the Martial Melody Pavilion.

However, there was a separate room in the Martial Melody Pavilion, and Namgoong Seung, who disliked being disturbed, used that as his residence.

On the way to the Martial Melody Pavilion.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, following behind Namgoong Pyo with his hands behind his back, looked so relaxed that he seemed leisurely.

How long had they walked?

“What is your secret?”

“Hmm?”

Namgoong Pyo asked in a stiff voice.

“What is the secret to becoming so strong at your age?”

Namgoong Pyo was about six or seven years older than Yeon Ho-Jeong.

In particular, the Namgoong Clan had lived with the pride of being the best in swordsmanship. To them, the Yeon family, who were called masters of orthodox swordsmanship, couldn’t be seen in a good light.

Moreover, to Namgoong Pyo, who was full of talent and strong pride, Yeon Ho-Jeong was a jealous and unpleasant existence.

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Everyone has a different way of developing. You should know that, right?”

“I know. But even so, your achievements are too abnormal, aren’t they?”

“To those who think it’s abnormal, it will look bizarre, and to those who think it’s beyond common sense, it will look amazing.”

“……!”

Namgoong Pyo’s face hardened.

His jealousy and envy towards his opponent, combined with his unwillingness to admit it, came out as the word ‘abnormal.’

It was abnormal. His growth rate was unprecedented.

However, there was no need to use negative words to make the other person uncomfortable.

Namgoong Pyo bit his lip.

He couldn’t deny it. The fact that he was overly conscious of Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“But…”

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand, and even if you did, it’s my way, not yours.”

“…….”

“There are many ways to grow, and the solution is always within oneself. You should turn the object of your agony to yourself. Trying to find answers from others is meaningless.”

“…….”

“I can give you advice, but honestly, we’re not that close, are we?”

Namgoong Pyo’s fist tightened slightly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, watching his back, chuckled.

How much time had passed?

The two men who entered the Martial Melody Pavilion moved to the separate room. Namgoong’s warriors were lined up in the middle, and their eyes were full of admiration as they looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Namgoong Pyo’s face hardened even more.

‘This is not good.’

Even if it wasn’t directed at him, it was unpleasant and unsettling to see such gazes directed at a talent from another clan.

But how could he say anything to them?

Namgoong Pyo, who had arrived in front of the separate room, said in a respectful tone,

“Grandfather. It’s Pyo.”

“Have you come?”

“I’ve brought the eldest son of the Yeon family.”

It was then.

Thud!

The door to the separate room, which no one had touched, opened violently.

Namgoong Pyo, startled for a moment, looked inside the door.

Namgoong Seung, with his hands behind his back, slowly walked out and said,

Namgoong Pyo bowed his head.

“Grandfather.”

“Where did you learn such a way of speaking?”

“…Yes?”

“Martial artists prove themselves with their martial prowess. Although he is young, his martial prowess is worthy of being called a Saintly Heaven, and his position is also that of the young master of the allied Muk Ryong Clan. Why is your language so frivolous?”

“G-Grandfather?!”

“Could it be that you think he is your equal?”

“……!!”

“If you don’t have the skills, you must have the sense to survive. I will overlook your disrespect towards the young master this once, but if you show such a way of speaking again, I will not let it pass as the former head of the family.”

Namgoong Pyo turned pale and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry. I was short-sighted.”

“Tsk.”

Namgoong Seung clicked his tongue and looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and asked,

“Do you have more to scold me for?”

Namgoong Seung let out a hollow laugh.

“Stop with the nonsense and come inside.”