Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 878

“Is it not possible?”

“I told you it’s not possible.”

“It is for the sake of the world.”

“Your world is not my world.”

“It is the world for all of us. What if they try to turn the world into a sea of fire, and what if they try to harm the old master as a dangerous element?”

“Those guys will realize it. That there are people this scary among the swordsmen of the world.”

“And they will surely succeed.”

“What?”

“They will succeed. Once they decide to kill, they will surely be able to kill the old master.”

“That’s a statement that’s hard to just let slide.”

“Of course, it’s a statement that shouldn’t be ignored. The old master, who has never fought them, probably can’t imagine how terrifyingly skilled they are.”

“I’ve heard about it. What, that they have a lot of Saint-level masters?”

“That’s right. Furthermore, they live and die by orders. They have no sense of morality. They won’t hesitate to join hands to kill their opponents.”

“Hmm.”

“Let me ask you. Can the old master be sure of surviving an ambush by two or more Saint-level masters?”

“……”

“Yes, it will be difficult. They might even move in groups of three or four.”

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“Please join us. If war is inevitable, let’s fight together.”

“Damn it, I have no intention of getting involved in this kind of war.”

“If you don’t have the heart for the world, then please join us for the sake of yourself and your disciple.”

“……”

“I’m begging you.”

“Well, it seems like I came for a visit and ended up getting roped in.”

“……”

“If you accept one of my proposals, I might consider it.”

“What kind of proposal are you talking about?”

“……Do it.”

“That is……”

“If you don’t like it, it’s fine.”

“We’ll have to see his qualifications first.”

“His martial arts are decent enough. His personality is a bit of a problem, but frankly, are there any sane people among the martial artists?”

“……”

“It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t reach the pinnacle. That’s his ability and his fortune. I just want to show him the sea as his master.”

“The sea……”

“Whether he gets swept away by the waves and dies while playing in the sea, or goes fishing, or… makes the sea his own, that’s up to his capabilities.”

“……”

“What are you going to do?”

“There are a few more people.”

“Hmm?”

“…There are a few more people who are like that.”

“I know. That’s why I called it a proposal. If I didn’t know that, would I have made such a proposal, even if it was me?”

“……”

“Consider it. I’ll consider it too.”

“Understood.”

“Hah, I thought something interesting might happen, but it’s all for naught. That old man likes to talk more than swing his sword, and the junior is holding back because he has a mission right in front of him. I guess I have no luck in life.”

“Do you want to fight?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s been decades since I’ve met a worthy opponent.”

“Then, shall I find you someone to fight?”

“Huh? Who? You? Oh, that’s fine too. I was curious anyway.”

“Haha, besides me, there’s another absolute master who needs to learn a lot.”

“……?”

“Instead, can I decide the place for that fight?”

* * *

The day before the Alliance Leader appointment ceremony.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had returned from Museongjeon [Hall of Martial Prowess], headed to Pagungak [Pavilion of the Eight Trigrams] again today.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Yes.”

Just then, Yeon Ji-Pyeong came with a smile, carrying a tray.

“The snacks have arrived too.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Are you spying on when I’ll arrive?”

“It’s just that my brother arrived at the right time.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, sitting on the platform, looked at Bu-Seon.

Bu-Seon was standing there blankly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“What are you doing? Come and eat with us.”

“Ah, yes.”

She still seemed awkward.

There were several rooms in Pagungak. One of them was Bu-Seon’s residence.

She lacked the ability to converse warmly with people. Especially after inheriting everything from Yang Cheon, she had become much more taciturn than before.

It was because of her sense of responsibility. Although she was no longer the successor, the sense of responsibility that had arisen then still weighed on her shoulders.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked.

“How is it? Is it uncomfortable living here?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

It was a strange sight.

Bu-Seon was older than Yeon Ho-Jeong, and even Muk Bi. Although her appearance looked young due to her powerful inner energy, her unique aura made her look mature.

It was quite strange to see such a person politely answering the words of a young man who looked much younger. Yet, her dignity was too great to be seen as a mere maid.

“If you’re uncomfortable, tell me. You can stay with us at the Eight Constellation Pavilion.”

“……”

Bu-Seon’s expression became awkward again.

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I specifically asked my father to let you stay here.”

“Yes, I heard.”

“Do you know why?”

“I don’t know.”

Apart from her personality, Bu-Seon found Yeon Ho-Jeong himself difficult to deal with.

When they first met, he was so rigid and intimidating. If they hadn’t been connected by this fate, he would have been an enemy.

At that time, Yeon Ho-Jeong looked like a large beast with fangs, but now he was so friendly. It was a strangely large change.

“Shall we have a drink first?”

“Yes.”

Yeon-Wi drank one cup at a time, always at the right pace, and Yeon Ji-Pyeong, who was excited after a long time, matched Yeon Ho-Jeong’s pace.

What was unexpected was Bu-Seon. Her drinking method was incredibly fast and dynamic. She never left a single drop in her cup, and as soon as it was empty, she immediately refilled it.

Perhaps because of that? The atmosphere was comfortable, but the time it took for them to get drunk was fast.

Both Bu-Seon and Yeon Ji-Pyeong had suppressed the inner energy that would have expelled the alcohol, so they were quite drunk in less than half an hour.

And about an hour later, Yeon Ji-Pyeong had completely fallen asleep.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

She didn’t look fine at all. Her movements were much slower than before, and her eyes were slightly unfocused, making her look sleepy.

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Go in and sleep first.”

“I’m fine.”

“Well, whatever.”

The person who spoke the most at this table was Yeon Ho-Jeong. It couldn’t be helped. Yeon-Wi was not a talkative person to begin with, and Bu-Seon had not said more than twenty words so far.

After another hour passed, Bu-Seon was nodding off and eventually fell asleep.

“It’s fascinating.”

“What is it?”

Yeon-Wi said, looking at Bu-Seon.

“Life in the Black Path [a term for the underworld or a path of evil] must be different from here. It must be a life where you can’t let your guard down for even a moment, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Moreover, to become a disciple of the Mukryong Clan [Black Dragon Clan], you must have gone through quite a few hellish places, yet you sleep so peacefully. Of course, I hoped you would become comfortable.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“That’s why.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s because my father wanted her to be comfortable that she has become comfortable.”

Yeon-Wi chuckled.

“I’m not some kind of sorcerer who manipulates people’s minds. How can she become comfortable just because I want her to?”

“And I wanted it too.”

“What?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said, looking at Bu-Seon.

“This person has lived her whole life in tension.”

He had been calling her ‘you’ when she was conscious, but now that she was asleep, he naturally changed his address.

“As my father said, life in the Black Path is extremely fierce. And this person was even more so. The Black Path is as conservative as the White Path [a term for the righteous or orthodox path], but at the same time, it’s incredibly rough. There are countless men who see women as mere objects of lust.”

“Hmm.”

“She must have struggled so hard to become the best in such an environment. My pain is the greatest pain, but honestly, if you ask me if my pain is as great as this person’s, I can’t easily say yes.”

Yeon-Wi nodded.

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“This person is pursuing a comfortable life. She never really wanted the successor position deep down. It’s just that if she didn’t, she would be eliminated and die, so she just endured and lived with gritted teeth.”

“……”

“There’s no need to do that anymore. But she herself doesn’t know that. That’s why I wanted her to stay here.”

Yeon-Wi smiled and filled Yeon Ho-Jeong’s cup.

“Thank you for thinking well of your father. I will try harder to live up to my son’s expectations.”

“There’s no need for that. You’re already doing that, Father.”

“Haha.”

“That’s what the Mind Sword is.”

Yeon-Wi, who was about to lift his cup, stopped.

They were having a casual conversation as usual, but suddenly he brought up the Mind Sword.

An expression of bewilderment appeared on Yeon-Wi’s face as he looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Mind Sword?”

“What is the Mind Sword?”

It was a sudden question.

He was curious about his intentions, but Yeon-Wi answered first.

“It is the realm of wielding a sword with the mind. Therefore, if the sword and I become one, and I can draw the sword path as I intend, that can also be called the Mind Sword.”

“That is a form of the Mind Sword in a broad sense.”

“Of course, it is.”

“The Mind Sword I’m asking about is not like that.”

“What other Mind Sword could there be? The Mind Sword is ultimately defined by the person who defines it……”

“To wield a sword with the mind means that you can control anything with the mind.”

“……?”

“Controlling an external object like a sword with the mind is the completion of sword control, and advancing to a realm where you don’t even need to hold a sword, and you can influence not only external objects but also people with your will, that is the Mind Sword.”

“……!”

“To cut a person with the mind… it’s like a dream, but my father has already done something similar. You cut the will and mind of the monster from the Divine Cult who fought with the Ghost Army, and the Ghost Army.”

“That is… different. It’s not that I cut people, but rather that I broke their will.”

“You broke the mind of someone who had reached a realm far higher than my father. This is something that no one can do.”

“……”

Yeon-Wi’s eyes deepened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly watching Yeon-Wi, shook his head.

“I’m not trying to praise my father’s abilities as great. I’m talking about the change in my father who achieved that Mind Sword.”

“Change?”

“The reason why the Mind Sword is dangerous is because it can influence others beyond external objects with one’s own will. That’s why it’s called the realm of God, and it’s something that everyone desires but concludes is impossible.”

“……!”

“Swearing, verbal abuse, praise, encouragement, assault, fighting, politics, etc., words and actions are not necessary. That’s what the Mind Sword is. You see, feel, and lead the world with your mind, so why would you need to hold a sword?”

“What you’re saying is……”

“The reason I sent this person to my father is because I thought my father would be able to take good care of her.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nudged Bu-Seon’s shoulder.

Bu-Seon, who had been nodding, slightly lifted her head and then fell asleep again.

“She’s not someone who has lived in a world so easy that she can get drunk like this and fall asleep in front of someone she’s only known for a day, just because the place is comfortable.”

“……”

“What made this possible is my father’s Mind Sword. To be precise, it’s my father’s will to make this person comfortable.”

Yeon-Wi’s eyes trembled.

“That’s nonsense. I have no intention of doing that to anyone with the Mind Sword……!”

“Consciousness cannot overcome unconsciousness. The moment you consciously try to do something, your father’s true energy will be consumed, and your mental strength will be severely damaged.”

At that moment, what Yeon-Wi recalled was when he had cut down the intruders who had invaded the imperial palace with a single strike of the Mind Sword.

Not only was there an enormous consumption of inner energy, but his nose had even bled due to the excessive use of his upper dantian [energy center in the body].

“This is not a power that is allowed to humans. Therefore, you must become a being that is not human to escape the influence of that power. You will be able to control it.”

“Does that mean……?”

Whoooosh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes turned golden.

“Right now, in my eyes, I can see that the great Mind Sword is eating away at my father’s spirit and mind.”