Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 96

The Coincidence That Created Fate (3)

Namgoong Shin, who had gone to Palgong Mountain for reconnaissance, received a secret piece of information from the Beggars’ Union. It was about a demonic sect that had fostered the Anhui Blood Palace, a place teeming with such individuals.

After reviewing the detailed information from the Beggars’ Union, Namgoong Shin immediately requested military support from the Namgoong main family. Although he couldn’t be certain, he knew that their martial prowess was on a different level than that of any ordinary small or medium-sized sect.

Secret sects unknown to the Jianghu [the martial world]. Mysterious organizations.

There were more such sects than one might think. Just as there were many hidden masters in the Jianghu, there were also many sects that did not reveal themselves to the outside world.

Namgoong In, the head of the Namgoong family, sensed that this was no ordinary situation and sent two more elders and three more martial force groups.

With that level of military strength, they could wipe out any ordinary small or medium-sized sect within half an hour. This showed how seriously Namgoong In was taking this matter.

The reason for this was that the Golden Sword Sect had been annihilated by the Anhui Blood Palace.

The Golden Sword Sect was a sect praised by all. In northern Anhui, they were even more respected than the Namgoong family.

Since such a sect had been destroyed, it was only right that the Namgoong family, the overlords of Anhui, should seek revenge. However, even after five years, they had not seen even a shadow of the Anhui Blood Palace.

In the midst of all this, the Beggars’ Union had provided such enticing information.

They absolutely could not give up. Namgoong In thought that this was an opportunity to refresh the atmosphere of Anhui and, at the same time, solidify the family’s reputation in the world.

The source was the Beggars’ Union. It was an undeniable authentication, so there was nothing to hesitate about.

Thus, the Namgoong forces headed to the main base of Gwanil Valley, Mount Tai in Shandong.

* * *

“I’ve disabled his dantian [the energy center in the body] in advance to prevent him from going wild. It should be fine to transport him like this.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

The tone of the Hwangpungjeong informant had changed.

It was understandable. Myeong Heo-Rim was previously a top master, one of the Twin Dragons and Three Peaks. Now that he had even mastered demonic arts, his martial prowess was beyond words.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had subdued such a master without a single scratch. It was an astonishing display of martial power.

“Ah, and please convey this message to Lord Moyong.”

“Please speak.”

“Tell him that I received the gift he sent well. And tell him to look forward to my gift in the future.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s enough.”

“Understood.”

“You’ve worked hard. You may go now.”

“Then.”

After sending off Hwangpungjeong, Yeon Ho-Jeong headed straight to the tavern.

“Hmm? You weren’t asleep?”

Muk Bi was sitting in a corner of the room with an awkward expression.

“I couldn’t sleep…”

“You probably haven’t slept properly for days, have you? What about food?”

“…”

“You haven’t eaten either?”

“I wasn’t thinking about it…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Let me ask you something.”

“Yes?”

“Are you planning to become a martial artist?”

This question was important.

Yeon Ho-Jeong wanted Muk Bi to be with him. Putting aside their past connection, he desperately needed her strength.

However, if she did not choose the martial world, he was prepared to let her go cleanly.

It was a shame, but it couldn’t be helped. Rather than clinging to someone who had no heart, it was better to look for even one more person with potential.

Muk Bi shook her head.

“I haven’t… decided yet.”

“That’s wrong.”

“Yes?”

“You have to decide that now. You absolutely must.”

“Why, why is that?”

“Because I am a martial artist.”

“…”

“You have learned martial arts, but it’s ambiguous to call you a martial artist. The reason is that you have no conflict with any sect or martial artist in the Jianghu. If you wanted, you could go to any village right now and live by farming.”

“…”

“But if you follow me, things will be different. I am a martial artist. And I am struggling to prevent the disaster that will befall the world in the future.”

The world, disaster.

Those were truly grand words. If someone else had said those words, she would have scoffed.

But Muk Bi did not laugh at his words.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression was that serious. His voice, carried through the air, was full of power and dignity.

It was an atmosphere that no one could laugh at, and no one should laugh at.

“I need strength. The strength to protect everyone. It’s not a peace that can be achieved just by being strong alone. But I have no intention of forcing the future I know on the world. They wouldn’t believe it anyway.”

“I, I…”

“If you want a normal life, not as a martial artist, I will help you in every way. I have that much ability.”

It was a choice forced upon her by others.

But that was reality. The moment she joined hands with Yeon Ho-Jeong, she would fall into the world of martial arts, a world of monsters.

A world where you don’t know when or how you will die. A world where a minor dispute can lead to a local war between sects, where lives are lost over pride, and where you can be assassinated even if you have no grudges.

Also.

A world of freedom where you are bound by many things, yet not bound by anything at the same time. A world of romance where heroes live who would give their lives for a small favor, and where even mortal enemies can be forgiven.

If she chose a normal life, she no longer needed to be with Yeon Ho-Jeong.

But if she wanted to live in the martial world, she could be with Yeon Ho-Jeong. At least for the time being.

“I know I’m forcing a difficult choice on you, someone who hasn’t even lived a proper life. But you have to. I believe that this choice now can be made just by looking back at the life you’ve lived so far.”

Muk Bi’s eyes, looking up at Yeon Ho-Jeong, trembled.

But that was only for a moment.

The somewhat dazed focus gradually came to life, and her shaking eyes soon regained their calm.

Muk Bi, who had calmed her mind with a deep breath, spoke in a low voice.

“I am an archer. I learned the basics of poetry, calligraphy, etiquette, and conversation, but the fact that I am an archer does not change.”

“Is Gwanil Valley your enemy?”

Despite the sudden question, Muk Bi’s response was immediate.

“They are my enemies. Enough so.”

“I won’t ask why you think so. It would be meddling. I’ll ask again. Can you live in this world with the power that your enemies have given you?”

It was the first time.

For the first time, Muk Bi showed something like a smile.

“I even borrowed someone else’s hand instead of dealing with them myself, didn’t I?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“What does that matter?”

“It means it’s meaningless. Things like that.”

“Haha.”

It was a pleasant blow. Yeon Ho-Jeong laughed without any ulterior motive.

“So, for an archer, there is a world that suits an archer?”

“Whatever the reason, my life was about becoming the best. And the life that suits me is not a life of farming and reading.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and extended his hand.

“I will persuade you. So that you don’t leave me, so that you can be with me forever.”

Muk Bi took his hand.

“But don’t kill my curiosity. Not that you have the ability to do so.”

Muk Bi, who had taken Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand, got up from her seat.

Growl.

“Ah…”

Muk Bi’s face turned red.

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“Before you choose your life, take care of your stomach first. A martial artist must always be able to maintain the best physical condition, no matter when or what the situation is.”

“I understand.”

“And you, how long has it been since you washed?”

“…Do I smell?”

“I thought you were a wild person.”

Her face turned red up to her neck. Indeed, she had been so out of it since leaving Palgong Mountain that she hadn’t been able to wash at all.

“Let’s eat first, wash up thoroughly, sleep like the dead, and then go. You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Do you know how to drink?”

“Drink?”

“You don’t. Okay, then. I’ll just order food.”

“Ah, no. I’ll go wash up first.”

“Suit yourself.”

Muk Bi, who had opened the door and left, suddenly looked at the windows all over the hallway.

The cloudless sky looked very refreshing. Birds, not bound by anything, flew in flocks across the sky.

Muk Bi, who had been staring blankly at the birds, slowly felt her eyes turn red.

The past life, short but intense, and thus imprinted like a brand, came to mind.

Recognized for her genius talent, she spent her entire life in martial arts training that was close to torture. She didn’t want to kill anyone, but she had lived trembling under the oppression of those who forced her to kill.

But that was not what she wanted.

She wanted freedom, and she wanted a life like a human being. She hated the elders who said that if she didn’t become the Ghost Archer, she wasn’t worth living, and that they would kill her on the spot.

In the end, her brothers, who had hated her, all died, and she, who knew nothing, was left alone in the world.

She was terribly lonely. She didn’t want to go out into the world. She just wanted to go into any mountain and live with nature.

But she couldn’t.

Because she sensed that if she lived like that, she would really break down.

Even though she felt like she would lose her mind from frustration and loneliness, she knew that she had to smile and move forward to see the future.

‘Brothers, sisters. I’m sorry. But I’m going to live hard, just once.’

She felt guilty for being the only one who survived. But she would not stop.

Muk Bi, taking a deep breath, forced a bright smile.

“I’m going to live more wonderfully than anyone else. More than anyone.”

At that moment, the door opened and Yeon Ho-Jeong said,

“What are you doing, you rascal? Don’t spread the smell in the hallway and go wash up quickly.”

Muk Bi shouted without realizing it.

“Be quiet!”

The next morning at dawn.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Good, let’s start moving.”

“But where are we going?”

“Originally, I was going to Jeolgang to meet someone, but I’m going to go home first.”

“Home?”

“Yeah, home. I’m thinking of going there, eating a warm meal, resting well, and then coming out after some reorganization.”

“Ah…”

“Why? Are your hands already itching? Are you dying to pull the bowstring?”

“No. It’s just… because you said we were going home.”

“Don’t worry. My father is a good person, even if he doesn’t talk much. My younger sibling is so kind, so you’ll have no trouble getting along.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“By the way…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at the horn bow on Muk Bi’s back.

“It seems like the bowstring has stretched a bit?”

Muk Bi nodded.

“My inner energy has increased greatly recently, so I guess I couldn’t control my strength.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t bother asking how her inner energy had increased.

He suddenly looked at his axe.

The axe blade was full of rough scars. The blade had been damaged from exchanging such powerful attacks. It was a miracle that the shaft hadn’t broken.

And the end of the shaft.

There was no ring there either. He would have to find ‘that’ item separately anyway, but there might be a good one somewhere.

“I’ll have to stop by a blacksmith on the way. I really need to start preparing in earnest now.”

There were still many things lacking.

Not only his martial arts but also his weapons were not ready. The preliminary work to stop the Demonic Sound Sect had not even begun yet.

He had to start now.

The first step to stop the mad advance of the Demonic Sound Sect, no, the Three Mad Sects.

The Black Emperor, who had ruled the underworld, disguised himself as a tiger of Byeoksan to prepare for the future. His family, which he did not have before, and a comrade he met much earlier than expected, would give wings to the tiger’s back.

A history that was being written completely differently from the past.

Yeon Ho-Jeong earnestly prayed that the new history he was creating would become the foundation for a peaceful future.