Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 969

The second day at the Imperial Palace dawned.

Yeon-wi and his group rested in the quarters personally assigned by the Emperor.

Of course, even amidst this, Yeon-wi did not sleep. While dispelling fatigue with appropriate energy circulation, his senses were constantly directed towards Gi Cheon-ung, the leader of the Divine Cult.

Pyeong Mu-gang rested comfortably, fully recovering from his fatigue, while Yang Cheon, taking a position deeper and closer to the imperial court than the other two, engaged in another deep conversation with the sleepless Emperor.

As time passed and the sun began to set again, the Emperor, having finished his conversation with Yang Cheon and some of his official duties, was about to summon Gi Cheon-ung.

Within the red flames that draped the Imperial Palace, a cool flame surged.

* * *

A giant, adorned in a vibrant turquoise hue, asked,

“What is the situation?”

“The heads of the Byeoksan Yeon Family of Gangdong, the Peng Family of Habuk, and the Deputy Chief of the Mukryong Unit are stationed in the palace with their forces.”

“The Yeon Family Head… I heard he is the Sword Master of the Imperial Sword, favored by the Emperor.”

“Rumor has it that his martial arts have reached the Heavenly Flower Realm [a high level of martial arts mastery].”

“Is that true?”

“I cannot confirm it directly, but based on the words of those within the palace, it seems he has indeed reached that level.”

“That’s incredible. For two masters to reach the Heavenly Flower Realm from such a small family. Well, considering Yeon Ho-jeong’s talent was said to be greater than mine, his father’s talent, the root of it all, must be extraordinary.”

“……”

“What about Yang Cheon?”

“He is positioned near the imperial court as the Emperor’s prospective son-in-law.”

“This has become troublesome. Can Yang Cheon’s martial prowess be verified?”

“He is quite far from the inner palace, so I have not been able to confirm it directly. However, I could feel his intense energy when he entered the palace.”

“How was it?”

“Judging by his energy alone, it is highly likely that he is stronger than I am.”

“I heard he showed a poor performance in the fight against the Demonic Sound Cult Leader, but it seems he has made great efforts in the meantime.”

“……”

“Still, things have worked out well enough. My father managed to persuade the Emperor.”

“Yes.”

“You know that the sooner, the better, right?”

“Of course.”

“However, if such masters are stationed there, it will be difficult to survive even if the mission is accomplished.”

“I considered myself dead the moment I came here. Please do not worry about it.”

“Has your resolve not changed?”

“……”

“Well, it’s fine. It’s a pity to exchange the Emperor’s life for the life of a great talent like you, but if you truly will not return to me, I cannot help it.”

“I am merely acting according to the greater good.”

“The greater good is just a play on words. Even if they advocate the same greater good, the actions of those who look one year ahead and those who look ten years ahead will differ.”

“……”

“Time is short, and I don’t want to argue with you about this. So, where is my father?”

“He is having a private audience with the Emperor.”

“Did he not suspect you?”

“He did not suspect me at all.”

“Interesting. This is why the world is fair. You should have been satisfied with your martial power that reached the heavens, but due to excessive greed, you lost your upper dantian [an energy center in the body] and even the root of your spiritual eye. How could he know your true intentions?”

“Even if your spiritual eye were intact, he would not have suspected me.”

“Indeed, that is likely. You are not working for us, but for yourself.”

“……”

“What will you do? It seems difficult to survive. How will you signal that the Emperor is dead?”

“If the Emperor dies, there will be significant changes in the movements of the Imperial Palace and the martial world.”

“Are you going to predict based on their movements? That is too uncertain.”

“Then…?”

“Since you are prepared to die, it would be good to infiltrate the imperial court and detonate yourself, but even that would not be enough for us to be sure that the Emperor is dead.”

“……”

“If you can escape and return to the main cult to report, do so. If that is impossible…”

“It will be impossible.”

“Hmm.”

“And I do not have the time or ability to contact you.”

“……”

“I will simply do my best to kill the Emperor. Please figure out what is happening on this side.”

“You… on this side…”

“……”

“You are being too reckless, having resolved to die. Have you forgotten that I am the current leader of the Divine Cult?”

“You are the Vice Cult Leader.”

“……”

“You have not yet formally ascended to the position of Cult Leader.”

“Apart from the title, there is no difference.”

“May I say one thing?”

“It seems you will say it even if I tell you not to.”

“Please, do not be manipulated by the Demonic Sound Cult Leader.”

“……You.”

“He is not an evildoer that the Vice Cult Leader can handle. It is one thing to have joined hands until now, but once this is over, either kill him or cut ties.”

“You are truly trying to mock me.”

“If you are the only one who does not know the problems that others point out, it is not that others are strange, but that you, the person involved, have failed to look back at yourself.”

“……”

“For the Vice Cult Leader, that is pride. If you abandon that useless pride and correctly reproduce the ambition you originally had, the Divine Cult can become the leader of the three sects and live for eternity.”

“Shut up.”

“Five of the palanquin bearers are my subordinates.”

“……”

“I will tell them to observe the situation here and return to the cult if the Emperor dies. Two out of the five should be able to reach the cult. Will that be enough?”

“……”

“Then, I will take my leave.”

Swoosh!

The brazier, extinguished by a bucket of water, billowed white smoke.

Fire ignited in the eyes of Yahareuk, the Guardian General of the Divine Cult.

“If your character had been even a tiny bit better than it is now, I would not have risked my life for this.”

Having given his last orders to his subordinates, Yahareuk left his quarters.

He looked up at the sky.

‘There are many stars.’

It was the same sky as he saw from the main headquarters of the Divine Cult, yet it felt subtly different.

The stars he had seen at the main headquarters each contained a pure white flame. Each one was bright and hot. Even when the sky was full of clouds, the starlight was so clear and vivid that it was not dark.

However, the starlight that adorned the sky of this continent looked very cool.

The brightness was the same, but they did not contain fire. They were merely like countless small eyes of a god, looking down at the earth.

An unknown coldness and a sense of incongruity.

Yahareuk sincerely wished that the stars filling the sky of this continent would also be filled with pure white flames.

‘Shall we begin then?’

It was then.

“Are you there?”

Yahareuk turned his head with a calm expression.

Although there was no change in his expression, he felt a pang of fear inside.

When did he arrive?

He had not sensed any presence. Only after hearing the voice did he realize that he was there.

Yahareuk opened his mouth.

“Who are you?”

“I am a commoner of the martial world. I am called Wi of the Yeon Family of Gangdong.”

In that instant, Yahareuk’s eyes wavered.

The Yeon Family of Gangdong referred to the Byeoksan Yeon Family, to which Yeon Ho-jeong, the greatest rising star of the martial world, belonged.

And if he was Wi of that Yeon Family, he would be Yeon-wi, the family head.

At an unexpected moment, an unimaginable person had come to visit. Yahareuk felt a sense of tension for no reason.

‘Why now? Could it be?’

Did he know about the assassination of the Emperor?

Tension made him think that far, but soon Yahareuk smiled to himself.

‘That’s impossible.’

It was a mission that no one knew about. There was no way a commoner of the martial world would know something that even Gi Cheon-ung, the leader of the Divine Cult, did not know.

In the first place, the Hwahwa technique, which was deployed with the Sacred Fire Powder, was impossible to detect unless one was a successor of the spiritual eye. Perhaps someone who had reached the extreme of enlightenment and had one foot in the realm of the immortals might be able to sense it.

No matter how he thought about it, Yeon-wi was not such a person.

“What brings the head of the Yeon Family here?”

“I came because I have business.”

It was a voice filled with laughter.

Calm and deep. Just listening to it made him feel relaxed.

A voice that was completely different from Gi Cheon-ung, the cult leader, yet had a strangely similar aspect.

Yahareuk opened the door.

There stood a man like a bamboo tree, or like an old scholar who had devoted his life to the pursuit of righteous learning.

Yahareuk quickly scanned Yeon-wi’s body.

‘It’s not there?’

He could not see a sword.

He was outwardly showing that he had no intention of fighting. An invisible sense of relief washed over Yahareuk’s face.

Yeon-wi said with a smile,

“It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”

“Likewise.”

“I have felt your abundant inner energy since you entered the Imperial Palace. I was curious about who you were, and indeed, you are no ordinary figure. I can tell at a glance that you are a remarkably trained martial artist.”

It was a sincere compliment.

Yahareuk asked,

“What business do you have with me?”

“You are quite blunt. It is different from what I heard.”

Yahareuk’s eyes narrowed.

Yeon-wi pointed his thumb towards the imperial court.

“I asked the Cult Leader if it would be okay to have a drink with you before you meet His Majesty. Fortunately, both the Cult Leader and His Majesty have given their permission.”

“……!”

“I heard you are quite good at drinking.”

“I can handle a little.”

“Whatever the reason, we will be comrades fighting together in the future, so how can we remain awkward without even seeing each other’s faces? So, I mustered the courage to come and find you.”

Yahareuk’s eyes wavered.

Comrades fighting together. It was a phrase that was hard to hear anywhere.

There were no comrades in the Divine Cult. In the first place, there was no need to use such words. It was natural to give one’s life for the sake of the god and the cult leader.

Yahareuk, who had been quietly looking at Yeon-wi, said as if throwing a stone,

“Then, I will drink a little.”

Since the Cult Leader had given permission, there was no need to refuse. Refusing might even raise suspicion.

“However, there is no alcohol here.”

“Do not worry. It is in my quarters. Let us walk slowly.”

Yahareuk’s wavering eyes shone with a brilliant light.

‘Could it be easier than I thought?’

Yeon-wi’s quarters were very close to the imperial court. In comparison, this place was quite far.

If he was going to the imperial court anyway, he could slip away while drinking with Yeon-wi and carry out his mission.

Yahareuk nodded his head.

“Very well.”

“Haha, thank you for accepting. Honestly, I thought you would refuse.”

“……Why did you think so?”

“Isn’t it obvious? How many people have died between us? In fact, we are not in a position to look at each other and laugh like this.”

Yahareuk realized his mistake.

Yeon-wi shook his head.

“Still, to accept so readily, the Cult Leader of the Divine Cult certainly has an eye for people.”

Yahareuk could not understand what connection this ready acceptance had with the Cult Leader’s insight.

“You flatter me.”

“Then, let us walk slowly.”

“Very well.”

Thus, the two men walked towards the inner palace.

As they were powerful masters in the dark night, the Imperial Palace guards escorted them. It was an escort in name only, to prevent any sudden actions in case something happened.

Naturally, Yahareuk felt suffocated by being surrounded by the soldiers.

And unlike when he first saw him, Yeon-wi’s gaze, as he looked at Yahareuk, was coldly subdued.