Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 992

Yeon Ho-Jeong, back in his quarters, recounted his conversation with Jeagal Mun-Ho to Gang Ryang and Jin Yang.

Since he held no official position, he didn’t detail why he had to turn them away. He simply explained that it was unavoidable and that Jeagal Mun-Ho would apologize once things settled.

Gang Ryang chuckled.

“While I appreciate the sentiment, you didn’t need to tell us. I figured there was a reason.”

Jin Yang grumbled.

“Look at the saint. If you hadn’t told me, I’d have kept badmouthing him, saying those White Path guys are all the same.”

It wasn’t just idle talk; he genuinely meant it.

Though fundamentally gentle, he had spent a long time in the Black Path [a term referring to the more ruthless and often morally ambiguous martial arts factions]. Even if it wasn’t his intention, living in such a harsh world naturally made him resentful of the White Path [a term referring to the more righteous and traditional martial arts factions].

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and rose from the mat.

“Get your weapons ready.”

“Huh?”

The two looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong, puzzled.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“What?”

“Are we having another spar? I admit, our welcome was a bit rough, but a rematch…”

“It wasn’t even a match, what are you talking about?”

“I thought you might want to beat us up again.”

“Stop talking nonsense and get up. We’re going to cause some trouble.”

Going to cause some trouble.

It was a ruthless remark, both typical of Yeon Ho-Jeong and yet out of place at this moment.

Jin Yang asked, puzzled.

“What do you mean? Trouble?”

“Aren’t you angry?”

“…?”

“There are guys who openly insulted you in front of your faces, and you’re just going to let it slide? We need to give them a taste of our blades.”

The two men’s eyes widened.

“Hyung-nim [an honorific term for older brother or respected senior]! You don’t have to go that far!”

“No… well, you could, but…”

Gang Ryang glared at Jin Yang.

Jin Yang glared back and said,

“What? Did I say something wrong? Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange if we drew our swords and settled this with a life-or-death duel.”

“Is that what you should be saying right now?!”

“Hey, aren’t you a descendant of the Ghost Sword? Isn’t the Ghost Sword a prestigious family of the Black Path?”

“Why are you bringing that up now?!”

“I have to, you idiot! A guy from a prestigious Black Path family has no pride? Even those White Path scholars draw their swords when insulted. In the Black Path, it’s common sense to beat up even your distant relatives.”

“Where in the world is that barbaric common sense? And we’re in the Martial Alliance right now! We can’t cause trouble!”

“You said it well. Who are you to decide whether we cause trouble or not? Are you smarter than the leader?”

Gang Ryang had no choice but to hesitate.

He flinched at the word ‘leader,’ and he had no retort to the jab that Yeon Ho-Jeong was smarter than him.

Jin Yang, also surprised that he had casually called Yeon Ho-Jeong ‘leader,’ muttered, ‘Shit,’ before continuing.

“He wouldn’t have said let’s go if it wasn’t okay. Right?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Yeah, it’s okay.”

“See?”

“Besides, if you’re insulted for no reason, it’s not wrong for a martial artist to settle it with a sword.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Gang Ryang and said,

“The Martial Alliance is also part of the martial world. Like Jin Yang said, even the martial artists of the White Path demand an apology when they feel insulted, and if they don’t get one, they settle it with a duel. That’s common sense in the martial world.”

Still, Gang Ryang looked uneasy.

Yeon Ho-Jeong understood Gang Ryang’s feelings.

Gang Ryang was originally a strong-willed swordsman. He still was.

But he was hesitating because of his relationship with Yeon Ho-Jeong.

To Gang Ryang, Yeon Ho-Jeong was a benefactor who had pulled him out of the swamp and saved his life. If he hadn’t met Yeon Ho-Jeong, he wouldn’t have become this strong, and he would have died at Yang Cheon’s hands long ago, becoming a wandering ghost.

He would never do anything that would harm Yeon Ho-Jeong, even if he was rude to everyone else. That was what made Gang Ryang hesitate.

Yeon Ho-Jeong flicked Gang Ryang’s forehead.

“You idiot, I’m the one who’ll clean up the mess, not you. Are you not even angry?”

“Of course… I’m angry.”

“Many people train to become stronger for their own self-improvement, but most do it so they won’t be looked down upon. That’s the essence of power.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed at Gang Ryang’s sword with his chin.

“Your sword is crying.”

“…”

“You’ve endured enough. Now it’s time to vent your frustration.”

Gang Ryang, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, finally let out a deep sigh.

“Damn it, why did those bastards have to mess with us?”

Though he said that, a genuine smile appeared on Gang Ryang’s face.

Of course, he, like Jin Yang, wanted to vent his anger. Preferably directly at the ones who had insulted him.

Now that the opportunity had come, how could he not be happy?

“Then let’s go. Let’s go and pluck out the rotten eyes of those who dared to mess with people they shouldn’t have.”

Jin Yang grumbled.

“Why are you going so far again? No eyes. You’re always so extreme, really.”

“Then let’s pull out their tongues.”

“You crazy bastard.”

* * *

The Red Spear Gate was a sect with a hundred-year history that had been active in the vicinity of Yichun, Jiangxi [a province in southeastern China].

In the martial world, where hundreds of sects were born and just as many disappeared every day, surviving for over a hundred years and gaining fame in the region meant they possessed considerable power.

Of course, fame alone was not enough. They also needed proper management, financial resources, and the ability to win the hearts of the people.

In that regard, the Red Spear Gate was a unique sect.

Although they belonged to the White Path, they did not prioritize benevolence and righteousness to win the hearts of the people.

The common people near Yichun were protected by the Red Spear Gate, but they also had to pay a certain amount of protection money.

The amount was not large. From the common people’s perspective, it was an affordable price for safety.

A sect that clearly distinguished between public and private matters. That was the Red Spear Gate.

In most cases, a clear distinction between public and private matters had more advantages than disadvantages. However, it sometimes showed a less desirable side.

First, they were known as a heartless sect.

They never listened to the grievances of common people who did not pay protection money. It was not a business relationship.

Instead, once a business relationship was established, they actively blocked attacks from bandits or thugs. Beyond blocking, the Red Spear Gate would even raid their hideouts and annihilate them.

The common people welcomed it. Everyone wanted to have a contract with the Red Spear Gate.

However, as time passed, the situation began to change strangely.

When a place where villains gathered was destroyed, other villains would gather and form a new force.

It was a problem that could not be fundamentally eradicated. At least, not in the current martial world.

To solve this, the Red Spear Gate extended its reach even to the back alleys of Yichun. They dispatched their spear masters to establish branches.

As a result, the riffraff dared not target Yichun. The Red Spear Gate’s power had grown immensely.

However, the limit was gradually approaching.

To become a powerful sect, financial resources and popularity were necessary, but practical martial strength was essential.

The Red Spear Gate was a strong sect, but it had ambiguous martial power to go beyond that. They were famous enough in the region, but they did not have martial arts that could represent the region.

And fifty years ago, powerful Black Path individuals raided the Red Spear Gate’s branches.

It was because the Red Spear Gate had killed the Black Path individuals’ sworn brothers.

Moreover, the reason was not because they had harmed the common people. They had been dragged out and executed with the intention of cutting off the roots.

Naturally, the close Black Path individuals retaliated, and three of the Red Spear Gate’s branches were destroyed overnight.

The Red Spear Gate prepared for war.

Thus, the Red Spear Gate fought with the Black Path experts for over half a month, and the result was the Red Spear Gate’s victory.

However, the damage was too great.

The power of the Black Path experts, known as the Five Wolves of the South, was stronger than expected. Several branches were destroyed, and many disciples died. Three of the Red Spear Gate’s elders and the sect leader’s grown children were killed.

Due to that incident, the Red Spear Gate’s power drastically decreased. The common people also felt sorry for the damage to their contract partners, but at the same time, one thought could not help but take root.

The Red Spear Gate is not safe.

They had been guaranteed safety for an affordable price, but they realized that they would eventually fall to the invasion of stronger experts.

Moreover, the common people who could not afford a contract because they were struggling to make ends meet pointed fingers at the Red Spear Gate’s damage, saying it was the end of martial artists who had no mercy or righteousness.

Yichun became a mess.

After that, through years of effort, they regained their strength, but the Red Spear Gate’s power was no longer what it used to be. They had become just another ordinary mid-sized sect.

The common people also tried not to contract with the Red Spear Gate. Many of those who had contracts had died because of that war.

Since then, the Red Spear Gate’s anger towards the Black Path had reached the sky.

They had built their power with principles and martial arts passed down from their ancestors, but they had lost their glory by getting involved with thugs from the Black Path. They could not help but be angry.

Thus, the Red Spear Gate established itself as one of the most hardline anti-Black Path factions in the White Path. They would dispatch their martial artists without regard for their lives when it came to matters related to the Black Path.

Furthermore, they actively accepted martial artists with anti-Black Path tendencies, so the current Red Spear Gate could not coexist with the Black Path under the same sky.

And now.

The Red Spear Gate’s leader, along with his top subordinates, the Seven Red Flowers, and thirty young experts, were gathered at the Martial Alliance.

The one who had caused the trouble was Ha Jeong-Woong, the leader of those young experts.

“What did you just say?”

Ha Beon, the leader of the Red Spear Gate, asked again, suppressing his rising anger.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were simple.

“I said, bring the martial artist who insulted us.”

Ha Beon’s eyes twitched.

The opponent was the eldest son of the Yeon family, the vice-chief of the Black Dragon Unit, and the youngest Saintly Heaven, the Overlord Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Even if the Red Spear Gate’s grandfather came, they would be annihilated. If he wanted, even if the combined forces of the three Red Spear Gate branches attacked, they would be annihilated.

An otherworldly powerhouse, a master beyond the heavens, had appeared.

Ha Beon’s mental fortitude was considerable, as he was able to overcome his instinctive fear in the face of such a powerhouse and instead feel anger.

“What is the reason for this?”

“What reason?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked back briefly.

With that one word, the atmosphere turned cold. Not only Ha Beon but also the Seven Red Flowers behind him looked uneasy.

“Didn’t I say it? Bring the martial artists who ‘insulted’ us.”

“…”

“If you didn’t know, I’m disappointed.”

“Hey, Vice-Chief.”

“To prevent the Black and White alliance from breaking, I came to let the parties involved resolve their anger with swords. Surely…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked with a smile.

“The Red Spear Gate leader doesn’t want the alliance between the Black and White Paths to break, especially with the war against the Three Sects right around the corner, does he?”

“…!”

“I know you’re not that thoughtless. Public and private matters must be separated. Isn’t that one of the most fundamental values that the Red Spear Gate has upheld since its inception?”

Ha Beon’s face turned pale.

The smile disappeared from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

“Bring them. Now.”