Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 995

The news of the conflict between the group and the Red Spear Sect spread surprisingly quickly.

Although it was said that there were no onlookers, many people felt the chilling aura that arose after Gang Ryang and Jin Yang visited the Red Spear Sect with Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Still, the specifics were unknown, leading to speculation about whether the Red Spear Sect had admitted their fault. However, the very next day, the Red Spear Sect’s leader personally visited the Martial Alliance’s leadership.

‘My sect’s son violated the Martial Alliance’s rules and caused a disturbance. As the sect leader, I should have rectified the situation, but I failed to do so and escalated the matter. My son and the victim had a fair duel as martial artists, and both sides accepted the result. However, as the sect leader, I have committed a great wrong against the Alliance, and I am ashamed to even partake in the Alliance’s meals. Therefore, the Red Spear Sect will return to our home region to reflect until the Martial Alliance officially summons us.’

Surprisingly, the Red Spear Sect’s leader said this himself.

What was even more surprising was the Martial Alliance’s response.

One might have expected them to intervene, considering public opinion, but they respected the choice of the Red Spear Sect’s leader, Ha Beon, and allowed them to leave.

People were bewildered, intrigued, and displeased by the swift and, in some ways, radical handling of the matter.

Most were bewildered. This was unprecedented.

Those intrigued by the Martial Alliance’s decisive action predicted that the Alliance’s atmosphere would become sharper and more unified.

Those who felt displeased were the ones who felt that the Red Spear Sect was not properly protected. Although their fault was clear, they believed that they could be somewhat sensitive, given that they were now sharing the same table with their enemies of hundreds of years.

Since the Red Spear Sect was sent away for such a matter, the Alliance’s actions could be perceived as very coercive. Moreover, if even a sect with a hundred-year history like the Red Spear Sect was sent away, they might think that they too could be treated carelessly.

They did not grasp the essence of the matter. They were only looking at the situation emotionally.

In some ways, it was understandable. However, with the current state of affairs and the martial world heading towards a crisis, it was clear that those who felt displeased were not seeing the bigger picture.

Thus, the Martial Alliance was quickly engulfed in a chaotic atmosphere.

This happened just one day after Yeon Ho-Jeong joined the Alliance.

* * *

At a lively noon, Yeon Ho-Jeong and Jin Yang entered the inner city’s public dining hall.

“…….”

Numerous martial artists looked at the two of them before turning their heads. Some looked with admiration, others with interest, and still others with anger or jealousy.

“Heave-ho.”

After ordering a meal from a worker, Yeon Ho-Jeong immediately drank tea.

The Martial Alliance was supplied with various tea leaves. However, in a dining hall that accommodated so many people, it was impossible to drink high-quality tea. From the start, they made a large quantity, so it was hard to expect a sophisticated taste.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong actually preferred this less refined tea. It was less 부담스럽지 [burdensome, in the sense of not being fussy or demanding].

“I was a bit surprised.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong blinked at Jin Yang’s words.

“What by?”

“By Ryang, I mean.”

Jin Yang, with his chin resting on his hand, looked quite relaxed.

“He’s become rather quiet after that match.”

“Being quiet is something we do sometimes too.”

“I wonder what he’s thinking.”

“Can’t you tell?”

“Does the Captain know?”

“It’s obviously about martial arts.”

Jin Yang frowned.

“Even though the matter is resolved, he must be feeling uneasy.”

“That’s because he drank heavily yesterday.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Ryang has shaken everything off with that one match. He didn’t forgive, but that was enough. He’s not so weak as to look back on such things.”

“Then I must be the weak one.”

“Why? Are you feeling strange?”

Jin Yang sighed deeply.

“Honestly, I don’t know. If it weren’t for the Martial Alliance, I would have crushed them on the spot or cut their throats when we met again, but when I saw them yesterday, my anger just vanished.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

Originally, Jin Yang was not like this. Despite being born with a talent that would not be strange to call him a genius, he had a rather impulsive and childish side that did not match his achieved level.

But now it was different.

Having shaken off the bizarre values that were eating away at his life and starting to forge his own path, Jin Yang had become a fine adult.

Although his personality was what it was, his character and martial arts had both reached a new level. In some ways, he even showed a more mature side than Gang Ryang.

“Ryang said that when he actually faced them, he didn’t know what he was doing.”

“That’s exactly what I thought.”

“But the reason he didn’t back down was because he thought that clashing swords once would ensure that no resentment remained.”

Jin Yang smiled bitterly.

“That guy is better than me.”

“It’s not a matter of who’s better. It’s a difference in personality.”

“To be honest… I thought it would have been better if they had just ignored us and attacked us all at once. If they had, I would have killed them all without looking back.”

He said that, but even if such a situation had occurred, he would have drawn his sword carefully.

Jin Yang had changed that much. He had not become more lenient, but had matured as a martial artist.

“By the way, it’s amazing. I didn’t think that guy would run off and say he was leaving.”

He was talking about Ha Beon.

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“The aftermath was regrettable, but that’s because he’s the leader of a sect.”

“What do you mean?”

“If he had just stayed put? The people around him would have pressed him. Asking what happened.”

“That’s right.”

“That guy, even though he has a bad temper, isn’t the type to lie easily. He would either tell what happened or keep his mouth shut, and if that happened, how would the Red Spear Sect be viewed within the Alliance?”

“Ah?”

“It’s best to be honest and leave on his own. Since he left on his own, it’s not an expulsion, and the statement that he will reflect until he is officially summoned strongly asserts that they are still part of the Martial Alliance.”

“Hoo!”

“He doesn’t want to be expelled from the Martial Alliance, but if he stays, rumors will spread within the sect. Ha Beon’s response was correct.”

Admiration appeared on Jin Yang’s face.

“How does the Captain know so much?”

“About what?”

“About this and that. Honestly, I suspected that the bastard father might go out and hire assassins.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong barely managed to hold back his laughter.

“You idiot, how could he do that? Even if he had such thoughts, he wouldn’t do it if he had any brains. If that fact was revealed, he would be cornered.”

“There are ways to handle it well so that the truth isn’t revealed.”

“Even if there were such a way, if we were suddenly attacked by assassins, who would everyone think was behind it?”

“…Hmm.”

“Rather, it’s their position to protect us from assassins targeting us. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Jin Yang scratched his head.

“It seems I’m simple-minded.”

“It’s not because you’re simple-minded.”

Jin Yang was still accustomed to the ways of the underworld.

The reason why there are no clean duels in the underworld is because the loser will always seek revenge. Whether they send assassins or secretly poison, there will always be repercussions.

Once you fight, you see it through to the end. That is the way of the underworld. The reason why Jin Yang had kept the Hwa Ung Sect hidden in the shadows for so long was partly because he was wary of the orthodox sects, but also because he knew that if he got involved with the underworld forces, he would definitely emerge as a new power.

“Politics is difficult.”

“If you think it’s difficult, it’s endless. The essence is simple. What are people looking at, and where are we heading? If you think about those two things, it’s not difficult to read the situation.”

“Isn’t thinking about those two things difficult?”

“If that’s difficult, you should study more in the future.”

The trivial conversation stopped when the food came out.

“Let’s eat.”

“Let’s do that.”

The two of them ate the food on the table with relish.

They had not spent much time alone together. Still, there was no awkwardness. Yeon Ho-Jeong was not that kind of person, and Jin Yang also had a rather easygoing side, so anyone who saw them would have mistaken them for being friends for ten years.

How much time had passed?

“Vice-Captain.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had wiped his mouth, raised his head.

On one side, there were about six men. Each of them had a sturdy physique, and even without revealing their aura, they exuded a strong presence.

The martial artist in his early thirties at the front spoke.

“Do you perhaps have some time?”

The words that came out abruptly were quite aggressive.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged his shoulders.

“What is it that you need?”

“If you have time, could you come with us for a moment?”

“Are you nervous?”

“……?”

“There’s no need to be so nervous that you forget to state your name in front of the Vice-Captain of the Muk Ryong Unit.”

It was a jab at the opponent who had asked for his time without even revealing his identity.

The man’s face flushed slightly.

There were many people in the dining hall. Moreover, with the appearance of Yeon Ho-Jeong, the greatest maverick of the martial world, almost everyone’s ears were turned in this direction.

The man cleared his throat and cupped his fist in greeting.

“I apologize. I am Heo Jung, the leader of the Lion Fist Warriors of the Blue Lion Gate.”

“I am Yeon Ho-Jeong, the Vice-Captain of the Muk Ryong Unit. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The Blue Lion Gate was a sect based in Shanxi, a fist sect with an even longer history than the Red Spear Sect.

They could not fully spread their wings due to the presence of the hegemons of Shanxi, Mount Hua and Chongnan, but their martial prowess was famous throughout the Jiangbei region and beyond. They had so many masters that it was embarrassing to classify them as a small or medium-sized sect, and they possessed so many fist techniques that the Chongnan Sect sent their young disciples there for training every year.

The Lion Fist Warriors were a position modeled after the Plum Blossom Sword Masters of the Mount Hua Sect, and they were composed of the best talents of the fist sect.

The leader of the Lion Fist Warriors, indeed, Ha Jeong-Woong was not even worth a glance.

Heo Jung spoke politely.

“If you have time, could you visit our sect for a moment? Our sect leader wishes to meet the Vice-Captain.”

“That’s a shame.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had moistened his throat with a sip of tea, said in a calm tone.

“I have time, but the situation doesn’t look good, so it would be impossible to visit directly.”

“……?!”

“If you want to see this person, it would be better to arrange a formal meeting. Or come and find me yourself.”

Heo Jung and the warriors’ eyes sharpened.

However, they did not act rashly. It was not because Yeon Ho-Jeong was a monster, but because they had enough self-cultivation.

Heo Jung bowed his head.

“I came to deliver the sect leader’s message, so my role ends here. However, for the sake of the sect leader, I will ask you one more time.”

It was a polite tone. Regardless of others, Heo Jung’s attitude was certainly acceptable.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I’m sorry. I have my own reasons.”

“…I understand.”

“Please convey my words to the sect leader as they are. He will not misunderstand.”

“I will do so.”

“Let’s meet again later.”

Heo Jung bowed his head and retreated with the warriors.

Jin Yang scratched his head.

“I smell something sour?”

“Did you put saliva under your nose?”

“What!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled and said.

“Things are starting to get tangled. Good, I like this flow.”