Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 997

Hang Yo took a moment to catch his breath.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s aggressive language wasn’t just about insulting or looking down on someone.

‘I misjudged him.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong was the minor master of the Mukryong Clan [a powerful martial arts clan within the Black Path Alliance].

He shouldn’t have been seen merely as the eldest son of the prestigious Yeon family of Gangdong. Even though he was treated as the minor master of the Mukryong Clan, he was still from a prestigious White Path family, so it was expected that he would at least maintain a minimum level of courtesy and boundaries, even if he was being aggressive.

He was wrong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was saying that if he didn’t like something, he could throw a punch right there and then.

Hang Yo thought Yeon Ho-Jeong would never do that. It was obvious. If the minor master of the Black Path Alliance suddenly started throwing punches in the middle of the Martial Alliance, the political situation would be in turmoil.

The other party would know that too. He was just saying it, and nothing would actually happen. That’s how it would be.

Hang Yo believed that. However, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze was so intense that it shook that belief, making it hard to bear.

“I heard there was a conflict with the Crimson Spear Gate yesterday.”

“That’s right.”

“I think your handling of the matter was too extreme.”

He didn’t say, ‘Don’t you think so?’ but stated that he thought so.

The corners of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s lips curled up.

“Did you come here wanting to hear the answer you wanted?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you saying I should apologize to you for the Crimson Spear Gate incident?”

Hang Yo’s face hardened.

“There’s no need for you to apologize to me. However, I believe you could at least express some regret to everyone, if not an apology.”

“Why should I do that?”

“What?”

“Did you hear what happened between the Crimson Spear Gate and my brothers?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then you must know who was at fault first.”

“That’s why I’m here. Wasn’t the starting point the fact that your companions didn’t handle the situation well?”

It was utter nonsense.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong saw the sincerity in Hang Yo’s eyes. While his basic stance was a blind hatred towards the Black Path, at least he didn’t seem to be making things up.

“My brothers didn’t handle the situation well?”

“Isn’t that so?”

Hang Yo continued in a definitive tone.

“I admit that the young members of the Crimson Spear Gate used somewhat aggressive language. However, wasn’t it that they started the trouble first, openly showing their disregard, which led to a conversation, and then they continued to ignore the other party, causing the young members of the Crimson Spear Gate to lose their temper?”

Jin Yang’s face turned red.

“This crazy… !”

It was Yeon Ho-Jeong who stopped Jin Yang from instinctively cursing.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who calmed him down with a hand gesture, spoke in a still calm tone.

“Is that what you know?”

“Then is it not true?”

“Who did you hear it from?”

Hang Yo frowned.

“Why are you asking that? Are you perhaps going to find that person and harm them?”

“Who?”

“I won’t say. Although it’s unlikely, if you lose your reason and act out, who would stop you?”

At least, he had to acknowledge the audacity of speaking like this even after clearly recognizing the other party’s martial power.

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Do I look like someone who would do that?”

“I’m being cautious just in case.”

“Then, would you be able to withstand my rage-filled martial arts?”

Hang Yo spoke as if he was dumbfounded.

“Why is the conversation going in that direction? Of course, if you attack me with a valid reason, I will face you head-on, even if it means death. I have no intention of living out my days as a martial artist.”

It was an interesting wordplay.

Whether it was intentional or a habit.

In Yeon Ho-Jeong’s view, Hang Yo had always been like this. He would have forcefully suppressed those he considered below him without explaining in detail, and to those he considered equal or above him, he would have tried to limit their words and actions by asserting his own dignity, pressuring them with the idea that they would never be able to receive support if a fight broke out.

It was a subtly common type. He would have constantly received evaluations from those around him that he was a person with a strong personality but decent skills.

‘It’s a pity.’

If one could extract what they wanted while provoking the other party, that person’s eloquence would become a powerful weapon.

However, Hang Yo couldn’t do that. He was only good at provoking the other party, and if the other party had no choice but to back down, he would have a vulgar habit of laughing triumphantly as if he had won.

“Look here, Lord of the Three Paths Gate.”

“Speak.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you see me as the eldest son of the Yeon family or the minor master of the Mukryong Clan. However, it seems you wanted to insult this person quite a bit.”

“Is it an insult to try to find out the truth? What is it that you’re so bothered by…”

“Is it such a big problem for me to ask you about the person who strangely embellished the events that happened between my brothers and the young members of the Crimson Spear Gate?”

“Of course, it is.”

“Because you think I might harm him?”

“That’s right.”

“Your words mean that a member of the Six Great Clans [the most influential families in the martial world], the most prestigious families in the martial world, and the minor master of the Mukryong Clan, the first alliance in the history of the Black Path, is a hooligan who harms people without thinking?”

At that moment, Hang Yo’s eyes wavered.

Many people who were watching the two swallowed hard.

According to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words, Hang Yo had just insulted the heir of the Six Great Clans and the minor master of the Black Path Alliance. It meant that he saw him as someone of that low caliber.

Hang Yo spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.

“That’s not it. It’s just that since it’s a matter involving the minor master’s brothers, I thought you might react somewhat emotionally…”

“Why did you come here?”

“…?”

“If you had come here knowing the facts clearly, you wouldn’t have dared to stand before me and utter such nonsense, would you?”

“Watch your words! Nonsense, you say!”

“Your words mean that I, like you, don’t check the facts, am not curious about the truth, and can just harm that person because I’m in a bad mood.”

“When did I… !”

“No apology either.”

“…?”

“No manners, seeing only what you want to see, and when you’re cornered, you get angry before even looking back at yourself.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sank coldly.

“It’s because of people like you that even minor issues escalate and matters that could be resolved turn into fights.”

“Listen here!”

“Didn’t you hear what the Crimson Spear Gate Lord said? Do you not know how the Martial Alliance dealt with him?”

“…”

“My brothers were at fault first? In the Martial Alliance, a place where fights can break out at any time for those from the Black Path, they were quiet all this time and then suddenly started a fight?”

The corners of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s lips curled up.

“If my brothers did something nasty, it’s treated as fact, but the sudden outburst of the Crimson Spear Gate Lord’s son can be seen as a misunderstanding?”

“…!”

“And you suspect that I went there myself and suppressed them with force?”

“Minor Master.”

“Is the Martial Alliance an unjust organization, and because of my personal connection, they abandoned the Crimson Spear Gate?”

“L, listen here.”

“What do you want? Do you want conflict? Or do you want the truth? If it’s the truth, it’s already been revealed in detail, and if you want conflict, you can hide in a quiet place and curse me and my brothers, and cause a rift in the Black and White Alliance.”

Hang Yo’s face turned pale.

“If it’s neither of those, then why are you being swept away by false rumors from an unclear source, appearing before people who have already been harmed, and stabbing them with a dagger?”

“…!”

“Is it right for me to be polite to you? Is it wrong for me to ask you for the identity of the person who spread those rumors and incited something similar to a riot?”

“Minor Master. I just…”

“You came here with a murderous intent, having not even grasped the truth, because you were prepared to take responsibility for your words?”

“Listen to me! I’m just doing it for everyone… !”

“For everyone?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“And not for yourself?”

“…”

“The Martial Alliance has always been known for making transparent decisions, no matter the outcome.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed his chin towards the military affairs department.

“Let’s go together. How about going there and purifying your imprudent and inferior perspective? Would you like to clearly confirm what happened and what the outcome was?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why?”

“That’s obviously… !”

At that moment, Hang Yo shut his mouth.

He was about to say that he couldn’t trust the Martial Alliance’s handling of the matter. But that was nonsense. If he said those words, he and the entire Three Paths Gate would become undeniable rebels.

And on top of that, he would become a fool who acted without checking the facts. In some ways, the latter was more of a problem. Who would want to join a sect whose leader didn’t even have that much sense?

The reputation of the Three Paths Gate would hit rock bottom.

“Are you afraid to officially confirm it?”

“…”

“Then, is the Martial Alliance scary, but the Mukryong Clan isn’t?”

Whoosh!

A gust of hot wind surged from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

“You’ve truly decided to disregard us.”

“M, Minor Master!”

“I’ve fought countless schemers, petty people, and powerful adversaries, but I’ve never seen a martial artist as clumsy and vulgar as you. If your goal was fame, or to fill your self-esteem by leading the situation, you should have just demanded the truth like a martial artist and taken a sword strike.”

Hang Yo’s hand trembled.

His face was flushed red, and he looked completely at a loss.

“My brothers even lost sleep over that incident. Just living in an organization that was once their enemy is already a burden, but to have such unspeakable insults hurled at them in front of those people is a provocation that deserves death.”

“…!”

“People like you exist everywhere. I haven’t seen a clumsy person like you, but I thought I would meet one someday.”

“Minor Master.”

“Do you think the Martial Alliance was too lenient for not holding onto the Crimson Spear Gate?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were not directed at Hang Yo.

They were directed at everyone around him who was watching.

“Rather, I’m dissatisfied with the Martial Alliance’s actions. Even though they know the truth, they didn’t punish them more severely, and they readily let them go when they said they would step down. If that’s not favoritism, then what is it? Although I am the eldest son of the Yeon family, I really can’t look favorably on this part.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around.

Many people glanced at each other with complicated expressions.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been leisurely observing the people, looked at Hang Yo and said.

“I’m retracting my statement.”

“…?”

“I said not to ask for a duel, but I’ve changed my mind. If you had come out of curiosity and asked for the truth, I would have been upset, but I would have explained it, even if briefly. But you’ve crossed the line.”

“…!!”

“You dared to insult not only the Yeon family and the Mukryong Clan, but also the Martial Alliance, to which you belong. As a member of the White Path and a leader of the alliance, I cannot let this pass.”

Swish.

Yeon Ho-Jeong drew the Black Dragon Blade.

Hang Yo’s face turned pale.

“It is the law of the martial world that one must take responsibility for their words. I don’t like long-winded arguments, and I don’t want to explain any more to a petty person like you. If you’re a martial artist, draw your sword like one. My brothers and the young master of the Crimson Spear Gate ended the situation with a duel, so I will do the same.”

“M, Minor Master.”

“After the duel, go to the Martial Alliance’s Law Enforcement Hall and make sure to reveal everyone who told you those unconfirmed things as if they were the truth. I believe that as a minor master, I have sufficiently respected the Martial Alliance.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed the Black Dragon Blade at Hang Yo.

“Get ready.”