Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 123 - The Moment of Decision (5)
Chapter 123 – The Moment of Decision (5)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Clan Head. A letter has arrived from the Temporary Murim Alliance.”
“Give it here.”
The eyes of Yeon Wi, who unfolded and read the letter, wavered.
Yi Baek-hyeon asked out of wonder.
“What…”
“It is a letter from Shaolin’s Abbot.”
“…!”
“He says let’s hold a meeting to decide whether to establish the Murim Alliance at the beginning of next year, the new year. He says let’s make a decision within three days.”
Yeon Wi sighed.
‘The Murim Alliance.’
The Murim Alliance definitely has to be established. Because one doesn’t know what kind of calamity will strike in the future, a space and position that will become the central point of the Orthodox Murim is needed.
However, it was Yeon Wi’s thought that it was unnecessary for now. If the Murim Alliance is established, its maintenance cost will jump by three or four times or more, and if so, the flow of the Central Plains’ funds will change.
Of course, the Yeon Clan didn’t care. It was because although they earned an unimaginable amount every month, they released more than half of it to stabilize the people’s livelihood. Even if they tightened their belts further from there, nothing would change much.
The problem was the minor sects.
Just because it’s the Orthodox Murim, how could they only be clean. To gather funds, they will overdo things, and if they overdo things, the ones who eventually suffer damage will be the commoners.
‘However…’
He recalled the words of his eldest son, Yeon Ho-jeong.
‘I also think it is the time for you, Father, to freely spread the wings you haven’t spread until now.’
‘The Leader position must be left empty for a suitable person. However, right-minded patriots with intent who will seize the world together with the Leader are needed.’
Yeon Wi seriously pondered over his son’s remark.
‘Ho-jeong wouldn’t say such words for no reason.’
He was acknowledging his eldest son as one excellently grown-up adult.
Before being his child, as a Jianghu person with good discerning eyes, Yeon Ho-jeong was a person with enough things to learn from.
‘There’s no way he doesn’t know the aftermath when the Murim Alliance is established. Yet for him to say to cast a vote in favor, it means he has seen something I have not seen.’
What indeed could that be?
‘Ho-jeong.’
He recalled Yeon Ho-jeong’s face at that time.
Clear and deep two eyes. But his son’s appearance back then was quite different from usual. He looked somewhat urgent, and was burning with the will to accomplish his intent.
‘What in the world have you seen.’
It was frustrating.
Thinking of his son, he told him to leave these parts to him, but now that it was actually approaching reality, his worries were not just one or two.
In the mind of the agonizing Yeon Wi, his eldest son’s words came to mind once again.
‘Whenever things are hard, absolutely do not try to solve it alone and please call for me.’
Yeon Wi smiled bitterly.
‘I am the one who actually said I would embrace him, yet am I already receiving my child’s help.’
It can’t be helped.
His son’s words are right. Isn’t it said that even a blank sheet of paper is better if lifted together. With his son’s abilities being so outstanding, there would be no need to go carrying it alone on purpose.
In an instant, Yeon Wi furrowed his brows.
‘Anyway, that guy, he’s not sending a letter again.’
He didn’t get angry over something like this. It was a matter with no need to get angry over.
He was just worried. He wondered if anything had happened while out in a foreign land, and if he was making sure to eat his meals on time.
‘It is indeed slowly time for him to come.’
At that time, a murmuring sound was heard from outside the window of the Clan Head’s room.
Yeon Wi’s eyes flashed.
“C-Clan Head! The Eldest Young Master has returned! However…!”
Paaaak!
Yeon Wi quickly opened the office door and went outside.
In his eyes, which reached the outer court passing through the inner court in an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong was finally seen.
“…?!”
Yeon Wi’s expression changed abruptly.
“I have returned, Father.”
“You, what is that state?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body was covered in blood. Seeing blood scabs sitting here and there on his wounds, they looked like wounds that were a few days old.
“First, please imprison this guy in the prison.”
Thump!
The one dropped on the floor was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties.
Yeon Wi’s eyes became cold.
“What are you all doing? Lock that person in the prison right away.”
“Yes!”
Warriors hurriedly ran over and dragged away the unconscious Mong Ui.
“What happened?”
“It’s a bit long to talk about.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Muk Bi.
“How’s your stamina?”
“I’m fine. You are the problem, Young Master Yeon.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“Rather than this, let’s hurry and go to the infirmary. No, I will call a physician, so wait just a little bit.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“I am thankful that you are calling a physician, but I’m not greatly hurt. Please do not worry.”
“Huh.”
Even the Judge Sword of the World, Yeon Wi, found it difficult to maintain his composure seeing his son’s hurt state. Yeon Wi had no choice but to admit that it was the most hectic moment recently.
“I will wash up and change clothes first. Muk Bi.”
“Yes.”
“Explain to my father first.”
“Ah, yes!”
It wasn’t something to back out of because Yeon Wi was difficult to deal with.
Muk Bi bowed her head to Yeon Wi.
Yeon Wi, looking at the distancing Yeon Ho-jeong, soon comforted Muk Bi.
“Let’s go to the Clan Head’s room.”
Half a shichen later.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who stopped by the Clan Head’s room, feigned ignorance of Muk Bi’s rejoicing face.
“Have you come.”
“Yes.”
“How are your wounds? Your breathing is unstable and your face is pale, which looks like signs of internal injury.”
“Ah, because I ran here so urgently, my internal energy consumption was severe. I am not particularly hurt otherwise, so please do not worry too much.”
“I see…”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“I heard the situation from Bi-ah. Assassins ambushed you?”
“That is correct.”
Yeon Wi’s eye light became cold in an instant.
“Could it be the Murong Clan?”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“I cannot be certain. Even if I tried to dig something out of the assassins, they lunged at me in a life-or-death manner, so I had no choice but to annihilate them.”
“Then what about that guy locked in the prison?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.
“I tried threatening him with this and that while coming, but his lips were unusually tight.”
“…”
“It is not something tempered through training. His nature is like that. For the most part, he won’t open his mouth. Still, I didn’t think I should just leave him and come, so I did catch and bring him.”
“Oh dear…”
“I ran here overexerting myself, not knowing if there might be someone else targeting me again by any chance.”
“You did well. It was a good judgment.”
Certainly, his son had an outstanding ability to read the situation. Leaving aside the hardships his son experienced, it was commendable that he made such a swift judgment in a blood-splattering actual battle.
“What do you think?”
“I cannot be certain, but regardless, the one with the highest possibility would be Murong Jun.”
Yeon Ho-jeong deliberately used the word Murong Jun instead of Murong Clan.
Tsssss.
Murderous intent finally arose from Yeon Wi’s body.
“That guy really…”
Muk Bi’s complexion turned pale.
Yeon Wi’s murderous intent was never radical. It was quiet and chilly. It felt as if that bizarre murderous intent would naturally burrow into the body and tear the heart meridians to shreds.
Yeon Ho-jeong let out a fake cough.
“Father.”
“Hmm? Ah…”
Yeon Wi, who immediately killed his murderous intent, sighed.
“Bi-ah, I am sorry.”
“Ah, it’s nothing, Clan Head.”
“You must have suffered a lot too, and I showed you an ugly sight. You really suffered a lot.”
Muk Bi shook her head.
“I didn’t do anything. Young Master Yeon handled everything.”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“Don’t make me laugh. If it wasn’t for that merciless marksmanship, I would have been helplessly hit. I owe you my life.”
“Ah, no. That’s really not it.”
“How about going in and resting a bit for now? You must have suffered a lot.”
Muk Bi subtly checked Yeon Wi’s mood.
Yeon Wi nodded.
“Yes, it seems I kept you for too long. Go in and rest now.”
“Ah, then shall I?”
Towards Muk Bi who awkwardly stood up, Yeon Wi opened his mouth again.
“Bi-ya.”
“Yes, Clan Head.”
“Thank you once again.”
Muk Bi smiled. She still found Yeon Wi difficult to deal with, but she was more thankful herself because he was an adult who said thank you like that.
“Not at all, Clan Head. Then I will go in first.”
“Yes.”
As Muk Bi left, Yeon Ho-jeong took a seat.
Yeon Wi’s eyes became bloody again.
“The probability of it being Murong Jun is high?”
From the mouth of Yeon Wi, who considered etiquette and formality important, the three characters of the name Murong Jun came out instead of Murong Clan Head. It could be known how angry he was.
“As I said, I cannot be certain. Because such threats can be inflicted anytime, anywhere. The probability of it being Murong Jun is high, but we must not jump to conclusions either.”
“…”
“The problem is the assassins. They were highly trained assassins. The probability is high that it’s a group capable of using even highly skilled assassins thoroughly trained in the Unorthodox Murim as tools without hesitation.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes grew larger.
Yeon Ho-jeong stroked his chin as if agonizing over it.
“When looking at the assassins’ movements or the uniqueness of their killing techniques, it seems the methods of the South and North were mixed a lot. If so, it seems to be an assassin organization operating in Hubei, which has many waterways…”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was speaking, momentarily flinched. It was because the gaze his father looked at him with was peculiar.
Yeon Ho-jeong hurriedly continued his words.
“Whatever the case, for now, it is hard to figure out the organization they belong to. Even if we request help from the Beggars’ Gang, it will be difficult.”
“…How do you know so well about them?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“I just picked up and heard many things here and there.”
The majority of those who made a name for themselves in the Unorthodox Murim possessed deep knowledge about assassins.
Not to mention Yeon Ho-jeong, who made a name for himself at the apex of the Unorthodox Murim. Didn’t he actually take their characteristics and methods to separately create an organization under the Dark Emperor Castle.
“However, if they targeted the Yeon Clan and not me, the problem becomes bigger.”
“What?”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s someone who hates me, but if it’s someone who hates the Yeon Clan, the story becomes different. I was going to come together with Ji-pyeong, but I didn’t want traces of the assassins going that way for no reason, so I came as quickly as possible.”
“Then?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.
“Yes. We have to send people there. Even if it’s to prepare for an attack that we don’t know might happen.”
He had attached and sent a few teams of the Flying Eagle Squad together with Yeon Ji-pyeong. But that might not be enough.
“Even so, it’s not like I can go. Because if the target is only me, it’d end up involving Ji-pyeong for no reason.”
“Your words are right.”
“As the situation is what it is, please let me unseal the Leader of the Goshawk Squad. Otherwise, it might be good to release the Flying Heaven Swordsmen.”
The Flying Heaven Swordsmen were peak masters possessed by the Yeon Clan. They were Sword Ghosts who lived about ten li away from the Yeon Clan’s main house, and the Yeon Clan’s true absolute arts were specially invested into them.
“We could do that, but currently the Flying Heaven Swordsmen are in the middle of passing a big hurdle. There is no need to touch them at an important moment.”
“But Father.”
“I will go directly.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes widened roundly.
“You, Father?”
“Rather than going accompanied by many, it is better for me to go alone.”
Yeon Wi’s martial arts contend for the top rank even among the Clan Heads of the Six Great Clans. He would be able to easily crush even a passable assassin organization, and even if he didn’t fight, he would be able to shake them off in the blink of an eye.
“Then the clan…”
“You take charge of it.”
“Yes?”
Yeon Wi stood up from his seat, drew the longsword hanging on the wall, and wore it on his waist belt.
“When your father is not here, you are the head of the household. Until your father returns, you protect the main house.”
Yeon Wi turned his body.
“I will return within three days.”
Yeon Wi kept his promise.
Yeon Wi, who returned to the Yeon Clan with Yeon Ji-pyeong on his back after three days, looked not a bit different from when he departed. It was to the extent that not a speck of dust was on his fluttering hems.
However, Yeon Ho-jeong knew. How urgently his father had run here.
Judge Sword, Judge Great Hero. The strongest expert in Jiangdong, the Clan Head of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan.
The soles of his shoes, unable to handle his fearsome lightness arts that had reached the super peak state, were all worn out.