Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 125 - The Moment of Decision (7)
Chapter 125 – The Moment of Decision (7)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Snowflakes fell down one by one.
The wind was fierce, and the temperature was chilling. The sun had risen, but its light was scattered as it was obscured by scattered clouds. It was harsh weather.
“There are less than ten days left in this year.”
“That is so.”
“Haha! It seems my closed-door training was indeed long. It was cold when I entered, but to think it’s winter when I come out.”
Looking at the young man laughing heartily, he did not seem like a martial artist of the Namgung Clan at all.
However, he was a person who inherited the surname Namgung. Moreover, he was of direct lineage, and even the eldest son of the clan head, Namgung In.
Namgung Pyo.
He was a rare genius of the era who had inherited the Namgung Clan’s representative martial art, the Azure Sky Boundless Divine Art, before even reaching the age of a young adult.
Although the world was wide and there were many talented individuals, it would be difficult to find someone as talented as Namgung Pyo. In terms of martial arts, he was ten years ahead of his father, Namgung In.
Even looking at the successive talented individuals of the Namgung Clan, those who achieved as fast as Namgung Pyo did not exceed three.
Namgung In was confident. Namgung Pyo was a genius who could make the clan rise to the Number One Under Heaven with just the martial talent he possessed.
“Your aura has become extremely refined.”
“Yes?”
“It is much more refined than the day before yesterday, and yesterday. You are changing day by day.”
Namgung Pyo smiled awkwardly.
“I have not grown. I just started to control the power that was flowing haphazardly as it pleased. My growth had stopped three months before I came out of closed-door training.”
“Hoho, growth you say.”
“It seemed difficult to see beyond that no matter how much I tried. That is why I came out.”
If someone heard this, they might point fingers and call him a person without perseverance.
But Namgung In did not.
He knew how crazy his firstborn was about martial arts. If the boy said it wouldn’t work, it truly wouldn’t work.
And he could understand that.
‘He is dazzling.’
Even though he was riding a horse, there was no shaking in his upper body. His waist was straight, and his lower body was flexible.
It was as if a single sword was standing. The flexible yet resolute sharpness, as if he could strike out a powerful sword strike at any time and in any situation, was superb.
Namgung In said with a smile.
“It seems your grandfather taught you properly.”
“I thought I was going to die.”
Namgung Pyo complained.
It was a complaint, but it wasn’t just made-up words. He must have received unimaginably harsh training.
“Your grandfather’s martial arts discuss the world. I lacked talent and couldn’t even realize half of his martial arts, but you will certainly be able to digest all of it.”
Namgung Pyo let out a bitter smile.
“Well. I definitely intend to do so, but for now, it’s a bit daunting.”
“I didn’t expect such words to come out of your mouth. Aren’t you the one who is always full of confidence?”
“I just realized that the world called the Martial Path is too harsh to live on with confidence alone.”
“Hoho.”
Namgung In was truly satisfied.
“If you realized that, then it is done. What you lacked before entering closed-door training was not knowing how to discard your arrogance.”
“Was that so?”
“I didn’t tell you because I thought you would let it go out the other ear.”
“I am a bit stubborn.”
“The only thing that can break your stubbornness is martial arts. Because of that, you realized the world is wide, so your closed-door training is valuable just for that.”
Although he said that, Namgung In didn’t think Namgung Pyo’s arrogance was a problem.
In the world, there are people who have the right to be arrogant. In Namgung In’s eyes, his son was someone who fully deserved it.
However, excessive arrogance inevitably creates mistakes, and mistakes naturally draw in failures.
The son, who returned with great growth in both martial arts and character, was now showing an appearance that lacked nothing as a Young Clan Leader.
“By the way…”
Namgung In asked seriously.
“How much of your grandfather’s sword have you inherited?”
Namgung Pyo said in a bitter voice.
“Up to the first three forms of the first half.”
“Are you talking about the first three forms of the Sword Form?”
“Yes. He said I wouldn’t need anything beyond that. Actually, it was difficult to even imitate it, let alone grasp the profound meaning.”
Namgung Pyo was truly bitter, but Namgung In’s thoughts were different.
‘He realized it much more deeply than I thought.’
He thought he would have inherited the first form, or at most the second form of the Sword Form. But to say he inherited all the first three forms of the first half.
His father was a person who would not pass on martial arts to someone unqualified, even if they were blood relatives. Even as a son, he was only now cultivating the first three forms of the first half of the Sword Form for ten years.
‘Father has acknowledged Pyo.’
He was pleased.
He knew his own vessel well. He thought it was enough to lead the Namgung Clan, but it was not a vessel worthy of discussing Number One Under Heaven.
Still, didn’t it seem like he did a fantastic job with his child farming?
‘He will be able to reach my stage within the next ten years.’
Namgung In, who was looking at Namgung Pyo with pleasure, suddenly thought of his own father.
‘Father.’
A confusion that was hard to describe settled on Namgung In’s face.
‘It seems you still have no intention of coming out into the world.’
The previous clan head of the Number One in Swords Namgung Clan, and Namgung In’s father. The world called him the Sword Emperor.
Sword Emperor Namgung Seung.
He was one of the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats and an invincible master who made his name as the absolute strongman of the Central Plains’ Sword Lineage.
At least when it came to the sword, Namgung Seung was a person who was undoubtedly Number One Under Heaven, excluding the Sword Immortal. Perhaps by now, he might have even surpassed that Sword Immortal.
‘There is no difference in the martial arts level between those called Gods, Immortals, Emperors, and Kings. However, the Sword Immortal is one who seeks enlightenment; if they actually crossed swords, it would be difficult to surpass Father.’
The Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats were otherwise divided into the ten Gods, Immortals, Emperors, and Kings, called One God, Two Immortals, Three Emperors, Four Kings, and the Three Lords who were right below them.
The ten Gods, Immortals, Emperors, and Kings were monsters who had each reached the ultimate of martial arts. And the Three Lords were masters who appeared half a generation after them, and although their martial arts level was distinctly lower than the Gods, Immortals, Emperors, and Kings, they were super-masters evaluated as having talents exceeding even them.
In other words, the Gods, Immortals, Emperors, and Kings could be said to be the ten strongest masters in the world, and the Three Lords were those right below them and designated as the next Ten Great Masters.
Namgung Seung was one of those Gods, Immortals, Emperors, and Kings.
‘It should be time for you to come out slowly.’
Namgung In hoped his father would step out into the world again.
That was not the wish of a child, but the wish of a clan head. If Namgung Seung came out into the world and established shining military merits, the name of the Namgung Clan would be able to get one step closer to Number One Under Heaven.
‘It’s a pity.’
For Namgung In, Namgung Seung was a relationship of love and hate in many ways. Fortunately, it seemed he had handled the grandson’s education properly.
“Cultivate diligently. This father lacked talent and only now realized the profound meaning of the three forms, but you will be able to realize it faster.”
“I should.”
“Emperor Sword Form… If you properly inherit that absolute sword path, you will be able to make the world kneel beneath your sword.”
Namgung Pyo, who answered with a smile, suddenly looked back.
Right behind Namgung In and Namgung Pyo, Namgung Hyeon was driving his horse. Looking at his expressionless face, it was difficult to know what he was thinking.
Namgung Pyo said with a smile.
“How are you doing?”
“Yes?”
“I heard you caused an accident while I was in closed-door training for a long time.”
Namgung Hyeon’s face stiffened slightly.
Namgung In said.
“It is already in the past.”
“It is in the past, but it is not something to be forgotten. We must check if he knows his mistake and if he has the will to fix it if he made a mistake.”
Namgung Pyo’s eyes became cool.
“I’m sure you will take care of it yourself, but I’ll say a word out of concern. Do not squander the skills you learned and practiced by being swayed by mere affection.”
“…I know.”
Namgung Pyo, who was quietly watching Namgung Hyeon, soon smiled and turned his head.
“Well, it’s possible at your age. Being shaken in your heart by overflowing vigor, when would you experience it if not when you are young? Haha!”
The corners of Namgung Hyeon’s mouth trembled slightly.
Namgung In said.
“Do not act like an old man. You are still young too.”
“I am young. My age is only thirty now. But well, isn’t it an age where vigor has diminished a bit.”
Namgung Pyo tilted his head.
“But I heard, the Zhuge Clan is still delaying their answer?”
“They asked for time.”
Namgung Pyo shook his head.
“It’s a clear refusal.”
“I also think so.”
“Sending a matchmaker from our side first was already an unusual burden. They wouldn’t be unaware of that, so if we use this well, it could be a justification to pressure the Zhuge Clan.”
Namgung In shook his head.
“No matter how much their force has shrunk, Zhuge is Zhuge. The title Divine Mystery Zhuge wasn’t given for nothing.”
“Tsk.”
“Since we will see them this time anyway, it would be good to definitely tie the knot.”
Namgung Pyo burst into laughter.
“I hope Zhuge realizes they kicked away a great blessing.”
Watching his father and older brother talking with a smile, Namgung Hyeon was drenched in an unspeakable sense of defeat.
‘Damn it.’
As soon as his brother broke out of closed-door training, his father’s attention all returned to his brother.
It was like that before he entered closed-door training as well. It was nothing new, but the feeling of being deprived of what he had briefly possessed couldn’t be good.
Even so, to exchange sensitive talk about Zhuge Ah-yeon right in front of the person involved.
‘I will definitely surpass him someday. Definitely!’
The hand holding the reins trembled. He wanted to strike out a sword immediately if he could.
“Speaking of which, it seems Sang-hwa has completely closed the door to her heart?”
“If that is that child’s limit, it can’t be helped.”
“Father, you are truly a cold-hearted person.”
“Hoho.”
Namgung Pyo’s eyes shone.
“The eldest son of the Yeon Clan… He is an interesting fellow.”
He heard all the major events that happened during the two years he was in closed-door training.
Among them, the most surprising thing was indeed the matter regarding Yeon Ho-jeong, who was called the Tiger General of Green Mountain.
Dealing with the Myeong Clan was surprising, but his ability to lightly crush the friction with his siblings was even more surprising. Such things were not something that could be done just by having strong martial arts.
Even so, Yeon Ho-jeong was said to have strong martial arts. Because his nickname was what it was, he was not included in the One Dragon and Three Phoenixes, but his skills were evaluated to have already approached them.
“Was he hiding his strength while being called a dog son of a tiger father?”
“That could be the case. The important thing is that it means that guy is also a genius no less than his younger brother.”
“It has become interesting. Meeting an overflowing talent is always something to look forward to at any time.”
Namgung In’s eyes widened.
“Are you thinking of meeting him?”
“He will come to the Murim Alliance anyway, won’t he? Surely the Yeon Clan Head won’t come alone.”
Namgung In clicked his tongue.
“Do not cause an accident.”
“I am not a fool who would smear mud on the family’s name out of mere vigor.”
The two people laughing heartily. Looking at those two, Namgung Hyeon’s face was burning red.
How long had they traveled like that.
“Once we cross over there, it will be the Dabie Mountains. The Murim Alliance is right under our noses.”
“That is so.”
It felt like the air had already changed. They could feel countless martial artists heading towards the Dabie Mountains from all directions.
“Since we’ve come this far, shall we go without resting?”
“Let’s do that.”
It was then.
‘…?!’
Namgung In and Namgung Pyo’s faces stiffened.
‘Masters?’
There was a group riding horses on a small path far to the left.
And the two flags held by the martial artists standing at the front of that group fluttered in the wind.
“…It is the Yeon Clan.”