Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 130 - Orthodox Path Murim Alliance (5)
Chapter 130 – Orthodox Path Murim Alliance (5)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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That night.
Leaving Ga Deuk-sang who had completely gotten drunk behind, Yeon Ho-jeong came out to the rear garden of the Destroying Army Pavilion and sat cross-legged.
Woooong.
A faint blue energy wrapped around his entire body and circulated.
It was a qi that had become much deeper and more beautiful than two months ago. Even while emitting this kind of qi, he did not exude qi waves beyond a certain area.
It meant his control of true qi was perfect even during qi circulation. As time passed, he was becoming proficient at tuning his power.
‘My body is finally catching up.’
In his head, he had already summoned all the divine qi of the Four Gods and achieved great completion of the Jade Gauze True Qi, and not only that, but he had also mastered all of the Five Great Divine Arts of the Yeon Clan.
However, reality was not easy. Muscles and bones, blood vessels, organs, etc., all the elements comprising the body were less trained to completely melt the enlightenment.
Now it was different.
‘I’m slowly surpassing it.’
To become stronger, something more than effort is needed.
It varies from person to person, but for Yeon Ho-jeong, that something was precisely belief. Trusting his own experiences and enlightenment of conquering the Unorthodox Path as the Dark Emperor.
That belief was gradually seeing the light through harsh training and fierce investigation.
‘My physical body is keeping up. It is now keeping up with my qi, my enlightenment, and my will.’
Evolution is changing from inferior to superior. And one of the essential elements of that evolution was precisely the environment.
Just as living beings evolve according to their environment, Yeon Ho-jeong also rapidly changed the environment of his physical body.
He increased his qi and overworked his body. Even when his body rested, his mind always controlled his qi to make his physical activities vigorous. He created a hellish environment where he couldn’t hold out without growing.
With an ordinary mental strength, his physical body would have collapsed or his upper dantian, unable to overcome the pain, would have crumbled.
And this moment now, having overcome all of that.
Finally, his physical body was completely placed under Yeon Ho-jeong’s will.
Srrr.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had closed his eyes, extended his right hand.
White Tiger Qi unraveled thread by thread from the fingertips of his naturally extended hand.
Hwooong.
It summoned the wind.
On a cold winter night, the White Tiger Qi, which had created a single streak of comfortable warm wind, captured a moderately sized tree far away.
He slowly clenched the hand he had limply extended into a fist.
Hwooooong!
A formless wind swirled around the tree.
That wind became noticeably stronger as time passed. A translucent white energy began to slowly linger in the wind that hovered around only that single tree.
Flash!
Yeon Ho-jeong opened his eyes.
Crunch!
The traces of a gust of wind were engraved on the surface of the tree.
He couldn’t break it, but he left traces of a fierce wind on the tree bark. He had loaded a strong will into the White Tiger Qi.
Originally, it would be normal for the tree to be compressed and crushed, but the density of the White Tiger Qi was not that thick yet. However, even just this much can be considered a great success.
“Void Manipulation…?!”
A streak of astonished voice was heard.
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head. Muk Bi was there.
“Are you not sleeping?”
“J-Just now, that move! Wasn’t that Void Manipulation?”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“It wasn’t.”
Void Manipulation refers to the stage of drawing in an object without even touching it using internal energy loaded with strong will.
Being able to do Void Manipulation is the same as saying one has entered the beginning stages of Sword Control. Of course, to exert power truly befitting Sword Control, blood-vomiting training and ultimate enlightenment would be needed.
“If it’s not Void Manipulation, what is it?”
“It’s just one of the internal energy arts. My physical body is changing, but both my qi and my body are less trained to implement Void Manipulation yet.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.
“If it’s fast, it’s fast, but… I still didn’t know it would take this long.”
After returning to the past, he initially thought he would be able to become strong quickly with the enlightenment of the Dark Emperor. He thought if he repeated hellish training, he would be able to reach a stage equal to his father within at least a year.
He was wrong.
Martial arts are not something that easy. The enlightenment of the Dark Emperor was something to be counted within the era, but it couldn’t exert god-like efficacy.
‘Still.’
Yeon Ho-jeong did not doubt it.
‘I can become stronger faster. If the necessary requirements are met, I can become sufficiently faster.’
And he knew what kind of environment was the environment where he could grow explosively.
‘The battlefield.’
It is fighting.
In the past, and now, he always grew while fighting. The gap between life and death, the environment where he could most explosively feel the necessity of evolution could completely transform his martial arts.
A growth power that blooms as he gets closer to death. It was truly befitting a descendant of the Four Gods Martial Arts.
“If that took a long time, then I should go out and die.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I have a trick that others do not know. But you don’t. Looking at it from that aspect, you are more amazing.”
“A trick?”
“There is such a thing.”
“You sure have a lot of secrets.”
Muk Bi, who trudged over, sat next to Yeon Ho-jeong.
“Why did you come out when it’s cold? You should go in and rest.”
“I slept earlier so I can’t sleep.”
“Is that so.”
The two people looked up at the sky.
It was winter, but it didn’t seem like it would snow for the time being. The moonlight was beautiful.
“Did you finish drinking all the alcohol?”
“Since I finished drinking it all, I am sitting in this cold place practicing internal energy.”
“What about that beggar?”
“He is sleeping. Good-natured gentleman.”
“Tell me about it. He seems to be incredibly shameless.”
“He is actually shameless. It’s no joke.”
Muk Bi smirked.
She looked back at Yeon Ho-jeong.
“It’s a bit out of nowhere, but can I ask you one thing?”
“Ask.”
“What is your dream?”
“Dream?”
“Yes. Dream.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“I don’t particularly have a grand dream. I have a goal in life, but.”
“Is it preparing for the future you talked about before?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you saying that is more important than your dream?”
“Of course. If my home disappears and all my people die, what meaning would there be even if I achieved my dream?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“Then again, there might be people who don’t care about such things. But I am not like that.”
“So that’s how it is.”
“But why do you ask that?”
“That’s why I said it. That it’s a bit out of nowhere.”
“How silly.”
Muk Bi smacked her lips.
“At least we have something similar.”
“Hmm?”
“Because I also want to protect my people.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“Am I your person too?”
Muk Bi frowned.
“I don’t want to admit it, but yes. I also have a huge amount of debt to repay.”
“Haha.”
“It would be really great if you didn’t play nonsensical jokes sometimes.”
“It’s the driving force of my life. Wish for something you can wish for.”
“Your words are grand, but in the end, doesn’t it mean you are a person with a ruined character who loses energy if you can’t tease others.”
Yeon Ho-jeong wanted to ask the past Muk Bi.
You, why did you live with your mouth shut like that when your vocabulary is so good?
“Ugh. Sitting in a cold place for a long time made my butt lose sensation. I will go in first and sleep.”
“Already?”
“Already my foot, punk, it’s past midnight.”
“Tch.”
“You should sleep a bit more too. You must have been tired from the journey.”
“I told you I can’t sleep. And well, would anything happen? Since it’s the main castle of the Orthodox Path Murim Alliance that is said to be righteous.”
“Well, that we cannot know.”
“Yes?”
Yeon Ho-jeong showed a cool smile.
“Because it has started to smell fishy.”
The Three Divine Qi hummed and cried out.
* * *
The next morning.
“Have you arrived?”
“Yeah.”
Yeon Ho-jeong clicked his tongue.
“Why did it take so long? The leaders of the Nine Sects and Six Great Clans haven’t even all gathered yet.”
“Since almost everyone has gathered, we had a lengthy debate on the topic of establishing the Murim Alliance.”
“Well, that can happen.”
Even though he came back after only talking and racking his brain until dawn broke, Yeon Wi did not look tired at all.
“Do you have time?”
“I do, but are you not going to sleep?”
“If you have time, come out and let’s talk.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed. It was because he read an unusual sign in his father’s voice.
“Understood.”
“But where is the Successor?”
“He is still sleeping in my residence.”
“…”
“Do not expect great things from that human, Father.”
“Ahem!”
A moment later, the two people sat facing each other in Yeon Wi’s room.
Yeon Wi spoke straightforwardly.
“The establishment of the Murim Alliance seems to be almost confirmed.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“As expected.”
“Were you guessing it?”
“Clan Head Murong made a shining contribution in declaring the Nine States Myeong Clan as the Public Enemy of the Murim by invoking the Great Assembly Right. He made an environment where the leaders of the Nine Sects and Six Clans had no choice but to implicitly pay attention.”
“That’s right.”
“And Clan Head Murong wants the Murim Alliance to be established.”
“Hmm.”
“The flow of the general trend is something that cannot be resisted. Moreover, Clan Head Murong is a type whose active role in an all-out war stands out more than in local warfare. He must have definitely led the flow.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“It is exactly as you said. To speak honestly, even though I knew he was clearly an enemy, my heart was shaken by Clan Head Murong’s eloquence.”
“I understand.”
To Yeon Wi, what was important was not the fact that Murong Jun was an enemy.
To him, the Way of Chivalry and Righteousness and the safety of the people were the most important. For that, he could hold hands even with an enemy. There was a reason why the world praised him as a Great Hero.
Because he was like that, it was possible for him to be shaken by Murong Jun’s words.
And Yeon Ho-jeong, on the contrary, thought his father was amazing because of that aspect.
“Several of the leaders of the forces that haven’t arrived yet are all possessors of a belligerent nature. There is a high probability they will openly try to agree.”
“In other words, it would be safe to view the establishment of the Murim Alliance as confirmed.”
“It can be viewed that way.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“As I told you before, I also agree with the establishment of the Murim Alliance.”
“Phew.”
Yeon Wi sighed.
Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips.
“Since it has already been decided, please do not feel too regretful. If the security of the world becomes better due to the Murim Alliance, that would also be good…”
“That is not the reason.”
“Yes?”
Yeon Wi’s eyes looking at Yeon Ho-jeong were full of confusion.
In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong intuited that a certain incident related to him had occurred.
“What is the matter?”
“Clan Head Murong… No, Clan Head Murong started it, but there was one thing where the majority of the leaders of each sect showed enthusiasm.”
“…?”
“The newly established Murim Alliance does not have any notable combat troops. In reality, it is called the Murim Alliance, but isn’t the Murim Alliance precisely the union of the powers of the Nine Sects One Gang, the Six Great Clans, and various small and medium sects.”
“That is right.”
“However, they seem to think they must create combat troops directly under the Murim Alliance, unaffiliated anywhere else.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“I also agree with that. Since the Murim Alliance is to be established anyway, it would be better to equip it with solid power. However…”
“…”
“They wanted to create combat troops taking the masters produced by each sect as the captains.”
A cold smile lingered on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
“So the fight for initiative has already begun.”
“Yeah.”
“How was the result?”
“First, creating several directly controlled troops under the Murim Alliance was decided unanimously. However, regarding taking masters of each sect as the leaders, four people, including myself, expressed opposing opinions.”
“Four people?”
“Myself, Clan Head Zhuge, the Shaolin Abbot, and…”
Yeon Wi’s eyes became cool.
“Clan Head Murong.”
Yeon Ho-jeong was not surprised. He knew why Murong Jun opposed it.
‘When he becomes the Alliance Leader later, he must have wanted to govern only the troops under his command. Because if combat troops taking masters of each sect as leaders are created, he would have to be mindful of others.’
He had already started the groundwork. He is a gentleman who is amazing when it comes to driving force alone.
“Since the Murim Alliance is a group with symbolism, it is right to remove the colors of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Six Great Clans as much as possible.”
“I also think so.”
“It is a story for the too distant future for now. To think about it gradually…”
“Clan Head Murong recommended you.”
“Yes?”
A hint of doubt arose on Yeon Wi’s face.
“What was put forward as a compromise was to take masters of each sect as the leaders for only half of the combat troops. And Clan Head Murong recommended you as the leader of one of those combat troops.”
“…Oho?”
“Do you know what his intention is?”
“I know one thing.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled wickedly.
“That gentleman, it seems he was quite afraid of me?”