Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 131 - Price of Greed (1)
Chapter 131 – Price of Greed (1)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“How is it? Does it taste good?”
“Yes, it is good.”
Murong Jun burst into laughter.
“The fresh seafood from the seaside would have been quite decent as well. However, meat still suits my taste better than seafood.”
“Is that so.”
Murong Jun looked at Murong Yu with proud eyes.
Even while eating this delicious food, Murong Yu had no change in expression at all.
It was not that he was pretending it tasted bad. To Murong Yu, food was merely intake for the correct activity of the body, nothing more and nothing less.
Murong Yu was ‘trained’ like that. To maintain his body in the best condition at any time and any place.
Even while living as the Zhejiang Branch Head, he did not lose the attitude of a martial artist. Murong Jun thought such a Murong Yu was amazing.
“By the way, are you still learning the Burning Wilderness True Qi?”
“That is correct.”
“Tsk, looking at your Qi, it seems it has been quite a long time since you mastered it.”
“Martial arts must be constantly comprehended even after mastering them. From that perspective, your younger brother still has a long way to go.”
“Of course that is true. However, the Burning Wilderness True Qi is a martial art that cannot even fill half of your vessel. You have come this far because your aptitude and effort are outstanding; if it were others, they would not have dared to even dream of growing to that extent.”
Murong Jun, who had been admiring him, took out four thick books from under the table.
“These are what I personally wrote down this morning. From now on, practice these martial arts.”
“What are these?”
“You will know when you see them.”
Murong Yu examined the booklets.
A moment later, his eyes widened.
“Is this not the Heaven and Earth Martial Resolution?”
“That is right. It is the Clan Head’s Learning of our main family. It is an absolute art where even the first half is not transmitted unless one is the successor or a few chosen geniuses.”
Murong Yu’s eyes trembled.
Murong Jun burst into laughter seeing his youngest brother like that. Even a guy who was always gentle and polite was still a martial artist.
“Did you not say it? That if I become the Murim Alliance Leader, I should pass the Clan Head position to you.”
“…”
“With your talent, you will be able to reach mastery within ten years. No one in the clan will be able to oppose you inheriting the Clan Head position.”
“…Thank you.”
Murong Yu calmed his pounding heart.
“I will try to make it mine within five years.”
“What? Hahaha!”
Murong Jun liked his youngest brother’s bold answer.
Naturally, it had to be like this. The will to not just catch up but to overtake; it is easy to say, but the people who actually do it are only a handful.
Murong Jun did not doubt that Murong Yu would master the Clan Head’s Learning faster than anyone else.
“And I have something else to tell you.”
“Please speak.”
“You, marriage…”
It was then.
“Clan Head. It is the White Wind Squad Leader.”
“Hmm, what is the matter?”
“The eldest son of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan is said to have come to see the Clan Head. What should we do?”
Murong Jun’s eyes flashed.
“Yeon Ho-jeong?”
Murong Yu was greatly surprised. And he did not bother trying to hide his surprised appearance.
Murong Jun asked.
“Do you know Yeon Ho-jeong too?”
Murong Yu answered calmly.
“Is he not the rising star called the Green Mountain Tiger General whose fame is widespread these days?”
“Rising star… Yes, a rising star.”
“But for what reason would that person come to you, older brother…?”
Murong Jun shook his head.
“You should also know now. Just how terrifying of a guy he is.”
“…”
“Although he is young in age, his martial arts already surpass the elder level of the Nine Great Sects, One Gang, and Six Great Clans. And the schemes and stratagems he possesses are comparable to mine.”
“…!”
“Martial arts, stratagems, guts, execution ability. He is another genius lacking in no aspect. I have met countless talents until now, but I have never seen a monster like him.”
It was a tremendous high evaluation. Murong Yu was purely surprised that such an evaluation came from his brother’s mouth.
Murong Jun smiled.
“In a certain sense, he could become a good opponent for you. Of course, that is if you become sufficiently cold-hearted.”
“…”
“Heoheo, my useless words were long. Let’s do the rest of the talking later.”
“Understood.”
Murong Yu bowed his head as he stood up from his seat.
“I have received the martial arts with gratitude.”
“Yes. I am looking forward to it greatly.”
Murong Jun shouted toward the outside of the door.
“Tell him to come in.”
Kkiiik.
The door opened and Yeon Ho-jeong entered.
At the moment their gazes met, sparks flew from the eyes of Yeon Ho-jeong and Murong Yu.
Yeon Ho-jeong slightly bowed his head. Then Murong Yu also lightly bowed his head and passed him by.
“It has been a long time.”
“Indeed.”
“Have a seat there. I will have to brew the tea again.”
“It is fine. I drank some just a little while ago before coming.”
“Heoheo, is that so?”
Thud.
As soon as the door closed, Yeon Ho-jeong asked.
“Who is that?”
“Hmm?”
“The person who just left.”
Murong Jun suddenly became curious. What Yeon Ho-jeong’s first impression of Murong Yu would be like.
“How does he look to you? Does he look decent?”
“How would I know about an opponent I haven’t even shared a single conversation with.”
“Heoheo, it is just because I am curious about what your first impression was. I wish you would please answer.”
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“He does not seem like a person fit to sit at the same table as the Clan Head.”
“Hmm?”
“His martial arts are extremely outstanding, but somehow his personality looks a bit soft.”
Indeed, this guy’s discerning eye is not ordinary.
Murong Jun smiled and spoke honestly.
“You saw well. He is a kid with outstanding talent in various fields.”
“That is unexpected. I saw you as someone who considers a cold-hearted poisonous mind more important than talent.”
“Heoheoheo! That depends on what I do, doesn’t it.”
Murong Jun, who moistened his throat with tea, asked.
“Yes, for what reason did you come looking for me from broad daylight.”
“You already know, do you not?”
Murong Jun smiled brightly.
“Why? Is it that suspicious that I recommended you as the head of a combat unit?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled back.
“It was so openly suspicious that I even pondered if it was perhaps pure goodwill.”
“Heoheoheo!”
Yeon Ho-jeong asked straightforwardly.
“What position were you promised?”
“Hmm?”
“When the Murim Alliance is established, what position will the Clan Head sit in, I am asking.”
“Heoheo, even I do not know that. At the very least, it seems I won’t be able to become the Alliance Leader.”
“Are you thinking of acting as the head of the organization that oversees the combat units?”
Murong Jun merely smiled.
Although his two eyes were sharply on edge.
“…”
After a moment of silence, Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“You do not need to overdo it already, do you?”
“Overdo it?”
“Since you established a tremendous merit in expelling the Myeong Clan, it literally looks like you are riding a tiger, but what are you going to do if you trip over a weed while running without looking left and right?”
“Heoheo, it is not a life lived so easily to trip over a weed.”
“So, are you thinking of pushing through like this?”
“Of course. My dream is just beginning.”
“Are you confident?”
“The future is something no one can know. I can only do my best in my position.”
Murong Jun smirked.
“Isn’t all of life like that?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
‘He has something he believes in.’
Murong Jun is not alone. It was certain he must have joined hands with some among the Nine Great Sects, One Gang, and Six Great Clans.
‘Already in this brief moment? As expected, he is not ordinary.’
Murong Jun tilted his head.
“Why are you staring so intently?”
“…”
“If you came to grasp my true intentions regarding that matter, I have nothing else to say. It is merely because it is a pity to let a capable talent rot.”
“You are trying to unreasonably seat a young man who has just reached his twenties and whose blood on his head hasn’t even dried yet in a heavy responsibility.”
“Age and skill are separate matters. You sufficiently proved your own ability while facing the Nine States Myeong Clan and while catching Myeong Ho-rim.”
“…”
“Do you have nothing more to say?”
“Well.”
“If you have nothing to say, you may leave now.”
“Independent Mobile Unit.”
“Hmm?”
Yeon Ho-jeong relaxed his expression.
“Since you already recommended me, you probably cannot take it back under normal circumstances. Even considering my father’s face, you shouldn’t do that.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“The combat unit that I will head will act as an Independent Mobile Unit. It duly belongs to the Murim Alliance, but it cannot be a flower in a greenhouse. While freely roaming the fields, if a huge incident erupts in the Jianghu Murim, it will take on the nature of an independent organization that moves under the judgment of its head.”
“…”
“Of course, excessive non-interference is no different from indulgence. The only person who can issue commands to us is the Alliance Leader. If perhaps a separate decision-making body is established, we could also move according to the majority opinion.”
“Heoheoheo!”
Murong Jun laughed as if it was absurd.
“Did you perhaps think I would grant your request?”
“Can you not?”
“Of course not. Even if I had such a mind, I am only the Clan Head of a single family. It means I cannot proceed with such a matter on my own authority.”
“This is our third meeting, but we know each other quite well. Isn’t that so?”
“I’ve thought this for a while, but your way of speaking feels excessively rude to just endure and listen to.”
“Let’s throw off our cumbersome masks and talk.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s pupils were dyed blue.
The color of the Jade Gauze True Qi, which was usually so beautiful, looked exceptionally eerie today.
“You can do it, can’t you?”
“…”
“Neither you nor I know each other’s limits yet. But we know this one thing. That you are not an incompetent person who cannot even use that much power.”
Murong Jun’s expression turned frigid.
The true face of a cold-hearted ambitious man, shown to Yeon Ho-jeong for the first time, was there.
“If I set my mind to it, there is nothing I cannot do. However, why must I attach such a fighting force to you? I am not a philanthropist who does good things for others out of goodwill.”
“I know, that is why I am doing this.”
“Let’s flick the abacus one more time, is that it?”
“How is your relationship with the Diancang Sect?”
Murong Jun’s expression stiffened.
“What do you mean?”
“I probably told you before. If you are going to use a person, use a guy with tight lips.”
“…?!”
“If your thought was to instill a sense of alertness, you succeeded splendidly. Thanks to that, I cooped myself up in the house for a couple of months just swinging my halberd.”
“…”
“They say life is an old man’s horse at the frontier, do they not? Since you hit me once, now I must hit you once. That arrow you shot, if I refine it well, it seems I could try flying it back from this side.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled brightly.
“Should I shoot the arrow named Mong-ui into your chest? Or should I shoot it using the Diancang Sect as a target? Order according to your taste. Since I am the one in charge of cooking.”
The corners of Murong Jun’s eyes trembled slightly.
He realized that Yeon Ho-jeong was not lying. Even if it was a lie, now that the name ‘Mong-ui’ had come out, he could not ignore it.
“Are you holding him?”
“He is safely enshrined in the thunder prison. Although he has been broken quite a lot.”
Murong Jun spoke in a cold voice.
“Even if you send that guy to the Diancang Sect, would he really be able to affect the grand situation? If he were such a guy, I would not have even sent him.”
“He was using the lost Sun-Piercing Sword Technique, though?”
“…!!”
“It seems you didn’t know. Did Mong-ui not tell you?”
Murong Jun’s face distorted noticeably.
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke in a cheerful tone.
“My stakes are ready. Bring the abacus.”