Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 146 - An Invisible Fight is Scarier (1)
Chapter 146 – An Invisible Fight is Scarier (1)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“You look very tired.”
At Zhuge Wenhu’s subtly offered words, Yeon Wi shook his head.
“It seems to be because my sleep has decreased recently.”
“Is it because of your son?”
The son Zhuge Wenhu was talking about was, needless to say, Yeon Ho-jeong.
No matter how much he gained titles like Tiger General of Green Mountain or Tiger of Jiangdong, a child is a child. Yeon Wi was a person who knew the viciousness of the Jianghu Murim better than anyone, so he had no choice but to worry about his son.
However, Yeon Wi’s answer was unexpected.
“As a father, worrying about a child is natural. However, the decrease in sleep is not only because of that.”
“Is there another problem?”
A worried tone.
Even though they were of a similar age, Zhuge Wenhu’s tone and manner of speaking had a peculiarly soft and polite aspect.
Yeon Wi spoke calmly.
“I increased my training time.”
Zhuge Wenhu’s eyes widened.
“Training?”
“Because of family affairs, I had neglected taking care of my martial arts. Taking this opportunity, I plan to train my martial arts even by reducing my night sleep.”
“Hoo.”
When one reaches the level of the Head of the Six Great Clans or the Leader of the Nine Sects One Gang, actual training of holding and swinging a sword does not have much meaning.
The martial arts of the Orthodox Path are usually like that. After reaching a certain realm, they value enlightenment more than physical training. In reality, there were many experts who built a high realm in such a way.
However, based on the nuance of Yeon Wi’s words, it didn’t seem like a journey simply chasing enlightenment.
“If Clan Head Yeon is so tired, the intensity of the training must not be ordinary.”
Yeon Wi smiled faintly.
Just seeing a sliver of that smile, he could tell. Just how fiercely he was training.
Zhuge Wenhu inwardly gave a bitter smile.
‘They are an unstoppable father and son.’
Yeon Ho-jeong was a rare prodigy who grew like a monster at the age of twenty. Naturally, apart from his talent, he must have accumulated effort transcending imagination.
Looking at it now, it seemed all of that was family tradition. For a person who was even an Honored Guest of the Murim Alliance to train inside the Alliance? He was a truly diligent person.
“By the way, for what reason did you call this person?”
He is straightforward.
Zhuge Wenhu grasped the opponent’s personality well. It seemed there was no need to beat around the bush.
“Clan Head Murong is overexerting himself quite a bit.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes flashed.
He heard that his son had told Zhuge Wenhu all about his ill-fated relationship with the Murong Clan. If he heard it from his son, Zhuge Wenhu must also know that Clan Head Murong is quite dangerous.
“What do you mean by overexerting?”
“You must know about the mobile units of Sweeping Demons and Annihilating Evil, and among them, the leader of the Demon-Sweeping Army is Clan Head Murong’s younger brother.”
“I know. Didn’t you say it was Murong Yu?”
“That is correct.”
A slight look of difficulty fell over Zhuge Wenhu’s face.
“We caught circumstantial evidence that he is secretly trying to transfer the best talents among the warriors to be accepted into the Alliance Meeting this time into the Demon-Sweeping Army.”
“…”
“You must also know, Clan Head. Although we are called the Nine Sects One Gang and the Six Great Clans, and the pillars of the Orthodox Path Murim, in the vast world, there are also many experts who go beyond us.”
“I know.”
“There were hundreds of experts who knocked on the gates of the Alliance even before the official document was sent out. After formally distributing the official document, thousands of martial artists are flocking in.”
“To select the outstanding ones from among them and transfer them…”
“It is clear that he will pick out only the most exceptional jades even among jades.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“I am a layman when it comes to politics, but I know that it is not something that will work out just because Clan Head Murong pushes for it alone.”
“That is correct.”
Zhuge Wenhu’s eyes became sharp like a blade.
“There are only two groups we have caught holding hands with Clan Head Murong.”
“Where are they?”
“They are the Mount Hua Sect, and the Kongtong Sect.”
Shaanxi’s Mount Hua, Gansu’s Kongtong.
The people of the northernmost region of the Central Plains were famous for being tough. Was it because of that? The swordsmen of Mount Hua and Kongtong usually had resolute temperaments.
“The Nine Great Sects are reluctant to step forward into the secular world because of their face. It is clear that Clan Head Murong dug into that gap.”
“There is some sort of collusive relationship…”
Yeon Wi’s eyes became cold.
“It is truly like him.”
He knew well enough how insidious Murong Jun was through his son’s affairs. Now, just hearing the letter ‘Mu’ of the Murong Clan made his nerves stand on edge.
“I expect there will be at least one, and most likely two more.”
“In other words, you mean Murong Jun held hands with four places of the Nine Sects and formed a single faction?”
“That is right.”
Zhuge Wenhu’s eyes sparkled.
It was Yeon Wi saying Murong Jun unconsciously. It was a part that revealed how much he, who valued laws and dignity, hated Clan Head Murong.
“Furthermore, I do not know if Clan Head Yeon knows, but Murong Yu is a genius the world does not know about. He is evaluated to be at least on par with Murong Jun in both martial arts and business acumen.”
“You mean the independent mobile unit under the direct control of the Murim Alliance called the Demon-Sweeping Army might move for the Murong Clan.”
“That is right.”
Zhuge Wenhu sighed.
“Even if that is not the case, we must not leave Clan Head Murong’s unstoppable sprint as it is. Because if we make a mistake, the massive power called the Murim Alliance could be selfishly abused.”
“Then what do you suggest we do?”
Zhuge Wenhu pulled out his two index fingers and placed them on the table.
“The right hand is the Demon-Sweeping Army, and the left hand is the Evil-Annihilating Army. And right now, Clan Head Murong is pouring strength into the Demon-Sweeping Army.”
He spread the remaining fingers of his right hand.
Demon-Sweeping Army Five, Evil-Annihilating Army One.
“Three or possibly four of the Nine Sects, led by the Murong Clan, will join them. The Demon-Sweeping Army will receive that strength and expand their prestige.”
“Reduce that strength?”
“No. Now, there are not many ways to reduce their strength, nor is there a guarantee of success.”
“Then what should we do?”
Zhuge Wenhu folded the index finger of his left hand and spread the remaining fingers except the thumb.
Evil-Annihilating Army Three.
“Right now, it is better to give strength to the Evil-Annihilating Army rather than reducing the opponent’s strength.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes deepened.
“It is as if you are fighting a proxy war using the two mobile units.”
“That is right.”
“I will confess honestly. I do not know the reason why we must forcefully escalate the situation like this.”
“The reason is very simple.”
“What is it?”
“Because it is the exact same problem as seizing the initiative in a fight.”
A cold wind raged in Zhuge Wenhu’s two eyes, which had been full of knowledge and wisdom.
“Just like Clan Head Yeon, I too do not need power beyond this. Because I think this state is the most ideal, whether it becomes porridge or rice.”
“…”
“However, the opponent is different. If we cannot suppress the first move in this fight, from then on, the power of the Alliance will definitely lean to one side.”
“That is…”
“And power leaning to one side will inevitably have a serious impact on the grand affair next year.”
Light spewed from Yeon Wi’s eyes.
“The selection of the Murim Alliance Leader.”
“That is right.”
Zhuge Wenhu relaxed his hands.
“This year, the Honored Guests are operating it jointly. They have no choice but to do so. However, next year is different. Undoubtedly, before this year passes, someone will bring up the talk about the selection of the Alliance Leader.”
“…!”
“It is a Murim Alliance established after tens of years. As the first Murim Alliance Leader of our generation, it is right to appoint someone whose work handling is fair and who is full of consultation in every matter.”
“You are correct.”
“That position must absolutely not be taken by someone full of desire for power.”
Yeon Wi fell deep into thought for a moment.
Zhuge Wenhu waited with sufficient time. The opponent is the head of the best martial family in Jiangdong. He could even point out something that the Head of the Zhuge Clan, who was said to be the best in resourcefulness, had not seen.
After a quarter of an hour, Yeon Wi opened his mouth.
“I understand Clan Head Zhuge’s words that we must break the opponent camp’s momentum even if it means fighting a proxy war. And that we must give strength to the Evil-Annihilating Army as well.”
“Thank you.”
“If so, in what way do you plan to give strength to the Evil-Annihilating Army?”
“We must tell the Honored Guests excluding those who share the same will as Clan Head Murong, and pull out more than three tenths of the jades heading to the Demon-Sweeping Army.”
“You mean to the Evil-Annihilating Army?”
“That is right.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“Let’s not do that.”
“Do you have a separate plan in mind?”
“It is not really a plan, nor is it a method I prefer, but… yes.”
“Please tell me.”
“The fact that Clan Head Murong is sorting out the wheat from the chaff means the Demon-Sweeping Army has not been established yet. The current advantage of the Evil-Annihilating Army is that they departed the Alliance much faster than the Demon-Sweeping Army.”
“That is right.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes deepened.
“Let’s draft the legitimate lineages of our families.”
“…!”
“I heard that Clan Head Zhuge’s eldest daughter has an acquaintance with my lacking son. And also the sons of Clan Head Peng.”
Zhuge Wenhu’s face stiffened.
“Clan Head Yeon, do your words mean to send existences that can represent our factions to give him strength?”
“That is so.”
Rather than picking from among the warriors gathering at the Murim Alliance, let’s just draft them from the families.
Zhuge Wenhu knew well how dangerous and terrifying these words were.
“Clan Head Yeon, that is…”
“It has not been long since the Murim Alliance was established. If the leadership of the Alliance Meeting shows a sight of fighting like hungry ghosts in this situation, the authority of the Murim Alliance will fall to the ground.”
“Still, it is dangerous.”
“It is dangerous, but it is also the best move to break the opponent’s spirit.”
Zhuge Wenhu sighed.
“Even if it might make them falter right now, it will definitely become a problem in the future.”
“Let’s think about the aftermath then. And I do not think that will become a problem.”
“Why do you think so?”
Yeon Wi smiled faintly.
“I might look like a doting father, but my son’s eyes reading the political situation are quite marvelous. The things Clan Head Zhuge is thinking of will never happen.”
Two mobile units.
One of them will be filled with those who boast a brilliant reputation in the Jianghu, and the other was filled with young experts of the Nine Sects and Six Clans.
It is a world that looks unfavorably upon those who possess. Naturally, the gaze directed at the Evil-Annihilating Army will not only be favorable, and Murong Jun will squeeze into that gap.
However, Yeon Wi says. Trust my son.
Clan Head Zhuge, who stared blankly at Yeon Wi, smiled.
“I know well how outstanding a talent Clan Head Yeon’s eldest son is.”
“It is only embarrassing.”
“Good. Since it has come to this, let us not think complicatedly and go hotly.”
Making a decision like this rather put his mind at ease.
Of course, uneasiness also remained. That uneasiness was not because of this fierce power struggle, but because of his own daughter.
‘Will she be able to endure it.’
Zhuge Ah-yeon.
Although she was his daughter, as a father, he had done nothing for her. Rather, due to the family’s influence weakening over time, he almost sacrificed his daughter’s life.
Thinking of entrusting her with such a task once again in the midst of that made his heart feel like it was tearing. He worried that she might get harmed somewhere or get seriously injured.
‘However…’
Zhuge Wenhu smiled and looked at Yeon Wi.
Yeon Wi was a good person. He was somewhat stiff, but as a Clan Head and as an individual, he was a person who instilled trust.
And his son, Yeon Ho-jeong, was completely different from his father yet had many resembling aspects.
‘For this time, I hope you too can try risking your life.’
Zhuge Wenhu, who had been smiling for a long time, suddenly stiffened his expression.
“Since we’re on the subject, there is one more thing I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“In this exceptionally chaotic political situation, a faction that had been strangely quiet contacted me.”
“A faction? Where is that?”
Zhuge Wenhu’s eyes deepened.
“It is the Sichuan Tang Clan.”