Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 162 - The Essence of the Secret Struggle (2)
Chapter 162 – The Essence of the Secret Struggle (2)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Edited by Celestial Knight
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The woman was beautiful.
Although her age was already approaching thirty, her cool yet clear eyes held the innocence of a young girl.
Draped in stylish clothes over her generally slender body, she looked incredibly attractive. She was a woman in whom an atmosphere as hot as fire and as cold as a blizzard was surprisingly well-harmonized.
The world called this woman the Phoenix of Sichuan, the Dark Heaven Divine Maiden, and revered her.
“So, did you meet him yesterday?”
It was a tone filled with coldness and resoluteness. Like father, like daughter; perhaps the daughter’s atmosphere was inherited from her father’s unique temperament.
To Tang Kwan’s stiff words, Tang Sang-ah smiled and answered.
“Yes.”
“How was he?”
“He was a person difficult to define in one word.”
Tang Kwan nodded his head.
A person difficult to define? It wasn’t easy to know what she meant. In the first place, he didn’t put much meaning into those words.
Because the important thing wasn’t how she viewed him, but whether the marriage would be accomplished or not.
“They will give an answer soon. Wait quietly.”
“Yes.”
“If by any chance they reject the marriage, other than that…”
“Father.”
“Speak.”
Tang Sang-ah smiled. It was a transparent laugh that didn’t contain any sincerity.
“I want to be alone.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes deepened.
Staring blankly at his daughter, Tang Kwan stood up from his seat.
“Even if it’s not martial arts, there must be a path to become happy.”
With those words, Tang Kwan left the room.
As soon as the room door closed, Tang Sang-ah stretched widely.
“Nnngh! Ah, I’m tired.”
Resting her chin on her hand, she looked out the window.
“Hmm, the weather is very nice.”
Her two eyes sparkled.
She had lived in Sichuan for almost her entire life. Not to mention Henan Province, the Dabie Mountains were also a place she had come to for the first time.
Was it because of that? Even though she had been within the alliance for several months, her heart pounded as if she had just arrived for the first time. The atmosphere of Mount Dabie, which showed different sceneries as much as the distinct four seasons, also aroused her excitement.
“What should I play doing today?”
Even in a situation where she might have to marry right away due to her father’s coercion, she didn’t lose her joy.
To her, the important thing was how to enjoy this moment right now. Since time once passed didn’t return, Tang Sang-ah’s thought was that she had to spend each and every day excitingly.
That way, she wouldn’t regret it.
Even if she came to live an unwanted life, she would be able to live on making memories her friend.
‘Hm?’
Someone was captured far away in Tang Sang-ah’s eyes as she was sightseeing the scenery with a refreshing mood.
‘That person is…?’
A peculiar expression appeared on Tang Sang-ah’s face.
‘Why is he there at this time? He should be in the middle of being busy with the foundation ceremony?’
It was none other than Murong Yu. He was the head of the Demon-Sweeping Army among the mobile units of Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating, and the main character of the foundation ceremony that would be held in front of the Martial Sage Hall at noon today.
And… perhaps the person who might become her husband.
‘Interesting?’
Having a short conversation while drinking a cup of tea with Murong Yu was everything.
She couldn’t grasp a person with just that much. Even if she could guess his disposition, it was too short a time to know everything about that person.
Of course, Tang Sang-ah didn’t have the thought of finding out something about Murong Yu. It wasn’t because it was Murong Yu, but she simply didn’t have interest in anyone itself.
As a daughter of the Tang Clan, she had accepted early on the harsh fate bestowed upon the women of the family.
It didn’t matter who the opponent was. It was fine as long as his limbs were intact and his personality was good.
‘…Hmm.’
However, she could feel interest in the unexpected words and actions shown by that opponent. So to speak, it could be said to be close to pure curiosity.
And right now, she felt curiosity towards Murong Yu.
The eye technique trained to the limit as a master of hidden weapons completely pierced through every single one of Murong Yu’s minute expressions.
‘He looks incredibly troubled? It probably isn’t because of me.’
Murong Yu was a good person. But just like herself, he didn’t seem to have much inspiration towards the opponent.
If so, it didn’t seem to be because of her…
‘Well, since I have nothing to do.’
A feeling came.
She didn’t know if it would be fun, but a feeling that she would at least witness an incident capable of inducing interest.
Vooong!
The moment red qi seemed to spread out from Tang Sang-ah’s body.
Sarak.
Before she knew it, her body was shot out the window.
* * *
“Phew, annoying.”
A high-quality long robe was draped over the clean white clothes.
It was a material that felt rather incongruous because it was too soft. It was clothes worthy of many people praising it in unison saying it was luxurious, but to Yeon Ho-jeong, it felt cumbersome.
“Clothes are wings.”
“Does it look okay?”
“You wear it around like that usually too.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Muk Bi.
“You’re quite something too, huh?”
Yeon Ho-jeong was Yeon Ho-jeong, but Muk Bi, dressed in a palace attire, was truly showing off an incredible beauty.
She didn’t even put on makeup, but that rather brought out her pure charm a layer more. Her finely combed over hair, and her firm body trained with archery and movement techniques were captivating enough to catch the eyes of any man.
However, Muk Bi’s face was full of dissatisfaction.
“What is this.”
“What? It’s just pretty.”
“It’s hard to move. If I wear clothes like this, the speed of the Dragon Flying Divine Walk will slow down.”
Yeon Ho-jeong clicked his tongue.
“Endure it just a little. You can change out of it as soon as the foundation ceremony ends.”
“Phew.”
Muk Bi continually letting out sighs.
Yeon Ho-jeong suddenly remembered something and turned his head.
“Hey!”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
“Are you not going to change your clothes?”
Ok-cheong scratched his head with an awkward face.
“Shouldn’t a Taoist naturally pursue comfortable poverty and taking pleasure in the Way?”
“Do that normally, and since it’s the foundation ceremony, at least… Hey! No, but you, why have you been toddling around here since yesterday?”
It was so.
After Immortal Seung-hyeon went back, Ok-cheong came looking. Ok-cheong loitered inside the Army-Destroying Pavilion without any particular words and gauged Yeon Ho-jeong’s mood.
That was all. He didn’t say something or request a spar either. He was just there like that.
Ok-cheong let out a fake cough.
“It just seems like the qi around the Army-Destroying Pavilion is good.”
“Does the Wudang Sect teach dogshit too?”
“That is a bit too harsh of a statement.”
“Be quiet! You also quickly go and change your clothes and go to the Martial Sage Hall! There’s only half a shichen left.”
“I’ll just go as I am.”
Yeon Ho-jeong raised his fist without a word.
Ok-cheong’s expression immediately became servile.
“Well, there is also the dignity that needs to be shown externally. I will see you later.”
Pa-ak!
Ok-cheong disappeared at a terrifying speed. Perhaps his internal injuries were also completely healed, his movement technique speed was faster than any other time.
Yeon Ho-jeong let out a sigh.
“There are no normal people around me, no normal people.”
Suddenly, Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Muk Bi.
Muk Bi was staring blankly at him. That truly profound gaze contained the meaning of ‘And you’re normal doing that?’
“Turn your head before I firmly poke out your eyeholes, punk.”
“My goodness.”
“What? What!”
“Whatever. Goodness, you’re just bullying me now because you’re strong.”
“If anyone heard, they’d think I didn’t bully you before.”
“I have nothing to say, really.”
Yeon Ho-jeong giggled.
It was then.
“Eh?”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head towards the main gate of the Army-Destroying Pavilion.
‘What is it?’
One familiar qi was approaching at a fast speed.
It was another genius whose realm of martial arts had grown steeply in the time he hadn’t seen him. Perhaps because he had grown too rapidly, he couldn’t consolidate his qi, and was someone who cast his presence even more clearly.
A moment later.
“May I enter.”
Yeon Ho-jeong directly opened the main gate.
Murong Yu was there.
“For what matter?”
“Have a chat with me.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was staring blankly at Murong Yu, turned his body.
“To the room.”
The three people who came up to Yeon Ho-jeong’s second-floor room.
Murong Yu spoke straightforwardly.
“The foundation ceremony has been cancelled.”
“What?”
Not only Yeon Ho-jeong, but Muk Bi was also surprised.
“It was cancelled? What do you mean by that?”
“To be exact…”
Murong Yu couldn’t easily continue his words.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes narrowed.
“Did they say the Evil-Annihilating Army shouldn’t come?”
“…That’s right.”
“Hmm.”
With that single answer, he could realize how the board was turning.
Burying his back in the chair, Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“Murong Jun played tricks again.”
Murong Yu let out a low sigh.
“I told him he didn’t have to do that, but he opposed it until the end.”
The reason was none other than because of Yeon Ho-jeong.
He was the one who showed a fierce spar with Yeon Wi at the training grounds of the inner castle plaza.
It would be one thing if it ended there, but he even crossed the Wall of the Martial Arts´ End in front of everyone watching.
It was a matter that not only the Murim Alliance but the world would be surprised by. Yeon Ho-jeong might think he was still far off, but a person who had reached the Supereme Peak level of the martial path at an age just past twenty was never common.
An owner of monster-like talent who even far surpassed the One Dragon and Three Phoenixes (Ilryong Sambong), the young geniuses representing the Murim of the current generation.
“He must have thought that the main character of the foundation ceremony would become me.”
“That’s right.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled as if he couldn’t be stopped.
“Well, it’s a petty response if it’s petty, but it’s clearly a necessary matter. I understand Murong Jun.”
“I have no face (I’m ashamed).”
“What do you mean you have no face. It’s fine.”
It seemed he was genuinely fine. There was no hesitation at all on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
Seeing him show that kind of expression, he felt relieved at least.
Murong Yu, who was smiling slightly, grumbled like a joke.
“Then why did you spar in front of everyone watching? There is even a proverb in Jianghu to hide three-tenths of your skills.”
“Hm?”
“Didn’t older brother come to be more wary of you.”
Yeon Ho-jeong snorted.
“Bullshit, he was a human who was anxious because he couldn’t devour me in the first place. We’re already in a relationship of killing each other, so what meaning is there to making him more wary there?”
“Of course that’s true too, but…”
“You keep it in mind too. Just because you’re engaging in a secret struggle, you don’t need to hide yourself more than necessary. Rather, if you care about even things like that, a time when you get exhausted is bound to come. If you get hit by a counterattack at that time, that’s more fatal.”
“Is that so?”
“If there is a hidden card, there must also be a card that is proudly revealed. And I have no thought of hiding my full power from the enemy. It was like that before, and it will be like that in the future.”
The important thing was the enemy’s character, and the flowing situation.
Even if Yeon Ho-jeong became a Super Peak Master, he couldn’t handle one faction alone. It meant that he practically hadn’t gained anything in the faction fight.
If perhaps he had reached the realm of the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats, it might be a different story, but with this much, it couldn’t give a decisive influence to the overall situation.
If there was a possibility of the situation worsening, even if his father felt disappointed, Yeon Ho-jeong would have given up first.
Murong Yu smiled.
“You are truly amazing in many ways.”
“Anew?”
“Hahaha!”
He came to deliver a serious story, but when actually conversing with Yeon Ho-jeong, he came to put down the burden on his heart.
Murong Yu subtly asked.
“Anyway, it’s really surprising. I also thought I was born with quite the martial talent, but compared to little brother, it’s not even blood on a bird’s foot…”
At that time, Yeon Ho-jeong opened his mouth.
“Little brother? Did you also have a little brother?”
What kind of disappointing sound was this again.
Murong Yu, who was about to say not to joke and that he came proudly to meet, flashed his eyes for a moment.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand placed on the armrest of the chair was pointing at the ceiling.
Vuuuung.
In an instant, the true qi of Heaven and Earth rose sharply, sharpening his five senses like a blade.
‘A person?’
There was someone. And an amazing master at that.
“…Since your age is younger, you’re a little brother. Isn’t that right?”
“You’re wrong. I absolutely don’t have thoughts like wanting to form a friendship with someone from the Murong Clan.”
“Heoheo, those words are a bit disappointing.”
Murong Yu shook his head.
“Anyway.”
“Speak.”
“Do you raise a cat?”
Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.
“I thought it was your cat?”
“I see.”
Murong Yu smiled brightly.
“Let’s check whose cat it is.”
“Muk Bi.”
In an instant, Muk Bi’s palm force struck the ceiling.
Boom!
As the ceiling broke, a figure revealed herself in a miserable state.
It was Tang Sang-ah.