Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 17 - A Martial Artist's Values (1)
Chapter 17 – A Martial Artist’s Values (1)
===================
Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
===================
A sturdy man in his thirties wore a pitying expression.
“You must have suffered great heartache. This is a historic shop well-inherited from your ancestors.”
The owner of the Tower of the Chu Sound let out a frustrated sigh.
“I simply have no face to show my ancestors. I thought I had cultivated it well in my own way, but for such a thing to happen…”
“Ay, how is that your fault, Owner? Isn’t it a law of life that unexpected disasters sometimes fall? It is a relief that you are safe like this without any injuries.”
“Hoho.”
He did not know how much strength it gave him just to have someone come and comfort him like this. Moreover, this man, whom he had seen for the first time in his life, was mobilizing numerous laborers to help in restoring the damaged area.
Although he was younger than himself, he was no ordinary person.
“Now, and please take this.”
“What is this?”
“It is not a large amount, but it will be a little help for the construction costs.”
“Oh my! Please do not do this! I also have public funds saved up in the meantime, so…!”
“Ehey, does a person who should know better act like this? It is said that generosity comes from the storehouse. It will take a lot of money to repair everything here, so shouldn’t you obtain high-quality ingredients as before?”
“Heuh…”
“Tower of the Chu Sound is one of the restaurants representing Anhui. People will not want the taste of Tower of the Chu Sound to change. Please continue to remain as a famous spot in Anhui in the future.”
Emotion appeared on the face of the Tower of the Chu Sound owner.
Although he had said he had saved money, in fact, there would be nothing left if he restored the Tower of the Chu Sound with that money.
Furthermore, if rumors spread that an arson incident had occurred, the footsteps of customers seeking the Tower of the Chu Sound would also be sparse for a while. In the worst-case scenario, the business could go bankrupt.
He was at a loss as to how to endure that time of suffering, but to be given such help.
“Since you speak to that extent, I will not refuse.”
“Of course, you should do so. But do not even think about washing your hands of it and forgetting me. When I come later, you must give me one meal for free, okay?”
“How could I treat my benefactor so poorly? Please come anytime. I will serve you a dish made with the best ingredients of that day.”
“Haha, I am not that shameless either.”
The sturdy man asked subtly.
“By the way, isn’t the real benefactor of the Owner someone else?”
“Yes?”
“I mean the heroes who saved the Tower of the Chu Sound.”
“Ah… T-that is right.”
The man’s eyes sparkled.
‘Fear?’
On the face of the owner of the Tower of the Chu Sound, who was stuttering, he felt fear before gratitude.
“Why? Did those people do something to harm you, Owner?”
“H-how could that be possible! If it weren’t for them, even the annex of the Tower of the Chu Sound would have been completely burned. In my forty-plus years of living, I have never seen such chivalrous heroes.”
“Oh? That is quite a high evaluation?”
The sturdy man talked playfully.
“I heard they brought the flames under control. Before that, they evacuated people through the safest path.”
“Yes.”
“I heard they also looked young?”
“Ah! There were also warriors who looked to be around the same age as you, Master Successor of the Beggars. Although I have not mastered martial arts, they looked like incredible masters.”
“Incredible masters…”
The eyes of the sturdy man, Ga Deuk-sang, the Successor of the Beggars of the Beggar’s Gang, sparkled like the morning star.
‘Surely it must be the Goshawk Squad?’
The Goshawk Squad was one of the martial organizations of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan, a wing of the Seven Great Clans of the Murim. Since the skill of the Goshawk Squad was already well-reputed, it was not strange to give such an evaluation.
‘But…’
Ga Deuk-sang looked at the southwestern gate.
‘The fire was large, but the damage is less than expected. If it was a fire of this scale, it would be normal for even the central building to have burned down, but it stopped at the outer walls and a few warehouses being damaged. Are you saying the Goshawk Squad caught this?’
It was surprising.
No matter how much of a Murim person one was, they would be flustered when a fire broke out. They were just stronger and faster than commoners; in the end, they were the same humans before a disaster.
However, after collecting the traces of the fire, the extent of the damage, and testimonies, it seemed that they had secured an escape route in an instant to minimize casualties and quickly brought the flames under control.
This kind of thing was not something just anyone could do. Even elite soldiers receiving firefighting training would find it difficult to suppress a fire this quickly.
Furthermore, even the Thunder Fire Hall Master Ma Bang.
‘Ma Bang was an elite counted as one of the Black Path Thirteen Heroes in the past. But he suddenly vanished ten years ago and only resumed activities last year. His exact martial prowess is unknown, but it was said that it would be difficult for a rising star to handle him.’
Although the Black Path had lost its past prosperity, the Black Path Thirteen Heroes referred to the best rising stars of the Unorthodox Path. Since it was said he had become stronger during those ten years, he would not even be a match for mediocre martial arts.
In fact, according to the testimonies of witnesses, even the rising stars of the Zhuge Clan were consistently pushed back. He heard that Zhuge Ah-yeon fought hard, but she could not seize the upper hand.
There was someone who defeated such a master in a one-on-one duel.
“Have you had a conversation with the Eldest Young Master of the Yeon family?”
The owner of the Tower of the Chu Sound flinched.
Ga Deuk-sang tilted his head.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Ah… No, it is nothing.”
He said so, but he seemed like he did not want to talk about that part anymore.
Ga Deuk-sang smiled and bowed his head.
“It seems I have complicated your mind with useless talk, Owner. I am sorry.”
“Gasp! No! How can you say such a thing!”
“It will take a fair amount of time to restore the restaurant. If there is anything difficult, please tell the disciples of this gang anytime. Then.”
Ga Deuk-sang finished his greetings roughly and left the Tower of the Chu Sound. He felt the owner of the Tower of the Chu Sound looking at him with complex eyes, but he did not care much.
“Eldest Young Master Yeon Ho-jeong of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan…?”
Ga Deuk-sang stroked his chin.
“Wasn’t he a ‘dog’s son’ who had collapsed after being pushed back by his brother’s talent?”
It was interesting.
As the successor of the Beggar’s Gang, one of the pillars of the Orthodox Murim and the peak of the Murim information world, he was feeling a fun he had never experienced before.
“Hmm, a gathering of rising stars? Well, it wouldn’t matter even if it’s not the Seven Great Clans, right? Since I am a beggar anyway, I can go begging anywhere, can’t I?”
* * *
Whoosh!
The movement of the iron staff turned much smoother and more stable.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who held the shaft of the staff with both hands, thrust forward powerfully.
Thwack!
A fairly large tree shook.
The iron staff pierced seven inches into the tree. What was surprising was the surface of the tree pierced by the iron staff.
Normally, the area around the hole should have been split and broken, but it was fine. The power of the iron staff was concentrated at the tip, giving it a piercing power like an awl.
‘It has become denser.’
A look of regret appeared on the face of Yeon Ho-jeong as he pulled the iron staff from the tree.
‘It has become denser, but it is still far off. I need to put in some effort.’
Yeon Ho-jeong plopped down on the spot. His hands were still bloodied, and his entire body was soaked with sweat.
After crossing his legs and finishing his exercise with the Jade Gauze True Formula, he pulled up the Black Tortoise Qi.
Sizzle.
A faint moisture rose from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.
Surprisingly, that moisture was not stuffy at all. Rather, it was refreshing and holy. The Four Gods Martial Arts were undefeated combat martial arts, but the Qis that formed them were all upright.
‘Still, it has come back vividly. Even though it hasn’t been long, it feels like it’s been a while.’
The Black Tortoise.
The Black Tortoise of the Four Gods is the Water God of Guihai, symbolizing winter.
It also takes charge of the kidneys among the internal organs. The kidneys are the final organ through which waste products in the body escape, and when the Black Tortoise Qi is flourishing, turbid Qi does not enter the body.
In particular, the martial arts of the Black Tortoise are even described as an iron wall. Because it is the most solid among the martial arts of the Four Gods, starting from the Black Tortoise increases the overall delicacy of the martial arts.
It was also the reason why he could easily pierce the tree with the iron staff. Although there was much room for improvement, just this much could erase many shortcomings in offense and defense.
Yeon Ho-jeong opened his eyes.
He muttered softly.
“I might have awakened it too early, but I do not have much time anyway. I must regain my past martial arts as quickly as possible.”
He did not have time to whine that there was much to do. At this rate, he would have to quickly awaken the remaining three gods as well.
After finishing his training, Yeon Ho-jeong headed to the forest where the group was resting.
“You have come, Eldest Young Master.”
“Mhm.”
Shin Mo bowed his head politely.
Yeon Ho-jeong looked around.
“Where is Ji-pyeong?”
“He said he wanted to be alone for a while…”
“Is that so?”
Well, it could be.
Wasn’t it an age when emotions were up and down quite a bit? It was not a strange thing at all.
Nodding his head, Yeon Ho-jeong suddenly looked at the Goshawk Squad members.
The members who met Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes all lowered their heads deeply. They seemed to be greeting him politely, but somehow they also seemed to find Yeon Ho-jeong difficult to deal with.
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
‘Why are they like that?’
Did they commit some sin against me?
Those fellows, who would only tilt their heads even if we ran into each other before, were exceptionally strange today.
“Um, Eldest Young Master.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you all right? Blood is from your hands…”
“Oh, it is fine. I did some training, and it seems the wounds have burst. They will heal soon.”
“Ah, yes.”
It was then.
“Excuse me…”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked to the side.
Standing there was Zhuge Ah-yeon with a haggard face.
“It is the first time I am formally greeting you, isn’t it? I am Zhuge Ah-yeon of the Zhuge Clan.”
“I am Yeon Ho-jeong.”
Shin Mo’s face stiffened.
Unlike Zhuge Ah-yeon, Yeon Ho-jeong’s tone of speech was very arrogant. It was a tone as if he were dealing with a much younger junior.
However, Zhuge Ah-yeon did not pay much attention to Yeon Ho-jeong’s tone.
“By the way, where is this place?”
She was someone who had lost consciousness due to internal injuries and had only now woken up. Zhuge Jun was still in a state of having lost consciousness.
Shin Mo said.
“It is a forest quite far from Hanshan. We tried to find a physician right away, but it was not easy. Fortunately, the conditions of you two were not that serious, so we thought it would be better to move to Hefei instead.”
At first glance, it was words that were not easily understood.
If a person was injured, it was normal to find a physician first, whether their skill was good or bad. Yet, move to Hefei?
‘Wait, my condition is not bad?’
Zhuge Ah-yeon closed her eyes and inspected her interior.
Soon after, her eyes widened.
“Uh…?”
Shin Mo’s words were true.
She was someone who had suffered considerable internal injuries due to the excessive use of the Primordial Sandalwood Divine Art and the enemy’s attacks. However, now most of the internal injuries were in a corrected state.
‘When did I heal like this?’
Zhuge Ah-yeon looked at Zhuge Jun.
“What about my brother? My brother’s condition is…?!”
“Do not worry. The poison has been removed. I did not know that the internal energy cultivation method of the Zhuge Clan was so outstanding.”
“Ah!”
Zhuge Ah-yeon personally checked Zhuge Jun’s pulse.
‘It is true.’
The pulse was regular. Although there were internal injuries due to the poisonous Qi, this was also to an extent that could be treated on his own once he regained consciousness.
Shin Mo said as if he were embarrassed.
“I am sorry. In fact, it would have been better to find a physician regardless of the condition of you two, but after experiencing such an incident, my heart became urgent. I judged that going to Hefei as soon as possible would be beneficial for everyone’s safety.”
“Ah, no! All of you are lifesavers, so how can you say such a thing.”
“Haha, I am just embarrassed.”
At that moment, Yeon Ho-jeong said.
“Did you say you are Zhuge Ah-yeon?”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
“I have something to tell you, so follow me.”
Yeon Ho-jeong just threw those words and walked away toward a dark place.
Zhuge Ah-yeon looked at Shin Mo in confusion.
Shin Mo said in a lukewarm voice.
“It probably won’t be much.”
“…”
“…Probably.”