Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 28 - Reason for Fighting (3)

Chapter 28 – Reason for Fighting (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The atmosphere in the dining hall turned cold.

Chu Seong’s face was horribly contorted. The face of Namgung Hyeon, who had been sitting at the end of the dining hall drinking tea, was also as stiff as could be.

Yeon Ji-pyeong swallowed hard.

“B-brother.”

“Why? Aren’t you hungry?”

“……It’s not that.”

“If you’re not going to eat, I’ll eat it all. I’ve been training since dawn, so it feels like my stomach is sticking to my back.”

Thump!

The ground shook.

The gazes of everyone except Yeon Ho-jeong turned toward Chu Seong.

“What did you just say?”

Yeon Ho-jeong glanced at Chu Seong.

That gaze was truly strange. It was as indifferent as if he were looking at a passing beast or a trivial landscape, rather than looking at a person.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who was looking at Chu Seong, began to chew the meat again.

It was complete disregard. Chu Seong’s face flushed red.

“I asked what you said!!”

“You’re noisy.”

Yeon Ho-jeong picked his ear.

“As expected, a beast is a beast. It truly can’t understand human words.”

He poured oil onto a well-burning fire.

“How dare this brat!”

It was then.

“Stop it.”

Namgung Hyeon, who had been sitting far away, approached.

Chu Seong did not look at Namgung Hyeon. Anger had reached the top of his head. It seemed as if he wanted to draw his sword at any moment.

In fact, he was repeatedly clenching and unclenching his hands. He was truly in a state to draw his sword.

Namgung Hyeon put strength into his voice.

“Group Leader Chu!”

“…….”

“Step back.”

Chu Seong, who was grinding his teeth, turned around. It was a rough gesture, to the point that a flapping sound came from his clothes.

Namgung Hyeon, who let out an inward sigh of relief, spoke with a voice like frost.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Then who else would I be talking to if not you?”

“What exactly did I do to make you act like this?”

“That act of insulting the guard leader of another clan, do you think our family will let it pass lightly?”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“When did I insult your family’s guard leader?”

“What?”

“I believe I never specified who I was talking about?”

“How petty. Do not play with words. Anyone who saw this situation would……”

“Right, well said.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s face became serious.

“Why didn’t you come out sooner even though you were watching this whole situation? You were leisurely drinking tea even after seeing my temper yesterday?”

“W-what?”

“If you have something to say, come out and say it yourself. Don’t hide behind an aging guard leader and watch.”

“What kind of nonsensical bullshit is that?!”

“I’m telling you not to act pettily. Why can’t a guy who is the second young master of the Namgung Clan say a single word to tell me to leave? Are you perhaps afraid of me?”

“Your delusions are excessive. Driving a person like that……”

Yeon Ho-jeong waved his hand.

He did not listen to the opponent’s words to the end. It would surely be obvious even if he heard it.

If he was sure to say something that would get on his nerves, he should just say what he had to say with a clear head.

“I know well that you don’t have good feelings toward me. Then, like a martial artist, either boldly request a duel or suggest having a drink. If you’re going to pull a trick, at least do it so it’s not obvious.”

“This is getting out of hand. Why would I……”

“Was it not? You must have been planning something because of your younger sister’s matter.”

Namgung Hyeon’s expression changed suddenly.

To bring up Namgung Sang-hwa in a place where everyone was watching? This was dangerous.

Just as Namgung Hyeon was about to speak in a hurry, Yeon Ho-jeong’s words were already pouring out.

“Having a twisted personality might be innate, but if you’ve learned the laws of that prestigious family of yours, you shouldn’t cross the line. Seeing you and your sister, the name Namgung is a waste.”

Namgung Hyeon’s face became menacing.

“Are you insulting our family now?”

“You too should listen properly to human words if you don’t want to be called a beast. Saying that the name Namgung is a waste means that you and your sister were not worthy of being people of the Namgung Clan. Can you not even interpret this much?”

“You……!”

“And.”

A faint light arose from Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.

In an instant, Namgung Hyeon’s body flinched. It was as if the eye-light that flashed like a bolt of lightning for a moment had traveled through his eyes and pierced the back of his head.

“At this moment, in this place, you are insulting our family through my brother and me, using yesterday’s settled incident as a pretext. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t insult you?”

“I-insult?!”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“Was it not an insult? Then you’re saying it wasn’t you who ordered the guard leader to do this?”

“Of course not!”

“Then I’ll have nothing to say even if I discipline your guard leader, who insulted our family in this place.”

It was nonsensical talk.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong made that nonsensical talk make sense.

“If it wasn’t something you ordered, then your guard leader has acted on his own to insult another clan. As the eldest son of the insulted clan, shouldn’t I rightly resolve this resentment?”

“Nonsense! Group Leader Chu was simply exercising his authority for the gathering, not insulting anyone……!”

“Didn’t I tell you not to act pettily? I hope you won’t either. Everyone in this dining hall saw the overbearing attitude of your prestigious guard leader.”

Namgung Hyeon instinctively looked around.

Young men and women seated here and there were looking at this place. Among them, some were anxious, and some were intrigued.

The important thing was that all of them were members of the Seven Great Clans.

Namgung Hyeon gnashed his teeth.

‘Dammit!’

He had simply wanted to refresh the atmosphere of the second day of the banquet.

It was he who had ordered Chu Seong to push Yeon Ho-jeong. However, he had no intention of truly expelling the Yeon brothers. Because even if its power was small, the Yeon Clan was still a member of the Seven Great Clans.

He had planned to step forward at the right moment and settle the incident in front of everyone. It was not only to establish his own prestige but also to break the opponent’s spirit, and further, to make Yeon Ho-jeong let his guard down.

And at the decisive moment, he intended to diminish the opponent’s dignity and proclaim the might of the Namgung Clan.

But what was this? The audience, who should have created a situation favorable to him, was instead becoming a source of strength for the opponent.

“If you hate it that much, then discipline the guard leader directly on my behalf.”

“W-what did you say?!”

“Whether he has authority or not, your guard leader has crossed the line. As the second young master of the family, shouldn’t you give him a stern lesson?”

“……!! Choose.”

Namgung Hyeon was originally a possessor of cold reason.

However, he had never encountered such an headstrong situation. In fact, this kind of thing was a trivial quarrel, vague enough even to be called an incident.

However, the opponent had placed the burden of the family’s honor on this trivial quarrel. No matter how smart Namgung Hyeon was, he couldn’t help but be flustered.

It was then.

“I will take responsibility, that’s all.”

Namgung Hyeon turned back to Chu Seong.

Chu Seong’s eyes were burning like fire.

“Anyway, since this matter occurred because of me, is it not something that can be handled at my level? It is a matter that you do not even need to worry about, Young Master.”

The color drained from Namgung Hyeon’s face.

‘Goddammit!’

It was the worst.

Chu Seong should not have stepped forward like this. Rather, he should have said things like ‘do not be misled by the opponent’s words’ or ‘I am innocent.’

But he said he would take responsibility. That was no different from admitting that it was true that he had insulted the Yeon Clan.

Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.

It was a truly pleasant smile, one that revealed all his chillingly white teeth.

“Unlike your master, you know how to take responsibility. I like that one thing.”

Wuuung.

Chu Seong took a step forward.

Though he did not release internal energy, an unusual aura was spreading out.

“Very well, in what way do you intend to hold this Chu Seong responsible?”

“Is there anything grand about the way martial artists resolve conflicts?”

“Then are you suggesting we have a duel?”

“Wouldn’t that be clean?”

From Chu Seong’s perspective, it was truly an absurd situation.

No matter if he was the eldest son of the Seven Great Clans, he was a young man not yet twenty. Conversely, he himself was a first-rate among first-rates who had experienced the life and death of the Jianghu for over fifteen years.

To duel with such a self? He could not understand the opponent’s confidence.

Was it because it was so absurd? Chu Seong spoke in a sarcastic tone.

“Indeed, seeing you fight with the third young master of the Myeong Clan, it seems you have some expertise in close combat. Since it’s come to this, how about giving this Chu Seong a stern lesson in front of everyone?”

It was ridicule, and at the same time, an opportunity to proclaim the greatness of the Namgung Clan. Chu Seong truly wanted to thoroughly defeat Yeon Ho-jeong in front of the rising stars.

Then, what about Yeon Ho-jeong?

‘What a stroke of luck.’

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled to himself without realizing it.

He had wanted to set the stage anyway, and for him to even say such words? It was to the point that he wanted to completely forget what happened a moment ago.

“Shall we? I suppose that would be best, wouldn’t it?”

The person who should have shrunk back seemed to enjoy it too much.

In an instant, Chu Seong wondered if the opponent had some kind of trick. Because no matter how much he thought about it, the probability of Yeon Ho-jeong defeating him was less than ten percent.

Yeon Ho-jeong jumped up from his seat.

“Since there is such a thing as a friendly duel. After holding you responsible, wouldn’t it be quite meaningful for the rising stars to show off their martial prowess?”

Chu Seong instinctively let out a sneer.

“Do as you please.”

“Good, very good.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone ominously.

At this moment, his eyes were looking not at Chu Seong, but at Myeong Ho-rim.

“Let’s have a refreshing round.”

* * *

“W-what did you say?!”

Zhuge Ah-yeon’s mouth hung open.

“Chu Seong? Surely not that Lightning Hero Chu Seong who was said to have been appointed as the Group Leader of the Namgung Clan recently?!”

“……Yes.”

Zhuge Ah-yeon instinctively pressed her hand to her forehead.

“Dammit! Why on earth with such a person?!”

Lightning Hero Chu Seong.

Chu Seong was a mid-level master who had gained considerable fame in the areas of Henan and Anhui.

Characterized by rough swordsmanship suited to his fiery personality, he was famous for having alone suppressed thirty percent of the bandits in the Henan and Anhui regions over fifteen years.

Among those bandits, most were those who had mastered martial arts. Although most were from the Unorthodox Path, there were many bandit gangs as large as a hundred.

In other words, he was not someone against whom the martial arts of the rising star level would work. Since ‘rising star’ referred to someone exceptional among their peers, even though a genius of the century occasionally appeared, fighting a true swordsman who had undergone countless actual battles was a dangerous thing for anyone.

Would the Namgung Clan have appointed Chu Seong to the position of Group Leader for no reason?

“We have to stop him! No matter how outstanding Ho-jeong’s martial arts are, this isn’t right!”

“That is……”

Yeon Ji-pyeong let out a sigh.

“Preparations are already underway at the Outer Court Training Ground. They say it will begin in fifteen minutes.”

“Gasp!”

Zhuge Ah-yeon let out a choking sound.

“Even so, it won’t do! Chu Seong is a person known to be as cruel in his methods as his martial arts are! He’s not the type of personality to care about what people think!”

“It can’t be helped. If we back down here, my brother’s honor will fall even before our family’s.”

Zhuge Ah-yeon was dumbfounded.

“No, but Pyeong, why are you so serene? Have you let go of everything? Have you achieved enlightenment?”

Yeon Ji-pyeong let out a sigh.

“How could that be? I’m worried too. I tried to stop him several times. But……”

“But?”

“As much as I am worried, I believe in my brother.”

“……!”

“The brother I’ve seen so far, although he might seem a bit radical in the eyes of others, always did things he could take responsibility for. Although I’m worried as his kin, I believe my brother has a plan.”

Zhuge Ah-yeon’s eyes wavered.

Believe in his brother? No matter how much you believe in him, isn’t this a bit too much?

They were a truly strange pair of brothers. Worrying but believing? It was not the thought process of an ordinary person.

‘Brothers are indeed brothers.’

However, Yeon Ji-pyeong’s gaze did not waver. He was not anxious.

It was certain that he believed in his brother’s judgment as well as his skill.

“You two really are equally difficult to deal with.”

“Yes?”

“Forget it! Let’s go to the training ground quickly! Jun! You come out quickly too!”