Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 3 - The Prodigal Son Returns (2)
Chapter 3 – The Prodigal Son Returns (2)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
With his upper body bare, he stood with his left hand behind his back and a sword in his right hand, pointing it forward in a mid-level stance. His upper body was drenched in sweat, showing how long he had been standing in that posture.
The cold autumn wind created translucent hazes from his body. His breathing was somewhat rough, but the sound of his breath was not loud.
“How did they look?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked how the two of them looked together.”
Kang Yun spoke honestly about what he felt.
“It was only for a very short moment, so I couldn’t know in detail. However, the atmosphere didn’t seem bad.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes.”
Yeon Wi, who had been staring at the tip of the sword for an hour, finally relaxed his posture.
Srrrng.
The sound of the sword entering the scabbard was as smooth as a single line of song.
‘He said it was his own doing?’
After hearing Kang Yun’s report, Yeon Wi was inwardly suspicious.
The first son disliked the second son so much that he loathed him. To the extent that he treated him as a non-person.
And Yeon Wi knew why the first son loathed the second son.
Yet he confessed that it was his own doing? Why?
“Any other special remarks?”
“There were none.”
“I see.”
Kang Yun bowed his head with discipline.
“I will call the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades.”
“It’s fine.”
“Pardon?”
“I said you don’t need to call him.”
An honest question appeared on Kang Yun’s face, which had been as stiff as a wooden doll.
“Are you not going to separately question the second young master for his fault?”
Yeon Wi stared at Kang Yun without a word.
Kang Yun’s complexion turned pale. Upon meeting the Clan Leader’s gaze, he received a shock as if hundreds of swords were piercing his body.
“Squad Leader Kang.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Do not forget your duty.”
“I apologize!”
“Leave now.”
Kang Yun bowed deeply and withdrew in a polite posture.
Yeon Wi looked up at the sky.
There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. The wind was cool, and the sunlight was appropriate.
‘Is it not something to be greatly concerned about?’
During the ancestral rite, he was surprised beyond measure to see his first son suddenly hug the second son.
A person’s tongue is easy to soak in lies, but actions are hard to stain with falsehood. The appearance of the first son soaked in emotion while hugging the second son was clearly filled with deep moving sentiment.
And to himself as well.
At the appearance of his first son, who had never approached his father like that before, Yeon Wi felt an unknown bewilderment.
‘Is he thinking of something erratic?’
Eighteen is fully grown. If he were not a child of the Murim, he would have married long ago.
However, the first son had not yet shown an adult-like appearance. Even as his father, he did not know what his first son was thinking while living.
Yeon Wi pulled the sword from his waist and threw it onto the weapon rack.
Thud!
The rack shook greatly. On the surface, it looked like any other long sword, but that specially crafted sword was a heavy sword weighing twenty catties.
“Wang Jeon.”
“Yes, Clan Leader.”
A blurred voice was heard from the empty air.
“When did they say the Namgung Clan would arrive?”
“They say it will take about four days.”
“Did they say a child of the Namgung Clan is also coming?”
“Yes, it is the youngest daughter of the Namgung Clan Leader. She said she came to audit a class at the academy where the second young master is studying. She already arrived a few days ago.”
“Is that so?”
He had no interest in the Clan Leader’s daughter. However, he heard that one of the top leaders of the Namgung Clan would visit the Yeon Clan. It meant they were receiving a major guest for the first time in a long while.
“Tell the Master of the Guest Hall. Tell him to finish the preparations to receive the guest within two days.”
“I understand.”
A fatigue that could barely be seen lingered in the blunt eyes of Yeon Wi.
At least it did not seem to be because of his two sons.
* * *
The three days passed very quickly.
It was because there was much to think about and much to organize. Although it was a punishment, it was a very precious time for Yeon Ho-jeong.
Entering his room, Yeon Ho-jeong organized his thoughts.
“In the end, what I must do is this. Prepare and block.”
The Yeon Clan will be destroyed in one year and five months.
Furthermore, twenty years later, the Evil Lust Cult will make the Central Plains into hell.
Neither of the two could be seen lightly. The Yeon Clan was his family, and the rebellion of the Evil Lust Cult burned the entire Central Plains. If the Evil Lust Cult is not blocked, the family would eventually be in danger as well.
Even the place where the Evil Lust Cult first started its blade-work in the Central Plains was Jiangsu, where the Yeon Clan was located.
‘Besides the Evil Lust Cult, there are two more great enemies comparable to them. To block their offensive in advance, it’s not enough even if I prepare from now on.’
It felt like his head was overheating.
After calming his mind with a few deep breaths, Yeon Ho-jeong eventually made a judgment.
‘Fine. Evil Lust Cult or whatever, that’s not what’s important right now. What’s important is the main house.’
Since he had returned to the past, he became able to do many things he couldn’t do before.
However, Yeon Ho-jeong did not set unnecessarily many goals. In any situation, he was quick to judge what was most important currently and what to do first for the goal.
What’s important now is the clan.
To protect the clan?
Yeon Ho-jeong lightly slapped his own cheek.
“Shall I look at my body first?”
Sitting cross-legged below the bed, he checked his body.
‘As expected.’
He had checked it a few times in the Hall of Patriarchs, but it was still disappointing.
‘I don’t know from where to start touching it.’
Compared to those of his age, the amount of internal energy was at a considerable level. Even Yeon Ji-pyeong, who overwhelmed Yeon Ho-jeong, was below Yeon Ho-jeong in terms of internal energy alone.
However, as everything in the world is, quality was more important than quantity.
‘The Flying Swallow Cultivation Method is at the seventh level?’
The Flying Swallow Cultivation Method was the basic cultivation method of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan. The level isn’t high, and the power to emit internal strength isn’t strong.
It was a basic, as the name implies, yet he had only awakened the seventh level even at the age of eighteen.
Yeon Ho-jeong was inwardly bitter.
‘It certainly was not a good talent.’
To switch to the next martial art, the Flying Swallow Cultivation Method had to reach at least the ninth level.
Yeon Ho-jeong barely mastered the ninth level only a few days before the clan was destroyed. However, Yeon Ji-pyeong mastered the Flying Swallow Cultivation Method at the age of sixteen.
The difference in talent between the two was that large.
Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes.
‘At this point, the Flying Swallow Cultivation Method is immediate. It would be better to just get it over with now.’
Even now, after twenty-six years, he remembered the mnemonic of the cultivation method vividly.
He recited the mnemonic of the cultivation method.
Sssss.
A faint haze rose from his cross-legged body.
It was before the true qi was implemented into the visible area. The internal energy was sufficient, but it was because his body was not accustomed to emitting force.
But only for a moment.
Whir.
A signal came from the dantian.
Compared to the time of the Dark Emperor, the dantian, acupoints, energy meridians, and muscles and bones were all in an unpolished state. However, his mind had completely disassembled the Flying Swallow Cultivation Method. He would be able to attach it to his body somehow.
After a moment.
Whir! Whir!
A faint jade-green brilliance was buried in the haze rising from his shoulders.
It was a blurred color that repeated flickering, not yet very bright.
Cold sweat formed on Yeon Ho-jeong’s forehead.
‘It’s not easy.’
Still, it was not impossible.
Pik!
His shoulders twitched.
Thud! Thud-thud!
From the upper arm to the lower arm, both entire arms wriggled at will.
It was the same for his cross-legged legs. As the true qi stretched out to his four limbs, it was step by step piercing the blocked acupoints.
Like that, another hour passed.
A thud! sound came from the nose of Yeon Ho-jeong, who was drenched in sweat.
Drip.
Dark red blood flowed from his nose. The true qi had risen to the head, where numerous acupoints were concentrated.
‘It’s done.’
A small smile hung on the corner of Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth.
‘If I do the final circulation…’
Zing! Zing!
A jade-green haze, a bit brighter than before, leaked from his whole body.
“Whew.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who breathed out deeply and opened his eyes, relaxed his cross-legged posture.
“I thought it would be easy, but it’s harder than I thought.”
He stood up from his seat.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who repeated clenching and opening his fists, nodded.
“It’s somewhat worth looking at now.”
His body was the same, but the nature of his internal energy had changed, and far more acupoints were pierced. Finally, the foundation to learn proper internal energy was created.
It was a terrifying speed of refinement.
“From now on is what’s important.”
After contemplating for a moment, Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“I’ve already made the judgment, so what more are you worrying about. Let’s not waste time.”
After washing up cleanly and changing his clothes, he immediately headed to the Clan Leader’s office.
While going there, numerous people greeted Yeon Ho-jeong as they saw him.
“I greet the Eldest Young Master.”
“Eldest Young Master.”
Formal greetings, not lacking in courtesy at all.
However, there was no respect or difficulty toward a superior in their greetings. Of course, there was no look of looking down either.
They were stiff and blunt to the extent that one would feel they were cold at a glance. Whatever they thought inside, their words and actions on the surface seemed to be set in a straight frame.
‘Rule of law where flexibility cannot be found.’
The atmosphere of the clan came newly once again.
And naturally, he came to compare it with the atmosphere of the Dark Emperor Castle.
‘At any rate, it’s better than the Dark Emperor Castle.’
In the long run, the atmosphere of the Yeon Clan seemed better. They might seem stingy with affection, but at least they were thorough in following orders.
However, even if they were stiff, they were excessively stiff. This kind of atmosphere had a high possibility of causing problems in some form in the future.
‘Is it not my concern.’
A moment later, he stood in front of the Clan Leader’s office building.
The entrance to the building was guarded by two Gate Guards. They were middle-aged warriors carrying a sword and a broadsword respectively.
“I greet the Eldest Young Master. On what business have you come?”
“To see my father.”
The eyes of the Gate Sword Guard flashed.
Until now, the Eldest Young Master had never come to see the Clan Leader first.
“By any chance, did the Clan Leader give separate word without our knowledge?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then you cannot enter.”
Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.
“It’s a somewhat urgent matter. Inform him inside.”
“I apologize. The Clan Leader has handed down a strict order not to let anyone in until before noon.”
Even a strict order?
“I’ve picked the wrong time. Then would it be okay to just pass on what I say later?”
“Of course.”
“Good, then just pass on my words.”
“Please speak.”
“Tell him I will learn the Jade Gauze True Formula in advance.”
Instantly, the eyes of the Gate Guards widened.
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you hear? Tell him I’ll learn the Jade Gauze True Formula in advance, so he should know that.”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his back.
“Then, good work.”
“W-Wait!”
“Hmm?”
“Did you just say the Jade Gauze True Formula?”
“And?”
The Gate Guards’ mouths hung open.
Yeon Ho-jeong knit his brows.
“Surely you’re not actually hard of hearing, are you?”
“…”
“Make sure to pass it on. So that there won’t be other talk later.”
While walking away from the shocked Gate Guards, a boy caught the eye of Yeon Ho-jeong for a moment.
“Ji-pyeong?”
“Ah? Elder brother, you were here?!”
“Uh, to see father.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with surprised eyes.
In the clan where everyone wore a stiff mask, Yeon Ji-pyeong was showing the most honest and human reaction. Yeon Ho-jeong smiled without realizing it.
“W-What business did you have?”
“Just this and that. But what are you doing here? Did you also come to see father?”
Yeon Ji-pyeong pouted his lips.
“Since elder brother was not at his residence, I was wandering around looking for you.”
“Me? Why me?”
“I told you I’d buy you a meal. I’ve even looked for a good inn.”
“Ah?”
Yeon Ho-jeong cleared his throat as if he just remembered.
“That, well, is there a need to eat outside specifically? Inside is also sufficient…”
Yeon Ho-jeong could not finish his words. Because he could see Yeon Ji-pyeong’s cow-like eyes becoming wet.
His mouth became dry for no reason.
“Then shall we have a meal outside for a change of pace?”
Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face immediately brightened.
“Yes!”
The excited Yeon Ji-pyeong guided Yeon Ho-jeong toward the main gate. His imposing figure while walking in an ‘eight-character’ stride was reminiscent of a returning general.
Yeon Ho-jeong inwardly sighed.
‘Wait for me, Jade Gauze True Formula.’