Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 32 - Conviction (2)
Chapter 32 – Conviction (2)
===================
Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
===================
Namgung Hyeon’s body froze. The same was true for the crowd.
Namgung Hyeon had already lost a great deal of face just by confessing his wrongdoing. It would be difficult for him to even walk around with his head held high for the time being.
However, if Yeon Ho-jeong did not accept this apology, the incident would truly escalate. From then on, it would become a matter of pride before a matter of face.
Yeon Ho-jeong gave a thin smile.
His bright smile seemed exceptionally radiant.
“As you know, I am someone who likes martial arts.”
What on earth was he saying so out of the blue?
“It’s good that you confessed your mistake, but isn’t the conclusion too dull?”
Myeong Ho-rim’s eyes wavered.
“…Don’t tell me you intend to duel Brother Namgung as well?”
Under the chilly silence, the sound of people swallowing could be heard.
There was not a single person here who had not seen Yeon Ho-jeong’s skill.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts were strong. He was not simply at the level of a young talent; he was a person of skill who would be successful even if he went out into the martial world right now.
If the tip of his spear were to be pointed at Namgung Hyeon, Namgung Hyeon would never be safe. If that happened, what would follow?
It would be war. The Namgung Clan would never overlook this incident.
Yeon Ho-jeong let out a hollow laugh.
“The duel with Chu Seong was a match where the pride of two martial artists was at stake. However, as long as Young Master Namgung has apologized, I do not wish to escalate matters further.”
“Then?”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked around.
“As you all know, a gathering of young talents is a gathering in name, but isn’t it closer to fostering friendship?”
“That is true.”
“Sharing friendship over a cup of alcohol is good, but there is nothing better for truly getting to know each other than exchanging hands.”
“…!”
“Growth happens only when there is exchange and self-reflection in any matter. Martial arts are the same. If we truly want to foster friendship, let’s do it like martial artists.”
Whoosh!
Yeon Ho-jeong threw the spear casually.
Surprisingly, the target was Yeon Ji-pyeong.
Tak!
Yeon Ji-pyeong caught the spear skillfully.
Admiration appeared on everyone’s faces.
Yeon Ji-pyeong was the youngest in this gathering. Even so, he had caught the spear that flew fairly fast without any trouble.
Yeon Ho-jeong descended from the training ground.
“Young Hero Peng.”
“Huh? Uh? Ah? Me, you mean me?”
“My brother’s talent is the best in our clan. But it’s also true that he’s still young. Would you give my brother a lesson or two?”
“Eeeeh?!”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Yeon Ji-pyeong.
Yeon Ji-pyeong was also bewildered. However, seeing his brother’s gaze, Yeon Ji-pyeong gave a thin smile.
‘Brother is truly like a sly old fox.’
‘Isn’t it for the best? Since it’s turned out like this, learn a lot.’
Yeon Ji-pyeong made a polite fist-and-palm salute toward Peng Dae-ho.
“I am Yeon Ji-pyeong of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan. May I ask Brother Peng for a lesson?”
Peng Dae-ho, who had been looking at Yeon Ho-jeong and Yeon Ji-pyeong with a stunned face, burst into a loud laugh.
“Wah-ha-ha-ha! I’ve been completely defeated! Are all people of the Yeon Clan like this?”
“I am the only outlier. If my father finds out about this, he won’t leave me alone.”
“Ku-ha-ha-ha! Good! My hands were already itching thanks to Brother Yeon!”
“Please go easy on him.”
“Go easy?! Looking at our Little Brother Yeon’s skill, I might be the one getting beaten if I go easy!”
Peng Dae-ho turned his back and shouted.
“Hey! Man-ho!”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Don’t just stand there like a shameful brat; go and learn a few moves from Brother Yeon!”
“…Did you see Brother Yeon’s skill? I think I’ll be beaten like a dog.”
“You punk, that’s all part of learning!”
“Ahem!”
Peng Man-ho strolled forward and approached Yeon Ho-jeong.
“Would you go easy on me?”
“Let’s experience enough pain to learn.”
“Ah, damn it.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked around with questioning eyes. People blinked.
Yeon Ho-jeong gave a hollow laugh and dragged Peng Man-ho to a corner of the training ground.
That was it.
The sight of him turning his back without a word greatly stimulated the hot blood of the young talents.
He didn’t say words like ‘rest if you want to’ or ‘do as you please,’ but Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression already said it all. It asked if they were still martial artists even after all that.
Their chests seethed. It was not anger, but a competitive spirit that was boiling over.
At that moment, Myeong Ho-rim said.
“Thinking about it, Young Master Yeon’s words also make sense.”
It was a voice that seized the awkward atmosphere at once.
“Fostering friendship is good, but aren’t we martial artists? The kind who risk our lives on a single blade. Thinking about it, such opportunities are rare.”
The eyes of Yeon Ho-jeong, who was walking away with his back turned, flashed terrifyingly.
Whether he knew it or not, Myeong Ho-rim continued in a pleasant tone.
“Now, who will receive the martial arts of the Myeong Clan?”
At that moment, Murong Yeon-hwa stepped forward.
“I’ve been curious about the Myeong Clan’s martial arts for a long time. May I gain some insight this time?”
“It would be my honor.”
The atmosphere heated up.
Starting with the Yeon brothers and the Peng brothers, even Myeong Ho-rim and Murong Yeon-hwa stepped forward, so other young talents began to look at each other’s reactions.
Watching the exhilarating fight between Yeon Ho-jeong and Chu Seong, they were already quite excited. It was too regrettable for this mood that had heated up to just stand still.
“Ahem! Well, it is a bit sudden, but…”
“What can we do? Everyone says they’ll do it. But my hands were itching anyway. Since I’ve rested so well for several days.”
“Right? I’ve never rested this long when I was in my clan.”
“Lady Zhuge! Let’s have a match!”
“Ahem, Lady Zhuge is with me…”
“Kid of the Murong Clan. Would you like to receive a lesson from this big sister?”
“I’m not a kid, you know? But are you strong, big sister?”
The outer court, which had been full of silence, gradually found its vitality.
The beginning was awkward, but that was only for a moment. People who are shy about stepping forward don’t think about the reason once the stage is set and the atmosphere heats up.
Soon, the entire outer court became a training ground for the young talents.
Each person who found an opponent exchanged hands seriously, and those without a partner practiced their internal energy through meditation. Then, once they felt they had learned to some extent, they exchanged partners and engaged in duels.
Like a single spark tossed out burning down an entire mountain, shouts and the sound of piercing the air suddenly echoed throughout the estate.
Ga Deuk-sang looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with a strange face.
Yeon Ho-jeong was facing Peng Man-ho in a corner of the training ground. Looking at his expression and gestures, it seemed he was dealing with him sincerely.
“Truly an inscrutable person.”
The young talents, as well as the guard warriors, seemed to have forgotten the incident from a moment ago. They no longer cared about the fight that had been so bloodthirsty.
‘From the looks of it, it seems he wants something, but…’
Ga Deuk-sang scratched his head.
‘Heh! He’s influencing the mood of so many people by himself?’
It was no ordinary skill. Beyond his martial arts and eloquence, his ability to draw others into the atmosphere he wanted was superb.
Yet, it was not hateful. Because he didn’t forcefully manipulate his opponents, but induced them to act on their own.
“Hello.”
“Eh?”
Ga Deuk-sang looked to his side.
Zhuge Jun was there.
“I am Zhuge Jun of the Zhuge Clan.”
“Ah! I know you, I know you.”
“Senior Successor’s martial arts were at an amazing level. If it’s not rude, may I ask for a lesson?”
Ga Deuk-sang burst into laughter unconsciously.
It was for no other reason. Surprisingly, his own hands had also begun to itch at Zhuge Jun’s proposal. In the end, he too had been swept away by this atmosphere.
Ga Deuk-sang admitted that fact like a beggar.
“Fine! Let’s play together enjoyably too!”
“Thank you!”
A place where everyone competed with each other’s martial arts with deep passion.
Namgung Hyeon was not in that place.
* * *
Boom!
Namgung Hyeon, who had returned to his residence, punched through the wall.
“Huff, huff!”
His face was flushed red, and his expression was terrifyingly contorted.
“Damn it! Damn it!”
He couldn’t contain his rage. Namgung Hyeon punched the wall repeatedly.
“Aaaaaah!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Because he was so angry, he couldn’t even properly imbue his internal energy. His two fists were instantly dyed in blood.
‘Such a disgrace.’
In over twenty years of life, this was his first such humiliation.
He had grown up receiving evaluations that he would become a pillar of the Namgung Clan in the future with his cold reason and outstanding talent. Although he had an elder brother who was the Eldest Young Master, he had never thought his talent was lacking compared to his brother.
Why else would his father have entrusted this task to him? He had trusted him that much.
Yet what was this? Far from suppressing Yeon Ho-jeong’s nose, he had been put to shame in front of everyone.
This was no ordinary matter. He had stepped forward to resolve the accident caused by Namgung Sang-hwa, but his own actions were also extremely petty.
Now everyone was swept up in the atmosphere and was training, but once the training was over, someone would surely inform the outside world of this fact.
Namgung Hyeon’s face was dyed even redder. Imagining people whispering behind his back made his head feel like it was going to burst.
“This man who deserves to be struck dead…!”
Because he was so angry, even Namgung Sang-hwa did not sit well with him.
“That brat who acts like a featherbrain! I sent her so she wouldn’t cause accidents, and she makes things turn out like this? Like a dog!”
If it hadn’t been for Namgung Sang-hwa, there would have been no reason for him to suffer such shame.
Yeon Ho-jeong hadn’t brought up his sister for no reason. That fellow had practically threatened him by using Namgung Sang-hwa’s unruly behavior as a hostage.
‘Crazy bastard!’
Yeon Ho-jeong was also a crazy guy. It was clear that if he brought that matter up in front of everyone, the Yeon Clan would also become troubled. Because the Namgung Clan would never forget this disgrace.
However, that fellow’s gaze was the real deal. It was truly an atmosphere of ‘let’s all die.’
So he had stepped forward, and the result was the worst.
“I will kill him. I will definitely kill him!”
It was a voice full of killing intent.
The guy who gave him the first humiliation of his life. Namgung Hyeon sincerely wanted to kill Yeon Ho-jeong.
‘Just why to such a guy, Ah-yeon…?’
Thinking of him made Zhuge Ah-yeon come to mind.
‘…!!’
Namgung Hyeon could clearly see it. Zhuge Ah-yeon’s disappointed gaze toward him.
The raging anger surged once again.
Zhuge Ah-yeon should not have looked at him like that. If she had been concerned, that would be one thing, but she must not look at him with those kinds of eyes.
“That bastard who should be chewed up…!”
He didn’t like it.
He didn’t like anything. This situation, Yeon Ho-jeong, and even Zhuge Ah-yeon did not sit well with him right now.
After taking rough breaths for a long time, Namgung Hyeon shouted.
“Jin Gok!”
A moment later, a swordsman entered. He was the most senior among the guards who had come with Chu Seong.
“Did you call for me?”
“…”
“Second Young Master?”
Namgung Hyeon raised his head.
Jin Gok, who saw his gaze, flinched.
“That fellow from the Tang Clan, where is he receiving treatment right now?”
* * *
“I’ve learned well!”
“I’ve also learned well. It’s incredible, the saber techniques of the Peng Clan. They truly deserve to be called the overlords of Hebei.”
“Ku-ha-ha! I haven’t even properly mastered half of it. Please help me again later!”
“I will. But you… are you okay?”
“My body is quite sturdy!”
“Those bruises on your shoulder, were you hit by an iron staff?”
“…Well then, I’ll be going first!”
Peng Dae-ho sought out another person as if he were running away.
Myeong Ho-rim took a deep breath.
‘It’s tiring.’
After facing several kinds of external martial arts for the first time in a long while, even his shoulders were stiff.
‘Is everyone just about finished?’
It was then.
“I have been waiting for you.”
Myeong Ho-rim turned his head.
Yeon Ho-jeong was standing there with a cold face, resting an iron staff on his shoulder.
“You are the last.”