Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 34 - Conviction (4)

Chapter 34 – Conviction (4)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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That day, Namgung Hyeon held a grand banquet. It was intended to allow everyone to gather and relieve their fatigue with drinks since the duels had finished. However, the host himself did not participate in the banquet.

There was one more person who did not participate in the banquet.

It was Yeon Ho-jeong.

The young talents felt it was a pity. Regardless of the reason, Yeon Ho-jeong was a major topic of conversation in this meeting. There were many people who wanted to talk with him.

However, people also understood.

After dueling with Chu Seong, Yeon Ho-jeong had exchanged martial arts with the young talents and finally fought with Myeong Ho-rim.

It was impossible for him not to be exhausted. Rest was inevitably necessary.

In that way, the final night of the young talents’ meeting was deepening.

* * *

It was a night with quite a chill.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had come out to the back garden of his residence, was sitting in a lotus position. His internal energy circulation was now reaching its final stage.

“Whew.”

As he exhaled, murky energy was drawn out.

He had killed Ma Bang at the Tower of the Chu Sound, overwhelmed Tang Yang-seon, driven Chu Seong back, and competed with Myeong Ho-rim.

In fact, with Yeon Ho-jeong’s current stage, it was something impossible.

Of course, his interpretation of the Jade Gauze True Formula was nearing its ultimate meaning. Thanks to the Dark Emperor’s insight and knowledge, the speed of his cultivation was so fast it transcended imagination.

Even so, there were limits. At least for now, it was not a stage that could be recognized in the martial world.

Nevertheless, the reason he could grasp victory in every match was one thing.

Experience.

Because the realization dissolved in his experience was that supreme.

It was because his stage was high enough to compensate for his insufficiently refined internal energy and physical body.

However, experience and realization cannot compensate for everything.

Tremble, tremble.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s shoulders, which were in the middle of energy circulation, began to shake.

It was due to the overworking of his muscular nerves. His physical body could not keep up with the combat that was possible through his mind and instincts. Since he was trying to force it out, his body was being damaged.

It was also the reason why the basic energy circulation had not finished for over half a day.

“…Mmm.”

Color slowly began to return to Yeon Ho-jeong’s pale face.

‘Is it done?’

Only now was the repair complete. It was not fully healed, but there was no hindrance to activity.

“Phew!”

Releasing his posture, Yeon Ho-jeong lay down on the spot.

‘It’s stiff.’

His whole body throbbed. It felt as if even his joints were creaking beyond his muscles.

‘I must train more thoroughly. The training until now is insufficient.’

He tried clenching his fist.

The strength did not enter fully. It seemed he would have to rest for a whole day to recover.

Whoo-oo-oong.

As his physical body lost strength, the Black Tortoise Qi arose on its own.

His kidney capacity began to be activated. As his kidney capacity was activated, the movement of other internal organs also improved little by little.

‘This much is enough.’

He had done everything he could. Since he had activated even the Black Tortoise Qi, the recovery time would be faster.

Yeon Ho-jeong looked up at the sky.

The night sky was very clear. It was not a full moon, but the moonlight was abundant and the starlight was mysterious.

A wonderful sight that anyone would end up staring at blankly.

However, the gaze of Yeon Ho-jeong, who looked at the sky, became colder and colder.

“Yes, it was the Myeong Clan.”

To be precise, it was the Myeong Clan’s martial arts.

The reason he was certain was one thing. While internal energy or the routines of techniques can be similar, it is nearly impossible for the method of true qi operation to be alike.

The reason why formulas and laws are written separately in internal cultivation methods is because of the strictness of the transmission process. And in that process, true qi operation takes up more than ninety percent.

In other words, the true qi operation method for each sect’s internal cultivation method follows a clear individuality. Unless they are from the same lineage, they cannot be alike even if they want to be.

Moreover, that saber technique Myeong Ho-rim had unfolded.

That saber technique that was simple yet emphasized power and speed.

‘That was originally a saber technique. It wasn’t a palm technique.’

He remembered clearly. Twenty-six years ago, the powerful palm technique of the attacker who had broken his brother’s spine.

The reason he couldn’t immediately recall the attacker’s martial arts upon seeing Myeong Ho-rim’s saber technique was right there. That palm technique was originally the saber technique Myeong Ho-rim was using.

‘…’

His fists, which had no strength, were trembling. Since he remembered that time, the strength that was not there entered on its own.

‘Ji-pyeong.’

For some reason, something welled up inside his chest.

Even in a situation where his spine was broken and he was on the verge of death, his brother did not look at him. Because he knew that if he turned his gaze, his brother’s location would be discovered.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong heard Yeon Ji-pyeong’s shout with his heart.

‘Run away, Brother!’

He had thought that ‘tears of blood’ was merely an exaggerated expression. He had laughed it off, thinking that a person who shed tears of blood was just someone who had fallen ill or injured their eyes.

However, when a person is truly sad, they shed tears of blood.

Yeon Ho-jeong was like that.

How much he had poured out; even after three days and nights, the red tear stains would not be erased. That was how great his resentment was.

‘Never again.’

Sss-ss-ss.

The grass where Yeon Ho-jeong lay slowly began to wither. The terrible killing intent he was emitting was killing the weeds.

‘I will never leave regrets again.’

It was then.

“You’re venomous.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.

A person appeared in his eyes as he sat up abruptly.

“Ah, venomous indeed. It’s so scary that I can’t even approach. Oh, my hands.”

“Dra…”

“…Not the Dragon Head Chief, but the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang.”

“Ah.”

“By the way, how about managing that killing intent first? I came with the Zhuge siblings, but those two were so startled that they already went to their residence.”

Yeon Ho-jeong was startled. It was because he didn’t even know he was emitting killing intent.

Slither.

The ghastly atmosphere settled down calmly.

Ga Deuk-sang was honestly impressed.

“Truly, the more I see, the more amazing you are. Killing intent is a branch of will, so the stronger the mental power, the stronger the killing intent inevitably becomes.”

“…”

“I don’t know why you live harboring such killing intent, but you are truly extraordinary.”

Yeon Ho-jeong stood up from his spot.

His body was still stiff, but Ga Deuk-sang was not someone he could greet while sitting.

“What brings you all the way here?”

“This.”

Ga Deuk-sang held up two large bundles.

“Didn’t I say we should have a lunch together? But you slipped away.”

“Ah…”

“Ah? Ku-ha-hat! You can make such a sound too? The more I see you, the more charming you are, eh?”

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed toward an outdoor table.

“Let’s eat there.”

“Good. I brought alcohol too.”

He must have already drunk a considerable amount. Ga Deuk-sang’s face, under the moonlight, was flushed.

In that way, the two sat down.

“How is Ji-pyeong?”

“He’s playing very well right now. As his brother, you would know, but the Second Young Master’s personality is quite good. Everyone is anxious to have him by their side.”

“I see.”

“Here, have a drink.”

Yeon Ho-jeong politely held up his glass.

Ga Deuk-sang let out a hollow laugh.

“Don’t be like that, just take it comfortably. There’s no need to show such manners even to a beggar.”

“Give it to me.”

“Heh! Haven’t you heard a lot that you’re stubborn?”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who received the glass, filled Ga Deuk-sang’s glass in turn.

Ga Deuk-sang did not show manners. However, it looked natural. The freedom of the king of beggars wandering through the world was naturally felt.

“Let’s have a drink.”

“Let’s do that.”

The two coolly drained their glasses.

“Heh, it seems the Seven Great Clans really do have a lot of money. They say this is the famous Shaoxing wine?”

“It seems so.”

“It’s my first time drinking it. Drinking famous alcohol after always gulping down cheap baijiu makes my eyes spin.”

He scraped his throat, gathered phlegm, and spat it out with a ‘ptui!’.

The sight of him putting one leg up and patting his belly was the height of being free-spirited. However, that appearance was not at all hateful.

“Is your body okay?”

“It’s fine.”

“So it seems. You overworked your muscles quite a bit, but you’ve already settled them all. It’s extraordinary.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.

He had recognized the overworking of the muscles at a glance. Indeed, his insight had been no ordinary thing even from when he was young.

“As expected, the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang is not something just anyone can become.”

“Of course not just anyone can. Only the most beggar-like fellow can become the Successor.”

The nuance is a bit strange.

Yeon Ho-jeong let out a hollow laugh.

Ga Deuk-sang laughed back.

“Seeing you smile like that is quite nice. Don’t put strength in your face, and walk around smiling like that.”

“I will smile often when there is something to smile about.”

“Ha-ha-ha! That is also true. Then it seems there haven’t been many things to smile about for Young Master Yeon lately?”

There was a blade within the laughter, and a dagger within the joke.

Yeon Ho-jeong did not bother to try and hide it.

“Would a fellow with many things to smile about be running around causing this commotion?”

“That is true. I heard that yesterday, you smashed the eldest son of the Tang Clan?”

“You heard that story too?”

“I stopped counting at seventy-six times. Everyone is chattering until their lips are about to burst.”

“He seemed like a fellow who received the wrong education.”

“It seemed that way. But I felt you went a bit too far. The Tang Clan won’t just stay quiet.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter.”

It doesn’t matter.

It’s a statement that can be interpreted in many ways. However, at least it didn’t seem like he had given up on life.

Ga Deuk-sang, who was about to ask a deeper question, soon smiled broadly and held up his glass.

“Now! Let’s have another drink!”

“Let’s do that.”

The two drank consecutively.

It was a strange meeting. Ga Deuk-sang had met Yeon Ho-jeong for the first time today.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere between the two was as deep and comfortable as friends who had met for a long time. Such an atmosphere was formed on its own without even having to try.

In that way, half an hour passed.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For the time at the Tower of the Chu Sound.”

“…”

“The tower owner said so. That they survived thanks to the Yeon Clan. They asked me to convey their gratitude if I happened to meet you.”

Yeon Ho-jeong let out a hollow laugh.

“And they aren’t uncomfortable even mentioning it?”

“Ho? How did you know?”

“I just thought it would be so.”

“It’s not ‘just.’ No matter how evil a person is, since you burned someone to death while they were alive, what kind of person wouldn’t be frightened?”

Yeon Ho-jeong did not answer.

Watching that, Ga Deuk-sang became certain.

‘He’s not a person without emotions.’

He also clearly recognizes what he has done and how it appears.

However, this young man will not change his conviction or his standards. Because to him, that is the right thing to do.

Staring at Yeon Ho-jeong, Ga Deuk-sang stretched exaggeratedly.

“Aigo, it’s tiring after drinking a lot for the first time in a while. Since we’ve eaten just about everything, let’s wrap up.”

“Before that, let me ask one favor.”

Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes widened.

A favor? The Yeon Ho-jeong he had seen was not the kind of person who would ask someone for a favor.

Interest was piqued.

“What kind of favor is it?”

“No, calling it a favor is a bit off. Let me place a commission.”

“A commission… Well, we beggars do live by making big money from information. But we are members of the same Orthodox Path; would such a procedure as a commission be necessary? I’ll tell you most things, so just tell me the content.”

Yeon Ho-jeong said a few things.

Ga Deuk-sang’s face hardened.

“Are you serious?”

“I am.”

“…I can grant the first request. The second is even easier. But do you know how difficult the third request is?”

“Since I know, I was trying to commission it.”

“…”

“If it’s difficult, it’s okay to quit.”

“Eh? Who said it’s difficult? It’s not difficult, not difficult! I can do it.”

“As expected of the Beggars’ Gang.”

“I’m just curious. I won’t take a commission fee, so let me know the reason.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone blue.

That gaze, which resembled the moonlight, was as ghastly as a ghost’s eyeballs.

“If the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang digs in properly… you will find out even if I don’t tell you.”

He will naturally find out in the process of investigating?

Ga Deuk-sang grinned.

“Those are words that stir a sense of challenge. The more I see, the better you are at manipulating people, unlike your age.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

“It’s more than a compliment. Just what is your identity, you?”

“The Eldest Young Master of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan, Yeon Ho-jeong.”

Ga Deuk-sang was certain that wouldn’t be all.

He stood up from his spot.

“Well, anyway, I’ll be going first. I will let you know what you requested in the near future.”

“Secrecy?”

“Are you teasing me? It’s a given.”

“I understand.”

Ga Deuk-sang smiled and turned around.

“Be careful tomorrow. Because the young beasts whose pride has been wounded might try to bite you.”

Leaving behind those meaningful words, Ga Deuk-sang disappeared.

Yeon Ho-jeong looked up at the sky.

The moon was still there.

An awkward moon that had not yet become a full moon, closely resembling his own chilling gaze.

“…Shall I start running soon?”

Sss-ss.

The weeds on the ground Yeon Ho-jeong stepped on withered in an instant.