Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 38 - Difference in Class (4)

Chapter 38 – Difference in Class (4)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Yeon Ho-jeong’s group was able to arrive at the family estate after twenty days.

Surprisingly, they were in a sorry state. This was because they had replaced their journey home with movement technique training and physical conditioning.

Naturally, the one who led this ridiculous trek was Yeon Ho-jeong. Shin Mo took on the role of the instructor.

By the time they reached the estate, everyone was on the verge of collapsing.

However, they could not rest. Yeon Ho-jeong and Yeon Ji-pyeong were summoned to the Clan Head’s office, and since it happened to be training time for the Goshawk Squad, they had to start training as soon as they finished reporting their return.

Originally, all schedules were supposed to be canceled on the day of return after an external mission, but Shin Mo showed no mercy. He did not hesitate to use the whip, saying that it was a good opportunity since he had been planning to increase the training intensity anyway.

On that day, the Goshawk Squad members who had been to Hefei had to taste hell.

* * *

Yeon Wi looked up at the brothers who entered the Clan Head’s office.

Whoosh.

Despite the chilly weather, the pungent smell of sweat wafted in.

It was not the smell of stale sweat, but the fresh scent of sweat that had just been shed. Moreover, judging by their clothing, it seemed they had been like this for more than a day or two.

“We have returned.”

“I’m back, Father.”

Yeon Wi was momentarily speechless.

He lost his words at the sight of his sons’ condition. Was this how it felt to face children who had returned alive from a battlefield?

After a moment, Yeon Wi spoke.

“You may stand.”

The two stood up.

Yeon Wi’s eyes sparkled.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s face was calm. On the other hand, Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face had become gaunt. He hadn’t had much body fat to begin with, but the signs of hardship were evident to anyone.

“I will hear the detailed circumstances from your older brother, so Ji-pyeong, go in and rest.”

“Ah… thank you.”

He said thank you. It was a reaction that would have elicited a hollow laugh considering Yeon Ji-pyeong’s usual personality.

Once Yeon Ji-pyeong left, only the father and son remained in the office.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-jeong took a seat.

The father and son were silent until the Chief Steward, Tae-gyeong, brought tea.

“Moisten your throat.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-jeong lifted the teacup.

Yeon Wi’s eyes glinted. He saw that Yeon Ho-jeong’s hands were trembling slightly as he held the cup.

After moistening his throat several times with the tea, Yeon Ho-jeong finally looked as if he could breathe.

Yeon Wi asked.

“What is with that state of yours?”

“I did some training on the way here.”

“Training? What kind?”

Yeon Ho-jeong calmly explained the training he had conducted on the way home.

Yeon Wi’s eyes wavered.

“You did such harsh training with Ji-pyeong?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“Leader Shin and the entire Goshawk Squad did it together.”

“…You led it?”

“That’s right.”

What a tenacious fellow.

Yeon Wi almost said those words without realizing it. The content of the training was shocking enough to make even the great Yeon Wi react subconsciously.

The training was simple. It was just running.

The problem was how they ran.

Running at a constant speed was not difficult if one had reasonable stamina. It was just a matter of how long one could run, not that the act of running itself was hard.

However, running while changing speeds every quarter-hour was a different matter.

Sprint at full speed for a quarter-hour, then run slowly for the next quarter-hour. Then sprint at full speed again for a quarter-hour, and slow down for the next.

That was the first day’s training. It was said that with each passing day, the duration of the full-speed sprint was increased by a quarter-hour.

They had done that the entire way home. They had even taken mountain paths instead of the flat main roads.

‘And for ten of those days, they did it without internal energy?!’

Even if they rested during meals and slept for more than eight hours a day, was it not too harsh a training?

It was fortunate that their bodies had been conditioned since childhood and that they had learned internal energy; otherwise, it was a training regimen that could be dangerous for anyone to follow.

“I made sure they had proper rest and nutrition.”

“Muscles are one thing, but your joints could have been injured.”

“I didn’t think my skills were so poor that I couldn’t even observe my own physical condition.”

“Excessive training can even cause internal injuries.”

“That is why I left time for energy circulation.”

One couldn’t be more tenacious than this. In fact, Yeon Wi had also tried such training before, but he had never sustained it for twenty days.

‘Still…’

Yeon Wi read the aura emanating from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.

The energy he had previously perfectly concealed was now leaking out haphazardly. It meant that his stamina and internal energy had reached their limits.

‘This much in just twenty days. He has gained an immense amount.’

Though he was surprised by the excessive amount of training, Yeon Wi believed his son’s words.

He had no choice. His son was personally proving that it had been proper training.

The quality of his internal energy had become much clearer and more magnificent than when he had left home. Compared to before, it was a change so great that it was hard to believe it was the energy of the same person.

This could never be achieved through simple meditation. The grueling physical training had even changed the nature of the energy dwelling within the body.

‘Energy constantly regenerates the body. After pushing it to the brink of collapse, large amounts of nutrition and rest, along with true energy, were used to promote the change.’

Yeon Wi nodded.

“At any rate, you have worked hard.”

“Not at all. This is just the beginning.”

“…Hmm?”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

Unconcealable fatigue was etched on his face, but it was a face that felt even more rewarding.

“I will continue this kind of training until I feel the limits of my mind, body, and energy. Of course, I must rest well accordingly.”

“You have hardened your heart.”

“I don’t know when I will reach the ultimate meaning even if I train with my life on the line. I still have a very long way to go.”

“…Is that so?”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“I see.”

Finally.

Only now could Yeon Wi accept his son’s change without any ulterior motives.

Before leaving for Hefei, his son’s change had felt somewhat uncanny. He had been worried because it felt as if his son had suddenly become a different person.

But as of today.

Now that he saw that deep smile and clear eyes, Yeon Wi could accept his son’s change for what it was.

‘Perhaps it was my own stubbornness that refused to acknowledge the change in my eldest.’

His son had become an adult.

Not because he was of age, but because his eyes and heart for seeing the world had become those of an adult.

Yeon Wi leaned back in his chair.

“How was the gathering?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘I’ve found out something big, Father.’

He had much he wanted to say. However, he remained silent. He thought it was not yet time to inform his father.

“It was just so-so.”

“Did you make many acquaintances?”

“Not deeply.”

Seeing him speak like this, it seemed there were a few people he felt favorable toward.

Yeon Wi took out a well-folded letter from his robe and handed it over.

“What is this?”

“Read it.”

Yeon Ho-jeong unfolded the letter.

After a moment, he spoke in a slightly uncomfortable voice.

“Hmm… I don’t think it’s such a grand matter.”

“I would have sent such a letter as well. That is the heart of a parent.”

“When did it arrive?”

“It came this morning.”

Yeon Ho-jeong cleared his throat.

“That girl has quite a loose tongue.”

The letter was from the Clan Head of the Zhuge Clan. The Clan Head himself had personally conveyed his thanks.

Judging by the time the letter arrived, she had probably informed him of the facts before the gathering.

Yeon Wi nodded.

“You did well.”

“No. It was nothing.”

Though he didn’t show it, Yeon Wi was proud of his son.

Even though he had saved a person, he did not brag about it and instead thought of it as a natural thing to do.

He had become much rougher than before, but it seemed he was also coming to understand the ways of humanity. Yeon Wi was very pleased with this change in his son.

So, he asked point-blank.

“I heard you got quite heavily entangled with the Namgung Clan.”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

He knew this topic would come up.

“That is true.”

“I want to hear the detailed situation.”

Yeon Ho-jeong explained the events that had occurred during the gathering in detail.

Of course, he did not disclose the matters related to Myeong Ho-rim. Even without that story, it was enough to inform him of the situation.

“I see.”

Yeon Wi knew that Yeon Ho-jeong had explained as objectively as possible.

“Namgung’s second son… did that.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Wi’s eyes sank coldly.

Seeing that gaze, Yeon Ho-jeong flinched without realizing it.

Goosebumps erupted all over his back. It was the first time he had seen such a cold gaze from his father.

“It is truly not easy. To see it as simply being entangled in an ill-fated relationship, they have gone too far.”

“I had no intention of getting involved if I could help it, but I think it was a bit too much for him to join hands with that eldest son of the Tang Clan.”

“Of course it is too much. I heard he is over twenty; how could he have learned such wicked schemes?”

Yeon Ho-jeong inwardly tilted his head.

Was it because they hadn’t seen each other in a while? Somehow, his father’s expression of emotions seemed more honest than before.

“You did well.”

“Pardon?”

The eyes with which Yeon Wi looked at Yeon Ho-jeong were clear. His characteristic sternness remained, but it was as if a layer of solid ice had fallen away.

“Sometimes, rumors can be more fatal than a blade. You did not lose your temper and go on a rampage, but dealt with it wisely.”

“Ah, yes.”

His father probably didn’t know. That he had half-killed the Tang Clan’s eldest son and his subordinates.

It was because Han Ho-myeong had hidden it thoroughly. If that were to be revealed, it would truly be like a bomb exploding.

“However, it seems they also knew the fear of rumors well.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Namgung Clan has apologized to our family.”

Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.

“They apologized?”

“That’s right. The Clan Head apologized personally.”

“That can’t be…”

“He even confessed what his daughter did.”

Yeon Ho-jeong let out an exclamation of realization.

“What a sly old fox.”

Yeon Wi’s eyes glinted.

“Do you see how the situation is unfolding?”

“Didn’t he throw his daughter under the bus to save his son’s face? He treated what his son did as a personal matter unrelated to the Namgung Clan.”

Yeon Wi inwardly marveled.

He had combined a few words of information and instantly deduced the situation.

This was not something that could be done just by being smart. It was only possible if one knew how to read the flow of the world.

“That is correct.”

“Hah, I thought he would hide it until the end, but he sacrificed some face to settle the incident. The Namgung Clan Head’s management of affairs is no joke.”

Yeon Wi nodded.

He now had no choice but to acknowledge it. His son’s growth, and his son’s insight.

“So, what are your thoughts?”

“About what?”

“I haven’t replied to the Namgung Clan’s apology yet. If it were you, how would you handle it?”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“Is there anything to think about? It’s a bit annoying, but worrying about such headache-inducing matters is a waste of time.”

“Should we accept this apology?”

“Unless we can shake the Namgung Clan Head, there’s not much we can do since he said it was due to the second son’s personal grudge. Besides, he said he did it because of his younger sister.”

“Are you not angry?”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“Living in the Jianghu, would I only face a threat to my life once or twice? It is more beneficial to accept the apology here and raise the Yeon Clan’s reputation.”

It was a rational judgment.

Yeon Ho-jeong had no intention of paying any more attention to the ‘likes of’ the Namgung Clan. It was because he had a mountain of work to do in the future.

However, Yeon Wi, who did not know Yeon Ho-jeong’s inner thoughts, felt both sorry and proud of the conclusion his son had reached.

Forgiving someone who had tried to kill him? It was not an easy task for a young man who wasn’t even twenty.

Yet, not only did he forgive them, but he was also thinking about the future of the family. He was proud of that, and also sorry.

“Good. Let’s do as you say.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Yeon Ho-jeong stood up.

“Then, may I go and wash up now?”

“Go ahead.”

Yeon Ho-jeong gave a slight bow and turned around.

Yeon Wi instinctively called out to his son as he was about to open the door and leave.

“Ho-jeong.”

“Yes?”

Yeon Wi was silent for a moment.

Just as Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head in bewilderment.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.

“It was nothing.”