Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 53 - Toward Where the Wind Blows (3)
Chapter 53 – Toward Where the Wind Blows (3)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Burp! Oh, I ate well.”
“Sh-should I give you more?”
“Hmm? Ah, that’s enough. Overeating is not good for the body.”
Iron Staff Beggar had to hold back tears as he looked at the pile of chicken bones on the floor.
Although he advocated the life of a beggar, the financial power of the Beggars’ Gang, which was a martial arts sect and the godfather of the information industry, transcended imagination. Naturally, once one became a branch leader, the amount of money one could handle privately was also considerable.
However, although Iron Staff Beggar had often spent his private money for the people’s livelihood, he had never indulged in luxury. That was true for Iron Staff Beggar, as well as for all the beggars of the Beggars’ Gang.
Such a Iron Staff Beggar had caught three chickens for the first time by spending a large sum of money. Moreover, they weren’t roosters, but hens.
And all those treasures had entered the stomach of the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang.
“Huh? But why is the branch leader’s expression so rotten? Are you in a bad mood?”
“Yes? Oh, no! How could that be!”
“Right? For a moment, I wondered if you were feeling bitter because catching the chickens was a waste of money.”
How could catching chickens be a waste of money? He was just resentful toward the Successor who had picked all the meat off without leaving even a single chicken neck.
“But…”
“Hmm?”
Iron Staff Beggar tilted his head.
“There is grease flowing all over your face? Have you caught a decent sponsor?”
Ga Deuk-sang smiled broadly.
Bits of boiled chicken meat were stuck between his neat teeth.
“I caught a very interesting sponsor. Well, he looks dangerous at times, though.”
“Surely that person isn’t the Head of the Yeon Clan, is it?”
“Are you crazy? That gentleman is a terrifying person, beyond just being dangerous. He’s the first person I’ve seen since my Master who is overwhelming to face. I don’t know what kind of jewels he’s put in his eyes, but they were sparkling.”
“Then…?”
“Not the Head of the Yeon Clan, but that gentleman’s son.”
“Gasp!”
Iron Staff Beggar unknowingly sucked in his breath.
“Could it be the Mad Wind Lion?”
“What lion?”
“The Mad Wind Lion… sir.”
“Who is the Mad Wind Lion?”
“I’m referring to the Eldest Young Master of the Yeon Clan.”
Ga Deuk-sang tilted his head.
“It’s true that it’s him, but did that gentleman get a nickname?”
“Yes. He’s quite famous, you know. Was it about two months ago? It spread even here to Jiangsu Province.”
“Ho?”
Well, that’s understandable.
The martial arts Yeon Ho-jeong had shown during the Gathering of the Rising Stars was a shock in itself. Not only was he the best among the rising stars, but the way he ruthlessly drove the Lightning Hero Chu Seong was extremely fierce.
The Murim is sensitive to rumors. Furthermore, wasn’t it the rising stars of the Seven Great Clans who spread that rumor?
Naturally, a nickname with a lot of embellishment would have spread.
“Still, the Mad Wind Lion, that’s a bit too much.”
A lion that calls forth a fierce wind, or a lion that causes a mad wind.
It depends on how you interpret it, but the nuance doesn’t sound very good. As a nickname for the Eldest Young Master of the Yeon Clan, a prestigious family of the Orthodox Path, it was too aggressive.
‘Well.’
Except for his background and environment, it was a nickname that fit perfectly. I don’t know if he’s a lion, but it’s clear he’s half-crazy.
“To catch the Mad Wind Lion as a sponsor, you are indeed the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang.”
“Is that gentleman that famous?”
“It’s a rumor spread by the rising stars, who are famous for their stiff pride. Probably everyone who needs to know knows by now.”
Ga Deuk-sang snorted.
“Anyway, that pride of theirs is the problem. Look at the Nine Great Sects. The kids trained there are all humble without exception.”
“Because they’ve succeeded the lineage of the immortal sects. But not everyone was humble, was it?”
“It’s better than the Seven Great Clans. Phew, you should have seen it during the gathering. Those kids had huge egos and were all so young.”
“They are actually young, though.”
“Still, they are descendants of prestigious families.”
“They are frogs in a well.”
“You speak well, don’t you?”
“I am Iron Staff Beggar, the Iron Staff Beggar.”
Ga Deuk-sang stretched.
“Urrgh! Anyway, I ate well. I think I should be going soon.”
A sense of regret appeared on Iron Staff Beggar’s face. Although his eyes became brighter than the sun.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Should I stay longer?”
“…”
“I’m telling you, you subtly make people feel sad. Oh, fine! I’m busy too!”
“Hehehe.”
Iron Staff Beggar, who was smiling foolishly, tilted his head.
“But where are you going?”
“Where else would I go? I’m going to meet the mad lion. It seems I’ll be wandering around aimlessly for a while again.”
“It’s not the Mad Lion, it’s the Mad Wind Lion.”
“Who cares. Ah! And…”
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes turned cool.
“Help the Head of the Yeon Clan for a while. Since the Heavenly Communication Group won’t be able to play its role, it’ll be a bit difficult.”
* * *
Whoosh!
The sound of the axe slicing through the air was more than just heavy; it was overflowing with a sense of intimidation.
“Huff.”
If one is not careful, their breathing will falter. Because the power of a single strike was so strong and extreme, even though he had built up his stamina this much, it was difficult to manifest the martial art.
But it was fine.
The Jade Gauze True Qi is an uncommon divine skill. The stability of the Jade Gauze True Formula does not stop at the internal energy but acts on the body as a whole.
Stronger, faster, more extreme.
It was a divine skill that stably held the body so that it wouldn’t be damaged even if it exceeded its limits. Furthermore, since he had the Black Tortoise Qi of infinite function, he would soon become accustomed to it.
Just as he was contemplating whether to start picking up the axe, he received a gift. He was once again grateful to his father.
Whoosh! Shhh!
After swinging the giant weapon for a long time, it felt as if all the joints in his body were being pulled out.
‘Finally.’
A resolute light appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s sweat-drenched face.
‘The White Tiger.’
Thump!
His aura changed abruptly.
The aura that had been aggressive and explosive instantly changed into one that was grand and full of fighting spirit.
The axe held in both hands caused a massive wind.
Whoosh! Boom!
The massive axe blade struck the ground. Half of the wide axe blade dug into the earth.
It was an incredible power, but Yeon Ho-jeong’s face was full of only regret.
“As expected, it doesn’t work.”
Without generating the White Tiger Qi, it was difficult to draw out the True Formula of the White Tiger.
Although he could take the form, it was difficult to bring out its true power. Each form of the Four Gods Martial Arts contained abstruse and deep principles, so its power would not manifest without the corresponding directional qi.
‘Should I be satisfied with the Wild Beast Spear for now?’
The Wild Beast Spear technique was a martial art that took the form of the White Tiger and simplified it. Thanks to that, it was compatible with any internal energy, but its level was far inferior to the martial arts of the White Tiger.
Of course, it was a first-class martial art in itself, so it was not lacking for use.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who pulled out the axe stuck in the ground by shaking it, took a deep breath.
‘Let’s not be impatient. I must be fast, but I must not be in a hurry.’
He recalled his Master’s words.
‘People say. One must discard greed to finally obtain one. That is nothing more than wordplay. Greed gives birth to motivation, and motivation fans the flames of passion. What one who has discarded greed can obtain is only regression. However, one needs to be careful of urgency. Being fast and being in a hurry are different. Knowing that difference adds momentum to growth.’
He had not forgotten a single word of his Master’s teachings and remembered them all.
That person was a divine being. He was a Martial God who possessed countless secret techniques forgotten in the Jianghu, not just the Four Gods Martial Arts.
Among them, there was no need to doubt that the Four Gods Martial Arts was the most outstanding secret technique. That person also evaluated that the Four Gods Martial Arts was the most ideal from the perspective of martial arts.
However, although he was practicing the Four Gods Martial Arts, he was not pleased with it.
‘The Four Gods Martial Arts is a martial art created during a time of upheaval, a hellish period when war was incessant. Its very birth was a martial art for the destruction of the enemy. As a martial art, it is close to perfection, but it does not pursue an existence beyond human. That is why I cherish the Four Gods Martial Arts, yet at the same time, I loathe it.’
His Master was someone who had succeeded the lineage of the immortal sects. Since he was someone whose goal was to transcend the human body and ascend to immortality, it must have been difficult for him to view the Four Gods Martial Arts in a good light.
‘Well, Master was a crackpot too. He was someone who was excessively human even while pursuing wu-wei naturalism.’
Thinking about it, he was curious.
‘Where would Master be right now?’
He was someone who wandered the world following the wind and the clouds. He probably wouldn’t be there even if Yeon Ho-jeong went to the place where they had met in the past.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
‘Will I be able to meet him? In this life?’
He didn’t know how he had returned to the past. However, since he had returned to the past, wouldn’t he be able to meet his Master as well?
‘I want to see him at least once.’
His Master, who had trained him in the Great Heaven Qi and the Four Gods Martial Arts for several years, had suddenly left one day. Without a word, without a single letter.
He was such a person. However, although he understood, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of abandonment.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“If the connection is there, I will be able to see him.”
Just then, a voice full of playfulness was heard.
“Who? Did you hide some beautiful maiden by any chance?”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“Would a beautiful maiden even give me a single glance?”
“Bullshit. Don’t say that kind of thing anywhere else. Are you teasing me, or what?”
“I’m a madman who carries around an axe as big as a person’s body. Would a normal woman throw advances at me?”
“Keke, well, that’s true as well.”
Ga Deuk-sang whistled.
“Looking at it like this, it’s remarkably massive. How many catties does that weigh?”
“It probably weighs about eighty catties.”
“It’s no different from grabbing a person’s body and swinging it? When you get old, all your joints will be wrecked.”
“None of your business.”
“By the way, what kind of martial art are you practicing? No matter how I look at it, it’s not the martial arts of the Yeon Clan.”
“There is such a thing.”
“Hah! Why does a young man have so many secrets?”
“There are even places where the entire clan steps forward to try and deceive others, so why not?”
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes deepened.
He realized that it was a remark directed at the Murong Clan.
“You should be departing soon, shouldn’t you?”
“That is so.”
“I’m bored, so let’s go together to the destination, shall we?”
“Aren’t you busy?”
“Can you really act so stiff? It seems you’ve benefited a lot from me lately? This is a situation where it wouldn’t even be enough if you bowed and said thank you.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“I dislike bowing, so thanks.”
“Oh, fine! Later, when I run into some dog-like business, I’ll use you, so don’t you dare refuse.”
“Of course.”
Ga Deuk-sang cackled.
At the time the sun was setting, the forest behind Goyang Tower was already murky.
“Now, let’s go.”
“Let’s do that.”
It was then.
Swish!
In an instant, Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes flashed.
“Danger!”
Clang!
A sharp long sword collided with the wide axe blade.
Ting!
The mysterious attacker retreated at a terrifying speed and then approached again, swinging the sword.
It was a fast and intense sword technique. The amount of internal energy was not large, but the elasticity of the internal force loaded into the sword was enough to elicit admiration.
Yeon Ho-jeong swung his axe powerfully.
Clang, clang, clang!
The eighty-catty heavy weapon moved like a fast sword and blocked the sword strikes.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who parried all the pouring sword strikes, swung a blow like a storm in an instant.
Boom!
With a loud explosion, the branches piled on the ground scattered in all directions.
Whoosh.
The attacker holding the sword flew away and then adjusted his posture with a graceful movement.
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes widened.
“Eh? What? The Second Young Master?!”
The swordsman, Yeon Ji-pyeong, stood upright.
His eyes were clear and calm.
“You’re indeed amazing, Brother.”
Yeon Ho-jeong stroked the axe handle.
“You were also great. I haven’t seen your martial arts in a while, but I didn’t know you would have grown this much in that short time.”
“It’s because there is someone I must chase after urgently. If an older brother is too amazing, it makes it tiring for the younger brother as well.”
Slide.
Yeon Ji-pyeong, who had sheathed his sword, politely joined his hands.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, I’m leaving.”
There was no sense of sadness or regret in Yeon Ji-pyeong’s eyes. It was probably because he had already washed it all away.
Yeon Ho-jeong felt pride as he looked at his younger brother’s eyes.
“You could have at least said something before leaving.”
“I’ll be back soon, so what’s the point.”
“That’s just like you, Brother.”
The eyes of Yeon Ji-pyeong, who was looking at Yeon Ho-jeong with a smile, gradually wavered. He thought he had composed his emotions, but it seemed that was not the case.
Yeon Ji-pyeong lowered his head and performed a disciplined fist-and-palm salute.
“Please return safely, Brother.”
There was no answer.
Yeon Ji-pyeong, who had been lowering his head for a long time, straightened his body.
Yeon Ho-jeong and Ga Deuk-sang were already not there.
“…It seems an eldest son is indeed an eldest son. You are as cold as Father.”