Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 56 - Toward Where the Wind Blows (6)
Chapter 56 – Toward Where the Wind Blows (6)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Myeong On-ji recalled the conversation with her father before she came here.
‘He will not be able to know.’
‘Do you really think so?’
‘Let us say the Yeon Clan really caught all the spies. Among those spies, there is no one associated with the main house.’
‘What about the possibility that the Murong Clan Head spoke?’
‘Zero. The Murong Clan Head is a person with his own kind of faith. His ambition is great, but he is also a person who knows how to bow his waist before a strong opponent. He would have never told his subordinates that he is connected with the main house.’
‘In that case, even if the Yeon Clan’s side caught and tortured the spies, the name of the main house would not come out.’
‘That is right.’
‘Then the reason to dispatch the Hidden Death Squad is…’
‘The Murong Clan will not bare their fangs at us. It is because they know it cannot be done with force. But do you think even we can look down on the Murong Clan?’
‘That is… no.’
‘The Murong Clan Head is a person who is not bad to join hands with. Since that side has gone through some trouble for us until now, it is our turn to step forward.’
‘What should we make the reason?’
‘Business. Since they said the Murong Clan Head sent a letter to the Yeon Clan Head anyway, give the reason for this contact as business.’
‘What if the Yeon Clan’s Eldest Young Master suspects us?’
‘There is no reason for that. From the start, Jiangxi and Zhejiang are places that martial world factions with some power keep an eye on. There is no reason to suspect. However…’
‘…’
‘It does not matter even if he suspects. Because the Yeon Clan will fall anyway.’
That was right.
The Myeong Clan had already finished many preparations for the expansion of their power. The work at the distant Dabie Mountains was also concluded.
The Yeon Clan would fall. They could not help but fall.
However, Myeong On-ji, who heard Yeon Ho-jeong’s aggressive words, could not help but be inwardly flustered.
‘He knows?!’
Right, it did not matter even if he suspected. Because the Yeon Clan would fall anyway.
However, there was a world of difference between suspecting and knowing.
A person who suspects is not scary. Since it is not a conviction, they cannot help but take time in handling the work. They cannot use their strength at the decisive moment.
But if they are convinced, the story changes.
“What are you saying?”
Contrary to her thoughts, Myeong On-ji tilted her head. She had a face that seemed truly puzzled.
“I do not know what my younger brother is saying? Are you saying the main house joined hands with the Murong Clan by any chance?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“Are you sitting there performing such pathetic acting even though you know everything has been exposed?”
“Exposed… I really do not know. Anyway, you are saying the Murong Clan sent spies to your family, and you caught those spies, right?”
“You are doing all sorts of things.”
It could not be helped.
Myeong On-ji realized that Yeon Ho-jeong had read her inner thoughts. She had been so surprised that she momentarily failed to manage her expression, so it was understandable.
The problem lay not in herself as Myeong On-ji, but in herself as the Great Leader of the Hidden Death Squad.
‘How should I handle this?’
If he were only suspecting, it would be enough to just confirm about the Yeon Clan catching the spies and then send him away.
But regardless of who he heard it from, this guy was completely convinced.
That meant she could not just leave him be. The fact that this guy knew meant that information had leaked, and if information had leaked, she had to know where it leaked from.
In other words, she had to capture Yeon Ho-jeong alive and take him away.
‘I can handle the later matters later. Even if the Successor pokes around, it is enough to just feign ignorance.’
In Henan, there were the Nine States Myeong Clan and the Shaolin Temple.
However, the Myeong Clan’s practical influence was much stronger than Shaolin’s. While Shaolin was a Buddhist sect, the Myeong Clan was a powerful family that pursued the fame and profit of the secular world.
Even the world-renowned Beggars’ Gang would find it difficult to uncover the Myeong Clan’s information manipulation in Henan Province.
‘The problem is…’
Myeong On-ji looked into Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.
His eyes were without shaking. They were impressive pupils that gave the viewer an unknown chill, and at the same time, they harbored an eye-light that was difficult to see into.
‘This guy knew we would come. At the very least, he was guessing. It is because he knew that we and the Murong Clan had joined hands.’
If so?
‘Does that mean he threw himself as bait?’
Just how reliable of a backer did he have?
“The sound of your brain rolling is heard all the way here.”
“…”
“Are you curious about what I believe in to be acting so stubbornly?”
Myeong On-ji said nothing.
Now, talking about this case was a loss. Both the opponent and she already knew. Since the truth had been revealed, the best policy was to keep her mouth shut as much as possible.
Yeon Ho-jeong felt the potential power of the Myeong Clan from Myeong On-ji’s appearance.
Whether in their twenties or thirties, it was an excessively young age to be active as the head of an intelligence organization.
The fact that Myeong On-ji became the head of an intelligence organization must have been due to talent playing a large role. But the one who raised her so orthodoxly must have been the Myeong Clan.
The Myeong Clan, which advocated for the Orthodox Path, made the children of the family into professional intelligence agents. Just looking at that, the Myeong Clan was a tricky family to deal with.
That was right. If one did not know about them, they could be tricky.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s mouth opened.
“What else could there be? The thing a martial artist will eventually believe in at the end is only their own skill.”
“…Skill?”
“You want to take me away, do you not? But I naturally do not want to do that.”
“…!”
“Shall we see the power of the Myeong Clan’s intelligence organization, which is called the Number One Clan under Heaven?”
Myeong On-ji’s eyes became icy.
She slowly stood up from her seat.
“Right, since you know everything, there is no need to deceive you any longer, is there?”
Sssss.
Killing intent rose from the bodies of the warriors standing behind her. They, who had strictly controlled their killing intent, were only now releasing that momentum.
Flutter!
Birds hidden all over the forest flew away in surprise. That was how fierce the killing intent was.
Myeong On-ji spoke in a calm voice.
“I heard you defeated the Lightning Hero Chu Seong.”
“That moron?”
“Right, he is a moron. This is the Jianghu where one can die even by a dagger swung by a child, right? Let alone him, he was defeated while looking down on the Yeon Clan’s Eldest Young Master, so he has nothing to say even if he hears he is a moron. But you see.”
Swish.
Before she knew it, Myeong Do appeared behind Yeon Ho-jeong.
In the dark forest, in the place where the light of the bonfire spread, Myeong Do’s face was nothing short of eerie. He looked like a ghost with only his face floating around.
“We are not such morons.”
“It seems that way.”
“The Myeong Clan’s Hidden Death Squad is an intelligence organization. It is not a combat unit. But depending on the case, there are many times we must suppress with force.”
“Are you strong?”
“At least catching one Peak Master is not difficult. Furthermore, we do not let our guard down either.”
Myeong On-ji smiled.
In the midst of a bloodthirsty atmosphere, smiling a bright smile looked frightening in its own way.
“So do not waste your strength and come with us obediently.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
Myeong On-ji shook her head.
“I know your skill is outstanding. I also know your guts are no less than your skill. But once the fight starts, it will be difficult for you to last even five exchanges.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It is not for nothing that the Hidden Death Squad…”
It was then.
‘Eh?’
Myeong On-ji was momentarily puzzled.
‘But how did he know we are an intelligence organization?’
The Hidden Death Squad was not a publicly known organization. Those who knew, knew, but those people also could not blabber outside. Because they all died, or were threatened by the Myeong Clan.
But how did he know that?
“You, how did you know we are an intelligence organization?”
“I know when I see you.”
Sss.
A powerful energy flowed out of Myeong On-ji’s body. It was an energy stronger than anyone else here.
“You, really will not do. I have to take you away.”
Vroom!
Five of the warriors scattered into the forest. They were trying to check if there were any ‘eyes’ they might not know about in the surroundings.
‘It is orthodox. Too much so.’
Only then did Yeon Ho-jeong pick up his axe. Because it was the time when the Hidden Death Squad was making the warriors scout the surroundings… he was catching exactly that time.
Myeong On-ji spoke in an icy voice.
“Make him kneel.”
Boom!
From behind Yeon Ho-jeong, Myeong Do lunged. Surprisingly, the warriors did not move.
It was an attack that caught the opponent off guard from the beginning. Myeong On-ji’s words that they would not let their guard down no matter who the opponent was were true.
A surprise attack that anyone would have fallen for if the opponent was not Yeon Ho-jeong.
Thump!
Myeong Do’s eyes shook.
The fist he lunged hit the air. The attack that accurately targeted the back had failed.
‘Where to?!’
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
Myeong Do, who was hit on the back by the shaft of the axe, staggered and stepped on the bonfire.
Myeong On-ji shouted.
“Be careful!”
Crash!
Myeong Do once again let out a groan and flew toward Myeong On-ji.
Whoosh.
Myeong On-ji’s hand grabbed Myeong Do’s wrist and moved softly. Then Myeong Do’s body floated up and soon passed over her back.
It was a high-level technique of Redirecting Force. It was a martial art so ingrained in her body that she could unfold it unconsciously.
At that moment, the giant axe blade struck the bonfire.
Kabaam!
A strike of tremendous power extinguished the bonfire at once.
In an instant, the surroundings became dark. The eyes of the Hidden Death Squad members who had become used to the firelight could not adapt to the darkness for a moment.
‘Oops!’
Splat!
Along with a terrible sound, warm liquid splashed in all directions.
‘Blood?!’
Wuuung!
Everyone instinctively raised their internal energy. Thanks to the internal energy spread throughout their bodies, their ocular power improved. Only now did their vision finally catch on.
But Yeon Ho-jeong was not visible.
‘What? Where did he disappear to?!’
Whooooosh!
A cold wind pushed in from the north.
A cold and heavy wind. The feeling of pressure as if one could not even breathe was a bonus.
Myeong On-ji shouted.
“It is the north! Catch him!”
Clang!
Fourteen warriors briskly drew their swords. The attacks of fourteen swift and sharp drawing techniques were fired toward only one point.
That was their mistake.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
“Aaaaak!”
Surprisingly, all fourteen warriors let out screams and retreated. Half of them even fell down and landed on their butts.
Myeong On-ji’s eyes widened.
‘What?!’
Whooooooooosh.
In the blowing wind, a transparent blue energy flickered.
Roooooar!
From somewhere far away, a bizarre cry seemed to be heard.
It was the cry of a monstrous beast that had never been heard anywhere. That bizarre cry made everyone here feel a chill down their spines.
It was exactly the roar of a Divine Beast that did not exist in reality.
The Master of the Northern Heaven, Black Tortoise, had awakened.
“If even one fellow runs away, I will kill you all.”
“…!”
“Kneel.”
* * *
The Hidden Death Squad members who left the forest and finished scouting the surroundings turned back toward the way they came.
It was then.
Thwack! Crack! Thump!
In an instant, three Hidden Death Squad members fell down.
Blood flowed from the heads of those who fell. Their heads had been broken by clubbing.
If there was a relief, it was that they did not die.
“What are you guys!”
The two members who avoided the surprise attack looked around in a panic.
‘Heok!’
Before they knew it, dozens of beggars were standing around them holding clubs. It was a perfect encirclement.
“Kyaaaak! Tui! Aish, fuck. It got on my sleeve.”
Ga Deuk-sang, who roughly wiped his chest, approached with a swagger.
“Thinking about it, that gentleman’s words are also right. The results are important, what does the process matter? Is that not right, you punks?”
“The Successor?!”
“Look at that? You recognize me at once? As expected, you knew everything, right?”
Contrary to his relaxed expression, Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes were terrifyingly cold. That chill was enough to surpass that of Yeon Ho-jeong.
He was extremely angry.
“Take down that signboard of Number One under Heaven, and take off your balls too. You bastards.”
Vroom!
The beggars lunged.