Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 69 - There May Be Opponents, but There Is No Absolute (4)

Chapter 69 – There May Be Opponents, but There Is No Absolute (4)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Before long, Yeon Ho-jeong’s presence vanished. He had completely left the place.

Murong Jun, who had been laughing for a long while, gradually stopped laughing.

He calmly filled his own cup.

“Yeon-hwa.”

“Yes, Father.”

“How did you see him?”

Murong Yeon-hwa let out a low sigh.

“Honestly, I can’t gauge him.”

“Haha, that’s understandable.”

“One thing is certain. He is a much ruder person than I thought.”

“Without power, one cannot even commit rudeness.”

“You seemed greatly impressed by Yeon Ho-jeong.”

“I don’t know how to put it.”

Murong Jun recalled Yeon Ho-jeong.

Eyes so transparent they made the observer feel a chill. A nonchalant face that lacked leisure but showed no trace of urgency.

And even the terrifying boldness to say he would eliminate the Number One Clan under Heaven as if it were nothing.

The laughter he had tried to suppress leaked out on its own.

“He is a strong man. It’s a matter beyond martial arts, strategy, or insight. I felt an innate strength from him.”

“…Is it to that extent?”

“I can’t even imagine what kind of life he has lived. He crawled up after experiencing a considerable amount of pandemonium. It is difficult for even a strong nature to overcome the seasoned maturity that experience provides. That fellow possesses both.”

Murong Yeon-hwa’s face stiffened.

She knew her father highly evaluated Yeon Ho-jeong, but she didn’t know it was to this degree.

Murong Jun, who was recalling Yeon Ho-jeong with a smile.

His expression gradually cooled down to a chill.

“That is why… he is dangerous.”

“Pardon?”

“He is a dangerous fellow. I could see another side of myself in him.”

Crshhh.

The cup he was holding turned into powder just like that.

It was a terrifying internal power. He had turned the jade cup into powder with internal energy manifested unconsciously. The depth of his internal cultivation surpassed imagination.

It was an increase in internal energy gained through practicing the Thunder Spirit Art.

“In fact, although I said it like a joke, a temporary greed arose upon seeing him. I thought it would be fine to pair an talent of that caliber with you.”

Murong Yeon-hwa’s eyes wavered.

“However.”

Murong Jun, who brushed off the powder, looked out the window.

Before they knew it, a brilliant white moon had risen.

“That fellow is just like me. He will not know the meaning of satisfaction. Even if I were to marry you to him, he would constantly eye my family for an opportunity.”

Murong Jun’s eyes deepened.

“It’s a pity. If he had inherited our family’s surname, I would have already seated him as the Young Clan Leader.”

Murong Yeon-hwa clenched her fists without Murong Jun’s knowledge.

Why? She felt needlessly resentful. Her father always praised her, but he had never given her such a high evaluation.

Murong Yeon-hwa spoke in an intentionally calm tone.

“If he is a talent who cannot be made into a person of our family, you should eliminate him in advance, shouldn’t you?”

“Of course.”

Was it because he was bathed in moonlight?

Murong Jun’s pale smile was somehow eerie.

“I will grasp the world. Then the world will become the garden I must cultivate. However, that fellow will never become a flower that blooms beautifully in my garden. In that case, it is better to pluck him out by the roots in advance.”

Murong Jun, who had been looking at the moon for a long while, stood up from his seat.

“Whatever the reason, it was a meaningful meeting. We have also become busy. Let us go quickly.”

“Yes.”

* * *

“Phew.”

In the dark forest.

Sitting on a rock where the cold moonlight was clearly visible, he lowered his axe.

Thump.

He had intended to stand it up, but it tilted and became stuck in the ground. There was no strength left in his hands.

“It’s exhausting.”

Immediately after fighting a life-or-death battle with those damn wolves, he had exchanged sharp conversation with Murong Jun. The consumption of mental energy was no small matter.

Wooooong.

He pulled up the Jade Gauze True Qi to rectify the internal injuries that were gradually worsening.

The damage was greater than expected. Blood vessels were torn in various places, and his acupuncture points were filled with turbid energy.

Yeon Ho-jeong took a deep breath.

Whirrrr!

The White Tiger Qi opened, and he inhaled highly concentrated natural energy.

Qi plays the role of healing the body. He received an abundance of Qi through the White Tiger Qi to activate his healing, and opened the Black Tortoise Qi to discharge all the remaining turbid energy.

After circulating his energy for over half a shijin, he finally felt like he could live.

“Dammit, I should have gulped down a few bowls of water. Why did he suggest drinking alcohol?”

Because of the internal injuries, his stomach was churning. On top of that, having poured in a few glasses of strong liquor, he felt like he was going to vomit.

This was why people should not be bewitched by things like memories.

‘He was certainly different when he was young.’

During his time as the Murim Alliance Leader, Murong Jun was a seasoned politician and at the same time the head of the Orthodox Path who received support from everyone.

Although he used any means and methods for his goals, he certainly took care of his own people. He was a monarch respected by those within his domain and a capable administrator.

‘I also drank a lot of alcohol.’

Because of the invasion of the Central Plains by the Three Evil Cults, specifically the Evil Lust Cult, the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths had joined hands for the first time.

The leaders of the Black and White had formed an alliance due to the invasion of foreign enemies. The two of them had even shared drinks several times while waging war.

Although he had lived a heartless life to reach that position, at least he was not an uncharming person. That was why he had been wary of him, but at the same time, felt a sense of kinship.

However, the current Murong Jun was different.

He was a cunning hero who burned with ambition and would unhesitatingly commit schemes and murders for his dreams.

‘Furthermore, I didn’t know back then. That the Murong Clan played a part in the destruction of my family.’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned cold.

Memories were just memories. This drinking session was nothing more than a farewell drink for a past comrade-in-arms.

If he hadn’t known, that would be one thing, but now that he knew, the Murong Clan was a mortal enemy. They were the same as the Myeong Clan.

‘Look forward to it, old man. I will sweep away the foundation you’ve built until now without leaving a single speck of dust.’

While he was lost in thought for a long while.

“Phew, why did a person who is hurt climb this high mountain? I’m exhausted to death.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“What brings you all the way here?”

“Do you think I came because I wanted to? I also want to sit comfortably and fiddle with incoming information.”

The person who appeared was Ga Deuk-sang.

“What about the Hidden Death Squad?”

“Man, you really have no affection. We met after a long time, and you speak without even an official greeting.”

“It seems you captured them well.”

“Isn’t that obvious? I am a man who does what he says once he decides.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Ga Deuk-sang smiled.

“Young Master Yeon, you’ve also worked hard. Seeing that you’re hurt like that, they must have been really strong.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“All fellows who reek of blood are like that. Rather than being strong, they were extremely poisonous. I overexerted myself a bit to catch them all one by one.”

“Still, it’s incredible. How many people in the Murim would be able to catch the Blue Wolf Ghosts alone?”

“There are plenty. It’s just that they haven’t been searched for.”

“…He always says things in such a distasteful way.”

“So, why did you come?”

“Oh? It seems you really were hurt a lot?”

“Hmm?”

Ga Deuk-sang pointed behind him with his thumb.

“Look.”

Yeon Ho-jeong looked where he was pointing.

His eyes widened.

“I was directly contacted by the Clan Head. Well, actually, I was curious about how you were holding up, so I came along as a guide.”

One hundred swordsmen who stepped out of the dark shadows appeared one after another.

At their lead was Shin Mo.

“The Goshawk Squad greets the Eldest Young Master!”

“We greet the Eldest Young Master!”

It was a voice so loud that the whole mountain rang out.

Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips.

“Lower your voices. Do you want to spread rumors?”

Ga Deuk-sang scoffed.

“It would be better to spread some rumors. Considering that sorry state you’re in.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.

“Anyway, how did you get here?”

Shin Mo spoke in his characteristic low voice.

“The Clan Head sent us directly. From now on, we will take charge of the Eldest Young Master’s protection.”

Father?

Yeon Ho-jeong let out a sigh.

“He must be very busy over there too; why did he send you all the way here?”

Ga Deuk-sang chided him.

“This man. Is that something to say in front of people who ran hard until the soles of their feet blistered? You should be thankful instead.”

“Ahem!”

Yeon Ho-jeong stepped down from the rock.

“In any case… you all worked hard to get here.”

“Not at all.”

Yeon Ho-jeong scratched his head as if in an awkward position.

“By the way, where can I find a tavern that can accommodate so many people? Couldn’t the Successor find one for us?”

“See, you can’t do anything without me, right?”

“If you don’t like it, forget it.”

“Ah, fine! Since I’ve already secured a decent manor nearby, rest there. The Myeong Clan’s eyes won’t reach that place either.”

“Thank you.”

“Whatever.”

Ga Deuk-sang asked casually.

“Anyway, how did the meeting with the Murong Clan Head end? I still can’t believe that man came all the way to Henan.”

“It ended well.”

“Is that it? Do you have any intention of telling me more in detail?”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled. Certainly, Ga Deuk-sang was fun to talk to. It felt like he naturally gained strength.

He told him in detail about the conversation he had with the Murong Clan Head.

Interest arose on Ga Deuk-sang’s face.

“Powers… he must be talking about the Great Meeting Rights.”

“Great Meeting Rights?”

“The masters of the Nine Schools and One Gang and the Seven Great Clans possess a power called the Great Meeting Rights. It is used to call together the leaders of the Orthodox Murim and discuss important agendas.”

Yeon Ho-jeong frowned. It was because he had never heard of it.

“There was such a thing?”

“Indeed. Ah, of course, the exercise of the Great Meeting Rights is extremely rare. Since it involves gathering the leaders of the Orthodox Murim scattered all over the world, if an answer to that agenda is not found, the side that proposed it must bear all the responsibility.”

“To take responsibility even after calling them for an important agenda?”

“So to speak, it is to compensate for the losses each sect suffers due to the absence of their leaders. In other words, do not call them for something trivial.”

What a peculiar power.

The Unorthodox Murim was not like this. In the first place, there was no meaning in allied forces. The reason Yeon Ho-jeong had established Dark Emperor Castle and ruled alone was because, even if an alliance was formed, everyone was busy stabbing each other in the back.

“In other words, it means the Murong Clan Head has that much confidence.”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“I understand what a temporary Murim Alliance means. But is it possible for the leaders of each sect to gather in just one month?”

“There are some leaders who cannot come due to circumstances. However, unless that’s the case, they must come.”

It was a rather shocking system for Yeon Ho-jeong, who was familiar with the structure of the Unorthodox Murim.

“Anyway, since the talk went well, what are you going to do from now on?”

“I must rest. For the time being.”

“I mean, you’re not the type of person to rest without any countermeasure.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.

“Does the Successor also know? That the Myeong Clan’s forces have secretly taken up positions near Jiangsu Province.”

Ga Deuk-sang smiled.

“I’ve heard.”

“A month is a long time, and yet it is also short. During that time, shouldn’t we gradually tighten the noose around the Myeong Clan’s neck?”

“They will probably step forward and deny it, though?”

“They surely will.”

“I’ll try to set the atmosphere. I don’t know if I can hold out for a month, but…”

“When the rumors die down, I will step forward.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.

“Even if one borrows someone else’s fishing boat, one must do the fishing oneself.”