Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 77 - Natural Enemy (2)
Chapter 77 – Natural Enemy (2)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Do you truly think so?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
“I am telling you in advance, it is not because he saved my life.”
“I know. Even if you are as reckless as a newborn calf, you are still a child who knows how to judge right from wrong in your own way.”
“……That is a compliment, right?”
“In truth, if it were an ordinary matter, I would not have even asked like this. My children have received the grace of their lives being saved. It is only human nature to help when a benefactor is in a difficult situation.”
“Then please help him quickly.”
“It would have to be an ordinary matter for that.”
“That is why I told you. He is absolutely not that kind of person.”
“I trust your eye. However, the matter has grown too large.”
“The Myeong Clan’s actions are too excessive. Even if he really did that, how could they send masters to escort him without any evidence?”
“It is excessive. Furthermore, he is the scion of one of the Seven Great Clans. However, the Myeong Clan possesses that much power. If the rumors are true, the Myeong Clan’s hastiness deserves criticism, but we cannot do anything about the Myeong Clan itself.”
“That is why! For now, we must urge the Myeong Clan to refrain from their violent actions. As Father said, he is the scion of one of the Seven Great Clans. It is problematic to act in this manner.”
“It is problematic. But you know, don’t you? Why this father cannot step forward aggressively.”
“…….”
“The young man named Yeon Ho-jeong…… has gone too far. It would have been better if he had been caught by the Myeong Clan. But he inflicted injuries upon the masters of the Myeong Clan.”
“They drew their spears and swords to catch an innocent person, so of course he had to fight!”
“At this point, the reason is no longer important. It has become a situation where they are pointing blades at each other to kill. It has become a war between the Yeon Clan and the Myeong Clan.”
“……!”
“Fortunately, there is still no justification to pour out all their strength. It is a sharp confrontation maintaining a precarious line. But the moment either one of them comes forward with a proper justification, one of the two clans will not be able to avoid destruction.”
“Destruction…….”
“And the one to be destroyed will likely be the Yeon Clan, nine times out of ten.”
“……!”
“I am the Clan Head. As a father, it is only right to help a benefactor, but as the owner of a clan, I must not move rashly. Even without this, the main family’s power has weakened. I must be even more careful.”
“…….”
“Therefore, you go.”
“Pardon?!”
“Your brother is outstanding, but he does not yet have your flexibility. This father must also attend the Great Assembly. So, you go and help the benefactor yourself.”
“I-Is that allowed?!”
“It is not.”
“Then why……?”
“As both a Clan Head and a father, I want to stop you. However, as a member of the Orthodox Murim who follows righteousness and chivalry, I understand your heart.”
“…….”
“Go. Do as your heart tells you. If you believe that is the right path, then risk your life on that choice and show the spirit of a person of the Orthodox Path.”
“……Thank you, Father.”
“Do not say that. I am a pathetic father who could not even look after his daughter’s happiness.”
“…….”
“You will see the Namgung Clan Head at this Great Assembly. I have postponed it until now, but I do not think I can do so any longer.”
“I understand Father.”
“I am sorry. I have nothing else to say.”
“It is fine. I am truly fine.”
“I have already informed the Hidden Grove of Scholars. Go together.”
“Yes! I shall be off.”
* * *
Whish!
The wind was cold.
Even though summer was soon approaching, the weather was exceptionally chilly today. After a few days of this chilliness passed, the full-scale heat would begin.
Ga Deuk-sang, who was walking along the official road, thought to himself.
‘I really ran here quickly.’
In his eyes, the Goshawk Squad, which had formed a circular formation, came into view.
And inside it, a single large axe stood tall.
‘Actually, I was a bit anxious too. Ever since I accepted that request.’
Yeon Ho-jeong had asked him for three things.
First, the movements of the Outside Murim.
Second, all information regarding Murong Yu, the youngest brother of the Murong Clan Head.
Third, the existence of the Dead Swords being raised by the Myeong Clan.
When one handled information and investigated people, there was an ability one would eventually acquire.
It was the ability to recognize the order of importance. In simple terms, it meant that one’s eye for reading the grand scheme improved. it also coincided with the meaning of becoming quick-witted.
When he heard the list Yeon Ho-jeong wanted him to investigate, Ga Deuk-sang was able to be certain immediately.
‘The first and second requests are also important. But there is time. However, the third request is different.’
The existence of the Dead Swords that the Myeong Clan was raising in the shadows.
What Yeon Ho-jeong wanted to know right now was exactly that. And when he informed him of that part, as expected, Yeon Ho-jeong’s reaction was incredibly intense.
‘It was from then. The thought that I would somehow become terribly entangled with that crazy fellow.’
Ga Deuk-sang grinned.
He cursed him as a crazy bastard and a fellow who deserved to die, but in truth, he was also enjoying himself while being with Yeon Ho-jeong.
He was enjoying himself even though it was not a situation to be enjoyed. The reason was that it was the first time he had ever run wild like this with someone.
And it was even better because it was for the sake of righteousness and chivalry.
Perhaps for Yeon Ho-jeong, it was not righteousness and chivalry, but revenge.
Sring.
“Who are you?”
A member of the Goshawk Squad asked as he half-drew his sword.
There was no way he did not know who Ga Deuk-sang was. Nevertheless, he asked as if dealing with a suspicious person. It meant that the Goshawk Squad was also that much on edge.
“I am Ga Deuk-sang, the successor of the Beggars’ Gang. I have come to meet your clan’s eldest young master.”
It was then.
“Open the path.”
Tak!
The Goshawk Squad member, who immediately sheathed his sword, moved to the side. Then, a path opened on one side of the circular formation.
Ga Deuk-sang silently walked through the opened path.
‘They are sharp.’
The gazes of the swordsmen watching him from both sides were incomparably fierce. It felt as if his body was being cut in various places by hundreds of swords.
He must not provoke them. Right now, the Goshawk Squad was in a state where they would cut even a high priest of Shaolin if he came.
“You have arrived?”
Ga Deuk-sang looked at the axe.
The axe, which had its pole end buried two feet into the ground, was miraculously standing upright. Even though it was a heavy weapon weighing eighty catties, its center of gravity was well-balanced, making it possible to keep it steady.
Ga Deuk-sang looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s complexion looked decent. It was hard to believe he was someone who had been engaged in combat with enemies in one spot for over two days.
Ga Deuk-sang snorted.
“Look at the blood on the axe. You must be having the time of your life, aren’t you?”
“My body felt a bit stiff.”
“What a load of nonsense. So why did you fight? Did you forget all the plans we made?”
“I did not forget.”
“If you were going to break someone’s head, you should have contacted me in advance. What is this? I am the only one who became a fool.”
“I am sorry. I had no time to contact you.”
“I have heard your excuse well.”
“Haha.”
In the end, Ga Deuk-sang also let out a chuckle. Seeing Yeon Ho-jeong wearing a troubled smile, which was unlike him, the accumulated emotions vanished completely.
“Eujachacha! Shall I sit down as well!”
Ga Deuk-sang, who plopped down next to Yeon Ho-jeong, looked toward the Myeong Clan.
Three hundred masters were formed in a line about fifty zhang away. It was the Myeong Clan’s White Dragon Army.
“I have instructed the beggars to gather all information regarding the Myeong Clan.”
Yeon Ho-jeong wore a smile.
“I was trusting you.”
“Bullshit. I do not know what kind of things we will get entangled in the future, but if it is like this next time, do not expect even a drop of soup. I will just run away, pretending I do not know anything.”
“I understand.”
“Anyway, I thought you would be fighting while blood was splattering, but it is in a state of lull?”
“Because they probably do not need to dispatch troops indefinitely from their side either.”
“Since when has the White Dragon Army been here?”
“White Dragon Army?”
“The fellows formed in a line over there. Did you not know?”
“I did not. They have been arriving since the evening before last.”
“And they did not attack?”
“They kept sending several masters. But those people did not move.”
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes flashed.
“It is dangerous.”
Yeon Ho-jeong wore a smile.
Certainly, Ga Deuk-sang’s insight was extraordinary. He knew how to see the essence of this fight just by roughly hearing the situation.
“Since everyone’s attention is focused, it is difficult to move a combat unit like the White Dragon Army. A one-on-one duel is fine, but if even they move, it becomes a war.”
“That is true.”
The Goshawk Squad would not just stand by and watch the White Dragon Army advance. In the end, countless people would die, and if that happened, both sides’ justifications would vanish into thin air.
“In other words, the moment they move is when it becomes an all-out war.”
“You saw it correctly.”
“It will not be easy for them to move under normal circumstances. The current confrontation is close to thin ice. Unless they bring a decisive reason, a justification that no one can deny, they will never be able to move.”
“Probably so.”
“Even so, they will not dispatch the clan’s high-ranking members either.”
“It would be a matter of prestige.”
“Yes.”
Yeon Ho-jeong was the eldest son of the Yeon Clan. If it were a place where others could not see, it might be different, but in a place where attention was focused like this, it would not match their prestige if an elder-level master popped out.
“In other words, they have used up all the cards they can use.”
Ga Deuk-sang glanced at Yeon Ho-jeong.
They had used all the cards except for the clan’s high-ranking members? That meant Yeon Ho-jeong had handled all the masters just below the Myeong Clan’s high-ranking members by himself.
It was amazing. Admiration came forth not as a member of the Orthodox Path, but as a martial artist.
“How did you become a monster at that age?”
“I still have a very long way to go.”
“Ah, how annoying.”
“Haha.”
Ga Deuk-sang sprawled out.
“Since things have turned out like this, let’s just rest well while observing the situation.”
“But why do you insist on resting here?”
“Are we not a community of destiny? Just the fact that I am here will make the Myeong Clan move more cautiously.”
“That is true.”
Ga Deuk-sang did not mention the existence of Yi Cheol-gyeong and another existence coming up from Mount Longzhong in Hubei. It was because it was not yet certain.
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at the grand buildings rising beyond the White Dragon Army.
‘I can see them.’
When he first arrived here, he could not see them. But now, he could.
His basic eyesight had improved. His vision had gotten better even without raising his internal energy.
‘I can see them clearly.’
The White Tiger Qi and Black Tortoise Qi were much more tempered than they were two days ago. That was why he could see.
Yeon Ho-jeong recalled the few battles he had fought over the past two days.
‘All of them had learned the Fake Four Gods Martial Arts.’
No matter how much it was Yeon Ho-jeong, he could not handle all of them by utilizing the enlightenment of the Dark Emperor.
Nevertheless, the reason he could defeat the Myeong Clan’s masters alone lay in the martial arts he himself had learned and the martial arts the opponents had learned.
‘Did they say it was the Pure White Martial Soldiers?’
Myeong Chi-san.
The man he had fought in the bamboo forest had not learned the Fake Four Gods Martial Arts. There would still be many such masters in the Myeong Clan.
However.
‘It is fine now.’
It was fine no matter who came among masters of that level.
The Black Tortoise Qi had grown explosively. And the White Tiger Qi, in order to keep pace with it, was also seeking its own growth on its own.
He himself two days ago and he himself now were completely different people. If the target was someone who had learned martial arts derived from the Four Gods Martial Arts, he could handle them even if they were an ultra-peak master.
That was the current Yeon Ho-jeong.
The Myeong Clan had dispatched masters to catch Yeon Ho-jeong, but those masters had instead become the catalyst to grow Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts.
He was not afraid of whoever came. At least from the Myeong Clan.
Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes.
A cool breeze was fluttering by his ears.
“The wind is good.”
Three days later.
“Is today the day of the Great Assembly?”
“Has it already become so?”
“It has. Time truly flies, truly.”
Dududu.
“Huh? What is with them?”
Ga Deuk-sang tilted his head.
“Why are they withdrawing?”
Yeon Ho-jeong was also puzzled. Because there was no reason for the White Dragon Army to withdraw in the current situation.
It was then.
“Hmm?”
Ga Deuk-sang pricked up his ears. He was listening to a telepathic message.
A moment later, Ga Deuk-sang’s face gradually turned pale.
Yeon Ho-jeong furrowed his brows.
“What is the matter?”
Ga Deuk-sang turned to Yeon Ho-jeong.
“The Yeon Clan Head has dropped a bombshell.”
“My father?!”
“I am saying he threatened the Myeong Clan Head! To protect you!”
Ga Deuk-sang informed Yeon Ho-jeong of the contents of the letter.
Impatience settled on his face.
“Dammit, the board has been shaken! We no longer know how the Myeong Clan will move!”
“I understand now.”
“Huh? What did you say?!”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“I know. How the Myeong Clan, no, how the ‘Myeong Clan Head’ will move.”