Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 78 - Natural Enemy (3)
Chapter 78 – Natural Enemy (3)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Riiip!
Myeong Cheon irritably tore the letter to shreds.
His face turned bright red. He was extremely angry.
Myeong Wu-san swallowed his saliva.
The Clan Head had been quite irritable lately due to health issues related to his lifespan. He had been prone to sudden outbursts over small matters, but he had never been this enraged before.
“Yeon Wi, this son of a bitch whom I could not even feel satisfied by grinding and drinking!”
He did not call him the Yeon Clan Head, but simply Yeon Wi. It was evidence that his anger had reached its peak.
Myeong Wu-san spoke quickly.
“We only need to handle one thing.”
“What?!”
“We just need to make it as if this piece of information never existed. The Great Assembly is today. Once the Murong Clan Head exposes the Yeon Clan’s affairs, the Yeon Clan Head will be summoned within a few days.”
“Who does not know that!”
“We must dispatch troops.”
“What?!”
“We must dispatch the greatest masters that the main family can mobilize. By doing so, we must find and eliminate the Jiangsu merchants and detain the Yeon Clan Head.”
A murderous intent dwelled in Myeong Cheon’s eyes.
Whoosh!
It was a murderous intent that blazed like fire. In fact, red flames were rising from various parts of Myeong Cheon’s body.
Myeong Wu-san’s face turned pale.
‘He has become even stronger.’
The Clan Head of a few days ago and the Clan Head of now were too different.
His Qi had increased explosively. An increase in Qi did not necessarily lead to improved skill, but if he could emit this much energy unconsciously, his martial arts level had to be considered to have risen as well.
“I am sorry to say this, but…… first, you must calm down.”
It was something he said while being prepared to hear curses in response.
Surprisingly, Myeong Cheon, who had been huffing and puffing for a long time, calmed his heart with a deep breath.
“Yes, your words are correct.”
“……!”
“Although it is a matter that exploded from an unexpected place, if we just cross this mountain, everything will fall into our hands. It is not something to be dealt with by being excited.”
Myeong Wu-san bowed his head.
“That is a wise judgment.”
“Is Yeon Ho-jeong still not caught?”
It was a question that felt like a surprise attack. At least it was so for Myeong Wu-san.
“Yes.”
Myeong Cheon smiled coldly.
“Right, as expected of that bastard’s son, he knows how to bark quite a bit, doesn’t he?”
“He is stronger than we imagined. If it were up to me, I would want to mobilize troops and sweep him away, but if that happens……”
“It becomes a war. I know as well. There is no reason to waste energy just to catch a single young brat.”
It was a relief. Although he was still in an angry state, he seemed to have regained his cool.
“After today, the Yeon Clan will become the Public Enemy of the Murim. But Yeon Wi must not realize that. Since it is said that he is not attending the Great Assembly either, it will take time for him to receive the letter.”
“Yes.”
“In other words, we need a decisive move to divert his attention, is that it?”
“That is a brilliant judgment.”
Myeong Cheon stood up from his seat.
“If we send all the Dead Swords of the main family, we can destroy the Yeon Clan. But that is not something that should be done.”
“That is correct. Furthermore, the spies of the Murong Clan planted within the Yeon Clan have also been rooted out. The damage to the Dead Swords would be immense.”
“Then there is no reason to specifically dispatch the Dead Swords.”
“Pardon?”
Myeong Cheon wore a cruel smile.
“He is the Clan Head of one of the Seven Great Clans. Even if I send a force capable of overwhelming the Yeon Clan, I cannot eliminate the Clan Head. Because there is no justification.”
“That is true.”
“However, if we create a justification, we can eliminate even Yeon Wi.”
“What?!”
“I shall go personally.”
Myeong Wu-san’s eyes widened.
Myeong Cheon’s two eyes blazed with a strange pleasure and terrifying ambition.
“The Clan Head of the Number One Clan under Heaven is going to punish the Clan Head of one of the Seven Great Clans. Dialogue? Such a thing is not important. I will start a fight under any pretext and kill Yeon Wi.”
“C-Clan Head! That is……!”
“I, as the leader, will personally become the justification. I will make it so.”
It was the most certain method while simultaneously being the most reckless one.
Myeong Wu-san hurriedly continued speaking.
“That is dangerous! The Murong Clan Head will bring down the Yeon Clan at the Great Assembly! There is no need for the Clan Head to go personally……!”
“If not me, who else would be the right person!”
At the thunderous shout, Myeong Wu-san’s mouth closed of its own accord.
Myeong Cheon emitted murderous intent.
“The main family’s disgrace is there. If that fact enters the Temporary Murim Alliance, not only the Yeon Clan but also we will suffer a severe blow.”
“T-That is true, but……”
“I do not know how he found out that fact, but I think it turned out for the better. If we take this opportunity to swallow up Jiangsu, we will become the true Number One under Heaven.”
Myeong Wu-san bit his lip.
In truth, it did not matter if Myeong Cheon went to the Yeon Clan. No, as he said, that was indeed the most certain method.
But why? He was anxious.
He felt as if the strange clouds of war flowing through the Henan Murim had spread all the way to Jiangsu. And it was said that the Clan Head himself was going to the place where those clouds of war lingered.
“And.”
Whoosh!
The flames rising from Myeong Cheon’s hand emitted a terrifying momentum.
A look of ecstasy bloomed on his face.
“Is this not an excellent opportunity to test this Number One Martial Arts under Heaven left by our ancestors?”
“……!”
“You said it before, didn’t you? That Yeon Wi is a master worthy of rising to the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats in ten years.”
“Those are just rumors circulating in the market……”
“Let us confirm it.”
Myeong Cheon wore a murderous smile.
“Whether he really has the qualification to be so, I, the master of the Nine States Myeong Clan, will personally test him.”
* * *
“Watch the South Gate and East Gate of the Myeong Clan right now. Gather all the members of the Beggars’ Gang in Henan. You must absolutely keep an eye on the Myeong Clan.”
“W-Why all of a sudden?!”
“There is a high possibility that the Myeong Clan Head will head to Jiangsu.”
“What? Personally?!”
“Those fellows are certain that the Yeon Clan will become the Public Enemy of the Murim at the Great Assembly. In other words, only one thing remains to be dealt with.”
“E-Even so, for the Myeong Clan Head to go……”
“Whether it is the Myeong Clan Head or not! They will send a force that can at least overwhelm the Yeon Clan! We must not let those fellows leave Henan!”
“Dammit! There are too many variables! Can you be sure of that?”
“It is not that there are many variables, but that is the only one! Once the Temporary Murim Alliance is established, the representative of the Murim Alliance will head to the Yeon Clan! From the Myeong Clan’s side, if not now, there is no way to eliminate their disgrace!”
“Cheh! Fine! I will trust you this time too…… Uh?!”
“What is the matter again?”
“You said we must not let those fellows leave Henan?”
“Is that not obvious?!”
“We alone are not enough, are we? Did you think we would be able to buy time somehow?”
“Whether it works or not, we have no choice but to clash right now.”
“No, you must not do that. You are being too hasty right now. According to what you said, we can never block the Myeong Clan’s troops by ourselves.”
“I will head out first.”
“Let us wait for half a day.”
“Why are you acting like this, for heaven’s sake?!”
“I should be the one asking that, you crazy human! Wait for half a day. Because there are people who will go together.”
“What……?!”
“Even if the Myeong Clan moves, there is a limit to their speed of heading south. So do not worry. Because the Beggars’ Gang has a firm grip on all the shortcuts throughout the Central Plains. We will definitely be able to overtake the Myeong Clan.”
“…….”
“Trust me once, twice, and three times.”
***
Rumble!
The South Gate of the Myeong Clan opened.
“Let’s go!”
Neigh!
Dozens of sturdy horses galloped out briskly.
They were famous horses whose entire bodies sparkled with golden fur. Their legs were longer and thinner than ordinary horses, and their galloping speed seemed to be easily double.
They were Blood-Sweating Horses. They were a top-quality breed so famous that they were called Thousand-Mile Horses, and their value was hard to determine.
There were as many as dozens of such horses.
Dudududu!
Behind the Blood-Sweating Horses galloping at a terrifying speed.
Six horses, whose heights were slightly lower than the Blood-Sweating Horses but whose bodies were much sturdier and more solid, were pulling a massive carriage.
The appearance of the carriage was incredibly luxurious. One might even mistake it for a palanquin used by an Emperor.
Inside that spacious carriage, Myeong Cheon was riding.
It was a carriage created solely for the Clan Head of the Number One Clan under Heaven. It was furnished with a massive silk bed without even a chair, allowing for comfortable travel.
“Heh, how reassuring.”
Through a small window at the front of the carriage, the warriors of the clan driving dozens of Blood-Sweating Horses were visible.
Whoosh.
It felt as if even the wind was fleeing in surprise.
Over fifty masters were each riding a Blood-Sweating Horse. Yet, there was not a single tremor in their postures. They were not affected at all by the dynamic movements of the Blood-Sweating Horses.
‘They are quite decent.’
All of them were masters from branch families raised as Dead Swords.
Even before learning the four great divine arts of the Four Spirits, each of them was a master who had built a realm above the Myeong brothers. Such men had each chosen and learned one of the four great divine arts that suited their existing martial arts.
There were as many as over fifty such masters. Furthermore, three hundred of the Red Dragon Army were following behind the carriage.
Like the White Dragon Army, they were also the forces of the inner court, and they were the strongest among the Four Dragon Armies.
Furthermore, himself.
Himself, who would become the strongest Clan Head in the history of the Nine States Myeong Clan, was with them. With this much force, it was a power that could easily sweep away even a clan with small influence like the Yeon Clan.
‘It is a pity that they are not yet complete.’
The fifty masters galloping at the front were not as proficient in the divine arts as he was. They should have refined them for at least a year, so that was somewhat regrettable.
But even so, it was fine.
‘I just need to catch Yeon Wi first.’
He intended to pick a fight by any means necessary. Yeon Wi would never be able to avoid the fight.
If that happened, the Yeon Clan would be finished. At the same time, he could also blow away the Myeong Clan’s disgrace.
Was it not an amazing strategy no matter how one thought about it?
Originally, a leader must be dignified and must not move rashly. However, overturning that common sense to deliver an unpredictable strike was what strategy was about.
“Heheh!”
He felt good. He felt very good.
His heart was throbbing. It felt as if his vigorously beating heart had become even stronger than before. It was thanks to the Phoenix Qi.
“I hope we arrive even a day sooner.”
How much time had passed since then?
When one day passed and it became the afternoon of the second day.
Neigh!
Myeong Cheon furrowed his brows.
The Blood-Sweating Horses in front seemed to be gradually slowing down, and then they snorted in groups.
‘What is it?’
It was then.
‘……?!’
Myeong Cheon’s face stiffened.
Whoosh.
A terrifying murderous intent was contained in the wind blowing from far ahead.
It was no ordinary murderous intent. It was to the extent that even he, the Clan Head of the world-renowned Nine States Myeong Clan, flinched.
Myeong Cheon opened his mouth.
“What bastard is blocking the way?”
“C-Clan Head!”
Confusion was contained in the voice.
“What is it?”
“It is Yeon Ho-jeong.”
“……What?”
“The eldest son of the Yeon Clan, Yeon Ho-jeong, is blocking the path.”
Surprise dwelled in Myeong Cheon’s eyes.
“Yeon Ho-jeong? How does that brat know?!”
“T-That, I also do not know well……”
Clatter!
Myeong Cheon opened the carriage door and stepped out.
Thud.
The moment it seemed he had kicked the ground, his body was already on the roof of the carriage.
Myeong Cheon’s two eyes shook.
“Yo.”
In the middle of the road that diverged to the left and right far ahead.
A slender young man stood there with a ridiculously massive axe resting on his shoulder.
His blood-stained white robe and his coolly settled gaze were the highlight. He was emitting a mysterious aura from his entire body, and his presence was so great that one’s eyes naturally went to him.
“You brat…..?!”
“Since you did not crawl out even when I shouted for you to come, what else could I do? I had no choice but to seek you out personally.”
Myeong Cheon’s face stiffened.
The voice speaking from thirty zhang away was heard as vividly as if he were speaking right next to him. It was a tremendous internal energy.
Yeon Ho-jeong showed a meaningful smile.
“I have finally caught you, you thief.”