Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 83 - The Wind Does Not Stop (1)

Chapter 83 – The Wind Does Not Stop (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Although there was never a day when the wind did not blow in the Jianghu, it was rare for a huge incident like this to occur.

Public Enemy of Murim.

These were four characters that made one’s spine chill, regardless of whether they were from the Orthodox Path, the Unorthodox Path, or the Beyond-the-Border Murim.

In the Jianghu where numerous murderers and madmen ran wild, it was almost hard to find someone who was branded as the Public Enemy of Murim in the name of the Temporary Murim Alliance. Over the past nearly hundred years, those designated as the Public Enemy of Murim did not exceed ten.

That much, the brand of Public Enemy of Murim was not stamped carelessly.

However, surprisingly, the one branded as the Public Enemy of Murim in this generation was not ‘one person’ but one group.

The Nine States Myeong Clan.

Three hundred years ago, the Myeong Clan, which ended the Blood Cult Rebellion along with the Four Directions Martial Emperor and took root in the Central Plains, was a martial family like an iron fortress that enjoyed a reputation for being the Number One under Heaven for nearly two hundred years.

Such a martial family was branded as the Public Enemy of Murim. It was the first time in Murim history that the highest prestigious family of the Orthodox Murim became the Public Enemy of Murim.

Of course, being the Public Enemy of Murim did not mean that all warriors belonging to the Myeong Clan would die.

The brand of Public Enemy of Murim blocked all movements of that power. Once they were caught and the facts were confirmed, if judged appropriate, they became a confirmed Public Enemy of Murim from then on.

In the first place, it was not an order that was easily invoked. As much as it had non-standard characteristics, the brand was not stamped carelessly.

However, for the purpose of preventing the concern of the suspect’s escape, that fact was announced throughout the Murim.

It was a somewhat overbearing order. However, considering that even ordinary murderers did not become Public Enemies of Murim, it also meant that the wrongdoing committed by the Myeong Clan was that great.

The Jianghu held its breath.

It was an issue large enough for a Temporary Murim Alliance to be held. The fall of a prestigious family that had enjoyed the reputation of being the Number One under Heaven for a long time was a major incident that drew the attention of the people of the Jianghu.

The main house of the Nine States Myeong Clan in Xuchang, Henan.

Incalculably many warriors gathered around it. However, the appearance of those warriors was not ordinary.

Monks in the attire of Taoist monks and Taoists, and warriors in luxurious martial robes were full. The number alone was close to five hundred.

Since as many as five hundred people were surrounding the Myeong Clan, no one could know how many people went inside unless they were an official.

Murong Jun entered the Myeong Clan while maintaining a calm expression.

Then, all the warriors guarding the inside of the outer court bowed their heads.

“Greetings to the Clan Head!”

“Mm, you are working hard.”

Murong Jun, who received the greetings coolly, passed through the outer court and entered the inner court.

The place he dropped by was a building in the inner court. Inside the uniquely large hall, a faint medicinal scent was vibrating.

Wheeze… wheeze…

A middle-aged man was lying there, breathing shallowly.

His entire body was wrapped tightly in bandages. Deep stab wounds were even on his neck and face, and the wounds were still full of a reddish tint.

He was Myeong Cheon.

Murong Jun clicked his tongue.

“You’ve been done in terribly.”

He had roughly heard the whole story of the incident.

It was said that Yeon Ho-jeong and the Goshawk Squad, who luckily noticed Myeong Cheon trying to head toward the Yeon family in Jiangsu, blocked the way. It was said that there was an engagement in the meantime, and whether the luck was bad, Myeong Cheon ended up in this state.

“Hah! A new divine art? To be done in while refining a new martial art, you have bad luck. Isn’t that right?”

Murong Jun turned his head to the side.

There was a middle-aged man sitting on an angled chair there. A man who had not been able to breathe properly since Murong Jun entered, Myeong Wu-san.

Murong Jun said with a smile.

“You guys were truly too much. To kill so many workers to dig up the ancestor’s martial art. I heard the number reaches as many as eight hundred?”

“…”

“Why did you commit such a heartless act? Just how important was it that not a single piece of that secret should leak out?”

Myeong Wu-san bit his lip.

That was right. The most powerful single blow Murong Jun exploded at the grand meeting was the incident where the Myeong Clan slaughtered innocent workers.

In fact, even the Orthodox Murim tends to turn a blind eye to a reasonable amount of flaws or corruption. Especially when it comes to the Nine Sects One Gang or the Seven Great Clans.

But touching civilians was a different story.

It had been hundreds of years since a treaty called the Non-Interference between the Government and the Murim was created. However, occasionally the government intervenes in Murim affairs.

The representative among them was precisely when innocent commoners were harmed.

A Murim person killed innocent people? This was something that could not be just watched.

While Murim people were nominally so, the commoners living by tilling the fields were also the subjects of the Empire and the property of the Emperor. They could not help but intervene even if just for show.

And the Murim hated the government’s intervention in this side’s affairs.

In other words, it was a matter that could not help but be sensitive. If they had tried hard to keep it quiet, it would be another thing, but as long as it was discussed publicly, it was not a strange thing to become the Public Enemy of Murim.

“Tsk, tsk. If it were me, I would have rather kept them under my shadow. Along with a proper job where they could live for a lifetime.”

“…”

“It’s good for monitoring and good for using for small things. But you guys didn’t think of embracing them and just killed them all.”

“…”

“Not enough with that, the martial art you learned as the ancestor’s martial art was a demonic art?”

In an instant, Myeong Wu-san’s eyes shook.

“This is… not a demonic art.”

“Haha! Is it a demonic art only when it reeks of evil Qi?”

“…”

“It is a martial art that eats away at a person’s spirit. That has been well proven by the clan head lying here and the several elders who were fleeing.”

“…”

“There are a few guys we haven’t caught yet. It seems it will take some time.”

Murong Jun sat on the bed affably.

“Whether direct line or branch line, aren’t you one family? Those who flee will be slaughtered regardless of the reason if they are caught. But if they surrender, at least they won’t die.”

Myeong Wu-san’s eyes deepened.

“At least ten years in the dungeon. Moreover, the dantian will also be destroyed.”

“It would be better than dying. Better than living in anxiety for a lifetime as well.”

“…”

“When you buried the workers, did you not expect a conclusion of this degree?”

Myeong Wu-san bit his lip in silence.

Murong Jun’s eyes turned cold for an instant.

“I’ll make one proposal.”

“…?”

“You must know that the eldest young master of the Myeong Clan, who was in seclusion, has disappeared.”

Myeong Wu-san’s eyes shook.

Murong Jun smiled. It was a minor reaction, and it was also a satisfactory reaction.

“You know. Where that fellow fled to.”

“…”

“Let’s not make things difficult for each other. If you tell me where that fellow fled to, I’ll lower the sentence for you and your daughter.”

Myeong Wu-san’s complexion changed suddenly.

“My… my daughter is also to be imprisoned in the dungeon?”

“Did you think it wouldn’t be so?”

Murong Jun shook his head.

“Even if it was an order from above, she is a child who learned a demonic art. Moreover, that child, I heard she tried to kill the eldest young master of the Yeon family.”

“Th-that is…!”

“You also know, right? How great the status of that child Yeon Ho-jeong is.”

Murong Jun gave a bitter smile.

“The best rising star who boldly challenged hypocrites dyed in evil. The young tiger of Jiangdong who faced a huge group alone to protect his clan.”

“…”

“Because the martial art and bravery he possesses are so outstanding, he is even called the reincarnation of the Little Conqueror Sun Ce. In the meantime, his resourcefulness is also great, and it is said that he is like the reincarnation of Lu Xun.”

Murong Jun nodded.

“Amazing. Martial art, resourcefulness, boldness, executive power. Nothing is ordinary. I also have never seen a talent as outstanding as him.”

“…”

“Do you understand my words? Currently, that child Yeon Ho-jeong is a passionate hero who receives the gaze of the Murim on himself. In a sense, it is no different from him having brought down the Myeong Clan alone.”

Myeong Wu-san’s lip burst. Blood flowed out from his bitten lip.

“In other words, public opinion will go wild to put to death those who tried to kill Yeon Ho-jeong, regardless of the reason. Do you think the arrow of angry public opinion can avoid even your daughter?”

“I, I…”

“Think well. As the person who hosted the grand meeting, I can sufficiently adjust the sentence of the two people. If it goes well, it can end with just destroying the dantian. It means it’s okay even if they are not imprisoned.”

Myeong Wu-san looked at Myeong Cheon.

Myeong Cheon was still unable to regain consciousness. Probably even if he regained consciousness, he would not live long. Because the physician said his lifespan had been extremely shortened.

Myeong Wu-san dropped his head.

Murong Jun, who was looking at Myeong Wu-san quietly, stood up from his seat.

“Three days later, all warriors of the Myeong Clan will be transported to the Murim Alliance.”

“…!!”

“They will also pick a Temporary Alliance Leader. Well, that’s not important.”

Murong Jun patted Myeong Wu-san’s shoulder.

“For three days, I will be in a nearby tavern. If your mind changes, come find me at any time.”

He knew that his mind had already been shaken.

In that case, it was better to slip out. Only when he came to talk with his own feet would the value of the information exist.

Of course, at that time, the promise he made today would become meaningless.

“Rest comfortably.”

Murong Jun, who came out of the hall, looked up at the sky.

“Phew, it’s a bit hot but clear. It’s a good sky. Hahahaha!”

* * *

Thud!

“Ugh.”

Ga Deuk-sang, who vomited a groan like a belch, fell down on the spot.

“Are you not going to greet properly?”

“Argh! Ah, why are you doing this again suddenly!”

Crack!

“Aaaaagh!”

Ga Deuk-sang hopped while holding his shin.

The old man clicked his tongue.

“Even though I thought I taught you quite like a beggar, you peeked around at irrelevant places and got swept up and caused such a huge accident?”

“A huge accident? Why is this a huge accident! It’s a wonderful thing!”

“This brat?”

“…”

“If you talk back once more, you will be beaten until dust comes out on a rainy day. Understand?”

Ga Deuk-sang shrank his neck.

The master was a person who did what he said. Moreover, his mood did not look very good either.

In times like this, the best policy was to crawl. Ga Deuk-sang laughed foolishly.

“Hehe, I was just saying.”

“Ugh, I raised this idiot-like guy as my one and only successor. The ancestors will be wailing in the underworld.”

“…But why is this an accident?”

“You brat. Why do you carry around a head? Most people know that you are involved in this matter, so when you become the gang leader later, what do you think people will think of you?”

“…A beggar who keeps righteousness well?”

“Bah, you crazy fellow! Do you not know how many snake-like people there are among the Orthodox Murim people? Would those guys join hands with a fellow like you who is tiring to no end!”

Ga Deuk-sang’s face was crumpled.

“Then what do you want me to do? You heard everything the Myeong Clan committed, didn’t you? Should I just leave that alone? Is that what a member of the Beggars’ Gang should do?”

Ga Deuk-sang’s voice was slightly excited.

He was a person who was passionate even at an age over thirty. Even if he died from being beaten by his master, what was wrong was wrong.

The old man snorted.

“Could you not think of making it so people wouldn’t know you helped?”

“…Pardon?”

“You should have hidden yourself thoroughly, you fellow who is worse than a bedbug!”

“Ah…”

“Ah? Huh! Why does this fellow become more stupid as he goes? Who put so much wind in your lungs? Is it that guy named Yeon Ho-jeong?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if that guy named Yeon Ho-jeong put wind in your lungs!”

Ga Deuk-sang rolled his eyeballs for a moment, then nodded his head coldly.

“That’s right, Master.”

“Hmph! Anyway, that guy is not an ordinary guy. Is he still around here?”

“Yes. That person is also not ordinarily broken.”

The old man pointed to the main road with his chin.

“Let’s see the face of the famous tiger. Lead the way.”

“Hehe, yes!”

“Hey, but why is that guy’s nickname Mad Wind Lion?”

“I don’t know.”

“He’s a tiger now? Is it tiger after lion?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“Is he of the feline family?”

“He did have quite a lot of mood swings.”

“He’ll hate you, right? Because you’re like a dog.”

“…”

“Let’s go.”

“Woof woof.”