Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 85 - The Wind Does Not Stop (3)
Chapter 85 – The Wind Does Not Stop (3)
===================
Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
===================
The words spoken upon first meeting were quite harsh.
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“Has it been rumored that I am a dog butcher?”
He responded with thick skin. Hwa Jin-cheon burst into a loud laughter.
“Did you think rumors wouldn’t spread? I heard your skill with the axe is art. Did you use the heads of the Myeong Clan bastards as firewood instead of logs?”
“I couldn’t even use them as kindling.”
“Since their heads were full of nothing but dung, that might be so.”
“Indeed.”
“I heard you also tried to kill Myeong Cheon?”
“Is that something to be surprised about?”
“It’s not something to be surprised about. Sparing an enemy who tries to kill you? It might sound good, but to someone actually on the battlefield, it’s just dream-like nonsense.”
Hwa Jin-cheon tilted his head.
“The problem is this. Going on a rampage to cut off his limbs when the fight was already decided.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon looked at Yeon Ho-jeong in surprise.
Yeon Ho-jeong admitted it calmly.
“I did. Although I collapsed before I could achieve my goal.”
“Why did you do that? Since the fight was over and the situation was being settled, was there a need to give such an insult?”
“You are joking too much.”
“Joking?”
“Unless it’s necessary, I don’t insult my opponent.”
“What is butchering a person if not an insult?”
“He said he would cut off my limbs, sever my head, pickle it in salt, and throw it before my father.”
“…….”
“Normally I can endure it, but at that time, I couldn’t.”
Hwa Jin-cheon, who was watching Yeon Ho-jeong with ambiguous eyes, shrugged his shoulders.
“I shouldn’t provoke you under normal circumstances.”
Yeon Ho-jeong wore a faint smile.
“Have you seen enough?”
Hwa Jin-cheon’s eyes flashed.
“Did you know?”
“A disciple follows his master. It was exactly like this when I first met the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang.”
“To be told I resemble that bedbug-like fellow, I still have a long way to go.”
Although he spoke lightly as if joking, Hwa Jin-cheon was inwardly surprised.
‘He is clever.’
Those who handle information prioritize looking at the tendencies of the person who was the axis of an incident before grasping the causal relationship of the event.
It was something he always emphasized to his disciple. In the end, incidents and accidents are caused by people, so if one can properly see people, one can grasp the pulse of the matter.
However, it seemed this young rising star also knew that.
‘He is no ordinary fellow. He wasn’t surprised at all even though I came. He might not have predicted it, but he at least knew it wouldn’t be strange if I did.’
Hwa Jin-cheon let out a sigh.
“I don’t know what will happen to the Beggars’ Gang in the future.”
“Pardon?”
“When a tiger learns to think like a human, the area becomes hell. Since my disciple has shared a friendship with a tiger that possesses human intelligence, he won’t be able to die a natural death either.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“Do not worry. I am not a madman who bites and kills just anyone.”
“If you were a madman who bit and killed anyone, he wouldn’t have been able to share such a friendship in the first place.”
“Indeed, that is true.”
Hwa Jin-cheon, who was chuckling, turned to Zhuge Ah-yeon.
“Are you the eldest daughter of the Zhuge Clan?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon bowed her waist.
“I was embarrassed to interrupt the conversation, so my greeting is late. Zhuge Ah-yeon of the Zhuge Clan greets the Dragon Head Chief.”
Hwa Jin-cheon scratched his head.
Still, it seemed less dandruff was flying than from his disciple.
“Can you stay here?”
“Yes? M-me?”
“Yes, you.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon showed a bewildered expression.
Hwa Jin-cheon chuckled.
“I heard the Namgung Clan sent a matchmaker?”
“……!”
“I don’t know if the marriage will take place, but shouldn’t you at least behave properly until then? Even if he hasn’t reached the age of majority, a man is a man, and it doesn’t seem like the Namgung side would like it.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s face stiffened.
She didn’t expect him to mention a major matter between families in such an unexpected place. She was so flustered that her mouth wouldn’t open.
Hwa Jin-cheon laughed loudly.
“Haha, did I bring up unnecessary words?”
“…….”
“I am sorry. At this age, I still can’t manage my mouth well. It was a word thrown out of useless curiosity, so please understand just this once.”
“It is… fine.”
Hwa Jin-cheon raised both his hands.
“An old beggar came and only ruined the mood. I shall take my leave now. I am sorry for entering without permission.”
Yeon Ho-jeong took a fist-to-palm salute.
“Please go safely.”
“We shall see each other again if fate allows.”
Hwa Jin-cheon, who was walking away with broad strides, stopped his steps.
“Ah! By the way, do you know this?”
Hwa Jin-cheon’s eyes turned toward Zhuge Ah-yeon.
Zhuge Ah-yeon widened her eyes.
“Would your father not have known this?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m wondering if he didn’t know how the act of sending his daughter to the eldest son of the Yeon Clan would be seen by the Namgung Clan.”
“……!!”
“As you know, your father is a man counted as the foremost in intelligence in the Jianghu, is he not? After all, he is the master of the Divine Mystery Zhuge.”
Shock dwelled on Zhuge Ah-yeon’s face.
Hwa Jin-cheon smiled broadly.
“The relationship between parents and children is quite a good thing. Don’t you think so?”
With those words finished, Hwa Jin-cheon left the place.
Yeon Ho-jeong made an uncomfortable expression.
“It seems things will become a bit tiring in the future.”
Shin Mo asked curiously.
“Are you referring to the Dragon Head Chief?”
“Yes.”
“For what reason…?”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was lost in deep thought, shook his head.
“No, it’s nothing. My worries must be excessive.”
Hwa Jin-cheon’s gaze looking at him was truly extraordinary.
It had been quite a while since he stepped down from the front lines, and rumors were heard that he would soon hand over the position of Gang Leader to his disciple.
Even so, the Divine Eyes of the Dragon Head Chief were not dead.
He saw through what kind of person Yeon Ho-jeong was in an instant with just a few conversations.
He had pierced through Yeon Ho-jeong’s true worth, which Ga Deuk-sang had learned one by one over several months, with just a brief conversation.
‘Indeed.’
He saw the image of Ga Deuk-sang in Hwa Jin-cheon’s appearance.
But Ga Deuk-sang during the Dark Emperor era was similar to him yet different.
Perhaps because of his personality, he was more open-hearted and had a sincere side.
In other words, he had human charm. However, the thought occurred that Hwa Jin-cheon’s cautiousness might be better for running an organization like the Beggars’ Gang.
Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips.
‘I thought I caught a good financial backer, but will it be difficult to see that benefit for a while?’
He might issue a strict order to Ga Deuk-sang not to get involved with him.
‘It can’t be helped. Indeed, come to think of it, I have caused far too much trouble.’
Letting out a deep sigh, Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Zhuge Ah-yeon and spoke.
“Let’s go eat.”
“…….”
“Hey.”
“Hic! M-me?”
“Then who else but you?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon showed a bewildered expression.
“Could the Dragon Head Chief’s words be true?”
“What? The betrothal?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head.
“The probability is high. Even if it weren’t someone of the Seven Great Clans, if one is the head of a family, they couldn’t possibly not know what the act of sending their daughter to a battlefield means.”
“……!”
“Well, if you think about it that way, the Zhuge Clan Head used me. Perhaps even the Small Heavenly Mystery Elixir was a gift to replace an apology, rather than just returning a favor.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s mouth hung wide open.
Yeon Ho-jeong moved his steps toward the room.
“I’ll come out after changing my bandages, so think about what to eat in advance. Commander Shin, please help me change my bandages.”
“Understood.”
At that time, Zhuge Ah-yeon shouted.
“Wait!”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked back.
“Why?”
“That is…”
Zhuge Ah-yeon spoke hesitantly.
“What do you think?”
“About what?”
“About the Namgung Clan sending a matchmaker.”
“What should I think? It could happen.”
“It could happen…”
“Isn’t it the Second Young Master? The one who sent the matchmaker?”
“Right.”
“The Namgung Clan is a family that enjoys the highest reputation as a Sword Family. However, they are currently unable to spread their wings due to the Nine States Myeong Clan or the Murong Clan, which has recently begun to gain power.”
“…….”
“They increase their power base by forming a marital relationship with one wing of the Seven Great Clans. Moreover, since there happens to be a lady the son has feelings for, it’s perfect as a justification.”
“Hmm.”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with a fairly serious face.
“Of course, no one knows what the Namgung Clan Head is thinking. However, the moment the marriage is concluded, the surrounding powers will begin to feel nervous. If one just sits idly there, they will only be kept in check, right?”
“That would be so.”
“There’s no way someone at the level of the Namgung Clan Head would just take it. He couldn’t possibly not know. In other words, he also harbors a fairly grand ambition.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon asked as if tossing it out.
“How about the Yeon Clan?”
“My home?”
“…You speak very familiarly.”
“What about my home?”
“I’m asking if the Yeon Clan also has a strategy in mind to expand its power through marriage.”
It was a question that was sensitive if sensitive.
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“My father said that since it is someone to live with for a lifetime, do not look at the person’s background, but look at their heart.”
“……!”
“Isn’t it cool? In this era of chaos that is and isn’t chaos, there aren’t many people who live with such romance. That’s why I like my father.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon smiled.
“Your father is truly a cool person.”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his body again.
“Wait. I’m coming out after changing my bandages.”
And so, Yeon Ho-jeong went into the room.
The expression of Zhuge Ah-yeon, who had been grinning, gradually became serious.
“…Isn’t he overexerting himself for no reason?”
* * *
“Woof!”
Thwack!
“Agh! Why are you hitting me again!”
“Ah, was it you? I thought some mad dog was barking.”
Ga Deuk-sang massaged his head.
“A bump is going to form, damn it.”
“Damn it?”
“…Hehe, you must have misheard. Would I ever say that to my master?”
“Bullshit.”
Hwa Jin-cheon walked the official road with broad strides.
Ga Deuk-sang followed behind him, smacking his lips.
“How was it?”
“Yeon Ho-jeong?”
“Yes.”
“He was more than the rumors.”
Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes sparkled.
“As expected, even in Master’s eyes, he is a bit extraordinary, right?”
“Yes, there was a sense that the rumors were rather downplayed. He is so extraordinary that it’s to the point of being dangerous.”
Ga Deuk-sang’s face stiffened.
Hwa Jin-cheon shook his head.
“Do you know what kind of impression I received from that fellow?”
“…….”
“A Demonic Person.”
“……!”
“Inside his mysterious aura, he is a fellow who cultivates a desolate land where even a single blade of grass can hardly grow. He is a fellow who would turn the world into a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood to fertilize that land. I have seen countless martial artists before, but I have never seen a fellow as dangerous as him.”
An unnecessary look of displeasure dwelled on Ga Deuk-sang’s face.
“He is not that kind of person.”
Unexpectedly, Hwa Jin-cheon nodded his head.
“That might be so.”
“Pardon?”
“His true nature is such a desolate fellow, but looking at him differently, he also has a human scent. I don’t know if the Yeon Clan Head has nurtured him well or if he is building up self-discipline himself.”
Ga Deuk-sang’s face brightened.
Hwa Jin-cheon asked as if tossing it out.
“Why? Is it good that I’m praising your friend?”
“That fellow isn’t my friend? I’m probably ten years older.”
“The era of making friends while considering age has passed, my disciple.”
“Hehe.”
“Watch him well. I think I at least gave you proper mental education so that you wouldn’t fall into evil. If you watch from the side and it seems he is truly falling into the Heterodox Path, smash his head.”
“I need to have the strength to do that.”
“Hmph, so stop wandering around and start practicing the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms.”
“When the time comes.”
“You, at this rate, I’ll really cut you from the position of Successor of the Beggars’ Gang.”
“That’s fine too.”
“Sigh, to have such a fellow as a disciple.”
Ga Deuk-sang asked slyly.
“You also resolved the matter regarding Zhuge Ah-yeon well, right?”
“Should I, at this age, receive glares of resentment instead of my disciple? You do this kind of thing from now on.”
“Haha! I’ll think about it.”
At his disciple’s thick-skinned attitude, Hwa Jin-cheon eventually chuckled as well.
While walking the official road and looking up at the sky, Hwa Jin-cheon suddenly felt an unknown anxiety.
‘Heavenly Secret…’
I should go see a fortune teller’s face soon.