Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 87 - The Wind Does Not Stop (5)
Chapter 87 – The Wind Does Not Stop (5)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Did such a thing happen?”
“Yes.”
A middle-aged man looked out the window.
He wasn’t very tall. His build was also ordinary.
However, the man’s aura was completely different from his ordinary-looking appearance. It was an aura that felt empty like clouds yet possessed a mysterious strength.
It was the aura of a scholar or an academic rather than a martial artist. He was one who refined wisdom by utilizing accumulated knowledge and pursued righteousness through refined wisdom.
He was precisely Zhuge Wenhu, the Head of the Zhuge Clan.
Zhuge Ah-yeon asked calmly.
“You are the Clan Head, Father. No matter how much I am your daughter, I shouldn’t do anything presumptuous.”
“…….”
“But this time, I want to ask you.”
“…….”
“What do you think of this marriage, Father?”
Zhuge Wenhu turned to look at Zhuge Ah-yeon. Bitterness was cast within his deep eyes.
“What parent in all the world would wish for their child to spend their life with someone they do not want?”
“…….”
“However, a few pillars of the family have rotted. Despite noticing the signs, I easily overlooked them under the pretext of being busy. It is still a source of regret that I didn’t deal with them properly back then.”
“…It is already a matter of the past.”
“Yes, it is something that has passed. However…”
Zhuge Wenhu closed his eyes. A sign of self-reproach was glimpsed over his soft-featured face.
“It was just that my greed was excessive.”
“…….”
“What has collapsed can simply be built up again. But the problem is the time until it’s rebuilt. Although the current Murim seems peaceful, the causality of the Jianghu, which demands blood and death, is ready to spring out at any time behind its surface.”
“Causality…”
“I didn’t want to see the family collapse during my generation. But that also seems to have been nothing more than an excuse in the end. Looking at this Myeong Clan affair, I have realized anew the natural truth that excessive greed inevitably invites ruin.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon asked.
“Do you also have ambitions, Father?”
Zhuge Wenhu nodded as if it were natural.
“Of course.”
“…I see.”
“I do not think it is wrong to harbor ambition. It is just… I think it was wrong not to acknowledge that ambition honestly.”
Zhuge Wenhu’s gaze changed.
“I was foolish. I almost made my daughter unhappy because of my greed.”
“No, Father.”
“The Dragon Head Chief’s words are correct. I intend to refuse the marriage proposal that came from the Namgung Clan.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s eyes wavered.
“For the time being, even the Namgung Clan will not be able to antagonize us. Since such a large incident has occurred, they too will have no choice but to hold their breath.”
“…….”
“Do not worry about anything and focus on your studies.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon rose with a smile.
“Father.”
“Speak.”
“Do not try to carry all the burdens alone.”
Zhuge Wenhu burst into laughter.
“You are still ten years away from saying such things. Devote yourself and devote yourself again.”
“Yes!”
“Ah! By the way…”
An honest curiosity arose on Zhuge Wenhu’s face.
“Did you hand over the Small Heavenly Mystery Elixir to the young man named Yeon Ho-jeong?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s face distorted naturally.
“I did. Just thinking about that time still makes me grind my teeth.”
“What happened?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon told him the reaction Yeon Ho-jeong had shown, without missing a single word.
“There was no outrage like that outrage. With my temper, I really wanted to punch him once.”
Zhuge Wenhu’s eyes drew an arc.
“Ah-yeon.”
“Yes?”
“Do you perhaps have feelings for the eldest son of the Yeon Clan?”
It was a word like an unexpected strike. Zhuge Ah-yeon shook her head as if it were going to break.
“I don’t! I don’t! Who would, for such an uncultured fellow!”
“Don’t you also lack culture?”
“Father!”
Zhuge Wenhu chuckled.
“I asked just in case. It’s because your reaction is quite unusual whenever that fellow’s story is brought up.”
“What about my reaction? What about it!”
“Your mother was similar to you now. Even now, she is probably cursing me like that.”
“That’s not it at all?!”
“Then what is the young man named Yeon Ho-jeong to you?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s eyes opened narrowly.
“Hmm… A hateful fellow without giving… and an old-man-like brat who stimulates my curiosity? He’s just a friend.”
Zhuge Wenhu’s expression became lukewarm.
“That is an impressive evaluation.”
“He can’t be defined in a single word. It’s because he’s such a unique fellow. Well, when I don’t see him, I think of him once in a while. I was curious what kind of accident he might be causing again.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“I just laughed.”
“…It’s significant! Don’t think strange thoughts!”
Zhuge Wenhu looked out the window. The drifting clouds looked very peaceful.
‘Ah-yeon has grown up as well.’
Zhuge Ah-yeon struggled.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s absolutely not true!”
* * *
After leaving the clinic, Yeon Ho-jeong’s group took a mountain path.
No matter where they moved, a convenient official road would be better, but the problem was Yeon Ho-jeong’s fame.
Rumors tend to flare up quickly and spread in an instant. Of course, they also cool down just as fast.
However, the present was the problem. Since he was fluttering with such hot fame in Henan, many people approached him to even just exchange a word.
In the end, what they chose was the mountain path. Although it took some time, they could avoid troublesome matters.
Of course, it wasn’t just for that reason.
Phsshh. A faint grayish haze rose from the body of Yeon Ho-jeong, who was sitting in a lotus position.
‘It’s finally working.’
The Black Tortoise Qi arose vigorously and removed all the turbid energy that had risen from the damaged pressure points. The mountain air taken in through the nose instantly washed his head clean. He felt his reason becoming clear.
Naturally, the White Tiger Qi opened and recovered the remaining shock in his bones and flesh. The Vermilion Bird Qi, burning like fire, caused clean blood to circulate throughout his body.
His physical condition was improving day by day. The wound on his chest, struck by Myeong Cheon’s sword, had almost all healed. It was a remarkable recovery power.
He had been anxious about the slower-than-expected recovery, but in a few days, it had returned to normal at a rapid speed.
‘Why is it like this?’
Recovering was a good thing, but the reason was unknown.
‘I clearly recognize the difference between my old body and my current body. Even considering that, the recovery was slow. However, once my body got better to some extent, it recovered at a fast speed from then on.’
An uncomfortable feeling was cast on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
‘This is not good.’
Whether it was a good phenomenon or a bad one, one had to know the reason to prepare accordingly.
‘Is it because I don’t have the Azure Dragon Qi?’
In a short moment, he had summoned three types of energy from the Four Gods Martial Arts. It was a summons much faster than the vaguely scheduled time. Thanks to that, the enhancement of combat ability and martial power occurred rapidly.
Therefore, it was also an unstable state. Although he had refined each energy, he had not yet been able to harmonize them. After all, as long as he hasn’t obtained the Azure Dragon Qi, a complete harmony of the Four Gods’ energies cannot be achieved.
However, because it was a phenomenon that was so hard to interpret, his thoughts reached as far as the Azure Dragon.
“Phew.”
Yeon Ho-jeong rose with a sigh.
“Let’s keep refining. Then someday, I’ll find the answer.”
He could tell instinctively. That it wasn’t something to be resolved by digging into it right now. It was uncomfortable, but he had no choice but to shake it off from his head. It would be better to do more productive things during that time.
‘I must also refine my martial arts.’
Yeon Ho-jeong recalled himself dealing with the masters of the Myeong Clan.
‘If they were of a decent level, I could overwhelm them. Even before summoning the Vermilion Bird Qi, I was able to endure dozens of exchanges against Myeong Cheon.’
The martial arts of the Myeong Clan were a forced distortion of the Four Gods Martial Arts. So they were strong, but they harbored serious evil consequences.
‘There were many weak points.’
When dealing with them, Yeon Ho-jeong had thoroughly dismantled the fake Four Gods Martial Arts.
In fact, the Four Gods Martial Arts was not a martial art that could easily be dismantled. Although there is no absolute in the world, the Four Gods Martial Arts is such that it hardly faces any natural enemies in terms of its routine of forms.
It was just that he couldn’t draw out the Golden Dragon Qi, but since he had almost mastered the Four Gods Martial Arts, he could attack the minute weak points and completely disassemble them.
The credit to the change in true energy was also great. Before the energy learned by the original source of the main family, the true successor of the Four Gods Martial Arts, the fake energy was helplessly disassembled or annihilated.
In other words, the reason Yeon Ho-jeong could overwhelm countless masters of the Myeong Clan lay in the martial art he was learning itself.
‘I’ve become stronger, but I’m still far from enough.’
I must become stronger. I must grow more.
I had to at least regain the martial power of those days when I was called the Dark Emperor.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who released his lotus position, picked up his axe.
“Yang Heum.”
“Yes, Eldest Young Master!”
“Where is Commander Shin?”
“Ah, the Commander went down to the county for a moment.”
“To the town? Why?”
“We don’t know that well either…”
It was then. Shin Mo walked up from below the mountain.
“Commander Shin.”
“Ah, is your meditation finished?”
“Yes.”
“How is your body?”
“Perfect. All healed.”
“That is a relief.”
“Now that’s not what’s important. How about it? The weather has become a bit cool, shall we have a match?”
Bewilderment dwelled on Shin Mo’s face.
“Uh, Eldest Young Master.”
“Huh?”
“First, I’d like to discuss the part we talked about before once more.”
“Discuss? Which part?”
“Regarding serving you, Eldest Young Master.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“I told you before, I’m just going out to experience the world. I no longer need the help of the Goshawk Squad.”
“As you well know, Eldest Young Master, traveling the Jianghu is dangerous. One never knows what kind of danger might strike.”
“If one cannot draw their sword because they are afraid of seeing blood, they cannot be called a warrior.”
“Still…”
“Moreover, you all belong to the main family. As a martial organization of the main family, you can escort me as the Eldest Young Master, but once the mission is over, you should go back and do your own work.”
“…….”
“I don’t know the details, but the situation at the main family isn’t very good right now. They must be very busy. So go and help my father. That is what you all should do.”
Shin Mo let out a sigh.
“Then at least two squads…”
“Impossible. Stop worrying about me and focus on what you should do in your own positions.”
It was true that protecting the Eldest Young Master of the family was also their job. However, Yeon Ho-jeong firmly refused.
He had the confidence that he could survive no matter what environment he fell into, but it was also because he didn’t want the family to suffer damage because of what he did.
After agonizing, Shin Mo soon hardened his resolve.
“Understood. Then we shall return to the family.”
“Yes. I will send a separate letter to my father.”
Yeon Ho-jeong tapped the axe blade.
“Is everything settled? Then shall we have a match?”
“However, please let us follow you until this matter is resolved.”
“What matter?”
Shin Mo pulled a letter from his bosom. Yeon Ho-jeong looked at the letter with curious eyes.
“A contact has arrived from the Beggars’ Gang.”
“Give it here.”
Opening the letter, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
Tension was cast on Shin Mo’s face.
“Considering the opponent, what could possibly happen, but there must be a reason why they are catching you now, just as you’re leaving. Somehow, it doesn’t feel like a good intention.”
“…Clan Head Murong.”
Yes. The person who sent the letter was precisely Murong Jun.
Indifference dwelled on the face of Yeon Ho-jeong, who folded the letter.
‘Indeed, it hasn’t been finished cleanly.’
He had to meet him once anyway. Rather, he felt more comfortable since the other side contacted him first.
‘To think that if I waited, he would strangle himself on his own.’
Yeon Ho-jeong rested his axe on his shoulder.
“Let’s prepare to descend the mountain.”