Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 89 - Same Bed, Different Dreams (1)
Chapter 89 – Same Bed, Different Dreams (1)
===================
Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
===================
A time past midnight.
Murong Jun, who had sent Yeon Ho-jeong away, was drinking alone while looking at the completely cooled food.
“Ha, how long has it been since I drank this much?”
He had tried to suppress his internal energy and let himself get drunk. Thanks to that, he was colored red from his neck to his face.
Murong Jun wore a faint smile. He was recalling the conversation with Yeon Ho-jeong.
‘But regarding this permit. Isn’t this useful for nothing?’
‘Hah! What a rude thing to say. The seal of the Murong Clan Head is stamped on it.’
‘If I do not trust the opponent, I do not trust the evidence they hand over either. Also, I analyze the situation before trusting the other party. Aren’t both you and I people with too much greed to proceed with work while trusting each other?’
‘…….’
‘I will leave this here. Buy me a drink later.’
Murong Jun looked at the permit placed to one side.
“…What a sly fellow.”
Great. He is truly a great talent, so much so that no matter how many times one says he is great, it wouldn’t be enough.
“Look here, Ho-jeong. By the way. You are good at everything, but you overlooked one thing.”
Ssssh. The permit flew away with a gust of wavering killing intent and fell onto the greasy food.
“A stone that stands out is bound to be hit by a chisel. They say an awl in a pouch will eventually be recognized by everyone even if an outstanding person does not reveal themselves, but those are not words that are commonly used in the Jianghu. Do you know why?”
He muttered as if Yeon Ho-jeong were beside him. Murong Jun smiled broadly.
“Martial artists have many worries. They cannot leave an awl that sticks out alone. Once they think an awl has poked out, they grab and twist it as is.”
He is excessively outstanding to be left alone. He is clever and quick-witted. He knows how to grasp the context of a matter at once, and he also knows how to create a flow by combining situations.
Absolute must not give many pieces of information to such a fellow. This is because he analyzes and adds up information to grasp the true intention lurking behind it.
In addition, one must not give him much time either. Even without information, he will somehow find out and be able to see clearly what has happened.
He was a difficult fellow. Therefore, he must not be left alone.
“I’d like him to taste some bitterness in Anhui if possible. Is it not so?”
Murong Jun turned around. Surprisingly, a sturdy man in his forties was standing in a corner of the room with his arms crossed.
“Did you know?”
“Haha! Of course. How could I not recognize your characteristic wind-like internal energy.”
The sturdy man’s eyes sank deep. The moment he revealed his presence, he was exuding a subtle pressure like fog. He was no ordinary master.
“You should come a bit sooner. You also could have seen that friend, Yeon Ho-jeong.”
“I’m not interested.”
“Haha, same as usual.”
“So, I just need to spread it to the Namgung Clan?”
“That is correct. As you know, the source of information must absolutely not be revealed.”
“The Namgung Clan Head is a sharp person. He is not a person who would trust information with no source.”
“At the same time, he is not a person who will just take it. He will move even if it’s out of curiosity.”
“Can I ask one thing?”
“Ask.”
“Why do you care so much about that fellow, Yeon Ho-jeong?”
Murong Jun’s gaze turned cold in an instant.
“Because he is far too outstanding.”
“To that extent?”
“He is a fellow who hasn’t even reached the age of majority. I am feeling nervous because of such a fellow. Even when I drove out my brothers and got hold of the position of Clan Head, there was no one like him.”
“…….”
“Do you understand what I mean? He is a monster who can see exactly what I see at that age. Even his martial arts are excellent.”
“…….”
“If he grows like this, I don’t know how terrifying a beast he will become in the future.”
The sturdy man felt a chill in his chest. He knew Murong Jun well. He knew his ability and character.
Therefore, he did not trust him, but at the same time, he could not escape him.
‘A talent to the extent that the great Murong Jun feels nervous…’
The sturdy man opened his mouth.
“What if the fellow realizes it?”
“It doesn’t matter. Even if he knows it’s a trap, he won’t counterattack.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
Murong Jun smiled.
“Because he also knows the fear of public opinion. That’s why we are leaking information to the Namgung Clan, isn’t it?”
“…….”
“Affection is truly a terrifying thing. And as terrifying as that affection is pride. To the Namgung Clan, Yeon Ho-jeong is such a fellow.”
“…….”
“Now, let’s start slowly.”
Murong Jun raised his glass.
“The result is not important. What is important is conflict. Whether he dies, gets crushed, or returns alive, it will be a very interesting observation.”
* * *
After sending the Goshawk Squad back to the Yeon Clan, Yeon Ho-jeong became alone for the first time in a long while.
Thud! Yeon Ho-jeong’s movements as he climbed the mountain path were light.
It was not the speed of a person running with an eighty-catty iron axe on his shoulder. It could easily be called a first-class movement technique.
‘As expected, it’s a bit difficult.’
He was practicing the movement technique using only minimal internal energy.
It was different from when he practiced the Piercing Kick after returning from the Gathering of Rising Stars. At that time, he pulled up heavily with maximum force, but now he was pushing away lightly with minimum force.
The five characters of Lightness, Pushing, Scattering, Unleashing, and Softness are the essentials of lightness arts.
Only when one has completely mastered the five essentials and can activate them all unconsciously can it be said that one has reached a realm.
‘Still not enough.’
The Four Gods Martial Arts learned by Yeon Ho-jeong is not lacking to be called the world’s number one. However, he did not separately learn movement techniques. It was the same during the time of the Dark Emperor.
What was important was fighting and killing, not tracking. Moreover, even if his movement techniques were not exceptional, since his physical strength was the number one in the Central Plains, he did not get tired even if he ran for several days.
However, it is different now.
‘Reinforcement of movement techniques is necessary. Even to avoid leaving the same regrets as in the past.’
At least during the time of the Dark Emperor, there were subordinates he could trust and rely on. But now, he had to do everything alone.
‘I must know how to do everything. I must become an all-rounder.’
Thud! He accelerated his speed.
Even as one day passed and two days passed, Yeon Ho-jeong did not stop. When it was truly difficult, he drank water and ate rice balls. He didn’t even sleep.
Only after reaching the third day did he sprawl out in the shape of the character ‘Dae’ on an nameless hill. It was an ignorant training method. It was a relief he didn’t die even after that.
The next day, after sleeping for over six shichen (12 hours), he again practiced movement techniques and ran toward Bagong Mountain. After several days, he was finally able to enter Anhui.
Swoooosh! Heavy rain poured down. It seemed like it would pour for the next three or four days.
Yeon Ho-jeong decided to stop the movement technique training. Having entered Anhui, it could be seen that he had slowly entered the combat zone. From now on, he had to raise his physical strength and maintain a state of full preparedness.
Splosh! Splosh! He fell a few times while descending the wet mountain path.
After descending the mountain for a long time, he was finally able to enter a large restaurant called Shanyin Pavilion in Taihe County, Anhui.
“Give me one south-facing room on the top floor of the back garden. And prepare some bathwater.”
“Ah, understood.”
Thinking they might treat him like a beggar, he pulled out a gold ingot. The gazes and postures of the waiters completely changed.
There were many people in the restaurant. However, no one could think of Yeon Ho-jeong as the one in the rumors. Although he was carrying an axe full of overwhelming pressure, it was because his appearance was too shabby.
At least it was a relief. Since he hated being tired.
“Ugh.”
Two shichen (4 hours) later.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who finished his bath and even ate up a whole table full of food, collapsed on the bed as he was.
“…You really train ignorantly. Are you truly the Dark Emperor?”
The next day.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who woke up at sunset after sleeping all day, suddenly sat up at a strange presence felt outside the window.
“Ugh. Who is it?”
Surprisingly, a calm voice was heard from the roof above the window.
“I have come from the Desolate Wind Pavilion.”
“Desolate Wind Pavilion?”
“It’s the information organization of the Murong Clan.”
“Ah.”
He had requested things he needed from Murong Jun. One of them was information.
Anhui Province was a region tightly held by the Namgung Clan. However, since it was so large and wide, not every single thing could be checked. That was the reason why informers of the Desolate Wind Pavilion could exist in Anhui Province.
“It’s an interim report. I shall come again at this time tomorrow.”
“Good work.”
Slide. A well-tied letter flew in from outside the window. The way of handling work was different from the Beggars’ Gang. The Beggars’ Gang was more distracted than them, but that was nothing more than appearance, and they were much more organized and professional.
He understood why the Beggars’ Gang was called the number one information organization of the Orthodox Path.
Yeon Ho-jeong opened the letter.
“Hmm.”
Sleep and fatigue vanished in an instant.
“I arrived faster than expected.”
Even though he had come while choosing mountain paths and practicing movement techniques, he arrived faster than Myeong Heo-rim. Myeong Heo-rim was in a situation where he hadn’t even escaped Henan yet.
It could only be so. Since Myeong Heo-rim would be moving while paying attention to his surroundings in extreme tension.
Of course, the informers of the Desolate Wind Pavilion could not accurately grasp Myeong Heo-rim’s location either. They only knew roughly what position he was in by looking at his traces.
‘If tracking starts from behind, the fellow won’t stop at Bagong Mountain. It would be better to go first and wait.’
The location of the safe house on Bagong Mountain was also written in the letter. Of course, even if the location is known, one cannot enter. Since a unique method for entry would be needed. One just needs to wait in front of it.
“In that case.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“I will be able to meet him in advance.”
In fact, there was no need to accept this task. To him, Murong Yu was ten thousand times more important than someone like Myeong Heo-rim. However, he couldn’t ignore it since Muk Bi was said to be here.
A small smile dwelled on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
“What was that gentleman’s youth like?”
Muk Bi was a taciturn person. Naturally, he didn’t know his past history either. He even always wore a mask. The only person who saw Muk Bi’s real face was Yeon Ho-jeong.
The face of Yeon Ho-jeong, who was wearing a smile, gradually turned indifferent.
“The Golden Sword Sect.”
Why did Muk Bi destroy the Golden Sword Sect? The Muk Bi he knew was not a person who would fire an arrow without reason. Even with extreme martial arts that ranked within the top three in Dark Emperor Castle, he did not kill indiscriminately.
He was a person who knew restraint and responsibility. That’s why Yeon Ho-jeong cherished Muk Bi. Yeon Ho-jeong rotated his wrists. With a cracking sound, his entire arm felt refreshed.
“Shall I slowly start moving.”
At the thought that he would soon meet Muk Bi, he didn’t even feel hungry. Well, he had eaten quite a lot before sleeping yesterday.
He placed his foot on the windowsill.
Thud!
Having practiced mindlessly for even a few days, the bounce of his movement technique certainly felt lighter.
Moving from the center of Taihe County to the outskirts in one breath, he soon discovered a shabby beggar’s den.
Fwaak!
“Agh! What a surprise! Huh? W-who are you?”
Yeon Ho-jeong pulled out a black tablet from his bosom. In an instant, the beggar’s gaze changed.
“All branches across the Central Plains have received contact from the Successor. I greet Young Master Yeon.”
“I stopped by because there’s something I want to know.”
“What about the Desolate Wind Pavilion…?”
He knew that he came with the Murong Clan’s Desolate Wind Pavilion as well. Indeed, it was an outstanding intelligence capability.
“My cooperation with them doesn’t match well. For information, it’s definitely the Beggars’ Gang.”
The beggar smiled broadly.
“What information did you come for?”
“Regarding that Anhui Blood Bow on Bagong Mountain…”
It was then.
Aaaaaargh!
A faint scream erupted from far to the south. The complexions of Yeon Ho-jeong and the beggar changed drastically.
Thud!
The two kicked off and dashed out of the beggar’s den.