Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 121

‘Young Master Yeon!’

Muk Bi bit her lip.

She was hiding at the top of a tree about twenty yards away from the battlefield. She hadn’t specifically learned stealth techniques, but she had a knack for hiding.

That’s what archers are like. For sniping, professional hiding and cover abilities were essential.

Swoosh.

Before she knew it, an arrow was nocked on the string of her Crimson Lotus Bow.

She recalled Yeon Ho-Jeong’s telepathic message.

‘The assassins aren’t everything. There’s a master. You should save your arrows for that master.’

A master? She hadn’t sensed any presence of that level.

But now, in her eyes, she saw a swordsman emitting an aura that surpassed even Yeon Ho-Jeong’s.

‘Amazing!’

Muk Bi swallowed involuntarily.

‘He might even be stronger than Young Master Yeon. Besides, Young Master Yeon has used up quite a bit of his internal energy and stamina fighting the assassins.’

It was dangerous.

They say that battles between masters are decided by the thinnest of margins. If that was the case, even a one-on-one fight, without the assassins, would be dangerous.

‘Absolutely not.’

Muk Bi made thorough preparations.

If the enemy’s sword threatened Yeon Ho-Jeong, she would unleash a volley of arrows.

* * *

Mong-ui examined Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

‘Well-trained.’

Contrary to his slender appearance, his body was ideally balanced. His muscles were evenly developed throughout his body.

And that axe.

‘A divine weapon.’

He didn’t know who made it, but it was a magnificent weapon that deserved admiration. Even Mong-ui, who mainly used a sword, felt a moment of greed.

“Indeed.”

Mong-ui’s eyes gradually darkened.

“I heard you were a great powerhouse. You took on the might of the Myeong family alone, so I thought you would be. But I didn’t expect it to be this much.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

‘What’s with this guy?’

His gloomy eyes were strangely unsettling.

He was a man with a strong smell of blood. The fishy scent of blood was deeply ingrained in his whole body.

‘But he has mastered orthodox martial arts. And at a very high level.’

Shing.

Mong-ui drew the sword from his back.

His sword was unique. It was a long sword that was over three feet, almost four feet long, but the width of the blade was only half that of a normal long sword.

Perhaps that was why? It looked longer and sharper. It was like looking at a sharpened awl.

‘It’s similar to a hyupbong sword.’

A hyupbong sword [a cylindrical sword with a dulled edge, designed for thrusting] was a sword that maximized the power of thrusting.

Mong-ui’s sword was a hyupbong sword with a sharpened edge.

Fzzzzzz.

A strange energy flowed from Mong-ui’s body.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face hardened.

‘He’s strong.’

He was someone who surpassed his current physical abilities and internal energy.

He was around forty years old and had accumulated amazing martial arts skills. He wasn’t a transcendent master, but he was among the top of those called supreme masters.

Mong-ui looked around and shouted.

“You guys are useless. Go now.”

The assassins remained silent.

Their eyes were filled with confusion. Their target was Yeon Ho-Jeong, but the client was telling them to leave. So, they should leave.

But the client had killed their leader. Since their ally had been attacked, they should kill him, but that didn’t seem easy at all.

Mong-ui shook his head.

“That’s why you are nothing more than tools.”

It was then.

Yeon Ho-Jeong noticed Mong-ui’s sword scattering like afterimages.

Thwack thwack thwack!

Small holes appeared in the foreheads of about a dozen assassins standing close to Mong-ui.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.

Mong-ui spoke calmly.

“You can’t handle me anyway. You’ve lost your leader, so you won’t be able to launch a systematic attack.”

“……”

“Just get lost.”

Swish.

The assassins retreated. There was no reason to fight anymore.

Mong-ui took a deep breath.

“The air is good. It’s the smell of the blood of dirty trash… but I’ve always missed the air of this battlefield.”

“Who are you?”

Mong-ui looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Whoosh.

White true energy flickered on the Mad Dragon Axe. It was an aura that emitted a majestic and powerful energy.

“Why is a swordsman from the Jeomchang Sect targeting me?”

Mong-ui’s eyes wavered for a moment.

“You, do you know me?”

“It would be harder not to know.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed his chin at his sword.

“The swordsmanship you just used, that’s the Jeomchang’s Slaying Sun Sword Technique.”

Slaying Sun Sword Technique.

It was a martial art considered the best and strongest of the Jeomchang Sect, and it was once a legendary technique known as the Fastest Sword Under Heaven.

The reason Mong-ui was wielding such a special sword was because the Slaying Sun Sword Technique was a thrust-oriented swordsmanship. All but one move of the Slaying Sun Sword Technique were thrusts.

“To recognize the Slaying Sun Sword Technique… a swordsmanship that has been lost even in the current Jeomchang.”

That couldn’t be.

The reason Yeon Ho-Jeong recognized the Slaying Sun Sword Technique was because the leaders of Jeomchang used it during the chaos of the Saeum Sect. There was no way the Jeomchang Sect had lost the Slaying Sun Sword Technique.

‘Or did this guy return it?’

Whoosh.

A gloomy murderous intent arose in Mong-ui’s eyes.

It was the look of a murderer who had killed countless people.

“I can’t let you live.”

“You came to kill me anyway, so that’s just ridiculous.”

“I sent the assassins on purpose. I wanted to see if you were worthy of receiving my sword.”

“……”

“You’re more than I expected. You’re qualified to receive my sword. If I had known you were this skilled, I wouldn’t have brought the assassins.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Mong-ui with strange eyes.

Mong-ui’s cheek twitched. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze had a strange power that irritated people’s nerves.

“Hey.”

“……You have no manners at all.”

“Who’s behind you?”

“What?”

“Who’s behind you? Are you a hidden remnant of the Myeong family? Or Moyong Gun? It doesn’t seem like the Namgoong family.”

Mong-ui was inwardly surprised, but he didn’t show it.

“You don’t need to know.”

“Is that so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Anyway, it means we can fight, right?”

Mong-ui sneered.

“Do you think it will be a fight?”

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body moved like a ray of light.

Mong-ui was startled.

He had been prepared for the opponent’s surprise attack, but he didn’t expect him to be this fast. Moreover, he was wielding a heavy weapon that must have weighed dozens of pounds.

Clang!

He attacked with a fist technique while holding an axe. This was also a surprise attack.

‘Fast! But……’

Swish!

Yeon Ho-Jeong pulled his arm back.

There was a long cut on his forearm. It was a cut from Mong-ui’s long sword.

‘He’s fast.’

He was fast even though he hadn’t used the Slaying Sun Sword Technique. From the start, his martial arts were specialized in speed.

“Let’s see how long you can last with that clumsy weapon.”

In an instant, Mong-ui’s sword split into dozens.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

Clang clang clang!

The four-foot long sword moved at an incredible speed, aiming for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s vital points.

It was a speed that was hard to believe even after seeing it. This time again, he wasn’t using the Slaying Sun Sword Technique, but he was displaying swordsmanship that far surpassed the dynamic vision of a supreme master.

‘…….’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

Clang clang clang!

Several sparks flew from the axe blade of the Mad Dragon Axe and disappeared.

The impact remaining on the axe blade was considerable. Usually, speed swordsmanship doesn’t carry weight, but Mong-ui’s sword carried sufficient weight.

But.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having taken a step of the White Tiger Descent [a martial arts footwork technique], swung the Mad Dragon Axe upwards from below.

A sneer appeared on Mong-ui’s face.

‘Foolish.’

It was fast for a heavy weapon. But he could land ten sword strikes before the axe blade even reached him.

Mong-ui’s sword moved like lightning.

Swish swish swish!

Blood splattered from various parts of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body. It was the trace of Mong-ui’s long sword passing by.

‘……?!’

Mong-ui’s eyes widened.

‘What’s with this guy?’

Before he knew it, the axe had swept under his pants and was rising up to his knees.

‘Why isn’t he being cut?’

He was cut. But what he cut was only flesh.

There was a considerable amount of bleeding due to the many cuts, but he hadn’t inflicted a single fatal blow. It was incomprehensible.

‘Is this guy’s body immune to swords?!’

It was then.

In a moment that split a moment, he could see a translucent black aura flowing throughout Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

‘What is that?’

Mong-ui had no way of knowing that it was the Black Tortoise Energy of the Northern Black Emperor.

Shivers!

Before he knew it, the axe was close enough to touch his groin.

Whoosh!

Mong-ui leaped back. He retreated five steps in that short moment. It was an incredible speed.

Flash!

The Mad Dragon Axe, which had soared upwards with a huge cloud of dust, unleashed a brilliant white aura.

Clang!

It was an incredible destructive power.

It was a powerful attack that he had never seen before. If he hadn’t retreated seven more steps immediately, he would have been caught in the wind created by the axe and had his flesh torn off.

‘This won’t do.’

In the white dust, he could see Yeon Ho-Jeong’s dark shadow.

Mong-ui lowered his stance.

‘I’ll finish it in one strike.’

Click.

Mong-ui drew his sword back. A brilliant light like sunlight emanated from his long sword.

It was the Slaying Sun Sword Technique.

At that moment, he saw Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shadow raising his arm.

‘Too late. Die!’

Mong-ui swung his sword.

Flash!

A lightning-fast sword cut through the dust and shot towards Yeon Ho-Jeong’s heart. It was a faster sword than ever before.

It was then.

‘……?!’

In Mong-ui’s vision, he saw three arrows flying in a diagonal line.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

One arrow missed, and two hit the sword blade.

The arrows that flew from the side were imbued with tremendous internal energy. Mong-ui’s fast sword cut through Yeon Ho-Jeong’s thigh.

In that instant, a heavy black spear shaft, as if magnified, was sucked into Mong-ui’s vision, cutting through the dust.

Crack!

“Kuaaaak!”

Mong-ui flew backwards.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was about to finish him off, was startled. Mong-ui, who had kicked off a tree, was charging at him again.

His nose was crushed, and his front teeth were all broken, yet he was still attacking. It was an incredible tenacity.

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘Farewell, you bastard.’

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong lowered his stance. Then, Mong-ui’s sword cut through the air.

Thwack!

“Cough!”

Mong-ui rolled on the ground.

Three arrows were embedded in his body. His left shoulder, left thigh, and left side.

Swish!

Before he knew it, Muk Bi had entered the fray.

“Eek!”

Mong-ui, who was trying to stand up while ignoring the excruciating pain, was startled for a moment. He saw the woman approaching at a terrifying speed drawing her bowstring without an arrow.

Muk Bi released the string.

Thwack! Thud!

Mong-ui coughed up blood and fell face down.

Whoosh!

Muk Bi quickly stepped on Mong-ui’s legs and drew the string of her Crimson Lotus Bow.

Point-blank rapid fire.

Thwack thwack thwack!

Five shadowless arrows struck Mong-ui’s back squarely. It was a merciless attack.

Mong-ui, who was trembling, soon closed his eyes. He had fainted due to severe internal injuries.

“Whew, we finally caught him.”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re incredibly violent, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“You’re awfully brutal.”

“Anyway, what should we do with this person?”

“We have to take him. I have something to ask him.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll carry him.”

“You’re hurt, aren’t you?”

“There are still enemies left.”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked down the mountain.

“The scattered wolves are constantly eyeing us.”

“Ah!”

“Let’s not look for Ji-Pyeong. He shouldn’t get involved in the fight, just in case.”

Muk Bi nodded.

“Yes!”