Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 142

‘What is this?’

Ah-Gwang looked around.

Chirp, chirp.

Mountain birds chirped from here and there, and the sound of trickling water already tickled his ears.

In that peaceful atmosphere, a subtle murderous intent flickered in his sharp eyes.

‘This feeling……’

It was strange.

It was as if a tiger stalking its prey was watching this way.

Of course, it was just a feeling. There was no basis or reason for it.

‘Is someone watching?’

That couldn’t be.

This place was at the end of the Daebyeol Mountain Range, the southernmost part of Henan Province. It was an out-of-the-way place where you couldn’t find even a hunter, let alone the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance].

It wasn’t because the terrain was rough. This valley was a hidden place that couldn’t be seen even from the top of the mountain. It wasn’t a place that could be found unless by chance.

‘…….’

Ah-Gwang sighed.

“What’s wrong, Chief?”

“It’s nothing.”

It seemed he was just on edge for no reason.

One hundred of the most elite troops of the Eumsa Clan were looking around like ghosts.

He trusted his subordinates. Although they were active deep in the city, the Eumsa Clan members were also skilled in mountain warfare. The reason was that most of the Eumsa Clan members were former bandits.

The world looked down on bandits, but there were no more dangerous people than bandits when it came to mountain warfare. When bandits gained power and opened their eyes, they became an army.

Therefore, the Eumsa Clan members were an army.

“Chief.”

“What is it?”

“Is that guy going to be okay?”

Ah-Gwang glanced back.

There was a middle-aged man riding a particularly sturdy horse. His upper body, with his arms crossed, was bound with iron chains.

He was a huge man. His matted hair covered his face, so his expression was not visible.

However, the strange sense of intimidation he exuded was so great that it was incomparable to any of the Eumsa Clan members.

“He’s not just dangerous.”

The face of Sang-Yo, the second-in-command of the Eumsa Clan, was more serious than ever.

“His energy is excessively fierce. I don’t know how much power he holds, but… it feels like a tiger is prowling behind him.”

A tiger, huh?

Ah-Gwang shook his head.

“He is a tiger. Though he’s half-mad.”

Sang-Yo’s face hardened.

“I’ve wanted to ask since he arrived. Who exactly is he?”

“He’s ‘that person’s’ disciple.”

“Huh? That person?”

“Yes.”

“If it’s that person… Huk! No, could it be?!”

A subtle fear settled on Ah-Gwang’s face.

“I heard he went mad after falling into a Qi Deviation [a dangerous imbalance of internal energy] while training in martial arts. However, he’s not completely mad. I don’t know what kind of life he lived, but he was said to follow the orders of the person who calls his name thoroughly.”

“Is that possible?”

“That’s the message ‘that person’ sent directly. There’s no reason not to believe it.”

“Huh…….”

“They say there’s no chance he’ll return to his senses. It’s a pity, but they said to use him since he’s a good tool.”

If that was true, it was like gaining a great tiger that was faithful to orders.

“That person doesn’t speak empty words. They said as long as we feed him on time, so make sure to manage him well in the future.”

“Ah, I understand.”

A gloomy murderous intent swirled around Ah-Gwang’s face.

‘We are the lowest of the Thirty-Six Doors of the Black Path [a group of evil martial arts sects]. They gave us a dangerous bomb. If we successfully complete this mission, it means that ‘that person’ will support our clan.’

Thinking of ‘that person,’ Ah-Gwang felt his palms getting clammy.

‘That person’ was a myth in the Black Path Murim. It was the first time in three hundred years that a master among the Black Path Murim figures who was among the best in the world had appeared.

Everyone in the Black Path Murim should be happy about it, but they couldn’t just be happy.

‘That person is unforgiving. We must never make a mistake.’

However, it was rare for ‘that person’ to give a mission. And ‘that person’ gave tremendous power to the Black Path factions that successfully completed the mission.

One wrong step and you die. Conversely, if you succeed, you will gain immense wealth and honor.

‘We just have to hold out for a few months.’

How long had they walked like that?

When they passed the entrance of the valley and reached the vicinity of the bushes where their destination was visible.

‘……?!’

Ah-Gwang’s eyes changed.

‘What is this?’

Restrained energies were felt from inside the destination.

The exact number was unknown. It was certain that there were fewer than their side.

‘This energy……’

Ah-Gwang frowned.

‘What? Who are these bland guys?’

The fact that someone was at the destination was shocking in itself. Moreover, most of them seemed to be masters of martial arts comparable to Sang-Yo.

But why? It was surprising, but it didn’t feel threatening. Their martial arts were great, but it felt like their skills were lacking.

‘Kids?’

Sang-Yo also seemed to have sensed something and spoke to Ah-Gwang.

“Chief. There….”

“I felt it too.”

The Eumsa Clan’s advance momentarily stopped.

Surprise flashed across Sang-Yo’s face.

“There’s someone there. Could it be that the Murim Alliance has found us?”

Ah-Gwang’s eyes turned cold.

This was only their third visit. No matter how much it was the Murim Alliance, the possibility of them noticing the existence of this hidden place was extremely low.

But…….

“Let’s go.”

“Chief!”

“Now that we’ve come this far, those guys must have noticed our presence as well. Let’s check who they are first. Everyone, cover your faces.”

The chief’s order was absolute. All the Eumsa Clan members raised their black masks to cover below their eyes.

Under Ah-Gwang’s command, the Eumsa Clan’s forces moved.

Whoosh!

Finally, Ah-Gwang saw about fifty young men and women gathered together.

Ah-Gwang, and even the Eumsa Clan members, could recognize their identities at a glance.

‘The Nine Great Sects!’

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s cold voice echoed through the valley.

“Annihilate the enemy.”

Despite the order, the junior disciples were flustered and only looked at each other.

Then, one person moved first.

Whoosh!

The person who shot out at a terrifying speed was Cheok-Gang. His posture as he advanced, displaying the Pointed Light Movement Technique that the Jeomchang Sect was proud of, was already full of combat readiness.

Ah-Gwang’s eyes flashed.

His hand swept across his waist like lightning.

Clang!

“Kuh!”

The superiority of power was decided in one blow. Cheok-Gang’s body was pushed back at a terrifying speed.

Ah-Gwang pointed his unadorned blade at Cheok-Gang and said.

“So, you’re the trash of the Nine Sects.”

It was a surprising remark.

Generally, those who belonged to the Black Path, regardless of their martial prowess, feared the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance. It was because they knew how great their power was.

But Ah-Gwang was different. No, the Eumsa Clan was different.

When they took on this mission, they had all already risked their lives. They wouldn’t have taken on this mission without that kind of resolve.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

He was surprised, but he quickly maintained his composure.

Ah-Gwang grasped their combat power at a glance. There were a few who were useful, but most of them were inexperienced in actual combat.

He would make them realize that not everyone who had mastered excellent martial arts was strong.

“Don’t let a single one escape.”

Whoosh!

Even their movements were different.

Unlike the junior disciples of the Nine Sects who were flustered and only looking around, the Eumsa Clan members began to surround them from all sides as soon as Ah-Gwang’s order was given.

Over a hundred members of the clan scattered in an instant and blocked the escape routes. As if they were extremely used to this, their eyes, glaring at the junior disciples while maintaining their positions, were flashing with intense murderous intent.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘Indeed.’

The level of individual martial arts was lower than the junior disciples, but their ability to form a formation was excellent. It was not comparable to the Black Dragon Fortress’s elite, but it was an overwhelmingly dangerous enemy for those who had not experienced proper combat.

“You bastard!”

Tadatak!

Cheok-Gang, who had retreated, rushed at Ah-Gwang. The energy in his sword was powerful, as if he was trying to make up for his mistake from earlier.

Ah-Gwang shouted.

“Bury them all!”

Clang, clang, clang!

The Eumsa Clan members, each drawing their weapons, narrowed the encirclement at a terrifying speed.

“Damn it!”

“W-what are these guys?!”

The junior disciples were flustered.

At that moment, Song Yeon-Gyeong shouted.

“Attack! These guys are planning to kill us!”

Everyone came to their senses at her words.

“All the Ami Sect disciples, respond with the Buddha Light Zen Spear!”

“Yes!”

Fifteen Ami spear users powerfully thrust their spears towards the approaching Eumsa Clan members.

The murderous swords and the Ami Sect’s Buddha Light Zen Spears collided head-on.

Clang, clang, clang!

“Uwaaaah!”

“Kill them all!”

The fight escalated in an instant.

Yun-Ho shouted.

“Dong-Ho! With the Mount Hua Yin-Yang Formation!”

“Y-yes?!”

“Move now… Damn it!”

Clang!

Yun-Ho quickly swung his sword.

‘This can’t be!’

The Mount Hua Six Harmony Sword was the most basic of the basics, but it was a simple and flexible sword technique that could be used at any time, in any situation.

But that sword was blocked from the first blow. It was because three Eumsa Clan members blocked his sword at the same time.

How three of them blocked this sword, he couldn’t believe even after seeing it.

“Eek!”

Clang! Clang! Thud!

Yun-Ho jumped into the middle of the Eumsa Clan members and swung his sword.

“S-Senior Brother!”

Swoosh!

“Ugh!”

A sword wound was etched on Dong-Ho’s shoulder.

He instinctively twisted his body to survive. If he hadn’t dodged, his shoulder would have been pierced through. He couldn’t even see when or how the attack came.

Dong-Ho’s sword moved reflexively.

Swish!

Surprisingly, the first to kill an Eumsa Clan member was Dong-Ho. The sword that had cut his throat in one fell swoop was stained red.

“Huk!”

Dong-Ho’s face turned pale. He didn’t want to die, so he swung his sword, and a person died.

The first real battle he had suddenly experienced. And the horror of murder he felt for the first time.

Dong-Ho, who was staggering, collapsed on the spot. The shock was so great that he was not in his right mind.

The Eumsa Clan members did not miss the prey that had lost its will to fight.

Whoosh!

Four members of the clan who approached Dong-Ho in the midst of the chaos swung their swords down.

Even then, Dong-Ho was still staring blankly at his sword. His trembling eyes were stained with extreme confusion and shock.

At that moment, a flexible sword strike blocked the clan members’ attacks.

Chiririring!

The power of Songmun’s Ancient Sword, drawing a circle of Tai Chi, deflected the attacks of three clan members.

Thud!

“Kuh!”

Dong-Ho’s eyes widened.

“O-Old Taoist Okcheong!”

The sword of an Eumsa Clan member was embedded in Okcheong’s thigh, who had blocked his front.

Considering the level Okcheong had reached, it was absurd. The violence of the life-and-death battle caused excessive force to be placed on his shoulder, and the reckless sword strike he had used to save Dong-Ho had severely distorted his usual sword form.

Okcheong gritted his teeth and reached out his hand.

Bang!

One Eumsa Clan member was sent flying, spitting blood, by a single blow of the Tai Chi Mountain Water containing the Primordial Qi [a fundamental life force].

But he didn’t die. It was because Okcheong instinctively took the power out of his hand at the last moment.

He had the ability to kill, but he didn’t. The most fatal weakness in actual combat was the generosity of holding back.

That wasn’t all.

Yeo Guk, Song Yeon-Gyeong, and none of the Nine Sects members here were able to respond properly. Thanks to the fundamental difference in power, they were barely holding on, but the murderous attacks of the Eumsa Clan were constantly making them flustered.

If this continued, it was only a matter of time before they were defeated. In a murderous real battle that they had experienced without any preparation, only a very few would be able to survive.

Dong-Ho, who was trembling, shouted.

“Y-Young Master Yeon! What is going on! Somehow…!”

In an instant, Dong-Ho’s face turned pale.

Yeon Ho-Jeong stood there with his arms crossed. Around him, three Eumsa Clan members with their heads smashed were sprawled out haphazardly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze, staring at Dong-Ho, was still cold.

He slowly opened his mouth.

If you don’t want to die, kill.

Swish!

Crimson blood covered the sky.