Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 219

Whack!

A branch, flying silently, embedded itself in the iron plate.

Srrr. Thud.

Though it pierced the iron, it only went in about an inch at the very tip. Swaying in the breeze, the branch eventually gave way and fell to the ground.

“Hmm…”

Muk Bi’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment.

‘Still not good enough.’

She looked down at the branches laid out on the flat surface.

Surprisingly, each branch was uncarved, merely broken off. There were no arrowheads or fletching, and they weren’t even straight, making them unsuitable for use as arrows.

Muk Bi had shot these branches and embedded them in the iron plate. It was truly terrifying archery.

“You’re amazing, Vice-Commander.”

Ok Cheong clicked his tongue.

“The bow’s draw strength is immense, and controlling it so it doesn’t break is difficult enough, isn’t it?”

“Oh, that’s nothing.”

Muk Bi just smiled as if it were no big deal.

Ok Cheong picked up a branch with a look of wonder.

“How did you… Huh?!”

Snap!

The branch broke.

Ok Cheong’s face showed bewilderment.

“The inside is all rotten! Was it a rotten branch?”

“Yeah.”

“Gack!”

She had not only shot a branch that crumbled with the slightest pressure, using a bow that even a master would struggle to draw, but she had also embedded it in an iron plate. And accurately at the desired target.

Ok Cheong felt a sense of awe.

“How much complex internal energy manipulation did you do in that instant? It would be hard to find someone in our Wudang Sect [a prominent Taoist martial arts school] who can control internal energy with such precision.”

Muk Bi shook her head.

“You just don’t know it, but there are more than you think. I’m still just a novice.”

“…If you’re a novice, what am I?”

“You’re not even at the novice level. So, train harder.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Even in her casual tone, there was a certain strict military discipline.

Though it hadn’t been long, Muk Bi had developed a sense of authority as a superior while training the Myul Sa troops. [Myul Sa is likely a name of a specific unit or group within the story]

Moreover, she spent her days more diligently than anyone among the troops. The soldiers had come to genuinely regard the quiet and kind Muk Bi as their superior.

Of course, Muk Bi was not yet aware of her own changes. She had something more important than the Myul Sa troops’ training.

‘I need to get stronger.’

Muk Bi picked up a wooden arrow that had fallen on the ground. It was a well-crafted shaft with a sharp arrowhead.

She placed the wooden arrow on the Red Lotus Bow.

Creeeak.

The bowstring stretched taut as she pulled her arm.

‘At least as strong as Young Master Yeon, or even stronger.’

Whoosh!

The wooden arrow shot high into the sky and disappeared from view in an instant.

The arrow was gone, but the sensation remained clear in the hand that had drawn the bow.

That sensation was telling her. She was still far off.

Muk Bi smiled wryly.

‘Father said he’s taking a break tomorrow. I should ask for his guidance again tomorrow.’

Though it had been a short time, she had received much guidance from Yeon Wi.

Yeon Wi was not a kind teacher. He focused more on criticism than praise, and he didn’t give long, detailed explanations. Rather than explaining martial principles, he guided his students to ponder and learn on their own.

However, he never missed necessary explanations, and he pointed out mistakes without hesitation.

He was not kind, but he was an excellent teacher. Muk Bi also had an exceptional sense, so her progress was incredibly fast.

However, with this level, she might be praised for understanding ten things from one, but not for being a once-in-a-century talent. On the other hand, Yeon Ho-Jeong, though everyone was being quiet about it, was said to be a monster who might appear only once in a hundred years.

That was why Muk Bi couldn’t be satisfied here. For her, who believed she had to be at least as strong as Yeon Ho-Jeong, her current level was just a step in the process.

But she didn’t know. There was a noticeable improvement in her that was more significant than her martial arts.

‘Why do I need to get stronger? The reason doesn’t matter. What’s important is that I want to get stronger.’

It was a more mature mindset.

A lifelong goal? She didn’t have one yet. She didn’t know if she would have one even after ten or twenty years.

However, if there was something she wanted right now, she would move forward without looking for a reason.

If she had improved her martial arts while training with Yeon Wi, she had achieved mental growth while leading the Myul Sa troops. Now, she had reached a point where she could ask herself questions and find answers with her own strength.

“Are the kids? Resting well?”

“Probably? Even though it’s a day off, they’ll probably be training at their quarters.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Because you’re so diligent, Vice-Commander.”

Muk Bi blinked.

“Come to think of it, what are you doing here?”

Ok Cheong scratched his head.

“I came because I wanted to ask you something, but it’s okay now.”

“A request?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“Well…”

Ok Cheong cleared his throat.

“Recently, I’ve felt like my martial arts have stagnated. It feels like I’m becoming more versed in sword principles every day, but my body can’t keep up.”

“…?”

“I thought I might find an answer if I sparred with someone who is my opposite… but after seeing your martial arts, I’ve changed my mind.”

Muk Bi smiled.

“I’m fine with it. If you want to spar, anytime.”

“Ah, I’m fine too. I don’t think I need to.”

“Why?”

“It’s like, if it were another wolf, maybe, but I don’t think I can find an answer by fighting a tiger. The difference has to be reasonable, but this is just…”

“Isn’t that something you wouldn’t know unless you fought?”

Ok Cheong gave a gentle smile.

“Usually, that’s true. But I know now. There are things you can know without fighting.”

Muk Bi’s eyes gleamed.

‘Ok Cheong has grown too.’

After focusing for a moment, she noticed that Ok Cheong’s energy had become more profound. The energy emanating from him was so smooth and natural that she hadn’t realized it until now.

That was the martial art of the Wudang Sect. An energy that approached and enveloped like mist or clouds. The Wudang’s martial art, which pursued the ultimate in naturalness, was finally opening its path to Ok Cheong as well.

“Then, I’ll be going first.”

“Okay, if anything happens, tell me anytime.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ok Cheong walked out of the Pagun Hall with a swagger.

Muk Bi, having put down the Red Lotus Bow, looked up at the sky.

The day was bright, but the clouds were moving quite fast. The weather had become chilly.

“…Is everything going well?”

* * *

The next morning.

‘Not yet.’

Having finished his bath and changed into neat clothes, Yeon Ho-Jeong sat on the steps of the manor’s courtyard.

‘If you don’t hurry, you’re going to have a headache, you old man.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong was waiting for Moyong Gun’s contact.

His move to reorganize the Muk Ryong Clan’s structure was, in a way, a way to buy time. It was enough to make a strong impression, but to make this deal a success, they needed a tangible item for trade.

And the person who had promised to prepare that was Moyong Gun.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been gazing at the sky, closed his eyes.

‘If he’s late, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just have to use my own wits.’

After all, Moyong Gun’s cooperation was like free money. If he hadn’t come, he would have had to reach the depths of the Muk Ryong Clan on his own.

Of course, Yeon Ho-Jeong was confident. He was confident in gaining Yang Cheon’s trust.

‘It might take some time, though.’

At that moment, Dang Sang-A’s voice came from beside him.

“It’s chilly, why are you out here?”

“Chilly? This is just a bit cool.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

After hesitating for a moment, Dang Sang-A sat down next to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

“It’s not so much a thing to say, but…”

“What is it?”

Dang Sang-A smacked her lips.

“That was an act, wasn’t it?”

“What was?”

“That… yesterday.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been tilting his head, suddenly remembered and chuckled.

“Killing that monkey bastard?”

“That too, and the bloodlust too.”

“Why? Did I look like a peerless demon?”

“It was more than that, not less.”

Seeing her say this much, it must have been quite shocking.

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his head.

“Was her name Hwa-Won? That one, it seemed like we’d have a lot of conflicts. If it’s a conflict that can’t be avoided, it’s better to suppress them from the start.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

Dang Sang-A’s eyes wavered.

“But you killed a person?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“So what?”

“…?!”

“The Muk Ryong Clan is the enemy. Hwa-Won too, but the one I killed yesterday was genuinely filled with killing intent. Twice.”

“But still…”

“There was a possibility of causing problems. Especially those types, they’re likely to cause trouble with excessive loyalty even without their lord’s orders. If we had left them alone, they would have bothered us quite a bit.”

“It was just a possibility.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said firmly.

“If there’s even a sliver of a possibility that it could cause us trouble, I’ll get rid of it.”

“…”

“This is the underworld. The Muk Ryong Clan is enemy territory, and the moment things go wrong, we could all die.”

“…!”

“If you expect me to act humanely while having to worry about the mission and the safety of the entire group, I’m sorry, but you should go back now.”

Dang Sang-A’s eyes deepened.

“Because I’ve finished my role?”

“Did you hear that?”

“Yes.”

“That’s right. You’ve done your role well enough.”

“…”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that you’re useless. If a master like you helps, things will be that much easier.”

Dang Sang-A, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, sighed deeply.

“I didn’t know you were such an extreme person.”

“I don’t mean to offend you, but I didn’t know you guys were so soft.”

“Soft?”

“Have you already forgotten? The opponents are the underworld and Yang Cheon.”

“…!!”

“You haven’t let your guard down just because things are going smoothly, have you?”

Dang Sang-A swallowed involuntarily.

That’s right. The opponent was not just one sect, but the entire underworld. Moreover, the one who reigned at the top of that underworld was one of the Thirteen Seats of the Saintly Heaven [a powerful group or organization within the story].

They were not opponents that could be taken lightly.

“Are you saying that we should handle things while upholding justice and morality even when facing such opponents? Even if there was a way to do that, I wouldn’t choose it. I don’t want to influence things with a method I’m not confident in.”

Especially now.

‘Especially now that there’s a high possibility that the Muk Ryong Clan has joined hands with the Three Teachings [a potentially evil or opposing faction].’

Thump.

Yeon Ho-Jeong suppressed the rising anger.

‘I need solid information. Maybe Yang Cheon has nothing to do with those guys.’

Of course, that possibility was close to zero.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong did not jump to conclusions. He wanted clearer, more solid evidence.

He had to be careful. He had to be sure.

He had to do it for himself, if for no one else.

‘There’s plenty of time. Let’s not mess things up by getting excited and acting rashly.’

In fact, for Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had returned to the past, the Myung family was more deserving of death than the Three Teachings. The Three Teachings hadn’t targeted only the Yeon family, but the Myung family had destroyed the Yeon family, who had no grudges against them, for their own private gain.

But in terms of the scale of the disaster, the Three Teachings were overwhelming. They were trying to erase the very existence of the martial world.

That must be why. He was more nervous and more excited.

Just controlling his own emotions was not an easy task.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hmm?”

Dang Sang-A sighed.

“I didn’t mean to criticize you, Commander Yeon. I was just… a little shocked.”

Come to think of it, she herself had shot and killed underworld informants with throwing needles, people she had never even met. They hadn’t even shown killing intent like the dead Won Gak.

‘I let my guard down.’

When moving with Yeon Ho-Jeong, he handled most of the work.

That’s why she had forgotten. The tension and sense of purpose from the beginning of the operation.

Even after being shaken by the deaths of allies during the Tangma Myulsa joint operation.

‘We’re in the middle of enemy territory.’

A chill ran down her spine.

There were many types of missions. There were missions where they advanced solely to annihilate the enemy, and there were missions like this, where they deceived the enemy and stole information.

In other words, even if they were laughing and joking on the outside, they had to be sharpening their swords on the inside.

‘The war was still going on.’

Dang Sang-A lowered her head.

“Was I acting too much like a novice?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed inwardly.

Come to think of it, it was understandable. Perhaps after this mission was over, he would have to personally apologize to Dang Sang-A.

‘It’s been quite eventful.’

He opened his mouth.

“Let’s just be a little more alert.”

“Yes.”

It was then.

“I’m here!”

From the distant wall, Ga Deuk-Sang came running like the wind.

“A letter has arrived.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong jumped up.

Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly took the letter from Ga Deuk-Sang and his eyes flashed for a moment.

“…Alright, let’s go meet Yang Cheon.”