Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 405

Puh-uh-uh-uhng!

Muk Bi, having blown away the head of the last assassin, took a deep breath.

“Hoo-oo-oo.”

She had unleashed dozens of invisible bullets in a rapid-fire barrage. Even with her vast internal energy, she couldn’t help but feel momentarily exhausted.

The assassins’ footwork was incredibly unpredictable. Combining their attacks with explosive movements, even Muk Bi, a master of her craft, was experiencing extreme physical exhaustion.

‘Still, it’s a relief. I’ve benefited greatly from my hundred-strike training.’

In the past, she had often engaged in close-quarters combat training with Yeon Ho-jeong.

Recently, with Yeon Ho-jeong being busy, she had been training alone or sparring with the soldiers. And those training sessions only ended when her internal energy and stamina were completely depleted.

She had done such training almost every day. Thanks to that, she was able to fight the assassins with full concentration until the very end.

She was newly grateful for Yeon Ho-jeong’s teachings.

Wooo-ooo-ooo-oong.

The Crimson Heaven Qi, based on the Crimson Heaven Art [a martial arts technique], fiercely enveloped her entire body.

Her depleted stamina rapidly recovered. If the Crimson Heaven Qi hadn’t supported her, she wouldn’t have recovered so quickly.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. How about you?”

“I’m fine.”

Yeo Guk wiped the blood from his face.

While not as much as Muk Bi, Yeo Guk was also second to none when it came to stamina. And not only him, but all the Myeolsa Army were the same.

“I survived thanks to assisting the Vice-Commander. If it weren’t for her, I would have been done for.”

Even if there was a master of similar level to Muk Bi, they would have been defeated. The fact that they were able to deal with so many assassins by themselves was entirely due to Muk Bi’s divine footwork and extremely precise archery.

Muk Bi shook her head.

“That’s not the problem right now. You go north and lead the remaining Myeolsa Army to the third base.”

“Understood. What about you, Vice-Commander?”

“I’m going to the battlefield.”

Yeo Guk clasped his fist in salute.

“I will contact you when I arrive.”

“Alright.”

Paah-ah-ahk!

Yeo Guk’s body disappeared from the spot.

Even after a fierce life-or-death battle, his footwork was unwavering. As a master who had achieved the pinnacle of Taoist martial arts, his Qi flow remained constant despite the intense fighting.

Muk Bi lightly slapped her cheek.

‘Alright, then.’

Paah-ah-ahng!

She soared into the sky once more.

Her Dragon Flight was gaining momentum. Not only the power of her archery and the flexibility of her spear techniques, but also her lightness skill had become even more perfect than before.

Now, she had become so adept at controlling her Qi that she could disappear without a trace if there was even a small space to slip through. In this battle with the assassins, Muk Bi was able to accurately grasp the level of martial arts she had achieved.

Paang! Paah-ah-ahng!

The faster she ran, the more speed she gained.

She wanted to follow the path Yeon Ho-jeong had broken through, but what was important now was not Yeon Ho-jeong but the five Myeolsa soldiers.

If a fight hadn’t broken out, it would have been different, but if they were fighting the enemy’s leader, the five soldiers were in more danger than Yeon Ho-jeong. Muk Bi judged it so.

And her judgment was correct.

As Muk Bi was circling around to the northeast, where the soldiers were coming from, her senses picked up something.

Kwaaang!

A booming sound that shook the air made Muk Bi’s nerves as sharp as blades.

‘The Three Kill Formation!’

That’s right. This was the energy of the Three Kill Formation [a battle formation].

Furthermore, the one who shook that energy was the evil power of a super master she had experienced once before.

‘Was it called Blood Sound Palm?’

She recalled Yeon Ho-jeong’s words.

‘If, as I expect, the enemy is coming from the retreat route, even if the Yin God isn’t there, that damned woman will definitely be there. Of course, she won’t come alone. Not after what we did to them.’

‘Of course, the first thing that will happen is an ambush. Of course, I think the probability of that is low, but if the so-called great disciple has been tracked, it’s not impossible. If that really happens, you must join forces with the soldiers.’

‘Remember clearly. The probability of that happening is extremely low. We probably won’t be separated. But if such a situation really arises, then you are the one who will command the Myeolsa Army. Prioritize facing the enemy over eliminating them, and prioritize survival over facing them. Keep my words in mind.’

Muk Bi remembered Yeon Ho-jeong’s words clearly.

Usually, she could leave everything to Yeon Ho-jeong. But if a situation arose where Yeon Ho-jeong was absent, then, as he said, she was the one who would command the Myeolsa Army.

She had to be tense and even more tense. Even if she couldn’t be as good as Yeon Ho-jeong, she had to come up with numerous countermeasures and make quick decisions.

‘Even so.’

Muk Bi couldn’t help but admire Yeon Ho-jeong’s insight.

‘He said the probability was low, but… to have foreseen even this far.’

It was difficult to serve a capable superior.

But it was different when it came to someone like Yeon Ho-jeong. With someone who could foresee the future so thoroughly, she felt so reassured as an ally.

Having benefited from that, she now had to do what she had to do.

Paah-ah-ah-ah-ahng!

With her last step, she instantly doubled her speed.

In her eyes, she saw Yeon Ho-jeong fighting a fierce battle far to the right.

Muk Bi’s eyes flashed.

‘A strong one!’

As expected. As Yeon Ho-jeong had guessed, the master of the Blood Sound Palm hadn’t come alone.

‘Then, there’s a high probability that he’s the Yin God.’

It was then.

‘……?!’

Muk Bi’s eyes wavered.

‘That, that…!!’

The Yin God’s great disciple, who was behind Ok Cheong, moved at a terrifying speed for a moment and rushed towards the one presumed to be the Yin God.

Chwa-ah-ah-ah-ahk!

Yeon Ho-jeong, who was wielding the Azure Dragon Chain, was seen stopping his attack in the middle. Even Yeon Ho-jeong, the best in the world, couldn’t help but be flustered.

Muk Bi, who had paused for a moment, forced herself to turn her head away.

‘That’s not my battlefield.’

Yeon Ho-jeong would somehow manage to deal with it. Yeon Ho-jeong would definitely!

‘I’m going to where I need to be.’

Paang!

In Muk Bi’s eyes, who was flying through the sky without hesitation, she saw the five soldiers, who were already covered in blood.

‘Song Yeon-gyeong!’

The five Myeolsa soldiers were the spear masters of the Ami [a military unit], led by Song Yeon-gyeong. They were wielding their six-foot spears as if possessed, forming a formation, but they were unable to launch a proper attack against the ghostly Blood Sound demoness who moved like a ghost.

‘This is bad!’

There was no time to think about the pros and cons. Muk Bi immediately drew the string of the Red Lotus Bow.

At that moment, So-bang turned her head and looked at Muk Bi.

‘……!!’

Muk Bi felt goosebumps on her back.

So-bang’s eyes, which were looking directly at her, were blazing with extreme murderous intent.

Muk Bi released the string.

Puh-uh-uh-uh-uhng!

The invisible bullet exploded in mid-air before it could even travel halfway. The energy that So-bang had shot out was faster than the invisible bullet.

Pa-pa-pa-pang!

Muk Bi, who had changed direction in mid-air with divine movements, landed behind the five soldiers.

Song Yeon-gyeong’s eyes widened.

“Vice-Commander!”

Muk Bi lifted the Red Lotus Bow without answering. Even the tiny bit of time it would take to open her mouth to answer was too precious.

The iron arrow on the Red Lotus Bow was shot out like a ray of light.

Pee-yoo-oo-oo-oong! Kwang!

The iron arrow was completely destroyed and flew into the air.

“…That damn bitch.”

So-bang, who had deflected the iron arrow with a punch, gritted her teeth.

There was a long cut on her fist. The iron arrow was destroyed, but its penetrating power was stronger than expected, piercing through her internal energy shield.

Muk Bi’s eyes flashed.

‘She’s weakened!’

So-bang’s spirit was very murky and slow, not matching the murderous intent she was showing.

She was overwhelming the Myeolsa Three Kill Formation, but that didn’t mean she was completely unaffected by the formation’s power. It wasn’t as much as when Yeon Ho-jeong was the axis of the formation, but her Qi and stamina were clearly being depleted rapidly.

‘At this rate, I can do it!’

Hoo-oo-oo-oong!

Internal energy gathered intensely on Muk Bi’s fingertips.

“Spearmen! Keep pushing forward! I’ll take care of the rear!”

“Yes!”

With a resounding shout, the five spearmen advanced powerfully.

It was just one person joining them, but that one person was the strongest of the Myeolsa Army and a master who deserved to be called a divine archer.

How could they be afraid when such a superior was with them? The eyes of the spearmen, led by Song Yeon-gyeong, were filled with a fiery fighting spirit.

So-bang shouted angrily.

“I’ll tear you all into a thousand pieces!”

Muk Bi coldly released the string.

“Try it if you can.”

Pee-yoo-oo-oong!

* * *

‘……?!’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘You!’

In a moment that split a moment, he captured Sama Hyeon’s movement as he flew onto Ok Cheong’s shoulder like a phantom.

His movement was so fast and stealthy that Ok Cheong didn’t even notice him, even though he was flying over his head. It was an amazing stealth technique and footwork.

The problem was that Sama Hyeon’s footwork was so fast that he was already rushing between the Azure Dragon Chain that was extending and Yayul Jeok.

‘This is bad!’

Even Yeon Ho-jeong, the best in the world, hadn’t anticipated Sama Hyeon’s sudden action.

Chiriririring!

The Azure Dragon Chain changed direction in the middle. If he made a mistake, he could pierce through Sama Hyeon’s torso.

Kwaaang!

The Azure Dragon Chain struck the ground, creating a cloud of smoke.

Puh-uhk! Ppa-gak!

At that moment, Sama Hyeon spat out blood and retreated.

“Eek!”

Yayul Jeok’s figure appeared in front of Sama Hyeon.

A terrible murderous intent emanated from Yayul Jeok’s body, which had a dagger embedded in his chest. He had never imagined that he would be ambushed by Sama Hyeon.

“You, you bastard!!”

Puh-suh-suh-suh-suh!

The Water King’s Evil Qi surged like flames.

Although he was flustered by Yeon Ho-jeong’s skill and had allowed an unexpected blow, he had a good grasp of the Azure Dragon Chain’s movements. Just as he was about to respond to the attack, he was caught off guard by Sama Hyeon’s attack.

If he had been using Yin God Qi, he would not have allowed the ambush. Because he was filling his entire body with Water King’s Evil Qi, he had failed to see through Sama Hyeon’s stealth technique.

It was a painful mistake.

“You’re begging to be killed!”

Paah-ah-ahk!

Yayul Jeok charged at Sama Hyeon like a beast.

He was about to kill him in one blow. Rather, a more ferocious murderous intent was being emitted than when he was fighting Yeon Ho-jeong.

In that moment of chaos.

Buh-jjeok!

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had arrived next to Sama Hyeon with Blood Wing Soaring Heaven [a movement technique], extended his fist towards Yayul Jeok.

At the same time, Ok Cheong swung the Taiji Wisdom Sword towards Yayul Jeok’s back. He had judged that it was more efficient to attack Yayul Jeok than to move next to Sama Hyeon.

The moment four masters were aiming at their respective opponents at one point.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s Death God Qi, Yayul Jeok’s Water King’s Evil Qi, Ok Cheong’s Chaos Origin Qi, and Sama Hyeon’s Yin God Qi collided.

Kwang! Puh-uhk! Jjeo-uh-uh-uh-uh-uhng!

“Kuaaaak!”

“Keok!”

A tremendous shockwave erupted, turning the area into a wasteland.

Sama Hyeon spat out blood and flew backward, and Yeon Ho-jeong also retreated with internal injuries.

Ok Cheong was being held by Yeon Ho-jeong’s side, and he was limp as if he had lost consciousness. The sword he was holding was broken in half.

“…You damn bastard!”

Paah-ah-ahk!

“Kuaaaak!”

With a blood-mixed cry, Yayul Jeok fled like a beast.

He tried to chase him immediately, but Ok Cheong’s condition was too bad. His breathing was so weak that it wouldn’t be strange if he died right away.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s face contorted.

Puh-uh-uh-uh-uhng!

He struck Yayul Jeok’s back with a Crimson Flame Six Kill Palm [a martial arts technique], sending him flying.

Yayul Jeok spat out blood and seemed to collapse, but then he leaped up again. It was a flight solely for survival.

“…!!”

Yeon Ho-jeong looked at the retreat route where Yayul Jeok had disappeared with a hollow gaze.

Things in the world never go as planned, but to think that he would let a captured enemy escape like this!

But that wasn’t the problem now. Yeon Ho-jeong hurriedly checked Ok Cheong’s pulse.

His eyes wavered.

“Ok Cheong!”