Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 678

“That’s it.”

The Great Elder of Mount Hua, Yong Guk-jin, pointed towards Jongnam Mountain.

“We’re almost there! Everyone, keep your spirits up!”

From Mount Hua to Jongnam.

It wasn’t a great distance when looking at the entirety of Shaanxi [a province in China], but the provinces of the Central Plains, including Shaanxi, were large enough to establish a small country.

Masters who had reached the pinnacle of their skills could run day and night and recover, but it was impossible for those who had not yet reached that level.

All the warriors of Mount Hua had endured such a sprint with their mental fortitude to get here. The plum blossom swordsmen and spear wielders were soaked in sweat, but their eyes were as sharp as when they first descended the mountain.

Was it because a neighboring sect was in danger? Or was it the pressure of having to face attacks from foreign forces alone if Jongnam were to be destroyed?

No, it wasn’t.

“Hoo! You guys, just hold on a little longer!”

At Hyuk-eun’s cry, wisps of white steam rose from the bodies of the Jongnam swordsmen.

Their inner energy was almost depleted. Most of them had even suffered minor internal injuries due to excessive use of their inner power.

However, the worry, anger, and intense determination they exuded only grew stronger with time.

Hoo!

The fiercely burning passion of the Jongnam swordsmen was impressive even to the Mount Hua reinforcements.

Even in the midst of hardship, Yong Ho-jin couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Aren’t they amazing, Senior Brother?”

“Indeed, they are.”

“They are righteous people who came to help without hesitation, thinking that our Mount Hua might fall. Their overflowing sense of duty is astonishing, and their mental strength hasn’t wavered even after traveling such a long distance back and forth. It’s a matter of will, more than physical strength.”

Yong Guk-jin glanced at the warriors of Mount Hua.

The martial prowess of those Jongnam swordsmen was similar to theirs.

However, their burning will was far more impressive than the cold determination of the plum blossom disciples.

Although their natures were different, it was clear that the plum blossom swordsmen and spear wielders were also greatly stimulated.

‘There are many talented people in Jongnam as well.’

He was grateful and also felt sorry for them.

However, things weren’t always achievable with just mental strength.

Yong Guk-jin spoke to the Flower Sword Master.

“Sabeakjo-nim [a respectful title for a senior martial artist], it doesn’t seem like a battle has started yet, so let’s rest for just a moment… Sabeakjo-nim?”

The Flower Sword Master’s gaze was fixed on the distant northwest.

Yong Guk-jin called him once more.

“Sabeakjo-nim.”

“…The air has changed.”

“Yes?”

The Flower Sword Master’s face hardened.

“The air has changed. It’s definitely different from before.”

“What do you mean…?”

The Flower Sword Master also found it difficult to explain.

He had not reached the realm of the Supreme, but he was a person who had attained enlightenment in the way of the immortals. At the same time, he was an ‘enlightened’ one who knew his own limitations of not being able to become an immortal and chose to live as a human being, a part of nature.

That’s why he knew. That the air had changed.

He instinctively knew that two people who had surpassed the realm of humans and ascended to the path of the Martial God had met.

It was a moment of urgency that could not be understood by the common sense of the martial world, a moment seen not with martial arts but with the eyes of an immortal.

When one person’s power breaks through the limits set by heaven and begins to play with the laws, from that point on, they should be called a monster, not a human.

If the distance were far enough, it might not be noticeable, but near the battlefield, the Flower Sword Master could feel the clash of such beings.

This abnormal air, which made the sky hold its breath just by their meeting, gave him a sense of foreboding.

“A moment is too much. Let’s rest for half a moment. Just catch your breath a little, and then it’s best to head straight to Jongnam.”

Yong Guk-jin was one of the elders of Mount Hua who particularly respected the Flower Sword Master. He was also a fellow Great Elder, and Yong Guk-jin’s nature was to be respectful to his elders.

“I understand.”

The Flower Sword Master spoke to Hwang Seok-tae.

“If you have any strength left, it would be good for you to go to Jongnam first. Your strategic insight will be of great help to them.”

Hwang Seok-tae nodded.

“I will go ahead.”

“Please do.”

Paah!

He had been running alongside the others, leaving his horse at Mount Hua. His martial arts were at the level of a sect leader, and his energy as he kicked off the ground was quietly full.

The Flower Sword Master sighed.

“If only… if only we had a little more time.”

* * *

“Interesting.”

Peace returned to Myeong Geuk’s coldly sunken face.

“So, you mean to say that you’ll leave me behind right now and then go find the forces I brought to launch an attack?”

“Does it sound bad?”

“It’s beyond bad, it’s the worst.”

Myeong Geuk’s lips curled up.

“If you move, do you think I’ll just stand still? I can also rush to Jongnam right now and raze everything in sight to the ground.”

“I suppose so.”

“Are we going to eliminate each other’s cards one by one? Isn’t this too irresponsible to call it a strategy?”

“I didn’t come here to discuss strategy and tactics. As you said, I came here to buy time somehow.”

“If you do as you say, Jongnam will be destroyed.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“That won’t happen. They’ll suffer tremendous damage, but they won’t be destroyed.”

“That’s an insultingly absurd statement. You should know, shouldn’t you? Once you’ve reached this realm, it’s not that difficult for an individual to face one of the Nine Great Sects if there isn’t a master of equal level.”

“But it’s still just one.”

“What?”

“To evaporate a sect, a group’s strategy is more powerful than an individual’s martial prowess.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

“You can kill many, but you can’t destroy them before I return. If I disrupt your forces and come back, then you’ll have to face me and the remaining forces of Jongnam at the same time.”

“That’s a hopeful dream. Do you think it’ll be easy? You can’t easily deal with the forces I brought either.”

“In my own backyard, I can even face arrows with a stick. If you could do everything alone, wouldn’t there be no need to bring forces?”

“……”

“Don’t forget. This is our territory. It’s your freedom to invade, but the flow of the battle won’t go as you intend.”

Myeong Geuk stared at Yeon Ho-jeong without a word.

It was frustrating, but it was true. The reason he was aiming for a surprise attack at nightfall was not because he couldn’t push Jongnam, but to completely eradicate them.

If even a small root was left, it would regenerate in some way. Furthermore, it would minimize the damage to his own forces, so it was a win-win situation.

Yeon Ho-jeong had sharply pierced that very point.

Myeong Geuk shook his head.

“You’re right. But even so, it’s too reckless a strategy. We’re going to exhaust each other’s forces and see it through to the end, can you handle the aftermath?”

In that moment, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.

This was it. This was the decisive move.

“That’s not your concern. If you’re thinking about the aftermath, you should be more worried about yourself than me.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m the one who has come to this place by breaking down your schemes one by one. It might sound like bragging, but there are many influential figures in the martial world who are on my side. It means that they can’t suppress me with just one mistake.”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“What about you?”

“……”

“Is your Saim Cult such a generous organization that it would calmly forgive even one big mistake? It doesn’t seem like it to me?”

Myeong Geuk’s cheek twitched slightly.

“You’re looking at our cult too harshly. It’s understandable from your perspective as the one being invaded, but our cult is also a benevolent organization.”

“So, that loser who got beaten by me and ran away can still live comfortably in your organization like before?”

In that moment, Myeong Geuk was speechless.

Ho Yeon-jong.

It was he who had ordered that if they encountered him fleeing, they should just kill him.

That was the Saim Cult. It wasn’t because he was evil, but because that was the atmosphere of the Saim Cult.

If they had used up their usefulness but had made great contributions, they would be treated accordingly. But if they had no contributions, they would simply be eliminated.

They didn’t let them go, they eliminated them. Especially if they failed in a major mission, they would almost certainly be demoted or killed. That was the Saim Cult.

Then what about himself?

‘That can’t be.’

Myeong Geuk denied it.

‘I am one of the successors personally raised by the Cult Leader. He wouldn’t cast me aside for one mistake.’

It wasn’t an assumption. In fact, one of the successors who had failed in a mission was still working within the cult.

But.

‘I’ll fall out of favor.’

The Saim Cult Leader wasn’t foolish enough to cast aside a successor he had personally raised for one mistake.

However, he would fall out of favor. It was because he believed that one mistake would lead to two mistakes.

Also, a god must be a being without mistakes. If past mistakes were brought up, it was highly likely that he would not be able to win the succession battle, which was heavily influenced by the Cult Leader.

“I see.”

Myeong Geuk looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“Unless you completely eradicate Jongnam, no one will welcome you back with open arms after suffering heavy losses to your forces.”

“…So.”

Myeong Geuk gave a twisted smile.

“Are we just going to throw away this golden opportunity? Do I look like such a fool?”

“Choose whatever you want.”

“You’re a funny guy. You only know one thing and not two. Everyone worries about the failure of a mission. But before that, their loyalty to the cult remains the same.”

“Is that so?”

“Even if I die, I will thoroughly carry out the orders I received. Even if I die, I am confident that I can make you and Jongnam unable to recover for at least ten years.”

“That’s a tearful display of loyalty. So…”

Yeon Ho-jeong crossed his arms.

“Are you going to buy me time, or are you going to call your forces and attack Jongnam now?”

“……”

“Choose wisely.”

A choice…

Myeong Geuk said.

“Let me ask you one thing too.”

“Anytime.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, whose purpose was to buy time, was very generous with the opponent’s questions.

“Is it true? That ridiculous plan to destroy each other’s forces and then go ask for help at the end?”

“It’s not a plan. It’s just a counterattack.”

“Is that what the notorious troublemaker who has broken all our plans has to say?”

“You said it well. The reason I was able to break all your plans wasn’t because I was smart. It was possible because I was half-crazy.”

“……”

“And I can go crazy at any moment when it comes to things related to you.”

It was true.

Although he was smiling calmly, Myeong Geuk could see the genuine madness in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes and voice.

“Now, choose.”

From now on, it was pressure.

“Are you going to wait, or are you coming now?”

Myeong Geuk was inwardly impressed by Yeon Ho-jeong’s ability to control the atmosphere.

At the same time, he felt a little angry.

‘While scratching the opponent’s pride, he makes them choose his option…’

His impression of the opponent had changed.

‘It’s not martial arts. This guy’s real weapon isn’t his genius martial arts, but his oppressive diplomatic ability to force the opponent’s choice with just a few words.’

Myeong Geuk turned his head to the north and asked.

“How long do I have to wait?”

“Until dawn tomorrow.”

“You’re an amazing guy.”

“Try taking a risk if you don’t like it.”

Myeong Geuk, who had been quietly looking north, suddenly leaped into the air. He had fallen straight down from the cliff of the peak.

However, the words he left behind echoed like a reverberation.

“The moment the sun rises, you are dead men.”