Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 717

Two days later.

“You’re here?”

“Yes.”

Paeyul looked behind Muk Bi.

Behind Muk Bi, Jin Yang was walking with his Blue Dragon Blade slung over his shoulder.

After the war, Paeyul hadn’t spoken to Jin Yang. He wasn’t particularly sociable, and there hadn’t been any real reason to talk.

Paeyul thought anew.

‘He’s really big.’

It wasn’t an exaggeration; he was truly about seven feet tall.

With broad shoulders, his arms and legs were as thick and long as logs. He was every bit the general.

And then there was the Blue Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand.

‘Indeed.’

Paeyul’s eyes deepened.

‘He’s not ordinary.’

His swaggering gait didn’t match his size.

But his contained energy was beyond imagination. Even a life-or-death duel would have an uncertain outcome.

‘Amazing.’

He looked barely thirty years old.

Paeyul knew there were many geniuses in the world, but it seemed that only monsters gathered around Yeon Ho-Jeong. If a man of that age had martial prowess that made a Mount Hua elder hesitate to fight, how great was his talent?

And if he could rival someone who had created a new martial art beyond the realm of martial arts…

“He’s terrifying.”

Tension naturally settled on Gang Ryang’s face.

“Where did such a monstrous powerhouse come from?”

They were still quite far away, but his voice was loud enough to be heard.

Thud.

Jin Yang looked at Gang Ryang.

The two men’s gazes collided in the air, sparking an invisible fire.

Jin Yang’s face showed undisguised admiration.

‘What is this? He looks younger than me.’

He looked at least four or five years younger. Yet, he already had an established style with the sword.

And that wasn’t all.

The owner of the red spear who led the Jongnam War, and the owners of the two short spears who seemed impossible to predict the outcome of a fight with.

And even the woman with the red bow who had come to greet him.

‘Seriously…’

There are only monsters.

Jin Yang cleared his throat and said,

“I am Jin Yang. I’ve come after settling things with my sect.”

Despite his martial prowess and size, his tone was quite rough.

Paeyul snorted, and Hwang Seok-Tae only nodded.

Feeling awkward, Jin Yang scratched his head.

Gang Ryang said,

“I am Gang Ryang.”

“Gang Ryang? The Ghost Sword?”

“I guess I am quite famous.”

“Famous indeed. How could I not know the successor of the Black Blade’s First Sword Sect?”

Jin Yang chuckled involuntarily.

“The descendant of the Ghost Sword, an elder of the Nine Great Sects, a master from the Mukryong Unit, and even the Deputy Commander of the Martial Alliance’s Righteous Army… What kind of combination is this?”

Thinking about it, it was quite absurd. They had gathered naturally, but when you looked at each of them, could there be another group as unique as this?

Jin Yang asked Muk Bi,

“By the way, where is that man…?”

It was then.

Whoosh!

A faint energy flowed from far beyond the forest.

Jin Yang’s eyes deepened.

‘What is this?’

A familiar yet extremely unfamiliar energy.

In an instant, Jin Yang’s eyes widened.

“Huh? Jeong-Gwang?”

As he said, So Jeong-Gwang slowly appeared from between the trees. And Yeon Ho-Jeong was following behind him.

“…?!”

Jin Yang looked surprised.

And that wasn’t all. Muk Bi, Gang Ryang, and Paeyul, who remembered the energy of the Byukra Jin Gyeol [a martial art technique], were all surprised. Only Hwang Seok-Tae remained calm.

Swoosh.

So Jeong-Gwang, who had come close to the group, stopped walking.

He looked somewhat tired. But the vitality emanating from his entire body was incomparable to before. The energy he hadn’t yet mastered was faintly radiating, and its intensity was terrifying.

“…Jeong-Gwang.”

“You’re here.”

So Jeong-Gwang smiled.

“Did you settle things with your sect well?”

“Huh? Yeah, yeah, I did. But… what happened to you?”

“It just happened.”

“What do you mean, ‘it just happened’? Did you learn another martial art?”

“Yeah.”

“You idiot! Who did you learn martial arts from? What if something goes wrong…?”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong said,

“I don’t teach martial arts that would cause problems.”

Jin Yang involuntarily gasped and closed his mouth.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and said,

“In my eyes, your change is much greater than this guy who has overhauled his martial arts. Your eyes and energy are completely different from before.”

“…”

“You’ve worked hard to get here. I thought you’d come yesterday, but you’re a bit late.”

Jin Yang, who had been flustered, soon regained his composure.

“I had a drink with the guys who came with me.”

“Yeah, that’s necessary. Are your companions in the village?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re going to join me, your companions will soon be my companions.”

“…”

Join him.

Having already settled things with his sect, there was no other path.

But Jin Yang couldn’t easily answer.

It was for the same reason that So Jeong-Gwang had wanted to know the truth. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words had made him reflect on himself and settle things with his sect, but now that he had arrived, he didn’t know what to say.

Jin Yang, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, said as if throwing a stone,

“You seem younger than me.”

“I am young. But I’m stronger than you.”

Jin Yang sighed.

“That’s the problem, damn it.”

If he could settle things after a good fight, that would be a good way.

But he couldn’t fight Yeon Ho-Jeong. Even if he tried his best, he would be defeated in less than ten moves, no, five moves.

Thud!

Jin Yang planted his Blue Dragon Blade into the ground and said,

“Jeong-Gwang isn’t a fool. If he were foolish enough to accept a good martial art without thinking, he wouldn’t have been able to grow the Hwaung Sect like that.”

“That’s right.”

“It seems you’ve won Jeong-Gwang’s heart, but not mine yet.”

“I know.”

“Do you know what I want?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged.

“I know this much. You need a haven where you can share your heart.”

“…!”

“If you join me, I will take responsibility. Play as much as you want within that fence. In return for providing that haven, I will take your strength.”

Jin Yang’s eyes flashed.

“What are you going to do with my strength?”

“I will crush the enemies and contribute to peace.”

“Ugh! That’s something only scholars would say.”

“The reason why the words of scholars sound childish is because no one has been able to realize those obvious words.”

“…?!”

“We leave the peace of future generations to future generations. But we will stop the war that is about to break out right in front of us.”

“…”

“You must have people you want to protect.”

Jin Yang’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“Those people, one by one, make up the world. Protecting the world is the same as protecting the people you want to protect.”

“…”

“Go wild until the war is over. I guarantee that your strength won’t be directed to the wrong place.”

“What if I die?”

“I’ll make sure you don’t die a meaningless death.”

“…Well, that sounds good.”

Jin Yang picked up his Blue Dragon Blade and slung it over his shoulder as if showing off.

“If you’re a dog in the middle, I’ll run away right away.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“You’ll never leave, even if you die.”

“I eat a lot. If you let cobwebs grow in my throat, I’ll go crazy, so keep that in mind.”

“It doesn’t sound like you mean it, but I understand.”

“Tch.”

Thus, Jin Yang and So Jeong-Gwang became part of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group.

Yeon Ho-Jeong formally introduced the two to the group. Gang Ryang was the only one who was somewhat sociable, so the atmosphere was still very awkward.

As they were exchanging small greetings.

Whoosh!

Someone was climbing the hill.

Jin Yang, So Jeong-Gwang, and Gang Ryang’s eyes flashed.

At that moment, Hwang Seok-Tae stood up.

“They’re from the unit.”

Soon after, a man in a black mask knelt before Hwang Seok-Tae.

“I greet the Iron Cavalry Commander and the Deputy Commander.”

“I’m on my way back to the unit. What’s the matter?”

“I’ve brought the Deputy Chief’s order to come quickly.”

“Is that so?”

“There are relay stations at every tavern along the way. Each one has fast horses, so you should be able to arrive within three days.”

Hwang Seok-Tae looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face hardened.

“If they’re sending someone all the way here, something must have happened.”

“We need to go quickly.”

“Let’s go.”

The group quickly descended the mountain following the masked man and went to the relay station of the Mukryong Unit, where they mounted their horses.

The masked man was right. The horses they rode were all durable and fast.

As they focused on running with minimal sleep and food, three days passed in an instant.

The Mukryong Unit was now right in front of them.

Neigh!

From afar, a thousand cavalrymen in light armor were approaching.

A smile spread across Hwang Seok-Tae’s face.

“It’s been a while.”

“Commander!”

The Iron Cavalry, which had been approaching in formation, stopped their horses and all dismounted and knelt on the ground.

“The Iron Cavalry greets the Commander!”

Their voices were loud enough to shake the area.

Hwang Seok-Tae raised his Red Dragon Spear. Then, all the Iron Cavalry remounted their horses.

“It seems they came to greet us… Huh?”

“…”

“Deputy Commander Yeon?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was looking at the cliff on the mountain far to the left, not at the Iron Cavalry.

“Deputy Commander Yeon.”

“Go in first.”

“What?”

Hwang Seok-Tae was flustered.

“The Deputy Chief told us to come quickly.”

“That man is over there.”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong got off his horse.

“It seems he wants to see me separately. He’s been sending his energy.”

“…!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said to Muk Bi,

“Go in and rest first. I’ll go in after meeting the Deputy Chief.”

“Yes. See you later.”

“Okay. Don’t cause any trouble.”

“When have I ever caused trouble?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed his chin at Jin Yang.

“Feed that guy first. His cheeks are sunken in.”

“Cough!”

“Then.”

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong disappeared in an instant.

Even though the area was wide open, he became a dot in an instant. It was an unbelievable movement technique.

Jin Yang, trying to hide his surprise, said,

“With that speed, he should have left first. Why did he ride a horse?”

Hwang Seok-Tae chuckled and said,

“Let’s go.”

Whoosh!

The Thousand Miles Flight [a high-level movement technique], which he hadn’t used in a long time, made Yeon Ho-Jeong like a hawk.

Reaching the cliff in the mountain at a terrifying speed, Yeon Ho-Jeong saw Yang Cheon sitting on a flat rock, drinking alone.

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘He’s different indeed.’

The level of Yang Cheon’s martial arts, which he had vaguely known, was now clearly felt with his own opened Limitless state.

‘He’s truly a monster.’

He wondered how he had managed to defeat such a man and establish the Black Emperor Fortress. He had become more skilled than Yang Cheon since then, but now that he thought about it, he had been quite reckless.

But his surprise was nothing compared to Yang Cheon’s.

“I had a feeling.”

Yang Cheon, who had slowly emptied his cup, quietly shook the bottle.

“Since this morning, there was something that kept bothering me. I thought it was because of the current situation… but it was because of you.”

“…”

“When did you notice the energy I sent?”

“Five li (about two kilometers).”

“Five li…”

Yang Cheon chuckled.

“I knew you would grow greatly, but I didn’t know you would reach that level.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had slowly walked up to Yang Cheon, clasped his hands in respect.

“Deputy Commander Yeon Ho-Jeong has returned.”

“Welcome back.”

“It’s a great relief.”

Yang Cheon, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, sighed deeply.

“Do you have any intention of transferring?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll give you enough money for three generations to live on. Come under the direct control of the headquarters.”

“I am already under the Mukryong Unit.”

“How about the position of successor?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“You shouldn’t say such things, even as a joke.”

“That’s right. I shouldn’t say such things even as a joke, but you’re making me say them.”

Yang Cheon lamented.

“A treasured sword that I can wield has transformed into a divine sword, but why can’t I be purely happy?”

“Be careful not to get cut.”

“Shut up, you! Come and take a drink.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and sat opposite Yang Cheon.

As he filled his cup, Yang Cheon said,

“You’ve been through a lot, really.”

“Thank you.”

The two clinked their cups for the first time in a while.

“You’ve been through a lot, but there’s another matter to deal with.”

“I knew it. What happened again?”

Yang Cheon’s eyes gleamed.

“A winged man has appeared in the world.”

“…The Flying King.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong rubbed his head.

“Where is he?”

“Mount Wudang.”

“Damn it.”

“What are you going to do? Are you going to go?”

“Can’t I rest a bit?”

“Yes, you need to rest. So, I was thinking…”

Yang Cheon chuckled.

“I think I’ll go this time.”