Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 749

It was a rather thick and long saber, but not the one he usually wielded.

However, for Peng Mu-Gang, that was no limitation.

The head of the Central Plains’ best saber sect should be able to handle any kind of blade like a master.

Just like this.

Kugugugung!

The swirling, heavy saber wind created a massive saber mark over three yards long on the ground.

It perfectly blocked the movements of the Imperial Guards approaching from the rear. It was only a single strike, but from the perspective of the Imperial Guards facing it, they couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by a shock as if they were witnessing magic.

‘Don’t come.’

Peng Mu-Gang’s posture, naturally lowering his sword like Yeon-wi, was as empty as a Taoist priest, unlike his robust physique.

However, the majesty emanating from his piercing tiger eyes was that of a grand master.

It was an overwhelming aura that stopped the thousand Imperial Guards, the strongest military group in the imperial palace, who were advancing under the Emperor’s command. The fierce energy emanating from his entire body was enough to chill the heart of Hwangbo Jeok, the five-thousand-man commander of the Imperial Guards, who had experienced all sorts of battles.

‘Impressive.’

Moon Seok’s eyes, watching Peng Mu-Gang’s back, were filled with undisguised admiration and astonishment.

‘I heard he was the head of one of the most renowned martial families in the Jianghu [the martial arts world], but is it possible for him to be this strong?’

Even without actually clashing swords, he could tell. The very energy emanating from his body was on a different level from anyone else present.

It was as if an inhuman beast, larger than the palace gate, was revealing its killing intent, making it seem like no one could attack him.

‘That is the power of the heads of the Six Great Clans!’

At that moment, Hwangbo Jeok spoke.

“I never expected to meet you like this.”

Moon Seok’s eyes widened.

Even though he was quite far away, Hwangbo Jeok’s voice was very loud. It was as clear as if he were speaking right in front of Moon Seok.

“Indeed.”

Surprisingly, it was Peng Mu-Gang who answered.

“I’ve heard a lot about the Hwangbo family of Shandong rising again. I’ve been too busy lately to visit, but I’m seeing you in a place like this.”

It seemed that Hwangbo Jeok, the five-thousand-man commander of the Imperial Guards, and Peng Mu-Gang knew each other.

Moon Seok focused on their conversation. He was concerned about the Imperial Guards approaching from the third palace gate in front, but they had also stopped advancing. He could tell that Hwangbo Jeok was the overall commander of this group of Imperial Guards.

Hwangbo Jeok said,

“The Peng family of Hebei is known as the patriarch of the Central Plains’ saber lineage, a martial family that has gained fame throughout the four seas and five lakes [a common idiom referring to the entire martial world] for its magnanimous nature, immense martial prowess, and a unity as strong as its martial arts.”

“That’s a nice compliment. Go on.”

“But, how did the head of such a great family end up with a group of rebels?”

Peng Mu-Gang chuckled.

Moon Seok shouted in an angry voice,

“You bastards! Who exactly are you calling rebels?!”

Hwangbo Jeok shook his head.

“I don’t know the details either. However, no matter how great a general you are, mobilizing troops and crossing the inner palace at this late hour without permission is a great crime.”

“It’s true that it’s not without fault! But it’s not treason! We are going to protect the Empress, who might lose her life due to the schemes of a treacherous eunuch!”

“Is that all?”

“What?!”

“I’m asking if that’s all the excuse you have for bringing troops here.”

The five-thousand-man commander of the Imperial Guards was a top general among the palace’s outer palace commander’s subordinates. In particular, Hwangbo Jeok was from the Hwangbo family of Shandong, which had once been as famous as the Six Great Clans.

In terms of pure martial prowess, he was among the top three experts in the Grand General’s office. However, that didn’t mean he could maintain such an overbearing attitude towards Moon Seok, the palace’s Grand General.

Moon Seok roared,

“Excuse? Are you truly insane! You’re saying that while we’re on our way to catch the vile villains who are trying to assassinate the nation’s mother?!”

“Whatever the reason, it doesn’t explain why you brought troops here.”

“You! How dare you think of the Empress like that…!”

“No matter how powerful the nation’s mother is, her existence cannot be so great that she can ignore the Emperor’s orders.”

“……!”

Moon Seok’s eyes wavered.

Hwangbo Jeok spoke coldly,

“The act of privately bringing troops and crossing the palace! No emperor in history has ever tolerated such an act! Furthermore, His Majesty has never ordered the Grand General to bring troops here!”

“You!”

“Who exactly are you serving! A so-called Grand General of the nation ignores the Emperor’s orders and comes here, you should be ashamed!”

From Moon Seok’s perspective, it was enough to make him grab the back of his neck, but in fact, Hwangbo Jeok’s words were not wrong at all.

Now that the Emperor’s authority had fallen and the empire’s power had weakened, the influence of the Empress and the eunuch, who divided the power of the imperial palace, was excessive, and many etiquettes and principles were being ignored.

Many things were being overlooked in secret, but if you were to point them out one by one, Moon Seok would have nothing to say even with ten mouths. His current actions could also be seen as treason, a great crime that could lead to the extermination of three, no, nine generations.

“Are you done talking?”

As Moon Seok suppressed his rising anger, Peng Mu-Gang spoke in a sly voice.

Murdurous intent flickered in Hwangbo Jeok’s eyes.

“Even if you didn’t know, if you are with rebels, even the prestigious Peng family of Hebei will not be safe. Starting with the family head, at least three generations will be exterminated.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Shut up! How can the Peng family head, known for his righteousness, be like this…!”

“The law.”

Swish.

Peng Mu-Gang pointed his sword at Hwangbo Jeok.

In that instant, Hwangbo Jeok flinched involuntarily. Even though they were more than seven yards apart, he felt a chilling pressure as if the blade was right next to his neck.

“And etiquette is made to be followed. If any excuse is based on principle, then it is right to follow it as much as possible.”

“You, who know that so well…!”

“But in this place where most people cannot deal with the treacherous officials who are mocking the law and etiquette and disrupting the state affairs as they please, I no longer feel the dignity of the imperial family.”

Hwangbo Jeok’s face turned pale.

Not only him. Moon Seok, as well as the soldiers protecting him, were also shocked and stared at Peng Mu-Gang.

Jeagal Ayeon tried to remain calm, but she also felt her heart drop. Even if she thought so, it was a statement that should not be said out loud.

“Are you crazy?!”

“You are the crazy ones.”

Peng Mu-Gang’s eyes blazed.

“The wickedness of foreign powers has gone too far, and their cunning schemes are no less. It is understandable that the imperial palace of this era, with its weakened national power, has fallen into the hands of outsiders.”

“……?!”

“But without knowing who is behind the treacherous officials who have erased the Emperor’s majesty and harmed the dignity of the imperial family, and being here now by the will of the eunuch, not the Emperor’s order, are you in your right minds?”

Hwangbo Jeok gritted his teeth.

“Shut up! We are soldiers! The moment soldiers disobey orders and make their own judgments, the country becomes hell!”

“That is indeed true. However, if the reason for the existence of the Imperial Guards is to prioritize the safety of the Emperor and the imperial palace, then you should not be here. You should have rushed to the imperial court right now and executed all the treacherous officials who have mocked His Majesty, as well as the heretical group that has taken over the entire palace.”

Peng Mu-Gang’s eyes deepened.

“I know you. I also know that in order to become a glorious soldier of the Imperial Guards, a more thorough obedience to orders than any other army must be prioritized. So, before the fact that you should have corrected your mistakes, I understand your actions.”

“……”

“But now that the outer palace commander is absent, you, the five-thousand-man commander, should have risked your life and fought against the treacherous officials who are eating away at the imperial palace. Even if you knew you would die, you should have done so. But you failed to do that, and in the end, you are here, being swayed by the treacherous officials.”

Hwangbo Jeok’s face flushed red.

He was a thorough stickler for principles. To him, Peng Mu-Gang’s remarks were excessively insulting and excessively idealistic.

“I can’t listen to this anymore! I have only one thing to say! Throw away what you are holding right now and surrender! Otherwise, you will all be considered a group of rebels without any room for excuses and will be executed!”

“Also, I am not here to save the Empress.”

“……What?”

Peng Mu-Gang grinned.

“I am here to save the Emperor, not the Empress.”

Moon Seok was startled by those words.

He came to save the Emperor, not the Empress? What on earth did that mean?

Even Hwangbo Jeok was momentarily bewildered and stammered.

“Wh, what on earth does that…?”

It was then.

‘……?!’

In the midst of extreme confusion, Hwangbo Jeok felt something was off.

‘Close?’

Why did Peng Mu-Gang, who had seemed small from seven yards away, suddenly become so big?

It wasn’t because of his presence. Peng Mu-Gang was actually much bigger than before. He hadn’t even realized it until now.

Hwangbo Jeok’s eyes changed.

“Imperial Guards…!”

“Too late.”

Paah!

The Peng family’s best movement technique, the Divine Wind of Qi Control, brought Peng Mu-Gang’s figure right in front of Hwangbo Jeok.

Hwangbo Jeok involuntarily threw a punch. Although it was a sudden attack, he was also one of the three supreme experts of the Hwangbo family, and his fist technique, reacting to the surprise attack, was truly excellent.

But his opponent was too strong.

Thud!

Hwangbo Jeok’s arm was deflected.

The arm that had thrown the punch, its forearm, was flushed red. The Peng family’s fist technique, Armor-Breaking Hammer, had struck.

As Hwangbo Jeok gritted his teeth, widened the distance, and prepared the Heavenly King Fist.

Paah!

A diagonal sword wound was etched into his chest.

“Kuh!”

It was a lightning-fast strike. There wasn’t really a specific technique, but the sword strike, imbued with the power of the Chaotic Thunder God Art, instantly tore through his muscles and paralyzed the blood vessels on the front of his upper body.

Thud!

Hwangbo Jeok’s face turned pale. Peng Mu-Gang’s sword hilt had pierced his abdomen.

It hit the area right above his dantian [the body’s energy center], where the internal organs were concentrated. He couldn’t breathe, and the shock went all the way to his dantian, causing his internal energy to break off.

Peng Mu-Gang’s hand movements were as fast as lightning.

Pa-ba-ba-bak!

In an instant, he pressed Hwangbo Jeok’s vital points and sealed his internal energy, then grabbed his neck and widened the distance again by seven yards.

“Everyone, stop!!”

Peng Mu-Gang’s voice, echoing loudly, was like a tiger’s roar.

The Imperial Guards didn’t understand how the situation was unfolding. The battle between the two supreme experts was too fast.

But when they saw Hwangbo Jeok captured by Peng Mu-Gang, their faces turned terribly pale.

Hwangbo Jeok gritted his teeth.

“Wh, what is the meaning of this!”

“What do you think? I’m just trying to make things a little easier.”

“To capture an enemy and threaten them, is that what a sect leader does!”

Peng Mu-Gang said in a cheerful voice,

“We, who ignored the law to save the Emperor, and you, who moved according to the Emperor’s orders but ended up moving according to the treacherous eunuch’s intentions.”

“……?!”

“Aren’t we all in the same boat, no matter the purpose or the process? There’s no point in disparaging each other.”

It was then.

Kugugugung!

A terrifying shockwave erupted from the direction of the imperial court in the distance.

“Good. As expected of the Yeon family head. On the outside, he’s the epitome of a gentleman, but I believed that if he set his mind to it, he could become as bold as the Peng family people.”

Swish.

Peng Mu-Gang’s sword touched Hwangbo Jeok’s face.

Hwangbo Jeok’s face was stained with humiliation.

“Now, glorious soldiers of the Imperial Guards.”

Peng Mu-Gang said coldly,

“If you don’t want to see your commander die, throw away your weapons and armor and kneel down gracefully.”

“……!!”

“Ah! Just in case, if you set off the gunpowder, you’ll all die, you know? Don’t do that. Let’s all live together, shall we?”