Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 818

Clang!

The two swordsmen moved with incredible fluidity, retreating from the brilliant clash.

Whoosh!

The young man’s sword, swift as a striking serpent, aimed for the man’s midsection.

Despite its speed, there was no sense of brute force. It was as if he were being drawn in by an unseen current, the transitions between movements so seamless.

The man swung his sword diagonally, from the lower left to the upper right.

Clang!

If the young man’s sword was smooth and natural, the man’s was powerful yet equally fluid.

Even as his attack was disrupted by the sheer force of the blow, the young man didn’t panic. He took three steps back to regain his balance, extending his left hand to prepare for the next attack. It was a display of high-level swordsmanship, a style that had reached its own unique form.

The man, who had been quietly observing the young man, suddenly launched himself forward.

Thwack! Thwack!

The man’s sword, instantly closing the distance, attacked from all directions, driving the young man back. Even when deflected, the attack never faltered. He was trying to confuse his opponent, to expose an opening with a fast and passionate flurry of illusory strikes.

The young man’s eyes flashed.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Swish! Thud!

He broke the rhythm of the illusory sword with several clashes, but a blade still managed to cut his shoulder. The young man minimized the injury by smoothly tilting his wounded shoulder, then instantly charged forward, pushing his opponent back with his opposite shoulder.

The man’s eyes widened.

The opponent, who had been surprising him with clean and flawless swordsmanship, had unexpectedly closed the distance and pushed him back with a body check.

Was it the surprise that caused the delay? The man’s reaction was slightly delayed as he was pushed back, trying to regain his stance.

Not missing the opportunity, the young man rotated his body, unleashing a sharp slash.

Clang!

The man, unable to fully block the attack, let it slide, raising his hand.

“That’s enough.”

The young man, Yeon Ji-pyeong, held his sword in reverse and bowed his head.

“Thank you for your efforts.”

“You’re amazing.”

The man, Moyong Woo, clicked his tongue.

“I feel like I’ve been struck. My sword theory was somewhat complete, but it wasn’t without flaws. I didn’t expect you to incorporate body techniques.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong smiled and said,

“It’s not really a body technique.”

“It was definitely a great body technique. It was just a single strike, but it was enough to show how great it was.”

Like a top-class chef’s dish, one bite is enough to reveal the high level of skill within.

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s body technique was like that. It was simple and not very powerful, but just one strike was enough to show the depth of the technique.

“Is that also a martial art of the Yeon family?”

“Everything I do comes from the martial arts of the main family, so I suppose it can be called a martial art of the main family, but…”

Yeon Ji-pyeong tilted his head.

“It’s not a martial art with a form, I just moved that way in that moment.”

“…?!”

“It was a pretty good strike, wasn’t it?”

Moyong Woo let out a hollow laugh, as if he were dumbfounded.

“Do you even know what your words mean?”

He had made the most rational move in that moment.

There was a difference in level, but it was an action that touched the essence of martial arts. It was not easy for anyone to do that.

“If you had used your real power, I wouldn’t have been able to run wild like this.”

How deeply had he trained?

Yeon Ji-pyeong, who had experienced his own world and walked with the Righteous Army, learning about the world even for a short time, was truly magnificent.

He was flawless as a swordsman and as a descendant of a prestigious family. He was even more outstanding because he wasn’t putting on an act, but actually had composure and a calm mind.

“I’ve learned something while meeting various masters with your brother. Swordsmanship belongs to martial arts, but the level of achievement doesn’t prove the level of swordsmanship.”

“Yes?”

“Just because a swordsman has achieved a high level doesn’t mean they can all achieve the pinnacle of swordsmanship. In other words, someone might reach the pinnacle of sword theory even if they are not a high-level martial artist.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course, it’s not common. But we have someone like that right next to us, don’t we?”

Moyong Woo smiled.

“Your father, the head of the Yeon family, is one of the top swordsmen in the world. I believe he is not far behind the Sword Emperor of the Namgoong family.”

“Haha.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong laughed awkwardly.

The Sword Emperor, Namgoong Seung, was an invincible swordsman who had made it to the Thirteen Seats of the Heavenly Star [a group of the most powerful martial artists]. It was incredible that his father’s swordsmanship was not far behind such a legendary master.

It was hard to believe, but it was also awkward to deny it when he was being praised. So, Yeon Ji-pyeong just laughed it off.

“I learned a lot today.”

“No. I learned more today.”

The two men exchanged brief greetings.

The two had sparred countless times, even squeezing in time when they didn’t have any. The difference in their levels was clear, but each possessed what the other lacked, and they were a strong stimulus to each other, regardless of age, position, level, or affiliation.

‘What an amazing talent.’

Moyong Woo thought. Everyone in the Yeon family was a monster.

‘It’s not just talent, there’s something different. I don’t know if it’s his heart or his pure passion, but…’

Perhaps it was the way he looked at martial arts.

If you only looked at their physique or skill, there were many who were better than Yeon Ji-pyeong.

But there were not many who could execute swordsmanship as impressive as Yeon Ji-pyeong. It was also hard to find a swordsman who grew as naturally and quickly as Yeon Ji-pyeong.

The same was true for Yeon Wi.

‘There are many who are stronger than the head of the Yeon family. But there are few in the Central Plains [the heartland of the martial world] who have achieved such flawless and profound swordsmanship as he has.’

He knew this because he had sparred with Yeon Wi just a few days ago.

At that time, Moyong Woo had glimpsed a new world. The difference in their levels was clear, but before he was defeated as a martial artist, he felt like he had been completely defeated by the sword.

A different dimension of swordsmanship. An overwhelming sense of frustration that made him feel like all his powerful internal energy techniques would be completely dismantled by a single iron sword.

It was said that something so noble seemed ordinary, and that was exactly what Yeon Wi was like. Moyong Woo was certain that the martial arts of the Judge’s Sword [Yeon Wi’s sword style] had reached the pinnacle of the world, though he didn’t know how many people knew it.

‘And then there’s Yeon Je.’

Yeon Ho-jeong.

Thinking of him, Moyong Woo couldn’t help but smile.

‘You ridiculous bastard. It seems like you live in a different world than we do.’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts were different from Yeon Wi’s or Yeon Ji-pyeong’s.

If Yeon Wi and Yeon Ji-pyeong gave the feeling of being born swordsmen and practitioners, Yeon Ho-jeong was a fierce general who would use any means necessary to win.

He might be less skilled in swordsmanship or weapon techniques than Yeon Wi or Yeon Ji-pyeong.

However, with an almost religious obsession with victory, Yeon Ho-jeong opened the gate to the Supreme [a high level of martial arts mastery] and went on to defeat the Tyrant King and ascend to the Heavenly Star at an unimaginable speed.

The Tyrant King, Yeon Ho-jeong.

It was a bit embarrassing, but the title of Tyrant King suited him well.

‘And then…’

Moyong Woo’s eyes deepened.

‘The successor of the Black Path Martial Alliance.’

When he first heard the news, Moyong Woo didn’t pay attention to it, thinking it was nonsense.

But when the rumor turned out to be true, he was shocked.

‘The eldest son of a prestigious Righteous Path family has become the successor of the Black Path Martial Alliance. And yet…’

Moyong Woo looked at Yeon Ji-pyeong.

‘The head of the Yeon family, and Ji-pyeong as well, seem much more indifferent than I expected.’

It wasn’t that they expected it. At first, of course, Yeon Wi and Yeon Ji-pyeong were very surprised. He still remembered their expressions clearly.

But that surprise didn’t last long.

‘It was a decision that could shake the foundation of the family’s reputation. If things had gone wrong, they could have been expelled from the Martial Alliance.’

But that didn’t happen. The Yeon family was still a part of the Martial Alliance.

Of course, it was clear that the atmosphere in the upper echelons had been like walking on thin ice until a few days ago.

“Today is the last day.”

Moyong Woo was pulled out of his thoughts by Yeon Ji-pyeong’s sudden words.

Yeon Ji-pyeong, who had planted his sword in the ground and was looking up at the sky with both hands on the hilt, looked strangely poetic.

“Today is the last day. The hearing.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

The main subject of the hearing was, of course, Yeon Wi.

Regardless of what the elders and the council members thought, an official hearing had to be held.

It was for the sake of the Righteous Path Martial Alliance, not for them. Most of the Righteous Path people were in great confusion about Yeon Ho-jeong’s defection.

From being called the Tyrant King at the Biseon Lake Fortress.

As the identity of the Three Teachings [a powerful foreign force] was revealed, Yeon Ho-jeong’s reputation became so great that it surpassed the mountains and pierced the sky.

And then, suddenly, that monstrous talent became the successor of the Mukryong Faction [a faction within the Black Path Martial Alliance].

Naturally, there was a great uproar. After the rumor spread, thousands of letters poured into the Martial Alliance. Some were asking for confirmation of the rumor, some were demanding the expulsion of the Yeon family from the Martial Alliance, and some were even more extreme, demanding the destruction of the Yeon family for tarnishing the honor of the Righteous Path.

But the uproar subsided soon after.

It was because of the official statement from the Martial Alliance’s military and council members.

The Tyrant King, Yeon Ho-jeong, was a hero who had worked tirelessly to protect the Central Plains martial world from the threat of the Three Teachings. He was also the first to realize that the power of the foreign enemies had reached an unprecedented level and proposed a reconciliation theory that the Black Path Martial Alliance should join forces. Countless people had survived thanks to him, and if it hadn’t been for him, more than half of the martial world would have been infiltrated by the Three Teachings.

Starting the statement by praising Yeon Ho-jeong’s achievements was an aggressive yet rational approach.

It wasn’t like they were making up things. If Yeon Ho-jeong hadn’t stepped up to stop the Three Teachings, they would have started a war by now.

However, it was clear that he had a somewhat autocratic side, contrary to his monstrous talent, skill, and fiery sense of justice. It was a clear mistake for the Tyrant King to defect to the Black Path without telling his father, the head of the family and the Judge’s Sword. Although his love for his son was greater than anyone else’s, he had accepted the painful decision of the Judge’s Sword to consider expelling the Tyrant King from the family if the opinions of the martial world were the same.

Expelling him from the family.

In other words, disowning him.

Leaving aside the affection for his blood, it was not an easy decision for the family to expel a super master who had made it to the Heavenly Star before the age of thirty.

When such a shocking announcement was made, the martial artists had no choice but to hesitate. A few sneered, saying that they were cutting off the tail, but everyone knew how difficult that decision was, so they couldn’t speak up.

Although he had an autocratic side, the Tyrant King’s actions were always for the sake of the world. Considering his past achievements and sense of justice, it was best to postpone this matter for the time being. His actions may seem like defection and betrayal, but we must join forces with the Black Path to repel the foreign forces and achieve peace. We hope that the martial world will understand this.

The anger of the Righteous Path martial world, which had been ignited like a fire, quickly subsided due to the official statement of the Martial Alliance.

But it wasn’t completely gone. Even at this moment, there were many who were cursing the Yeon family.

That was why they had to hold a hearing. To soothe public opinion even a little, they had to show that much sincerity.

“A hearing… Huh, I have no idea what will happen next.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong smiled bitterly.

It was then.

“Commander!”

Jin Pae, the leader of the Tangma Army’s first squad, came running from afar.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s a summons from the upper echelons.”

“A summons? What for?”

“The head of the Moyong family has come out of seclusion!”

Moyong Woo’s eyes widened.