Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 861

After observing Yeon Ji-pyeong’s martial arts, Yeon Ho-jeong, who was enjoying drinks with his father, Muk Bi, Gang Ryang, Jin Yang, and Mak Won, looked genuinely happy.

Whether he had achieved enlightenment or not.

Whether strong or weak, healthy or sick.

There was nothing as joyful as laughing and chatting with family and friends. For someone who had been living so intensely that he barely had time to breathe, the depth of that happiness was even more profound.

After drinking so much that he was drunk for the first time in a long while, Yeon Ho-jeong surprisingly collapsed the fastest among the group.

“He’s not usually like this,” Muk Bi said, flustered, as he tried to pick up Yeon Ho-jeong.

Jin Yang stopped Muk Bi and slung Yeon Ho-jeong over his shoulder.

“Keep drinking. I’ll just put him to bed and come back.”

Mak Won chuckled.

“He’s completely let his guard down.”

Yeon Wi smiled.

“I thought we could talk and drink until dawn, but he went down.”

“When you think about it, it’s understandable. Ho-jeong has been pushing himself without proper rest. Even when we had a brief drink after returning from the Imperial Palace, he got drunk and collapsed, but at that time, he seemed like he was on the edge of a cliff.”

“Was he like that?”

“Yes, he was. But it’s different now. He genuinely enjoyed this gathering. Even though he has a body that wouldn’t get drunk even after drinking ten measures of alcohol, the fact that he got drunk and was carried away before anyone else means that Ho-jeong was truly relaxed, both in body and mind.”

“I think so too. And…” Yeon Wi said awkwardly.

“As I said before, you don’t have to use honorifics so much.”

Mak Won was among the youngest of the Thirteen Seats of the Saintly Heaven. In fact, he was the youngest.

Still, he was well over fifty, nearing sixty. He was much older than Yeon Wi, the head of the Yeon family.

As someone who had reached the pinnacle of martial prowess in the Central Plains and was older than him, Yeon Wi had reason to feel uncomfortable with Mak Won’s casual attitude.

However, Mak Won firmly shook his head.

“I have sworn brotherhood with Ho-jeong. I am not someone who lacks the manners to show proper respect to the father of my sworn brother.”

“Even if your relationship with Ho-jeong is like that, you don’t have to be so formal with me.”

“That’s a disappointing thing to say. I dislike a world where one must be treated preferentially just because they have built a small reputation and lived a few more years.”

“Haha.”

“That’s the kind of relationship I wanted. You don’t need to think about your position in the martial world or your age. What’s important to me is that you are Ho-jeong’s father. That’s all.”

It was a clear and resolute statement.

Although he was one of the strongest recognized in the world, Mak Won, in person, was just easygoing.

‘Ho-jeong has built a wonderful relationship.’

It wasn’t because of his great martial arts that he was wonderful. It was because he was not arrogant despite being revered by the world for his great martial arts, but rather was simple and genuine.

His personality was also straightforward, and he was more ignorant of common sense than expected. However, it didn’t seem like a personality that would change even if he knew more.

He was clumsy but kind, and kind but not foolish. He had gained immense power but didn’t try to show it off, but if he witnessed something wrong, he would never hesitate to use his power.

For Yeon Wi, he was a true chivalrous person he had seen in a long time.

“By the way,” honest admiration appeared on Mak Won’s face.

“What kind of martial arts have you mastered, Clan Leader?”

“Yes?”

“Even though you haven’t reached the Supreme [a level of martial arts mastery], the spiritual power flashing from between your eyebrows is clearer and deeper than mine, and even the Vice Leader of the Black Dragon. In some ways, it seems deeper than even Sword Saint Senior.”

“You flatter me.”

“It’s not flattery, it’s the truth. What kind of training did you do to possess such terrifying swordsmanship…”

Mak Won shook his head.

“I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Among the current Saintly Heaven’s strong, there probably aren’t more than five who possess an upper dantian [an energy center in the body] comparable to yours.”

Everyone was surprised by Mak Won’s words.

Everyone knew that Yeon Wi had gained immense power through unimaginable training. In particular, Yeon Ji-pyeong also knew that his father was glimpsing the Way of the Mind Sword [a high-level swordsmanship technique].

However, they were not sure that he had reached such a great level. Since the levels they had reached were different, there were aspects that could not be seen even with good senses.

If it was swordsmanship that the White Weapon Divine Lord Mak Won openly acknowledged, then Yeon Wi’s level was truly extraordinary.

Yeon Wi waved his hand.

“I just focused on one sword and gained a little enlightenment. If it’s a power that won’t actually work, then no matter how sharp a sword you have, it’s useless.”

“It would be a different story if that sharp sword was a divine sword that floated around on its own without needing to be wielded.”

“Haha, you’re praising me too much.”

“I’m just telling the truth. So be careful.”

“Yes?”

Mak Won gave a strange smile.

“Ho-jeong is like that, but you also strangely stimulate my competitive spirit. The difference is that Ho-jeong is dynamic, and you are static.”

“Hahaha.”

“I’ll try to control myself since I’m your sworn son’s father, but others won’t be like that.”

“Rather, if there is someone who feels competitive towards me, it would be an honor for me.”

He wasn’t just saying that. Mak Won recognized Yeon Wi’s sincerity.

A smile spread across Mak Won’s face.

“The Sword Saint of Namgoong, the one called the greatest swordsman of this era, will soon come to see you.”

“The Sword Saint?”

“Your swordsmanship is so clear and sharp. There’s no way the Sword Saint Senior wouldn’t have felt what I felt, right?”

“Hmm.”

“You must have suppressed your burning competitive spirit a lot thanks to Ho-jeong, but with such a wonderful owner of enlightenment, he can’t help but pay attention.”

“If the Sword Saint feels competitive towards this humble man, it would be an honor in itself.”

The two men’s gentle yet heart-pounding conversation stirred the martial spirits of everyone sitting together.

Muk Bi quietly asked.

“By the way, Yeon Gongja [a respectful title for a young master] said something strange earlier, didn’t he?”

“Hmm? What did he say?”

“He said that another great master is coming to the Martial Alliance.”

“Hmm.”

“If Yeon Gongja specifically mentioned a great master, then it must be a master who has broken through the Supreme…”

Mak Won and Yeon Wi nodded at the same time.

“That’s right.”

“Correct.”

Muk Bi’s eyes widened.

“Is someone else coming?”

Yeon Wi stroked his chin.

“They’re still too far away, so I don’t know for sure. Since I haven’t reached that level, even if I can see far, I can’t see in detail.”

“Yes?”

“However, what is certain is that the martial power of the person coming here is comparable to that of the Sword Saint Senior.”

“…!!”

Everyone was surprised.

Mak Won pursed his lips and said.

“I can’t see as far as you, Clan Leader, but because of the level I’ve reached, I can see in more detail.”

“Haha, I suppose so.”

“It’s a saber.”

“Yes?”

“A single-edged blade that is firm, sharp, and at the same time, direct and resolute. It’s very heavy.”

White Weapon Divine Lord.

A divine person who freely wields a hundred weapons. Mak Won, who was proficient in all weapons, could tell what kind of martial arts the giant coming here had practiced throughout his life through his aura.

“It’s heavy, but more free than anyone else. It’s a great enlightenment.”

“If it’s a saber…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Mak Won looked east with strange eyes.

“If the Sound Emperor had come as well, we would have had a chance to see the Three Emperors of the Saintly Heaven together…”

The next day at dawn.

“You’re already up.”

“Hoho.”

Mak Won, who was sitting cross-legged on the platform of the Pagun Pavilion, smiled and looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.

“No hangover?”

“I’ve blown it all away. Why would I leave good energy behind?”

“That’s right.”

“Shall we go now?”

“Huh?”

Mak Won blinked.

“Where to?”

“I’ve gained a new enlightenment. Who else but my brother would check my martial arts?”

“…Oho?”

Vitality began to overflow from Mak Won’s face.

“I wanted to feel that golden energy again anyway.”

It wouldn’t just be Mak Won.

Namgoong Seung would be the same, and all the masters who were drawn to that energy at that time would want to feel the new energy that Yeon Ho-jeong was emitting.

“It’s nothing special. To be honest, I don’t remember the forms of the Four Divine Martial Arts I’ve learned so far.”

“Huh? You don’t remember?”

“Yes. But the fact that I don’t think it’s a big problem is also true.”

“That’s a very interesting statement.”

“Please check it. And help me.”

Mak Won laughed heartily and released his cross-legged position.

“Good, good. Let’s go.”

Thus, the two of them moved suddenly.

Swoosh!

The two of them quickly crossed the Pagun Pavilion and ran to an open space in the forest.

Mak Won suddenly turned to look at Yeon Ho-jeong.

‘Hmm…’

Mak Won’s expression became strange.

‘It seems to be true.’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s footwork was in a form that was difficult to call footwork.

He was literally just running. Even the distance between his legs was erratic, and there was no grace or strong elasticity in his actions of pushing off the ground.

It was completely different from the lightness technique [a technique for moving quickly and lightly] that Yeon Ho-jeong had shown before. It wasn’t that he was running like that on purpose, but it seemed like he had really forgotten how to use lightness technique.

But.

‘It’s strangely natural.’

It was clumsy. It wasn’t a completed martial art.

But it was natural.

The appearance of his running was not high-level by any means, but the form and the movement of his true energy were very flexible and natural, like watching the flow of natural energy.

‘This is going to be a very interesting training.’

After a while.

The place where the two arrived was the same place where Gong Gong and Moyong Gun had their duel not long ago.

Mak Won grinned and said.

“So, how can I help you?”

Yeon Ho-jeong shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know. But… wouldn’t the answer come out if we just hit each other?”

It was an incredibly simple and clear solution.

“The masters who have made a name for themselves in the Saintly Heaven don’t have any noble enlightenment and just start punching each other, oh my.”

“Saintly Heaven or whatever, isn’t martial arts all the same?”

“Haha, you’re right.”

Swoosh.

Yeon Ho-jeong took a low stance.

Mak Won, who was quietly watching Yeon Ho-jeong, took out a small dagger from his pocket.

“I’ve been having some fun with this lately. Can I use it? Helping you is helping you, but I have to have some fun too.”

“Of course.”

“Good.”

Mak Won, holding the dagger in reverse grip, also lowered his stance. It was a stance even lower than Yeon Ho-jeong’s.

“A large sword is coming to the Martial Alliance. It seems to be coming slower than expected, but it will probably arrive tonight. You know that, right?”

“Yes, I felt it.”

“Let’s create three martial arts before that.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and took a step.

“Sounds good.”

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-jeong, who rushed in like the wind, threw a punch without warning.