Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 864

Clang!

With a powerful force, Yeon Ho-jeong was sent flying backward.

Whoosh!

The snow on the ground scattered. The ice shattered and flew, beautifully decorating the world within view.

Mak Won’s wooden staff pierced in coldly.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-jeong had crafted a wooden staff over six feet long, just like Mak Won, by trimming a thick, long branch.

They were made of the same material, with similar length and thickness. Yet, Yeon Ho-jeong was helplessly pushed back by Mak Won’s staff techniques.

“What are you doing! Your lower body is exposed!”

Flash!

The elasticity of the wooden staff, which twisted in like a snake, was truly immense.

Though not made of metal, it boasted a strength surpassing steel, while retaining the unique elasticity of wood. Mak Won’s secret divine skill, the pinnacle of Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon Qi [a technique that channels inner energy into weapons], had transformed an ordinary wooden staff into the best infantry weapon in the world.

Whoo-oong.

A subtle true energy enveloped Yeon Ho-jeong’s wooden staff.

It was a strange color that was hard to define. It was close to gold, but when you looked closely, it also appeared red and blue.

Mak Won’s eyes gleamed.

Flash! Thud!

The wooden staff, which had been sweeping the lower body, twisted once more and stabbed at Yeon Ho-jeong’s chest.

Fortunately, he blocked it with his staff, but the impact remained on his upper body. A look of dismay crossed Yeon Ho-jeong’s face as he stepped back a dozen paces to regain his stance.

There were no internal or external injuries. Since it wasn’t a match where they were genuinely unleashing their power, there was no chance of getting hurt.

However, the forms of the techniques were genuine. They were the same martial arts forms he would use in a life-or-death battle. Only the speed was increased with his divine-level qi technique, while the power and explosive force were reduced.

It was an amazing martial art that only those who had reached the pinnacle of the Limitless [a high level of martial arts mastery], and further, had gained great enlightenment and completed their own martial arts, could display.

“What’s wrong?”

Mak Won’s face was full of bewilderment as he retrieved his extended staff.

“Why aren’t you responding properly like before?”

Considering Yeon Ho-jeong’s skills, it was normal for him to deflect or evade all of the attacks from just now.

“It’s not that I didn’t respond.”

“Then? Did you lose focus?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why? You created three martial arts—fist techniques, palm techniques, and footwork—in less than half an hour. But why isn’t your progress with weapon techniques going anywhere?”

“I’ve been dividing them.”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ho-jeong lightly tapped his head with his index finger.

“I’ve been separating the talents I possess from the characteristics of the martial arts I’ve achieved.”

Even the great Mak Won couldn’t understand those words immediately.

Yeon Ho-jeong thought.

‘As I thought.’

He had thought he lacked talent. There was a time when he thought that.

If martial arts talent was limited to things like physical strength, senses, or the visual ability to copy what one has seen, then he was closer to being ordinary.

‘But I have a talent that others don’t.’

He had said it to someone in the past. When told he didn’t have as much talent, he had said that if they thought talent was limited to physical strength or senses, they would never catch up to him.

From then until now.

He thought he knew for sure, but after realizing the Yellow Dragon [a legendary state of martial arts enlightenment], he felt like he understood anew.

‘I didn’t completely believe in myself.’

The talent he possessed was clear.

‘Weakness detection.’

It was the talent to see weaknesses.

He had the talent to remarkably pinpoint the weaknesses revealed in an opponent’s movements. That was Yeon Ho-jeong’s unique talent.

However, such talent had nothing to do with learning martial arts quickly. On the surface, that is.

But if he could think differently and apply it, Yeon Ho-jeong’s talent was as great as anyone else’s.

Seeing the weaknesses of others meant he could see the weaknesses of martial arts and techniques. That applied to the martial arts he had learned and his own condition as well.

If he saw a weakness in an opponent, he could exploit it, and if he saw a weakness in himself, he could fix it.

He could easily break down his opponents and know how to move to complete himself. He had to be diligent, but at least he hadn’t reached his current level solely through effort without any talent.

‘Even with that talent, it’s still just as difficult.’

Even if he knew what he needed to do to grow, mastering it was ultimately up to him.

If he had been born with superior physical strength and senses that couldn’t be explained by logic, he might have reached the Yellow Dragon several times faster than he did now.

‘No, maybe not.’

Of course, that might not be the case. If he had all the talents, he wouldn’t have needed to fight others, and he might have crumbled from arrogance. Aside from that, the Limitless and the Yellow Dragon were thoroughly based on enlightenment.

And now.

Yeon Ho-jeong, having completely understood his talent, was facing Mak Won while thoroughly eliminating the weaknesses he could clearly see.

“Fist, palm, and footwork techniques are different from weapon techniques.”

“Hmm?”

“Fist, palm, and footwork techniques are martial arts that are implemented with the flesh attached to my body. On the other hand, weapon techniques are about wielding objects outside of the body, so they must be perfected even more.”

“Is that your enlightenment?”

“I don’t know. However, I think I need to be cautious.”

Mak Won tilted his head.

“Whether it’s fist techniques, palm techniques, or weapon techniques, martial arts are ultimately one. That is the enlightenment I have gained. Therefore, a punch is not simple, and weapon techniques are not more difficult.”

“I have been thinking and training that way as well.”

“You’re saying it’s different now.”

“Yes. To be precise…”

How should he explain it?

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded and spoke.

“Even the best fist techniques in the world cannot deviate from the forms allowed by human muscles and joints.”

“Of course.”

“However, the best sword techniques in the world can bend at angles impossible for human joints, depending on the material of the sword, to attack the enemy.”

“……!”

“Yes, that’s it. A fist is a fist, and a sword is a sword. Weapons are like that. It’s just an extension of my arm? That’s just an explanation for those who haven’t reached the unity of sword and self.”

It was Yeon Ho-jeong’s unique enlightenment, different from Mak Won’s. Since their innate talents, environments, experiences, and perspectives were different, they held completely different enlightenments even at similar levels.

“Divine skills have merged into one, but external martial arts should not be merged into one. There’s no reason to, and it shouldn’t be done.”

“That’s how you see martial arts.”

“That’s how it is for me.”

People can breathe naturally without learning how to breathe. Talent is like that.

Yeon Ho-jeong fought Mak Won while completely excluding the talent that was ingrained in his body. Naturally, he was bound to be pushed back, unlike before.

“The Golden Dragon’s Hand and the Dragon Form Step are martial arts that can be passed on to others as they are. That’s because they are perfect martial arts for everyone.”

“Hmm.”

“Weapon techniques are different. Even if I can create a weapon technique that suits me right now, I can’t say it’s perfect. I won’t be able to pass it on to others either.”

Mak Won’s eyes gleamed.

“Do you want to pass on your martial arts to others?”

“That’s not why I’m saying this. Whether I pass it on or not, it’s difficult to create a perfect weapon technique. At least for now.”

“I see.”

“I think it’s better this way for now.”

Thwack!

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had planted his wooden staff into the ground, looked quite refreshed.

If there was something blocking him, he would research it all night to find an answer. That was how Yeon Ho-jeong had been until now.

But now it was different.

He would diligently work on what needed effort, but if there was something to let go of, he would do so without hesitation.

Mak Won, who had been quietly watching Yeon Ho-jeong, grinned.

“You seem to have grown up.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m just sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“I was able to complete these three martial arts entirely thanks to you, brother. I don’t know how long it would have taken if I had done it alone.”

It wasn’t an empty compliment.

Mak Won was a peerless master who boasted outstanding skills in all weapon techniques as well as hand-to-hand combat.

In other words, he could handle any situation. Mak Won pressured Yeon Ho-jeong with almost every kind of martial art, and thanks to that, Yeon Ho-jeong was able to perfectly establish the vague forms he had.

“I would like to seriously spar with your new martial arts, but…”

Whoosh!

A fierce fighting spirit rose from Mak Won’s body.

The true fighting spirit of a master of the Limitless, one of the Heavenly Seats [a title for the most powerful martial artists], created immense pressure. Yeon Ho-jeong, who had never seriously sparred with Mak Won, was experiencing his serious qi for the first time.

“I’m always welcome.”

“Then, shall we stop creating martial arts and move on to a pure spar?”

“I would like to, but…”

Yeon Ho-jeong glanced east.

Mak Won grinned.

“I felt it too. It seems the most famous master of swordsmanship in the martial world is almost here.”

“I see.”

“But what does that matter? An emperor is an emperor, and a ruler is a ruler. A king is a king.”

“Then, shall we go?”

“Huh?”

Confusion appeared on Mak Won’s face.

Go? Where to?

“This open space is quite large and a decent place, but if we clash with all our might, it will collapse greatly.”

“……!”

“Moreover, this is the inner city. If you and I clash seriously, everyone will be surprised and come running again. Work will be paralyzed, and the Martial Alliance will be in an uproar.”

“Hoo.”

“Shall we go?”

Mak Won burst into a hearty laugh.

“Good, good.”

They were sworn brothers and recognized each other’s talents and abilities.

However, even as sworn brothers, both of them were martial artists to the bone. Mak Won was originally like that, and Yeon Ho-jeong, upon reaching the Yellow Dragon, had once again realized how immense his desire for martial arts was.

Two people who acknowledged each other and moved forward.

He was a completely different stimulant from his father, Yeon-wi, and his other sworn brother, Moyong Woo. They hadn’t spent much time together, but Mak Won, who had reached the completed form of martial arts, was giving him greater enlightenment than anyone else.

Whoosh!

The two disappeared from the open space.

In the center of the rather rough open space, only the wooden staff that Yeon Ho-jeong had planted was trembling.

* * *

“You, what did you say your name was?”

“I am called Bu-seon.”

It had already been four days since they had set out together. It was quite unusual for a man to ask for someone’s name after four days of traveling together.

“Right, that was your name. I remember.”

“It is an honor.”

Bu-seon showed an unprecedentedly respectful attitude.

Except for her master, the Fighting King Yang Cheon, there was no one she had shown such a low posture to. That was how much she respected and thought highly of the person.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand why he blocked the road to the Mukryong Clan. Didn’t that damn bastard say anything else?”

The person who had followed her for four days without saying a word, maintaining an uncomfortable expression, was now asking such a thing.

From Bu-seon’s perspective, it was absurd, but her attitude was very polite and courteous.

“I was only told by my senior brother to bring the elder to the Alliance.”

“Hmm, an elder. The Vice-Chief taught him well. He’s on a different level from that ill-mannered bastard.”

“Thank you.”

“That’s enough. I was going to see the Yeon Clan Head anyway, so this isn’t bad. How much further is it?”

“At this speed, we will enter Daebyeolsan within two days.”

“Two days… Since we’ve changed our route, let’s pick up the pace.”

“Understood.”

Whoosh!

The man’s gleaming eyes were filled with an evil aura that was suffocating.