Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 891

The group’s departure was carried out quietly under the cover of night.

This was only natural. It was a special operation led by the Vice Chief of the Mukryong Faction, who had come as a special envoy with full authority. At least on the surface, it wasn’t a group led by the Murim Alliance, so the fewer eyes watching, the better.

The Shinma Realm’s personnel consisted of three people: Cheon Hyo-Rak, his bodyguard Hwa Hyang, and the coachman driving the carriage.

The Murim Alliance had eight: Yeon Ho-Jeong, along with the supreme masters Mak Won, Dang Gwan, Pae Yul, Muk Bi, and Bu Seon, as well as the exceptionally talented but still somewhat lacking Yeon Ji-Pyeong and Ok Cheong.

The group of eleven departed through the White Tiger Gate, the western gate of the Alliance.

The road to Cheonghae Province was long, and the operation could turn deadly. Their steps were heavy with the weight of the unknown.

* * *

With Cheon Hyo-Rak’s carriage at the center, Mak Won, Muk Bi, Pae Yul, and Ok Cheong took the lead, while Yeon Ho-Jeong, Bu Seon, Dang Gwan, and Yeon Ji-Pyeong brought up the rear.

This arrangement divided the eight masters into two groups.

The four leading the way, with Mak Won as their head, formed the second group, while the four at the rear, led by Yeon Ho-Jeong, formed the first group.

Their movements were smooth. Although they had to rest due to the horses’ stamina, no one in the group had any issues with their own physical condition.

Among them, Yeon Ji-Pyeong and Ok Cheong were the weakest in terms of pure cultivation level. However, Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s extreme physical strength was due to Yeon Wi’s strict training and his own fanatical practice.

Ok Cheong, who belonged to the Medical Corps, had experienced countless real battles. He possessed not only the unique stamina of a Wudang practitioner [Wudang is a famous martial arts school known for its Taoist philosophy and internal martial arts] but also the experience of marching for days without sleep.

Their pace was neither rushed nor leisurely, neither too fast nor too slow.

The group, without exchanging a single word, managed to enter Shanxi after more than ten days.

“Myo Ha-gun.”

The group was resting by the roadside.

The group deliberately sat apart from each other. Each was a unique master, and they needed to get used to acting with their respective groups.

Surprisingly, this was Ok Cheong’s suggestion. Based on his experience in numerous battles as part of a unit, it was an obvious measure.

And everyone accepted Ok Cheong’s suggestion.

The power of a master who could split the sky and shatter rocks was immense, but if they didn’t feel a sense of belonging, the group’s power would weaken.

Ok Cheong’s ability to point out what Yeon Ho-Jeong had missed shone from the very beginning.

“It was quite a leisurely journey, but it’s strangely tiring,” Dang Gwan said, filing his nails with a dagger. His voice was quite relaxed, despite the content of his words.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and said,

“When moving from one region to another, Murim people [Murim refers to the martial arts world] tend to practice their movement techniques or get absorbed in something. That’s why it’s not as boring as you might think.”

“You’re right. Just sitting on a horse and riding is quite boring. Ah, give me some jerky.”

“Here you go.”

Dang Gwan began to eat the jerky.

The ability of Murim people to control their metabolism was on a different level than ordinary people. If they wanted, they could stay energetic for days on just one meal.

Naturally, the higher their cultivation level, the more pronounced this ability became. If the density of their internal energy was high, they could move without much problem even without external nutrition.

Of course, that was just ‘possible.’ In reality, it was better to eat meals like ordinary people. However, during long journeys like this, Murim people could control their metabolism to travel further with minimal meals.

“It’s been a while since I’ve chewed on something, it’s delicious,” Dang Gwan said.

“You, who lived like a king in Sichuan, are moved by a piece of jerky.”

“Food tastes best when you’re hungry. Anyway…”

Dang Gwan asked in a casual tone,

“Shouldn’t we start sharing some information?”

Until now, the group had not engaged in any official or personal conversations, except for the bare minimum.

But now it was different.

They could think that the information was not important until they reached Cheonghae Province, but Dang Gwan did not think so.

“Shanxi is connected to Gansu. Gansu is next to Cheonghae. We still have thousands of miles to go, but just in case…”

Dang Gwan glanced at the carriage.

“If that suspicious fool has brought a tail, we might have an unexpected fight, don’t you think?”

“If that were the case, we would have fought long ago.”

“Are you kidding me? Even if they serve the Demonic Lineage, they wouldn’t underestimate the Murim Alliance, would they? They know that they would only be at a loss if they acted recklessly in the Murim Alliance’s territory.”

It was a reasonable thought.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged.

“The same goes for Shanxi.”

“Of course, Shanxi can be considered the Alliance’s territory. Especially with Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan there.”

“That’s right.”

“But the atmosphere in Shanxi’s Murim is not the same as before due to the Zhongnan War. Zhongnan’s power has decreased a lot, and even though Mount Hua is still strong, they lost a significant number of their forces sent to Zhongnan.”

Dang Gwan’s eyes flashed.

“If they attack with all their might, it could be quite dangerous.”

“The possibility of them acting recklessly in Shanxi is almost the same as the possibility of them acting recklessly in Henan Province.”

“Why do you think so?”

“As you said, it hasn’t been long since the Zhongnan War. The power of Shanxi’s Murim itself has weakened, but the tension is still strong.”

He was talking about intelligence.

Whether it was Mount Hua, Mount Zhongnan, or the Shanxi branch of the Beggars’ Union, their eyes were sharp.

Shanxi was one of the few regions where they could directly attack from the north. Although the path was limited, once it was breached, they could experience another major war.

The possibility of breaking through the extremely sharp intelligence network of such a place was not high. Even if they did, they would have to face the Murim’s anger, which had risen to an unprecedented level.

Although provoking the opponent to create an opening was one of the tactics, the Murim Alliance’s power was too strong to provoke recklessly.

What if they provoked now, with the Murim Alliance Leader’s inauguration ceremony approaching?

Then all the Murim people of the righteous path would turn Cheonghae Province into a wasteland.

It was a bad move that would touch emotions before reason. If that happened, even the Shinma Realm would be in a state of high alert.

Moreover, with Cheon Hyo-Rak, who was from the Shinma Realm, out in the Central Plains, it was an impossible tactic.

“I understand what you’re saying, but there are variables in this world,” Dang Gwan’s voice became slightly smaller.

“Just in case, if the Shinma Realm has joined hands with the Three Teachings, they might even try to attack Shanxi again.”

It was a thought that everyone who looked at the political situation had considered at least once, and Dang Gwan was speaking it out without hesitation.

That’s right. If they knew the Shinma Realm’s base, the Three Teachings were a group that could have easily attacked them.

It would be easier to attack them than the Murim.

It was speculated that they had even taken control of the Lesser Thunder Sound Temple, which was said to be the strongmen of the outer Murim. The Three Teachings’ ability to absorb numerous sects was, without a doubt, superior to the Shinma Realm.

“If that’s the case, the Shinma Realm will be even less likely to deploy demonic people in Shanxi.”

“Why?”

“Because they will deploy other people, not demonic ones.”

“Huh?!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“I agree with the Lord’s words that we need to share information. What I said was all just possibilities, so now it’s time to consider everything.”

Dang Gwan grumbled.

“If that’s the case, why did you bring up all those long-winded stories?”

“Because you need to know.”

“Hmm?”

“You need to know what the leader is thinking so that if something happens to me, you can lead this group, right?”

Dang Gwan chuckled.

“You’re having a great time, using the head of the Dang Clan as a subordinate.”

“When else would I ever get to use the Dang Clan Head as a subordinate?”

“Think of it as a cooperative relationship, not a subordinate. I have no intention of moving like a dog under anyone.”

Dang Gwan stood up.

“I’ll tell them to gather.”

“No.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at the carriage.

“That gentleman seems to have the same thought as the Dang Clan Head.”

Thud.

The carriage door opened, and Cheon Hyo-Rak appeared.

He had not come out of the carriage except for three or four times.

Cheon Hyo-Rak looked around at the group and said,

“I have something to tell you.”

After a while.

For the first time in a long time, the first and second groups gathered together.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said,

“Is it time?”

Cheon Hyo-Rak smiled bitterly.

“If you say that, it would mean that I deliberately hid various information, wouldn’t it?”

“You never know.”

Dang Gwan snorted.

“With a face like you’ve swallowed a hundred snakes, I can’t trust you at all.”

Hwa Hyang’s eyes turned fierce.

Cheon Hyo-Rak gestured to stop Hwa Hyang and said,

“Thank you for your words. It means I’ve lived well so far.”

“What?”

“I grew up in an environment where I couldn’t survive without acting like a snake.”

Dang Gwan was speechless.

Mak Won, who was leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, said,

“I’ve heard that the Demonic Murim adheres to the principle of the survival of the strongest more than any other force in the Central Plains.”

“That’s right. Or, that’s probably right. I haven’t examined every sect in the Central Plains.”

“A world where the strong devour the weak and the weak are eliminated. I’ve always wondered how you, who carry a heavenly punishment, have survived until now.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak glanced at Hwa Hyang.

“I was able to overcome many dangers thanks to my trustworthy bodyguard.”

“Was it such an easy place that you could overcome it with just the power of one bodyguard?”

“Of course not. However, there is no other subordinate as trustworthy as her in critical moments.”

“A good lord-vassal relationship. So, what is it that you have to say?”

Cheon Hyo-Rak, who had been looking around at the group, took a deep breath.

“You have all come this far with me without even hearing the details. I am truly grateful, but I have also been struggling with how much I should tell you.”

That was understandable.

He had come to ask for help from the Murim Alliance, and to do so, he had to clearly explain the current situation of the Shinma Realm. That was the only way to increase the chances of success.

However, Cheon Hyo-Rak was clearly a member of the Shinma Realm, so he could not reveal all the information for the future.

That was the common sense.

And it was because of that thought that Cheon Hyo-Rak changed his mind. He judged that it was a situation that could not be overcome with common sense.

“Before we begin, I think I need to tell you about my secret personal background.”

“L, Lord?!” Hwa Hyang’s voice was filled with surprise, but Cheon Hyo-Rak’s expression remained unchanged.

“You all know that the master of the Shinma Realm is Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi, whom you call the Demonic Lineage in the Central Plains.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s wrong.”

“Hmm?”

“The real name of the Shinma Realm Master, my teacher, is not Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi, but Cheon In-Geol.”

“…?!”

“And one of the Three Teachings, the Gwanghyeol Sect, has been led by the Cheon family for generations.”

Everyone in the group, even Yeon Ho-Jeong, widened their eyes in surprise.

Cheon Hyo-Rak closed his eyes.

“The Shinma Realm is…”