Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 897

“Haa… Haa…”

After the intense battle, the group, having rapidly covered twenty li [approximately 6 miles], settled down at the foot of a hill on the border between Shaanxi and Gansu.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, dismounting his horse, was panting heavily.

Ok Cheong approached Yeon Ji-Pyeong with a worried expression.

“Are you alright?”

“Haa… Haa… I-I’m fine.”

“If it’s too much…”

“Uweeek!!”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong collapsed on the spot and vomited.

It was a watery vomit mixed with a little blood. There were signs of internal injury.

However, the internal injury Yeon Ji-Pyeong had sustained was not severe at all. It was a minor injury, one that Yeon Ji-Pyeong, a master of internal energy, would naturally recover from within three days.

Yet, the reason Yeon Ji-Pyeong was vomiting was not due to the internal injury.

‘This is bad.’

Ok Cheong looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was engaged in conversation with Muk Bi and Tang Gwan.

Given their level of mastery, there was no way they hadn’t heard Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s vomiting. Yet, they didn’t even glance back once.

‘I understand the intention, but…’

Ok Cheong’s face showed concern.

‘I wonder if this friend can overcome it.’

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s martial arts were extraordinary.

If he had broken through to the Martial Ancestor realm at this age and wielded even more powerful sword strikes, it wouldn’t have been as surprising.

Without breaking through to the Martial Ancestor realm, Yeon Ji-Pyeong was wielding incredible sword techniques that even masters who had broken through wouldn’t dare attempt. And he was doing it in actual combat, which he hadn’t experienced much of.

Although there was some clumsiness, Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s sword techniques became more refined at an alarming rate as he fought the attackers.

In the first battle, Yeon Ji-Pyeong had killed one with half his strength, but now he was easily dispatching enemies with less than a fraction of his power. Considering that the level of the opponents was increasing, this was truly remarkable.

The problem was Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s mind.

‘It’s going to be difficult.’

Ok Cheong was also close to Yeon Ji-Pyeong. He had been with him in Guangdong Province with Ui-Jeong-Gun, and as fellow swordsmen, they had sparred several times.

That’s why he knew. Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s talent with the sword was worthy of being called genius.

He hadn’t expected him to have developed this much in the time they hadn’t seen each other, but the soldiers of Ui-Jeong-Gun already knew that Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s talent was unmatched in the world.

And no one was unaware of his gentle and kind nature.

‘It’s definitely difficult to harm people. Especially for a young man with a kind and upright heart to have killed dozens of people in an instant.’

People say that martial artists living in the Jianghu [the martial world] shouldn’t be afraid of killing people.

That might seem true at first glance. But there are very few people who truly internalize that statement.

Killing a person is no joke.

To end the life of a person with a personality, someone who was just laughing and talking with others, is to evaporate that person’s future.

It’s not something that a sane person can easily accept with a smile. Even among Jianghu people, there were countless who retired due to the shock of killing someone in actual combat.

And Yeon Ji-Pyeong had committed dozens of unfamiliar killings for more than three days.

They were clearly enemies, but in Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s eyes, they also looked like people who laughed and talked. That was why he was having such a hard time.

Thud! Thud!

Ok Cheong’s eyes widened.

Blood was dripping from Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s nose. The internal injury wasn’t severe, but because his mind was so shaken, his qi [internal energy] had reversed and invaded his upper body.

‘This is bad!’

He had to overcome it on his own, but he couldn’t just let this go.

Ok Cheong quickly placed his hand on Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s Mingmen acupoint [a vital point on the lower back] and drew up his Hongwon Qi [a specific type of internal energy].

After a while.

“Hoo.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s breathing stabilized in an instant.

Ok Cheong asked.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong said with a bitter smile.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Taoist, I would have been in big trouble.”

“Don’t say that. My help wasn’t much. It’s just that you overdid it.”

“If I hadn’t overdone it, our group would have suffered damage.”

“…”

“Considering everyone’s skills, that wouldn’t have happened… but there’s always a ‘what if’.”

Ok Cheong nodded heavily.

“Yes. You and I protected everyone. Think of it that way.”

“It’s sad.”

“…”

“That my mind is stabilizing like this.”

“…?”

Ok Cheong tilted his head.

“Your mind is stabilizing? And you’re sad that it’s stabilizing?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with listless eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having finished his conversation with Muk Bi and Tang Gwan, had gone to Mak Won and was talking about various things again.

“Hongwon Qi is an amazing martial art.”

“Hmm? Ah, it’s something my master created.”

“It instantly captured the rampaging energy without a true qi guide. It’s incredible.”

“The Taoist divine arts emphasize naturalness while also going against it. The true qi itself is specialized in drawing out an unmoving heart.”

“That’s why I hate it.”

Ok Cheong was momentarily taken aback.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong said bitterly.

“I was disgusted. By the fact that I was getting used to killing so many people.”

“Look here.”

“It’s not that I’m getting used to the technique, but I was able to look back at myself, who was thinking that killing people was nothing.”

“…”

“That’s definitely not right. But I no longer thought of them as people and just cut them down. It was too easy.”

“…”

“I couldn’t stand myself like that.”

The problem wasn’t that he couldn’t get over the shock of killing people, but the self-loathing he felt for having come to think that killing people was no big deal.

“I see.”

Ok Cheong sighed.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was right. People shouldn’t think of killing people so easily.

However, most martial artists, including himself, lived with the experience of killing.

If someone is holding a sword and trying to kill you, you can’t just stand there and die. You have to fight back and escape that danger.

Suddenly, Ok Cheong pondered. What did he think about killing?

‘I think it’s bad.’

Of course, it’s bad. But he also thought that in unavoidable moments, you had to draw your sword.

Killing Sword.

A sword that kills people. It was far from what Wudang martial arts pursued.

Ok Cheong closed his eyes.

‘My sword is no longer a Taoist sword.’

Since joining Ui-Jeong-Gun, he had wandered the world and cut down many villains.

That was chivalry. It could be seen as achieving justice.

Conversely, in the process of achieving chivalry and justice, he had moved away from the Taoist sword.

Was this really the right thing?

“If it weren’t for my brother, more people would have died.”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was still looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“My brother attacked the Nine Great Clans. If he hadn’t annihilated them, the main family would have been ruined.”

“…Yes, I’ve heard about it.”

“After joining the Martial Alliance, he ferreted out the spies of the Three Sects and achieved victory against cruel enemies. I don’t know how many enemies died in that process.”

“…”

“But I know one thing. If my brother hadn’t been searching for, cutting down, and returning victorious day and night, our foundation might have been a sea of fire by now.”

Ok Cheong nodded heavily.

“They are enemies, but enemies are also people. They must have lived lives with their own stories. My brother sweeps away such enemies without a moment’s hesitation.”

“That’s not to say that the young sub-leader is bad…”

“Can I become like that too?”

“…?!”

“Can I live as resolutely as my brother?”

“I don’t know.”

Ok Cheong smiled.

“However, my master once said something like this.”

“…”

“Martial artists each live with their own Jianghu [martial world].”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s eyes wavered.

“The Jianghu that Young Sub-Leader Yeon holds is very clear and distinct. It’s so obvious and simple that anyone can see it.”

“…”

“But until it became so clear, until it became so simple, I can’t even imagine how many complex thoughts and emotions tormented that person.”

“It’s a line, isn’t it.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong drew a line on the ground with his finger.

“There’s a clear line for my brother, isn’t there?”

“I think so.”

Ok Cheong stood up.

“There’s a reason why Young Sub-Leader Yeon entrusted us with the bloody battles. I realized that yesterday.”

“…”

“And now, looking at you, I’ve realized what Young Sub-Leader Yeon especially wanted from you.”

“Yes?”

Ok Cheong turned around.

“Think about it yourself. Just like you completed your lofty sword techniques with your own enlightenment, without anyone’s help.”

“…”

“Whether it’s martial arts or self, it’s only valuable if you obtain it with your own strength.”

Ok Cheong returned to his spot and sat cross-legged. It was to replenish the energy he had consumed in the battle.

It was an act without any hesitation, he seemed extremely accustomed to fighting.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong looked up at the sky.

‘It’s clear.’

Even though countless people had died, the sky was hopelessly clear.

After looking up at the sky for a long time, Yeon Ji-Pyeong closed his eyes and sat cross-legged.

At least, he was certain of one thing.

It wasn’t the time to waste time being caught up in worries that wouldn’t be resolved immediately.

Half an hour later.

Squeak.

The door of the carriage opened, and Cheon Hyo-Rak came out.

And in front of him, the group was sitting around, looking at him.

Cheon Hyo-Rak smacked his lips.

“It’s burdensome.”

“The time has come.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed his chin at the distant land.

“Once we pass that place, we’ll be in Gansu.”

“…”

“Before passing Shaanxi, I asked you to tell me all the facts that you didn’t bother to mention.”

“Yes.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak sat down on the ground carelessly.

“Actually, there’s nothing I haven’t told the people here. I’ve told you everything you needed. Of course, I didn’t mention the full strength or detailed circumstances of the Shinma Forest, but that’s something I can tell you when we arrive.”

“But…”

Ok Cheong tilted his head.

“There’s definitely something…”

It was then.

“Let’s rest a little more before we leave. If there’s nothing more to tell, you can keep your mouth shut.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak sighed.

“I…”

“Enough, do you know anything about sorcery?”

“Yes? Sorcery?”

“Yes. You said before that the first leader of the Shinma Forest was well-versed not only in various demonic arts but also in sorcery, so there must be some pretty clever sorcery in the current Shinma Forest, right?”

“Of course, there is. But I’m not cut out to be a sorcerer, so I didn’t delve into it deeply.”

“Hmm.”

“But why are you asking about sorcery…?”

“Someone is watching us.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Mak Won.

Mak Won nodded.

“I felt it too. There’s no sign of anyone, and there’s no distortion of qi, but… strangely, I don’t feel good. It’s like someone is watching us from above the sky.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked Cheon Hyo-Rak.

“Even if you don’t know sorcery, if the roots of demonic arts are the same, can you sense it?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never tried it…”

“Hmm.”

“Did you say someone seems to be watching us?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“It’s hard to say for sure, but… that’s the feeling. Well, it’s not constant, but I’ve felt that gaze once in a while. The feeling is a bit sinister.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s eyes wavered.

“If that’s the case, it probably isn’t sorcery from our forest. As far as I know, the sorcery of our forest mainly focuses on formations, various illusions, or amplifying the power of nature.”

“…Then.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong and Cheon Hyo-Rak said at the same time.

“It’s the Small Thunder Sound Temple.”

“It must be the Small Thunder Sound Temple.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak continued calmly.

“I’ve heard information that the Small Thunder Sound Temple is striving to realize the Six Supernatural Powers of Buddha as actual abilities.”

“You mean the Six Supernatural Powers?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Are they using clairvoyance or something, then?”

“I don’t know much about that part. However, if the young sub-leader and the White Soldier God have sensed something, then perhaps…”

“Interesting.”

“Yes?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Mak Won.

Mak Won said with a disgruntled face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Brother.”

“I don’t know what it is, but your face right now is similar to the expression you have when you’re about to fight me?”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong moved his lips. It was a telepathic message.

Mak Won’s expression changed from moment to moment.

“…Look here, my brother?”

“Speak.”

“I’ve never fought against sorcerers before?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wickedly.

“I have no doubt that you will overcome it well.”

“…”