Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1173

Ji So-hyeon, gasping for breath, stared at the water’s surface.

‘What happened?’

It hadn’t been long since her pressure point seal was released. In the midst of that, she had unleashed an Amgong Wave [a powerful energy technique] with power pushed to its limit, leaving her head spinning.

With her five senses in disarray, Ji So-hyeon couldn’t tell how the battle beneath the surface was progressing.

Then, it happened.

Flash! Flash!

In the dark night, colorful lights bloomed from within the river.

Sometimes red, sometimes blue, the lights surged. If this had been on land, it would have caused explosions, but here, it only made the surface of the water ripple.

How much time had passed like that?

Flash!!

A golden light, the most noble of all colors, covered the entire river.

Ji So-hyeon’s eyes were brilliantly dyed by the intense golden light.

It was a sight straight out of a legend. The surging golden surface of the water created a spectacle as if a golden dragon was swimming within.

And then.

Thwack! Shhh!

The chain connected to the pure white hand axe flew past Ji So-hyeon, wrapping tightly around a large tree.

“Lord Yeon!”

Ji So-hyeon’s face, which had brightened, quickly turned serious.

The chain was being pulled downwards by the river’s flow.

‘This is bad!’

Even though the current wasn’t strong, he was being swept away and couldn’t escape. He must have lost consciousness or exhausted all his strength.

Ji So-hyeon quickly grabbed the Azure Dragon Chain and pulled it with all her might.

Clatter! Clatter!

The Azure Dragon Chain shortened as it scraped against the ground.

Soon, Yeon Ho-Jeong and Sau emerged.

“Cough!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who spat out nearly a bucketful of water, collapsed onto the ground.

“Lord Yeon! Are you alright?”

“Cough, cough!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face, as he coughed weakly, was pale even in the dark night.

Ji So-hyeon sighed in relief. At least he was alive.

“…Hoo.”

After catching his breath several times, Yeon Ho-Jeong closed his eyes and spoke.

“How is your body? It seems like your pressure points have been released.”

“I was able to release them thanks to you, Lord.”

“Good.”

Ji So-hyeon’s eyes turned to Sau.

Even in his weakened state, Yeon Ho-Jeong had managed to grab Sau by the collar and bring him up. If he had just killed him, none of this would have happened.

“That one…”

“I was going to kill him, but I had a better idea.”

His voice was devoid of strength. If she hadn’t enhanced her hearing with internal energy, she would have only heard mumbling.

“Lord, are you really alright?”

“I never said I was alright.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s breathing became erratic again. He couldn’t seem to catch his breath.

“I’m really not alright.”

If he had suffered severe internal and external injuries from a fierce battle, he would have endured the pain and kept moving.

‘Is it possible for the body to be so worn down?’

The extreme use of the Upper Divine Art [a powerful martial art technique] was maximizing his already accumulated fatigue.

Even during his time as the Dark Emperor, he had never felt this tired after reaching the pinnacle of the Limitless [a state of martial arts mastery]. It was truly dizzying. He had never imagined that the excessive use of Divine Art could exhaust a Limitless Master’s body to this extent.

He was once again amazed by his father.

‘How did Father manage to wield that power so freely?’

He wanted to give up everything and rest. Extreme fatigue could burn away a person’s will to this extent.

‘No, I can’t.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong tried his best to regulate his breathing.

‘I must rest after meeting the kids and my seniors. If something goes wrong on their end, I have to send Ji So-hyeon to help.’

They might have already taken care of the enemies. But that was just wishful thinking.

He could carry the weight of a thousand pounds of fatigue and ten thousand pounds of responsibility. But if he couldn’t move when he needed to and was left with regret, he wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Flash!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, deliberately burning his Yellow Dragon Energy [a type of internal energy], forced himself to stand.

It was a strange feeling. He still had so much Yellow Dragon Energy left, yet he had no strength.

“Please release the Azure Dragon Chain.”

Ji So-hyeon immediately went to the large tree and released the Azure Dragon Chain, which was firmly secured with the White Dragon Seal.

Whoosh.

As the Yellow Dragon Energy settled, the Azure Dragon Chain automatically shrunk and was sucked into Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sleeve. Ji So-hyeon’s eyes widened at the strange sight.

Yeon Ho-Jeong detached the White Dragon Seal from the Azure Dragon Chain and attached it to his waist. He then picked up the Light Dragon Seal that had fallen to the side. Usually, it felt as light as a twig, but now, its weight made his upper body feel like it was collapsing.

“Carry this and follow me.”

“Lord.”

Concern returned to Ji So-hyeon’s face.

“Are you really alright? You look terrible.”

“I’m not alright, but you are fine. I don’t think we need to worry about any ordinary thugs.”

It was a joke to hold onto his weakening mind in the face of extreme fatigue. Of course, Ji So-hyeon didn’t take it as a joke.

Thus, Ji So-hyeon carried the Light Dragon Seal, and Yeon Ho-Jeong carried Sau. Although it was unlikely, if Sau woke up, he might knock Ji So-hyeon unconscious and escape.

How long had they walked?

“Big Brother!”

“Brother!”

He had never thought he would be so happy to hear Gang Ryang and Jin Yang’s voices.

It was a reunion that instantly dispelled any worries. Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled faintly.

But how could their joy compare to the joy between master and disciple?

“So-hyeon!”

“M, Master?!”

Ha Eun-Gyo, who had instantly leaped past Gang Ryang and Jin Yang, hugged Ji So-hyeon.

“So-hyeon, are you alright?”

Tears welled up in Ji So-hyeon’s eyes.

“Master.”

She had heard that her master was with them, but it hadn’t felt real until she actually met her.

But now, seeing her master’s face, hearing her voice, and even smelling her scent, it finally felt real.

Ji So-hyeon cried like a child and buried herself in Ha Eun-Gyo’s embrace. Ha Eun-Gyo also shed tears as she held her only disciple.

What more could be said? They had both gone through difficult times, but in this moment of reunion, the past resentments and apologies were meaningless.

Gang Ryang sighed softly.

“I’m glad.”

Jin Yang scratched his head.

“I don’t know what’s so great, but my nose is getting a little tingly too?”

Ji So-hyeon cried sorrowfully. Even though she had overcome her inner demons, seeing her master in person was a different matter. Moreover, her master had rushed here after learning that her disciple had been kidnapped, so she couldn’t express her emotions in words.

Gang Ryang smiled and patted Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulder.

“When the war is over, we should also get disciples…”

Then, it happened.

Thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong collapsed.

“Brother!!”

* * *

It was noon three days later when Yeon Ho-Jeong woke up again.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Yeon Ho-Jeong knew where he was.

‘The Branch of Buyang.’

His eyes were open, but his body wouldn’t move. He checked his internal state as he lay there.

After a moment.

“…I’m finally alive.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong muttered weakly.

“Damn it, I still have a long way to go.”

The Yellow Dragon Energy that had gathered on its own while he was unconscious had recovered nearly eighty percent, and his Upper Divine Art was also much more abundant than before he had collapsed.

He wasn’t in perfect condition, but he was finally able to move. He was grateful for that alone.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly and slowly got up.

‘If Master saw me in this state, he would have clicked his tongue.’

The Yellow Dragon Divine King Art [a powerful martial art technique] was the pinnacle of the Four Divine Arts, the ultimate technique. Even after mastering such a martial art, he had collapsed from exhaustion. How disappointed would his master be to see his lacking disciple?

Of course, that was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s excessive self-deprecation.

He had poured out his Divine Art against an equal opponent, traveled over a thousand miles, used his mind extensively, and even engaged in a life-or-death battle with a Limitless Master. It was only because of the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art that he was able to endure this much. If it had been anyone else, they would have been unconscious for ten days, not three. No, even a Limitless Master would have been in mortal danger if they had pushed themselves this hard.

Whoosh.

He habitually activated his Yellow Dragon Energy to loosen his muscles and threw off the blanket.

Thump!

Gang Ryang and Jin Yang, sensing the presence of the Yellow Dragon Energy, rushed into the room without hesitation.

“Brother! Are you alright?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong picked at his ear with his little finger.

“You’re too loud. My head hurts.”

“I’m asking if you’re alright!”

“Yes, I’m fine, that’s why I got up!”

Gang Ryang smiled. The fact that he was yelling as soon as he woke up meant he was really okay.

Jin Yang said grumbling.

“I thought that once you reached the Limitless, there would be nothing difficult in the world, but seeing you, Brother, it seems that’s not the case. Why does a man called the Supreme Emperor keep collapsing like that?”

Of course, Jin Yang knew how much Yeon Ho-Jeong had pushed himself. This was Jin Yang’s way of congratulating him.

“Where is Senior Ha?”

“She went to the mountains outside the branch with Ji So-hyeon for a while. She said she’d be back before evening.”

“How long have I been out?”

“It’s been three days.”

They must have had their fill of catching up over the past three days, but it seemed they still had more to say.

“What about Sau?”

“Huh? Oh, you mean the leader of those guys wearing bamboo hats? The one you caught?”

“Yes.”

“We locked him up in the warehouse. He’s still unconscious. Well, on top of the pressure point seal you put on him, Senior Ha added another one just in case. Senior Ha said that he wouldn’t be able to wake up unless we woke him up, and even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to move a finger.”

Additional pressure point seal. In other words, a double pressure point seal. If done incorrectly, the opponent’s muscles and nerves could become irreversibly stiff, and in severe cases, they could die from respiratory failure.

Of course, with Ha Eun-Gyo’s skills, she would have executed the double pressure point seal perfectly. So, there was no need to worry about Sau.

Then, there was only one thing to do.

“Call the branch leader and have him gather all the information that has accumulated.”

Jin Yang clicked his tongue.

“Wouldn’t it be better to rest a bit? You seem to be pushing yourself too hard.”

“If I felt like I needed to rest, I would have rested. Now is the time to move.”

“But…”

“The tragedy that occurs when you don’t move when you need to will only leave you with bitter regret later. I’d rather cut off an arm than see that happen.”

Jin Yang looked at Gang Ryang.

Gang Ryang smiled wryly.

“I’ll contact the branch leader right away. But please eat before you start working.”

“I’ll eat here, and I’ll receive the report here. Jin Yang, go get me some food.”

Jin Yang grumbled as he left the room. He complained that he wasn’t a servant or a maid, and why he had to carry an axe and get food, but in the end, his feet were moving quickly.

“What about the Black Blood Demon?”

“He’s sleeping in the stable.”

“Good.”

“But Brother, is there something bothering you? You seem too urgent.”

“I have to be urgent.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, with his arms crossed, looked out the window.

The weather was nice, but Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes were dark.

“The demonic forces of the Blood Fiend Cult have entered Sichuan. This must be the work of the Evil Sound Cult. They moved the Blood Fiend Cult to easily kidnap Ji So-hyeon.”

“…Huh?”

“The problem is whether the Blood Fiend Cult is really just following the Evil Sound Cult’s orders.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s jaw tightened.

“If the Blood Fiend Cult knew about the Evil Sound Cult’s scheme and still went along with it… this is quite dangerous.”