Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1175

“What did you say?”Tang Yun’s eyes widened.”Is that the truth?””Yes, it is.”The informant’s voice was filled with urgency.”The forces of the three sects that went to meet them on the northern front were completely wiped out. There is no clear information about the enemy’s losses yet, but it is expected that they suffered almost no damage.””These crazy bastards!”Tang Yun gritted his teeth.The fact that the forces of three small and medium-sized sects, which were supposed to be on the same front, had vanished was definitely not good news.’They moved first to gain merit. How could they be so foolish?’The three sects that dispatched troops—Hogeom Sect, Yongchang Family, and Hyang-eo Sect—were rivals who kept each other in check. Naturally, their relationship was not good, and they had almost gone to war decades ago.The fact that these three sects deployed troops to the front lines first could be interpreted as an attempt to establish a firm merit through the war and completely suppress their rivals.Of course, that was a foolish thing to do. The opponents were not some amateur troops dispatched by a small or medium-sized sect, but a faction of the Three Teachings [a collective term for Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism] that threatened the entire Central Plains.While the Tang family, Qingcheng, and Emei were also on edge and stationing troops, there was no way that the forces of three small and medium-sized sects could do anything. They ignored that and charged, so annihilation was inevitable.But it was already done, and there was no point in just feeling sorry.Tang Yun quickly asked,”Is there still no information about the enemy’s strength?”The number of troops was important, but it was also important to know what they were capable of. Even if they were small and medium-sized sects, they had annihilated the forces of three sects with a history of over two hundred years, so it was no exaggeration to say that they had at least the power of a major sect.”It’s still unclear, but we estimate that they have at least the power of a major sect of the Nine Factions [a term referring to the nine major martial arts sects] or higher.””I figured.”Although he answered, Tang Yun really couldn’t understand.’Just how much power have they been accumulating? And how have they been able to control such a force until now?’It must have been possible because they were a religion. If they were fanatics who only moved according to the will of God, they wouldn’t even think of unleashing their power without God’s command, no matter how much power they had accumulated.However, even for a religion, it is not easy to show that level of control. One way or another, it is undeniable that the Three Teachings are formidable adversaries.”There was one strange report.””A strange report?”The informant took out a neatly folded letter from his pocket.”It would be best if you judged this yourself. I think it’s important information, but it could also be information that can be ignored.”Tang Yun hurriedly unfolded the letter and read it.They don’t seem to be good at attacking compared to the power they possess. They use tactics closer to a guard unit than a strike force. It is possible that this is to induce our strategic misjudgment. However, in that case, it means they are a force that excels in both offense and defense, making them much more dangerous.Tang Yun’s eyes flashed.’Not good at attacking?’It was hard to see it as an attempt to induce a strategic misjudgment on our side. In the first place, the act of attacking Sichuan itself was an invasion. Unless there were tens of thousands of troops divided into several units, there would be no need to force a change in tactics to attack with a thousand troops.In other words, it meant that they were a unit focused on defense rather than offense.’They dispatched such a unit? And only a thousand of them?’It was a large number, but it was a small number to conquer the entire Sichuan. At least ten times that number would be needed.’Of course, if the thousand troops are extremely skilled, it would be possible to devastate Sichuan. But conquest and devastation are different meanings. Are they just planning to attack and retreat?’If so, why did they dispatch a unit that was better at defensive tactics?”What is the current strength of Qingcheng’s forces?””They are pulling back slightly from the front lines due to the annihilation of the three sects. There seems to be some talk of rushing in from the hardliners, but it seems that the opinion that they should be cautious is prevailing, so they have retreated.””That’s a good decision.””And we received a separate message from the family head.””From my brother?””Yes. He said that the southern part of Gansu was too chaotic, so he helped out there and then departed. It was a message from three days ago, so he should be entering the northeastern part of Sichuan by now.””Good.”Tang Yun tapped his chest armor.”Our Tang family forces will also head north immediately. It will take half a day to arrive, so send a message asking them not to act rashly until the battle begins.””Understood.”Just as the informant was about to move again, another informant rushed in urgently.”Urgent news!”Tang Yun’s face hardened. He could sense that something big had happened from the informant’s voice and eyes.”What is it?””The Emei Sect has been destroyed!””What, what did you say?!”Everyone present was shocked by the sudden report.”The Emei Sect’s main headquarters was attacked! Everyone except the forces sent to the front lines died on the spot! The sect leader, elders, and disciples were all annihilated without a single survivor!””That’s impossible!”Tang Yun shouted without realizing it.”There was no information that enemy troops were heading there, so how could they be destroyed overnight? Isn’t this misinformation?!””There were two of them.””What?”The informant swallowed and said,”The people who invaded the Emei headquarters were two, and it is said that the sect was destroyed because of those two!”At that moment, Tang Yun felt a tremendous confusion rather than surprise or anger.The crisis in Sichuan, which he had not felt until now, felt like it had been waving from afar and had suddenly come right in front of him. It was a strange feeling.* * *The news of Emei’s destruction quickly spread to the Tang family. At the same time that Tang Yun received the information, Tang Hyeong also received it.”……”Tang Hyeong, who had been silently looking down at the document, slowly got up and looked out the window.It was hard to tell what he was thinking, his expression and eyes were calmer than expected. He looked even more emaciated due to the side effects of his martial arts, but at least his composure seemed so noble that no master could imitate it.How much time had passed?”Is anyone outside?””Yes, Supreme Family Head.””Where has the current family head reached?””The exact location is unknown, but it is estimated that he has reached the vicinity of Songban by now.””Songban……”It was in the north of Sichuan. If he continued down that road, he would soon pass through the northern front.Tang Hyeong wrote on a clean piece of paper. It was not a long sentence, and he stamped three family head seals in a triangular shape below it.He rolled up the paper and folded the letter.”Deliver this to the family head. You must deliver it before the family head passes through the front lines, no matter what it takes.””Understood!”After sending the person away, Tang Hyeong let out a soft sigh.’I wonder if he will do as I say.’Over the past years, the father and son, who had not sought each other out, quickly grew closer after their dramatic reconciliation. As if trying to make up for the years of separation in just a few months, the two’s unconscious efforts shone.That’s why Tang Hyeong knew. How great his son was, and how stubborn he was.Furthermore, he also knew that even though he was so stubborn, he was trying his best to listen to his father’s words.’I hope he will do as I say.’If he didn’t, there was nothing he could do about it. Man proposes, God disposes. Both he and his son had done their best. Now, the rest was up to fate.If his son listened to him, it meant that heaven was smiling for this old man, and if his son didn’t listen to him, it meant that heaven was not smiling for anyone.’It can’t be helped.’Tang Hyeong left his office and headed straight to his residence.Tang Hyeong’s residence, located not far away, was still simple. It was hard to believe that it was the residence of the Dark King, who was once called the master of Sichuan. It was a simple place built because he wanted it that way.In fact, this residence was filled with hidden mechanisms that people didn’t know about. It was a fact that no one knew except for the current family head, Tang Gwan.Tang Hyeong entered the residence and repeatedly picked up and put back a few books on the bookshelf.Then, an amazing thing happened.Rumble.With a small roar, the center of the room’s floor sank in a square shape, revealing stairs leading to the basement.Tang Hyeong went down the stairs as if he was used to it.The stairs were longer than expected. It seemed like he was going down the height of a three-story building.At the end of the stairs, a small hallway unfolded.After passing through the hallway, a fairly large plaza appeared.”It’s been a while.”This plaza was the Tang Family’s secret place, known only to the family head of the Sichuan Tang family. Of course, the only people who knew of its existence were Tang Hyeong and Tang Gwan.There were night-shining pearls embedded in the ceiling of the plaza, and various dehumidifying stones were hung everywhere to control the humidity.On the walls, numerous hidden weapons and poison bottles filled with poison, and books wrapped in cloth were displayed. In between, dazzling divine weapons also caught the eye.The Tang Family’s secret place was a kind of safe house created for the sake of one in a million, and the family heads of each generation had placed new knowledge, books, and newly created poisons and hidden weapons here. Of course, many existing famous poisons and hidden weapons were also placed here.Tang Hyeong, who had been looking around, immediately walked to one place.There, there was a large black robe, and things to wear on the body, such as transparent clothes and gloves that seemed like they might not even exist at first glance.’I never thought I would wear this in my generation.’Tang Hyeong took off his top.He was as thin as a rail, but surprisingly, his lean muscles were well-developed.He put on the transparent innerwear, then put on his top again, and then put on the large robe.The transparent innerwear and gloves were artifacts called the Glass Divine Clothes and Glass Hands, which were said to be impervious to even the sword energy of a supreme master.The black robe was called the Black Demon Battle Robe. It was a legendary robe that completely blocked the invasion of water, fire, and air, and especially protected against the attack of demonic energy.Tang Hyeong put various poison bottles inside the Black Demon Battle Robe. Most of them were not highly poisonous, but rather herbal extracts, and some of the poisons were made with unique ingredients, but they were not considered highly poisonous.After that, he put several spheres smaller than his palm, two objects that looked like iron bars, and a small bundle tightly packed with feather needles into his sleeves.That was it. It was the complete armament of Tang Hyeong, who was called the omnipotent of the Tang family’s martial arts.Tang Hyeong, who was lightly panting, looked around the plaza and smiled.”There’s one more set each, so it’ll be okay even if they’re all destroyed.”Tang Hyeong, who had been looking around the plaza, soon turned his body and headed for the hallway.It was then.’……’Tang Hyeong, who had been standing still and looking at the hallway, went back to the plaza and took a small sword.The Tang family, who were called the masters of poison and hidden weapons, also learned swordsmanship. They didn’t learn it professionally, but because swordsmen played a large role in the martial world, they practiced it themselves in preparation for fighting them.The small sword that Tang Hyeong had brought was the small sword that Tang Gwan, Tang Ho, and Tang Yun had trained with in turn.It was not something that should be kept in the secret place, but it was the only small sword that Tang Hyeong had kept because he didn’t want to discard it in the past.Tang Hyeong, who had taken the small sword, went back to the surface.Rumble!The Tang Family’s secret place was once again shrouded in darkness.And that day.Tang Hyeong disappeared from the family.