Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1342

The Blooming of the Celestial Eye (9)

Thump!

A demon, his chest pierced by a sword, collapsed, spitting out blood.

Paeyul, his eyes cold, slowly withdrew his blade.

The demon stammered, “P-please, spare me.”

“……”

“I, cough! I was just… !”

“Shut up.”

Swish.

Paeyul, having shaken off the blood and sheathed his sword, showed no sign of agitation.

“It’s their choice to fight for whatever side they choose. Even if you betrayed the Central Plains martial world and sided with the Three Evil Sects, it was your choice, and it could be respected. However…”

“Cough! Hack, cough!”

“You committed an unforgivable act.”

Paeyul stepped on the demon’s forehead.

“Not only did you rape and kill women, but you also ripped the hearts out of children who weren’t even ten years old. This is a heinous crime that cannot be forgiven even if you die a hundred times.”

“S-spare me… !”

Crack!

With a gruesome sound, the demon’s head was crushed.

Paeyul stared down at the mangled corpse for a long time before letting out a soft sigh.

“You crazy bastards.”

He wanted to curse them a thousand, no, ten thousand times from the bottom of his heart.

The problem was that this demon wasn’t the only crazy one.

‘I don’t understand what kind of mindset they live with.’

The war with the Three Evil Sects was still ongoing, and there were too many enemies to fight, even outside of the all-out war.

It was because of people like this. This demon was one of the disciples from a small martial arts clan in the Central Plains, and he claimed to have been scorned for his weak martial arts.

However, the Three Evil Sects gave him power, and after training in demonic arts, he became strong in a short time and committed unforgivable acts to increase his power.

‘Even if we win the war, the martial world will still be in chaos if we don’t root out these kinds of people.’

They tried to seize the imperial palace and undermine Sichuan from within. They planted spies in the Martial Alliance and manipulated the Fighting King Yang Cheon to plunge the entire continent into chaos.

That alone was a terrifying scheme, but the seeds they sowed weren’t just in such grand places.

It was unclear when they started to tempt the weak in the martial world, but suddenly, demons rose like wildfire across the land.

Fortunately, their demonic arts were only learned for two or three years, so they weren’t too difficult to deal with, but it was said that some of them were so powerful that even top experts had trouble handling them.

“The world is going crazy.”

At that moment, a low voice came from behind Paeyul.

“When has this world ever not been crazy?”

Paeyul couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“I didn’t expect you to say that, Senior Brother Jangmun [a respectful title for a sect leader].”

Jang In-reung shook his head.

“It’s because the world is going crazy that chivalry and the Way are needed. If the world were normal, there wouldn’t be so many people shouting for chivalry and righteousness.”

That was true.

“So, how are you?”

“Yes?”

“Are you satisfied? With the work of eliminating those scum that the Three Evil Sects left behind?”

Paeyul chuckled.

“They’re more than just scum; they’re too filthy. If we leave these kinds of people alone, what will become of the world?”

A smile appeared on Jang In-reung’s lips.

The young disciple, who was always causing trouble with his excessive competitiveness, now truly held chivalry in his heart.

It had been a long journey, but he was pleased with his disciple’s growth. His disciple could become even greater in the future.

“Now I understand why Ho-jeong hated the Three Evil Sects so much.”

“……”

“There’s no such thing as a clean war. But the Three Evil Sects are resorting to despicable and evil methods. They tried to destroy the Martial Alliance and the Black Dragon Unit from above, and at the same time, they tried to corrupt the weak into demons, threatening the very essence of the continent.”

Anger flashed across Paeyul’s face.

“This isn’t just a simple war. Even if we win the war against them, the world will be in great turmoil if we don’t remove all the seeds of evil they’ve sown.”

Jang In-reung nodded silently.

There was much he could say. As the head of the Jeomchang Sect and as a senior in the martial world.

But he decided not to. This young disciple was now a chivalrous warrior. The anger on his face, directed at the innocent civilians who had been harmed, was the face of a true chivalrous warrior, something rarely seen even in the Jeomchang Sect.

“But what brings you here?”

“I just came to see how things were.”

“It’s not a distance you’d just come to see how things were.”

A wry smile appeared on Jang In-reung’s face.

“Although some of the Bonggong [a group of martial artists] are protecting the Martial Alliance, they’re actually quite exhausted.”

“……”

“Many experts have gone to the north and east to fight the enemies. We’ve been given our own roles to protect this command center, but it’s frustrating to think about the martial artists who are dying even at this moment.”

“……”

“So I just came to see how things were. Since all I can do at the command center is eat and sleep, I thought maybe seeing you, who is doing chivalrous deeds near the Martial Alliance, would make me feel a little better.”

“It’s unlike you, Senior Brother Jangmun, to sound so weak.”

“Hey, when have I ever been strong?”

“You’ve always been strong. You endured for years to protect someone like me among the senior brothers.”

Jang In-reung chuckled.

“If that’s what you call being strong, then your measure of strength is quite trivial.”

Paeyul felt like he understood Jang In-reung’s feelings. He felt the same way.

He looked up at the sky.

‘That bastard.’

Yeon Ho-jeong came to mind.

According to the rumors, that guy had soared even higher and become the de facto strongest person in the world.

But Paeyul didn’t rejoice at Yeon Ho-jeong’s growth, nor did he feel jealous. It had been a long time since he had acknowledged his opponent, and he had done too many annoying things to be happy.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter to him whether Yeon Ho-jeong was strong or weak.

He was Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts senior and, furthermore, his friend. That was enough for their relationship.

‘He said he’d see me once the Black Imperial Castle was mostly taken care of, but in the end, he flew off on his own again.’

Of course, he understood Yeon Ho-jeong.

He had no choice but to understand. Yeon Ho-jeong probably wanted to live a relaxed life sometimes. Some days, he probably wanted to get drunk with his friends and spend time without thinking about anything.

But whether it was fate or something else, the Three Evil Sects caused problems all over the Central Plains whenever he was about to rest.

It was a problem that could be left to others, but given Yeon Ho-jeong’s personality, he wouldn’t have been able to do that. Ultimately, there were more than a few times when even greater damage would have been done if Yeon Ho-jeong hadn’t stepped in.

That was why Paeyul could only grumble at Yeon Ho-jeong and not curse him.

Because he knew how harsh Yeon Ho-jeong’s fate, his life, was.

What did Jang In-reung feel as he watched Paeyul silently looking up at the sky?

Jang In-reung opened his mouth.

“Actually, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“I knew it.”

“Hey, I did come because I was troubled. It just so happened that I had something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“We won the battle in Gangso Province.”

Paeyul asked in surprise, “Why are you telling me this now?”

“I wonder why. Why would I tell you now? Could it be because the person I’m telling has been wandering around the Martial Alliance for dozens of days?”

“……”

“You brat, are you questioning your senior brother who is like the sky?”

“I’m sorry.”

Paeyul, feeling embarrassed, scratched his head before asking again with a serious face, “Then what happens now? Are you leading the remaining forces to the north?”

“We did win, but it seems their remnants have scattered everywhere. We’ve chased and captured most of them, but it seems there are still some who haven’t been caught.”

“……!”

“It’s not certain, but they say those guys fled to the northern part of Gangso Province.”

“The northern part of Gangso Province……”

“If you go past the northern part of Gangso Province, you’ll reach Shandong. And…”

Jang In-reung’s face hardened.

“Currently, another force of the Evil Sound Sect has appeared in Shandong, creating a hellish situation.”

Paeyul’s eyes flashed with killing intent.

“Is the damage severe?”

“Extremely. The number of civilians who have died and been injured is countless, and it’s said that 70% of the martial arts clans in central and eastern Shandong have been annihilated.”

“……!!”

“It seems that a high-ranking leader led an elite force to attack.”

Paeyul’s killing intent intensified.

“Then, is it not a coincidence that the remnants of Gangso Province headed to Shandong?”

“That’s what I think. The military strategist thinks differently.”

“What did the military strategist say?”

“He said that it’s highly likely to be a coincidence and a coincidence. Well, what does it matter now? The important thing is that Shandong is suffering again.”

“Is there any information about Yeon Ho-jeong, or the Black Imperial Castle Lord?”

“There is.”

Jang In-reung hesitated for a moment.

Seeing his face, Paeyul realized that this was what Jang In-reung really wanted to say.

“What happened?”

“It seems they managed to get through the war in Shanxi and Shaanxi. In the meantime, the Black Imperial Castle Lord predicted that the enemy’s leader would have entered Shandong…”

“……”

“After examining the enemy forces that devastated Shandong, it’s highly likely that the leader of the Evil Sound Sect is there, and his martial arts are said to be at least on par with the Divine Fist Mu Heo.”

Paeyul’s cheeks trembled.

The Divine Fist Mu Heo was the closest person to being the strongest in the world. Although he was old and his achievements were great, and he was praised as the strongest in the world for his character even if his martial arts didn’t reach that level, the important thing was that in the minds of martial artists, Mu Heo was remembered as the strongest person on the continent.

If the enemy was stronger than Mu Heo, the chances of Yeon Ho-jeong winning were not high.

“Also, they said that the enemies used bizarre tactics in each battle. It seems they have other intentions besides simply destroying or occupying each region.”

“What else are they aiming for?”

“I don’t know. We haven’t even caught the young leader of the Blood Madness Sect who escaped from Sichuan. We’ve wiped out all the Blood Madness Sect forces that roamed the Central Plains, but their sect hasn’t been completely destroyed yet. They’re skilled in sorcery and demonic martial arts, so we don’t know what kind of tricks they’ll use.”

“Whatever tricks they use, we’ll catch them again.”

“At least, it will be difficult in Sichuan.”

“Yes?”

“Many people died in Sichuan. The Emei Sect was destroyed, and the Qingcheng Sect also suffered considerable damage. The only one that’s relatively intact is the Tang Clan, but even they can’t thoroughly search all of Sichuan.”

“Are you saying…?”

“Yes, if the Blood Madness Sect is up to something, Sichuan could be in danger again. If they intend to re-enter the Central Plains, they could break through the paralyzed intelligence network of Sichuan.”

Paeyul gritted his teeth.

Jang In-reung sighed.

“This matter is causing quite a stir in the Martial Alliance. We’ve contacted the Tang Clan, but since the head of the family is at the northern front, it’s difficult to make quick and decisive judgments.”

“……”

“Someone has to go to Sichuan.”

“I see.”

“Do you have any thoughts?”

“Of course.”

Jang In-reung nodded.

“Take your senior brothers and the elite of Jeomchang with you. I’ll make sure to appoint you as the leader there.”