Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1006

“Everyone, step back!”

“This is the Martial Alliance Plaza! Group actions are forbidden!”

Despite the stern shouts of the warriors, the eyes of the gathered heroes showed no sign of cooling down.

No, they burned even more fiercely. Once ignited, madness doesn’t extinguish easily. A few drops of water only make the flames surge more violently.

“Open the path immediately!”

“We will see the Alliance Leader!”

“Military Advisor! Tell the Military Advisor to come out!”

“Since when could the Martial Alliance force its members!”

The number of warriors gathered in the plaza easily exceeded five hundred.

The righteous sects gathered here hadn’t brought their full forces. Some had over a hundred, while others had less than ten.

Moreover, none of the great sects comparable to the Nine Great Sects were present. This meant that the number of warriors they brought was small from the start. Furthermore, not all of their sect’s warriors were present in the plaza, so the number of sect representatives gathered here was likely over several dozen.

It was truly a remarkable number. And even that wasn’t all, as numerous warriors could be seen rushing in from afar.

“What should we do?”

The Great Dragon Unit Leader asked with a worried voice.

The Fire Dragon Unit Leader, Lee Gyeol, sighed and said,

“Don’t think about the aftermath. We received orders. Understanding the orders we received is all that matters.”

“But…”

The Great Dragon Unit Leader was also someone who valued orders as much as anyone. To become a Unit Leader of the Martial Alliance’s Six Units, one had to be absolutely obedient to the orders of superiors, even more so than having skill.

However, the situation had escalated too quickly. It was truly a situation that could be described as happening in the blink of an eye.

It was true that they had to act according to orders, but if those people started a riot, then the Six Units couldn’t stand idly by. Even if a bloodbath occurred, they couldn’t let that many people reach the Alliance Leader’s residence.

However, if a real bloodbath occurred, then the Martial Alliance would be in danger.

The rumors had already spread far and wide. If a violent clash occurred and they were all cut down, how much trust would the righteous martial artists have in the Martial Alliance?

“We are swords.”

Lee Gyeol said, gripping his sword hilt tightly.

“The duty of a sword is to cut. The one who wields the sword chooses the direction.”

“… !”

“We don’t need to think about the aftermath. If we think about such things, we won’t be able to do what we need to do.”

The Great Dragon Unit Leader, as well as the other Unit Leaders, all sighed deeply.

But only for a moment. They all glared at the over five hundred martial artists with wide eyes.

Lee Gyeol was right. They belonged to the Martial Alliance’s combat unit. If orders were given from above, then they just had to carry them out.

The greater cause and the aftermath were problems for the higher-ups to worry about.

“Please…”

The South Dragon Unit Leader muttered as if to himself.

“Please, don’t do anything unnecessary.”

Even so, he wished. He hoped that they wouldn’t draw their swords due to a rash decision.

How much time had passed like that?

“Everyone, please be quiet for a moment.”

The clamorous voices of the anti-Black Faction warriors quickly subsided.

Swoosh.

A path opened in the middle of the haphazardly gathered crowd.

The person walking at the head of that path was a well-built old man.

His loose, gray hair looked like a lion’s mane, even though it wasn’t disheveled. His face looked to be at least sixty years old, but his thick shoulders and broad back muscles were comparable to those of a young man in his prime.

Lee Gyeol’s eyes deepened.

‘The Lion Sect Leader.’

It was Gu Il-baek (邱一栢), the master of the Qing Lion Sect of Shanxi, the Azure-Faced Lion.

With Gu Il-baek’s appearance, the heated atmosphere completely cooled down.

It was an impressive aura.

It was a martial power befitting the master of the Qing Lion Sect, which was considered the best in Shanxi, excluding Mount Hua and the Zhongnan Sect. The subtle aura emanating from him was comparable to that of a great sect elder.

Standing in front of the anti-Black Faction group, Gu Il-baek spoke to Lee Gyeol.

“Open the path.”

Lee Gyeol’s eyes narrowed.

He had a certain level of acquaintance with Gu Il-baek. After all, the region he had been active in before joining the Martial Alliance was Shanxi Province.

Gu Il-baek was someone who respected the strong and admired chivalry. Lee Gyeol was strong, and he was someone who could draw his sword without hesitation for the sake of the people.

Gu Il-baek respected Lee Gyeol and invited him to the Qing Lion Sect several times, and Lee Gyeol also gladly accepted the invitations, occasionally sharing drinks with Gu Il-baek.

It wasn’t easy to form such a bond between a sect leader and a wandering warrior in this vast world. Just as much as Gu Il-baek respected Lee Gyeol, Lee Gyeol also admired Gu Il-baek’s integrity and straightforward nature, respecting him greatly.

And now, those two people were facing each other here in the Martial Alliance, standing on completely opposite sides.

“I cannot do that.”

“Lee Fellow.”

“I am the Fire Dragon Unit Leader of the Martial Alliance. I will not allow personal titles.”

It was a cold and overbearing attitude.

That attitude was Lee Gyeol’s answer. It meant that he was now a warrior of the Martial Alliance, not the warrior who had shared a bond with him, and that he shouldn’t try to resolve this situation based on personal connections.

“That bastard!”

“How dare he speak such nonsense!”

Gu Il-baek, who had calmed the re-ignited anger of the anti-Black Faction warriors with a hand gesture, spoke in a calm voice.

“Lee Fellow. Do we seem too much?”

“…”

“Abbot Gong Gong of Shaolin, the Alliance Leader’s martial arts are beyond the heavens. As a warrior, I don’t want to sound weak, but frankly, even if we all attacked together, it wouldn’t be easy to leave a single scratch on the Alliance Leader’s body.”

That could be true, or it might not be.

The masters of the Supreme Extremes were all extraordinary powerhouses with the strength of a great sect.

The gap between them and even the top-tier experts was incredibly vast. If they wanted to, they could easily turn any ordinary sect into ashes.

However, a fight isn’t decided by strength alone.

You die if you’re careless, and you die if your heart is weak. Abbot Gong Gong was clearly a master who had reached perfection in both mind and body, but if he were to clash with them, he might make a mistake for a moment due to his deep compassion.

In other words, no one knew what might happen. Even if it wasn’t an order, as a member of the Martial Alliance, he couldn’t open the path for them.

“Is Gu Sect Leader the leader of these people?”

“Nonsense. We don’t have any superiors or inferiors. We’ve simply gathered with one purpose. These people have merely respected my martial arts and intentions, but no one is below me.”

“So, it’s true that you are the most influential among them.”

Lee Gyeol’s eyes deepened.

“I’m disappointed, Gu Sect Leader.”

“…”

“People live their lives with their own views and ideologies. That is freedom. However, to prevent the abuse of freedom, every world has norms and laws.”

At that moment, another round of harsh curses erupted from the anti-Black Faction warriors.

According to Lee Gyeol’s words, they were people who had committed excesses while ignoring norms and laws. For them, who had become extremely emotional, Lee Gyeol’s statement was no different from throwing a spark into boiling oil.

Gu Il-baek spoke calmly.

“We have not broken any norms or laws. How can we be called righteous martial artists if we can’t even voice our opinions to this extent?”

Lee Gyeol truly couldn’t understand.

“Why are you doing this? I truly didn’t expect you, of all people, to do this, Gu Sect Leader.”

“Lee Fellow!”

“Martial artists are ultimately a race that lives by the logic of power. However, because we value righteousness and the greater good as much as the logic of power, we call ourselves the righteous path and take pride in being righteous sects.”

“And with that righteousness and greater good, we have come here.”

“Then it was right to formally propose this issue. Especially someone as influential as Gu Sect Leader should have acted more cautiously. How can someone who is usually known for their cautious and noble character do such a reckless thing?”

Gu Il-baek’s eyes turned cold.

“Propose? The Namgoong Family Head is dead. And by the disciple of the Black Faction Leader! Caution has its limits! That person has a deep friendship with the Alliance Leader and the Military Advisor, among other leaders. How can we discuss caution when they might conduct a lenient investigation?”

Whoosh!

Lee Gyeol, as well as all the warriors of the Six Units, unleashed a fierce aura.

“Gu Sect Leader, you are now insulting the Martial Alliance by implying that it is a hypocritical group that hides the truth and manipulates public opinion with lies due to personal connections.”

Even Gu Il-baek couldn’t help but pause at those words.

Not only that, but all the anti-Black Faction warriors gathered in the plaza flinched.

But only for a moment.

“Things are unpredictable. Any organization in the world needs a mechanism or action for self-purification.”

“So, you’re saying you’ll be the one to do that self-purification?”

“We’ve gathered here because there is no such organization, because no one has ever done it before. The Martial Alliance is not an organization run by absolute power! Each and every member is the Martial Alliance!”

“The position of Alliance Leader is a position that those members have given power to and elevated! How can there be justice in your logic of seeing the Alliance Leader as the Alliance Leader only when it suits you, and as a mere warrior when it doesn’t!”

Lee Gyeol’s tone also became harsh due to Gu Il-baek’s frustrating words. He respected Gu Il-baek, and even admired him, so his disappointment was all the greater.

“I have nothing more to say to you. Please step aside.”

“I cannot do that.”

“Are you truly trying to tarnish the name of the Martial Alliance?”

“We are only acting according to orders. And speak correctly. It’s not us who are tarnishing the name of the Martial Alliance, it’s you!”

“Lee Gyeol!”

It was then.

“It has been a long time.”

The calm voice, though not loud, echoed throughout the plaza.

A soft and clear voice. It was a simple statement, yet it sounded like the chanting of sutras echoing in a mountain temple.

“It has been a long time since I’ve seen such a scene of hot and intense emotions clashing.”

Everyone was startled and looked towards the Alliance Leader’s residence, where the voice had come from.

Above the gate leading to the Alliance Leader’s residence.

Abbot Gong Gong had appeared, with his hands behind his back.

“… !”

The warriors of the Six Units, as well as the warriors of the anti-Black Faction, all swallowed hard.

He hadn’t released any aura, yet his mere appearance silenced over a thousand people. It was an incredible presence.

Whoosh.

The moment it felt like a gust of wind had blown, Abbot Gong Gong had already appeared next to Lee Gyeol.

It was a movement technique that was hard to believe even after seeing it. No one had seen how he moved.

It seemed faster than sound, yet there was no shockwave. It was a movement technique of sublime purity, the Vajra Immovable Body Technique of Shaolin.

Abbot Gong Gong looked at Gu Il-baek.

Gu Il-baek, who had been looking at Abbot Gong Gong with trembling eyes, lowered his head.

“Gu Il-baek of the Qing Lion Sect greets the Alliance Leader.”

The anti-Black Faction warriors also lowered their heads with awkward expressions.

“We greet the Alliance Leader.”

The heated atmosphere had become as calm and serene as the scenery of a lake without wind.

Abbot Gong Gong, who had been quietly looking around at them, opened his mouth.

“All the warriors of the Alliance, except for the warriors gathered here, are searching for Vice Alliance Leader Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

“…”

“I have issued an arrest warrant, not just a search order.”

Abbot Gong Gong looked at Gu Il-baek with profound eyes.

“Is there anything else you wish to hear?”