Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 101

Thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having put down the axe, felt considerable fatigue.

‘The impact was too strong.’

His father’s sword was the sword of the middle way [a balanced approach to martial arts]. That meant he could wield martial arts stronger than anyone when needed.

That powerful sword far surpassed the might of an axe swung with an eighty-geun [approximately 106 pounds] heavy weapon. His powerful inner energy, thoroughly trained body, and ability to unleash enlightenment were at their peak.

‘It’s a shame.’

There was nothing Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t do. No, Yeon Ho-Jeong could aim for even more.

However, his training was still insufficient. To delve into high-level martial arts, anguish and enlightenment were essential, but ultimately, it was the body that contained them.

‘I’m still far from enough.’

His muscles, stamina, and flexibility were sufficient. However, his body was not accustomed to containing high-purity energy.

It felt like he had clearly seen a weakness he had vaguely thought about. It was the most valuable gift he had gained from this sparring match.

Yeon Ho-Jeong thought his martial arts were still far off. He had seen his weaknesses and faced the parts he needed to fix.

However, to Yeon-Wi, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts had already reached the level of a master.

“Truly……”

“Yes?”

“You’ve truly become strong.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“I told you, I’m far from it.”

“No, rather, it’s excessive. Too excessive. In the current martial world, where else would there be someone of your age who has built up such martial arts? Even the Twin Dragons and Three Peaks [renowned martial artists or groups], it’s doubtful if they could compare to you. Even if the Nine Great Sects [major martial arts factions] have secretly raised their late-stage disciples, I doubt they could be compared to you.”

It was an unusual, extreme compliment.

Yeon-Wi was not the type to praise anyone like this, no matter who they were.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong was an exception. His growth rate had completely deviated from the norm. Furthermore, he believed that his son was not the type to be satisfied or arrogant with this level of praise.

“You’ve already broken free from the framework of martial arts and created your own martial way. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you’ve established a school of your own.”

“There are more than a few things to improve.”

“That’s true of the body. But your enlightenment has already crossed the eight ridges of Mount Tai [a metaphor for reaching a high level of understanding].”

Yeon-Wi shook his head.

“Both my son and my nephew, it’s the same that their bodies can’t keep up with their enlightenment.”

It was different.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong didn’t have decades of experience like Yeon Ho-Jeong. Yet, his enlightenment was excessive, and his body couldn’t keep up.

On the other hand, Yeon Ho-Jeong had years of experience learning martial arts in the actual bloody battlefields. Since he was refining his martial arts based on the enlightenment he gained from real combat, it was natural that his physical development level couldn’t keep up.

“But……”

Curiosity arose on Yeon-Wi’s face.

“You’ve refined a new martial art. It doesn’t seem to be based on the family’s martial arts.”

“Ah.”

“There are two types of footwork, and one external martial art for weapon techniques.”

“To be precise, there are three types of footwork and three types of weapon techniques.”

Yeon-Wi tapped the floor of the training ground with his toe. It was the spot where a hole had been made by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist.

“What is this fist technique?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong showed his fist with a satisfied expression.

“It’s a weapon technique changed into a fist form. It’s the first time I’m using it today, but thankfully, its power is working.”

Yeon-Wi was momentarily speechless.

‘Does he know what he’s saying right now?’

There’s a reason why sword techniques are called sword techniques, and fist techniques are called fist techniques.

It’s not impossible to use weapon techniques with bare hands. However, there must be considerable changes in the flow of inner energy and the forms in all aspects.

Yet, this amazing son of his had unleashed power with his bare hands that was no different from weapon techniques.

‘The return of all streams to the source……’

Yeon-Wi let out a hearty laugh without realizing it.

“Haha.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong blinked. It was the first time he had seen his father laugh like that.

What should he say… for some reason, he felt a chill…….

Yeon-Wi stopped laughing and asked.

“So, what should we call the martial art you’ve gained?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was momentarily at a loss for words.

‘Should I tell him?’

The Four Divine Martial Arts.

A unique martial art presumed to be the martial art of the Four Directional Martial Emperor, a peerless martial artist who ended the Blood Cult Rebellion three hundred years ago and was considered the best in the history of the martial world for thousands of years.

In fact, there was no reason not to tell someone who already knew he was learning other martial arts.

However, the Four Divine Martial Arts was a secret martial art passed down directly by his master. If it was a secret martial art, even parents and siblings were outsiders, so he wondered if it was right to reveal it to the outside without his master’s permission.

But.

‘Let’s think simply.’

After all, he hadn’t seen his master since his regression. Besides, his master was someone who wandered aimlessly, seeking the Dao [the Way, a philosophical concept].

He had no interest in worldly disputes. He would only think of the Four Divine Martial Arts as an excellent martial art, and he wouldn’t care even if someone knew about it.

‘Besides.’

Come to think of it, wasn’t this a bit strange?

Yeon Ho-Jeong inwardly tilted his head.

‘As the successor of the Four Divine Martial Arts, I don’t need to be bound by the rules of my ancestors, do I? I don’t even know if such a thing exists in the first place.’

Then, how he handles his martial arts is entirely up to him, isn’t it?

“……Hoo.”

Looking at it now, wasn’t this a problem that didn’t need to be considered in the first place?

‘I’m free?’

Hoo, hoo.

Yeon-Wi frowned as he watched his son, who was holding his chin and grinning slyly.

“Why are you smiling so horribly?”

“Yes? Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled confidently and said.

“The martial art I’ve learned is called the Four Divine Martial Arts, the Four Divine Techniques.”

“Four Divine Martial Arts?”

“Yes.”

Yeon-Wi’s eyes sparkled.

“The Four Divine Beasts of the East Azure Dragon, West White Tiger, South Vermilion Bird, and North Black Tortoise?”

“That’s right.”

“The forms and techniques of the martial arts you displayed were so perfect that it was hard to approach. Although it was biased towards attack, within the framework of attack, it was developed to the point where there was nothing more.”

“That is the White Tiger’s martial art, the Tiger King’s Nine Wall Breaking Stance.”

“The White Tiger’s martial art… then do the other martial arts specialize in their respective fields?”

“Yes. This martial art is so crazy that…”

“Watch your language.”

“This martial art is so funny that…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong explained the characteristics of the Four Divine Martial Arts in detail to Yeon-Wi.

The more he listened to the explanation, the more surprise spread across Yeon-Wi’s face.

“It uses four unique techniques specialized in attack, defense, instant kill, and evasion and counterattack as weapons……”

“That’s right.”

“There aren’t many martial arts that combine techniques extremely specialized in offense and defense, killing techniques, and evasion and counterattack into one framework. The family’s martial arts are a rare martial art of the middle way. However, the Four Divine Martial Arts you’ve gained doesn’t seem to be walking the middle way.”

“It’s not the middle way, but a battlefield martial art that has developed each field to the extreme. It’s different from the family’s martial arts.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Yeon-Wi tilted his head.

“But somehow, the more I listen, the more I think of one person’s martial arts.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes lit up.

“The Four Directional Martial Emperor.”

“That’s right.”

“Do you also know about the Four Directional Martial Emperor, Father?”

“Isn’t that obvious? He is an unforgettable hero in the history of the righteous martial world, and a respectable martial artist. You can’t discuss the history of the martial world without knowing him.”

“……”

“Don’t tell me you only found out about him recently?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong coughed awkwardly.

Yeon-Wi clicked his tongue.

“Even so, you should have basic common sense. He is a great man. You should know about the achievements of a great man.”

“I understand.”

“Anyway, I don’t know if the martial art you’ve gained is the unique martial art of the Four Directional Martial Emperor, but I know it’s an excellent martial art. And I also know that you’re delving deeply into that martial art.”

Yeon-Wi asked seriously.

“I’ll ask you. Do you intend to see the end with that Four Divine Martial Arts?”

“Yes, I do.”

“……Alright, I understand.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled. It was because he knew why his father had asked that question.

“I won’t neglect the family’s martial arts. Don’t worry.”

Yeon-Wi shook his head.

“Even to my eyes, the Four Divine Martial Arts is in no way inferior to the family’s unique martial arts. It’s truly difficult to master such a martial art. If you thought you would see the end with it, there’s no need to turn your eyes to other martial arts.”

It was a statement made without trying to show his disappointment. It was also sincere.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Hmm?”

“If I know all of the family’s martial arts and learn even a little, wouldn’t it be helpful when selecting the family members to teach the Four Divine Martial Arts to?”

At that moment, surprise appeared on Yeon-Wi’s face.

“Are you saying that you intend to incorporate the martial art you’ve gained into the family?”

“I am a member of the Yeon family. I don’t think it’s a problem for a member of the Yeon family to share their own things with their family members.”

“Is that your true intention?”

“Of course.”

The Yeon family was strong.

However, their power was small, and there were not many core masters. In fact, all of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s uncles had branched out and left, and it was difficult to see their faces even once except during ancestral rites.

In other words, the Yeon family was strong thanks to the excellence of their martial arts and the support of the people. Considering their actual power, it was true that they were inferior to other sects.

Yeon Ho-Jeong thought.

‘The family’s power must become stronger.’

When the Cult of the Three Mad Gods reveals its true colors, the Central Plains will become a sea of blood. That was certain.

Even if they had prevented their immediate destruction, it was questionable whether they could survive the future disaster. Therefore, they had to increase the Yeon family’s power as soon as possible.

“However, the Four Divine Martial Arts is a unique technique that one cannot even begin to learn without a sense for it. Even if it’s incorporated into the family’s martial arts, only a very few people will be able to learn it.”

Yeon-Wi was silent for a moment.

‘Family…… family, huh.’

It could be said that his son had gained such a martial art through a stroke of luck.

If one had gained such an amazing martial art, it was common sense to make it one’s own unique martial art. But his son was saying that he would incorporate his martial art into the family’s techniques.

He suddenly recalled the words his son had said before.

‘Even if our goals are different, my heart is always here. To protect the family, I will point my sword at the world, even if I am branded as a demon.’

Yeon-Wi closed his eyes.

After pondering his son’s words over and over again, he opened his eyes after half a quarter of an hour.

“I understand your intention well.”

Yeon-Wi’s gaze seemed to have softened somehow.

“If your heart is like that, then as the head of the Yeon family, I express my gratitude. Thank you for passing on such an excellent martial art.”

“It’s nothing.”

“There are quite a few things that have been put off. I plan to finish them all within three days, so let’s have a meeting about this matter afterward.”

“I understand.”

It was then.

“Father! Brother! Are you here?!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face brightened.

“You’ve come.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was running from the other side of the training ground. He had seen him from afar before the sparring match with his father, but seeing him this close made him feel a new sense of joy.

Yeon Ho-Jeong greeted Yeon Ji-Pyeong with a smile.

The smile vanished in an instant at Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s shocking words.

“Brother! Congratulations! I’ve already greeted your sister-in-law!”

“……Wh-what?”

“She’s so beautiful! She’s an angel, an angel!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth dropped open.

A faint smile appeared on Yeon-Wi’s face. His subtle smile seemed to be cheering on Yeon Ji-Pyeong. He was a father after all.

And so, the three fathers gathered for the first time in a long time.