Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1049

“It’s been a while.”

“Indeed. We’ve only been in contact through letters; it feels like it’s been years since we last saw each other in person.”

“Years? You’re exaggerating.”

“That’s just how it feels, how it feels.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho burst into laughter.

“By the way, you look much healthier now. No one would call you a beggar.”

Ga Deuk-Sang chuckled.

“Even if it’s just to see the Martial Alliance’s military advisor, I can’t show up smelling bad. I scrubbed myself clean for half a day.”

“Since when did you start caring about that?”

“Actually, I tried scrubbing myself clean once before, and it felt really good. Ever since then, I even developed an itch if I don’t do it. So now I wash myself regularly.”

“That’s good news for normal people, but aren’t you the small master of the Beggars’ Union? Not washing is part of your code; how did the Union Leader allow that?”

“I’m going to inherit it anyway.”

“Your freedom is excessive. Speaking of which, how is Union Leader Yongdu doing?”

Ga Deuk-Sang smiled bitterly.

“He’s not doing well.”

“What’s wrong? Is it his health?”

“He’s been lying down all day. I don’t think he has much time left.”

He spoke so calmly about it.

Jeagal Mun-Ho was shocked.

“Man, you should have contacted me sooner!”

“There’s not much anyone can do even if I did. My master also told me not to bother busy people with depressing news.”

“Still!”

“And well… it’s not like he has a serious illness.”

“If it’s not an illness, then what?”

“It’s old age.”

Old age, aging.

Jeagal Mun-Ho couldn’t understand.

“Of course, Union Leader Yongdu is old, but he’s already achieved mastery. He has mastered the Dragon Subduing Art [a powerful martial art], so his physical strength is completely different from ordinary people…”

“Even if you master the best martial arts in the world, you can’t stop aging.”

Ga Deuk-Sang clicked his tongue.

“As you know, Military Advisor, when you deal with information, you feel like your life is being sucked out of you every day. My master was one of the most actively involved Union Leaders in the history of the Beggars’ Union, so he had a lot to consider.”

“Hmm.”

“He was satisfied. He said he lived well enough. He said he had no regrets and was actually refreshed to leave.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed.

Union Leader Hwa Jin-Cheon had lived his life more passionately than anyone else in the martial world, as he said.

He had lived so hard that it was understandable that he had no regrets. He would have been different, but considering Hwa Jin-Cheon’s personality, he was the kind of person who would do that.

“Still, it’s not right. I should go visit him.”

“Do as you please. He won’t stop you from doing that.”

“Alright.”

Talking about Union Leader Yongdu made the atmosphere very gloomy from the start.

Ga Deuk-Sang changed the subject.

“Anyway, when are you leaving?”

“Are you talking about the Ice Palace?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll leave tonight at the earliest, or tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“Why? Is there anything you need to tell me?”

“No. It’s just…”

Ga Deuk-Sang took out a neatly folded letter from his pocket.

“Take a look at this first.”

“What is this?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho unfolded the letter and read it.

After a while, his eyes widened.

“Already?!”

“Yes.”

Ga Deuk-Sang chuckled.

“It’s really fast, isn’t it? Even though they were prepared in advance, I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly.”

The letter stated that the Muk Ryong Unit had changed its name to the Black Emperor Castle and declared a new Black Path Alliance [a martial arts alliance of unorthodox sects].

Jeagal Mun-Ho couldn’t help but admire it.

“Young Sub-Leader Yeon, or should I call him Lord Yeon now. I knew he had good drive, but I didn’t know he was this fast.”

“He’s someone who wants to finish things as soon as possible. Even if that wasn’t the case, organizational changes should be fast and clear, shouldn’t they?”

“That’s true. How about it, you haven’t seen the Lord’s face for a while, why don’t you go visit him?”

“I’m thinking about it. Well, I do keep in touch with him through letters like you, Military Advisor, so there’s no need to go right away.”

“I see.”

“Oh, and the Black Emperor Castle also found out about the Ice Palace matter.”

“Already?”

The Black Emperor Castle was quite south of the Martial Alliance. It wouldn’t be easy to find out about something happening in the north first.

“You know how it is, the Black Path’s intelligence network. In some ways, it’s even better than the Beggars’ Union. They’re people who are specialized in survival.”

“I know that, but… it’s surprising. I didn’t know they were that fast.”

“Former Sub-Leader, or should I say Elder Yang, has been putting a lot of effort into developing their intelligence network for a long time. Most of the money they earned was poured into it, and that was passed on to the Lord.”

“Impressive.”

“It seems he had a hunch from then. He said that the most important thing when handing over the Sub-Leader position to his successor is intelligence.”

“Anyway, if the Black Emperor Castle also knows about the Ice Palace, they must have taken some measures.”

“That’s why they’ve already sent someone.”

“Who is it?”

“One of the Black Emperor Castle’s Five Great Generals, the Sword Demon Gang Ryang.”

The Sword Demon Gang Ryang.

Rumors about the five masters representing the Black Emperor Castle had been circulating for a month.

Among them, rumors about Gang Ryang spread particularly quickly because he was the successor of the Black Path’s First Sword Sect, which had been destroyed.

Even in a place where betrayal was rampant, it was rare for a successor to join the organization that led to the destruction of his sect. Naturally, he became famous.

It could be said to be a bad rumor, but that bad rumor turned into shock two weeks ago.

Even though he was the successor of the Black Path’s First Sword Sect, Gang Ryang was too young. For such a person to be the representative master of the Black Path Alliance, the hot-blooded and competitive masters of the Black Path challenged Gang Ryang one after another.

Gang Ryang defeated all seventeen challenges in one day.

Seventeen masters were all turned into ghosts by Gang Ryang’s sword, and the strongest of them was defeated by Gang Ryang’s three swords, and his head was cut off by the fourth sword.

In other words, he did not exceed four sword strikes in a life-or-death duel with the most famous masters of the Black Path.

Numerous people who witnessed the match were shocked and feared Gang Ryang. Even though the Black and White Martial Emperor Yeon Ho-Jeong was an exceptional figure, they did not think that Gang Ryang, who was younger than him, would have skills that could rival the leaders of the great sects.

That’s how Gang Ryang’s nickname became the Sword Demon. It was noteworthy that the nickname first circulated in the Black Path, not the White Path.

“Hmm.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes sparkled.

“The Sword Demon is leading a unit… it would be better to join forces with them.”

“We can keep in touch in the middle, can’t we?”

“Yes, that would be better.”

“By the way, I really don’t know what’s going on. The North Sea Ice Palace, which has never shown itself before, has sent people…”

Ga Deuk-Sang frowned.

“It feels very unsettling.”

“I feel the same way.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed.

“Since Mount Hua and Jongnam [two famous martial arts sects] are also involved, there won’t be any major problems even if a fight breaks out. However, if they have really joined hands with the Three Teachings [referring to Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism], they might use a feint attack, so focus the Beggars’ Union’s intelligence on the imperial palace and the East Sea.”

“Of course.”

* * *

Heeheeing!

White steam rose from the horse’s nostrils as it snorted.

The Great Dragon Unit Leader asked.

“Why are you stopping?”

Moyong Woo said calmly.

“Someone is coming.”

“Yes?”

It was then.

Thud, thud.

A subtle vibration occurred on the ground.

The sound of hooves pounding the earth. The Great Dragon Unit Leader looked south in surprise.

After a while.

“…!!”

The Great Dragon Unit Leader’s eyes trembled.

There was a group of people running towards them, bathed in the red sunlight setting in the west.

The person leading the charge on horseback exuded an indescribable aura.

‘It’s dark.’

It was as if a ghost wrapped in a huge shadow like a blanket was running with them.

Dark and eerie, but at the same time, a master with intense vitality. He was sharp like the world’s divine sword, yet he had a strangely domineering impression.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Gang Ryang, who had gradually stopped his horse, smiled and looked at Moyong Woo.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has been a while.”

“Please speak casually as before.”

“I can’t do that. Moreover, this is official business, so I must be more polite.”

“Haha, you’re still the same.”

“You too, General Gang.”

“Your personality is the same, but your martial arts are different. I felt it from afar, but you’ve improved beyond recognition in that short time.”

Moyong Woo smiled back.

“I’ve learned good martial arts, but you’ve improved as much as I have, General Gang. Now, even if we were to have a life-or-death duel, I’m not sure if I could win.”

“What weak words are those? I can see a picture of your lightning-like sword piercing my heart in an instant.”

“Haha, you flatter me.”

Moyong Woo looked behind Gang Ryang.

Behind Gang Ryang were three hundred masters, all with crazed eyes.

“The Muk Ryong Unit, or rather, the Black Emperor Castle’s Dragon Slaughtering Unit.”

“That’s right.”

The strongest unit in the Black Path Alliance was the Dragon Tooth Iron Cavalry, but there were three other units that were famous along with the Iron Cavalry.

One of them was the Dragon Slaughtering Unit. It was a unit of madness, notorious for hacking enemies to pieces without regard for their own lives when a fight broke out.

“Let’s leave since we don’t have much time.”

“Let’s do that.”

Thus, the Martial Alliance and the Black Emperor Castle’s units ran in formation.

It was noisy and uncomfortable, but Moyong Woo and Gang Ryang did not feel any discomfort in talking to each other.

“How is the Lord? Is he doing well?”

“He’s busy as can be. But he’s so good at handling his subordinates that things are running smoothly now.”

“I wish he would take it easy.”

“That man has a harder time resting. But he’s been sleeping well these days. I think he sleeps for at least three hours.”

“That’s good news to hear. Even if you’re a master, you’ll ruin your body if you don’t sleep well, so it’s a relief that he’s sleeping comfortably.”

“How are your people doing?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I heard that Military Advisor Jeagal is having a good time controlling the members of the alliance.”

“Haha.”

Gang Ryang, who had made the atmosphere comfortable with a few jokes, asked in a serious voice.

“Why did the Ice Palace come at this time?”

“The Alliance is not sure either. Judging by their position and speed of advance, it doesn’t seem like they’re starting a fight.”

“We also thought that it was more likely to be an alliance than a fight or a scheme.”

“At the very least, they’re not coming to fight right away. Even if the Ice Palace is famous, they wouldn’t be so reckless as to start a fight in a place where Mount Hua and Jongnam are standing guard.”

Gang Ryang’s eyes deepened.

“Well… we’ll have to meet them to know.”

Thus, the organizations representing the White and Black Paths arrived near Little Mount Hua in Shaanxi after a few days.

And then, they realized that their assumptions were wrong.

White-clad masters were encamped near Little Mount Hua.

The aura emanating from them was chillingly cold and unbelievably intense.

And one of them exuded a particularly terrifying aura.

The inhuman power that could only be felt from those who had shed their human skin.

Moyong Woo murmured in a low voice.

“Limitless Hand…”