Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1051

Moyong Gun looked around.

‘As expected.’

The Mount Hua and Jongnam Sects weren’t staying still either.

Far off to the right, a small flag bearing the plum blossom, the symbol of the Mount Hua Sect, was visible.

And to the left, closer than where the Mount Hua swordsmen were, in the mountainous terrain, the Jongnam Sect’s swordsmen held numerous flags.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Having suddenly heard the news that the Northern Ice Palace had dispatched warriors, it was only natural that they would be concerned.

Just a short while ago, it was in Shanxi that a fierce battle had taken place with the forces of the Evil Yin Sect. In particular, that battle was so brutal that it was being called the Jongnam Great War.

It was a victory achieved by holding out with the spirit of the support troops from various places and the Jongnam experts, but the damage was immense. Naturally, they couldn’t help but be on edge.

“Shall we go down?” Gang Ryang said, looking left and right.

“The fact that Mount Hua and Jongnam aren’t stepping forward must be because they know someone from the Martial Alliance is coming. So, I think we can go without worrying about them.”

“I think so too,” Moyong Gun said to the leader of the Great Dragon Unit.

“Divide four of our unit members into two groups and send them to the disciples of Mount Hua and Jongnam. Tell them thank you for waiting, and that we will call them after we’ve resolved things on our end.”

“Understood.”

Having taken those measures, Moyong Gun and Gang Ryang led their troops down the mountain range.

How much closer had they gotten?

‘It’s cold.’

Gang Ryang’s eyes deepened.

‘Cold and deep. It’s like falling into seawater where a giant iceberg is floating.’

He didn’t bother to hide his aura.

It wasn’t like he was showing off flamboyantly, but even from over a hundred yards away, the presence emanating from the Ice Palace’s martial artist made his bones feel chilled.

Heeheeing!

Moyong Gun and Gang Ryang stopped their troops fifty yards away and rode their horses separately to twenty yards in front.

Whoosh.

From afar, he had felt a harsh chill, but as he got closer, he felt more comfortable.

Moyong Gun shouted.

“We are from the White Path Alliance, the Martial Alliance, and the Black Path Alliance, the Black Emperor Castle. Reveal your identities.”

He already knew they were from the Ice Palace, but he needed to hear it directly from their mouths.

At that moment, someone stepped forward.

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened, and Gang Ryang’s eyebrows twitched.

The person who stepped forward was a middle-aged man who looked to be of a similar age to Moyong Gun.

However, the fact that he was middle-aged was only an estimation based on the maturity of his aura. Looking at his flawless skin, he could easily pass for a young man in his twenties.

His white hair reached his waist, and even his eyebrows were white. His skin was also pale like that of a Westerner, and his features actually resembled those of a Westerner.

Gang Ryang thought of Gi Cheon-ung and Gi Woo-hee.

Both of them had Western appearances, but they were different from these people.

Gi Cheon-ung and Gi Woo-hee had more defined features, with slightly more prominent cheekbones and jaws. Both were undoubtedly rare beauties, but they had distinctly different features from the people of the Central Plains [the main region of China].

On the other hand, the middle-aged man who came out as the representative of the Ice Palace had features closer to a Westerner than a Central Plains person, but his eye sockets and jaw were a bit closer to those of a Central Plains person.

‘A mixed-blood?’

It seemed that the faces of the Ice Palace people lined up behind him also had similar characteristics, so it was hard to simply think that.

The important thing was.

‘He’s strong.’

The middle-aged man’s martial prowess was, surprisingly, not much different from Moyong Gun’s.

‘There are many geniuses in the world, but I don’t know how everyone I see is like this. The martial world is going crazy.’

Gang Ryang inwardly clicked his tongue.

At that moment, the middle-aged man from the Ice Palace opened his mouth.

“We are people from the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea.”

Gang Ryang almost asked if his tongue was frozen, which was why his speech was like that.

“I am a minor master of the palace. Who are you?”

Moyong Gun calmly replied.

“I am Moyong Gun, the young leader of the White Path Alliance.”

Gang Ryang bluntly said.

“I am Gang Ryang of the Black Emperor Castle.”

Gang Ryang’s attitude was quite audacious, but the middle-aged man silently nodded.

“Mao Xiong-bai.”

He only said his name briefly.

It could have been an awkward situation, but Moyong Gun made the atmosphere natural.

“It is an honor to meet the warriors of the Ice Palace, a mysterious sect from beyond the borders and the greatest power.”

The middle-aged man, Mao Xiong-bai, said bluntly.

“It is said that one should not trust those who show excessive kindness at first meeting.”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“I agree.”

“Are you saying that you are not a trustworthy person?”

“From my perspective, it’s just common courtesy.”

“You’re strange people.”

Gang Ryang said.

“I was told not to get involved with guys who throw away manners from the first meeting.”

Moyong Gun flinched.

“Commander Gang.”

“Perhaps you have your own culture, but if you’ve crawled into this neighborhood, you should show the appropriate manners.”

Moyong Gun looked at Mao Xiong-bai with narrowed eyes.

Unexpectedly, Mao Xiong-bai didn’t seem offended at all. There was almost no emotional fluctuation.

“We do not know your manners.”

“So, you’re asking us to understand without question?”

“……”

“Let me tell you one thing. At least, you should know that your words do not sound good to us.”

He was displeased, but there was a reason why Gang Ryang was acting like this.

If they had come to fight, there was no need to try to please them, and if they had come for a purpose, they should have studied the Central Plains to some extent.

If it was the former, things would be easy, and even if it was the latter, it was their job to change. That was why Gang Ryang could be so confident.

Mao Xiong-bai’s expression changed slightly.

It seemed like he was smiling, and it also seemed like he was sneering. Whatever the expression, he was very handsome, even though he was a man.

“Then, what should we do?”

“I have no obligation to lecture you on that. It’s your problem whether you learn it or not. We won’t draw our swords over a few words, but don’t whine later that you feel bad because we talked like this.”

It was a fiery response.

For some reason, Mao Xiong-bai seemed to take Gang Ryang’s words and actions for granted. There was even a hint of favor towards Gang Ryang, though very subtle.

“Your words are correct. We should have been prepared. But it was a hasty journey. I hope you understand that we also had our circumstances.”

“You’re really pushing it. Alright, I’ll understand that much. So, what is your purpose for coming here?”

Mao Xiong-bai nodded and said.

“The reason we came here is…”

At that moment.

Whoosh!

A gust of fierce cold wind blew.

Even Gang Ryang, who had a strong heart, couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

Not only that, but it was an aura that made Moyong Gun, as well as the Dragon and Great Dragon Units lined up behind them, tense.

Mao Xiong-bai turned around.

“Right Palace Lord.”

A voice that carried the weight of the deep sea.

Mao Xiong-bai nodded and replied.

“Speak.”

Moyong Gun and Gang Ryang were so surprised by his answer that their eyes almost popped out.

‘Speak?’ No matter how you looked at it, the person was clearly higher in rank than him, so how could he answer so rudely?

While the two were surprised, the martial artist whose identity was unknown spoke.

“It is a meeting where we have come for a purpose. If we also want something from them, it will take a long time with mere conversation.”

“……”

“Only a warrior knows the heart of a warrior. We were disappointed that no one came even after several months, but now a decent warrior has finally appeared.”

“Understood.”

Mao Xiong-bai looked at Moyong Gun and Gang Ryang again.

Gang Ryang frowned and said.

“What the heck are you talking about?”

“Our Palace Lord does not want a long conversation.”

“Do you think we want that either?”

“If we confirm each other’s sincerity with a short conversation, that’s all.”

“That’s what I’m saying, right now.”

“Which of you will do it?”

“Haven’t you heard my voice until now?”

“Is it you?”

“Do I have to use my vocal cords? Fine, it’s me.”

“I don’t know what it is, but good. Come down.”

“……Huh?”

Moyong Gun, who had been listening to their crazy conversation, shook his head.

“Commander Gang.”

“Yes?”

“Those people are saying that they want to confirm each other’s sincerity by competing in martial arts.”

“What are you talking about? They clearly said they wanted to talk…”

“……”

“Was that what it meant?”

“Yes.”

“Those guys really talk like crap.”

“Are you alright?”

“Even though we’re from different factions, wouldn’t it be better if the successor of the Alliance stepped forward? My position is just right.”

Moyong Gun sighed.

“Be careful.”

Gang Ryang smiled and got off his horse.

“It’s better this way. I get to taste the rumored martial arts of the Ice Palace.”

Moyong Gun drove Gang Ryang’s horse to where the troops were lined up.

In an instant, the representatives of both sides were about to engage in a duel. It was a lightning-fast development.

“Confirm each other’s sincerity?” Gang Ryang tapped his sword with his finger.

“If you could read minds by clashing swords, there would be no secrets in the world. What you can learn by fighting sincerely is only to distinguish each other’s goodwill or malice.”

“We did not come as enemies, but you will need a clear confirmation.”

“There’s no need to confirm that by fighting.”

“You seem like a great warrior, are you perhaps afraid?”

‘This bastard?’ Gang Ryang’s gaze sank.

“Unlike you, we don’t draw our swords unnecessarily. But…” Swoosh.

The dark blade revealed itself.

It was a sword with an ominous aura. It wasn’t a matter of being evil or wicked.

His iron sword, which had faced and defeated countless enemies over a long time, had now turned into a ghost sword. It was a sword forged with his own inner energy, killing intent, and the grudges of his enemies.

Mao Xiong-bai was also quite surprised to see Gang Ryang’s sword. It was rare for an ordinary sword to become a demon sword with a ghostly aura.

“Once I draw it, I’ll see it through to the end. Be prepared.”

The sword was unusual, and the aura he emitted was also full of the weight that only true warriors could show.

A satisfied look appeared on Mao Xiong-bai’s face.

“The battles of warriors are always accompanied by danger.”

Mao Xiong-bai reached behind his back.

A sword flew from somewhere and landed in his hand.

It wasn’t a sword. If he had to say, it was a straight sword, but the blade was a bit wider than other straight swords.

The handle was wrapped in high-quality black leather, and there was a round ring at the end of the handle. It was a straight sword of the ring-pommel type.

Swoosh.

The straight sword was drawn.

Surprisingly, the blade was translucent. It had a clear shape, but it also looked like there was no blade at all, a deformed weapon.

Gang Ryang’s lips curled up.

“This will be an interesting match.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Just in case, is there no such thing as holding back in your fights?”

“If you draw your sword, you must see blood.”

“I like that. Let’s not make excuses later that you have different rules back home.”

“You talk too much. Shall we begin?”

“……You’re really annoying.”

Whoooosh!

Gang Ryang’s Ghost King energy exploded.

Flash!

Gang Ryang, who rushed in like lightning, unleashed a powerful strike, and almost simultaneously, Mao Xiong-bai’s straight sword drew a crescent moon.

Clang!