Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1065

Yeon Ho-Jeong and Mo Ja-Seon, along with Gang Ryang and the Dragon Corps, rapidly traveled south, reaching the Black Emperor Fortress in just five days.

“Impressive.”

Mo Ja-Seon’s face showed genuine admiration as she looked at the exterior of the Black Emperor Fortress.

The fortress’s appearance perfectly matched its name. Whether it was painted or built with strange minerals, the massive, towering ramparts beyond the walls were entirely black.

The walls themselves were also quite dark, especially the western side, which was shrouded in shadow, almost resembling night.

It was astonishing how the color, size, and position of the buildings could create such deep darkness.

From the outside, it looked like a work of art crafted over decades. In fact, more than half of the walls and ramparts had been built long ago, during Yang Cheon’s time.

A fortress stained with darkness. Even with the sun shining, it resembled the early evening sky with dark clouds. It was majestic, heavy, and strangely mysterious.

“It seems twice as large as my palace.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s an impressive structure. I’ve seen quite a few buildings while traveling with your subordinates, but I’ve never seen a fortress as grand as this.”

“There’s still much to improve.”

“But it certainly looks well-prepared against enemy invasion.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

“You can see that?”

“The tactics developed here would be different from those of the Ice Palace due to the different environment. But looking at the hills in front, the river behind, and the forests far to the left and right, it’s truly a natural fortress.”

“You have a remarkable eye.”

Being strong in martial arts alone is not enough to be the leader of an organization. Mo Ja-Seon had learned through bloody battles how much the environment could affect combat.

She also possessed the insight of a master who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts. In many ways, she was no ordinary person.

Yeon Ho-Jeong signaled to Gang Ryang.

Gang Ryang led the Dragon Corps toward the fortress gate.

A moment later.

Kugugugung!

The fortress gate opened with a majestic sound.

It had looked large from afar, but the presence of the gate up close was truly overwhelming. Its width and height were reminiscent of the imperial palace gate.

Thus, the group returned to the Black Emperor Fortress.

“Lord.”

Muk Bi and Jin Yang bowed respectfully.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly and waved his hand.

“Yes, the Lord has returned. Was there anything unusual while I was gone?”

“It was uneventful.”

“Good.”

“But…”

Muk Bi looked at the woman dressed in all white standing behind Yeon Ho-Jeong and asked,

“Is that perhaps?”

“That’s right. She is the master of the Northern Ice Palace.”

“… !”

Muk Bi was quite surprised. He had heard about the situation through the intelligence unit, but he hadn’t expected her to actually come to the Black Emperor Fortress.

Of course, he had received word that she was traveling with Yeon Ho-Jeong and had prepared accommodations for her. Still, he found it hard to believe and wondered what they had discussed that led her to come all the way here.

On the other hand, Jin Yang’s surprise was on a different level than Muk Bi’s.

‘Is she really the Ice Palace Master?!’

Muk Bi had also gained much knowledge about the martial world, but for Jin Yang, who had been in the martial world since childhood and had heard the legends of the Ice Palace, the fact that the master of that mysterious sect was before his eyes was simply amazing.

Saaah.

Mo Ja-Seon did not emit any aura.

Yet, her unique presence was immense. It felt as if the temperature dropped just by her being there.

Especially for Jin Yang, who had mastered the Yang Flame Art, Mo Ja-Seon’s cold presence was quite burdensome.

Muk Bi bowed his head.

“I greet the Ice Palace Master. I am Muk Bi of the Black Emperor Fortress.”

Jin Yang also quickly bowed.

“I am Jin Yang. It is an honor to meet the master of a mysterious sect.”

Mo Ja-Seon looked at the two with a strange gaze.

“Impressive. Both of you seem younger than Woo Gung-Ju, yet you have achieved martial prowess beyond his. Are there so many talented individuals on the continent?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was an exceptional case, but the fact that there were two such young masters surprised her.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said,

“You must be tired from the long journey, so rest in your quarters for today. Have you prepared the palace master’s quarters?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Take her there.”

Mo Ja-Seon shook her head.

“I will go to my quarters later.”

“Are you hungry?”

“I don’t think there’s anything for me to do here, but I need to meet one person.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Do you feel it?”

“I felt it, and that person must have felt it too.”

A subtle tension settled on Mo Ja-Seon’s otherwise stoic face.

“Amazing. I didn’t know a master with this much yang energy existed in the world. It’s truly the extreme of yang.”

They were opposites, so they were bound to be more sensitive to each other.

“It’s like carrying the sun within one’s body. That person must also want to see me, so I will rest after meeting him.”

If Mo Ja-Seon was going to do this, it was good for Yeon Ho-Jeong as well.

“Both commanders, continue with your duties. Let’s have a small drink tonight. Palace Master, let’s go.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong immediately led Mo Ja-Seon to the southern end of the fortress.

The Black Emperor Fortress was vast.

It was even larger than the underground cave of the Black Dragon Unit, and with the open sky, it gave an immense sense of openness. Even though they weren’t running, they were walking at a brisk pace, and it took almost two hours to reach their destination.

And the closer they got to their destination,

The tension on Mo Ja-Seon’s face grew even more intense.

Huuuuuuuuung.

Hot air seeped out from behind a massive building.

Yeon Ho-Jeong led her to the rear of the building without delay.

Chiiiiik.

As they reached the entrance of the rear garden, frost began to form on the ground around Mo Ja-Seon. The frost quickly melted into water, wetting the walls and floor.

“Cult Leader. It’s me, Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

“Come in.”

A man with his hands behind his back was visible to the two who opened the small door leading to the rear garden.

Tall and with a large build. He wore a loose, white robe, but was still barefoot.

His messy blonde hair was shinier than before. It was proof that his martial arts were slowly returning to their original state.

Thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong closed the door to the rear garden and leaned against it with his arms crossed.

It seemed as if his role was over. He had nothing to do but stand guard in case the two fought, or if he couldn’t stop them, to mitigate the aftermath.

“…”

Mo Ja-Seon, who had been looking at Gi Cheon-Woong’s back with tense eyes, took one step, then another, toward him.

The closer the distance, the stronger the pressure that constricted her whole body.

It felt like her skin was burning. She had the illusion that the surface of the ice energy she had cultivated her entire life was slowly melting away.

It was only now that Mo Ja-Seon realized. Her internal energy, her martial arts, were a step below the man before her.

It was an instinct she felt as a natural enemy, even before considering the difference in their realms. If she didn’t feel a great burden from the opponent’s heat, it would mean that the natural advantage had been reversed.

The two were each other’s strongest and weakest points.

Mo Ja-Seon opened her mouth.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am the master of the Northern Ice Palace.”

She still did not use honorifics.

The man, Gi Cheon-Woong, chuckled.

“Is it really nice to meet me?”

Gi Cheon-Woong was at least twenty years older than Mo Ja-Seon. There was also a clear instinctive hostility toward their natural enemy.

Yet, Gi Cheon-Woong did not show any displeasure. It was unclear whether he was controlling himself or if he truly felt nothing.

“I am ignorant of the etiquette of the continent. I ask for your understanding.”

“I am not from here either, so there’s no need for me to understand.”

Gi Cheon-Woong turned around.

Mo Ja-Seon’s eyes widened.

“You are…?”

The higher the master, the more they are accustomed to sensing their opponent through their senses rather than their five senses.

Moreover, he was an opponent with opposing energies. Mo Ja-Seon’s eyes saw Gi Cheon-Woong’s blonde hair and physique, but her senses were only aware of Gi Cheon-Woong’s power.

But when she saw his face, she realized that he was not a Central Plains person.

A Westerner’s appearance. Extreme fire energy.

“Could it be the Divine Flame Cult?!”

“I am the current leader of the Divine Flame Cult.”

Whoooosh!

A storm of cold energy erupted from Mo Ja-Seon’s body.

In an instant, the entire rear garden was covered in white frost. It was an unbelievable level of ice technique.

Gi Cheon-Woong frowned.

He was a step above her as a natural enemy. He was confident that he could overwhelm her in a fight, but regardless, such cold energy was enough to make him uneasy.

“Withdraw your energy. If you don’t want to become a pile of ashes.”

“What is the meaning of this?”

Mo Ja-Seon’s voice was directed at Yeon Ho-Jeong, not Gi Cheon-Woong.

Pure anger appeared on her face.

“I trusted you. Is this the reward for that trust?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said calmly,

“You were the one who followed me without any reason because you liked me.”

“Don’t play with words! To think you were in league with the Divine Flame Cult, a so-called hero of the continent is actually a spy of the Three Sects!”

Even in his displeasure, Gi Cheon-Woong glanced at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

As expected.

Tzzzzzz.

Dark energy rippled beneath Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet.

He emitted a murderous aura beyond imagination without using the Yellow Dragon Energy. The murderous aura was so intense that Mo Ja-Seon’s cold energy flinched and repeatedly contracted.

“If you utter another word that insults me, the Ice Palace will have to find a new master.”

“… !”

“I don’t expect an apology since you don’t know the situation. But it would be wise to watch your words in the future. I may not have pride, but I don’t like having my life, where I’ve torn apart the Three Sects, denied.”

It was a voice that made one think that even sincerity could be terrifying.

Mo Ja-Seon asked with a stiff face,

“Then why is the Divine Flame Cult leader here?”

“Release your energy before asking. It’s already a cold winter day. My ears are aching because of you, Palace Master.”

“Are you telling me to release my energy in a place that could be a death trap?”

“If the Divine Flame Cult leader and I truly wanted to kill you, there would be no way for you to escape this place, no matter what you did. Even if it wasn’t me, you would easily succumb to the Divine Flame Cult leader’s Yang Flame Art.”

It was true.

It was true, but it was hard to relax.

After glaring at Yeon Ho-Jeong for a long time, Mo Ja-Seon slowly suppressed her energy. Then, warm air circulated around the area.

Gi Cheon-Woong grumbled,

“I was surprised too, though not as much as that ice treat. You should have said something before coming.”

“Would the Cult Leader’s actions have changed whether I said something or not?”

“I wouldn’t have been surprised.”

“That’s enough.”

“You always annoy me at times like this.”

“If you don’t like it, you can go to the Martial Alliance.”

“I can’t say anything.”

Pshhhhh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had withdrawn his murderous aura, said in a stern voice,

“I want to hear it again. How the Ice Palace was attacked by the Blood Demon and the Yin Demon, what the current state of the Ice Palace is, and what your past was like. Speak truthfully in front of the bonfire that once controlled the Divine Flame Cult.”