Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1069

Fire and Ice (5)

Five days later.

“Hoo, hoo.”

Jin Yang’s breathing had become quite labored.

Muk Bi, being an archer, possessed incredible agility, and Gang Ryang’s Ghost Sword Dance was also based on a ghost-like agility, making him no less agile than Muk Bi.

Jin Yang was different. His martial arts were based on power, and he was skilled in handling large amounts of internal energy to face multiple enemies.

Although he was adept at delicate internal energy control due to his level of mastery, he was no match for Muk Bi and Gang Ryang. Naturally, he tired faster than the two of them.

Gang Ryang clicked his tongue.

“For a guy with such a huge build, he’s really something.”

“It’s because I’m so big that it’s hard, you brat.”

“It’s amazing. Your close-quarters combat and long-range movement are like lightning, but why are you like this? With that level of internal energy control, you shouldn’t be tired already.”

“Damn it, while training with you, I revised my sword techniques and also tweaked my internal energy control. That’s why.”

“Tsk, you should have compensated for it.”

“Ugh, don’t talk to me! It’s hard!”

Gang Ryang, who had been glancing into the distance, lowered his voice.

“You should lower your voice, brother. If they see you’re not up to par, they’ll really kick you out.”

“What?”

“Did you forget what Brother Yeon said?”

Jin Yang’s mouth snapped shut.

Regardless, Yeon Ho-Jeong was looking north.

In just two days, the group had reached Hubei. Considering the location of the Black Emperor Fortress in Hunan, it was an unimaginable speed.

However, even this was not enough for Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘The waterways are complex, so it took longer than I thought. Once we reach Henan, it’ll be faster.’

If Jin Yang had heard his thoughts, he would have foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

“Are we taking a long rest?”

Before he knew it, Gi Cheon-Woong had approached Yeon Ho-Jeong with his hands behind his back.

Yeon Ho-Jeong glanced down at Gi Cheon-Woong’s feet.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“Considering the nature of my internal energy, that’s a great insult.”

“Putting aside everything else, I don’t know why you insist on going barefoot.”

“It’s comfortable. It’s good for my health too.”

“Health my foot.”

“Anyway, are you guys always like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“No matter how urgent it is, you’re running without any attendants? You all look impressive, so there’s no danger, but isn’t it too simple?”

“It’s because it’s urgent, as you said.”

“Even if it wasn’t urgent, you wouldn’t bring attendants, would you?”

“Isn’t it more comfortable to move alone than to bring someone along?”

“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t tried it.”

Gi Cheon-Woong took a deep breath.

“Still, it’s refreshing to run for a long time like this. My body feels relaxed, so it’s good to increase the speed.”

“I was thinking the same thing. Let’s rest for half an hour and then go.”

At that moment, a chilly voice came from the opposite side of Gi Cheon-Woong.

“I thought I could rest comfortably for a while, but I didn’t expect to be working my body so soon.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“If we’re lucky, we might even fight our enemies. Isn’t that what Palace Lord wants?”

“Of course.”

Neither Gi Cheon-Woong nor Mo Ja-Seon had a speck of dust on their clothes, nor was their attire disheveled, despite running so hard.

“The rumors were true.”

“What rumors are you talking about?”

“They say the Black and White Emperors always fight on the front lines against the enemy. They say that fighting always follows him, and his blood never dries.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression became awkward.

“That’s quite a curse.”

“It’s nonsense, but I’m starting to think that it might be true.”

Gi Cheon-Woong snorted.

“Are you going to talk about fate or destiny?”

Mo Ja-Seon replied coldly.

“Whether it’s fate or destiny, there is a being in the sky that watches over this world.”

“Do you believe in superstitions even after reaching that level?”

“You haven’t opened your eyes to the principles of heaven even after reaching that level.”

“It’s because you’re concerned with such troublesome things that you’re still lingering in such a clumsy realm.”

“It’s because you don’t understand the nature of heaven and earth that your upper dantian [energy center] is ruined. It’s not everything to just lock yourself in a room and train martial arts.”

“Are you complaining? If you have a problem, why don’t you just attack me? I can always finish it. With the martial arts I trained in my room.”

“I’d like to turn your body into an ice block, but that would be rude to the Black Emperor. I may not know the etiquette of the continent, but I know my manners.”

“It’s getting more and more interesting. Who’s worrying about whom?”

“At least I’m not worried about you.”

The two, with Yeon Ho-Jeong between them, glared at each other and growled.

They were not even kids who hadn’t grown a mustache, and it was ridiculous. If you combined their ages, it would easily be over 130 years. He didn’t believe the saying that old people become like children, but Yeon Ho-Jeong thought that maybe it was a wise saying that pierced the truth.

‘This is unbelievable. Is this what they call incompatibility?’

Man and woman, fire and ice, and even their origins, nothing overlapped.

There was no reason for the two to fight like this in the first place. Rather, they were in the same boat. If they joined forces to fight the Three Teachings, they could achieve great results because of their incompatibility.

A natural aversion to their nemesis was in both of their hearts. If Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t been there, they might have really fought to the death.

“Is it fun to act like that at your age? Let’s stop. You’re not children.”

“You saw it too, Lord. That ice cube started it first.”

“The bonfire started it first. I wasn’t interested in him in the first place.”

At this rate, there would be no end.

“Enough! Let’s eat and rest and then leave quickly.”

They were going on a path that could potentially start a war, but it was as if they had no tension at all.

Yeon Ho-Jeong forcibly separated the two. Gi Cheon-Woong snorted and tore off a piece of jerky, while Mo Ja-Seon ate a rice ball with a cold face.

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

Jerky and rice balls, they could both eat them deliciously, but the two were being picky, saying they didn’t like each other’s preferred food.

Yeon Ho-Jeong realized for the first time that incompatibility could make people this childish.

‘Even the Four Divine Energies, which are incompatible, turned into symbiosis, but what about these two?’

After finishing their meal, the group started running again.

They were all beings with power that transcended humans, so none of them seemed to tire.

However, after a day, Jin Yang’s speed began to drop. His breathing was noticeably rough, and it seemed that his internal energy control itself was becoming unstable.

Just as Yeon Ho-Jeong was about to call for a rest.

“I can’t stand to watch this.”

Surprisingly, Gi Cheon-Woong began to match pace with Jin Yang.

“I didn’t want to interfere since you’re the Lord’s man, but I can’t take it anymore. What is that clumsy internal energy technique?”

“Y-yes? Me?”

Jin Yang replied with respect without realizing it.

Gi Cheon-Woong said grumbling.

“The fire is hot enough, but you’re not burning it properly. That’s not how you use the Scorching Yang Art.”

“Then…?”

“Since ancient times, fire has been said to be a weightless danger itself. Fire has no weight. It just burns the whole world with its heat. The fire energy that’s moving busily in your body is also fire. It’s fierce and ferocious, but it can be infinitely light. Why are you being so pathetic with it?”

“I don’t understand what you mean…”

“I don’t know how you reached that level with that brain.”

A blue flame flickered in Gi Cheon-Woong’s hand.

It was an aura with tremendous density. Gi Cheon-Woong’s power, which could lightly draw out such an aura while running at such a high speed, was truly immense.

Surprisingly, it was clearly fire energy, but it didn’t feel hot. He had contained the temperature within his hand while maintaining the characteristics of fire energy.

“Look.”

Gi Cheon-Woong waved his hand.

The blue flame that was drawn from his carelessly waved hand flew into the sky at an incredible speed.

It was like a master of throwing weapons throwing a dagger. No, it was faster than that. The blue flame, which flew freely in the air, was swept here and there by the wind and then disappeared with a whoosh!

Jin Yang’s eyes trembled.

“That fire has no weight. But if it touches an enemy’s body, it will explode and turn the area into hell. That’s what fire is.”

“……!”

“Your fire energy is too heavy. You seem confident in your strength, but that’s why your body is becoming dull. The weight of fire energy changes depending on the user’s will. Understand fire as fire. Then you’ll be able to run as well as others, even with your big body.”

The moment Gi Cheon-Woong finished speaking.

Whoosh!

Jin Yang’s unstable aura began to gather inside him in an instant.

He had only explained the nature of fire, but by watching Gi Cheon-Woong’s blue fire, Jin Yang was able to understand more than that.

‘Convergence.’

He had to converge his fire energy.

But to converge, he had to become lighter. Heavy energy cannot be converged.

Woong! Woong!

The fire energy lurking in Jin Yang’s dantian [energy center] repeated expansion and convergence.

As that action was repeated, Jin Yang’s aura that was flowing outward gradually weakened. He believed his internal energy was fire and was repeating expansion and convergence, even drawing out the explosive power of his internal energy.

Gi Cheon-Woong’s face showed surprise.

“I thought you were an idiot, but you’re quite good. Did you learn two things from one lesson?”

Whoosh!

His disheveled posture was corrected, and his rough breathing returned to normal.

His body began to feel lighter. Nevertheless, the aura coming out of him gradually decreased. Jin Yang felt this light sensation for the first time.

Jin Yang spoke to Gi Cheon-Woong with surprise and gratitude.

“Thank you. I have gained a great enlightenment.”

“……Hmm.”

Gi Cheon-Woong, who had been scanning Jin Yang up and down, left a word and ran forward.

“I’ll be watching you.”

No one knew what he meant by watching him.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had approached Gi Cheon-Woong, said.

“Thank you.”

“It’s not that much to be thankful for. Didn’t you know about that guy’s problem too?”

“I felt something was lacking, but I didn’t know the exact reason. I would have had to ponder for days to figure it out.”

“You’re too busy to ponder for days.”

Gi Cheon-Woong glanced at Mo Ja-Seon.

“Still, he’s a guy who has mastered the Scorching Yang Art, so his physique is amazing. He’s the kind of talent that makes it worthwhile to give him a few pointers.”

Mo Ja-Seon’s eyes became even colder.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was about to tell them not to fight, but he closed his mouth. He saw Mo Ja-Seon turning her head to the rear.

Her eyes scanned Muk Bi and Gang Ryang.

Unfortunately, Muk Bi had not mastered the martial arts of Yin Coldness. Gang Ryang also practiced martial arts that were far from cold energy.

However, among them, it was Gang Ryang who had developed martial arts close to Yin Energy. He was the owner of fast and overbearing martial arts, but that was just Gang Ryang’s way of implementing his martial arts. The Ghost King True Energy was closer to Yin Cold martial arts than Yang Strong martial arts.

Mo Ja-Seon looked forward again.

“When are you planning to rest?”

“……Let’s go for another half day and then rest.”

“Okay.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong whistled inwardly.

He thought that the deep-rooted hatred of incompatibility might be born into a new era of symbiosis.

‘It’s better this way. I can make great progress this time.’