Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1076

Yeon-wi, who had been meditating in a cross-legged position, opened his eyes, sensing a sudden unease.

‘What is it?’

He rose from his spot and looked around.

Though his surroundings were just a forest, his gaze swept over the entire imperial palace area.

‘It seems like nothing’s wrong.’

A common misconception is that as a martial artist becomes more skilled, their five senses and even their perception of energy become extremely developed.

That fact itself is correct. However, even if one’s senses are developed, it doesn’t mean they can perceive every situation happening around them.

Even a master is still human. If a unique energy arises in one area, they will naturally focus on it. The deeper the focus, the duller the senses that extend to other areas become.

That’s why a skilled assassin can assassinate a master who would be an impossible opponent in a head-on fight.

The same was true even for those who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts. They could see farther and more clearly, but they couldn’t always be aware of everything happening around them. The more strongly one focused on one thing, the more their senses could decline, just like a novice.

Yeon-wi was a little different.

Unlike Yeon Ho-jeong, he hadn’t mastered all five of the Yeon family’s divine arts to create the Yeon family’s divine core, let alone the Light Divine Core. He was simply a martial artist who had honed the Sword Extremity Qi [a type of internal energy focused on swordsmanship] to its limit.

Having broken through one path and then another, reaching the great realm of the Mind Sword, his upper dantian [an energy center in the body] was undoubtedly the best among the masters of the Heavenly Realm.

Moreover, after entering the imperial palace and undergoing repeated training, and refining his enlightenment through sparring with the Sword Immortal Tak Mu-ja, he now possessed an incomprehensible ability that even those at the pinnacle of martial arts found difficult to understand.

‘Something is going wrong.’

He didn’t know what was wrong.

But he felt really uneasy. He was certain that this was not the time to be sitting here and training.

Whoosh.

Using the Heavenly Movement Technique, Yeon-wi left the forest and arrived in an instant where Mu Heo and Tak Mu-ja were.

“Hmm? Lord Yeon?”

Tak Mu-ja greeted Yeon-wi warmly.

“Shouldn’t you be training right now? What brings you to this moldy place?”

“Ah, that is…”

Yeon-wi examined the faces of Tak Mu-ja and Mu Heo.

They didn’t seem to feel anything either. Mu Heo was in the middle of treating Tak Mu-ja’s upper dantian, and Tak Mu-ja was also focused on his own upper dantian.

After hesitating for a moment, Yeon-wi opened his mouth.

“I feel uneasy.”

That was all he could say.

Tak Mu-ja laughed heartily.

“A man who seems like he could be called the Sword God of the Central Plains in another ten years is saying such nonsense?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t have any other way to express it, but… I suddenly felt uneasy.”

Tak Mu-ja, who had been laughing, gradually hardened his expression as he looked at Yeon-wi’s serious face.

“Uneasy?”

“Yes.”

“About what?”

“I don’t know exactly. I was in the middle of meditation when I suddenly thought of my son. Thinking of my son led me to think of this war, and immediately, a sense of unease washed over me.”

“……”

It didn’t seem like he had come because he was simply worried about the war.

Yeon-wi was a great swordsman. Even if Tak Mu-ja’s upper dantian was intact, Yeon-wi was an unparalleled swordsman who, while he might be able to defeat him with a real sword, he wouldn’t be able to defeat him in terms of enlightenment.

Tak Mu-ja looked at Mu Heo.

“It seems difficult to just ignore this?”

Mu Heo nodded.

“Although still incomplete, there is no one in the current Central Plains who has cultivated the path of the Mind Sword as deeply as Lord Yeon. Considering the Lord’s character, this is something we absolutely cannot ignore.”

It was praise that would make anyone’s jaw drop, but Yeon-wi was neither embarrassed nor grateful. The unease that grew stronger with each passing moment was too distracting for him to show such reactions.

Mu Heo cautiously asked.

“Is that unease perhaps directed towards this imperial palace?”

“I don’t know that either. That’s why it’s hard to say…”

“You said that the unease surged when you thought of the war?”

“Yes.”

Mu Heo’s eyes flashed.

Tak Mu-ja, who had been listening quietly to Yeon-wi’s words, opened his mouth.

“I, as a Taoist, know a bit about divination. There are actually diviners who can foresee the future or read the past with their innate divine energy, even without mastering Taoist or Buddhist martial arts.”

“……”

“Lord Yeon’s upper dantian is at a level that can be called the best in the world. Although he is controlling it well, if it is still incomplete, he may have come to foresee something without even realizing it.”

It was the kind of story that would only come up in street gossip, but in reality, if the upper dantian became too large and the divine energy ran wild, there were cases where people would see ghosts or unknowingly foresee the past or future.

However, if one was born with a large upper dantian, they would usually go mad or die before adulthood. Therefore, the diviners Tak Mu-ja mentioned were extremely rare throughout history.

But if it was Yeon-wi.

If it was the peerless swordsman who had grasped the ultimate martial arts that humans could not obtain.

“…It wouldn’t be impossible.”

Mu Heo rose from his seat.

“Let’s go see Grand Preceptor Yang.”

Yang Cheon was the core of the current imperial palace.

Not because he was the emperor’s son-in-law, but because of his abilities. He was a person with far more outstanding practical skills than anyone had thought.

The three men headed to Yang Cheon’s residence.

“Hmm?”

During a brief break, Yang Cheon, who was strolling through the back garden with Princess Cheonghwa, now free of any awkwardness, raised his head.

Yeon-wi, who had flown in with a light-as-air movement technique, quickly landed on the ground and bowed his head.

“Greetings, Grand Preceptor.”

There was no official title used in the imperial palace. Yet, Yang Cheon had become a key figure in the current imperial palace.

It started with his marriage to the princess, but now it was solely due to his own abilities.

However, since he didn’t have a specific title, everyone called him Grand Preceptor. The Grand Preceptor of the Black Emperor Fortress.

Yang Cheon clasped his hands in greeting.

“Lord Yeon.”

Yeon-wi looked at the woman standing next to Yang Cheon.

Despite being a princess, she was dressed plainly. She was almost as tall as Yang Cheon, and her arms and legs were long and slender.

Despite being middle-aged, she looked like she was in her thirties. She was a woman who exuded beauty that transcended time, thanks to her body and inner energy honed by martial arts over a long period.

She was Princess Cheonghwa, the emperor’s sixth daughter who was thought to be dead, and the most eccentric of the emperor’s children.

Princess Cheonghwa smiled and slightly bowed her head.

“Lord Yeon, you’ve come.”

“Please forgive me for coming without notice, as I have urgent business.”

“It’s alright.”

Princess Cheonghwa stepped back. She knew that the martial arts giants would be having a serious conversation.

Mu Heo and Tak Mu-ja had already landed on either side of Yeon-wi.

Yang Cheon cleared his throat.

“If you’ve come to scold me for enjoying my honeymoon during work hours, you’re mistaken.”

Tak Mu-ja burst into laughter.

“Even if that were the case, we are not in a position to tell you what to do. We are just a Taoist and a monk.”

Having married the emperor’s daughter, they naturally had to use honorifics. This was no exception even for Mu Heo and Tak Mu-ja, who were nearing their centennial.

Yang Cheon chuckled.

“Then please use the door from now on. I don’t mind, but if my wife gets angry, even the Shaolin and Wudang sects could be wiped out.”

Princess Cheonghwa blushed.

It hadn’t been long since they got married, but they seemed to be a perfect match. She was known for her fiery and outspoken personality, but even that was no match for her destined partner.

Whatever the case, the harmonious atmosphere between the two was truly pleasant to see. Despite coming with serious matters, the three men couldn’t help but smile.

But that was only for a moment.

“So, what brings the three of you to me?”

“That is…”

Tak Mu-ja glanced at Yeon-wi.

Yeon-wi spoke honestly about what he had felt.

Princess Cheonghwa’s eyes widened slightly.

She knew that Yeon-wi was a great master. But for such a master to come just because he felt uneasy? It was a situation that was completely beyond her understanding.

However, Yang Cheon was different.

“That unease, is it certain?”

“Yes.”

Yang Cheon looked at Mu Heo.

“For Lord Yeon to show such a reaction, and not just anyone… ?”

Mu Heo nodded.

“That’s why we came without notice. When it comes to the imperial palace area, the imperial palace’s intelligence network is the most accurate, isn’t it?”

Yang Cheon nodded.

“I must order a search of the entire Hebei area immediately.”

Princess Cheonghwa was startled.

She knew that Yang Cheon, who had become her husband, had abilities and insight that were superior to anyone else.

In the face of that ability, age was no problem. Moreover, despite being over sixty, he looked like a middle-aged man in his forties due to his high level of martial arts.

Perhaps his lifespan was even longer than hers. He was such a great martial artist, and for her, who revered martial arts, it would be difficult to find a better match.

But even so, it was strange to push the imperial palace’s intelligence department just because of a feeling of unease.

Princess Cheonghwa couldn’t help but interject.

“Dear.”

Yang Cheon understood her feelings.

“Lord Yeon is not only my disciple’s father but also a superhuman who has trained in martial arts as much as I have. Moreover, because he has awakened the Mind Sword, the unease he feels is of a different quality than what we normally feel.”

“Oh, I see.”

“It seems like things are going to get busy again. I’ll drop by from time to time.”

Princess Cheonghwa, who had been looking at Yang Cheon in surprise, smiled and said.

“Whether it’s a man or a woman, I’ve heard that if they don’t come home because they’re busy, the end of that family is not good. Even if it’s hard, always come home.”

Yang Cheon scratched his head with a smile at Princess Cheonghwa’s firm words.

“With such a beautiful wife, I wonder if I can even do my work properly. I’ll come running even if I only have a moment to spare.”

Although they were brought together by a political marriage, they were a perfect match for each other. There weren’t many women who could handle a personality like Yang Cheon’s, and vice versa.

Tak Mu-ja said playfully.

“The harmony in your household is so great that even we practitioners can’t help but be envious.”

Mu Heo scolded him.

“How can you say such nonsense in front of the Grand Preceptor and the Princess? This old mule has become very wicked with age.”

“This old mule’s foolish words will be the greatest praise for the two of you. Isn’t that right?”

Yang Cheon and Princess Cheonghwa were embarrassed, but they seemed to be in a good mood.

“Well, let’s get moving.”

It was then.

They felt someone who had mastered martial arts running towards Yang Cheon’s residence from afar.

In principle, running, let alone using movement techniques, was forbidden within the palace.

Unless it was an emergency situation that could cause a national crisis.

Before the guard could speak, Yang Cheon said.

“Come in.”

The door immediately opened, and a guard from the imperial palace guard entered and knelt.

“Greetings to the Grand Preceptor and the Princess.”

“What is it?”

“Urgent news! Currently, ten thousand cavalry of unknown origin are rapidly descending south from the northern part of Shanxi!”

Everyone’s eyes sharpened.

Yeon-wi’s face contorted.

“…Could it be from the start?”