Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1078

“What is that?”

Moyong Gun and his group, who were trying to cross from Gansu to Sichuan, tilted their heads.

Just as they were about to pass Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu, a group of people was rushing towards them from the east, raising a cloud of dust.

Soaring sword energy, a fierce momentum.

However, the aura emanating from each of them was incredibly righteous.

Tension appeared on Hwa-Hyang’s face.

‘What is it this time? Are they enemies?’

‘No, they are not enemies.’

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s eyes flashed.

‘It’s similar to an energy I encountered when I was in the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance]. That energy is probably…’

‘It’s the Mount Hua Sect.’

Moyong Gun stepped forward, his White Lightning Spear slung over his shoulder.

‘They are Mount Hua’s Taoists. But they all seem to be elites… What’s going on?’

It didn’t seem like they were coming to meet them. Their momentum was quite urgent.

It was said that there were no coincidences in the Jianghu [the martial world], but this was probably a real coincidence. That was Moyong Gun’s thought.

Woo-oong.

Moyong Gun operated the Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon. [a powerful weapon]

A faint aura leaked out. It was still unstable from the battle with So Hyun-Rip, but the powerful force hidden within that aura remained.

The Taoist at the head adjusted his direction. Towards Moyong Gun’s group.

Soon after.

Neigh!

The horses raised their front hooves and neighed.

There were at least five hundred of them. Each one emitted a clear sword energy. It seemed they had brought most of their elite disciples.

‘Who are you?’

At their head was a middle-aged man with a rough beard.

Moyong Gun spoke calmly.

‘I am Moyong Gun.’

‘Could it be the White Martial God?!’

‘That’s right.’

The middle-aged man, who had dismounted from his horse in an instant, clasped his hands in greeting.

‘The Mount Hua’s Sword Elder greets the Divine Lord.’

The Sword Elder of Mount Hua was the second in rank among the elders, and a great swordsman who was said to be among the top three in sword skills among the sect leader’s generation.

Moyong Gun briefly returned the greeting and asked.

‘What’s going on?’

‘It’s urgent news. It is said that about five thousand demons are descending from the north of Gansu.’

Moyong Gun’s eyes blazed.

‘Demons?!’

‘Yes. It seems to be one of the three teachings…’

It was then.

The Sword Elder’s eyes read the auras of Cheon Hyo-Rak and Hwa-Hyang, who were standing behind Moyong Gun.

‘…Demons?’

Clang!

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Taoists drew their swords. They had not been given the order to draw their swords, but the Sword Elder did not seem surprised by his disciples’ actions.

Moyong Gun raised his hand.

‘They are allies. They are descendants of the Shinma Forest [a forest of demons] who joined the Murim Alliance, the son of the Demon Immortal Hyeok Ryeon-Hwi, and his escort.’

The Sword Elder’s eyes sharpened.

‘Can you prove it?’

It was a very sharp reaction.

Moyong Gun could understand his reaction.

‘There is no way to prove it right now. However, is my guarantee, the sworn brother of the Black Emperor, not enough?’

In fact, the title of White Martial God alone was enough proof. But Moyong Gun deliberately brought up the Black Emperor. He knew how great Yeon Ho-Jeong’s influence was in the current Murim.

Saaah!

The military discipline of the swordsmen was slightly disrupted.

Mount Hua was known for its strong pride and fiery temperament. Moreover, they were the ones who had not been deeply involved in the Murim Alliance’s affairs after receiving a report that the head of the Deung Cheon-Gyo [a martial arts sect] had been sacrificed by a spy.

However, it was well known even in Gansu how much effort the Black and White Emperor Yeon Ho-Jeong had put into wandering the world.

Rather, Yeon Ho-Jeong was a benefactor to them. He was the one who testified that Deung Cheon-Gyo was not a spy but was used by a spy.

Of course, it was Jeagal Mun-Ho who led the information at the time, but now everyone knew that it was Yeon Ho-Jeong who had properly investigated the matter.

However, there was an incident where he had crushed a disciple of Deung Cheon-Gyo for causing trouble, but that was inevitable to catch the spy. Mount Hua also had that much flexibility.

As a result, Mount Hua also had no choice but to yield to the name of the Black and White Emperor Yeon Ho-Jeong.

The Sword Elder, who had been staring at Cheon Hyo-Rak and Hwa-Hyang alternately, sighed and raised his hand.

Then the Taoists sheathed their swords in unison. Just by looking at that, one could tell how well-trained they were.

Moyong Gun admired quietly.

‘It is said that you can tell the level of a swordsman just by drawing and sheathing their swords. They say they inherited the fierce spirit of the rugged Mount Hua, but I never knew they possessed such delicate sword skills.’

The situation was urgent, but no one would feel bad when the Divine Lord of Seongcheon sincerely admired them.

The Sword Elder spoke in a deliberately gruff tone.

‘Since you are the sworn brother of the Black Emperor and one of the people of Seongcheon, I will believe that it is not a lie.’

‘It is absolutely not a lie. And we understand you. The Central Plains Murim has suffered several times from spies, and the situation is not good, so it is a natural reaction.’

‘I am grateful that you say so.’

Moyong Gun was a person with much richer language than he thought. With just a few words, the momentum of the Sword Elder and the Taoists calmed down a lot.

‘Let’s make one thing clear. It is a painful thing for them, but currently, these two are the only ones among the demons under the Demon Immortal who can be called allies. Furthermore, the sister of this young master Cheon Hyo-Rak has been kidnapped by the Blood Madness. If any other demon group claims to be allies, you must check them more thoroughly than we do.’

The Sword Elder nodded.

‘I will keep the Divine Lord’s worried words in my heart.’

‘By the way, it seems like we will be short-handed with five thousand troops. Shouldn’t we help?’

‘If the Divine Lord helps, it will be like having a thousand troops and ten thousand horses. But there is another side that is not in good shape.’

‘Hmm?’

‘Cavalry forces, presumed to be enemy forces, are also descending from Shaanxi.’

‘Cavalry?!’

‘Yes.’

Mount Hua, Mount Zhongnan, and Mount Hua had more detailed information because they were their front yards.

‘The number of cavalry descending from Shaanxi is ten thousand. They are all advancing with demon armor and black spears, and their spear techniques are simple but as fast as lightning.’

Moyong Gun’s face hardened at that moment.

‘Did you say black spears and simple but fast spear techniques?’

‘That’s right.’

What he thought of was So Hyun-Rip. Anyone could wield a black spear, but the fact that it was simple and fast spear techniques was suspicious.

Moreover, it had not been long since he had fought So Hyun-Rip.

Was this incident just a coincidence?

Moyong Gun asked calmly.

‘Will Mount Hua be okay on its own?’

‘Mount Hua is not the only one in Gansu. Although the number is smaller than in the central part of the Central Plains, the martial arts of the sects that have developed to survive in the barren land of Gansu are superior to those in the central part.’

It was a statement full of pride. And that statement was also true.

‘Moreover, although we have not received any contact yet, the Murim of Sichuan will not stand idly by. Qingcheng, Emei, and Tang Family will send troops. They have already sent people.’

‘Then that’s a relief.’

Moyong Gun turned to Cheon Hyo-Rak and Hwa-Hyang.

He could understand their intentions without speaking. Cheon Hyo-Rak spoke calmly.

‘It is said that it is always actual combat that makes a martial artist stronger.’

He was the one who had broken through the Ten Stages of the Central King Demon Art and gained powerful martial arts. It was his ambition to completely make this martial art his own through actual combat.

Hwa-Hyang didn’t need to say anything. She was someone who would follow her master to the ends of hell.

Moyong Gun clasped his hands to the Sword Elder.

‘We will go to stop the cavalry in Shaanxi. I wish you good fortune.’

The Sword Elder clasped his hands respectfully.

‘I wish the Divine Lord good fortune in the future.’

The five hundred swordsmen clasped their hands on horseback.

There were no words, but their spirit alone was enough of a greeting.

Thus, Mount Hua headed north beyond Lanzhou, and Moyong Gun’s group turned towards Shaanxi.

The wind blowing in the Central Plains was beginning to become increasingly fierce.

* * *

‘Fourth Grand Uncle!’

‘Don’t worry.’

The Sword Saint, who had put on his clothes and neatly trimmed his beard, was no less youthful than any young man, despite being over a hundred years old.

‘This body has lived for a hundred years without dying. I thought the Heavenly Lord didn’t take this old man because the sins I committed were too great, but it seems I was left for this moment.’

‘Sins, sins! That’s not true at all.’

The middle-ranking members of Mount Hua did not know the Sword Saint’s past. Even if they did, they could not stop the participation of the former Great Elder and the greatest elder of the Murim.

Yong Geon-Jin, an elder of Mount Hua, said.

‘Fourth Grand Uncle’s martial arts are the best in Mount Hua. However, you have retired from the front lines, so please leave this matter to us.’

In fact, even when the Sword Saint was in charge of the Great Elder position, his martial arts were evaluated as stronger than the sect leader.

Although he had not reached the Supreme Realm and was old, there might be physical problems, but his enlightenment and internal energy were still the best in Mount Hua. No, if you only consider the amount of internal energy, it would be comparable to Seongcheon.

‘Don’t worry. I won’t be with you.’

‘Yes?!’

‘There is a two-generation difference in age. No matter how good my martial arts are, if I participate with you, wouldn’t you be unable to do your job because of me? Don’t aim your well-honed plum blossom swords in the wrong place because you are worried about me, and stop the foreign forces without any worries.’

‘Fourth, Fourth Grand Uncle!’

At that time, an old Taoist appeared.

‘Don’t think useless thoughts, and do what you have to do.’

The Yong-generation Taoists bowed their heads to the old Taoist.

‘We greet Grand Master Uncle.’

‘You guys, you have the spirit to greet and are very relaxed. Civilians in Shaanxi could be massacred. Don’t worry about us and move immediately!’

‘Y-Yes, sir!’

The old Taoist who chased away the Yong-generation, Mok Yang-Jin, grumbled to the Sword Saint.

‘Master, do you really have to go?’

Mok Yang-Jin was the Sword Saint’s disciple and another elder of Mount Hua who had served as the former Great Elder. The master and disciple had both served as Great Elders.

The Sword Saint chuckled.

‘You brat, if an old man who is old and waiting for the day he dies doesn’t move at a time like this, what good is it to be cooped up in the back room and eat gruel?’

‘Ah, it’s really frustrating. How can you make your disciples so tired even though you’re so old?’

‘You, how can a guy who is almost eighty years old still have such a frivolous way of speaking?’

‘I’m only like this in front of Master. I also have to walk around with my chest out as a great elder of the sect. Do you know how uncomfortable that is? My back pain is no joke.’

‘I know. I’m the same.’

The two masters and disciples looked at each other and smiled.

‘Mok-Young.’

‘Yes, Master.’

‘Shouldn’t you and your fellow disciples protect Mount Hua?’

‘You taught me, Master. What we have to protect is the spirit, not buildings or martial arts manuals.’

Swoosh.

In the distance, old Taoists were appearing one by one.

They were all of the Mok-generation, former figures of Mount Hua and the Sword Saint’s fellow disciples.

‘The young ones are running around so enthusiastically, so the old ones should also lend a hand.’

‘You can’t say anything in front of your master, you brat.’

‘Instead, let’s go by ourselves without worrying about those guys. If we find everyone except those who died of old age, those who died by the sword, and those who disappeared while training, there are six of us including me.’

‘Okay, if that’s what you want, let’s have one last sword dance in our old age.’

‘See? Who do you think I take after? You’re over a hundred years old, and your way of speaking is like that.’

‘Shut up, you brat.’

Thus, the seven old swordsmen of Mount Hua descended the mountain.