Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1080

The two units led by Tang Gwan swiftly crossed Sichuan and reached Gansu.

As expected of the Tang Clan’s experts, the Green Wind and Green Water units’ movement techniques were truly outstanding. Though they couldn’t compare to Tang Gwan, they covered vast distances without losing their breath, quickly traversing the rugged mountains of Sichuan and arriving in Lanzhou in just a few days.

They minimized sleep and moved with lightning speed.

Each carrying combat rations and large water skins developed by the Tang Clan, they were able to push up to the northern part of Lanzhou in Gansu.

“I am here to see the head of the Tang Clan. I am Donggun.”

Tang Gwan greeted him with a fist and palm salute [a traditional Chinese greeting].

“I greet Elder Donggun.”

Donggun was one of the elders of the Gungdong Sect, skilled in defensive swordsmanship despite having learned the fierce Gungdong swordsmanship.

Donggun spoke with a moved expression.

“You have indeed come.”

“Of course, I had to come. I can’t only care about my region when the entire Central Plains is in danger.”

“Hahaha.”

He was grateful that they had arrived so quickly, but as Donggun stood before Tang Gwan, he felt himself shrinking.

‘Amazing!’

There was no fiery aura. Rather, he seemed like a martial artist with less skill than even the average Gungdong disciple.

However, Donggun’s senses could feel Tang Gwan’s sharp, almost murderous presence.

“Though late, I congratulate you. I heard from afar that the Clan Head has reached the Supreme Realm.”

“Thank you, but it doesn’t seem like a time for congratulations.”

“Of course.”

Donggun looked around and said.

“Here, we have fifty Gungdong disciples, including myself, and three Gansu sects stationed.”

“The rear guard.”

“That’s right. Also, if the enemies bypass and charge, this is the last place to stop them.”

“How many lines of defense have you built in total?”

“Four. We are the last, and three lines will face the enemy.”

Tang Gwan was quite surprised by the Gungdong Sect’s response.

He had heard that they were a group of Taoists, but they had to become strong to survive in the arid environment of Gansu. However, he didn’t know they were so skilled in tactics.

“Then we will go straight to the front line.”

“May fortune be with you.”

Tang Gwan led his troops north again.

They saw one line of defense spread horizontally every other day. The Green Wind and Green Water units were also very tired, but they were able to maintain their strength with an hour of rest and delicious meals supplied around the front lines.

Finally, Tang Gwan was able to meet the first line, which was slowly advancing in the southern part of Jinchang.

“The Tang Clan?”

“It’s the Tang Clan! The Tang Clan of Sichuan has arrived!”

“Woooaaah!”

The warriors of the first line, who were about to face the enemy for the first time, were filled with unimaginable tension as they advanced.

How happy they were that the Tang Clan, known for their control of poison and hidden weapons, had arrived.

Nearly a thousand warriors shouted. The shouts quickly subsided due to the leaders’ restraint, but morale soared over time.

Cho Geomja greeted him with courtesy.

“I greet the Tang Clan Head. I am Cho Geomja of Gungdong.”

“I greet Elder Cho Geomja.”

“Thank you so much. You came much faster than expected.”

Not only the members of the Green Wind and Green Water units, but even Tang Gwan himself had torn and disheveled clothes. It meant they had rushed here without rest.

Cho Geomja was surprised by the Tang Clan’s quick response. The Tang Clan of Sichuan was known to be arrogant and closed off, and he thought they would only protect Sichuan until the end.

If anyone were to come, he thought it would be Qingcheng or Emei, not the Tang Clan. So, his emotion was doubled. Moreover, the Clan Head himself had led the troops.

Tang Gwan asked.

“What is the situation?”

Cho Geomja looked at the advance route and said.

“The scouts have gone out, but they haven’t returned even though it’s time. The last contact was two hours ago, saying that the enemies had reached near Zhangye.”

“It’s right in front of us.”

“That’s right. It’s right in front of us.”

“But the fact that the scouts haven’t returned means something has gone wrong, doesn’t it?”

Cho Geomja’s face darkened.

“We are slowly advancing for now. Of course, we don’t intend to fight without the scouts’ information, but…”

“I will go and see.”

“Are you sure? I heard that the Tang Clan Head reached the Supreme Realm not long ago, but you are not familiar with this terrain…”

“If we just keep the troops stationed, morale will drop. We need to know exactly what the situation is so that we don’t get tired of waiting.”

Cho Geomja sighed.

“We advanced to fight in a more advantageous terrain. But if the enemies don’t move near Zhangye, we can’t charge in either.”

“I heard that there are sharp mountains lined up there.”

“Basically, the terrain itself is not good. It’s called the Seven Color Mountains. It looks magnificent and beautiful, but it’s made of sandstone, making it difficult to use as a battlefield.”

“Then we should go even more.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes flashed.

“It is our Tang Clan’s hidden weapons and poison that shine in a place difficult to use as a battlefield.”

In the end, Cho Geomja nodded.

“Rest a little before you go. There might be a battle.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Tang Gwan was fine, but the Green Wind and Green Water units needed a little more rest. Even for experts, running to their limits every day would greatly damage their inner energy and stamina.

Half an hour passed.

The scouts still hadn’t returned.

“I will depart.”

“You came all the way to Gansu, and I feel ashamed to ask you to take on the scouting mission.”

“It’s everyone’s war. There’s no need to say that.”

Tang Gwan looked around the first line of troops for a moment and continued.

“It’s unlikely, but the enemies might use some trick to reach here before we return. Or we can’t rule out the possibility that they might ignore this force and move south.”

“The second line is preparing to the south. You’ll know when you pass by.”

“I mean, they might find a path that doesn’t clash with the Gansu forces. If you see any sign of that, don’t wait for us and chase them right away.”

“Understood.”

Tang Gwan shouted to the Green Wind and Green Water units.

“Prepare.”

“Yes!”

The Green Wind and Green Water units each put on their leather gloves.

Both units were skilled in both poison and hidden weapons, but the Green Wind unit was more skilled in hidden weapons, and the Green Water unit was more skilled in poison.

They were considered one step below the Tang Clan’s elite Black Wind unit, but the Green Trio, including the Green-Clad Unit, were the best in fast movement and ambushes.

Since Gansu had its own forces, he brought them as an ambush unit that could be operated separately to avoid causing unnecessary disruptions in the operation of those forces. Tang Gwan had such meticulous aspects.

“Let’s go.”

Thus, Tang Gwan and the Green Trio set off.

The Tang Clan’s top expert was rushing towards the demons, presumed to be the forces sent from Gwanghyeol.

* * *

Mok Won, Cheon Hyo-Rak, and Hwa Hyang crossed the eastern part of Gansu in one go and reached Shaanxi.

Because Cheon Hyo-Rak had gained martial arts, the three’s movement speed was truly remarkable. If Mok Won hadn’t delayed to heal his internal and external injuries, the three would have entered Sichuan before even encountering the Gungdong forces.

“It’s strange.”

Mok Won looked at Cheon Hyo-Rak.

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s eyes deepened.

“The air is different.”

The air is different.

The senses of a genius who had endured for a long time shone at this moment.

“That’s what you call a sixth sense. Young Master Cheon’s senses are as good as any expert. That sense has read the war clouds hanging over the entire Shaanxi.”

“Whether it’s a sixth sense or not, this air is not normal. It’s ominous.”

“Battles are always like that.”

Mok Won closed his eyes.

Woo woo woo!

Operating the Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon, he began to read the flow of the air by extremely enhancing his five senses.

‘Where is it?’

They still didn’t have any information. They didn’t know where the enemy was coming from, or where Mount Hua and Jongnam were moving.

‘This is near Little Mount Hua. If Mount Hua and Jongnam moved a little later, we might find the enemy first.’

The three had no clear affiliation. If they had to have one, it would be the Black Emperor’s Castle since Mok Won was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sworn brother, but considering that Cheon Hyo-Rak, who had nowhere to go, had asked the Martial Alliance for help, they could also move under the Martial Alliance.

‘Either way, we need clear information about the enemy. We shouldn’t just try to fight the enemy blindly. The overall strategy could be disrupted.’

War is like a giant chessboard. If you are relieved after taking one piece, you might lose your own house.

‘Without causing confusion among our allies, we can inflict damage on the enemy… Huh?’

Mok Won’s eyes flashed open.

‘What is it? It’s quite stealthy?’

He spread his true energy in all directions to read the movements far from Little Mount Hua.

But he realized that a group was moving closer than that.

Is it the enemy? Is it an ally?

Is it a coincidence? Is it inevitable?

Mok Won was about to open his mouth.

“Someone is moving from the east.”

“…?!”

“There seem to be quite a few… I’m not sure.”

Mok Won, as well as Hwa Hyang, looked at Cheon Hyo-Rak in surprise.

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s eyes were slightly dazed. He was drawing up the Central King Demon Art, but he wasn’t spreading his demonic energy. It was because he had thoroughly contained his energy.

“They are quickly climbing over the mountains, and no matter how I look at it, they are not ordinary people who have not learned martial arts. Even if they have learned martial arts, they seem to be moving at a fast speed.”

“You can read that?”

“Yes?”

“Heh… Young Master Cheon’s senses are truly innate.”

Cheon Hyo-Rak looked at Hwa Hyang with puzzled eyes. Hwa Hyang was shaking her head.

Mok Won grinned.

“Let’s go and secretly check out who they are. They don’t seem to be cavalry.”

Whoosh!

The three dashed into the mountains in one go.

If you feel the flow of air and activate your senses in a high place, you can see much more than in a low place.

Moving while reducing their presence, the three realized that they had already passed the path where the group was going.

“It’s behind us. They seem to be moving south.”

They moved again, climbing over the mountains.

How much time had passed?

Over five hundred martial artists were captured in the eyes of the three who had climbed up a small canyon.

They were not wearing Central Plains attire. They were wearing thick leather clothes, and each of them was carrying a huge bundle on their back.

‘It’s not a bundle. That’s… fodder?’

It was fodder that horses could eat.

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s eyes flashed.

“Supplies…”

Mok Won tilted his head.

“Enemy supplies? Even so, isn’t it too little?”

“Yes. Even if it’s a modified northern cavalry, it’s a small amount. That means…”

Cheon Hyo-Rak’s eyes sparkled.

“Those guys are splitting up the supply units and sending them out like scouts.”

It was an absurd idea.

But Mok Won felt a strong conviction in Cheon Hyo-Rak’s words.

“Whatever it is, they are the enemy, right?”

“I think so. From their attire to their aura, they don’t look like Central Plains martial artists.”

Mok Won straightened his White Lightning Spear.

“Charge from the rear. I’ll hold them down from the front.”

Whoosh!

Before an answer could come, Mok Won rushed towards the front of the supply unit. Cheon Hyo-Rak and Hwa Hyang hurriedly ran to the rear.

The beginning of the first battle that the entire Central Plains was watching was right here, in Little Mount Hua, Shaanxi.