Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1081

“Just past here, and it’ll be alright.”

Muk Bi nodded at Mo Ja-Seon’s words.

Though the ground was close to a quagmire, a master’s movement technique could easily traverse it.

However, because there were troops with them, they couldn’t rush recklessly. Although all the troops had learned martial arts, they were not as skilled as the descendants of prestigious martial clans, so it was inevitable that it would take some time.

Even so, the thousand troops they led were wearing specially crafted Imperial Palace light armor. The light and high-quality armor was at a level that was difficult to match even with the martial world’s iron-making techniques.

Muk Bi looked back.

Many of the soldiers were breathing heavily. Even amidst that, their efforts to maintain a steady breath were impressive.

‘They are certainly outstanding.’

Compared to the Martial Alliance’s elite, their skills were inevitably inferior, but the Imperial Palace’s Imperial Shadow Warriors were a unit skilled in ambushes and special operations.

In particular, they were adept at handling small cannons and various weapons invented in the Imperial Palace, and they had also learned high-level stealth techniques, so they would be able to demonstrate excellent combat capabilities if they fought in the right environment.

‘Two more days. If the stationed enemy troops have been slowly advancing, we can reduce the distance to a day and a half.’

Fortunately, the Black Imperial Star’s informants were also keeping a close watch in this Liaoning Province.

At least they wouldn’t be backstabbed by the enemy.

‘But I must never let my guard down.’

She had led the Myeolsa Army with Yeon Ho-Jeong and experienced all sorts of battles. In particular, her experiences from the early days of smashing the Black Path sects were of great help to her.

From a tactical point of view, the Black Path sects were more difficult to fight than the White Path sects. [Black Path and White Path are terms referring to unorthodox and orthodox martial arts sects, respectively.]

They had no pride to speak of. They would do anything to survive, and thanks to that, they were better than anyone at reconnaissance and information gathering.

There were more than ten times when the Myeolsa Army couldn’t use their unique mobile tactics because they were caught by the enemy. This was despite the fact that the outstanding Yeon Ho-Jeong was the commander.

Later, as experience accumulated, the number of failures drastically decreased, but at that time, Muk Bi realized how important reconnaissance, information, and intelligence were in battle.

‘Maybe they deliberately pretended to fail.’

Muk Bi thought of Yeon Ho-Jeong.

She knew that Yeon Ho-Jeong was a veteran warrior who had returned from countless wars in her past life. There was no way that a master who had gone through all sorts of hardships wouldn’t know about the Black Path sects’ reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities.

As a result, the Myeolsa Army annihilated the enemy with almost no casualties, so it was a credible assumption that Yeon Ho-Jeong had deliberately allowed the enemy to succeed.

After that experience, the Myeolsa Army was reborn as the most practical unit in the Martial Alliance.

And in that unit, Muk Bi rose to the rank of vice-commander not through martial arts prowess, but through tactical and unit operation skills.

Later, she merged with the Tangma Army and became part of the five hundred-strong Righteous Army, where she developed tactical insights comparable to Moyong Gun, and she earned the full trust of Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘I wonder how much ability the Ice Palace Lord will show.’

Looking at Mo Ja-Seon’s back, Muk Bi recalled her conversation with Yeon Ho-Jeong before leaving the Imperial Palace.

‘As you’ve seen on the way, her hatred for the opposing factions is extraordinary. Especially the Ice Palace Lord, she has reached the level of the Supreme. Apart from her confidence, she has mental instability. You need to keep a close watch on that.’

‘Still, she has the judgment to bring her troops all the way to the Central Plains despite the attacks of the Blood Demon and the Evil Sound. She won’t act recklessly.’

‘That’s right. But there’s no possibility of her acting impulsively. You and Ryang need to control her well.’

‘I understand.’

‘No one can predict where the first battle of this invasion will take place. But at least it won’t be on your side. They will also wait thoroughly and then push in when the time comes.’

‘So it’s a battle of patience.’

‘Exactly. What the Ice Palace Lord lacks is that patience. I’ve calmed her down well, but as time goes on, her hands will start to itch.’

‘Then wouldn’t it be better to send someone else? Sending someone so unstable as the person in charge is not a good choice at all.’

‘There’s no one else. And I can’t send Master Gi. And the Ice Palace Lord also knows her limits. I’m just talking about the worst-case scenario. The Ice Palace Lord will do well.’

‘I hope so, but…’

‘You’ve become close on the way to the Imperial Palace, right? Try to comfort her. I’ve also told the Ice Palace Lord about you two, so there shouldn’t be any conflicts.’

Muk Bi recalled Yeon Ho-Jeong’s serious face.

When it came to matters related to the Three Teachings, Yeon Ho-Jeong was always serious. But this time, the direction was different.

She didn’t see them as enemies to be driven out, but as enemies to be defeated. She was not engaging in a battle, but in a war.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had roamed the Central Plains for a long time, driving out enemies and strengthening the bonds of her allies.

The moment had come to see the fruits of her labor.

‘Don’t worry. I will definitely annihilate the enemy.’

It was when she was deep in thought.

“I’ve heard a lot about Commander Muk.”

Muk Bi’s face showed surprise at Mo Ja-Seon’s words.

“Yes?”

“Lord Yeon spoke a lot about you.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“He said that you are one of the most outstanding people he knows. He said that you are skilled in strategy and tactics and that you are an expert in calculating the strength of enemy and friendly forces, so he urged me to listen to your words.”

Muk Bi’s face flushed slightly.

“I still have many shortcomings.”

“We haven’t known each other for long, but Lord Yeon is not the kind of person who makes up stories. I know why he sent you and Commander Gang with me.”

Mo Ja-Seon glanced at the two of them.

“I have no intention of disrupting this battle with my impulsive actions.”

“……!”

“I came here as a decisive weapon for this battle, not to use my head. It’s okay to retreat without fighting the enemy, so don’t worry and do what you think is right.”

Muk Bi and Gang Ryang’s eyes sparkled.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words that she had spoken clearly were true. Their lord never spoke nonsense at any moment.

“Thank you.”

Mo Ja-Seon ran forward again without a word.

Gang Ryang smiled and looked at Muk Bi.

“I feel energized.”

“Me too.”

Muk Bi looked up at the sky.

“This battle, I have a good feeling about it.”

* * *

Mok Won, who had run to the end of the gorge in one breath, took a stance on the cliff.

The target was the few rocks and the ground at the edge of the cliff.

Naturally, Mok Won’s movement technique was much faster than the enemy’s supply troops. He suppressed his presence and read the momentum of the five hundred supply troops.

‘Seventy yards.’

Quiet true energy was contained in the hand that gently held the shaft of the White Lightning Spear.

‘Fifty yards.’

It was definitely a fast speed.

In terms of speed alone, they were almost at the level of a peak master who was about to reach the Unrivaled Realm. There were as many as five hundred of them.

Mok Won was once again impressed by the power of the Three Teachings.

‘Each one is capable of a head-on confrontation with the Central Plains, they said.’

Frankly, Mok Won couldn’t believe those words.

Of course, he didn’t completely believe it even now. If they actually had a head-on confrontation, they could inflict some serious damage, but there was no way the Central Plains troops would lose.

The problem was that there were three such threatening organizations.

Moreover, they were not moving sporadically, but were allied and pushing in. It was clear that the Central Plains was facing an unprecedented crisis.

‘Anyway, their potential is terrifying. If all the supply units that have been split up have such movement techniques, it means that they have been receiving professional training for a very long time.’

How many troops do each of the Three Teachings have?

Fifty thousand? A hundred thousand?

‘……!’

Mok Won’s eyes flashed for a moment. He realized that the guys who were presumed to be supply troops had entered within twenty yards.

“Hah.”

A short, strong breath.

And.

Kwaaaang!

The ground that had been protruding was shattered by the White Lightning Spear strike that was shot out in a vortex, and about six large and small rocks that were on it fell down.

“Stop!”

“Halt!”

He could feel the enemies hesitating with urgent shouts.

Mok Won unfolded his White Steel Armor.

Whoosh!

He didn’t fly up and plunge down.

As if his two feet were firmly attached to the ground, Mok Won, who had descended vertically along the shattered ground, extended his White Lightning Spear towards the enemies who were panicking at the front.

Fuh-uh-uhng!

As the pure white lightning was shot out, about six enemy soldiers died, spitting blood without even screaming.

“Enemy!”

“W-what is this!”

In front of the panicking enemy soldiers.

Mok Won, who had unleashed all the power of the Heavenly Martial Divine Weapon, began his attack in earnest.

Fuh-uh-uhng! Fuh-buh-buh-buk! Fuh-uhng!

Mok Won’s spear technique radius was enormous.

Even though the gorge was narrow, it was more than three yards wide from side to side.

He was guarding that place alone and advancing, and no one was able to get past Mok Won’s back. When a white flash exploded from his hand, at least three or four people would fall while spraying blood, and the speed of his spear technique was as fast as lightning.

In an instant, about fifty supply soldiers lost their lives.

‘They were nothing special after all.’

Their movement techniques were fast, but they didn’t have the aura of a martial artist or the presence of someone who had learned sorcery. In other words, they were people who were skilled in supply, reconnaissance, or intelligence.

In addition, he had disrupted the enemy’s nerves by collapsing one end of the gorge cliff, and decisively, it was Mok Won, the White Lightning Divine General of Seongcheon, who was attacking them.

Mok Won was pouring out his spear techniques, blocking the enemy’s advance like a spider web.

Even though he was advancing alone, it felt like ten thousand troops were pressing down. In fact, the panicked supply troops were flustered by Mok Won’s overwhelming momentum and martial arts, and they couldn’t do anything.

“He’s a monster!”

“Retreat! Retreat!”

“Get out of the gorge!”

It was a natural judgment. The supply troops, unable to withstand Mok Won’s attack, began to retreat hastily.

It was then.

Fuh-uh-uh-uhng!!

With a tremendous explosion, about three or four supply soldiers at the rear flew into the sky.

There was a demonic being who was sweeping the surroundings with demonic energy. Perhaps he had not yet mastered his power, he was pressuring the supply troops by unleashing a force like a cannonball.

Mok Won’s lips curled up.

‘Hey, save some energy. You’ll get tired before the annihilation.’

Fortunately, Hwa Hyang, an excellent warrior, was by Cheon Hyo-Rak’s side.

There was no waste in her swordsmanship, which cut down enemies with fiery slashes. Hwa Hyang’s swordsmanship, which produced the maximum effect with the minimum amount of power, was a combat technique that even a master should learn.

The Central King Demonic Energy soon subsided. But the supply troops still couldn’t break through the rear. The power of the palm technique had weakened, but the speed had increased, and their bodies were being smashed indiscriminately.

In the end, the supply troops had no choice but to climb up the left and right cliffs. It was because they would lose their lives no matter where they went, front or back.

The cliffs were quite high, but their excellent movement techniques allowed them to escape from the battlefield.

Of course, the three of them were not just watching.

Mok Won’s White Lightning Spear stretched like taffy, and Cheon Hyo-Rak’s palm force scattered in all directions.

Thanks to the martial arts of the two masters who were splitting the cliffs and Hwa Hyang who was leading the chaos by breaking through the center, the number of supply troops was reduced to less than two hundred in an instant.

Just three people.

Even though their combat abilities were inferior, the supply troops with excellent movement techniques were trapped in the gorge and could not escape anywhere.

In the end, they also drew their swords and fought back, but that was rather welcome to the three of them. If they had tried to escape to the end, they would have missed about a dozen of them, but if they fought back, there was no way they would miss them.

After two quarters of an hour.

The gorge was a sea of blood.