Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1156

The black energy swirling from the tip of Gang Ryang’s sword engulfed the enemies.

Clang! Clang!

Over a dozen masked experts flinched and stepped back.

‘Oh ho.’

In that brief moment, Gang Ryang’s eyes scanned the experts’ hands.

They were wearing iron half-gloves that covered their palms and the backs of their hands. He didn’t know what kind of iron they were made of, but they had blocked the strike of the Demonic Sword of Returning Flowers without a single scratch.

‘Impressive.’

Swish! Swish!

After pushing back the enemies with a powerful blow, he unleashed a swift and precise flurry of sword strikes.

Cling! Cling! Boom!

Behind the sword wind that dissipated upon impact with the iron gloves, an invisible sword energy, sharp and concealed, pierced the shoulder of one of the masked figures.

Pshhh.

From the pierced shoulder, blood and reddish smoke billowed out.

It was a bizarre sight. It was natural for blood to flow from a wound, but the reason for the red smoke was unknown.

‘Stay calm.’

Gang Ryang maintained a reasonable distance.

He had fought countless battles alongside Yeon Ho-Jeong and was a veteran of many wars. He knew better than anyone when to press an advantage against a weaker opponent and when to fight cautiously.

Moreover, there were a hundred of them. This was a situation where he absolutely could not let his guard down.

Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!

From the left and right of the masked figures surrounding Gang Ryang, crimson palm energies exploded.

In an instant, a strong stench of blood filled the air. It was the Blood Drinking Palm of the Blood Sound Cult [a martial arts sect known for its demonic techniques]. It was a terrifying demonic art that, if a strong internal energy shield was breached, would cause the blood of the directly hit area to evaporate.

Whoosh!

The Ghost King Energy spread throughout his body.

Pow! Pow! Pow!

The Blood Drinking Palm energies were all shattered and scattered by the sword techniques that lightly cut through them vertically and horizontally.

The eyes of the masked figures, the Great Lustful Ghost, the leader of the Hundred Lustful Ghosts, changed.

On the surface, Gang Ryang’s swordsmanship didn’t seem that impressive. It even looked clumsy. The way he swung his sword without any effort, as if he was just casually waving it around, was similar to that of a beginner who had just started learning swordsmanship at some local martial arts school.

That was why it was even more terrifying. Because the Blood Drinking Palm energy, the pinnacle martial art of the Evil Sound Sect, was being easily shattered by his seemingly clumsy swordplay.

It meant that his internal energy, explosive power, and forms were all in perfect balance. Yet, the fact that it looked clumsy meant that their own perception was lacking.

However, the Great Lustful Ghost couldn’t focus solely on Gang Ryang. No, in fact, the expert charging in from the other side was even more concerning than Gang Ryang.

Boom! Crash!

Even though it was an open plain, it was impossible to see when, where, or how he was moving.

If it was simply speed, they could predict and prepare for it. But this strange person wasn’t moving that fast.

Yet, he would disappear from sight in an instant and appear in an unimaginable place, smashing the heads of their allies.

Thud! Boom!

While Gang Ryang was neutralizing the attacks of the Hundred Lustful Ghosts with wide-ranging sword strikes, Heo Baek was stealthily and sharply killing them one by one with ghost-like movements.

Furthermore, Heo Baek showed no signs of agitation.

No matter what martial art the opponent used or what tactics they employed, he didn’t panic in the slightest. It wasn’t just that he wasn’t afraid; it was as if he knew exactly how to respond.

Swoosh! Boom! Cling! Bang!

After dodging an attack, he would burst the enemy’s internal organs with the Internal Strength Technique, avoid direct palm strikes by a hair’s breadth, and shatter the enemy’s formation by unleashing invisible explosive energy.

He was doing such incredible things with such ease that it was almost excessive. Gang Ryang was impressive, but Heo Baek’s movements were like a phantom. It was as if the bodies of the Hundred Lustful Ghosts were being sucked into Heo Baek.

‘Indeed.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was watching the scene while riding his horse, nodded inwardly.

‘There’s no need to tell them how to break the Blood Sound Cult’s techniques.’

Gang Ryang was methodically blocking the enemy’s attacks, inducing impatience, while Heo Baek was stealthily infiltrating and taking their lives.

Already, the number of enemies killed by Heo Baek alone exceeded twenty. He had calmly killed over two-tenths of the enemy forces without even a change in his breathing.

‘This is enough.’

There would be no need for Jin Yang to step in.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze turned back to Ha Eun-Gyo.

The masked Ha Eun-Gyo seemed completely uninterested in the battle unfolding before her. She had clearly read Yeon Ho-Jeong’s intention, yet she remained motionless, staring south.

‘Senior.’

A blank face that exuded the dignity of the Black Emperor.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a sense of frustration inside.

‘What on earth happened?’

It was definitely Ha Eun-Gyo. There was no way it wasn’t her.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was one of those who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts. If a master’s senses, who was aiming for a realm beyond the pinnacle, couldn’t recognize the opponent’s physique and energy, then what could?

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly observing Ha Eun-Gyo, began to fully draw out his Divine King Energy.

Whoosh.

The invisible divine energy began to activate, clearing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s vision.

It wasn’t just about seeing farther or better.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes were seeing inside Ha Eun-Gyo. He could clearly see her heartbeat, breathing, and even how the internal energy was circulating within her body.

And at that moment.

Ping!

A small, strange sound burst from the air.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, which had been seeing even what the Divine King Energy couldn’t, darkened slightly.

He could no longer see inside Ha Eun-Gyo. He couldn’t hear anything, from her breathing to her heartbeat.

Whoooosh.

A strange sound echoed.

Using the vibrations in the air, she was disrupting the enemy’s senses. The ability to disrupt the senses of a master of the Limitless Art [a high-level martial art] without even waving a hand was genius.

And only then.

Ha Eun-Gyo’s head turned towards Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“…”

For a moment, the world seemed to darken and become silent.

Although Gang Ryang and Heo Baek were fighting brilliantly against the Hundred Lustful Ghosts, he couldn’t feel the explosions, the killing intent, or the madness.

In the darkness where the boundary between heaven and earth had disappeared, only Yeon Ho-Jeong and Ha Eun-Gyo were looking at each other.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Senior.”

It was an impossible distance to hear. He didn’t even mix internal energy into his words.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong believed that his voice would reach Ha Eun-Gyo. She was the best in the world at sound-based martial arts.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong could see it.

The clear light that had appeared in Ha Eun-Gyo’s eyes behind the mask.

They were somewhat bloodshot, but they were definitely Ha Eun-Gyo’s unique, kind, and mysterious eyes. They were beautiful eyes that could captivate anyone, regardless of gender, and for Yeon Ho-Jeong, they were reminiscent of his mother, whose memory was now hazy.

‘Senior.’

Ha Eun-Gyo was a special person to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

They had only talked to each other for about two days, but it was strangely comfortable to be around her.

At that time, he didn’t know what that feeling was, but now he did.

He was seeing an illusion of his mother in her.

Like Yeon Ji-Pyeong, Yeon Ho-Jeong had also grown up without receiving proper maternal affection. It was because she had passed away when he was young.

Still, Yeon Ho-Jeong vaguely remembered his mother’s face. It was a face that had faded over time, but if someone asked what kind of impression it left, he felt like he could clearly answer it. It was a face in his illusion.

It was probably the same for Ha Eun-Gyo. She had once abandoned her child, a truly fatal mistake, but she had never lived comfortably since then. And Ha Eun-Gyo, looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong, was reminded of the child whose face she didn’t even know.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had lost his mother, and Ha Eun-Gyo had abandoned her child. For these two people, even though they had only spoken for two days, they were in a relationship where they could have a comfortable connection beyond being senior and junior martial artists.

That was why Yeon Ho-Jeong understood Ha Eun-Gyo’s decision to go down that path, which was clearly a path to death.

If Yeon Ho-Jeong had wanted to, he could have persuaded her somehow. But he didn’t. To persuade her, he would have to discuss reality, and if he told her that reality, her heart would be torn to shreds.

What would be the point of that?

Even if she stayed here, she wouldn’t be truly alive. Even if he held her back for strategic reasons, would she even be able to fight properly against the enemy?

Whether publicly or privately, there was no reason to persuade Ha Eun-Gyo to stay here. Personally, it was regrettable, but for her, who was writhing in guilt for abandoning her child, there was only one path left.

Even if it was a path where she could suffer humiliation worse than death, she had no choice but to choose that path.

And now.

She had returned to the Central Plains wearing a terrifying mask, along with a hundred top experts.

“Captain!”

Boom!

The darkness disappeared, and reality revealed itself.

“What are you doing! I almost died!” Jin Yang, who had crushed one of the Hundred Lustful Ghosts with the Dragon Fury [a powerful weapon] in one hand and a greatsword in the other, was fuming.

“These bastards dare!”

It was then.

Whoosh.

The Dragon Fury in Jin Yang’s hand floated up on its own and was caught by Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, looking at Ha Eun-Gyo, drew out the Yellow Dragon Energy.

Flash! Rumble!

At the end of the Dragon Fury, which was swung diagonally, a golden whirlwind raged.

It was a single strike of the Dragon Fury that no one could stop. With that one strike, the bodies of over a dozen of the Hundred Lustful Ghosts were torn to shreds and sent flying.

“…!”

In an instant, the fight came to a lull.

Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t attacked the Hundred Lustful Ghosts. He had simply created a line between the Hundred Lustful Ghosts and Ha Eun-Gyo.

It was the Black Emperor’s warning not to cross this line.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, after returning the Dragon Fury to Jin Yang, spurred his horse towards Ha Eun-Gyo.

At that moment, the Great Lustful Ghost shouted.

“Halt!”

Whoosh!

The sixty or so surviving Hundred Lustful Ghosts moved behind the huge ravine, which was over ten yards long, that had been created by the diagonal strike.

Gang Ryang and Heo Baek’s eyes flashed.

‘Fast.’

Their movements were truly remarkable. It wasn’t because they were exerting more power in the face of death. Their internal energy and movements had actually changed.

The good thing was that they had only formed a defensive formation and weren’t attacking. Even though they were much farther away from Ha Eun-Gyo, they remained calm.

Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t care what they were doing.

Thud.

The Black Blood Demon, who had been advancing, stopped. He maintained a distance of five yards from Ha Eun-Gyo.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Ha Eun-Gyo, dismounted from his horse.

Gang Ryang and Jin Yang’s faces hardened with a strange sense of tension. On the other hand, Heo Baek and the hidden Hojongdae [a group of elite warriors] were watching the situation without the slightest tension.

Yeon Ho-Jeong walked towards Ha Eun-Gyo and stopped three yards away before opening his mouth.

“It’s been a while.”

“…”

“Have you been well?”

“…Ho-Jeong.”

A trembling voice escaped her lips.

At the same time, Ha Eun-Gyo’s left eye became slightly more bloodshot. It was a subtle change, but Yeon Ho-Jeong clearly recognized the difference.

“Yes. It’s your junior, Ho-Jeong.”

“Ho-Jeong… Ho-Jeong.”

Ha Eun-Gyo’s hand trembled faintly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled. He realized that she wasn’t normal, but he smiled at her without any ulterior motives.

“I’m glad you came back alive.”

“I, I…”

“Yes.”

“…I.”

“Please speak, Senior.”

Ha Eun-Gyo, who had been trembling as she spoke, tightly closed her mouth. Even though he couldn’t see it because of the mask, Yeon Ho-Jeong could tell.

And then, a brief silence followed.

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong witnessed Ha Eun-Gyo’s left eye turning almost completely red.

“You’re not my child.”

Ha Eun-Gyo’s trembling hand moved like lightning.

Clang! Clang!