Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1192

“Hoo.”

Yayul Daeguk took a deep breath, inhaling the clean air, and then exhaled.

His head felt cool. At the same time, a moderately cool energy filled his limbs, and a smile naturally formed on his face.

And that smile quickly turned into bitterness.

‘I have no choice but to admit it.’

The world is vast.

Among them, there are wastelands where even a single blade of grass struggles to grow, deserts filled only with sand. There are also icy lands where blizzards rage all year round, and amazing lands like this, with mountains and fields spread out.

They are all so different, but the sun shines everywhere. Air is everywhere too.

So, he thought they were all the same. In fact, he had breathed the air of the continent several times, and by the time he was about to return, he thought that life was the same everywhere.

He was wrong.

Yayul Daeguk now admitted it. The air of the continent was different from the air of Yeong-eum Mountain. [Yeong-eum Mountain is likely a reference to a specific location or region in the story’s world.]

It was more vibrant and contained a richer energy. The weather was warmer, and there were no shaded areas anywhere he looked.

‘Even if there’s no need to enlighten the non-believers, this is truly a desirable land.’

Yayul Daeguk thought of his god.

He had said that he had visited the Central Plains once in the past. Even if he hadn’t, he would know how fascinating this land was.

‘Please wait a little longer. Soon, this Yayul Daeguk will build the greatest temple on the continent for you.’

Looking down at the endless mountains and fields from the top of the mountain, it was so magnificent. He would build a temple that was at least as impressive as this feeling.

It was when the somewhat dark world had completely brightened that a man appeared behind Yayul Daeguk, who was smiling contentedly.

“Priest.”

“You’ve arrived.”

The man knelt and said,

“Ten Shadow Demon Priests, including myself, the chief priest, have arrived.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Let’s rest for a bit before we depart. We still have plenty of time.”

“Understood. However, I have many reports, so may I deliver them first?”

“Of course.”

“We have lost contact with the commander of the Shadow Demon Squad.”

Yayul Daeguk’s smile disappeared.

“From Sau?”

“Yes.”

“Where was the last contact?”

“It was in Shanxi Province on the continent. It’s about a day’s journey from here using my movement technique.”

Yayul Daeguk frowned.

‘That damned bastard.’

From the start, he had not liked Sau.

He knew. Although Sau seemed to be absolutely obedient to the god, he would eventually bare his claws at the god.

He hated Sau even more because he didn’t know when that time would come. Sau was a guy who couldn’t be predicted at all. If he could see through him, he could feel at ease, but he was a guy who wouldn’t let that happen.

If the god hadn’t told him to watch him, he would have gathered all the priests and killed him right away.

‘But until he reveals his true colors, he will live as a loyal believer. He has never refused any of the orders I have given him and has completed them all.’

He didn’t want to admit it, but he couldn’t deny that the guy’s abilities were great.

It wasn’t because he was skilled in martial arts. Rather, in terms of martial arts, Yayul Daeguk was confident that he could subdue Sau within fifty moves.

However, he knew well that it was difficult to beat him in worn-out battles and operations that required creativity and agility. At least, he didn’t think that Sau, who was the best in the military’s operational capabilities, would have failed this mission.

‘Has he finally revealed his teeth?’

After thinking for a while, Yayul Daeguk shook his head without realizing it.

‘That can’t be. That guy is a hunter. He is daringly aiming at the god as his prey, but if he was really trying to commit treason, he would have succeeded in the mission and entered the main camp.’

No matter how he thought about it, he didn’t think that Sau had deliberately ruined the mission.

Yayul Daeguk spoke quickly.

“Send two priests to find out what happened in detail.”

“Yes.”

“What else?”

“There are two more things to report, and one of them is the location of the Blood Venerable.”

Yayul Daeguk’s eyes flashed.

“Did he move somewhere?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Where to?”

Horyeonhap’s face showed embarrassment.

“I don’t know exactly where he’s headed, but… the northern part of Hubei is within his path.”

“Northern Hubei….”

Yayul Daeguk frowned.

“Isn’t that near Mount Rongzhong, where the Wudang Sect and the Jeagal Family are located?”

“That’s correct.”

The actual strength of each region could only be known by fighting.

However, considering the symbolism, influence, and expected power, there were only two places that the attacking side had to be most cautious about.

One was Henan, where the Taishan Beidou Shaolin [Taishan Beidou Shaolin is likely a reference to a powerful Shaolin temple] was located, and the other was Hubei, where the Wudang, known as the Southern Venerable, and the Jeagal Family, known for their wisdom, were located.

Henan was not a target of attack in the first place because the Martial Alliance was also there, but Hubei was not easy either. Like Shaolin, the Wudang Sect also ruled over countless secular sects, and the Jeagal Family supported them, making the region itself like a fortress.

‘Why the hell?!’

He couldn’t understand.

The Blood Venerable knew better than anyone that his life was running out. He could have just sat still and waited for them, but he couldn’t understand why he was moving unnecessarily.

Especially to Hubei, one of the most dangerous areas in the Central Plains.

“Things are not going well.”

“What should we do?”

“What else can we do? Our mission is to deliver this item so that the Blood Venerable can survive.”

Of course, if the Blood Venerable died, they would have to find a replacement. Fortunately, the replacement was decided to be Tak Mu-Ja, the sword immortal and elder of Wudang, so there was no need to look for a new one.

Yayul Daeguk, who had been lost in thought for a moment, spoke quickly.

“Slowly descend south to southern Shanxi. By then, bring all the information about the Shadow Demon Squad and Sau. Once that information is confirmed, we will go find the Blood Venerable immediately.”

“Understood!”

“What is the last report?”

“That is….”

Horyeonhap’s voice was cautious.

“Unlike the previous reports, this is not certain information, so you should take it with a grain of salt.”

“Speak.”

“There is a report that Yucheon is moving.”

At that moment, Yayul Daeguk’s eyes blazed. Even Horyeonhap and the priests, who were often with him, were momentarily sweating from his terrifying gaze.

“Yucheon?”

“Yes.”

“How is that possible?”

“It’s not certain, but… it’s said that the atmosphere is completely different from what it has been until now. The fact that they have dispatched troops has been confirmed, but it is not clear whether their swords are pointed at the continent.”

“……!”

What if that sword was pointed at Yeong-eum Mountain instead of the continent?

‘That can’t be.’

Of course. Although the Gwanghyeol Church [Gwanghyeol Church is likely a reference to a specific religious group in the story’s world] was full of madmen, as their name suggested, they would not draw their swords against their allies before conquering the continent.

Then?

“Has something happened to the head of Yucheon?!”

That was also hard to believe.

The position of the head of the church was not an easy position that could be obtained simply by having a sacred bloodline. In particular, the Gwanghyeol Church, due to its nature, had to be able to overwhelm all demons, so it was said that only the strongest of the three sects could rise to that position.

Of course, Yayul Daeguk had no doubt that the current head of the church, who was also the god, would overwhelm him.

However, that did not mean that the martial arts of the head of the Gwanghyeol Church were weak. Except for the Lord of Yeong-eum Mountain, the strongest demon in the three sects would be the head of the Gwanghyeol Church.

At least, Yayul Daeguk believed so.

“This won’t do.”

Yayul Daeguk raised his inner energy.

“Order them to come find us as soon as they obtain information about Sau. We will find the Blood Venerable as quickly as possible from this moment on.”

* * *

“Hah!”

Ilrang, one of the genius swordsmen that the Gongdong Sect was proud of, quickly lowered his head.

“I greet Elder Ilrang.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing. It’s something I should be doing.”

Ilrang’s bright voice made Cho Geom-Ja feel depressed.

Ilrang was the youngest of the talents being considered for the next sect leader. Although he still had many shortcomings, he was already showing the appearance of a master with his terrifying talent and tremendous passion, and he was one of the best prides of Gongdong.

Such a guy was representing Gongdong at the end of the Gansu northern front, comforting the local sects and preparing for a possible enemy invasion.

He was admirable but also pitiful. He was too young to know about war.

In fact, when he lost many of his fellow disciples in the Gansu War, Ilrang cursed the sky and cried.

Fortunately, he recovered quickly thanks to his bright nature, but he could not be considered normal.

“But why did you come all the way here, Elder?”

It was quite far from the Gongdong Mountain to this place, the Qilian Mountains in Gansu. It was not a place where an elder like Cho Geom-Ja would come without any attendants.

“You fool, how can an old man like me sit back and play when a young disciple like you is guarding the front line in the cold wind?”

Cho Geom-Ja smiled.

“I will stay here for a while. If the enemy attacks, we must not make the same mistake as before.”

“Ah… yes.”

Ilrang was able to tell right away thanks to his excellent intuition. The sect leader had deliberately sent Cho Geom-Ja here.

Even the brave and sometimes aggressive Gongdong Sect was kind to each other within the sect.

However, the damage caused by this war was too great. The elders lost their disciples, and the disciples despaired at the deaths of their teachers and instructors.

Of course, everyone should hate the three sects, but they had no choice but to vent their anger on the person in charge of the site, who was nearby. That person was Cho Geom-Ja.

The sect leader deliberately criticized Cho Geom-Ja’s mistake, which was not really a mistake, and instead of stripping him of his elder position, he exiled him to the northern front to observe the enemy’s movements for the time being.

Of course, it was just an exile in name only, and it was a way to help him get away from the anger of the people in the sect.

Ilrang forced a smile.

“Our residence is very nice. Let’s stay there together for the time being.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

It was then.

“Swordsman Ilrang!”

The young sect leader of the Gansu Hwagung Sect ran from afar.

“Swordsman! It’s a big deal… Hah!”

The young sect leader was surprised to find Cho Geom-Ja.

“I greet Elder Cho Geom-Ja! I am Gyeongcheon, the young sect leader of the Hwagung Sect!”

“Skip the greetings. What’s the matter?”

Gyeongcheon’s face was pale.

“Y-you should go and see!”

Cho Geom-Ja and Ilrang, sensing that something was wrong, hurriedly followed Gyeongcheon to the top of the Qilian Mountains.

And they saw it.

The black fog that was coming from the northwest.

They were approaching, raising dust clouds, and even considering the distance, they were moving too fast. If that speed was maintained until the end, they would surely reach this place within half a day.

The problem was the number.

“T-there are so many! It looks like there are at least tens of thousands of troops!”

Cho Geom-Ja’s face was filled with killing intent.

“Send messenger birds to each sect and the Martial Alliance! It’s an enemy attack!”

The black wave that was rushing in with the dark clouds.

The identity of the foam that was spreading out was demonic energy.