Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1203

Hwaaaah! Cheon Wi-ryong’s movement technique was extraordinary. Of course, it had to be. He was the leader of the Blood Demon Sect, after all. But even considering that, one couldn’t help but be impressed. ‘He’s so free.’ It wasn’t just his speed, but the sheer freedom of his movements that was truly remarkable. Each time his foot pushed off the ground, he seemed to travel at least twenty yards. At this rate, it was almost like flying. Of course, Yeon Ho-Jeong was no slower than Cheon Wi-ryong in terms of speed. However, he lacked the same freedom and naturalness. As Yeon Ho-Jeong quietly observed Cheon Wi-ryong’s movement technique, he suddenly realized that it also resembled the Evil God Dance or Hellish Art. ‘Lightning energy?’ He wasn’t using lightning energy that was visibly powerful. However, the demonic energy emanating from his feet transformed into lightning energy, splitting into two streams. The lightning energy that seeped into the ground and the lightning energy that enveloped his entire foot had different properties. He was using the repelling force between these opposing properties to execute a much freer and more comfortable movement technique. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened. ‘Is it possible to do even that with lightning energy?’ It was a divine skill of movement that would have left Moyong Gun speechless with astonishment. It was a divine art that differed from the Lightning God Art, which was simply focused on the destructive power of sword techniques, in terms of its range of application. ‘Indeed.’ There was a clear difference. ‘He hasn’t just mastered a more powerful martial art. There are clear signs that he has pondered the fundamental principles of martial arts and internalized them.’ That meant his understanding of martial arts was supreme. He had gone beyond accepting demonic arts that emphasized power and speed, and had delved into the essence of martial arts like a true master. ‘But that’s all it is.’ Having a seeker’s attitude towards something didn’t mean one lived righteously. Even if he himself lived righteously, from the perspective of his opponent, he was just an enemy. However, Yeon Ho-Jeong was willing to learn from Cheon Wi-ryong, even though he was a clear enemy. This was, in a way, a stroke of luck. Especially since they both started with martial arts that had the same foundation as the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art, he needed a serious attitude to learn what he couldn’t do from his opponent. Even though he knew Yeon Ho-Jeong was glancing at him, Cheon Wi-ryong didn’t turn his head once. He simply continued to run, maintaining his incredible movement technique with ease. How much time had passed? Even at the realm of the Supreme, the two transcendent beings, without resting even once, were able to cross Sichuan and enter Hubei in an instant. Cheon Wi-ryong, who hadn’t spoken a word until now, finally opened his mouth. “Impressive.” Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Cheon Wi-ryong. The corners of Cheon Wi-ryong’s lips curled up. His shadowed face looked a bit cold. “I didn’t think you’d be able to keep up this well. Your skills are even more impressive than they appear.” “Thanks for the compliment.” “It’s an amazing martial art, no matter how many times I see it. I don’t know the incantation, but it somehow looks more difficult than the Twin Dragons’ Demonic Art.” “Twin Dragons’ Demonic Art… Is that the sect’s supreme art?” “That’s right. It’s a peerless demonic art created by modifying the Five-Colored Hellish Art, which humans cannot master.” He spoke of it as a peerless demonic art without any awkwardness. Indeed, it was something to be considered as such. Yeon Ho-Jeong also didn’t know about the Twin Dragons’ Demonic Art, but judging from Cheon Wi-ryong’s energy and demonic aura, the process of training it seemed easier than the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art. That was why it was so impressive. It meant that its versatility had been increased. ‘But in exchange, he must have given up something, unlike the Yellow Dragon.’ It wasn’t a guess, but a certainty. There was a reason why something was difficult. Trying to easily modify it to master it was, in any case, a shortcut. Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around. “By the way, where are we going? If we’ve entered Hubei, is it Anhui? Or Hunan?” “I don’t know those place names.” “You’re quite the leader. You started a war and yet you know nothing about the Central Plains?” “I know as much as I need to.” “The title of ‘God’ will weep.” Cheon Wi-ryong’s eyes turned cold. Of course, his smile didn’t disappear. “One thing is certain. The place where the Great Master is will appear soon.” “What?” Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around. No matter how he looked, it was Hubei. Could it be that the Great Master was in the middle of the Central Plains? “Is it near here?” “To be precise.” Cheon Wi-ryong raised his hand and pointed into the distance. “He’s over there.” Following his finger, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face subtly hardened. A mountain shrouded in mist, a Taoist sacred site that felt divine just by looking at it, was there. “The Great Master once said that the divine energy of that mountain was poison to him. But poison can also be used as medicine. The only way he can maintain his body now is by receiving the energy of that sacred mountain.” “Mount Wudang…” Yeon Ho-Jeong gritted his teeth inwardly. ‘Was someone from Mount Wudang a spy for the Three Evil Sects?’ It was then. Kugugung. Mount Wudang roared loudly. * * * “Hmm?” Jo Yang-jin, who was tending to his garden, straightened his back. “…Hoo.” What had he sensed? He patted his back, left the garden, and moved to the edge of the peak, looking out at the vast expanse of Mount Wudang. Jo Yang-jin clicked his tongue. “Tsk, tsk, such a wicked aura. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a sinister and venomous aura in Mount Wudang, which is full of divine energy.” Even though he knew there was a big problem with the mountain, he was relaxed. He continued to pat his back, passed through the garden, and entered his hut, emerging with an old sword. “Let’s see… What was the incantation again?” Tilting his head, he drew the sword and swung the dull blade around. It was as if he was playing. After a moment of thought, he chuckled. “Well, does it matter? I’ll just try a bunch of things.” Woo woong. The old sword, which had no edge and no sign of sharpness, slowly drew a circle. It drew a beautiful line that was hard to believe was from a sword that had just been swung around carelessly. It was a simple line, but it was a truly bizarre movement that made one feel dizzy just by looking at it. Pshhh. From the tip of the sword, which had been drawing circles several times, a hazy aura slowly began to flow out. The pure white aura looked like clouds or mist. And as soon as the aura was released, it instantly melted into the air and spread in all directions. How much time had passed? Woo woong!! A deep sound flowed out from somewhere far away. That was the beginning. Woo woong! Woo woong! Woo woong! The strange vibration sounds piled up over time, gradually shaking the entire Mount Wudang. Whoosh! The mist that had filled the area seemed to slowly clear. Kuuu. With a low rumble, the sleeping birds lined up and flew into the sky. It was as if the mountain itself was awakening. If spirits that were invisible to the human eye existed, one could say that the sleeping spirit of the mountain was awakening. And that sacred and comfortable resonance was already reaching the area of the Wudang Sect’s headquarters. “Hoo.” Jo Yang-jin, who had poured his inner energy into the Tai Chi Sword’s Yin-Yang Intent for a long time, sheathed his sword and grumbled. “This is getting too much for me now. Anyway, I don’t have much time left, so the disciples who will protect this place should start appearing soon.” Jo Yang-jin descended the peak. He slowly descended, patting his bent back, and surprisingly, he had already reached the bottom of the peak in an instant. It was as if one was watching a divine being’s teleportation technique. He seemed to be walking normally, but his speed was beyond imagination. “Oh? Senior Brother, you’re already here?” Hyeon Yin-jin, who was sitting on a small rock and smoking a pipe, greeted him. Jo Yang-jin clicked his tongue. “You rascal, what’s with the tobacco at your age? You’re about to become dirt soon, why don’t you try to cleanse your body even a little?” “This tobacco is also a product of nature. If we’re going to become dirt anyway, it’s good to try this and that.” “That’s a good way to put it. Then why don’t you go out into the world and become a robber?” “We’re not thugs, so we can’t do that.” It was a conversation that was hard to imagine as being between the former Taoist masters of the Wudang Sect. Hyeon Yin-jin, after exhaling a long puff of smoke, shook his pipe and said, “So, what kind of kids are they? The ones who brought this messy energy to Mount Wudang?” “I don’t know.” “You called us, Senior Brother.” “If I knew, why would I have called you? I don’t know what kind of guys they are, so I called everyone.” “Hehe, that’s true.” “What about Hyeon Yang?” Hyeon Yin-jin put the pipe back in his mouth. A sad smile appeared on his face as he inhaled and exhaled a long puff of smoke. “He left last year.” “Is that so?” Jo Yang-jin clicked his tongue. “We were supposed to drink the wine we made together next year, but he left first.” “As you said, it was time for him to go. You and I are at an age where we can’t promise next year.” “Is that why you’re living with a pipe in your mouth?” “Rather than that, it’s more like, ‘Oh, there was something like this too.'” Jo Yang-jin clicked his tongue. “We’re all going to be buried in nature anyway. We’ll all become one soon, why can’t you control your mind even at your age?” “I was never one for studying, you know? I wish I had studied since I was a Taoist child.” “Tsk, you fool.” Although he said that, Jo Yang-jin’s heart wasn’t good either. Even though they were all going to return to the earth, he couldn’t help but feel bitter at the news that his fellow disciples, who had led Wudang together, had left first. Of course, he wasn’t overwhelmed with sadness. In the end, everyone would become one with Mount Wudang. Even though the places they came from were different, the place they were going was the same. There was nothing to fear or be sad about. “Let’s see… It seems like the others will be a bit late. The main sect’s kids too.” “Those damned disciples. They’re still so lazy.” “Quiet, let’s go first. We can’t wait forever.” “Why isn’t the Great Senior Brother coming? Could it be that the Great Senior Brother has also left?” “He left.” “…Did he really leave?” “To the mortal world.” “Ah, really. You scared me.” “You rascal, if the Great Senior Brother was here, why would I have called you? I would have told him to go and destroy them.” “Hehehe.” “By the way, where did you leave your sword and come empty-handed?” “I lost it.” “Hey, you crazy bastard!” “I’ve always been better at slapping faces anyway. You know that, right?” Hyeon Yin-jin smiled and picked up a branch. “And rather than a sword, something like this is better.” Jo Yang-jin shook his head. “Anyway, seeing how immature you are even though you’re over eighty, you’re far from it. You’ll probably live another twenty years.” “I’m too bored to live until then.” “Alright, let’s go.” “Let’s do it.” And so, the two set off. Jo Yang-jin, yawning as if to show off, walked ahead, and Hyeon Yin-jin, grumbling as he cleaned his pipe behind him, looked like brothers who were going to play in the mountains behind their house. And behind them. One by one, old men had followed them. There was an old man drinking from a bottle of alcohol, and another old man scratching his head with a sickle. They didn’t look like Taoists at all. They were the hidden legends of Wudang who had even transcended the realm of Taoists, the Seven Star Divine Swords who had led the previous generations of the Wudang Sect. It was a majestic march of legends without their leader, Tak Mu-ja.