Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1251

The Great War (1)

“What?!”

Grand Master Gong Gong’s face contorted in disbelief.

“The Divine Cult’s forces attacked Hebei!”

“Yes, that is correct,” Jeagal Mun-Ho replied, his expression grim.

“Currently, the Hebei Murim [martial arts world] has been devastated, and their forces are crossing into Shanxi. The estimated troop strength is over twenty thousand, and it seems they have brought all their forces. Their momentum is truly extraordinary.”

“This is…!”

Bang!

The table shattered under Grand Master Gong Gong’s fist. It was a level of anger he had never shown before. He, who had avoided reaching the Unmoving Peak [a state of enlightenment in martial arts] for fear of being consumed by worldly desires, had never reacted this way.

Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke quickly, “Thanks to the swift response of the Peng Clan and the Beggars’ Union, fortunately, the number of annihilated sects is not that high. However, the harm to the people is incalculable, and the entire Peng Clan force has mobilized to save them.”

“And so?”

“It is said that six-tenths of the Peng Clan’s forces… have lost their lives.”

“Eek!”

Whoooom!

A faint golden aura flickered from Grand Master Gong Gong’s body. Many had died in the previous wars as well, but this invasion was different. In Hebei, there was Beijing, and in Beijing, there was the Imperial Palace. Although the Imperial Palace had been moved to Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, the Imperial Palace in Hebei was still a symbol of the continent for the people of the Central Plains [the heartland of China].

Yet, the ruthless invaders had devastated the Hebei Murim and were oppressing even the common people, so the Imperial Palace could not be unscathed. A place that was a repository of history and a pillar of the spirit had been shattered by the enemy. Anyone would be shocked.

Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke in as calm a tone as possible, “Alliance Leader, although the situation is urgent, please calm yourself. If you cannot remain calm, the Murim Alliance will falter.”

“Hoo.”

Grand Master Gong Gong, having regulated his inner energy and calmed his mind with deep breaths, closed his eyes. “I have shown a poor sight to the strategist.”

“No, it is not so. I also expected them to attack, but I did not expect them to be this fast.”

Having realized the seriousness of the situation early on, Jeagal Mun-Ho had consulted with the Beggars’ Union and decided to send numerous sect forces to the Hebei and Shanxi regions. But before they could move north, the enemies had moved south and attacked the Central Plains.

It wasn’t that Jeagal Mun-Ho’s response was slow. It could only be seen that the enemies’ movements were excessively fast.

“How could this be? Even though I am not well-versed in military strategy, I know how rash it is to send all forces without knowing the situation here. If they had any sense, they wouldn’t have done this, so how!”

“I share the same thought.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes flashed. “There must still be spies of theirs remaining in this Central Plains. But even if there are spies, their reaction is too fast. Even if they have mastered the best light footwork techniques, considering the time it takes to travel between the continent and their base, this speed is impossible.”

“Then what?!”

“Currently… I do not know.”

Though he said that, he had some ideas.

‘Is it sorcery?’

In the past, Jeagal Mun-Ho had met with many sorcerers to seek advice in order to interpret the bizarre movements of the Blood Cult. The world of sorcery was more vast than the world of martial arts. It was just that the talents who could master sorcery were rare, but if properly trained, they could perform unimaginable miracles.

Among them, the sorcery that Jeagal Mun-Ho had paid the most attention to was the ‘Sound Transmission Technique’. It was a sorcery that allowed those whose spirits were connected to communicate with each other over long distances using powerful sorcery.

If such an information system was in place, the enemies’ movements could be explained.

‘But I heard that sorceries like the Sound Transmission Technique require tremendous sorcery power. It is said that it is a sorcery that is difficult to use unless one is a master close to the Unmoving Peak.’

It was possible to know the feelings or life and death of an opponent far away through spiritual connection. But to have a ‘conversation’ was said to be the ability of a demigod. Knowing the situation of a person and being able to converse with them were worlds apart.

‘It is definitely not a skill that can be used easily. If the Three Cults freely used the Sound Transmission Technique, this war would have been lost from the start. It wouldn’t be strange if the Central Plains had already fallen into their hands.’

In war, speed is like life. An army with fast communication and good mobility can gain the upper hand in any war. Until now, the war was able to be countered due to our predictions, the enemies’ carelessness, and the unreasonable measures taken to minimize damage. But if they suddenly reacted with something close to a full-scale attack, not just an elite unit, they might have used the Sound Transmission Technique.

‘If they could use it often, they wouldn’t have waited until now. If it is truly the Sound Transmission Technique, it must be a burdensome skill for them as well.’

Decisively, in the past, there was a sorcery called the Incense Communication Technique that Gi Woo-Hee had mentioned. It was said to be an amazing technique that revealed one’s presence to the opponent using an incense burner and a brazier. Although the incense burner itself was extremely rare and could not be used often, if the Divine Cult and the Evil Sound Cult were communicating with such sorcery, the current situation could be fully understood.

‘I was incredibly foolish. It’s just an excuse that it was due to excessive work. I should have kept that in mind.’

Having organized his thoughts, Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke quickly, “Whatever it is, for now, we must focus on follow-up measures and prepare for war. The only fortunate thing is that their forces are smaller than the Blood Cult’s, but the strength of the Central Plains has also been greatly reduced due to several major battles. We must not underestimate them.”

A light of determination appeared in Grand Master Gong Gong’s eyes. “How can those who have left the mountain ignore the chaotic situation and return to Mount Song? I will order Shaolin to head north.”

“Shaolin’s deployment is like a thousand troops and ten thousand horses. But Shaolin alone may not be enough.”

It was something he would not have easily said under normal circumstances. It was something that was possible because it was wartime.

“The Peng Clan Leader has headed to Hebei, and I will take measures to ensure that the sects moving north can move as quickly as possible.”

“Contact the Wudang Sect as well. In this battle, the two sects, Shaolin and Wudang, must join forces to break the enemy’s momentum.”

Many sects among the Nine Great Sects had been defeated by the Three Cults, but there were also forces that remained intact. Among them, Shaolin and Wudang were the pillars of the righteous Murim, and if they went to the battlefield, they could raise the morale of the Central Plains Murim to the sky.

“In addition, I will send Jongli Mu-Sang first, and then immediately send Namgoong Mu-Sang.”

Currently, Namgoong Seung was recovering from the damage to his upper dantian [an energy center in the body] sustained in the Shanxi war. Fortunately, his upper dantian was healing well and stabilizing quickly. He would be fully recovered within a few days.

“That won’t do.”

“What do you mean it won’t do?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke in a grave tone, “Jongli Mu-Sang is recognized by all as the best swordsman in the world, but it is true that he is inexperienced in group battles and war-related matters. Moreover, he has a straightforward and reckless personality, so there is a possibility that he will recklessly charge to fight the enemy general.”

The situation was different from when they were blocking the Blood Cult’s forces. The Blood Cult could be stopped by charging recklessly, but the Divine Cult’s forces clearly had an organized system.

“Then what are we to do?”

“We must send Namgoong Mu-Sang with him from the start.”

“But Namgoong Mu-Sang is currently…”

“Therefore, we must also send the Physician Pavilion Lord.”

Grand Master Gong Gong’s eyes wavered. “You mean Lord Gi?”

Currently, Gi Woo-Hee was in charge of Namgoong Seung’s upper dantian treatment. It was only natural. In this time of war, Namgoong Seung’s existence was comparable to a sect. Such a master had to be able to operate normally as soon as possible, so she had no choice but to focus on Namgoong Seung, putting all other tasks aside.

“Namgoong Mu-Sang has experience leading a clan and also annihilated the enemy with excellent judgment in the Shanxi war. When viewed as a single general, there are few people in this alliance as capable as Namgoong Mu-Sang.”

“Hmm.”

After pondering for a moment, Grand Master Gong Gong nodded. “Alright. Let’s do that. I will go and speak to Namgoong Mu-Sang myself.”

“It would be good to send ten thousand Murim Alliance troops as well. I hear that the Divine Cult is skilled in the Scorching Yang Art and is also proficient in using firearms, so we must deploy as many troops as possible to be safe.”

“Let’s do that.”

“The Black Imperial Castle will probably be aware of the situation in Hebei as well. However, they will not know how our alliance will respond, so I will send a message to the Black Imperial Castle right away.”

Leaving the Alliance Leader’s hall, Jeagal Mun-Ho returned to the military affairs department using his light footwork [a martial arts technique for fast movement]. In the chaotic situation, Jeagal Mun-Ho tried hard to remain calm.

‘They intend to engage in a major battle with the Central Plains Murim. Their movements suggest that. And if my thoughts are correct…’

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked east. That distant east, invisible to the eye, the land of water that was the object of worship and fear, with its crashing waves and blowing winds. The sea, the East Sea.

* * *

“….”

Tang Gwan’s face hardened as he read the letter. “These bastards, really…”

“What is it?” Tang Gwan showed the letter to Gi Cheon-Woong.

Whoosh!

A terrifying aura erupted from Gi Cheon-Woong’s body. “The Divine Cult has occupied Hebei?!”

“That is correct,” Chalguk-Pyeong’s eyes deepened. “With over twenty thousand troops, it seems the young cult leader has brought all the remaining forces of the cult.”

“That must be it.”

Sigh.

Having unconsciously released his aura, Gi Cheon-Woong immediately got up from his seat. “We will depart first.”

Tang Gwan did not stop Gi Cheon-Woong. There was no way to stop him anyway. He had some doubts about whether these guys might go over to the Divine Cult and lend them their strength, but he dismissed them.

‘You rascal, since you believed in him, I will believe in him until the end.’

Gi Cheon-Woong spoke quickly, “There is no need to go all the way to the Yin Emperor. No, you and the Yin Emperor must stay here. If the Divine Cult has moved, the Evil Sound Cult must have moved as well, and they may bypass and attack Gansu and Sichuan.”

“Do not worry. I am not foolish enough to make a gamble without certainty.”

“Currently, there are a thousand troops who entered the Central Plains with me in Hebei. I have told them not to fight the enemy without my orders, so they must have moved south.”

“The Murim Alliance has also said they will send troops, so there is no need to overdo it.”

Gi Cheon-Woong paused involuntarily.

‘The Murim Alliance…’

It wasn’t that he hadn’t gone to see them on purpose. But there was some awkwardness. Gi Woo-Hee was in the Murim Alliance. His daughter was there.

‘Perhaps, we may never meet again.’

Gi Cheon-Woong smiled and said, “Thank you for your kind hospitality.”

“I wish you good fortune in your endeavors.”

“Let’s see each other again if we can.”

With those words, Gi Cheon-Woong and Chalguk-Pyeong headed towards Hebei. The battlefield of fire created by fate, or rather destiny, was beckoning him.