Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 131

Thwaaaang!

“Hoo.”

The Crimson Lotus Bow’s tensile strength was truly immense. One couldn’t even imagine what material it was made of.

‘I can’t just pull it with brute force.’

With his abundant inner energy, Muk Bi could fire the Nine Dragons Heaven Piercing Bow Technique, excluding secret arts, about seventy times using the Crimson Lotus Bow.

However, Muk Bi knew. It was because her inner energy control was lacking that she could only use it seventy times.

Much more delicate control was needed. If so, the force used to draw the bowstring would decrease, and the number of shots would increase.

“Ugh, my arm is starting to hurt.”

At that moment, a deep voice was heard.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Cough!”

Startled, Muk Bi turned around. There stood Yeon-wi.

“Ah, Father?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you sleep? I heard you came after staying up all night.”

“It’s alright. It’s just one night without sleep.”

“Ah… yes.”

Muk Bi’s expression immediately became awkward.

She respected Yeon-wi as an elder. He was genuinely kind to her, and she knew his actions were sincere.

Still, he was intimidating.

Yeon-wi’s expressionless face was similar to those of her brothers who used to glare at her coldly in the past. Even though she knew the feelings behind them were different, the similar expressions made her shrink back.

Yeon-wi approached Muk Bi.

“I’ve seen it before, but it’s no ordinary bow. The tensile strength of the bowstring is beyond imagination.”

“…Yes.”

“Show me your left arm.”

“Pardon?”

“……”

“Ah, yes, sir!”

Muk Bi abruptly held out her left arm.

Yeon-wi grabbed her forearm and drew up his inner energy.

Whoo-oong.

A beautiful, light green energy flickered repeatedly across her entire left arm. It was an energy that calmed the mind of anyone who saw it.

Muk Bi’s eyes widened.

The tense muscles of her left arm relaxed instantly. She felt so good that she almost blurted out, ‘Oh, this is great.’

Of course, she didn’t make such a mistake in front of Yeon-wi.

“You possess the strength of a mountain, yet you can’t even use a third of it properly. Your ability to utilize energy is even worse.”

“Cough! Yes, yes, sir…”

“If you can unleash all the power within you and freely control your true energy, you will surpass even me.”

Muk Bi was startled.

“P-Please don’t say such things, Father. I would never…”

Yeon-wi said, as if puzzled.

“Why not? If you are going to live as a martial artist, shouldn’t you aim to surpass me?”

“…!”

“I hope that you and Ho-Jeong will surpass me, reach the realm of the Thirteen Seats of the Holy Heaven [a legendary realm of martial arts mastery], and leave your mark on the world.”

At that moment, Muk Bi felt a surge of emotion. Although his voice had no inflection, anyone could tell that his words were sincere.

“Fortunately, your talent is outstanding, your fundamentals are excellent, and the power you possess is enough to uproot mountains and overturn seas. If you do not neglect your efforts, you will one day surpass me.”

“…Yes.”

Yeon-wi, who had been quietly watching Muk Bi, nodded.

“Today, let’s work on your martial arts together. With a little adjustment, you can become greatly different from before.”

“Huk! R-Really?”

“It is the word of the Yeon family head. You can trust it.”

“Thank you!”

Yeon-wi liked Muk Bi’s innocent nature.

Suddenly, his eldest son came to mind. He knew that his first son was friends with Muk Bi, but with her personality, he wanted her as his daughter-in-law rather than just a friend of his son.

However, that was not something that could be forced. Yeon-wi did not try to go against the laws of cause and effect created by the flow of human affairs.

‘By the way, is Ho-Jeong doing well?’

Yeon-wi looked towards the northwest.

It was where the Moyong family’s Tamrang Pavilion was located.

‘What are you planning, Ho-Jeong?’

* * *

Moyong Gun thought.

‘I was mistaken about this guy.’

Mong-Ui learned the Four Illusions Sword Technique?

That wasn’t important. What was truly important was that he had been too careless in his assessment of the opponent.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was definitely a monster. He knew that much.

However, he had thought that this guy was a genius who was smart, greedy, and had a knack for strategy, but he had not thought that he was such a reckless person.

He had heard that Mong-Ui was locked up in the prison. And to make matters worse, he was quite damaged.

‘It was already surprising that he returned alive. But he was even captured?’

That meant he was captured and tortured.

‘This guy is not from the righteous path.’

A minor difference, but that minor difference could shake the political landscape.

‘This guy is someone who can commit any terrible act if necessary.’

He thought he was similar to himself.

He was wrong. This guy was not in the same category as him.

Moyong Gun clearly knew his own limitations. That was why he used his subordinates for more heinous acts, and naturally, he had to focus on recruiting talent.

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not do that. He didn’t need to.

This guy was someone who had decided to do all those things by himself.

“Let’s calculate with the abacus… haha.”

Moyong Gun, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, got up from his seat.

“I want to confirm it.”

“Confirm what?”

Moyong Gun smiled faintly.

“I mean, I want to see for myself if you are capable enough to be the leader of an independent army, free from the constraints of the alliance law.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“Are you suggesting a duel?”

“That’s right.”

“Where did the abacus go?”

“You brought such a large stake, there’s no need to use an abacus.”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s just exchange a few blows. There’s no need to call it a grand duel.”

Hmm….

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking up at Moyong Gun, smiled and got up from his seat.

“An opportunity to exchange blows with the renowned Moyong family head, I have no reason to refuse.”

“Haha.”

He didn’t know what his intentions were, but if this was also a lesson, then it was a lesson. Yeon Ho-Jeong didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

Thus, the two of them left the Tamrang Pavilion.

He thought they would just exchange a few blows in the backyard, but that wasn’t the case. Moyong Gun led Yeon Ho-Jeong to a vast plaza in the center of the inner castle, large enough to be used as a training ground.

“Let’s fight here.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around.

Quite a few people were passing by and watching them. Both of them were so famous that most people were openly watching.

“You didn’t bring your axe?”

“I left it at my residence.”

“Haha, it doesn’t seem like your skills would greatly diminish just because you don’t have your axe.”

Swoosh.

Moyong Gun, with his left hand behind his back and his right hand extended to the middle, said,

“Come, show me what you’ve got.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around again.

The number of people would gradually increase. The head of the Moyong family and the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family were about to have a duel, and there was no better spectacle than that.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

‘A sly fox of a man.’

Now he understood what Moyong Gun wanted.

But it didn’t matter. He was about to get what he wanted, so he could afford to make this concession. In a way, it was also good for him.

Swoosh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong lowered his stance.

Moyong Gun’s smile deepened.

“Your center of gravity is low. Very stable.”

“I’m coming.”

“Come.”

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong took one step.

At the same time, Moyong Gun’s eyes changed. He could feel Yeon Ho-Jeong’s powerful dominance from that one step.

Thud!

When he took one step, it felt like he could crumble mountains, but in the footwork that closed the distance in an instant, there was the demeanor of a gentleman.

It was clearly the Yeon family’s footwork. It was a very fast yet stable stance. It felt like the spirit of a scholar who wouldn’t be flustered even if he was out of breath.

Thwoom!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had approached at a terrifying speed, instantly entered the right blind spot.

‘Fast.’

A speed faster than footwork. It was a movement that far exceeded human reflexes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist was swung in an arc.

Whoo-oong!

Moyong Gun’s hand moved like lightning.

Whack!

It seemed like he hadn’t imbued any energy, but sparks flew from the fingertips that deflected the fist.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s movements became faster.

Whap whap whap!

He advanced, stepping on the ground several times in an instant. A white vortex arose from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s swirling fists.

It was the fist form of the White Tiger Dance, the Tiger King’s Nine Wall Stance [a powerful martial arts technique].

Pow pow pow!

Moyong Gun’s martial arts, which deflected all the fist strikes that came with terrifying force with just one right hand, were so amazing that it was hard to believe.

He wasn’t fast, but he read the flow and deflected. It was a hand technique that was several times more difficult than martial arts that were executed with strong power and elasticity.

Whack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong aimed for Moyong Gun’s upper body, his chin, and kicked up with his left foot.

It was a flexible yet powerful leg technique. In the midst of it, his sense of targeting the most vulnerable spot was incredibly outstanding.

Whoong!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s foot cut through the air.

Moyong Gun, who had dodged the leg technique and was about to gently push him down, saw the killing intent that was suddenly aimed at his crown and his eyes lit up.

Kwaang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s foot shook the earth.

The blow was so powerful that his heel pierced five inches into the bluestone floor.

“That’s an interesting body technique.”

Moyong Gun, who had moved to the left, had the same stance as before.

“Knowing that the upper strike had failed, you immediately changed direction and struck downwards. Putting aside your lightning-fast reflexes, such control of power and flexibility is hard to find in anyone in the world.”

Whoo-oong.

Clear and blue true energy, like a cloudless sky, flickered in Moyong Gun’s right hand.

“This time, I’ll go.”

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

Even though he knew he was going to charge straight in, his reaction was slow. He seemed to be moving smoothly, but he was already right in front of him. It was a footwork of extreme ascent.

Whap whap whap!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist and palm emitted the aura of a tiger king, and Moyong Gun’s right palm emitted the spirit of a blue bamboo.

Pow pow pow pow!

To use the White Tiger Dance in a series of techniques, one needed explosive power and tireless stamina at the same time. Naturally, its power was immeasurable.

Moyong Gun was blocking all of those destructive fist techniques with exquisite hand techniques. It was a skill that had reached the level of divine art.

Pow-oong! Sizzle!

With an explosion, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body retreated three or four steps.

‘He’s strong indeed.’

Although he wasn’t wielding a sword, Moyong Gun was seriously facing Yeon Ho-Jeong.

The martial power of the head of the Six Great Families. Yeon Ho-Jeong had grown to the point where he was not greatly damaged even by the hand techniques that Moyong Gun had deliberately unleashed.

“Impressive.”

Flap.

Moyong Gun raised his right arm.

The sleeve, torn and ripped by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fist pressure, was ragged and unsightly.

“To break through my martial arts with just two fists, the nickname ‘Byeoksan Tiger General’ is not an exaggeration.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong touched his chest.

Inside the clothing torn in a vortex shape from his sternum, his firm pectoral and upper abdominal muscles were revealed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around again.

Murmuring.

By now, dozens of martial artists were watching the two of them. Their faces were flushed with excitement from the short but exhilarating clash.

Yeon Ho-Jeong clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

“I have lost.”

Moyong Gun said with a smile.

“In ten years, you will be able to dominate the world. I am impressed.”

It was a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. People were surprised by Moyong Gun’s praise and looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with fresh eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“It’s a shame.”

“What is?”

“If I had known we were going to fight here, I should have brought my axe.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

As expected, this guy knew why he had deliberately held the duel here.

“If you had shown your true skills, the mystique would have faded.”

“That’s also true.”

“If you’re going to gamble, you should bring your cards, not use your stake to intimidate.”

“Until I saw your reaction, I didn’t even know if it was a card or a stake.”

“What? Hahaha!”

Moyong Gun burst into hearty laughter.

To those who didn’t know, the conversation between the two could only be seen as a discussion about martial arts. They couldn’t help but admire Yeon Ho-Jeong’s spirit and Moyong Gun’s relaxed demeanor.

Moyong Gun smiled and nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“You’re not thinking of adding any seasoning, are you?”

“I like it plain. I hope you do too.”

Whether he killed Mong-Ui or sent him far away, it was a message to finish it decisively.

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not take Moyong Gun’s words lightly. If he continued to hold onto Mong-Ui, Moyong Gun would cross the line.

He didn’t want that.

“Don’t worry.”

“Haha, that’s good.”

Moyong Gun, with his hands behind his back, turned towards the Tamrang Pavilion.

“I won’t add any seasoning. But I hope you understand if I add some vegetables.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

That meant he would attach some of his people to the independent army.

“I’m a bit picky.”

“Don’t worry. They’re not vegetables I grew.”

“It depends on my taste, then.”

“That’s right.”

“Alright.”

Moyong Gun, with his back turned, waved his hand.

“Don’t forget. This is just the beginning.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong replied with a relaxed smile.

“I wish this was the end. Sincerely.”