Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1315

“Sa Mun-hyang.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, looking at Sa Mun-hyang with clear eyes, maintained a composure that even he found hard to believe.

A flicker of doubt crossed Sa Mun-hyang’s face.

“Do you know me?”

“I do.”

He knew.

He knew, knew, and knew again.

Yet, he also didn’t know, didn’t know, and was filled with ambiguity and doubt.

A being that could only evoke contradictions. A feeling of extreme hatred and rage, yet also a strange sense of welcome, was indescribable.

‘So that’s it.’

Only then did Yeon Ho-jeong realize why he was so calm.

It wasn’t because he was truly relaxed or composed. Nor was it because he felt no emotion towards his opponent.

‘It has reached its peak.’

Rage, hatred, regret, sorrow, lingering resentment, despair.

Joy, emotion, wonder, admiration, desire, pleasure.

Every emotion had reached its peak, creating a strange balance.

He had gained great enlightenment from the fierce battle with the Mad Blood Cult Leader, and then, as he headed to the battlefield again, his Yellow Dragon [a reference to his martial art] had evolved. Here, in front of Mount Tai, as he waited for his opponent and reflected on the past, he had even grasped the immovable mind he had forgotten.

His mind, body, true energy [internal energy], and soul had all reached a realm that was difficult for him to ascend any further.

But those states and emotions were separate.

After his regression, or even including his past life, his strongest and most perfect state was now.

At the same time, all indescribable emotions had reached their peak now.

Now, the expression ‘complete’ was truly fitting. To reach a higher level, he would have to ascend further while remaining complete. If asked what that was, even Yeon Ho-jeong would find it difficult to explain.

In any case, he was complete and perfect.

He was fully prepared to face the fated rival sent by the heavens.

Yeon Ho-jeong aimed the Gwangryong Axe [his signature weapon] at Sa Mun-hyang.

Woo woo woo woong.

The Gwangryong Axe hummed quietly.

It seemed like it should be roaring louder than ever, facing the greatest adversary of his life, but its trembling was not that great.

The Gwangryong Axe was releasing its usual quiet passion.

Sa Mun-hyang’s eyes deepened.

“…How peculiar.”

Chiriring.

The rings clinked together, making a sharp sound.

“It’s strange. I’ve never seen you before, yet I feel incredibly familiar.”

“……”

“Is it because I’ve met the fated rival I saw through the cracks of the heavens? It feels like I’ve seen you once before.”

A strong curiosity was mixed in his languid voice.

At the same time, there was a hint of goodwill towards Yeon Ho-jeong. That goodwill stemmed from pleasure, and the reason he felt pleasure was because his loneliness had been broken.

How many times had he wandered this world for so long and met a worthy opponent? With each century of life, he had grown terrifyingly strong, and his power was glimpsing a realm beyond imagination.

How could he not be pleased to meet his nemesis after hundreds of years? He had spent years of endurance for his life’s goal, the Blood God’s Advent, so the existence of a fated rival blocking his path shouldn’t be welcome, but meeting someone who could put a dent in his boring and lonely life naturally piqued his interest.

And looking at such Sa Mun-hyang, Yeon Ho-jeong thought.

‘It’s the same as before.’

It was the same as when he first faced Sa Mun-hyang. Back then, Sa Mun-hyang had praised him with the same voice and the same face.

‘And yet, it’s different.’

It was too different.

The Sa Mun-hyang he knew was more emotional and passionate than this. In a way, he even had a jovial side. The source of that joviality was a sadistic and destructive nature, but at least he had a much more vibrant atmosphere than now.

But now?

‘Even his eyes are different.’

Skin close to gray, a physique that was more than just tall, it was enormous.

But his eyes?

“How strange.”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“Are you really Sa Mun-hyang?”

The corners of Sa Mun-hyang’s lips curled up.

“If I’m not Sa Mun-hyang, then who is?”

“Is that so?”

“But that question is truly peculiar. It’s not the tone of someone who wants to ignore a reality they don’t want to believe.”

Sa Mun-hyang stroked his chin.

“Have you seen me before?”

“……”

“That look, that voice. It feels like someone who has seen me a long time ago.”

“……”

“But what’s surprising is that I feel the same way. Is it because you’re my fated enemy? Somehow, it feels like I’ve seen you once before. That’s how it feels.”

Sa Mun-hyang’s smile deepened.

“Whatever the case, it’s definitely a mysterious encounter. You must have felt my presence and come here as well. If so, you must also be glimpsing the flow of the heavens. How many people in history have reached such a level at your age? You are indeed a worthy rival.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly watching Sa Mun-hyang, lowered the Gwangryong Axe.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“Ask me anything.”

Sa Mun-hyang seemed to be truly enjoying this encounter.

Before coming down from Mount Tai, he had been greatly enraged. He hated the heavens that were hindering him so much, hindering the Blood Cult, and he pitied his own existence that still hadn’t escaped such heavenly principles.

But not now.

The existence of his fated rival was too alluring. A joy he couldn’t understand himself, Sa Mun-hyang hadn’t thought he still had such emotions left.

Yeon Ho-jeong asked.

“Why do you call me your fated rival?”

“Hmm?”

“To me, you are definitely someone I can call a fated rival in some sense. But you’ve never seen me before. Right?”

“Of course.”

“Yet, how can you be so sure that I’m your fated rival?”

Sa Mun-hyang shook his head.

“That’s a foolish question. Even if you haven’t seen someone, those who read the flow of the heavens can read the threads of fate.”

“……”

“Coming here, I could read your presence. The moment I set foot on this land again, this fertile and vast land, I captured you, and I could also feel another being sharing your spiritual power.”

A being sharing spiritual power.

Yeon Ho-jeong immediately realized that the being Sa Mun-hyang was talking about was his father. Seeing that he understood without any further explanation, it was clear that his ill-fated relationship with this guy was no ordinary one.

The corners of Yeon Ho-jeong’s lips curled up.

A sneer appeared on his increasingly cold face. He was starting to heat up.

“Seeing that someone who reads the flow of the heavens doesn’t remember me, it seems you haven’t reached the ultimate yet either.”

It was a statement that was hard to ignore. Sa Mun-hyang’s smiling face slightly hardened.

“It’s certain. You know me.”

“Of course, I do.”

“It’s not just that you’ve seen me. That look, that voice, and…”

Whooong.

Sa Mun-hyang waved his hand through the air.

“Even though it hasn’t manifested yet, the murderous intent that makes my throat feel parched… It’s not just that you see me as an enemy. It’s not because I’m your fated rival either.”

“……”

“Have you ever been to Mount Yeong-eum?”

“I’ve wanted to go there many times. Because it’s a place I want to completely erase from this world.”

“I haven’t left Mount Yeong-eum for decades. Yet, you know me.”

Whoooong!

The fog that had been cleared by the Gwangryong Axe was gathering again.

“You’ve fought me before.”

“……”

“When exactly did you fight me?”

Yeon Ho-jeong remained silent.

He couldn’t think of anything to say. And as the conversation progressed, he felt that it didn’t matter.

Was it because they had met after a long time? At first, he had wanted to have a conversation, but not anymore.

In the end, his opponent didn’t know him. And that was natural.

He knew his opponent, but he couldn’t pour out all the anger he had accumulated over the years. Because it hadn’t happened to his opponent.

Nevertheless, Yeon Ho-jeong hated his opponent. He was furious. And those dark emotions were balanced by bright emotions.

‘As always.’

Just like when he massacred the warriors of the Divine Cult, just like when he slaughtered the demons of the Mad Blood Cult.

Just like when he crushed the lackeys of the Evil Sound Cult, just like when he fought a life-or-death battle against the Mad Blood Cult Leader, Cheon Wi-ryong.

He just had to do it now.

He was an inevitable target, and nothing more.

Fwaaaah!

As his mind cleared, the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art [his martial art] naturally unleashed itself.

Whoosh!

The gathering fog screamed and scattered again.

Flash!

Sa Mun-hyang’s eyes blazed.

“One more thing.”

Woo woong! Woo woong!

The Gwangryong Axe, which had been humming quietly, was gradually releasing a fierce dragon’s roar.

“How do you know the divine art of the Mad Color Maniac?”

Thud!

The first step of the Yellow Dragon Footwork began to purify the evil energy of Sa Mun-hyang that was corroding the earth.

“The Mad Color Maniac’s martial art is incompatible with the demonic arts of the Three Sects. That’s why Cheon Wi-ryong died at your hands. But I know that martial art is not something that can be passed on to anyone.”

Saaaak.

The slightly, subtly lowering stance tightened Yeon Ho-jeong’s fighting spirit.

“Could it be… are you the Mad Color Maniac?!”

And now.

Yeon Ho-jeong, with the same heart as always, with a fighting spirit that was not stained in the slightest.

Towards his fated rival, towards fate.

He rushed towards everything in the world.

Paah!

He kicked off the ground and charged straight ahead, and in an instant, he was in front of Sa Mun-hyang. The moment he reached Sa Mun-hyang, the Gwangryong Axe was already being swung towards his head.

It was natural and fast. Fast and natural.

The Gwangryong Axe, which had become a golden lightning bolt, did not even follow the forms of the Gwangryong Art, but it was more powerful than any strike he had used before.

Kwaaaang!!

The ground was overturned with a single blow.

Beyond the Gwangryong Axe that had broken the ground, a distance of over ten yards was devastated. It was powerful even though it wasn’t a full-force strike, and it emitted a force that was in accordance with reason even though it was swung naturally.

It was the ideal martial art, the ultimate form that an axe could show.

“Well, that wouldn’t be it.”

Pshhhhh.

The dust settled.

Sa Mun-hyang was standing in front of the Gwangryong Axe that had struck the ground.

How he had avoided that blow, or even if he had avoided it, was unknown.

He was just fine, and his eyes were clearly hardened. It seemed like he was focusing more on the opponent’s existence itself than the fight.

“The Mad Color Maniac’s martial art was infinitely close to being invincible. Unless you truly glimpse the realm of the Blood God, even I cannot face him.”

Crack!

The Gwangryong Axe, pulled from the ground, was once again dyed golden.

It was a natural movement. As if knowing that his opponent wouldn’t attack him, Yeon Ho-jeong even leisurely dusted off the axe blade with his hand.

“You are not the Mad Color Maniac. But you know a martial art that is impossible to know.”

Fwaaaah!

A terrible evil energy flowed out of Sa Mun-hyang’s body.

Surprisingly, that evil energy was even more terrible than that of Cheon Wi-ryong. Its density was comparable to the Twin Dragon Mad World Art, but it was spreading an aura that was mixed with various unknown energies, making it feel like one couldn’t even breathe.

“Could it be that you used a heaven-defying method like me? Did you obtain a new body and cram yourself into it?!”

“Stop talking nonsense that I can’t understand.”

Yeon Ho-jeong swung the Gwangryong Axe carelessly.

The Gwangryong Axe, making a whoosh, whoosh sound, was gaining power again. It seemed like it would unleash a more elastic and more powerful force than before.

“Are you ready, you pervert?”

“……”

“I’ll end your filthy life, which knows nothing but debauchery, and this wretched ill-fated relationship here.”

Kwaang!!

The Gwangryong Axe, swung with a thunderous sound, struck Sa Mun-hyang’s shoulder.