Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 134

The Daebyeolsan Mountains, straddling the borders of Henan, Hubei, and Anhui provinces, offer a diverse panorama throughout the year. In spring, they burst with blooming flowers; in summer, they are a vibrant green; in autumn, the leaves display a kaleidoscope of colors; and in winter, they are transformed into a breathtaking snowscape. Each season presents a unique vista, making it a truly renowned mountain. And now, it was winter.

The entire Daebyeolsan Mountain, home to the Martial Alliance, was blanketed in white. After a heavy two-day snowfall, the landscape was finally a sight to behold. Young martial artists from the Alliance ventured out, exploring the hills within its grounds or the wider mountain. Being masters of martial arts, the cold was no obstacle for them.

However, many chose to forgo the magnificent winter views of Daebyeolsan Mountain. Yoon Ho was one of them.

Kwaang!

Horror washed over Yoon Ho’s face. The exquisite sword techniques of the Plum Blossom Thirty-Six Swords, a signature of the Mount Hua Sect, were being utterly crushed by a single fist. The unique, light, and swift movements of the Plum Blossom Sword were shattered by sheer, overwhelming power.

Puh-uhk!

“Kuh-uh-uhk!”

He really hadn’t wanted this to happen again. But the pain was unbearable. He wasn’t usually so distracted as to feel pain during a fight, but every punch and kick from this man sent waves of agony through him.

“Does it hurt?”

Yoon Ho, kneeling and trembling, looked up. A blue-eyed demon, silhouetted against the sun, was staring down at him.

“It hurts me too. My spirit hurts.”

“Kuh-heok! Heok, heok!”

“Just stop coming.”

“Hah, just one more time…”

“No.”

Puh-uhk!

Yoon Ho was sent flying, crashing into the wall of the Pagun Pavilion entrance before collapsing onto the ground. Sprawled on the frozen earth, he lost consciousness.

Yeon Ho-Jeong called out to Okcheong.

“Hey! Malco!”

“Y-yes?”

“Throw this bastard outside the gate.”

“In this winter? Even if I’m a master, in an unconscious state…”

“Damn it, did he come to fight without being prepared to die? If I tell you to move him, just move him, you idiot!”

“Yes, sir.”

Okcheong quickly picked up Yoon Ho. Why was that? Yoon Ho’s body felt unusually light. He had met Yoon Ho a few times, but he hadn’t realized he was this light.

‘He’s not dead, is he?’

Fortunately, his life force was strong. It seemed he had kicked him as if he intended to kill him, but had only knocked him unconscious. Despite his harsh words, he was surprisingly caring.

“Um…”

“What?”

“C-Could I take him to the Mount Hua Sect’s residence?”

“Do whatever you want.”

“Thank you. I’ll be right back!”

“You don’t have to come back.”

Okcheong swiftly used his movement technique, the Cloud Ascending Step, the Wudang Sect’s finest. Yeon Ho-Jeong whistled, almost unconsciously.

“That guy’s swordplay is terribly light, but his movement technique is outstanding. Or is it? Is he just light in both martial arts and body?”

Muk Bi said with a sullen expression.

“That’s a unique movement technique. It’s not dynamic, but he’s already far away.”

“That’s the Cloud Ascending Step of the Southern Wudang. The martial arts of the Wudang Sect all contain profound principles. The Cloud Ascending Step is no different.”

“I heard from my father that the swordsmanship of the Wudang Sect is very soft.”

“It appears that way on the surface.”

“Is it not?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“It’s soft and seamless. That’s the characteristic of Wudang martial arts. But if it were me, I would never have stopped there.”

“Then?”

“Strength and softness are one. In the martial world, the Wudang Sect is the most skilled in the Reeling Silk Energy [a technique that uses circular motions to generate power]. It may seem flexible at first glance, but if you gather the circular force into one point and release it, its destructive power is enough to be called the best under heaven.”

“Oh…”

“You can’t reach the Dao [the path or way] with martial arts that are only soft. There’s a reason why the Wudang Sect is called the Southern Venerable. That’s why Wudang martial arts are easy to learn but difficult to master.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just overheard it.”

That couldn’t be true. He wasn’t the type to speak with such certainty about something he had just overheard.

“But…”

“Hmm?”

“You seem very annoyed, don’t you?”

“Try fighting them one by one. Wouldn’t you be annoyed?”

“You could think of it as part of your training, right? They’re the next generation of famous sects, so they must have learned their respective sect’s secrets. You could use it as a stepping stone for growth, couldn’t you?”

“Growth? They’re just a bunch of weaklings who can’t even get close to the profound mysteries of each sect’s secrets. What growth are you talking about?”

“Um, is that so?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“From now on, if anyone comes around asking for a duel, just shoot them. If they have a hole somewhere, they won’t dare to think about fighting.”

“You don’t mean that, do you?”

“I held back from saying to blow their heads off.”

“Wouldn’t it cause too much trouble if you put a hole in their bodies?”

“Who cares? You’re the one who shot them anyway.”

What an irresponsible person.

Thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong put down the Mad Dragon Axe and sat on the bench, rubbing his neck. Even though they were people who hadn’t mastered the profound mysteries of each sect’s secrets, he had fought more than fifteen of the next generation of masters today alone.

“I am tired.”

If he had fought a life-or-death battle, he wouldn’t have been this tired. It was more exhausting to try to deal with them moderately. He was so annoyed that he wanted to blow them away in an instant, but he knew that if he really destroyed them, as Muk Bi said, it would cause a lot of trouble, so he kept repeating the process of releasing his power in the middle of his attacks.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘Well… growth is impossible, but…’

He had learned something from the series of annoying fights.

‘I’m not the Dark Emperor anymore. I can’t live the way I did in the underworld.’

From a stranger to the king of the underworld martial arts.

How many enemies had he defeated, and how many comrades had he lost?

That’s why his martial arts had no mercy. Once a fight broke out, he would always decide life or death. There was no such thing as moderation in the Dark Emperor’s fights.

But now, after his regression, he was living in the righteous martial world, and it was different.

If he unleashed his martial arts with the intention to kill, it would be a big problem. Even if he was fine, his family could be harmed.

‘I’m good at controlling my power, but I don’t know how to make my opponents back down.’

The martial art of enlightenment that makes them retreat on their own.

That was what Yeon Ho-Jeong lacked. His martial arts, which had been developed to the extreme for the annihilation of enemies, were extremely domineering and full of killing intent.

‘My father will be different.’

The martial art of the Middle Way. A true swordsman who encompasses all martial arts.

There was a reason why people praised him as the Judge’s Sword. He would strike down evil people with a sword of judgment, but he would make enemies who had no reason to die retreat on their own.

It was the most necessary method for Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was now living in the righteous path.

“It’s good to know what you need to learn.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong got up from his seat.

“I’m going in to rest first.”

“Okay.”

It was then. The bodies of the two men and women froze.

Tension filled Muk Bi’s face.

“This time… it’s different, isn’t it?”

“It’s not just different.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face became serious. He turned his head towards the entrance of the Pagun Pavilion.

Woo-oong.

Beyond the wall, the snow on the ground was seen scattering in the wind. It wasn’t a natural wind. It was the intense energy wave emitted by a martial artist that was blowing away the accumulated snow with each step.

‘This energy is?’

It was somehow familiar. A familiar yet unfamiliar energy, the presence of a head of one of the Six Great Clans.

Soon after, a man appeared.

“I’ve come to see Young Master Yeon.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed. He was of average build, neither short nor tall. His energy was as empty as flowing clouds. It was similar to the energy of a mountain hermit, but much more worldly. He was closer to the energy of a scholar than a martial artist. However, his martial arts were undoubtedly those of a supreme master.

The middle-aged man’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong. His deep wisdom and the firm, bamboo-like gaze were impressive.

“That’s an amazing martial art. That wind-like energy that swirls up without distinguishing between water and fire, I don’t think there are many people in my family who can match you.”

The man smiled.

“It seems I’ve come at the right time. Are you Yeon Ho-Jeong?”

Only then could Yeon Ho-Jeong recognize who the other party was. Yeon Ho-Jeong clasped his hands respectfully.

“My name is Ho-Jeong of the Yeon family. It is an honor to meet the head of the Jeagal Clan.”

Muk Bi was surprised and looked at the man. The man, Jeagal Mun-Ho, smiled.

“If you have time, would you mind if I had a cup of tea?”

* * *

“Hoo-oo-oo.”

The breath he exhaled was more turbid than ever before. But it wasn’t a bad thing. It was the destiny that any martial artist would experience when trying to break down the old and build up the new.

Woo-oo-oo-oong.

Blue energy surged from Moyong Woo’s body. It wasn’t much different from the color of the Lesser Yellow True Energy he had learned before. But it was an energy that felt much clearer and purer.

Heaven and earth, and in the middle, there is man, so the qualification to wield the power to manipulate heaven and earth belongs solely to humans.

The energy of the Qiankun Eight Extremes Heart Method [a powerful martial arts technique], the divine art of the Moyong family’s headship, the Qiankun Martial Understanding, filled Moyong Woo’s entire body.

“Amazing.”

Moyong Woo turned his head. Admiration that could not be hidden arose on the face of Moyong Gun, who was walking towards him.

“In just two days, you’ve managed to contain all of your inner energy within the basket of the Qiankun Eight Extremes Heart Method?”

“Yes.”

“Truly amazing talent. It’s partly because of your enlightenment, but even considering that, it’s an amazing speed.”

Moyong Woo shook his head.

“This is just the beginning. I haven’t even swung a sword yet, so it’s more accurate to say that I’m late.”

“If someone other than you had said that, I would have scolded them for thinking about running before they could even walk.”

Moyong Gun smiled contentedly.

“It’s only a few days left.”

“Yes?”

“I’m talking about the Martial Alliance establishment meeting.”

Moyong Woo, who was examining Moyong Gun’s face, realized that he had something to ask of him.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Hahaha.”

He was a prodigal son who had been on the wrong path for over ten years before returning. He had every reason to be arrogant, but there was no sign of it. A quiet spirit that he would complete any task perfectly emanated from his entire body.

“The Martial Alliance will be established. We’ll have to discuss it with the representatives of the minor sects, but the heads of the Nine Great Sects and the Six Great Clans will almost unanimously vote in favor, so we can’t go against the trend.”

“…”

“After the Martial Alliance is established, there is one organization that you will have to take charge of.”

Moyong Woo’s eyes lit up.

“What is it?”

“The Independent Vanguard.”

“…?!”

“Two Independent Vanguards will be created in the Martial Alliance. I want you to take charge of one of them. Of course, if you can’t, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Vanguard…”

“You don’t have to be in charge for long. The position of commander of the combat unit is the lowest of the countless positions you will have to rise to. Think of it as experience.”

“I understand.”

“However, if you become the leader of the Vanguard, you will have to achieve more feats than the other Vanguard. Enough to absorb or disband that unit. Can you do it?”

Moyong Woo nodded.

“Don’t worry.”

“Haha! I believe in you.”

“By the way, who are you thinking of as the leader of the other Independent Vanguard?”

Moyong Gun’s eyes turned cold.

“The eldest son of the Yeon family.”

“…!!”