Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1360

“Have you arrived?”

Yeon-wi couldn’t speak.

“You…?”

Ga Deuk-sang smiled weakly.

“My state is quite a sight, isn’t it?”

It was beyond just ‘quite a sight.’

Ga Deuk-sang’s body was covered in blood. Even though the treatment had long been completed, the energy emanating from his entire body was extremely rough.

One might say it was fortunate that at least his limbs were intact.

However, considering the extent of his internal injuries, even that was not comforting. Even at this moment, Ga Deuk-sang’s internal injuries were worsening. This was because he couldn’t burn away the constantly surging turbid energy on his own.

Yeon-wi immediately placed his hand on Ga Deuk-sang’s back.

“Chief.”

“Close your mouth and eyes. Try to relax your mind.”

Woo-woo-woong.

The subtle sword energy flowed into Ga Deuk-sang’s body through his life gate [a vital point in traditional Chinese medicine].

Instantly, Ga Deuk-sang’s body trembled. The high-purity true energy entering his weakened body caused severe pain.

However, he didn’t utter a single groan.

Shortly after.

Fwaaah!

The turbid energy that had been eating away at Ga Deuk-sang’s body evaporated through his pores.

“This should be enough for you to move around for now.”

“Thank you.”

The sword energy mixed with the Mind Sword Energy (心劍之氣) [a martial art technique focusing on mental strength] had blown away the turbid energy that even the Open Heaven Sect’s secret elixir, which was beneficial for restoring internal energy, couldn’t handle.

It was an amazing martial art, but Ga Deuk-sang wasn’t impressed by it. Now wasn’t the time to be impressed by such things.

“What on earth happened?”

“We encountered the enemy.”

“Of course, but…”

“It wasn’t the Demonic Cult Leader. We clashed with the experts who follow him.”

Ga Deuk-sang looked to his left with sorrowful eyes.

Black smoke was rising from various parts of the village far to the left.

“They attacked the village. I don’t know why, but they just kept killing and burning everything.”

“…”

“I got quite injured while trying to stop them.”

It was probably by sheer luck that he was still alive. If Yeon-wi hadn’t arrived in time, Ga Deuk-sang’s condition was so severe that he would have not only lost his martial arts but also suffered from chronic illness for the rest of his life.

However, Ga Deuk-sang seemed more distressed by the fact that he couldn’t stop the enemy from invading the village than by his own condition. Although he didn’t shed tears, his eyes, looking at the devastated village, were filled with deep despair and self-reproach.

Yeon-wi, who had been silently watching Ga Deuk-sang, said as if throwing a stone.

“I heard you ascended to the position of Chief.”

“That’s right.”

“Becoming the Chief means you’re no longer a subordinate, right?”

Ga Deuk-sang looked at Yeon-wi. He didn’t understand what he was trying to say.

“I understand that you’re feeling self-loathing for not being able to stop the enemy. I also know that you’re frustrated by the fact that you couldn’t prevent innocent people from dying.”

“…”

“But you are the Chief. You’re no longer in a position to laugh and joke around as you please. Knowing how to hide your expression when you should laugh, and knowing how to laugh when you should cry. That’s what a leader is.”

“…”

“You are someone who still has a lot to do for the Central Plains [the heartland of Chinese civilization]. If you keep collapsing like this every moment, even if it’s just for a short time, who will the disciples believe in and follow?”

Ga Deuk-sang slowly looked around.

The disciples also looked as powerless as Ga Deuk-sang. Among them, there were disciples who had lost their arms in this battle, and there were disciples who were looking up at the sky with crutches.

They were probably feeling the same way as Ga Deuk-sang. Yet, they were somehow moving. Because there was nothing else they could do but move.

Ga Deuk-sang sighed.

‘It’s because of me.’

Yeon-wi was right.

Innocent people died at the hands of the enemy. Not being able to stop the enemy was a disgrace as a martial artist of the Central Plains.

However, if they were alive, if they hadn’t died, they had to run again. As the leader of a group, he had to encourage the disciples. So, he had to pull himself together so that they wouldn’t show such powerless appearances.

‘It’s not enough just to grieve for them. I’m still alive. There’s a lot I have to do. I shouldn’t waste time being consumed by despair in a place like this.’

Yeon-wi is also a man who loves the common people and respects chivalry. He too would be greatly angered and saddened by the fact that the village had suffered a tragedy.

Even so, he doesn’t show it. Because he knows that now is not the time to be caught up in anger and despair.

Now is the time to move.

Energetically, with the right mindset.

“I showed a pathetic side of myself. I’m sorry.”

“It can happen. You might do it again in the future. A leader becomes stronger based on such experiences.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Yeon-wi’s tone became more serious.

“From now on, your job is to use your information network that covers the entire Central Plains to inform each sect about the Demonic Cult Leader’s situation. Furthermore, you must inform them that they should never fight him.”

“Yes.”

“And there will be another thing you need to do. Tell me what it is.”

Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes began to regain their original sharpness.

“It is to prepare so that what happened in that village will not be repeated in the future.”

“That’s right.”

“But I don’t know if there is such a way.”

Ga Deuk-sang is a person who shows unwavering will at any time, in any situation. He may seem light and frivolous at first glance, but inside, he was a person who was more solid than anyone else.

Even he seemed to have been greatly shocked by the enemy’s power.

“There is always a way. It’s just that we haven’t found it yet.”

Yeon-wi said in a more firm voice.

“Besides, you didn’t fight the Demonic Cult Leader. To be honest, if you had fought the Cult Leader, you wouldn’t even be here talking to me right now.”

“…”

“You must know that. Yet, you’re saying it’s hard to stop the enemy. I know that the number of enemies has decreased a lot, but is there a reason why you particularly rate them so highly?”

While calmly easing Ga Deuk-sang’s mind, he also gets what he needs. He is not usually talkative to others except his children, but the fact that he is talking so much means that the current situation is that serious.

Ga Deuk-sang replied with a dark face.

“They were different.”

“What was different? Were they stronger than expected?”

“They were strong, but… fundamentally, something was different.”

“…?”

“When I first faced them, I was so shocked that I couldn’t even recall the formulas of the Dragon Subduing Divine Art [a powerful martial arts technique].”

Yeon-wi’s eyes shook.

“What does that mean?”

“It’s exactly as I said. I forgot the formulas of the Dragon Subduing Divine Art, which my deceased master had trained me to the point of being engraved in my bones, the moment I faced them.”

“…!”

“It’s not like they used any great tricks either.”

Ga Deuk-sang closed his eyes tightly.

“Their heterogeneous energy, their gazes, made me forget even the formulas of my martial arts.”

“Tell me in detail.”

“Their martial arts were as great as the elite forces of the Black Imperial Star or the Martial Alliance. I know that better than anyone else. But their gazes and energy… it’s something I’ve never experienced before, so it’s hard to describe.”

“…”

“What’s certain is that anyone who faces such energy will have a hard time maintaining their sanity.”

Ga Deuk-sang is a supreme master.

He hasn’t been able to train as deeply as others because he’s been so busy, but that’s what makes him even more amazing. He was only approaching forty, yet he possessed martial arts comparable to the leaders of the Nine Great Sects, so his talent was not to be ignored.

That’s why this statement is terrifying. It means that even with his talent and mental strength, which are second to none, he was so shocked that he forgot the formulas of his martial arts the moment he faced the enemy.

‘Could it be?’

Woo-woo-woong.

He slightly released the Yeon Family Divine Pill located in his upper dantian [an energy center in the body] and focused on Ga Deuk-sang.

In that instant, Yeon-wi could see it. The blue dot imprinted between Ga Deuk-sang’s eyebrows.

‘He’s terrified?’

If that dot visible between his eyebrows had turned red, it would mean he was consumed by anger, and if it had turned black, it would mean he was in despair.

Ga Deuk-sang’s was close to dark blue. It meant he was feeling both fear and despair at the same time.

The fact that the enemy’s presence was so great that it shocked the upper dantian of a supreme master.

No matter how great Yeon-wi’s divine power was, there was a difference between seeing something directly and seeing it from afar. That’s why even Yeon-wi couldn’t clearly know why Ga Deuk-sang was in this state, or what the enemy’s energy was like.

Moreover, his upper dantian often went out of control even though he had formed the Yeon Family Divine Pill. It meant that his ability was not perfect.

‘This is not something I can eliminate.’

He could soothe Ga Deuk-sang’s mind with the Mind Sword Energy.

But even if he did, he would inevitably return to his original state if he let his guard down. This was a problem that he had to overcome entirely on his own.

“Chief Ga.”

“…Yes.”

“If I, and Ho-jeong, had faced those guys, would we have despaired?”

Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes shook.

“What do you think? Would my son and I be so shocked that we would forget the formulas of our martial arts in front of the enemy?”

“…I don’t think so.”

“That’s right. We wouldn’t. I don’t know what you saw, but we would never do that. I have that much pride.”

“…”

“Also, that’s not just about me or Ho-jeong. If they are masters who have reached the pinnacle, they would be able to fight against those guys somehow.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Then, your job is to handle the pinnacle masters well.”

“…!”

“Even a master of your caliber was greatly shocked while facing the enemy soldiers. Then, you have to move masters who are stronger than you.”

Yeon-wi pointed to the village.

“That’s how you can prevent what happened in that village from happening again. Isn’t that right?”

Ga Deuk-sang’s eyes gradually cleared.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Pull yourself together. There is something only you can do. The position of Chief of the Ten Thousand Beggars Sect is irreplaceable.”

“…”

“Use us. If it’s too much, move Jeagal Gunsa and Ho-jeong, and even the Black Imperial Star’s soldiers, and use us. That’s what you have to do.”

Ga Deuk-sang’s jaw jutted out.

“I’m sorry. I showed a pathetic side of myself again.”

“I was just watching a man who will become the head of the greatest information organization in the world grow. Don’t think of it as a pathetic side.”

If he couldn’t shake it off and just kept his head in his hands even though there was someone who said this much, then he truly didn’t deserve to be the Chief.

Ga Deuk-sang shouted to a nearby disciple.

“Issue the Five-Colored Emergency Order (汚色非常令) [a high-level alert] to the entire sect right now! From now on, all external exchanges are prohibited, and only the Demonic Cult and the Blood Demon Cult are to be thoroughly investigated! Issue orders to all the disciples scattered throughout the Central Plains!”

“A, understood!”

Ga Deuk-sang turned his gaze to Yeon-wi.

The Chief of the Ten Thousand Beggars Sect, who had begun to overcome his fear and was full of chivalry, was shining his eyes.

“I have a request for you, Chief.”

“Tell me anything.”

“They are now leaving Shandong. Judging by the direction they are advancing, it is clear that they are heading to Hebei.”

“Hebei…”

“Please meet with the Divine Flower Cult Leader, Gi Cheon-ung, right away. I will arrange the meeting.”