Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 194

Pa-pa-pang!

Tang Sang-ah, who had been advancing slowly like a snake, suddenly unleashed an explosive palm technique and gasped for breath.

‘It’s tough.’

The venom emanating from her palm felt like it was about to backfire.

Excessive internal energy consumption had left her internal meridians in tatters. If she were to focus on recovery, she could return to normal within three or four days, but there was no need to continue such intense training that damaged her body in the first place.

Of course, Tang Sang-ah didn’t think that her martial arts would improve by repeatedly engaging in unreasonable training.

‘It’s hard, but I have to endure it.’

What she wanted was a way to maximize efficiency in extreme situations.

Tang Sang-ah recalled that time.

The madness of the gray wolves in the wilderness, who had accumulated malice for years, whose individual skills were not very high, but who were strong as a group.

‘They were strong.’

Tang Sang-ah’s face hardened with tension.

‘I thought they were nothing, but they were so strong.’

Unlike most members of the Tang family, Tang Sang-ah was naturally gentle and bright.

However, the unique venom and tenacity of the Tang family clearly remained in her veins. And in this battle, she unleashed the ferocity of her bloodline without reservation.

However.

‘I was incompetent.’

The number of enemies she killed with poison and hidden weapons was in the dozens.

She did not regret that action. Regardless of the amount of combat experience, they were enemies and villains. Furthermore, it was a situation where she would have died if she hadn’t killed them.

The problem was their response.

‘My allies died because of me.’

The Hallway Unit thoroughly avoided Tang Sang-ah and ravaged the Tang Army.

It was natural. Tang Sang-ah’s poison and hidden weapons were fatal even with a graze. The Hallway Unit wasn’t stupid, so there was no reason for them to approach her.

Tang Sang-ah fought her way through them until the end, but the Hallway Unit only targeted the enemies around her.

In the end, mountains of corpses of enemies and allies piled up around her.

Of course, it wasn’t her fault that her allies died. But Tang Sang-ah couldn’t think that way at all.

It was because she was the only one who survived.

Pa-a-a-ang!

Even though her whole body was drained of strength, she used a resilient fist-palm technique.

Her muscles and even her bones ached. Still, she didn’t stop.

‘What’s even scarier is…’

Tang Sang-ah, who was swinging her arms forcefully, bit her lip.

‘That I collapsed like a fool.’

It was the first time. The first time she had tried to kill an enemy with gritted teeth after exhausting her stamina and internal energy.

It was the first time. The first time she had collapsed to the point where she couldn’t endure it with her willpower.

In the end, more of her comrades were sacrificed to protect her.

Tang Sang-ah’s eyes became bloodshot.

The faces of the soldiers who died because of her came to mind.

Kwaang!

The bark of the tree was deeply gouged by her powerful punch.

Trickle.

Blood flowed from her fist. Her internal energy control was unstable, and she had failed to protect her fist.

“Hah! Hah!”

Tang Sang-ah, gasping for breath, sat down on the spot.

Tears flowed from her eyes.

‘I’m sorry.’

She couldn’t sleep a wink and just cried throughout the memorial service period.

Later, she couldn’t even cry anymore. So, she started training. She thought that if she pushed her body to the limit with such harsh training that her mind would fly away, she might be able to escape this sadness.

Of course, the result was not good.

“Haa.”

Tang Sang-ah, covered in sweat, tears, and blood, lay down on the spot.

She didn’t care about anything anymore.

‘I was such a powerless being.’

She suddenly remembered her grandfather’s words.

‘In my opinion, the main family needs a new wind. And I think you can be a great help to the main family. So, don’t ignore reality just because you’re feeling complicated, and train hard.’

Her grandfather’s words were right.

Does the family need a new wind? That was a problem to think about later.

She had to train harder and deal with things more ruthlessly. If necessary, she had to become more vicious than anyone in the Tang family.

To live as she wanted, that level of determination was essential.

Tang Sang-ah closed her eyes.

Her rough breathing gradually subsided. When she relaxed her body, her whole body creaked.

How long had it been?

“Snot.”

“Huh!”

Tang Sang-ah was startled and opened her eyes.

A young man was looking down at her with a strange expression.

“A face covered in tears and sweat, and even snot? What a mess?”

Tang Sang-ah quickly raised her upper body.

“W-who are you?”

The young man, Yeon Ho-Jeong, grinned.

“It’s been a while, Tang Sang-ah, soldier.”

Ah, right. I’m a soldier of the Tang Army, aren’t I?

Tang Sang-ah quickly got up and bowed her head. Her back ached as if it would break.

“I greet the Eradication Army Commander.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Your military discipline is very sharp? My guys should learn from you. These guys treat me too casually, even in private.”

“……Yes?”

“Well, that’s beside the point.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around the open space.

“It’s a mess. It doesn’t look like normal training, were you just venting your anger?”

Tang Sang-ah didn’t answer. She wasn’t in the right state of mind to answer.

“But what brings you here…?”

“Is it hard?”

“Yes?”

“Not physically, but you seem to be having a hard time mentally.”

Tang Sang-ah bit her lip.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine?”

“…What brings you here?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke bluntly.

“I’ve been assigned a special mission this time. It’s a bit dangerous, so I think it would be better to move with a small group. So, I’ve been gathering various talents.”

“…?”

“I thought you might be needed, but with that state of mind, it seems impossible.”

Tang Sang-ah’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his body.

“Take good care of yourself. If fate allows, let’s meet again later.”

“What is the mission?”

“Huh?”

“What kind of mission is it that you need me for?”

Again, Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke honestly.

“There’s something I need to find out by infiltrating the Black Path Martial World [a term for the underworld of martial arts].”

“Is it that dangerous?”

“Yang Cheon is involved.”

“Yang Cheon?”

Tang Sang-ah, who had been tilting her head for a moment, suddenly widened her eyes.

“Wait, Yang Cheon, as in the Martial Monarch Yang Cheon [a title for a powerful martial artist]?”

“That’s why it’s dangerous.”

“Gasp!”

For a very brief moment, Tang Sang-ah was able to escape from her extreme self-loathing and sadness.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged his shoulders.

“It’ll be thrilling, right? It’s unlikely to happen, but if you make a mistake, you might run into one of the strongest people in the martial world.”

“…!”

“Well, you’ve seen your grandfather a lot, so you might not be that impressed.”

While the Martial Monarch Yang Cheon was undoubtedly a dangerous figure, the reputation of the Dark King, who was considered the best in the history of the Tang family, was different.

In the martial world, the Dark King Tang Hyeong was treated as the equivalent of a grim reaper. It was said that not even a single blade of grass would grow in the place where Tang Hyeong, the king of death who wielded poison and hidden weapons like his own limbs, had passed.

And Tang Sang-ah was a genius who had been directly taught by that very Dark King.

“Anyway, I’m leaving now.”

“……”

“…Um, should I give you a piece of advice before I go?”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said with a serious face.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but if you ever feel like you’re lacking in strength, look to the world.”

“……?!”

“There’s no need to be tied down to the Tang Army. If you want to become stronger, you might as well quit and go out into the world alone. That would be better.”

Tang Sang-ah was flustered.

“Q-quit the Tang Army?”

“Why? You can quit. Well, it’s not my place to say that, since I’m the one who forced you into the Tang Army.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Whether it’s a military organization or a martial arts organization, maximum efficiency is achieved when all individual members dedicate themselves to the organization. But looking at your current state, it doesn’t seem like it’s beneficial to you or the Tang Army?”

“…!”

“Live wisely. One experience of belonging to a powerless group with no acquaintances is enough, right?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his body.

Watching him walk away without hesitation, Tang Sang-ah asked.

“Are you sure, Commander?”

“Sure about what?”

“Sure that you’re doing well.”

“In addition to that, I also know how to live and where to put my efforts.”

“…!”

“It’s not that difficult. The hardest part is the process of making a decision. If you derive an answer from that process, the rest will naturally be resolved.”

“The process…”

Tang Sang-ah asked again.

“You came because you needed me, right?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“But if I don’t go, it won’t be the ‘best’ option.”

“But I can’t take someone who isn’t in good shape. Everyone will be in danger.”

“…!!”

“A broken body can be fixed with medicine, but only you know how to make a troubled person feel better. That’s why I’m giving up. I don’t know how to make you feel better.”

Tang Sang-ah bit her lip without realizing it. The words that everyone would be in danger pierced her heart like a dagger.

Yeon Ho-Jeong glanced at Tang Sang-ah.

“It’s up to you how you take my advice. But don’t forget this one thing.”

“…?”

“If you didn’t have the ability, would I have come all the way here to ask you?”

With those words, Yeon Ho-Jeong left the open space.

Tang Sang-ah’s eyes wavered.

Her already frustrated mind became even more complicated. But her hand, still stained with blood, was already clenched into a fist.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, walking through the forest, said in a calm voice.

“You can come out now, right?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Moyong Gun appeared from behind a large tree.

“I think about this sometimes.”

“Huh?”

“Maybe Yeon-je’s strongest weapon isn’t martial arts, but his way with words.”

“Do you mean I’m all talk?”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong burst into laughter.

“He has the gift of gab to sell the Yangtze River if he needs to. I’m impressed sometimes.”

Moyong Gun chuckled at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s easygoing manner.

“Even that great gift of gab didn’t work this time.”

“It’s not bad, what are you talking about?”

“I’m sorry. If possible, I would have given the order as the commander, but since her condition is like that, I can’t easily recommend her.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“The more severe the growing pains, the stronger the conviction becomes. Don’t worry. She’s just getting started.”

“Is that so?”

Moyong Gun sighed.

“Anyway, Yeon-je must be frustrated. If there are any qualifications you need, tell this old man. I’ll try to find the best person possible.”

“I’ve already found everyone, what are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

“I just found the last person, there’s no one else to find now.”

Moyong Gun was flustered.

“Found? But surely Miss Tang…”

“She’ll come.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong gave a wicked smile.

“Do you really think I was just trying to comfort that person with all that talk?”

“…Huh?”

“I need a capable member of the Tang family. But I can’t take Tang Gwan, so I have to take her.”

“…?!”

Moyong Gun’s mouth dropped open.

“You weren’t comforting Miss Tang, you were planning to make her follow you voluntarily?”

“What could be a more effective way to persuade someone who is suffering from self-loathing for being incompetent than to tell them that they are a necessary talent?”

“Cough!”

“It was a bit cringey, but I have to endure this much cringe to recruit the necessary talent.”

Three days later.

Tang Sang-ah, who was somewhat haggard but whose eyes were much clearer than three days ago, came to the Pagun Pavilion.

“I greet the Commander.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tried hard to stop his cheekbones from rising to his eyebrows.

“Welcome, Tang Sang-ah, soldier.”