Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 243

“Cough!”

Baekseo’s eyes widened.

“D-Deputy Leader.”

Yangcheon slowly opened his eyes. His gaze, somehow hazy, was filled with deep fatigue.

“…Baekseo, is that you?”

“Yes, Deputy Leader. Are you alright?”

Yangcheon didn’t answer. He closed his eyes again, took a deep breath, and checked his body’s condition before finally speaking.

“Did I collapse?”

His tone was calm.

It was the voice of an absolute being who never lost his composure in any situation. Baekseo finally realized that his lord had regained his senses.

“Yes, you did.”

“What did the physician say?”

“They haven’t yet determined the exact cause.”

“Hmm.”

“However…”

“Speak.”

Baekseo, who had been hesitating for a moment, spoke with determination.

“According to the Intelligence Chief’s diagnosis, there’s something unusual about the wound on your chest.”

Yangcheon’s eyes flashed.

“My chest?”

“Yes. Given the circumstances, please forgive me for having the Intelligence Chief examine you.”

It wasn’t something he needed forgiveness for. Rather, Baekseo’s efforts to find the cause were welcome.

However, it was unexpected that the Intelligence Chief had seen something that even the physician had missed.

“Where is the Intelligence Chief now?”

“That is…”

Yangcheon looked at Baekseo.

He looked uncharacteristically troubled. Surprisingly, there was even a hint of regret in his expression.

Yangcheon instinctively knew that the situation was not normal.

“Explain. What happened after I collapsed?”

“Understood.”

Baekseo bowed his head and recounted everything that had happened without embellishment.

Yangcheon’s face twisted in anger.

“Heukyang, that bastard?!”

“Yes, sir.”

He knew that the man was still connected to the Demonic Cult. But he never imagined that he would betray him so openly.

Moreover, the Intelligence Chief said that he had collapsed because of the scar on his chest.

Regardless of how he knew that, this scar was from an attack by the Demonic Cult Leader’s Yin Desolate Divine Palm [a powerful martial arts technique]. And Heukyang had betrayed him.

It felt like something was clicking into place in his mind.

“Is he locked up in the prison?”

“Yes, he is. However, it seems the Intelligence Chief felt a sense of urgency in the process of capturing him. He’s in pretty bad shape.”

“As long as he’s alive, that’s enough.”

Yangcheon sat up.

Baekseo felt suffocated by the aura of an absolute being emanating from his entire body.

“As long as he’s alive, that’s enough.”

“And…”

Baekseo gritted his teeth.

It was a huge shock that Heukyang was a traitor, but the truth was, there was something even more shocking.

“It seems… the Intelligence Chief is dead.”

Murderous intent filled Yangcheon’s eyes.

“Explain. In detail!”

* * *

“Huff.”

Jeagal Ayeon gasped for breath.

Paah!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had quickly approached her side, placed his hand on her vital point.

Woo woong.

He used the Black Tortoise Energy [a type of internal energy] to create a channel for his inner energy to flow, and then poured Azure Dragon Energy [another type of internal energy] into that channel. Unless there was a serious problem with her cardiopulmonary system, he thought that Azure Dragon Energy would be more suitable than the rough White Tiger Energy [yet another type of internal energy].

Woo woong.

Color returned to Jeagal Ayeon’s face.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

He had used Azure Dragon Energy to dispel her fatigue and Black Tortoise Energy to remove some of the impurities, but that alone wouldn’t be a fundamental solution.

It wasn’t just Jeagal Ayeon. Dang Sang-A, as well as Ga Deuk-Sang and Pae Yul, had also consumed a significant amount of their inner energy. Their physical strength was a problem, but their dwindling inner energy was an even bigger issue.

“Damn it, I shouldn’t have gotten so worked up.”

In urgent situations, one shouldn’t be rigid. Jeagal Ayeon grumbled in a playful voice.

“You weren’t the only one who got worked up. We all did.”

“Woof.”

“What’s with that weird sound?”

“I have nothing to say.”

It was an attempt to lighten the mood, but in the end, dozens of civilians had died. The atmosphere couldn’t be easily lightened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked Ga Deuk-Sang.

“Where’s Gang Ryang?”

“Do you see that peak with the moonlight on it? He’s waiting there.”

“We should meet him in about half an hour.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked Pae Yul.

“Are you alright, Senior?”

“What do you take me for? I can run for another three days.”

“The situation will be over within three hours.”

“Didn’t you say three days?”

“Okay, okay.”

Pae Yul glared at him.

But that was it. After all, if Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t shown up in time, the entire operation would have turned into a disaster. No amount of thanks would be enough.

“What about the Dangs?”

“I’m fine.”

“You certainly seem relaxed. You have good stamina.”

Dang Sang-A forced a smile. She said she was fine, but she was also extremely fatigued.

Pae Yul asked Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“By the way, where’s your spear?”

“I left it behind. I thought that would make them believe I was dead.”

“Hmm.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was strong enough with his bare hands. But he was much stronger with a polearm.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“We’ve created some distance, and unless there’s a problem, we’ll be done in another half-day of running.”

“That’s the problem. There could be a problem.”

“We’ll figure it out somehow.”

Pae Yul’s eyes narrowed.

Somehow? It was hard to believe that those words had come from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth.

Woo woong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong activated his Eye Power [a special ability].

‘Gang Ryang is over there.’

It was near the northernmost part of the Tianzi Mountain in Hunan. [a mountain range in China]

Once they crossed Tianzi Mountain, they would be in Hubei. The moment they entered Hubei Province, the Mukryong Unit’s forces would have to stop their pursuit.

“Alright, let’s gather a little more strength.”

Paah!

The group ran again.

It was a repetition of short rests and desperate escapes. Their speed was sufficient, but the group’s stamina was noticeably decreasing.

How much time had passed?

‘……’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was running at the rear, narrowed his eyes.

“Senior.”

“Speak.”

“Just in case, I’ll go check the rear. Lead the others ahead.”

Pae Yul’s eyes flashed.

In the dark night, the two men’s eyes met in the air, sparking a silent conversation that the other exhausted members of the group didn’t notice.

[Are they on us?]

[Yes, they are.]

[Are they strong?]

[It will be difficult if we don’t cut them off.]

[Damn it.]

Pae Yul was about to tell him that he would go himself.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong subtly shook his head.

[Please take care of the others.]

[……]

[That’s an order as the acting team leader.]

Pae Yul gritted his teeth and turned away.

Flap!

Pae Yul took off his cloak and threw it to Yeon Ho-Jeong, then shouted briefly and forcefully.

“Let’s go!”

Paah.

The three people ran after Pae Yul.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was smiling as he watched them, suddenly met eyes with Jeagal Ayeon.

Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes were shaking violently. Even though she was exhausted and out of it, she had realized why Yeon Ho-Jeong was going to check the rear.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and waved his hand. It was a sign that he was telling her not to worry.

Sbahk.

And with that, everyone in the group disappeared from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sight.

Paah!

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned back in the direction they had come from and shot off with explosive movement.

‘They’re there.’

He couldn’t sense the presence of the Chambeak Unit [a military unit]. It was natural since they were already more than twenty li [a Chinese unit of distance, approximately 500 meters] away.

In other words.

‘Those guys are skilled enough to have overtaken the Chambeak Unit that left first.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong took a light breath.

“Well, nothing in this world is easy.”

Srrr.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smoothly relaxed his stance, suppressed his Death God Energy [a type of dark energy], and pushed his Biseon Energy [a type of internal energy] to its limit.

Woo woong.

The Biseon Energy resonated with the air. A clear, sky-blue aura settled in his pupils.

‘Here. Come here.’

Whoosh!

The blowing wind was cool.

The air was writhing. The experts who had been approaching in a wide formation suddenly converged into a sharp, pointed formation towards one point.

And the point that formation was aiming for was where Yeon Ho-Jeong was.

‘I’m sorry, but you’ll never be able to enter Tianzi Mountain.’

Flap!

He took off the robe he was wearing and burned it with Vermillion Bird Energy [a type of fire energy], then put on Pae Yul’s cloak.

With his nose and mouth covered by the hood, more than half of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face was hidden.

“Hoo.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong slowly exhaled and relaxed his power.

How much time had passed?

Sbahk.

On the dark mountain path, the sound of someone stepping on fallen leaves could be heard.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was still breathing with his eyes closed. The breathing of an inner energy master was longer and more solid than that of an ordinary person, but Yeon Ho-Jeong’s breathing was especially long.

Sbahk, sbahk.

Perhaps they had judged that there was no immediate threat.

From the darkness, about thirty experts began to reveal themselves one by one.

“……”

A strange silence fell.

After a moment, someone asked.

“The mysterious expert who collapsed the entrance of the Mukryong Unit [a military unit] and annihilated the Third and Fourth Chambeak Units. Suspicious individuals suspected of having some connection with the Moyong Clan.”

“……”

“Where are the others?”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong took a deep breath.

Woo woong.

The Biseon Energy surrounding his entire body emitted an even more intense and brilliant blue light.

The man who had been quietly watching Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke again.

“I’ll ask one last time. Where are the others…”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s breathing stopped.

“Hup!”

Thwack!

The head of the man who had been speaking shattered into pieces.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had closed the distance like a flash and shattered his head in one blow, already had eyes filled with the majesty of a mountain king.

Krrrreung.

A beast’s roar escaped from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth.

It was a roar of a demonic beast that was on a different level than Cheongho’s roar.

“Kill him!”

Paah!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘They’re fast.’

Even though their leader had been killed, there was no sign of agitation. That was the feeling of their energy.

Moreover, their movements were efficient.

‘Are they the Death Soul Squad?’

The Mukryong Unit’s assassination specialists.

They were a different kind of force than the Chambeak Unit, a group of killers. The Death Soul Squad was a death unit that showed the Mukryong Unit’s will to kill.

And what did the deployment of the Death Soul Squad mean?

‘Yangcheon has awakened!’

Whoosh! Kwaaang!

The explosive strike of the Tiger King’s Nine Wall Stance [a martial arts technique] sent three members of the Death Soul Squad flying.

From the sound alone, it sounded like a bomb had exploded. That was how powerful the fist strike was, but the three people who had been sent flying only staggered for a moment and didn’t die.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

Paah!

Four narrow swords were fired from precise locations.

However, the killing intent in the swords was too faint. It was questionable whether these were swords that were actually meant to kill.

Parararak!

The cloak fluttered brilliantly, dodging all four narrow swords.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s legs swung like windmills.

Thwack!

He struck four times, but no one died. The Death Soul Squad members who had been waiting in the rear immediately moved in to disperse the force.

‘This is bad.’

They were incredibly skilled at dispersing power. If it were a one-on-one fight, he was confident that he could win within three moves, but the more of them there were, the exponentially more difficult it became to deal with them.

“Damn it, this fight is going to be long.”

There was no choice. For the sake of his group, for the sake of his mission, and for his own sake, he had to defeat these guys somehow.

‘If I don’t deal with these guys, then Yangcheon will come out. No, maybe he already has.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s cheek twitched.

‘If possible, go to Moyong Gun!’

Whirr!

The Vermillion Bird Energy surged, and the ultimate killing technique, the Crimson Flame Six Kill Strike [a martial arts technique], appeared.

Thwack!

At that moment.

The Myeolsa Army [a military unit] entered Tianzi Mountain.