Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 318

Swish!

A sharp gust of sword wind sliced through the air.

The sword wind was sharp, but the movement that unleashed the blade was slow and gentle. It was a Wudang martial art specialized in the principles of ‘after’ and ‘softness,’ ‘striking first after the opponent moves,’ and ‘using four ounces to move a thousand pounds’ [a concept of using minimal force to overcome a greater force].

‘Hmm.’

Okcheong shook his head.

‘It only looks good; it’s hard to use in actual combat.’

It might look impressive to someone who reads energy, but for Okcheong, the one wielding the sword, it was a disappointing strike.

If Okcheong hadn’t joined the Myulsagun [a special military unit] and was still focused on mountain training, he would have been satisfied with it. But for Okcheong, who had experienced real combat, the current sword strike was only impressive on the surface and lacked practicality.

‘Wudang’s sword is different from the swordsmanship of the secular world. The main sect’s sword has developed purely as a tool for realizing the Dao [the Way, a philosophical concept]. In terms of sword intent, it’s more mysterious than any other swordsmanship in the Central Plains, but it’s hard to use in actual combat.’

It wasn’t that Wudang’s swordsmanship was wrong.

It was a matter of enlightenment. High-level martial arts all had that aspect, but especially Wudang’s martial arts changed in sword power depending on enlightenment and mindset.

It wasn’t a martial art that anyone could use just by learning it. However, like any excellent orthodox martial art, once you reached a certain level, the power manifested through enlightenment overwhelmed actual combat.

That was why the martial arts displayed by the elders of the Wudang Sect, masters above the elder level, awed the world. They were already well-versed in Wudang martial arts, so they had no problems with the harsh world, even without experiencing actual combat.

‘But not me.’

Okcheong acknowledged his limitations.

‘Maybe my master also wanted me to walk the same path as the elder brothers. But I won’t walk that path.’

Now Okcheong could understand why his master, Tak Mu-Ja, the strongest master of the Wudang Sect, had said that he was born with the talent of a martial god.

It was because Okcheong’s nature and physique were specialized for Wudang martial arts. In other words, if he hadn’t joined the Myulsagun and had continued his training, Okcheong would have been able to implement all of Wudang’s martial arts in actual combat within a few years.

But his master’s wish and Okcheong’s eyes were looking in completely different directions.

‘I don’t want to become a hermit. Since I was born into this world, I want to travel around the world and experience many things.’

That desire also played a part in his training stagnating for several years.

His master’s expectations, his fellow disciples’ encouragement, his junior disciples’ envy, and Okcheong’s own desires all hindered his progress.

‘I feel alive now.’

He joined the Myulsagun and fought against evil people.

It was a fight against evil people, but in the end, it was about seeing blood. Okcheong was still not used to seeing blood.

However, he realized that when facing an enemy with a sword, there should be no hesitation. Just realizing that one thing made Okcheong’s martial arts grow as if they had sprouted wings.

“Hoo.”

Okcheong smacked his lips.

“As a disciple of the Taoist sect, always thinking only of the killing sword, this is not the right path either.”

Recently, after training with the soldiers, no matter how tired he was, he would wield the Wudang’s immortal sword alone. As a disciple of Wudang, it was to prevent his mind from becoming clouded.

Still, it seemed he had held the killing sword for a long time. Even while training with the immortal sword, he was somehow thinking about the mysteries of the practical sword.

“I need to reflect.”

Just as Okcheong was about to sheathe his sword and enter his residence.

‘Huh?’

Okcheong turned his body.

In the distance, a swordsman with a sharp and heavy aura was walking towards him.

‘That person is…?’

It was the young man that Yeon Ho-Jeong had once brought to the Myulsagun training grounds.

His name was Gang Ryang. He was a very rough but high-level master with a considerable aura.

Soon after, Gang Ryang stood in front of Okcheong.

“Greetings.”

Okcheong also responded with a greeting to Gang Ryang’s greeting.

“Yes. But what brings you here at this late hour…?”

“It’s late at night, but I have a request for you, fellow Daoist.”

“For me?”

Gang Ryang spoke directly.

“Would it be possible for us to spar?”

Okcheong’s eyes widened.

“You mean with me?”

“Yes.”

“Why with me…?”

He knew that Yeon Ho-Jeong cherished Gang Ryang a lot. He had heard that they called each other brother in private.

If he had no achievement in swordsmanship, he could have asked Yeon Ho-Jeong, so why did he suddenly come to him?

Gang Ryang smiled faintly.

“I want to exchange swords with many people. That’s all.”

Okcheong also smiled.

When he first saw him, his eyes seemed somewhat unstable.

But not now. His two eyes, full of firm will, proved that his soul was as strong as anyone else’s.

Okcheong took a fist salute [a traditional greeting].

“I hope we can learn a lot from each other.”

“Thank you.”

Clang!

The two drew their swords without either one making the first move.

Okcheong, who was carefully looking at Gang Ryang, suddenly tilted his head at a thought that came to mind.

“But, Young Master Gang.”

“Yes?”

“This is sudden, but may I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Has the Commander been very busy lately? I haven’t seen his face at all recently.”

If Gang Ryang’s aura had been so fierce that it couldn’t be ignored, Okcheong wouldn’t have dared to think of anything else. That’s how lacking Gang Ryang was.

But Gang Ryang wasn’t offended at all. He knew his own shortcomings better than anyone else.

Gang Ryang smiled and replied.

“I don’t know for sure, but he’s working day and night for the peace of the Alliance.”

“For the peace of the Alliance…”

“Then, shall we begin now?”

“Ah! I’m sorry. Let’s begin.”

Whoosh!

The two rushed towards each other at the same time.

* * *

Gi Woo-Hee’s eyes deepened.

Swoosh.

Muk Bi entered her room.

“Where is Commander Yeon?”

“He followed. I came to prepare for any possible situation. I will protect you, Doctor.”

Gi Woo-Hee smiled.

“That’s reassuring.”

Muk Bi put down the Red Lotus Bow and scanned the surroundings. The room was blocked on all sides except for one window, but her eyes scanned the unseen places.

Gi Woo-Hee didn’t say that she didn’t need to be so on edge. She didn’t bother to explain that with her innate senses, she could catch any assassin.

“But, Deputy Commander Muk.”

“Yes, please speak.”

Even while answering, Muk Bi’s eyes were shining sharply.

“Do you know much about the Three Teachings?”

“Not at all.”

“I see.”

“Why do you ask?”

“No, it’s just that I was curious.”

“What part?”

“Isn’t it normal for people in the Central Plains not to know about the Three Teachings? Like you, Deputy Commander Muk.”

“That’s right. Since they haven’t revealed themselves, there’s no way to know unless you’re one of the very few who have contacted them.”

“But Commander Yeon seems to know a lot about the Three Teachings. In some ways, he seems to know more than I do.”

Muk Bi smiled.

“There’s a saying that the one who knows a sheep well is not another sheep, but a wolf.”

“Are you saying he knows well because he’s a hunter?”

“I’m just saying that. No matter how good a hunter is, how can he know anything about prey he’s never seen?”

Muk Bi didn’t explain about Yeon Ho-Jeong’s regression. She wouldn’t believe it, and even if there came a time to talk about it, she shouldn’t be the one to do it.

Gi Woo-Hee, who was tilting her head, smiled at a thought that suddenly came to mind.

“Deputy Commander Muk, you really trust Commander Yeon deeply.”

“Of course.”

“Is there a story behind it?”

How could she simply explain that long story?

Muk Bi smiled slightly and said.

“It’s fun to be with him. It’ll probably be quite sweet and dangerous this time too.”

Gi Woo-Hee’s smile became a little bitter.

“I see.”

“But what did you give them as fake information? Young Master Yeon didn’t tell me.”

Gi Woo-Hee’s eyes widened.

“You didn’t hear?”

“No.”

“Oh my…”

“Why? Is it information that could cause a problem?”

“Ah, no. It’s not information that could cause a problem… Well, of course, in some ways, it could be a problem.”

Muk Bi’s gaze turned to Gi Woo-Hee for the first time.

Gi Woo-Hee opened her mouth with a face that seemed to be wondering if she should say it.

“It was information about Commander Yeon himself.”

“…!!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘It’s here.’

The contact’s residence was in the Sogang Group of the outer fortress of the Martial Alliance.

The Sogang Group was a place that managed food supplies brought in from the outside. As it was a food storage that managed the entire inner and outer fortresses of the Martial Alliance, its size was enormous.

‘What a great sense of smell.’

As it was a place where various food ingredients were stored and managed, the smell of dried food ingredients was quite strong.

To live in such a place and smell the tracking incense from the inner fortress. Even if they were trained, it was an unbelievable sense of smell. Considering the distance and environment, it was better than a dog’s nose.

‘So it’s less suspicious.’

If Gi Woo-Hee’s spy activities were discovered, she would have to reveal how she transmitted the information.

If she said she used tracking incense, people would first take their eyes off the Sogang Group. As a contact, it was a simple yet effective workplace.

Swoosh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong hid in a tree.

After a while.

Flap.

A small bird flew up.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘It’s not it.’

At first, he thought it was a carrier pigeon, but it wasn’t. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, which had pushed his eyesight to the limit, noticed that there was nothing tied to the bird’s ankle.

‘They sent it first to prepare for any possible situation.’

Indeed, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s judgment was correct.

Half an hour later, another bird flew up from the contact’s residence.

Flap!

The sound of its wings was smaller than before, but it was faster.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘That’s it.’

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong chased after the bird in an instant.

The bird’s speed was fast. If he was determined to catch it, he could, but the problem was that he had to leave the outer fortress without anyone knowing, so he couldn’t use Blood Wing Soaring Sky or Thousand Mile Cloud Steps [advanced movement techniques].

Whoosh!

Even so, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s movement technique was fast and stealthy.

He had formed the Yeon Family Divine Core, and the density of his inner energy was much higher than before. He could travel ten miles in an instant with just a fingernail’s worth of inner energy.

In addition, his speed had also increased. He couldn’t overtake the bird, but he could easily follow closely behind it.

Whoosh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body, covered in black clothes, crossed the outer fortress wall without anyone noticing.

He crossed the enormous wall without making a sound. His movements and the use of his true energy had reached a divine level.

Whoosh!

After crossing the outer fortress, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s speed increased even more. It was quite an explosive movement, but since forming the Yeon Family Divine Core, his stamina had also increased significantly.

Elasticity, explosiveness, and stamina had all improved. Yeon Ho-Jeong was confident and chased after the bird.

How long had he been running?

‘……!!’

Finally, he saw the bird slowly descending.

The bird, which had been descending little by little, finally disappeared into a small hut in a mountain valley a little away from the village.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled brightly.

Whoosh!

His figure approached the vicinity of the hut in an instant.