Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 337

Moyong Gun, having left his residence, faced Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was standing in the path.

“……”

A strange silence hung between them.

Moyong Gun was the first to break it.

“Are you heading to the battlefield or something?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke, his face devoid of expression.

“If it involves you, I’d rather go to war.”

“Your high praise is always a pleasure to hear.”

Though he said this, Moyong Gun felt a subtle tension.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was fully armed.

It wasn’t the attire of a Myeolsa Army General [Myeolsa Army: A military unit known for its elite warriors]. Over a high-quality red martial robe, he wore a rather thick white overcoat. Beyond its fine appearance, the weapons he carried were incredibly menacing.

Inside the overcoat, a blackish-gray iron chain, diagonally crossing his upper body, looked as sturdy as armor.

On his shoulder was the famous weapon of the Byeoksanhojang [Byeoksanhojang: A title for a powerful warrior], the Gwangryong Bu [Gwangryong Bu: A type of polearm], and on his waist, two rather sturdy-looking hand axes were attached like swords.

That wasn’t all. On the outside of his shins, daggers were tied along with tightly fastened greaves [Greaves: Armor for the shins]. He must have hidden other weapons in places not visible on the outside.

It was an outfit that made the term ‘fully armed’ seem inadequate. It was truly the appearance of a warrior going to war.

Moyong Gun opened his mouth, his expression cold.

“I know well that your internal energy technique is amazing. That skill of shooting killing intent only at me without causing any damage elsewhere, it’s a technique impossible without a deep understanding of internal energy.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Now, will you explain? Why you came all the way here at this late hour to reveal your killing intent to me?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

That chilling smile made Moyong Gun’s heart rate increase little by little.

‘What is this?’

It wasn’t because he was surprised by his skill or killing intent. He could feel that Yeon Ho-Jeong had grown even more than before, but he already knew Yeon Ho-Jeong’s talent well.

Moyong Gun was tense because of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s sudden actions.

Although they were in a tense standoff, Yeon Ho-Jeong had never acted so aggressively before.

There was definitely something unusual. It wasn’t Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial prowess but his intentions that were frightening.

“Let’s move the location first. I know a place suitable for conversation.”

Moyong Gun laughed coldly.

“Conversation?”

“That’s right.”

Moyong Gun, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, put his hands behind his back.

“Lead the way.”

“As you wish.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned and began to walk.

Following behind him, Moyong Gun thought.

‘What’s going on?’

Could it be that my daughter was caught passing information to the Mukryong Unit [Mukryong Unit: A mysterious and powerful military group]?

‘That’s impossible.’

Of course, nothing in the world is perfect. However, Moyong Gun was certain that the process by which Moyong Yeon-Hwa sent information to the Mukryong Unit had not been discovered.

He was sure not because he trusted his own thoroughness, but because of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s reaction. If that had been discovered, Yeon Ho-Jeong would have remained silent or launched a counterattack through behind-the-scenes maneuvers.

‘It’s not about the Mukryong Unit. Then what?’

Of course, he had been involved in many other things. But those were all things that happened outside the Murim Alliance [Murim Alliance: A powerful organization of martial artists]. Even those were mostly actions for the revival of his clan, so it was not something others should interfere with.

In a short time, Moyong Gun organized his thoughts.

‘It’s not because of something I or the main family did.’

The back of Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was walking with his back straight, seemed like it would not bend even in the face of a landslide.

‘Is there something I don’t know?’

After his rest and conversation with Moyong Woo, Moyong Gun had regained his past self.

Like back then, when he had sharpened his intuition and intelligence.

He had returned to the man who had created the decisive opportunity for the establishment of the Murim Alliance with his terrifying political power.

That’s why he could tell. The reason Yeon Ho-Jeong came today was not a trivial matter. It wasn’t to attack or bury him either.

‘No, is that not it?’

The killing intent Yeon Ho-Jeong had shot at him a little while ago was real. Its density was filled with a ferocity that could not have come from anything but sincerity.

‘Whatever the case, I’ll find out soon enough.’

Why this young monster came to find him.

How much time had passed?

“Here?”

“Have you been here before?”

“Of course.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“It’s one of the many battlefields located throughout the main alliance.”

It was the place where Gong Gong had given teachings to Yeon Ho-Jeong and Moyong Woo before the Tangma Myeolsa Allied Forces set out to annihilate the Hoirangdan [Hoirangdan: A group of bandits or rebels].

“A good place for conversation……”

The corners of Moyong Gun’s lips curled up.

“Was that conversation a conversation of swords?”

“Well.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong also smiled coldly.

“That depends on what kind of person you are.”

Moyong Gun pointed his chin at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s legs.

“Do you also handle daggers?”

“If necessary.”

“You handle them if necessary… Does that mean when you’re giving your all?”

“I have never not done my best in a real battle. However, it depends on who the opponent is.”

“It’s better to have more weapons when facing me?”

“That’s right.”

Thud!

The thick blade of the Gwangryong Bu was embedded in the ground.

Whoooom.

An unusual energy wave emanated from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body. The Yeon Family Divine Altar was being activated.

“Before the real battle, we haven’t ever compared our martial arts, have we? Except for a few playful exchanges of fists and kicks.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“That’s true. We’ve always just talked about killing each other.”

“Since it has come to this, shall we lightly exchange blows?”

“Blows……”

Zzzzzing! Zzzzzing!

Blue lightning began to flash from Moyong Gun’s fingertips.

“Blows are good. A martial artist reads the sincerity in their opponent’s martial arts. I have been wanting this as well.”

“Good.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and lowered his stance.

“Let’s begin.”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“Come.”

Swoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s charge was clean.

It wasn’t his usual straight and fast charge. It was fast enough, but anyone could tell that he wasn’t giving his all.

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung the Gwangryong Bu.

Whoosh!

Although he wasn’t giving his all, the sound of the heavy weapon, weighing over eighty geun [Geun: A traditional Korean unit of weight], cutting through the air was still terrifying.

Moyong Gun’s hand moved.

Clang!

With a clear metallic sound, Yeon Ho-Jeong stepped back a few steps.

Moyong Gun frowned.

“You’re not even showing three-tenths of your skill.”

“We agreed to keep it light.”

“That’s not what I meant. To swing with less than three-tenths of your power and have it be this strong… you are indeed powerful.”

“I’m going again.”

Thwack!

It was faster than before. But it still wasn’t enough to confuse Moyong Gun’s senses.

The two men’s weapons collided head-on.

Clang!

A heavier collision sound than before erupted.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had stepped back a few steps to offset the impact, opened his mouth.

“Do you remember the Uishinhoe [Uishinhoe: A mysterious organization with medical expertise]?”

Flash!

Moyong Gun instantly crossed the space and reached Yeon Ho-Jeong’s side.

“I remember.”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Powerful shockwaves erupted from the weapons that collided in a short moment.

Swoosh!

Thin branches swayed in the strong gust of wind.

It wasn’t a full-force collision, but it was already a battle between masters who had transcended human limits. Even a light exchange of blows was enough to damage external objects with just the shockwaves.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, holding the shaft of the Gwangryong Bu with both hands, aimed the end of the shaft at Moyong Gun’s side.

Whoosh!

Moyong Gun, who dodged like the wind, flicked his finger. It was a sharp finger wind.

Thwack!

The finger wind, which had passed Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had twisted his body skillfully, made a small hole in a tree.

“I heard from the Military Advisor. The reason why you hate the Uishinhoe.”

Moyong Gun smiled.

“Is that so.”

“That’s right.”

Clang! Clang!

If it weren’t for the constantly clashing weapons, it would have seemed like they were having a comfortable conversation.

It was a sparring match between masters who were so skilled that they could unleash their learned martial arts even in the subconscious realm. The depth and tenacity of their breathing were beyond imagination.

That’s why they could have such a conversation even while clashing fiercely.

“I also dislike the Uishinhoe. For a different reason than you.”

“They are a bunch of scoundrels. From the start, those whose profession is to fix people’s bodies forming a power and aiming for authority is absurd.”

“I agree with that thought. No, that’s almost the entire reason. The reason I dislike them.”

“I already looked at them with disdain, and they dared to try to touch the main alliance. If I were the Alliance Leader, I would have already uprooted the Uishinhoe.”

“You would have.”

Thwack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been skillfully handling the Gwangryong Bu and facing Moyong Gun, suddenly used a leg technique.

It was a powerful short-range kick aimed at the upper body. Moyong Gun tilted his head back as if he had been waiting for it.

Thud!

The air exploded from the leg technique that had whipped through the air like a whip.

“To you, the Murim Alliance is a sacred place. In the eyes of someone who wants to become the master of that sacred place, those who dared to try to touch the Murim Alliance wouldn’t look good.”

“You know me well. I don’t know why you’re bringing that up now.”

Clang! Clang! Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong was pushed back. He had taken a blow from Moyong Gun’s internal energy.

But even so, there was no damage. It was partly because Yeon Ho-Jeong’s skill in deflecting attacks was great, but also because the power in Moyong Gun’s internal energy was weak.

Yeon Ho-Jeong lowered his stance again.

“How did you become so obsessed with the Murim Alliance?”

“That’s ridiculous. Obtaining the Murim Alliance is no different from obtaining the world. It’s only natural for a man to aim for the world.”

“The Murim Alliance is not the world. It’s just a part of the world.”

“The biggest part of the world.”

“Are you confident in facing the Mukryong Unit?”

Swoosh.

Moyong Gun, who was about to attack, lowered his sword.

Moyong Gun, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong with clear eyes, shook his head.

“If you’re trying to probe that, stop it. You’ve already concluded that I have some kind of relationship with Yang Cheon, haven’t you?”

“You see well.”

“Whatever it is, I don’t want to talk about that anymore.”

“Is that so? Then how about this story?”

“……?”

“That there is an unknown organization that has infiltrated the government and the imperial family. And that one of those unknown organizations is backing Yang Cheon and greatly helped in establishing the Mukryong Unit.”

“……!!”

Moyong Gun’s eyes wavered.

At that moment, a flame-like killing intent erupted from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had charged with a roar, swung the Gwangryong Bu with tremendous force.

Bang!

Moyong Gun staggered and stepped back.

It didn’t end there. He was struck not just once, but twice, three times, and even four times, and the speed of the continuous attacks was as fast as lightning.

Bang! Crash! Thud!

With heavy explosions, Moyong Gun stepped back again.

His mind was disturbed by the surprising statement. That’s why he couldn’t properly respond to the change in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s momentum.

But even considering that, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s power was immense. It was an attack that was so powerful that the shaft of the heavy and resilient Gwangryong Bu visibly bent. It was a powerful martial art that could blow away even a steel gate.

Fwoosh.

Red killing intent blazed like flames.

The Vermilion Bird energy rising through the thick dust. Inside it was the madness of a white beast with the horns of a Blue Dragon, the wings of a Vermilion Bird, and the shell of a Black Tortoise.

A monster of the Four Divine Beasts, aiming only for attack.

“I don’t know how much meaning these words will have to you, but I will ask nonetheless. I want you to answer by the path you have walked, by the history of the person named Moyong Gun.”

Whoooosh.

The wind blew.

The dust cleared, and Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had revealed himself, glared at Moyong Gun with murderous eyes.

In his right hand was the Gwangryong Bu, and in his left hand, the Gyoryong Chain [Gyoryong Chain: A type of flexible chain weapon], which had been released, was coiled.

He was in a complete battle stance.

“If you know about the Three Teachings, speak honestly. You know that lies won’t work.”