Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 345

Swoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong and Muk Bi swiftly traversed the Daebyeol Mountain Range and turned north.

Muk Bi asked,

“Are you sure it’s alright?”

“What is?”

“The Tang Clan Head… I mean, him.”

It seemed she was still awkward using honorifics for Tang Gwan. Her expression was also a bit bewildered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said cheerfully,

“He said he’s fine. He showed that much confidence, so he’ll be alright.”

“You know, Yeon Gongja [Young Master Yeon], a fight isn’t decided by pride.”

“It is decided by pride.”

“Huh?”

“If it’s the pride of the Tang Clan Head, it will have a big impact in a real fight.”

“What do you mean?”

“The arrogance of the Sichuan Tang Clan stems from the fear they’ve built. And that fear was their power. They aren’t called the masters of poison and hidden weapons for nothing.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Moreover, it’s Tang Gwan. Before being the son of the Poison King, he’s the head of the Tang Clan, who ruled over Sichuan and instilled fear throughout the world. His pride won’t break even before the Thirteen Seats of the Holy Heaven.”

Muk Bi sighed.

“Are you saying he has absolute confidence in his own abilities?”

“Of course.”

“Still, I’m a bit uneasy.”

“We have to trust him. And honestly, there’s no reason not to, right?”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

He knew not the current Tang Gwan, but another Tang Gwan from the past and future. And he had a history of fighting fiercely alongside Tang Gwan against the monsters of the Demonic Sound Cult.

The martial arts Tang Gwan had shown then were nothing short of absolute. Regardless of skill, his martial arts’ lethality was enough to contend for the top of the martial world.

And he had ‘that’.

“The real masters of the Tang Clan never act arrogant in a fight. They’ll do anything to kill their opponent.”

“……”

“Killing the opponent in the shortest time possible. That’s why the Tang Clan was able to instill absolute fear throughout the world. And that aligns with the aesthetics of real combat.”

“The shortest time…?”

“Furthermore, though he might be weaker than ‘then,’ as the Clan Head, he possesses the Tang Clan’s strongest secret technique. That secret technique was completed by the Poison King Tang Hyeong and transformed into an invincible divine art that marked a milestone in martial history.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong still remembered it clearly. That moment from the past and future.

The terrifying technique that had annihilated all thirty-three members of the Demonic Sound Cult’s special forces, sent to kill the leaders of the Black and White Alliance, with a single move.

The martial art of a death god, scattering a rain of dazzling steel flowers, a deadly, large-scale killing technique that even he, who was the Black Demon Emperor at the time, could have died from if he wasn’t careful.

“Anyway, there’s nothing to worry about. The Tang Clan Head is a master comparable to his father. Even in terms of compatibility, his father is at a disadvantage. With a master of that caliber stepping forward, he’ll surely win.”

“Well, if you say so.”

For Muk Bi, Tang Gwan was someone she couldn’t trust. Conversely, Yeon-wi was an adult she trusted more than anyone.

She didn’t think Tang Gwan could beat Yeon-wi, but if he was at least not significantly inferior, he wouldn’t lose. That’s what she thought.

It was then.

Thud!

A loud sound that echoed from far away reverberated all the way here.

“It’s begun.”

The fight between Tang Gwan and the armed forces of the Divine Flower Cult.

“Let’s pick up the pace.”

“Yes.”

Whoosh!

The two shot forward like the wind.

* * *

‘He’s a dangerous one.’

Being one of the Eighteen Armed Generals of the Divine Flower Cult, Yo-roe had acquired considerable knowledge about the famous masters of the martial world.

Of course, he couldn’t actually meet all of them. But with detailed descriptions, it wasn’t difficult to deduce someone’s identity just by sensing their aura.

However, Yo-roe couldn’t identify his opponent even after reading his aura.

Except for one thing.

‘This guy is dangerous.’

Sinister? Gloomy? Eerie?

Those ordinary words couldn’t describe him. His energy was closer to yin than yang, yet it contained a powerful force that seemed capable of shaking the heavens.

Light and darkness coexisted. Overall, it was a dark energy, but it was filled with the potential to unleash an explosive strike.

Fsssst.

As the opponent took a step, the frozen ground retreated, emitting smoke.

It was a level where even a minimal amount of external energy expressed through fighting intent could damage external objects. Strictly speaking, it was a level that was fully matured even within the realm of the transcendent.

Flash!

Yo-roe’s gaze grew increasingly intense.

‘I don’t know who he is, but he’s at least on par with the heads of the Nine Great Sects or the Six Great Clans, or even beyond.’

His lips curled up.

‘This is very interesting.’

Before revealing himself, the subtle pressure he had felt had clearly indicated that the opponent was several levels below him.

But now that he was face to face, it was completely different. The murderous intent that enveloped the surroundings like a fog was on par with his own.

Yo-roe’s fist tightened.

Crack.

The chilling sound emanating from his massive fist shook the area.

Tang Gwan smiled wryly.

“Have you given up on running away?”

“Running away?”

Yo-roe grinned broadly.

“Why would I run away with such an interesting toy in front of me? I should be thanking you. I was really bored.”

“Hmm.”

“Why? Are you getting impatient because your opponent isn’t scared?”

“I’ve seen too many youngsters who don’t know their place.”

A sneer appeared on Tang Gwan’s face.

“At least I know one thing. You’re not going to amount to much. Blinded by your competitive spirit, you just stood there even after seeing it. You’re just a strong kid.”

Yo-roe’s eyes turned cold.

The competitive spirit that had been burning like fire vanished in an instant. It was a rapid change that was hard to believe.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Too late.”

Tang Gwan took a soft step forward.

Flash! Sizzle!

In an instant, Yo-roe leaned his upper body backward. It was an unbelievable display of flexibility considering his massive size.

“You’re useful.”

Swoosh!

Yo-roe, who had quickly straightened his body with terrifying elasticity, turned around and lowered his stance. Tang Gwan was already standing behind him.

Tang Gwan opened his clenched fist.

Flutter!

What fell from his hand was a piece of Yo-roe’s torn front flap.

“Your reaction speed is decent. Well, if you’re a barbarian from beyond the borders who managed to get a position in the government, you must be good at something.”

It was a statement that mercilessly trampled on his opponent’s pride.

However, Yo-roe was not agitated. This one move had shown him his opponent’s skill, but more importantly, it revealed that his opponent clearly knew his identity.

“You know me, us?”

“You’re really stupid. Do you think I would have come all the way to this mountain village without knowing who you are?”

“……!!”

“Well, I heard that the guy who got wrecked by that bastard didn’t think twice before rushing in. You barbarians are all the same. If you’re stupid, you should at least be careful, but you can’t do anything right.”

Yo-roe was momentarily speechless.

Tang Gwan’s words made sense. It was unlikely that a master of that caliber would suddenly appear in the middle of the Central Plains by chance.

But Yo-roe didn’t think so. No, he didn’t have the time to think that deeply.

Because he was hungry.

And that wasn’t all. Most of the Divine Flower Cult’s followers who had infiltrated the Central Plains were probably suppressing their pent-up desires.

Fighting, blood, and death.

For them, who considered living a life as brilliant and wild as a flame to be a virtue, suppressing their overwhelming power until now was a great feat in itself.

They would never have been able to endure it without deep-rooted faith.

“I see.”

Whirr!

A strange light emanated from Tang Gwan’s eyes.

Red flames were rising from Yo-roe’s body. It wasn’t actual fire, but a tangible form of heat energy that was hotter and more deadly.

“Thank you for enlightening me. Yes, the greater good comes before my desires.”

Whoosh! Whirr!

The emitted heat energy grew increasingly intense.

Soon, the trees around him began to catch fire. And the fire spread in all directions in an instant.

It was similar to when Yeon Ho-Jeong and Gyujeok had fought before. However, Gyujeok had intentionally formed a fire formation, while Yo-roe had no such intention, yet a fire formation had formed nonetheless.

The difference was greater than expected. It was a difference of one level, but Yo-roe was a strongman who could do what Gyujeok could not.

“You must be from the Martial Alliance, right? That means you’ve noticed our existence.”

“Are you just now starting to use that ignorant head of yours?”

“I see. So that’s how it was.”

“By the way, where did the original owner of that hut go? Did you send him somewhere else?”

Yo-roe’s eyes darkened.

He didn’t answer Tang Gwan’s question and muttered,

“You guys killed Gyujeok too.”

“I don’t know who Gyujeok is. But I heard that one of your comrades was torn to pieces by some rude guy I know.”

“……You’re a funny one too. You’re openly telling me a fact that should be hidden for the sake of the worst-case scenario.”

“Why should I?”

“What?”

Tang Gwan tilted his head as if he was genuinely questioning it.

“Can’t I even talk to prey that I can easily crush to death?”

“……”

“You didn’t really think you could go back alive, did you?”

“You…”

“Hahahaha!!”

Whoooom!

Tang Gwan’s laughter was filled with terrifying internal energy.

Crack!

His laughter alone could kill a person. The spreading laughter was like a deadly sonic attack in itself. It was a laughter as impressive as the Lion’s Roar of Buddhism [a powerful Buddhist technique].

Of course, his laughter was completely different from the Lion’s Roar. It was much darker and filled with a vicious murderous intent.

At least in terms of murderous intent, it was greater than Yo-roe’s. Yo-roe’s face was distorted.

Then, Tang Gwan stopped laughing.

“Impudent fool!”

Crack!

A faint sunset-colored glow emanated from his hands.

It was completely different from Yo-roe’s fiery aura. The true energy, which felt somewhat beautiful, was wildly fluctuating in the wind as if it would scatter at any moment.

However, Yo-roe couldn’t ignore that power.

‘Strong!’

Within that shimmering true energy, he could feel the breath of the most venomous snake in the world.

‘Poison?’

A strange true energy that contained a power no less than the Divine Flower Cult’s Scorching Yang Energy, and a vicious poison that didn’t match that power at all.

The world feared that martial art, calling it the Guiding Reversal Three Yang Return to Origin Technique [a powerful and dangerous martial art].

“Could it be the Tang Clan?!”

In an instant, Tang Gwan’s hand moved like lightning.

Bang!

There was no time to dodge. Yo-roe, who had crossed his arms to block Tang Gwan’s palm strike, finally stopped after breaking two trees.

Tang Gwan wore a savage smile.

His smile was reminiscent of a venomous snake. A venomous snake bigger than a dragon and fiercer than a tiger.

“If you know I’m a Tang, then obediently offer your neck. I’ll grant you mercy with a painless death.”