Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 364

Swoosh!

A sharp, blue blade sliced through the air.

The movement of the sword itself was fluid, but its speed and sharpness were not at all in line with a soft sword style. It was clear that the swordsman wielding it was on edge.

The swordsman, Yeon Ji-Pyeong, stared ahead with bloodshot eyes.

A rather large rock sat there, seemingly mocking him.

Whack!

Closing the distance in an instant, Yeon Ji-Pyeong unleashed a terrifyingly fast sword strike.

Swish, swish, swish, swish!

Despite his unstable emotional state, he executed precise swordsmanship, the tip of his blade grazing the surface of the rock within an inch. It was evident that the martial arts he had learned and practiced were completely ingrained in his body.

Pow, pow, pow, pow!

Stone dust flew from the rock.

His swordsmanship was sharp and precise, but it was difficult to give it a good score in terms of the subtlety of his inner energy [internal energy or life force]. If he had properly imbued it with inner energy, the stone dust would have been swept away by the sword wind before it could even fly, and if it had been a little sharper, the stone dust itself would not have flown at all.

It was proof that his inner energy was wavering due to psychological issues, even though his technique was ingrained in his body.

And that was something Yeon Ji-Pyeong himself knew better than anyone.

‘Tch!’

Gritting his teeth, Yeon Ji-Pyeong threw a left-handed punch.

Thud!

The rock heaved greatly before returning to its original position.

Considering the size of the rock, its weight must have been enormous. To lift such a rock halfway up was truly an impressive display of inner power.

However, Yeon Ji-Pyeong was not satisfied.

Clang!

He plunged his sword into the ground in an instant. It was an action that conveyed an unknown rage.

“Is this all I am?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong sighed.

“Is this all I am?”

Objectively speaking, Yeon Ji-Pyeong was nowhere near his father, Yeonwi, or even his older brother, Yeon Ho-Jeong. Those two had not only broken through the wall of the martial arts realm but were also true masters who walked the seventh and eighth levels of Mount Tai [a reference to a high level of martial arts mastery].

However, considering Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s age, it was an amazing feat that he had reached the realm of a top master before even reaching adulthood. Yeon Ho-Jeong was only fast because he was retracing a path he had already taken, and in terms of talent, he could not be compared to Yeon Ji-Pyeong.

How high could he reach in five or ten years?

Yeon Ho-Jeong had reached the realm of the Black Demon Emperor [a high-ranking martial artist] in his forties, having completed his training with the best martial arts, relentless drive, and countless life-and-death battles. Yeon Ji-Pyeong might achieve that same level in his thirties through pure effort alone.

The problem was now.

“Hoo!”

Taking a deep breath, Yeon Ji-Pyeong sat down on the spot and looked down at his sword with complicated eyes.

‘Weak. I’m so weak. I was such a helpless fool.’

When did it start? It was probably after he received instruction from his brother at the Martial Alliance [a group or organization of martial artists].

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was able to objectively assess his talent and skills. He honestly acknowledged that his talent was not ordinary, and thanks to that, he gained the ability to distinguish between what was possible and impossible.

From that point on, Yeon Ji-Pyeong saw the path he had to take more precisely and clearly.

And that was why he could not help but feel a more acute sense of defeat.

‘With my current skills, I can’t be of any help to my father and brother.’

If only his skills were far superior to what they were now.

If that were the case, he would have been able to participate in this battle. He would have, for sure.

Was it because he was family? Or because he was young? No.

Even though he was his older brother, Yeon Ho-Jeong was also among the youngest in this battle. Yet, he not only led the battle but also returned with great achievements.

‘In other words, I have not yet been recognized by anyone.’

Yeon Ji-Pyeong closed his eyes.

‘I’m still far away.’

It wasn’t the fact that he wasn’t recognized that made him sad. What was truly sad was that he was too weak to help his brother.

If he had been stronger and had participated in this battle, and if he could have shared even a little of the burden his brother had to carry.

Then his brother might not have been bedridden. And then, naturally, the worry on his father’s face would have disappeared.

The reason why Yeon Ji-Pyeong felt confused and, furthermore, self-loathing.

It was because he believed that no matter how talented or skilled he was, it meant nothing if he could not be a source of strength for his family.

“Is this the first time I’m seeing this?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was startled and turned around at the sudden voice.

Gang Ryang was there.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you looking so down.”

“Ah! Brother, you’ve arrived.”

Gang Ryang looked at the rock a short distance away.

The rock, covered with dozens of net-like sword marks, looked like a work of art.

Gang Ryang’s eyes changed.

Clang!

With a draw of his sword, a sharp blue light flashed through the air.

Click.

Gang Ryang, who had drawn and swung his sword in an instant, sheathed it.

The three steps of drawing, striking, and sheathing were incredibly fast and precise. It was a ghostly skill that had not been seen in Gang Ryang before.

And that wasn’t all.

Crack!

Only after sheathing his sword did the rock split in half.

It was a straight sword force without even an inch of wavering. The cut surface of the rock was as clean as glass, so sharp was the strike.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was greatly surprised.

Gang Ryang asked in a calm voice.

“How is it? My one strike.”

“I-It’s amazing.”

“Really? I still think it’s lacking.”

“No, it’s not. I’ve never seen such a fast and precise quick sword since my father. You’re truly amazing.”

“Thank you.”

“But when did you learn such swordsmanship…?!”

“Hmm? Maybe during the time you were losing sleep worrying about your father and brother?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face stiffened slightly.

It wasn’t just a sarcastic remark. It contained a significant meaning.

Gang Ryang continued as if nothing had happened.

“You were always calm and polite. But now you’re very shaken. Your inner energy is even wavering with your lost anger.”

“…”

“Are you angry that you couldn’t be a source of strength for the family head and your brother?”

It was an eerily accurate assessment.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong couldn’t answer yes. It was true, but somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Gang Ryang, who had been quietly observing Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s expression, asked as if throwing a question.

“You said my sword was amazing just now, right?”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

“You might see it that way, but I don’t. Right now, I see a lack of power to support the sword path. I’ve sharpened the edge, but the fundamental power to push through that sharp strike is lacking.”

“… !”

“If I fill the power, it seems like controlling the speed will become difficult again. And if I control the speed, it will be hard to maintain the sharpness. If I solve it step by step, there will be a time when the power will be lacking again.”

Gang Ryang smiled as he looked up at the sky.

“There’s really no end to the way of the sword. The sword is the way of martial arts, so there will be no end to martial arts either.”

After looking up at the sky for a while, he lowered his head and looked at Yeon Ji-Pyeong again.

“Ji-Pyeong.”

“…Yes.”

“What were you doing?”

“…”

“The family head and your brother went on a secret and difficult mission? It’s a worrying thing. It’s also unfortunate. If those two had recognized my strength, if I had been recognized as a combat force, they would have at least considered whether or not to take me on this mission.”

“…”

“But like you, I couldn’t join that mission. Is it because I’m from the Black Path [a term for a martial arts lineage or style]? I absolutely don’t think so.”

Gang Ryang’s eyes deepened.

“But, so what?”

“Yes?”

“I wasn’t even considered a combat force. The combat force I’m talking about includes adaptability, practical experience, insight, and everything else.”

“…”

“In other words, the reason they didn’t take me wasn’t just because my martial arts were weak. It’s because I, as a person, am lacking.”

“… !”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s eyes wavered.

He had keenly realized his own shortcomings. But he had never thought about it as deeply as Gang Ryang had.

He had only felt self-loathing, and his worry for his father and brother was excessive. He was angry that his brother had returned injured, and that anger was expressed as a strong disappointment in himself.

Then what about Gang Ryang?

“So, should I just sit around worrying until those two who have already left for a dangerous place return? Should I look up at the sky and lament why I didn’t work harder sooner, why I didn’t gain that much experience sooner?”

“I…”

“What I did after sending those two off was to reduce my sleep and swing my sword.”

Gang Ryang pointed at Yeon Ji-Pyeong with his finger.

“What you’re doing now, taking your anger out on a rock, is not really swinging a sword. I deliberately forgot all that worry and anger and immersed myself solely in the sword. Why? Because I need to get stronger, even a little, during the time I’m worried.”

“… !”

“People can’t know the future. In other words, the moment they leave, those who are left behind have no choice but to trust them. To believe that they will come back alive, that they will surely accomplish their mission.”

“…”

“The problem is me. The key is what I will do besides believing in them and waiting. Worry? If I worry about them all day, will a mission that was going to fail succeed? If I don’t pray, will a mission that was going to succeed fail?”

“…”

“Don’t mistake yourself for someone too great. There may be differences in talent, but in the end, you and I are both people who live with our lives on the line with a single sword. If that’s the case, you should have invested the one day that will never come back solely in yourself.”

Gang Ryang pointed at the rock.

“This is the result I’ve achieved so far. There are still many things lacking, but at least I’m better than I was yesterday. It was a sword strike that was vague for me ten days ago, and a result that I couldn’t even imagine a month ago.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong bit his lip.

Gang Ryang didn’t say not to do that, that he shouldn’t have done that. He simply threw a question that didn’t require an answer, and in that situation, he was revealing how he had acted.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was ashamed.

For the past ten or so days, he had been too busy trying to sort out his confused mind, let alone train in martial arts. But Gang Ryang had immediately faced reality and, furthermore, had devoted himself to the sword, achieving his current results.

‘I’ve lost.’

Talent is fuel. The more good fuel you have, the stronger the fire will burn, and the longer it will last.

And that fuel can only burn if there is a spark. The spark that ignites talent is effort.

Effort is not just about dedication. It’s essential to see your own condition, and furthermore, to be able to read the surrounding situation to plan when, how, and to what extent to make an effort.

Gang Ryang had done that. Thanks to that, he was able to develop such amazing swordsmanship.

Gang Ryang, who had been quietly looking at Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s face, smiled.

“I thought I’d be happy to see the person I was chasing experience an identity crisis, but somehow, I got a little annoyed.”

“Yes?”

“I’m just saying.”

Gang Ryang turned his body.

“The higher the peak, the more enjoyable the climb. You have become a small hill that I conquered ten or so days ago. Right now, you’ve collapsed so much that you can’t even pique my interest.”

“… !”

“Become a great mountain again. Become the highest mountain in the world, and make my eyes burn. I will also become a great mountain that can ignite a fire in your heart, looking down on the world.”

Life returned to Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s eyes.