Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 380

The Stagnant Water is Bound to Rot (5)

Flutter!

Yang Cheon, having removed his top, gazed into the large mirror.

Inside the mirror was a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard. Despite being over sixty, he possessed a body that had transcended its limits and an ultimate inner energy.

Yang Cheon raised his hand to his chest.

The middle-aged man in the mirror mirrored his action.

Slightly touching the center of his chest, he felt a strange, tingling pain.

‘The Yin Desolate Divine Palm.’

The Yin Desolate technique was the main martial art of the Demonic Cult Leader.

The Yin Desolate technique, manifested as a vicious killing method in all aspects of fist, palm, finger, and leg techniques, was a divine martial art that even Yang Cheon, who had traveled throughout the Central Plains and experienced all kinds of martial arts, was encountering for the first time.

‘I heard that if you are hit by the Yin Desolate technique, your heart meridian will burst sooner or later, and you will inevitably die.’

It was a difficult martial art to deal with, but he had seen many killing techniques that could be fatal with a single strike. In fact, some of Yang Cheon’s own penetration techniques were of that kind.

However, the Yin Desolate Divine Palm was definitely different.

‘It unconditionally targets the heart meridian. Not any other part. It only bursts the heart meridian.’

It was a formidable killing technique, but at the same time, it couldn’t be called very efficient.

Originally, the hidden force [an internal energy technique] (暗勁) manifested by the internal energy emission (內氣發勁) had the property of penetrating and exploding within the body.

The timing of that hidden force’s explosion varied depending on the type of martial art, the practitioner’s level, and their intention. If the hidden force was infused with energy and penetrated, it could cause a person to suffer for a month before their blood vessels or internal organs burst, or it could cause an internal explosion that killed them instantly.

The important thing was that the hidden force could explode in any part of the body. That’s why it was fatal, but if one was lucky, it could end with just the loss of an arm, or if heaven helped, the weakened hidden force might only burst the skin and disappear.

The Yin Desolate technique was different. Yin Desolate was a martial art focused solely on instantly killing the opponent by bursting their heart meridian.

It was a terrifying martial art, but if one protected their heart meridian with inner energy in advance, the probability of death was drastically reduced. In other words, if someone had never experienced it before, it was as dangerous as other hidden forces, but once they knew its characteristics, the danger level dropped sharply.

If there wasn’t a significant difference in martial arts level, one wouldn’t die from being hit once. No, if one defended properly, they could protect their heart meridian even if they suffered internal and external injuries.

‘In other words, using the Yin Desolate technique means that one has the intention to kill the opponent for sure. If one survives against that martial art, their weakness could be exposed to the world.’

Yang Cheon glared at himself in the mirror.

His two eyes, burning like fire, were filled with terrifying murderous intent.

“…I clearly blocked his martial art.”

The golden palm print on his chest was just a mark. That’s what he thought.

Then, after losing consciousness once, Yang Cheon focused his consciousness on this palm print.

However, even after looking at it dozens, hundreds of times, he couldn’t find any problem with this palm print. It was just a mark, and there were no problems such as disrupting his inner energy or harming his origin.

‘I examined every nerve, subcutaneous fat, and muscle nerve. But there was nothing wrong.’

The Demonic Cult Leader’s enlightenment regarding the Yin Desolate Divine Palm might have transcended its limits, and he might have adjusted it to only cause internal injuries or make one lose consciousness.

However, there was no way he wouldn’t have noticed that. That was strange.

‘Why…?’

Thoughts kept piling up.

Yang Cheon, who had been staring intently at the mirror, sighed.

“This isn’t important right now.”

To be precise, there was an even more important problem left.

“…They’ve already taken control of the government offices in Henan Province?”

Yang Cheon felt dumbfounded.

“Those guys are going too far to the point of being absurd. Even if they are aiming for the Central Plains, I never thought they would extend their reach to the government offices.”

He recalled Moyong Gun’s face.

That terrifying face stained with hatred and anger.

‘I’ll ask again. Did you join hands with the Demonic Cult? Are you in league with the Three Evil Sects?’

‘Why can’t you answer! Are you the pathetic man who, with the backing of the barbarians, made a contract with me, who knew nothing, and tried to hand over the entire Central Plains to them, starting with the Martial Alliance!’

Yang Cheon gritted his teeth.

“Those bastards…!”

Kuururung!

The entire hall shook with his burning anger.

He was angry. He was angry that he had been subjected to such harsh words by someone like the Moyong Clan Head.

He was angry. He was angry that such a thing was happening in a place he didn’t know about, in a place that even a powerful person who could exert a strong influence on the martial world didn’t know about.

And he was ashamed.

‘Have I become so corrupt that I would be subjected to such harsh words by a mere man like that?’

He wasn’t ashamed of Moyong Gun. He was ashamed of himself.

Yang Cheon, who had been releasing his inner energy in anger, sighed.

“I’m tired.”

He was tired. He just wanted to rest without thinking about anything.

But he couldn’t. He wasn’t free right now. As the head of the Mukryong Faction and the Black Path Alliance, he couldn’t afford to waste a single day.

‘Will you join us?’

Yang Cheon closed his eyes.

‘Join hands with the White Path and destroy the Three Evil Sects?’

Why? His chest felt heavy.

Yang Cheon recalled Moyong Gun’s words again.

‘The White and Black Paths have clashed for hundreds of years, but we are still people of the Central Plains! Even if our values and cultures are different, we are all people of the Central Plains! But you are relying on foreign powers to build such a force and act so arrogantly? Can you really say that you are not in league with the Three Evil Sects!’

It was nonsense. Considering the miserable lives of the Black Path people who had suffered at the hands of the hypocrites of the White Path, Moyong Gun’s words were too self-centered.

However… the Black Path wasn’t clean either.

‘The Three Evil Sects? Or the Martial Alliance? Who exactly should I fight? No, is it even necessary to fight?’

Yang Cheon sighed.

‘I don’t know. I really don’t know. Am I such a stupid and incompetent man?’

He had told Moyong Gun. He would clear the way and provide some help to catch Yayul Jeok.

That statement itself was proof that he hadn’t made a cold judgment. The reason was that Yayul Jeok was an evil beast dispatched by the Three Evil Sects.

He should have said that he wouldn’t hesitate to provide full support. No, he should have said that he would catch and kill him himself before their help.

At least, if he had decided to strike the Three Evil Sects, that was the normal thing to say.

“What am I fighting for….”

It was then.

“Vice-Chief!”

“…What is it?”

“The commander of the Martial Alliance’s Vanguard Unit is requesting an audience with you, Vice-Chief!”

Yang Cheon’s face twisted horribly.

“Stop talking nonsense. Tell them that if they don’t pass through Honam within three days, I will kill them all!”

That’s right. This was his current situation.

He was already furious that he had personally responded to a mere call from the Moyong Clan Head, and now a mere unit commander was asking to see him?

‘I’ll kill them!’

Then, Baek Seo’s voice was heard again.

“…Vice-Chief.”

“What is it now?”

“If he wasn’t someone I knew, I would have taken care of it first and reported later.”

Yang Cheon shouted.

“What nonsense are you talking about! Explain in detail!”

“It’s Jeong.”

“What?”

“Former Head of the Intelligence Department, it was Jeong.”

“…?!”

Yang Cheon’s eyes flashed.

He reached out his hand towards the stone door.

Kugugugugung!

With a tremendous telekinetic force, the heavy stone door swung open.

In front of the open stone door, Baek Seo was kneeling.

“What did you just say?”

Baek Seo’s voice trembled slightly.

“The commander of the Martial Alliance’s Vanguard Unit, Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

“…!”

“That man was the former Head of the Intelligence Department, Jeong, who claimed to be a descendant of the Mujong Clan.”

Flash!

Yang Cheon’s eyes blazed.

* * *

“Hoo.”

A faint wisp of smoke escaped with a light sigh.

The climate in Honam was warmer than in Henan. However, the mountain air was still cold after dark.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was looking up at the star-filled sky, closed his eyes.

‘I can feel it.’

Wooong. Woooong. Wooooong.

It was hard to pinpoint where it was coming from.

But it was certain. This mountain, and the air beyond the mountain, had clearly changed.

‘I can feel it. A murderous aura beyond imagination.’

A bitter smile appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s lips.

‘So that’s what it’s like to reach the Supreme Realm. Even though the distance is this far, I can feel the trembling of the air.’

It wasn’t something he was feeling with his five senses.

It was his sixth sense. As he entered Honam, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s senses were extremely sharp, and those sharp senses were becoming more and more acute as time passed, scanning the air in all directions.

Thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having put down the Gwangryong Unit [a special military unit], stroked the chin of his warhorse, Red Wind (赤風).

Fuururuk.

Red Wind boasted a large and sturdy build, like the legendary Red Hare. It had better stamina than the best horses, the Hanxue horses, and was stronger than any horse from the Western Regions.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been stroking Red Wind’s chin and nose for a while, said,

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

Sreureuk.

As if they had been waiting, Moyong Woo and Muk Bi stood up.

“We’ll go with you.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“It’s a meeting with a hateful friend and enemy. I don’t want to drag a lot of people along.”

“But…!”

“If a battle breaks out, no one’s safety can be guaranteed. Rather, if we all rush in, it will only unnecessarily irritate Yang Cheon.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Don’t worry. The Yang Cheon I know would never raise his fist against me.”

“…Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“I’m fine. I’m more than fine.”

Jjeok!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having drawn the Gwangryong Unit and placed it on his shoulder, turned his body.

“I’ll be back before dawn, so rest well.”

“…Yes.”

“And Gang Ryang.”

Sreureuk.

Gang Ryang, who had been hiding in the darkness, rose from his seat.

Yeon Ho-Jeong glanced at Gang Ryang.

“Are you going to see the face of your enemy?”

Gang Ryang nodded.

“It wouldn’t be bad to see him in advance.”

“In advance?”

“He is a man who will die by my sword in the future. I’ll say in advance, even if he is your brother, I will not give up his life.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“You have a good amount of guts. Alright, let’s go together.”

Thus, Yeon Ho-Jeong, having stationed the Righteous Army in the mountains, crossed a distance of over fifty li with Gang Ryang.

Before long, a large open space came into view.

A desolate, flat, and clean open space, bathed in bright moonlight.

And there, two people were present.

‘Yang Cheon.’

Yang Cheon, sitting on a flat rock with his fingers interlocked, looked as ferocious as a lion crouching down.

He wasn’t emitting any energy, but his overwhelming presence was evident. It was as if one was watching a lion just before it went hunting.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly watching Yang Cheon, confidently moved his feet.

It was then.

“Disciple.”

Even though the distance was quite far, Yang Cheon’s calm voice was clearly heard by Yeon Ho-Jeong and Gang Ryang.

“Would you like to test if that damned bastard walking over there is real, with your martial arts?”

Paah-aah-aahng!

No sooner had Yang Cheon finished speaking than a well-built woman rushed forward at an incredible speed and threw a punch.

Lightning flashed in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

Kwaang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having repelled the woman with a devastating blow from the Gwangryong Unit, spoke in a calm voice.

“Is this how passionate men reunite? A fist before even exchanging words?”

“……”

“Have you been well, Vice-Chief Yang?”

Yang Cheon raised his head.

In that instant, the moonlight seemed to collapse, and the world seemed to be filled with darkness.

“…Rat.”