Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 381

Shudder.

Gang Ryang felt a shock that made the skin all over his body tremble.

It wasn’t that he was intimidated by Yang Cheon. It was partly his personality, but also because he had recently undergone rigorous training akin to a seeker of truth, achieving significant growth in both martial arts and his inner self. He had gained the fortitude not to succumb even before overwhelming power.

Yet, he trembled.

His mind did not yield, but his body reacted first.

‘Incredible.’

Gang Ryang swallowed unconsciously.

‘This is the power of the Thirteen Seats of the Saintly Heavens [a group of the most powerful martial artists], the absolute masters who contend for the strongest in the Central Plains!’

Swish.

The air that brushed past his skin felt like a blade.

The cold mountain air was gone, replaced by a hot gust that blew sharply. His skin tingled as if it were peeling off, his joints creaked, and the muscles, engorged with blood, pulsed as if they would explode at any moment.

‘He hasn’t even released his aura, yet it’s this intense. Just the display of killing intent is enough to make my body cower.’

Gang Ryang gripped his right wrist with his left hand.

‘Damn it, he’s even more of a monster than I thought.’

Suddenly, his deceased father’s words came to mind.

‘What? Haha! Yes, if your old man could reach the Saintly Heaven realm, how wonderful would that be? But Ryang, know this. There are many monsters in this world that defy common sense. The Saintly Heaven is the pinnacle among them. Although your old man is called a master in the Black Path [a term for the underworld or criminal organizations], I have no confidence that I can reach the Saintly Heaven even if I train for another ten or twenty years.’

His father was always full of confidence when it came to martial arts. He was kind to his family, but he was also a man known as the greatest tiger of the Black Path, with his strong tenacity and confidence.

It was then that his father had shown weakness for the first and only time.

‘Even if I train for ten or twenty years, I cannot reach the Saintly Heaven…’

Gang Ryang’s eyes trembled slightly.

‘I understand the weight of those words now.’

Thud!

The massive axe blade of the Gwangryong Unit [a military unit] was half-buried in the ground.

“It’s a shame we meet again like this. Have you been well?”

Unlike Gang Ryang, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression was very calm as he asked with a nonchalant tone.

Yang Cheon stared at Yeon Ho-Jeong with clear eyes.

Even though he wasn’t glaring with his eyes wide open, it felt as if thousands of daggers were pouring out of his eyes. It was truly not a human gaze.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Did you lose your words from seeing a familiar face so suddenly?”

“…Yes, it’s good to see you.”

A faint smile appeared on Yang Cheon’s face as well.

In that instant, Gang Ryang’s face turned pale.

‘Danger!’

His heart rate soared to double due to the extreme sense of crisis.

Fortunately, unlike the danger Gang Ryang felt, Yang Cheon did not make a move.

“There have been a few times when my old subordinates, whom I thought were dead, returned without a word. Vicious fellows who clawed their way back from death to this world. Those guys are still working hard under my command.”

“……”

“But you, I can’t use you again. Wouldn’t it have been better to hide in a remote mountain village and till the fields for the rest of your life?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“It seems that the affection you have for me is quite deep, considering you still call me a subordinate.”

“Affection? Well… yes, come to think of it, affection did build up. In my sixty-plus years, I’ve never seen a talent like you. You were bold, quick-witted, and even skilled in martial arts. To be honest, for a brief moment, I even considered passing the Mukryong Unit [a military unit] to you in the future.”

Yang Cheon’s disciple, Bu Seon, was shaken.

She had never seen or heard her master give such high praise to a junior.

“But now I see that you are nothing more than a rat. Well, it is said that heaven is unfair yet contains fairness within it. God gave you ability and fortitude, but not your nature.”

“Is that so?”

It was a strange answer.

Yang Cheon’s voice grew colder.

“The eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family of Gangdong, the greatest late-bloomer, Yeon Ho-Jeong, was your true identity?”

“Don’t attach such embarrassing titles. I am just Yeon Ho-Jeong.”

“Yeon Ho-Jeong… Yeon family…”

The corners of Yang Cheon’s lips curled up.

“Aren’t you curious? How long it will take to wipe out a swordsman family from a backwater village in Gangdong?”

“……”

“There’s no need to send anyone. I’m very angry right now. It would be a pretty good pastime to go to Gangdong and uproot your family’s roots to relieve my mood. What do you think?”

“It seems people don’t change much.”

“……?”

“Even if you live in luxury on the throne, your capacity is still limited…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes turned cold.

“You are a fierce general, but not a great commander. In that regard, Moyong Gun is better.”

Whoosh!

A fiery killing intent erupted from Yang Cheon’s body.

It was a momentary reaction, but surprisingly, Yang Cheon’s voice became even calmer.

“You guys are having fun.”

“Is that so.”

“Moyong Gun, Yeon Ho-Jeong. Did you think I was so easy to deal with that you two came one after another to shake me up?”

As time passed, the killing intent grew thicker, but Yang Cheon’s expression and voice regained their composure.

“Do you think I’m not immediately ripping your heads off because I’m afraid of the Martial Alliance? Or because of the future of the headquarters? Or is it because of some paltry sense of loyalty that isn’t worth a penny?”

“……”

“No. The reason I’m letting you be is for my own sake. It’s true that I became intoxicated with power after taking the position of the Mukryong Unit Chief. Because of that, I did a lot of foolish things.”

“……”

“I don’t want to do that anymore. That’s why I’m holding back.”

Trickle.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked down at Yang Cheon’s clasped hands.

His fingernails were digging into his skin. He was trying to maintain a nonchalant demeanor and gather his mind.

‘This is unexpected.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong was subtly surprised.

‘Yang Cheon, you’re actually developing?’

People in high positions, people with great reputations, people with power.

Whether it’s power or real strength, those who are superior to others in one field all refuse to change. Simply put, they become arrogant.

The Yang Cheon that Yeon Ho-Jeong saw was like that. He had enough human charm and was a capable leader of an organization, but he had tasted the sweetness of power and was also a person who boasted the highest reputation in the martial world.

In other words, anyone would experience stagnation. And Yeon Ho-Jeong thought that Yang Cheon was the person among the Saintly Heaven masters who would experience that stagnation the longest.

But he was wrong.

‘Is it because of Moyong Gun?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“That’s good. Honestly, it’s difficult for me to face you right now.”

“Right now?”

“Why? Does that bother you?”

“……You are indeed interesting. You seem confident that you will reach this realm someday?”

“Of course. And in not too long.”

Yang Cheon, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, raised the corners of his lips.

“The realm of the Supreme Limit, what people call the Saintly Heaven, resides in a realm that transcends human common sense. It is not a realm that can be reached through simple effort. If it could be reached through effort, then every Tom, Dick, and Harry would already be called a Saintly Heaven master.”

“I know.”

“But.”

Yang Cheon tilted his head.

“At least, the you I know is not the type to waste time looking at a tree he can’t climb. If it’s the you I saw back then.”

“I am no different from the you of back then. It’s just that I showed more exaggerated behavior back then.”

“To deceive me?”

“That’s right. To deceive you.”

Yang Cheon silently stared at Yeon Ho-Jeong. Yeon Ho-Jeong also closed his mouth and looked directly into Yang Cheon’s eyes.

Whistle.

The hot wind that had been boiling like lava subsided, and the original cold mountain breeze cooled the air.

‘Just what…’

Bu Seon looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with trembling eyes.

‘How can he be like that?’

She had served her master longer than any other disciple. So she knew firsthand how terrifying Yang Cheon’s martial arts were and how overwhelming his presence was.

Even she, who had broken through the Wall of Martial Arts three years ago, still found it difficult to make eye contact with her master. Even without releasing his aura, just his anger could inflict damage on her mind and body.

But what is that guy? How can he stand there so confidently, not breaking a sweat, while looking directly into the eyes of her master, a master of the heavens beyond heavens?

‘The Tiger of Byeoksan… I heard he was a once-in-a-lifetime genius who accomplished unbelievable feats over the past few years.’

Bu Seon swallowed.

‘He’s even more terrifying than his reputation!’

At that moment, everyone was taken aback by an unexpected sight.

“Hahahaha!!”

A person bursting into mad laughter that seemed to shake the heavens.

Surprisingly, it was Yang Cheon. Yang Cheon, who had been glaring at Yeon Ho-Jeong for a long time, was now laughing heartily as if he felt relieved.

Even Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Yang Cheon with strange eyes, his behavior was so sudden.

Soon, Yang Cheon nodded as if satisfied.

“Good. You’re still good.”

“What do you mean?”

“To be honest, I had a lot of worries before coming to this place. Well, they were worries that weren’t worth much. I was planning to kill you as soon as our conversation ended.”

“I thought so.”

“But I’ve changed my mind.”

Yang Cheon changed his posture.

He slowly leaned his upper body back and supported himself with his hands on the rock. The way he sat with his legs crossed looked very casual and free-spirited.

“Let’s hear it. For now.”

“For now…”

“You can think of me however you want. But your evaluation is meaningless to me now. Also, I won’t think about what will happen later.”

“……”

“Tell me why you wanted to meet me. I’m curious to hear what will come out of your oily tongue.”

“If you like it, will you just let me go?”

“Of course. To be honest, would a talented guy like you stick his head into a death trap without knowing how to save himself?”

“If you kill me, a war will break out?”

“You overestimate your own value. Wars don’t break out that easily.”

“I know. But a war will still break out.”

“You must have something you believe in. But you know.”

Yang Cheon smiled eerily.

“I don’t care if a war breaks out. So, tell me why you came here, why you called me out. Carefully, and if possible, politely.”

A genuine smile appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

‘This is something.’

As expected, Yang Cheon was not the best person to be called the leader of an organization.

‘From the beginning, you didn’t need such an organization. The ambition you’ve dreamed of for a long time has hindered your development, but what suits you is not the position of the head of the Black Path.’

The position of the Mukryong Unit Chief did not suit Yang Cheon.

What suited him was his current appearance, that composure. That relaxed posture is what makes Yang Cheon a true king of combat.

‘The leader of the Black Path Alliance has returned as a Saintly Heaven master once again.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“I came to heal you.”

“What?”

“I came to remove the poison of the Yin Desolate Palm [a martial arts technique], the imprint of the Demonic Cult Leader on your chest.”

“……!!”