Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 389

“It’s been a while, Senior Brother.”

“……”

“It seems you’re not happy to see me.”

“……You’ve grown stronger.”

“Haha, that’s just like you, Senior Brother. It’s a bit too stiff of a greeting for a junior brother you haven’t seen in seven years.”

“It’s… somehow difficult.”

“Me?”

“You, the genius with the greatest talent in the secular world. The prodigy who was said to be among the top three even when combining all the martial monks of the main temple, is now the head of a sect.”

“Your praise is excessive. I’ve just been lucky.”

“The Diamond Fist Sect, was it? The sect you lead.”

“That’s correct.”

“I’ve heard the rumors. It’s said to be one of the most renowned sects in Henan, aside from the main temple.”

“It’s all thanks to the support of the Shaolin main temple. If not for that, how could our sect have grown this much?”

His sly personality was still the same.

However, Beom-Oh did not disregard Lee Cheol-Gyeong. Not only was he skilled, but unlike his outward personality, this guy was cautious and sharp.

Moreover, his pride in Shaolin was immense. Although he was somewhat difficult to deal with due to their clashing personalities, he didn’t dislike his junior brother.

“By the way, is it alright for a sect leader to be wandering around like this? Lee Cheol-Gyeong, the best of the younger generation, is a master of the martial arts.”

“Haha, that’s all in the past. I’ve never even heard the title of being the best of the younger generation.”

Beom-Oh’s eyes gleamed.

“Yeon Ho-Jeong……”

“Yes. And there’s also Tang Ma’s army commander, Moyong Woo.”

Beom-Oh felt a tingling sensation in one of his arms and the top of his foot.

‘The Azure Wall Tiger Palm.’

In front of the main temple’s elder, Abbot Gong Gong, he had suffered an overwhelming defeat to a junior who was much younger than him.

The shock at that time was indescribable. He had thought that he had reached the pinnacle of Shaolin’s martial arts through seclusion and facing the wall, but he was crushed in just a few exchanges by a young man who had barely passed his coming-of-age ceremony.

At first, he was angry. No, he couldn’t accept the defeat.

At the time, Beom-Oh thought that Yeon Ho-Jeong had led the fight in an excessively underhanded way.

It wasn’t a righteous fight. It wasn’t a fair match. Not only did he launch a surprise attack, but he also stepped on his foot and used tricks to confuse his senses. Such tactics could never be considered the martial arts of a righteous sect.

That’s what Beom-Oh thought. At one time.

It was Abbot Gong Gong who gave him enlightenment when he was so enraged that he felt like he was about to faint.

‘You are immature. In a martial arts contest, there are times when you win and times when you lose. How can you not regain your composure after just one defeat? Was your five years of facing the wall all for naught?’

‘Abbot! That fellow’s martial arts are not those of a righteous sect!’

‘Then? Are you saying they are the martial arts of a demonic sect? In my eyes, there was no evil energy in his true energy, nor did he practice demonic arts. Rather, it was an orthodox divine art with a sacred aura, no less than our main temple’s divine arts.’

‘That’s not it! A surprise attack? He launched a surprise attack in a fair match and stepped on my foot! That’s what the thugs of the underworld do!’

‘Then, was the Shaolin martial arts you have learned so weak that it could not even respond to the tricks of the underworld?’

‘……!!’

‘Defeat is defeat. If it had been a life-or-death match, you wouldn’t even be able to complain to me like this. You would have been dead.’

‘But, but……!’

‘You called it a cowardly trick? Then, do you think you would have won if Commander Yeon had faced you head-on without using cowardly tricks? He easily defeated you without even using his full strength. How many exchanges do you think it would take for him to defeat you if he revealed his true power?’

‘……!!’

‘Does your skill improve just by locking yourself in a room and punching? You may be able to master the principles of martial arts, but martial arts that cannot be expressed through the body are only half-baked. Your martial arts are like that now.’

‘……’

‘Humbly accept your defeat. It is unbecoming of a monk to be so consumed by the desire to win. How could you show such a disgraceful appearance? It seems the position of the next Arhat Hall Master was too heavy for you.’

‘Ab, Abbot!’

‘The Arhat Hall Master is the embodiment of Shaolin’s martial arts. It’s not just about having a high level of martial arts. Shaolin’s martial arts are like an iron fortress. And that martial art includes a near-perfect fighting technique that does not crumble against any opponent’s methods.’

‘……’

‘Before your character, your skills themselves are not suitable for the Arhat Hall Master. If you lack skill, you should at least be humble, but how can you show such a disgraceful appearance? In your current state, I see the shadow of a third-rate thug from the martial world.’

‘……Abbot?’

‘I am greatly disappointed in you today. What have you learned in five years? Were you just another one of the countless old trees that flourished with talent, only to be broken by a single defeat?’

‘……’

‘Start over from the beginning. Whether you stay in the alliance, return to the main temple, or travel the world, I will not stop you. Think about what you lack, and do not think about knocking on my door until you are confident in your own change.’

They were harsh words.

Beom-Oh had never seen Abbot Gong Gong express such disappointment to anyone. Yet, he had become the target.

How disappointed he must have been to say such things. Beom-Oh, who had been wallowing in defeat, felt as if his soul had fled at Abbot Gong Gong’s cold words.

Several months passed.

For several months, Beom-Oh did not practice martial arts. He occasionally threw punches, but it was just a way to vent his frustration, not something that could be called training.

He even failed to properly do the breathing exercises that he had never missed a day since learning martial arts. Was that why? His body felt heavy, and his joints felt rusty.

And now.

Beom-Oh had come to find Lee Cheol-Gyeong after hearing the talk of the Shaolin monks within the alliance.

“I heard you’re heading to Guangdong Province.”

“That’s correct. I have an order from Abbot.”

“Are you going to support the Righteous Army’s unit?”

“Yes. There are people with ties to our family who are living in seclusion in Guangdong Province. Abbot ordered me to work with them to restore the atmosphere of the southern martial world. Of course, that’s after the Righteous Army unit has cleared the way.”

Lee Cheol-Gyeong’s eyes showed a hint of curiosity.

“But, are you also going, Senior Brother?”

“……”

Beom-Oh couldn’t answer easily.

He had been immersed in thought while locked in his room, but that didn’t mean his mind had calmed down. Rather, it had only become more complicated.

However, one thing he had realized was that he had been excessively arrogant. And that arrogance was summed up by the idiom ‘a frog in a well.’

Of course, realizing and admitting were two different things.

“……If you’re okay with it.”

“Yes?”

“If you agree to me accompanying you, I would like to join you this time.”

A small surprise bloomed on Lee Cheol-Gyeong’s face.

The Senior Brother Beom-Oh he remembered was not the type of person to speak like this. It wasn’t that he was arrogant, but he wasn’t someone who was particularly polite to others.

Yet, his senior brother was asking him, his junior brother, for a favor. With a confused face and tired eyes.

That fact was very refreshing to Lee Cheol-Gyeong.

“Although I am the head of a sect, you are still my senior. How can I refuse when a senior of the sect asks to go together?”

Beom-Oh shook his head.

“I don’t intend to make you uncomfortable. If you’re not happy with it, I’ll act separately, so don’t feel burdened. Your mission must be important, and I have no intention of hindering you as your senior brother.”

“……!”

Lee Cheol-Gyeong’s gaze towards Beom-Oh became strange.

‘Was this what Abbot was talking about?’

He recalled his conversation with Abbot Gong Gong.

‘Someone may ask to accompany you. I’ve been passing by ‘that fellow’s’ residence from time to time, and although his true energy has become dull, a bit of clarity is gradually emerging in his fiery spirit. However, considering his personality, he won’t be able to sit still and just train.’

‘Yes?’

‘He’s the type to act before thinking, so if he wants to go with you, take good care of him. Of course, I don’t know if he will move. I’m just saying this in case, so don’t worry too much about it.’

Lee Cheol-Gyeong could now understand. The ‘fellow’ that Abbot had mentioned was his senior brother, Beom-Oh.

‘Senior Brother is also changing.’

Something must have happened. Something he didn’t know about.

Lee Cheol-Gyeong smiled.

“If you join me, Senior Brother, it would be like gaining a thousand troops and horses. It’s more than I could have hoped for. I’m just grateful.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be of help. However, I’ll try not to cause any harm.”

“Haha, how can you say that? Rather, I should be the one asking for your help.”

“Alright.”

“But, may I ask you one thing?”

“……?”

“Do you have other business in the south? I’m curious as to why you want to go with me.”

Beom-Oh’s eyes deepened.

“There’s someone I want to see. That’s all.”

* * *

Flap, flap!

Red Wind vigorously shook its head.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, after patting Red Wind, looked down at the vast landscape of Guangdong Province.

‘It’s vast.’

Guangdong Province boasts a rather hot climate. The winter in Guangdong was similar to or warmer than the autumn in the northern part of the Central Plains.

It was spring, and the spring in Guangdong was more humid than he had expected. It wasn’t enough to bother the elite warriors of the Righteous Army, but it could be a factor that slightly depleted their stamina.

‘Whatever the case, I shouldn’t recklessly move the Righteous Army. Unless the moment for a complete annihilation comes, I shouldn’t send them into the city rashly.’

The current Yin God, Yul Jeok, had established his base in Guangdong Province.

As a big shot in the underworld, he would boast an influence comparable to that of Hunan Province, where the Mukryong Clan had taken root. Naturally, he would have informants everywhere, and if the Righteous Army moved, Yul Jeok would receive the information in less than half a day.

‘The Evil Yin Sect.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong took a deep breath.

Yul Jeok was said to be a master from the Evil Yin Sect. When he heard that from Yang Cheon, his heart pounded like crazy.

Although they were grouped together as the Three Teachings, the Evil Yin Sect was the main enemy he had clashed with the most during the Black Emperor’s era. Naturally, his feelings were different from when he fought during the Divine Transformation Sect’s martial arts battle.

Yeon Ho-Jeong calmed his mind.

He shouldn’t let his emotions fluctuate whenever he faced a fated enemy. Rather, he should become even more composed.

While patting the Vermilion Bird Flag, Yeon Ho-Jeong was lost in thought.

‘Although he’s from the Evil Yin Sect, to become the Yin God, he must have perfectly mastered the assassination techniques of his predecessors. And the assassination techniques of the Yin God I know are truly the best in the world. In other words, Yul Jeok, that guy, has mastered both the martial arts of the Evil Yin Sect and the best assassination techniques in the world.’

He was a difficult enemy just thinking about it. He was tense because he knew well how terrifying the martial arts of someone using the title of Yin God could be.

‘However.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

In his vision, which had been maximized by his internal energy, he could see a mountain faintly in the distance.

‘It’s fortunate that I know his location.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke to Moyong Woo.

“The Tang Ma Army will stand by on the left side of the mountain in front. Deploy the Myeolsa Army every thirty li [approximately 10 miles] to facilitate information transmission.”

“Understood.”

“Now, then.”

Swish!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had slung the Azure Dragon Chain and the Light Dragon Axe that were tied to Red Wind’s saddle, placed both feet on Red Wind’s back.

“Let’s not waste time and take care of it quickly.”

Whoosh!

As Yeon Ho-Jeong rushed forward, the Myeolsa Army followed behind him.

The battle with the Yin God, the fight with the underworld of southern Central Plains, had begun.