Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 411

“You are…?”

“Amitabha.”

Bomeo offered a half-palm salute [a traditional Buddhist greeting].

“I am Bomeo of Shaolin.”

“Ah.”

Moyong Woo returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute [a common martial arts greeting].

“I am Moyong Woo, a Tangma military commander under the Uijeong Army. It is an honor to meet a genius monk of Shaolin.”

A genius monk of Shaolin.

It was a title intended to highly evaluate the opponent and a way of showing respect. In fact, Bomeo was considered one of the most outstanding geniuses in Shaolin.

Bomeo shook his head.

“That is an excessively burdensome title. Please, just call me Bomeo.”

If it were the Bomeo of the past, he would have been elated. Furthermore, he might have felt a little uncomfortable with Moyong Woo’s use of the formal ‘hao’ speech style [a respectful form of address]. Because, in Bomeo’s mind, Shaolin was the best in the martial world.

But not now.

Having awakened the Great Brahma Divine Art [a powerful martial arts technique] and completely broken through the wall of martial arts, Bomeo felt a change in himself that was almost miraculous.

‘Was I possessed by Mara?’ [Mara is a demon that represents temptation and delusion in Buddhism]

Of course, that didn’t mean his high self-esteem had disappeared.

Bomeo now thought he had returned to a temperament befitting his skills. Although he still had a long way to go, he decided to be satisfied with the fact that he had changed this much from the person who had looked at the world with arrogant eyes.

Continuous cultivation would be necessary, though….

“But what brings you here? I heard from the commander that there was no mention of a Shaolin representative joining us.”

“I came with Master Lee of the Geumgang Fist Sect [a martial arts sect]. The abbot of our temple sent Master Lee to assist the Uijeong Army, and I followed my master.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Bomeo took out a badge from his robes and handed it to Moyong Woo.

“This is the Martial Buddha Sect Badge, symbolizing that I am a warrior monk of our temple.”

Moyong Woo smiled.

“You don’t need to show me that. Just the Buddhist aura emanating from you is enough to tell that you are a warrior monk of Shaolin.”

“Thank you.”

“You are truly remarkable. It makes me realize once again that all the martial arts in the world originated from Shaolin. I have rarely seen such a dignified yet composed aura.”

It was a sincere admiration.

Just as the best sword in the world becomes nothing more than a meat-cutting knife in the hands of a butcher, not everyone who has learned Shaolin martial arts is strong and virtuous.

In Moyong Woo’s eyes, Bomeo was a supreme master who had properly mastered the orthodox martial arts of Shaolin. Although the energy he emitted was rougher and stronger than other Shaolin monks, his level was undoubtedly that of a supreme master.

Bomeo shook his head.

“That is not what is important. The reason I followed you here was because of the urgent fighting energy left behind by the Tangma Army.”

“You could read that?”

“Yes.”

Truly amazing. If he could feel unease from the fighting energy left behind by five hundred warriors, his senses were extraordinarily sharp.

“Everyone was in a hurry to move according to the commander’s orders.”

“It seemed so. I also caught up to this area quickly, but since it didn’t seem like any major problems had occurred, I was going to observe the situation.”

There were problems. In any case, there were a hundred assassins guarding this Yaseong, and they had engaged in a short battle to eliminate them.

Of course, the ambushed assassins were pushed back in the initial engagement, but the Tangma Army also had to endure considerable damage.

Yaseong was an impregnable fortress. Moreover, the Tangma Army was not familiar with the terrain here and was even composed of cavalry.

They were incredibly skilled individuals capable of mountain warfare with their divine horsemanship, but there was bound to be damage. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but the number of seriously and lightly injured reached seventy.

“But it seems there is a problem.”

Moyong Woo’s eyes flashed.

“A problem? What kind of problem are you talking about?”

“There are nearly a thousand assassins stationed not far from here.”

“……!”

Moyong Woo’s face hardened.

They had seized the enemy’s base, but this fortress was as complex as a maze, and the paths themselves were narrow and confusing. It would take at least three or four days to memorize the entire terrain of the fortress.

So, Moyong Woo and the squad leaders had scattered and placed flags at each location. The rest were resting and on guard, preparing for the enemy’s attack.

Yet, they didn’t know?

“They seem very familiar with this environment. I looked around here, and I couldn’t see them. But in reality, they are constantly watching this place.”

“Is that true?”

“It is true.”

Indeed, a Shaolin monk would not lie about such a matter.

“I was wondering why the assassins were revealing themselves so openly. But coming here, I understand. You can’t see them at all from here. They have cleverly hidden themselves using the terrain.”

Furthermore, since they were skilled in stealth and specialized in suppressing their presence, it would have been difficult even for the great Moyong Woo to know.

“Would you like to see?”

“Let’s do that. I think we should….”

In that moment, Moyong Woo’s eyes deepened.

“No, I will not move.”

“……?”

Bomeo asked with a puzzled expression.

“You don’t need to check?”

“Of course, we need to check. But I shouldn’t move.”

Moyong Woo looked around.

“This is not just a simple fortress. It seems that because it was where the assassins lived, the structure is very complex and difficult. It would take at least three or four days just to memorize the visible paths.”

“…….”

“We have already found three secret passages. If some of them infiltrate this place, we might be helpless.”

“Hmm.”

“At least if I am here, we can minimize the damage. So, I shouldn’t move.”

Moyong Woo knew his position well. He clearly knew why the commander should not be easily shaken and why he should not move easily.

The stability and command system that a leader provides are important regardless of the nature of the organization.

Bomeo nodded.

“I don’t know much about it, but if that’s the case, send a trustworthy subordinate with me.”

“Everyone is trustworthy. But as you said, if they are cleverly hidden, it would be better to send someone who is knowledgeable in strategy and tactics.”

Moyong Woo turned his head.

“Squad Leader Jin!”

“Yes, Commander.”

First Squad Leader Jin Pae quickly approached.

“Go with Monk Bomeo to check on the assassins. You must go and identify all the terrain where they are hiding and their attack routes.”

“I will obey the order.”

Moyong Woo continued.

“…….”

Bomeo’s eyes flashed.

Moyong Woo’s lips were moving as if he were actually speaking, but no sound came out. However, Jin Pae kept nodding as if he had heard Moyong Woo’s voice.

‘Telepathic transmission.’

It seemed he had given some kind of mission that he didn’t want others to hear.

It was understandable. Every organization had issues that outsiders shouldn’t know about.

After a while, Moyong Woo said to Bomeo.

“Then, I leave it in your hands.”

Bomeo nodded.

“Let’s go then.”

“Monk Bomeo.”

“Do you have something to say?”

Moyong Woo took a fist and palm salute.

“Thank you.”

Bomeo shook his head.

“Let’s save those greetings for later. You are Squad Leader Jin, right? Let’s leave right away.”

“As you wish.”

Whoosh!

The two quickly left Yaseong.

After they had moved some distance away, Jin Pae asked.

“You said you are Monk Bomeo?”

“That is correct.”

“By any chance, which way did you come?”

Bomeo pointed northeast with his finger.

“I came by that path over there. There are many trees on both sides and large rocks in places, making it suitable for hiding.”

“And the assassins are stationed in the direction we are going now?”

“Yes. But why do you ask?”

Jin Pae’s eyes flashed.

“As you saw, it’s not like we won’t be exposed to the enemy just by changing direction. Just as they were not visible from the base we seized, even though you hid yourself, there is a possibility that the assassins have discovered your location.”

Bomeo shook his head.

“That can’t be. The reason I could know where they were stationed was because I was also following them. At least when I saw them, the assassins couldn’t see this fortress either. Their vision was limited.”

“That’s how it appears on the surface.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I felt while investigating the fortress is that the assassins are more cautious than I imagined. Moreover, the fortress we have occupied is where the man called the king of assassins in the Central Plains resides.”

“……!”

“They must have created all sorts of passages not only inside the fortress but also around it. Furthermore, first-class assassins create their own hideouts in various parts of the Central Plains. If it’s someone called an Yin Spirit [a term for a highly skilled assassin], it would be even more so. Perhaps there are hundreds or thousands of hideouts and passages connected throughout Guangdong Province.”

“Hmm.”

It was a rough side of the martial world that Bomeo didn’t know.

Bomeo, who had always wandered only on the bright side of the martial world while mastering the best martial arts, had knowledge that Jin Pae possessed. In that respect, he knew more than even Moyong Woo.

“And the commander also knows that.”

“……?!”

Jin Pae looked around.

“Hmm, it’s blocked on all sides. The air flow is also normal… We’ve come far enough.”

Tap tap!

Jin Pae stopped walking.

Bomeo said urgently.

“What are you doing? There is still quite a distance left!”

“Monk, please return now.”

“What, what did you say?”

“From here on, I will be the bait. You should go back and help the commander.”

“What does that mean? Help the commander?”

“I am enough to go to where the assassins are stationed.”

“They are masters of stealth! If you make a mistake…!”

“Why would the assassins reveal themselves so openly?”

“……?!”

“If they had a clear purpose, such as reacting to the enemy’s movements or eliminating targets, they would never have revealed themselves. But they did.”

“That’s….”

“There is no target to eliminate. It’s not to react to the enemy’s movements either. Rather, it’s to see how the enemy reacts and then respond.”

“……!!”

“If the commander and I think alike, the assassins will never kill me. They will send me back. To draw out the forces inside the fortress.”

Bomeo’s mouth gaped like a fish.

“……Then, why me?”

“As a guide and for the off chance. There is a possibility that the enemy saw you.”

“…….”

“There are two possibilities. Either the assassins have set a trap there, or they are trying to infiltrate the fortress. That’s why they revealed themselves.”

“Isn’t that just a guess?”

“Yes, it is.”

Jin Pae’s eyes turned cold.

“I have to risk my life to find out if that guess is right or wrong.”

Half an hour later.

“Yaju-nim [a respectful title for a leader].”

“Speak.”

“A man, presumed to be a warrior from the Martial Alliance, was observing our movements and returned a little while ago.”

Yayuljeok’s eyes flashed.

“It is clear that the Shaolin monk leaked information about this place.”

“How much time will it take for them to dispatch troops here?”

“Since it is not a terrain they are familiar with, they will move as secretly as possible. Judging by the distance, they can launch a surprise attack in two hours at the earliest, or three hours at the latest.”

“If by any chance they do not move, we will charge the fortress gate just before dawn tomorrow.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Good.”

Yayuljeok’s eyes gleamed ominously.

“You have messed with the wrong people.”