Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 425

426. The Past Woven with the Four Gods (1)

Yeon-wi, with his eyes closed and sword raised, stood as still and straight as a bamboo tree.

Tang Gwan watched with keen interest, while Tang Sang-ah observed Yeon-wi with a tense gaze.

How much time had passed?

Rustle.

A single leaf fluttered down and touched Yeon-wi’s shoulder.

In that instant, his eyes snapped open, emitting a light as intense as the sun.

Flash!

A streak of light flashed, and then.

Crack! Rumble.

A rock a full ten lengths away [approximately 20 meters] split diagonally.

“Hmm.”

Because his inner energy was so profound and his eyesight so sharp, he could examine the cross-section of the rock in detail, even from ten lengths away.

Yeon-wi nodded.

‘It’s somewhat acceptable now.’

He had expanded the versatility of the Absolute Single Sword, imbuing his sword energy into a slash following a thrust.

He had failed repeatedly, but his persistent efforts had finally yielded the current power. It was the first time since creating the Absolute Single Sword that Yeon-wi could be satisfied with the result he had produced.

He turned his head toward Tang Gwan and Tang Sang-ah.

“What do you think?”

Tang Gwan tilted his head.

“It is certainly a tremendous sword technique.”

Yeon-wi’s eyes gleamed.

Given Tang Gwan’s personality, he wouldn’t start with praise like that. There must be something he found unsatisfactory.

“The process from the release to the slash and the recovery seems flawless… but the flow of power is lacking.”

“The flow of power, you say?”

“This might be the difference between the disciples of the Tang Clan and swordsmen. However, if it were me, I would have aimed for a flexible slash that could immediately respond to an opponent’s attack, rather than such a rigid approach.”

“…Hmm.”

Tang Gwan stretched out his right hand, then raised the index finger of his left hand.

“If the opponent attacks like this.”

The left index finger moved straight toward the right hand.

“Yeon Clan Leader’s slash is a style that clashes head-on, breaking and cutting, but that could potentially transmit the impact to the user. So…”

Tang Gwan’s right hand swirled around the left index finger in a curve, then snatched the left wrist.

“How about correcting it to deflect the opponent’s attack like a leaf fluttering in the wind, and then striking the body?”

“Hoo.”

Yeon-wi made an admiring expression.

“It’s certainly different. If one could execute such a slash, it would be possible to cut the opponent before clashing.”

“Exactly. Yeon Clan Leader’s martial arts are beyond doubt, but in truth, your nature is too upright. That upright character and orthodox swordsmanship create a righteous and profound style, but ultimately, the essence of martial arts lies in defeating the opponent.”

That was Tang Gwan’s martial philosophy. It wasn’t about stopping the fight or perfectly defending against an opponent’s attack, but about killing the opponent before being killed himself.

It didn’t suit Yeon-wi. Yeon-wi’s first priority was to block and deflect all attacks coming from any direction, and his second was to attack the opponent and render them incapable of fighting.

It was orthodox, in the truest sense. Most of the martial arts in the Central Plains were like that. Among them, Yeon-wi’s martial arts were renowned for their iron-wall-like power, focusing on perfect defense before overwhelming attacks.

Tang Gwan was aware of that as well.

“Of course, there’s no need to perfect your sword according to my advice. However, there’s a difference between not using a technique because it’s unnecessary, and being unable to use it and having to clash even when it’s needed.”

“Indeed, Clan Leader Tang’s martial principle is somewhat imbued with a killing intent that doesn’t suit my sword. However, as you said, it is also a facet of the martial path. I have received great help.”

Tang Gwan chuckled.

“I’m not sure if it’s helpful. It’s easy to say, but executing a slash that can respond to any opponent’s attack might be more difficult than the process you went through to create that sword.”

“There’s a path, so I must walk it, isn’t it? It is my wish to create a more perfect, more profound swordsmanship. Even if I fail to complete the Three Swords in the end, I don’t want to pass over a single sword carelessly.”

Those words revealed Yeon-wi’s true nature.

Once he starts something, he sees it through to the end. Perhaps Yeon Ho-jeong’s tenacious nature was inherited from Yeon-wi’s dedication and sense of responsibility.

“Besides that, you should also pay attention to your footwork. Not the Yeon Clan’s footwork, but footwork that suits that single sword.”

“I understand. An attack that strikes without clashing is impressive, but before that, there must be an evasion technique to escape the opponent’s attack range.”

“You understand well.”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I see another path to take.”

Tang Gwan smacked his lips.

“It’s just an equal exchange. Thanks to the Clan Leader, the manipulation of the Myriad Heavens Energy has become more refined.”

If Yeon Ho-jeong had received the method to maximize the destructive power of the Myriad Heavens and Fiery Rain Energies and the martial principle of unifying the two, Yeon-wi had gained the foundation to spread the Myriad Heavens Energy like a spider web.

Tang Gwan had never imagined that he would receive such great help from the Yeon family father and son.

The reason why the martial arts of each sect could not grow explosively was due to the principle of not transmitting to the unworthy.

Not transmitting to the unworthy. It meant that teachings could not be given to those who were not qualified. In the martial world, it was interpreted as not passing on the sect’s martial arts to those not affiliated with the sect.

It was a characteristic of martial arts sects to be extremely wary of other sects obtaining their martial principles.

That was inevitable, as the martial world was a brutal place where swords could be drawn at any moment. The moment an opponent became stronger than oneself, they would try to devour you.

There, talk of righteousness and justice was meaningless to the one who was defeated. In other words, the first priority was to be careful before being attacked, and the second was to overwhelm the opponent and exert influence.

That was why the probability of a small sect growing into a large sect was extremely low. At best, most small and medium-sized sects hoped to form ties with a large sect and grow into a powerful sect in a region.

In that respect, the Byeoksan Yeon Clan was truly remarkable. Without any significant exchanges with other sects, they had gained fame as the strongest martial family in Gangdong through pure skill and a sense of justice.

Also, that was why they were almost devoured by the Myeong Clan. Because they had no ties with other sects, the aftermath would be clean.

“Let’s continue to exchange ideas often in the future.”

At Yeon-wi’s words, Tang Gwan glanced at Tang Sang-ah.

Tang Sang-ah’s expression was one of pure ecstasy.

While Yeon-wi saw it as a decent single sword and Tang Gwan saw it as a lacking one, for Tang Sang-ah, this single sword was showing a power that truly deserved the title of Absolute Single Sword.

A single sword that could not be blocked by any martial art. It didn’t seem to be overflowing with destructive power or extremely sharp, but once drawn, it cut everything.

The simple yet unstoppable single sword had given Tang Sang-ah a tremendous shock. At the same time, it had captivated her.

So, a sword could be this beautiful.

Tang Gwan nodded.

“Exchanges of internal martial arts are not possible. However, since both you and I are in the position of creating new martial arts, let’s put our heads together in that regard.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“Let’s do that.”

Though he said that, Yeon-wi knew.

The principles of a sect’s martial arts were naturally included in the creation of new martial arts.

Tang Gwan’s Myriad Heavens Energy contained some of the Yeon Clan’s energy manipulation methods. The future Myriad Heavens and Fiery Rain Energies would be imbued with Yeon Ho-jeong’s unconventional martial principles.

At the same time, the Absolute Three Swords that Yeon-wi was pursuing would be filled with the Tang Clan’s principles of destructive power and preemptive defense.

The two families already had sufficient exchanges regarding the characteristics and countermeasures of each other’s family martial arts, even if they didn’t know the secret formulas and methods. And that exchange would become even deeper in the future.

Unless one of the two families betrayed the other, the next generation of the two families would become much stronger than they were now.

“By the way, there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“Please, speak.”

“That brat, or rather, your eldest son.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“Is there any problem with Ho-jeong?”

Tang Gwan tilted his head.

“I think I heard about it roughly before, but what martial arts is that guy learning?”

“Ah, you’re talking about Ho-jeong’s martial arts.”

“That’s right. No matter how I look at it, it’s not the Yeon Clan’s martial arts. Of course, I acknowledge his talent, but I can’t believe that he’s already reassembling the Yeon Clan’s martial arts and creating new ones.”

“Of course, that’s not it.”

Yeon-wi leaned against a tree.

Yeon-wi’s posture, with his sheathed sword planted in the ground and his hands placed on the hilt, was truly admirable. Tang Sang-ah was inwardly surprised that a martial artist devoted to the sword could be so beautiful.

“The martial arts that Ho-jeong has learned are named after the Four Gods.”

Although he had asked, he didn’t expect that he would actually tell him.

Even in his surprise, Tang Gwan tilted his head.

“The Four Gods? The martial arts of the Four Gods?”

“That’s right.”

“There are quite a few martial arts that are based on the forms or meanings of the Four Gods…”

“I know that as well. However, Ho-jeong said that he obtained the secret manual by chance.”

“Hoo, obtained by chance…”

There was a misunderstanding that people had. That was the idea that if they obtained the best secret manual in the world, they could become a great master.

In conclusion, that was close to impossible.

One could learn the energy cultivation method, that is, the mind method, to near perfection on their own, but the forms and styles of martial arts could not be learned from a secret manual alone. Unless one was a genius born once in a hundred or a thousand years, it was impossible.

Tang Gwan recalled Yeon Ho-jeong’s unconventional and extremely practical combat techniques.

Clearly, they were techniques, but there was no fixed form. The characteristics of the martial arts he used were clear, but the way he responded to the situation and the opponent’s attacks was extremely free yet perfect.

‘Without tremendous real combat experience, one could never use martial arts in that way. No, no one in the current martial world can use a style like that brat.’

Although he always cursed him, Tang Gwan also acknowledged Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts.

‘However, in order to gain that kind of real combat experience, a life-or-death battle based on a well-refined style is essential. Then that means that he has a master other than the Yeon Clan Leader.’

Tang Gwan glanced at Yeon-wi.

Yeon-wi was looking at the sky with a calm expression.

‘He’s hiding something.’

Tang Gwan wasn’t at all disappointed or upset about that. People had their own reasons for wanting to hide things.

However, he was curious.

‘The martial arts of the Four Gods… Even before the style, the energy itself was unusual. It felt like he would get up and slaughter the enemy until the very end, no matter how many times he was hit.’

Tang Gwan’s eyes gleamed.

‘It must be a martial art that has been refined over a long period of time. Not just three or four hundred years, but perhaps a time comparable to that of the Shaolin Temple.’

* * *

“Left Garrison Commander.”

“What is it?”

“Th-that is…”

“Why are you stammering so much?”

The head of the escort bowed his head.

“That martial artist from before has come again.”

Jong-myeong’s face crumpled.