Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 458

“What?”

Buseon’s eyes widened.

“The third…”

“Yes.”

Yang Cheon said curtly.

“He was thoroughly defeated. It’s a miracle he’s alive.”

“……!”

“He hasn’t been neglecting his training. His muscle strength, elasticity, and flexibility are all top-notch. He also has a natural talent for accumulating internal energy [qi or life force]. Even without taking any special elixirs, he possesses a vast amount of internal energy that doesn’t match his level.”

“……”

“I taught the third the Monstrous Crag Martial Arts. With a first-rate body, first-rate internal energy, and first-rate martial arts, the third can be considered an excellent fighter.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.

“Yet, the third was defeated. I heard the fight was decided in an instant. They were said to be of similar levels, but he couldn’t land a single effective blow and was left battered. Do you know what this means?”

“He was careless.”

“Before carelessness, his mentality is rotten. Even against an opponent several levels below, one’s head can be taken in the martial world. Yet, the third underestimated an opponent who was not much different from himself.”

‘It’s a miracle he’s alive.’ If Jeon Hong wasn’t Yang Cheon’s disciple, there would be no reason to be entangled in his affairs, and he would have simply died.

In other words, Jeon Hong survived because of his background, not his skill.

‘What a disgrace.’

Buseon could imagine how miserable Jeon Hong would be when he woke up.

Yang Cheon shook his head.

“I didn’t come here to criticize the third.”

“……?”

“You saw it before too. When I fought Yeon Ho-Jeong, that guy.”

“Ah, yes.”

“At that time, I was amazed by his combat ability and terrifying insight. In fact, I even got injured in the first few exchanges.”

Buseon also clearly remembered that situation. It was a sight that would be hard to forget until death.

The world’s Fighting King, her master, was injured by an attack from a much weaker opponent. Even though he wasn’t in his normal state, it was absurd considering the difference in martial arts.

“Do you understand? I had no intention of killing Yeon Ho-Jeong. I still don’t. That guy was reading my psychology at the time. That’s why he was able to push me for a while so boldly and with such unconventional tactics.”

Yang Cheon smiled.

“Do you understand? In a match, one’s own mentality is important, but the opponent’s mood and situation are also important. If Yeon Ho-Jeong had known that I was truly filled with killing intent, would he have dared to challenge me?”

“……Absolutely not.”

“Yes, he absolutely wouldn’t have. That’s what makes him great. He knows too well when to raise his fist, when to wield an axe, and when to bow his head.”

Yang Cheon patted Buseon’s shoulder.

“Among my disciples, I gave you the Black Lion Flag first because I recognized you. But more valuable than this Black Lion Flag is that insight and sense.”

“……”

“I came to tell you this. Martial arts are more important than anything to a martial artist, but I wanted to let you know that there is something more important than martial arts.”

Buseon lowered her head.

“Thank you, Master.”

“What thanks? I just wanted to let you know that the inner demon you’re experiencing is nothing when you look back on it.”

That’s right.

Even the strong of the Saintly Heaven, who discuss the strongest in the Central Plains, try to see and learn the strengths of people who are much weaker and younger than themselves.

Considering Yang Cheon’s status, it could be a matter of pride. Yet, he reflected on his past self, acknowledged the greatness of his opponent, and tried to make up for his shortcomings.

‘He’s amazing.’

Not because he created the first alliance in the history of the Black Path [a term for the martial arts underworld].

Yang Cheon was a person worth learning from as a human being, before being the head of a force, before being a martial artist discussing the best in the world.

Buseon closed her eyes.

‘Even Master is someone who tries to learn. Why am I suffering from an inner demon because of that person? From the beginning, I had no reason to struggle with an inferiority complex.’

Slowly.

The faint internal energy vibration that had been emanating from Buseon’s body gradually subsided.

Yang Cheon’s smile deepened.

Buseon was a truly decent disciple. It was amazing that she had reached this level with her lacking talent, but even though she had every reason to be arrogant, she was not stingy with learning.

‘Well done.’

A few words of teaching wouldn’t be enough to get rid of her inner demon. However, today’s words could be of great help to her disciple’s growth. Yang Cheon was sure of that.

“By the way, today is the day I meet those damned people from Bota.”

“Ah, yes.”

“It’s a pity. I really wanted to meet them today.”

Yang Cheon, who was shaking his head, suddenly looked at Buseon’s eyes.

“That girl. The Sword Queen candidate of the Bota Lotus Flower Sect.”

“Yes.”

“Come to think of it, it seems you haven’t met her while you were sowing seeds of discord in Bota.”

“That’s right. Not only her, but I haven’t seen any of the three candidates. They were thoroughly hidden and trained in each faction.”

From the beginning, Buseon did not infiltrate Bota Temple as a key figure to disrupt the inside.

Unlike her current appearance to Yang Cheon, she was skilled in espionage. She naturally disguised herself as one of the workers supplying food to Bota and shook the inside. In the process, she became friends with the masters of Bota, but she had never seen the successors.

Of course, she didn’t do it alone, but considering that she led the operation, she certainly had outstanding abilities other than martial arts.

“Have you met the owner of the Lotus Flower Sect who came here?”

“I haven’t met her.”

“Yes, I thought so.”

Yang Cheon turned his body.

“While I’m gone for a while, try to appease them well. I’ll be back around noon tomorrow.”

Buseon lowered her head.

“I obey your command.”

* * *

The night was deep.

The full moon that had risen was unusually bright today. Even the surrounding starlight looked faint, as if looking at a bluish sun.

The moonlight shone on the back garden.

Gang Ryang, shirtless, was slowly swinging his sword.

Drop. Drop.

The sweat dripping from Gang Ryang’s body soaked the ground.

The slowly moving sword was without a single tremor. As if the slow sword training had reached its peak, there was no trace of killing intent or sharpness in the sword that moved with the flow of air.

The sword was slow, and the footwork was also slow. However, inside him, the Ghost King Energy [a type of internal energy] was moving busily, making the nerves of his whole body extremely sensitive.

As the five senses became more sensitive, swinging the sword itself became more difficult. This was because he had no choice but to react sensitively to even the slightest stimulus.

Even in such an extreme environment, Gang Ryang’s sword and footwork were not disturbed. As if the sword and body had become one, the Ghost King Energy flowing from Gang Ryang’s hand to the sword was as natural as flowing water.

It was a perfect unity of sword and body. All the enlightenment that could be obtained at the level and position Gang Ryang was walking on had reached its peak.

Yet, Gang Ryang was not complacent.

It wasn’t because he wasn’t satisfied with his achievements. It was because he had seen too many masters walking in new worlds.

There is no end to the martial path. The Thirteen Seats of the Saintly Heaven [a group of powerful martial artists] must have also faced their own limits and would be working to break those limits.

Compared to them, he was only at the level of taking his first steps.

It is truly amazing that a baby who was crawling has started to walk. But if he is satisfied with that, he may never be able to run.

‘More.’

The sword was slow, but Gang Ryang’s eyes, looking at the tip of the sword, were filled with joy and trembling.

‘Higher, faster.’

Woo woong. Woo woong.

The sword’s cry echoed.

It wasn’t that the sword was shaking due to excessive energy operation.

The resonance of the soul. The realm of genius that only those who have completely permeated themselves into the sword can reach.

Even Yayul Jeokjo said that there were not many in the Evil Sound Sect who had obtained a pure sword cry. Gang Ryang was entering the same realm.

‘Just everything into the sword…!’

It was then.

Zziiing!

His heightened senses, which would never have caught it under normal circumstances, caught a faint presence.

Hook!

The sweat flowing from Gang Ryang’s body evaporated instantly.

Sreuk.

Gang Ryang, who had straightened his posture, closed his eyes.

A deep sense of regret was emanating. He could have crossed the wall of martial arts so easily, but the path to enlightenment had become dark again.

Regret becomes obsession, and obsession becomes anguish, which contaminates a person’s mind.

Gang Ryang took a deep breath.

‘It’s okay.’

The flames of anguish that had been slowly tightening around his neck subsided with one deep breath.

‘It’s a realm I’ve reached once. There’s no way I can’t reach it again.’

Gang Ryang opened his eyes.

His eyes were even clearer and deeper than before training.

Sreureung.

Gang Ryang, who had sheathed his sword, said in a calm voice.

“Come out now.”

After a while, a shadow appeared behind Gang Ryang.

“…Amazing.”

“……”

“I wouldn’t have thought you could sense my presence, let alone Yeon Ho-Jeong. No, even Yeon Ho-Jeong wouldn’t have known until just now.”

Gang Ryang turned his body.

There was Yang Cheon there.

Whoo-oong.

A lukewarm summer breeze stole the eyes of the two and ran away.

Gang Ryang asked calmly.

“I thought you would come through the main gate with your subordinates.”

A different light emanated from Yang Cheon’s eyes.

He saw at a glance who Gang Ryang was. Gang Ryang was exuding an amazing presence, so much so that he wondered why he hadn’t noticed him in the past.

“The entire land of Honam is my territory. If you grab anyone on the street, they are my subordinates.”

It was a great confidence. In fact, there would be countless masters stationed all around Inhwalu.

Gang Ryang chuckled.

“You are indeed the master of the Mook Ryong Faction.”

Yang Cheon, who was quietly looking at Gang Ryang, tilted his head.

“Your reaction is very fresh.”

“Is that so?”

“You are a descendant of the Ghost Sword, right?”

“That’s right.”

“To you, I should be an irreconcilable enemy. Moreover, just a moment ago, although it wasn’t intentional, I even interfered with the moment you were about to break through the wall of martial arts. If you were a martial artist, if you were a person, wouldn’t you be in a situation where you would be blinded by rage?”

Gang Ryang nodded.

“I have been accumulating that anger and resentment well. However, I know that today is not the time to release it, so don’t worry too much about it.”

“……Not the time to release it?”

“You didn’t come to see me, did you? My brother is on the top floor. You can go there.”

Yang Cheon, who was looking at Gang Ryang’s eyes, sighed.

“They say that a born genius cannot surpass a talented person who pioneers their own path. You have accumulated a study that is not suitable for your age.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“I want to ask. When is the time to release your anger and resentment?”

Gang Ryang smiled.

“When I become stronger than the Vice Chief. Or the moment the Vice Chief becomes extremely weak.”

“……”

“My revenge begins then. So don’t get hurt by some random guy’s sword.”

Yang Cheon, who had been silent for a while, said as if throwing it away.

“You are a dangerous person.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment too.”

“It’s a compliment. It’s a compliment, but it’s also a word that could be a death sentence for you.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes turned cold.

“I can tell even from a brief conversation. You are dangerous. You are someone who could stab a knife into my neck at any time. Just turning away, it seems like your blade will keep flickering in my mind.”

“You flatter me.”

“You’ve worked hard to get there. Farewell.”

Paah!

Yang Cheon’s fist struck Gang Ryang’s chest.

Puhwaaak!

Gang Ryang, who spat out blood, flew three yards and collapsed.