Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 471

The Pargun Clan’s residence, which he returned to after a long time, was as clean as ever.

Gang Ryang whistled.

“It’s well-organized as always.”

“Indeed.”

“The Family Head must have cleaned it every day, right?”

“Probably.”

“The Family Head is something else, he should leave this to the servants.”

“Unless he’s really busy, he usually does it himself.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

‘Father.’

He couldn’t sense his father’s presence in the residence. It seemed he had gone out for a while.

“Go inside and rest for now.”

“What about you, Brother?”

“I have to report to the higher-ups that I’ve returned.”

Gang Ryang chuckled.

“You really have great stamina. Then, I’ll rest first.”

“Alright.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having left the Pargun Clan’s residence again, headed towards the military affairs office.

It was then.

‘……?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong stopped walking.

‘This energy…?’

He turned his head.

The energy, which was being emitted from a field quite far from the Pargun Clan’s residence, where there were no buildings around, was reaching Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Considering the distance, it was truly a remarkable mastery of internal energy. Even for Yeon Ho-Jeong, it was a distance that was barely within reach.

A smile spread across Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, powerfully kicking off the ground, shot towards the source of the energy.

Closing the distance in an instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong soared high into the sky with his last step, and the wide-open field filled his eyes.

And in the middle of that field.

There was a swordsman sitting in a lotus position.

Whirrr!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, landing on the ground, approached the swordsman to within about three yards.

Then, the swordsman, with his eyes closed, asked.

“You left the Gwangryong [a type of large axe] behind.”

“Yes, I did.”

“It is a weapon as if it were your alter ego, why did you leave it to your subordinates?”

“I just didn’t feel like taking it.”

“You’re already neglecting your weapon, that’s truly worrying.”

“I know, right? At first, I was hoping you had reached the level of the Mind Sword [a legendary sword technique], but no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think that’s it.”

“Just because you’ve lost interest in your weapon doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve reached the Mind Sword. But even if it’s not the Mind Sword, it’s not a worthless realization.”

“I hope so.”

“You haven’t seen the true nature of that realization yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Then, let’s confirm together what that realization is.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

At that moment.

Swoosh! Thwack!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had already drawn the Black and White Twin Dragons [a pair of hand axes], struck the place where the swordsman had been standing.

The power was so strong that, despite being a slash, the shockwave caused the ground within a radius of more than one yard to be completely overturned.

“That’s like you.”

Whoooosh.

The swordsman, who had risen high into the sky, Yeon-Wi’s clear eyes met Yeon Ho-Jeong’s.

“Now, then.”

Clang!

Yeon-Wi, drawing his sword powerfully, moved like lightning in an instant.

In the air, stepping on an invisible foothold, he rushed in with terrifying speed.

That speed was so fast and intense that even Yeon Ho-Jeong, after his regression, was seeing it for the first time. It was to the point where the Ilhomujang Beonjak [a legendary martial artist] momentarily came to mind.

The two men’s swords and axes collided.

Clang!

An invisible shockwave spread in all directions, tearing apart the weeds in the field.

“Your strength is as good as ever.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s smile deepened.

“Whose son do you think I am?”

Chiriring!

As he crossed his axes in a cross shape and unleashed his power, Yeon-Wi retreated far back.

It was an explosive release of power, a ‘poggyeong’ [an explosive release of internal energy]. It was a power that could even break an opponent’s weapon, but Yeon-Wi’s sword didn’t even have a scratch.

Yeon-Wi took a powerful step forward.

Thud!

A powerful ‘jingak’ [a powerful stomp used to generate force] that was unlike him.

Following that, Yeon-Wi’s sword emitted a brilliant light.

Swoosh! Thwack!

The sword energy, which was released from a distance of five yards, collided with Yeon Ho-Jeong’s twin axes and shattered into pieces.

A vein popped out on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s forehead.

‘Strong!’

It was the strongest of the strong swords. Unlike his father, it was a sword energy with a rough and destructive power, but within it was filled with refined ‘jingi’ [internal energy] and ‘balgyeong’ [explosive force] formulas of orthodox swordsmanship.

It was a terrifying sword. Yeon Ho-Jeong was surprised by his father’s swordsmanship.

‘He’s grown. More than before!’

It was natural that his own growth rate was fast. Because he had already experienced that level.

But he didn’t know that his father’s growth rate would be this fast. It was truly rare for a martial artist who had already reached a certain level to develop such a high level of skill in just a few months.

‘I can feel it. Father’s efforts.’

The history of effort felt in the tremendous sword energy strike.

To reach this level, there must have been a heart-wrenching mental pain. Yeon Ho-Jeong could fully feel it.

Swoosh!

Yeon-Wi, who had closed the distance fiercely, swung three swords like lightning.

It was impossible to think of it as the movement of an ordinary iron sword. Even though it was an iron sword that didn’t have the soul of a master craftsman, the fact that it could withstand such speed and power felt amazing.

The Black and White Twin Dragon axes moved busily.

Clang! Clang!

It didn’t end with three swords. The three swords were just one technique, and when that technique ended, four swords rushed in, and when four swords ended, five swords followed.

If the initial sword energy was the peak of the strong sword, the current continuous sword was the essence of the fast sword. He was swinging so fast, yet he was attacking with unwavering sword power in the exact position.

Strong and fast. There was his father’s new power that broke the mold of the Yeon family’s orthodox swordsmanship.

Whoooosh!

Although he was amazed by the level his father had achieved, Yeon Ho-Jeong wasn’t just standing there in awe.

Chiriring! Chiriring!

The movement of the Black and White Twin Dragons, which were deflecting the swords, also became faster, blending with Yeon-Wi’s fast sword.

It was a speed that couldn’t be achieved with the Gwangryong axe. Because it was a much lighter and shorter hand axe than the Gwangryong axe, it was able to respond to Yeon-Wi’s speed. If it weren’t for the Twin Dragons, he would have already pulled back and aimed for an opening.

Swoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s legs moved elastically.

A whip-like leg technique that coiled and crushed aimed for Yeon-Wi’s left arm.

In a fleeting moment, Yeon-Wi, who had retrieved his sword, moved his left arm softly.

Whirrr!

The power that had coiled around his leg spun Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body in a circle in the air.

He had elevated a simple ‘geumnasu’ [a seizing hand technique] into a ‘saryangbalcheongeun’ [a technique where four ounces deflects a thousand pounds] technique using internal energy. It was an imagination and skill that would make even a supreme master’s jaw drop.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s foot, which was spinning, extended out aggressively.

Thwack!

He blocked it with his left arm against the back of his sword, but even so, the impact was not completely dissipated. Yeon-Wi’s body slid backward.

‘He’s strong.’

It was a leg technique that flew and struck like a cannonball. Even though his posture was broken, he twisted the center of his body and exerted full power.

In that short moment, he could have been flustered, but he used the best body movements to deliver the best strike.

His son’s practical ability was not dead at all. No, it seemed to have developed even more sensitively than before.

Swoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had straightened his posture, immediately went on the offensive.

Closing the distance and unleashing a ‘bup’ [a sudden strike] like the fangs of a beast, this was the ‘Howang Gubyeokse’ [Tiger King Nine Thunderous Strikes] of the White Tiger Art.

It was completely different from when he used the Gwangryong axe. It was the same technique, but faster and sharper. Even though he was wielding two weapons, the technique was not flawed.

An overwhelming sense of pressure. Yeon-Wi’s sword moved with precision.

Clang! Clang!

If the axes moved decisively, the sword penetrated sharply.

It was the ‘Cheolgeom Daeyeon Samsipnyuk Sik’ [Thirty-Six Forms of the Great Iron Sword], the secret sword technique of the Yeon family and a martial art that was like a scripture containing everything about the Yeon family’s sword arts.

That sword technique was systematically breaking down the fierce Tiger King’s martial art. It was a divine sword technique that could respond to any attack the opponent made.

‘It’s not working.’

He hadn’t even reached the last move of the Howang Gubyeokse, and he was already losing his finesse.

It was a perfect response, a gentleman’s sword art that fundamentally prevented the realization of martial arts.

If he continued to use it without knowing this, he would be defeated.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s foot powerfully stomped on the ground.

Thwack!

The resounding ‘jingak’ [a powerful stomp], as if an earthquake had occurred, was heavier than Yeon-Wi’s.

Swoosh! Clang!

The cross-shaped slash of the twin axes temporarily blocked Yeon-Wi’s sword technique.

Whirr!

In that short moment, he used the ‘heogongseopmul’ [manipulating objects in the air] technique to move the ‘Gyoryongswae’ [Coiling Dragon Chain] that was wrapped around his upper body.

Clank! Clank!

The Gyoryongswae was connected to the rings at the ends of the handles of the Black and White Twin Dragons.

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung his hands wide.

Clang! Clang!

Surprise flickered across Yeon-Wi’s face.

The long, extended iron chain, and the axe blades of the Black Dragon and White Dragon connected to that chain, boasted a surprisingly wide attack range.

And it was strong. It wasn’t just being used like a whip, the power of the slash that was swung down was stronger than when it was swung by hand.

‘The speed is slower. But he’s supporting it with change.’

Clang! Clang!

The distance between him and his son had widened. He struck the Black and White Twin Dragons with his sword in turn, but the axes, which had approached like a snake, were trying to wrap around his body again.

It was an amazing technique, a creative use of weapons. Regardless of their relationship and level, Yeon-Wi felt awe at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s martial arts realization.

‘He’s implementing martial arts with a broader perspective and more creativity. Truly amazing.’

Swoosh!

Yeon-Wi closed the distance.

As if there was no problem at all with closing the distance, he rotated his body and created a storm of iron chains and twin axes. It was an aggressive body movement that made it impossible to close the distance beyond a certain point.

Yeon-Wi swung his sword powerfully.

Clang! Clang!

The sword that struck the axes and iron chains seemed to be screaming.

It was like an iron fortress. There was no way to break through.

Of course, Yeon-Wi was no ordinary martial artist.

Boom!

He struck a ‘Ballyongjang’ [Half Dragon Palm] in the direction of the rotation, and Yeon Ho-Jeong’s rotation speed doubled.

This was something that even Yeon Ho-Jeong had not anticipated. It was a technique that added to the rotational force to make it collapse on its own, an impressive technique as much as the ‘geumnasu’ that had been elevated to the ‘saryangbalcheongeun’ technique.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s foot was planted on the ground.

Thwack! Thwack!

The ground overturned, slowing down the rotation, and Yeon-Wi’s sword, which had aimed for that gap, targeted Yeon Ho-Jeong’s midsection.

It was a timely attack. An ordinary martial artist would never be able to avoid it.

Fortunately, Yeon Ho-Jeong was not ordinary either.

Whoosh!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had pushed his body’s reaction speed to the limit with the exploding ‘Jujakhwagi’ [Vermilion Bird Fire Energy], leaned his upper body back in an instant, and the sword that had aimed for his midsection pierced the air.

Boom!

At the same time, the leg technique that he had extended out unleashed its power in front of Yeon-Wi’s torso. If he hadn’t anticipated the counterattack and blocked it with the Ballyongjang, he would have suffered quite severe internal injuries.

The ability to turn a crisis into an opportunity, as a martial artist walking on the edge of life and death, there was no one as outstanding as Yeon Ho-Jeong as a practical martial artist.

Chiriririring!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had widened the distance again, retrieved the Gyoryongswae and grabbed the Black and White Twin Dragons again.

Yeon-Wi’s face turned red. He, too, was fired up by his son’s unconventional and powerful martial arts.

“You’ve really grown tremendously.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“It’s an honor.”

No matter when he heard it, his father’s praise always made him feel good. He didn’t want to be recognized by anyone else, but his father’s recognition always made his son excited.

Whoooosh!

As the burning fighting spirit was added to the father and son’s energy, the energy waves that were emitted as if oil had been poured on fire were beyond imagination.

Yeon-Wi’s eyes changed.

“I’ll go all out.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes also became similar to Yeon-Wi’s.

“Me too.”

Swoosh!

The two men moved like lightning towards each other.

It was a truly martial reunion, the two were family, but they were also martial artists. The father and son of a martial family who recognized each other talked in this way.

Thus, the two men’s sparring ended after half a day.

It was a way for the men of the Yeon family to relieve their past, a way to understand each other’s past better than any greeting.