Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 480

“Okay, look at this part.”

It was a moment that required focus, but even so, Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t hide his surprise.

What lay before him was a massive, detailed map, each side spanning about ten feet. The map included the area where he had fought the Twelve Martial Commanders, as well as the area where Tang Gwan had fought the Five Tiger Generals.

What was impressive was the precise sense of distance and the meticulous detail. It was such a precise map that one could believe it was made by a cartographer [map expert].

“Did you draw this?”

“Who else would help me with this crazy task?”

“It’s amazing.”

“Enough, just look at it.”

Jeagal Ayeon pointed to various places on the map with a serious expression.

“The Shin Hwa Cult boldly set up an information base not far from the Murim Alliance. Because of the terrain, it wasn’t easy to notice, and it was also close to the village, making it easy to gather information from the surroundings.”

“That’s right.”

“But they didn’t choose this place just to gather information.”

Jeagal Ayeon brought over a transparent oilskin.

On it, a complex geometric figure was precisely drawn with a fine brush.

“This is one of the formation axes frequently used by the main family, the Eight Trigrams Limitless Diagram. It uses the eight trigrams [a set of eight symbolic figures used in Taoist cosmology] as a framework, with the four symbols [four symbols representing the four seasons and directions] inside, and within the four symbols, it establishes the yin and yang paths of life and death.”

It was called a basic formation, but to Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had never properly studied formations, it was a figure that looked far too complex.

“I drew the Eight Trigrams Limitless Diagram on this oilskin to overlay it on the map.”

Jeagal Ayeon placed the figure of the Eight Trigrams Limitless Diagram on the map.

The center was the place the Shin Hwa Cult had used as an information base.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

“So, how does it look like now?”

“The paths of life and death…?”

“You have a good sense, don’t you? That’s right. When you divide the eight directions by the eight trigrams, the place where you fought the Twelve Martial Commanders was on the Xun direction [Southeast]. The twisted four symbols established the Lesser Yang, and that place, when viewed in terms of yin and yang, belongs to the yin, the path of death.”

“So, I fought in a place where it was either you die or I die.”

“That’s right. And you and the rear guard entered the path of death from the path of life.”

“But….”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? Both on the map and in your memory, the area where you fought wouldn’t seem like a path of death.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong agreed.

The place where he had fought the life-and-death battle with the Twelve Martial Commander, Gyujeok, could never be a path of death based on the surrounding environment. It was just that the day was dry and there were many trees around, which was advantageous for Gyujeok, who had mastered the Scorching Yang Skill. No matter how you fit the formation diagram, it was hard to see it as a death zone unless it was a special case.

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“Is it a difference in the formation axis? I mean, because you used your family’s Eight Trigrams Limitless Diagram, there’s this difference….”

“Absolutely not. No matter how you modify the Eight Trigrams Limitless Diagram, that area cannot become a path of life.”

“But that place wasn’t a path of death, was it?”

“That’s the problem.”

Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes deepened.

“It’s not just the Eight Trigrams Limitless Diagram. No matter what formation axis from the main family I use, it’s hard for that place to become a path of life.”

“Isn’t it because it’s the Jeagal family’s formation? If a formation expert who solves equations with a different perspective….”

“I dare to say that while the main family’s formation equations may not be the best in the world, they certainly encompass the most extensive equations in the world. In other words, the only place that can solve even the principles of the heretical or demonic formation experts is the main family.”

Seeing her say this much, it was definitely strange.

Watching Yeon Ho-Jeong ponder deeply, Jeagal Ayeon brought another oilskin.

“Now, shall we overlay this?”

“What’s that?”

“It’s the Ten Perfections Diagram, which encompasses all directions from the Limitless to the Nine Palaces [a concept in Chinese cosmology].”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Just look.”

The oilskin with the Ten Perfections Diagram was placed on the map.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes widened.

“How is it?”

“It’s still a path of death?”

“Right?”

“It’s amazing. It’s a path of death, but if you get out of that, it becomes a path of life.”

“……?!”

“It’s accurately connected in the order of the Three Powers [Heaven, Earth, and Humanity], Four Symbols, Five Elements [Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water], and Six Harmonies [Heaven, Earth, and the four cardinal directions], isn’t it?”

“Oh?”

“Isn’t it? It’s a path of death because it’s the yin path of yin and yang, but after that, it’s the human path of the Three Powers, the Greater Yang path of the Four Symbols, the wood path of the Five Elements, and the east path of the Six Harmonies? Isn’t this a path of life?”

Jeagal Ayeon clicked her tongue.

“Would you like to learn formations from me when you have time later? I think you have talent?”

“If I have time, that is.”

“You’re right. As a result, that place is a path of life. The problem is, based on the battle patterns, it’s strange that the so-called Twelve Martial Commander chose that place as the main battleground.”

“The day was dry, and there were many trees around. It’s not just that place. The information base itself was like that.”

“Still, it’s still a path of death. You know the reason better than anyone, don’t you?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

“The river.”

“You’re smart as always.”

Every member of the Shin Hwa Cult had mastered the Scorching Yang Skill.

The core of the Scorching Yang Skill is fire, and fire is weak against water. Water overcomes fire. Water is bound to win against fire.

Of course, a master-level expert of the Shin Hwa Cult could blow away any ordinary water force with their fire power.

Even so, it was strange that they had chosen that area as the battlefield. Gyujeok had the ability to change the environment of the battlefield, and even if it wasn’t that place, it was a battle advantageous to him, who had mastered the Scorching Yang Skill, because the day was dry.

“It’s not just that. The place where the Tang family head and the Five Tiger Generals fought was also a path of Lesser Yin, escaping from the path of life and returning to the path of death.”

After a moment of silence, Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“It’s possible that it’s all a coincidence. It might seem strange to someone who solves equations, but fighting is inherently….”

“I know, I know. The problem is, it’s too coincidental to be a coincidence.”

Jeagal Ayeon took out another map.

“This is the place where the First Martial Commander, Beonjak, was, that is, the place where the Murim Alliance experts and the Shin Hwa Cult’s martial commanders had a life-and-death battle. This isn’t very detailed, so keep that in mind.”

After looking at the map and even seeing the Eight Trigrams Limitless Diagram and the Ten Perfections Diagram overlaid, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face was completely hardened.

“This is really strange.”

“Right?”

“Is there a blueprint or something for this building?”

“No. There’s no way there would be.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong closed his eyes for a moment. He was recalling the battle at that time, the movements of the martial commanders.

But it wasn’t easy. No matter how brilliant Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mind was, it was a battle that had taken place several months ago, and even after that, all sorts of things had happened, to the point where his head was about to explode more than once.

However, he remembered a few things.

It was a battle where they had risked their lives, one of the most dangerous battles since his regression, so the memories of each moment remained.

“How is it? Do you remember?”

“I don’t. But….”

The expression on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face, as he opened his eyes again, was full of bewilderment.

“I keep getting the feeling that the individual movements of the martial commanders and the overall strategy itself were all part of a single framework?”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m not sure. It’s just a feeling.”

“It’s just a feeling, but it’s enough to feel a sense of unease.”

Jeagal Ayeon cleared all the maps away.

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange. Setting up an information base not far from the Murim Alliance? It’s bold. It’s like ‘the darkest place is under the lamp,’ but seeing them actually use it, the audacity of the Shin Hwa Cult is worthy of praise.”

“That’s right.”

“The problem is, if they had a strategist, they would never have set up a base here. They would have infiltrated the Alliance instead. How could they set up a base in such an ambiguous place, not knowing when or how they would be caught?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong had always wondered about this as well. However, because the impression of the three cults was so close to that of fanatics, he had just passed it off as something that could happen.

But that wasn’t it.

“They’re moving with an uncanny precision. They’re following the movements of a crude geometric figure that’s hard to even guess what kind of formation it is.”

Jeagal Ayeon looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“If what you’re saying is true, then the movements of this bizarre figure are also embedded in the martial arts they’ve mastered.”

“…….”

“Isn’t it amazing? It’s like they’re puppets faithfully carrying out orders from the top. Even insects wouldn’t do this.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was lost in thought again.

‘Does this make sense?’

He once again recalled the martial commanders of the Shin Hwa Cult.

Their movements, their explosive power techniques, even the parts where their emotions became heightened.

‘Come to think of it….’

Yeon Ho-Jeong coldly evaluated his own martial arts, his own skills.

‘At that time, even if I had brought the enlightenment of my previous life, was I skilled enough to drive the enemy that far?’

It was an unknown matter.

A fight cannot be judged simply by the measure of one’s level. The state of one’s mind and body on that day, the environment, variables, and all sorts of factors are involved.

In other words, it means that no one can guarantee who will win or lose in any kind of fight. To be honest, it was clear that Beonjak at the time was a master who was difficult to catch even if Yeon Ho-Jeong and Yeon Wi joined forces.

Of course, the battle situation was unfavorable, and they didn’t push it further because they had gotten what they wanted. Moreover, the combined attack technique of Yeon Ho-Jeong and Yeon Wi also produced more power than expected. Momentum and mental strength are essential elements in a fight.

‘But….’

Thoughts chased each other.

Soon, Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

‘It’s already in the past. And it was clearly a life-or-death battle. Beonjak was clearly struggling against the combined attack of me and my father.’

There was no need to doubt even the elements that he could be sure of.

However, one thing was clear.

“If this is true, then we can seize the core weakness of those guys.”

“Yes, if it’s certain.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked Jeagal Ayeon.

“How long would it take to get the blueprint of the building where the martial commanders had their life-and-death battle?”

“I don’t know. It’s not something we can solve on our own. Without the help of the Alliance’s intelligence unit or the Beggars’ Union….”

“Then we have to do it. We have to find out somehow.”

“The persuasion?”

“I’ll do it. Don’t worry too much about that.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was lost in thought again.

He seemed to be having many thoughts. Well, it was enough to be like that.

Jeagal Ayeon patiently waited for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mouth to open again.

How much time had passed?

“Have you ever been inside the Council Chamber?”

Jeagal Ayeon tilted her head.

“I think I have once? We went in together before, didn’t we? To report to the higher-ups when the Extermination Army returned.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled coldly.

“We’ll have to go in one more time.”

“Huh? Just me?”

“Either alone or with the person in charge. Of course, we’ll have to talk to the military advisor.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong got up from his seat.

“Wait here. I’ll get the entry permit from the military advisor.”

“Are you going in too?”

“No, I’m not going with you. I’ll tell the military advisor separately what you need to do, so don’t worry too much.”

“Then what about you?”

“I’m going to find out if the Shin Hwa Cult guys really move according to a certain framework, as you found out, by instinct.”

Jeagal Ayeon was flustered.

“How are you going to find that out? No, who are you going to ask?”

“The person involved.”

“What?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

“One of the martial commanders we captured at that time is rotting in the Murim Alliance prison.”