Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 509

Yang Cheon, seated on the grand chair, looked every bit the emperor.

To his left and right, countless masters stood in rows, their backs slightly bent. They were not dressed in martial attire but in the luxurious robes befitting high-ranking officials of the imperial court, standing motionless.

It was a truly magnificent sight.

It was as if one were witnessing the emperor’s grand assembly with all civil and military officials gathered. Although the hall wasn’t lavishly decorated, the energy and suffocatingly sharp atmosphere of the masters made this place more noble and dangerous than any other.

Behind Yang Cheon stood three of his disciples.

The eldest disciple, Yeop Seong, the second disciple, Bu Seon, and the third disciple, Jeon Hong.

Yeop Seong deliberately did not suppress his unique, rough energy, and Bu Seon also did not control her own sharp aura. Jeon Hong, whose right arm was cut off by Gang Ryang, also seemed to have no intention of hiding his fierce energy.

And Yang Cheon’s ocean-like energy easily encompassed his disciples’ energies, shaking the entire place.

“…….”

The grand hall was utterly silent.

It was a silence so profound that even the sound of a needle dropping would have sounded like thunder. Everyone present was careful not to even rustle their clothing.

‘Interesting.’

Yang Cheon, seated on the grand chair, had his eyes closed.

He was newly amazed by this moment.

‘An alliance with the Martial Alliance… I was the one who brought it up, but now that this moment has arrived, my feelings are truly complex.’

A brief meeting with the leaders of the Martial Alliance?

It wasn’t like this then. They had merely exchanged the answers and trust they each desired. That meeting was just that kind of occasion.

Now, it was different.

A warrior dispatched from the Martial Alliance, the representative of the Martial Alliance, had actually entered his castle.

That fact was making Yang Cheon’s mood unique.

‘I don’t even know my own feelings… a rare experience. But…’

It wasn’t bad.

Yang Cheon, with his eyes closed, had a small smile on his lips.

‘Even enemies who have been at each other’s throats for hundreds of years can join hands for a common goal. That’s what the martial world, what the world is like.’

Yang Cheon was newly impressed. By the unexpectedness that the martial world produced in each era, and by the bloody causality that made that unexpectedness inevitable.

After a while.

Baek Seo’s voice was heard from beyond the closed doors of the grand hall.

“Vice Unit Lord, I have brought the guest.”

Flash!

Yang Cheon’s eyes opened.

“Bring them in.”

Whoooom.

Yang Cheon’s voice, the voice of the Fighting King, the voice of the Black Dragon Unit Lord, became a single resonance, cutting through the air of the grand hall.

Krrrrrr.

The grand doors of the hall began to open.

The sound of them opening was different from before. As if a giant beast were growling, the roar that shook the hall emitted an eerie and magnificent sound.

Step.

The entrance was not visible from the grand chair.

From there, the sound of footsteps echoed as they stepped onto the long staircase that led to the center of the grand hall.

Step. Step.

It was a confident stride that showed not even a speck of caution.

However, the sound did not come across as arrogant. It was a sound that conveyed boundless freedom, dignity, and respect for the other party.

One could read the other’s nature and thoughts just from the sound of their footsteps. Yang Cheon’s smile deepened.

‘He’s become stronger.’

Each time they met again, he showed a completely different side of himself.

Yang Cheon finally realized that this audacious envoy had stepped onto the path of light leading to the Supreme [a state of enlightenment or ultimate power in martial arts].

A new world that was illusory yet the Supreme itself, a realm that was difficult for anyone who had not entered it to understand, no matter what expression they used.

‘To have reached another level from then, after only a few months. He’s truly an amazing fellow.’

After a while.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s figure began to appear little by little above the stairs.

From his head to his shoulders, his upper body, and then his legs.

The appearance of Yeon Ho-Jeong, which was gradually revealed, was also dazzling. Although the light of his clothes had faded slightly from the long journey, his unique, mysterious energy completely concealed even the dirt on his clothes.

Yeop Seong’s eyes gleamed.

He was inwardly surprised by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s change.

‘He’s completely different.’

It was as if the person himself had changed from when they met on the road.

If he was like a scholar who was moderately tired and moderately upright back then, now he was exuding an atmosphere like a mysterious master who had fallen from another world.

Of course, he still did not feel the sharp energy unique to martial artists. So, he wondered if he had even learned martial arts.

However, regardless of martial arts, the person himself seemed extraordinary.

A presence that seemed as if no one could dare to treat him carelessly. It was a remarkable presence that properly showed the feeling of being aloof, no matter what the surrounding environment was like.

‘At least.’

Yeop Seong glanced at Yang Cheon.

‘He’s not someone who praises just anyone. Certainly, if it’s to that extent…’

Whatever it was, he must possess abilities that ordinary people could not even imagine.

Swoosh.

Finally, Yeon Ho-Jeong stood in the center of the red carpet that led to the grand chair.

Behind him stood Pae-Yul and Gang Ryang. If one looked closely, their energy was also tremendous, but the focus on Yeon Ho-Jeong was so strong that almost no one paid attention to them.

Thus, Yang Cheon and Yeon Ho-Jeong faced each other.

The first to speak was Yang Cheon.

“You’ve arrived.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at Yang Cheon, knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

“I am Yeon Ho-Jeong, the chief of the Righteous Army of the Martial Alliance, and I greet Great Warrior Yang Cheon, the head of the Black Dragon Unit of the Black Path Alliance.”

It was a splendid speech.

Like an envoy paying respects to the emperor of another country, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s demeanor was full of refined etiquette.

Yang Cheon nodded.

“You must have had a hard time coming all this way.”

Since Yeon Ho-Jeong had come out like this, Yang Cheon could not treat him with the casual attitude he showed in private.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s actions were both to save face for himself, the Black Dragon Unit Lord, and to reaffirm the alliance relationship of the Martial Alliance.

“Do you have the official letter?”

“Yes, I do.”

Yang Cheon looked to his left. There stood the leader of the Black Dragon Guard, the new personal guard of the Black Dragon Unit Lord.

“Receive it.”

“Yes.”

He approached Yeon Ho-Jeong with quick steps, received the letter, and ascended the stairs.

Yang Cheon nodded.

The Black Dragon Guard leader unfolded the letter and began to read.

“To the esteemed head of the Black Path Alliance and the great master of the martial world, the Black Dragon Unit Lord, from the members of the Martial Alliance…”

The Black Dragon Guard leader’s voice was deep and resonant. It was a voice perfectly suited for reading the official letter sent by the Martial Alliance.

While he was reading the letter in a weighty voice, Yang Cheon and Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes met.

The two exchanged words only with their eyes, without any telepathic communication.

‘Did you catch the spy?’

‘It was difficult, but we caught them.’

‘The atmosphere in the Martial Alliance must be terrible.’

‘It’s quite grim.’

‘There will be a lot to do here as well. Be on your guard.’

‘You should be as well, Vice Unit Lord.’

After a while, the Black Dragon Guard leader’s voice faded.

“…This concludes the message from the Twelve Elders of the Martial Alliance.”

The Black Dragon Guard leader folded the letter again and returned to his place.

Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.

“The Martial Alliance will be operating in a semi-seclusion form?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong bowed his head.

“That is correct.”

“You said we would join hands, but are you backing out like this?”

It was a statement that could have cooled the atmosphere.

Yeon Ho-Jeong received his words nonchalantly.

“A bear hibernates not just for simple survival, but as a strategy to welcome a better spring.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“However, if you, as the envoy, work here, there will be times when you will need help from the Martial Alliance.”

“That is why it is not a complete seclusion, but a semi-seclusion.”

“Whether it’s a simple seclusion or a semi-seclusion, it clearly means that you will reduce external affairs. What if we have to face the enemies with only the power of the headquarters?”

“That is why I am here.”

“Oh, so you’re saying that you can represent the will of the Martial Alliance?”

“We are at a point where a war with an unprecedentedly difficult enemy is imminent. The Martial Alliance is not foolish enough to send a fool who only knows how to take responsibility without giving them that much authority.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong raised his head.

His shining eyes pierced straight through Yang Cheon’s gaze.

“While I am dispatched here, all authority and responsibility are mine. You can be sure of that.”

The corners of Yang Cheon’s lips curled up.

“Can I trust those words?”

“If you don’t believe my words, cut off my head immediately.”

“Hahaha!”

Yang Cheon burst into laughter.

A pleasant laugh, the Fighting King’s laugh that could not hide his personal feelings even in an official setting, softened the tense atmosphere.

“A boldness to discuss the world. The confidence of a petty general who does not value his own life is only worthy of ridicule, but the life of a Vajra warrior [a warrior of great strength and resilience] who carries countless lives on his shoulders shines with a value that no treasure can buy.”

Yang Cheon nodded.

“The Black Dragon Unit has reviewed the proposal for joint training with the White Path Martial Alliance for the last time. As a result of the review, we have felt sufficient trust in the envoy’s words.”

“…….”

“From this moment on, the Black Dragon Unit and the White Path Martial Alliance are brothers.”

Everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.

It was a historic moment when the Black Path and the White Path truly joined hands. A moment worthy of being recorded in the martial arts history books, and just by being present here, they all felt an indescribable emotion.

“I will issue an order throughout the Black Path. From now on, all provocations or attacks against the White Path sects are forbidden. Unless the White Path breaks this oath first, we of the Black Path will also never touch the other side.”

Yang Cheon nodded.

“Everyone, step back. The celebration for today’s event, which will be remembered in the history of the Black Path, will be prepared once the envoys have recovered from their fatigue.”

The martial artists lined up knelt down in unison.

“We obey the Unit Lord’s command!”

“And envoy representative Yeon Ho-Jeong, please remain for a moment.”

After a while.

“Hoo, it’s hot.”

Yang Cheon’s posture became a bit more relaxed.

“I thought I had gotten used to it, but this business of keeping up appearances is really something I can’t do.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong also plopped down on the spot.

“I almost got goosebumps.”

“You’re telling me.”

Yang Cheon shrugged his shoulders.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Yes. However, let’s hear about the plans first.”

Yang Cheon clicked his tongue.

“Are you already talking about work? Aren’t you tired?”

“I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion. But I want to know how the Vice Unit Lord plans to use me before I relieve my fatigue.”

“Can’t you hear it later?”

“Let’s confirm if my ominous thought is correct first.”

A mischievous smile appeared on Yang Cheon’s face.

“What is your ominous thought?”

“Seongcheon [a mysterious and powerful group].”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smacked his lips.

“No matter how I think about it, that’s the only thing. That conversation back then, too.”

“You have a good sense.”

“…Is it really?”

Yang Cheon took out a small letter from his chest and threw it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who received the letter, tilted his head.

“What is this again?”

“What do you think it is?”

“Stop playing with words, what is it?”

“The location of the person I want is written there.”

“…?”

“He’s probably the easiest of the madmen of Seongcheon.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“Who is it?”

Yang Cheon’s face also became serious.

“The Spear King.”