Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 545

Bu-seon, who had been meditating with her eyes closed, opened them at the sudden scent of blood.

“You’ve arrived.”

Swoosh.

She turned her head to the left.

There was Yeop Seong.

Yeop Seong’s condition didn’t look good. He had bandaged his severed arm with a clean cloth, which he must have acquired somewhere, and changed into clean clothes, but his complexion was still pale.

However.

‘…It was real.’

Bu-seon’s eyes wavered.

‘This energy, it’s not the original Blood Lion Energy. There’s a tiny amount of the Monstrous Fiend’s true energy mixed in.’

Only a few hours had passed since Jeon Hong’s death.

Yet, Yeop Seong seemed to have already made most of the true energy his own. He didn’t exude the beastly intimidation he once had, but a chilling, fiery power dominated the entire cave.

It was Jeon Hong’s energy. Or rather, it was Yeop Seong’s new power, having made most of Jeon Hong’s energy his own.

Even so, it was only about half of his original power.

‘The problem is, even with only half that power, he’s dangerous.’

She was once again reminded of the difference between herself and Yeop Seong.

And her amazement at Yeon Ho-jeong, who had subdued such a Yeop Seong so easily, grew even greater.

“Were you waiting for me?” Yeop Seong’s voice was hoarse.

It didn’t sound like his original voice. It was as if it were mixed with Jeon Hong’s voice.

It might have been her imagination, but just hearing it sent shivers down her spine. It didn’t feel like she was dealing with a human.

Bu-seon slowly rose and examined Yeop Seong’s body.

“You’ve restored your left arm to its original state. Your internal injuries haven’t completely healed, but… you’ve already recovered more than half.”

“….”

“It’s amazing. No matter how great the Absorption Art is, making the absorbed power your own must depend on the user’s ability, right?”

Yeop Seong’s eyes deepened.

“Do you know about the Absorption Art?”

“My master told me about it.”

“I see….”

Yeop Seong gave a faint smile.

“Master… Master, huh….”

It was a chilling voice, yet it seemed to leave a strange lingering feeling.

Yeop Seong, who had been staring at Bu-seon, shook his head.

“This place is on the outskirts of the Black Dragon Unit. I was going to take advantage of the moment you were separated. That’s why I appeared now.”

“….”

“But… it seems even this was a trap.”

Bu-seon spoke coldly.

“You killed the third one with that wicked martial art, so I have no choice but to capture and kill you.”

“You’re wrong.”

“…?”

“You have an excessive fantasy about the master. You don’t know the master.”

“I think I know him better than you do.”

“No, you don’t. The master wouldn’t bat an eye no matter how I killed you or the third one. Whether he killed you with his own martial arts or with martial arts received from a third party, he wouldn’t care.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I sincerely think so. That’s why I targeted the third one. I planned to capture him this time, obtain the Blood Lion Energy, and then devour you to recover faster.”

Devour.

It was a truly terrifying expression. Bu-seon felt a subtle chill, in addition to her contempt for her opponent.

Yeop Seong smirked.

“The problem is… I didn’t know that the master was also someone who could embrace ‘change’.”

“….”

“Isn’t that right, Master?”

As soon as Yeop Seong finished speaking, Yang Cheon and Gang Ryang appeared from the shadows beyond the cave.

Yeop Seong smiled.

“You were there. Amazing. Incredible. I thought my senses hadn’t died even though my body was in this state, but I had no idea where the master was.”

Yang Cheon silently stared at Yeop Seong.

Yeop Seong said,

“Did you come to capture me?”

Yang Cheon smiled.

“What do you think?”

“Master wasn’t one to talk so much, was he? Is there any reason to test me?”

“….”

“Indeed, Master has changed.”

Yang Cheon nodded.

“That’s right. I came to capture you.”

“Why are you trying to capture me?”

It was a strange question.

Yeop Seong’s face twisted slightly.

“Master isn’t that kind of person, is he? Whether it’s a successor or a cherished subordinate, he wouldn’t interfere no matter how he devoured his opponent.”

“….”

“The law of the jungle. Whether you were poisoned or tricked, the one who was defeated is the fool. Isn’t that the true way of the strong?”

Yang Cheon remained silent.

Yeop Seong pointed at Bu-seon.

“You said that Master acknowledged the second one. So, you taught that girl a stronger martial art that we don’t know about.”

“….”

“Honestly, I didn’t feel good about it. But I endured it. No, I tried not to care. It doesn’t matter how I do it, as long as I kill them. If I become the last one standing, I’ll naturally inherit everything from Master.”

“….”

“But what is this?”

Murdurous intent emanated from Yeop Seong’s eyes.

“Why did you come to capture me? Surely, you haven’t already decided on that weakling as your successor, have you?”

Yang Cheon shook his head.

“I haven’t decided on a successor yet.”

“Then why the hell!”

Yeop Seong’s voice became slightly agitated.

“Why the hell did you come to capture me! Go back! Go back and have a drink! It’s not something Master should be concerned about!”

“….”

“We were raised that way! We were raised to bite the weak and to be cautious of the strong! That’s how we’ve come this far! And now, finally, the last one remains before me!”

“….”

“Were all the teachings up to now in vain? Just tell me you don’t like me!”

“How strange.”

Yang Cheon tilted his head.

“As you said, if it were the old me, I wouldn’t have bothered to capture you.”

“Then what the hell…!”

“But, which point in my past were you looking at?”

“…?!”

“Before my fight with the Demonic Cult Leader? Or when I was poisoned by the Demonic Cult Leader and couldn’t make proper judgments?”

“…!!”

“Or was it the me who overcame all of that and joined hands with the Martial Alliance to win the war against the Three Sects until recently?”

Yeop Seong’s face hardened.

The smile disappeared from Yang Cheon’s face.

“Let’s say it was unfair that you didn’t recognize my change.”

“….”

“But in the Black Dragon Unit, in this land of the Black Path, on this vast land of the Nine Provinces and Eight Desolations [a common way to refer to the entire martial world], who would dare say anything if the Tyrant King captures and kills his own disciple?”

“…!!”

It was truly shocking language.

Yeop Seong’s eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.

“Do you need a reason? Did I teach you that way?”

“….”

“No. I didn’t teach you that way. Why? Because I saw you as subordinates, not disciples.”

Kugugugung!

The energy waves emanating from Yang Cheon’s body pressed down on the surroundings.

A terrifying voice flowed from his mouth.

“I only accepted you as disciples in name. Only those who have received my recognition are true disciples. And I can capture and kill you just like your many half-crippled senior brothers.”

“…!”

“Didn’t you really think that you could end up like that too?”

“Why….”

Yeop Seong’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Why are you interfering in my affairs? Why are you interfering in the matter of choosing a successor?!”

“Didn’t I tell you? If I don’t like it, then the matter of successor or whatever is over.”

“For such a ridiculous reason…!”

“The only value shared between you and me is one thing.”

Yang Cheon raised his chin.

“It is to act in a way that pleases me.”

“…!”

“Become stronger and prove your worth as a disciple to me, your lord.”

“Such…!”

“Why did I like the second one? Because she acted in a way that pleased me. The second one knew exactly what kind of disciple I wanted. She didn’t care about the means or methods in handling things, and she even risked her life to become stronger.”

“….”

“When did I say that I wouldn’t interfere in the successor battle? Did I ever say such a thing in front of you?”

“…?!”

“You interpreted my letting you be as you pleased, and now you’re feeling wronged by the current reality because I haven’t interfered?”

Kwarururung!

Was it a hallucination?

A tremendous roar that seemed to collapse the entire cave echoed. It was as if thunder was striking inside the cave.

Yang Cheon said,

“What kind of world were you living in? Was the me you saw someone you could measure with your tiny brain?”

An indescribable expression appeared on Yeop Seong’s face.

“You can misunderstand. People see what they want to see. But….”

Whirr!

Yang Cheon extended his left hand.

A dark red energy blazed from his left hand. The energy, filled with terrifying murderous intent and unimaginable power, seemed ready to explode at any moment.

“A guy who hasn’t even glimpsed the ultimate of my martial arts is satisfied with that level and cultivates martial arts given by someone else?”

“…!!”

“It’s an unforgivable sin, especially since you have talent. Moreover, you probably haven’t even figured out where the Absorption Art you cultivated came from.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes were now completely cold, like ice.

“You’re worse than the third one. The third one may have been arrogant and lacked insight, but at least he had confidence in his own martial arts.”

Buruurur.

Yeop Seong’s body trembled.

It was because of the fear of being helpless in the face of that tremendous energy, and the extreme anger towards himself and his opponent.

“In the end, you only disappoint me until the very end.”

“Uaaaaa!”

Thud!

Yeop Seong screamed and rushed towards Bu-seon.

It was a moment no one had expected. No one would have thought that he could move even while enduring Yang Cheon’s overwhelming energy.

However.

Udududuk!

“Kuaaak!”

Yang Cheon, who had already reached Bu-seon, grabbed Yeop Seong’s left arm.

How long had it been since he fixed the dislocated arm? His left arm was broken again.

“Uaaaa! Uaaaaaa!”

Yeop Seong swung his severed right arm.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Blood began to seep from his right arm, which was wildly striking Yang Cheon’s chest. The wound that had been painstakingly closed had burst open again.

It was a gruesome sight, but Yeop Seong felt no pain. Resentment and anger had completely consumed his reason.

Yang Cheon’s hand, which was holding Yeop Seong’s arm, exerted even more force.

Uduk!

“Cough!”

The bone broke. At the same time, Yeop Seong’s two legs involuntarily knelt. He had completely controlled Yeop Seong’s body with the Black Lion Energy.

Yang Cheon looked down at Yeop Seong with a cold gaze.

“You probably don’t know how much my pride has been shattered right now.”

“Kueuek!”

“And how much I regret it.”

Yeop Seong, who had been groaning, looked up at Yang Cheon in surprise.

Regret? The master he knew was someone who would never regret anything, no matter what happened.

Yang Cheon brought his hand to Yeop Seong’s head.

“Rest now.”

Thud!

With a bursting sound, Yeop Seong collapsed. Yeop Seong’s eyes were completely white.

Bu-seon swallowed.

“Is he dead?”

“No, he’s not.”

Yang Cheon’s expression as he looked down at the fallen Yeop Seong was strange. He seemed angry, yet also sad. It was a truly strange expression.

“We need to find out where he got the Absorption Art from, don’t we?”

“Ah, yes.”

“If Deputy Yeon has extracted all the information we don’t know, then we should let him go peacefully.”

Yang Cheon looked up at the cave ceiling.

A small sigh escaped his lips.

“…It’s not easy. It’s really not easy.”

Regret arose. Yeop Seong’s death was ultimately his fault.

And Yang Cheon didn’t like himself for starting to blame himself for the death of a guy who had crossed the line.