Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 575

“What?”

Tang Hyeong frowned.

“The Samhyeon Unit?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“I’ll ask again. The Samhyeon Unit was annihilated?”

“Yes.”

“Ha!”

He knew better than anyone how powerful the Samhyeon Unit was.

Just sending the First Unit, excluding the Second and Third Units, could turn any mid-sized or small sect into ashes in less than half a *shichen* [a traditional Chinese unit of time, roughly two hours]. No, not just mid-sized or small sects. If they launched a surprise attack, they had the power to uproot even the great sects, except for the Nine Great Sects.

Moreover, didn’t they have many who had mastered the Tang Clan’s unique poisons and assassination techniques?

“Could it be….”

Tang Hyeong’s eyes deepened.

“Tang Gwan?”

“Upon investigation, no traces of the Tang Clan Head’s martial arts were found.”

“Then who the hell is it? Could it be that the Martial Alliance or the Mukryong Clan has stepped in?”

“We cannot say for sure. However, among those who moved with the Deunghwa incident, there is a survivor from the battle.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Tang Gak.”

“Tang Gak?!”

Tang Gak was a direct descendant of the Tang Clan, but he wasn’t a particularly skilled martial artist.

However, he was still a direct descendant, a member of the Tang Clan. His poison and assassination techniques were certainly considered top-notch. With a surprise attack, he could even kill a supreme master.

“Tang Gak said that the enemy was a young man, not yet thirty.”

“……Am I hearing things? They were defeated by a kid not even thirty?”

“Yes. He said that he attacked with the masters of Cheongseong and Ami, but they were all defeated by that young man.”

Surprise flickered across Tang Hyeong’s face.

“Were they ambushed?”

“No, he said it was a fair, head-on fight.”

“That’s absurd! There are only two young masters in the current martial world who could suppress such a force. Moreover, one of them is over thirty and is still in Guangdong.”

“…….”

“……Could it be?!”

“We cannot be certain. He said that the young man did not wield an axe. However, he said that his martial arts, especially his hand-to-hand combat, were outstanding, and his practical combat sense was unparalleled.”

“…….”

“If he is not a hidden master who has not appeared in the martial world or a master who has returned to his youth… there is a seventy percent chance that it is Yeon Ho-jeong.”

Tang Hyeong’s cheek twitched.

He had heard rumors about Yeon Ho-jeong.

Not only was his martial arts exceptional, but Yeon Ho-jeong’s mission success rate was almost one hundred percent. No matter what mission the Martial Alliance gave him, he solved it perfectly. His skills were truly astonishing.

It meant that he was not only strong in martial arts but also brilliant.

Moreover, the Martial Alliance had chosen Yeon Ho-jeong, a rising star, as the person in charge of the alliance with the Mukryong Clan. And the Mukryong Clan had accepted Yeon Ho-jeong, a young representative, without complaint.

In other words, Yeon Ho-jeong was a skilled individual recognized by both the Martial Alliance and the Mukryong Clan.

“Wasn’t he supposed to be with the Mukryong Clan?”

“Yes. So, we hurriedly mobilized the intelligence unit to investigate, and we found information that a young man with a similar appearance had entered the eastern part of Sichuan with several masters a few days ago.”

“Damn it!”

Thump!

Tang Hyeong slammed his fist on the table.

The world recognized Yeon Ho-jeong as a genius in martial arts. It was also known that he had a hot-tempered personality.

However, those within the Martial Alliance, especially the high-ranking officials, knew Yeon Ho-jeong’s true nature to some extent.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s very existence was a burden. He was not someone to be underestimated just because he was young.

In a way, Yeon Ho-jeong was a more dangerous figure than the heads of the Nine Great Sects. Tang Hyeong knew this well.

“But.”

Tang Hyeong, who had been controlling his anger, tilted his head and said.

“No matter how skilled Yeon Ho-jeong is, he cannot face the Samhyeon Unit. I don’t know how great the masters who came with him are, but even if they were all masters at the level of the heads of the Nine Great Sects, it would be difficult for them to be a match for the Samhyeon Unit.”

It was a valid analysis. Even a master with a lot of practical experience would come to the same conclusion as Tang Hyeong.

As a result, Tang Hyeong’s analysis was just armchair theorizing.

Most martial artists did not have a high understanding of strategy and tactics. Since the individual power they possessed was so great, there was no need to consider tactics for moving in units, surprise attacks, urban warfare, or mountain warfare.

Yeon Ho-jeong was different.

He had used all the strategies and tactics known to the world due to long wars, and he had also lost many allies in some battles.

His combat experience was different. It would be difficult for Tang Hyeong, or anyone else in the world, to grasp Yeon Ho-jeong’s true abilities.

“There’s something more to it.”

“We are analyzing it that way as well. No matter how skilled they are, there are only four or five of them. Unless there is a powerhouse of the Saintly Realm among them, they cannot defeat the Samhyeon Unit with just that number.”

Tang Hyeong sighed.

“Just when we had built a stable foundation, a pack of wolves suddenly came rushing in.”

“What should we do?”

“…….”

“Whether the opponent is Yeon Ho-jeong or not, the fact remains that the enemy’s abilities are very high. Also, they might be aware of the existence of the Paradise Hideout by now.”

“……That’s likely.”

Tang Hyeong swallowed hard.

He had made several preparations for this kind of situation. But he never imagined that he would actually face this situation. No one had known about the existence of the Paradise Hideout for over ten years.

It was natural. The Paradise Hideout was created by the masters of the Sichuan Three Rivers. As an organization created by the strongest masters of the strongest force in Sichuan, the Paradise Hideout maintained airtight security.

“Whatever it is, whoever it is, whatever the situation, the existence of the Paradise Hideout must not be revealed.”

“…….”

“Contact the Flying Immortals.”

“……The Flying Immortals, you say?”

“The Paradise Immortal Squad won’t do. They are too busy, and if they are defeated, the operation of the Paradise Hideout will be immediately difficult.”

“The Paradise Immortal Squad’s power is enough to handle even a great sect.”

“So, are you saying we should close the Paradise Hideout for a few days and summon them all to eliminate the enemy?”

“…….”

“The high-ranking officials of the government have made reservations every day. If one branch is paralyzed, we can send them to another, but if the entire branch is paralyzed, our trust with them will be broken.”

“…….”

“Our business will fail without trust. We must instill the confidence that we will not collapse no matter what happens.”

“If even the deployed Flying Immortals are defeated….”

“Then.”

Tang Hyeong’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

“The entire main family, Cheongseong, and Ami will move.”

“……Understood.”

“Don’t worry too much. The probability of the Flying Immortals failing is extremely low.”

“I think so too.”

“There’s no time. If there’s nothing more to say, move quickly.”

“I’ll see you later.”

The masked man, who had been standing with his hands behind his back in front of Tang Hyeong, disappeared in an instant.

It was a movement technique that was hard to believe even when seen with one’s own eyes. Even Tang Hyeong, a supreme master, could not properly read the opponent’s movements.

However, there was no surprise on Tang Hyeong’s face. He was used to it.

Rather, his expression was extremely serious.

“Yeon Ho-jeong, huh….”

And soon, Tang Gwan would also enter Sichuan.

Judging from the lack of reports, it seemed that he had not yet entered Sichuan. That alone was a great relief.

‘No, I can’t let my guard down. Tang Gwan knows the main family’s intelligence network better than anyone. He can easily avoid it or naturally hide his face.’

Of course, he wouldn’t go that far. It was a matter of pride.

Tang Hyeong bit his lip.

“Just a little more patience. Just a little more patience, and everything will be in my hands. Until then, I just need to get through without any problems.”

Was it because he was too surprised? Or was it because he thought it wasn’t that important?

At this moment, Tang Hyeong made a fatal mistake.

If the enemy was Yeon Ho-jeong, he should have wondered why he had entered Sichuan.

The unparalleled genius who had solved problems all over the world, he should have pondered why he had entered Sichuan at this particular time.

And for Tang Hyeong, who did not ponder that, the future began to be clouded with dark clouds.

* * *

“Hmm?”

After coming up through the passage, Ohseon suddenly felt a strange sensation.

‘What is it?’

Kugugugung.

The secret passage closed.

Even though the sunken ground had returned to its original state, Ohseon stood there.

‘……This smell?’

It was the smell of blood.

Due to the human meat processing and the torture that took place in various rooms, he was desensitized to the smell of blood.

However, the air on the ground was refreshing, and the smell of blood mixed in with the refreshing air gave him a disconcerting familiarity.

Ohseon’s eyes sharpened.

He looked around the building.

‘There’s no one.’

There were no signs of people moving busily. The sound of the guards’ chatter was not heard.

As if the entire guard had disappeared, the inside of the building was silent.

And from within that silent building, a thick smell of blood was wafting.

Ossaak!

Ohseon felt a chill run down his spine.

‘Someone’s there.’

He felt several pairs of eyes watching him.

Paah!

The moment he realized that, Ohseon’s feet were already moving.

Thump!

Ohseon, who had broken through the wall of the building in an instant, checked the mechanism on the floor.

‘It didn’t activate!’

Ohseon did not hesitate to stomp on the floor.

Crack!

The floor shattered, and a puff of translucent smoke spread out.

It was like the smoke wavering at the end of a bonfire. The movement of the smoke was not fast at all.

However, the moment the smoke was visible, the Ecstasy Incense was already covering a radius of three *jangs* [a traditional Chinese unit of length, roughly 3.2 meters]. That was how fast its propagation was.

‘Hup!’

Ohseon covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve.

He took the antidote for the Ecstasy Incense every fifteen days. As long as he had taken the antidote, he would not die or suffer any abnormalities due to the Ecstasy Incense.

Still, one could never be too sure. He never imagined that he would actually trigger the secondary trap.

‘It’s an emergency! I need to get out of this situation…!’

That was when it happened.

Crack!

“Cough!”

Ohseon involuntarily groaned. Someone had broken his left arm.

He couldn’t see it with his eyes, nor could he feel any sign of it. The moment he felt the sensation in his arm, Ohseon used his right foot to perform a leg technique.

Crack!

“Kuaaak!”

His right foot kicked into the air. It was because his left leg, which was the axis, was twisted and broken.

The moment his left arm was broken, his left leg was also shattered. Ohseon lost his balance and fell to the floor.

But.

Paah!

Someone grabbed Ohseon by the collar and lifted him up.

“Huk!”

Ohseon’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear.

The man who had grabbed his collar was a middle-aged man with sharp eyes.

And the middle-aged man’s eyes were dyed a chilling, deep green.

Horror filled Ohseon’s face.

‘This guy?!’

The middle-aged man, Tang Gwan, spoke in a cold voice.

“You’re quite fast.”

“……!”

“Your ability to move without hesitation the moment you sensed something is admirable. I’d like to show it to the main family’s children.”

“…….”

“But.”

Kkuuuk!

“Kkeuek!”

Ohseon’s face turned red. Tang Gwan’s hand, which was holding his collar, twisted, and the pulled collar choked his neck.

He wanted to counterattack, but his right arm and right leg, which were not broken, would not move.

‘Poison!’

Tang Gwan’s face gradually distorted.

Tang Gwan’s face, with even the whites of his eyes dyed green, and his distorted expression were truly like a demon.

“Who gave you permission? Who said you could use the Ecstasy Incense?”