Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 64

“Okay, that’s good.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clenched his fist.

Tsutsutsutsu.

The White Tiger energy naturally settled within him.

He wanted to lash out with his tightly clenched fist right away. If he swung it at a rock, the rock would split; if he swung it at a tree, the tree would be smashed.

Of course, it was also possible with the increasingly profound Byeokra True Energy [a type of internal energy cultivation].

However, using the White Tiger energy while maintaining balance with the Byeokra True Energy made a difference in the attack power itself.

‘Now I can properly control it.’

The White Tiger energy was ferocious. It wasn’t a heavy, static energy like the Black Tortoise energy.

So, it always tried to burst out. If he couldn’t properly control the White Tiger energy, it would be difficult to control his martial arts as well.

And if he couldn’t control his martial arts?

Then it would be self-destruction. Even a peerless treasure sword only shines when used at the right time. If he recklessly used the uncontrolled White Tiger energy, his body would collapse before his inner energy was depleted.

‘Still.’

A sense of satisfaction spread across Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

‘It definitely feels reassuring to have the White Tiger.’

Eight days had passed since he obtained the White Tiger energy.

During that time, he controlled his true energy and refined it to suit his body.

He hadn’t swung an axe or trained his footwork, but he felt that his martial arts had greatly improved. No matter how extreme one’s pursuit of martial arts might be, there had to be a minimum level of balance.

Yeon Ho-Jeong picked up his axe and stood up. His beard was thick from spending several days in the forest, but his skin seemed clearer.

“Then.”

He took a powerful step forward.

Thud!

The earth-shaking footstep announced the mountain’s master.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body scattered like smoke.

Whack!

In the instant he seemed to disappear, he appeared ten steps away and split a tree diagonally.

Originally, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s movement technique wasn’t that fast. Even now, his mastery of movement techniques wasn’t much different from before he obtained the White Tiger energy.

However, his footwork was different.

He had always been fast at closing the distance. But now, he was even faster than before. It was a speed comparable to lightning.

That was the White Tiger Overlord Step. It was the step of the Western Great Emperor who reigned over battlefields where blood and flesh flew.

A footwork that could deal with all enemies within its range. It was a footwork specialized for combat.

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung his axe again.

Whoosh!

He swung it so powerfully that the shaft seemed like it would bend.

It was similar to the Beast Spear Technique, yet completely different. Now, the true essence of a single, sure kill was beginning to take shape.

The ultimate martial art that crushed the opponent’s spirit even before the actual attack landed, the Tiger King’s Crushing Stance.

After swinging his axe dozens of times, he struck the base of a rock with the axe in his right hand.

Crash! Rumble!

A rather large rock rolled five lengths before being stopped by a huge tree.

He sent the rock flying with explosive power. Such monstrous strength was unheard of.

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having dropped his axe, looked down at his hand.

The tips of his fingers were trembling slightly.

‘The energy is perfect, but my body can’t keep up.’

He had struck with an axe imbued with the White Tiger energy, so the rock should have been split. But Yeon Ho-Jeong had pushed the rock away with that destructive energy.

It meant that the supply of true energy was freely controlled. It was proof that he could perfectly control the White Tiger energy.

However, his muscles, ligaments, and joints couldn’t handle that destructive technique.

‘It’s okay for now. But if I don’t resolve this beforehand, it will definitely break down someday.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong wasn’t worried.

The White Tiger energy was rough. But the White Tiger energy caused his bones and muscles to grow.

In other words, if he could properly control the White Tiger energy, this problem would eventually disappear, without any additional physical training.

Yeon Ho-Jeong took a deep breath.

Whoosh.

He stabilized his center with the Byeokra True Energy, recovered his true energy with the White Tiger energy, and then dispelled the evil energy with the Black Tortoise energy.

The recovery was incredibly fast. His stiff body was instantly filled with vitality.

“Well, then.”

He slung his axe over his shoulder and looked at the towering restaurant in the distance.

His stomach rumbled.

“Shall I fill my belly for the first time in a while?”

The place Yeon Ho-Jeong arrived at was Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan [a province in China].

Kaifeng was Kaifeng, but the crowds in Zhengzhou were different. The streets were more splendid than Kaifeng, and the buildings were bigger and taller.

Yeon Ho-Jeong entered a particularly large and luxurious restaurant and immediately booked a room.

He hadn’t been able to properly wash for several days. He washed for over half an hour and changed his clothes.

The clothes he had requested in advance were martial attire. It was black martial attire that didn’t easily get dirty.

Having changed into his martial attire, he picked up his axe and headed to the dining hall.

Loud chatter.

The restaurant was noisy. Even though the sun hadn’t set yet, many people were already drinking.

He sat in a secluded corner on the top floor and ordered food. Of course, alcohol was a given.

“Smells good.”

Three dishes he had ordered came out. Yeon Ho-Jeong devoured the food like a starving man.

But he wasn’t Ga Deuk-Sang after all. After finishing two dishes, he was reasonably full.

‘Perfect for a snack.’

He leisurely took a sip of his alcohol.

He could feel people glancing at him. But he didn’t care. He wasn’t the type to be bothered by other people’s gazes in the first place, and he was quite used to it.

He finished one bottle of alcohol and was about to order another when it happened.

“Your drinking is quite hearty.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong raised his head.

A woman with a radiant appearance was standing there. Her cheeks were flushed, as if she had drunk quite a bit.

She had an attractive appearance. Whether she had deliberately chosen such clothes or not, her curvaceous figure was clearly visible. She was a woman that any man would find hard to take his eyes off of.

“Are you a martial artist of the Jianghu [the martial world]? My goodness, do you carry that big axe around? Amazing! You must be incredibly strong?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong replied calmly.

“I use my strength moderately.”

“Hehe, you’re a stiff one, aren’t you? That’s charming.”

She was openly saying he was charming. Even a brazen person would find it difficult to act like this.

The woman placed her hand on the table.

It was a bold and seductive pose. Her cleavage was visible through the parted front of her clothes.

“How about it? I’m also alone, shall we drink together?”

“Is that okay?”

“Oh my. Why? Is there a law that says men and women can’t drink together?”

“There isn’t, is there?”

“Then let’s drink together.”

“I don’t want to.”

A look of disappointment appeared on the woman’s face.

“Why? Do you want to be alone?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed his chin at the surroundings.

“People aren’t looking at me.”

“Huh?”

“I carry around such a vicious weapon, you see. They all pretend not to notice, but they keep glancing at me. But now, no one is looking at me.”

“Oh my, then are they looking at me?”

The woman looked around. But no one was looking at them.

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“It seems like there were quite a few nuisances while I was gone? People aren’t even looking at you?”

The woman was still looking around.

“That’s right? They’re not looking at me? Why is that?”

“Why else? It’s because they’re scared of you.”

“I’m scary? What did I do?”

“I don’t know. How many people you’ve dealt with, or how much you’ve acted up.”

The woman closed her mouth.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“You guys are so clumsy. If you’re going to deceive someone, you should deceive everyone, not just me.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll play with you when the time comes, so go wash your feet and sleep for today.”

“Oh my, that’s a strangely exciting thing to say.”

The woman turned her head back to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Her face was still bright. However, her eyes were as cold as ice, unlike before.

“How did you know, little brother?”

Her tone had changed.

“I just said it, didn’t I?”

“No, not that reason. I’m curious how you really knew.”

“I’ve said all I need to say. Go away.”

“…Ho, so it was real? You can figure it out that easily?”

Of course.

However, there was also a sense that couldn’t be explained logically. He had seen so many people trying to stab him in the back that he could smell them coming.

Thud.

The woman sat down opposite him with a good-natured smile.

Yeon Ho-Jeong grumbled.

“Let me eat, you guys.”

“Eat. I won’t bother you.”

She was sincere. Yeon Ho-Jeong could read sincerity in her words.

Sincerity always comes from confidence. The woman, or rather, they, were confident that they could easily capture Yeon Ho-Jeong.

The woman leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.

It was still a seductive pose, but it didn’t exude the same allure as before. Her cool yet pure eyes revealed an innocent charm.

“Amazing. You were the fastest. Usually, men go all gaga when I approach them.”

“You must have only dealt with fools.”

“Is that so? But among the guys we caught, there was a pretty decent one. I think he was called the Hengshan Sword Hero?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes lit up.

He knew the nickname Hengshan Sword Hero. The reason was that he was the last master of the declining Hengshan Sect [a fictional martial arts sect].

What was important was his martial prowess.

The Hengshan Sword Hero was a peerless master who was on par with the elder of the Qingcheng Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects. The fact that they had captured such a master meant that their abilities were extremely outstanding.

“How many of you are there?”

“Hmm? About seventy? I haven’t counted properly since a few new recruits came in.”

“You used a lot of people to catch one guy.”

“Hey, come on? We’re not that rude. Only five of us went to catch the Hengshan Sword Hero.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

That was quite surprising. How many organizations could capture a martial artist on par with the elder of the Qingcheng Sect with just five people?

“How many came this time?”

“All of us.”

“Oh?”

“That’s why I was curious. I wondered if the target was someone like one of the Thirteen Seats of the Heavenly Star. Curiosity got the better of me, so I came out first.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I guarantee you, no matter who you guys are, you can never catch one of the Thirteen Seats of the Heavenly Star.”

The woman grinned.

Her eyes became even colder.

“Why are you so confident? Don’t you know that even top-tier martial artists die from thrown daggers in the Jianghu?”

“I know. But it’s not the Thirteen Seats of the Heavenly Star.”

“Do you know those guys?”

“There are things you know without seeing their faces. You guys are not even a match for my father, let alone the Thirteen Seats of the Heavenly Star.”

“Yeon Wi, the Judge’s Sword. I heard he’s a great martial artist.”

“You’ll piss your pants if you meet him in person.”

“Showing off just because he’s your dad.”

“If you get the chance, go visit him. Ah, but you can’t do that. You’ll all die by my hands before that, right?”

The woman shook her head as if she was dumbfounded.

“You’re a little brother who doesn’t know how scary the world is.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong waved his hand.

“If you’re done with your business, go rest. I want to get drunk today.”

The woman, who had been quietly watching Yeon Ho-Jeong, smiled and stood up.

“Drink a lot. You can’t drink when you’re dead.”

“I know, so go away.”

“Hahaha.”

The woman left her seat with a melodious laugh.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

‘They’re formidable.’

The smell of blood was strong.

She was a woman who had killed countless people. Perhaps all the members of her organization were like that.

‘Seventy of those guys?’

This is interesting.

Those with such a strong smell of blood would never go under a prestigious clan. In the first place, prestigious clans wouldn’t accept them.

But they didn’t seem to be from a prestigious family.

“They’re so greedy.”

It was then.

[It’s the Beggars’ Union. Clan Leader Moyong has arrived in Zhengzhou.]

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘Finally.’

He had come. He.

Yeon Ho-Jeong muttered softly.

“Tell them I’ll do one more cleanup before I go.”

[Yes.]

Moyong Gun, the Clan Leader of the Moyong Clan.

A peerless master who had received the title of Sword God and became the leader of the Martial Alliance, a comrade who had climbed Mount Cheonju with him to subdue the Demonic Cult Leader, and an enemy.

He was finally going to meet him.

Not as the Black Emperor, the Lord of the Black Emperor Castle, but as Yeon Ho-Jeong, the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having calmed his pounding heart, raised his hand.

“Another bottle here.”