Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 70

The world is full of incidents and accidents. It’s a constant stream of the unexpected.

Though most people are unaware, thousands of crimes likely occur every single day. And of those, less than half will ever be resolved with the capture of the perpetrator.

This holds true in any region. While governments and the martial world train specialized investigators, their numbers are always too few, and the vastness of the Central Plains means many cases remain buried in the shadows.

Unresolved criminal cases. Serious crimes that neither the government nor the martial world could solve.

Among these, the unresolved cases that occurred in Jiangsu Province began to surface around the time when the warm spring weather was gradually turning hot.

The shocking rumors started in Henan and quickly spread to nearby regions.

The central figure of these rumors was none other than Yeon Ho-Jeong, the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family.

Five years ago, Yeon Ho-Jeong was said to be the culprit behind the Huishan fire incident in Jiangsu Province.

Five years ago, Yeon Ho-Jeong was also accused of causing the mass suicide of the Hae Min family in Jiangsu Province.

Three years ago, Yeon Ho-Jeong was blamed for the murder of a gisaeng [a female entertainer] in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Two years ago, Yeon Ho-Jeong was accused of setting the fire at Taihu Bonru in Jiangsu Province.

And there was a high probability that he committed other similar crimes such as arson, murder, and rape.

Yeon Ho-Jeong. The eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family.

In the past, he was called a ‘tiger father, dog son’ [a saying that means a great father has a useless son], but recently, after gaining fame as ‘Gwangpungsa’ [Mad Wind Warrior] with his outstanding martial arts, he became a rising star.

It was said that the descendant of that prestigious family had committed countless crimes in Jiangsu Province. And that those cases had all remained unsolved.

The shock of the rumors was terrifying. Not only the martial world but also the government was whispering about whether they should investigate the truth.

No one knew where the rumors had started.

It wasn’t easy for rumors without a source to spread so quickly. Many people looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with hatred, but those with deeper thoughts could immediately realize that this situation was not normal.

People who cursed Yeon Ho-Jeong, people who wanted to watch the situation further, people who noticed something strange, and so on.

In the chaos of Henan, Yeon Ho-Jeong finally appeared.

* * *

Step, step.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s steps were light. And the steps of the Chang-Eung members following him were also unwavering.

People moved aside to the left and right all at once to avoid them.

There was no murmuring.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group, heading towards Heochang (許昌) while crossing the wide road, was very dignified.

Flap!

Surprisingly, about a dozen Chang-Eung members were carrying flagpoles that were over one and a half *jang* [approximately 10 feet] long.

On the flags attached to the flagpoles, the words ‘Byeoksan (碧山)’ and ‘Yeon (燕)’ were written in a grand style.

It was the procession of the Byeoksan Yeon family, praised as a great family of heroes and one of the Seven Great Families. The procession, which was even majestic, was no less than that of a returning general.

And at the head of the group was Yeon Ho-Jeong.

He wore a loose white robe that reached below his calves over his pure white martial attire. His slender figure, handsome face, and spotless white clothes made him look very noble.

That was why people couldn’t openly criticize Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group even when they saw them.

Was it because they were one of the Seven Great Families? Or because they were a group of swordsmen moving while maintaining a sharp aura?

No.

Most of the people’s eyes were on Yeon Ho-Jeong. They were not even intimidated by the blood-stained axe he was holding.

Whoosh.

One step, one step.

Every time he took a step, a mysterious light blue haze rose from under his feet.

The figure of Yeon Ho-Jeong himself was special. People thought so. Whether he held an axe or not, the dignity of a strong scholar with an unwavering integrity like bamboo made people dare not open their mouths.

It was an overwhelming presence.

Even the endlessly rough and ferocious Black Demon Emperor had such a side. At times, he knew how to show a mysterious appearance that could shake the hearts of those present.

‘Amazing.’

Lee Cheol-Gyeong (李哲硬), who was looking down at Yeon Ho-Jeong from the top of a tall, fortress-like wine house, clicked his tongue.

‘Henan is considered the center of the Central Plains martial world thanks to the Shaolin and Myeong families. No matter how strong the opponent is, even if they are martial artists, the enraged public does not consider their strength or power.’

In other words, even powerless commoners should be openly jeering.

But look at that scene. It was so quiet that you could hear an ant walking, and no one was opening their mouths. There wasn’t even a hint of murmuring.

It was because they were overwhelmed.

The existence of Yeon Ho-Jeong, the mysterious aura he was emitting, had completely sealed the mouths of those present.

‘He’s an amazing young man.’

Such a thing is impossible unless it is innate or one has commanded many people. But he was not even twenty years old, so there was no way he could have had such experience. That meant his innate dignity was that great.

‘At least, just looking at him like this, it doesn’t seem like he committed any crimes.’

Lee Cheol-Gyeong shook his head.

‘Let’s not jump to conclusions.’

Originally, most of those who commit evil deeds are people who don’t seem like they would. Thinking that way, Yeon Ho-Jeong cannot be free from these evil rumors either.

As Yeon Ho-Jeong moved, Lee Cheol-Gyeong also moved to another building.

Sarak.

It was an amazing movement technique.

He kicked off the roof with only the strength of his ankles, and in no time, his body was on top of the target building.

Before the achievement, the level of the movement technique itself was outstanding. It was a supreme movement technique that moved without any movement of the whole body.

People called this movement technique the ‘Geumgang Budong Shinbeop (金剛不動身法)’ [Diamond Immovable Body Technique] and revered it.

‘Anyway, he’s slower than I thought. At this rate, it will be late tonight before he… Huh?’

Lee Cheol-Gyeong turned his gaze to the south.

Surprise appeared on his face.

‘The Myeong family?!’

There was a group of people coming up the main road from that far south.

It was the Myeong family.

Nearly a hundred martial artists were coming up in formation, and their speed was quite fast. As if they had planned it, they were carrying flags with the four letters ‘Guju Myeongga (九州名家)’ [Myeong Family of the Nine Provinces] written on them, just like Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group.

Lee Cheol-Gyeong focused his eyesight.

Whoosh!

The heavy true energy that surged from his dantian [energy center] rapidly increased his eyesight.

‘The Blue Hall (靑色堂)?’

There were many martial organizations under the Myeong family.

Among them was an organization called the Five Elements Hall (五行堂), and they were divided into five organizations: Red (赤), Blue (靑), Black (黑), White (白), and Yellow (黃).

The Blue Hall of the Five Elements Hall symbolized wood (木), and they were all spearmen who had mastered spear techniques.

‘Of course, they would have known about Yeon Ho-Jeong’s appearance. But…’

Lee Cheol-Gyeong was inwardly puzzled.

‘Why the Blue Hall specifically?’

He had only learned yesterday that the Myeong family had dispatched troops to capture Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Regardless of anything else, it was certain that they had sent the supreme master of the Blue Military Hall and the warriors of the Homyung Hall. And it was said that Yeon Ho-Jeong had defeated them alone.

Even more surprising was the battle with the Blue Wolf Demons.

It was not yet certain whether the Blue Wolf Demons belonged to the Myeong family, but it was said that Yeon Ho-Jeong had fought against seventy Blue Wolf Demons and killed them all.

Lee Cheol-Gyeong couldn’t believe it. In fact, he still found it hard to believe.

The Blue Wolf Demons were experts in killing, regardless of their martial arts strength. That a young man who had not even reached twenty had annihilated those blood-soaked creatures alone?

‘There must have been a trick. But…’

Whatever the reason, the Myeong family would know Yeon Ho-Jeong’s strength.

Yet, they dispatched the Blue Hall. If a battle were to break out, the Blue Hall alone would not be able to stop Yeon Ho-Jeong and the Chang-Eung members.

So why did they send the Blue Hall specifically?

Thud!

Oh Gok, the head of the Blue Hall, slammed his spear down. Then, all the spearmen of the Blue Hall stopped moving.

By now, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group had approached within about twenty *jang* of the Blue Hall.

Oh Gok shouted.

“Yeon Ho-Jeong, the eldest son of the Yeon family and a suspect in the unresolved crimes of Jiangsu Province, listen! Drop your weapons right now and surrender to the Myeong family…”

Oh Gok couldn’t finish his sentence.

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not stop walking. Even though he clearly saw the Blue Hall standing in his way.

“Arrogant bastard.”

Murdurous intent flared in Oh Gok’s eyes.

How could he not even hesitate once? It was as if he didn’t care about the existence of the Blue Hall at all.

As such, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group narrowed the distance to ten *jang*.

Oh Gok shouted again.

“If you don’t stop where you are, we will forcibly escort you!”

Still, he didn’t stop. His walking speed was the same, and his sharp aura was completely unwavering.

The distance narrowed to five *jang*.

Oh Gok, who was glaring at Yeon Ho-Jeong, shouted.

“Geochang!”

Whoosh.

One hundred members of the Blue Hall pointed their spears forward.

Oh Gok raised his spear and shouted.

“The Blue Hall will apprehend the suspect Yeon Ho-Jeong…”

That was when it happened.

Bang!

Oh Gok’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

It seemed like he had taken a strong step forward, and in no time, he was right in front of him. Behind the hem of his robe fluttering in the wind, an axe as big as a person’s torso was raised high into the sky.

Startled, Oh Gok raised his spear shaft.

Yeon Ho-Jeong coldly brought down his axe.

Crack! Thud!

The axe that split the spear shaft cleaved Oh Gok in half vertically.

Splatter!

Blood splattered. It was like dropping red dye onto white paper. Oh Gok’s blood splattered on the pure white robe that Yeon Ho-Jeong was wearing.

“L-Lord Hall Master!”

“You bastard!”

That was when it happened.

Swoosh!

Small, pure white wind shapes gathered around the blood-stained axe.

The White Tiger Qi [energy], ignited by the murderous intent, formed the fighting spirit of a tiger king.

Bang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong took another step forward and swung his axe as it was.

Clang! Crash!

“Kuaaak!”

“Uaaak!”

He swept them away with one swing.

The overwhelming shockwave that the axe released blew away fifteen spearmen in front. The spears held by the spearmen broke. The hands of the fifteen spearmen were severely damaged or completely severed. The formation was broken in an instant.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had disrupted the entire formation of the Blue Hall with a single strike.

He said in a calm voice.

“Annihilate the enemy.”

“Understood!”

Clang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, with his axe slung over his shoulder, and the Chang-Eung swordsmen who rushed past him, unleashed merciless killing techniques.

Slash! Clang!

“Aaaargh!”

“R-Raise your spears!”

In an instant, it became a mess.

The wide road instantly turned into a scene of carnage. The commoners who had been watching Yeon Ho-Jeong’s movement screamed and fled in all directions.

Thud! Splatter!

“Block them! Block them!”

“You bastards! How dare you touch us… Aaaargh!”

The Chang-Eung’s swords were cold.

They were killing swords that were swung without a shred of mercy. Having witnessed Yeon Ho-Jeong’s overwhelming martial arts, the Chang-Eung members displayed amazing sword techniques that were not shameful to the Great Young Master’s martial arts.

The Blue Hall collapsed in an instant.

The leader was dead, the formation was broken, and they were overwhelmed from the start. Moreover, the martial prowess of the Chang-Eung members was incomparable to that of the Blue Hall.

It was not a confrontation but a one-sided massacre. The Chang-Eung members thoroughly targeted the enemy’s weaknesses and quickly killed the Blue Hall members.

In the middle of the battlefield.

Yeon Ho-Jeong crossed the battlefield leisurely, as if it were unrelated to him. The spearmen, who had gone berserk, attacked Yeon Ho-Jeong, but the Chang-Eung swordsmen did not let that happen.

That was how a moment passed.

The Chang-Eung members, who had annihilated the Blue Hall without a single casualty, followed behind Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Flap!

Ten members who had sheathed their swords raised the flagpoles again. They headed south along the main road leisurely.

Fear appeared on the faces of the commoners.