Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 71

“General Manager! It’s reported that Yeon Ho-Jeong made contact with the Blue Hall, annihilated them, and is now heading south!”

“Is that so?”

Myeong Wu-San clenched his fist.

‘It’s done.’

The Blue Hall was, in a way, nothing more than bait.

Given Yeon Ho-Jeong’s reported personality, he wouldn’t be easily captured. If he had been escorted to the Myeong family without a fight, that would have been ideal too.

Ultimately, people would witness Yeon Ho-Jeong’s merciless nature. It was the moment the rumors became reality.

That was the extent of it. Myeong Wu-San, having branded Yeon Ho-Jeong a serious criminal with the Blue Hall incident, had no intention of wasting more troops.

“Contact the three brothers. Tell them to engage in battle where there are many people. They must capture Yeon Ho-Jeong with overwhelming force.”

“Understood.”

Myeong Wu-San could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

‘It’s finally over.’

Looking back, it was a ridiculous defeat.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was an extraordinary individual. His martial arts were beyond imagination, his combat power was beyond imagination, and his responses were beyond imagination, leaving the Myeong family bewildered.

But upon further reflection, it didn’t seem like the entire Myeong family was in disarray solely because of Yeon Ho-Jeong. While Yeon Ho-Jeong was the main catalyst, it felt like something else was gnawing away at the Myeong family.

He didn’t know what it was. An unknown unease kept nagging at his mind.

‘…Well, it doesn’t matter now.’

Myeong Wu-San would never know. That it was fate.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, through his own efforts and sacrifices, had accelerated the wheel of fate. He merely wanted to destroy it with his own hands before it crumbled on its own.

Myeong Wu-San, the Myeong family, did not know that.

“Anyway.”

Myeong Wu-San, after reviewing several documents, fell into thought.

“It’s too fast.”

It was the Myeong family that spread the rumor that Yeon Ho-Jeong was a suspect in the unsolved crimes of Jiangxi Province.

It was information manipulation to gain legitimacy and justification. It was also the Myeong family that took steps to spread the rumors quickly.

But it was too fast.

It would usually take at least five days for a rumor to spread, but the information released near Zhengzhou and Kaifeng had spread throughout Henan in just three days.

Myeong Wu-San was taken aback by the incredible speed. Myeong Cheon had scolded him for making a fuss, but when something unintended happened, it was always a problem.

‘Could it be the Beggars’ Union? That’s unlikely.’

If the Beggars’ Union had fueled the rumors, it was possible for the entire Henan to be in an uproar in three days.

The problem was the reason. The Beggars’ Union had been helping Yeon Ho-Jeong so far. They would have tried to suppress the rumors, not amplify them.

Therefore, the probability of it being the Beggars’ Union was low.

Then who could it be?

“…Right, let’s move past the trivial things, as the Lord said. That’s not what’s important right now.”

He was wrong.

He should have clung to that point until the end. He should have constantly investigated which organization had amplified the rumors and why.

Of course, by the time he found out, the situation would already be out of control.

* * *

Whoosh, whoosh.

Walking along the main road, Yeon Ho-Jeong pondered his martial arts.

‘The Biseonjin Style [a unique martial art] has reached the eighth level.’

The Biseonjin Style, which had been at the sixth level before he left the family, had grown by two stages in the meantime.

He already knew everything about the Biseonjin Style. It was a process of applying the understanding he had grasped in his mind to his body, so his progress was bound to be faster than others.

Even so, it shouldn’t have grown by two stages in such a short time. If he had only practiced the Biseonjin Style, he would only be hovering around the seventh level now.

‘It’s thanks to the Four Divine Beasts Technique [a powerful martial art based on mythical creatures].’

The White Tiger Energy and the Black Tortoise Energy.

Thanks to the two energies, the total amount of energy his body could absorb had increased. At the same time, he was constantly expelling impurities, keeping his body in optimal condition.

The energy pathway, which had been like a stream, had widened like a river. As a result, the amount and quality of the flowing energy had also increased.

A constant virtuous cycle. Thanks to this, the progress of the Biseonjin Style had rapidly risen.

Whoosh, whoosh.

With each step, pale blue true energy rose like smoke from the soles of his feet.

It was a mystical sight. It was partly to seize the atmosphere, but it was also a way of practicing his martial arts.

It was to increase the density of the outer wall of his dantian [an energy center in the body] with the Biseonjin Style.

‘Eighth level… it’s not enough.’

It was rapid progress, but he still felt it was insufficient.

He didn’t know what kind of experts would emerge from the Myeong family. If a supreme master were to appear, even Yeon Ho-Jeong would have a hard time stopping them.

‘Come to think of it, going towards the Myeong family itself doesn’t make sense.’

The Myeong family was the most powerful family in the world in name and reality. They would have countless experts.

‘I should have reached at least the ninth level. I wish I could raise it now.’

It was impossible. Not at the moment.

Of course, there was one way to immediately raise the level of the Biseonjin Style.

‘If I could summon just one more of the remaining two energies of the Four Divine Beasts Technique…’

He had summoned the Black Tortoise and released the White Tiger.

Now, he didn’t need to obtain another Divine Beast Energy in a life-or-death battle. By balancing the White Tiger Energy and the Black Tortoise Energy and endlessly increasing their size, he would be able to summon another Divine Beast Energy at some point.

But that too was short on time.

In the end, he had to see this through with the Biseonjin Style at the eighth level.

‘If I can summon one of the remaining two in this fight.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

‘Should I choose the Vermilion Bird or the Azure Dragon?’

Whatever he obtained, his body and martial arts would greatly improve.

Moreover, summoning them was not the end. Even if he had all four Divine Beast Energies, he would need endless training. The Divine Beast Energies were energies that deepened without limit, not divided into levels like the Biseonjin Style.

‘In other words, I need to complete the Biseonjin Style first and then master the other five great divine arts. In that case, rather than the Vermilion Bird…’

It was the Azure Dragon.

If he obtained the Azure Dragon Energy, not only his body but also the divine arts he was practicing would be completely transformed. That was the nature of the Azure Dragon Energy itself, and it would be even more so since he had obtained the White Tiger, which was the opposite of the Azure Dragon.

‘I wonder if that’s possible.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong smacked his lips.

‘Let’s start by using what I have well.’

The Black Tortoise Energy, which he had summoned first, had grown significantly through its interaction with the Biseonjin Style.

On the other hand, the White Tiger Energy was still far behind. It had completely settled in place due to his training and life-or-death battles, but it was only about one-fifth the level of the Black Tortoise Energy.

He would train the White Tiger first. That was the order.

“Young Master.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned around.

It was Shin Mo.

“Why?”

“Are you sure this is alright?”

They were not far from the Myeong family. In just half a day, they would enter the Myeong family’s territory.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Why? Are you nervous?”

“Of course.”

One of Shin Mo’s many strengths was his honesty. He also knew when it was appropriate to reveal his honesty.

“They are desperate to capture you, Young Master. Yet, they sent the Blue Hall…”

“It’s to make the rumors true. It’s their intention to confirm it in front of everyone.”

“I think so too.”

A cold sharpness emanated from Shin Mo’s eyes.

“They won’t waste any more troops now. They will send the real deal. They won’t let us enter the Myeong family’s territory; they will send experts with the intention of dragging us away.”

“I think so too.”

Shin Mo inwardly sighed.

He knew everything. This reckless, audacious, yet wise young master saw through the opponent’s moves.

Yet, he was heading towards the Myeong family because he believed in something. But as Shin Mo, who had volunteered to protect the young master, he couldn’t help but worry.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said casually.

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you unleash the power you’re hiding?”

Shin Mo’s eyes widened in an instant.

“Huh?”

“Wasn’t it? It seems like you have a tremendous amount of internal energy sealed away?”

Shin Mo was startled.

“H-How did you know that?”

“How would I know? I know because I can see it.”

“You mean you could see that?”

“I couldn’t feel it before. It was only when I saw you this time that I realized it.”

The surprise on Shin Mo’s face gradually turned into admiration.

“You are amazing, Young Master. No one has ever seen through this power before.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“But that power, it’s very familiar. Is it a divine art of the main family?”

“Yes, it is. The Lord bestowed the Dragon Embrace Divine Art [a powerful martial art] upon this unworthy one.”

This time, surprise appeared on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face.

“The Dragon Embrace Energy?”

“Yes.”

The Dragon Embrace Divine Art was one of the five great divine arts of the Yeon family.

If the Biseonjin Style was the most stable of the five great divine arts, and the Sword Extremity Energy was the most direct and sharp, then the Dragon Embrace Divine Art was the most powerful in terms of explosive force.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled faintly.

“From now on, if anything happens, I can hide behind Chief Shin.”

“Ah, no. I was fortunate enough to obtain a divine elixir, but if it weren’t for the Dragon Embrace Divine Art, I would have lost control of my energy and fallen into demonic possession. I’m still far from sufficient.”

“So that’s why you were hiding it. You haven’t fully mastered it yet.”

“That’s right.”

“But is it okay to unleash it?”

“It’s fine for a short while.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“Keep that power well hidden. There’s no need to reveal a decisive move to the enemy.”

Shin Mo’s expression hardened.

“Understood.”

The young master seemed to be thinking of ending things with this opportunity.

‘I can’t stop him.’

Once he decided to do something, he would do it no matter what. That was the Yeon Ho-Jeong that Shin Mo saw.

If that was the case, there was no other way. Even if he had to be buried here, he had to protect the young master.

Thus, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s group continued south without hesitation.

Along the way, people were startled and ran away when they saw them. The rumors were spreading much faster than their movement speed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was composed. He did not react to the angry gazes of the people, nor to their fearful gazes. He simply walked his path.

‘The sun is setting.’

The sun began to set over the western mountain ridge.

The red sunset illuminated the world. It was the color of warm emptiness.

Soon, night would come.

A night where a cold wind and silence would be filled with ominous killing intent.

‘…’

Just before entering the Myeong family’s territory.

‘…What is this?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

Something familiar was carried on the wind. It was both killing intent and fighting spirit.

“Young Master.”

“I know.”

A deep tension settled on Shin Mo’s face.

“They are great experts. Three of them, in fact.”

“Indeed.”

Even with his enhanced vision, he could barely see the far end of the main road.

From there, three people were walking leisurely. And behind those three, there were three hundred warriors exuding a powerful military aura that was incomparable to the Blue Hall.

Three supreme masters who had appeared leading a combat unit, a military organization.

In that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

‘They are strong.’

The martial arts of those three were strong. Not just strong, but surprisingly strong.

In terms of pure martial arts, they were several levels above the current Yeon Ho-Jeong. There were three such experts, which alone was a formidable force.

But….

‘Why are they so familiar?’

What surprised Yeon Ho-Jeong was not the strength of his opponents. He had wiped out the Blue Hall, so it was time for experts of this level to come.

The problem was their energy.

As experts of the Myeong family, they would naturally have mastered the Myeong family’s martial arts.

Those martial arts of the Myeong family were familiar. It was an energy he had felt once before.

‘When was it?’

Thud.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s steps stopped for the first time.

“Young Master?”

“…”

Whoosh.

The wind settled low.

Shin Mo, who was looking at Yeon Ho-Jeong with a puzzled expression, felt a chill run down his spine.

Crack! Crack!

From the two feet that had stepped on the ground, the Biseonjin Energy surged.

But that energy was not the same as usual. The mystical pale blue Biseonjin Energy had, at this moment, become a terrifying and ominous blue madness, supporting Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

Whoosh!!

A whirlwind began to blow around the low-lying wind.

“Huk!”

“Ugh!”

The entire Chang-Eung unit stepped back several paces.

Shin Mo shouted in panic.

“Young Master!”

Crack! Crack!

Following the blue madness and the pure white storm, even a dark chill surged.

It was the dark and cold energy of the north. The energy of death, blowing from the end of life, the end of the world, filled Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

Kuh-huh-huh!

The roar of a tiger king, heard from somewhere in the west.

The axe, containing both the White Tiger Energy and the Black Tortoise Energy, writhed uncontrollably.

The Biseonjin Style, the White Tiger Energy, and the Black Tortoise Energy.

Three different divine energies arose simultaneously.

“…You could have appeared a little slower.”

His voice trembled.

Was it fear, or was it joy?

“I could have endured it more. No, I could have endured it forever.”

Whoosh!! Whoosh!!

The axe vibrated fiercely. As if begging to be wielded, it was filled with a deep killing intent.

“I didn’t expect to meet you so soon.”

The pupils, filled with a blue madness, pierced through the three experts at the front.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was living in the present, but his eyes were scanning the past.

‘Father.’

His father, who had blocked the enemy’s relentless attacks with his iron-like sword until the end.

And the leader of the monstrous swords that had turned his father’s body into a bloody mess.

‘Pyeong-A.’

His younger brother, who had chosen to flee to avoid engaging the enemy and to protect the family’s future.

And the leader of the monstrous palms that had broken his younger brother’s spine.

Furthermore, the vanguard of the huge figure that had broken down the gates of the historic Yeon family and invaded.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s whites of his eyes gradually turned red.

The one emotion that connected the present and the past, the past and the present.

It was the rage of a heaven-shattering fury towards his mortal enemies.

Wham!

One step of the White Tiger.

With that one step, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body disappeared from that spot.

Wham! Wham! Wham! Wham!

The consecutive explosions rapidly moved away.

“W-What, what was that?”

The burly middle-aged man at the front looked up at the sky in surprise.

A beast that had traversed that long distance with only the White Tiger’s Supreme Step soared high into the sky.

Flash!

Whether it was from the setting sun or from the blood-red killing intent.

The dark emperor, scattering flames of light across the world, raised his ferocious giant weapon.

“Nice to meet you, friends.”

The axe fell towards the man’s crown.

Swoosh! Thud!