Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 726

Pa-a-a-ang!

Busun, completely absorbed in her martial arts training, was a captivating sight as she worked up a sweat.

A smile spread across Yang Cheon’s face as he watched her from a distance.

‘Not bad.’

The form of the single punch he had demonstrated to her only once before.

It wasn’t a martial art that could be replicated simply by mimicking the movements. Busun understood this, and she was tirelessly striving to grasp the essence of that one strike.

Was her effort bearing fruit?

Although she still couldn’t perfectly imitate it, Busun’s overall martial arts skills had noticeably improved.

‘She’s skilled enough to hold her own anywhere. She could easily establish a sect right now and confidently lead it.’

In particular, Busun possessed another advantage besides her martial prowess: her talent for strategy.

‘You can’t run an organization on strength alone. You need a sharp mind to back it up. In that regard, Busun is a truly remarkable talent.’

When the Bota Hermitage was destroyed, Busun had endured and worked there for three long years.

The fall of the Bota Hermitage was largely due to Busun’s efforts. Frankly, even Yang Cheon himself wasn’t sure he could have persevered for that long.

Furthermore, she had the keen insight to exploit the weaknesses of her opponents in the rapidly unfolding succession battle.

‘Good. Not bad. But…’

Yang Cheon’s gaze deepened.

‘The mind for scheming and the mind for management are two different things.’

The meticulousness required to endure and sharpen a blade to destroy an organization or exploit an opponent’s weakness.

Such skills are also necessary for managing an organization. But to be blunt, such cunning wisdom might be helpful in management, but it could never be the sole determining factor.

Moreover, in this brutal Black Path, the eyes that looked upon a female leader were never kind. Even if she was a disciple of the great Yang Cheon, it was clear that once his protection was gone, people would bare their teeth or try to take advantage of her.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Up to that point, it was unavoidable. It might seem harsh, but that was the reality.

And if you looked at it differently, there was nothing new about it. The Black Path had always been such a world.

The weak were devoured, and the strong climbed higher by stepping on the corpses of the weak.

He had been like that, and Busun was the same. Overcoming that pressure would be entirely Busun’s responsibility.

‘…….’

Yang Cheon, who had been silently observing Busun, turned away.

‘Still.’

Still, as her teacher.

He didn’t have any children, but now that she was his only remaining successor, he couldn’t help but keep a watchful eye on her. Perhaps even if Busun had been born with even greater talent, he would have felt the same way.

Yang Cheon looked up at the ceiling.

“Grow up quickly. After achieving everything, I will pass on a completed world.”

Yang Cheon chuckled, then suddenly thought of someone.

‘Yeon Ho-Jeong… Yeonwi.’

Yang Cheon scratched his head.

“I wonder if the Yeon Clan Head has similar thoughts?”

* * *

Yeonwi wiped the blood off his sword.

Pang Mu-Gang did the same. There was a sense of ease in his movements as he cleaned his gently curved scimitar.

Yeonwi asked.

“Did you always use a sword like that?”

“Of course not.”

Pang Mu-Gang, having sheathed his sword, looked around.

The corpses of the attackers were scattered everywhere. All of them were wearing masks, and there were over fifty of them.

“We are on our way to see Her Majesty the Empress, so I couldn’t possibly bring such a vicious weapon.”

“Still, you are amazing. Even though your weapon has changed, your skill hasn’t wavered.”

“It’s just a matter of familiarity. In the end, they are all just swords. You should know that too, Clan Head Yeon.”

“Hahaha.”

The two men were having a relaxed conversation.

Watching the two of them, Do Beon swallowed nervously without anyone noticing.

‘They’re strong.’

The leaders of the Six Great Clans of the Jianghu [the martial arts world].

The heads of martial families that were among the most renowned of the countless martial sects.

They were the subjects of glamorous reputations, but in reality, Do Beon didn’t know their true strength. The martial artists he had seen so far were mostly unruly and violent, and even if they were skilled, he didn’t think they were fit for the battlefield.

However, the martial prowess of the heads of the Six Clans, which he had witnessed up close, far exceeded the imagination of Do Beon, a seasoned veteran of the Northern Army.

‘They’re not human. I thought they would be strong, but I didn’t expect this level.’

Do Beon looked around.

‘To eliminate the beasts of the Sejeongban [Imperial assassins] so easily.’

The Sejeongban were professional assassins secretly raised by successive emperors.

Although they were assassins, they were not like the assassins of the Central Plains who relied on extreme stealth or mixed into crowds to use poison needles. They were not picky about methods.

They would infiltrate thoroughly and take down their enemies with a single strike. They were assassins, but also warriors and soldiers.

As an organization under the Emperor’s control, their skills were undoubtedly great. Do Beon himself wouldn’t have been able to handle even three assassins from the Sejeongban.

Yet, the two men had eliminated fifty assassins in less than fifteen minutes.

Do Beon clicked his tongue.

‘I was completely wrong. We know nothing about the Murim [martial arts world]. The martial arts of the real experts, not just the riffraff, are so powerful that even the best experts in the Imperial Palace would have difficulty facing them.’

No, facing them would be impossible.

If even ten people with that level of skill were to attack, they would be able to break through to the outer palace, if not the inner palace.

‘This is absurd…!’

There was a limit to martial arts. This kind of strength was a cheat.

‘I heard that the disciples of the Jongnam Sect [a famous martial arts sect] used to teach the experts of the Imperial Palace… Were the experts back then completely different from now?’

At that moment, Yeonwi spoke.

“Do you know their identities?”

“…?”

“Your gaze as you looked around seemed familiar.”

Do Beon’s eyes narrowed.

“They are assassins belonging to the Sejeongban.”

“Sejeongban?”

“It is a secret organization under the command of successive emperors. A professional assassination agency created to eliminate political enemies.”

Pang Mu-Gang’s expression changed.

“Are you saying that the Emperor sent them?”

“…That is unknown. And that is not what is important right now.”

He seemed to be making excuses.

“Since we have been attacked, we must pick up the pace. Please get into the carriage quickly.”

“Let’s do that.”

With that, the group got back into the carriage. Do Beon drove the horses himself.

Inside the carriage, Jeagal Ayeon said calmly.

“It’s a test, after all.”

Yeonwi nodded.

Pang Mu-Gang sighed.

“It’s truly complicated. After hearing Clan Head Yeon’s words, I had my doubts…”

“It means that Her Majesty the Empress is approaching this matter with caution.”

“That’s not what I mean. If the Sejeongban is an assassination agency under the Emperor’s command, they should only move according to the Imperial decree. But for Her Majesty the Empress to have moved them…”

Yeonwi spoke.

“It can be seen that some of the power held by the Emperor has passed to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes deepened.

“I heard that Eunuch Wooheon’s power is spreading like wildfire. But if Her Majesty the Empress’s power, which has absorbed the Emperor’s power, is at this level…”

“Surely, it means that the Emperor is in danger.”

Pang Mu-Gang closed his eyes.

Concentrating and expanding his senses, he could feel the movement of the horses pulling the carriage and even the movements of Do Beon’s hands as he held the reins.

“…It seems they have decided to proceed as planned.”

“Hmm?”

“They asked beforehand if we knew any shortcuts to Beijing and could guide them.”

“… !”

“The speed of the horses and the way he holds the reins are both very confident.”

“Does that mean they have decided that further testing is unnecessary?”

“That’s the only way to see it.”

Pang Mu-Gang frowned.

“I really don’t like this.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t like being tested.

Nor was it that he didn’t like killing the assassins of the Sejeongban, who had no conflict with them. They had swung their swords with sincerity, and they had attacked fiercely as if they didn’t care if they died.

What he really didn’t like was the fact that the other side had no prior information about them.

“At first, I thought that the situation was that bad. But thinking about it again, if the situation was that bad, they wouldn’t have even thought of reaching out to us.”

“I agree.”

“In other words, Her Majesty the Empress may be feeling a disadvantage in power, but she is not in the worst situation. It feels like she is trying to turn the tables and win the game in one fell swoop.”

“…”

“And yet, their level of information about us is non-existent. It’s inevitable that they can’t grasp it unless they see and hear it for themselves, but with such clumsy handling…”

Jeagal Ayeon sighed deeply.

“Perhaps the situation in the Imperial Palace is much worse than we expected.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Yeonwi leaned back in his seat.

“Let’s not think about anything for now and rest. It seems like we don’t have much further to go to the Imperial Palace.”

“It won’t take even half a day.”

“Let’s rest well. Worrying now won’t change anything.”

“Clan Head Yeon is right.”

And so, the carriage continued to run without stopping.

The stamina of the horses pulling the carriage was amazing. There were times when their speed dropped, but they continued to run towards the Imperial Palace without hesitation, even without taking a break.

And finally.

“We’ve arrived.”

Yeonwi, Pang Mu-Gang, and Jeagal Ayeon’s eyes widened.

The carriage stopped, and Do Beon’s voice could be heard from outside. He was talking to the gatekeepers to enter the secret gate of the Imperial Palace.

Thud!

Soon, the gate opened with a not-so-loud sound.

The carriage, which started moving again, did not move at the same speed as before, but it still ran without stopping.

“We’re going straight through without any obstacles.”

“The Imperial Palace is larger and wider than any other place. There are plenty of secret paths.”

“The gatekeepers’ martial prowess was incredible. They were sharper than the Northern Army.”

“There were over three hundred experts hiding around them.”

“If you pass, you can enter immediately, but if you fail, you will never be able to challenge it again… It’s dangerous.”

Tension began to rise inside the carriage as well.

Regardless of the situation, whether they were strong or weak, they were on their way to meet the mistress of the empire that had ruled the continent for generations. Jeagal Ayeon, as well as Yeonwi and Pang Mu-Gang, could not hide their tension.

And so, after another hour.

After passing through the outer palace and traveling for another half an hour, the carriage finally stopped.

“Get out.”

The three people who got out of the carriage saw a huge palace.

Pang Mu-Gang’s eyes widened. He was famous as the overlord of Hebei, but he had never entered the Imperial Palace even once.

“Is this Her Majesty the Empress’s…?”

“From now on, keep your mouths shut. You are forbidden from speaking until Her Majesty gives her orders, and rash actions are also forbidden.”

“…”

“Disarm yourselves.”

The three people obediently handed over their swords and daggers to the guards.

“This is one of Her Majesty the Empress’s detached palaces, but for the sake of caution, many formations have been deployed. No one knows what kind of formations they are.”

It was a warning not to act rashly, but in fact, the three were more surprised by the fact that this palace was a detached palace than by the formations.

Indeed, the Imperial Palace was different. An undisguised admiration appeared on the faces of the three.

“Now, we will enter the palace.”

Kugugung!

The palace gate of the detached palace opened, and the three entered with their heads bowed.

After passing through two more gates, a small, incredibly ornate palace appeared before them.

Do Beon bowed and said.

“Your Majesty the Empress. The chivalrous heroes of the Jianghu are here to see Your Majesty…”

It was then.

“Let them in.”

In that instant, Jeagal Ayeon flinched without realizing it. The seductive aura contained in the languid voice was immense.

Squeak.

The door of the small palace opened.

Do Beon bowed his head.

“Enter.”

The entry into the Imperial Palace, where countless procedures were omitted.

The three lowered their posture and entered the small palace.