Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 729

Jin Yang, left behind on the mountain, surveyed his surroundings. The Mukryong Unit was using their stealth techniques even at this moment, to protect Gi Woo-Hui. Gi Woo-Hui had fallen asleep, leaving only himself and Muk Bi awake.

“Ahem!”

Jin Yang cleared his throat.

“Sister… aren’t you resting?”

They had grown much closer on the ship, but he still found Muk Bi difficult to approach. The term ‘sister’ didn’t quite roll off his tongue. He couldn’t call her ‘that person’ or ‘you,’ and Seo Jeong-Gwang had already claimed the ‘sister-brother’ title first. So, what choice did he have? He had to call her ‘sister’ too.

“I’m fine. How about you?”

“Well, I’ve got nothing but stamina left.”

“Then, it would be good to check your martial arts first.”

Muk Bi’s eyes turned cold.

“I don’t feel anything, but… the air feels strange. I have a feeling something’s about to happen.”

Jin Yang flinched involuntarily. He was exceptionally talented in martial arts and had engaged in many life-or-death duels. Before the Hwawoong Clan stabilized, he had crossed the line between life and death countless times. However, he hadn’t had a proper life-or-death battle since then. His martial arts had improved, but his senses had become somewhat dulled.

‘This person is different.’

It wasn’t just about being stronger than him. Muk Bi genuinely seemed to believe that something was about to happen. And for a martial artist, something happening meant a fight.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“The teachings you received from Young Master Yeon on the ship will take a long time to become your own. It might take even longer to use them in actual combat.”

“Hmm.”

“Being with us means you could be thrown into any kind of fight at any time. From now on, you must always be on your guard.”

Muk Bi was unusually talkative. Jin Yang realized she was worried about him. He was still awkward, but she, with her blunt personality, was actually looking out for him. Perhaps that was why? Jin Yang also felt his awkwardness lessen a little.

“I’ll do my best. Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Alright.”

Jin Yang entered the nearby forest, not far from Gi Woo-Hui and Muk Bi. Sitting cross-legged, Jin Yang suddenly looked at the glaive he had brought. His eyes deepened.

‘The master of all weapons…’

He suddenly remembered his master’s words.

‘There are many martial artists in the world. Some dedicate their lives to one martial art, while others dabble in many. At first glance, the former might seem greater, but it depends on the martial artist’s characteristics. It cannot be said who is superior, nor who is closer to the truth. However, there are exceptions.’

‘There are those who are naturally gifted in martial arts. They don’t need to master many techniques to understand the form and principles of weapons, and they can easily use them in combat. Their skills don’t diminish. They understand what fighting is all about.’

‘The master of all weapons. Such people exist in the world. They are not just masters of weapons, but masters of combat, of martial arts itself. No matter what they hold in their hands, they are always strong.’

Before their departure, he had sparred with Yeon Ho-Jeong several times. It wasn’t to determine a winner or loser. It was to clearly identify his own shortcomings. However, when Jin Yang saw Yeon Ho-Jeong’s glaive techniques, he was shocked. Even though it wasn’t his main weapon, Yeon Ho-Jeong displayed high-level swordsmanship from the start. Moreover, as the sparring progressed, it became frighteningly precise. Even Jin Yang, a master of swordsmanship, could see things to learn from it.

‘In fact, the axe or glaive that man wields are both in the same heavy weapon category. It’s just that they are unconventional heavy weapons. But, wielding a long shaft to strike down enemies is the same.’

Even so, there would surely be some difference in finesse.

‘Think of it broadly. What he told me was not about getting stronger, but about compensating for my weaknesses. That alone can greatly increase my survival rate.’

Jin Yang closed his eyes.

‘I’ll make it all mine. There’s no time to be awkward. From the moment I decided to join them, I too am standing on the front lines.’

Whoooom.

Jin Yang’s dormant inner energy blazed like fire.

* * *

Fwoooosh!

The faces of the two men running around the outskirts of Banghyeon grew increasingly serious.

“Brother, can you hear anything?”

“No.”

“I thought so.”

Gang Ryang’s face was grim.

“It’s strange. It’s clear that a fight is happening, but there’s no sound… and yet, it seems like people are dying.”

“No, there is a sound.”

“Yes?”

“But… it doesn’t sound like fighting.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face was as serious as Gang Ryang’s.

‘What is it?’

He was sensing his surroundings much more keenly than Gang Ryang.

‘As Gang Ryang said, people are dying. Clearly, one by one, without a scream. But I don’t hear the sound of flesh being cut or bones breaking. And it’s not poison either, I don’t feel that unique sinister energy…’

He didn’t know. He couldn’t figure anything out right now.

“Wait a moment.”

Swish!

Yeon Ho-Jeong stopped.

Gang Ryang, who stopped with him, nodded.

“We can’t just rush in without knowing what’s going on.”

“You’re right.”

They had come here to see the Biwang and to gauge the reaction of the Shinwha Cult using Gi Woo-Hui. Naturally, the Biwang’s reaction came first. If the Biwang had joined hands with Grand Eunuch Wooheon and the Shinwha Cult, using Gi Woo-Hui to gauge the Shinwha Cult’s reaction could lead to a fatal outcome. In other words, they couldn’t recklessly interfere until they knew what was going on. That was the position of the special adjutant of the Mukryong Unit.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been lost in thought, adjusted his helmet.

“Take this.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong handed the Ojeong Token to Gang Ryang. [Ojeong Token: A token that signifies the holder’s authority and allows them to call upon the Gaebangdo.]

“You know how to call the Gaebangdo, right?”

“Of course.”

“Go into Banghyeon and contact the Gaebangdo. Find out what’s happening in this area and where the Biwang is. As quickly as possible.”

“What about you, Brother?”

“I’m going after them.”

“Brother.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, with his glaive slung over his shoulder, had clear and deep eyes.

“People are dying without a sound. If it were a conflict between martial artists, I might understand, but if it’s the deaths of civilians who have nothing to do with this world, I can’t ignore it.”

“…Of course not.”

“Go. If it’s something we don’t need to get involved in, I’ll follow your presence.”

Gang Ryang bowed his head.

“I’ll see you later, Brother.”

“Be careful.”

Fwoooosh!

As soon as Gang Ryang took off, Yeon Ho-Jeong also used his movement technique.

‘It’s strange.’

There was something he hadn’t told Gang Ryang.

‘That sound. It’s not the sound of people dying, but there’s a subtle, sharp sound of the air vibrating. It’s like…’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes blazed.

‘Like Senior Ha and Myeong-Geuk moving extremely fast.’

He had heard it often during his time as the Black Demon Emperor. He didn’t know the sound he made when he moved, but he knew what kind of sound was produced when another absolute master moved with intent. The explosive sound of piercing the air. But those who had reached the peak could greatly reduce that explosive sound with their energy dispersion ability. The sound he heard was exactly that kind of noise. It was quite far away, but he was certain.

‘Then…’

The hand holding the glaive tightened.

‘The Biwang might be there.’

Whoooom.

The Evil God’s energy surged, drawing out the vitality of his entire body. Fwoooosh! The energy of the Light God’s Elixir, which had been sealed until now, began to take over his entire body except for his internal organs. His senses expanded, and his five senses were amplified more than twofold. To expand his senses to this extent required a considerable amount of inner energy. But the situation was different from when he had sensed Myeong-Geuk’s presence. Unlike then, when he was certain that a war was about to break out and the murderous intent of countless enemies was rampant, he felt no murderous intent from that direction. So, it was ambiguous. It felt like running into a transparent swamp, a strange sense of unease.

How long had he been running?

‘……!!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes changed.

‘I’ve read it!’

He had read it, and at the same time, he was being read. The clash of sharply honed energies. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s senses, focused like a needle, were colliding precisely with the senses of someone unknown. Whoosh! It was as if a hot wind, difficult to even touch, suddenly blew. Thud! Thud! Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had braced himself, lowered his stance.

‘……?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

‘What is this?’

Swoooosh!

From where he had felt nothing, a thick, hot energy was surging.

‘This energy is…’

It wasn’t orthodox martial arts of the righteous sects. Nor was it demonic arts of the demonic path. It was lighter than both, but an energy that was somehow out of sync with reason was surging. Hot like flames and pale like a ghost. An energy that shouldn’t exist in reality like demonic arts, a true energy that was much more yin and sinister than demonic arts was flowing like a tide.

‘Evil Arts!!’

Fwoooosh!

In an instant, a group of people wearing gray uniforms and white masks appeared in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s vision. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed. Fwoooosh! Thwack! He swung his glaive once, blocking the approach of about ten people, and struck the torso of one who was trying to break through with the shaft. Thud! The masked man who had rolled on the ground collapsed, unconscious.

“…”

The masked men who had stopped their approach stared at Yeon Ho-Jeong from a distance of about ten yards. Or was it really staring? They were clearly looking intently, but their eyes were too blurry. It was like looking at the eyes of a dead fish. There was no emotion in them. No fear, no anger, not even a sense of purpose. They were dolls. Even though the evil energy emanating from their bodies was so terrible, it was impossible to feel the energy unless one was conscious of it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“What are you?”

It was then.

“That’s what we want to ask you.”

Fwoooosh!

A sinister and flamboyant energy surged from the forest. Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face stiffened.

‘Strong!’

Here, in front of the forest area where Mount Wudang in Hubei could be seen. Another absolute master of unknown identity had appeared. “I thought it was the Biwang, that damned rat, but it wasn’t. Well, if it had been him, he wouldn’t have even thought of targeting our rear.”

It wasn’t the Biwang. It was another master who had come to target the Biwang. Yeon Ho-Jeong, and indeed no one in the world, had imagined the appearance of another master who had been forgotten in the minds of the people.

“Hoh, a glaive. I only know Jongli Baek among the people who use swords in Seongcheon.”

Rustle.

The swaying branches broke one by one and fell to the ground. Swoosh! The branches that had fallen to the ground turned to dust and scattered. They had been caught in the energy wave of the unknown absolute master. Another Seongcheon he had unexpectedly encountered.

“I’ll ask one last time. Reveal your identity.”

“You should reveal your identity… but.”

This level of evil energy. Among the current masters of Seongcheon, there was only one master who had trained pure evil arts to this level.

“The Mad Soul Demon Lord, Gok Gyeong?!”

“You have a good eye.”

Swoosh.

Gok Gyeong, a middle-aged man with a pale complexion, appeared in the sunlight, wearing a murderous smile.

“That statement has sealed your fate. Die.”

Fwoooosh!

The masked group rushed towards Yeon Ho-Jeong.