Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 740

Ki Woo-hee opened her eyes and naturally sat up.

“Are you awake?”

Jin Yang’s face was still stiff. The fact that Yeon Ho-Jeong had clashed with an unknown master had made him tense.

Ki Woo-hee, who had been staring blankly at Jin Yang, got up from her seat without a word and walked away.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

Jin Yang was flustered and followed Ki Woo-hee.

Srrreuk.

The branches swayed in the breeze.

And following that sway, the Mukryong Squad members followed Ki Woo-hee as if to protect her.

A moment later.

“Ms. Ki?”

Muk Bi looked at Ki Woo-hee with a puzzled expression.

Ki Woo-hee stood silently next to Muk Bi, gazing far to the north.

“……”

A strange silence fell.

Muk Bi turned his gaze to Jin Yang. Jin Yang shrugged his shoulders.

It was then.

Whoo-oong.

A faint, cold aura settled in Ki Woo-hee’s blue eyes.

Muk Bi was startled for a moment.

‘That’s…?’

It wasn’t an energy that had been cultivated through training in the lower dantian [the energy center below the navel]. It was a pure divine energy, so clear and pristine that it felt eerie, far beyond what could be achieved through postnatal training.

‘The upper dantian [the energy center in the forehead]?!’

It was the spiritual eye.

It was Ki Woo-hee’s unique, innate ability, something that was impossible to understand.

The spiritual eye was the ability to see the essence of a person. Muk Bi had heard that from Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Essence, nature. Therefore, even if one could not prevent approach, no assassin could secretly approach Ki Woo-hee. Her divine spiritual eye would immediately detect anyone approaching.

Of course, Muk Bi couldn’t understand how such a thing was possible. No one could easily understand it.

The important thing was that Ki Woo-hee had such an ability.

And now, she was revealing her spiritual eye, something she didn’t usually show.

“Sister.”

“Shhh.”

Muk Bi, with a finger to his lips, watched Ki Woo-hee intently.

Whoo-oong. Whoo-oong.

Ki Woo-hee’s eyes, gazing at the distant northern mountains, flickered constantly.

Even someone who didn’t know about the spiritual eye could sense that the atmosphere was unusual. As if possessed by something, her pale skin, unique to those of Western descent, looked like a doll.

And then.

‘……!’

Muk Bi’s eyes shook with shock.

Her already pale face became so bloodless that blue veins began to stand out around her eyes.

“Gasp!”

Jin Yang was also startled to see it.

Muk Bi warned Jin Yang again, then continued to watch Ki Woo-hee.

How much time had passed?

“There are many amazing talents in the world, but it’s the first time I’ve seen someone born with the ability to communicate with the heavens.”

Who was speaking?

It was a voice that sounded feminine yet quite old-fashioned.

“How interesting. There are many practitioners who pursue the Dao [the Way, a concept of spiritual path] or cling to the truth, but the world casually produces spiritual anomalies who are born connected to the heavenly way.”

Muk Bi and Jin Yang were shocked.

The voice had just come from Ki Woo-hee’s mouth.

Ki Woo-hee’s mouth opened again.

Even though her mouth was open, the voice coming from it was not hers.

“I too have lived pursuing the Dao, but my foundation lies in martial arts, so where has the truth I so desired gone, and only this strange ability remains? Even this cannot last long.”

Srrreuk.

Ki Woo-hee turned her head toward Muk Bi.

In that instant, Muk Bi almost collapsed, his legs giving way.

‘Wh-who?!’

Ki Woo-hee’s eyes, which had been filled with a blue aura, had now turned into clear, deep pools.

The eyes of an old man, filled with benevolence and spirit, amazing wisdom and upright justice.

It wasn’t Ki Woo-hee’s gaze. It was as if her eyes and voice had been stolen by an unknown entity.

“It wasn’t intentional. This girl’s upper dantian is out of control. It’s also the first time for me to enter someone else’s vessel like this, so I’m just as bewildered.”

“……Who are you?”

Muk Bi’s face was filled with surprise and seriousness.

“Who are you?”

“I am a mere Taoist living in Mount Wudang.”

“Wh-what?!”

“Oh dear, there isn’t much time. Since we’re connected like this, I’ll keep it short. Your companions are in Mount Wudang. If you don’t want to go the long way around, come here. Of course, they are all safe.”

“By companions, you mean……”

At that moment, Ki Woo-hee’s eyes returned to normal.

“Cough!”

Ki Woo-hee, who had collapsed on the spot, coughed roughly.

“Cough, cough!”

“Ms. Ki! Are you okay?”

“I-I’m okay.”

She didn’t look okay at all. Even after saying she was okay, Ki Woo-hee coughed several more times. It was as if her insides were turning upside down.

It was an hour later that Ki Woo-hee’s breathing calmed down.

“Hoo.”

Ki Woo-hee’s face, after taking a long breath, was paler than before. At the same time, her eyes were filled with deep surprise.

“Amazing. How could such vast enlightenment…!”

“Huh?”

“……Ah, I’m sorry.”

Ki Woo-hee got up from her seat.

“Let’s go to Mount Wudang.”

Muk Bi’s eyes deepened.

Jin Yang said,

“What was that just now? Are you perhaps sick?”

“No. I unknowingly had a spiritual connection with a Taoist from Mount Wudang……”

Ki Woo-hee shook her head as she spoke.

“Let’s go for now. Both Senior Yeon and Inspector Gang are in Mount Wudang.”

“Ehh?!”

Jin Yang looked like he was thinking, ‘What nonsense is this?’ but Muk Bi took her words seriously.

“Are they safe and unharmed?”

It was as if asking how Ki Woo-hee would know such a thing, but Ki Woo-hee nodded confidently.

“Yes. They are very well.”

“……Okay.”

Muk Bi packed his things.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s go to Mount Wudang for now.”

* * *

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at the old Taoist with a somewhat dumbfounded expression.

The old Taoist, who had been talking, suddenly stopped. Then, he began to move his lips, looking at the nearby south.

But that was only for a moment.

“Hoo.”

Surprise appeared on the old Taoist’s face.

“Amazing. It seems the world is full of surprises.”

What was he talking about?

“I’ve seen those with outstanding talent in martial arts, of course, and those with literary talent who can master ten books after reading one, and children with talent in sorcery, and those with exceptional dexterity who can make swords or crafts without learning. But……”

“……?”

“A child born with the blessing of the heavens… Hahaha, practitioners would be horrified to see it.”

He was suddenly talking about something else, but Yeon Ho-Jeong intuitively knew who the old Taoist was talking about.

“Ki Woo-hee?”

“Hmm, yes. That child’s name was Ki Woo-hee.”

A subtle worry appeared on the old Taoist’s face.

“She is a truly amazing child, but too dangerous. There are many who are born with a vast upper dantian, but there is no one as defenseless as her. It’s like blocking seawater with a wooden board full of holes, so there will be a big problem someday.”

“……”

“Well, anyway, she’ll be coming here, so let’s meet again later.”

The old Taoist turned his gaze to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong flinched without realizing it.

‘……?!’

It was a strange gaze.

Limitlessly deep, limitlessly clear. It was closer to the gaze of a martial artist than a Taoist, but its depth was so great that there was no need to distinguish between the two.

It was truly a gaze overflowing with enlightenment. He didn’t know what kind of enlightenment it was, but the old Taoist’s gaze, which had subtly gathered and contained that vast amount of wisdom, was filled with a mystery that Yeon Ho-Jeong had never seen before.

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his mouth.

“Senior Sword Immortal Tak Mu-Ja, is that you?”

“Sword Immortal… It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that title.”

The old Taoist, Tak Mu-Ja, chuckled and said,

“Sword Immortal, how ridiculous. It’s a title that is too much and embarrassing for an old man who is not even a proper Taoist, let alone an immortal.”

That confirmed it.

This person was definitely Tak Mu-Ja. He was the greatest elder of the current Wudang Sect and one of the top-ranked among the revered Saintly Thirteen Seats [the thirteen most powerful martial artists] of the martial world.

‘So suddenly?’

It was a truly strange encounter.

The group had been drawn to Mount Wudang as if possessed. Now, he couldn’t even remember which path they had taken or how they had climbed up.

When they reached the peak, there was fog all around, and their mood had calmed down comfortably.

That was all. His memories from the time they met the former Taoists of Wudang until they climbed to this peak were unclear.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s memories began to become clear again from the moment he first sat here and looked around.

From that time on, he clearly recognized Gok Gyeong and Gang Ryang, and he also clearly remembered the face and voice of the unknown old Taoist.

‘Strange.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a strangeness.

‘Even if my spirit, energy, and essence were shaken, this shouldn’t be possible.’

He, as well as Gok Gyeong, were powerful individuals who had opened their Limitless State [a state of martial arts mastery].

Whether they had reached the Saintly Realm or not, the moment they opened the Limitless State, they could clearly recognize the energy of heaven and earth. If they wanted, they could absorb, control, and analyze a large amount of natural energy in an instant.

This was enough to be called a demigod. There was a reason why the world called the Saintly Thirteen Seats peerless masters.

They were not affected by high-level sorcery or formations. They were too sensitive to the energy of nature, so their ability to judge the truth and falsehood and to respond to the upper dantian divine energy was outstanding.

‘How did we end up in a place like this…?!’

At that moment, Tak Mu-Ja said,

“You must be confused. But there’s no need to think it’s strange. Anyone who is not familiar with the immortal energy in this area will inevitably experience the same thing as you. Even the Fist God of Shaolin would be no different.”

The Fist God of Shaolin.

It was the title of the Fist God Mu Heo, who was in charge of the ‘god’ of the Divine Immortal Emperor and was considered the closest to the strongest in the current martial world.

“Well, it can’t be used to deceive or imprison anyone. It’s not an energy that has been accumulated in that way. If you or that demon of yours had the intention to kill, the immortal energy here would have been startled and fled.”

“……But, it would be difficult to harbor such murderous intent.”

“That’s also true. Immortal energy has no enemies or allies. Just like you, we can’t do anything to you. The moment we harbor such thoughts, all the immortal energy that filled the area would run away.”

Tak Mu-Ja smiled.

“A dojang [a place of practice] that allows one to feel the essence of non-action without conflict. It’s close to a neutral place, as you would call it, where even a half-immortal master would find it difficult to have the desire to shed blood.”

“Was there such a place in Mount Wudang?”

“There is. You are in it now.”

“But……”

“Why hasn’t it been known? It’s inevitable. We don’t let in anyone who hasn’t been permitted. Even a master who has broken through the limits of martial arts would find it nearly impossible to recognize this peak.”

It was as if they had been possessed by a ghost.

Just from hearing about it, it was a place close to a utopia. Although there were no beautiful rare flowers or noble animals running around.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was inwardly flustered.

Even now, after meeting Tak Mu-Ja, he couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.

“Let’s stop with the boring talk. I wanted to see you, and I didn’t intend to have this kind of conversation.”

“Do you have business with me?”

“I do. It’s still vague, but… that’s why I want to ask you something even more.”

“What is it?”

Tak Mu-Ja smiled.

“How old are you, you?”

“Is that what you were curious about?”

“Not the age you appear to be.”

“……?”

“It seems like you’ve lived for at least fifty years? Isn’t that right?”

“……!!”