Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 744

“It’s you lot.”

One of the two heads of the Grand General’s Office, Mun Seok, known as the Palace Grand General, bore a striking resemblance to the Empress.

Though past forty, he possessed a remarkably noble appearance. He was handsome in a masculine way, yet also had a noticeable delicacy.

He was the Empress’s older brother, and one of the top figures in the current imperial military, yet he appeared almost too aristocratic.

Yeon-wi, Peng Mu-Gang, and Jeagal Ayeon bowed their heads.

“We greet the Grand General.”

They set aside personal courtesies. That greeting was all there was.

Mun Seok nodded.

“I’m sure you’ve heard everything from Do Cheon-Jang. Change into the Centurion’s uniform right away and follow me.”

The three quickly changed into military uniforms, donned armor, and put on helmets.

Jeagal Ayeon could have been a problem, but because she was tall, she looked quite presentable in thick armor and a helmet.

Originally, the generals under the Palace Grand General didn’t rampage on the front lines, so there were few burly people. Considering that characteristic, the three’s disguises were even more plausible.

“Hurry.”

The Emperor’s audience chamber wasn’t far from the Grand General’s Office.

Mun Seok, the three, and about fifty soldiers moved quite quickly. They didn’t run, but their pace was fast. It was clear how urgent Mun Seok was.

While keeping pace and looking around, Peng Mu-Gang sent a telepathic message to Yeon-wi.

[It’s strange.]

Yeon-wi’s eyes gleamed.

He was feeling the same thing as Peng Mu-Gang. No, it was even clearer to him.

This was because Yeon-wi’s internal energy cultivation was superior to Peng Mu-Gang’s. The internal energy and senses he had honed day by day were already at the pinnacle of the Six Great Clans.

[It’s as if an invisible ghost is following us from behind.]

[Indeed. Though, of course, it’s not a ghost.]

[What should we do? I think we should stop. This strange gaze, I don’t know who’s watching from where, but it’s very ominous.]

Yeon-wi nodded and was about to speak, but then closed his mouth.

Peng Mu-Gang looked at him with puzzled eyes.

[What’s wrong?]

There was no answer from Yeon-wi. He was just scanning the surroundings with even sharper eyes.

Peng Mu-Gang’s eyes deepened.

‘There’s something.’

He readily admitted it. Yeon-wi’s martial arts were a level above his own.

He had clearly caught something that he couldn’t sense.

Peng Mu-Gang felt tense.

‘Even so.’

The Habuk Peng Clan was a prestigious family in the martial world with a long history. In terms of history, it was much deeper than the Yeon Clan.

The master of a prestigious family, called the master of the sword, was a name and martial power that would be recognized anywhere in the world. For even him to be unable to sense something…

‘What on earth is happening in the Imperial Palace?’

How many bizarre experts had the lackey of the Shin Hwa-Gyo [Divine Flower Sect], Woo Heon, stationed here?

Peng Mu-Gang sent a telepathic message to Jeagal Ayeon to be careful, then placed his left hand on his sword hilt.

How much time had passed?

Thud!

Mun Seok, who was at the front, stopped walking.

“This is strange.”

Wrinkles formed around Mun Seok’s eyes.

“Why are there so few people?”

They had to pass through several palace gates to reach the audience chamber. And the group had already passed through three palace gates.

But the further they went inside, the fewer the number of warriors guarding the palace became.

Although he had never rampaged on the battlefield, Mun Seok was also excellent in martial arts. Furthermore, he was a man who was thoroughly accustomed to the bloody palace politics.

Mun Seok shouted to the warrior guarding the palace gate in the distance.

“I am Mun Seok, the Palace Grand General of the Grand General’s Office. The gatekeeper of the third palace gate, come here.”

He was the Palace Grand General, who could make even a flying bird fall, and the Empress’s older brother. Not just a gatekeeper, but even a high-ranking official would normally come running.

But the gatekeeper didn’t move. He just stood there, staring straight ahead with his helmet pressed down, holding a spear.

Mun Seok’s eyes deepened.

“Can’t you hear me! I am Mun Seok, the Palace Grand General of the Grand General’s Office! Come here immediately!”

At that moment, Yeon-wi sent a telepathic message to Mun Seok.

[Grand General. I am the head of the Yeon Clan.]

Mun Seok flinched.

But he didn’t look back at Yeon-wi. He instinctively felt that he shouldn’t.

[From the sixth palace gate to the fourth palace gate, the Imperial Guards and gatekeepers who were guarding nearby have disappeared.]

Crack!

A chilling sound echoed from Mun Seok’s fist.

The Imperial Guards who had been guarding the palace gates he had passed through were gone. What did that mean in this situation?

‘Woo Heon!!’

Mun Seok quietly opened his mouth.

“Then, who are those guys?”

He didn’t bother using telepathy. He could if he wanted to, but he was the Grand General.

Yeon-wi also judged that further telepathy was unnecessary.

“They’re dead.”

“…Dead?!”

Peng Mu-Gang, who had been standing silently, lightly flicked his finger.

Thwack!

The invisible finger wind brushed past the gatekeeper’s helmet.

Thud!

The gatekeeper, who had been standing motionless, collapsed on the spot.

Mun Seok’s eyes wavered.

Jeagal Ayeon said.

“It’s here.”

Yeon-wi and Peng Mu-Gang looked at Jeagal Ayeon.

Tension rose on Jeagal Ayeon’s face.

“Between the third and fourth palace gates. The naturally rising walls and the narrowing terrain.”

“… !”

“It’s a terrain that’s easy for an ambush.”

Because it was such a wide area, even Yeon-wi and Peng Mu-Gang, who had passed directly through the palace gates, hadn’t noticed that the terrain was narrowing.

But Jeagal Ayeon’s sense of space, honed through studying formations, could accurately detect it.

The problem was that they had noticed too late.

“It would be good if we could break through…”

“No.”

Yeon-wi’s eyes flashed.

“Military energy is approaching.”

Whoosh!

Without a sound, a much more subtle aura than expected was approaching from beyond the third palace gate.

Not only that, but military energy was also gradually rising from the rear palace gates they had passed through.

“What is this?!”

Mun Seok was flustered.

Peng Mu-Gang quickly said.

“Soldiers, surround the Grand General!”

The soldiers were flustered and couldn’t move easily.

Mun Seok looked at Peng Mu-Gang.

When Peng Mu-Gang nodded, Mun Seok opened his mouth.

“You protect me.”

Swish, swish, swish!

Fifty soldiers surrounded Mun Seok, and Yeon-wi and Jeagal Ayeon took positions on the third palace gate side, while Peng Mu-Gang took position on the rear fourth palace gate side.

Mun Seok asked in a darker voice.

“Are they the Imperial Guards?”

Jeagal Ayeon said.

“I don’t know if they are the Imperial Guards. But if the military energy is so orderly and the soldiers can move so stealthily…”

“They are the Imperial Guards.”

Mun Seok closed his eyes.

“Have I been too late?”

In this terrain, at this time, the Imperial Guards had begun to surround them from the front and back.

It was clear who had moved them. If it were the Empress, she would have taken measures to come faster, not to block them with the Imperial Guards.

It was Woo Heon.

The eunuch had blocked Palace Grand General Mun Seok’s path to the audience chamber.

‘No, it can’t end with just blocking.’

Tension filled Jeagal Ayeon’s sharp eyes.

‘The Grand General is heading to the audience chamber with a small number of troops. He moved even though the Emperor didn’t call for him. This in itself could be considered treason.’

The reason she judged that it could be treason, not definite treason, was because the imperial family’s power had weakened that much.

But even if the imperial family’s power had weakened, the laws remained. In fact, Mun Seok’s actions themselves were giving the enemy an excuse, so this situation could be called a foreseen misfortune.

‘I knew it.’

They had expected this much. While they wondered if it was possible, they thought there was some possibility.

The reason the group hadn’t stopped Mun Seok was because they didn’t think he would listen if they tried.

And another reason.

“Clan Head.”

“Yes.”

“It seems we’ll have to proceed a bit roughly.”

Yeon-wi nodded.

“I think so too.”

Peng Mu-Gang, who was standing a little behind, spoke in his characteristic booming voice.

“Don’t worry about this side and do what you need to do. I’ll hold them off for days.”

A bewildered look appeared on Mun Seok’s face.

What did that mean?

Yeon-wi said.

“Grand General.”

“Speak.”

“Please give me one of the tokens you possess. Something that can prove you are the Grand General.”

Although he didn’t know what he was thinking, Mun Seok did as Yeon-wi said. He had to use any method he could.

Yeon-wi received a jade token from Mun Seok. It wasn’t an official token that proved he was the Grand General, but it was an item that Mun Seok cherished, as those who knew him knew.

Yeon-wi put the jade token in his pocket and took off his helmet.

“…?!”

Mun Seok, who was looking at Yeon-wi, felt an indescribable chill for a moment.

Yeon-wi’s face was revealed under the cold moonlight. His characteristic stoic expression revealed his strong character and his firm convictions.

But what was most impressive were his eyes.

It was as if thousands of swords were leaping out of his two blue eyes.

They were so bright that they exuded a pressure beyond mere dignity. Mun Seok realized the true meaning of the saying that one could subdue a person with just their gaze, as he looked at Yeon-wi.

Yeon-wi said to Jeagal Ayeon.

“Protect this place with Clan Head Peng.”

“Clan Head.”

“…?”

“Be careful.”

“Don’t worry.”

Swoosh.

The moment Yeon-wi drew his sword from his waist, an immense force erupted from his body.

“From now on, I am not Yeon-wi, but the head of the Yeon Clan.”

Thud!

Yeon-wi kicked off the ground and instantly reached the front of the third palace gate.

Mun Seok shouted without realizing it.

“Wh, what are you doing!”

“It’s as Clan Head Yeon said.”

Jeagal Ayeon pulled out two daggers from her waist with a serious face.

“From now on, it’s the martial artists’ time, Grand General.”

* * *

‘…?’

Woo Heon, who was kneeling, blinked his eyes.

‘They moved on time.’

His unusually red lips curved into a smile.

Of course, it was he who had moved the Imperial Guards.

The Imperial Guards of the imperial family were not simply a group of excellent warriors.

There had been quite a few martial artists who had crossed the imperial family’s walls with amazing martial arts. Of course, all of them were caught and executed, but the important thing was to prevent such people from entering in the first place.

Currently, all the soldiers of the Imperial Guards had mastered the imperial family’s martial arts, and all of them were skilled in stealthy movement, group battles, and fighting with small forces.

‘Of course, they’re clumsy.’

In his eyes, who had mastered the protective martial arts of the Shin Hwa-Gyo, the martial arts that the Imperial Guards had learned were far below his level.

But the number and fighting style of the Imperial Guards were something that no one could ignore. Unless there was someone who had reached the Limitless [a realm of martial arts mastery], it would be difficult for a few experts to handle even a tenth of the Imperial Guard’s forces.

“So.”

A languid voice flowed from the dragon throne.

A lingering dignity, but more than dignity, there was much more annoyance and drowsiness.

“What is the reason for making me sit here at this hour? And…”

Woo Heon smiled and raised his head.

Opposite him was the Empress, who was so beautiful that she didn’t seem like a person of this world, but who had become hardened.

“Why did the Empress come here?”

Before the Empress could speak.

Woo Heon bowed his head again and said.

“I apologize, but it is to speak about the rebellious group.”