Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 791

“Is it snow?”

Yang Cheon, who had climbed the outer hill after a long time to look at the sky, possessed a peculiar charm.

Hap! Hap!

Below the cliff, hundreds of warriors, stripped to the waist despite the cold weather, were practicing swordsmanship.

Blood was seeping from the hands of most of them. Even after training for so long, their hands were torn and bleeding again. That was how intense their training was.

Thud thud thud.

In the distance, hundreds of cavalrymen were also training, deploying their formations.

They trained in formation not only on the wide plains but also on mountain paths. The cavalry was excellent, but the ability of the warriors to move in perfect harmony with the cavalry, adapting to each situation, was so great that it was hard to find anywhere else in the Central Plains.

Yang Cheon smiled.

“Indeed, the Iron Cavalry’s training is a sight to behold.”

Hwang Seok-tae bowed his head.

“Your words, Vice Chief, always give me strength.”

“Haha.”

Yang Cheon turned to look at Hwang Seok-tae, a look of surprise on his face.

“The Iron Cavalry is impressive, but the most surprising thing is you.”

“Yes?”

“When did your martial arts become so profound? You seem like a completely different person from when I saw you a while ago.”

Indeed, Hwang Seok-tae’s aura was greatly different from before.

The oppressive aura that used to make people shrink back with its strict and cold demeanor had disappeared.

His rugged appearance, with its characteristic sharp eyes, remained the same, but the change in his aura made him look much more flexible. He even seemed a little thinner.

However, Yang Cheon knew. It was not that Hwang Seok-tae had become weaker, but rather that he had become stronger.

Hwang Seok-tae’s aura, which had always maintained a moderate state of tension so that he could react immediately to any battle, was now as soft as water.

It was not simply that he had let his guard down. It meant that he no longer needed to be tense.

It is said that anything that reaches its peak looks extraordinary, but once it surpasses that peak, it looks ordinary. This principle also applies to martial arts.

The aura of a true master, whose body and will are trained to react at any moment, in any situation.

Hwang Seok-tae had reached that level. He had undoubtedly pioneered his own martial path before reaching the pinnacle.

Hwang Seok-tae spoke calmly.

“There are too many strong people in this era. As someone living in the same era, I have no choice but to work hard to not fall behind them.”

Yang Cheon chuckled.

“Are you talking about Yeon Ho-jeong?”

“Him, and those with him. They are all young, yet they have achieved remarkable things.”

“Young yet strong… Yes, that’s right.”

The time for growth is different for everyone.

However, most people can absorb more when they are younger. That is why one must train hard when they are young.

Yang Cheon looked up at the sky.

The amount of snow falling was not much, but the flakes were quite large. It might snow heavily tomorrow.

“Do you know why they have become so strong?”

“It’s partly due to talent, but isn’t it also because they have lived fiercely?”

“That’s right. Talent is more important than anything else. But living fiercely is not enough to explain it. You and the Iron Cavalry members are just as fierce, aren’t you?”

“That is true, but…”

“Everyone lives fiercely and works hard. There is definitely a difference in talent, but the reason those guys have become so strong is because there is something more than talent and effort.”

“What is it?”

In the past, Hwang Seok-tae would not have asked such a question easily. He would have thought that asking itself was rude.

However, as his martial arts deepened, Hwang Seok-tae had gained composure. And Yang Cheon was a great superior who could accept his subordinate’s composure.

“It’s Yeon Ho-jeong.”

“…Yes?”

It was too abrupt an answer. At least, it was for Hwang Seok-tae.

Yang Cheon smiled and said,

“Is it a strange answer?”

“A little… It’s a hard answer to understand.”

“Haha, I suppose it could be.”

Yang Cheon closed his eyes.

“When I think about it, those who travel with him were different from ordinary martial artists. Or rather, they have changed.”

“How have they changed?”

“The way they see themselves.”

“… !”

“Yeon Ho-jeong is the same. He says he doesn’t have as much talent as others, but that’s nonsense. To become strong in martial arts, it’s not just about having superior physique or a unique understanding of martial arts.”

“I know that.”

“That’s right. In any field, a certain level of understanding is needed for growth. But after a certain level of growth, you need the ability to look back at yourself correctly and the instinctive sense to know what you need right now.”

“Ah!”

“Yeon Ho-jeong knows that. And so do the guys who follow him. Yeon Ho-jeong has the ability to grasp what his people need to grow at every moment. And what happens when you’re with someone who has such insight?”

“They would naturally be able to look back at themselves.”

“They look back at themselves and eventually find it. What they need right now. What kind of effort they need to make for that, what they need to learn.”

In the end, it is the direction of effort.

Everyone makes an effort. But only a handful of people reach the top.

If everyone has similar talent and makes similar efforts, what ultimately separates them is the ability to know what they need and the sense of how far they need to train.

“All those who have reached the celestial realm [a high level of martial arts mastery] have that sense. A fierce life? Experiences of life and death? There are quite a few among the celestials who have not experienced many life-and-death situations. Nevertheless, they opened the path to the pinnacle and rose to the ranks of the strongest in the martial world.”

“…That’s frightening.”

“It’s frightening. The growth of a martial artist is like the growth of divine skill. No one says that someone who has mastered the Three Talents Sword Technique [a basic sword technique], which is common in the martial world, has become a first-rate master. But those who have improved the mastered Three Talents Sword Technique to suit themselves and have advanced to a deeper level become first-rate masters.”

Yang Cheon opened his eyes.

“Mastering martial arts is like reaching another starting point. Until you master martial arts, it’s in the realm of ‘talent,’ like physique and understanding, but to go beyond that, you need insight and a sense.”

“…”

“Perhaps that insight and sense are also a type of talent. But having lived to this age, I think it’s definitely a different realm from talent.”

“…”

“In that respect, Yeon Ho-jeong is right. He doesn’t have outstanding martial talent. He just has something more than martial talent.”

“And that is something that Vice Chief also possesses.”

“Only me?”

“Yes?”

Yang Cheon looked at Hwang Seok-tae.

“Aren’t you the same?”

“Yes?”

“By traveling with Yeon Ho-jeong, haven’t you learned how he and his group live in the world?”

Hwang Seok-tae’s expression became a little awkward.

“They were different from me.”

“You were able to grow because you understood and accepted the differences. That is also an effort. If you had interpreted their differences as wrong or simply left them as differences, would you have been able to grow?”

“… !”

“You have been stagnant for a long time. Even though you reached that level a long time ago, you haven’t made any progress. But you, who have gained new experiences with Yeon Ho-jeong and returned, have changed so much now.”

Hwang Seok-tae found it difficult to open his mouth. Yang Cheon’s words sounded as if he was asking if Yeon Ho-jeong was not a more outstanding person than himself.

In the end, Hwang Seok-tae said this.

“If it weren’t for the Vice Chief’s boundless grace, how could I have reached this position?”

Originally, Hwang Seok-tae was not good with words.

Yang Cheon chuckled.

“Don’t misunderstand. No matter how you became strong, my faith in you will not waver. And I know that your loyalty to me will not waver either.”

“I am grateful beyond words.”

Yang Cheon looked back at the Iron Cavalry.

The sight of the Iron Cavalry members wielding their spears with loud shouts was magnificent, even after seeing it again.

“You must become a great force.”

“Of course.”

“For the next generation.”

“…?”

“I have an ambition. That ambition is so intense that it might become another tragedy in the post-war martial world.”

“…”

“There are many who dream in this world, but not everyone achieves their dreams. Perhaps I will be the same.”

Hwang Seok-tae’s face hardened.

“Vice Chief, you will surely achieve your dream.”

“Haha, I hope so. However, this Mukryong group is still being maintained by my power. The black path people [a term for those who practice unorthodox martial arts] who have gathered as one only see the Fighting King Yang Cheon, not the Mukryong Chief.”

It was the limit of the Mukryong group. A large group with a short history could easily collapse like a sandcastle.

“I hope that my successor will raise the current Mukryong group to a higher position. Of course, I will make some preparations before handing over this position, but things in the world don’t always go as planned.”

“I don’t know about anything else.”

Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes shone.

“Until the day I die, I will do my utmost for the leader of the Mukryong group.”

“I know. I know you are that kind of person. That’s why I’m even more grateful.”

Yang Cheon, who had been calmly looking down, stretched greatly for a moment.

“I came out because I was feeling stuffy, but it’s quite nice. It’s also refreshing. You must have had a hard time listening to me.”

“Ah, no, not at all!”

Yang Cheon burst into laughter at Hwang Seok-tae’s flustered face.

“Make the kids train moderately. Good rest is as necessary as training, isn’t it?”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Good.”

The two turned and walked down the hill.

How long had they walked?

“Vice Chief!”

Baek Seo ran from afar.

Yang Cheon’s eyes lit up.

“What’s the matter?”

Baek Seo, who knelt on one knee on the spot, said in a somewhat excited voice.

“We received word that Vice Commander Yeon Ho-jeong and his group will arrive in half a day.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Yang Cheon grinned.

“Finally, I get to see his face. He should have come sooner.”

* * *

The group’s appearance as they entered Honam was a mess.

The money Peng Mu-gang had given them was long gone. They had trained with Jin Yang on their way to Honam, and Muk Bi and Gang Ryang, who had seen it, had also joined in the training, feeling restless.

A long march and training. They were bound to be hungrier than usual. And their stomachs were big enough to evaporate the money Peng Mu-gang had given them in five days.

Muk Bi said,

“Even so, shouldn’t we wash up before we go?”

“We should. It’s also uncomfortable. But we’ve already contacted them, so let’s wash up and rest a bit before we go.”

“Okay.”

Behind them, Gang Ryang and Jin Yang limped closer.

“Huff! Huff! Damn it, where are we going to rest?”

“We’ll rest at the tavern over there. But are your legs still in that shape?”

“You broke them the day before yesterday!”

“You managed to keep up well with those legs.”

Jin Yang looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with disbelief.

Gang Ryang waved his hand.

“Ignore him, Jin hyung [older brother]. Hyung is always like that.”

“Y-you… !”

Yeon Ho-jeong clapped his hands.

“Now, let’s fill our bellies before we enter the jaws of hell.”