Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 81

Kwaaack!

Myeong Cheon staggered back, his body reeling.

Whirr!

The energy that had been burning from his hand spread rapidly, engulfing his wrist, elbow, and shoulder, before consuming his entire body.

Thud!

The ground trembled as he shifted his feet to regain his balance.

He hadn’t used any special stance or footwork, yet the earth shook as if an earthquake had struck.

Haaaah.

Yeon Ho-Jeong involuntarily looked up at the sky, a white mist escaping his slightly parted lips.

Wooong! Woooong! Wooooong!

Transparent red light swirled beneath his clear skin, enveloping his entire body.

Chiiiik!

The Black Tortoise energy, startled, retreated into his core.

Wooong! Woong!

The red light that had engulfed his body met the White Tiger energy.

Whirr!

Despite being completely different energies, there was an inexplicable sense of kinship. The White Tiger energy momentarily amplified its power, embracing the red light and settling it into his heart.

Tap! Tap-tap! Whirr!

The center of his blood-stained robe blazed in a circular pattern.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart pounded much more forcefully than usual.

The force squeezing his blood vessels was terrifyingly strong. It felt as if the blood, once squeezed out, circulated through his entire body dozens of times in an instant.

It’s hot.

His heart rate accelerated, and his body temperature rose. Even though it was a temperature that a human body couldn’t withstand, the red light continued to elevate Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body temperature.

Chiiiik!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body blurred in an instant. His extremely heated body was emitting steam as it met the cold air.

Myeong Cheon, and the Four Swords.

And even the Crimson Dragon troops lined up behind the carriage.

They were all watching Yeon Ho-Jeong. But none of them could move.

‘…!’

They should be swinging their swords right now. They should be killing him right now.

That’s what their emotions were screaming.

However, behind that murderous intent, another emotion, like a tidal wave, forced their actions.

It was fear.

Chiiiiiiiiik!

Red flashes of light flickered wildly within the hazy steam.

Saaah!

In an instant, the hazy steam cleared, revealing a young man surrounded by red energy, crouching low.

Thump!

The sound of his heart beating was like thunder to everyone’s ears.

Thump! Thump!

Yeon Ho-Jeong slowly raised his upper body.

Whirrrrr!

A white wind rose from beneath his feet, shooting the heat that had spread throughout his body high into the sky.

It was a red and white, or crimson and white, whirlwind. The wind of the Western Sky, carrying the heat of the sun god, cried out in joy.

“So, you came before the Eastern Sky.”

The Vermilion Bird.

The Vermilion Bird, one of the Four Divine Beasts [mythical creatures in East Asian lore], is the incarnation of fire from the Byeongo year and symbolizes summer. It governs the heart among the five viscera and six entrails, and it vigorously enhances vitality.

The White Tiger maximizes lung capacity, granting immense physical strength, powerful muscles, and formidable recovery.

The Black Tortoise extracts impurities, thoroughly protecting the body while preparing for the best possible outcome in the worst situations.

However, the energies of the White Tiger and Black Tortoise alone were not enough to maximize offensive and defensive capabilities and stabilize the body.

The best defense is to kill before being killed, ensuring survival. That is the martial art of the battlefield and the true meaning of the art of killing.

The White Tiger energy, having absorbed the energy of heaven and earth, synchronizes with the Vermilion Bird energy, creating explosive power. It achieves extreme enhancement of cardiopulmonary function and embodies the art of heavenly slaughter, burning enemies like rays of light with infinite power.

That is the Vermilion Bird.

Kill before being killed, and kill the killed again. Among the martial arts of the Four Divine Beasts, it is the fastest and most ruthless.

Yeon Ho-Jeong opened his eyes.

Hook!

Myeong Cheon felt an inexplicable thirst in that instant.

It was hot. He was parched. It felt as if all the moisture in his body had evaporated.

He felt that way the moment that brat opened his eyes and glared at him.

“I’ve been waiting.”

Koo-oong!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, wielding his axe, took a powerful step forward.

It was the White Tiger’s Descent.

“I’ll finish this quickly.”

Myeong Cheon’s face contorted once more.

He overwhelmed the surroundings with an even more mysterious aura, but Myeong Cheon’s murderous intent was still alive.

“What kind of trickery is this!”

Paah!

Myeong Cheon’s body vanished.

It was an incredible movement technique. Such a speed was rare even if one searched the entire martial world.

But Yeon Ho-Jeong could see it.

Myeong Cheon’s movements, the direction he was heading even before he moved, were visible as red lines.

And even what martial art he would use and where he would aim.

Kaaaaaang!

Myeong Cheon’s eyes widened.

He had blocked a strike aimed at his rear with the same strike.

It was an incredible reaction speed. But even more impressive was the destructive power emanating from the axe.

“Ugh!”

Thud!

Myeong Cheon’s body went flying and crashed into the ground.

“Eek!”

He somehow managed to regain his stance and prepared the Phoenix Soaring Sky Sword again.

‘…?!’

Myeong Cheon’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had disappeared.

‘Where?’

Kwaaang!

“Cough!”

Myeong Cheon was sent flying sideways, spitting out blood.

Kwaaack!

Myeong Cheon’s eyes became bloodshot.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had appeared from where he had been sent flying, punched him in the abdomen. It was a blow that landed squarely, his fist sinking in up to his wrist.

“Uweeck!”

Myeong Cheon vomited blood.

The fire that surged from his abdomen dismantled the Phoenix energy, battering his entire viscera.

It was a terrifying penetration. The Phoenix energy couldn’t block it.

‘H-how is this guy…?’

And what was this speed? When did he even get here?

Myeong Cheon gritted his teeth and unleashed the Phoenix Hand.

Kwaang!

The wasted energy shattered the ground.

Yeon Ho-Jeong had already disappeared from that spot. He had moved beyond the range of the Phoenix Hand, three measures and one span away [a traditional unit of measurement].

It was a jaw-dropping speed. Within the combat zone, he seemed even faster than the Phoenix Flight.

“This is the Blood Wing Sky Sweep.”

It wasn’t a movement technique, but a footwork.

It was a footwork specialized for annihilating enemies, using explosive power to move at extreme speed. It was simple, but that’s what made it so fast. Among the footwork of the Four Divine Beasts, it was the most taxing on internal energy.

And then, the attack.

Paah-ah-ah!

The sound of the air tearing was much sharper than expected.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, having broken through the wall of air, was already at Myeong Cheon’s side.

Myeong Cheon instinctively swung his sword.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The two weapons collided, creating real sparks.

‘Kuh!’

Myeong Cheon staggered back.

He was overwhelmed by force. And the source of that force was speed, and what enabled that speed was the Vermilion Bird energy that had heated his heart.

Paah-ah-ah!

Myeong Cheon saw Yeon Ho-Jeong rapidly enlarging in his vision.

“You bastard!”

The greatsword drew a cross. It was the Phoenix Soaring Sky Sword’s Phoenix Cross Blade.

Flash! Rumble!

The cross-shaped sword energy completely destroyed the carriage he had arrived on.

It was a powerful sword technique. Even with the intruding Vermilion Bird energy disrupting his internal energy flow, he could still use such a martial art. Truly, it was a martial art befitting the head of the most powerful family.

‘He’s strong, as expected.’

Even when consumed by madness, even when losing in the psychological battle, even when his internal energy flow was restricted.

Still, Myeong Cheon was strong. Even after reducing his opponent’s abilities by more than half, it was difficult to be certain of victory in a head-on fight.

This was the head of one of the Seven Great Families. The master of the most powerful family.

However.

“Your martial arts, too, will be reaped by me, a master.”

Kwaaack!

It was a continuous Flying Swallow Palm that struck upwards from the middle. Myeong Cheon spat out blood and floated into the air.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, glaring at him with fierce eyes, poured Vermilion Bird energy into his axe.

The Black Tortoise is for defense, and the White Tiger is for offense. Then what is the Vermilion Bird?

It is an instant kill technique.

The ruler of the Southern Sky, the disaster of the fire god, imbued with flames, exploded on Myeong Cheon’s body.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Kuaaaack!”

Large amounts of blood splattered everywhere.

Whoosh. Thud!

Myeong Cheon rolled on the ground.

His entire body was covered in blood. His body, riddled with the slashes of the six-foot great axe, was a gruesome sight. He wasn’t dead, but he was unable to move.

Yeon Ho-Jeong stood tall, while Myeong Cheon rolled miserably on the ground.

That was how the battle ended.

“Hoo!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face turned pale.

‘I overdid it.’

He had been cut twice by Myeong Cheon’s sword. They were deep cuts that had torn through his blood vessels and reached his bones.

He had awakened the Vermilion Bird energy while suffering from severe internal injuries and had subdued his enemy with explosive movements. He felt dizzy.

Pshhh.

That was it.

The mysterious energy that had been emanating from Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body quickly subsided. The three divine energies were dissipating.

The Four Swords and the Crimson Dragon troops, who had been blankly watching the duel, finally came to their senses.

“T-this can’t be!”

Myeong Jeok-Ryang shouted.

“What are you doing! Kill him now!”

“Kill him!”

The Four Swords charged towards Yeon Ho-Jeong. The Crimson Dragon troops, who had been lined up in the rear, also drew their swords.

It was a moment of dire peril.

“Stop!”

Thud!

A streak of lightning-like sword energy blocked the path of the Four Swords.

Yeon Ho-Jeong raised his head.

“Young Master! Are you alright?!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“You finally broke the seal.”

Whirr!

A solemn aura emanated from Shinmo’s body.

It was a completely different energy from the power he originally possessed. It was the manifestation of the Dragon Robe Divine Art, one of the five great divine arts of the Yeon family.

Shinmo shouted.

“Chang-eung Unit, protect the Young Master!”

“Understood!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

They had been mesmerized by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s incredible and overwhelming performance. Now, they drew their swords with the determination to die to protect Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

‘This isn’t good.’

It would be difficult to stop the Four Swords, let alone the Crimson Dragon troops. Even if the warriors waiting in the rear joined, a chaotic battle would break out.

At that moment, as if they had been waiting for it, a thunderous voice erupted.

“Warriors of the Myeong family, public enemies of the martial world, kneel down where you are!”

“Waaaaah!”

Hundreds of warriors charged from the rear of the Crimson Dragon troops with all their might.

It was an astonishing number. Each one displayed a controlled movement technique, and they seemed very experienced.

And at their forefront were Ga Deuk-Sang and Lee Cheol-Kyung.

Ga Deuk-Sang shouted again.

“Warriors of the Myeong family, all of you kneel down where you are! You have been declared public enemies of the martial world!”

Alarm spread across Myeong Jeok-Ryang’s face.

“W-what did you say?!”

“The temporary Martial Alliance has declared the Guju Myeong family public enemies of the martial world! If you resist, none of you will escape death!”

“What nonsense is this!!”

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes flashed.

He pulled out a letter from his chest.

“This is a formal order with the seals of the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and the Seven Great Families!”

“……!”

“Put down your weapons now! If even one of you resists, a kill order will be issued for all members of the Myeong family from this moment on!”

Myeong Jeok-Ryang’s face turned pale.

He was one of the Eight Knots, a beggar from the Beggar Clan [a martial arts sect]. From such a man’s mouth, the words ‘public enemy of the martial world’ and even ‘kill order’ were mentioned.

The bewildered Four Swords and Crimson Dragon troops looked at Myeong Jeok-Ryang.

‘T-this is!’

They had no idea how the situation had turned out this way.

Ga Deuk-Sang raised the corners of his mouth.

“You’re not putting them down?”

“……!”

“Fine, because of you, the Myeong family is about to have their heads chopped off.”

Ga Deuk-Sang spoke to Lee Cheol-Kyung.

“Sect Leader Lee! Send a letter to the Abbot immediately! Tell him to issue a kill order for the entire Myeong family!”

“Understood.”

Myeong Jeok-Ryang was startled.

“W-wait a moment! I’ll put them down! I’ll put them down, so wait!”

“You bastard! You should have done that sooner!”

Ga Deuk-Sang turned to Yeon Ho-Jeong with a gleeful expression.

He subtly gave a thumbs up.

“Am I cool?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I did all the hard work, what are you talking about.”

“You’re talking nonsense, you crazy man. You were the one who wanted to fight, right?”

“I have no words.”

“Hehehe.”

Ga Deuk-Sang, who had been laughing for a while, tilted his head.

“Huh? What are you doing?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong picked up his axe and stood up. Even taking one step seemed difficult.

“Why don’t you rest? You look like you’re about to die?”

“I have something left to do.”

“Something to do? What?”

“Revenge.”

“……Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong walked towards the fallen Myeong Cheon.

His eyes were filled with a ferocious murderous intent.

“That guy said he would cut me into pieces. Thinking about it, that seems like a decent revenge.”

“……?!”

“I’m telling you in advance, don’t try to stop me. I deliberately didn’t kill him.”