Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 855

“Pyo.”

“Yes, yes!”

“From now on, forbid anyone from entering the Mugokgak [a specific training area or building]. Move the warriors outside and ensure thorough control.”

“……Understood.”

A moment later, Namgoong Pyo, having given the order to the warriors, approached the detached room again.

Namgoong Seung, with his hands behind his back, gazed out the window.

The golden aura flowing out the window was like a thick, spreading mist. The energy grew richer, descending to the steps on the floor before gradually fading away.

“Amazing.”

Namgoong Seung exclaimed softly.

“The energies are merging.”

“Merging?”

“Originally, Yeon Ho-Jeong, the young vice-leader, possessed four types of energy. Each one was a supreme martial art, and the fact that he could skillfully control them was proof of his great ability.”

“……”

“But now, those four energies are resonating and merging into one.”

“Does that mean…?”

“I don’t know. What the result will be.”

Namgoong Seung’s eyes sparkled.

“However, it will surely be an enlightenment that is difficult to describe, and he will show a different side than before.”

For those who have reached the peak, enlightenment can be both a blessing and a curse.

A sudden, lightning-like enlightenment can greatly increase one’s level, or conversely, it can send one plummeting to the bottom.

That’s why this moment is important. Namgoong Seung’s control of the Mugokgak was to minimize any variables.

“Watch carefully.”

Namgoong Seung placed his hand on Namgoong Pyo’s shoulder.

“If you too let go of everything and act with a single mind, you will reach the same level as him.”

* * *

The world changed once again.

Was it a year? Or perhaps two?

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, struck in the chest by his master’s hand, coughed up blood and tumbled across the ground.

“Cough!”

The color of the blood was unusual. He had suffered a serious internal injury.

His face was pale, and his eyes were bloodshot. However, there was no wavering in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s posture as he slowly stood up.

“You still haven’t realized it.”

The master was still stern. He didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

“Look.”

The master strode towards a rock and gently extended his palm.

A movement that was neither fast nor slow. It was the Dragon Army Three Forms of the Azure Dragon Art, the routine of the Azure Dragon’s Pearl Release [a specific martial arts technique].

Thud!

The rock shook with a dull sound.

That was all. He hadn’t split the rock with overwhelming internal energy, nor had he sent it flying.

“How is it?”

“……I don’t know.”

The master silently brought down a hand blade.

Crack!

Even though it had only struck the air, the rock split in half.

In that instant, the eyes of the young Yeon Ho-Jeong were filled with shock. The real Yeon Ho-Jeong, seeing the illusion, was also greatly surprised.

The young Yeon Ho-Jeong was shocked by the state of the rock’s interior, and the real Yeon Ho-Jeong was shocked by the master’s slash itself.

“Did you see it?”

“H-How…?”

The center of the rock, where the palm had struck, was hollowed out in a circle. It was about the size of a child’s head, and the rock dust flew in the wind as it split.

“That is the Inner Strength Heavy Hand Technique. It is impossible for you now. But you must have seen what martial art I used to strike this rock.”

“Azure Dragon Art… It was the Azure Dragon’s Pearl Release.”

“The Azure Dragon’s Pearl Release is a counter-attack technique that uses strong elasticity to wrap around and counter an enemy’s attack. It doesn’t have much power on its own.”

“……”

“The formula is like that, but the reality is different. Even though there was no enemy attack, I made the rock like this. If it were a human body, they would have died instantly.”

“How is this possible?”

“Discard common sense.”

“Huh?”

“The White Tiger is in charge of attack, the Azure Dragon is in charge of counter-attack and evasion. The Vermilion Bird is a killing technique for instant death, and the Black Tortoise is absolute defense. Is that correct?”

“Yes, it is.”

“You threw a punch, and I countered it with my White Tiger Art. Then, did I attack or defend?”

“……!”

“I blocked and deflected your swinging leg with the Twelve Walls of the Northern Sky [a defensive martial arts technique]. Unable to regain your balance, you fell off the cliff. Then, did I defend or attack?”

“……”

“Attack and defense, evasion and counter-attack, killing and healing techniques are all one. Each has its own characteristics, but they can be used in dozens, hundreds of different situations.”

“……I see.”

“That’s why the Four Divine Beasts Martial Art is difficult. To have perfectly mastered the Four Divine Beasts Martial Art means that one can instinctively combine techniques even in a state of selflessness.”

“Ah……”

“Reaching just that point is the entry. That’s why the Four Divine Beasts Martial Art is called the strongest combat technique.”

“……!!”

“Furthermore, after going through the process of martial training and reaching the extreme, the routines become extremely simple. The subtlety of the energy will replace it.”

“The extreme.”

“That’s right. When you reach that point, you can say you have reached the extreme. But it is only the extreme of combat techniques, not the end of the Four Divine Beasts Martial Art.”

“Not the end?”

“Don’t be bound by common sense. The moment you break down all common sense, the Four Divine Beasts Martial Art transforms into the Divine King Art.”

“……”

“That’s all I have to say.”

“If the Divine King Art is the Yellow Dragon you mentioned before?”

“That is a realm too far for you. You may not reach it before you die. Forget about it for now.”

Whoooosh!

The world changed once again.

It was the fourth time already. Each time the world changed, Yeon Ho-Jeong could clearly see his past self training with his master.

At the same time, Yeon Ho-Jeong was greatly surprised.

‘Did those things happen?’

Each day was a hellish training session. It was so brutal that he couldn’t forget those days even if he wanted to.

But seeing it like this, he realized he had forgotten so much.

Especially the words his master had spoken were all fresh. It was to the point where he wondered if those things had really happened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong entered another world and heard his master’s words.

“The reason I taught you the Hongcheon Energy [a specific type of internal energy] was because your basics were so weak. Of course, the Hongcheon Energy alone is enough to be called a supreme art, but if you want to aim higher, you will need your own enlightenment. Or you can learn a new martial art that is more suitable for the Four Divine Beasts Martial Art.”

The world changed once again.

It changed again, and again.

Each time, his master’s words shook Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mind and heart.

“Knowing the world is as important as learning martial arts. If you only learn martial arts, you won’t know the world, but if you learn the world, your martial arts can also grow. Don’t try to run wild relying only on martial arts, but try to see more.”

“Emotions are an illusion because they are invisible. But those illusions make humans human. Then, how does this clearly visible body define humans?”

“Don’t turn away because you can’t see, and don’t ignore because you can’t hear. If you try to see, you will see, and if you try to hear, you will hear. In the end, all five senses are within your own mind.”

“When interpreting any phenomenon, you should always try to see the root. But it’s not like you can see everything just by trying. To know the root, you must first scan from the outside. Therefore, you must see everything. Insight comes from there.”

“Individuality exists as many as the number of people born into the world. Everyone you pass by is different and special. To achieve your own perfection in such a world, you must know the one characteristic that penetrates countless individualities.”

“What is martial arts to you? A means? Or a goal? If it’s a means, you will live happily, and if it’s a goal, you will live painfully. But……”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been calmly recalling his master’s words, suddenly felt a pain as if lightning had struck the top of his head.

“If you make martial arts your goal, you will suffer, but you will achieve mastery.”

Whoosh!

The world went dark for a moment.

Yeon Ho-Jeong blinked. He had returned to the darkness of the beginning.

But for some reason, he wasn’t flustered. He just felt comfortable.

“Do you understand?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned around.

There, with his hands behind his back, was his master.

His face was blurry for some reason, but that didn’t matter. The fact that he was his master was what mattered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke calmly.

“It has been a while.”

“It was I who left you. There is no need to say that.”

“Is that so.”

The two were silent for a moment.

It was the master who broke the silence that seemed eternal.

“You’ve aged a lot too.”

“I’m still young.”

“That can’t be.”

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong touched his chin.

He looked at his hands, opened his shirt, and looked down at his chest.

It was the body of the Dark Emperor. Not the Yeon Ho-Jeong who was called the Overlord after his regression, but the body that had lived for several years longer as the Dark Emperor was here.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking down at his body, smiled and said.

“Yes. I’ve aged quite a bit.”

“Even though you’ve lived that long, your soul is still young. The vibrant life force that pulsates is clearly visible.”

“……”

“You’ve grown well.”

“……!”

“Now I feel the worth of what I taught.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong felt a lump in his throat.

His master had never praised him during the few years they had been together. He was a man who was endlessly stingy with praise, a stern man who was far from kind.

It was the first time he had heard his master’s praise.

Not for his martial arts achievements, but for the fact that his soul had not aged, his benefactor was finally smiling.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, calming his rising emotions, asked with an effort to remain calm.

“What exactly is your identity, Master?”

“That’s not important. Just like this space isn’t important, it’s meaningless to argue whether the me in front of you is real or not.”

“……That’s true.”

“Isn’t it enough that we were able to see each other again, even like this?”

“It’s not enough.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said clearly.

“I want to see you again in a clear world.”

“If fate allows it, it will happen.”

“If the heavens are lax in cause and effect, then the hand of man can wield the hammer.”

“……”

“If the heavens do not allow the threads of fate to touch, then I will force them to touch.”

“When you were young, you were quiet, but now that I see it, your eloquence is quite impressive.”

“I hear that often.”

The master waved his hand in the air.

“As you know, I am just a thought.”

“……”

“I wanted to see you at least once like this when you truly reached this realm. I never thought I would see you in my lifetime.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

“Is that possible?”

“You have already been to a mountain full of divine energy left by someone who has shed their human form and become an immortal.”

He must be referring to Mount Wudang [a famous mountain in China known for its Taoist temples and martial arts].

“How do you know that, Master?”

“I am a thought, but I am within you.”

He was just reacting to his words.

But each of his master’s words sounded strangely lyrical. It resonated in his heart and made his mind complex.

“Your resentment was as deep as an abyss, and your hatred was as vast as the sea. You were such a child.”

“……”

“You managed to throw everything away and come this far.”

“I didn’t throw it away. I just put down martial arts for a while.”

“To a martial artist, martial arts are like life itself. Since you have put down the martial arts you have mastered, your resentment and hatred will soon be put down as well.”

“……Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, nodding and looking at his master, suddenly widened his eyes.

His master was smiling. His face was still not clearly visible, but he could clearly tell that he was smiling.

“Now go.”

“Master.”

“Don’t misunderstand the Yellow Dragon. The Yellow Dragon is enlightenment. Even if you reach it, you won’t immediately become twice or three times stronger.”

The master turned his body.

“Just like when you hit the rock with your immature fist in the old days, you will have to go through the process of being covered in blood countless times before you can even enter the door. The best in the Central Plains [a term referring to the heartland of China] is still far away.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, looking at his master’s back with wavering eyes, smiled and said with an effort.

“But now I’m quite presentable, aren’t I?”

The master stopped walking.

Slowly turning his body to look at Yeon Ho-Jeong, the master chuckled.

“You were always presentable.”

“……”

“Do not dwell on lost connections, and continue to strive forward.”

With those words, the master disappeared.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been quietly looking at the darkness, slowly bowed.

And then.

Whoosh!

The darkness lifted.