Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 859

“Hah… Hah! Master, Master!”\n\n”You’re finally here?”\n\n”Cough! Yes!”\n\nThe man, panting heavily, collapsed onto the ground.\n\nHe was a master of immense inner energy, one who had surpassed the wall of martial arts [a significant breakthrough in martial arts cultivation]. Yet, he was so out of breath from merely running, it was clear he had been sprinting without rest.\n\nThe old man grumbled.\n\n”Damn it, because of you, we’re going slower than we could be. If I had gone alone, I’d be climbing Mount Daebyeol by now.”\n\n”Cough! That’s why I told you to go on ahead!”\n\n”You brat! How could I leave my disciple behind, no matter what?”\n\n’How about beating your disciple like a dog?’\n\nThe man wanted to retort, but he gave up. He didn’t have the strength to speak, and if he actually said those words, it would be a death sentence.\n\n’If I wasn’t going to die painfully, I’d just shout it out, damn it.’\n\nThe man, grumbling inwardly, groaned and straightened himself to regulate his breathing.\n\nHis breathing had been disrupted for so long, and his inner energy had been squeezed dry, leaving not a single ounce of power.\n\nYet, his breathing returned remarkably quickly. Having broken through the wall of martial arts and surpassed the limits of humanity, his body was fundamentally different from that of ordinary people, with a capacity for qi [life force or vital energy] and air that was several times greater.\n\nWhoosh, whoosh, whoosh.\n\nWatching the man rapidly replenish his inner energy and recover his stamina, the old man thought,\n\n’He’s really learned almost everything now.’\n\nIt was only because his level was low, but it seemed the results of all the beatings he had given him were finally showing.\n\nHis satisfaction was short-lived.\n\n’What was it?’\n\nThe old man’s eyes turned west, towards where the Martial Alliance was located.\n\nHe couldn’t see it, but if he went a little further, Mount Daebyeol would appear.\n\n’I definitely felt something indescribable.’\n\nAfter breaking through the Limitless [a state of enlightenment or mastery in martial arts], he had honed his blade for a very long time.\n\nWhile honing his blade, he also realized that martial arts was not just about wielding a sword. \n\nOnce he realized that, the divine opened up, and once the divine opened up, he understood all the empty words that those who had reached the level of immortals had been shouting about.\n\nHis greatly expanded upper dantian [an energy center in the body, often associated with spiritual power] granted him unimaginable power, befitting one of the kings of the martial world, and at the same time, it forced him to become aware of unwanted worldly affairs.\n\nIt was truly troublesome that something he didn’t want to know was naturally revealed to him.\n\nHe had studied the upper dantian for a long time, wanting to ignore it, wanting to live just enjoying his own greatness. \n\nThanks to that, he had a great realization and his martial arts improved. But conversely, his upper dantian became unstable. In trying to control his divine energy, the vessel of his divine energy had cracked.\n\nFor anyone else, that alone would have been a death sentence. Even if they didn’t die, a large amount of divine energy would have leaked out, turning them into a madman or causing them to lose their memories, eventually forgetting even themselves.\n\nHowever, the old man’s solid enlightenment allowed him to somehow mend the crack in the vessel. However, even though it was less frequent than before, he would still occasionally become aware of worldly affairs that he didn’t want to see or hear.\n\nJust like half a day ago.\n\n’It was an immense energy.’\n\nThe old man’s eyes were still fixed on the west.\n\n’I don’t know the exact location, but it’s not too far. It’s probably the Martial Alliance.’\n\nHalf a day ago, he could smell a refreshing breeze coming from that direction.\n\nA divine energy that was different from the cold late-winter wind, a comfortable and dignified divine energy that only those with an upper dantian at its peak could feel.\n\n’Earth energy. It was reminiscent of this vast land, but it wasn’t just the energy of the earth.’\n\nUnfortunately, the distance was too far. If he were just a little closer, he would have been able to feel the scent of that breeze more clearly.\n\nFeeling inexplicably frustrated, the old man glared at his disciple.\n\nThe man, having regained his stamina, flinched.\n\n”Why, why?!”\n\n”…You damn fool.”\n\n”Ah, why again!”\n\n”Shut up, you weakling.”\n\nThe old man, Jongli Baek, drew the large sword from his back.\n\nThe man swallowed nervously.\n\n’Even after seeing it again, it’s really…’\n\nHis master’s sword was a massive greatsword, easily over five feet long.\n\nThe blade alone was four feet long, and the handle was over a foot. Its thickness was considerable, but the width of the blade was nearly the width of an adult woman’s shoulders.\n\nHow many people in the world could wield such a sword? Moreover, some mad blacksmith had even made a luxurious scabbard to match the wide blade.\n\n’How is the weight distributed on that thing?’\n\nHe had heard that the powerful warriors of the Peng family in Hebei [a region in China] often used swords as large as a person’s body.\n\nBut even they wouldn’t possess a divine weapon as massive and perfect as his master’s Mountain Cleaving Blade.\n\nJongli Baek threw the Mountain Cleaving Blade to the man, Oh Gu-mun.\n\n”Ugh!”\n\nHis knees buckled as he caught the Mountain Cleaving Blade. His breathing had returned, and he had recovered some of his inner energy and stamina, but it was a heavy weapon that had come too suddenly.\n\n”Don’t make a fuss, just swing it around.”\n\n”Yes, yes?”\n\n”You won’t have to use it right now anyway, so just hold it and swing it around.”\n\n”… !”\n\n”You’re always swinging around a light wooden sword, that’s why your stamina is so terrible.”\n\nOh Gu-mun’s eyes wavered.\n\n”Master…?”\n\n”You need to get used to it beforehand. That thing is much more violent than you think. If you’re not careful, it’ll devour its owner, so try to control it well.”\n\nDespite everything, he was a master who cared for his one and only successor.\n\nHe had called him a weakling, but he had judged that it was time for him to wield the Mountain Cleaving Blade without any problems. That’s why he had given him the sword.\n\nThere was delicacy within his rough exterior. That was his insight and nature, and that was his ability.\n\nJongli Baek’s eyes sparkled.\n\n”It seems to be staying put, I really want to meet them. Who could it be?”\n\n* * *\n\nGreat Master Gong Gong was startled by Yeon Ho-jeong’s sudden words.\n\n”Hey, Vice Leader.”\n\n”I apologize for interrupting, but let me ask you first.”\n\nYeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.\n\n”Why are you trying to avoid it?”\n\n”…”\n\n”I know that the position of Martial Alliance Leader is a burden for anyone. It’s a position that requires more responsibility than necessary, and there aren’t many people who can bear that weight.”\n\n”…”\n\n”Is it because of the weight of the Alliance Leader’s position, the burden that the position brings?”\n\nGreat Master Gong Gong sighed.\n\n”It’s not that.”\n\n”If it’s not that, are you afraid that people will point fingers at you and call you greedy?”\n\nGreat Master Gong Gong flinched for a moment.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong’s words were no different than before. He was as honest as ever, and as sharp as ever.\n\nBut it was strange.\n\nWas it because of the kindness-like emotion in his voice? He didn’t feel bad, nor was he surprised.\n\nIt was as if he had been gently made aware of an emotion that even he had been ignoring.\n\nThat’s why Great Master Gong Gong was surprised.\n\n”Pointing fingers… greed…”\n\nGreat Master Gong Gong nodded.\n\n”Yes, that’s right. I’m afraid of being pointed at by people. I’m afraid of being called a greedy monk for wanting the position of Martial Alliance Leader when I’m already the abbot of Shaolin [a renowned Buddhist monastery].”\n\nIt was a very honest statement.\n\nYeon Ho-jeong, as well as Jeagal Mun-ho and Ascetic Master Seung-hyeon, all smiled.\n\n”You’re very honest.”\n\nGreat Master Gong Gong burst into a hearty laugh.\n\n”How can I not speak truthfully when you ask me like that?”\n\nOf course, he wouldn’t have lied. He would have just laughed it off as if he were embarrassed.\n\n”Then that’s strange.”\n\n”What do you mean?”\n\nWhy was that?\n\nGreat Master Gong Gong knew that the intelligent Yeon Ho-jeong would corner him. He knew that the more they talked, the more he would be pushed to the edge.\n\nBut strangely, he was looking forward to it.\n\nEven with the sensing ability of Shaolin’s ultimate martial art, the Limitless Great Power, he couldn’t properly grasp how Yeon Ho-jeong had changed. But he had clearly changed, and his changed voice and temperament made Great Master Gong Gong have expectations.\n\n”Is the position of Shaolin abbot a symbol of authority for the Shaolin monks, a position where one can wield immense power, a position of an absolute ruler?”\n\n”How could it be?”\n\n”Yes, it couldn’t be. I think it’s a burdensome position.”\n\n”Haha, it is burdensome. Even now, I sometimes think that the reason why a lacking person like me is in this position is not because of my ability.”\n\n”The person in that position is someone who takes responsibility. If, by any chance, the Shaolin monks do something wrong, they are the ones who step forward and take the blame.”\n\n”That’s right.”\n\n”And they are the ones who devote themselves to guiding Shaolin, the Buddhists, and even the people of the world in a better direction. That’s what an abbot should be.”\n\nYeon Ho-jeong looked at Ascetic Master Seung-hyeon.\n\n”The same goes for the position of the Head of Wudang [another prominent martial arts sect]. Isn’t that right?”\n\n”That’s right. It’s a position where one must constantly strive for the sake of the world.”\n\n”Taking care of our own home, our own lives, while striving for the sake of the world… this is not just the responsibility of you two elders. All the leaders of so-called prestigious groups cannot be free from such responsibility.”\n\nYeon Ho-jeong pointed his finger at the sky.\n\n”And the same goes for the Martial Alliance Leader.”\n\n”… !”\n\n”It will be a little more difficult. But the fundamental role is no different.”\n\nGreat Master Gong Gong sighed.\n\n”Vice Leader, I’m not the right person for the position of Alliance Leader, unlike the Ascetic Master here.”\n\n”Are you afraid of dying?”\n\n”…?!”\n\n”Are you afraid of dying as the Alliance Leader?”\n\nThe conversation had been going on in a comfortable atmosphere, but this statement could not be overlooked. The content of the words was such.\n\n”Dying?”\n\nJeagal Mun-ho tilted his head.\n\n”What do you mean by that?”\n\n”The person who best understands the essence of the Martial Alliance in this place is the Military Advisor. The Military Advisor wants a new talent to lead the next generation of the martial world, even if they are somewhat lacking, to take the position of Alliance Leader.”\n\n”That’s right.”\n\n”But that is realistically impossible. It would be possible if we pushed it through, but there would probably be more dissatisfaction than necessary. Many enemies would be created.”\n\n”So?”\n\n”However, if the Military Advisor truly wants such a talent to become the Alliance Leader, there is only one answer.”\n\nYeon Ho-jeong looked at Great Master Gong Gong and Ascetic Master Seung-hyeon.\n\n”Have a great person that no one can refute take on the role of the first Alliance Leader, and then have the wonderful talent that the Military Advisor has in mind become the successor.”\n\n”…!!”\n\n”And the first Alliance Leader must become the nourishment and a strong wall for the second Alliance Leader.”\n\nThey must embrace the reality of a potential war and instill stability in people’s hearts.\n\nFurthermore, they must make everyone aware that their successor, the next Alliance Leader, is a talented individual.\n\n”And they must wither away. They must die.”\n\n”…”\n\n”For the next era, for the new Alliance Leader and the world.”\n\nYeon Ho-jeong smiled.\n\n”That is the role of the Martial Alliance Leader. Just like the abbot who sacrifices himself for Shaolin, the position of Alliance Leader is a position for one who sacrifices himself for the martial world.”\n\nGreat Master Gong Gong’s eyes wavered.\n\n”I’ll ask again.”\n\nYeon Ho-jeong’s smiling face was now filled with sternness.\n\n”Are you afraid of sacrifice? Are you more afraid of the yet-to-come future, where you might be pointed at as a greedy person?”\n\n”…”\n\n”If you say yes, I will no longer trouble you, Great Master.”