Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 909

Thwack! Paeyul’s short spear pierced through the chest of a demon like a flash of light. It was a fast and light spear thrust, but it lacked the destructive power unique to Gwanil Gong [a martial art focused on powerful strikes]. It was simply a one-hit kill, exploiting a gap with minimal force. Swoosh! Paeyul’s movements weren’t particularly fast. The spear thrust was quick, but it lacked weight, and the short sword he wielded in his left hand was sharp but lacked speed. Yet, he had no problem dealing with his enemies. Swish, swish, swish! The edges of his clothes, fluttering in the wind, were torn by the swords wielded by the demons. The swords wielded by the Homa Clan were curved blades. They were weapons frequently used by the northern mounted tribes, powerful swords wielded with one hand. With a more pronounced curve than the Bokdo [a type of sword] of the Central Plains, they were specialized for slashing while charging. Paeyul felt like he was seeing crescent moons of gray-black flying from all directions. Clang, clang, clang! The movements of the short spear and the short sword were harmonious and elegant. Wielding two weapons with completely different characteristics, each according to its own nature, was an extremely difficult task. Moreover, these were weapons imbued with internal energy, possessing powerful force. They were even harder to control. Furthermore, the short spear in his right hand was wielded swiftly, while the short sword in his left hand was wielded with a bit of leisure. Even though he was wielding different weapons with opposing principles, he was easily blocking the blades of the Homa Clan members. Although they seemed to move separately, they maintained a natural and correct form, almost like a single martial art. Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was watching the scene from afar, exclaimed in admiration. “Amazing.” He too wielded the Twin Dragon Axes, but he had never tried wielding them with different characteristics. It wasn’t something his martial path pursued in the first place. He could try to imitate Paeyul, but it would only be an imitation, and he wouldn’t be able to embody it as perfectly as Paeyul did. This difference wasn’t a matter of skill level. It was a difference in the martial path each of them pursued. Even considering that, the fact that Paeyul was freely using a martial art that even Yeon Ho-Jeong would only be able to imitate meant that Paeyul’s enlightenment was extraordinary. Mok Won whistled. “If that friend were to reach the Supreme Realm, I wouldn’t mind giving him the title of ‘Master of All Weapons’.” “Is that so?” “That friend is unraveling weapons with different characteristics using opposing principles. I doubt even I could do something like that. Since the spear and sword have become one, he could probably wield any weapon harmoniously like that. The title of ‘Master of All Weapons’ wouldn’t be a waste.” Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled. “He’s finally blossoming.” Paeyul’s skill was almost the same as when he was in the Mukryong Unit. However, now that he had perfectly embodied the enlightenment he had established immediately after his seclusion, his combat power had evolved several stages in just a few months. ‘You could now be called a grandmaster, senior.’ On the other hand, how was Bu Seon doing? Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Her movements were clean. Minimal movement, not a single moment of unnecessary force. In the midst of it, she would land a punch on the abdomen of a nearby enemy, and the power of the exploding internal force at the point of impact was more than enough to take a person’s life. It was as if she was showing how a martial artist without weapons should fight against a large number of opponents. It was truly a textbook example of unarmed combat. Bang! She would fight with minimal force, but when the enemy was too clustered, she would thrust her leg into the group. Bu Seon’s Black Lion Energy was the greatest divine art of the Black Path. The shockwave that caused the waves made the demons lose their balance, and Bu Seon quickly jumped in, landing a punch on the face of five of them. Naturally, those who were hit by her fist died instantly. The internal force in her fist had destroyed their brains. Flap! Flap! Her movements were becoming increasingly light. Bu Seon’s movements, which had been ending enemies with short, efficient footwork and explosive strikes, were gradually becoming smoother. The more enemies surrounded her, the smoother her body movements became. Conversely, her fist techniques and palm strikes became heavier. Boom! Thud! It was an incredible martial art. She was fighting solely with her Black Lion Energy. She had taken the form of the Lion Fist, but she hadn’t fully utilized the power of the Lion Fist. Yet, she was strong. Her mastery of close-quarters combat had truly reached its peak. In the midst of all this, she didn’t even use her leg techniques. She was only taking down the demons with her two fists. It was then. Whoosh! Bu Seon was sent flying three yards away. The Homa Clan didn’t only have ordinary members. The skill of a squad leader-level demon was more than twice that of an ordinary member. This squad leader, who had suddenly charged in and landed a blow with all his might, wore a sinister smile. But that smile quickly disappeared. Bu Seon, who had been sent flying backward, landed stably on the ground. There were so many enemies coming from all directions that she had deliberately taken the hit. This squad leader gritted his teeth. “I’ll tear that damned bitch limb from limb…” Thwack! This squad leader’s head snapped backward as if it would break, then returned to its original position. There was a small hole in his forehead. Whether his neck bone was actually broken or not, his head soon tilted to the side. “That’s it.” Tang Gwan said from the carriage. “That was very good. Reload.” Click, click. Muk Bi drew her bowstring. Surprisingly, there was nothing on her bowstring. Tang Gwan said. “Your formless bullet is certainly strong, but it’s too thick. It’s like a blacksmith’s hammer.” “Yes.” “But an arrow is a weapon that pierces through the enemy. If you get used to surrounding it with abundant energy and exerting power like a cannon, you’ll lose the true nature of archery.” Tang Gwan scanned his surroundings as he spoke. He was observing which direction the enemy forces were gathering and where he should shoot. “The formless bullet should become a sharp finger wind, not a fist wind or palm wind. It has to become a needle. If you can make a needle with a formless bullet, then you can freely use any form of energy technique from that point on.” “Yes.” “Concentrate.” Drip. Cold sweat dripped from Muk Bi’s forehead. Hair stuck to her sweat-soaked face. Muk Bi didn’t even notice it. “Gather your energy more sharply. Your upper dantian [an energy center in the body] is already open. If you want to, there’s nothing you can’t do. The important thing is concentration.” “…” “More, gather more. Make it sharper. And…” At that moment, Tang Gwan pointed his dagger at someone. Whoosh! With the sound of the bowstring being released, a formless arrow pierced through the bodies of four demons charging at Paeyul. Tang Gwan nodded. “Good.” Muk Bi was bewildered. It felt like she had shot a steel dart. The formless bullet, which was shot out by creating even the arrow’s fletching with formless internal energy, consumed more internal energy than shooting a normal arrow. That was only natural. But Tang Gwan said that it wasn’t natural. A teaching that said it wasn’t natural, an enlightenment that shattered common sense. When she shot it out with that teaching fully embraced, the formless bullet had the same power as a steel dart. “You are already a somewhat accomplished archer. But what you need to learn is not to be bound by common sense. For a martial artist, common sense is just an illusion they create. You must constantly break common sense to develop your martial power.” “T-thank you.” “One more shot.” Whoosh! Another formless bullet flew and pierced holes in the bodies of five demons. Three in the head, two in the neck. “One last time.” Whoosh! The arrow, shot with even more elasticity, pierced through the torso of one squad leader and three members in a straight line. Tang Gwan nodded. “That’s enough to remember.” “Thank you. I am greatly indebted to you…” “What are you talking about? This is just the beginning.” “Huh?” “Direct shots are useful. Now, we’re moving on to curved shots.” Muk Bi’s eyes blazed with fire. “Maintaining a solid formless arrow while deliberately curving it is much harder than a direct shot. Complete the curved shot in this battle. You need to be able to do that much before I can teach you the next thing.” “I will keep that in mind.” Muk Bi’s fingers repeatedly released the bowstring. The formless bullets, curving as they flew, pierced holes in the demons’ bodies in an instant. The demons who weren’t killed by the first strike lost their lives to Paeyul and Bu Seon’s attacks. And that wasn’t all. As the front lines were being decimated, the demons who had been shooting arrows from the rear drew their curved blades and charged forward. Yeon Ho-Jeong looked back at Yeon Ji-Pyeong and Ok Cheong. Whoosh! The two people who had been blocking Cheon Hyo-Rak’s path quickly charged and threw themselves into the battlefield. Boom! Boom! With explosive sounds, the bodies of five demons were torn to shreds and sent flying into the sky. Paeyul, Bu Seon, Muk Bi, Yeon Ji-Pyeong, and Ok Cheong. There were only five of them. Just five masters were putting up an incredible fight against a force of five hundred. The greatest contributor to this fight was undoubtedly Muk Bi. Her archery, which opened up paths with instantaneous judgment whenever an ally was in danger, was putting immense pressure on the enemy and boosting the morale of the allies. Moreover, if a demon that Muk Bi hadn’t finished off appeared, Tang Gwan would throw a dagger at that moment and take their life. Tang Gwan’s insight, which perfectly grasped the situation on the battlefield while teaching Muk Bi the ejection technique, was truly worthy of the title of the master of Sichuan. Wi So-Gang was in shock. “This can’t be!” Five masters fighting against an entire unit. If he moved to capture the four masters other than Muk Bi, the four of them would evade Wi So-Gang with terrifying movements. They would run into the Homa Clan’s ranks, stir things up with all their might, create an opening, and then escape again. Already, over two hundred demons had been killed or wounded. It was an incredible thing. Five people had killed two hundred. Yet, none of those fighting at the front seemed noticeably tired. “This is absurd!” It was then. Clang! Wi So-Gang, who instinctively raised his sword, was pushed back half a dozen steps. Before him stood Hwa Hyang. Her eyes were burning like fire, and her cruel, blood-stained blade was aimed at Wi So-Gang. Wi So-Gang’s face twisted. “You!” “A weakling like you is the Homa Clan leader? I don’t know who your master is, but he’s pathetic.” It was a terrifying provocation. Demonic energy exploded from Wi So-Gang’s body. “You bitch! I’ll kill you in one blow!” Whoosh! Wi So-Gang, his eyes rolling back, charged at Hwa Hyang. Hwa Hyang, who had been sneering, realized that Wi So-Gang was holding something in his hand. ‘A poison bomb… Yin Demon Poison?!’ Hwa Hyang, startled, swung her sword, but the Yin Demon Poison bomb in Wi So-Gang’s hand had already exploded. Bang! Whoosh! The terrifyingly emitted poison gas. But. “How cute.” The poison gas that had burst out quickly shrank, then flew through the air towards Tang Gwan. Tang Gwan reached out his hand. Sizzle! The Yin Demon Poison that entered his palm screamed and melted away. “It has no taste.” Thud! Wi So-Gang, pushed back by the sword strike, was pushed back several steps again. Hwa Hyang, who had attacked while enduring the poison, felt bewildered. The Yin Demon Poison hadn’t penetrated her. “Hey, you fool.” Tang Gwan’s voice, clear and resonant, spread out. “Don’t worry about the poison. Just cut off his limbs nicely and bring him to me.” Hwa Hyang grinned. She hated Tang Gwan, who despised Cheon Hyo-Rak, but at this moment, she couldn’t be more grateful. Whoosh! Hwa Hyang, closing the distance with elastic footwork, swung her heavy sword coldly. Wi So-Gang’s face turned pale. Swoosh!