Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 913

“Hmm.”

Paeyul stroked his chin.

“Impressive, this one.”

Busun looked at Paeyul with a puzzled expression.

However, without asking any particular question, Paeyul spoke while looking at Okcheong, who was sitting in a lotus position.

“The divine arts of the Taoist school all have different origins. Since their perspectives on the Tao [the Way, the fundamental principle of the universe] are different, the goals they pursue are bound to be different as well. They all possess the power to resist the demonic, but the reason their energies are so diverse lies there.”

“…….”

“However, the divine art this one has mastered is clearly a Taoist divine art, yet it has a strangely murky aspect. If it’s not that he has improperly learned the martial art, then it means that this kind of energy was pursued from the time of its creation…….”

Paeyul scratched his head.

“I don’t quite understand. It shows the characteristics of a typical shamanic martial art, yet it doesn’t fit at all. How did Sword Immortal-nim [a title for a highly skilled swordsman] pass on such a martial art?”

Paeyul spoke alone, without anyone asking. Yet, he showed no signs of embarrassment or awkwardness.

Perhaps such a habit developed from his long seclusion. Busun thought so.

However, Paeyul’s soliloquy did not end as a soliloquy.

“You were also amazing, weren’t you?”

“Are you talking about me?”

“Yes, you.”

A strange look flickered in Paeyul’s eyes as he looked at Busun. It was a look whose meaning was not easy to grasp, but at its base was a competitive spirit.

“I’ve never seen anyone use body techniques so dynamically. Even Yeon Ho-Jeong isn’t that good. Is that the true martial art of the Fighting King?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I’ve only reinterpreted my master’s martial art in my own way. To fit my body.”

Paeyul nodded.

“Making it your own martial art. That’s truly important. To accept such enlightenment at that age, you are indeed worthy of being called the Fighting King’s disciple.”

“Were you called Paeyul?”

“That’s right.”

“Why are you speaking so informally?”

Paeyul stared blankly at Busun.

While the two were having a strange conversation, conversations were also taking place in other places.

Tang Gwan was explaining the ejection technique to Muk Bi, and Muk Bi listened to his teachings with a serious face.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, Mak Won, and Cheon Hyo-Rak were also having various conversations about the fallen Wi So-Gang. Hwa Hyang stood behind Cheon Hyo-Rak, and her gaze, looking towards the main camp of the Shinma Forest, was somehow wistful.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, who was stroking his horse’s mane alone, suddenly looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘Brother.’

Not a single drop of blood was on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s clothes. Of course, the same was true for Mak Won.

Even after sweeping away a demonic army of over two hundred and fifty people with unbelievable power, Yeon Ho-Jeong seemed unaffected.

That seemed strange to Yeon Ji-Pyeong.

‘My brother isn’t without guilt. He knows that it’s wrong for a person to kill another person. That’s for sure.’

To know something, one had to go over the clear facts.

‘And yet, my brother isn’t shocked. It doesn’t seem like it’s just because he has a lot of experience.’

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, who had been watching Yeon Ho-Jeong for a long time, sighed.

‘I’m still far behind. I don’t know, still.’

It was then.

“A young one sighing already.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was startled and raised his head.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was in front of him, having finished his conversation at some point.

“Brother.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

As if waiting for it, blood began to seep out from the shoulder area of his clothes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue and took out a white cloth from his pocket.

“Show me your shoulder.”

“It’s okay…….”

“A minor wound can affect an actual battle. Unless you’ve reached the Supreme [a high level of martial arts mastery], listen to me now.”

“……Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong began to tie the cloth around Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s shoulder.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong, who was sitting awkwardly, said quietly.

“Brother.”

“What is it?”

“How long are we going to rest?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Why? Are you already itching to move?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that…….”

“Is it because we seem too relaxed with the enemy camp in front of us?”

“That’s right.”

They were at the border of the formation. If they went in a little further, the Mushi Mubul Great Formation [a powerful illusionary formation] would start to create illusions.

Of course, they couldn’t just go in recklessly. It might be different if it were just Yeon Ho-Jeong and Mak Won, but for the whole group to go in together, some measures were needed.

Of course, even so, it couldn’t be helped that they felt relaxed.

“First, dismantling that formation is the priority. And before dismantling it, we need to find out why that formation was deployed in the first place.”

“We caught the enemy commander, shouldn’t we ask him?”

“Commander? He’s just a lackey. His internal injuries are so severe that he can’t even come to his senses. Even if he were conscious, he wouldn’t know how to break through that formation unless he was an expert.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Cheon Gong-ja [a respectful title for a young master] clearly said that the formation wasn’t deployed when he left the Shinma Forest. But he also said that a huge amount of materials were needed to deploy that formation.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s hard to say that they were aiming for when Cheon Gong-ja left. If they had enough materials and troops to do that, they wouldn’t think much of Cheon Gong-ja. In other words, they had been preparing for a long time, and it’s only by sheer luck that Cheon Gong-ja got out of there before that.”

“I, is that so?”

“They’ve joined hands with the Blood Fiends, so there will be Supreme Ones from the Blood Fiends. The important thing is their number. They’re trying to fight the entire Central Plains, so they couldn’t have dispatched too many. You can see that just by the fact that they’ve brought in the Small Thunder Sound Temple.”

“…….”

“However, considering the history of the Shinma, they wouldn’t have sent just anyone. The Blood Fiends consider the Shinma as a kind of offshoot. So, they would have sent a certain number of troops and a person in charge. Still, there wouldn’t be more than two Supreme Ones from the Blood Fiends.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong stared blankly at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face, as he stroked his chin and analyzed the current situation, was indifferent.

However, the things he was saying were by no means light. Yeon Ji-Pyeong also had some knowledge of strategy and tactics, but he didn’t have such a sharp and outstanding eye.

‘I knew my brother was amazing, but…….’

Might is just might.

What can bring the power of that might to its limit on the battlefield is strategy and tactics. Power must be used when it needs to be used to exert its full force. Power that just goes out without a plan cannot have much impact on the overall situation.

“Anyway, for that reason, we’ve decided to take a break for a while. There’s a high probability that this fight will be a long one. Or it could proceed unexpectedly quickly. Now is the time to rest and observe the opponent’s reaction for a while.”

“……Brother.”

“Yes?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong said with an admiring face.

“You’re really amazing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“What is?”

He really seemed not to know what was so amazing.

It wasn’t that he was pretending not to know out of embarrassment, he was sincere. In other words, for Yeon Ho-Jeong, this level of analytical ability was something he had to display as a matter of course.

Yeon Ji-Pyeong did not hide his emotions.

“You’re really amazing, brother. I don’t think I’ll ever reach your level even if I try and study my whole life.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face softened.

“Ji-Pyeong.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Do you know why I brought you to this fight?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was about to nod, but then sighed.

“I thought I knew…… but now I’m not so sure.”

“You are the young master of the main family.”

“……Brother.”

“Leading a family is ten times harder than training in martial arts for a long time to achieve rapid progress. I’ve burdened you with such a difficult task.”

“B, brother! Please don’t say that.”

“Leading a family isn’t just about raising the martial prowess of your subordinates. Sometimes you have to haggle over goods like a merchant, sometimes you have to bow your head over trivial matters, and sometimes you may have to risk your life and take responsibility even if it’s not your job.”

“…….”

“But those things can’t be learned by being taught. Rather, if you just keep them in your head without understanding, you might make mistakes at crucial moments that you didn’t need to make.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong swallowed unconsciously.

“In such cases, what kind of standard should you set and look back on yourself?”

“……I don’t know.”

“You have to look into the essence of who you are, the element that makes you you.”

“Is it my heart?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not answer yes or no, but placed his hand on Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s chest.

Woong.

The faint rising Yellow Dragon Energy flowed into Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s solar plexus.

“Don’t try to be like Father. Don’t try to be like me. Father and I love you, but we can’t appear and solve everything every time you’re in danger or in trouble.”

“Yes. I know.”

“There may be people other than us who can help you. But in the end, the desire to receive help is also yours. Everything is done under your judgment.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Since I brought you here, I haven’t told you anything, so you were disappointed, weren’t you?”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong was flustered.

“Ah, no! Disappointed? There’s no way.”

“Is that so?”

After a moment of silence, Yeon Ji-Pyeong lowered his head without realizing it.

“A little, I was disappointed.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong laughed heartily and stroked Yeon Ji-Pyeong’s head.

He was now a full-fledged young man, but still, in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, he was just a young and cute younger brother. At least for now, that was the case.

“I want you to realize this on your own. I will never tell you. I’m sorry for making you feel disappointed.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong waved his hand.

“No, brother. It’s because I’m lacking.”

“But I want you to know just this one thing. The reason I haven’t given you any explanations is because I believe you are capable of realizing it on your own.”

“……!”

“Even if the sky collapses and the earth splits, and this world is torn in two, I love you. There was a time when I didn’t want to admit my own shortcomings and was jealous of you, but I swear to the heavens that will never happen again.”

“Brother.”

“You are my one and only brother in the world. That’s why I trust you. It’s not that I trust you because you follow me, but I trust you simply because you are you.”

Yeon Ji-Pyeong lowered his head once again. He felt both touched and embarrassed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked up at the sky.

“I used to think I had no talent. I was wrong. I had talent too.”

“I’ve never seen a genius like you, brother.”

“I’m looking at an even greater genius than that right now.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it you?”

“B, brother. I’m…….”

“Blood is blood, you can’t admit that kind of thing either, just like me.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled and turned his body.

“Believe in yourself. Then you will see the answer. Father and I believe in you, but if you don’t believe in yourself, there’s nothing more disheartening than that.”

“…….”

“Don’t get hurt. Every sword scar on your shoulder makes Father and I feel like our arms have been cut off.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled as he spoke.

“Damn it, it’s not something I should say when I’m dragging you into a death trap. Forget I said that.”

He told him to forget it, but Yeon Ji-Pyeong thought he would never forget those words for the rest of his life. Because he could feel the deep affection and sincerity in his brother’s words.

Thus, Yeon Ji-Pyeong watched his brother’s back for a long time as he walked away.

Two hours later.

At that time, when the sky was dark and countless stars were twinkling.

The ghost came suddenly.