Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 92

The Divine Archer, Muk Bi.

She was known as the second-in-command of the Black Imperial Castle because of her exceptional combat skills, amplified by her monstrous archery prowess.

And there she was, or rather, she was present.

‘…….’

However, this was not the Muk Bi that Yeon Ho-Jeong remembered.

She was like Baek Gung-Cheon. Her straightforward face revealed her raw emotions. It was….

‘Despair.’

Kwaang!

The iron arrow, shot through the air, carved a deep furrow in the ground before shattering a nearby rock.

The mark was half a *jhang* [approximately 3 meters] wide. It was unbelievable that a single arrow could cause such devastation.

“Baek So-Gyeong!”

Fabababak!

Baek Gung-Cheon’s body created countless afterimages.

He moved in all directions—across the ground, up trees, along branches, and over rocks—rapidly closing the distance. Even in his rage, he maintained his supreme agility, steadily pressuring his opponent.

His lifelong training had ingrained this in him. He wouldn’t rush in recklessly, even when consumed by anger. Even amidst his burning bloodlust, the cold composure of an archer was evident.

“Hmph!”

The middle-aged woman snorted briefly and drew her bow.

Peopeopeopeopeong!

Flames erupted in a three-*zhang* [approximately 9 meters] radius in front of the approaching Baek Gung-Cheon.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flickered.

‘Fireworks?!’

She had fired several arrows with fireworks attached, creating a massive circular wall of flame between herself and her enemy.

It was a wall of fireworks that couldn’t harm a master like Baek Gung-Cheon. However, it was perfect for disorienting an opponent and temporarily blocking their vision.

Teoeooeong!

Baek Gung-Cheon instinctively retreated.

Peoeoeong! Swaeeeek!

An iron arrow, piercing through the dissipating shield of fireworks, grazed Baek Gung-Cheon’s shoulder.

It was a quick shot, so its power was not at its maximum. However, it was enough to tear off a chunk of flesh. If it had been imbued with the power of a Dragon Fang Cannon, his left arm would have been blown off.

“To resort to such wicked tricks!”

“I waited a long time for you, thought you were dead, but you’re still alive?”

Baek Gung-Cheon’s face turned crimson.

He had planned to snipe Baek So-Gyeong using the box Go Pyeong had given him. But now it seemed that Baek So-Gyeong knew about it too.

To charge at an opponent who knew all of your plans? It was certain death. Even if there was a significant difference in skill, the opponent was also a *Gwigungsu* [a master archer]. Her sniping skills were top-notch.

“You have tainted the Yeshin Battle with the petty squabbles of the mundane world. There has never been anyone like you in the history of Gwanil Valley!”

“That’s a joke! You who hate Gwanil Valley more than anyone!”

“You should have just poisoned me!”

“Ha! I have to put an arrow through the head of the strongest *Gwigungsu* to prove my ability, right?”

“You…! I will kill you for sure!”

Tiririring! Peopeopeok!

Dozens of arrows cut through the air, turning the area into a zone of death.

The match was escalating. It was a chaotic battle that no one could interfere with.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong had no interest in their fight.

Sapak.

“Huk!”

Startled, Baek Hyang rose from her hiding spot and drew her horn bow.

It was an incredible speed. A firing stance comparable to Baek Gung-Cheon.

Confusion filled Baek Hyang’s face.

“Wh, who?!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong almost called out the name Muk Bi without realizing it.

‘She’s still the same.’

Even in her fifties, Muk Bi looked like she was in her early thirties. This was partly due to her deep level of inner energy, and partly because she was naturally youthful.

‘Still the same, that stance.’

Returning to the past, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt as if he had been summoned back to the days of the Black Emperor, when he was ruled by madness and violence. Muk Bi’s unchanged face and stance turned him into the Black Emperor.

At the same time, he was able to completely detach himself from his identity as the Black Emperor.

It was because of Muk Bi’s eyes.

‘She’s scared.’

Her eyes were filled with fear. That raw emotion was being conveyed unfiltered through her eyes.

Baek Hyang shouted at Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was silently staring at her.

“I, I don’t know who you are, but run away! You could die if you’re not careful!”

Her voice was full of emotion.

‘Was she someone who could shout like that?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Put down your bow.”

“Can’t you hear me? Run away right now!”

“Okay, I get it, put down your bow. I’m not an enemy.”

“Ah…….”

It seemed she had just realized that she was aiming an arrow at him. Baek Hyang lowered her bow.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened. Now that they had met like this, he had nothing to say.

But one thing was certain.

“You shouldn’t be here. Get away.”

“Wh, what did you say?”

“I said, get away.”

A look of determination appeared on Baek Hyang’s face, which had been filled with fear and confusion.

“I’ll escort you to the bottom of the mountain. Let’s move quickly!”

It was then.

Peoeok!

A round hole appeared in the tree above Baek Hyang’s head.

It was a dangerous moment. She lowered her stance.

Peong!

The iron arrow that had pierced the tree landed at Yeon Ho-Jeong’s feet.

It was Baek So-Gyeong’s arrow, not Baek Gung-Cheon’s. Even while fighting an enemy, she had shot an arrow to kill Baek Hyang.

It was a life-or-death battle and a competition where everyone had to kill to survive. It was a deadly clash that made the word ‘competition’ seem meaningless.

Paak!

Baek Hyang leaped towards Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘As expected.’

She was incomparable to when she was one of the Five Great Generals of the Black Imperial Castle.

But she was still fast. Her basic skills were thoroughly honed, and she was ready to be the best in the world not only in archery but also in movement techniques.

“I’m sorry!”

Beonjjeok!

Baek Hyang’s body appeared behind Yeon Ho-Jeong.

She had run forward but suddenly appeared from behind. It was an amazing movement technique.

Baek Hyang’s hand reached for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s neck. She had planned to knock him out and carry him down.

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand moved like a snake. It was the same technique he had used to neutralize Namgoong Sang-Hwa in his first real battle after his regression.

Teoeok!

“Ack!”

Surprise flickered in Baek Hyang’s eyes. Her pressure point had been seized.

“Hup!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong took a short breath and turned his body at an incredible speed. Then, Baek Hyang’s body also cut through the air at a rapid pace.

Kwaang!

Baek Hyang’s body slammed into the ground.

Despite the loud noise, Baek Hyang suffered no damage. Her *Byukra* True Energy [a type of internal energy] was perfectly protecting her body.

Baek Hyang looked up at Yeon Ho-Jeong with a bewildered expression. It had happened so suddenly that she didn’t understand what had happened.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand moved.

Fababak!

“Huk!”

Baek Hyang’s body froze. Three of her blood points had been struck.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at his fingers. His fingertips were trembling.

‘Incredible inner energy.’

The amount of inner energy was terrifying. He thought his fingers would break due to the immense recoil. It was a higher quality and more abundant amount of inner energy than any of the masters sent by the Myeong family, except for Myeong Cheon.

If he hadn’t had the Penetration Realm using the Black Tortoise Energy, he wouldn’t have been able to strike them properly.

Yeon Ho-Jeong slung Baek Hyang’s body over his shoulder.

“Wh, what are you doing?!”

“A soldier who has no intention of engaging the enemy is useless on the battlefield.”

Baek Hyang’s eyes wavered.

As Yeon Ho-Jeong said, she couldn’t aim her bow at Baek Gung-Cheon and Baek So-Gyeong.

The reason was simple and clear. To her, those two were family, friends, and teachers.

It wasn’t just those two. All the *Gwigungsu* who participated in this competition were the same.

“Put me down! Release my blood points now!”

“You’ll die if you stay there.”

Kwaaang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body soared into the sky. A large crater had been created where he had been standing.

“What’s that now?”

Parararak!

Baek So-Gyeong approached at a terrifying speed. Baek Gung-Cheon was chasing after her. His bloodied body and staggering movements looked very precarious.

Kadeudeudeuk!

Even while using that fast movement technique, his stance for drawing the bow was unwavering. It was the martial art of an archer, perfected through painstaking effort.

Baek So-Gyeong shouted fiercely.

“Give her back!”

In that instant, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes blazed.

Tiiiiing! Kwang!

The tree behind Yeon Ho-Jeong exploded.

Baek So-Gyeong’s eyes widened.

‘What?!’

She thought she had definitely caught him, but the man carrying Baek Hyang was nowhere to be seen.

She couldn’t tell where he had gone. He had disappeared like a ghost.

‘Where to?’

It was then.

‘……?!’

Her body became heavy.

Black mist seeped into her limbs, as if binding her bones. The air became stuffy, and her movements slowed down.

‘This is?’

It was killing intent. An immense killing intent was pouring down like a rainstorm from above.

Papapang!

Baek So-Gyeong, who had slowed down, looked up.

Horror appeared on her face.

Pararararak!

Her leg, which had risen smoothly, was falling from the heel.

It was a merciless leg technique that struck like an axe. It felt as if an actual axe was being swung, not a leg. An immense killing intent and inner power could be felt.

If she stayed still, her face would be smashed. Baek So-Gyeong quickly flung herself backward.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s foot landed on the ground.

Kwaaang!

Splinters of wood, branches, and leaves scattered on the ground all flew into the sky. It was a width of nearly five *jhang* [approximately 15 meters].

Baek So-Gyeong’s face turned pale.

‘What a monster!’

He was an incredible master, whoever he was. He seemed no less powerful than Baek Gung-Cheon, who was said to be the strongest of the *Gwigungsu*.

And that wasn’t all.

Huk!

She had retreated and drawn her bow at the same time, but Yeon Ho-Jeong had already reached her. He had closed the three-*zhang* [approximately 9 meters] distance in the blink of an eye. Even Baek Hyang, who had mastered the Dragon Flight Movement Technique the most among the *Gwigungsu*, couldn’t achieve such speed.

Baek So-Gyeong released her bowstring.

At the same time, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand moved like lightning.

Kadeudeudeuk!

The arrow did not leave the bowstring. It was still vibrating, caught in the middle of the bow.

It was because Yeon Ho-Jeong’s hand had grabbed the fletching of the arrow before it could properly gain momentum.

And that wasn’t all. After grabbing the arrow to block the attack, Yeon Ho-Jeong folded his arm and struck Baek So-Gyeong’s collarbone.

Peoeok! Kwaang!

“Keoheok!”

A large tree was dented. Baek So-Gyeong staggered as she got up.

Then, a voice filled with resentment burst out like thunder.

“Don’t kill her! Keulkeok! She’s, she’s mine!”

Paak!

It was unknown where he got the strength. Baek Gung-Cheon, who had pushed Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulder and rushed forward, kicked Baek So-Gyeong’s abdomen.

Peoeok!

“Keok!”

Baek So-Gyeong, who had coughed up blood, crashed into a tree again and collapsed.

Baek Gung-Cheon’s left arm pressed down on Baek So-Gyeong’s shoulder, and his right knee pressed down on her abdomen.

“Keoheo……!”

She was instantly incapacitated.

The moment Yeon Ho-Jeong grabbed the arrow, the bowstring snapped, and his hand bones were completely crushed. A simple strike that swung his arm had broken her collarbone.

Decisively, Baek Gung-Cheon’s powerful leg technique had messed up her organs. It was a fatal injury that could kill her at any moment.

Kadeudeudeuk!

Baek Gung-Cheon, who was aiming an arrow at Baek So-Gyeong’s face, gritted his teeth as he panted.

“You damned bitch. I’ll kill you!”

“Keulkeok! Kaak!”

Baek So-Gyeong grinned. Even with blood foam on her lips, she wore a vicious smile.

“If it weren’t for that bastard, I would have won.”

“Shut up! From the beginning, you……”

“Really? I did use my head too much, but thinking about it, even if we had fought in perfect condition, I don’t think I would have lost to a moron who can’t even recognize his own flesh and blood?”

“……What?”

Baek So-Gyeong burst into laughter.

“Who knows if that girl is your daughter or not?”

Baek Gung-Cheon’s eyes turned bloodshot.

Tears welled up in his bloodshot eyes.

“Uaaaaaah!”

Peoeok!

Baek So-Gyeong’s head was shattered to pieces.