Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 94

So Cheong was startled.

“What, what did you say?!”

“He said he was sorry, please tell him he was sorry.”

He looked at the corpse lying on the ground.

It was a corpse dressed in fine clothes, with both hands neatly folded. A circular hole was visible on his chest.

‘His heart was pierced?’

So Cheong looked at the woman.

Her hair was loose, obscuring her face. But even at a glance, he could tell she was a young woman.

Moreover, she had a quiver at her waist and a rather large horn bow on her back.

“Could it be… did you do this, young lady?”

The woman nodded slightly. Her expression was still hidden.

So Cheong, who had been staring at the woman, sighed.

He was second to none when it came to being quick-witted.

“What was your relationship?”

“…He was one of my brothers.”

“… !”

“He regretted it greatly. I, too, apologize.”

The woman knelt and bowed.

So Cheong, looking down at the woman with a troubled expression, closed his eyes.

“Please get up.”

“…”

“Who bows to a beggar? It’s frightening if someone sees. Please get up.”

Only then did the woman rise from her spot.

So Cheong opened his eyes and looked at the woman.

“What can I say? The beggars who died by this man’s hand had no ties either.”

“…”

“However, since you have harmed your own flesh and blood, it must be a great burden on your heart. I will introduce you to a doctor I know, so you can take care of your mind and body…”

“I’m fine.”

It was an unexpectedly firm voice.

After a moment of silence, So Cheong nodded weakly.

“I understand.”

“Instead, I have one question.”

“A question?”

“Do you know where Yeon Ho-Jeong is right now?”

In an instant, a strange light flashed in So Cheong’s eyes.

“Why are you looking for him?”

It was a clear sign of wariness.

The woman, Baek Hyang, said,

“He told me to come find him.”

“…Young Master Yeon told you to come?”

“Yes.”

It was a stiff tone. Baek Hyang spoke as if she were a man who had just entered the world [referring to someone who is new to the martial world].

“Do you have proof? Young Master Yeon is an important guest of our gang. If anything were to happen to him, our gang would not be able to show our faces in the martial world.”

Information about Yeon Ho-Jeong was top secret.

Hu Gae had ordered the entire Beggar Clan to treat Yeon Ho-Jeong as they would treat him. That was how much they trusted Yeon Ho-Jeong.

So Cheong thought this woman was dangerous.

The aura of emptiness emanating from her whole body. It was natural, since she had killed her own brother, but even aside from that, the subtle energy that spread from her was chillingly powerful.

‘She might even be comparable to Elder Dong.’

Dong Pung-Gae was the last person to become an elder. As such, he was considered to be one or two levels below the other elders.

Still, he was an elder of the Great Beggar Clan. If he was thinking of a Beggar Clan elder’s level of martial prowess when looking at a woman who seemed to be in her early twenties, it was no ordinary matter.

Baek Hyang shook her head.

The way her hair swayed as she shook her head looked strangely eerie.

“I don’t know about that. But if you don’t plan to tell me, I’ll just have to wait.”

She would wait.

She was truly a helpless young lady. So Cheong was lost in thought for a moment.

‘She doesn’t seem to be lying.’

The reason he was able to become a branch leader at such a young age was thanks to his insight rather than his martial arts.

And to him, Baek Hyang’s words did not seem to be a lie. That was how he felt.

‘But just in case…’

What if this woman held a grudge against Yeon Ho-Jeong?

After much deliberation, So Cheong sighed.

“I will guide you.”

“…?”

“It doesn’t seem like you’re lying. But I can’t handle things based on a feeling alone. And I can’t leave you in this beggar’s den for all eternity. I will guide you myself.”

Baek Hyang bowed her head.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me like that. If you deceive me and attack Young Master Yeon, you will become the Beggar Clan’s greatest enemy.”

It was a threatening remark, but Baek Hyang’s expression did not change.

So Cheong called a beggar under his command, gave him a few instructions, and then set off.

“I’ll tell you in advance, I may not be good at other things, but when it comes to movement techniques, I’m second to none. Please keep up.”

“Yes.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

* * *

Kwaang!

A terrifying shockwave swept through the surroundings.

“Kuh!”

His back felt hot.

It was like running away to avoid being swallowed by a rapidly spreading wildfire. That was how powerful the martial art was.

Myeong Heo-Rim, who had quickly leaped away, instantly turned his body and unleashed a palm strike.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

Puh-uh-uhng!

Terror appeared on Myeong Heo-Rim’s face.

‘A monster!!’

It was the Phoenix Divine Art, which he had learned by taking three of the best elixirs of the Myeong family. He thought that while his mastery of the divine art might be lower than his father’s, his internal energy was comparable to his father’s.

But the fiery strike of the Phoenix Hand, which he had unleashed with that powerful internal energy, was scattered by a single gesture of his opponent.

Not only that.

Whirr.

The crimson fire seemed to scatter, but then it seeped into Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body. It was like paper absorbing ink.

Puh-uh-uhng!

It was incredibly fast.

The footwork that instantly closed the distance was as fast as a falling thunderbolt. The distance that had been five yards was instantly reduced to two yards.

Myeong Heo-Rim gave up on fighting back.

Pa-ba-ba-bak!

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

‘Fast.’

The Phoenix Flight was not a movement technique that could be used in battle like the Blood Wing Sky Dance. It was difficult to use in battle unless one was a master like Myeong Cheon.

But it was a different story when the movement technique was used as it was meant to be used.

Even compared to Myeong Cheon, the speed was not far behind. It was truly difficult for Yeon Ho-Jeong to chase Myeong Heo-Rim, who was moving like a streak of light.

The Phoenix Divine Art, even though it was a martial art that crushed the mind and body, was truly astonishing in its momentary power.

‘Damn it, is his stamina still that high?’

Pa-ba-bak!

He pushed the Wall Breaking True Qi [a technique to break through internal energy barriers] to its limit to block the burden on his body and unleashed the Vermilion Bird Qi [a type of internal energy].

Pung! Pung! Pung!

In just three steps, the distance to Myeong Heo-Rim was greatly reduced.

Yeon Ho-Jeong swung his axe with that momentum.

Kwaaang!

A storm-like force swept forward. A rather large tree was smashed, and the leaves and dirt on the ground flew in all directions.

Myeong Heo-Rim’s posture faltered for a moment. But that was only for a moment. He quickly regained his posture and ran even faster than before.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shouted without realizing it.

“This guy is driving me crazy!”

He was squeezing out the last of his stamina and internal energy to use his movement technique. It was truly a desperate escape.

‘I was short-sighted.’

From the beginning, he hadn’t thought deeply about Myeong Heo-Rim. What was important to him was Muk Bi, and Myeong Heo-Rim was just a bonus.

Of course, he hadn’t taken him lightly. However, he thought that since he had been running away for dozens of days without eating or sleeping properly, his physical condition couldn’t be normal.

Not easy, but not particularly difficult either. That was what he thought, and that was how it was in reality.

The problem was that he didn’t know that the level of his movement technique was this high.

‘If only I could use the Vacuum Grasp.’

When he was called the Dark Emperor, he was a master who could even use the Vacuum Grasp with his powerful internal energy and ultimate enlightenment. With the Vacuum Grasp, it would have been possible to grab a running opponent and slow them down.

But unfortunately, his body and martial arts had not yet reached the high level required to use the Vacuum Grasp.

‘I’m going to lose him at this rate.’

The distance was gradually widening. There was a limit to using the Blood Wing Sky Dance [a movement technique].

‘This is the last one. I have to catch him with this last move.’

The blue light that had been flickering in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes slowly began to emit a red glow.

If Myeong Heo-Rim was making a desperate escape, Yeon Ho-Jeong was making a desperate pursuit.

Finally, Yeon Ho-Jeong also pushed himself to the limit. The Vermilion Bird Qi blazed, giving him a step faster than ever before.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

The ground that Yeon Ho-Jeong stepped on exploded indiscriminately.

Flash!

Myeong Heo-Rim’s face turned pale.

His opponent had already jumped over his head and overtaken him. His complexion was not good, as if he had overexerted himself, but his fierce gaze showed no sign of wavering.

Yeon Ho-Jeong threw a punch.

Kwaang!

“Cough!”

It felt like he had been hit in the chest with a sledgehammer. Myeong Heo-Rim spat out blood and flew backward.

Pa-ba-bak!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had instantly landed on the ground and regained his posture, glared at Myeong Heo-Rim.

“Hoo, at this rate… ah, that crazy bastard!”

At least two or three of his ribs must have been broken, but he was running away again in the opposite direction. He was clearly slower, but it wasn’t as if he was very slow.

His obsession with life was terrifying. Even with broken bones and internal injuries, he was running away at that speed.

This couldn’t go on any longer.

A white wind swirled around Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body.

Kwaang!

The footsteps of the Beast King shook the entire mountain.

‘I’ll catch him this time!’

He put all the powerful force he had drawn out with the White Tiger Overlord Step [a movement technique] into both hands. Yeon Ho-Jeong swung his iron axe.

Boo-woo-woong!

The six-foot iron axe, filled with White Tiger Qi [a type of internal energy], spun at high speed and flew towards Myeong Heo-Rim.

Despair appeared in Myeong Heo-Rim’s eyes.

‘I can’t avoid it…’

Puh-uh-uhk! Kwang!

“Kuaaaak!”

Myeong Heo-Rim staggered and fell.

He lowered his stance, but he couldn’t avoid it completely. His left arm was cut off from the shoulder.

Thud! Thud!

He hurriedly pressed on his pressure points, but he couldn’t completely stop the bleeding. It was probably because his internal energy consumption was already extreme and he had internal injuries.

Myeong Heo-Rim was constantly staggering.

And Yeon Ho-Jeong stood in front of him.

“You’re a mess.”

In an instant, Myeong Heo-Rim’s eyes glowed red.

“You bastard!”

He didn’t know where he got the strength. Myeong Heo-Rim suddenly got up and struck Yeon Ho-Jeong’s chest with his remaining right hand.

Puh-uh-uhk!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s body shook.

That was all. He had gathered his last strength to strike with the Phoenix Hand, but this blow also failed to inflict any damage on his opponent.

Myeong Heo-Rim muttered with a hollow face.

“What, what are you? Are you a monster?!”

Puh-uhk!

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s foot landed on Myeong Heo-Rim’s solar plexus. Myeong Heo-Rim collapsed on the spot.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his chest with a bitter face.

“Aren’t you the monsters? Not only did you cause such a ruckus to obtain a martial art, but you also tried to massacre an innocent family.”

“Cough!”

Blood flowed from Myeong Heo-Rim’s nose and mouth as he lay collapsed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong quickly pressed on his vital points. He seemed to have lost a lot of his energy, as there was no resistance even when he pressed on his pressure points.

“Hoo, I need to quickly find and learn a decent movement technique. I can’t even catch a brat like this properly.”

From Myeong Heo-Rim’s perspective, it was an absurd statement.

Who was he? He was one of the Twin Dragons and Three Peaks, a peerless prodigy of the current martial world! He had already built up a strength close to that of an elder of the Nine Great Sects, and he was a genius among geniuses who was expected to ascend to the Thirteen Seats of the Holy Heavens in the future.

What kind of monster was this guy who called him a brat?

Thud!

He picked up the iron axe that was stuck in the ground, and with Myeong Heo-Rim tucked under his arm like a piece of luggage, he moved along the path. He intended to quickly entrust him to Hwangpungjeong and then leave.

How long had he walked like that?

‘Hmm?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong stopped walking.

‘A presence?’

And it wasn’t the presence of an ordinary person.

Trained footsteps, a sharp energy.

The incredibly sharp energy of a sword, honed to a razor’s edge, was felt from beyond the mountain path he was walking on.

It was a familiar yet unfamiliar energy. The reason was that he had felt a similar energy before, but the difference in level had been extreme.

After a while.

“Oh ho?”

A middle-aged man and about thirty swordsmen stood opposite Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Amazing. To have already attained the Way of Martial Arts at such a young age? Remarkable.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression became strange.

“Namgoong?”