Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 954

The journey to the Imperial Palace was swift, solemn, and silent.

It was a path leading to the greatest den of devils in the martial world. No one could predict what kind of battle would erupt there.

Moreover, this was a coalition of the orthodox and unorthodox factions, groups that had long harbored animosity and rarely met, so the atmosphere was bound to be tense.

It was the kind of tension that precedes a storm.

The warriors of the Black Dragon Unit and the Hegemon Vanguard of the Peng family marched with cold, hardened expressions.

“Everyone seems tense,” Yeon-wi remarked, breaking the silence as he led the way on horseback.

Peng Mu-Gang clicked his tongue at Yeon-wi’s words.

“It can’t be helped. It’s a dangerous mission, after all, and…”

Peng Mu-Gang glanced at the warriors of the Black Dragon Unit.

Most of the warriors Yang Cheon had brought were elites. Furthermore, they were on an uneasy journey alongside orthodox martial artists, so their aura was naturally dark and turbulent.

The Hegemon Vanguard also exuded their unique, overbearing aura. The tension felt excessive, as if they might draw their greatswords at the slightest sound, even a pebble falling.

Peng Mu-Gang smiled wryly and said, “Hey, you guys.”

The Hegemon Vanguard looked at Peng Mu-Gang.

“If you keep walking with your shoulders so stiff, you’ll collapse before you even swing your swords a few times. Why are your eyes so wide? What’s bothering you?”

Peng Mu-Gang was clearly a capable leader.

Upon hearing his words, tinged with humor, the vanguard’s faces immediately softened. They slowly began to release their tense auras.

Peng Mu-Gang snorted. “You’re far from it, far from it. It would be better if you were all just chattering away, you guys.”

The Hegemon Vanguard cleared their throats.

Yeon-wi, who had been observing the vanguard, smiled. “The vanguard’s trust in the Peng family head is remarkable.”

“Trust, my foot. It’s a miracle if they don’t curse me behind my back as a big, old, strong geezer.”

At that moment, Yang Cheon, who had been silent, spoke. “In the martial world, being big and strong is a compliment, isn’t it?”

The two men looked at Yang Cheon.

Yang Cheon smiled. “Is that the Peng family’s way of teaching leadership?”

Peng Mu-Gang replied awkwardly, “It’s too grand to call it leadership. I’ve just lived like this my whole life.”

“A flexible relationship like friends, it’s good to see.”

Although they were leaders representing the orthodox and unorthodox factions, Yeon-wi and Peng Mu-Gang treated Yang Cheon with the utmost respect, as a senior.

He was not someone they could treat stiffly simply because of their official duties. If it weren’t for Yang Cheon, there would have been far more troublesome matters in the martial world.

Furthermore, it was necessary to treat him with a bit more familiarity to ease the atmosphere among their subordinate warriors.

On the other hand, Yang Cheon respected his juniors, who were lower in fame, martial arts, and age than himself.

Thanks to the conversation between the leaders, the stiff atmosphere among the warriors became more relaxed.

Yeon-wi smiled and asked, “I should have sent a letter in advance, but as a junior, I was late in many ways.”

“Haha, there are many busy things in the world. Moreover, you are the head of a family and a servant of the Martial Alliance. Please don’t take it to heart. Rather, I should have contacted you first since I have a solid disciple under my wing.”

Was it because of Yeon Ho-Jeong, or was it because of Yeon-wi’s position?

Yang Cheon was showing a much more flexible side than usual. For those who knew him, it was a softness that could be called a break from the norm.

Yeon-wi also knew well that Yang Cheon was being considerate of him.

He slightly lowered his head. “I’m sorry for all the trouble my rough son has caused you.”

Yang Cheon burst into laughter. “He’s a very rough fellow indeed. However, thanks to him, my life was spared, so he is a benefactor in a small way, and a blessing to the Black Path martial world in a big way. I owe your son a great debt.”

“He has a good nature. However, he has a rough way of speaking and a habit of proceeding with things hastily, so I’m worried that he might not be considerate of your feelings, senior.”

“I do want to smack his backside sometimes.”

Yeon-wi gave an embarrassed, awkward smile.

Yang Cheon’s eyes sparkled as he said, “By the way, I wondered where that monster-like talent of his came from, but it seems it came from his father’s blood after all.”

“You flatter me.”

“It’s not flattery. From what I can see, it seems like you haven’t been there for long, but the enlightenment you possess seems higher than mine.”

Peng Mu-Gang looked at Yeon-wi with surprised eyes.

Yeon-wi shook his head. “How can one compare the superiority or inferiority of enlightenment? A great master of a sect and a child who has just learned martial arts can both gain the same enlightenment and develop.”

“That is the martial path [武道, Wudao] you believe in.”

“Isn’t that how all enlightenment in the world is?”

Yang Cheon smiled faintly. “The same yet different, different yet the same. You have mastered the orthodox martial arts.”

“Do you think differently, senior?” Yeon-wi asked out of pure curiosity.

His attitude was quite refreshing to Yang Cheon. It was common for those who had reached this level not to try to share their own, but Yeon-wi was trying to exchange martial theories so naturally.

It wasn’t simply for the purpose of taking something from him, but it seemed to be his natural personality.

‘He’s an interesting person.’

He was a person without boundaries when it came to sharing. In that sense, he seemed very similar to Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had given up politics.

Yang Cheon shrugged his shoulders. “Unlike orthodox martial arts, our martial arts pursue faster and stronger power. Therefore, so-called enlightenment is also more intuitive and has a somewhat standardized stage.”

“Ah!”

“You are strong yet weak because you are infinitely free. Also, we are easy to climb because we have a narrow view, but we rarely broaden our horizons.”

“…!!”

“The Black Path and the White Path, the orthodox and unorthodox factions, each have many flaws.”

It was a unique perspective.

At least, Yeon-wi had never thought of it that way. Was that why? Yang Cheon’s words had a considerable impact on Yeon-wi.

Yeon-wi’s face was momentarily blank. Yang Cheon chuckled. “The magnanimity to take even a few ordinary words to heart. I understand why they call the Judge’s Sword the pride of the Central Plains sword lineage.”

Yeon-wi, startled and regaining his senses, smiled and shook his head. “Others would laugh if they heard that.”

“I’m not someone who lives by being mindful of others’ opinions, so it’s okay.”

“Anyway, it’s a unique ideology. Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot.”

“You have a remarkable talent for making people feel embarrassed.”

Yang Cheon looked around. “By the way, they must know we’re coming, but it’s still quiet.”

Peng Mu-Gang’s eyes deepened. “They can deduce that we’re coming, but they won’t know the size of the force that will strike. Since they can’t confirm the quality of our forces, I think they’ll gather their strength and attack the Imperial Palace more quickly.”

“You have great insight. I didn’t think that far.”

“It’s just that I’ve clashed with them a few times, so I’ve come to consider various possibilities.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be better to increase our speed?”

“That’s what I thought too, but…” Peng Mu-Gang glanced at Yeon-wi. “Yeon family head wanted us to proceed more cautiously.”

Yeon-wi smiled silently.

Yang Cheon asked, “Why were you taking your time, Yeon family head?”

“Some of the Central Plains martial forces are heading to the Imperial Palace… they must know that too.”

“Of course, they would.”

“As Peng family head said, they are likely to focus their forces and target the Imperial Palace itself, rather than dispersing their forces.”

“I think concentrating their firepower is more efficient. The distance is quite far, too.”

“Fortunately, one of the greatest experts in the martial world is by His Majesty’s side.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes sparkled. “Are you talking about the Ghostly Monarch?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I saw him recently because of this marriage. His skills have improved since the past. But if the opponent is the Divine Cult Leader…”

“The Imperial Palace is a strategic stronghold and a huge maze in itself.”

“…?!”

“I wish I could fly to the Imperial Palace in an instant, but the Imperial Palace side must have their own plans.”

“Plans?”

Yeon-wi took out a small letter from his chest and handed it to Yang Cheon. “Due to the past Imperial Palace incident, countless information gatherers are gathered in the Imperial Palace. They have established the fastest network with the Northern River martial world.”

“…!!”

“Since His Majesty’s safety is at stake, they use messenger eagles that are comparable to divine creatures. On average, it takes two days, or one and a half days at the fastest, to make contact.”

Surprise flickered across Yang Cheon’s face.

Peng Mu-Gang nodded. “I know that too. Still, it would be better if we went quickly to help…”

“The Imperial Palace, which has been invaded by outsiders once, has powerful poisons and fire bombs placed everywhere.”

“…?!”

“The amount of poison and fire bombs is truly beyond imagination. Especially in the case of poison bombs, once they explode, the entire Imperial Palace will be surrounded by deadly poison due to chain explosions.”

“Heo!”

“The power of the poison is no less than the Five Great Poisons of the Tang family. Especially in His Majesty’s chambers and the secret hideouts, there are deadly poisons that are not far behind the Tang family’s Formless Deadly Poison [無形至毒, Muyeong Jidok].”

The Formless Deadly Poison was the pride of the Tang family, a rare concoction made by condensing a poison that could instantly kill thousands of people with just a handful.

Even an absolute master who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts was not free from the Formless Deadly Poison. Although it was not impossible to extract it somehow since they had reached the peak of their internal energy, the Formless Deadly Poison was such a formidable thing that it could make a master of the pinnacle unable to move and focus only on detoxification.

“But they basically practice the Fiery Yang Art. In most cases, poison is incompatible with fire, so if masters who can spew fire from their whole bodies attack, the power of the poison will be reduced.”

“It will be difficult to block the fire bombs as well.”

“…!!”

“And the Mad Ghostly Monarch is also by His Majesty’s side.”

Yeon-wi smiled. “Instead of wasting our stamina by rushing, it’s our job to go leisurely and conserve our strength as much as possible. Once we receive information that they have started attacking the Imperial Palace, we can start running from then on.”

Yang Cheon nodded. “The important thing is not for the Imperial Palace to win, but for His Majesty’s safety. Then, as Yeon family head said, we should conserve our strength as much as possible and then head straight to His Majesty.”

Peng Mu-Gang, who had been staring blankly at Yeon-wi, chuckled. “You were keeping all that good information to yourself? Thanks to you, I was the only one worrying?”

“I was about to tell you, but who was it that said to do as you please and then closed your eyes to sleep?”

“Cough.”

“And.” Yeon-wi’s eyes flashed.

Several small mountain peaks could be seen in the distance.

“Once we cross those, we’ll soon be in Hebei. We’re getting closer and closer to the Imperial Palace, so until then, it’s also our job to create an atmosphere where the black and white warriors can help each other.”

Peng Mu-Gang looked at Yang Cheon.

Yang Cheon smiled and nodded. “Let’s do that.”

“Thank you for your permission.”

“You’re welcome.”

Yeon-wi let out a sigh of relief. Although he didn’t say it, he had been worried about what would happen if Yang Cheon acted too authoritatively.

But Yang Cheon, whom he actually met, was not like a leader of the Black Path at all. He had a calm yet cheerful side, making him a good conversational partner.

Yeon-wi looked up at the sky.

‘Hey, is everything going well on your side?’