Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 968

Dang Sang-ah’s eyes widened.

Peng Dae-ho’s mouth hung open, and Ogumun and Jeagal Jun’s eyebrows shot up to their foreheads. Namgoong Pyo, who had been polishing his sword, also rose to his feet without realizing it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong waved his hand with a calm face.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

“Yeon-je!”

Moyong Woo, who had rushed over breathlessly, suddenly hugged Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong recoiled his chin. Fine wrinkles appeared on his sharp jawline.

“Oh my, why are you doing this again.”

He knew it was an expression of joy, but even the calm and mature Moyong Woo could make the world’s Yeon Ho-Jeong feel awkward at times like this.

Moyong Woo grabbed Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Didn’t you go to the Qinghai Divine Forest?”

Moyong Woo’s tone had completely changed to that of an older brother speaking to his younger sibling.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly and nodded.

“I did. It worked out well.”

“That’s a relief. But judging by your appearance, it seems like you came straight from Qinghai?”

Emotionally, they were close, but in reality, the two were not so close that they could be called sworn brothers.

Yet, Moyong Woo could tell where Yeon Ho-Jeong had come from and whether he had rested just by looking at his appearance. That was how well he understood Yeon Ho-Jeong as a person.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked up at the sky.

A cool, dry wind blew. Beyond the scattering clouds, the sky was visible, but it felt strangely dark.

“I was going to return to the Martial Alliance, but I heard that you went to stop the Soryeeum Temple forces in Shanxi, so I turned this way.”

Moyong Woo smiled.

“It seems only my younger brother worries about me.”

“I just came to watch. What worry?”

Even though he said that, he knew better than anyone that Yeon Ho-Jeong was worried about him.

However, Yeon Ho-Jeong knew the strength of himself, the other late-stage disciples, and the Azure Dragon and Great Dragon units well. Despite that, the fact that he came directly because he was worried meant that something was bothering him.

But Moyong Woo was more concerned about Yeon Ho-Jeong’s expression than that.

“What happened?”

“What do you mean, what happened?”

“Your expression isn’t good.”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong felt an involuntary surge of emotion.

Even if someone other than Moyong Woo had said it, he would have felt emotional turmoil.

‘Master.’

It had been a long time. It had been a long time since someone had made his emotions sink this low.

For him, his master, Cheon In-Ryong, was always special. It was just that life was busy, and because there were people to protect, the endless worries and battles were a daily routine, so he didn’t think of him often. But if it weren’t for his master, he wouldn’t be who he was now.

Furthermore, if it weren’t for his master’s teachings, if he hadn’t purified the Blood Jade and given its power to him.

If that had been the case, the Central Plains would be fighting an even more difficult battle against the Three Teachings right now.

Of course, Yeon Ho-Jeong was not anyone’s puppet. He had just lived for himself and his people.

But if it weren’t for his master’s teachings, could he have stopped the Three Teachings even if he had regressed over a hundred times?

In the end, Cheon In-Ryong, who taught Yeon Ho-Jeong, was the benefactor of the Central Plains martial world, who helped the Central Plains, which would have been swept away by the firepower of the Three Teachings, build a huge wall.

Three hundred years ago, and even now.

‘I hope that you will not be troubled by the chaotic affairs of this world and live peacefully in that place.’

It seemed that because they didn’t meet often and didn’t have many warm conversations, it lingered in his mind even more.

But now was not the time to be lost in thoughts of his master and neglect what he had to do.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled as he looked at Jeagal Jun.

“Are you having a hard time?”

“Brother.”

Jeagal Jun looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong with trembling eyes.

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“Your energy is very sharp. I can tell how much you’ve suffered in this war of killing and being killed.”

“……”

“But don’t break down. Even if it’s painful and difficult, how can a guy who is the young master of the Jeagal Clan give up so easily?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words, following Moyong Woo’s sharp words that showed him the right path, ignited Jeagal Jun’s confidence.

Jeagal Jun smiled.

“It’s hard, but I’ll try my best.”

“There are things that are valuable just by trying, and there are things that become worthless if the result is not good even if you try. The position you hold falls entirely into the latter category. Try, and seize it.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Peng Dae-ho.

Peng Dae-ho grinned and waved his hand.

“It’s even more welcoming to see you from the outside.”

“They say there’s no younger brother like your older brother, and that’s exactly right.”

“Huh?”

“You’re more worth seeing than Man-ho right now.”

Peng Dae-ho burst into laughter.

“Of course. It would be embarrassing to be worse than my younger brother. Otherwise, the years I’ve been beaten by my father would be too wasteful.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who responded with a silent smile, turned his gaze to Ogumun.

Ogumun bowed his head.

“It’s been a while.”

“Your energy is more outstanding than when you were in the Martial Alliance. You’ve suffered a lot.”

“Everyone has suffered.”

“That’s also true.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes then reached Namgoong Pyo.

Namgoong Pyo, who had been staring blankly at Yeon Ho-Jeong, slightly lowered his head.

It was a silent greeting. He was a person who had lived a life he could never have imagined when he first met the Martial Alliance.

Yeon Ho-Jeong also nodded silently. Although his relationship with his younger brother, Namgoong Hyeon, was uncomfortable, it seemed that Namgoong Pyo’s arrogance had subsided a lot, thanks to the teachings of Sword Saint Namgoong Seung.

And then.

“Commander.”

At Dang Sang-ah’s calm voice, Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m the vice-chief of the Mukryong Unit. Not a commander.”

“It’s been a while.”

There was a clear sense of joy on Dang Sang-ah’s face as well.

She had received much guidance under Yeon-wi, and Yeon Ho-Jeong had overcome many dangers with Dang Gwan. Furthermore, since Yeon-wi and Dang Gwan shared a deep friendship, it wouldn’t be strange if the two of them had also become sworn siblings.

They had that much of a close relationship, so even though it had been a long time since they had seen each other, it didn’t feel unfamiliar at all.

“Impressive.”

“Huh?”

“I heard it from your father, but it seems like the first female head of the Dang Clan might be born.”

Dang Sang-ah chuckled.

“How closed-off is the Dang Clan? My father has changed a lot, but he’s not yet at the point of shaking up tradition.”

“Does shaking up tradition mean you’ll take a position?”

“You’re still as mischievous as ever.”

“Haha.”

Dang Sang-ah, even after feeling Yeon Ho-Jeong’s intense presence, did not congratulate him on reaching the Saintly Heaven Realm. She thought that praise regarding martial prowess had no great meaning to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

He was a person before he was a martial artist. Just by not mentioning martial prowess, one could see what kind of perspective Dang Sang-ah had on the world.

And so, the joyful yet brief greetings ended.

“But, what did you mean by what you said earlier?”

“Hmm?”

Jeagal Jun asked with a serious face.

“Earlier, you said that if they have no intention of retreating or fighting, there’s only one answer.”

“I did.”

“May I ask for your insight on what that is?”

“What insight? You should know if you think about it a little more?”

“Huh?”

“Were they so weak that they couldn’t fight or retreat and were just trembling?”

“That’s… not true.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed at Dang Sang-ah.

“The best prodigy of the Dang Clan went on reconnaissance herself. She said that they didn’t seem to have any intention to fight and didn’t seem urgent.”

“……”

“They’re not retreating, they don’t seem like they’re going to fight right away. But they’re not just resting either, and the enemies are clearly visible. And yet, they’re comfortable.”

“……!”

“There’s only one answer, right?”

Jeagal Jun’s eyes shook greatly.

“Could it be… reinforcements?!”

Everyone was startled by his words.

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“That’s why I came here myself. The Soryeeum Temple is the Shaolin of the outer regions. It’s no exaggeration to say that they are the strongest in terms of single martial power, excluding the Three Teachings. In terms of status, they are even higher than Shaolin.”

“Th-then?!”

“It means that a master who can completely overwhelm this side’s forces, or an overwhelming number of reinforcements, are coming.”

“Gasp!”

Tension fell on everyone’s faces.

Moyong Woo, who had been observing Yeon Ho-Jeong’s face for a moment, asked as if throwing a question.

“Is a Saintly Heaven Realm master coming?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I can’t know that. But if those guys are being so relaxed, it means that at least a master at the Saintly Heaven Realm level or a large army that can handle the Saintly Heaven Realm is coming.”

“Then it’s the former.”

“Why do you think so?”

“The number of enemies we’ve crushed is over three hundred. Originally, it wasn’t that many, but more reinforcements than the Martial Alliance predicted have been pouring in constantly.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“No matter how big the Soryeeum Temple is, there’s a limit to the number of troops they can send to the Central Plains?”

“If it were a real war, I wouldn’t know. But they said that they didn’t come here to wage war. They’re more like an envoy for proselytizing, to win over the public with their heretical teachings.”

“The number is too large for an envoy, but you’re right, brother.”

Moyong Woo’s eyes deepened.

“Actually, it’s hard to understand why a master of the Supreme Extremity Realm would come. They moved to Shanxi to make a feint and also to proselytize. For a master of the Supreme Extremity Realm to be involved, no matter how I think about it, it’s too much.”

“That’s the will of the Soryeeum Temple.”

“Will?”

“On my way to the Divine Forest of Qinghai, I met masters from the Soryeeum Temple. There was one master at the Emperor level and one master who was inferior to the Three Armies.”

“……!”

“They said that joining hands with the Three Teachings was for the sake of the greater good, and at the same time, to make the fertile lands of the Eastern Continent their own.”

A chilling coldness settled in everyone’s eyes.

“In other words, they are also trying to see and confirm which land in the Central Plains is suitable for them. And they are going to send a master of the Supreme Extremity Realm there to solidify their will.”

“Hoo.”

“If it’s a master of the Supreme Extremity Realm from the Soryeeum Temple, they must be a high-ranking powerhouse. They would also be well-versed in the teachings of Soryeeum, so considering the current situation, it wouldn’t be strange if they had come even sooner.”

“……I see.”

“And decisively.”

Woo-woo-woong.

The Azure Dragon Blade hanging on Yeon Ho-Jeong’s shoulder let out a faint cry.

“While coming from Shanxi to here, I felt an unspeakable anxiety from time to time. That anxiety was strangely familiar. Perhaps, somewhere not too far from the path I was taking, a master who could blur my senses was moving in parallel.”

Moyong Woo’s eyes shook.

“You can even sense that?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly.

“It’s not easy. It also consumes a lot of mental energy. However, since I’ve learned the ability to manifest and perceive what I desire. Of course, it doesn’t always work properly.”

It was the power of the Upper Dantian [an energy center in the body].

He had reached a higher level than before just through conversations with his master. He had experienced a development of pure enlightenment rather than an actual increase in martial arts level.

He still didn’t know what the principle was, but like when his master felt his Yellow Dragon, his senses for masters who were on the same plane became as sharp as needles.

Those who transcended everything and easily manipulated natural energy. If it was limited to those people, he could sense them through the harmony of divine energy, even if they were some distance away.

However, if his concentration was even slightly disrupted or his mind was confused, he would immediately lose track of the energy.

A martial art that gave absolute power, but also had fluctuations from moment to moment depending on the individual’s capabilities.

That was the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art.

“I will hold back the super-master who is difficult to handle, so you all do your own fighting.”