Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 981

Creating a Void (7)

An hour later.

“……”

Six people gathered in a luxurious room.

A subtle fragrance of tea wafted through the air, but no one reached for their teacups.

The atmosphere was awkward.

There were five supreme masters of the martial world who had broken through the Limitless Realm, and even the head of a prestigious family, known as the overlord of Hebei, was present. Aside from the Martial Alliance, it would be impossible to find a gathering of such incredible experts drinking tea together.

The awkward atmosphere made it all the more remarkable.

Yang Cheon, who had been observing the situation, rose to his feet.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Everyone except Mu Heo Daesa looked at Yang Cheon.

Yang Cheon clicked his tongue.

“This is not a place where one can endure the awkwardness. If anyone has business with me, please come find me later.”

His words were frank and straightforward.

Tuk Mu-Ja, who had been silently scanning the others, suddenly burst into laughter.

Surprisingly, his laughter seemed to lighten the heavy, suffocating air as if by magic. Just by the sound of his laughter, he changed the atmosphere, proving that he was indeed a powerful figure worthy of being called a giant of the era.

“You are truly a grandmaster of the Black Path [referring to a martial arts style known for its unorthodox and often ruthless methods]. Just from a few words, I can tell what kind of person you are.”

“If you want to know what kind of person I am, you should fight me.”

“Hmm? Why is the conversation suddenly going that way?”

“Scholars fight with their brushes, and martial artists fight with their swords, isn’t that so? If we want to know each other well, we should fight. We all live in such a world.”

It was a very typical thing for him to say.

Mu Heo Daesa, who had been silently watching Gi Cheon-Woong, also burst into laughter.

“Since we don’t have swords, we should converse with our fists. Let’s make time for a separate meeting soon.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes blazed.

“It would be an honor.”

Yang Cheon wasn’t just trying to avoid the awkwardness.

There was a reason why he was called the Fighting King. It was not only because he was good at fighting, but also because he loved fighting so much.

From the moment he met them, Yang Cheon felt a strong urge to fight the Fist Saint and the Sword Immortal. Regardless of the outcome, he had a burning desire to exchange blows with them.

However, the situation was not right. He couldn’t just drag them into a fight in this setting.

That’s why he was leaving. He was afraid he might make a mistake if he stayed any longer.

Peng Mu-Gang also subtly rose to his feet.

“Then, I will also take my leave.”

Tuk Mu-Ja looked at Peng Mu-Gang with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you leaving?”

Peng Mu-Gang clicked his tongue.

“I thought my martial prowess was enough to hold my head high anywhere in Hebei, but being here makes me keep looking down. I’ve always felt inadequate, but now I even feel weak.”

“Hahaha!”

“Please, continue your conversation.”

“Don’t worry too much. If you truly seek the end, you will likely build a reputation to rival the Sword Emperor within the next decade or so.”

It was the Sword Immortal of the world who was saying this. It couldn’t be just empty words.

Peng Mu-Gang’s face brightened. To Tuk Mu-Ja, it meant that his training had been well-accumulated.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“Quickly pass on the troublesome matters to your children and stake your life on a single sword.”

“That’s not so easy.”

“It wouldn’t be easy. However, you can’t stay in that position forever, can you?”

“Of course not. Rather, I want to get rid of it as soon as possible, this position of family head.”

“Haha, you are an unavoidable martial artist. Your character is good and straightforward, so even without fighting, I can clearly see the trajectory of your sword.”

“I don’t know if it will be something worthy of being called a duel.”

“It’s good to go the right way, even if it’s a little slow. What’s important is not who got there first. What’s important is that you get there eventually.”

Peng Mu-Gang bowed his head.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

With that, Yang Cheon and Peng Mu-Gang left their seats.

Yeon Wi also subtly placed his hand on the armrest.

“I also…”

“Could the Yeon family head please stay?”

At Tuk Mu-Ja’s words, Yeon Wi clicked his tongue.

“If you wish, I will. However, it doesn’t seem like you have any particular business with me…”

“Why wouldn’t I have business? I have plenty of business.”

“Yes?”

Tuk Mu-Ja looked at Yeon Wi with an amused expression.

“Didn’t your son tell you that he came to see me?”

“Ah…”

“When I first saw that guy, I wondered what kind of seed produced such a wild horse. Now that I see you, I understand. Father and son were born with monstrous talents.”

Yeon Wi smiled wryly.

“He is a bit rough, but he is a good fellow. Please look kindly upon him.”

Even when talking about his son’s talent, he was worried about him. Just from that, Tuk Mu-Ja could tell what kind of person Yeon Wi was.

At that moment, Gi Cheon-Woong opened his mouth.

“Let’s stop with these side talks.”

If Tuk Mu-Ja had broken the heavy atmosphere with a single laugh, Gi Cheon-Woong was the opposite.

His voice, his presence, instantly cooled the softened air in the room.

“The two of you, the greatest elders of the martial world and those who are called the overlords of the era, what business do you have with me that you have even arranged this meeting?”

He was someone who did not use honorifics even to the emperor of a nation. Aside from that, just looking at his age, he was not inferior to Mu Heo Daesa or Tuk Mu-Ja.

Mu Heo Daesa spoke in a calm voice.

“Divine Cult Leader.”

“Speak, Fist Saint of Shaolin.”

“Do you truly have no intention of taking over the Central Plains?”

“How could I not?”

Gi Cheon-Woong spoke as if it were obvious.

“If I had no desire to conquer the Central Plains, that would be a lie. To hold the world in my hands and manipulate it as I please… how enticing is that?”

“Many people will live miserable lives because of that.”

“It depends on how you govern.”

“So, do you want to fully unleash that desire?”

Gi Cheon-Woong smiled wryly.

He didn’t say anything more and drank his tea.

That expression, that action, was enough. He had already made his intentions clear to many people. He didn’t want to explain himself again just because he was sitting in the same place as those of the Righteous Path.

Mu Heo Daesa, who had been quietly watching Gi Cheon-Woong, asked once more.

“Did you come to destroy the Three Teachings [Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism] by joining hands with the Central Plains martial world?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I came to give freedom to my cult.”

Mu Heo Daesa did not hear what purpose Gi Cheon-Woong had come for.

However, he was certain that at least his actions and his ideology would not be harmful to the Central Plains.

It was not because Mu Heo Daesa was smart, nor because he could see into Gi Cheon-Woong’s heart.

“Hmm.”

Mu Heo Daesa glanced at Yeon Wi.

“There must be a reason why the Divine Sword of Gangdong, full of justice and a strong sense of camaraderie, did not risk his life to fight.”

Yeon Wi’s face flushed slightly.

“You flatter me. I am just…”

“Don’t say you are just a commoner. Everyone knows how righteous the Yeon family head is.”

“I am just ashamed.”

Mu Heo Daesa’s face became serious again.

“Still, I want to hear it from your own mouth.”

“……”

“Let’s leave the talk about the Three Teachings. Whatever your purpose, if we join hands, we will fight together. However, I want to hear one definite answer. Do you intend to join forces with us and contribute to the upcoming war?”

Gi Cheon-Woong frowned.

“Think as you please. After all, that’s what a deal is, isn’t it? Since we both want something from each other, this deal is already done.”

“I will ask one last time. Since it’s the last time, I will ask a more definite question.”

“……”

“Will you take charge of the Divine Cult?”

“I will.”

Flames ignited in Gi Cheon-Woong’s eyes.

“The Evil Cult Leader is also mine.”

Mu Heo Daesa’s face relaxed.

Tuk Mu-Ja chuckled and said.

“See, you bald monk? The answer is out.”

“I know. But how can I do ‘that thing’ without hearing it directly? It’s not just my own business, but a matter of the world’s safety.”

Yeon Wi looked at Mu Heo Daesa with a puzzled expression.

“What do you mean by ‘that thing’…?”

“Haha.”

Mu Heo Daesa, who had let out a soft laugh, leaned back in his chair.

His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were still fixed on Gi Cheon-Woong.

“It’s very unstable.”

“……”

“I’m talking about your upper dantian [an energy center in the body, often associated with spiritual power]. It’s not easy to be so severely twisted.”

Gi Cheon-Woong frowned.

Tuk Mu-Ja nodded and said.

“I thought there wouldn’t be another person like me in the world, but to think there would be someone even worse than me.”

“What do you mean?”

At Gi Cheon-Woong’s question, Tuk Mu-Ja tapped his head with his finger.

“I mean, your situation is similar to mine. Your upper dantian is broken, isn’t it?”

“……!!”

Gi Cheon-Woong, whose spiritual eyes were blurred and even the flow of his upper dantian energy was erratic, had not realized that Tuk Mu-Ja was in a similar situation.

Tuk Mu-Ja smiled wryly.

“However, I have been cultivating in the mountains for a long time to avoid losing what I have. If it weren’t for the ancestral energy released by my ancestors, I might have reached a similar state as you.”

“Then, now…?”

Tuk Mu-Ja looked at Mu Heo Daesa and said.

“This bald monk is blocking the leaking upper dantian energy.”

“……?!”

“Of course, it’s not permanent. It barely lasts for two weeks after one injection. And if you fight a martial artist of equal level, that period will be greatly reduced.”

Gi Cheon-Woong looked at Mu Heo Daesa with a dumbfounded expression.

“You blocked a hole in the upper dantian? Is that even possible?”

Mu Heo Daesa chuckled.

“I won’t say that Shaolin’s martial arts are the best in the world. However, each sect has its own history and training, so what is impossible for you may be possible for us, and what we cannot even dream of, you may be able to do.”

“……”

“That’s how training is, isn’t it?”

Gi Cheon-Woong clenched his fist without realizing it.

It was possible to temporarily restore the collapsed upper dantian. The power would soon be lost, but the important thing was that it was possible somehow.

“Then…?”

“That’s right. The reason I wanted to get a definite answer from you was that if you truly intend to join forces with us and lead this war, we need to at least lay the foundation so that you can move properly and fight to win.”

“……!”

“Is that… really possible?”

“Your upper dantian is much more devastated than this horse’s. I can’t be sure until I lay my hands on it, but it should be possible somehow.”

“Then…!”

“We can postpone the detailed talk about His Majesty the Emperor for later.”

“……?”

“There is a condition.”

Gi Cheon-Woong nodded.

It was natural. He couldn’t expect such a great measure, whether it was a technique or martial art, to be given for free.

Mu Heo Daesa’s eyes deepened.

“If you agree to that condition, we can start the procedure right here, right now.”

“What is the condition?”

“Go to the Martial Alliance.”

“……What?”

Gi Cheon-Woong, as well as Yeon Wi, looked at Mu Heo Daesa in surprise.

Mu Heo Daesa spoke with emphasis, word by word.

“Go to the Martial Alliance and become another Unparalleled Warrior. In other words, I want you to become a member of the Martial Alliance, not the imperial palace.”