Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 994

……!!

Ha Beon, along with everyone gathered there, wore expressions of shock.

Whoooosh!

A sharp chill accompanied the gust of wind.

The moment the sword was drawn, hundreds, thousands of streams of sword energy swept through the surroundings. It wasn’t a deliberate release of qi [internal energy]; just the act of drawing the sword produced such immense pressure.

The instant the sword was drawn, this area became entirely Gang Ryang’s domain. Even Yeon Ho-Jeong seemed to be swallowed by Gang Ryang’s ferocious ghost sword energy.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, with his mastery over his aura, merely took a step back, but the others were not so fortunate.

‘T-This can’t be!’

Ha Beon’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

He knew the opponent was a master. After all, it was hard to find anyone traveling with the Overlord who wasn’t a master.

Still, he hadn’t expected this level of power.

‘This is absurd…!’

Ha Beon, as a top master of Gangseo, was a veteran warrior who had won many battles.

However, Gang Ryang was beyond the level of a top master, rivaling the martial prowess of a great sect leader.

He wasn’t just a master who made a name for himself in a region; he possessed the power of a grandmaster. It was unbelievable even to witness. He had heard of his strength, but the rumors didn’t even capture a third of his actual power.

To have insulted such a master without recognizing him was a shameful act for which he deserved to die.

Even though he was a member of the Black Path [a faction of martial artists known for their unorthodox and often ruthless methods], reaching this level at such a young age would have required unimaginable training and hardship.

‘Could it be demonic cultivation?!’

The thought involuntarily crossed his mind.

It was understandable. To reach such a level through normal means, even a genius with luck on their side would need to be over forty. That was common sense.

However.

‘…….’

Ha Beon couldn’t deceive himself as a martial artist.

Even if he had learned demonic arts, this sword energy was genuine. No wicked martial art could create such a robust and intricate qi.

It was a reality he didn’t want to admit but had to. The genius swordsman’s ability to make everyone kneel with just one display of sword energy was simply astounding.

“Take up your spear.”

Gang Ryang’s voice was calm. It contained no anger or hatred.

That was why his voice was even more terrifying. With that calm face and that calm aura, he seemed capable of taking a life in an instant.

Shudder.

Ha Jeong-Woong, trembling, involuntarily looked at Ha Beon.

His eyes seemed to plead for help in this situation. The image of a naive spearman who hadn’t prepared for death was clearly visible.

“…….”

The Seven Red Flowers closed their eyes tightly.

The opponent, a member of the Black Path, had drawn his sword and was pointing it at them. Whatever the circumstances, they had to draw their spears and face him. That was the way of a warrior.

But Ha Jeong-Woong couldn’t do it. He was gripped by the fear of death, looking at his father, no different from the arrogant and spoiled scions of prestigious martial families he had so often criticized.

Ha Beon’s face flushed red.

He shouted angrily.

“What are you doing!”

“F-Father!”

“How can you not respond when your opponent has drawn his sword! A spearman who claims to have inherited the spirit of the Red Spear Sect is acting so disgracefully! You should be ashamed!”

Ha Jeong-Woong’s expression crumbled.

He knew the spirit of the Red Spear Sect. But he had never experienced a situation where he could properly demonstrate that spirit.

No one in the vicinity, or even in the Martial Alliance, dared to challenge him. He had experienced killing for the first time when he went to suppress bandits in the past, but since then, he had never engaged in a life-or-death duel with a formidable martial artist.

But if he backed down now, it would be the end. Not just for himself, but the reputation of the Red Spear Sect would plummet.

Swoosh.

Ha Jeong-Woong, gripping his two short spears, gritted his teeth and stood before Gang Ryang.

“……Tsk.”

Jin Yang, who had been standing with his arms crossed at a distance, clicked his tongue as he looked at Ha Jeong-Woong’s spear.

His lowered stance trembled slightly. As a result, the two spear blades in his hands were also shaking.

It wasn’t an attempt to induce a feint. He was simply trembling.

Gang Ryang’s sword energy might be formidable, but there was not a trace of killing intent. The fear of death he had created himself was preventing him from even standing properly.

To have endured such insults from such a fool, it was truly disheartening.

He had known his level from the first time he saw him. He could understand a young man’s inability to control his anger and act out.

However, showing such a figure as a martial artist was a completely different issue from martial arts prowess.

Jin Yang turned his head away as if he couldn’t bear to watch. Seeing Ha Jeong-Woong trembling in fear had completely dissipated his pent-up frustration.

Gang Ryang opened his mouth.

“I know that in a martial arts duel of the White Path [a faction of martial artists known for their righteous and honorable methods], it is customary for a master to give a novice three moves.”

“……!”

“However, this is not a lesson but a duel to resolve emotions with a single exchange of blows, so I will not allow the three-move advantage.”

He wouldn’t be harmed even if he allowed three hundred moves, let alone three.

Flash!

Gang Ryang’s eyes changed.

In that instant, Ha Jeong-Woong involuntarily kicked off the ground first.

Whack!

Instinct moved his body. If he didn’t strike first, he wouldn’t even be able to engage.

Regardless of his personality, he had worked hard, as could be seen from that one movement. He hadn’t overcome his fear, but his efforts, etched into his bones and flesh, allowed him to move in the realm of the subconscious.

But his attack method was the problem.

Ha Jeong-Woong’s short spear aimed for Gang Ryang’s forehead in an instant.

Ha Beon and the Seven Flowers’ expressions changed.

It was a duel where a life-or-death struggle wouldn’t be unusual, but the opponent didn’t want that. Yet, he had used a killing move.

“No!”

Along with someone’s shout.

Gang Ryang’s sword moved.

Swoosh!

There was no sound of metal clashing against metal. Gang Ryang’s sword, swung diagonally upwards, sliced through one of the short spears entirely.

The twin short spears, cherished by the Red Spear Sect, were made of a material stronger than steel, yet they were cut in half by a single sword strike. It was a terrifying cutting power.

Ha Jeong-Woong’s face turned pale.

Unable to overcome the momentum of his advance, he continued forward, but the opponent had already disappeared from his sight.

Thwack!

He stopped his advance with all his might and immediately turned around. The gesture of using the remaining spear to defend showed that he had been properly trained.

However.

‘……!!’

Ha Jeong-Woong’s mouth fell open.

He saw Gang Ryang holding up his sword. But in his eyes, Gang Ryang had disappeared, and a giant, eight-armed monster like a tall pavilion had appeared.

The illusion of a monster roaring and striking down with eight swords was a demon straight from hell.

“Aaaah!”

Ha Jeong-Woong screamed involuntarily and dropped his spear, curling up his body.

With his arms crossed and his head buried, his strengthless legs folded. Crouching in place, he looked so weak that it was hard to believe he was the young master of a sect.

Whoosh!

A gust of killing intent swirled.

It wasn’t a hot gust but a damp, eerie wind. The chillingly sharp and sinister killing intent was merciless, as if it would cut down everyone in the area.

Clang!

The Seven Red Flowers each drew their spears. Their bodies reacted first to Gang Ryang’s merciless killing intent.

Ha Beon did not. His hand twitched several times, but he realized that the killing intent was not genuine.

And after a moment.

Whoooosh.

The storm of killing intent that had spread intensely vanished as if washed away, and a warm breeze filled its place.

“Hah! Haaah!”

Ha Jeong-Woong’s breathing became ragged as he remained curled up.

He was still in the same position. His face was pale, and his whole body was covered in cold sweat. Tears flowed from his sharp eyes. His body had reacted to the fear of death.

Swoosh.

Ha Jeong-Woong flinched. He felt a cold edge at his neck.

“Defeat.”

Gang Ryang tilted his head slightly.

“Will you acknowledge it?”

Ha Jeong-Woong trembled and raised his head.

“……!!”

Gang Ryang, standing against the sun, looked slender, unlike the monster he had seen in the illusion, but his pair of blue-glowing ghost eyes were more terrifying than any monster.

Ha Jeong-Woong nodded frantically.

“Y-Yes, I acknowledge it! I have lost!”

“I see.”

Gang Ryang’s sword slightly pierced Ha Jeong-Woong’s neck.

“Then.”

Gang Ryang’s aura became a little sharper.

“The apology?”

“I’m sorry!”

There was not a moment’s hesitation.

Ha Jeong-Woong shouted with his eyes tightly closed.

“I, I was reckless! I apologize!”

Was that apology sincere?

If Yeon Ho-Jeong hadn’t come here, if Gang Ryang hadn’t overwhelmed him with his power, would Ha Jeong-Woong have apologized?

‘It’s meaningless.’

He hadn’t expected a sincere apology in the first place. If he had that kind of mindset, he wouldn’t have caused this mess.

However, it was enough to hear him say sorry. It wasn’t easy to let go of his anger, but he could consider it as being bitten by a dog and move on.

Gang Ryang withdrew his sword.

Even though his neck had been pierced by the sword’s tip, not a single drop of blood was drawn. It meant that his control over his sword energy had reached an incredible level.

Swoosh, Thud!

Gang Ryang, having sheathed his sword, looked at Ha Beon.

Ha Beon’s face was truly indescribable. It was filled with anger, humiliation, worry, fear, and frustration.

Gang Ryang spoke in a calm voice.

“It seems your son is not in a state to answer properly, so you should speak.”

Indeed, after gasping a few times, Ha Jeong-Woong fainted.

It wasn’t that Ha Jeong-Woong’s mental strength was weak, but rather that Gang Ryang’s ability to control his killing intent was exceptionally outstanding. Of course, if he fainted from this level of fear, his mental strength, if not his physical strength, was far from being worthy of being called the next master of the sect.

“Do you officially acknowledge your son’s defeat?”

Ha Beon couldn’t answer easily.

Gang Ryang nodded.

“It seems you have a complaint about the duel.”

“…….”

“I am willing to duel with all of you, so if you don’t want to acknowledge it, take up your spear. If you are worried about my physical condition, it’s fine. I don’t need to use my qi, so you don’t need to avoid it by saying it’s an unfair match.”

Clang!

Gang Ryang drew his sword again.

Whoosh!

At the same time, the air became heavy again.

It was much heavier than when he faced Ha Jeong-Woong. He was adjusting the pressure according to the opponent’s martial arts level.

‘…….’

Ha Beon closed his eyes.

With that delicate and extensive control of his aura, Ha Beon finally realized.

‘I’ve lost.’

He had lost in everything.

As a martial artist, in terms of justification, and in terms of skill.

In a short time, Ha Beon’s face seemed to have aged ten years.

Ha Beon opened his mouth.

“This duel is my son’s defeat.”

“…….”

“Also…”

It was a word that was truly hard to say.

But Ha Beon gritted his teeth and spoke.

“Officially, I acknowledge that my sect’s response was not correct.”

“…….”

“In the future, the Red Spear Sect will publicly acknowledge its clear fault in this matter.”

Gang Ryang sheathed his sword again and said.

“There aren’t many people watching, so you can easily change your words like flipping your palm.”

“…….”

“You can acknowledge it and step back, or if you think it’s not right after reconsidering, come and challenge me to a duel. My sword is always open.”

Gang Ryang turned his body.

“Let’s go, brother.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

It was a perfect victory.