Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 998

Hang Yo’s face was now so pale that it was pitiful to look at.

If Yeon Ho-Jeong were to attack with intent, he wouldn’t even need to swing his axe. A single punch could vaporize his entire body.

‘……!!’

In that instant, Hang Yo recalled.

The moment when Yeon Ho-Jeong became the minor master and returned to the Demonic Alliance, when all the warriors cheered loudly.

Hang Yo was there too. Many warriors from the Three Swords Gate were there as well.

Not only that, but more than half of the warriors who currently shunned the Black Path, even to the point of burning with hatred, were also present at that time.

Most of them had also cheered for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s return. They had seen how skilled he was in several duels within the alliance, but that didn’t really matter much.

Times of chaos call for heroes, and people sense destiny in the appearance of a hero.

At that time, what was he like?

What actions did he and the warriors of the Three Swords Gate take as they watched Yeon Ho-Jeong walk proudly in the distance?

‘……!!’

Hang Yo’s eyes shook violently.

That’s right. He too had cheered for Yeon Ho-Jeong’s appearance.

Even though he had turned to the Black Path, he had repeatedly shouted and welcomed his return. He had often praised Yeon Ho-Jeong to his subordinates, saying that a figure like him was rare in the world.

And now, that Yeon Ho-Jeong was standing before him.

Pointing a black hand axe at him, emitting a much fiercer and darker aura than before.

‘What is this?’

Hang Yo thought.

‘Why did it turn out like this?’

It was strange.

He had been impressed by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s skills, but in truth, he had been more captivated by his decisiveness and boldness than his martial arts.

After entering the martial world, Yeon Ho-Jeong had exposed the reality of the Nine Great Clans, who had committed all sorts of evil deeds, and fought as a vanguard [a position at the front of a battle].

In the end, the Nine Great Clans had fallen, and he was praised by everyone, earning the nickname ‘Green Mountain Tiger General’.

That was why Hang Yo, and many other warriors from similar small and medium-sized sects, cheered for Yeon Ho-Jeong.

He was strong, bold, and a hero armed with a straightforwardness that was unlike the White Path.

He didn’t care at all about the opinions of those around him. Logically, even if the Nine Great Clans had committed terrible evils, someone from a so-called prestigious family wouldn’t act in such a way. It would be difficult to bear the aftermath, and they would suppress their anger, weighed down by the reputation of being the most powerful family of the era.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was different.

He was always different.

Some said that the rumors about Yeon Ho-Jeong were exaggerated. He had reached the level of a Saintly Heaven [a very high level of martial arts mastery] at the youngest age, a talent that surpassed the label of genius and was more like a monster, but that was just in the realm of talent. In reality, it was generally believed that he hadn’t done that much against the Three Religions [a mysterious and powerful enemy faction].

However, some said this:

Even that was a reduced version of the rumors.

From Henan and Hubei, to Hunan, around Guangdong, and reaching Sichuan and Shaanxi.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was the one who had participated in every bloody battle. Just looking back at the flow of events, Yeon Ho-Jeong had delved into almost every incident, found the problem, and the fight had followed.

In other words, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s divine tactical insight, boldness, unconventional movements, and fierce martial arts, combined with the support of the Beggar Clan’s vice leader and the Martial Alliance’s army, had produced miraculous results.

Hang Yo didn’t believe any of that to be the truth. The truth wasn’t important to him.

The fact that such a straightforward warrior had appeared in this world, the absurd martial world, was all that mattered.

Why was he, who had admired him so much, being insulted like this in front of Yeon Ho-Jeong?

‘Insult…….’

Wait, what is an insult?

Hang Yo’s mind began to unravel.

He felt as if his very existence was being denied by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s merciless words. Unlike usual, his sensitive thoughts were running wild in all directions.

“You don’t need a head start?”

Hang Yo was startled by the sudden, cold voice.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled coldly.

“I don’t think it’s particularly impolite to launch a preemptive attack on an opponent who hasn’t even taken a stance.”

“……!!”

“You seem confident in your swordsmanship. Try to block it.”

Thud!

Yeon Ho-Jeong took a step forward.

Hang Yo drew his sword without realizing it. It was an irresistible force.

That’s when it happened.

“Huk!”

Whoosh!

In Hang Yo’s eyes, the black hand axe had become as huge as a mountain peak.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s figure was nowhere to be seen. His vision was filled only with the huge, magnificent black axe and the giant’s hand that held it.

‘I’m going to die.’

It felt like nature itself was shaking.

He couldn’t feel any killing intent or fighting spirit. Only an endlessly vast and overwhelming power was raging like a storm.

‘I, I’m going to die!!’

He didn’t have the presence of mind to swing his sword. He couldn’t even dodge.

Hang Yo stared blankly at the axe.

Kugugugung!!

The axe, accompanied by thunder and lightning, was being swung through the air. It looked slow because of its enormous size, but in reality, it was a strike coming down as fast as a gale.

Even if he dodged the axe blade, his whole body would be torn to shreds by the aftermath. Not only him, but the ground and surrounding buildings would all be reduced to dust.

Hang Yo screamed involuntarily and raised his sword.

“Uwaaaaaa!!”

Sreung. Thud.

The overwhelming force and spectacle that had shaken the heavens and the earth vanished in an instant.

Hang Yo, who had closed his eyes tightly and lowered his head, took a rough breath and looked ahead.

“……!!”

The sword was cut in half.

It wasn’t a strong strike, but the axe blade had cut through the sword so easily and reached right in front of his head.

Thump!

Hang Yo collapsed to the ground.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked down at him with cold eyes.

Shudder!

His whole body trembled. His teeth chattered.

The owner of the chilling golden eyes was looking down at him, spreading a pair of wings stained with black and white.

“Who is it?”

“Y-yes?!”

“I asked who spread those false rumors.”

“I, I don’t know.”

Hang Yo didn’t even realize that his tone had changed.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s gaze emitted an even deeper and more intense aura.

“Heok!”

Hang Yo closed his eyes tightly.

“I, I don’t know! Really! It was just a rumor going around!”

“Think about it.”

“……Yes?”

“Think about it. Where did you first hear that rumor?”

“……!”

“Tell me where the devil is that whispered to you, who has nothing but pride but knows your place and couldn’t dare to act out, that this behavior was right and that you couldn’t let it go. And by the way…….”

“…….”

“This isn’t a request.”

Flash!

The golden light lurking in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes began to swirl.

An overwhelming presence. Everyone who was watching this scene was overwhelmed and gaped.

Hang Yo opened his mouth hesitantly, as if possessed by a supernatural being.

“I, I don’t remember. But I often talked about this with the leaders of the Thousand Swords Gate and the Rock Wave Fist Gate…….”

“…….”

“W-we hated the Black Path people! The very idea of joining hands with those guys was unbearable……!”

“Then get lost.”

“Yes?!”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said in a cold voice.

“If you hate it that much, go back to your hometown. Like the Crimson Spear Gate.”

“……!!”

“And regret it. When the war with the Three Religions breaks out in the future, after countless people have died, face the reality in regret, realizing how foolish a choice you made.”

Chills!

Everyone who heard Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words felt a chill run down their spines.

The unknown enemy called the Three Religions, which they had never felt before, made them feel as if a war was about to break out at any moment.

That’s right.

They were at war. Just because there wasn’t a sword fight happening right in front of their eyes didn’t mean the war was over.

“Don’t ever appear before my eyes again. I don’t have the slightest desire to persuade you kinds of reactionary forces.”

“…….”

“If I see you again, I’ll kill you then.”

Hang Yo’s body stiffened.

The minor master of the Mukryong Clan [a powerful martial arts clan], boldly saying he would kill him within the Martial Alliance.

However, even though those words were terribly violent, it felt like he could never refuse them. He had the conviction that no one, not even the leader of the Martial Alliance, could stop him.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, with the Black Dragon Blade at his waist, said to Jin Yang.

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s.”

Jin Yang, who was walking behind Yeon Ho-Jeong, suddenly remembered something and stood next to Hang Yo.

Hang Yo didn’t even dare to raise his head. The overwhelming fear that Yeon Ho-Jeong had created had dealt a tremendous blow to his mind and heart.

Jin Yang chuckled and said.

“You hate the Black Path?”

“…….”

“You pathetic fools. I hate you White Path guys just as much. If I try to eat with you, the terrible stench makes it impossible for the rice to go down my throat.”

“…….”

“But I still force myself to eat in a place full of stench.”

Jin Yang turned his head.

“Even though we hate it, we are still here.”

Hang Yo’s eyes shook.

Everyone gathered here looked at Jin Yang with complex expressions.

If Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words and actions were a complete break from convention, a merciless beating from a strict general,

Jin Yang’s calm words were like the green water in the desert, reminding them of the obvious reality.

That’s right.

There was no way that the Black Path people wouldn’t hate the Martial Alliance.

Yet, they were here. What was the reason?

To win.

To win the war, they were putting aside their burning anger and chains of hatred, enduring day by day and staying here.

Where Yeon Ho-Jeong and Jin Yang had disappeared.

“…….”

The people who had been watching the scene were frozen in place, unable to move.

* * *

“That was unexpected.”

“What is?”

“Given the Captain’s personality, I thought he would have completely crushed that Three Swords Gate leader or whatever.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Honestly, I wanted to.”

Jin Yang also smiled.

“He was swayed by the atmosphere, but he wasn’t a good guy. He’s been living like a rat his whole life, so he’s doing this kind of thing.”

“You’re right. Rather, those kinds of guys are harmful to the Martial Alliance in the long run. Maybe if they fix their personalities, but if not, they’ll cause trouble sooner or later.”

“Then you should have beaten him up more?”

“We’re not fighting against the White Path people right now.”

It was a strange statement. At least, it sounded that way to Jin Yang.

Even though he was the minor master of the Mukryong Clan, his origins were from a prestigious White Path family, so for him to say that he wasn’t fighting against the White Path people made him seem like a true Black Path person.

‘Well, if you just look at his words and actions, he’s a magnificent, no, a great Black Path person.’

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong stopped walking.

“Why are you stopping?”

“……I’m a little puzzled.”

“What do you mean? About that guy from before?”

“That guy too, but.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked up at the sky.

“Isn’t it strange? People only see what they want to see. No matter how amazing and great a sight they witness, they quickly forget it over time. Their feelings towards me are similar.”

“They’re really absurd. You’re a Saintly Heaven, right? Why do those guys who fawn over other Saintly Heavens like ‘Oh my, Martial Gods!’ act like that towards the Captain? I can’t understand it at all. They even saw you go toe-to-toe with Do Geomje [a powerful martial artist].”

Jin Yang tilted his head.

“Is it because of your age? Jealousy, or something like that?”

“That could be part of it. But…… something’s strange.”

“There are more than one or two strange things in this world.”

“I feel malice.”

“Huh?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened.

“To create a rift in the Black and White alliance…… it doesn’t seem like that’s the only purpose.”

“……?”

“I need to go to the Namgoong Clan.”