Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 143 - Evil-Annihilating Army (3)
Chapter 143 – Evil-Annihilating Army (3)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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‘What is this?’
Ah-gwang looked around.
Chirp chirp.
Mountain birds chirped from here and there, and the sound of trickling water was already tickling his ears.
In that peaceful atmosphere, a secret killing intent flashed in his sharp eyes.
‘This sensation…’
It is strange.
It felt as if a tiger aiming for its prey was watching this way.
Of course, that was merely a feeling. There was no basis, no reason.
‘Is someone watching?’
There is no way.
This place was the end of the Dabie Mountains at the southernmost tip of Henan Province. Let alone the Murim Alliance, it was a remote area that not even a single hunter sought out.
It was not because the terrain was rugged. This valley was a hidden secret place that could not be seen even from the top of the mountain. It was not a place that could be found just by trying to find it unless it was by coincidence.
‘…’
Ah-gwang sighed.
“What is the matter, Leader?”
“It is nothing.”
It seems his nerves were on edge for no reason.
One hundred of the most elite troops of the Yin Death Room were looking around like ghosts.
He trusted his subordinates. Although they were operating deep in the city center, the followers of the Yin Death Room were also proficient in mountain warfare. The reason being, most of the followers of the Yin Death Room were originally bandits.
The world looks down on bandits, but in mountain warfare, there is no one as dangerous as bandits. When bandits gain strength and open their eyes, from then on, they become an army.
Therefore, the followers of the Yin Death Room were an army.
“Leader.”
“What is it?”
“That friend, will he be okay?”
Ah-gwang glanced backward.
There was a middle-aged man riding an exceptionally sturdy horse there. His upper body, with his arms crossed, was tightly bound with iron chains.
He had an incredible bulk. His matted hair covered his face, so his expression could not be seen.
However, his bizarre imposing presence alone was so amazing that it could not be compared to anyone among the Yin Death Room followers.
“He is an unusually dangerous bastard.”
The face of the Yin Death Room’s second-in-command, Sang-yo, was more serious than ever before.
“His aura is excessively fierce. I don’t know how amazing of a strength he harbors, but… it feels like a tiger is prowling behind my back.”
A tiger.
Ah-gwang shook his head.
“He is a tiger. Although he’s half-crazy.”
Sang-yo’s face stiffened.
“I wanted to ask since that person came. Just who is that person?”
“He is the disciple of ‘That Person’.”
“Pardon? That Person?”
“Yes.”
“If it is That Person… Heok! C-Could it be?!”
A subtle fear dwelled on Ah-gwang’s face.
“I heard he fell into Qi Deviation while training his martial arts and went crazy. However, he is not completely crazy. I don’t know what kind of life he lived, but they said he thoroughly follows the commands of the person who calls his name.”
“Can that be possible?”
“It is a message sent directly by That Person himself. There is no reason not to believe it.”
“Huh…”
“He said the probability of him returning to his right mind is nil. It is a pity, but he said he is a good horse to use, so try using him once.”
If those words were true, it was no different from gaining a Great Tiger faithful to commands.
“That Person is not someone who spouts empty words. He said we just need to feed him on time, so manage him well in the future as well.”
“Ah, understood.”
A gloomy killing intent hovered on Ah-gwang’s face.
‘We are the lowest among the Thirty-Six Doors of the Black Path. To us, they gave a dangerous bomb. If we carry out this task successfully, I can interpret it as meaning That Person will support our room.’
Recalling That Person, Ah-gwang inwardly felt his palms getting damp.
That Person was the myth of the Unorthodox Path Murim. It was the first time in a whopping three hundred years that an expert counted among the top in the world appeared among the figures of the Unorthodox Path Murim.
It was something everyone involved in the Unorthodox Path Murim should rightly rejoice over, but they could not just rejoice blindly.
‘That Person is someone who has no forgiveness. We must absolutely not make a mistake.’
However, it is also not common for That Person to give missions. And That Person gave tremendous strength to the Unorthodox Path factions that successfully accomplished their missions.
If they slip even one step, they die. Conversely, if they succeed, they will gain immense wealth and honor.
‘We just need to hold out for a few months.’
Just how much had they walked like that.
When they passed the entrance of the valley and reached near the bushes where the destination could be seen.
‘…?!’
The light in Ah-gwang’s eyes changed.
‘What is this?’
Restrained auras were felt from inside the destination.
The exact number could not be known. It was certain that it was less than their allied forces.
‘This aura…’
Ah-gwang frowned.
‘What is this? These bland bastards?’
The fact itself that there was someone at the destination was something to be startled about. Furthermore, most of them seemed to be owners of martial arts comparable to Sang-yo.
But why? Surprisingly, he did not feel that they were threatening. The martial arts they possessed were amazing, but the feeling was that their actual skills fell short of that.
‘Greenhorns?’
Sang-yo must have also felt something as he spoke to Ah-gwang.
“Leader. Over there…”
“I felt it too.”
The advance of the Yin Death Room temporarily stopped.
Surprise arose on Sang-yo’s face.
“There is someone. Could it be we were discovered by the Murim Alliance?”
Ah-gwang’s eyes became cold.
Now was only their third visit. No matter how much it was the Murim Alliance, the possibility of noticing the existence of this secret place was extremely small.
However…
“Let’s go.”
“Leader!”
“Since we have come this far, those bastards must have also noticed our presence. We will verify what kind of bastards they are first. Everyone, cover your faces.”
The Leader’s command is absolute. All the followers of the Yin Death Room pulled up pitch-black masks to cover below their eyes.
Like that, under Ah-gwang’s command, the troops of the Yin Death Room moved.
Hwaaak!
Only then did Ah-gwang’s eyes see the fifty or so young men and women gathered closely together.
Ah-gwang, and furthermore the followers of the Yin Death Room, were able to grasp their identities at a single glance.
‘The Nine Great Sects!’
At that time, Yeon Ho-jeong’s cold voice echoed through the valley.
“Annihilate the enemies.”
Even though the command fell, the rising stars were flustered and only looked at each other.
At that time, there was one person who moved first.
Paaak!
The person who shot out at a terrifying speed was Cheok-gang. The posture of him advancing while deploying the Light-Dividing Movement Technique, which the Diancang Sect was proud of, was already full of a battle-ready stance.
Ah-gwang’s eyes flashed.
His hand swept his waist like lightning.
Jjeo-eong!
“Keuk!”
The superiority and inferiority of strength were divided in a single blow. Cheok-gang’s body was pushed backwards at a terrifying speed.
Ah-gwang pointed his Pu Dao at Cheok-gang and said.
[TL Note- Pu Dao is a traditional Chinese polearm weapon with a single edged broadsword connected on one end.]
“They are the dregs of the Nine Sects.”
It was a surprising remark.
Usually, those involved in the Unorthodox Path, regardless of the high or low of their martial prowess, fear the Nine Sects One Gang. It was because they knew how amazing their strength was.
However, Ah-gwang was different. No, the Yin Death Room was different.
When they took on this mission, they had all already risked their lives. They did not take on this mission without at least that much firmness.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
He was surprised, but he quickly maintained his composure.
Ah-gwang grasped their combat power at a single glance. There were a few useful bastards, but the majority were bastards inexperienced in real combat.
He would firmly let them know that not everyone is strong just because they learned outstanding martial studies.
“Do not let even a single bastard escape.”
Paaaaak!
The movement from the start was different.
Unlike the rising stars of the Nine Sects who were flustered and only looking around, the followers of the Yin Death Room began to surround all directions as soon as Ah-gwang’s command fell.
Over a hundred followers scattered in an instant and blockaded the retreat routes. As if extremely accustomed to such things, the light in their eyes glaring at the rising stars while keeping their respective positions was flashing with thick killing intent.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.
‘Indeed.’
Although the level of their individual martial arts was below the rising stars, their ability to form formations was top-notch. It could not be compared to the elites of Dark Emperor Castle, but to those who had not experienced proper real combat, they were an overwhelmingly dangerous enemy.
“This bastard!”
Tadadak!
Cheok-gang, who had retreated, rushed at Ah-gwang just like that. As if trying to make up for the mistake a moment ago, the internal energy loaded onto his sword was mighty.
Ah-gwang shouted.
“Bury them all!”
Cha-cha-cha-chang!
The followers of the Yin Death Room, who had drawn their respective weapons, narrowed the encirclement net at a terrifying speed.
“Damn it!”
“W-Just what are these people?!”
The flustered rising stars.
At that time, Song Yeon-gyeong shouted.
“Attack! These people intend to kill us!”
At her single word, everyone came to their senses.
“All disciples of Emei, respond with the Buddhist Light Zen Spear!”
“Yes!”
The fifteen Emei spearmen thrust their spears powerfully toward the approaching Yin Death Room followers.
The swords overflowing with killing intent and Emei Sect’s Buddhist Light Zen Spears clashed head-on.
Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeong!
“Uwaaaah!”
“Kill them all!”
In an instant, the fight became fierce.
Yun-ho shouted.
“Dong-ho! To the Mount Hua Two Instruments Formation!”
“Y-Yes?!”
“Move right… Damn it!”
Jjeo-eo-eong!
Yun-ho swung his sword swiftly.
‘How could this be!’
The Mount Hua Six Harmonies Sword was the basics of basics, but it was a concise and flexible sword technique that could be deployed at any time, at any moment.
Yet that sword was blocked from the very first blow. It was because three Yin Death Room followers blocked his sword simultaneously.
He couldn’t believe it even seeing it, how these three blocked this sword.
“Eee-ik!”
Jjeong! Jjeo-eong! Puh-eok!
Yun-ho jumped right into the middle of the Yin Death Room followers and swung his sword.
“S-Senior Brother!”
Seogeok!
“Aak!”
A strand of a sword wound was carved onto Dong-ho’s shoulder.
He instinctively twisted his body and survived. If he hadn’t dodged, his shoulder would have been completely pierced through. He couldn’t even see when and how the attack came in.
Dong-ho’s sword moved reflexively.
Pu-hwaaak!
Surprisingly, the one who killed a Yin Death Room follower first was Dong-ho. The sword that slashed the neck in a single breath was dyed with a red light.
“Heok!”
Dong-ho’s complexion turned pale. The single sword he swung out because he didn’t want to die killed a person.
The first real combat experienced unexpectedly. And the horribleness of murder felt for the first time.
Dong-ho, who was staggering, just slumped down on that spot. The shock was so great that he was not in his right mind.
The Yin Death Room followers did not miss the prey that lost its will to fight.
Paaaaak!
The four followers who approached Dong-ho amidst the melee struck down their swords just like that.
Dong-ho was blankly looking down at his own sword even until then. His trembling eyes were stained with extreme confusion and shock.
At that time, a single flexible sword formula blocked the followers’ attacks.
Chi-ri-ri-ri-ring!
The sword power of the Pine-Patterned Ancient Sword drawing a Tai Chi circle deflected the attacks of the three followers.
Puk!
“Keu-euk!”
Dong-ho’s eyes widened.
“T-Taoist Ok-cheong!”
A sword of a Yin Death Room follower was embedded in the thigh of Ok-cheong, who had blocked his front.
Considering the realm Ok-cheong had achieved, it was something that made no sense. It was because the radicalness of real combat, killing and being killed, caused excessive strength to be loaded onto her shoulders, and the unreasonable sword strike deployed to save Dong-ho somehow had hideously distorted his usual sword form.
Ok-cheong gritted his teeth and reached out his hand.
Puh-eong!
At a single blow of Tai Chi Dispersing Hands containing Primordial Qi, a Yin Death Room follower flew away vomiting blood.
However, he did not die. It was because Ok-cheong instinctively withdrew strength from her hand at the last moment.
Not killing even when having the ability to kill. The most fatal weakness in real combat, it was precisely the generosity of placing leniency in one’s strikes.
That was not all.
Yeo-guk, Song Yeon-gyeong, and anyone of the Nine Sects here were not able to properly respond. They were barely blocking thanks to the fundamental difference in strength, but the Yin Death Room’s offensive overflowing with killing intent was flustering them moment by moment.
At this rate, it is only a matter of time before they are defeated. The people who can survive a real battle overflowing with killing intent experienced without any preparation would be extremely few.
Dong-ho, who was trembling, shouted.
“Y-Young Master Yeon! Just what is happening! Somehow…!”
In an instant, Dong-ho’s face turned deadly pale.
Yeon Ho-jeong was standing on that spot with his arms crossed. Around him, three Yin Death Room followers with smashed heads were sprawling carelessly.
The light in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes glaring at Dong-ho was still cold.
He slowly opened his mouth.
“If you don’t want to die, kill.”
Pu-hwaaak!
Deep red blood covered the sky.