Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 160 - Completion of the Four Gods (4)
Chapter 160 – Completion of the Four Gods (4)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Edited by Celestial Knight
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“An outstanding figure is indeed an outstanding figure.”
“…….”
“No, even the expression ‘outstanding figure’ is insufficient. To think a youth who has just passed twenty has already put his body on the martial path of a transcendent, it is truly amazing.”
The old Taoist admired purely.
“I have met countless heroes early on, but I have never seen someone so specialized in martial arts like him. It is understandable that you request teachings under him.”
“Yes.”
Ok-cheong had a particularly cautious demeanor.
However, he says what he has to say.
“Quietly reflecting on it.”
“Um?”
“I observed Army Commander Yeon over the past few months. In my view…….”
He wondered if he really needed to say this.
But Ok-cheong had a personality that couldn’t hold back what he was curious about. If there was something necessary, he didn’t hesitate to put it into action.
Within his soft and gentle personality, there was also such fortitude.
“Actually, I have never thought of him as a genius.”
“You have never thought of him as a genius? What does that mean?”
“That is…….”
Awkwardness arose on Ok-cheong’s face.
“Should I say it felt like a martial art built up not by talent, but by a ridiculous amount of experience.”
“Experience?”
“It’s just a feeling. Rather than becoming stronger through talent, I got the feeling he regained a stage he had previously learned and already knew.”
The old Taoist, the Sect Leader of Wudang, Immortal Seung-hyeon, burst into a hearty laugh.
“Heo-heo, what nonsense. If so, are you saying Army Commander Yeon is a monster who smashed the Wall of Martial Arts’ End when he was even younger than this?”
Ok-cheong scratched his head as if embarrassed.
“Of course it wouldn’t be. That’s why I said it’s a feeling.”
“Whatever it is, it is certain that he is a truly amazing talent. Furthermore, since he established a great merit with a hot-blooded chivalrous heart, the next generation Murim might also revolve around Army Commander Yeon.”
“The probability of that will be high.”
Immortal Seung-hyeon smiled broadly.
“Do you not feel greedy?”
“Yes?”
“Martial Uncle is called the Sword Immortal and is evaluated as the person closest to the Number One Sword Under Heaven. Since you are his disciple, I am asking if you do not rightfully want to become the best.”
Ok-cheong smiled gently.
“You are joking, right? I only wish for the completion of my martial arts, and I have no thoughts of wanting to compete with someone or receive attention.”
“Heo-heo.”
“Then again, maybe that’s why I’m in this shape. Army Commander Yeon said so before. That competitive spirit can also become a driving force for growth.”
“Those are correct words. However, that is not an absolute factor of development.”
“I know. Army Commander Yeon also acknowledged that.”
“Heo-heo-heo.”
He was constantly laughing, but Immortal Seung-hyeon was inwardly surprised at Ok-cheong’s response.
‘Martial Nephew has also changed a lot.’
In the past, Ok-cheong was like a truth-seeker rather than a martial artist. That was a truly commendable thing as a disciple of Wudang.
The Wudang Sect is called the Mount Tai and North Star along with Shaolin, but it was strictly a sect of Daoists pursuing the Dao. Meaning the sword is a means of training, not a means of taking life.
Ok-cheong learned martial arts for study, not to win against someone.
Such an Ok-cheong was now wishing for the completion of his martial arts.
‘He has temporarily deviated from the path of a truth-seeker, but this is also a good thing. I have no doubt he will go around and return to his proper place.’
Immortal Seung-hyeon asked.
“So, when did they say the next scheduled expedition of the Evil-Annihilating Army is?”
“We have not been informed yet.”
“Um, does that mean there is at least a few days of time?”
“It seems difficult to be certain of that as well. You saw it before, right? Departing for expedition immediately as soon as we gathered. I do not know if we will set out this quickly this time as well.”
“Heo-heo, is that so?”
Immortal Seung-hyeon stood up from his seat.
“They say there’s nothing good about being hasty, but since they say there isn’t much time, it would be good to start right away.”
“Yes? Start what?”
“What else, I am trying to look after the martial arts of my young Martial Nephew.”
Ok-cheong’s eyes widened.
“M-Martial Senior Sect Leader personally?”
“Why? Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?”
“N-No! It’s good! It is an honor for me.”
“How bland.”
Immortal Seung-hyeon turned his body.
“Follow me. Watching your changed martial arts, I will fill in the parts that can be filled as much as possible.”
* * *
The drinking party with his father ended earlier than expected.
Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t know his father would drink alcohol so hastily. Even after drinking that much, his posture was upright, but it was drinking almost close to binge drinking.
The drinking that started from the morning ended like that in half a day.
“Huuuuuu.”
Wuu-ung.
As he exhaled, the alcohol qi was automatically discharged.
Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.
‘I can’t control it yet.’
Azure Dragon Qi.
The Azure Dragon Qi, which extremely activated the liver ability, achieved tremendous growth in an instant through mutual generation with the Three Divine Qi. Of course, that was the same for the other three energies as well.
The degree was so severe that it was difficult to even operate it properly. At least at his current level, it was so.
Was it because of that? Yeon Ho-jeong also wanted to get drunk just for this time, but he couldn’t get drunk because the Azure Dragon Qi scattered the entering alcohol qi every moment.
He felt it had been a very long time since he couldn’t freely control his internal energy. Of course, it was a matter he should rightfully be happy about though.
‘I’ll get used to it soon.’
Uncontrollable power inevitably causes problems.
Just as holding a divine weapon doesn’t make a butcher a warrior. What’s important is, of course, handling that power properly as well as the wit of adaptability to utilize it in the right place at the right time.
‘Anyway.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.
‘With this, the true Four Gods Martial Arts has begun.’
How long has it been.
Since he was together with the Four Gods Martial Arts right until regressing, it has been roughly two years.
But why is it? It felt like meeting a friend after a very long time. His gladness was that great.
He fumbled over the Azure Dragon Qi once again.
‘Welcome, Azure Dragon.’
Azure Dragon.
The Azure Dragon is the Wood God of Gap-In symbolizing spring, and takes charge of the liver among the five viscera and six entrails.
The true qi itself aims for recovery and detoxification, and furthermore inviolability, and the arts unfolded with the Azure Dragon Qi were martial arts focused on evasion and self-preservation.
‘I do want to run around a bit though.’
Starting with the Black Tortoise, the techniques of the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird were all obtained in actual combat.
The Azure Dragon was different. At the point he polished the Three Divine Qi, he could already summon the Azure Dragon Qi on his own power.
‘It’ll go well.’
If it’s someone who has trained martial arts to Yeon Ho-jeong’s level, they can immediately use martial arts they know in their head in actual combat. Not to mention martial arts he had unfolded numerously in the past.
“Shall I also rest a bit today.”
Around this time, Murong Yu would be meeting the Tang Clan’s daughter, the Dark Heaven Divine Maiden.
Other than that, there was nothing in particular to pay attention to. Rumors about his martial arts rise would spread wildly, but for today, he even set up a gatekeeper saying the Army-Destroying Pavilion prohibits the entry of outsiders.
Let’s rest. He deserves to rest.
It was when Yeon Ho-jeong stood up from his seat like that.
‘Um?’
He felt the presence of someone walking over.
It was a familiar energy. Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
After a while, Muk Bi appeared on the first floor yawning sluggishly.
“Are you awake now?”
Muk Bi’s eyes immediately changed like a wildcat.
“I owed you a lot earlier.”
“Um? Aha, because of Father?”
Muk Bi shouted with a choked-up expression.
“I’ll never drink alcohol again where Young Master Yeon is……!!”
It was at that time.
“……Uh?”
Muk Bi blinked her eyes frantically.
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“What’s wrong?”
“What is it?”
“What is?”
“…….”
“What is it?”
“…….”
“I’m asking what is it? Why have you become a mute who ate honey?”
Muk Bi swept her eyes up and down Yeon Ho-jeong with blank eyes.
Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.
“What’s there to see that you’re sweeping me like that?”
“H-How can you be like that?”
“Speak so a person can easily understand.”
“You became stronger?!”
It’s a truly intuitive word choice.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head.
“Yeah.”
“My goodness……!”
It was a face where the sleepiness had completely flown away.
She couldn’t help it. The change in Yeon Ho-jeong that Muk Bi saw was to the extent that it wouldn’t be insufficient to even use the word transformation.
Muk Bi swallowed her saliva without realizing it.
‘Incredible!’
Yeon Ho-jeong standing with a languid face.
Even his posture had changed a little. Even up until this morning, he was standing with a solid posture without a single opening, but now he was showing a somewhat loose and flexible appearance.
The sloppiness coming from that flexibility is also expressed in other words as naturalness.
It wasn’t a matter of enlightenment. The qi dwelling in Yeon Ho-jeong’s body automatically created such a posture.
The posture where true qi can be operated most efficiently.
“Just what method did you use to…….”
“What method is there. The diligent training I did during this time finally bloomed.”
“…….”
“It’s good you brought it up. Don’t pointlessly get tangled up with Ah-yeon and chug alcohol, and pull your bowstring diligently in that time. I hope you climb up to this place where I’m standing even a day sooner.”
Muk Bi looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with trembling eyes.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“You can do it too. As long as you don’t get impatient.”
“……Will that really be so?”
Of course.
“I believe in you. There’s no way you can’t do what I did.”
He wasn’t saying it to implant confidence in her. It was the truth.
In the first place, her level of talent is different. Furthermore, unlike the past, aren’t there many people to help her now.
She would be able to climb faster, to a higher place.
“Tch.”
Muk Bi slumped down on the flat wooden bench.
“I feel somewhat deflated.”
“Eong?”
Muk Bi chuckled.
“Because I wanted to win against Young Master Yeon in at least one thing. If possible, I wanted to win with martial arts.”
“What are you going to do winning against an empty shell like me?”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course it’s a lie. You have a long way to go to surpass me in anything, you brat.”
“Hmph.”
“Now you even know how to snort, you’ve really grown up.”
“I say it repeatedly but I’m older. And what does age matter in snorting?”
“I just said it.”
In the end, a pleasant laugh also hovered on Muk Bi’s face.
But that was also brief.
“Uh? But.”
“Why?”
“Others don’t know yet, right?”
“What?”
“That Young Master Yeon became that strong.”
“Ah, this is…….”
“Clan Head Murong from before? You sparred with that person and all sorts of people flocked over, didn’t they.”
“……?!”
“Then again, they probably didn’t. There’s no way they would do such a foolish thing again after suffering heavily once…….”
“…….”
“……Does everyone else know?”
“Th-that is…….”
Yeon Ho-jeong forced a smile.
“Wouldn’t it be different from before? Hey, even though I look like this, I crossed the Wall of Martial Arts’ End. Do you know the Wall of Martial Arts’ End? You have to cross that wall to be called a supreme peak master. Although it’s still the beginning stages, it’s a stage of a somewhat high level…….”
“I’m not asking.”
“…….”
“I see. It must have already spread throughout the entire Alliance.”
“Heo-heo.”
Yeon Ho-jeong stroked Muk Bi’s hair.
“It’s okay, my friend. The situation is completely different from back then. Back then, well, they must have rushed in thinking it’s worth fighting out of overflowing competitive spirit, but now? Not now. There aren’t that many people who would exchange moves with me…….”
It was at that time.
“Army Commander Yeon!”
The true qi of Taiji lingered in the resounding voice.
“Army Commander Yeon, are you inside? This poor Taoist is called Seung-hyeon of Wudang. If it’s okay, let’s see your face!”
Muk Bi spoke sourly.
“The start is always Wudang?”
“…….”
“What are you doing? Answer quickly. An elder is calling.”
Amazing.