Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 176 - Destiny (1)
Chapter 176 – Destiny (1)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army entered Shandong in ten days.
It would have been faster if they had used their movement techniques, but they needed to prepare in case a fight broke out, as they would have to fight with depleted stamina. They strictly moved by riding warhorses.
Surprisingly, there was no particular friction between the two mobile units for ten days.
The lack of clashes despite having different affiliations meant that they were being controlled that well. Of course, since each individual was a carefully selected martial artist, they would have had their own sense of restraint.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.
A cool wind blew over the vast expanses of Shandong’s earth.
“The air is different.”
Since the region was different, the terrain was different, and since the terrain was different, the climate was also different.
The wind of Shandong was cool yet held a strange moisture. Although it was a place far away from the seaside, it felt like there was a salty scent for no reason.
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Muk Bi.
Muk Bi’s face was strangely stiff.
“Are you thinking of the old days?”
“Pardon?”
“You said Sun-Piercing Valley was in Mount Tai. I am asking if you are thinking of Sun-Piercing Valley.”
Muk Bi smiled bitterly.
“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t thinking about it. It does feel strange.”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“It is a severed tie already. You can’t help it right now, but it would be better to make a habit of forgetting it from now on.”
“I plan to.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smacked Muk Bi’s back.
Smack!
“Ack! It hurts!”
“Keep your stomach tight as we go.”
“I’m nervous even without you saying that! Ouch, it hurts. You’re just absurdly strong.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s face became a little serious.
“It’s fine for us since we’ve synchronized our teamwork for a few months, but there could easily be casualties in the Demon-Sweeping Army.”
Muk Bi’s face also became serious in tandem.
“The enemy’s combat power is not to be underestimated. It can’t be helped. Even if they haven’t learned martial arts, a thousand trained swordsmen are a threat in themselves.”
“That’s right. Besides, their affiliations aren’t divided like ours.”
“Exactly. From what I heard, the Gray Wolf Squad’s history is over ten years. There are few bandit groups in history that have grown that much in ten years. If such guys fight as one body, they will be stronger than imagined.”
Yeon Ho-jeong scanned the Demon-Sweeping Army.
“Your role in this fight is not to kill the enemy, but to protect our allies.”
Muk Bi nodded.
“Understood.”
“Who is capable of close combat and defense in the main army?”
“Ok-cheong is excellent at defense, and Cheok-gang is excellent at close combat.”
“I will attach those two to you, so you must unconditionally occupy the highest ground before arriving at the battlefield. Once you have breathing room, focus on annihilating the enemy from then on. Understood?”
“Annihilation fire after suppressing fire. I understand.”
“Good. I leave it to you.”
Muk Bi looked at Yeon Ho-jeong as if it was unexpected.
“That’s unexpected?”
“What is?”
“Leaving it to me… It doesn’t seem like a phrase that suits Young Master Yeon.”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“Even with a lot of real combat experience, you are a novice if you haven’t moved with a large-scale force. And those novices have become our allies. It is natural since the lives of our allies are on the line.”
“…Allies.”
Muk Bi looked around the lined-up Demon-Sweeping Army.
Most of the soldiers making up the Demon-Sweeping Army were experts who were already making a name for themselves in the Jianghu.
As experts who were active in various parts of the world, their ages and personalities varied greatly. Such people were emitting a considerable military discipline under Murong Yu’s strict control.
‘Amazing.’
Muk Bi looked at Murong Yu.
Murong Yu’s appearance, looking down at the land of Shandong from a distance, was like a painting.
‘He is not simply strong in martial arts, but his ability to captivate the soldiers under his command is also excellent.’
Now Muk Bi also knew. How difficult it was to control people.
The number of soldiers making up the Evil-Annihilating Army was a little under fifty. To control those under fifty people, Yeon Ho-jeong made them experience real combat from the beginning.
Even so, there were moments during the training period when they were not properly controlled. Yeon Ho-jeong patiently interacted with them and naturally turned them into an elite force.
‘Does it mean his ability to lead a group is actually superior to Young Master Yeon’s?’
Muk Bi shook her head inwardly.
That was not known yet. However, she could not help but acknowledge his ability to captivate five hundred soldiers with strong personalities in just a few days at the age of thirty.
‘Let’s stop thinking useless thoughts. We came here to annihilate the enemy. I just need to focus on achieving the mission.’
When Muk Bi gathered her mind like that, Yeon Ho-jeong approached Murong Yu.
“Are you going to move right away?”
“I should.”
“It’s a war of speed from now on. Since it’s their first real combat, you will have to pay attention to controlling the soldiers.”
Murong Yu glanced at Yeon Ho-jeong.
“Did you do that too, Brother Yeon?”
“Do what?”
“I mean being nervous.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“I was nervous. Thinking what to do if even one guy died in the first real combat.”
“Fortunately, there were no casualties in the Evil-Annihilating Army.”
“Their skills were originally good. They were also lucky.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shone.
“But casualties can happen at any time. Brace yourself firmly.”
“I am doing so. The problem is that I am still nervous.”
Murong Yu took a deep breath.
“Now, shall we get going?”
“Good.”
Neeeigh!
The two warhorses, having let out a fierce cry, stomped their feet vigorously. Then, the soldiers of the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating armies each raised their reins.
Rumble.
The Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army, having come down the slope, ran at a terrifying speed.
There were quite a few Orthodox path sects all over Shandong. Thanks to the official document sent by the Murim Alliance, they were able to receive high-quality fodder and meals no matter which sect they stopped by.
Like that, five days passed.
The place where the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army, which had entered the center of Shandong in an instant, stopped was the Beggars’ Gang’s Shandong Jinan Branch.
“The location has changed.”
“Changed?”
“The Gray Wolf Squad, which had been hiding in the Zhangqiu area until just a few days ago, has disappeared. And the place they appeared again is near Dongying.”
Dongying was one of the easternmost counties in Shandong Province, adjacent to the East Sea.
“Why did they suddenly move? The superiors clearly said they would stay for about a month?”
“We don’t know the exact reason yet. But since they are a bandit group, there is a risk that villages near Dongying will be attacked.”
“Damn it.”
“Just in case, we sent members of the Beggars’ Gang to the area, but we haven’t received contact yet.”
Murong Yu looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong said with a stiff face.
“There’s nothing bad about being careful, but it feels somewhat uncomfortable.”
It was then.
“Commander.”
The two people turned their heads.
Zhuge Ah-yeon was there. Since it was a public setting, she used polite language to Yeon Ho-jeong.
Zhuge Ah-yeon said.
“You said the Gray Wolf Squad’s combat power was much greater than expected, right?”
“I did.”
“There is a quite famous force situated near Dongying in Shandong.”
Murong Yu tilted his head.
“Was there a famous sect in Dongying?”
“It’s not a sect, but a merchant group. The headquarters of the Sea Dragon Merchant Group is in Dongying.”
“…!”
“Just in case, I think it would be better to contact the Sea Dragon Merchant Group. They will definitely help.”
“Or.”
Everyone looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“The Gray Wolf Squad’s target could be the Sea Dragon Merchant Group.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon spoke with a doubting expression.
“The Sea Dragon Merchant Group is one of the largest merchant groups in Shandong. If they mess with them, the matter could become incredibly huge. Would the Gray Wolf Squad deliberately do such a thing?”
“I think it’s not impossible.”
“Why?”
“You can tell by looking at the reaction of the Demon-Sweeping Army Commander.”
Murong Yu blinked.
“My reaction?”
“Did you know about the Sea Dragon Merchant Group?”
“Ah, of course.”
“But why couldn’t you think of the Sea Dragon Merchant Group even after hearing that the Gray Wolf Squad was heading to Dongying?”
“That’s…”
Murong Yu was flustered.
“They are a merchant group rather than a faction of the Murim…”
He could not finish his sentence.
Surprise lingered on Zhuge Ah-yeon’s face.
“You see? Most reactions are like this. If it’s not a Murim sect, no matter how famous a merchant group or bank is, they don’t pay that much attention.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
“In other words, it means it’s not that strange for the Gray Wolf Squad to attack the Sea Dragon Merchant Group.”
“B-but the Gray Wolf Squad is a bandit group. There’s no way those guys have the same level of insight as you, Commander…”
“Whether they have insight or not, the important thing is that there is a possibility.”
Murong Yu shouted.
“All members of the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army, prepare to march!”
Neeeigh!
Tension fell upon the eyes of the soldiers who quickly mounted their horses.
They were nervous even though they were going to annihilate a mere bandit group. Even though prideful Murim warriors would definitely scoff at it.
That was how well Yeon Ho-jeong and Murong Yu had ingrained the Gray Wolf Squad’s combat power into them. In the first place, steadily expanding their influence for ten years made them a sufficiently dangerous organization.
“Let’s go!”
Rumble!
The five hundred and fifty soldiers sprinted at a terrifying speed more than ever before.
Zhuge Ah-yeon drove her horse next to Yeon Ho-jeong.
“If those guys really mess with the Sea Dragon Merchant Group, it won’t be an ordinary disaster!”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked back at Zhuge Ah-yeon.
Zhuge Ah-yeon shouted again with an anxious face.
“The Sea Dragon Merchant Group is one of the pillars of commerce in Shandong Province! If the Sea Dragon Merchant Group collapses, Shandong’s commerce will shake, and if Shandong’s commerce shakes, the Shandong Murim will also shake together!”
The fact that an entire region could fluctuate depending on the rise and fall of one force.
That was the world. It was the same principle as a small wind blowing from the south turning into a storm in the north.
The world has changed like that. The Murim also could not escape from such principles.
“It means we must stop them no matter what.”
“Unconditionally!”
How long had they run like that.
“Evil-Annihilating Army Commander!”
Murong Yu shouted.
“Urgent report! A group of one hundred and fifty, presumed to be the Gray Wolf Squad, is heading to Heyun Village southeast of Dongying!”
“Where is the Gray Wolf Squad’s main base!”
“Five li in front of the Sea Dragon Merchant Group!”
Yeon Ho-jeong ground his teeth.
‘These damn bastards are making my head hurt.’
Would this also be a strategy if it was the bandit group’s strategy?
It was an evil trick to split the forces that might have followed them. If it was the Black Path, they wouldn’t attack, and if it was the Orthodox Path, they revered chivalry, so there was no way they would tolerate a civilian attack.
“We will go to Heyun Village!”
Yeon Ho-jeong and Murong Yu’s eyes met in the air.
The gazes of the two leaders intertwined with an unknown trust.
“Clean them up and join us immediately!”
Yeon Ho-jeong bowed his head.
“I receive the Grand Commander’s orders!”
A short command, and a certain answer.
Muk Bi, who watched the conversation and actions of the two people from behind, felt her heart pound for no reason.
As if they had been coordinating their teamwork for a long time.
As if they had originally promised to do so, as if they had been in a lord and vassal relationship from the beginning.
The sight of the two people giving orders without hesitation and answering as if it were natural had a magical power that made the onlookers feel a strange sense of relief.
Vwoooong!
Pure white true qi surged from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.
Fwoosh!
Fierce and powerful true qi stretched out in all directions. It was a wave of qi with terrifying spirit.
Yeon Ho-jeong shouted.
“All members of the Evil-Annihilating Army, prepare for battle!”
Chaaang!
At the resonant shout that rivaled the roar of a great tiger, all the soldiers of the Evil-Annihilating Army drew their weapons.
The Demon-Sweeping Army, headed by Murong Yu, was startled. The free-spirited aura they had shown while coming all the way here suddenly transformed into a fierceness full of killing intent.
The tremendous spirit emitted by the fifty elite soldiers.
It was the overwhelming military discipline of the Evil-Annihilating Army, forged through countless real battles and slaughter, which the current Demon-Sweeping Army did not have.
“Let’s go!”
The Evil-Annihilating Army, having broken away from the formation, sprinted towards Heyun Village at a terrifying speed.