Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 63 - The Eldest Son of Green Mountain (3)
Chapter 63 – The Eldest Son of Green Mountain (3)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Heok!”
“Wha-what was that? A tiger?!”
People were startled by the sudden, terrifying roar.
They could not tell where it was coming from, but it was clearly the roar of a tiger.
However, that roar was far too loud. It spread out in all directions like a thunderclap, and just hearing it made one’s knees tremble.
Half of the people walking in the main street of Kaifeng collapsed on the spot. Their legs had lost all strength.
“A tiger, it’s a tiger!”
“E-escape!”
“Aaaaak! Get out of the way!”
The commotion grew rapidly. In any era, a tiger calamity was treated as a disaster as terrifying as smallpox.
In an instant, the street became a mess. Merchants hurriedly closed their doors, and people walking the streets ran away without looking back.
The commotion occurred even though the street was quite far from the bamboo forest. It was an overwhelming roar to that extent.
‘No.’
However, a young man who was drinking tea on the top floor of a luxurious tavern in Kaifeng could be certain that this roar did not belong to a tiger.
‘This is not something like a tiger.’
Amazement appeared on the young man’s face.
‘Such energy?!’
The sound that erupted carried an incredible energy.
He had never felt such energy before. Infinite madness that shook heaven and earth coexisted with mysterious dignity.
A sound resembling the roar of a tiger. However, a presence that could not even be compared to a tiger’s roar.
‘Uncle?!’
He was certain. The source of this energy was spreading from the bamboo forest where his uncle, who led the Home-Protector Hall, had headed.
However, neither his uncle nor the warriors of the Home-Protector Hall emitted such energy.
Pak!
The young man leaped out of the window.
* * *
Kwang!
After taking a ferocious blow, Myeong Chi-san’s body slid backward.
‘This!’
Myeong Chi-san’s face was deathly pale.
The complexions of the fallen Home-Protector Hall warriors were even worse. Their faces, more than just pale, were turned blue and stained with fear.
There were even warriors who were foaming at the mouth. They had suffered mental damage from the monstrous roar that erupted right in front of them.
Swaaaaaaaa!
The wind grew increasingly stronger.
A strong wind blew into the bamboo forest where a gentle breeze had been blowing. Dozens of upright bamboo trees swayed continuously as if they would break at any moment.
Jjuruk.
Myeong Chi-san looked down at his hand gripping the saber handle with trembling eyes.
The web of his hand was torn and bleeding. His hand, which was protected by the Myeong Clan’s Eastern Heaven Art, had not been able to resolve all the impact of this blow.
‘It is terrifying.’
Power that amplified suddenly.
Myeong Chi-san looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.
Hwiiiiiiiiing!!
A wild wind blew around Yeon Ho-jeong, who stood with his head bowed.
It was a wild wind and a gust. The bamboo leaves on the ground swirled around Yeon Ho-jeong and soared high into the sky.
And that wind.
The wind, which should not have been visible to the naked eye, somehow seemed to contain a pure white light.
“Hup!”
Thick veins stood out on Yeon Ho-jeong’s entire body after he took a deep breath, and they repeatedly subsided.
Joy dwelled on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
‘It’s done.’
The breath he inhaled contained a much more abundant energy than before.
His lung capacity increased rapidly. His cardiopulmonary strength, which had been improved through rigorous training, was changing ideally.
It was as if his lungs alone had undergone a rebirth. His lungs, which had become sturdy beyond comparison to before, made him feel confident that he could run ten li with just a handful of breath.
Wiiiiiiiiing!
His lungs were filled with white true qi.
‘White Tiger Qi!’
White Tiger.
The White Tiger of the Four Gods is the Metal God of Geng Yin and symbolizes autumn. Among the internal organs, it is in charge of the lungs and maintains the robustness of the body.
[TL Note- Geng Yin is the 27th combination in the Chinese sexagenary cycle used to mark years, months, days, and hours, signifying “Yang Metal Tiger”.]
It was different from the Black Tortoise. While the Black Tortoise excreted turbid qi, the White Tiger maximized the energy taken in through the lungs and spread it throughout the body.
Uduk! Ududuk!
It felt as if his muscles and bones were changing.
If one did not breathe properly, the flesh and bones would be harmed. Conversely, if breathing became active, the quality of the flesh and bones would rise.
That was precisely the White Tiger. It pursued attack and advancement with extreme physical strength and vigorous breathing.
This was the reason why Yeon Ho-jeong had done such rigorous physical training. It was because the White Tiger Qi was difficult to call out if the physical foundation was not sturdy.
The guardian god of the Western Heaven. The ruler of the wind.
It was the manifestation of the White Tiger, the Great Emperor of the West.
“You!”
Myeong Chi-san shouted.
“What kind of evil art is that!”
Teooong!
Myeong Chi-san, who kicked off the ground, rushed toward Yeon Ho-jeong. He saw an opening in him as he stood still.
Kwang!
Myeong Chi-san’s eyes grew wide.
At the moment he kicked off the ground and took the next step, Yeon Ho-jeong was already rushing toward him.
‘This!’
He was far too fast. And he was strong. The power of the stomp transmitted through the earth was so immense that it seemed it would shake even a great mountain.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s axe was brandished diagonally.
Jjeong!
“Urgh!”
It was monstrous strength.
It was a power completely different from before. The density of the power transcended imagination.
Myeong Chi-san, who was pushed back by the strong pressure, hurriedly prepared an attack.
However, he was late this time as well.
Kwang! Kwang!
It was a terrifying advancement.
He advanced while striking the earth with his feet. It was an intimidating momentum with explosive physical strength. A dangerously murderous intent was being emitted as if a great tiger was jumping in.
This was Yeon Ho-jeong’s true martial art. It was the martial art of the Dark Emperor, who had gained notoriety for his ruinous offensive power and non-retreating combat ability during his time as the Dark Emperor.
The pure white White Tiger Qi had already permeated his axe, which had been stained with blue energy.
Jjeong! Jjeeeong!
Each blow, each blow created a massive shockwave. Myeong Chi-san’s broadsword repeatedly bent as if it would break.
‘He is too strong!’
The energy emitted from the axe was as violent as a wave.
This was something that could not be handled. The storm-like force generated by the axe seemed ready to sweep away heaven and earth.
Kwang! Teooong!
Furthermore, that footwork.
He did not seem to have evasion or counterattack in mind. It was only advancement, and advancement again. Moreover, he was amplifying the power of the axe twice or three times by maximizing the power of the stomp.
Liveliness returned to Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.
‘Good.’
The footwork of the White Tiger, White Tiger’s Sovereign Step.
It was on a different track from the Black Tortoise’s Mysterious Pillar Immobility. There was no retreat or defense in the White Tiger’s martial arts.
And even the weapon techniques.
Jjejejejeong! Kwang!
“Keo-heok!”
Finally, a groan mixed with a scream erupted from Myeong Chi-san’s mouth.
‘What kind of martial art is this?!’
It was not spearmanship, nor was it a saber method.
Yet, it was strong. It was much stronger, much more sophisticated, and much more ferocious than the martial arts he had used before calling that strange wind.
It was the Sovereign Tiger’s Nine Thunderclaps which erupted after receiving power from the White Tiger’s Sovereign Step. It was a high-dimensional offensive martial art that was the basis of the Wild Beast Spear technique, but could not even be compared to it.
Kwa-jik! Kwaduduk! Peooong!
Myeong Chi-san retreated continuously.
Even though he tried to escape, he could not. The wild wind blowing from all directions restricted his physical freedom. In the midst of it, he had no choice but to keep being pushed back as the opponent advanced like an unstoppable bull.
However, he could not be pushed back forever. If it continued like this, his head would be blown off by the axe without even being able to counterattack once.
Myeong Chi-san roared.
“Aaaaah!”
Boom!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s axe faltered.
It was the secret technique of the Thousand-Sight Divine Saber unfolded with the Eastern Heaven Art. In a short moment, he managed to use the secret technique and escape the danger.
“You bastard!”
Since I have escaped the attack, it is my turn now. Myeong Chi-san’s sword seemed to say so.
Paaaaang!
The fast and violent Thousand-Sight Divine Saber rushed toward Yeon Ho-jeong’s entire body.
It was such a fast and violent saber method. He had succeeded in drawing it out, but the White Tiger Qi had not fully settled. It seemed it would be difficult to block it easily.
At that moment, the Black Tortoise Qi popped out.
Uuung! Jjejejejeong!
“Urgh!”
Myeong Chi-san felt an impact that felt like his wrist would break.
‘Wha-what?!’
A dark blue-black haze rose from the body of Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been calling the blue-white wind.
It was the invincible defense, North Heaven Twelve Walls. It was an absolute defense following an explosive attack.
The White Tiger takes charge of advancement and attack during battle.
The Black Tortoise repels threats with a defense like an iron fortress.
It was offense and defense, offense and defense as one. He who had obtained a shield of steel but had not held a decent weapon, had finally held a divine weapon no less than the shield.
Tu-wu-ung!
After defense came attack. Stepping forward again toward the bounced-off Myeong Chi-san, he swung the iron axe.
Kwang!
Blood burst from Myeong Chi-san’s nose and mouth.
It was an internal injury. He had blocked the attack, but the impact shook his entire body.
Yeon Ho-jeong did not stop.
Stepping each step of the White Tiger’s Sovereign Step, he used the divine attacks of the Sovereign Tiger’s Nine Thunderclaps.
Kwang! Kwareung! Kwang!
Bamboo trees fell in heaps. The blood Myeong Chi-san vomited became increasingly more.
‘I am losing….’
A battle that was reversed in an instant.
‘To think such a fellow exists.’
He blocked the attacks with instinctive responses, but his strength gradually drained.
On the contrary, the opponent’s martial arts were becoming increasingly stronger. As if slowly fitting into clothes that did not fit, the attacks were becoming sophisticated at a terrifying speed.
‘…?!’
At some point, Myeong Chi-san saw an illusion.
It felt as if a pure white Tiger God was rising like a haze behind the opponent’s back.
‘A monster?!’
There was a rare beast with four legs larger than palace pillars, a tail thicker than rafters, a long neck, and the face of a wild beast.
The black stripes crossing the snow-white fur were like mountain ranges drawn by a painter. The two blue eyes were phosphorescent light, and the gently curved canines were steel swords.
The sovereign of the Western Heaven, who resembled a tiger but was strangely different, and was much more mysterious and dignified than that, was looking down at him.
It was the Four Gods, the White Tiger.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Myeong Chi-san vomited blood and struck down his sword toward the top of Yeon Ho-jeong’s head.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s axe went up from the bottom to the top.
Puhwahk! Kaaang!
From the right thigh to the left shoulder, it was split wide open. The broadsword he held in his hand snapped in the middle.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who struck the axe upward, struck it down just as it was.
Myeong Chi-san’s eyes became empty.
That massive axe being struck down was a claw brandished by the Tiger God.
Peooock!
The axe that crushed the skull dug into Myeong Chi-san’s solar plexus.
It was the conclusion.
Puh-s-s-s-s.
“Hup.”
Taking a breath and pulling the axe out of Myeong Chi-san’s body, Yeon Ho-jeong looked down at him with cold eyes.
‘He was a powerhouse.’
Myeong Chi-san was of a similar type to his father. He was a martial artist who had perfectly mastered offense and defense regardless of the level of his martial arts.
Because he was such a person, he could call out the White Tiger more easily than expected. He was an enemy he was grateful for, if he had to be grateful.
Yeon Ho-jeong looked back.
Almost a hundred bamboo trees had fallen. It was a trace of pushing Myeong Chi-san in a straight line.
And beyond that, there was one Home-Protector Hall warrior who had not fallen.
“T-this cannot be.”
Myeong Chi-san, a master representing the Pure White Martial Soldiers.
Such a master was pushed and killed by a rising star who had not even reached twenty. An unbelievable thing had happened.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who walked slowly, stood three zhang in front of the warrior.
He pointed his axe at the warrior.
“Are you a Myeong?”
The warrior shook his head despite himself. It felt as if that was the only way he could live.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded, then suddenly swung his axe.
Kwang!
An explosion erupted in a place where bamboo was particularly dense.
Yeon Ho-jeong said coldly.
“Come out.”
“…It makes my bones ache.”
The person who revealed himself from behind the shattered bamboo was a young man who looked to be in his late twenties.
The young man, Myeong Gang-rim, asked with a stiff face.
“You, just what is your identity?”
Yeon Ho-jeong laughed brightly.
“You are a Myeong indeed.”