Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 124

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 124
“Then let’s do it.”
It was a refreshingly straightforward answer, or perhaps a tediously simple one.
That was so like him.
‘I knew it would be like this.’
It was different from when I brought Geum Seok-du and Namgung Sohwa.
Both of them had complicated histories and were entangled in more ways than one.
I had grown quite weary from pushing and pulling, questioning and testing, but this one required none of that.
He fights boldly, and if something appeals to him, he moves. That’s all there is to him.
“Then let’s go right now. First—”
“But I’m not drawn to it at the moment.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Are you mocking me?”
“You misunderstand.”
“Then what is it?”
Cheolmu-baek spoke matter-of-factly.
“I simply do not follow those weaker than myself.”
Dokgo Myeong faltered.
Cheolmu-baek continued.
“I understand you differ from other weak ones, yet your body appears similarly small and frail as theirs.”
“…What did you just say?”
“You don’t appear much different from other Zhongyuan people. Thin limbs, a diminutive frame. I see no signs of physical conditioning in your body.”
In that instant, veins bulged across Dokgo Myeong’s forehead.
“What are you spouting? Look at these forearms! Despite how I look, I’ve trained my external martial arts so much—”
“Thin.”
“…!”
“Very thin.”
“…!”
At that blunt assessment, Dokgo Myeong bristled.
“You bastard! You’re just a brute with an oversized frame! What do you mean thin!”
He could endure anything else, but not this.
This was a body built through blood and sweat. So what? Diminutive? Thin?
‘This bastard… he’s scratching my nerves in the most ingenious way.’
Seeing the flames dancing in Dokgo Myeong’s eyes, Cheolmu-baek tilted his head.
“Why are you angry?”
“You don’t know why?”
“Zhongyuan speech is difficult. I merely stated what I observed.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eye twitched.
“Wow… I really… Ha! This is absurd. Haha!”
After laughing hollowly for a long while, Dokgo Myeong’s expression suddenly hardened completely.
“Fine, then. Go ahead and try getting hit by these scrawny forearms!”
Dokgo Myeong clenched his fists tightly.
And just as he was about to take a step forward, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent—
“This way!”
“The explosion came from over there!”
“Could it be the inner prison? That area is definitely….”
“Report to the Sect Leader first and summon the troops!”
Clamorous shouts echoed from the passage.
Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue.
“Damn it.”
Whoosh!
His murderous aura dissipated in an instant.
Cheolmu-baek gestured toward the bent iron bars and spoke.
“I’ll take responsibility for breaking the bars.”
“Fine, then. You just wait. I’m going to fold that massive frame of yours in half.”
“I’ll be waiting at the Fighting Arena.”
Dokgo Myeong ground his teeth and hurled himself out the door.
The disciples of the Hyeoldo Sect who rushed in moments later flinched at the sight of Cheolmu-baek.
Cheolmu-baek simply uttered a few brief words.
“I broke it. Don’t be alarmed. It’s nothing.”
His expression unchanged, he left with his usual taciturn manner.
The disciples of the Hyeoldo Sect swallowed hard.
“B-but still….”
“Enough. Call someone to treat his injuries.”
“A physician, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“Why….”
“Cracked ribs.”
With those words, Cheolmu-baek strode back into the darkness.
He clutched at his aching side.
* * *
Dokgo Ak paced nervously in the guest chamber, biting at his fingernails.
Two unnamed martial artists had begun their match at the Fighting Arena, yet Dokgo Myeong still hadn’t returned.
“Why is this bastard taking so long….”
“Please calm yourself. At least he hasn’t caused any trouble yet.”
“How can you be so sure of that, Geum Seok-du?”
“We haven’t heard any sounds of things breaking or exploding. Your brother always breaks something before he even starts.”
“….”
That was a fair point.
Namgung Sohwa rested her chin on her hand and spoke with indifference.
“I’ll handle it. You’re all wound up—why don’t you calm down a bit?”
Dokgo Ak exhaled heavily and slumped into a chair.
“…Very well. Besides, that madman isn’t completely thoughtless.”
“What madman?”
“Huh?”
At the sudden voice, Dokgo Ak’s head snapped around.
Dokgo Myeong came bounding into the VIP chamber’s front area, which opened directly onto the Fighting Arena.
“Dokgo Myeong!”
“That’s right. It’s me, you bastard.”
Dokgo Myeong carelessly stripped off his night clothes and tossed them aside.
Then he fixed Dokgo Ak with a cold stare.
“Little brother. Your older brother is grieved. So you’ve been talking behind my back.”
“What?”
“I heard everything. You’re dead meat.”
Dokgo Ak’s face went pale.
Namgung Sohwa let out a hollow laugh and spoke.
“Everything went smoothly? Did you finish what you went to do?”
“It went well. Or, wait—did it go well?”
Dokgo Myeong’s brow furrowed sharply.
“I was planning to just bring him back and head to the Auction House, but it didn’t turn out to be that simple.”
The other three widened their eyes.
Dokgo Myeong exhaled sharply through his nose and crossed his arms, looking at Geum Seok-du.
“First, Seok-du. Wake up that rat.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Geum Seok-du strode over and began tapping Hodal-saeng’s cheek.
“Wake up.”
“Ugh, ugh…”
“Come to your senses… Tsk, this is ridiculous.”
Geum Seok-du put more force into his slaps.
Crack!
“Ahhhhh…!”
Hodal-saeng shot upright.
“Yeah, a good smack to the face works every time.”
“Wh-what? Wha…”
Hodal-saeng blinked groggily, cradling his stinging cheek.
Dokgo Myeong asked immediately.
“Hodal-saeng. Did you really find no way to fight Mu-baek?”
“Y-yes? What do you…”
“Should I bring poison again? Get your head straight.”
Hodal-saeng tilted his head in confusion.
“Wait, who is Mu-baek?”
Ah, right. That bastard only reveals his name to those he acknowledges, so it makes sense he wouldn’t be known here.
“The man running an undefeated streak in the Fighting Arena. The Invincible, the Blue-eyed Demon—that’s Mu-baek’s name.”
“Ah, I see.”
Hodal-saeng nodded, then slowly crawled forward and suddenly grabbed Dokgo Myeong by the trouser leg.
“Oh no! Great Master! There truly is no way! Please, I beg you, spare me!”
Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue.
“Really? There’s truly no way?”
“I swear! There’s truly no way!”
Hodal-saeng’s expression was genuinely desperate. It seemed there really was no solution.
‘Tsk, what do I do?’
That bastard Cheolmu-baek never changes his mind once he’s decided something. If he said we fight in the arena, then we have no choice but to fight there.
Meanwhile, watching Dokgo Myeong’s expression grow increasingly grave, Hodal-saeng’s skin turned ashen.
“Great Master! I’m serious! The Fighting Arena isn’t just any arena! To enter, you must be nominated as a challenger by the core executives of the Paedobyeon or by a sect, and how could someone like me have connections with such exalted figures!”
“Hm?”
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
“What did you just say?”
“That I have no connections….”
“No, before that.”
“The part about being nominated as a challenger?”
“Nominated? Nominated… Oho.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed.
“Then do you happen to know when that bastard’s fight is scheduled?”
“The Invincible, you mean? Today is the fifth day, so… it should be the day after tomorrow. But why on earth are you asking….”
“Which sect’s challenger is it?”
“A top-tier ronin hired by the Hyeolsa Sect. A man of exactly twenty years old who’s considered to have reached his peak….”
“So the Hyeolsa Sect Leader came too?”
“Yes, of course. On the day, he’ll be watching from the VIP chamber.”
“Then… what’s the Hyeolsa Sect Leader’s level rumored to be?”
“A clear master of the peak realm, though the consensus is he’s past his prime at nearly sixty years old. But why do you ask?”
“Hmm, is that so? The day after tomorrow, then? Tsk, this is perfect….”
Dokgo Myeong let out a low chuckle: “Hehehehe!”
Geum Seok-du and Dokgo Ak froze like stone. Even Namgung Sohwa, who had experienced this calamity called Dokgo Myeong less than the other two, felt an inexplicable chill.
“Ak-i, Sohwa, Seok-du. I need you three to help me.”
“Y-yes?”
“W-what is it, exactly?”
“….”
“Hey! Why are you all so scared? It’s nothing big. I’m telling you it’s really nothing!”
The eyes of all three wavered.
It seemed like it would be something big.
And quite dramatically at that.
* * *
The simplest plans are always the best. That was Dokgo Myeong’s philosophy.
On the battlefield, complex plans rarely unfold as intended unless the enemy wants them to.
Therefore, a plan needed to be loose enough to accommodate improvisation. The gaps had to be filled in as circumstances demanded.
In other words, once the objective was set, there was no looking back—only charging forward.
‘I came to Maneungga for two reasons.’
A certain object sleeping in the Auction House’s storehouse.
And that bastard Cheolmu-baek.
My objectives were already decided. All that remained was to charge ahead.
On the day the fight in the Fighting Arena was scheduled.
Dokgo Myeong woke late and finished preparing to depart.
“After such thorough and meticulous planning, it seems the time has finally come to conclude my stay here.”
At Dokgo Myeong’s words, everyone in the group wore expressions of exasperation.
‘Is he really going through with that plan?’
‘Wait, is this okay? Can we really proceed like this?’
‘Father….’
The murmurs came in turn from Geum Seok-du, Dokgo Ak, and Namgung Sohwa.
And there was one more—a man whose face had grown pallid and sickly.
“Ugh… Great Master… please, the antidote…”
It was Hodal-saeng, whose complexion worsened with each passing day.
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Yes, our Hodal-saeng. You’ve suffered enough. It’s time I let you go.”
“Is that… truly so?”
“Come here.”
At Dokgo Myeong’s gesture, Hodal-saeng approached hesitantly.
Dokgo Myeong placed an arm around Hodal-saeng’s shoulder.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Don’t you want the antidote?”
“No, I do. I’m grateful. I’m happy we’ve grown close, Great Master.”
“You have good instincts as always.”
Dokgo Myeong smiled wickedly and held out a pouch containing the antidote to the flinching Hodal-saeng.
“Go on, take the medicine first.”
“Yes!”
Hodal-saeng eagerly opened the pouch and swallowed the antidote inside.
Fortunately, it was genuine. Hodal-saeng’s face became one that looked ready to cry at any moment.
“Thank you, Great Master! You are a man of your word, a true gentleman!”
“Of course I’m a gentleman, but don’t get too excited.”
“Pardon?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled and pulled Hodal-saeng’s body close.
And I whispered softly into his ear.
“By the time we leave this place, you’ll receive a death warrant from the Hyeoldo Sect.”
“…!?”
“We’re about to cause quite a stir before we depart. No matter how things unfold, waiting for you—who’s been traveling with us—will only bring brutal torture and death.”
Hodal-saeng trembled with his mouth agape.
“What are you doing?”
“Pardon?”
“Shouldn’t you hurry? Settle your affairs, gather your people, prepare your escape?”
Hodal-saeng bolted out with a ashen face.
But he stopped abruptly mid-stride, then crept back to Dokgo Myeong and asked hesitantly.
“May I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Why did you spare my life? And why offer me advice on top of that?”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re too busy resenting me to wonder about that?”
“Yes. Even so, I poisoned your drink, failed to accomplish what you desired, and… shouldn’t you kill me to prevent future troubles?”
The very fact that Seo Wang Hodal-saeng would ask such a question revealed how unique he truly was.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“Hodal-saeng.”
His name, spoken properly for the first time.
Hodal-saeng responded.
“Yes.”
“Of course I want to take your head. I’m not a magnanimous person—I don’t dispense mercy easily. And there were many others I’ve wanted to kill besides you.”
“….”
“But I don’t, because it’s a line I’ve drawn for myself. If I cross that line once, twice, eventually I’ll become like the Paedo Sect Leader, the terrifying family head of my clan, or the fanatics’ cult master.”
“What if you come to regret it later?”
“I accept that risk. Shouldn’t a person take responsibility for their own choices and live with them?”
Hodal-saeng understood perhaps half of what was said.
But one thing he grasped.
“Was I within the Great Master’s line?”
“You fell within it.”
“Why?”
“Because you were a proper dark-path cultivator in your own way.”
Though you never trained in martial arts, your subordinates followed you with genuine loyalty, showing you possessed character. You displayed pettiness in poisoning, yet it wasn’t extreme poison—you maintained some principles. You had the pride to contemplate revenge, but after complete submission, you didn’t harbor lingering resentment, showing a certain cleanness.
You had self-respect that wouldn’t allow complete submission, yet after yielding, you didn’t cling to grievances.
“So don’t call yourself a rat. Even if others find it ugly, you’re living earnestly by your own will, making you more of a true dark-path cultivator than anyone.”
“….”
“That’s why I’m sparing you.”
Hodal-saeng’s eyes wavered.
He seemed to have something to say, his lips moving uncertainly, but ultimately he said nothing.
“May I take my leave now?”
“Yes, run along quickly.”
Hodal-saeng nodded and bowed deeply at the waist.
“Thank you for your mercy. If we meet again later, I shall treat you to a cup of wine without poison.”
“Very well. Then I’ll make sure not to poison you that day either.”
“Yes, then I’ll be going.”
As Hodal-saeng dashed away again, Dokgo Myeong called out one more thing after him.
“Live on as a true member of the Black Sect. It’s a difficult world, but that’s how it must be.”
Having seen Hodal-saeng off, Dokgo Myeong turned around.
“….”
“….”
Three people were staring at him with peculiar expressions.
After a moment of tense silence, Dokgo Myeong’s face hardened as he spoke.
“What are you looking at? Stop it!”
All three of them let out deep sighs simultaneously.
“I knew it.”
“Did you possess someone for a moment?”
“To my eyes, it looks like you’re embarrassed?”
Feeling oddly displeased, Dokgo Myeong narrowed his eyes.
But there was no time to argue.
“Let’s get moving. Everyone understands the plan, right?”
“I’m still a descendant of the Namgung clan, after all….”
“Go in silence and leave in silence… Quietly, quietly….”
Namgung Sohwa muttered to herself, “Is this right? Is this really right?” while Dokgo Ak tore at his hair and grumbled.
Watching them, Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue and looked toward Geum Seok-du, the key to this plan.
“Seok-du, have you mapped out the interior?”
“Of course.”
“Are the preparations complete?”
“Everything is ready, but… Young Master, are you truly certain about this?”
“Absolutely.”
Dokgo Myeong grinned wickedly.
“Hehehehe, well then, shall we go?”
Time to cause some chaos in the courtyard that the Paedobyeon had so carefully constructed.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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