Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 126

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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 126
Dokgo Myeong spoke to the martial artists of the Blood Sect without batting an eye.
“Come any closer and I’ll cut you down.”
“…?!”
“I was honing my senses before the fight. If you interfere, you will be cut.”
One of the Blood Sect martial artists trembled and carefully opened his mouth.
“But, no matter what, making such a mess like this… even for a warrior, there are limits!”
“….”
That was a fair point, and I found myself at a loss for words.
But if those fools came any closer, it would be a disaster. From where they stood, they couldn’t see Yeom Jeok hidden behind the bed, but if they took just a few more steps, they would be at an angle where they could see him.
So I decided to simply become shameless.
“The Blood Sect will handle the aftermath.”
“….”
“If I lose, the sect will compensate for all broken furnishings and repair costs several times over.”
“S-several times?”
“That’s right.”
Flash!
The Blood Sect disciples hesitated and retreated at the murderous glint in my eyes.
I drove the point home.
“Now get out.”
“…Ah, understood. But we’ll have to report this.”
“Do as you wish. But don’t interfere again.”
Thud!
Only then did I look at the closed door and let out a relieved sigh before turning my gaze to Yeom Jeok.
“Senior from my past life, did you see? My acting skills are this good. So don’t feel too wronged about being deceived.”
“….”
Of course, the unconscious Yeom Jeok couldn’t answer. It was truly a shame.
I closed my mouth and approached Yeom Jeok.
“But I still have a conscience. I’ll at least treat your injuries before I leave.”
If I left that twisted arm as it was, especially with the Hongcheon Gi having penetrated so deeply, there would be severe aftereffects. I planned to give him at least basic treatment.
Crack! Pop!
The moment I reset his dislocated wrist, Yeom Jeok suddenly snapped his eyes open.
“…Ugh!”
“Geez, you scared me!”
Bang!
Startled, my fist shot out reflexively.
Yeom Jeok, struck in the mouth, went limp again.
“Ah, why did you have to startle me like that? I accidentally dislocated your jaw.”
“….”
“I even pressed the pressure point, so why did your eyes open? Did they open on their own from the pain? Well, I’m sorry about that.”
Even so, since I matched arms with him and recovered Hongcheon Gi, he won’t harbor resentment.
Dokgo Myeong patted Yeom Jeok’s shoulder and rose from his seat.
“Well then, you bastard Cheolmu-baek. Preparations are complete. Now it’s your turn. Hehehehe!”
* * *
Dense mist rose like fog above the rippling bathwater.
Servants and guards filled the luxurious bath with fragrant oils and scalding hot water, their footsteps silent as they moved only on their toes.
Wi Mu-jin, the man soaking alone in this vast and opulent bath, opened his mouth.
“All of you, withdraw.”
“Yes.”
As the servants and guards retreated, Wi Mu-jin lifted a wine bottle resting on the bath’s edge and spoke.
“What is it?”
The man standing at the bath’s entrance bowed his head.
It was his first disciple, Baek.
“The Sect Leader of Qingcheng has descended the mountain.”
Wi Mu-jin’s head turned slowly.
“When?”
“Two days ago.”
“So Pasan Noe-gong has finally lifted his heavy backside.”
“It appears he moved the moment he gained certainty that Ryeon-ju had departed.”
The Paedobyeon Leader let out a soft laugh.
“He descended the mountain in such haste merely because I was absent for a time? The bearing of a Nine Sects Sect Leader, one of the great masters of Gangho, is truly laughable. Is it not?”
Baek swallowed dryly, his gaze fixed on the Paedobyeon Leader’s back.
Countless scars carved into the rippling muscles of his exposed shoulders and back seemed to writhe.
‘How many people in all of Gangho could speak of a Nine Sects Sect Leader with such contempt?’
When the world ranked the masters of Gangho, the leaders of the Nine Sects and the Four Great Clans were always excluded from consideration. The reason was simple—there was no need to measure them, for they were already at the absolute pinnacle of Gangho.
The prestige of a Nine Sects Sect Leader was so weighty. Yet to his master, even that seemed to feel as light as a feather.
“Of course… it is a shameful display, but we cannot dismiss it entirely. The losses at the front are considerable.”
“How many died?”
“The Iron Armor Brigade that was sealing off the area near Qingcheng was annihilated, and the Kunlun Sect, which had been sent as reinforcement, lost their sect master and numerous disciples before retreating.”
Wi Mu-jin leisurely took a sip from the wine bottle and murmured.
“Quite a number then.”
His remark about the deaths of his subordinates was remarkably dry.
Suddenly, Wi Mu-jin gently swept his hand through the air.
Clack!
An unused wine cup flew swiftly into his hand.
Wi Mu-jin filled the cup to the brim and channeled his inner power.
Sizzzzle!
The wine in the cup suddenly began to bubble and boil, quickly turning to steam that dispersed.
Perhaps it was an offering of wine to the dead.
Wi Mu-jin gazed for a moment at the smoke mingling with the bath’s mist, then opened his mouth.
“What of the Gunkon Sect Leader?”
“He has minor injuries, but he’s unharmed, or so they say.”
“Then send the Mu Heavenly Lord to him.”
“The Mu Heavenly Lord is currently restraining Ami….”
“We must give what we can give. The damage won’t be severe. The Ami Sect Leader values his disciples highly.”
“Yes, then I shall instruct the Mu Heavenly Lord to face Noe-gong.”
“Before that.”
The Paedobyeon Leader spoke matter-of-factly.
“First, we must take the head of the Gunkon Sect Leader.”
Baek hesitated for a moment.
A leader who preserved his own life even as his sect lost its second-in-command and numerous disciples.
Someone had to bear responsibility. In the Dark Path, responsibility meant death.
“The Mu Heavenly Lord will execute the Sect Leader’s command without distortion.”
“Send the severed head to the Qingcheng Sect Leader.”
“What message should I convey?”
“Tell him it is an apology for making an incompetent commander face the legendary Noe-gong.”
“Yes, I shall do so.”
“The reorganization of the front lines is entrusted to the Wen Heavenly Lord. You need only inform Jeong, your fellow disciple.”
“Yes.”
“That aside… did they send no separate message?”
Baek’s expression changed at his master’s question.
“I was about to inform you of that as well. A message just arrived saying they will arrive at the beginning of the Chou hour.”
“They do keep their promises on time.”
“They wish to see the Sect Leader first and have requested a meeting. Surely that is only natural.”
Wi Mu-jin’s expression of ennui brightened with interest for the first time.
“This Gangho of ours—just when boredom sets in, something amusing always springs forth.”
Wi Mu-jin smiled faintly and murmured.
“The Jeongheol Sect. I wonder what manner of people they are.”
The name of the Twin Demon Alliance, the Jeongheol Demon Sect, fell from the lips of the King of Fists. He had withdrawn from the front lines and come to the Mandeng House in the rear precisely to make contact with the Jeongheol Sect.
“They are dangerous people. It would be wise to exercise caution.”
“Of course. But… there is still considerable time until the Chou hour.”
“If you are bored, would it not be pleasant to visit the fighting arena after so long?”
“The fighting arena?”
“Yes, the Blood Sect Leader obtained a remarkable fighter, and there was quite a stir about it for some time. Today marks his forty-fifth match.”
“Now that you mention it, the Blood Sect Leader did request an audience.”
It was once a place where he had fought with blood spilling, and after conquering it with his own two fists, his interest had waned and he had paid it no mind.
“Very well, then. Let us visit after all this time.”
* * *
The Blood Sect Leader roughly pushed open the broken bars and spoke.
“It is time to take the arena. Are you prepared….”
He couldn’t finish his sentence before flinching in surprise. Cheolmu-baek, who always crouched in the darkness, stood at the entrance as if he had been waiting.
“What in blazes is this bastard doing here?”
“A long wait it has been.”
A guttural, staccato voice like a beast’s growl.
Cheolmu-baek emerged, gripping two battle axes in a single hand, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.
Thud!
Beneath the light, Cheolmu-baek’s physique appeared anything but bulky. Tall and muscular, yet possessing an uncanny grace and fluidity.
His imposing presence stemmed entirely from the overwhelming fighting spirit radiating from his being.
“Heh, so you’ve finally shown your ambition. Do you understand now the importance of what I said?”
“….”
“Your opponent is a wanderer known as the Dual Blade Master. Among the countless wanderers, he ranks within the top twenty—a true monster. You must be vigilant.”
“It won’t be him.”
“Hm? What?”
“….”
Cheolmu-baek cast a fleeting glance at the Blood Sect Leader before moving forward without a word.
“Insolent as always… tsk, yet seeing you show such enthusiasm for once, I’ll forgive you.”
Cheolmu-baek paid no heed to his words until the end.
Thump-thump!
I felt intoxicated, as if by fine wine.
My heartbeat thundered louder than ever today.
I forgot the Blood Sect Leader’s prattling beside me, forgot every sight that passed as I ascended toward the arena floor.
When I regained awareness, I was already standing in the arena.
Across from me stood the adversary I had to overcome.
“You came?”
Dokgo Myeong spoke with blazing eyes.
“I came. And I knew you would.”
“You’ve endured much.”
“Indeed.”
Cheolmu-baek’s eyes flashed.
A fierce heat shimmered in his gaze.
“You are strong. Perhaps stronger than anyone I have ever encountered.”
“What?”
“I am certain that this battle here will be the very fight I have long sought. May it become a festival of combat….”
Watching Cheolmu-baek speak with such solemnity, Dokgo Myeong’s head tilted crookedly.
“A festival? A feeeeestival?”
“…?”
“This fool still doesn’t grasp the situation and keeps putting on airs?”
“What are you saying?”
Caaaack! Ptooey!
Dokgo Myeong spat heavily onto the ground, then laughed with a sinister expression.
“Just say he’s dead and report it back. Didn’t I tell you I’d fold you in half?”
Whoosh! Crash!
Dokgo Myeong drew his sword and saber from his back in one fluid motion and struck the ground.
* * *
Kwaaaang!
It was a deafening explosion—the kind of sound you wouldn’t believe could come from two people colliding.
Cheolmu-baek’s eyes widened.
Thud!
A single blade flew through the billowing sand and dust rising before him.
“…!”
Clang!
He crossed both axes to block, but failed to dissipate the force completely—both his arms shot upward.
The one wielding the blade, Dokgo Myeong, streamed ghostly energy from his eyes as he roared.
“Prepare yourself! I’ll make you pay the price for your insult!”
“….”
Hadn’t he clearly told me to follow him at the start?
Now this murderous intent was surging forth?
‘Could he have meant to take me along by killing me?’
Whoooosh!
Dokgo Myeong spread both his sword and saber wide to either side.
It resembled watching a great roc taking flight.
Immediately after, that pair of wings came crashing down.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Cheolmu-baek raised his axes to meet the assault.
Each time the pair of axes and the pair of blades intertwined, explosive sounds erupted.
‘He’s certainly strong. But why?’
Dokgo Myeong hadn’t been using martial techniques at all.
Pure force unleashed.
He was simply swinging his blades wildly, wherever his hands took him.
Cheolmu-baek understood what Dokgo Myeong was proposing.
‘Could he be suggesting we settle this with strength against strength?’
Perhaps this was a continuation of the fight they hadn’t finished before.
Cheolmu-baek knew the score. If they fought with martial techniques, he’d win perhaps two or three times out of ten against Dokgo Myeong.
Dokgo Myeong surely knew this too, yet he was proposing they fight with strength alone.
A smile crossed Cheolmu-baek’s lips.
‘What man in this world could refuse such a thing!’
As Cheolmu-baek planted his weight into his feet, he poured more force into the hands gripping his axes.
Whoooosh! Boom!
The two axes unleashed a tempest.
With each descending strike, dust erupted upward, and with each sweeping blow, that dust split horizontally.
Boom! Crash!
When Dokgo Myeong met the strike head-on, the dust that erupted was violently expelled beyond the arena.
“Graaaaaaah!”
Crash! Boom! Bang!
Explosion after explosion after explosion.
The Blood Sect Leader watching could no longer contain his frustration and cried out.
“Ugh! The openings are glaringly obvious—what are you doing!?”
Indeed.
Both of them were wielding their weapons with glaring openings exposed.
Yet neither of them exploited those openings.
‘How could I resort to such cowardly tactics?’
If one dodged in such a situation, he could not be called a man.
All Cheolmu-baek could do now was clash his weapon with every ounce of strength and inner force he possessed.
Crash!
Dust erupted and was violently expelled outward, then erupted again and was expelled once more.
It resembled less a martial duel and more two enraged bulls colliding.
Boom!
Cheolmu-baek was forced back a step for the first time.
Dokgo Myeong snarled and shouted.
“You weakling! You were all swagger about your strength, but now you’re struggling!?”
“Still far to go!”
It was just as the two collided again.
Screech! Crash!
Both their weapons shattered simultaneously.
Metal fragments scattered like glittering shards of glass.
In that fleeting instant, the gazes of Dokgo Myeong and Cheolmu-baek tangled in mid-air.
And then.
Boom!
As if by agreement, the two grasped each other’s arms.
Crack! Screech screech screech!
All the explosive sounds ceased abruptly.
Both realized simultaneously.
‘Whoever gets pushed back loses.’
‘Getting pushed back means defeat.’
Crack!
Veins bulged across both their foreheads. Their faces flushed crimson like heated iron as they snarled and poured their strength into the contest.
“What kind of martial arts competition is this?”
“This isn’t even barbaric combat…”
The atmosphere in each of the separate guest chambers was remarkably similar.
All were disappointed or dismissive of this crude, brutish display.
However, in just one place, a different reaction emerged from the others.
“Hmm?”
Woo Mu-jin the Paedobyeon Leader.
A glimmer of light flickered across his parched eyes.

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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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