Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 132

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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 132
“You won’t run away? You mad young master! Are you in your right mind?!”
“Tsk, so this fellow got free advice back then. Want to taste my fists? Did your mouth catch a disease?”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed as he swung his fists around.
Ju Won-gwang bellowed.
“You’re the one who dropped formalities too! And I’m telling you again, I’m considerably older than you!”
Ju Won-gwang, who had shouted back, pounded his chest in frustration.
“We’re really going to die like this! I’m telling you those guys are dangerous! Get out of the way!”
“Well, the family lord’s brothers and son all died violent deaths, so some mediocre fellow wouldn’t have come. Why state the obvious?”
“Ah, I really!”
Thud!
Ju Won-gwang, his throat parched, gulped down the cold water Geum Seok-du had brought and set the cup down roughly.
“Someone came rushing to find me out of concern for my affairs, while someone else speaks of others’ matters like it’s nothing.”
“I’m sorry about that. It seems I’ve caused you to run around unnecessarily.”
“Where exactly have you been all this time? Your trail suddenly vanished—do you know how much I’ve searched?”
“Ha, and here I thought the legendary Wanderer couldn’t even find one person. What have you been doing?”
“This bastard really….”
Watching Ju Won-gwang tremble, Dokgo Myeong chuckled.
“I needed to retrieve something, so I went to Mandeng House for a bit.”
“So that’s why. Our intelligence network in Mandeng is sparse, but… wait, Mandeng House?!”
In that instant, Ju Won-gwang recalled news he’d heard in passing.
“Was it you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
….
It was him, this bastard.
The one who killed the Bloodsword Sect Leader, set fire to Mandeng’s black market district, and even ransacked the auction house.
‘Is he insane?’
No, if you’re going to cause trouble, at least do it somewhat normally.
How does one charge into the heart of Paedobyeon and wreak havoc like that?
“Wow, I really should befriend him.”
“What?”
“Oh, it’s nothing at all.”
It was always easier to live in this world when you were close with someone who had no background to speak of, possessed great strength, and came from wealth.
Then Dokgo Myeong casually broached the subject.
“By the way, the fact that you’re telling me this means the Patriarch has approved it, right?”
“… Your perception is sharp. Yes. We’re secretly investigating the Moyong Family. We’re even determining how many spoons are in their cupboard.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“So was it white or black?”
“The investigation is still ongoing.”
“A lord of Hugudan’s stature still can’t determine whether it’s black or white?”
In an instant, Ju Won-gwang’s eyes shifted.
He spoke in a low but intense voice that radiated heat.
“Damn! The Moyong Family was the Demon Suppression Hall.”
The Moyong Family was drenched in blood.
No, it wasn’t merely stained. They had become a bridgehead for the Twin Horse Alliance’s advance into Zhongyuan.
Dokgo Myeong let out a sharp laugh.
“You’ve unwrapped the gift quite skillfully. Does this mean you and I are now truly in the same boat?”
“That’s exactly why I’m so anxious, urging you to flee. Will you really stay like this?”
Ju Won-gwang spoke in a subdued voice.
Dokgo Myeong offered no reply, only a meaningful smile.
Ju Won-gwang exhaled a sigh.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“What do you think I’m thinking?”
“…You’re thinking of fighting. It’s not in your nature to flee.”
“You see clearly.”
“You should mobilize your clan instead.”
“If I mobilize the clan, those bastards will tuck tail and run.”
Ju Won-gwang’s eyes widened.
“You don’t mean…?”
“The Assassins of the Moyong Family? Then this isn’t something to avoid—it’s something to welcome. They are the living shame of the Moyong Family.”
“This madman! Was this your plan from the beginning?”
A chilling smile played at the corners of Dokgo Myeong’s mouth.
“The Moyong Family didn’t grip a double-edged blade and swing it. They threw a wicked hand outside their grasp. And you want me to avoid it?”
Dokgo Myeong shook his head slowly.
“That’s impossible. Absolutely impossible.”
…
Silence flowed between them.
Ju Won-gwang set his expression and parted his lips.
“I suppose I need to speak more firmly.”
“Hmm?”
“If Moyong had dispatched their main force of warriors, I wouldn’t have stopped you. The power to handle two masters of the peak alone—your level already gazes upon the realm of all under heaven.”
“But?”
“However, not assassins. Especially not the Assassins of Moyong, infamous even in the shadows….”
Dokgo Myeong picked up the trailing words.
“Killers who have mastered the art of murdering men. They may have even learned blood techniques.”
Deploying greater force to kill a martial artist.
In truth, that was an extraordinarily clean and honest way to handle things.
The most efficient method is to send assassins. And that is precisely what assassins do.
“That’s what I mean. Their fights are far too different from those of true martial artists. It will be messy and ugly.”
In that moment, Dokgo Myeong’s expression shifted into a subtle smile. Seeing it, Ju Won-gwang’s brow furrowed.
An odd smile. It seemed to carry confidence, yet there was an unmistakable undertone of self-mockery.
“Patriarch Ju Won-gwang. You still don’t know me well.”
“…?”
“Messy brawls are my specialty.”
Dokgo Myeong, Ju Won-gwang.
Their gazes locked in the empty space between them.
“…Even if by some chance you managed to strike down all of them, what then? After that, the Moyong Family would truly deploy every means at their disposal?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled darkly.
“That is precisely what I desire.”
“What?”
“To make it so they cannot ignore me. And to make them desperate because of my actions. That was my purpose all along.”
At Dokgo Myeong’s words, spoken with the corners of his mouth raised, Ju Won-gwang felt a chill run down his spine.
“Striking down one of the great powers that dominates Baekdo—surely that requires wagering one’s own head to balance the scales, does it not?”
Ju Won-gwang’s eyes widened.
These were not words born of mere confidence.
This was resolve.
Dokgo Myeong had staked his own life as the wager.
* * *
Deep within the forest, an old woman sat resting atop a large stone.
Soon, a young farmer pushed through the undergrowth and approached.
“Pardon me… there are beggars pursuing us. What should we do?”
“Go and have them withdraw quietly. They are pitiful folk, so do not be too harsh with them.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Work hard.”
The old woman nodded with a gentle smile.
The young farmer with a simple face trudged away, but as if remembering something he had forgotten, he returned and asked the old woman.
The old woman tilted her head in confusion.
“Why have you returned?”
“Ah, that is… I didn’t hear whether I should kill them and drive them off, or simply chase them away….”
“Hehe, do as you see fit.”
“I apologize for the trouble, ma’am.”
“It’s fine. Such things happen.”
The farmer trudged away again.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, birds in the distance startled and flew up in a flurry.
Shortly after, a burly man approached, gripping a filthy butcher’s blade caked with grease and blood.
The old woman asked.
“Did you drive them away?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“There were no screams, so you didn’t kill them?”
His voice was gentle, yet the man’s complexion turned ashen.
He swallowed hard, his throat dry, and spoke in a trembling voice.
“That’s not it… He simply fled from a distance without hesitation. A blade was lodged in his shoulder, yet he didn’t even cry out.”
“What weapon was he using?”
“He carried no weapon. It seemed he was trying to keep his body as light as possible.”
“Ah, then it must be the Houqu Sect. But why are they following us? Do any of you know?”
Muyong Ji opened her mouth as if murmuring to herself.
Then, from behind the trees, a woodcutter and a woman in ornate clothing that seemed out of place in the forest emerged.
“I apologize. I’m not certain about this matter.”
“I’m not sure either.”
“In any case. I’ve taught you so diligently, yet all you say is that you don’t know.”
The old woman laughed as if she couldn’t help it.
At those words, the woodcutter and the woman trembled violently. They looked as though they might collapse at any moment.
“I-I’m sorry, Master.”
“I’ll find out right away.”
“Never mind. What’s the point of finding out? Hehe!”
Muyong Ji was not officially a member of the Moyong Family. Her name had never even been registered in the family records from the beginning.
She was a cleaner for a vast organization—handling the dirty and troublesome matters that prominent clans couldn’t touch, the affairs that must never surface.
Because she engaged in such work, Muyong Ji could not be Muyong.
All the renowned families of Gangho secretly raised such individuals, and the Moyong Family called theirs the Secret Sword of Shadows.
And the numerous people of various disguises gathered around her—farmers, woodcutters, courtesans, fishermen—were slaves and assassins she had personally trained.
Thud!
Muyong Ji suddenly slapped her knee.
“Ah, I understand now. That fellow must have joined hands with the Gaebang.”
“The Gaebang, you say?”
“Yes. We did cause quite a stir in the middle of things, but there’s no way the Houqu Sect would pursue us for merely that. I’m certain of it.”
“I see.”
“First, contact Amseong and tell them to begin gathering intelligence.”
Amseong was the intelligence organization of the Moyong Family. While it couldn’t compare to the Gaebang in scale or capability, the current Amseong had ‘a certain organization’ lending its strength, so it could certainly block the eyes and ears of the Gaebang.
“If we carelessly let the Gaebang help erase our traces, it will become troublesome. We must block them beforehand. Go quickly and deliver the message.”
“Yes. I shall do so, Master.”
“Catch them quickly and return swiftly. Dragging this old body around on a journey is not easy. How much longer do we have?”
“The estate where those fellows are settling is about two days’ journey from here.”
“Is that so? Not much time left then.”
Muyong Ji grasped her waist and rose to her feet.
She walked slowly. The assassins around her melted away, disappearing into the surroundings.
* * *
Dokgo Myeong spent more time wandering about than he did training.
Yet he returned at set meal times like clockwork, always joining his companions.
This morning was one such day.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, the sound of knocking came from outside the door.
“Is no one here? We have a guest!”
At the old woman’s voice, the atmosphere around the dining table turned cold.
The distance from here to the front gate was considerable, yet her voice rang out as if she stood right beside us.
“Young Master.”
“All of you stay seated. I’ll go.”
“Let us come with you. Don’t go alone.”
“I’ll go as well.”
“So will I.”
Screech!
Four people rose simultaneously.
Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh and led the four of them to the front gate, opening the door.
Creak!
As the door opened, a shabby old woman stood there, both hands resting on her walking stick.
The woman, Muyong Ji, greeted them with a gentle smile.
“Hehe, quite the intrusion on an early morning.”
“Welcome. I didn’t expect you to visit, Elder.”
“What, did you think I’d be some mysterious and terrifying Black-Robed Man dressed in dark clothes from head to toe?”
“Surely not. Black robes in broad daylight? What would people think, spreading rumors that I’m some disreputable character?”
“Hehehehe, your words ring true. Why do people always assume assassins must be Black-Robed Men? Can’t one simply walk through the front gate in daylight? So I decided to try it myself.”
Muyong Ji burst into delighted laughter.
“You’re not in your right mind.”
“Neither are you, it seems.”
Dokgo Myeong spoke matter-of-factly.
“As you likely know, I am called Dokgo Myeong.”
“We call ourselves the Assassins of the Mo-yong Family.”
“Secret blades in darkness, is it? Quite an impressive name for those who engage in such sordid work.”
“Indeed. They assign us all manner of filthy tasks yet bestow such grandiose names upon us. Irritating lot, they are.”
“Your words suggest disdain, yet you seem to enjoy the work.”
“Not the work itself, but rather training the young masters who give me such tasks. Teaching suits my nature better.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Muyong Ji shrugged his shoulders.
“Rather than killing the relatives or acquaintances of those who hire me, I abduct them, break them down completely, and use them as my tools. That is what the Assassins of the Mo-yong Family truly are. I grew up the same way, and now that I’ve become the perpetrator instead of the victim, I find it quite entertaining.”
“….”
“Your expression has hardened. Was my tale too shocking for a well-bred young master?”
“No, that’s not it. It’s just….”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes grew distant.
My body remained here, but my eyes drifted to those dark times long past.
“It reminds me of a place I once belonged to.”
“Is that so? I haven’t heard such talk before.”
Dokgo Myeong stepped aside at the gate as he spoke.
“If you haven’t eaten breakfast, why don’t you come in and share a meal with us?”
Muyong Ji tilted his head.
“Is that acceptable?”
“Of course.”
“Hmm.”
Muyong Ji nodded.
“Then I’ll accept your kindness.”
The old man slowly entered the estate and sat at the dining table.
Geum Seok-du brought out utensils and rice, and Muyong Ji prodded at various dishes with a silver hairpin before slowly beginning to eat.
The meal continued in silence for a time.
Every time she moved even slightly, Geum Seok-du’s eyes widened as he examined her sleeves and fingers. As if it were his responsibility.
Clatter!
Unfortunately, Geum Seok-du’s efforts proved meaningless. Muyong Ji finished the meal without incident.
“This estate has excellent geomancy. Facing south with good wind flow and clean air—it’s ideal for cultivating qi. Being in such a secluded place means no prying eyes to worry about during training. You have a keen eye.”
“To receive praise from a worn-out old butcher like you—I don’t know where to put myself.”
Muyong Ji shook her head repeatedly.
“But it’s not good for defense. Too spacious, too bright, and too isolated. With no variables, it’s perfect for an attack.”
“Is that so?”
“You must have known we were coming. Did you make no preparations?”
“I made preparations. In my own way.”
“Hmm, so there must be someone with considerable skill. Though I see nothing remarkable.”
“What appears unremarkable yet harbors something remarkable—that is my tactic.”
“Ha! Is that so?”
Muyong Ji nodded.
Suddenly, she began muttering into the empty air as if seized by dementia.
“Boy. Woodcutter. Are you there?”
“…”
“This one looks the weakest. Kill him.”
Whoosh! Crash!
In an instant, something plummeted from the ceiling and an axe came crashing down toward Geum Seok-du’s head.

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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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