Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 142

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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 142
“I’m sure you’re all curious why I fell into demonic cultivation. Honestly, I already knew assassins were vicious, but I wondered why I’d lose my mind over something like that.”
“….”
In truth, none of them thought that way.
They understood.
While others saw him as merely extraordinary, Dokgo Myeong possessed a humanity deeper than anyone else.
And that was precisely what made him special. In a world where living as a beast had become easier than living as a human.
“The reason I fell into demonic cultivation was….”
Dokgo Myeong gazed silently out the window. The four others turned their eyes in that direction.
Men who appeared to be companions of the Black Sect disciple who’d been knocked down by a wine cup gathered together, grabbing passersby by the collar and barking demands. They were searching for the culprit.
The villagers cast nervous glances at the martial artists of the Six Martial Sect, but they remained unmoved.
“It’s because of bastards like that.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes grew cold.
“Men who think they can do anything because they have some strength, and pathetic sect members who just stand by and watch it happen….”
Crash!
Dokgo Myeong drained his wine cup in one breath and slammed it hard against the table.
“The Nine Great Sects calling themselves immortals and buddhas dream of hegemony, ancient noble clans invite foreign powers while kidnapping children barely old enough to walk and turning them into assassins, a gambling pit fighter wants to use the world as kindling, and on top of that there are fanatics….”
“….”
“No one in this vast realm maintains righteousness. No one! Hahahaha!”
Dokgo Myeong burst into laughter.
Though not particularly loud, the inn fell silent for a moment before becoming noisy again.
Dokgo Myeong’s laughter stopped abruptly as he spoke.
“This is the martial world. Truly without joy and suffocating. So how are people like us supposed to live?”
Dokgo Myeong stared intently out the window.
Just then, outside, one of the Black Sect members discovered an intact wine cup and his expression hardened.
Namgung Sohwa spoke.
“Young Master, aren’t you being too pessimistic? There are still many sects dreaming of righteous conduct, and many righteous warriors exist.”
“Ah, of course there are. There must be.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“But they’re merely rare exceptions. They’re the type who believe things will improve if they quietly do their duty.”
“But?”
“Such people meet malice greater than their own goodness somewhere in silence and die a miserable death. Or they become tainted by malice without even realizing it themselves.”
“….”
“You know this well too, don’t you, Sohwa?”
Namgung Sohwa closed her mouth.
Of course she’d seen it. She’d seen it many times.
They say chaos comes when famine arrives, but the current martial world faced chaos for a different reason.
Because of the countless sects dreaming of hegemony.
Like nations preparing for war, they began accumulating power, and that power was primarily extracted from the common people.
As a result, even in years of plenty, famine had arrived.
If matters had reached this point, the authorities should have intervened, yet they remained silent for a long time.
Dokgo Myeong turned his gaze away from the silent Namgung Sohwa and opened his mouth.
“My long-standing heart demon is precisely that—I cannot accept this cursed world. And the fact that those I cherish exist in this world is simply….”
Whoooosh!
A fierce aura flowed forth from Dokgo Myeong.
The raw energy emanating from a master of the Ascending Realm caused a sharp crack to split the floor beneath where he sat.
At that moment, Dokgo Ak spoke up.
“So what? What are you planning to do? You’re not the type to just complain.”
“…?”
“Now let us know too. Why you’ve been building strength in the clan, making enemies of Moyong, fighting the Twin Horse Alliance, and gathering people. Dokgo Myeong—or rather, brother—what exactly are you living for?”
Dokgo Ak also seemed to be growing tipsy. His tone had become unusually mature for someone his age.
Dokgo Myeong let out a soft laugh.
“In this gathering here….”
Dokgo Myeong looked around at his companions.
“There are those who wish to become martial artists rather than ruffians, investigative officials, the greatest swordsman under heaven, formidable warriors….”
“….”
“My dream is to allow such exceptional individuals to find their own paths and live freely. Not the White Path nor the Black Path, not the Orthodox nor the Unorthodox—my goal is to draw a new path in this martial realm, my own line.”
“A line?”
“Yes, a line.”
Dokgo Myeong withdrew a chopstick from the chopstick holder.
Scriiitch!
After infusing it with inner energy and drawing it across the table, a perfect circle was etched into the surface.
“But that’s a circle, isn’t it?”
“This is my own line that I’ve drawn. You could call it a kind of fence.”
Around Dokgo Myeong gathered all manner of stubborn misfits. To these misfits, Dokgo Myeong intended to become a fence.
And he hoped that these exceptional individuals would in turn become a fence for Dokgo Myeong himself.
That was Dokgo Myeong’s goal.
“Ha, ha, ha!”
Cheolmu-baek suddenly burst into strange laughter.
He too seemed to be drunk. His laughter sounded quite peculiar.
“A strange dream indeed. A futile struggle.”
“Is it?”
Cheolmu-baek nodded.
“So, what should we do and how should we do it?”
Dokgo Myeong smiled.
Even if he suddenly proposed a life-or-death duel with the greatest master under heaven, this man would likely respond with nothing but “Very well.” That’s why he felt so reassured.
“Truth be told, it sounds grandiose, but ultimately what needs to be done is already determined.”
“What is that?”
“What might that be?”
As everyone looked at him with curiosity, Dokgo Myeong lightly struck the table with his hand and spoke.
“We must take control of the world, that’s what I’m saying!”
“…Take control?”
Not unification, not conquest—but taking control?
Everyone burst into soft laughter.
His word choice was unmistakably Dokgo Myeong.
“Well, I’m not sure exactly how this takeover will happen, but regardless, what I’m saying is… you all need to help me until then. I’m counting on you.”
“….”
“….”
A brief silence fell over the gathering.
Whether intoxicated by wine, by the atmosphere, or by both.
Namgung Sohwa suddenly burst into giggles and poured water into her cup.
“This man’s drunk. How embarrassing. Here, drink some water.”
“I only drink cold water though?”
“Just drink it. Go on.”
Dokgo Myeong obediently swallowed the water she offered, then opened his eyes wide like a flatfish.
“But why are these fools so unresponsive when their lord just gave a grand speech? In my day, if a superior said something, you’d clap your hands! You’d pretend to be moved! What’s wrong with you all? Why aren’t you doing anything?”
“We accept.”
“What?”
“We’ve accepted. That’s settled, isn’t it?”
“What does that even….”
“Master, please have some food.”
“Seok-du, you’ve been rather cheeky lately… mmph!”
Geum Seok-du stuffed food into his mouth, Cheolmu-baek merely blinked, Dokgo Ak fell into contemplation, and Namgung Sohwa rested her chin on her hand.
Dokgo Myeong looked around at them while crunching on snacks.
This is perfect. I’d be satisfied with just this much.
Dokgo Myeong grinned widely.
And so the drinking gathering came to an end.
Or so I thought.
* * *
Murmur, murmur!
The streets grew increasingly chaotic.
Disciples from either the Black Tiger Sect or the Black Dog Sect filled the streets.
Then I saw the innkeeper and his daughter, who had been beaten by a Black Sect Disciple with a cracked skull, approaching this way.
“We offer our gratitude to our saviors. I am Yu Deok-bae, the proprietor of the Yu Family Inn who was just being beaten. Come now, offer your respects as well.”
“Hello. My name is Aeng-ran.”
Dokgo Myeong and his companions were seated by the window, but they approached the window without entering the inn and bowed to Dokgo Myeong.
“Thank you for saving us. If you hadn’t….”
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Dokgo Myeong. But how did you know it was us who helped?”
“I recognized the cup. We only use that particular cup in this establishment. So I looked this way, and even at a glance, I could see an extraordinary person watching over us….”
The keen eye of an innkeeper.
Dokgo Myeong closed his mouth once more before asking.
“Did you come seeking us out because you’re in some difficult situation?”
“Yes, somewhat….”
“What made you trust us enough to come here?”
“I’m begging for your help.”
“Come inside first.”
“That is….”
Yu Deok-bae’s eyes darted about nervously.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue and turned away from the window, raising his hand to call over the innkeeper.
“Yes! Great Master!”
“Go ask the owner if it’s alright to bring the innkeeper from across the street and his daughter in here.”
“Yes? Oh!”
The innkeeper jumped in surprise and hurried inside.
Soon a portly innkeeper came rushing out from the kitchen.
“Yu, sir?”
He opened his eyes wide seeing the innkeeper from across the street and his daughter standing blankly outside the window.
“Could it be the commotion outside… Wait! Come in, come in now!”
Whether he knew or didn’t know that letting them in could bring trouble to his own inn, the portly innkeeper promptly ushered Yu Deok-bae and his daughter inside.
Dokgo Myeong spoke.
“Did you all see that? He let them in without a moment’s hesitation. Who in the martial world would do such a thing? Yet this ordinary innkeeper does it. He seems more extraordinary than all those renowned masters of the jianghu.”
“That does seem to be the case.”
Cheolmu-baek answered with a somewhat changed expression in his eyes.
Dokgo Myeong spoke while watching Yu Deok-bae and his young daughter, the innkeeper, the portly innkeeper, and the small innkeeper.
“We’ll handle what comes after, so please go inside.”
“Yes, yes…. That….”
“Even if it becomes a mess, I’ll extract money to cover it. Don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Dokgo Ak suddenly laughed like Dokgo Myeong, letting out a chuckle.
“How amusing. Those from Yukmun or whatever they call themselves are watching from here and there, yet these people came to us. Hehehehe!”
At that moment, the Black Sect disciples came pouring toward them.
Unlike Yu Deok-bae, they didn’t come to the window first but burst through the door directly.
The original guests inside the inn fled in terror. Now only Dokgo Myeong’s group and the Black Sect disciples remained in the inn.
Screech!
Then, a man among the Black Sect disciples dragged a chair over and set it down firmly in front of Dokgo Myeong’s group.
“May I join your table for a moment?”
“….”
“I am Yang Cheol of the Black Tiger Sect. It’s a pleasure. I’ve heard much of your exploits.”
Dokgo Myeong stared blankly at this Yang Cheol for a moment.
Yang Cheol didn’t avoid his gaze and met it directly.
Dokgo Myeong opened his mouth.
“What brings you here?”
“I revealed my name, yet you won’t reveal yours?”
Dokgo Myeong tilted his head.
“You don’t know me?”
“How would I know you if we’ve never met?”
“Fair enough. So what is your business?”
“I heard my younger brother was struck by a wine cup on the street and lost consciousness. Such an absurd situation, so I came to investigate it myself.”
“The one who extorted money from the innkeeper and laid hands on his young daughter—that’s your brother?”
“Yes. When I examined him myself, his skull was shattered and he was dead.”
“My, you should have disciplined your brother better. So what do you intend by coming here in such numbers?”
“I don’t intend anything in particular. But when such a matter occurs, I must show my face or my reputation suffers. I hope you understand.”
It was at that moment.
Another group approached from the direction of the window.
Those bearing the emblem of six doors gathered together on their chests—disciples of the Six Doors Sect.
“We meet for the first time. I am Dan-wi, Vice Sect Leader of the Six Doors Sect.”
“And what brings you here?”
“I’ve come to prevent any fighting that might occur. We are the guardians of this town….”
The man named Dan-wi continued muttering on.
Dokgo Myeong simply let it go in one ear and out the other, alternating his gaze between Yang Cheol of the Black Tiger Sect and Dan-wi of the Six Doors Sect.
Whoooosh!
Suddenly, one side of his head felt itchy.
The sensory perception that allowed him to see the path of the “defending side” was quietly activating.
“Yang Cheol and Dan-wi… the Black Tiger Sect and the Six Doors Sect….”
Dokgo Myeong muttered like a drunken man.
Feeling the intoxication slowly recede, I pondered for a moment.
Their martial foundation was solid, but they were still martial artists who had trained in combat.
Five unremarkable outsiders suddenly appeared in the village, rented a manor at the edge of a quiet back mountain, and caused a commotion fighting there.
How could they not know about Dokgo Myeong and his companions?
Even if Yang Cheol were more foolish than he appeared and couldn’t make such a judgment….
There was a master who could throw a ceramic cup from a distance, shattering only the person’s head while leaving the cup intact.
Could one come so defenseless to a place where such a master resided?
Dokgo Myeong looked at Dan-wi.
“Dan-wi. You said you came to stop a fight, yet you stand outside. What are you doing there?”
“…Haha. I didn’t want to trouble the inn.”
Dan-wi let out a peculiar laugh.
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Yang Cheol, Dan-wi. I have a small request for both of you. If you grant it, I’ll do as you wish.”
“What request is it?”
“Please, tell us.”
“All you have to do is repeat one simple phrase.”
Dokgo Myeong continued matter-of-factly.
“Call the Jeongheol Sect Leader a bastard.”
“….”
“….”
Silence hung heavy in the air.
“Can’t do it?”
Dokgo Myeong burst into laughter.
Just moments ago, I had been within the fence, but now I was back in the world of martial artists.

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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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