Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 161

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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 161
“This Eungryong Mountain is a peak cursed by the mountain spirit. You appear to be a stranger from elsewhere, so I advise you not to climb it recklessly.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Come now, don’t be like that. Tell me a bit about it. Please….”
“…silver coins?”
“Shh! I’m offering them because you remind me of my grandfather. See that young master over there who looks like he might throw a tantrum? If he sees this, he’ll make a fuss, so just take it quietly. In exchange, tell me some of the village rumors.”
“Ahem! Well… children often go missing. Monsters must be eating them. And there’s a beast that climbs the mountain in a single bound… Ah, recently even locals have been getting lost on the mountain….”
I left the carriage and horse in the village at the mountain’s base and made inquiries.
Having scraped together useful information for just a few silver coins, I entered an inn nearby.
Inside the inn, my companions were huddled together waiting for me.
“Welcome back. You must be tired.”
“Not at all. This is what I’m supposed to do, isn’t it?”
“Should I order something for you?”
“Bamboo leaf liquor and dumplings will do.”
“Innkeeper, we have an order!”
The innkeeper came over to take the order, and soon dumplings and liquor were laid out on the table.
I drank several cups of bamboo leaf liquor and ate a few dumplings before beginning my report.
“It seems we’ve come to the right place. I spoke with several people, and regardless of whether they’re assassins, there appear to be those who’ve learned martial arts.”
“What did they say?”
I organized and relayed the strange rumors I’d heard while walking through the village.
“The disappearances of children aren’t just happening in this village but also frequently in other villages near the mountain. Moreover, there are rumors of an unidentified beast or monster that climbs the mountain in a single bound, and in recent years the fog has grown thicker, so even locals have been getting lost.”
“What do you think about it?”
“The disappearances are likely kidnappings, and the beast that climbs the mountain in a single bound is probably an expert in lightness martial arts. The sudden thickening of the fog and locals losing their way—that’s probably a formation array.”
“Is there any tradition about not entering the mountain, or any particularly unusual terrain?”
“I found out about that too. If you follow the gorge all the way up, you reach a basin-like flat area. Apparently, it’s a place where a star fell long ago in ancient times, so the village considers it sacred….”
Dokgo Ak tilted his head.
“Aren’t we looking for our assassin right now? What are you talking about that’s so irrelevant?”
“Sigh, little brother.”
“Again, why….”
“Think a little before you speak. Do you really not understand? Right now, only you aren’t getting it.”
“….”
“….”
The atmosphere became slightly strange.
Dokgo Myeong stopped speaking and looked around at the group with half-lidded eyes.
“…Don’t tell me you all don’t understand either?”
Cheolmu-baek glanced away, Ye-hwa’s thoughts were unreadable, and Namgung Sohwa….
“I don’t understand. Please explain it to me.”
With her usual indifferent expression, she crossed her arms firmly and asked boldly.
Dokgo Myeong let out a deep sigh.
“Good grief, how frustrating. What am I supposed to do with these people?”
At that moment, Ye-hwa, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.
“You were looking for terrain favorable for defense, weren’t you?”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward her.
Geum Seok-du smiled and nodded.
“Correct. That’s the answer.”
“Terrain favorable for defense? Could it be…?”
In response to Dokgo Ak’s reaction, Geum Seok-du continued his explanation.
“The only accessible entrance to the basin is a single gorge with flowing water. Unless one possesses exceptional lightness skills to traverse the cliffs on all sides, that is. It’s a place easy to defend and easy to hide. Since ancient times, mysterious sects have established their bases in such locations.”
“Then could it be…?”
“You’re saying the assassins’ base is located there.”
“Hmm.”
Whoosh!
Around that time, several guests entered the inn, pushing aside the curtain.
As the guests walked in, they glanced sideways at where Dokgo Myeong and his companions were seated.
“My, we have quite a few guests today, don’t we?”
“Indeed. They appear to be from out of town.”
“Is that so? Welcome.”
“Ah, welcome to you as well.”
When the guests greeted them, Dokgo Myeong and his companions returned the courtesy lightly.
Dokgo Myeong turned his head back and spoke.
“Let’s return to the matter at hand.”
Geum Seok-du rubbed his head somewhat sheepishly as he spoke.
“In remote villages like this, rumors and superstitions tend to grow this way. When you examine the reality, most cases are quite ordinary.”
“What? Discovered so easily? And they’re assassins, no less…?”
“No matter how vast the world is, it’s extremely rare to hide completely. Do you know why?”
“Why is that?”
“Because even assassins are human and must eat, sleep, and relieve themselves to survive. And when goods move, traces are left. That’s why finding is easier than hiding.”
At those words, the companions regarded Geum Seok-du with newfound respect.
In just the time it took to eat one meal, he had gathered rumors from a village he’d never visited before and extracted the necessary information.
It was far beyond mere skill. Such a feat would be impossible without that level of attention and discernment.
Whoosh!
Around that time, guests continued to come and go from the inn.
The sound of the curtain wasn’t particularly pleasant to hear. It seemed to be because the village’s atmosphere itself was so gloomy.
“So, what will you do now?”
Namgung Sohwa asked.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled.
“The plan is set. We came here to eradicate them before they grow any larger.”
“Right, but what’s the method? Surely you’re not planning to just charge in recklessly?”
“Why not?”
“….”
I exhaled a deep sigh as if emptying every breath from my lungs. Then, muttering irritably, “Well, of course,” Ye-hwa suddenly opened her mouth.
“If this is because of me, you don’t have to fight Salgok.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“This is my personal debt. There’s no need for all of you to get involved.”
Dokgo Myeong set down his wine cup with a sharp clink and snorted.
“Why are you being so cold, kid? As long as you’re traveling with us, it’s our business now.”
“But still….”
“So, what do you all think?”
“Well, that’s true enough.”
“He’s right.”
Everyone nodded calmly at Dokgo Myeong’s words.
It was a rare sight in the Gangho these days. Even if it were a close friend’s personal debt, most would avoid getting entangled in such matters in this current age of the martial world.
Usually, those who helped anyway would simply be called meddlers or fools.
But Dokgo Myeong had gathered only those who went against the grain of this era. Here, there were only people who would find it strange not to help.
Ye-hwa shook her head.
“Salgok’s assassins are dangerous. You mustn’t underestimate the survivors.”
“Huh?”
“The way assassins fight is different from how martial artists fight. It will be vile and dirty. No matter how excellent your martial skills are….”
“….”
“…?”
The atmosphere suddenly became strange. Ye-hwa trailed off and looked around with a puzzled expression.
Suddenly, Dokgo Ak nodded.
“Ah, she doesn’t know us well yet.”
“Vile and dirty fighting….”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Dokgo Myeong.
Dokgo Myeong was laughing with a sinister expression, “Hehehehe!”
“Aren’t we specialists in that kind of fighting?”
“We’ve become specialists.”
“We’ve turned into specialists.”
At the group’s relaxed response, only Ye-hwa blinked her round eyes.
Dokgo Myeong lowered his voice and spoke as if whispering.
“I’ll show you proof.”
“Pardon?”
Dokgo Myeong suddenly raised his hand.
The innkeeper, who had been moving about the inn, hurried over.
“Yes, did you call for me?”
“Bring us some water. We’ve been drinking wine and haven’t had any water.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll fetch it right away. However, since I must draw it from the well, it will take a moment.”
“No rush, take your time.”
Dokgo Myeong swept his gaze across the group.
Then he uttered something cryptic.
“Who wants to do it?”
“I’m a bit tired.”
“The place where Sohwa hit me earlier is still throbbing.”
“Would it be alright if I did it?”
At Geum Seok-du’s words, Dokgo Myeong tilted his head.
“What’s this about?”
“I wanted to show Ye-hwa something impressive, that’s all.”
Dokgo Myeong let out a soft chuckle.
“You were already impressive just analyzing the intelligence. Don’t unnecessarily put yourself out there and crack your head open. Just stay put.”
“Yes, truthfully I was a bit scared.”
As Geum Seok-du stepped back, Cheolmu-baek opened his mouth.
“Then I’ll just do it myself. My body’s been itching for some action anyway.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Don’t swing the axe. If you do, there won’t be anything left.”
“Understood.”
That was when it happened.
The innkeeper approached carrying a wooden cup and a ceramic water pitcher.
“I’ve brought the water you requested. Is this amount sufficient?”
“Good work. Stay right there for a moment.”
“Yes? Why?”
“I have something to show you.”
Dokgo Myeong poured water into the wooden cup and looked at Geum Seok-du.
Geum Seok-du nodded and drew a carved silver coin from his sleeve.
Then he dropped the silver coin into the water cup as if placing ice.
Sssssss!
The surface of the silver turned a dark, murky color.
Dokgo Myeong feigned surprise with a hollow voice.
“Wow, poison.”
Crack!
The moment the word “wow” left his lips, the innkeeper was already driving a hidden dart concealed in his sleeve toward Dokgo Myeong’s head.
But the instant he drew out the dart, Cheolmu-baek’s fist, broad as a cauldron lid, came crashing down against his torso.
Boom!
The innkeeper toppled over, overturning his chair with a clatter.
“….”
“….”
The sparse conversations of the few guests in the inn came to an abrupt halt.
They all turned their gazes toward Dokgo Myeong at once.
Dokgo Myeong spoke with an unmistakable sneer playing at his lips.
“Just sit there quietly, you assassins.”
By then, Cheolmu-baek was approaching the collapsed Innkeeper with heavy footsteps.
He grabbed the man’s collar with one hand, hoisting him upright, then struck his cheek hard with the other.
Crack! Thud!
As his jaw shattered, white teeth scattered in all directions. A pouch that looked distinctly like a poison container flew out as well.
“…Ugh, hack!”
The Innkeeper didn’t even scream. He could only barely cough up the blood rising in his throat.
Cheolmu-baek held the Innkeeper’s neck and lifted him, turning to look at Dokgo Myeong.
“What should I do?”
“End it.”
Cheolmu-baek nodded.
Crack!
With that grim sound, Dokgo Myeong rose from his seat.
He sauntered leisurely through the inn, then slowly turned a chair around and dropped himself down across from the guests.
“Pleased to meet you, descendants of Salgok.”
“….”
The two men, one old man, and one child facing him stared at Dokgo Myeong in silence.
The child spoke.
“What do you mean by that?”
Even being generous, the child was around fifteen years old. The innocent gaze was quite convincing.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled.
“Finally, someone who didn’t fall for it.”
“…What?”
“But you’re already completely exposed. What good is the act now?”
Dokgo Myeong smirked and simply spoke his mind.
“Truth is, I visited several places before finding you, but they all turned out to be dead ends. Still, I’m glad I finally found you at the end.”
The child’s expression changed completely.
“How did you know?”
It wasn’t a child’s voice. It was a chilling, raspy voice like scratching wood.
Dokgo Myeong smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“We’re obviously nothing but martial artists. A man and woman with swords, a bald man asking around, a foreign warrior wielding an axe the size of a person… and even that little one.”
Dokgo Myeong pointed at Ye-hwa.
“That one is openly displaying the Red Bow of Salgok, the sacred treasure. With such vicious martial artists inside, what ordinary villager would enter an inn? Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Is that all?”
“No, of course not.”
Dokgo Myeong gestured toward the sprawled Innkeeper.
“That man made no footsteps. Besides, when you first arrived, there was clearly only the owner, but then the Innkeeper suddenly appeared halfway through.”
“Your observation and vigilance are impressive. But why did you eat and drink?”
“When we first arrived, there were no assassins here. The owner wouldn’t have been an assassin, right? Ah, did you perhaps kill the owner?”
“No, I just sent him outside for a while. This place is an important base for us. If trouble breaks out, the base could be exposed….”
“You’re already caught? Are you seriously an idiot?”
“….”
The child exhaled a long sigh.
Then I lifted my head and asked Dokgo Myeong.
“Can I ask just one more thing?”
“By all means.”
“Who exactly are you? What’s your intention in coming after us?”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s wrong with me? I never told you that?”
“….”
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. Hello? My name is Dokgo Myeong, and from now on, I’m the one who’ll be guiding you to the King of Hell.”
Dokgo Myeong greeted me with a cheerful smile and swung his fist.
Boom!

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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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