Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 180

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

Chapter 180
The Moyong Family had prepared quite thoroughly.
Or perhaps the Moyong Family Lord had identified his weak points well.
Dokgo Myeong had become a heartless man who had slaughtered an entire family, a shameless villain of the ages who committed countless crimes without batting an eye, and a blood-crazed murderer who had killed over a hundred people.
Moreover, because these words came from Moryong Sohgyo’s lips, their impact was all the greater.
‘There was a reason Moryong Sohgyo stepped forward instead of Moyong Aejeon, who was both older and held a higher position.’
What would happen if Dokgo Myeong cornered her in any way?
I would become the villain.
Because Okbinghwa, who was admired by countless martial artists of the Gangho, had Dokgo Myeong as the object of her resentment.
She was young and beautiful, with fame and a compelling story. In short, she was the protagonist.
Moyong Lim, who similarly engaged in socializing at the Yongbongjihoe, would have been suitable as well, but he was likely being roasted over the flames of the underworld by now, making her the perfect candidate for this matter.
‘If I lose, that becomes established fact, and conversely, even if I win and consume victory, I ultimately lose.’
Whether I won through force or through justification, Dokgo Myeong loses.
Why is winning also a problem?
It’s simple.
If Dokgo Myeong were to achieve victory, Moryong Sohgyo would meet with misfortune on the way back to the family.
The culprit would likely be the Geongon Sect. However, her corpse would bear the traces of Dokgo Myeong’s martial techniques that the intelligence division had analyzed.
After that, the Moyong Family would proclaim thus:
That Dokgo Myeong harbored resentment and pursued and murdered Moryong Sohgyo.
Truth was irrelevant.
People would believe it that way.
Then what should I do?
—Sometimes I think you’re quite naive. Truth doesn’t matter. What matters in politics is ‘how to make them believe.’
—Whoever deceives more people and creates the atmosphere wins. Do you understand?
Those were Baek Mu-heun’s words.
Recalling his voice made me feel disgusted anew, but the teachings themselves were blameless, so I chose to accept them.
—Chammatae, choose your target well. Then you’ll find an unexpected way out.
From the beginning.
Dokgo Myeong’s blade was never aimed at Moryong Sohgyo.
My blade had always been directed at the Moyong Family.
‘The first step is.’
To seize the momentum.
“My flesh trembles from the threat. Will you continue to aim at me like this?”
Dokgo Myeong looked toward the Geongon Sect and Moyong Aejeon.
“If others saw this, they might think you’re trying to silence the truth through force.”
Moyong Aejeon chuckled and nodded.
“My apologies. All of you, sheathe your blades. First Squad Leader, you withdraw as well. I shall apologize in your stead, Myeong Sohyeop Dokgo Myeong.”
From those words, Dokgo Myeong could discern that the Geongon Sect present here was only a portion.
Typically, in martial families, a sect-level organization is formed by gathering several squad-level units.
‘Then where are the rest?’
Dokgo Myeong swept his gaze across the Geongon Sect martial artists.
At the Geongon Sect Master’s command, the sect’s martial artists sheathed their swords in unison, and even the one called the First Grand Master withdrew.
Moyong Aejeon stepped forward.
“A junior of the Dokgo Family. I am Moyong Aejeon. I’m known by the false reputation of the Geongon Sword Sage. It’s good to meet you.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Senior Moyong Aejeon. I’m pleased.”
“Hmm, yes. You said your name was Heo Jeom. May I ask you a question?”
“No.”
At that blunt refusal, Moyong Aejeon faltered.
“What did you just say?”
“I said don’t ask questions. I’ve heard enough from the Moyong Family. Isn’t it my turn to speak now?”
Dokgo Myeong laughed coldly.
‘Trying to seize control again? Fat chance.’
Dokgo Myeong turned his gaze from the flustered Moyong Aejeon toward Moryong Sohgyo.
“Lady Moyong. I have a question for you.”
“…Please choose one—formal speech or casual speech—and stick with it.”
“Then let’s go with casual speech.”
Moryong Sohgyo cleared her throat awkwardly.
She had never encountered anyone like this before. She was already beginning to feel swept along by Dokgo Myeong.
“Did you investigate and fabricate everything mentioned in this place today?”
“What do you mean?”
“These pieces of evidence, these suspicions, and even your appearance here today—all of it. Was it your will, your thought, your intention?”
“That was naturally…”
Moryong Sohgyo furrowed her brow.
“It was my will, but it was also the family’s will. I made the request, and the family head gave the order. Without the family’s help, how could I have conducted such investigations… ah.”
Moryong Sohgyo cut herself off as if she had misspoken.
“I see. So you’re saying the Moyong Family ordered you to come forward?”
As Moryong Sohgyo’s face hardened, a smile played at the corners of Dokgo Myeong’s lips.
‘Right, for a noble family’s child, it’s proper etiquette to attribute all credit and blame to the family. She was well-educated.’
The line had been drawn.
Now the responsibility lay not with Moryong Sohgyo, but with the Moyong Family itself.
“Wait…”
Just as Moryong Sohgyo opened her mouth in confusion, Dokgo Myeong cut her off and began speaking.
“From what I’ve been hearing, something seems off. You said I conspired with the culprit of the Guhua Blood Incident and killed your father, Moyong Ryung the Great Master? That’s different from what I know. Clearly…”
Dokgo Myeong continued with a composed expression.
“That culprit was someone the Moyong Family brought in as a guest. He activated a mechanism that put everyone in danger. I was caught up in it too.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“The sequence of events is wrong. The root cause of that incident lay with the Moyong Family from the start. I merely captured the culprit and brought her out. How does that make me an accomplice?”
“If you weren’t an accomplice, why did you save that woman’s life instead of my father’s?”
Dokgo Myeong grinned wickedly.
“Why should I have saved your father?”
“…What?”
“If your enemy falls into water, do you jump in to save them? Come to your senses. Moyong is my enemy.”
“…!”
“In other words, I have no qualms about killing them whether it’s at Gukhwasan or anywhere else.”
Moryong Sohgyo’s already large eyes widened further.
This was far too reckless. Had this been a government office, she would be branded a criminal on the spot.
But…this was the Gangho. A ruthless world where killing one’s enemies was sanctioned.
At that moment, Moyong Aejeon stepped forward.
“Evidence.”
“What did you say, Senior?”
“Let’s set aside what happened to Ryung. Show me evidence that you weren’t colluding with that woman.”
“Colluding, you say?”
“That’s right!”
Dokgo Myeong nodded slowly.
“If I was colluding, that would mean I planted that woman in the Moyong Family, wouldn’t it?”
“That’s righ….”
“That’s not it!”
Moryong Sohgyo cried out urgently, cutting off Moyong Aejeon’s words.
Moyong Aejeon furrowed his brow and lowered his voice.
“What are you doing?”
“You mustn’t say such things, Elder!”
Moryong Sohgyo whispered with a flustered expression.
Only then did Moyong Aejeon, grasping the situation, widen his eyes.
‘Good heavens. What have I done?’
That every family planted spies within each other was a secret known to those in the know.
But it couldn’t be acknowledged here. The moment it was admitted….
‘The Moyong Family would become known as an incompetent clan that not only harbored a spy from the Dokgo Household but was also fooled by their schemes, sending their sole legitimate heir to his doom.’
It was a catastrophic loss of face.
The Dokgo Family would merely be pointed at, but the Moyong Household would suffer a grave flaw in their grand endeavor to establish the Martial Arts Alliance.
They were in a bind.
Dokgo Myeong smiled wickedly.
“Why did you stop speaking, Senior?”
“….”
“Go ahead and say it. That I planted a spy in the Moyong Family and caused this bloodshed. Isn’t that what you were about to say?”
While Moyong Aejeon’s lips merely trembled, Moryong Sohgyo stepped forward with a hardened expression.
“My apologies. My investigation was insufficient. It seems I’ve made a groundless accusation….”
“No, it’s not the young lady’s fault—it’s the Moyong Household’s investigation that was flawed, isn’t it?”
If one pressed, one pressed to the end.
Dokgo Myeong gave no ground for retreat.
“Martial Arts Alliance Leaders.”
Dokgo Myeong turned his body.
“It seems there’s been some misunderstanding. Why should I bear such an absurd accusation? Isn’t that right?”
Dokgo Myeong spoke while surveying the Martial Arts Alliance Leaders.
The Alliance Leaders, unable to fully grasp the situation, found themselves nodding along.
“That’s right! Why did the Moyong Family cast such suspicion on the hero of Anhui!”
A booming voice erupted from somewhere, and those who had been holding their breath began raising their voices in turn.
“I was there at that very moment!”
“Dokgo Myeong Sohyeop was the great hero who saved our sect’s disciples!”
The atmosphere reversed in an instant.
Moyong Aejeon had to suppress the rising commotion.
“Our family’s… our family made an error. We merely presented suspicions for the sake of inquiry, so please do not misinterpret our intentions.”
Dokgo Myeong laughed softly amid the chaos.
He had won one of the three rounds.
Now one person had to step down.
“Ah, come to think of it, didn’t the Moyong Family have a witness? Jin-in, is there nothing else you wish to say?”
Dokgo Myeong’s gaze fell upon Hyeon-un Jin-in.
“You… insolent….”
“When you run out of words, you just get angry. If you have nothing more to say, please step down from the arena.”
Hyeon-un Jin-in’s eyes grew cold.
Moyong Aejeon spoke to him in a suppressed voice.
“Hyeon-un. Step down.”
“….”
Hyeon-un Jin-in looked at Moyong Aejeon, then glared back at Dokgo Myeong.
“You wretch, regardless of how this matter concludes, I will surely collect the debt my disciple owes. Can you bear that burden?”
“Bear it, you say. I’m amazed you still don’t grasp it.”
“What?”
“Did I not tell you that the next time we meet, my standing will have risen to match yours?”
Whoooosh!
Dokgo Myeong suddenly drew upon his inner force and unleashed it toward Hyeon-un Jin-in.
In that instant, Hyeon-un Jin-in felt as though countless skies unfurled before his eyes.
The twilight of dawn, the sun at noon, the crimson glow of dusk, the Milky Way of the night sky—a wave of remarkably pure energy enveloped him.
Hyeon-un Jin-in was astounded.
‘A breakthrough in realm? Surely not!’
The man was standing at the same level as himself.
No, perhaps even higher than himself….
“Step down. This is no longer a place for you to stand.”
“…!”
“I will come collect the debt myself, so wait for me.”
Moyong Sohyeop, who had witnessed everything, felt a sense of foreboding.
‘This won’t do. This is grave.’
The atmosphere was shifting. Mentioning the Nine Flower Acupoint had been the crux of my strategy, yet it had been refuted far too easily.
‘My advantage has vanished.’
I held value only because I was someone with the right to question him about my father’s death.
But now that avenue was closed to me against Dokgo Myeong.
I still had two remaining cards. Even without them, there were plenty of matters to confront him about.
Yet… Dokgo Myeong’s gaze remained perfectly composed.
* * *
Amid the bustling crowd.
A man’s collar was seized roughly by two figures—a man and a woman.
“You there! What are you doing!”
“That’s right! What exactly!”
It was Hwangbo Yeol and Jegal Soso. The pair were making a commotion as if they might throttle Paeng Gangseong.
The one who had first raised his voice like a rabble-rouser was none other than Paeng Gangseong himself.
“Why? Can’t I speak with my own voice?”
Even as his collar was seized and shaken, Paeng Gangseong smiled with amusement.
Jegal Soso cried out.
“Have you lost your mind? There’s no one left to take your side!”
“Soso.”
Paeng Gangseong’s eyes gleamed.
“Come to your senses. Whose side are you truly on—the Moyong Family’s or the Jegal Family’s? Will you continue acting this foolishly because of Rim-a, who’s already dead?”
“…!”
“Hwangbo Yeol, the same goes for you. Do you genuinely wish to place yourself under the Moyong Family?”
“….”
“Not me. Since things seem to be unfolding in an interesting direction, I’ll stay quiet for now.”
Now it was beginning.
Dokgo Myeong opened his mouth once more.

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