Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 204

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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 204
“What are you saying right now….”
If atmosphere had form, the tournament grounds would be undulating as if waves were crashing upon them.
Dokgo Un-hak glared at Dokgo Myeong, then suddenly turned his head to look at Dokgo Hwi-hwa.
Then he shifted his gaze again, observing the other sect leaders and Dokgo Myeong’s faction.
‘Could it have been this all along?’
What Dokgo Myeong had been aiming for.
It was not factional strife within the household or his own safety.
Dokgo Myeong had intended to raise this matter from the beginning.
‘The Outer Hall has heard no such news. That means….’
The Elder Council Leader.
That man had finally joined hands with Dokgo Myeong.
But that was not all.
‘Could it be that the Geumsan Sect Leader meeting with the meritorious officials….’
No politician would raise an uncertain matter relying on luck. Especially for something to be brought before the Great Assembly, there must already be some agreement reached beneath the surface.
Dokgo Myeong opened his mouth.
“Through cooperation with Gae-bang, a certain level of agreement has been reached. Even if the main house takes the lead in striking at Moyong, there will be none in the world to condemn the main house for it.”
“And how am I to believe that?”
“My words seem to lack weight, so I shall borrow the voice of someone more weighty. Saheon Sect Leader, I entrust this to you.”
As Dokgo Myeong spoke, Dokgo Wi-hak, who had been silently observing the situation, rose from his seat and withdrew something from his robes.
Two white ivory tablets.
One was larger than the other, and an intricately carved dragon was etched on the cord-binding side.
“The Dragon Head Tablet and the Lesser Dragon Tablet?”
“You recognize them.”
“How do the sacred tablets of the Yongdu Sect Leader and Hu-gae come to be in your hands?”
These were counted among the three sacred treasures of Gae-bang, alongside the Takgu Staff and the Hanyeon Vessel.
“I have shared purpose with the Yongdu Sect Leader of Gae-bang.”
“You mean to say that Elder Choe, barely in his twenties, joined hands with you?”
“Merely joined hands. We also shared bibimbap, drank wine together, and received teachings. We did everything, really.”
The mention of bibimbap was unclear, but with the Sect Leader of Gae-bang and Hu-gae’s sacred tablet in hand, there was no doubt it was the truth.
‘It was not merely cooperation? The Martial Alliance, you say. Could that shallow fellow Bang Jong-san have actually handed over his sacred tablet to such a young junior?’
Setting aside his reputation in the martial world, even in terms of standing alone, the Yongdu Sect Leader Bang Jong-san was a match for Dokgo Cheon.
That such a man was fully supporting Dokgo Myeong was simply unthinkable.
“Already, the Nine Great Sects and numerous other sects have inscribed their names upon the joint petition.”
“The Nine Great Sects?”
“The last report I received was from Jongnam and Huashan. Wudang is still deliberating, and Shaolin is negative, but… eventually they will join one by one. Now only the main house’s decision is needed.”
Crack.
As Dokgo Un-hak gripped the armrest of his chair tightly, the edge shattered.
He stared at Dokgo Myeong without blinking an eye.
At that moment, the Outer Hall sect leaders, sensing the situation was flowing in a strange direction, rose up indignantly and shouted.
“Again, you’ve handled another matter of great consequence to the household on your own whim!”
“Y-yes, that’s right! War, no less! Something the entire household should have deliberated upon!”
“And the Martial Alliance at that…!”
“Enough.”
Dokgo Un-hak silenced them with a low, resonant voice.
“The Aeon Elders and Four Directions Elders—cease your posturing and sit quietly.”
“Ah, but….”
“Sit.”
They exchanged glances and shuffled back to their seats.
Ordinarily, Dokgo Un-hak would never display such overt commands to his faction members before outsiders.
The very fact that he did so now revealed that his disposition was far from serene.
“…Hehehehe.”
Dokgo Un-hak suddenly burst into laughter.
Then he nodded calmly. He had no choice but to nod.
‘It’s torn open.’
The plan to ensnare Dokgo Myeong and tear him apart was now beyond salvaging.
Debating why he had acted so recklessly here would only yield predictable arguments.
—I merely followed the Family Head’s command.
Dokgo Cheon, who had ordered the household’s expansion.
If one claimed to have laid the foundation of the Martial Alliance—that union of all under heaven—by following his orders, who could possibly refute it?
The justification was secured, and the momentum was established.
Should the Dokgo Household merely execute the war, they would seize the upper hand in the political arena governing all under heaven as founding contributors who had rendered great service in establishing the Martial Alliance.
‘And the center of all these endeavors rests upon that single wretch.’
Now, regardless of whether the Martial Alliance and war would proceed, Dokgo Myeong had become untouchable.
After enduring such hardship to achieve an accomplishment of this magnitude, to now question responsibility….
‘Better to bite one’s tongue and perish. For this Dokgo Un-hak is not so intoxicated by power.’
Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes gleamed.
“Dokgo Myeong.”
“Yes, Outer Hall Master.”
“I acknowledge it.”
At those words, Dokgo Myeong’s expression hardened.
“You’ve accomplished something great. Truly, an unbelievable achievement. I acknowledge it. It seems the main branch—no, this uncle of yours has been holding you back.”
The gazes of Dokgo Myeong and Dokgo Un-hak intertwined in the empty air.
‘His eyes have changed.’
Though Dokgo Un-hak had always acknowledged him, there had remained a trace of condescension befitting an uncle and elder.
Now that was gone.
As if in vigilance, as if in warning.
He was regarding him with the same eyes he turned upon Dokgo Hwi-hwa. Or perhaps, as one might regard someone even more dangerous than her.
Dokgo Myeong smiled faintly.
‘Vigilance is welcome.’
I need to sharpen it further.
While already sufficiently keen, Dokgo Un-hak requires an even finer edge.
Dokgo Myeong cupped his fists in salute.
“I am grateful for your praise, Outer Hall Master. I shall strive even harder.”
Dokgo Un-hak nodded and gazed forward.
“Overseer.”
“Yes, Outer Hall Master?”
“Shall we proceed with the vote soon?”
“If anyone wishes to raise a final objection, please speak freely. You are welcome to voice your opinions or ask questions without reservation.”
There were no questions.
The voting began.
One by one, the sect leaders raised their hands.
Dokgo Myeong watched the entire spectacle with unwavering intensity.
‘I set the stage, but…’
His gaze swept across the Elder Council Leader, Son Tae-im, and Dokgo Jo-hak in turn.
‘Whether the Alliance Leader will raise his hand, whether Tae-im has swayed the meritorious officials well, whether Uncle Jo-hak has orchestrated things properly—no one knows.’
I had merely constructed the framework and entrusted the rest to others. Once it left my hands, I could only trust in what would come.
Dokgo Myeong closed his eyes gently, then opened them slowly.
“….”
Twenty-five sect leaders from the Elder faction.
Twenty sect leaders from the Outer Hall faction.
Fourteen sect leaders from the Dokgo Myeong faction.
Eighteen sect leaders from the old meritorious officials unaffiliated with any faction and those directly under the household head.
An overwhelming majority of hands rose to the heavens, excluding those absent, those opposed to war, and those who abstained.
War was confirmed.
* * *
“Hahahaha!”
“….”
“I haven’t witnessed such a spectacle since the great turmoil. Isn’t that so, Overseer Wi?”
“Yes, Household Head.”
After the first day’s grand council concluded, Dokgo Cheon proceeded to the household head’s residence with Wi Baek in attendance.
Black Dragon Sect Leader Lee Seong-cheon followed like a shadow beside Wi Baek.
Some meritorious officials opposed to the war had raised their voices in protest, but ultimately realized the futility of their objections. The remaining agenda was postponed to the following day, and the council adjourned.
Wi Baek spoke.
“Still, did things not flow largely as you anticipated?”
“I heard beforehand what schemes that clever grandson of mine was harboring.”
“I too received advance notice, but I never expected him to move the board to this extent.”
“Had he devoted himself to court rather than the household, he would have become a legendary schemer. Hehe!”
Wi Baek felt a peculiar sensation watching Dokgo Cheon burst into continuous laughter.
The household head, who had seemed to transcend humanity itself through repeated seclusion in recent times, appeared almost human again.
Yet to him now, it felt like nothing more than the ordinary prayer of an old grandfather.
“So it’s you, Baek.”
Dokgo Cheon spoke with a voice that still carried a hint of laughter.
“Yes.”
Wi Baek grew more tense than usual when Dokgo Cheon addressed him this way.
Words hidden behind laughter could sometimes weigh more than a thousand pounds.
“What was your impression of him?”
“You mean Dokgo Myeong, sir?”
“Yes.”
“A born gambler, I would say.”
“A gambler? Tell me more specifically.”
“He’s skilled at deception—exaggerating what he has and feigning what he lacks. In truth, rather than being particularly clever, Dokgo Myeong excels at reading his opponent’s mind.”
“True enough. He’s not quite the same type as you. Do you agree, Seong-cheon?”
At Dokgo Cheon’s call, Lee Seong-cheon opened his mouth respectfully.
His usually stern expression seemed to soften ever so slightly.
“He resembles a demon.”
“A demon?”
“Isn’t that what demons do—bewitch people and lead them into calamity?”
“Ha, a demon indeed. A demon… yes, he’s like a nine-tailed fox demon.”
Dokgo Cheon stopped, and his two loyal retainers halted behind him.
They had reached a path near the main residence. Dokgo Cheon turned to look back.
Perhaps because the main residence stood on relatively high ground, the entire Dokgo Household spread out before them in a single glance.
“What do you think will happen now?”
Wi Baek and Lee Seong-cheon hesitated.
Dokgo Cheon, hands clasped behind his back, turned his head slightly.
“Fire will catch in the straw pile. It won’t extinguish easily.”
“….”
“The Martial Alliance… that Myeong-i fellow has soft sentiments in the strangest places. He probably intended to create some kind of safeguard, but well. In the end, chaos will erupt.”
“Do not worry, sir. The main house will endure whatever flames arise.”
Lee Seong-cheon spoke calmly.
Wi Baek also opened his mouth.
“We will prepare thoroughly. This is the moment we have waited for so long, is it not?”
Dokgo Cheon’s eyes gleamed.
“Yes, indeed. We have prepared long and waited much. Whether it be resentment or ambition, we have harbored both.”
In a chapter of the bygone era.
There existed beings who had divided the world into three.
All of them fought fiercely against the esoteric teachings that had permeated the Central Plains. Yet they were never truly allies.
Sometimes they were comrades, sometimes enemies, and sometimes master and disciple.
Among such beings, there could be no hierarchy or superiority… yet victory and defeat existed.
‘I am a greedy man.’
Dokgo Cheon understood himself well.
He was a man who could not be satisfied with merely having “household” or “sword” appended to his name as the greatest under heaven.
Being one of three was something he could never accept.
Born with feet upon the earth, I had lived as a single swordsman.
How could I not dream of being first?
‘And now, at last, one of the many paths I have prepared draws near.’
When chaos comes, the phantoms of the old era and the heroes of the new age will reveal themselves once more.
If I triumph as a force, I shall become the greatest household under heaven; if I triumph as a martial artist, I shall become the greatest person under heaven.
An unprecedented achievement in all of history.
Dokgo Cheon dreamed of a singular, unified purpose.
But then….
“Is something troubling you, sir?”
Lee Seong-cheon read something in Dokgo Cheon’s expression and asked carefully.
“Wi Baek. Seong-cheon.”
“Yes, Household Lord.”
“Yes.”
“Will this be acceptable?”
Bewilderment flickered in the eyes of the two loyal retainers.
Soon Lee Seong-cheon spoke.
“They will succeed admirably.”
“That is precisely the problem.”
“…?”
“If only they fell short in some way, my mind would be at ease.”
Dokgo Cheon’s voice grew heavy.
“The main household was meant to be inherited by the one who carries my blood most purely.”
There was only one such person.
Dokgo Un-hak, the young sword master.
Indeed, Wi Baek had structured the household framework precisely this way.
Dokgo Hwi-hwa was merely prey, meant to threaten Dokgo Un-hak, and after a fierce struggle, become his nourishment.
“An unexpected piece has emerged from nowhere. Moreover, he is far too different from me. Wherever he goes, he stirs up disturbances. That is why I worry.”
Can Dokgo Un-hak embrace or suppress Dokgo Myeong?
Or could the opposite occur?
‘Indeed.’
Will that Myeong-i fellow covet dominion over the main household?
“Whom would you wish to stand behind?”
“I shall stand behind no one but you, Household Lord.”
Wi Baek answered immediately.
“…I am of the same mind.”
Yet Lee Seong-cheon’s voice came a moment later.
Had something flickered through his unconscious mind?
Dokgo Cheon suddenly burst into laughter.
“I have gained the ability to perceive and hear across a thousand leagues, yet this world has never once unfolded as I anticipated. Perhaps that is why I still keep my feet planted upon this earth.”
The faint hesitation that had lingered in Dokgo Cheon’s eyes vanished without a trace.
“There is no reason to deliberate. In the end, the victor shall claim everything.”

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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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