Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 209

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

Chapter 209
*Shing!*
Namgung Sohwa drew her sword immediately.
‘He’s going to throw a punch again without thinking, isn’t he?’
Without hesitation, she drew up her vital energy first. Despite her slender frame, the energy she radiated gave an impression of an iron fortress.
Dokgo Myeong smiled.
‘She’s grown another step. It seems the Sect Leader’s guidance has been quite helpful for her.’
Dokgo Wi-hak’s understanding of the sword was incomparable to his own. Each word from him must have been quite instructive for Namgung Sohwa.
‘Still, her growth rate has plateaued.’
One could say she’d been growing absurdly fast up until now.
Yet even that felt slow. She needed to grow stronger faster.
‘Her balance is aligned, and once the spirit elixir is complete, she’ll fill in any remaining gaps. Before that… it’s time she understood the principles of the Nameless Sword.’
Dokgo Myeong exhaled a long breath with a serious expression.
As Dokgo Myeong displayed an unusual demeanor, Namgung Sohwa hesitated and asked.
“What’s wrong? What were you trying to say…?”
Dokgo Myeong waved his hand.
“Put the sword away.”
“Pardon?”
“I said put it back. I’m not in the mood for a match right now.”
Namgung Sohwa blinked.
“…Did you eat something bad?”
“What?”
“Or are you drunk perhaps? Possessed by a demonic influence? That doesn’t seem likely though?”
“If someone heard you, they’d think I’ve developed a taste for beating you all!”
“Haven’t you?”
“Of course not!”
“You were laughing like crazy when you beat Mu-baek last time.”
“That was just excitement from sparring. Wait, Mu-baek? Now you’re calling him by his name casually?”
“It’s been a while. You didn’t know?”
“Last time you were speaking formally to him.”
“I know how to read the situation. We’re friends now.”
“Wow, so you’re picky about who you befriend, but you made friends with him…?”
Namgung Sohwa widened her eyes and countered.
“What? Are you feeling left out?”
“Left out? You’re being ridiculous!”
Seeing Dokgo Myeong burst out, Namgung Sohwa chuckled and sheathed her sword.
‘He’s surprisingly childish, I tell you.’
The smile on her face faded quickly, and her expression darkened.
Soon after, as if she’d made some resolve, she exhaled sharply, tapped her cheeks a few times, and spoke.
“I’m ready to listen now. Go ahead.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t I seem pathetic to you lately? That’s why you created this separate position for me, isn’t it?”
Namgung Sohwa’s face was tinged with bitterness as she spoke.
Dokgo Myeong looked at her with a bewildered expression.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve entrusted my revenge to the commander… no, to the alliance, and I haven’t done anything myself.”
“…”
“Unlike the other managers’ goals, my objective of rebuilding the clan and avenging myself against the Moyong Family is far more complex and difficult. I know that well. I know it, but… I haven’t done anything.”
Namgung Sohwa hung her head low.
“I’m truly pathetic and comfortable, aren’t I? Since I’m aware of it, you can speak freely about it.”
Even when Dokgo Myeong had gathered all the managers and delivered a grand speech, he had said nothing to her alone.
Moreover, for such a busy man to carve out personal time to show concern… it was something she had already steeled herself to expect.
Dokgo Myeong spoke in a flat tone.
“Yes, you do understand.”
Namgung Sohwa flinched slightly.
Dokgo Myeong continued.
“It is pathetic. Just as you say, someone dreaming more difficult dreams than any of us is doing this.”
“…”
Namgung Sohwa swallowed dryly as she met Dokgo Myeong’s indifferent gaze. She had prepared herself, but hearing it stated so bluntly made her throat tighten.
But then.
“…Would that make you feel better? Good heavens, you were pretending otherwise, but you’ve been trembling with anxiety all alone.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“The reason I said nothing to you back then was simply because it’s you.”
Dokgo Myeong sighed and continued.
“You drive yourself twice as hard as anyone else. Your life is already arduous enough—I didn’t want my words to push you further down a thorny path.”
“…?”
“Besides, haven’t you been secretly training alone every night recently?”
“H-how did you…?”
Namgung Sohwa’s eyes widened.
Dokgo Myeong let out a soft laugh.
“And you say you’ve entrusted your revenge and reconstruction to me and done nothing? If that’s the case, what does that make me? All of you have been dragged into countless conflicts because of my affairs.”
“Ah…”
“Our original promise was about this, wasn’t it? In such cases, you simply say thank you. If you want to do something yourself, you just say so. We’re not strangers anymore—why such ridiculous worrying?”
Namgung Sohwa’s face suddenly flushed crimson.
“I-it was just my misunderstanding?”
“My, are you embarrassed now?”
“…!”
Namgung Sohwa’s face contorted.
Once she lay in bed tonight, she’d probably practice martial techniques under the blankets from sheer mortification.
A supreme master’s kick, no less. The blanket wouldn’t survive.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly, then paused in thought.
‘So she has this side to her.’
In her past life, Sohwa had always seemed so unshakeable. She never lost heart or harbored misunderstandings over trivial matters like this.
‘Was this what the Patriarch meant?’
All solid things have a time when they were soft.
Namgung Sohwa was barely past her coming of age.
At this age, everything felt uncertain and clumsy, no matter what one did. She too would need years to become unshakeable.
‘…I’m the same way. Even though I carry Dokgo Hyeon’s memories, I also need time to forge this new path.’
A shift in mindset, if you could call it that.
An inexplicable sense of ease was filling the space where impatience had dwelled.
But that was one thing.
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes glinted mischievously.
“So it’s a disaster whether I nag you or not? If you want, I’ll make your ears bleed with my lectures from now on!”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant!”
“You’re so full of yourself that you’re worrying about such things…!”
* * *
After finishing his tirade.
Only then could Dokgo Myeong and Namgung Sohwa discuss martial arts.
“What kind of sword technique do you think the Nameless Sword Method is while you practice it?”
Namgung Sohwa thought for a moment before answering.
“I’ve been thinking of it as the Infinite Sword of the Boundless Sky focused on practical application.”
“Mm.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“The person who created it would be absolutely furious hearing you say that.”
“….”
Namgung Sohwa’s expression turned sullen.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled and spoke.
“True, the Nameless Sword did originate from the Infinite Sword of the Boundless Sky. The destination they seek may be the same. But the path is entirely different. You should see them as completely different sword techniques.”
“Different techniques….”
“But you got one thing right. That it emphasizes practical application. So then, what exactly is a practical sword technique?”
“Flexibility, I would say.”
“Correct. And it’s an advantage.”
The hallmark of practical martial arts is the ability to respond quickly and flexibly to circumstances rather than being bound by forms or techniques.
As a result, martial arts tend to focus on single strikes rather than technique combinations. The Heavenly Outer Realm was a prime example.
“Then conversely, what’s the disadvantage?”
“Lack of form.”
“Exactly.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Now let me ask you something else. What is the fundamental principle underlying the Infinite Sword of the Boundless Sky?”
“Balance.”
To know that I myself am the center of the world.
To unfold the boundless expanse of distant space with my blade.
The Namgung swordsmanship differed fundamentally from other heavy swords wielded with brute force. It felt heavy precisely because it maintained an unwavering center.
“The Nameless Sword Technique inherited that foundation, and sought to reach it through the process of practical application. The approach is entirely different. Now tell me—do you truly believe the Nameless Sword is merely a practical version of the Boundless Sword? What do you think is the true essence of the Nameless Sword?”
“That is….”
Namgung Sohwa fell silent, lost in contemplation.
Essence.
The principle that lies beneath the form of martial arts—the logic that governs them.
Martial arts learned by observing only the shell were incomplete. Without understanding the essence, one could not advance to higher realms.
She understood that as well, but….
“I don’t know. Please teach me.”
“I cannot teach you this time.”
“Pardon?”
“You must realize this yourself. The process of contemplation will be what matters.”
Dokgo Myeong suddenly extended his hand.
As Namgung Sohwa’s eyes widened at the sight of his calloused palm, Dokgo Myeong’s mouth opened.
“Hand over your sword.”
“What?”
“From today onward, training is forbidden until you find that answer. No external cultivation, no lightness technique training. Only inner energy cultivation is permitted.”
“…!”
“Don’t even show your face at the training grounds. If you sneak in, there will be serious consequences.”
* * *
“Goodness, this is truly not easy. Not easy at all.”
Dokgo Myeong muttered as he entered his quarters.
Then, the sound of someone laughing reached his ears.
“Smile before you speak.”
“Ah, Sect Leader.”
Dokgo Myeong immediately bowed his head.
Dokgo Wi-hak held a wooden sword in one hand.
“Were you just finished instructing that Ak boy?”
“Yes, he shows considerable promise. His reckless and aggressive nature suits the Single Yang Sword well.”
“His foundation is the finest we have. The boy’s ceiling is remarkably high.”
Dokgo Wi-hak nodded.
“Come in. Let’s have some tea.”
“Yes.”
With steaming tea cups before them, Dokgo Wi-hak spoke.
“I’ve heard bits and pieces, but aren’t you pushing those children too hard?”
“What do you mean?”
“Driving those children forward. Especially that Sohwa—she appears composed and strong, but she carries a very deep sorrow within her.”
Though he called it sorrow, it was closer to rage, or perhaps inner demons.
Dokgo Myeong smiled bitterly as he spoke.
“Pressing forward… The Chammadae simply needs to solidify itself right now.”
“Is this because of the war?”
“Yes.”
By conservative estimates, a full-scale war would occur in about two years, but there was also a possibility it could happen as soon as next year or within mere months.
‘There’s justification, but we need to create the right atmosphere.’
There would be friction created through businesses and military forces, unreasonable demands and conditions imposed, and pressure applied through diplomatic and public opinion campaigns.
If the Moyong Family were to yield even once, it wouldn’t escalate to all-out war, but they were now backed into a corner. When the time ripened, a proclamation would be issued, and after several localized skirmishes, it would lead to full-scale war.
“In that battle, the Chammadae, with Sohwa at the forefront, must take the lead. We may even find ourselves in a life-or-death struggle.”
“Wouldn’t it be fine even if you and the Chammadae didn’t step forward?”
Yes, I knew this question would come.
War was already decided. There was no need for them to step forward.
But it couldn’t be that way.
There was only one reason.
“It is my lord’s revenge.”
“…”
“He’s the type to blame himself for not being able to help with the groundwork for revenge. If I merely observe even that, it will become a lifelong scar on his heart.”
“Yes, that would be the case.”
A bitter smile crossed Dokgo Wi-hak’s lips.
“Moreover, this is a fight I started. I must take the lead. At the end of this battle… the path toward the world will open.”
“Then what about you?”
“Pardon?”
“What do you plan to do going forward?”
“I…”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed.
“Actually, the Family Head summoned me.”
“What?”
“He said it was time to impart teachings. After that… I plan to go into seclusion.”
“…!”
Dokgo Wi-hak’s pupils trembled greatly.
Dokgo Myeong spoke.
“Once Sohwa and all the managers are on track, I intend to make a brief visit as well. In other words, it’s a preparation period for the Chammadae’s growth.”
It could be called a period of closed-door cultivation.
The moment worry flickered across Dokgo Wi-hak’s eyes, Dokgo Myeong spoke first.
“Don’t worry. Not just me, but the managers aren’t the type to scatter at this level.”
“Anyone can lose their footing when pressed.”
“It will be fine. Look at that.”
Dokgo Myeong pointed beyond the wide-open window to somewhere in the distance.
Someone was walking there.
“The reason the Chammadae is strong is precisely because of things like that.”
“….”
“We are each other’s shield. We won’t crumble so easily.”
* * *
Even after Dokgo Myeong left, Namgung Sohwa remained seated for a long while.
‘I understand nothing. If only I could wield my blade….’
Without thinking, she reached toward her empty waist, then released a heavy sigh.
Whenever her mind grew troubled or her cultivation hit a wall, she would simply draw her sword and practice. Now even that was denied to her.
Was this why they said a bedridden martial artist was only half a warrior?
With her waist bare, her heart felt equally hollow.
‘I don’t have time for this….’
I had to grow stronger quickly if I was to have my revenge against the Moyong Family.
The faces of my enemies remained vivid in my memory.
The Red Sword Brigade—the Moyong Family’s elite martial force that had burned down my hidden residence.
Muyong Cheol, the Elder Council Leader of the Moyong Family, who had tortured and experimented on my clan’s blood relatives.
And Muyong Tae, the patriarch of the Moyong Family, the root cause of it all.
‘I should cultivate my inner energy.’
The sun was setting, but I had no intention of going inside.
Just as I was about to sit in lotus position.
I felt a presence approaching the training ground.
“Have you finished your training?”
“Seok-du? You came? Oh.”
Namgung Sohwa was startled upon seeing Geum Seok-du.
“Are, are you alright?”
Geum Seok-du looked utterly haggard.
His eyes were hollow and his skin looked withered. He had seemed fine just this morning when he left with Dokgo Myeong.
“Yes, I’m fine. Today was merely a taste. They say it will get much worse starting tomorrow… If I die, please pour a cup of wine on my grave.”
“W-what happened?”
“If I speak of it, I’ll choke. I’ll choke on the words. Cough!”
Geum Seok-du shuddered.
“Which is why I’m asking—would you care to share a drink with me before I die?”
“A drink?”
“Yes. There used to be a gathering where three of us would drink together, but the other managers suggested we all join in.”
Namgung Sohwa’s expression grew hesitant.
“No, I should continue my training….”
She paused mid-sentence, then weakly nodded her head.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Geum Seok-du soon led her somewhere.
They arrived at none other than the Geum Mountain Pavilion.
“Oh?”
Several people were already gathered inside.
“Have you arrived?”
“Sister, over here. I’ve saved you a seat.”
People gathered in a circle around a generously laden table of drinks.
Dokgo Ak, Cheolmu-baek, Ye-hwa, and….
“Sect Leader Son? Oh, and Servant Jang too?”
“It’s good to see you again.”
“Heh.”
Son Tae-im and Jang Sam had unexpectedly joined the gathering as well.
The other managers had now joined what had once been a secret drinking meeting that Son Tae-im, Jang Sam, and Geum Seok-du would occasionally hold among themselves.

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