Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 214

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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 214
If one starts something, one must see it through to the end and handle it responsibly.
This is the mark of a true adult and the proper role of a leader.
By that measure, Dokgo Myeong was an incompetent fool and a worthless commander.
‘I want to sleep.’
A corpse-like figure moved his brush stiffly as he thought this.
Well, looking more carefully, there was a faint hint of color to his skin.
A man with hollow eyes and pallid complexion—the very picture of someone on death’s door—none other than Dokgo Jo-hak.
‘I don’t need anything else. I just want to sleep.’
He’d given up drinking, so there was no help for it, but if he could just set aside all his troubles and worries and lie peacefully on his bed….
Trembling.
Dokgo Jo-hak, gripping his brush tightly as he shook, gazed quietly at the ceiling.
“That bastard Dokgo Myeong….”
At that murderous murmur, the sect members of Baek Ok-gak gathered in the office flinched.
‘Oh no, he’s not having another episode, is he?’
‘I understand. The Sect Leader has been pushing himself hard lately….’
Dokgo Myeong, the head of the faction.
The moment he returned to the household, he threw work at them like a madman, yet he never handled anything himself.
Wasn’t it Dokgo Jo-hak who even comforted the other sect leaders and stamped approval on important documents?
‘Still, I wish he’d stop overturning the table.’
‘Why? He cleans it up himself anyway.’
‘No, because of that, the Sect Leader’s work gets delayed. Which means our work finishes late too.’
‘Ah….’
It was at that moment when the sect members were whispering and watching Dokgo Jo-hak’s expression.
“The Geumsan Sect Leader is here.”
Dokgo Jo-hak greeted the visitor with hollow eyes.
“Ah, Sect Leader Son. Come in.”
Another corpse… no, Son Tae-im stepped into the office.
He too, one of Dokgo Myeong’s two great servants, was in less than perfect condition.
“It’s just….”
“What now?”
“Did you receive word from my faction?”
Dokgo Jo-hak flinched.
“This time, for the Young Master, there’s the martial training hall, practice weapons, salary, and such items….”
“And?”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t this something that bastard should be handling himself? It’s not faction business—it’s his own private forces’ matter!”
“Ah, well, that’s true.”
Son Tae-im let out a sigh.
“But if he’s told to do it, he has to do it, doesn’t he?”
Dokgo Jo-hak finally gripped the table with both hands.
“Krraaaagh! Dokgo Myeong, you wretched cur…!”
“Sect Leader, your eyes are rolling back again! Stop him!”
“Oh my, Baek Ok-gak!”
“Fetch cold water! Quickly!”
Only after Dokgo Jo-hak had endured another fit and gulped down an entire bowl of cold water could he finally calm himself.
That is, until a shout echoed from outside the window.
“Is my esteemed uncle at home! Your precious nephew has arrived!”
Crash!
The man who kicked through the main gate of Baek Ok-gak.
It was none other than Dokgo Myeong.
Dokgo Myeong crossed the courtyard of Baek Ok-gak and waved cheerfully at Dokgo Jo-hak, visible through the third-floor window of the pavilion.
“It’s been a while! My esteemed general! Our Dokgo Jo-hak, Sect Leader!”
Dokgo Jo-hak leaned out the window and bellowed.
“So you’ve finally come to work!”
But Dokgo Myeong tilted his head in confusion.
“Pardon?”
“…?”
“What work? What task do I have?”
“….”
“Ah, well, I need to step away for a bit… I’ll explain the details once I come upstairs! Please prepare some refreshments!”
“….”
“If possible, something sweet! Ah, I’ve been away from the household, so I’m craving sugar.”
Dokgo Myeong called out thus and walked into the pavilion.
Silence fell over the Baek Ok-gak Sect Leader’s office.
“….”
“…gulp.”
Son Tae-im and the council members watched Dokgo Jo-hak’s complexion carefully.
He stepped away from the window and walked purposefully toward something.
A sword hung on the wall there.
“Endure this? Hehehehe!”
Dokgo Jo-hak drew the sword, murderous intent blazing from his eyes.
“I’ll strike this bastard down with a single blade!”
Son Tae-im was startled.
“P-please, Sect Leader! Compose yourself!”
“Out of my way! I’ll restore proper discipline!”
“No, that’s not it! Please think rationally!”
“Rational? What rationality!”
“For your own sake, you must restrain yourself!”
“What? For my sake? What are you talking about?”
“It’s none other than Dokgo Myeong, is it not? Why would you….”
Son Tae-im deliberately left the rest unsaid.
Yet Dokgo Jo-hak understood perfectly and flinched.
That’s right. That bastard was Dokgo Myeong.
A legendary ruffian who threw punches first regardless of age, gender, or social status.
If he discovered the sword had been drawn….
– Kek! My uncle’s condition has flared up again. Now, let’s begin treatment!
It was painfully predictable.
Come to think of it, last time he’d kept quiet too, but the moment he caught me, he’d gleefully start throwing punches.
Dokgo Jo-hak squeezed his eyes shut.
‘Why in heaven’s name….’
Why had the heavens granted such formidable martial prowess to that cursed fool?
‘What, what method….’
In that instant, a revelation flashed through Dokgo Jo-hak’s mind.
‘Ah…!’
Dokgo Jo-hak’s eyes snapped open as he surveyed the council members.
“Even a dog whimpers before a tiger. We still have one final move left.”
“W-what do you mean, sir?”
“Go fetch just one letter of authority from my elder brother.”
“Elder brother, you say… do you mean the Saheon Sect Leader?”
“That’s right!”
* * *
Moments later.
Dokgo Myeong was stamping documents with an aggrieved expression, glancing nervously about.
“No… is this really right? I have so much work to do, and now….”
“Are you defying your brother’s words? Fine then. I’ll go straight to the Saheon Sect….”
“Grrr! Baek Ok-gak… I won’t forget this grudge!”
“You brat! You should still use respectful speech! I’m your uncle!”
In the end, Dokgo Myeong was subdued by the single letter of authority from Dokgo Wi-hak that Jang Sam had brought.
With an aggrieved expression, Dokgo Myeong took his seat as Sect Leader and swiftly processed the documents.
Slash! Slash! Whoosh!
I thought he was merely stamping them, but no—he was skipping those he didn’t understand or asking for opinions, only affixing his seal to matters he was certain about.
‘That this bastard could do such a thing….’
It was infuriating beyond measure.
With his keen perception and sharp intellect, his work efficiency was quite impressive.
How much time had passed like this?
As the mountain of documents began to diminish, Dokgo Jo-hak asked.
“So what was it you wanted to discuss?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Dokgo Myeong lifted his head slightly, then resumed stamping as he spoke.
“I need to go into closed-door cultivation training for a while.”
“…What? What training?”
“Closed-door cultivation training.”
Whoosh! Swish!
Dokgo Myeong continued reading through the documents without lifting his eyes, speaking as he went.
“Since I can’t predict how long it will take, I’m asking you to handle the matters related to my martial unit and the Moyong Family war. You understand, right?”
Dokgo Jo-hak tilted his head in confusion.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Ah, there you go with harsh words again.”
“Yes, you’ve definitely lost it. Why don’t you visit the Medical Hall instead?”
Son Tae-im, who was in the same room, also widened his eyes in shock.
“Young Master, cultivation training at a time like this? Closed-door cultivation isn’t like taking a casual stroll….”
“Ah, the Household Lord prepared it for me, so how could I not go?”
“You fool! Then you should have finished your work beforehand!”
As Dokgo Jo-hak was about to have another outburst, Son Tae-im hastily gestured to calm him down.
Dokgo Myeong spoke calmly.
“In the end, there’s only one answer to resolving all these various matters easily.”
“What?”
“For me to become stronger.”
Dokgo Jo-hak trembled slightly.
Only then did he sense that Dokgo Myeong’s energy had changed from before.
‘What is this? Something feels….’
It had become quieter, perhaps.
Or perhaps more solid.
He had heard that Dokgo Myeong had visited the Household Lord’s residence, and now it seemed as though he had made some new resolution.
Dokgo Jo-hak asked.
“…Is this truly necessary?”
Dokgo Jo-hak’s true nature had always been that of a martial artist.
Though he had become more of an administrator than a martial artist, his essence remained unchanged, which is why he had sensed the change in Dokgo Myeong.
Dokgo Myeong set down his brush and glanced around subtly.
“Shall we have everyone leave so we can talk?”
At Baek Ok-gak’s signal, the officials left the office without even looking back.
Dokgo Myeong spoke.
“Now that I’m saying this, the war will proceed more evenly than expected.”
“…What?”
“I already told you that the Jeongheol Sect will join forces, didn’t I?”
“But didn’t you say they wouldn’t be able to take the field openly anymore because you dealt them such a heavy blow?”
“They’ll still be strong. If the Shinheol Sect joins in as well, we might even lose.”
“Is the Twin Horse Alliance’s power really at that level?”
“The Moyong Family’s strength will be considerable too. And considering that….”
Dokgo Myeong exhaled sharply and continued speaking.
“In the end, we exist within the martial world. Whether it’s administration or justification, when actual combat breaks out, martial force will always take precedence. For that to happen, I need to become stronger. And currently, our faction has virtually no military force to speak of.”
That wasn’t entirely true.
Even during the neutral faction days, no matter how incompetent those people were, they had trained some warriors to a certain degree.
But were they capable of achieving merit in battle?
The only ones who qualified were the two battalions under Baek Ok-gak, the White Tiger Brigade that became Saheon Sect Leader’s escort, and myself along with the Cham Ma Brigade.
“So even if you call the strongest masters, it’s just me and Saheon Sect Leader, but since Saheon Sect Leader can’t take the front lines, ultimately I’m the one who has to rampage.”
“I haven’t overlooked that consideration. But ultimately, you’re the most crucial key, so no one will be able to ignore you.”
“Without merit in battle, they will ignore me regardless.”
Dokgo Jo-hak clicked his tongue.
“Is that why you’re seriously expanding the warrior brigade personnel?”
“Well, that’s part of it, and the timing is also perfect.”
“The timing is perfect?”
“Preparations are nearly complete. I’ve secured the elixir manufacturing method, the managers’ levels have risen considerably, and politically it’s safe….”
If the Cham Ma Brigade members arrive now….
‘Now I have both the strength and the leisure to nurture them all.’
Unlike my previous life, I don’t need to throw them onto the battlefield and develop them while relying on fortune.
I can’t guarantee how much time remains before war, but I do have the leisure to properly organize a warrior brigade.
Flick!
Dokgo Myeong turned over another document.
“In any case, no matter how many tasks there are, the top priority is building strength.”
“Then… are you planning to go to the training hall?”
“I’m going to the Forbidden Ground.”
….
Dokgo Jo-hak’s expression immediately stiffened.
“Do you happen to know something about it?”
“I’ve heard stories. That there’s a Forbidden Ground managed by an old retainer family of the main house….”
“And?”
“I don’t know the details. Long ago—back when the main house was merely one pillar of the Seven Great Families or was still called a martial clan of the frontier—there was supposedly a forbidden place that served as the training ground for the direct line. That’s what I heard.”
Though the Dokgo Household has a long history, it wasn’t always a Central Plains clan from the beginning. Originally a northern people, they had migrated across nearly the entire Central Plains and settled at the southern end, then returned northward during Dokgo Cheon’s era to finally establish themselves in present-day Honam.
“From what I vaguely heard long ago, so many direct descendants died there that from the clan leader’s generation onward, it was sealed with a formation and only maintained.”
“Ah, so such a place existed even in the main house?”
Son Tae-im trembled.
Dokgo Jo-hak spoke with a sinister tone.
“There’s naturally nothing like that within the main house. It’s in the old lands where the main house settled long ago. Don’t go spreading this around anywhere. It’s not exactly a secret, but there’s no need to go talking about it either.”
Dokgo Myeong exhaled.
Hearing this much did make my flesh creep slightly.
Still, this was the place Dokgo Cheon had said would definitely make me stronger. I had no intention of backing down.
“According to the clan leader, it will take several years if it’s long, or several months if it’s short. I’ll make a quick trip there, so please don’t worry too much.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Since I’m traveling such a distance anyway, I might as well bring back someone with excellent organizational skills.”
“Someone with excellent organizational skills?”
“Yes, he’ll handle all the miscellaneous work for the Chamma Division going forward. He was the top scholar in the Beijing provincial examination.”
“How do you know such a person?”
“I just happen to know of him.”
Dokgo Myeong set down the final document with a decisive tap.
“In any case, I’ll be taking my leave now. I entrust the rest to you.”
“….”
Dokgo Jo-hak exhaled a long sigh.
One would expect the head of an organization to exercise caution, yet why did he constantly throw himself into such perilous endeavors?
Still, Dokgo Jo-hak could only say this:
“Return safely. If you die, I’ll devour every last faction under your command.”
“I’ll make sure to return quickly and avoid that fate.”
* * *
Several days later.
On a late night, Dokgo Myeong stood before a man at the Black Dragon Gate, the main entrance of the Dokgo household.
“Here are the map and the key.”
It was none other than Lee Seong-cheon, the Black Dragon Sect Leader, who was seeing him off.
What he received as a key was a rectangular jade dragon carving that resembled a seal.
“This is the key?”
“It is an artifact for entering the formation array. Since it is single-use, please handle it with utmost care.”
“I see.”
Dokgo Myeong placed the key into his bundle and nodded.
Lee Seong-cheon asked:
“I heard you lived in Mugu for some time—have you memorized all the incantations of the Eight Divine Arts?”
“I’ve simply crammed them into my head for now. I plan to properly cultivate them during the journey and after I arrive.”
“May I offer you a piece of advice, Young Master?”
At this sudden offer, Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened.
“Advice? I welcome it wholeheartedly!”
“If you encounter difficulties while cultivating the Eight Divine Arts, think of the Household Lord. The enlightenment he pursues has permeated the incantations of the Eight Divine Arts.”
Dokgo Myeong smiled broadly and nodded.
More than the content itself, the fact that the Black Dragon Sect Leader had offered advice at all brought him greater joy.
Several more pieces of advice followed, and Dokgo Myeong listened obediently before suddenly speaking up.
“Black Dragon Sect Leader.”
“Please, speak.”
“When I return, shall we share a drink together?”
Lee Seong-cheon simply met his gaze in silence before bowing deeply.
“I wish you good fortune. May you achieve great success.”
Ah, so he’s not quite at that level yet?
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly and waved his hand dismissively.
“Then I shall take my leave. Thank you for seeing me off.”
Dokgo Myeong set forth on his journey.
Southward.
And further south still.
By the time he could feel the weather growing hot and humid, Dokgo Myeong had finally arrived at that land.
A realm where countless mountain peaks stretched across the entire horizon.
The Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

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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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