Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 23

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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 23
The atmosphere in the study was peculiar.
Normally, Dokgo Cheon would have cast an observant gaze the moment I entered, but today he simply wore a bright smile as if the person he’d been waiting for had finally arrived.
“I greet you, Sect Leader.”
“Heh heh, so my Myeong-i has come. Come, come, sit down.”
What? My Myeong-i?
Last time he slithered like a serpent, and now he’s playing the benevolent grandfather?
‘This old man certainly does flip-flop.’
At that moment, the wrinkles around Dokgo Cheon’s mouth curved upward slyly.
“Oh my, should I have called you the Geumsan Sect Leader instead of my Myeong-i?”
“Pardon?”
“Why do you look so startled? Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
His narrowed eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.
“Just when I thought you were being cornered, you swallowed everything root and branch. Your cunning is quite impressive.”
So this old man knew all along.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“Yes, I’m rather capable.”
“Heh heh, are you confident you can manage it?”
“I’m confident, but I have no intention of doing so.”
“Then your newly built house will crumble.”
“When whales fight, who notices a shrimp?”
“….”
Dokgo Cheon’s eyes shifted.
His smile deepened, unfathomable in its meaning.
“Yes, now that’s my grandson. Most impressive.”
The words were praise, but the low undertone in his voice transformed the atmosphere entirely.
“However, it wasn’t perfect. Do you know why?”
Dokgo Cheon’s gaze turned suddenly cold.
They say dragons are creatures of infinite transformation. Whether real dragons exist is unknown, but at least I could tell this old man before me was exactly that.
“Why is that?”
“A dog that has bitten its master once should never be kept, no matter how fond of it you become. You should have sent it away with its former master and raised a new dog instead.”
A dog and its master.
The subtle grain of thought embedded in those words was evident. He spoke of one person’s future without changing his expression even slightly.
Dokgo Myeong smiled faintly and shook his head.
“I’m simply not fond of holding someone’s leash and wielding it.”
“Then?”
“I….”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes flashed.
“I lead.”
“….”
“I believe there are no truly bad people in this world. There are only those who haven’t been set right yet.”
My fists clenched tightly.
Dokgo Cheon fell silent for a moment, and even the Black Dragon Sect Leader—a man who seemed unmoved even if the heavens collapsed—felt his facial muscles twitch.
“Hehehehe! So you can jest after all.”
Though I wasn’t joking.
But it was time to move toward the main matter.
Dokgo Cheon, as if he understood, adjusted his posture slightly and spoke.
“You’ve been talking around the subject. What brings you here today?”
“I need to venture outside the Family.”
“Outside the Family?”
If I wanted to leave, I could simply go. Unlike other great clans, the Dokgo Family’s internal codes had no special restrictions on external travels. I only needed to bear responsibility for my actions.
At that moment, Dokgo Cheon slowly nodded.
“…So you wish to venture out bearing the Main Sect’s name.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
I could build my martial prowess myself, and I could secure funds through the Geumsan Sect.
What I needed now was reputation and people.
Rather than remain in this Family, infested with vipers, I intended to make my own stage outside of it.
Dokgo Myeong smiled broadly and spoke.
“Whatever troubles you, I’ll give it a try.”
Dokgo Cheon’s smile faded.
And he gazed upon his grandson.
‘Did he know beforehand?’
It was ambiguous.
The rumors had spread long ago, but the official report had only just reached the Main Sect.
‘Still… it’s not bad.’
A direct bloodline of the Dokgo Clan yet without official position, and publicly still known as a fool.
Yet his schemes ran deeper than expected. More proof was needed, but this could serve as an opportunity.
However, Dokgo Cheon did not reveal his true thoughts openly.
“Very well, I understand. But I have some concerns.”
“Concerns?”
“Going out is fine. But under what name do you wish to venture forth?”
“Pardon?”
“As my direct grandson, as the young master of Saheon-gak, or perhaps as the backer of Geumsan Sect? None of these are truly your own, are they?”
Dokgo Cheon could have simply passed this matter along without issue, but he had no intention of ending it so easily.
And Dokgo Myeong read that intention.
“That’s true.”
Dokgo Myeong laughed freely.
“Then grant me my qualifications, Sect Leader.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed. Dokgo Cheon regarded his grandson’s bright gaze with intrigue.
“And why should I do that?”
“I’m saying I’ll handle the Sect Leader’s affairs, am I not?”
“And?”
“Even a mere landlord lends his land to farmers when the season comes. Shouldn’t the Sect Leader do the same?”
“Propriety? Hahahaha!”
Dokgo Cheon burst into laughter.
“You impudent brat. Are you teaching me about propriety?”
Though his words were reproachful in tone, a satisfied smile played at the corners of Dokgo Cheon’s mouth.
“Very well, good. I happen to have a matter that’s been giving me a headache.”
Dokgo Cheon gestured behind him.
Lee Seong-cheon placed the invitation letter from the Meng regarding the Golden Powder Gathering before Dokgo Myeong.
“News from the Meng. It seems the Meng Leader is hosting the Golden Powder Gathering.”
Dokgo Myeong skimmed the letter and his eyes brightened.
‘This matter. I remember it.’
It was an event I already knew about from my previous life. And it was a perfect opportunity.
Dokgo Myeong nodded and folded the letter.
“I understand.”
“You understand? What do you understand?”
“Sending someone of high rank from the Main Sect doesn’t match the occasion, yet sending just anyone raises suspicions about the true purpose of the Golden Powder Gathering. Is that not so?”
Dokgo Cheon’s eyes gleamed.
“You see clearly.”
“While attending, I’ll need to discern their intentions.”
Dokgo Cheon nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Until now, that’s what I was thinking, but it seems a bit insufficient.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
Dokgo Cheon’s gaze turned toward a map hanging on one side of the study.
That large map always hanging there, showing Zhongyuan and even the Frontier.
When Dokgo Cheon looked back at Dokgo Myeong, a mischievous expression had appeared on his face.
“You must bring that back on your own.”
“Pardon?”
“Bring me something of value, whatever it may be.”
“Could you be more specific, sir?”
“It’s not finished.”
Dokgo Myeong’s expression twisted.
“There’s a condition.”
“A condition as well?”
“Didn’t you compare yourself to a tenant farmer? If one farms on borrowed land, one must give the harvest to the landlord.”
Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh.
“So you’ll take the grandson’s share?”
“Do well. The greater the harvest, the greater your own portion will be, will it not?”
He was saying to bring back things of value to benefit the Main Sect. In return, he would reward me according to the results.
In short, it meant I should figure it out and do well.
“There’s one more condition.”
“Again? You’re really pushing it….”
“I’ll set the stage for you. I’ll convene the Baekgak of the Main Sect.”
“A Baekgak conference?”
“That would be excessive for a matter of this scale. Only those sect leaders with interest in this affair will participate.”
“I only have two sect factions, sir.”
“Now you’re openly boasting that the Geumsan Sect is yours.”
Dokgo Cheon continued with resolve.
“The matter of the Jeongcheon Meng—you must seize it yourself. These are my two conditions, and there is no compromise.”
“Is this even a fair deal? It seems like I’m at a disadvantage.”
“A deal? I’m merely lending you the land. It matters not who the tenant farmer is.”
“You’re quite the ruthless landlord.”
“You’re only realizing this now?”
There’s no way to win against this.
Dokgo Myeong shook my head repeatedly.
He lends the land, then strings together one difficult condition after another.
‘…There’s nothing wrong with it, though.’
This was literally setting the stage for me.
If I leave the family under the Gajubu’s orders, it amounts to nothing more than handling the trial Dokgo Cheon has set. But if I seize it directly and depart, I can claim both the prestige and the fruits entirely for myself.
‘Only, if it comes to that, I’ll also draw the attention of the old foxes at the Main Sect.’
Dokgo Myeong’s gaze shifted, and I looked at Dokgo Cheon.
That satisfied smile of his seems truly laden with meaning.
Cunning old fox. He’s smiling while plotting to drag his own grandson into the mud.
‘Fine. For now, I’ll just focus on what needs to be done.’
In matters like this, moving early is crucial. The key figures of the Baekgak will all have their schedules packed tight, so preparing in advance will give me that much more of an advantage.
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Yes, I will do it.”
“Hehe! Good, very good.”
Dokgo Cheon also nodded with satisfaction.
The business was concluded; it was time to issue the dismissal.
Yet Dokgo Cheon simply gazed at Dokgo Myeong in silence.
Then, Dokgo Cheon’s mouth opened.
“You’ve changed again.”
“….”
“You’ve filled your vessel, it seems. But that doesn’t appear to be the reason….”
Like a dragon soaring through the heavens above, Dokgo Cheon’s pitch-black eyes gleamed with intensity.
“You were clumsy before. You didn’t avoid fights, but neither did you initiate them. Yet suddenly, you’re trying to exploit even the name of the Main Sect.”
Those eyes were indeed a dragon’s, yet not those of an auspicious azure dragon overlooking all creation, but rather those of a Black Dragon that ruled and dominated.
“What are you thinking?”
“I don’t harbor any grand ambitions, Father.”
“….”
“I was simply fortunate enough to be born into a good family, so I thought I should make proper use of that advantage, wouldn’t you say?”
“What?”
Dokgo Myeong broke into a wide smile.
Then I’ll make excellent use of it.
I intended to wring every last drop from this opportunity, until nothing remained.
* * *
“…So.”
Dokgo Wi-hak pressed his forehead with his hand.
“You went to the Gajubu and asked for work?”
“Yes!”
“You asked them to give you tasks?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“…Hmm.”
Dokgo Wi-hak let out a heavy sigh.
Dokgo Cheon was the one family member others preferred to avoid rather than encounter. Yet he had waltzed in as if it were his own home and demanded work.
‘Well, technically it is his home.’
But still, this was too much….
At that moment, Dokgo Wi-hak’s furrowed eyes met Dokgo Myeong’s sparkling gaze.
“I did well, didn’t I?”
Suddenly, Dokgo Wi-hak felt a sharp throb in his head.
“Didn’t you tell me last time to run wild and do as I pleased? Your words were absolutely right, Sect Leader. When I do as I wish, my heart feels completely unburdened.”
That’s not what I meant.
I didn’t tell you to act so recklessly.
“…So, what do you intend to do?”
“All you need to do is raise your hand when Baekgak convenes. Everything else is already arranged.”
“Are your other preparations complete?”
“Ah, I’m about to go handle that now.”
Who exactly was he preparing with, and what were they preparing for?
Though worried, Dokgo Wi-hak simply nodded without pressing further.
“Very well, proceed as you see fit. But you must prepare thoroughly. For now, only the Geumsan Sect will support your candidacy in Baekgak.”
The Jeongcheon Meng was an ambiguous organization in many respects. While it possessed the spoils of trade, nominally ordinary merchants held authority, and though it dominated Ilseong, its influence was limited and there were no plans to expand it.
Yet even an ambiguous gathering, when people assembled, would inevitably create incalculable value. Those within factions and those without would all take notice of this matter.
Therefore, to undertake this task, he had to secure supporters who would raise their hands for Dokgo Myeong by any means necessary.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already secured the backing.”
“What’s your plan?”
“Yes! I have a suitable friend who can be useful for this sort of thing.”
“A friend?”
For a moment, Dokgo Wi-hak found his son’s confident expression to be sinister.
* * *
“Achoo!”
Son Tae-im suddenly sneezed and shuddered violently.
“What’s this?”
Every hair on my body stood on end.
Son Tae-im’s cheeks trembled. An inexplicable sense of foreboding flickered across my mind.
‘Surely not?’
Son Tae-im stared anxiously at the entrance of the study with wavering eyes.
In that moment.
Bang!
“Hey there, my Tae-im!”
My ill premonitions were never wrong.
Dokgo Myeong. He kicked the door open and strode in.
“Y-Young Master!”
“Yeah, good to see you.”
Dokgo Myeong approached with a smirk.
Thump!
Walking in with long strides as if he owned the place, Dokgo Myeong immediately took the seat of honor and propped his feet up on the table.
“Hehe, have you been well? What brings you here?”
Son Tae-im forced my furrowed brow to relax as much as possible and opened my mouth.
Dokgo Myeong nodded and spoke.
“I need you to do something for me.”
“….”
Son Tae-im’s expression hardened completely.
‘Again! Again asking me to do something! Again!?’
With the Geumsan Sect already reduced to ruins from the last incident, work was piling up like mountains.
And now he was asking me to do something?
This madman! I can’t take this anymore…!
“Our Tae-im, you should keep those pretty eyes open, yeah?”
Son Tae-im didn’t want to die just yet.
“Hahaha….”
“Let’s do this well.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
I lacked the courage to defy this reckless young master.
“B-But what kind of task are you referring to?”
“Oh, right.”
Dokgo Myeong lowered his legs and straightened his posture.
“You have some money, right?”
Son Tae-im’s complexion rapidly turned pale.

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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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