Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 230

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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 230
Light seeped through the end of the passage.
The flowing air carried the clean scent of grass mixed with the briny smell of water.
Soon I felt a powerful presence.
‘Water essence.’
The air had grown humid. Though no trees were visible in this space, I could distinctly sense a thick wood essence as well.
Thus I stepped into the final chamber of the ancestral tomb.
Whoosh!
“…!”
My vision suddenly opened wide.
A forest stretched out before my eyes.
‘Huh….’
Wasn’t this supposed to be underground?
I’d descended quite far after entering the ancestral tomb, yet a densely vegetated space had appeared.
Moreover, sunlight was streaming down from above.
‘There’s a hole in the ceiling?’
My eyes naturally drifted upward, where I saw a large circular opening at the center.
‘Did the upper ground collapse and create this forest here?’
Or perhaps something escaped from within, causing the collapse.
Long ago, I had once seen a volcano that spewed crimson flames like a furnace. I’d heard that when such things ceased their eruptions, they sometimes took on a form like this.
‘But if that were the case, there should be an abundance of fire essence, not this much water essence….’
I followed the path extending deeper into the forest.
“Remarkable.”
Unlike the ancestral burial grounds that had been filled with eerie demonic energy, the interior here was nothing but beautiful. If one were to cut away a piece of the Immortal Realm and transplant it here, I imagined it would look like this.
‘It’s brimming with spiritual flora and fauna. Even more so than outside?’
I had encountered unfamiliar vegetation even in the burial grounds, but nothing quite like this.
“Could those be spiritual herbs too?!”
“Kyang!”
Hoa snorted dismissively and trotted forward on her own.
“Hey, what’s with you? I was just asking, alright?”
“Kee-ing!”
“No matter what, I’m not the type to pilfer spiritual herbs from where my ancestors are buried.”
I continued following Hoa deeper into the forest.
Soon I discovered an enormous lake.
It was so deep that the bottom was invisible, and it emanated an immeasurable pure spiritual essence.
Pure admiration flickered in my eyes.
‘A lake… can this even be called a lake?’
The still water was so clear it seemed unbelievable.
So transparent it appeared almost invisible, yet so deep that the bottom couldn’t be fathomed, making it appear pitch black.
If water were to collect in a round, elongated cavern artificially hollowed out, wouldn’t it look like this?
Lap, lap, lap!
Hoa, who had rushed to the lake ahead of me, drank the water with unbridled enthusiasm.
“Is your throat parched? Drink slowly. Slowly.”
“Yelp! Growl….”
Hoa bounded back and forth along the lakeshore as though he’d returned to his homeland.
I let him be and slowly surveyed the area near the lake.
On one side, there were stone steps that appeared to have been touched by human hands.
I climbed the steps slowly and let out a quiet chuckle as I looked around.
“So you’re all here.”
Tombs greeted me.
Burial mounds and stone chambers were arranged on a flattened elevated area.
Gleam!
Light falling from the ceiling poured precisely over the burial ground where the tombs were gathered.
Standing before the resting place of my ancestors, I assumed a proper posture.
I rarely made a grand show of propriety, but surely I owed them at least the minimum respect?
Once.
Again.
I bowed deeply and offered a solemn greeting with utmost reverence.
I opened my mouth.
“Why would you choose an ancestral burial ground in such a place? If descendants tried to pay respects even once, they’d practically die in the attempt.”
Come to think of it, I nearly did die, didn’t I?
What kind of ancestral ground has an Imugis living in it?
I took in each tomb one by one.
“Well, since you’re all in the afterlife, you must understand that I’m not of your bloodline, but please don’t be so harsh about it. After all, I am still of the Dokgo name… and I’ve come to pay my respects, so that should suffice, yes?”
“….”
“Ah, I should have brought some aged liquor. I have a spirit I brewed with a demonic creature, and the taste is absolutely….”
That was when it happened.
The wind that had blown through the opening in the ceiling struck the wall and echoed back, unable to escape.
Gaaaaaaaaal!
A wind sound like someone shouting a stern rebuke.
“…What kind of wind noise is that?”
I glanced upward with a blank expression.
“Ah, where was I? Right. As I was saying….”
I turned my head smoothly.
“I, Dokgo Myeong, still harbor no expectations or desires toward the Dokgo Household. I likely never will. But….”
At least I will conduct myself with propriety.
I’ve come to respect you, and now I respect this household as well.
As a martial artist, and perhaps as a junior who shared the same dreams you once did.
Suddenly, I became curious about one thing.
‘What did the household lord feel when he came to this place?’
The image of young Dokgo Cheon standing in this tomb chamber flashes through my mind.
‘What resolve did he carve into his heart when he came here?’
Dokgo Myeong slowly surveyed the surroundings.
Then, a massive tombstone standing at the entrance of the chamber caught my eye. It was clearly unmarked with any carved characters, but as I drew closer, I noticed what appeared to be scrawlings of some kind.
“What is this?”
By the time I’m buried here, the main house will have already secured a place among the Five Great Families.
They weren’t scrawlings at all—they were genuine graffiti.
I will create the ultimate martial technique. Future generations will pacify the realm with my sword foundation.
I shall rule all under heaven. Without fail!
These are chaotic times. I will protect our house from ruin. Bless us, ancestors of old.
You truly protected us. Now I will carry on that legacy.
I won’t reach the heights of my illustrious predecessors—I’ll simply maintain what we have.
‘What is this? Could these have been written by the previous household lords?’
They were truly scrawlings. The formal, eloquent phrases had vanished entirely, replaced by sentences that carried the warmth of human emotion.
Vows, exhortations, or perhaps even jests.
‘Could the household lord have written here too?’
I carefully examined the wall covered in scrawlings.
And in a corner, I discovered eight characters written with forceful brushstrokes.
First under heaven, supreme dominion.
Though no name was inscribed, it was unmistakably clear who had written it.
How could someone remain so consistently the same?
I nearly laughed, yet I could read the unwavering obsession the household lord carried in those very characters.
‘I heard he entered around the same age I am now.’
Unlike myself, who had matured through a previous life, he had harbored such dreams from that young age until now.
‘Is it necessary to possess such a clear objective and obsession with it to become someone like Geom-jon?’
Regardless, whenever I see scrawlings like these, a person simply cannot resist.
I subtly gathered the essence of the spiritual core at my fingertip and brought it to the wall.
Wait.
But I’m not even going to become the household lord—is it alright for me to write?
‘Who cares.’
I grinned and moved my finger like a brush.
Seizing the martial realm.
A goal I once spoke of to the Chamma members.
There will be countless hardships ahead.
Factions within the Dokgo house, the Moyong Family, the martial alliance that will be formed, and even the predicted war with the Twin Horse Alliance.
I don’t know what form that struggle will take, but I swear I will never grow weary and abandon it midway….
Tap!
I slowly withdrew my finger.
At the end of all things, I hope my mark is etched upon the martial realm.
And when that time comes, I intend to return here and carve the remaining two characters to complete that playful phrase.
‘The martial world is now under my control. Once I clean things up properly, I’ll need to come back here to record it.’
Dokgo Myeong rose to his feet with a satisfied smirk.
It was time to depart.
“Hoa! Where are you! Let’s go! Come here!”
“Grrrrrowwwl!”
True to his tiger-like nature, Hoa bounded up the stairs in a single leap and landed before Dokgo Myeong.
“Kyaang!”
But then the creature suddenly seized Dokgo Myeong’s robe in his mouth and tugged insistently.
“What? Why are you doing that?”
“Grrrrrowwwl!”
He must be telling me to follow him.
Dokgo Myeong feigned reluctance and followed the creature.
His eyes widened in astonishment.
“Ah…!”
This was it.
The reason the main house was called the Household of the Black Dragon.
The sight unfolded before his eyes.
The dragon is an auspicious creature symbolizing absolute authority—a representation of achievement, dominion, absoluteness, and sanctity.
And black represents the north while signifying water.
Then what is the nature of water?
It lies in flowing.
It flows and streams, advancing endlessly. Sometimes it becomes well water, sometimes rain, river water, or the sea.
Among countless things that burn unexpectedly in flame, are carved away by the wind, shatter and wither—water flows on ceaselessly.
And now, Dokgo Myeong beheld a vast watercourse cutting through the forest.
“That is…?”
Dokgo Myeong had witnessed a similar sight before.
When the Gwisucheolmang twisted its body and advanced, such marks remained in the earth. If water pooled there, it would look exactly like this.
A water channel that wound and stretched as if a dragon had passed through.
He could immediately discern where that watercourse would lead.
‘This was the greatest water source of the sacred mountain.’
That watercourse would branch out across the mountain.
It might flow underground in places, becoming valley streams or rivers.
Whether a true dragon had passed through or if it formed naturally, I couldn’t say for certain.
But that wasn’t what mattered.
‘The Black Dragon. The Black Dragon… So that was it?’
Just as the watercourse beginning here extended to the base of the sacred mountain, the vital essence originating from this mountain had persisted until it established the greatest household under heaven.
Like a dragon that ascended the dragon gate after cultivating for thousands of years, that water flowed on without end.
Now it was my turn.
“Kyaang!”
Hoa called to Dokgo Myeong. He turned with a smirk.
“Let’s go!”
A mystical beast and a single person dashed forward in a flurry of movement.
The surface of the lake they’d left behind rippled once before settling into stillness.
* * *
“Wow, damn. You guys really!”
Dokgo Myeong, returning to his dwelling near the waterfall for the first time in ages, felt tears of emotion welling up in his eyes….
‘Ah, it’s not quite reaching that point.’
Though tears didn’t actually fall, I gazed upon familiar faces with eyes wide in astonishment.
“Woof! Woof woof!”
“Grrrrr!”
“Arf arf!”
None other than Heuk-gu, Hwang-gu, Baek-gu, and the three Gal-jeo brothers.
The creatures, who had been prowling near the dwelling, bolted toward me like lightning the moment they spotted me.
“You adorable things! I knew I could count on you…!”
That was the moment.
Flash!
A golden gleam erupted from beneath my feet.
“Arf!”
“Whimper!”
“Woof woof!”
Before I’d even fully arrived, the creatures began rolling on their bellies before Hoa, utterly beside themselves.
‘…What is this?’
No matter how much Hoa had grown in size, it was still only about the size of a puppy.
Meanwhile, the Gal-jeo creatures were as large as great wolves or leopards….
‘They’re showing their bellies to that one?’
Hoa suddenly bared its teeth with an air of majesty.
“Grrrrr!”
“Woof woof!”
“Yelp!”
Could it be that Hoa had already taken the demonic creatures as subordinates?
I approached the Gal-jeo creatures with a bewildered expression.
“You guys… were you really guarding this place out of fear of her, not me?”
“…Grrr!”
Hwang-gu suddenly glared at me with eyes flickering nervously.
And the moment Hoa saw that, her front paw lashed out like a thunderbolt.
Crack!
Wow, what a sound like something bursting.
The Gal-jeo creature’s snout whipped around as it began crawling on the ground with whimpers.
‘So the snout truly is a universal cure-all regardless of species….’
I nodded in satisfaction.
Beside him, Hoa nodded with evident satisfaction.
“Woof! Woof!”
“Whimper!”
Only the Creatures whimpered with aggrieved expressions.
Dokgo Myeong left Hoa to maintain discipline among the demonic creatures and hurriedly began inspecting his belongings.
“What? Why has this diminished so much!”
Dokgo Myeong bellowed in outrage.
Half of the spiritual herbs he’d painstakingly gathered had vanished.
Including the ginseng he’d left outside, strange fruits that tasted of alcohol, and more….
‘My wild ginseng! My wild ginseng is…! Phew, thank goodness. These are still here.’
Since ginseng required careful storage, he’d taken extra precautions, and they remained in place.
‘Who ate them? Could it have been those Creatures?’
The initial joy evaporated completely, and Dokgo Myeong stormed outside, radiating killing intent.
But in that moment.
“Slurp.”
He spotted Hoa smacking her lips while gazing at the shelf where the herbs were stacked.
“…What are you doing?”
“Woof?”
A thought struck him like lightning—this creature had guarded this place briefly.
“Don’t tell me you ate the things here?”
“Woof?”
“No, it couldn’t be. Right?”
“Arf!”
Hoa puffed out her chest with absolute confidence.
Dokgo Myeong, suspicious, snapped off a piece of ginseng from the shelf and tossed it above her head.
Whoosh!
Hoa shot up like lightning, caught the ginseng in her mouth, and landed.
Crunch crunch.
Then she began chewing it down.
After deftly consuming the ginseng, she nodded with satisfaction.
Dokgo Myeong shouted.
“Tigers and lions are carnivores! Why are you eating spiritual herbs! Even if you’re a mystical beast, how can your palate be so refined!?”
“Growl?”
“Playing dumb again! Ugh, I owe you a debt so I can’t even strike you! Argh, seriously!”
Dokgo Myeong thumped his chest in frustration.
Hoa merely gazed at the remaining ginseng on the shelf, smacking her lips.
The long days in the mountains had finally come to an end.
“Come on, all of you carry these. If you drop even one, you’ll regret it.”
The byproducts of the demonic creatures proved quite valuable, so he hadn’t discarded a single piece. Dokgo Myeong personally carried the precious spiritual herbs, while he had the three Creatures drag the rest down the mountain.
As he descended the mountain with a light heart, he reached the vicinity of the mountain gate.
“Right, I almost forgot about this.”
I left Hoa and the Creatures behind, walking toward the particularly desolate stretch of land.
There lay the massive corpse of a serpent.
The Gwisucheolmang.

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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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