Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 233

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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 233
Perhaps because I had been here before, crossing the threshold felt far more familiar than last time.
Soon, within the haze of incense, I encountered the Old Man.
I let out a soft chuckle.
“Elder, you should get some sunlight. Do you spend all your time in here?”
“Don’t worry. I get plenty of sunlight.”
The Old Man grinned.
“Despite appearances, you know how to show respect. Did you come to pay your respects before leaving?”
Indeed, I had come to bid farewell before departing.
I tilted my head.
“Despite appearances? What do you mean by that? I’m quite the respectful young man.”
“You don’t actually believe that, do you?”
“Pardon?”
“Well, let’s say you are.”
“It’s not a matter of ‘let’s say’—I actually am.”
“Sure, sure.”
Watching me pout, the Old Man burst into hearty laughter.
“Let me see. All your fingers are intact, no scars on your face—it seems you had quite a good time, didn’t you?”
“It wasn’t bad. Though I nearly died.”
“In exchange, you gained quite a lot.”
I smiled faintly.
I had gained much. Truly, I had.
I obtained the Hyeon-cheon Technique, formed the Heavenly Exterior Spirit Orb, perfectly adapted my advanced martial arts to my body, and even established an exchange with this village.
The various items I took from the mountain were merely bonuses.
“Thanks to you, I survived as well. I’m grateful.”
“Think nothing of it. I was just being selfish, wanting to taste an inner elixir myself.”
I spoke with a light laugh.
The Old Man regarded me for a moment, then suddenly broached a subject.
“Your suspicion was correct.”
“Pardon?”
“The talismans.”
“…!”
“Show them to me. I’d like to see them.”
My eyes wavered.
But without questioning further, I retrieved the tangled mass of yellowed talismans from my robes and laid them out.
“They’ve lost their power. Did you do this?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You did it. More precisely, the power you carry did it.”
The Old Man gazed at the talismans with a troubled expression, then released a heavy sigh.
“The age of calamity truly draws near. How could a being of such spiritual efficacy—one who may have once been called the Water Deity—be transformed into a calamity god? It is always mankind that twists the mandate of heaven, yet it remains lamentable.”
Dokgo Myeong flinched in surprise.
The old man shook his head slowly, his gaze fixed on Dokgo Myeong.
“The confusion you experienced wasn’t limited to this place alone, I’d wager.”
“So it truly was their machinations? But how—what possible purpose could they have had for such a thing?”
“I couldn’t say for certain. However.”
“…?”
“You Central Plains people—whether divine spirits dwelling in the earth’s essence or demonic creatures born from it—you view them as nothing more than mere vessels of power, don’t you? And you are no exception to this.”
Dokgo Myeong found himself at a loss for words.
“Moreover, you take pride in driving stakes into every inch of land your feet touch, raising roofs, pioneering and conquering without restraint.”
Again, he had no rebuttal.
Across all the lands of the Central Plains that overflowed with essence, martial sects had established themselves.
And martial artists would do anything to grow stronger—a truth that applied to Dokgo Myeong as much as anyone else. As for those Twin Horse Alliance dogs….
‘Wait.’
In that instant, a thought grazed Dokgo Myeong’s mind, and his lips parted. A chill erupted down his spine, spreading throughout his entire body.
‘Could that bastard Hyeok Wi-sang’s boundless inner energy possibly be…?’
One of the reasons Hyeok Wi-sang had painted hell across the mortal realm was precisely the limitless inner energy he possessed.
This was a different realm entirely from the state Dokgo Cheon had spoken of, where the distinction between internal and external energy became meaningless.
An endless torrent of malevolent and blood qi that even stained the external energy itself—a walking natural disaster incarnate.
“Whether it is another distortion that you, of all people, have corrected and come to hold the Yeouiju, or another current that has set right the contradiction, I cannot say with certainty.”
“….”
“May I ask one small favor of you?”
“Please, speak freely.”
“Wherever your hand reaches and your fate extends, I hope you will prevent such atrocities from being committed. Even if only in small measure.”
Dokgo Myeong laughed with a bitter edge.
A light like blazing fire flickered in his pupils.
“There’s no need to ask. I was already planning to do exactly that.”
“Hmm?”
“I intend to set a counter-fire so that those bastards can’t pull a single trick on this land. Their backs will grow quite warm indeed.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes burned with intensified brilliance.
The old man stared with vacant eyes, but soon Dokgo Myeong smiled and spoke.
“Then I shall take my leave now.”
“Already?”
“Already? I’ve been here over a hundred days. It’s time I departed.”
“A pity. The children will miss you.”
“It’s not as though we’re parting forever—I’ll visit often. I’ll come so frequently you’ll grow sick of me.”
Dokgo Myeong grinned, and the old man grinned in return.
“Before you go, shall I read your fortune?”
“My fortune? Didn’t you already say you couldn’t see my future?”
“If you’d rather not, never mind. It’s just for amusement’s sake.”
“No need. Let’s go.”
Dokgo Myeong rose to his feet immediately.
“There’s no point listening to it anyway—it would only leave me unsettled and swayed by doubt. As you mentioned before, I intend to live exactly as I wish.”
The old man’s smile deepened.
“That’s all I needed to hear.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Dokgo Myeong turned to go.
He slowly made his way out of the hermitage.
Strangely, once the door closed, no presence lingered behind.
Whoosh!
A thick branch hanging behind swayed vigorously, as if bidding him farewell.
* * *
“Brother!”
“Myeong! Are you really leaving already?”
“Yeah, you two. See you next time.”
At the village entrance.
Dokgo Myeong ruffled the hair of Hong Lu and Hong Ta as he spoke.
Dokgo Myeong glanced subtly around the area.
‘But this one… could it be she’s not coming?’
Since entering the village, Hoa had not appeared.
When I expanded my senses, I could feel a presence, but it seemed to be somewhere far away.
‘She must be with her mother.’
Though I had grown fond of her already, if she didn’t come, there was nothing to be done about it.
At that moment, Dan-hu spoke with a regretful expression.
“You could stay a bit longer if you wished.”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“Sigh, I wish I could, but there are far too many people who can’t do anything without me.”
If the core members of Dokgo Myeong’s faction or the Cheonma Sect elders heard this, they would pound their chests in agreement.
“Besides, I’ve already summoned people. I can’t just stay here alone, can I?”
“Hmm. That’s true.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep in touch often. We’re friends, after all.”
Dan-hu smiled faintly.
“Right, we were.”
“I’ll send word of what we discussed as soon as I reach the main house. Though… you haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“Of course not.”
The Daesan faction had agreed to support and back Dokgo Myeong and his faction going forward. Their first exchange would begin the moment he returned to the clan.
Just then, Hong Lu and Hong Ta clung to Dokgo Myeong.
“Myeong, you’re really going? We haven’t finished hearing about the Central Plains yet!”
“You can come up and visit sometime.”
“Yes? Come up, you say?”
“What’s stopping you? Do you have to stay in the village forever?”
Hong Lu’s eyes widened in surprise.
In the distance, a carriage and group of people came into view.
“Ah, they’re arriving right on schedule.”
They were members of the Geumsan Pavilion. These individuals, who had originally departed from the Jeongcheon Alliance’s upper ranks in Guizhou, had made their way south and arrived at this location.
“We pay our respects to Young Master Dokgo Myeong!”
“We pay our respects to the Cheonma Sect Leader!”
The Geumsan Pavilion members cried out loudly in perfect formation.
Dokgo Myeong nodded with satisfaction.
“Mm, you’ve all worked hard. Where is the person in charge?”
“Pyo Du, disciple Mong Young! I’m here!”
Pyo Du shouted like a disciplined soldier and rushed forward to stand at attention before Dokgo Myeong.
“Ah, why are you so tense? Relax. It’s fine, right?”
“No, sir! I’m fine!”
“Ah, I’m telling you it’s fine…”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled and glanced sideways at Dan-hu and the Hong siblings.
“Huh.”
Dan-hu wore an expression of astonishment.
A considerable number of people were all showing such elaborate respect to Dokgo Myeong.
‘I suspected it from when we entered the ancestral tomb… he clearly holds quite an important position in his main family.’
Dan-hu found himself newly impressed by Dokgo Myeong.
Having superior martial prowess and fighting skill was one thing, but commanding people’s respect and leadership was something else entirely.
But then, Dokgo Myeong puffed out his chest and spoke with an arrogant expression.
“Did you see?”
“Huh?”
“See? This is the kind of person I am. Your Village Chief made an excellent choice in recruiting me. Understood?”
“…”
If only he hadn’t said that, I would have been genuinely impressed.
‘It was the right choice, wasn’t it?’
It had to be, right? It really had to be, right?
By then, all of Dokgo Myeong’s belongings had been loaded onto the carriage.
Dokgo Myeong spoke.
“Take care now. I’ll contact you again soon.”
“Travel safely.”
Dokgo Myeong stood before Hong Lu and Hong Ta one last time.
Hong Ta hesitated before speaking.
“Brother! Can’t you leave later? Just a few more days…”
Dokgo Myeong laughed softly.
“I have too much to do to stay longer.”
“Then… when will you come back if you leave now?”
Hong Ta tugged at the hem of Dokgo Myeong’s dragon-scale robe as he spoke.
‘That brat is cute, I’ll give him that.’
There was a standard answer for situations like this, wasn’t there?
Dokgo Myeong crouched down in front of Hong Ta and met his eyes as he spoke.
“Then our little one will come back once he’s slept for a hundred nights.”
Hong Ta stared intently at Dokgo Myeong.
Then, with a slightly serious expression, he spoke.
“Brother, I’m not so young that I don’t understand what that means.”
“Huh?”
“I’m already ten years old—did you think I wouldn’t catch that?”
Silence fell.
Dokgo Myeong’s nose twitched.
“That’s just—it means I’ll be back that much sooner, you brat! Don’t you get it? It’s a metaphor, damn it! A metaphor!”
“Oh! That’s what you meant! You’re amazing, Brother Myeong-i! You really do speak well!”
Dokgo Myeong grumbled inwardly and adjusted the pack on his shoulder.
Hong Ta suddenly cried out in a loud voice.
“Brother, I’m going to become strong!”
“Hmm?”
“I’ll eat well, study hard, and learn martial arts just like you. And then I’ll become strong, and then even stronger….”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“What will you do once you’re that powerful?”
“I’m going to become a magnificent and powerful martial artist like you, Brother!”
At those words, Dokgo Myeong smiled bitterly.
A strong and magnificent martial artist, he thought.
“It’s good to become strong and magnificent, but if you can help it, don’t become a martial artist.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re far more magnificent now than any martial artist could ever be. I’ll see you next time, little one.”
Dokgo Myeong tapped the boy’s head lightly and turned away.
A horse that Pyo Du had prepared stood ahead. Dokgo Myeong mounted it lightly and kicked its flank as he asked.
“Is all my luggage loaded?”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
“Good. Let’s go then.”
“Departure! Everyone, move out!”
Dokgo Myeong advanced slowly.
Dan-hu glanced back at Hong Ta.
Tears were streaming down Hong Ta’s cheeks. He was still at an age where parting was inevitably difficult.
Yet Hong Ta had already grown old enough to hold back his tears and let them fall as he wished.
Though he’d seemed so young and carefree despite losing his parents, he had grown so much in this time.
The catalyst for that growth was undoubtedly that man receding into the distance without even looking back.
Dan-hu suddenly understood.
‘Ah, this child now has a dream.’
Perhaps Hong Ta’s childhood ended in this very moment.
The naive child would become an adult.
Dokgo Myeong’s bold and unhesitating demeanor would linger vividly in Hong Ta’s mind. This child would surely grow into a rather impressive and formidable adult.
And so it was a parting. I found myself anticipating the news Dokgo Myeong would send from time to time.
Surely, just as it had been in the ancestral grounds, it would not be quiet or subdued.
* * *
“Grrr.”
Hoa touched its nose to Geum-ye’s and exchanged greetings.
Geum-ye gazed at Hoa with a mixture of reluctance and concern.
“Yelp!”
Hoa, which seemed to have grown a bit more in the meantime, let out a bright cry.
Geum-ye licked Hoa’s body.
The size difference was so great that with each lick, Hoa’s body swayed.
“Yelp!”
Hoa cried out once more with a determined expression.
Geum-ye nodded, and Hoa kicked off the ground without looking back.
Those short legs quickly cleared the mountain peak and headed off into the distance.
“Hey! Where have you been all this time!”
“Yelp! Yelp!”
“I almost felt lonely. Should I give you some ginseng? Or dried meat?”
“Grrr! Grrr!”
Eyes deep with wisdom fell upon Dokgo Myeong’s back.
Seeing the aura enveloping Dokgo Myeong’s body, Geum-ye gazed up at the sky and let out a long cry.
At the mystical beast’s howl, the mountains and forests seemed to tremble.
Geum-ye soon turned away. Just as he had guarded this land, Hoa would now guard its master.
As if it were destiny itself.
* * *
As Dokgo Myeong continued forward, he spoke to Pyo Du.
“Pyo Du, listen carefully.”
“Yes! Young Master Dokgo Myeong!”
“I’ve memorized the exact count of everything here. If any of it gets stolen, your wrist will be severed.”
“…Yes?”
“Treat every person in this world as a thief! Guard the contents of this carriage as if they were imperial treasures! Do you understand or not!”
Pyo Du swallowed hard.
“Yes, yes! I understand!”
“If even one item disappears? Or if even a scratch appears? I’ll pluck out a handful of your Sect Leader’s hair for each one.”
Why on earth is our Sect Leader’s hair being brought into this?
Besides, what madman in this world would dare touch something bearing the Dokgo family seal?
“I understand! I will stake my life to transport everything safely!”
“Good. Then I’m leaving.”
Dokgo Myeong wheeled his horse around sharply as he spoke.
Pyo Du cried out without thinking.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“To save someone. Tell your Sect Leader that much.”
“Yes, yes!”
Dokgo Myeong surged forward on his horse.

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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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