Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 244

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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 244
The Outer Hall Master Dokgo Un-hak’s gaze shifted.
“Gathering people?”
“Yes, a request for cooperation came in. It appears they’re planning to set a date on the first day of the lunar month to recruit personnel.”
At his subordinate’s report, Dokgo Un-hak’s angular eyebrows rose.
“Right, the name was definitely… Chamsadae, wasn’t it?”
“It’s the Cheonma Sect. They’ve posted notices in various places to recruit people. The content of the notice is as follows.”
Dokgo Un-hak read the paper his subordinate offered and let out a hollow laugh.
“Right, the Cheonma Sect. I understand now. Inform the martial artists to keep quiet about this and cooperate accordingly.”
Dokgo Un-hak scanned the paper again.
There was plenty of rambling text, but the summary was simple.
They were recruiting regardless of gender, age, social status, or moral standing.
Top industry treatment—even those with inferior martial skills would be accepted if they showed talent or promise.
Dokgo Un-hak chuckled and folded the paper in half.
“That fellow can’t seem to do anything quietly.”
Typically, when prestigious families established new warrior units, they gathered people from within the family itself.
But Dokgo Myeong always did things his own way.
‘Including Ak-i, all five under him are said to possess exceptional qualities.’
Dokgo Un-hak sank back into his chair, lost in thought.
Then, a voice came from outside the office.
“It’s Dokgo Gun. I’ve come to report after settling the southern matter.”
“Come in.”
Dokgo Gun, who entered, asked upon seeing his father’s expression.
“Is something troubling you, Father?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You seemed to be in thought, so I inquired.”
“…”
Dokgo Un-hak remained silent for a moment, studying Dokgo Gun intently.
Just as the atmosphere began to settle, he shifted his gaze to his teacup and spoke.
“That Myeong fellow is gathering people.”
“Now that you mention it, he returned not long ago.”
“An official cooperation request came in writing. It seems he even posted notices through Cheon I-gak. I was just wondering what scheme he might be plotting.”
Dokgo Un-hak took a sip of tea.
“What are your thoughts on this?”
“He was the most actively involved in the Moyong Family’s extermination plan. It doesn’t seem like he’s scheming anything.”
Dokgo Un-hak nodded.
“I share that assessment. However, if that’s truly the case, I’d be somewhat disappointed.”
“Disappointed, sir?”
Dokgo Gun asked, seemingly puzzled.
Dokgo Un-hak clicked his tongue.
“A full-scale war with the Moyong Family won’t come for at least half a year, at most a year. Do you think it’s easy to find people, train them, and unite them in that timeframe?”
Competent masters don’t appear so easily.
Even if they did, it wouldn’t be simple to establish themselves as a cohesive organization within mere months.
‘If only we had allied with the Elder Council and the neutral factions instead, we could have operated on a much grander scale.’
Tap, tap, tap.
Dokgo Un-hak drummed his fingers against the armrest.
He had grasped the qualifications to become a principal player in this war, yet he couldn’t fathom why Dokgo Myeong insisted on acting as merely a vice-commander of a single unit.
Then Dokgo Gun spoke.
“Perhaps it’s because he has confidence, sir.”
“Confidence?”
“Confidence in recruiting talent, confidence in uniting them, and confidence in playing a decisive role in this war alone.”
Dokgo Un-hak nodded slowly.
“True, he must have some scheme brewing. That fellow’s resourcefulness is remarkable.”
“Even if he had no such thoughts, it wouldn’t matter much.”
“Hmm?”
“A shield can be a force multiplier in its own right.”
Tap.
Dokgo Un-hak stopped drumming his fingers.
He regarded his son with a hardened gaze for a moment, then nodded lightly.
Harsh words, perhaps, but such coldness and decisiveness were no vice for one born to a monarch’s destiny.
“Yes, that’s possible too. Though given his nature, such a scenario seems unlikely.”
I find myself quite curious.
Dokgo Myeong, who had consistently shown unconventional moves until now.
The form of the organization he had assembled, and its direction.
* * *
Dokgo Myeong could finally introduce Jo Ryang-ui to the managers.
“This gentleman will be supporting us from within. He’s got a brilliant mind, so all of you listen to what he says. Understood?”
Jo Ryang-ui muttered beside him, ‘Stop using that phrase “supporting from within”…’ while gazing forward.
‘So these are truly the closest associates. Indeed, each one is no ordinary person.’
Jo Ryang-ui finally faced the five managers.
Son Tae-im and Dokgo Jo-hak were also close associates, but these managers gathered here were said to be particularly special.
From now on, Jo Ryang-ui would need to handle matters for them.
‘And conflict between those with field experience and desk workers is inevitable.’
There would inevitably be a clash of wills.
For smooth operations going forward, he had no intention of backing down here.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Jo Ryang-ui. I shall strengthen the internal foundations of the Cheonma Sect. I look forward to your cooperation.”
Jo Ryang-ui deliberately introduced himself with stiff language and forceful tone.
And the response that came back was…
“Tsk, tsk. What sins did we commit in our past lives to end up under that bastard…”
“If things get tough, just say so. I’ll buy you a drink. Hang in there!”
“I’ll do my best to help whenever things get busy. Please count on me!”
Again?
This again?
‘What is going on, really?’
Rather than any tension, everyone I meet is shouting with joy?
And why does every person I encounter refuse to stop encouraging and cheering me on?
At that moment, Dokgo Myeong poked Jo Ryang-ui’s arm.
“What do you think? Do you like them?”
“Ah, yes… They all seem like impressive and capable people.”
“Get along with them. If those guys don’t listen, just tell me right away. I’ll disband their whole faction on the spot!”
Jo Ryang-ui flinched in surprise.
Why would he speak that way about people who were already here?
I found myself instinctively gauging the managers’ reactions.
“Sigh, his own faction is the biggest problem.”
“Still, we’ve gained a new colleague.”
“Colleague? Isn’t he more of a worker?”
“Maybe ‘slave’ would be more appropriate than ‘worker’…”
The managers simply chattered among themselves as if they hadn’t given such thoughts a moment’s consideration.
Jo Ryang-ui was beginning to feel worried.
‘Did I perhaps come to a place I shouldn’t have?’
I would have preferred if someone had picked a fight with me. The constant comfort and welcome were making me feel strangely uneasy.
Then Dokgo Myeong spoke.
“Anyway, start right away.”
“…What should I begin with?”
“I’m planning to recruit a large number of Cheonma Sect members starting now.”
“How many are you expecting?”
“Minimum fifty, maximum one hundred. I’ll have them by the first day of the lunar month.”
“The first day of the lunar month? Surely you mean next month?”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Let’s start with that task.”
“…That’s quite urgent.”
“Oh, Overseer Jo, I need you to handle this.”
“If the number of people increases so suddenly, there will be much to do. We’ll need to set salaries, prepare lodging and personnel arrangements, supplies, financial records… Do we have the relevant documents and procedures prepared?”
“Huh? Why are you asking about something so obvious?”
“Well, surely they must exist? Then I’ll start by confirming those right away…”
“They don’t exist.”
“Pardon?”
“You, Overseer Jo, need to create them. That’s why I brought you here in the first place.”
“…!”
* * *
What choice do I have but to obey when given an order?
That very day, the all-nighter began.
Throwing aside any adaptation period, Jo Ryang-ui threw myself into work immediately.
The first task was establishing procedures for handling administrative matters.
And though I had experienced this in my past life and already knew it, Jo Ryang-ui’s administrative acumen was remarkable.
“The Dokgo Family places particular emphasis on reports and upper-level approval. First, let’s arrange it so everything can be processed with just documentation…”
“Financial transactions are currently dependent solely on the Treasury Chamber, but if we request additional funding from the Inner Hall…”
“Ah, and the method for managing supplies and equipment. It’s the system I used back at the Main Pavilion, just scaled up…”
And that wasn’t all. I also taught people well.
“I hear that the five of you will each take command of a small unit going forward. That makes you intermediate supervisors, so you’ll need to handle related administrative duties as well.”
“Mm, understood.”
“Here’s how you should do it. Watch and learn. I’ll teach you the details as they come up…”
And teaching people well was also a way of handling them skillfully.
“Though we hastily gathered these personnel, we won’t treat them carelessly. The foundation we establish now will become the framework of the Cheonma Sect, so let’s work diligently.”
“Yes!”
I handled the three administrative staff members hastily recruited earlier with equal competence, processing everything smoothly.
Each time I wielded my brush, the organization’s framework solidified.
Dokgo Myeong was extremely satisfied.
‘I knew it. Bringing this fellow was truly the right call.’
For Dokgo Myeong, who had been running around shouting “Ah, do this for me!” in a rather dismissive manner, this was truly satisfying.
“Commander, please review this.”
Meanwhile, Jo Ryang-ui’s thoughts on the matter were somewhat different.
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“Yes?”
“Do as you see fit.”
Whenever Jo Ryang-ui made a firm decision and submitted a report, Dokgo Myeong’s answer was always the same.
“It seems we’ll need quite a bit of money…”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“Regarding supply and equipment management…”
“Fine. Go ahead.”
“About receiving support from the Inner Hall…”
“Yes, go ahead.”
He approved of everything.
He acknowledged it all and trusted it all.
‘How can I tell what he’s thinking when he processes everything this way?’
At first, I thought he simply had no interest and was just brushing things aside.
But that wasn’t it at all.
“Hmm, this one doesn’t sit right. Reconsider it?”
When something truly didn’t work, he cut it down decisively. Rarely, but even if something was logical, he would reject it if it differed from his thinking.
What did that mean?
‘He simply acknowledged me and chose to believe in me.’
Thanks to that, Jo Ryang-ui’s work became even more unstoppable. The most ideal organizational structure in his mind was taking shape piece by piece.
After several days of pulling all-nighters, Jo Ryang-ui felt something strange.
‘What is this? Why am I finding work so enjoyable?’
When was the last time I felt a sense of accomplishment from work?
No matter how well things went, ultimately it was someone else’s work, not my own—wasn’t that just how the world worked?
But not here.
I handled tasks without worrying about money or people, and all the credit, recognition, and treatment flowed directly to me. There was nothing more entertaining than this.
And most importantly.
The monthly salary was absolutely astronomical, wasn’t it?
“Hehehehe… hehehehe…”
Thanks to that, Jo Ryang-ui’s office hadn’t gone dark for several days straight.
Dokgo Myeong, who often passed by it, simply chuckled with satisfaction.
* * *
The month had changed.
It was just an ordinary first day of the month, but for someone, it was anything but ordinary.
Early in the morning, the courtyard of the Cheonma Sect was teeming with countless people.
In fact, it was far beyond merely crowded.
“Commander, there are far more people than we anticipated!”
“Word came from the Inner Hall. Clear everyone out first and then admit them sequentially, they said.”
So many people had flooded in that warnings finally came down from both the Inner and Outer Halls. Dokgo Myeong and the managers alone couldn’t handle it, so they had no choice but to seek assistance.
“Please follow this way! I’ll guide you to a place to wait for now!”
“Group Gab, who arrived first, we’ll begin with you immediately!”
Dokgo Myeong shook his head at a man and greeted him.
“Seo Daejoo, I’m sorry about this. I never expected so many people to pour in like this.”
“Not at all, Young Master. If there’s something like this we can help with, we should help.”
Only after the White Tiger Brigade moved into action could they manage the flood of people.
Dokgo Myeong gathered the managers and began bragging.
“Kya! See? This is all because of my reputation, isn’t it?”
“…”
“Ha, how long has it been since we posted the notice, and they’re already gathering like this? And they want to serve under someone as young as me!”
It was true.
It was true, but… why did it sound so irritating?
Who else would they have come for? Obviously they followed Dokgo Myeong’s reputation.
“Fine, fine, I get it. Now show some dignity, will you? This is our first meeting with them!”
Namgung Sohwa pushed Dokgo Myeong repeatedly, trying to usher him inside.
But Dokgo Myeong didn’t budge and gazed down at the Cheonma Sect members from the platform.
‘It’s been a while, you lot.’
Familiar faces scattered here and there.
Dokgo Myeong was struggling to hold back the urge to acknowledge them right then and there.
‘But being glad to see them is one thing—they still need to pass the test.’
Dokgo Myeong let out a low chuckle.

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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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