Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 245

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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 245
The front courtyard of the Cheonma Sect was in chaos.
Ye-hwa simply blinked as she gazed at the throng of people pressing forward.
“It’s swarming.”
“I see.”
“Like ants rushing toward sugar.”
“?”
“It’s amusing.”
“…?”
The other managers couldn’t find words to respond to Ye-hwa’s murmuring and wore bewildered expressions.
Ye-hwa continued in a subdued voice.
“What will become of us from now on?”
“Is there something troubling you?”
At Namgung Sohwa’s gentle inquiry, Ye-hwa nodded.
“From now on, I have to select those people, train them, and even lead them.”
“That’s right.”
“Can I do it?”
Namgung Sohwa hesitated, and the remaining managers stiffened.
“I’m not sure if I have the qualifications and ability for such a task.”
She seemed like a child who would have no such worries, but it appeared she did.
‘Well, how could she not?’
Namgung Sohwa was also tense. The other managers likely felt the same.
She was the descendant of an annihilated clan.
Geum Seok-du came from a back-alley gambler’s background.
Cheolmu-baek was a foreigner from the Western Regions.
Ye-hwa was the descendant of the Assassin Sect.
Even Dokgo Ak, who was universally acknowledged as a reckless fool.
Could such people truly take responsibility for and lead others?
They had never led anyone before, and had never even considered it possible.
Just as the atmosphere began to grow heavy.
“Why? What can’t we do?”
Dokgo Ak suddenly spoke up.
Cheolmu-baek beside him nodded.
“As expected, you have no worries. That’s your strength.”
“…Why are you suddenly praising me?”
“It seems you took that as praise.”
Dokgo Ak tilted his head, not understanding.
But soon he furrowed his brow and spoke.
“Enough of that. Why don’t we have qualifications and ability? Why are you dwelling on such pointless worries?”
“Yes?”
Dokgo Ak crossed his arms and spoke with an arrogant expression.
“This is all because that monster of an older brother keeps grinding us down every day. Let’s look at this objectively, shall we?”
“Objectively?”
“We’re all peak masters, aren’t we?”
Everyone stared at Dokgo Ak with expressions that screamed ‘What does that even mean?’
Exasperated by their blank faces, Dokgo Ak burst out shouting.
“No! Masters! We’re masters, I’m telling you!”
“So what does that mean?”
“Why are you asking ‘so what’ about this!”
Geum Seok-du even raised his hand in protest.
“I’m not, sir. At best, I’m merely first-rate.”
“Right, a first-rate master who effortlessly outpaces all of us even when we gang up on him.”
Geum Seok-du nodded as if he understood and lowered his hand.
Dokgo Ak let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“Listen, you’re all experiencing a strange martial world because of that arrogant older brother, but peak masters aren’t really that common in the jianghu, you know?”
That was true enough.
Peak wouldn’t be peak for nothing.
They called it the peak because one had reached the very tip of the spear.
To leap beyond that was to ascend to a higher realm, and to reach the ultimate limit granted to humans was to achieve the realm of infinity.
What did those words truly mean?
“A peak master is a strong individual who would be called a celebrity in most places. For some, they’re the goal of a lifetime.”
“That’s…”
“They could establish a martial school in a fairly large village and serve as its sect leader, or if they joined an organization, they’d be positioned as commanders of the main martial forces.”
“…”
“That’s four of us. Of course, we’re young, but does that mean our experience is lacking?”
Lacking experience?
Regardless of anything else, they couldn’t admit to that.
Weren’t they the ones who had experienced deeds that ordinary martial artists would make the legends of their entire lives?
“But none of it would have been possible without the captain.”
At Ye-hwa’s words, Dokgo Ak chuckled.
“True. And the opposite is equally valid.”
Dokgo Ak’s eyes gleamed.
“What we’ve accomplished is precisely our qualification.”
“…”
“And since we’ve earned that qualification ourselves, we have the ability too. Let’s be confident. We’re the face of the Cheonma Sect now.”
Silence descended.
Everyone looked at Dokgo Ak with newfound admiration.
That is, until a strangely mocking exclamation came from somewhere.
“Wow, a poet indeed. A poet indeed! Our clan has produced a poet!”
Need I say who it was? It was Dokgo Myeong.
“Huh, when did you get here…!”
“I’ve been here from the start.”
“…!”
“Haha! Shouldn’t we write this down somewhere? Seok-du! Before we forget, bring me brush and ink so I can record this.”
“No, don’t do that….”
“Actually, no, wait. A scene like this shouldn’t just be preserved in words. We should leave behind paintings too, for generations to come….”
“Ugh, seriously! Stop teasing me!”
Dokgo Ak’s face flushed crimson like a radish as he huffed indignantly.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“These fellows have full bellies and nothing better to do than worry about pointless things.”
“….”
“What are you doing? Hurry up and leave! You’re supposed to be supervising the examination!”
“Ah, understood. We’re going, we’re going.”
The managers shuffled away with heavy steps.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly behind them.
‘Qualifications, abilities, and all that. Were they really worried about such things?’
Though he’d been teasing, Dokgo Ak’s words weren’t wrong.
But there was one thing that was mistaken.
Realm doesn’t represent strength.
Were these fellows truly only at the peak master level?
‘A frog in a well… or rather, a flood dragon in a well?’
The managers were already strong.
In body, spirit, and martial skill alike.
The reason they doubted themselves and thought it insignificant was simply because their goals were set far too high.
‘Of course, their worries aren’t entirely incomprehensible.’
The people who came seeking them had to be quite exceptional.
Dokgo Myeong grinned and surveyed the people around him.
The place was filled with all manner of peculiar individuals.
A martial artist equipped with swords, sabers, spears, bows, axes, and every conceivable weapon as if heading to war.
A woman with a gloomy expression, wrapped in colorful venomous snakes with suspicious containers at her side.
A middle-aged man draped in clothing patched with various animal hides, and so forth.
As written on the notice posted in the room, a multitude of human figures had gathered regardless of age, gender, social status, or moral standing.
Then Jo Ryang-ui approached.
“My lord.”
“Ah, Jo Ryang-ui.”
“Now it’s ‘strategist’ again?”
Jo Ryang-ui laughed lightly.
“Preparations are complete. However….”
“Is there a problem?”
“We have a visitor.”
Jo Ryang-ui glanced subtly in a certain direction.
Following his gaze, Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh and furrowed his brow.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
Dokgo Myeong walked forward with measured steps.
Four people stood in the direction he was heading.
The man who appeared most pleasant-looking among them bowed respectfully.
“I greet the Cheonma Sect Leader. I am Shin Heum.”
It was Shin Heum, the man I had seen coming and going—the one called the Elder Council’s strategist.
“What brings such a busy Sect Leader Shin to offer such courtesy?”
“The Alliance Leader wishes to extend congratulations and blessings for the Cheonma Sect’s prosperity….”
“So you came to spy.”
“….”
Shin Heum smiled silently.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly and turned his gaze to the side.
“But did you two come for the same purpose?”
“The family has been in turmoil, so I merely came to check on things. It seems I’ve caused unnecessary concern.”
“You ungrateful wretch! Did you forget we promised to have a martial match? I even raised that little one, and this is how you repay me?!”
They were none other than Dokgo Gun and Dokgo Yeon, siblings.
Dokgo Myeong, who cleanly ignored Dokgo Yeon, fixed his gaze on Dokgo Gun.
“I merely came by for a moment. Brother, you certainly do speak with such refined eloquence.”
“Thank you.”
Dokgo Myeong gave a light nod toward the back where people were gathered.
“How many people from the outer branch have you placed among them?”
Dokgo Gun hesitated.
Then he smiled broadly.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Why would I do such a thing?”
“It’s fine. I would do the same in your position.”
“Hey! Why are you ignoring my greeting!”
Dokgo Myeong ignored the raging Dokgo Yeon once more and narrowed his eyes.
‘My position has certainly changed.’
Even for minor matters, the outer branch and Elder Council were sending people to observe the situation.
Dokgo Myeong’s gaze shifted once more.
There was an unfamiliar woman seated among them.
“This seems to be the first time I’m properly greeting you.”
“Hmm? You recognize me?”
“I saw you from a distance during the last tournament. If I’m not mistaken….”
Dokgo Myeong smiled.
“Aren’t you my aunt?”
“A nephew I’ve barely seen recognizing me like this—it’s not an unpleasant feeling. It’s good to meet you. I am Dokgo Hye.”
The woman, Dokgo Hye, smiled in return and nodded.
I had known of her existence, but this was the first time I had seen her in person.
Whoosh!
A brilliant gleam flashed across Dokgo Myeong’s eyes.
He immediately examined Dokgo Hye’s energy flow.
‘…Quite peculiar.’
A fascinating martial technique.
One could tell she was a master of considerable skill just from her subtle energy signature, yet there was an enigmatic quality mixed within it that defied easy categorization.
‘The Eight Grand Divine Techniques… the Primordial Harmony school? But something about it feels unusually solid.’
It was certainly not from the Blood Qi school.
Rather, this seemed to be….
‘Buddhist martial arts?’
Would it be too much of a misunderstanding to sense traces of Buddhist-style techniques mixed within?
Just then, Dokgo Hye smiled faintly and asked.
“Why are you staring so intently?”
Dokgo Myeong blinked once and bowed lightly.
“My apologies. You possess a most mysterious energy flow.”
“Hehe, they said you were an honest child, and you truly hide nothing.”
“Setting that aside, what brings you here today?”
Dokgo Hye glanced around at the commotion surrounding them.
“I simply became curious about our nephew and came to observe.”
“This hardly seems like a matter worth observing.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll observe discreetly and leave.”
Dokgo Myeong stared at Dokgo Hye for a moment.
“Feel free to do as you wish. However, I must ask for an admission fee.”
“An admission fee? That’s not unreasonable. Very well, what payment would you accept?”
Dokgo Myeong spoke in a light tone.
“I heard you are Gun’s master. Might I request instruction from you someday?”
“Are you speaking of a martial match?”
“A simple exchange of techniques would suffice.”
Dokgo Hye stared at Dokgo Myeong for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well. That’s not unreasonable. In fact, it’s what I wanted to ask for.”
“Understood. Then.”
Dokgo Myeong turned sharply.
“Hey! You brat! Hey! Why are you ignoring me!”
“If you keep being annoying, I won’t spar with you.”
“This is so petty!”
“I will, so be quiet! I have work to do!”
Dokgo Myeong walked on, leaving them behind.
As he headed toward the back of the platform, Jo Ryang-ui was waiting.
“But is this test truly sufficient?”
“What do you mean? Aren’t these perfectly reasonable tests?”
“…I was asking because of that final test, sir.”
“Hehe! It’s fine, it’s fine.”
Dokgo Myeong remained utterly untroubled, as though there were no problems whatsoever.
Jo Ryang-ui’s expression grew somewhat clouded at this, but he said nothing further. By now, he had grown accustomed to Dokgo Myeong’s eccentricities.
‘What on earth is he thinking…’
Sigh, I have no idea.
Whether Dokgo Myeong knew of Jo Ryang-ui’s anxiety or not, he grinned and spoke.
“Then I’m counting on you! And make sure the rest don’t mess up either!”
“Yes, understood.”
Jo Ryang-ui soon ascended the platform.
“We shall now commence the examination!”
The long-awaited Cheonma Sect recruitment examination had begun.
* * *
“The examination consists of two tests, with a final interview making three stages in total.”
“What is the content of the examination?”
“You shall see for yourselves. Then let us begin.”
There was no explanation to speak of.
Without inquiring into the applicants’ backgrounds or other conditions, the examination proceeded immediately.
“We shall now commence the first examination.”
Long canvas tents were arranged in a river formation, side by side.
The tents were tall and long enough to be invisible from outside, and they formed five separate passages in total.
Under the direction of the White Tiger Guards who had come to oversee, the applicants formed groups of five and lined up at the entrance of each passage.
“I shall now explain the rules of the first examination.”
Seo Ryun, standing beside the entrance, spoke in a businesslike tone.
“The time limit is half a quarter hour. Enter through the entrance and exit through the exit.”
“Huh? You just have to come out?”
“That is correct.”
Whoosh!
The canvas fluttered.
The applicants’ eyes turned toward the interior of the passage made of canvas.

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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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