Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 248

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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 248
“How truly fascinating. However did Young Master Dokgo Myeong gather so many people?”
Dokgo Gun corrected Shin Heum’s words in a measured tone.
“You speak as though the applicants responded to Myeong-i’s summons.”
“Ah, my apologies. I thought you were aware.”
Shin Heum gestured toward the successful candidates as he spoke.
“Among them are those who entered the family before the recruitment notice was even posted. Young Master Dokgo Myeong must have gathered them separately.”
“…?”
“I’ve observed them in passing, and while something feels off about them, they were truly remarkable talents.”
His words circled obliquely, his word choices subtly irritating.
Shin Heum seemed to have something more he wished to say. Dokgo Gun’s dark eyes turned toward him.
“What is it you wish to express?”
“They say you can judge a person by those around them. Doesn’t it intrigue you what the Young Master intends to do with those he’s gathered?”
Shin Heum’s eyes gleamed with light.
Dokgo Myeong’s greatest secret.
His ultimate desire and objective, never once revealed.
By observing the people he had assembled, one could discern it.
“For instance… it could be the main family itself.”
Shin Heum murmured and smiled.
‘If he needed martial prowess, he would have sought out already-recognized masters.’
Yet few among them possessed great renown.
‘If he desired to expand influence, he would have recruited heirs of prominent martial families or merchant clans.’
That was the simplest way to broaden one’s reach.
But Dokgo Myeong had chosen neither path.
‘Jo Ryang-ui, was it? While there were exceptional individuals like him whose names simply weren’t known…’
Shin Heum’s gaze shifted to several particular figures.
‘Many had ambiguous abilities, dark histories, or some flaw.’
Why had he recruited such people?
Someone of Dokgo Myeong’s standing could surround himself with flawless, superior talents.
Moreover, after gathering them, why post a separate recruitment notice at all?
By unraveling that mystery, one could glimpse Dokgo Myeong’s true objective. This was what Shin Heum was now articulating.
“Haha.”
Suddenly, Dokgo Gun released a dry laugh.
Why was it? Compared to his usual gentle smile, this one felt far more natural.
“May I offer the Sect Leader a word?”
Shin Heum’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Will you impart wisdom?”
“Nothing so grand as that. That child, Dokgo Myeong, likely had no particular intention from the start.”
“…?”
“He simply gathered those his heart was drawn to. He’s always been quite fond of people themselves.”
Shin Heum tilted his head in confusion.
Dokgo Myeong likes people?
Looking at his behavior so far, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say he dislikes them?
“The greater his affection, the greater his disappointment. I find it quite remarkable how he can be that way, and it’s rather fascinating to observe each time. So…”
Dokgo Gun smiled gently and looked at Shin Heum.
“Rather than viewing him with such a critical eye, wouldn’t you consider simply observing him from time to time?”
Shin Heum looked at Dokgo Gun in surprise.
He spoke as if thinking of his younger brother, yet why was he being so…
“Ah, it seems you’re starting again.”
At that moment, Dokgo Hye cut him off.
Dokgo Gun and Shin Heum’s gazes turned away.
Once everyone had gathered, Jo Ryang-ui opened his mouth.
“I congratulate you on passing the first examination. This examination will be conducted in different ways with the participants divided into groups.”
This was the second and final examination.
Dokgo Hye smiled faintly and spoke.
“Shall we just see how this examination is conducted, then gradually make our exit?”
The examiners for this stage were none other than five managers.
* * *
“What are you all planning to do?”
Namgung Sohwa asked.
Cheolmu-baek, who had been standing silently in the corner, spoke calmly.
“I’ll proceed as I originally planned.”
“As you originally planned?”
“I will conduct a test of combat.”
It had been a while since Cheolmu-baek mentioned combat. Everyone understood that the meaning differed from the common usage in the Central Plains.
“Just a straightforward fight then?”
When Dokgo Ak asked, Cheolmu-baek shook his head.
“I wish to test the fighting spirit of those I will lead going forward.”
“So how exactly are you planning to test that?”
“I intend to have them undergo the external energy training I’ve been doing with the Commander.”
Everyone let out sounds that were neither sighs nor exclamations.
This time, Cheolmu-baek asked Dokgo Ak.
“What will you do?”
“I’ve prepared something spectacular. It’s called the One Strike Decision!”
Dokgo Ak spoke with confidence.
“A single strike with full power. I’ll receive it myself. No matter how much I thought about it, nothing seemed better than this.”
Ye-hwa, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head.
“Isn’t that just not thinking at all? How is that different from a martial competition?”
“What? This brat really is audacious when you look at her!”
Namgung Sohwa let out a quiet laugh.
“That’s excellent. Truth be told, among us, Manager Ak has the most decisive strike. It’s a good test.”
“As expected, I knew you would recognize it!”
“Manager. Not young lady—Manager.”
“Oh, my apologies. But what’s your plan, Manager Namgung?”
“I intend to engage in a discourse on the sword. Of course, I don’t plan to limit it to mere words.”
Everyone nodded at Namgung Sohwa’s words.
One could assess their approach to martial arts, their knowledge, and their fundamentals.
It was truly a test befitting her character.
All eyes soon turned toward Geum Seok-du.
Geum Seok-du scratched the back of his head.
“I’m hardly capable of doing anything so grand, am I?”
“Then what will you do?”
“I’m thinking of showcasing a special talent.”
“…What kind of talent?”
Geum Seok-du laughed awkwardly.
“Weren’t all the applicants I examined those who either possessed unusual skills or employed strange tricks to pass the test?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Then what meaning would there be in assessing their martial arts level? So I simply plan to observe what each of them does best.”
“How will you evaluate that?”
“If they possess a skill I lack, or if their talent impresses even me, then I’ll accept them. Isn’t that sufficient?”
It was an arrogant statement, uncharacteristic of Geum Seok-du, yet everyone nodded in agreement.
A talent that even Geum Seok-du couldn’t perform, or something impressive enough to astonish him?
Then there was no need to deliberate—they should be accepted.
And finally.
The managers’ worried gazes turned toward Ye-hwa.
“I…”
Ye-hwa hesitated.
That was when it happened.
“Now, please prepare. Everyone is assembled.”
At Jo Ryang-ui’s approaching words, everyone nodded and dispersed.
Before Namgung Sohwa left, she grasped Ye-hwa’s hand.
“Hwa. I told you before—once you make your choice, you need only take responsibility for it. Set your mind at ease and do just that.”
Ye-hwa simply nodded silently.
Thus Ye-hwa stood before the applicants.
She gazed at those gathered for a moment.
‘What should I do? How should I start?’
Have confidence in yourself.
She continued repeating this to herself, yet her head grew increasingly dizzy.
‘What should I say first?’
Her throat felt constricted and her mouth had gone dry. She had never felt this way even during combat, and it bewildered her greatly.
She realized it belatedly.
‘Ah, dealing with people is truly this exhausting.’
Until now, I had only fired arrows at enemies and accepted goodwill from those who offered it. I had never done anything myself.
And none of the applicants before her eyes were yet anyone in particular.
‘Was this what Father meant when he said people are harder than fighting?’
Ye-hwa felt her chest tighten.
Despite having far fewer people assigned to her than the other managers, she still felt this way.
It was because she had only selected those who wielded long-range weapons like whips, hidden blades, and bows, and those who gave off a peculiar air in their gait. In short, she had chosen those with the temperament of assassins.
‘How did the leader manage to gather such people?’
I look into their eyes.
Eyes with faint emotion.
Because their emotions were faint, their presence was also faint. For a moment, I seemed to see a side of myself in them.
‘What did the leader say again?’
Ye-hwa tried to organize her dizzy thoughts by recalling Dokgo Myeong’s words.
Dokgo Myeong had certainly said….
-Just torment them first.
-Pardon?
-When you torment people a bit, their true nature comes out. Pick one of the tasks I used to give you and have them do it. Then just select the ones you like. If they dare to talk back, break their jaws.
“…?”
Ye-hwa slowly lifted her head.
In that moment, focus gradually returned to her previously clouded eyes.
“Torment them?”
She suddenly felt all her tension melt away.
Around then, the applicants before her voiced their discontent.
“Excuse me, miss. Will you just stand there?”
“The others have already started.”
Indeed, the other managers had already begun their tests.
Ye-hwa replied curtly.
“Miss?”
“Hmm?”
“I am Manager Gwak.”
“Ah, yes. That… my apologies.”
Ye-hwa pulled up only one corner of her mouth.
The rest of her face remained unchanged, with only the corner of her mouth rising—a rather awkward smile.
“Really, if you can’t even wait for this, how do you expect to become a Cheonma Sect member?”
“…?”
What’s this?
Didn’t the person change somewhat?
Her speech is awkward like reading from a book, yet it feels strangely unpleasant.
“Well, never mind.”
Ye-hwa spoke.
“I will begin the examination. You there, come in first.”
“Huh? What did you just say…?”
“I said come.”
“Come where?”
Ye-hwa’s brow furrowed.
“Where else? Obviously, the martial arena.”
Her sharp tone resembled Namgung Sohwa’s this time.
The people were taken aback.
“A, a martial duel?”
“It will be a real combat match, so do everything you can. Come in one at a time. You go first.”
One applicant found himself facing Ye-hwa without warning.
“Well then.”
Ye-hwa smiled brightly.
“Begin.”
She suddenly hurled a hidden blade at him.
* * *
“Have you arrived? Did everything go well?”
Jo Ryang-ui bowed his head to Dokgo Myeong, who trudged up onto the platform.
“Ah, my strategist. It went reasonably well.”
“No one died, I trust?”
“Huh?”
“How many casualties are there?”
“Casualties? What are you talking about?”
Jo Ryang-ui shook his head.
“No, I will go and assess it myself. It was good that I contacted the medical pavilion in advance.”
What is this guy on about now?
Why does everyone become a bit strange whenever they enter the Cheonma Sect?
‘They’re all losing their minds bit by bit. I need to keep my wits about me.’
Dokgo Myeong shook his head and looked around.
‘It seems they’ve already left.’
Yeon, Gun, their sister Dokgo Hye, and Shin Heum were nowhere to be seen. It appeared they had gathered their intelligence and departed.
Jo Ryang-ui, reading Dokgo Myeong’s gaze, spoke.
“The lord expressed curiosity about the people he had gathered.”
“Huh?”
“Your guests, I mean. They were having such a conversation.”
Jo Ryang-ui spoke calmly and gazed at those taking the examination.
“Indeed, the lord has gathered quite remarkable individuals.”
Jo Ryang-ui was still someone who didn’t even know the first form of martial arts. Through circumstance, he had found employment in a martial family and learned basic breathing techniques and simple combat forms, but he was still merely a beginner who hadn’t even opened his energy gates.
Yet even his eyes could discern that there were those among them who were extraordinary.
“Where did you bring such people from?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“For instance… that man over there wearing stitched leather.”
There was a man with a build that wouldn’t seem out of place if he stepped forward as a bandit right now.
“He shattered the Qinggang stone into pieces with a single swing of his club. Moreover, his speech and demeanor were far from ordinary.”
“Far from ordinary, or just rude?”
“If I’m being honest, it’s more on the rude side. He seemed almost arrogant.”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly and tossed out the question casually.
“Do you know of the Nok-rim?”
“Are you referring to the bandit alliance that was wiped out during the Milgyo period?”
“He likely inherited the position of chief flag-bearer from that organization.”
“…Pardon?”
“Of course, there are quite a few like that.”
Wait, so he’s an actual bandit?
You brought a bandit here? In the courtyard of the greatest family under heaven, no less?
“…Then, who is that handsome young man attached to Manager Namgung’s side?”
“The one who looks like a courtesan’s brother and has a spear slung over his shoulder?”
Jo Ryang-ui nodded.
“I was amazed that a man’s face could be so perfectly symmetrical. Manager Namgung did praise his Yang Family Spear Technique…”
“That’s the Yang Family Dual Flower Spear. You know of it too, Overseer Jo?”
“The Yang family has produced many generals for the military, so of course I’m aware of them.”
The Yang Family Dual Flower Spear, a secret transmission of the Yang family—a renowned spear lineage with a long tradition—was famous throughout the martial world.
“But I’ve never heard of such a handsome young man among the current family head’s children.”
“He’s a bastard son.”
Jo Ryang-ui flinched.
“His name is Yang Un-rang. He’s lived quite a shadowed life.”
“…He certainly has a fine name. Though he doesn’t seem particularly shadowed.”
In fact, Yang Un-rang was moving about with a relaxed expression, chatting with people here and there, flirting with the candidates.
“The more hollow someone is inside, the better they tend to smile.”
Dokgo Myeong, speaking matter-of-factly, spotted someone and sent a warm glance their way.
“Wow, he came too? I thought he wouldn’t show up?”
“Pardon? Who are you referring to?”
“Over there, see that man running with a bamboo hat on his back near Ye-hwa?”
“Ah! You mean the swordsman with the bamboo hat!”
In the first test, he had cleanly cut the Qinggang stone with just three sword strikes.
“He’s an assassin.”
“…?”
“Jin-sa. That’s exactly an assassin’s name. But he’s an assassin raised by the government, not the martial world. About ten years ago, he took the head of some general in a political struggle…”
“S-surely you don’t mean the assassination of the Dragon General that occurred in the capital?”
Dokgo Myeong tilted his head.
“I don’t know their names, but I’ve heard they’re rather significant figures.”
Jo Ryang-ui felt a sudden wave of dizziness and pressed his hand to his forehead.
‘Bandits, illegitimate sons of noble families, assassins….’
Is the Cheonma Sect truly comfortable with this?
Jo Ryang-ui swallowed nervously before asking carefully.
“How on earth did you gather such people? Or rather, how did you make them come seeking you out of their own accord?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“In truth, winning people’s hearts isn’t so difficult. The hard part is making that decision with genuine conviction.”
“…?”
“Isn’t that how it is with our Overseer Jo as well?”
Jo Ryang-ui paused for a moment.
Then he smiled and spoke.
“Misunderstandings are free, aren’t they? I came because you paid me well.”
“That’s precisely why I pay you that much. Try going elsewhere and see how far that gets you.”
“When an offer comes, one should at least hear the terms.”
“Then what, you’d have daggers stuck in your pillow every night?”
“Haha.”
Jo Ryang-ui let out a laugh.
But Dokgo Myeong did not laugh.
“…You’re joking, aren’t you?”
“I’m not.”
“….”
Jo Ryang-ui’s expression turned ashen in an instant.
Dokgo Myeong turned his head and smiled wickedly.
“Many of those I’ve selected have unfamiliar faces.”
Some of the old Cheonma Sect members were visible, but there were many who were not.
Those selected from the martial tournament were the same. Familiar faces like Bang Dan-a mixed with strangers.
Things have changed.
Yes, there’s no need for the old Cheonma Sect to remain as it was.
Connections from the past, connections that will never come, perhaps relationships I can no longer meet.
There was no use clinging to them.
“It’s nearly time to finish.”
This trial is drawing to a close.
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes grew cold and sharp.
“Then now, to wrap things up… I should sift them through a sieve once more.”

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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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