Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 249

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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 249
If such a place as a remote mountain valley existed, it would be here.
Upon the mountain peak shrouded in night, clouds and moonlight hung suspended, while the bottomless cliff seemed to stretch down to the very depths of hell itself.
Within that oppressive darkness, an old man sat in lotus position upon a stone bathed in faint moonlight.
It was Dokgo Cheon.
“Patriarch.”
At Lee Seong-cheon’s call, Dokgo Cheon slowly opened his eyes.
Whoooosh!
The mere act of opening his eyes caused the heavens and earth to tremble.
Only after Dokgo Cheon steadied his breathing did that overwhelming aura finally subside.
Lee Seong-cheon respectfully extended a letter.
“I bring news from the clan. The distance was not far, so I was able to deliver it immediately.”
“Mm, I see.”
Lee Seong-cheon watched as his lord slowly read through the letter.
For a moment, he found himself sensing the passage of years in that figure.
‘Pointless thoughts.’
Then, the corner of Dokgo Cheon’s mouth slowly rose.
“That cunning fellow. He’s gathered all manner of riffraff within the clan’s walls. Did you see the contents yourself?”
“Yes. It appears that over a hundred have passed the trial. Though he has expanded the numbers, it seems he intends to maintain the principle of elite quality.”
“A hundred is already excessive. Given that fellow’s nature, there’s no need for such size. If he cannot manage them, he should not have gathered them in the first place.”
As numbers grew, management became difficult, and movements became sluggish.
Dokgo Myeong was a leader specialized in unconventional tactics and lightning-swift warfare. While he could certainly command large forces adequately, his abilities shone most brilliantly with smaller numbers.
“Aside from that, he has gathered quite a collection of dangerous individuals. Ronin, bandits, those of the Black Blade, and those from Cheon I-gak whom authorities cannot yet trace…”
Dokgo Cheon carefully folded the letter and placed it in his robes.
“War is upon us, and now he gathers people.”
While the individuals he had gathered seemed to possess considerable skill, there was uncertainty as to whether there would be time to unite them.
“Since it is the work of Young Master Dokgo Myeong, he must have some plan.”
“I’m sure he does. However…”
Dokgo Cheon’s eyes narrowed.
“Once people are gathered, they should be tested and refined. I wonder if he will manage it well.”
“Shall I send word?”
Dokgo Cheon remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.
“No need. If we concern ourselves with such trifles, it will only spoil him.”
“Then…”
“We shall depart as well. It seems we have fallen behind by a step.”
Lee Seong-cheon’s eyes wavered.
“By a step behind, do you mean you have remained here, Patriarch?”
“Indeed. Did you not notice?”
Dokgo Cheon’s gaze turned toward the cliff.
As the moonlight grew brighter, the mist cleared, revealing the cliff face collapsed as though a landslide had occurred.
“That is what we call the Limitless Hand.”
Dokgo Cheon’s smile deepened.
“The Martial Sovereign. So he was alive after all.”
This excursion, which seemed destined to end quickly regardless of the outcome,
appeared it would stretch far longer than I had anticipated.
* * *
At last, this round of trials had concluded.
The result: one hundred and twelve successful candidates.
The managers, who had each tested the applicants in their own manner, let out sighs tinged with exhaustion.
“Phew! Finally it’s over!”
“Ugh… I never imagined it would be this taxing. So many people—it’s truly draining.”
“There were quite a few remarkably strong individuals, weren’t there?”
“You all did excellent work.”
The candidates were temporarily lodged as guests in the Chammawon’s quarters.
The first and second trials, plus the additional examination—
once everything concluded, the sun had set, making further proceedings impossible.
The managers huddled together on the platform, chatting away. Though it had been an exhausting day and each could have rested, they gathered as if by prior agreement.
“But you know,”
Namgung Sohwa glanced around at the managers.
“Why are we all fine?”
“Fine all of a sudden? What do you mean?”
Namgung Sohwa tilted her head.
“Each of us faced at least thirty or forty people, didn’t we?”
“That’s true.”
“It was grueling, but it wasn’t as difficult as I expected, was it?”
Only then did everyone sense something amiss.
Cheolmu-baek, who had tested external martial arts, and Geum Seok-du, who had merely observed performances, were exceptions, but the remaining three had faced truly numerous opponents.
Namgung Sohwa’s sword techniques had been genuine exchanges of moves against actual weapons—she had simply refrained from mixing in assassination techniques and inner energy.
And not a single one of them had suffered defeat. They had all won.
“In essence, it was a continuous battle. Yet here we are, perfectly fine. We’re all just a bit tired, nothing more.”
“Now that you mention it…”
Cheolmu-baek and Ye-hwa nodded.
Dokgo Ak waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah, that’s simply because the people who came were weak, isn’t it?”
“Which means we’re strong.”
Namgung Sohwa’s eyes gleamed.
“Perhaps far more so than we realized. It seems Manager Dokgo Ak was right—we’ve acquired considerable qualifications and abilities.”
“Hmm.”
Just then, Cheolmu-baek suddenly let out a quiet laugh.
It was a remarkably clear expression for him, naturally drawing all the managers’ attention toward him.
“If he’s endured that much from the captain, he should’ve grown stronger by now.”
“Right.”
“Well, that’s true….”
In that moment, all the managers’ complex emotions were laid bare across their faces.
They say you grow stronger after brushing with death.
Every day spent with Dokgo Myeong was a brush with death. If they hadn’t grown at least this much, they would’ve gone mad from the injustice of it all.
“He’s certainly relentless… yet also remarkable in his own way.”
“Indeed, sir.”
“Now that I think about it, weren’t all those peculiar applicants people the captain himself—I mean, Myeong-i—brought in directly?”
At Dokgo Ak’s words, Geum Seok-du nodded.
“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”
“Where on earth does he even meet such people?”
“Well, doesn’t that apply to all of us as well?”
The managers, who had paused for a moment, soon nodded in agreement.
Though he acted recklessly, Dokgo Myeong was a man full of secrets and remarkable qualities.
‘Come to think of it.’
Namgung Sohwa gazed up at the moon.
‘I have no idea what kind of person he really is.’
It wasn’t a matter of great concern.
Dokgo Myeong helped them, and they helped Dokgo Myeong.
That was enough for the Chamma Corps.
Then it happened.
Screech!
A sound came from below the platform.
And right on cue, Dokgo Myeong’s voice burst out.
“Kyaa! These bastards are really….”
“…done for? They’re done for!”
In that instant, Dokgo Ak shot to his feet and cut off Dokgo Myeong’s words.
Dokgo Myeong paused, seeming taken aback.
“What, what is it?”
“Right, you should’ve shown up about now. I knew you would.”
“What are you talking about?”
Dokgo Myeong snorted and spoke.
“What are you doing here? Lately….”
“…isn’t life in the Chamma Corps comfortable?!”
This time it was Geum Seok-du.
Dokgo Myeong blinked his eyes like a fish in confusion.
“What’s been going on since earlier?”
“I threw it out first because I thought that’s what you were about to say.”
“You guys really….”
“Regardless, Commander, you’ve worked hard. Come up here.”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
Dokgo Myeong found himself climbing onto the platform almost without thinking.
“What are all of you doing here in the middle of the night?”
Namgung Sohwa spoke with a cheerful smile.
“What else? We were just having a friendly chat about our superior.”
“What?”
“Please understand. It’s a way to relieve fatigue by gossiping about those above us.”
“Good grief.”
The managers chuckled.
It had been a pleasant night.
Though it was early evening, the moon was so large that the surroundings were brightly illuminated.
However, the moment the managers saw Dokgo Myeong’s expression revealed beneath that moonlight, they wiped all playfulness from their faces.
Eyes sharp and cold, lips pressed firmly shut.
Whenever their commander wore such an expression, blood always flowed.
“I know you’re tired, but I’ll need you to work a bit more.”
“Just give the order.”
Namgung Sohwa replied calmly.
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“The day is waning and night grows deeper—the timing is perfect. There’s no point in dragging this out. Let’s accelerate the conclusion.”
Cheolmu-baek’s eyes gleamed.
“Are you thinking of doing it today?”
“Yes, today itself.”
An early evening beneath a bright moon.
Dokgo Myeong’s gaze shone with a cold, piercing light.
“Let’s root out every last Jeongheol Sect member hiding among us.”
* * *
To build up the Chammaedae, they had posted notices everywhere and conducted large-scale recruitment.
What were the odds that no Jeongheol Sect members were among them?
These were the people who had completely swallowed one of the Four Great Families and infiltrated the Black Dragon Brigade, Dokgo Cheon’s very limbs. It would be stranger if they weren’t present.
“How do you intend to identify them?”
“Surely not that method again….”
Dokgo Myeong shook his head.
“Unfortunately, that trick has lost its effectiveness. It’s useless now.”
Hadn’t he heard this from the Cheonryeong General?
While it might work as a surprise probe, now that orders had come down from the Sect Master to the generals, that method would no longer be effective.
Moreover….
“From the start, it was only a half-measure that worked on those perfectly connected to the Jeongheol Sect’s roots.”
“That was certainly true.”
The reason the Jeongheol Sect was so terrifying.
Because they could be helpful to those people without even realizing they were members of the sect.
“In fact, those who don’t even know they’re connected to the Jeongheol Sect—we just need to ask Gae-bang to investigate their backgrounds.”
“The problem is the General-ranked cultivators who might be hiding among them.”
“Right. Those at the General rank would have had their pasts and histories carefully fabricated by the Jeongheol Sect.”
Crack!
Clang!
The sound of metal and rustling fabric echoed through the lantern-lit room. The managers, who had been dressed in ordinary martial robes, were each checking their weapons.
Namgung Sohwa fastened leather greaves and wrist guards, while Cheolmu-baek was equipping secondary weapons.
“Everyone, take these. These are the antidote elixirs and detoxicants I’ve prepared. But remember, the best outcome is if we never need to use them. We don’t have much in stock yet, so use them carefully.”
Geum Seok-du distributed the medicines as well. It was thorough preparation in every sense.
“So.”
Thwip!
Ye-hwa nocked an arrow into her bowstring and asked as she fitted another into her quiver.
“How do you plan to identify them? Didn’t you say it’s nearly impossible to recognize them unless they reveal their identities themselves?”
It was an annoying characteristic of Jeongheol Sect martial arts. Unless the opponent intended to reveal their blood techniques, their martial arts would leave no trace.
“That was true before. But this time, we have another method.”
Dokgo Myeong suddenly tossed medicinal herbs into the air.
Patter!
A golden-furred creature leaped nimbly from the corner and caught the herbs.
“Grrrowl!”
It was Hoa, the mystical beast offspring of Geum-ye.
“Hoa and I have become able to read the traces of those people.”
“What?”
“As Hoa and I connected through our true qi, I developed resistance to the qi they’ve concealed. If we use this properly, detecting them isn’t impossible.”
The managers’ eyes widened.
Just as they were about to speak, Dokgo Myeong continued first.
“But it’s not perfect. We need to shake their mask at least once. We need to make even a trace of their true qi leak out.”
Dokgo Myeong clenched his fist tightly.
Whoosh!
His Heavenly Dantian pulsed gently, releasing a wave of power.
“Emotional fluctuations, inner energy manipulation, cracks in martial technique deployment—anything works. Just once, if the balance of spirit, energy, and body wavers, that’s all we need.”
“Won’t that be dangerous?”
At Geum Seok-du’s words, Dokgo Myeong turned his head.
“What do you mean?”
“Even if we succeed in identifying them, what comes after is the problem. We might end up burning down the entire house to catch a flea.”
Dokgo Myeong paused to consider the meaning of those words, then nodded.
“You’re saying the morale of the Chamma Squad, which hasn’t even been officially launched yet, could be broken from the very start?”
These newly selected members have no loyalty to or understanding of the Chamma Squad yet. They are merely outsiders who came for their own reasons.
They came because we were recruiting people, but how would they feel if we took away their neighbor as a traitor and purged them?
“Moreover, without evidence or proof, wouldn’t it look like we simply arrested them based on the commander’s intuition?”
Everyone’s expressions shifted to one of surprise.
It was a thought that only Geum Seok-du could conceive of—something the other managers had never considered.
However, not everyone was taken aback.
“So I intend to dig a trap.”
“A trap, sir?”
At that moment, Ye-hwa shook her head gently and withdrew something from her bosom.
“So this is why you had me draw such things?”
What Ye-hwa laid down was a bundle of talisman paper inscribed with bizarre patterns in cinnabar ink.
The appearance was precisely….
“Talismans?”
“General, they’re talismans used by those of considerable rank—at the very least.”
“…!”
“I happened to acquire knowledge of them this time.”
They were talismans extracted from the head of the Iron Net.
I had Ye-hwa copy them roughly as best she could.
Dokgo Myeong plucked one talisman from the bundle and waved it.
“Now then, when they hear that something belonging to the exalted one they serve has been discovered, can they truly remain still in their places?”
“…!”
“They’ll suspect it at first, but if they see it with their own eyes?”
Even without physical evidence, circumstances themselves can become proof.
It was time to draw out the rat’s head from where it hid deep within its burrow.

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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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