Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 257

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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 257
“I rushed here like a madman trying to catch a free meal at the feast, but it seems I’m a step too late, doesn’t it?”
Ju Won-gwang had finally arrived.
It had been a long time since their last meeting. Dokgo Myeong welcomed him with a broad grin.
“You’re not just late—you’re absurdly late. But tell me, shouldn’t a beggar at least show up on time for a feast day? Any other day, being late is forgivable, but on a day like this, arriving punctually is what makes a true beggar, wouldn’t you say?”
Ju Won-gwang shook his head vigorously.
“You’re right about that. I suppose I’m such a mediocre beggar that the Sect Leader keeps giving me an earful about it.”
Ju Won-gwang jested, then curled up the corners of his mouth in a smile.
Dokgo Myeong also let out a chuckle.
“Welcome, Ju Hyeong.”
“Have you been well?”
“Well, I’ve been causing quite a stir in the family, you know.”
“I’ve heard the rumors. But you…”
Ju Won-gwang’s eyes gleamed.
“You’ve grown stronger.”
“I went through some hardships this time around.”
Ju Won-gwang stared intently at Dokgo Myeong.
His energy was perfectly refined and contained.
The Dokgo Myeong he saw now felt like a completely different person from the one he’d last encountered.
‘This monster of a man… where on earth has he been, and what has he been doing to become this formidable?’
It had been merely a year since the incident at Deungyongji, which was called the Infinite Blood Demon.
Even back then, he had demonstrated enough martial prowess to single-handedly defeat the Moyong Family’s aged swordsman, but what in the world had he experienced in that one year?
“Heh, I may not know much else, but I can say I’ve secured one solid connection at least.”
“What are you talking about?”
“More importantly, aren’t you going to give me anything to eat? I’m literally starving!”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled and raised his hand.
“Hey, is anyone there? Come here for a moment!”
“Yes, Master.”
The guards and servants of Chammaewon hurried over.
“Bring out some food. As you can see, this gentleman here eats like an insect, so you’ll need to bring at least five or six portions.”
“Yes, understood.”
The guards and servants bowed simultaneously and withdrew.
Dokgo Myeong had said he didn’t need them, but Jo Ryang-ui had insisted on hiring them, saying they were necessary. They were skilled workers so competent that even Jang Sam had praised their abilities.
Then Ju Won-gwang suddenly spoke.
“But just food? What about alcohol?”
“Ah, don’t worry about that. I’ve got something really special stashed away.”
“Something special? I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Oh, do look forward to it! Look forward to it all you want! I’m about to serve you a rare liquor that even our esteemed managers couldn’t resist! Hehehehe!”
“Huh?”
“Come inside first. We can’t entertain a guest out here.”
Dokgo Myeong rose from his seat, and Ju Won-gwang followed behind him.
Thus they made their way into the main hall of the Chammaewon.
Ju Won-gwang could spot five managers sprawled about in the corners.
“Ughhhh.”
“Uuuaahhh….”
Those formidable managers writhed and groaned in agony.
Ju Won-gwang’s eyes widened as a thought crossed his mind.
‘Ah, this wine is quite potent, isn’t it?’
That’s not bad at all.
Ju Won-gwang burst into hearty laughter.
* * *
“Wow! This is strong! The taste is absolutely exquisite!”
“Right? I told you it was rare wine!”
“But what kind of wine is this? I thought it was just cheap baijiu, but it has this subtle flavor and a sharp bite to it….”
“Ah, it’s a precious infused wine. Come now, don’t waste time wondering—have another cup. More, more!”
“Oh! Indeed, only my younger brother thinks of me like this!”
Ju Won-gwang drank merrily, savoring each sip.
Then he deftly wielded his chopsticks, tasting each side dish one by one.
After sampling everything methodically, he pulled out a wooden bowl from his waist and began mixing rice with the dishes.
Dokgo Myeong asked.
“Then why taste them at all?”
Ju Won-gwang chuckled.
“Even if I’m a beggar, I intend to be one who savors what life offers.”
With that, Ju Won-gwang buried his face in the bowl and shoveled the mixed rice into his mouth.
Dokgo Myeong couldn’t help but let out an admiring sigh as he watched, thinking to himself.
‘He really does eat like a beggar.’
Crunch, crunch!
In the way he devoured the mixed rice, he glimpsed the image of his senior Bang Jong-san.
What was the difference between tasting first and then mixing, versus simply mixing and eating?
Dokgo Myeong, who had been pondering this seriously, quickly decided to stop thinking about it.
‘Regardless of other things….’
Just as he had made his resolve within his clan and sect, Ju Won-gwang too seemed to have undergone his own transformation, roaming the martial world.
One could say the nobleman who pretended to be a beggar had become a true wanderer.
“Hmm, seeing it like this makes it look appetizing again. Perhaps I should have some mixed rice myself after all this time.”
“This stir-fried meat has just the right seasoning and tastes wonderful. Mix it in with plenty of sauce.”
“Very well.”
In the end, Dokgo Myeong also placed side dishes and rice in a bowl and began mixing and eating with practiced ease.
Thus the two men continued their meal with gusto.
“Ahh! That was delicious!”
Ju Won-gwang, who had consumed enough food for three or four strong men single-handedly, cleansed his palate with wine.
“Should I stop drinking too?”
“What are you saying? The stomach for alcohol is a separate matter entirely.”
The two men drank in silence for a moment.
As the silence stretched on, Ju Won-gwang spoke first.
“I heard about what happened in Gangseong.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Moyong had dug a trap. I got caught up in it, and the beggars were swept away because of me. I feel terrible about it.”
“That’s not something you should apologize for. If anything, I’m the one who should be ashamed.”
Ju Won-gwang drank the bitter, potent liquor in one gulp, his expression darkening.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled and refilled Ju Won-gwang’s cup.
“It’s an excuse, I know, but I gave more than enough warnings. Not just to Dan-du, who manages the fortress, but to all the regional administrators—county-level, sub-county-level, everyone with jurisdiction—I issued orders to be wary of traitors and purge them. The problem was that no one listened.”
“It seems other regions are in similar situations, not just Gangseong?”
“Even worse, actually. Dan-du of Gangseong Fortress is relatively better off because he’s someone the Sect Leader has influence over.”
“Hmm, Gae-bang being chaotic is just the nature of our sect, but it’s still manageable, right?”
“There’s no helping it. Our situation is different from other martial sects and families.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded silently.
At this point, he would devise some method on his own. Even as allies, Dokgo Myeong had no position to say more.
“Let’s move on to other matters.”
“Yes. I was actually planning to meet with you anyway.”
“Ah, that’s right. But before that, there’s something I need to tell you.”
As Ju Won-gwang blinked and stared at him, Dokgo Myeong swallowed his drink and spoke flatly.
“I fell into a trap that Magoon had set not long ago.”
“…What? What did you say?”
“Not the Black Bloodfiend—that bastard seems to be half-dead now. The one I met was Ji-myeol, a different one.”
“Wait, hold on!”
Ju Won-gwang cried out in shock.
“You’re saying you encountered one of the Three Bloodfiends? There was chaos near Dokgo recently—could that have been it?”
“Well, what happened was…”
Dokgo Myeong briefly explained the situation from that time.
Even as he listened, Ju Won-gwang could not collect his thoughts.
‘Was the name of the other Left and Right Bloodfiend Ji-myeol?’
In fact, Ju Won-gwang was hearing that name for the first time.
It couldn’t be helped.
Who were the Three Bloodfiends?
If the Grand General was the head and heart of the Sect Leader, the Left and Right Bloodfiends were his two arms.
They were truly the hidden powers behind the scenes. Even among generals of the same rank, there were those who didn’t know their names—what more could be said?
“Just what are you…”
Ju Won-gwang clicked his tongue.
Since becoming the Hu Gu-dangju, he had pursued them for a very long time.
Even rooting out lower-ranking generals required immense effort, and he could only capture a tiny fraction of them.
Yet ever since Dokgo Myeong’s appearance, numerous military commanders had surfaced one after another—first the Left Bloodfiend Army, and now even the Right Bloodfiend Army.
‘Is the era moving, or am I moving the era?’
Perhaps it was both.
Ju Won-gwang swallowed dryly.
“But something feels off. They suffered such losses and simply withdrew?”
“Yeah, there’s definitely something brewing.”
“Of course there is. Tsk.”
“Why are you clicking your tongue?”
“The atmosphere has grown strange lately.”
Ju Won-gwang continued, his face slightly contorted.
“The martial world’s situation is flowing in an ominous direction. Even with the Sect Leader running himself ragged, it’s still like this.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Have you heard? All three of the great families except Moyong are taking a passive stance toward establishing the Martial Alliance.”
Dokgo Myeong’s brow twitched.
“Surely this ‘passive’ stance is actually close to outright opposition?”
Ju Won-gwang nodded silently.
Dokgo Myeong narrowed his eyes in thought.
‘Why would they oppose? They nearly had their foundations uprooted by the Moyong Family. So why…’
Ju Won-gwang soon provided the answer.
“They fear the Dokgo Family’s monopoly.”
“…What?”
“It’s not just the three great families. The Hwangsan Sect even sided with Moyong as a way to oppose war, while the Hyeongsan Sect and Gonggong Sect have expressed negative stances toward the very purpose of the Martial Alliance.”
“Ah, these mad fools.”
Dokgo Myeong’s face crumpled.
Only then did the situation become clear.
At the same time, he could discern the reason such public opinion had formed.
“Could it be the Jeongheol Sect?”
“At least they started it. They probably guided things subtly. Isn’t this the very power they possess?”
The power to shape public opinion simply by moving people embedded throughout various places.
It was the most troublesome power the Jeongheol Sect wielded.
“Pressure is being applied not just from the upper circles but from the government as well. Their arguments are quite persuasive, so public opinion supporting them is boiling over.”
“Is it the same for the three great families?”
“In truth, their opposition is the greatest problem. If only they change their position, all other voices will fall silent. They’re not mere noble families for nothing—their influence is considerable.”
Dokgo Myeong pondered briefly, then chuckled.
“Come to think of it, it doesn’t seem like a major problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“Public opinion won’t change what’s already set in motion.”
Ju Won-gwang’s expression grew astonished.
“If the voices of opposition grow louder, won’t your family reconsider the war? Then all our plans could come to nothing.”
“Once the main family has made its decision, war is inevitable.”
“Listen here. The ways of the world aren’t quite so….”
Dokgo Myeong shook his head without even waiting for Ju Won-gwang to finish.
“Tsk tsk, Ju Hyeong. Have you forgotten what the main family is?”
“What do you mean?”
“The main family is the greatest clan under heaven. We would sooner make enemies of the entire world than withdraw from a stance we’ve taken. No matter how rapidly circumstances shift, we’ll overturn them through sheer force.”
Ju Won-gwang went rigid.
Dokgo Myeong took another sip of wine before speaking.
“If you’re truly concerned, arrange a meeting.”
“A meeting? What kind of meeting?”
“An opportunity to meet face-to-face with the clan lords of our martial families who prefer to remain in the shadows.”
“You intend to meet them directly yourself?”
“Or we could divide them up—I’ll take some, and the elders of our family will take others.”
He spoke as though everything would be resolved simply by meeting.
That boundless confidence made Ju Won-gwang shudder slightly.
‘Has he changed somewhat?’
His temperament had grown as bold and unrestrained as his increased martial prowess. It reminded him of the young Geom-jon he’d only heard about in stories from the Sect Leader.
“Understood. I’ll mention it to the Sect Leader.”
“Before that, tell me about the Moyong Family. I knew they’d go mad, but this seems far different from what I anticipated.”
“Since we’re on the subject, could we discuss this with someone else present?”
“Hmm?”
“Someone you’ve forgotten about. Would it be alright to bring her here?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Hehe, you really did forget, didn’t you?”
Soon Dokgo Myeong welcomed another guest.
Someone he’d truly and completely forgotten about.
“Moryong Sohgyo?”
“It’s been a long time, Dokgo Myeong. Or should I call you the Black Bloodfiend now?”
It was Ok Binghua, Moryong Sohgyo—the most beautiful woman in Zhejiang.

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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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