Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 259
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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 259
“Sigh.”
Moryong Sohgyo exhaled sharply before the entrance leading into the inner courtyard of the Cheonma Sect.
It was an important day in many ways.
It was the first day the Cheonma Sect officially launched, and simultaneously, the day her life—chosen by her own hand for the first time—was beginning.
‘I just need to demonstrate my abilities. Anyone with discernment will have no choice but to recognize me.’
Who was she, after all?
The true direct descendant of the Moyong Family, the most beautiful woman in Zhejiang, a prodigy among prodigies acknowledged by her clan for both martial prowess and intellect.
Though various past grievances clung to her like tags, she had confidence she could overcome such obstacles through sheer ability.
“Then let’s go.”
She straightened her shoulders and held her spine erect as she took her first steps forward.
“…Huh?”
The sight that unfolded in the inner courtyard made her doubt her own eyes.
“What… what is this?”
The first day training was finally to begin officially.
The Cheonma Sect disciples, who should have been taut with tension and anticipation, were nowhere to be found.
Instead…
“Bleeeegh! Ugh!”
“The world… the world is spinning. It’s spinning…”
“Grrrraaagh!”
Scattered about like laundry, there were only those retching from hangovers, their faces decomposing with nausea.
‘How… how can the martial corps be like this?’
And on the first day, no less?
Where had discipline and order gone? Why were drunken wrecks sprawled about from the very first day?
‘They arrived at assembly on time, didn’t they? Where exactly are the commander and the managers…?’
Moryong Sohgyo found them quickly enough.
“…”
“M-managers… my head feels like it’s going to… split…”
“W-water…!”
“If I drink that again, I’ll change my surname…!”
They say the upper waters must be clear for the lower waters to be clear.
The upper waters were no different.
Moryong Sohgyo squeezed her eyes shut.
* * *
“Ugh, Ju Hyeong. Bring me some water.”
“This bastard just keeps calling me hyeong, hyeong… bleegh!”
“Ugh, then Seok-du. You go get me some water.”
“Commander, I feel like I’m dying too, so please get it yourself…!”
“What’s with this guy? He says anything to his lord?”
“What lord in this world feeds his subordinates demonic creature liquor? Ugh!”
Dokgo Myeong and Ju Won-gwang, along with five Managers, writhed on the ground with faces drained of all color.
“Demonic creature liquor…? What in the world is that…?”
Ju Won-gwang asked in a crawling voice.
“Oh, that’s what Ju Hyeong drank yesterday.”
“What is that… Don’t tell me… Ugh!”
Moryong Sohgyo observed the entire scene with complicated feelings.
‘When I left yesterday, everything seemed fine, but surely they didn’t keep drinking after that?’
She was right.
Unlike Moryong Sohgyo, who had retired to her sleeping quarters as soon as the conversation ended, Dokgo Myeong and Ju Won-gwang had continued drinking until nearly sunrise.
Dokgo Myeong groaned while clutching his head.
“Ugh! That stuff is potent, really potent. It even pierced through my energy core….”
That was when it happened.
“I brought honey water. Everyone, try to pull yourselves together.”
“Oh, our little one…!”
Ye-hwa, the only Manager among them who hadn’t drunk, had a fresh, unblemished complexion.
As if this wasn’t her first time dealing with such situations, she simply prepared honey water instead of plain water and began distributing it.
Gulp, gulp!
“Ahh! I think I’ll survive!”
“Thank you, Ye-hwa.”
“You’re too kind, sister.”
Though Ye-hwa distributed honey water to everyone, she simply stood blankly in front of Dokgo Myeong.
“Ugh, why won’t you give me any, you little one….”
“My name.”
“…?”
“Not ‘little one,’ but Ye-hwa. I won’t give you water unless you use my name.”
“Fine, fine. I understand, so hurry….”
“Say it. The water comes after.”
“…This relentless girl.”
It was like being interrogated.
By the time Dokgo Myeong finally received his honey water, the efficient servants had brought buckets of water and begun distributing them to the Cheonma Sect disciples sprawled about.
‘Couldn’t they just use their inner energy to expel the poison?’
Around the time Moryong Sohgyo was thinking such thoughts with a fed-up expression, Dokgo Myeong finally began paying attention to her.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t paid you proper attention. When did our lovely strategist arrive?”
“…I’ve been here since earlier. But didn’t you order everyone to arrive at the assembly time yesterday?”
“Huh?”
Dokgo Myeong tilted his head in confusion and asked Dokgo Ak beside him.
“Did we have an assembly time?”
“Why are you asking me? Even if I knew, you’re the commander—you should know.”
Geum Seok-du spoke up.
“Tomorrow morning, that is, this morning at the beginning of the Chen hour, you ordered everyone to assemble, sir.”
“Ah, right. That’s how it was?”
This is a mess. A complete mess.
Moryong Sohgyo began to feel uneasy about this unit.
“So.”
Then, Namgung Sohwa, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up.
“Why is this person here?”
Only then did the managers, who had been deliberately avoiding the subject, all turn their heads toward Moryong Sohgyo.
While Ju Won-gwang’s sudden appearance could be overlooked, Moryong Sohgyo was far too out of place in this setting.
Dokgo Myeong spoke with an expressionless face.
“Since we’re already acquainted, there’s no need for formal introductions. From now on, I intend to accept Moryong Sohgyo here as a member of the Cheonma Sect. For now, I plan to have her serve as a military strategist.”
“….”
In that instant, the air grew heavy and oppressive.
While the scattered Cheonma Sect disciples gradually regained their senses and the surroundings became bustling, this corner alone fell into a profound silence, as if separated by a step.
Among them, two women gazed at each other.
“….”
“….”
Namgung Sohwa stared at Moryong Sohgyo without wavering. Moryong Sohgyo did not avoid that gaze.
The managers swallowed hard and closed their mouths.
‘Well, I can’t exactly call it a good relationship.’
‘Honestly, since we know the circumstances, there’s no ill will.’
‘But Manager Namgung, she’s probably….’
As the managers exchanged glances nervously, Namgung Sohwa broke the silence first and opened her mouth.
“I never expected to see you here.”
Moryong Sohgyo nodded with a composed expression.
“Yes, that is how it came to be.”
Her eyes did not waver, but her voice lacked its usual confidence. Her words seemed to tremble slightly at the end.
“You came with the Ju Dangju yesterday, it seems?”
“Yes. Rather than that, you need not speak so formally. I….”
“No. I prefer it this way.”
“….”
“Do you wish to become a military strategist?”
“Yes, I came hoping to be of help to the Cheonma Sect.”
“Help, you say.”
Namgung Sohwa laughed coldly.
“That is hardly something one who put us in such dire straits should say.”
Moryong Sohgyo’s expression clouded over.
“Oh my! Ha ha! Why are you all like this?”
At that moment, Dokgo Ak let out an awkward laugh and waved his hand, seemingly attempting to lighten the mood.
“Regardless, well, welcome! We should forget the unpleasant past and make a fresh start! I look forward to working with you. I’m Dokgo Ak… Mmph! Mmph!”
“Manager Ak, please.”
“Pay attention, Young Master.”
“He’s completely lost his mind.”
Dokgo Ak was overwhelmed by the other managers’ jabs and crumpled to one side.
Namgung Sohwa turned to look at Dokgo Myeong.
“Could you explain what’s happening?”
She asked Dokgo Myeong with an expression that was almost unnaturally composed.
Dokgo Myeong answered calmly.
“Senior Bang managed to keep him alive rather than kill him. I suppose he left the choice to me. I was briefly considering whether I should kill him, but he suddenly said he wanted to join the Cheonma Sect.”
“….”
“He said he wanted to take revenge on his family and choose to live on his own terms.”
“Is he necessary for the Cheonma Sect?”
“Not particularly.”
“Then what is it?”
“He just seems to fit well with our Cheonma Sect. Since he has considerable ability, if you’re all agreeable, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to give him a chance.”
Namgung Sohwa fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
“We simply follow the orders of our lord.”
“It’s not an order—I’m asking for your opinion.”
“It seems you’ve already made your decision, haven’t you? What use is our opinion?”
“Of course it’s useful. Your opinions as managers are more important.”
At those words, Namgung Sohwa’s eyebrows raised slightly.
Namgung Sohwa looked at Moryong Sohgyo and spoke in a low voice.
“If you apologize.”
Another brief moment of silence fell.
Moryong Sohgyo waited with a tense expression for what came next, and soon Namgung Sohwa spoke again.
“I understand there were circumstances, but you wronged us at Deungyongji. If you sincerely apologize for that and work for the Cheonma Sect… I’m fine with it.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at Namgung Sohwa’s words.
She made no mention of the resentment held against the Moyong Family—only what happened at Deungyongji.
Now that she thought about it, she had never once spoken of her family’s grudge.
“You’re… saying you’ll accept my apology?”
“If the other managers agree as well.”
“Why would you? I’m a direct descendant of Moyong…”
Namgung Sohwa let out a soft laugh.
“I’m different from your family. It’s not my way to simply extract blood payment from someone named Moyong. And…”
Namgung Sohwa glanced at Dokgo Myeong before continuing.
“Everyone deserves one chance. I had mine, and so did we.”
All the managers of the Cheonma Sect had been given that one chance.
Moryong Sohgyo’s eyes trembled.
She then bowed respectfully.
“I sincerely apologize for what happened that day. And thank you for accepting me despite the wrongs my family has committed against yours.”
Namgung Sohwa gave a light nod.
With her in agreement, none of the managers could object.
And so Moryong Sohgyo became the strategist of the Cheonma Sect.
A moment later.
The managers engaged Moryong Sohgyo in conversation, deepening their bonds.
Dokgo Myeong approached Namgung Sohwa, who stood somewhat apart, seemingly uncomfortable.
“Are you truly all right with this?”
“I’m truly fine with it. I know the circumstances well enough that I don’t wish to behave shamefully.”
Dokgo Myeong laughed softly.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Namgung Sohwa let out a small laugh.
“I need to drink more water, so why don’t you go spend time with that lovely strategist over there, Commander?”
“Huh? What?”
Without answering, Namgung Sohwa turned sharply and walked away.
Dokgo Myeong called out after her retreating figure.
“We’re starting soon, so hurry back!”
“Starting? What do you mean?”
“What else would it be?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled lowly, his gaze sweeping across the Cheonma Sect disciples.
* * *
The sentiment felt entirely new.
In my past life, the Cheonma Sect was already a complete unit. Whatever its actual substance and scale might have been.
But in this life, I built the Cheonma Sect from the ground up and brought it to completion.
Five managers instead of four, eighty-seven talented disciples, an environment of far superior quality compared to the impoverished conditions of my past life, Jo Ryang-ui supporting us from behind, and now Moryong Sohgyo taking on the role of strategist.
We are advancing.
No—we have already advanced.
Compared to my past life, I and the Cheonma Sect had transformed beyond recognition.
‘Now it’s time to run.’
We had held the inaugural ceremony, shared drinks as a greeting, and grown familiar with one another.
Now it was time to address the immediate challenges ahead.
Dokgo Myeong smiled and stepped before the Cheonma Sect disciples.
Thud!
“Cheonma Sect! Attention!”
Dokgo Myeong stamped his foot sharply and shouted.
“Yes!”
“…Yes.”
“Sir?”
The Cheonma Sect disciples responded a beat late, their voices uncertain and wavering.
Dokgo Myeong smiled with satisfaction.
‘Ah, it’s been so long since I’ve smelled the scent of these green recruits.’
Dokgo Myeong’s smile vanished instantly, and sparks of fury ignited in his eyes.
“Is that all the volume you wretches can muster!”
“…!!”
The Cheonma Sect Disciples flinched at the thunderous roar that echoed like a lion’s cry.
“The inauguration ceremony is finished, and the celebration banquet is finished. You have all become irreplaceable members of the Cheonma Sect. Do you understand what that means?”
“…?”
“It means the you of yesterday is now dead.”
What is he saying? Why is he killing us off on a whim?
Dokgo Myeong grinned wickedly.
“And furthermore!”
“…?”
“It also means you will have to die many more times in the future.”
Dokgo Myeong shouted.
“Managers! Take your positions!”
The Managers immediately descended from the platform and stood before the Disciples.
The Cheonma Sect was organized into five squads under each Manager’s command.
“Well then, our esteemed Managers. Begin now.”
The five Managers grinned wickedly.
The Cheonma Sect was complete.
But the eighty-seven Cheonma Sect Disciples were still merely separate individuals, not yet a unified Cheonma Sect.
The first challenge they now faced.
Was training.
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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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