Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 261

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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 261
The martial world never ceases its movement.
Even if I had stepped back from the martial world, it would not have paused for my absence.
Between the Dokgo Household and the Moyong Family, who had already crossed an irreversible river, endless conflict continued to unfold.
“A messenger from Gae-bang has arrived. It appears the Three Swords have infiltrated Namchang in Kangxi.”
“Dispatch the Inferno Slayers. Block them before they cause any trouble.”
“Word has come that the Moyong Family has made contact with the Hwangsan Sect.”
“Send them a stern warning. If any household of the martial world dares to ally with an unidentified heretical organization, our main house will not hesitate to wield the blade of judgment.”
There were political machinations and battles of public opinion, localized skirmishes, and pressure exerted through merchants and officials.
Naturally, there were also countless deaths that left no trace in the world’s records.
The Moyong Family’s territory in Zhejiang, the Dokgo Household’s domain in Hunan, and Kangxi at the center of it all.
In these three regions, assassinations disguised as accidents occurred frequently, targeting primarily the intelligence networks of both families and the executives of external factions.
“Did you hear? That corpse they found in the river yesterday—it turned out to be one of the Moyong Family.”
“What? Wasn’t he a bookshop owner?”
“That was just a cover!”
“Hush! Keep your voice down. You might bring great calamity upon yourself by spreading such talk.”
“This is unsettling. I wonder if we’re truly heading toward war…”
The atmosphere of conflict intensified.
Of course, the martial world did not simply allow this to continue unchecked.
Several sects stepped forward to mediate between the two organizations, and the families met in secret to wage war through words.
The one who emerged from the Dokgo Household was Sword Dragon Dokgo Gun.
“Our main house does not seek blood. If the Moyong Family offers an apology, we are willing to end this matter.”
Even a fool from the countryside understands this.
That those words do not mean what they literally say, that any apology comes with a price.
“Debts in the martial world must be settled with certainty. Our main house demands the following from your esteemed family. There is no room for negotiation.”
The conditions the Dokgo Household demanded from the Moyong Family were as follows.
Cession of rights and interests in Zhejiang and Kangxi.
Confinement of Family Head Muyong Tae.
Investigation of the Moyong Family’s internal affairs under Dokgo Household supervision.
The meaning behind these impossible demands was simple.
The Dokgo Household had no intention of relinquishing the justification I had brought them.
Soldiers do not start wars.
It is always the tongues and brushes of rulers that ignite conflict.
* * *
“So much has happened during my absence.”
Tap, tap, tap.
As I headed toward the Overseer’s residence, I heard a brief account from Dokgo Jo-hak of recent events.
Dokgo Jo-hak let out a scoff of disappointment.
“That’s quite an anticlimactic sentiment.”
“What sort of reaction were you expecting?”
“Hmm, well…”
Dokgo Jo-hak stroked his beard, let out a cold laugh, and spoke.
“I thought I’d see you either delighted or despondent… or perhaps wavering with guilt.”
“What are you talking about?”
“In the end, you threw the spark. The spark that everyone else merely waited for but didn’t dare cast.”
“….”
“Moreover, you’re trying to kindle that flame more certainly and swiftly.”
Dokgo Jo-hak’s expression grew stern as he fixed his gaze upon me.
“Blood will spill.”
“….”
“A great deal of it. So much that no one will ever know just how much blood was shed.”
The martial world of today knows nothing of war.
Most of those who experienced the Secret Teachings Rebellion had perished, and those who had endured the even more devastating chaos of the aftermath had long since retired from the front lines.
Though recently the Paedobyeon and the Cheon I-gak had begun their power struggle, it had not yet escalated to what could be called a full-scale war.
‘Even I feel somewhat tremulous.’
Dokgo Jo-hak spoke as he observed me, who appeared far too composed.
“You pretend otherwise, yet you have your old-fashioned side, don’t you? I thought you’d feel some guilt, since you’re essentially starting a war with your own hands.”
I spoke calmly.
“I do.”
“Hmm?”
“How could I not feel guilt or responsibility? I’m not a madman, after all.”
You’re definitely a madman.
Dokgo Jo-hak, who was about to say as much, closed his mouth upon seeing my expression.
Thud.
As we drew near the Overseer’s office, I paused slightly and gazed toward some distant place.
“I’m human too—how could I not feel such things? Every time I sleep, I think of all manner of things and thrash about so much that recently Jang Han complained that I’m ruining all the bedding.”
I chuckled and made light of it, then lowered my voice.
“Don’t worry. I know what will come, and I have no intention of stopping because of it.”
“So you’re resolved?”
“I’m not the type to make grand declarations about my resolve, am I?”
Dokgo Jo-hak furrowed his brow.
“It won’t end with the Moyong Family. It may be the beginning of a turbulent age that sweeps across the realm. And you’ll be starting it with your own hands. Or rather, there’s no need to be so grandiose about it. You certainly…”
Dokgo Jo-hak felt his voice tremble slightly without his realizing it.
“Didn’t you say the main house could lose?”
In every regard—justification, military strength, the number of masters—the Dokgo Household held superiority over the Moyong Family.
Everyone in the realm predicted the Moyong Family’s defeat. The disparity in power was so clear that even Dokgo Jo-hak, having heard the details from me, harbored doubts. Yet I knew the enemy was not merely the Moyong Family alone. The Jeongheol Sect would fill the Moyong Family’s shortcomings, and their true strength would exceed everyone’s expectations.
Neither the Dokgo Household nor the realm yet understood how fearsome they truly were.
“That’s precisely why I must do this. I’ll do it even if you try to stop me, even if no one wishes for it.”
Dokgo Jo-hak stared at me with a hardened expression.
Dokgo Johak stared at Dokgo Myeong with a stern expression.
“You’ve become a worn-out tyrant yourself, haven’t you?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled instead of answering.
“Fortunately, I endured all that hardship just to become one.”
“Ha, well.”
I had chosen this path myself and become the very superior I had cursed so bitterly in my past life, and now I intended to do what they had done.
I didn’t know what was right or wrong.
Only one thing was certain.
‘No one can do it better than me.’
The arrival of the chaotic age and the Twin Horse Alliance was close to what the times demanded.
Then I would move and dominate that era myself, not through others.
“Then let’s go in. To break through the final obstacle for war.”
Dokgo Myeong and Dokgo Jo-hak crossed the threshold of the Overseer’s Office.
* * *
The Overseer’s Office contained a grand conference hall like the main hall of the family head’s residence. Normally it was a place where practical administrators gathered to discuss the household’s affairs, but today people had assembled for a different reason.
“I apologize for being late. I’m sorry to have gathered such busy individuals.”
The Inner Sect Leader, Overseer Wi Baek, entered the conference hall last.
Only four people sat in the spacious hall.
“Tsk tsk, don’t mind it. Everyone knows that Overseer Wi is the busiest person in the main house.”
“Welcome.”
The Outer Hall Master Dokgo Un-hak, the Elder Council Leader Dokgo Hwi-hwa, and Dokgo Myeong and Dokgo Jo-hak.
Wi Baek nodded briefly and sat in his chair, looking at Dokgo Myeong.
“The Chammadae Master has come with Baek Ok-gak.”
“That’s precisely because I’m still merely a hall master, as you say.”
At those words, Dokgo Hwi-hwa suddenly laughed.
“If you know that, then don’t clutter the gathering with unnecessary words and just sit quietly and observe.”
“Anyone listening would think I’m the type who causes chaos wherever I go.”
“Aren’t you?”
“What do you take me for? I at least look for a place to lie down before I stretch my legs.”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa smiled faintly.
The small talk ended there.
Wi Baek began the meeting.
“Since the matter is grave and the times are urgent, let us save the small talk for later.”
“….”
“I’ll skip the lengthy explanations and get straight to the point. I believe you all already know why we’ve gathered like this.”
The Outer Hall Master, who had been silent, spoke.
“Because one final obstacle remains, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa smiled with a bitter edge and spoke.
“I wondered what we’d gathered for, and it was this matter.”
There was a prerequisite for conducting war against the Moyong Family.
It was the founding of the Martial Alliance.
Under the persuasion of the Gae-bang leader, numerous large and small sects had signed the petition, but suddenly the Jegal, Hwangbo, and Peng families stepped back.
“No matter how much their fortunes have declined in recent years, these ancient noble families wield power and influence nearly equal to feudal lords. If they express disapproval, public opinion will waver.”
“Are they trying to check the dominance of the main house?”
“For now, yes.”
“Buying time, then. Their intentions are transparent.”
Whether he already knew the circumstances or grasped them the moment he heard them now, Dokgo Un-hak spoke with absolute certainty on his face.
“They know well enough that war cannot be stopped by such measures, and it seems they need more time to prepare for conflict. What is Cheon I-gak’s assessment?”
“It aligns with the Outer Hall Master’s judgment.”
Such thoughts were possible only because they knew that the Jeongheol Sect stood with the Moyong Family.
“So? What does that change? Surely you’re not suggesting we delay further when the decision is already made?”
“Nonsense. Should we be swayed by the tantrums of these insignificant worldly fools? We could simply sweep them up as well…”
The words of the Outer Hall Master and the Elder Council Leader, the heads of two factions, were arrogant beyond measure.
“If you’re concerned about interference, I will handle it. It won’t be difficult.”
“Let the Inner Sect set the date. There’s no need to drag this out any further, is there?”
Both Dokgo Un-hak and Dokgo Hwi-hwa showed indifferent reactions.
Listening quietly to this, I felt a sudden sense of reassurance.
‘When they were enemies, they were so irritating, but why does it feel so reassuring when they’re allies?’
It was somewhat grating, yet refreshing. I knew better than anyone that they had both the right and the ability to speak such words.
“There’s no need to drag it out unnecessarily.”
“Hmm?”
“From this point on, the Twin Horse Alliance Leader will explain.”
Wi Baek looked toward me.
As Dokgo Un-hak and Dokgo Hwi-hwa turned their curious gazes to me, I opened my mouth.
“Though the main house’s reserves are formidable, there’s no need to leave obstacles in place and wage war. It would be unnecessary waste.”
“So you’ve brought another ingenious method? I heard a beggar entered the main house recently—is this related to that?”
Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes gleamed.
I had to suppress a laugh that was about to burst out.
‘This monstrous fellow.’
When did he receive that report, and how on earth does he connect it to this?
Inwardly impressed, I broached the main topic.
“I’ve prepared a venue.”
“A venue?”
“I plan to gather the family heads under the mediation of the Gae-bang for a meeting.”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa spoke with a subtle expression.
“So we persuade them with words first?”
“Pardon? What persuasion?”
“Huh?”
“Persuasion is something the desperate do.”
I pulled up one corner of my mouth.
“The main house is applying pressure.”
“….”
“Wasn’t it them who cast a shadow over our gathering? Then shouldn’t we ask whether they’re prepared for the consequences?”
“Hahahaha!”
Dokgo Un-hak burst into laughter.
“Do you think they’ll come just because we call?”
“Rather, aren’t they itching to come?”
“Hmm, I wasn’t sure we needed to make the first move and seem desperate, but if the Gae-bang is mediating….”
Dokgo Un-hak nodded.
Wi Baek also voiced his agreement, as did Dokgo Hwi-hwa.
Rather than creating conflict through other means, it was the fastest and most certain method for the leaders to meet and reach an accord.
“If they change their minds, the establishment of the Martial Alliance will be confirmed, and then there’ll be no need to waste more time. So the last thing we need to decide is….”
“….”
“Which of you will attend the meeting with the household leaders?”

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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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