Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 262

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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 262
Gae-bang’s Master, Bang Jong-san, received a middle-aged man in the guest hall.
“So my Deokseong finally came to meet this senior! I thought my neck would snap off from waiting!”
“I’ve already passed the age of fifty, yet you still call me by my childhood name.”
The man with refined bearing clasped his hands respectfully in greeting.
“There was an urgent matter at my family that caused me to keep you waiting long. My apologies.”
“Apologies for what? I thought you were avoiding me altogether. Since you’ve come, that’s enough.”
“I have no reason to avoid you, Master.”
“No reason? It’s in your heart—your desire to undermine everything this senior does.”
Bang Jong-san’s words, delivered with a drunken chuckle, caused the man’s eyes to darken.
“Please, let us sit and speak.”
The two men faced each other across the table.
Bang Jong-san spoke first.
“So, how many years has it been?”
“We met the year before last.”
“Ah yes, that’s when I came to warn you about the Third Conspiracy. How have you been all this time, Deokseong?”
“I’ve been well. However, Master—”
“Hmm?”
“Stop calling me by my childhood name. You didn’t come here today to see the young Deokseong of old, did you? You came to see the Jegal Family Head.”
Jegal of Divine Calculation.
This was the name for the Jegal Clan, one branch of the Four Great Families settled in the Yongzhong Mountains of Hubei. The man was none other than the Jegal Family Head himself—Jegal Mun, known as the Divine Calculator.
“Deokseong.”
Bang Jong-san called Jegal Mun’s childhood name again, his voice grown grave.
“…Yes, Master.”
“There’s steel in your words. Why do you insist on avoiding this? Why create a situation to avoid in the first place?”
“…”
“Look at me. I’m nothing but a beggar, yet I have no shame, and thus nothing to avoid.”
Jegal Mun’s brow furrowed.
“How can you speak so when you understand the situation perfectly?”
“Then why do you? Why do you obstruct so fiercely the plans I’ve been rushing about to execute? Does the Martial Alliance bother you so much?”
“Master.”
“Deokseong. I came here to see that brilliant cousin of old. Not some petty Jegal Family Head spouting empty words.”
Jegal Mun closed his eyes slowly, then opened them.
His gaze still held only unwavering resolve.
“If you truly came to see this cousin, you should have set aside talk of business before arriving.”
“You don’t understand. This is—”
“Do you truly believe I acted in ignorance of the circumstances?”
Jegal Mun cut off Bang Jong-san’s words sharply.
“I’m aware that the opposition to establishing the Martial Alliance was manufactured by that heretical sect called the Jeongheol Sect.”
“And knowing that, you still fell into their trap?”
“Yes, that is what I did.”
“Why?”
Jegal Mun answered with confident eyes.
“I understand your plan roughly, Alliance Leader. Through war, you expose the mysterious heretical sect targeting the martial world, and use this as justification for establishing an alliance. Is that not correct?”
“…!”
Bang Jong-san’s expression hardened at Jegal Mun’s casual words.
The alias “Divine Mountain” was not given to him without reason. Jegal Mun saw through every layer of the entire scheme without the slightest hesitation.
“I see. It is crude, but one war delivers far greater shock to the martial world than a thousand words, so it is a reasonable plan.”
“Then why do you oppose it?”
“Because only the Dokgo Household becomes the protagonist in that process.”
“…!”
“Moreover, you will absorb the Moyong Family’s influence and seize the central position of the martial alliance that will be established in the future.”
“They will be drenched in blood, so they deserve that much compensation.”
“Then you are telling the main family to simply lick their fingers?”
“What?”
“How can you ask us to become mere supporting actors filling empty seats?”
Bang Jong-san narrowed his brows.
“So you obstructed the establishment of the martial alliance?”
That was correct.
It was none other than Jegal Mun who had persuaded the three great families to create negative momentum against the establishment of the martial alliance.
“Even if I obstruct it, the war will still occur, and the alliance will still be formed.”
“Instead, it will become an alliance plagued by discord from the start. You do not understand the depth of the enemy the martial world now faces. This is the time when the Central Plains must unite their will.”
“There is no need for that unity to occur under the Dokgo Family, who dreams of tyranny. This is not right for the world, nor for the main family.”
Only Bang Jong-san’s sigh of “Heh” lingered in the guest chamber.
‘I cannot say I do not understand.’
There was merit to his words.
Even among the Nine Sects of the Divine Immortals and Buddhas, sole dominance should be checked. Yet if that sole dominance were the Dokgo Household, anyone would worry.
‘I myself was not without considerable concern about that matter.’
But there was a greater problem than that.
The great enemies targeting the Central Plains.
The Jeongheol Sect, and the Blood Sect that had not yet revealed itself.
A Flame Demon that would devour everything was pressing forward.
‘Wait.’
Suddenly, Bang Jong-san felt something odd in Jegal Mun’s words.
‘For the main family as well? This is not right?’
“You, surely not?”
“….”
“Are you also thinking of creating an alliance?”
Jegal Mun spoke calmly.
“There is no need for it to be the Dokgo Family.”
“After the war ends, you intend to unite those who oppose the Dokgo Household and Dokgo Se. It’s impossible.”
“It is possible.”
“Even the Moyong Family failed.”
“At that time, there was no justification and no common enemy.”
“…!”
By then, the Dokgo Household’s power would grow, and the Twin Horse Alliance would emerge into the open.
“What makes you different from the Moyong Family?”
“I was merely saying that I hold such cards. I have no intention of establishing an alliance to throw the martial world into chaos just yet.”
Jegal Mun lowered his voice, which had risen for a moment.
“Alliance Leader. I am the head of a family. How could a family head be worthy of the title if he does not prioritize the interests of his clan and household first?”
Bang Jong-san fell silent.
What more could he say to a man who simply wanted to look after his own family?
“So you’ve been acting this way to hold onto such cards.”
“Yes.”
Bang Jong-san’s eyes deepened.
After a brief silence, Bang Jong-san spoke again.
“Then show me your cards.”
“Pardon?”
“The Dokgo Household requested that I arrange a meeting.”
“They approached you first?”
“Yes.”
Jegal Mun showed a surprised expression for the first time.
“Are you planning to have the family heads of the other two families present as well?”
“Yes. What will you do?”
Jegal Mun’s eyes gleamed.
“It is exactly what I hoped for. There is no reason to refuse.”
“I have one question.”
“Please ask.”
“Can you handle it?”
“Of course.”
“There is a ruthless one among them. If you slip up, you will be badly hurt.”
Jegal Mun let out a hollow laugh.
“I cannot know whether the Outer Hall Master, the Elder Council Leader, or the Overseer will attend, but I am not so weak as to be easily overcome by them.”
“Heh.”
Bang Jong-san chuckled.
This man had misjudged, but he had done so spectacularly.
Compared to “that one,” they were hardly ruthless—they were gentle, even.
‘It would be difficult to defeat this man in a battle of wits and words.’
Where in all the realm could one find someone more skilled in such contests than Shin San?
By common sense, the meeting would unfold exactly as Jegal Mun intended.
‘The problem is that common sense doesn’t work on that one.’
Bang Jong-san recalled Dokgo Myeong.
A sudden sense of relief washed over him.
* * *
The reason the establishment of the Martial Alliance must be secured before war is simple: otherwise, regardless of the war’s outcome, the Dokgo Household’s position in the martial world would become precarious.
‘The current realm is no different from a roasted whole pig.’
Before the pig, roasting to a golden brown, countless martial artists stood merely watching each other’s expressions.
Moreover, these martial artists were ones who had undergone closed-door training while eating only Bigyok Pills for an extended period. Having endured such hardship for the sake of meat dripping with oil, how could their eyes not turn greedy?
Of course, if everyone ate only their fair share, there would be no conflict, but when have martial artists ever been satisfied?
The greedy would want to devour it all alone, and even the less greedy would want to eat more than others.
Those without greed? Naturally, none exist.
If they did, they would either be scheduled to die soon or already dying somewhere.
This alone was confusing enough, but it didn’t end there.
‘Someone is approaching with firewood, trying to burn the meat.’
The Twin Horse Alliance was drawing near step by step.
No, they had already arrived. They were already quietly charring the bottom of the meat where no one could see.
‘So we’re trying to cut away only the burnt parts, but the guests seated with us have their eyes turned greedy enough to reverse their grip on the knife meant to carve the pig.’
That’s why agreement was necessary.
An agreement to cut away the charred portions of the whole pig together and deal with the uninvited guests before it burned further.
The Martial Alliance was the organization meant to establish that agreement.
Yet someone was trying to overturn the entire board.
“First, I believe you all suspect that the Jegal Family orchestrated this flow.”
Wi Baek continued calmly.
“The Jegal Family Head has dug into the situation quite sharply. It seems he didn’t earn the title of Shinsan for nothing.”
A move both subtle and clever.
Using the public opinion the Jeongheol Sect created to delay war, they had seated themselves upon the grand board where the realm itself was at stake.
“They may have even considered establishing a new alliance. It’s unclear how far the Paeng Family and Hwangbo Family are cooperating, but….”
“Enough with the obvious talk. Shall we get to the main point?”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa looked around at those seated and spoke.
‘As expected of our great-aunt. She’s refreshingly straightforward.’
Dokgo Myeong seized the moment and interjected into the conversation.
“In any case, it’s clear the talks won’t proceed easily. Still, since the other side will send their Family Heads, we too must be careful in our selection of personnel.”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa and Dokgo Un-hak responded immediately.
“Tsk tsk, so it won’t be you then?”
“A mere Outer Hall Master’s seat is not yet appropriate for you.”
Ah, these two only have perfect chemistry at times like this.
‘Retract the praise. They’re troublesome as always.’
Saying he was the right choice here would only be gilding his own face.
That’s why he hadn’t brought just one more person.
Dokgo Jo-hak opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
“It would make more sense for us to attend instead.”
Dokgo Un-hak asked.
“Why is that?”
“Isn’t the True Demon Sect Master the very origin of all this conflict?”
“Hmm. That’s a fair point.”
Dokgo Un-hak nodded in agreement.
“Besides, even if that weren’t the case, having Myeong-i there would certainly give us peace of mind.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean?”
“Sudden praise?”
Dokgo Un-hak let out a scoff.
“I simply thought that a blade which serves me well would serve others just as effectively.”
It was a compliment delivered with bone-deep sincerity.
Dokgo Myeong simply grinned in response.
“Then we shall have the True Demon Sect Master attend this secret conference.”
Wi Baek made the final decision, and Dokgo Hwi-hwa offered no objection.
‘Good. Fortunately, that went smoothly.’
Of course, this wasn’t the end of it.
As expected, Wi Baek spoke again.
“However, this is still a meeting between the leadership. The numbers don’t quite balance. It would be proper to have one more person attend.”
Dokgo Un-hak and Dokgo Hwi-hwa exchanged glances.
Wi Baek could attend as well, but if he were absent, the efficiency of the main household’s affairs would drop by a third. He had to remain with the family at all costs.
“I shall go.”
In the end, it was Dokgo Un-hak who spoke.
He looked at Dokgo Hwi-hwa.
“This matter concerns the Outer Hall primarily. If there are no objections, I shall attend. Would that be acceptable?”
“Well, do as you wish. At my age, I haven’t the energy to travel for such matters.”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa stepped back without hesitation. She had already judged that there was little to gain from handling this personally.
Dokgo Un-hak looked at Dokgo Myeong.
“I’ll be relying on you for a while.”
“Yes, I look forward to working with you.”
Thus, the awkward arrangement with Dokgo Un-hak was settled.
While relieved that things had gone according to plan, I began to feel a slight unease.
Would this really be alright?

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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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