Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 269

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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 269
“Do you have any particular thoughts on this matter?”
As we moved along following Ju Won-gwang’s guidance, Un-hak posed the question.
“I’ve given some consideration to a few possibilities, but I’ll need to see their response before deciding. Do you have any particular thoughts on this, Outer Hall Master?”
“I’m not thinking much differently than you are.”
I gazed ahead.
Even among the bustling streets, one particularly ornate pavilion stood out. Among the entrance decorations was a reclining dragon.
The Reclining Dragon—a symbol of the pavilion operated by the Jegal Family.
“Isn’t it obvious what conditions and justifications they’ll bring up?”
“They’ll try to seize several things from the main household. Either to bind us with shackles or to secure their own interests. After all, they’re likely entangled with the Moyong Family in many ways.”
“Are you prepared to concede to them?”
Un-hak replied in a listless tone.
“We’ll need to make some concessions up to a certain point.”
“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d take a harder stance.”
Un-hak let out a soft laugh.
“Depending on the situation, their justifications aren’t entirely unreasonable. It would be prudent for the main household to step back somewhat, while in return demanding fair compensation from them.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Indeed, our strategist said something similar.”
“You mean the daughter of the Moyong Family.”
“Yes. She said that what they ultimately desire is not so much to diminish the main household, but rather to solidify their own position before the Martial Alliance is established.”
Unlike the Nine Sects dwelling in the mountains, who were relatively straightforward, the great families in the secular world were adept at securing their own interests.
Of course.
‘…They’re all convinced that the main household will win overwhelmingly. So they’re already thinking ahead.’
A sense of frustration suddenly rose within me.
Un-hak glanced at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
I naturally changed the subject.
“But that’s only if this is resolved through dialogue, isn’t it?”
“Of course they’ll try some tricks. For now, they believe they hold the sword.”
Un-hak laughed with a bitter edge.
“I’m curious what kind of antics they’ll pull.”
Soon, I arrived at the conference hall with Un-hak and Namgung Sohwa.
Knock. Knock.
Ju Won-gwang rapped lightly on the door and spoke.
“The Outer Hall Master of the Dokgo Household and the Referees’ Master have arrived.”
A voice came from beyond the door.
“We’ve been expecting you. Please, come in.”
Creak!
Without hesitation, we opened the door and entered.
The seats where the family heads of the Jegal, Hwangbo, and Paeng families should have been waiting.
Instead, there…
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Jegal Yurong, Overseer of the Jegal Family.”
“Welcome. I am Paeng Dae-seong.”
“We greet the Sword King. I am Hwangbo Gun, Elder Council Member of the Hwangbo Family.”
The family heads were absent.
‘Look at these fools.’
Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh as he surveyed them.
At that moment, Dokgo Un-hak beside him grinned widely, his mouth stretching from ear to ear.
* * *
Face and dignity matter. Some might call it mere pride, yet others stake their lives on it, invoke its name, and pour fortunes into it.
‘And these fools are playing games from the very start?’
Dokgo Myeong and Dokgo Un-hak had come here to meet with the three family heads. They represented the collective will of the Dokgo Household, and their standing warranted such an audience.
Their counterparts were different.
The Jegal Family’s Overseer, the Paeng Family’s supreme master, and the Hwangbo Family’s Elder Council Member sat before them.
“I am Un-hak of the Dokgo Household.”
Dokgo Un-hak introduced himself calmly, wiping the smile from his face.
“I am Dokgo Myeong, the Crimson Demon Master.”
“I am Namgung Sohwa.”
Jegal Yurong smiled broadly and gestured to the seats.
“Please, do sit. We have prepared places for you here…”
Thump!
Before Jegal Yurong could even finish speaking, Dokgo Un-hak walked straight over and sat down in a chair.
Jegal Yurong, momentarily taken aback, smiled again.
“Let us at least share some tea. We have prepared Dragon Well.”
“Before that.”
Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes grew sharp.
“Where are the family heads?”
“Why do you seek the family heads?”
“I did not come here to listen to words spoken by those without authority, but to meet with the three family heads who can actually bear responsibility.”
Dokgo Un-hak swept his gaze across the room.
Paeng Dae-seong clicked his tongue and averted his eyes. Hwangbo Gun pretended not to hear. And Jegal Yurong maintained his composed smile.
Jegal Yurong smiled broadly.
“We are all positioned to bear such responsibility.”
Dokgo Un-hak let out a scoff.
“Since we are all busy people, let us dispense with word games. Is this how you conduct matters?”
Jegal Yurong feigned an awkward expression and spoke.
“Sword King. Surely the Dokgo are not so lacking in propriety?”
“Lacking?”
“Show proper respect. Everyone here represents their family…”
“Hehehehe!”
Un-hak’s laughter cut short Jegal Yurong’s words.
His expression hardened in an instant, his eyes flashing with intensity.
“That’s the end of it.”
“…?”
“I’ve heard quite enough of this empty prattle.”
Jegal Yurong paused for a moment.
His face remained composed and serene, yet his eyes gleamed with the sharpness of a blade.
Soon he shook his head as if resigned and opened his mouth.
“Is this the will of the Dokgo Household?”
“What?”
“Since you seem to prefer directness, I shall speak plainly. It appears our delegation has somehow displeased you….”
Jegal Yurong continued with a faint smile.
“Your side sent only a hall master and a vice master, yet you demand that our family heads appear? How is that fair?”
In that instant, anger flashed across Un-hak’s eyes.
“Are you suggesting that the Family Head of our main house should not have graced this place with his presence?”
Jegal Yurong waved his hand in an exaggerated gesture.
“Surely not. How could I dare speak of the supreme authority of the heavens so carelessly? Do not twist the point.”
“Then what is it you wish to say?”
“No matter how vast the Dokgo Household’s power reaches toward the sky, we too are an ancient martial family of considerable standing.”
Jegal Yurong met Un-hak’s gaze directly.
“We have our pride. If your house does not intend to look down upon us, why then demand that our family heads appear?”
At those words, Un-hak’s lips curved into a cold smile.
‘So that’s how it is. Petty and childish, yet a rather sharp exchange of momentum.’
From the beginning, this negotiation itself was a concession made by the Dokgo Household out of necessity. The point was to hear what the family heads had to say and reach a settlement.
Yet they twisted it to make it seem as though the Dokgo Household was showing them disrespect.
They were attempting to lower the unequal positions of both sides to equal standing.
‘If I yield here, we’ll have already lost a move before negotiations even begin.’
If I press forward strongly? The gathering would simply dissolve.
Then they would drag out time and provide grounds for further dispute.
Either way, it would be a loss for the Dokgo Household.
It was a calculated move, made knowing full well our circumstances and situation.
“Amusing.”
“….”
“The cunning of the Jegal mind remains unchanged, past and present.”
Un-hak chuckled as he murmured, words only he could speak as one of equal standing to the Jegal Family Head.
Yet at those words, Jegal Yurong’s brow twitched.
“Is that so? Yet it seems the Dokgo Household has changed considerably.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Outer Hall Master gazes down upon us as though he were our superior.”
“…?”
“Was the Dokgo Household not once a pillar of the Six Great Families? It seems your bearing has changed simply because the world now calls you the greatest family under heaven.”
The smile vanished from Un-hak’s lips.
Just as he was about to speak again.
“Damn it.”
At the sudden voice, all eyes turned toward the speaker.
Jegal Yurong’s eyes flashed as he asked.
“What did you just say?”
Though his voice sounded angry, his expression showed no anger whatsoever.
Rather, he wore a satisfied smile as if his opponent had taken the bait.
Dokgo Myeong scratched his head and tilted it in confusion.
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“What did you just say!”
“Oh my, I apologize for my rudeness. How improper of me to behave so carelessly at such a gathering!”
“Do you think you can brush this aside with such words….”
“Damn it.”
Jegal Yurong froze in place.
Dokgo Myeong grinned and spoke.
“Since I was going to say it anyway, I should have spoken clearly so you could hear it properly. It was impolite of me to mutter so quietly, wasn’t it?”
Bang!
“Dokgo Myeong!”
Jegal Yurong slammed the table and shouted.
He had seized control of this gathering as intended, but this was clearly a tone of contempt and mockery toward his opponent, was it not?
“How arrogant! Are you mocking us!”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
Dokgo Myeong blinked and grinned widely.
“Of course I’m mocking you. Can’t you see?”
“Gah!”
Jegal Yurong glared at Dokgo Myeong with eyes blazing with fury and shouted.
“No matter how young and foolish one may be, there are things one cannot get away with! Do you understand what kind of gathering this is!”
“Hahahaha!”
Then, suddenly, Un-hak burst into laughter.
“Foolish, you say? This one? Hehehehe.”
Was that part what amused him?
In any case, his laughter seemed only to fuel Jegal Yurong’s anger further.
“Are you laughing now?”
“Why, are you saying I cannot even laugh as I please?”
“You…!”
Jegal Yurong’s face flushed red.
He glared at the two men as if he would kill them and spoke.
“I will not let this matter pass, no matter how informal this gathering may be. Your household has clearly made a grave mistake.”
Dokgo Un-hak spoke with utter indifference.
“That is enough.”
“…!”
“These fools who cannot even read the room have wasted my time.”
Screech!
Dokgo Un-hak shoved his chair back roughly and rose without hesitation.
“Let us depart. This has been a waste of time.”
“Heheheh, yes.”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled and stood to follow, with Namgung Sohwa rising as well, as if accustomed to such departures.
Only then did the representatives of the Paeng Ga and Hwangbo Ga, who had remained silent until now, harden their expressions and speak.
“Do you intend to leave like this?”
“This may become irreversible.”
Jegal Yurong raised his voice as if he were about to lose all composure.
“Can you truly bear the consequences? Are you certain you will not regret this!?”
Tap.
Dokgo Un-hak halted his steps.
He turned his head.
Flash!
The air around him became sharp as a blade.
Jegal Yurong’s face went deathly pale.
The aura of the Sword King, the left seat of the Three Kings and Two Demons, was neither violent nor brilliant—only endlessly desolate and piercing, like an unexpected blade cutting through the darkness.
“Regret.”
“….”
“You seem to have misunderstood something. Did you think the main household came to this gathering out of fear of you?”
Jegal Yurong could not muster a response, only beads of cold sweat rolling down his face.
Dokgo Un-hak let out a laugh as if finding it pathetic.
Meeting the eyes of each family representative in turn, he continued in a flat tone.
“Jegal Ga, Hwangbo Ga, Paeng Ga. I understand your intentions well.”
There was no rebuttal, no accusation.
Then, as if striking down with a sword, he delivered his final words with absolute conviction.
“After the Moyong Household, it will be your turn. Let us see if you can bear it.”
Screech! Tap!
The three figures departed from the conference hall.
Jegal Yurong’s eyes were filled with nothing but panic.
* * *
Dokgo Myeong lifted a wine bottle with a cheerful laugh.
“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”
Dokgo Un-hak regarded the empty cup with a curious gaze and asked.
“What sort of wine is this?”
“It’s a fine vintage. I only have a few bottles left, but I brought this one specially.”
“You brought alcohol?”
“I thought if things went smoothly, I’d give it to you as a gift. But I decided to open it here instead.”
I chuckled and filled Un-hak’s cup.
Un-hak laughed softly and drained his cup again.
Sohwa beside him suddenly trembled, but unfortunately, I didn’t notice.
“Have a drink yourself.”
“I’d be delighted.”
I smiled pleasantly and accepted the drink.
Glancing casually out the window, I could see the chaotic landscape of the inn.
Right after the negotiations ended, we’d returned to the inn and gathered here for a separate drinking session.
“To be honest, it was rather amusing.”
At my words, Un-hak narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“When he was an enemy, it was so frustrating. But now that he’s on our side, it’s incredibly satisfying!”
Un-hak let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.
I clicked my tongue.
“I was about to step in myself, but you stole all the glory.”
“It’s better that you don’t reveal yourself too much yet.”
Un-hak spoke in a measured tone.
I tilted my head.
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Your youth itself is a veil. Even though you’ve already revealed enough, most will underestimate you, wondering if there’s more. That’s what I’m saying.”
We exchanged drinks once more.
Un-hak continued in a calm voice.
“In short, it’s deception. Keep that hidden strength concealed, then unleash it in a war fought under the Dokgo name. Shock the entire realm with it.”
Un-hak’s eyes deepened.
I stared at him for a moment, then smiled gently.
“So I’m the Household’s secret weapon?”
Un-hak frowned.
“Just pour the drinks.”
“Hehe, yes.”
A brief silence fell.
We drank without speaking, tilting the bottle between us.
Different ages, different stations. Yet sitting across from each other drinking in this moment, it felt as though we were equals, worthy opponents sharing a cup.
I spoke.
“By the way, what will happen?”
“Happen with what?”
“Those people.”
Un-hak chuckled.
“What do you think will happen?”
“He’ll come looking for us. He must be quite shocked.”
Dokgo Un-hak chuckled.
“Conversing with you is truly entertaining. My thoughts align with yours.”
“Who do you think will arrive first?”
“What do you think?”
“Will you keep turning my questions back on me? I asked first, after all.”
“How convenient. Shall we make a wager then?”
Dokgo Myeong grinned.
“A wager needs stakes to be worthwhile, does it not?”
“Do you have something in mind?”
“I do.”
“Something related to the war, I presume.”
Dokgo Un-hak nodded.
“Very well. I too shall have something to ask of you.”
Gulp!
Dokgo Un-hak drained his cup and gently turned it upside down on the table.
“On the count of one, two, we flip simultaneously.”
“Ah, that method? Very well.”
Dokgo Myeong also drained his cup cleanly and flipped it over.
“One.”
“Two.”
Click!
The cups flipped over.
Namgung Sohwa, who had been watching with keen interest from the side, widened her eyes.
‘There are characters carved where the cup was covering?’
In that instant, he had infused Yeolyang Energy into the table, carving characters into it.
“Well, well.”
Dokgo Un-hak let out a hollow laugh.
Dokgo Myeong furrowed his brow.
“This hardly makes for a fair wager, does it?”
The revealed character was singular.
彭
The Paeng Household of Hebei.

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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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