Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 29

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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 29
Kang Yeop-cheong, the Deputy Sect Leader of the Jeongcheon Alliance, greeted his guest while concealing his nervous expression as best he could.
“…Thank you once again for gracing us with your presence. One of our members outside will escort you to the guest quarters.”
“Amitabha Buddha. I am grateful for your hospitality.”
*Click! Tap!*
With that brief exchange—so sparse it bordered on curt—the guest from the Qingsheng Sect departed from the sect leader’s chamber.
“Phew…”
Kang Yeop-cheong gazed down at the still-steaming teacup and exhaled a long breath.
‘Now even the Qingsheng Sect… I never thought I would meet such luminaries of the Gangho, people whose faces I could scarcely glimpse before.’
Those he had rarely encountered in ordinary times were now streaming in one after another. With each guest he received, Kang Yeop-cheong felt as though he were navigating through one trial after another.
“*Cough, cough!* Stop sighing like that. You’ll collapse the very ground beneath us.”
At that moment, an elderly man with a sallow complexion and deeply wrinkled skin, seated in the place of honor, spoke while suppressing a harsh cough.
“Master, are you well? You could rest and leave matters to me—why do you insist on receiving guests yourself?”
Kang Yeop-cheong hastily prepared hot tea and brought it to the old man.
It was Im Cheong-gun, the master of the Deputy Sect Leader and the Sect Leader of the Jeongcheon Alliance.
“These guests have come willingly to celebrate this old man’s retirement. Of course I must greet them personally.”
“You still require proper recuperation.”
“Nonsense. My breathing merely faltered for a moment.”
Im Cheong-gun took a sip of tea and regarded his disciple.
“So then, why were you sighing so heavily?”
“I was merely exhausted from receiving guests, nothing more.”
Im Cheong-gun smiled.
“Do not worry.”
“Sir?”
“You are doing well. And you will continue to do well.”
His young disciple, barely thirty years old, was meeting the great masters of the martial world—how could he not be nervous?
Yet despite this, his disciple’s gaze remained confident and clear.
“…I still have much to learn. In martial skill and in discernment alike.”
“Few of your generation have achieved what you have. The guests who come and go cannot help but marvel at your bearing.”
“If you praise your disciple so, I may become arrogant.”
“I know you well enough to say this without such worry. *Cough! Ahem…*”
Im Cheong-gun smiled, then coughed as discomfort seized him.
Kang Yeop-cheong rose abruptly with a hardened expression, but Im Cheong-gun waved his hand dismissively.
“That aside…”
In that moment, Im Cheong-gun’s eyes grew distant with contemplation.
“The Paedo Sect Leader. He comes in person?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Even though he has become known as one of the Emperors, nothing about him has changed.”
Im Cheong-gun shook his head while exhaling slowly.
In the martial world of this era, those who debated supremacy were truly the Three Celestial Sovereigns.
However, they merely existed and did not move easily. For this reason, the martial world recognized the Three Sovereigns as the supreme masters who actively operated in the Gangho.
And hot on their heels came five rising prodigies. The world called them the Five Lords, the Three Kings and Twin Demons.
Wi Mu-jin, the Battle King, was considered the first seat among the Three Kings and Twin Demons, a master of the highest caliber hailed as the rising saint of the heterodox sects.
“Do we have any information on what his intentions are in coming here?”
“It’s uncertain. I even subtly inquired with the guests of the Geumsan Sect, but it seems they too cannot easily discern his purpose.”
“Hmm.”
“However, it appears there has been no unusual commotion from the Paedobyeon regarding the Sect Leader’s movements.”
Im Cheong-gun’s eyes deepened with thought.
“What do you make of it?”
“Whatever his intentions, it suggests that internal consolidation is already complete.”
It always took time to unite heterodox martial artists, who were inherently difficult to bring together.
The fact that the Paedo Sect Leader himself had ventured outward was as good as saying preparations were finished.
“The Paedo Sect Leader is an ambitious man. He is not one to move without calculated purpose.”
“…Still, he surely won’t cause a disturbance at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony itself.”
Im Cheong-gun released a heavy sigh.
“I would prefer it if he came with intentions to cause trouble.”
“I will remain vigilant. Please do not worry too much.”
“…I fear I have burdened you too early.”
“No, Master.”
Im Cheong-gun gazed at his disciple and exhaled a long breath.
‘An uninvited guest has arrived at the stage I prepared for my disciple. If the Paedo Sect Leader attends in person, the balance with other factions will be disrupted…’
A sigh escaped unbidden.
The Paedobyeon’s main stronghold happened to be in Zhongqing, perched above Guizhou.
‘Most other factions have likely come merely to observe, so even if the Paedo Sect Leader schemes, they will surely ignore him.’
It would be fortunate if someone with the standing to check and restrain him were to arrive…
It was then.
“Alliance Leader!”
A military officer of the Jeongcheon Alliance rushed into the Alliance Leader’s chamber.
“What is the matter?”
“A delegation from the Dokgo Clan has entered Gwi-yang, according to reports from the outer city.”
Im Cheong-gun’s eyes narrowed.
Yes, the Dokgo Clan had already sent word of their attendance.
Unlike distant sects or other factions, the Dokgo Clan shared borders with the Jeongcheon Alliance.
Im Cheong-gun turned his head toward his disciple.
“Did you investigate what manner of guests the Dokgo Clan is sending?”
“Pardon? Ah, it appears two direct bloodline members are visiting.”
“Direct bloodline coming personally? Two of them?”
That proud household sent two direct bloodline members? That was extraordinary.
‘…The Paedo Sect Leader and the Dokgo Clan’s prodigies both.’
Im Cheong-gun exhaled a long breath.
These were unexpected visitors. If I wasn’t careful, the losses could far outweigh the gains.
“When the Dokgo Clan’s guests arrive, guide them to me at once.”
“Yes?”
“Treat them with utmost courtesy. I must meet them myself.”
* * *
“Phew! We’ve finally arrived.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed as the Headquarters of the Jeongcheon Alliance came into view ahead.
Dokgo Ak, walking beside him, muttered with a pallid face.
“…Everyone’s about to die from exhaustion, so why do you look so unaffected?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“Build up your stamina, you fool. You rode in a carriage the whole way—why are you complaining so much?”
“Anyone would be exhausted riding like that! And whose fault is this anyway!”
Dokgo Ak flared up in anger, grinding his teeth.
From Maeseon Village to Gwi-yang—a journey that normally took nearly four days—they’d covered in just two.
All because of that demon’s whims!
‘Even the White Tiger Sect Leader was exhausted, so why does this bastard look so refreshed?’
Because he rode in the carriage?
Wasn’t I also riding in the carriage?
On top of that, he’d been cultivating while traveling. Even during brief rest stops, he kept consulting with the Geumsan Sect Leader about something…
Dokgo Ak sighed briefly and asked.
“Is it because of the Paedo Sect Leader?”
“Hm?”
“…You started rushing the moment you heard the Paedo Sect Leader was coming.”
“Ah, well, something like that.”
His tone was casual, but in that moment, Dokgo Myeong’s eyes flashed with brilliance.
‘He moved earlier than in my past life. The Paedo Sect Leader.’
In my past life, Paedobyeon had been the last faction to arrive at the gathering.
Because of that, all eyes turned to him, and ultimately everything unfolded according to his will.
‘His haste… it must be because of us.’
In my past life, the direct line members didn’t come, but in this life, I came along with Dokgo Ak.
Wi Mu-jin must have instinctively judged that it was better to hurry than to be late. That was the kind of man he was.
‘Go ahead and rush then. I’ll make sure all that effort comes to nothing.’
Dokgo Myeong wore a meaningful smile.
Dokgo Ak stared intently at him.
“Why did you come here anyway?”
“Can’t you tell? To see the Jeongcheon Alliance Leader’s coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Ha! You came just to see some remote alliance leader’s ceremony? You expect me to believe that?”
“A remote alliance, you say…”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled.
True, the world’s perception of the Jeongcheon Alliance was ambiguous in many ways.
But will that remain true in the future?
‘A force that endured five years against the Paedobyeon itself.’
The current Jeongcheon Alliance is being underestimated.
They are a water dragon lying in wait for its moment. Without the Paedobyeon as an obstacle, they would have soared to the heavens as a young dragon.
“But what’s gotten into you? Lately you’ve been taking quite an interest in me?”
“Hmph! I’m one of the representatives of this delegation too!”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“If I’m going to complete this task without problems, I need to understand your schemes. Stay on guard. This time, I will not be your supporting actor!”
It was when Dokgo Ak puffed out his chest and declared confidently.
“Oh my, is that so?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled and his eyes gleamed.
“If you’re so good at reading schemes, why couldn’t you read the room?”
“What?”
Crack!
Dokgo Ak felt his vision go pitch black in an instant.
And he collapsed right there.
“Hey, you there! Throw this guy in the carriage!”
“Huh? Uh, uh… Gasp!”
Whoosh!
Dokgo Ak flew through the air.
One of the White Tiger Guards caught him in bewilderment and turned pale.
“Kid. Still can’t come to your senses after taking a hit like that.”
As Dokgo Myeong dusted off his hands and turned his head, Seo Ryun was approaching.
“Are… you alright, sir?”
“He seemed to be suffering from travel fatigue, so I put him to sleep. Don’t worry about it.”
…Put him to sleep?
It was absurd, but I didn’t particularly want to ask further.
Seo Ryun glanced at the limp Dokgo Ak without a word.
“But what’s the matter?”
“Ah, yes. Personnel who received information from the Cheonigak branch have also joined us. It appears the Paedobyeon will arrive in two days.”
“Good thing we’re not late. Any other messages from the clan?”
“There were none.”
“Good. Then let’s head in right away.”
“…Since we’ve arrived earlier than scheduled, it appears we won’t receive any special protocol or welcome.”
“Do I still look like someone who cares about such things to you?”
Seo Ryun smiled enigmatically.
“That was a slip of the tongue. Please forgive me.”
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Seo Ryun stepped forward to the front and led the delegation onward.
The delegation soon arrived at the entrance of the Headquarters of the Jeongcheon Alliance.
Seo Ryun dismounted from his horse and approached the young man standing at the entrance.
“We have come from the Dokgo Clan. Please open the gates.”
The man standing before the gate’s eyes gleamed with recognition.
“Welcome. We have been expecting you.”
“Hmm?”
Seo Ryun examined the man with a puzzled expression.
Solid qi cultivation, well-developed musculature, posture without a single flaw.
These were certainly not the qualities one would expect from a mere gate keeper.
The young man clasped his fists in salute and bowed his head.
Not toward Seo Ryun, but toward Dokgo Myeong, who stood behind him.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Kang Yeop-cheong of the Jeongcheon Alliance.”
* * *
As Kang Yeop-cheong guided Dokgo Myeong directly to the main hall, his eyes flickered with intrigue.
‘How peculiar.’
Kang Yeop-cheong recalled what he had heard about Dokgo Myeong.
The shame of the Dokgo Clan, an infamous dullard.
Though the Dokgo Clan had tried to conceal it, those who mattered knew the rumors about Dokgo Myeong well enough.
‘Yet… he seems quite different from the rumors.’
In many ways, he was peculiar.
The amount of qi he radiated was considerably sparse, yet his temperament was extraordinary. He appeared calm and settled, yet it felt as though he could ignite like flames at any moment.
Meanwhile, his body was so well-trained it was visible even through his clothes, yet his gait and posture were strangely unsteady.
‘I heard he was despised even within his own family, yet the guards accompanying him treat him with utmost care.’
In every way, his first impression was impossible to pin down.
Then, the quiet voice of Dokgo Myeong, who had been following behind, reached his ears.
“Is there still more to see?”
“Pardon?”
“You have been observing me this entire time. Perhaps it is time to stop now.”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s eyes wavered.
‘He knew?’
He had not been staring openly, merely gauging him slightly through his qi perception—yet he had sensed it?
“My apologies. I was rude.”
“So, have you seen enough?”
“Eh? Ah, yes… I beg your pardon.”
Kang Yeop-cheong bowed his head.
If he had not been caught, it would have been one thing, but now that his observation had been exposed, there could be no greater discourtesy.
“No need to apologize. It is fine.”
Whoosh!
In that instant, Dokgo Myeong’s aura suddenly withdrew and settled.
‘This is…!’
Kang Yeop-cheong had to be astonished once more.
The subtle flow of qi that had been perceptible suddenly vanished, slipping beyond his ability to sense it.
‘Was he deliberately revealing it all along?’
And if that were true, it meant that what he’d shown might not be everything.
Kang Yeop-cheong swallowed hard.
“…You are quite different from the rumors, sir.”
“I never knew the legendary Sword Demon was so fresh and youthful in his prime.”
“Pardon? Sword… what did you just say?”
“It’s nothing much.”
Kang Yeop-cheong tilted his head in confusion.
Dokgo Myeong changed the subject.
“That aside, I never expected the successor of Im Cheong-gun to come greet us in person.”
“Isn’t it only proper to receive an honored guest directly?”
“An honored guest, you say…”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly and moved past the remark.
“Well, we shall see in time whether you are truly honored guests or not.”

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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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