Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 290

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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 290
“Hey there, little brother.”
“Oh, yes, sister.”
“This bastard keeps crawling back!”
As the martial artists of the Dokgo Household sequentially departed from the estate, Dokgo Yeon arrived with a spear shaft resting across her shoulders.
The Beontcheon Extermination Squad would depart in just one hour. By now, the Moyong Family must be preparing as well.
I examined Dokgo Yeon’s appearance with an indifferent expression.
‘Well… that’s about the level of going for a casual neighborhood stroll.’
She wore sturdy martial robes with a leather belt, leg guards, and arm guards—nothing more.
As supplementary equipment, two short spears hung from her back, while a pouch containing internal injury medicine and wound salve dangled from her waist alongside throwing blades.
‘By the standards of a true expedition, this doesn’t even qualify as training gear…’
Well, let’s think positively about it.
In truth, for a master of Dokgo Yeon’s caliber, wouldn’t cumbersome equipment actually be more of a hindrance? The real problem was that the martial disciples under her command were equipped the same way.
I clicked my tongue and turned my head away.
“So, what brings you here?”
“What do you mean ‘what brings me’? Can’t I visit without business?”
“There must be a reason someone about to depart would come looking for me. Don’t tell me you want to spar before you go? Shoo! Shoo! Get out of here, you sparring fiend!”
“How dare you shoo me away like I’m some pest! Hey! I do know how to use common sense!”
Dokgo Yeon huffed indignantly.
I chuckled and asked, “Then why did you come to me, who’s just staying to guard the house?”
“…You were planning to leave soon anyway.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. If you have nothing else to do, go encourage your subordinates or say goodbye to the family.”
“You’re family too.”
“I mean the others.”
Dokgo Yeon grumbled with a dissatisfied expression.
“I’m not about to visit Father, who holds military command and the war ministry. And I’m not about to visit my older brother, who’s become a general of the Left Army. Right?”
“Well, that’s true enough.”
“Exactly?”
The family had become superiors.
If I visited them carelessly, I’d have to speak with proper courtesy, and our Dokgo Kwang-gyeon Yeon—this sister—would never be able to restrain herself from scratching that itch.
‘When you think about it, this household really is extraordinary.’
Father is the head of the family, the older brother is a general of one army, and she herself is the commander of a frontline unit.
I found myself respecting Baek for simply letting it be. When I saw her earlier, there wasn’t a single change in her expression.
As we exchanged some casual conversation, Dokgo Yeon subtly changed the subject.
“Ahem, anyway…”
“What is it? Why are you being so coy?”
Dokgo Yeon fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“You heard that I ended up taking command of the Independent Strike Force in your place, right?”
“Oh, I heard. You must be working hard.”
“Oh, I heard. You must have had a hard time.”
“Are you going to keep giving me such half-hearted answers? You don’t like me! You keep saying you’ll spar with me, but it’s all just talk!”
Dokgo Yeon’s face trembled visibly, genuinely upset.
My cousin, approaching fifty years old, was sulking—it made my resolve weaken slightly.
“Fine, fine. Tell me then. I’m listening.”
“…I saw that book too.”
I blinked in surprise.
“Really? You did?”
“I didn’t finish reading it myself, but my unit commander read it all and told me about it. I just observed it at the Chammawen.”
That figured. What would a battle maniac like Cheolmu-baek—someone who made even Cheolmu-baek look tame—know about reading?
“I heard you were frequenting the Chammawen… so what?”
“Well, you see, um, it’s about you.”
Dokgo Yeon hesitated uncharacteristically before speaking.
“Do you genuinely believe that this type of training is necessary? Are you truly confi—”
“Yes, I’m certain.”
I answered without hesitation.
Her pupils wavered.
‘Right, this is the type he is.’
She had an eye for people.
This type appeared often enough.
Those with unwavering convictions who insisted only their thoughts were correct, trampling over what others said.
In short, they were self-righteous.
Her father had been like that, the Household Head had been like that, and the Elder Council Leader had been like that.
But she knew this: sometimes that self-righteousness saved lives.
“What do you think I should do?”
“What? Who are you? You’re not the Dokgo Yeon I know.”
“Huh?”
I opened my eyes wide.
“Aha! So you’re trying to twist my words and use them against me! Is this the Outer Hall Master’s doing? Are you trying to throw me in prison again? They say there’s no one to trust in this world!”
“What nonsense are you spouting! Really, what is— sigh, I’m not joking, so please be serious now.”
I let out a small laugh, easing the heavy atmosphere.
“What’s the point of saying anything now?”
“You could at least offer some advice.”
I read the anguish written across my sister’s expression.
I spoke in a voice stripped of all jest.
“Sleep outdoors as much as possible. Whether there are inns on the way or not.”
“…?”
“From what I hear, supplies are almost nonexistent, so gather as much dried meat and jerky as you can. Find some silver needles and good charcoal, distribute them to your disciples, avoid well water and river water for drinking—only drink from mountain streams, and even then, strain it first.”
“Wait, hold on.”
“Oh, and don’t move according to the maps the military office provided. Listen to people with good instincts for terrain or locals instead. Um, also—”
As my words continued to flow, Dokgo Yeon was taken aback. While she hesitated, I kept speaking.
“Avoid contact with others as much as possible. Even if a newborn approaches, drive them away.”
“Wait, wait! What are you talking about?”
I had expected him to teach me some brilliant tactic or method to counter the enemy, but what came out was something entirely different.
Dokgo Myeong spoke calmly.
“There will be plenty of opportunities to build merit later. For now, preserve yourself.”
“…!”
“Stay alive until I return. Until I go and overturn everything.”
* * *
Dokgo Myeong watched the countless troops pouring out through the gates of the Dokgo Household.
As Dokgo Un-hak stepped through the entrance, he suddenly turned back.
As if by prior agreement, Dokgo Myeong met Dokgo Un-hak’s gaze.
“….”
“….”
Dokgo Un-hak, who had paused and stared at Dokgo Myeong for a moment, soon turned his head away again.
He departed the household with the main family’s forces.
“You seem troubled, sir.”
Moryong Sohgyo, standing beside him, spoke up.
Dokgo Myeong let out a soft laugh.
“And how are you holding up, Moyong?”
“As I’ve said before, I have no attachment to my family. I’ve never once considered the Moyong Family as my home.”
My parents had already passed away, and the elders of the clan were desperate to sell her off like merchandise. There was no reason for affection to take root.
Though not all connections had been like that….
“I’ve already made my resolve, so please don’t worry.”
Watching Moryong Sohgyo with determination etched across her face, Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh.
Then, after a moment of silence, Moryong Sohgyo asked.
“Do you think things will be alright?”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Things will improve gradually.”
“Sir?”
“Our Sword King merely has clouded judgment from lack of experience, but his mind hasn’t rusted away entirely.”
It’s inevitable that limited experience leads to limited thinking.
But surely the lack of experience doesn’t mean his wisdom has dulled. That man is the Sword King of all under heaven—Dokgo Un-hak.
“I don’t know how much blood must be shed before he gains his lessons, but it won’t take long.”
What’s done is done anyway.
I’ve done what I could. Now I must focus on my own tasks.
“So let’s concentrate on our work here.”
Dokgo Myeong turned and headed toward the Cheonma Training Ground as he spoke.
“We need to increase the training intensity further.”
“More than this… sir?”
The Cheonma Unit was still insufficient.
By Dokgo Myeong’s standards, it had only been about a year since then.
‘At minimum, I need to be at the two-year mark before I can hold my own anywhere.’
Dokgo Myeong nodded once and continued speaking.
“I’ll handle that matter. In the meantime, Moyong, gather intelligence through the Gae-bang network.”
“If it concerns the war situation, Cheon I-gak would be faster.”
“War updates will reach us naturally anyway. What I need to know is the movements of the Black Blade forces in the surrounding regions.”
“Pardon?”
“With numerous troops withdrawn from the main house, the local Black Blade organizations will grow reckless. From the previous generation’s leaders to anyone harboring foolish ambitions….”
“…!”
“If you find any suspicious underground organizations, track them and report back. Once preparations are complete, I intend to conduct a thorough cleansing of the surrounding area.”
Though I called it a cleansing, it was essentially practical combat experience.
It meant preparing sacrificial targets to sharpen our blades before taking the battlefield.
“Simultaneously, we could also eliminate the Jeongheol Sect’s branch organizations. They have extensive infiltration in the shadows.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“They’ll likely strike from an unexpected angle. I’m uncertain how effective this will be, but I hope it at least helps the main force take less damage.”
The Cheonma Corps still lacked sufficient experience for the battlefield. I could only hope they would gain experience and provide some assistance to the main force.
* * *
The greatest difference between the martial world and military forces lies in the existence of masters.
In the realm of Kangho, where a single master is as important as numerical strength, military tactics and logic mean nothing to those who can cleave steel with a single strike and leap dozens of feet with a single step.
Their objectives differ as well. Killing enemy masters and martial artists is more important than occupying and controlling enemy territory.
This is why Dokgo Myeong’s proposals had not taken hold.
In truth, the Dokgo Household’s methods were not significantly different.
“Minimize supplies and allow free movement. There’s no need to move in a consolidated formation. Disperse and move in scattered groups.”
“The left army shall advance from Gangseong toward Fukken. The Three Swords of Zhejiang, who failed in their assassination attempt, are said to be blocking that route.”
“The right army shall strike directly at Zhejiang from Gangseong. Our targets are only these key positions here, here, and here….”
The objective was the Moyong Family’s main residence in Hangzhou, Moyong’s territory in Zhejiang.
As the Dokgo Household entered Gangseong, their first engagement began.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
The sound of martial artists unleashing their lightness technique and striking the ground mingled with the thunder of hoofbeats.
Those who met the Dokgo Household’s advance were a force wielding iron cavalry—the Moyong Family’s Iron Snake Three Armies.
“The enemy is retreating! Give chase!”
“There may be an ambush! First, let’s scout ahead…!”
“An ambush? Even if there is one, the numbers won’t be much different! Push forward!”
The victor of this first engagement was the right army, which had begun its advance directly from Gangseong toward Zhejiang.
Clang! Clang-clang-clang!
“Enemy! They’re here!”
“Stand and fight! Valiant warriors of Moyong!”
Skilled in mounted martial arts, they fought valiantly against the Dokgo Household’s forces despite their small numbers.
Thus the first engagement had begun.
The Dokgo Household certainly had many problems.
Carelessness toward the enemy.
Arrogance toward one’s own forces.
Experience in large-scale warfare that no one else had encountered.
All of it had produced a single result….
“Look. The Moyong forces are nothing but a rabble, aren’t they?”
Victory.
The Dokgo Household had achieved a decisive victory in the opening engagement.
* * *
“…What?”
“A decisive victory, they say.”
“Son Gang, what did you just say? Tell me again.”
“The Moyong branch was burned down, fifty of the elite masters from the Iron Snake Three Armies that the Moyong Family boasted of were captured, over a hundred were killed, and fifty or more fled.”
“….”
Dokgo Jo-hak blinked at the news Son Tae-im brought and trembled slightly.
“We were losing, weren’t we?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“No, weren’t we supposed to suffer a crushing defeat? Weren’t we supposed to be in serious trouble? A decisive victory…!”
Of course it was good.
But good as it was… then what about the Dokgo Myeong faction, which had been confined to the rear while other factions were earning military merit?
“Krraaaagh!”
Crack!
The brush Dokgo Jo-hak had been holding shattered.
Why was the Dokgo Household the greatest family under heaven?
There were many reasons, but there was only one reason it was called the greatest family in the martial world.
The number of masters.
The upper echelon, where key figures and seasoned elders gathered, was filled with masters who had reached the realm of ascension.
And that was not all. Even counting only the elite masters under their command, there were dozens, and the number of first-rate masters was comparable to combining several major sects.
In other words, losing would have been strange.
At the moment Dokgo Jo-hak was breathing fire from his mouth.
Dokgo Myeong also received news from Moyong Sohgyo and blinked.
“Uh, well… this doesn’t mean I won’t get to deploy either, does it?”
Could it be that I’ve been poking around too much here and there, and the Dokgo Household’s strength has become stronger than expected?
‘Now that I think about it, I did cause tremendous disruption to the Moyong Family’s operations. I also took quite a lot of heads from the Jeongheol Sect commanders….’
Then, I felt someone’s gaze from beside me.
When I turned my head slightly, I saw Moyong Sohgyo looking at me with eyes full of suspicion.
“…My lord general. In the way you look at your lord, I sense doubt, worry, and regret. Am I mistaken?”
“You are mistaken.”
“Are you really mistaken?”
“Yes.”
Why does it feel like things have gotten a bit colder?
“It’s fine if you’re mistaken. Well, I should go train the disciples. Come with me.”
“…Yes.”
Dokgo Myeong moved forward with an indifferent expression as he spoke.
“We’ll be hearing reports of victories one after another for a while.”
“Pardon?”
“The higher one climbs, the greater the impact of the fall.”
I could only pray that the Outer Hall Master wasn’t intoxicated.

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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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