Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 31

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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 31
There was no reason to halt my training simply because I had traveled to unfamiliar lands.
In the early dawn, I stood in the training hall behind the guest quarters assigned to me, extending my fists through the air.
Yet my mind wandered elsewhere.
The Jingcheng Alliance, and the Hegemon League.
I contemplated the vast stage upon which I now stood.
‘The world still knows nothing of the Hegemon League.’
I could be certain of this, having glimpsed the answer sheet of the future.
The Gangho, the Jingcheng Alliance—they remained ignorant of the Hegemon League’s existence.
I recalled the face of someone buried deep within my memories.
‘That man was the type who won before the battle even began.’
Did Im Cheong-gun know?
That his movement meant the Hegemon League’s masterful piece had already been placed upon the board.
‘He wouldn’t know. Or even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. The game is already set.’
In Go, one begins by placing handicap stones for the weaker player.
But this game was different. In fact, the opposing side had already placed their handicap stones.
I had arrived at this board.
Had I intended to intervene from the beginning, they would have prevented my moves altogether, but having entered late, I had to devise a way to win from the position given to me.
The fortunate part was that I knew what masterful move he had laid down.
Boom!
My fist struck through the empty air.
Emerging from my deep contemplation, I drew in a long, measured breath.
“Exhale…”
I turned my body slightly.
“You may come in now. I’m finished.”
“…Did you know I was there?”
Kang Yeop-cheong, wearing an awkward expression, revealed himself from the entrance of the training hall.
* * *
“My apologies. Ah, I wasn’t watching your training. I only just arrived.”
“It’s fine. I was just moving my body while thinking about something—it wasn’t really training.”
I rolled my shoulders and chuckled.
“But what brings you here at dawn?”
“Ah, I’ve come to pay my respects.”
“Respects?”
Kang Yeop-cheong bowed his head.
“I’ve been assigned to oversee the Dokgo Clan’s delegation. Should you require anything, please speak freely without reservation.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Are you certain about this?”
The question carried multiple meanings. It was obvious how other guests would perceive the Sub-Alliance Leader of the Jingcheng Alliance attending to the Dokgo Clan.
“I’ve come prepared to be discreet and move about carefully, so there’s no need for concern. And…”
Kang Yeop-cheong lowered his voice and continued.
“Don’t you need a liaison with the Alliance Leader? It would be better to go through me rather than arranging meetings each time.”
Ah, so that’s what this was about.
I understood immediately. I would need to communicate with Imcheong-gun, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, periodically, and this arrangement would look far more presentable than visiting his quarters every time.
And as a bonus….
“You’ll be keeping watch over me too, is that it?”
“Watch over you? I would never do such a thing.”
“Well, I understand. We’re not exactly people who trust each other, after all.”
“That’s not what I meant….”
“But this is rather disappointing. We agreed to a deal, yet you won’t reveal your intentions and even assign someone to monitor me!”
“Y-Young Master!”
“Oh, how the way of Gangho has fallen to the ground!”
“I-I’m telling you it’s really not like that!”
“Yes, yes. Let’s just assume that’s the case then.”
“It’s not an assumption—it’s really….”
“So let’s just assume that, shall we?”
….
I let out a chuckling laugh.
‘This fellow is actually fun to tease.’
They say he’s a man as ruthless as the Cult of the Divine Blood, yet his true nature doesn’t seem to be that way at all. This is the man who earned the epithet “Sword Demon” for his cruel methods against the Hegemon League after the Jingcheng Alliance fell.
“More importantly… what are your plans going forward?”
“Plans? What plans?”
“The Hegemon League. How are you planning to prepare for it?”
Kang Yeop-cheong asked with a tense expression.
“Ah, that.”
I folded my arms firmly and nodded with a serious expression.
“Everything has its proper order, you know.”
“Of course!”
“Handle the big matters first, and the small ones follow naturally. So!”
“Yes!”
“First, let’s have a drink!”
“Yes… pardon?”
“And while we’re at it, fill our bellies with some meat and white rice!”
What?
What am I drinking and eating?
“Um, Young Master Myeong-i?”
“We should sleep long and deep, then wake up and train.”
Kang Yeop-cheong took a deep breath.
Then, feigning composure as best he could, he spoke in a mature tone.
“Didn’t you just say that handling the big matters first means the small ones follow?”
“We all have to eat and live, don’t we? Isn’t this the most important matter of all?”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s mouth fell open.
Good heavens. He wasn’t joking.
Dokgo Myeong was completely serious.
“So then, I hear you’re laying out food in the Banquet Hall until the Gilded Separation ceremony? Since we’re on the subject, how about a drink?”
Dokgo Myeong made a circular gesture with his hand and bobbed it up and down through the air.
Kang Yeop-cheong pressed his forehead.
* * *
Though the Gilded Separation was a tradition more honored in name than in practice, there were still certain customs that had to be observed.
First, a person or organization of considerable prestige had to serve as guarantor. If martial artists were to persecute the one undergoing the Gilded Separation, or if that person attempted to involve themselves in the martial world again, the guarantor would be held responsible.
And there was one most important thing.
The ceremony could not be completed in a single day.
The Gilded Separation wasn’t something finished by merely wiping one’s hands.
To truly end something, one must first settle all debts and grievances. It was customary to allow a grace period of four to seven days so that those with whom the person had such entanglements could come forward.
The Jingcheng Alliance observed this tradition as well. They planned to hold banquets until two days after the main ceremony of the Gilded Separation.
And….
“Ahhh, now this is it! The taste of fine liquor truly is exquisite!”
“….”
“My, our household’s cooks have considerable skill, but the Jingcheng Alliance is quite impressive as well!”
Slurp! Munch munch!
Kang Yeop-cheong stared at Dokgo Myeong with a blank expression.
Before him, empty bowls were already piling up in heaps.
I couldn’t even tell if he was chewing or swallowing. Moreover, he was downing that potent bamboo leaf liquor as if it were water, exclaiming in delight as though it were honey water.
‘Is this right?’
No, is this really right?
Kang Yeop-cheong asked, unable to hide his uneasy expression.
“…Are you truly going to spend all this time just drinking?”
“I’m eating as well, am I not?”
Kang Yeop-cheong continued, his expression growing more worried.
“Young Master Myeong-i. You’re from the Hegemon League. And the Hegemon League Leader at that.”
“And?”
“We don’t even know what your intentions are in coming here, so is it really… alright to make no preparations whatsoever?”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s expression was heavy with excessive tension and desperation.
It couldn’t have been otherwise.
To Kang Yeop-cheong, the Jingcheng Alliance was not merely a group he belonged to—it was his home and his family. As an orphan, the sect leaders of his martial faction were like elders to him, and the alliance members were like kin.
And now he was the one who had to bear responsibility for them, yet a great storm was approaching.
Kang Yeop-cheong could not remain idle.
“….”
Twitch!
Kang Yeop-cheong, who had been staring intently at Dokgo Myeong, narrowed his brows. For a subtle smile had appeared at the corners of Dokgo Myeong’s lips.
“Was there something amusing about what I said?”
“No, I just thought you seemed like a decent person.”
“Pardon?”
“Your sect leader certainly chose a fine disciple.”
I could sense that he wasn’t calculating profit and loss—he was genuinely angry because he wanted to protect his own territory. That’s how people should be. Yet such people are surprisingly rare to find.
That’s the way it should be, but it’s uncommon in this world.
‘But you’re too naive.’
The whiter the cloth, the faster it shows stains.
‘…Ah, so that’s why.’
I see now.
This is why you earned the title of Sword Demon.
Dokgo Myeong wiped his mouth casually and spoke.
“The Paedo Sect Leader’s arrival isn’t what matters. Rather, we should wait until the time is right.”
“How can you say that isn’t important?”
“Even if it truly isn’t, as a superior you must appear composed. Your subordinates are watching.”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s eyes widened at Dokgo Myeong’s casual remark.
“My apologies. I understand now. If I waver, the disciples will waver as well….”
“It’s the opposite.”
“…Pardon?”
“Why should you appear so composed? What preparations have you made? You should make them think you’re worried.”
“…?”
Kang Yeop-cheong blinked with a confused expression.
‘What does he mean?’
I don’t understand.
Is he saying to make the Paedo League think that way? But Dokgo Myeong was clearly speaking about the disciples of the Jingcheng Alliance.
“Hmm, perhaps you’re not ready to understand this yet.”
Dokgo Myeong muttered regretfully before continuing.
“Earlier, the Vice Leader asked what the Paedo Sect Leader’s intentions were in coming here, didn’t you?”
“…Yes, I did.”
It’s certain his intentions aren’t good. I can only assume he’s coming with the usual unreasonable demands.
“Well, regardless of the process, what he’s after is obvious.”
“Obvious?”
“To swallow the Jingcheng Alliance.”
Crunch!
Dokgo Myeong grabbed a generous portion of side dishes with his chopsticks and stuffed them into his mouth, speaking as he chewed loudly.
“That’s impossible, no matter how powerful the Paedo League is.”
Though he answered firmly, Kang Yeop-cheong felt his insides churn.
“Why? Because the Paedo League is a newly formed force?”
“That’s part of it, but… there are limits to what can be achieved through force alone.”
The Gupha and Heavenly Assembly wouldn’t simply stand by and watch the Paedo League grow stronger.
Not specifically for the Jingcheng Alliance. I would do the same simply to prevent the Hegemon League from growing any larger.
Setting aside morality and justice, that is simply how politics works.
“But if you insist on swallowing them anyway?”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s think about it differently. If the Hegemon League wanted to devour the Jingcheng Alliance, what would they do?”
Kang Yeop-cheong tilted his head in confusion.
“I’m not certain.”
“You make them offer themselves willingly.”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s eyes widened in shock.
“While we’re on the subject, let me ask you something.”
“…Yes, please ask.”
“Has there been no whisper within the Alliance about such a young Kang becoming the Leader?”
Kang Yeop-cheong struggled to smooth the furrow forming between his brows.
“Are you suggesting there could be… traitors now?”
“Yes.”
“The Jingcheng Alliance is an organization bound together like family, all of one heart and mind! Traitors? That’s absurd!”
“Why is it absurd?”
Dokgo Myeong let out a scoff.
“From the moment you follow the Leader’s will, you cannot be like family.”
“Pardon?”
“There is hierarchy, is there not?”
“…!”
“It may look like family from those above, but what of those below?”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s expression finally twisted.
He understood what Dokgo Myeong was trying to say.
“The Alliance’s senior members are by no means beneath the Leader! The Leader is merely a representative. And those people are like my own family—they would never betray…”
Dokgo Myeong shrugged at Kang Yeop-cheong, who stammered in confusion.
“Well, that would be fortunate then.”
“Pardon?”
“If that’s truly the case, it’s a good thing. It means such an ideal place still exists in the Gangho today. Then the Hegemon League wouldn’t dare target the Jingcheng Alliance.”
“…”
“I hope that’s the case. Sincerely.”
Dokgo Myeong’s light words seemed to press heavily upon his chest.
Kang Yeop-cheong slowly turned his head.
The Banquet Hall was not occupied by only Dokgo Myeong and Kang Yeop-cheong. Senior members of the various martial schools within the Jingcheng Alliance and visiting guests were scattered about, conversing and dining.
‘That… that couldn’t be…’
Kang Yeop-cheong suddenly felt that scene grow distant.
It was then.
Tap!
“Well, either way.”
I set down my empty cup with a deliberate clink.
“Let us wait. We’ll appear composed—drink a little, sleep a little.”
“If we merely wait without purpose, we may miss our opportunity.”
“Of course, we must lay our traps carefully. And scatter bait that cannot be ignored.”
“What exactly are you planning?”
I smiled faintly.
“When the time comes, you’ll understand everything.”
* * *
Time flowed like an arrow, and the appointed moment arrived at last.
It was the day of the retirement ceremony for Im Cheong-gun, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader—a legendary swordsman who had dominated an era.

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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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