Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 325

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 325
Guai Rock Stronghold crumbled helplessly, and it had taken only a few hours.
A single Jeongheol Sect captain fell, and a supply unit that had been moving hastily under cover of darkness vanished as if evaporating.
And a single, terrifying name descended upon the encampments of the Moyong Family and the Jeongheol disciples.
“They’re coming! The Cheonma Sect is coming!”
“The Cheonma Sect Leader! The Black Dragon Technique!”
The martial artists of the Jeongheol Sect and Moyong Family finally shared a common emotion.
It was unmistakable fear.
Crash!
Dokgo Myeong, the master who seemed certain to be hovering at death’s door, destroyed everything.
What an extraordinary realm the pinnacle master had reached.
In the borderlands, he would be called the greatest swordsman in the current provincial region, and was even counted among the renowned masters of the martial world.
Yet Dokgo Myeong and the Cheonma Sect slaughtered them far too easily.
“Ugh!”
Another head of a renowned pinnacle master from the Moyong Family was severed.
“We’ve taken the heads! Break through quickly like this!”
“Break through! Don’t scatter—push forward as planned!”
They charged, tore through the ranks, took only the heads of enemy masters, and withdrew.
In a single day—no, half a day—the number of dead masters and destroyed strongholds had already mounted.
It seemed impossible to stop them.
“Retreat!”
“Where are we withdrawing to?”
“Our forces are stationed just one hour’s march from here!”
“That position is also under attack right now—the captain there has fallen!”
“What?! The Cheonma Sect Leader isn’t here!”
“It’s Namgung Sohwa, the Eternal Heaven Sword Master! She attacked with only about twenty soldiers!”
“…!!”
It wasn’t only Dokgo Myeong.
Namgung Sohwa, Cheolmu-baek, Dokgo Ak, and finally Dokgo Yeon.
In a single day, they had accumulated impossible military achievements. Before their overwhelming martial prowess, enemies could only fall helplessly.
“Squad One has regrouped!”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine!”
Spear energy rippled across Namgung Sohwa’s entire body.
Yang Un-rang, who had assisted her and joined up, let out a hollow laugh.
“I never knew it would be this easy.”
How many years had he spent being treated as a reckless fool because of his status as an illegitimate son?
What would the family’s reaction be if they heard his name now?
“Wow, you fight pretty well?”
“Huh! Sword Master?”
“Call me casually. I didn’t expect someone in the Cheonma Sect to appreciate Changfeng’s charm. Now that I see you, you’re quite handsome too—pleasant to look at.”
“Changfeng, you shine with such radiance yourself.”
“Ha ha! Spare me the flattery!”
Dokgo Yeon patted Yang Un-rang’s shoulder enthusiastically.
“So you captured a master single-handedly?”
“He wasn’t particularly renowned.”
Yang Un-rang had defeated the enemy supply unit’s captain after exchanging one hundred and twenty moves. Though the man lacked fame, he had achieved the pinnacle of martial mastery, making the victory all the more impressive.
“What does a name matter? What matters is winning the fight.”
“Ha ha….”
“A martial artist just needs to slit the enemy’s throat cleanly. Honor and money are irrelevant.”
In the past, Dokgo Yeon would have simply shouted “You’re no monkey!” as praise without such lengthy explanation.
But since the subordinate who used to apologize on her behalf had departed, she had learned to measure her words somewhat.
“Still, is this supposed to be such an easy task?”
“Pardon? Ah, I was just thinking aloud.”
“Isn’t it strange that it would be difficult instead?”
“Sir?”
“Elite in small numbers. They call it elite, but where else would you find such elite?”
As an outsider, Dokgo Yeon could judge the Cheonma Sect most objectively.
“Setting aside myself as a guest, how many masters does the Cheonma Sect actually have?”
“Our unit does have many talented individuals.”
Though he spoke humbly, pride shone through Yang Un-rang’s smile.
“Talented? I don’t concern myself with such things.”
“Sir?”
“I’m talking about pure martial strength alone. Where else in the martial world would you find a warrior unit of this caliber?”
Dokgo Myeong’s martial prowess had long since become tiresome to discuss. He had already transcended into realms of martial divinity that even Dokgo Yeon could scarcely fathom.
But he wasn’t the only one who was formidable.
“The five managers and your Cheonma Five Absolutes, who are the unit’s elite masters—sometimes they seem unaware of how strong they truly are.”
“…?”
“You find men capable of being captains or sect leaders serving as mere disciples. The same applies to you, Captain Yang.”
Dokgo Yeon’s eyes gleamed with insight.
Namgung Sohwa, who had already established her own legacy. Cheolmu-baek and Dokgo Ak, who pursued her closely. And Gwak Ye-hwa, an assassin in an entirely different category.
One master at the ascending realm, three masters on the verge of reaching it.
In this small unit alone, there were four individuals capable of earning elder status in the Nine Sects or major families, or even founding their own sects as leaders.
The Cheonma Five Absolutes under Yang Un-rang’s command were no different.
All five had already reached the pinnacle realm, and though their reasons for joining the Cheonma Sect remained unclear, Yeom Jeok, a former elite ronin, possessed martial prowess that could not be dismissed lightly either.
‘Normally, when masters of this caliber are gathered together, it’s considered wasteful. They’d be split up to form their own units.’
Excluding Dokgo Myeong and herself from the calculation, there were four at the elder level of the Nine Sects, six at the captain level, and the subordinate disciples hardly needed mention.
“It seems when the unit was first established, it wasn’t quite at this level.”
“We’ve received quite a lot of reinforcements.”
“Reinforcements, you say?”
“Elixirs to purify turbid qi, genuine spiritual medicines, martial techniques and equipment, and even instruction….”
Yang Un-rang trailed off mid-sentence, his gaze drifting to Dokgo Myeong riding ahead on horseback.
What exactly did Dokgo Myeong trust them with to bestow so much upon them?
“And he trained relentlessly, at that.”
“If a little training made someone that strong, every dog and cat would be a master.”
“A little?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you just say a little?”
Yang Un-rang, who had maintained perfect courtesy throughout, suddenly flashed eyes sharp as an axe blade.
“Never speak such words again. Not when you understand nothing.”
“Ah, w-well….”
Dokgo Yeon found herself momentarily speechless at his unexpected intensity. She’d been somewhat disappointed that a spearmaster carried himself like a refined scholar, but now she recognized an undeniable masculine presence beneath that exterior. This one had depth.
Regardless.
Dokgo Myeong was proving real what Dokgo Un-hak had once predicted—that he would become the sharpest hidden blade to pierce through any enemy’s defenses.
“Commander, Manager Geum has joined us. It appears Manager Gwak will arrive shortly as well.”
“Excellent. We need to find shelter?”
“Manager Geum scouted a suitable location on the way here.”
“As expected—quick thinking yields quick results. Good. Let’s move immediately.”
Only after the sun reached its zenith did the Cheonma Sect’s assault finally cease.
Geum Seok-du’s unit that had joined them bore not a single scratch.
“I surveyed the main force and even ventured into the Left Army’s territory.”
“You went all the way to the Left Army?”
“Yes, though in our haste, I could only sketch the map roughly.”
Jang Han-chung, reading the situation, smoothly produced a map from his robes and handed it over.
“Hmm….”
Bewilderment crossed Moryong Sohgyo’s face as she examined the map.
They’d even managed to draw a map in all that chaos.
What could this unit possibly not accomplish? From a military strategist’s perspective, Geum Seok-du’s force was simply the finest.
“This is sufficient. Give me a situation report.”
“It may be premature judgment, but….”
“If you misjudged something, Seok-du, we’d have misjudged it too. No hedging—just report.”
Dokgo Yeon, who had been quietly observing from the side, widened her eyes. Her expression suggested surprise that this ruthless one could speak such unexpectedly heartfelt words.
“Yes, then I shall report. First, regarding our main force.”
“You mean our side?”
“Yes. They appear to be steadily pushing forward along the entire front. It seems they intend to break through the center and advance all the way to Hangzhou.”
“Are there no forces blocking or resisting them?”
“Currently, the Seongcheon Unit led by the Seongcheon Sword Master and Yong Gun-baek, along with the Moyong Clan forces under their command, appear to be holding the line.”
“Just those forces alone?”
Yong Gun-baek was known as the Moyong Clan’s greatest master, yet even he couldn’t compare to our Sword King.
“That’s why I heard on the way—the scattered Six Thousand Unit has apparently gathered entirely toward the center.”
“Six thousand soldiers to block the main force? No, wait—isn’t it five thousand now?”
“We’ve heard that you crushed the Gwak Ak unit?”
How many soldiers does the main force have that five thousand could possibly stand against us?
“Are there master martial artists accompanying them?”
“That remains unknown.”
“Hmm… very well. Next, how did the left flank fare?”
“There was an engagement with the Pacheonggun.”
“Ah, that’s what I wanted to know about.”
The Pacheonggun—an enemy military force that appeared without warning.
The enemy had been confident that simply dividing them into martial artist units and deploying them would guarantee victory.
“It appears the left flank’s advance has been halted. The front lines seem to have reached a stalemate, and we’ve heard that some of the left flank’s master martial artists have fallen.”
“What?!”
At the sudden shout from beside him, Dokgo Myeong thought his eardrums would burst.
It was Dokgo Yeon. Could it be that her previous assault on the Shaolin Temple to witness their martial arts had actually been to learn the Lion’s Roar technique?
“Sister, I think my eardrums just ruptured. Could you please listen first before you shout?”
“I-I’m sorry. I was just so startled….”
“I understand—I find it hard to believe myself that he’s been pushed back.”
Dokgo Gun, captain of the left flank.
While the main force and right flank’s advances were being blocked, it was Dokgo Gun’s unit that had held firm alone, yet now we’re told he’s been stopped.
“The Pacheonggun appears to possess considerable power.”
“Explain in detail.”
“First, allow me to recount what happened before we departed.”
* * *
It was the very day the information from the front lines began to be cut off, several days before the Cheonma Sect departed.
The left flank, which had been pushing straight from Anhui toward Hangzhou, encountered them near Tianmu Mountain.
“The Pacheonggun? The Four Heavenly Kings?”
“Yes, that’s correct. The Pacheonggun is divided into four units, and each unit is led by one of the Heavenly Kings.”
“….”
Dokgo Gun’s eyes narrowed.
“Heavenly Kings—the gods of the Four Heavenly Kings. The four divine kings who protect the world as guardians.”
Beside Dokgo Gun stood Dokgo Hye, the only daughter of Dokgo Cheon and his teacher, known as the Heavenly Thunder Divine Maiden.
Dokgo Gun nodded and turned his gaze back to the messenger.
“So the Black Wolf unit was completely annihilated?”
“Yes. Their martial arts transcend the ordinary, so we could not match them….”
“I will go myself.”
Dokgo Gun rose from his seat without listening further.
After the war began in earnest, Dokgo Gun entrusted command to Dokgo Hye and took the front lines himself. Wherever he moved, victory followed.
“It seems I cannot let you go alone today.”
Dokgo Hye spoke in a voice that had not lost its elegance even on the battlefield.
“What is the matter?”
“I can anticipate who they might be. Since misfortune must not befall my disciple and nephew, I shall take the field myself.”
Dokgo Hye stepped forward with a radiant smile, accompanied by Dokgo Gun.
Thus the Dokgo Family’s Left Army and the Pacheonggun faced each other across the vast plain.
Dokgo Gun encountered those who audaciously called themselves the Heavenly Kings, and soon he could discern the identity of those approaching from afar.
“…Did you anticipate this?”
“I had some suspicion. But they say the world rarely flows as one wishes, and it seems truly so.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“I never expected the Moyong Family would go this far.”
The Left Army led by Dokgo Gun and the Pacheonggun led by the Four Heavenly Kings clashed, and the Left Army’s advance came to a halt just before Hangzhou.
Shortly after, a messenger from the Left Army arrived at the main camp, and only then could they learn the true identity of the Pacheonggun.
“What did you just say, General?”
“The Left Army has halted.”
“That’s not what I asked. What is the identity of the Pacheonggun?”
Even Shin Heum momentarily abandoned his composure and fell silent.
“It has been confirmed that the former Elder Council Leader of the Moyong Family, who had been stripped of power, has been spotted.”
“…”
“It appears they transformed them into the Pacheonggun during the period when internal reorganization was conducted within the sealed gates. Furthermore, the family elders who had not shown themselves on the front lines, and even the heads of vassal families loyal to the Moyong Family…”
“…”
“Among those called the Four Heavenly Kings was one known to be the Moyong Gaju’s only remaining son. Given that traces of Absorption Perfection are felt, it appears they tested that strange technique known as the Northern Darkness Divine Art.”
Even Dokgo Un-hak, supreme under heaven, could not help but feel astonishment. He wondered when the martial world he knew had deteriorated to this extent.
“The Moyong Family…destroyed their own future with their own hands?”
The identity of the Pacheonggun struck Dokgo Un-hak, a member of the same martial family, with tremendous shock.
Why do sects, martial families, and various factions respect the retired masters and direct descendants of previous generations?
They were living secret manuals as elders of their factions, teaching the next generation and ensuring the lineage of martial arts never broke, and they were the final barrier protecting the faction’s traditions.
Moreover, the Moyong Gaju’s only direct blood relative?
For the Dokgo Family, would this not be equivalent to placing Gun, Yeon, and their siblings, or figures like Dokgo Myeong and Dokgo Ak on the front lines?
‘And the fact that traces of the Northern Darkness Divine Art were discovered…’
The Pacheonggun was the Moyong Family’s future.
And Muyong Tae had ground the Moyong Family’s future into the dirt.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————