Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 33

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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 33
Flash!
The martial artists of the Paedobyeon who had followed Wi Mu-jin widened their eyes, unleashing a menacing aura.
Son Tae-im and Dokgo Ak, seated in the Dokgo Clan’s guest section, twitched involuntarily, and every gaze in the hall fixed upon Dokgo Myeong.
“How dare you….”
And the moment one of the Paedobyeon’s martial artists opened his mouth.
Whoosh!
Dokgo Myeong’s head turned sharply.
“Ugh, seriously Tae-im! Are you actually swallowing food right now?”
“Huh? What do you mea—cough?!”
Smack!
Dokgo Myeong suddenly struck the back of Son Tae-im’s head.
“W-why again….”
“This is infuriating. The mighty and glorious War King himself has arrived, and everyone’s holding their breath, yet you’re swallowing food?”
“I-I never—gack!”
“You’re not even a pig! Stop eating already!”
Dokgo Myeong raised his hand in a knife-edge strike, slashing at Son Tae-im’s neck.
“Urrgh…!”
Son Tae-im’s eyes trembled with grievance.
“Ahem.”
Dokgo Myeong cleared his throat several times, then smiled sheepishly and waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah, my apologies for disrupting the mood. Please, continue with what you were doing.”
“….”
“….”
The atmosphere had become peculiar.
The Paedobyeon’s martial artists looked ready to draw their blades at any moment, while the other guests stared at the Dokgo Clan’s section in disbelief.
That was when it happened.
“…War King. Our Alliance finds it difficult to take your words lightly. They sound rather threatening, I must say.”
Im Cheong-gun’s calm voice rang out, now bearing an easy smile.
Wi Mu-jin chuckled and turned his head.
“Fair enough. I suppose now wasn’t the time for such words.”
“We hope you understand our limited response during the ceremony.”
“Suit yourself.”
Thump!
Wi Mu-jin leaned back against an empty chair.
The heated atmosphere dissipated instantly, as if a sudden downpour had extinguished a fire.
Im Cheong-gun glanced briefly at Dokgo Myeong.
‘Much obliged, Myeong Sohyeop.’
‘Think nothing of it.’
Im Cheong-gun opened his mouth once more.
“Alliance Leader, let us resume the ceremony.”
“Ah, yes!”
Kang Yeop-cheong, who had been lost in thought on the platform, suddenly snapped back to attention.
“…Yes, then I shall resume the ceremony.”
With a somewhat strained voice, Im Cheong-gun’s hand-washing ceremony of retirement proceeded once more.
Following the burning of incense, Im Cheong-gun performed the ritual obeisance to the Sahmun and the heavens, his aged body moving through the prescribed motions.
And finally, they reached the last stage.
“Hand-washing!”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s voice rang out loudly. There was a subtle tremor in his tone, as if moisture clung to every word.
The final act of the hand-washing ceremony—washing one’s hands in the clear water held in the golden basin to symbolize severing ties and karmic bonds with the Gangho.
Im Cheong-gun stood before the golden basin and slowly surveyed the assembled crowd.
“What a fortunate day this is. I offer my heartfelt gratitude to all the righteous warriors of the Gangho who have graced this ceremony with your presence, honoring an old man of no renown.”
Im Cheong-gun’s voice was clear and refreshing.
“Though much remains unfinished, one must know when the time has come to step aside. This old man shall now descend from the stage of the world.”
His words spoke of regret, yet his tone carried a sense of relief.
“And one more thing.”
Im Cheong-gun’s gaze turned toward Kang Yeop-cheong.
“Henceforth, my young disciple Yeop-cheong shall take the stage as the leader of the Jingcheng Alliance. I humbly ask that you all observe the future of our alliance.”
“…!”
It was not a prepared speech.
Kang Yeop-cheong’s eyes widened, and the warriors of the Gangho naturally turned their gaze upon him.
“As you said, I now entrust it to you.”
Im Cheong-gun murmured these final words. Only Kang Yeop-cheong on the platform could hear his voice.
Whoosh.
And then Im Cheong-gun’s hands touched the golden basin.
Only the sound of clear water dripping and flowing from Im Cheong-gun’s hands could be heard.
Thus the hand-washing ceremony of the Jingcheng Alliance Leader came to an end.
* * *
There is a saying that one’s shoulders grow heavy.
People usually say this when burdened with responsibility, and Kang Yeop-cheong felt the strange illusion that someone was pressing down firmly upon his shoulders.
“I am Kang Yeop-cheong of the Jingcheng Alliance. I look forward to working with you all.”
“Rather, I should be the one asking for your favor. I hope you become a worthy leader.”
After the ceremony concluded, a banquet was held.
Im Cheong-gun, now retired from the Gangho, did not attend the banquet. He left the banquet hall immediately as the ceremony ended.
Thus, it fell to Kang Yeop-cheong to receive the guests.
‘My face will ache if I keep smiling like this.’
He felt the guests scrutinizing him in a peculiar way.
It seemed they were seeing him—or rather, his master—in a new light.
‘But I haven’t overcome the real trial yet.’
The ceremony had ended, but the event was far from over.
According to plan, two more days of celebratory banquets remain—gatherings to conclude the ceremony and exchange words of gratitude.
But in reality, this banquet is merely the beginning. The guests who arrived with their own intentions will begin to voice their true purposes starting tomorrow.
Even the Paedo Sect Leader, who withdrew quietly today, may act differently tomorrow.
‘This will be my first trial as the next Jingcheng Alliance Leader.’
Kang Yeop-cheong exhaled deeply.
“Phew, at least it’s over for now.”
After making the rounds of greetings, I felt a slight sense of relief wash over me.
Kang Yeop-cheong wiped the sweat from his brow and surveyed his surroundings.
That was when it happened.
“Why don’t you lighten up that expression? You look like you’re about to devour someone whole.”
A familiar voice came from behind.
Kang Yeop-cheong let out a hollow laugh and turned his head.
“Myeong Sohyeop. You’ve arrived.”
“Congratulations. To become an Alliance Leader at your age—it’s an unprecedented rise.”
“This is only the beginning. Your congratulations are premature.”
Dokgo Myeong wore a subtle smile.
“Hmm, you don’t seem to need worry.”
“Pardon?”
“I thought your composure would slip, whether from joy or tension. But it hasn’t.”
Kang Yeop-cheong exhaled slowly.
A fierce light burned in his eyes, which had been filled with tension.
“I’m not so foolish as to relax before I’ve even begun.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“You’ve made your resolve.”
“Yes, though there’s little to resolve about it.”
“They must be like family to you?”
“I intend not to let personal feelings cloud my public duties going forward.”
His clear eyes gleamed with intensity. The figure of a martial artist who had grown considerably was now evident.
“As we discussed beforehand, I’ve already handled the minor details in advance. However…”
Kang Yeop-cheong asked with a dissatisfied expression.
“Is it really acceptable to proceed so haphazardly?”
“What do you mean haphazardly? There’s no cleaner method than this.”
“….”
Kang Yeop-cheong let out a hollow laugh.
“More importantly, how do you plan to handle the aftermath?”
“…I obtained the Alliance Leader’s Seal from my master.”
The Alliance Leader’s Seal.
A compulsory command authority using the Alliance Leader’s personal seal. It was also an artifact that had never been used in the horizontally-structured Jingcheng Alliance.
“You said it was like family. Do you intend to use the Alliance Leader’s Seal?”
“That’s only how it appears to those above, isn’t it?”
Dokgo Myeong blinked and let out a chuckle.
This man has been corrupted as well.
It’s quite a pleasant sight.
“And it’s fine. If it were truly a betrayal, it would be strange not to use the Alliance Leader’s command.”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s eyes grew desolate.
“If we can handle this properly, we should be able to stop even the Paedobyeon’s plans without major issues.”
“Hmm… indeed.”
Dokgo Myeong squinted his eyes and stared beyond the banquet hall.
“In any case, thank you, Myeong Sohyeop.”
Dokgo Myeong shook his head.
“Let’s save the thanks for after the work is done.”
* * *
That night.
The sky had grown overcast, and even the crescent moon hid itself behind the clouds.
Wrapped in thick darkness, the Jingcheng Alliance’s Inner Sanctum held a middle-aged man walking quietly through it.
He walked slowly, glancing around as if without a clear destination, but soon he stopped. It was before a certain wall.
“You’re not a bat, yet here you are in the dead of night. Where are you headed?”
A voice came from somewhere.
The middle-aged man swallowed hard and opened his mouth.
“I am a bat. Open the cave door.”
“Ah, correct.”
A code and counter-code were exchanged. Soon, a Black-Robed Man emerged from the darkness.
“…You’ve confirmed the counter-code, yet you won’t reveal your face?”
True to his words, the Black-Robed Man only revealed his presence, not his form. The outline of his body was faintly visible, but his face and build were cunningly concealed in shadow.
“I will reveal myself if necessary.”
“Never mind that. But how did you manage to place a letter on my study desk?”
“Must I explain such trivial details?”
The middle-aged man’s expression twisted.
He had come here after discovering the Paedobyeon’s letter that had been placed on his study desk today.
To suddenly make contact in such a dangerous manner, unlike usual, and with such audacity—it was utterly absurd.
“What if the servants or attendants notice! What in the world are you doing?”
“The plan has fallen apart. The Dokgo Clan has gotten involved. That’s why we’ve abandoned the previous contact method.”
“…!”
The middle-aged man’s eyes wavered.
He didn’t even doubt such a shocking revelation.
“Damn it! Then why did you arrive so late! I knew something would happen…”
“Is that because of the Paedobyeon? What does it matter if my arrival was delayed?”
The middle-aged man’s expression changed.
“What? Who are you?”
Silence fell.
“Tsk, caught red-handed. I was hoping to hear more.”
Immediately after, a flippant tone completely different from the previous voice burst out.
“To think someone of your caliber would fall for such a crude trick… and I’ve been fooled all this time….”
This time, yet another voice rang out.
The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in shock.
“You, you bastards! What are you doing here….”
A black-robed man emerged from the darkness.
Upon seeing his face, the middle-aged man’s complexion turned deathly pale.
“D-Dokgo Myeong? Why is the Dokgo Clan’s prodigy here….”
Dokgo Myeong spoke with a spinning smile.
“I’m not the only one who came.”
At the same time, another young man revealed himself from the side.
“Y-Yeop-cheong?”
Upon discovering the Sect Leader, Kang Yeop-cheong, the middle-aged man’s face twisted in shock.
And then.
Whoosh!
The dim surroundings suddenly blazed with light.
From countless places on the building and in the shadows above, torches flared up.
“W-What is this….”
The middle-aged man saw the figure approaching with one of those torches and his face went ashen.
“What brings you to this place at such a late hour, Elder?”
It was Lee Cheol-im, the Enforcement Hall Master of the Jingcheng Alliance.
“D-Damn it. What is the meaning of this….”
The expression of Hwang Im, the Sect Leader of the Qitian Sect, one of the Jingcheng Alliance’s vassals, twisted miserably.
* * *
“Elder. Perhaps you should say something.”
Lee Cheol-im spoke in a cold tone.
“H-Enforcement Hall Master. Why are you here….”
“The Sect Leader over there instructed us. That a traitor of our alliance would make contact with the Paedobyeon.”
“T-That is….”
Hwang Im, the Sect Leader of the Qitian Sect, a prestigious clan of Guizhou City and an elder of the Jingcheng Alliance, stumbled backward with gaping mouth.
Then, Kang Yeop-cheong opened his mouth with a rigid expression.
“I’ve served you as my uncle since I was five years old and followed you so faithfully… did you really have to do this to me?”
“….”
“If you coveted the position of Sect Leader so much, why didn’t you just say so? Betrayal!”
Hwang Im bit down hard on his lower lip.
‘It was a trap.’
I thought the method of contact had changed, but I never imagined it would be a trap.
He clenched his fists tightly.
That wasn’t what mattered now. He had to find a way to escape this situation.
“…Betrayal? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“After coming this far, you’re going to deny it?”
“Deny? I have nothing to hide.”
Hwang Im spun toward Lee Cheol-im and shouted.
“It’s a misunderstanding, Sect Leader.”
“A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding are you referring to?”
“I’ve fallen into a trap set by the Alliance Leader.”
Kang Yeop-cheong’s eyes widened in shock.
Hwang Im continued speaking with absolute confidence.
“It’s true that I made contact with the Paedobyeon today.”
“Didn’t you just say it was a misunderstanding?”
“Even if I sought to meet with a representative of the Paedobyeon, how does that constitute betrayal?”
It was an audacious claim.
Secret contact with another organization on a night like this wasn’t betrayal?
“A letter from the Paedobyeon was placed on my desk. I came here merely to verify its contents.”
“Why would an Elder investigate such a matter personally?”
“Because I am an Elder of the council. I have a responsibility to protect the Jingcheng Alliance. I intended to uncover the Paedobyeon’s schemes.”
Lee Cheol-im’s eyes flashed.
“Where is this letter you mentioned?”
“I burned it. To avoid any misunderstandings.”
Lee Cheol-im fell silent for a moment.
Then he spoke in a voice devoid of emotion.
“So you’re saying this is all a trap set by the Alliance Leader?”
“Of course! To solidify his position as the next leader! He set this trap to remove me from power and seize control of the Alliance!”
Hwang Im’s head snapped toward Kang Yeop-cheong.
“I never expected this! I treated you like my own nephew, yet you dare strike me in the back, drunk on your lust for power?”
“….”
Kang Yeop-cheong said nothing in response. The last trace of sadness that had lingered in his expression had already turned cold.
Regardless, Hwang Im’s tongue moved as swiftly as if it had been oiled.
“Sect Leader Lee Cheol-im, I am Hwang Im. I am Hwang Im of the Gicheon Sect, who spent my entire life building the Jingcheng Alliance alongside my brother Im Cheong-gun! Now you’re going to believe the words of this mere child, Kang Yeop-cheong….”
“Ah, but you see.”
At that moment, a playful voice cut through from the side.
“Are you referring to this letter from the Paedobyeon?”
Beneath the light of the torches, Dokgo Myeong held something in his hand and waved it.
“H-how did you get that…?”
I clearly burned it.
How is it there?

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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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