Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 330

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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 330
“This tea has a wonderful aroma.”
Dokgo Gun set down his empty teacup as he spoke.
“How can you even appreciate the aroma in a situation like this?”
“Of course I can. How are you feeling, Aunt?”
“No major issues. You should be the one worrying about yourself. If the blade had gone even a finger’s width deeper, you would have lost your arm.”
The two sat facing each other.
Dokgo Gun remained seated with his blood-soaked right arm extended toward the physician.
“I was simply asking whether the tea suited your taste, Aunt.”
“…?”
Dokgo Hye took a moment to comprehend his words, then let out a belated sigh. Even the Old Physician, who silently continued treating Dokgo Gun’s arm, glanced sideways at him with a subtle look.
“Still, I’m relieved you sustained no serious injuries.”
“As I said, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with this old woman.”
“I offered my arm anticipating I wouldn’t lose it. Thanks to that sacrifice, I managed to repel the enemy—so it was a worthwhile exchange.”
At that moment, the Old Physician spoke.
“I’ll stitch the wound now. If you need it, I can provide cloth to bite down on.”
He meant to give it as a gag to prevent broken teeth or a bitten tongue.
But Dokgo Gun silently shook his head.
“Leave it as is.”
“…Very well.”
The Old Physician lifted his needle.
Only then did Dokgo Gun’s brow furrow slightly from the pain. The blade had nearly reached bone—there was no way he felt nothing.
“There, it’s done. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. You may return and rest now.”
“The wound could reopen if you overexert yourself. I’ll prepare a trauma salve and medicinal broth for you.”
“Thank you.”
Dokgo Gun slowly pulled his upper garment back on.
After the physician left, Dokgo Hye spoke again.
“Pacheonggun is more threatening than expected. He may prove even more troublesome than anticipated.”
“Indeed.”
“If left alone, he would destroy himself, yet we cannot simply leave him be—that’s what troubles me.”
Any true martial artist could immediately recognize that the martial prowess of Pacheonggun and his Four Heavenly Kings was not earned through legitimate means. They would inevitably pay a steep price before long. Such was the nature of Sima Waidao’s martial arts.
“Beyond the sheer power of his techniques, he’s clearly studied our family’s martial arts.”
“Yes, he countered the Eight Divine Techniques with surprising familiarity. His combinations flowed as naturally as water.”
Suddenly, Dokgo Gun’s expression grew peculiar.
Dokgo Hye observed his silence and asked.
“Are you unwell? Or is something troubling you?”
“I’m simply curious about which side took the initiative.”
“Which side?”
“The one who researched our family’s martial arts.”
“Is that really important?”
“It’s merely a small curiosity on my part. Aunt, is there perhaps something you know about this?”
Dokgo Hye shook her head dismissively.
“There’s nothing strange about either possibility.”
“….”
“Just as no one under heaven is ignorant of the Shaolin martial arts, the Dokgo Family’s techniques have long been a subject of intense study throughout the martial world. And since the Jeongheol Sect also harbors ambitions to overturn the Central Plains, it would be natural for them to have prepared countermeasures long ago.”
Setting aside whether a supreme martial art could truly exist, when discussing the strongest martial lineages of the current era, the Dokgo Family’s Eight Divine Techniques could not be omitted. Those who inherited such arts had become formidable masters in today’s martial world, so it was only natural that various organizations and factions would quietly study methods to counter them.
“In any case, these Pacheonggun are proving far more troublesome than anticipated. What are your plans moving forward?”
“I intend to decide after receiving further contact from headquarters.”
It was then.
Someone outside the tent shouted urgently.
“Captain of the Left Army! May I enter?”
“What is it?”
“Enemy remnant forces have appeared in our rear!”
The gazes of Dokgo Gun and Dokgo Hye intertwined in the empty space.
“Come in.”
At Dokgo Gun’s permission, the soldier who entered by lifting the tent flap bowed briefly.
Dokgo Gun spoke.
“Be detailed.”
“Sim Daejoo of the Heavenly Palace led a supply unit from Namchang, but it appears he encountered Il Na-chal of the Northern Black Sky Corps midway.”
The rear had been breached.
He had thought they had driven back the enemy in today’s battle, but they hadn’t completely sealed them off.
‘Do the Pacheonggun have reserves?’
Or perhaps they lacked time and launched aggressive attacks to force this side to move.
‘If it’s the latter, they’ve become more cunning than before. Has the arrival of Jimeol Magoon influenced their tactics?’
Until now, the Pacheonggun had insisted on direct confrontation without any real strategy. But if they had begun harassing the rear, it meant a competent mind had arrived.
All these thoughts occurred in an instant.
Dokgo Gun pressed for more.
“And then?”
“All supplies were lost, but fortunately, the Cheonma Sect disciples who were moving through the area joined in, eliminated all enemy remnants, and have just returned with captured prisoners and survivors from the Heavenly Palace.”
Dokgo Gun’s eyes gleamed.
The Cheonma Sect.
Those whom he had heard were operating in the central and southwestern regions had appeared here.
“Furthermore, one of the Cheonma Sect disciples who came with Sim Daejoo brought a message from the Cheonma Sect Master….”
“Bring him here.”
“Yes?”
“At once.”
“Ah, yes! Understood.”
Dokgo Hye suddenly observed her nephew’s profile.
Ever since the name Cheonma Sect was mentioned, the smile at the corner of his mouth had grown noticeably deeper.
“I pay my respects to the Left Army Commander. I am Jang Han-chung, of the Fifth Unit of the Cheonma Sect.”
Dokgo Gun and Dokgo Hye’s eyes gleamed with interest.
His well-honed physique and fluid gait marked him as far more than an ordinary disciple—his martial prowess was evident at a glance.
“Jang Han-chung… Han-chung. So you’re one of the Five Paragons of Cheonma. I’ve heard your reputation spoken of often.”
“You know of me?”
“Of course. You were among those led by Punggeok.”
“I’m honored by your recognition.”
To be acknowledged by the Black Dragon—his heart thundered in his chest, yet Jang Han-chung bowed with practiced restraint.
There was a saying that what leaks from inside will leak from outside, but the Cheonma Sect was the opposite.
They might act foolishly among themselves, but never in public—they were the face of the Cheonma Sect. Such conduct was reserved for their captain alone.
“From this moment forward, the Cheonma Sect intends to support the Left Army of Tianmu Mountain.”
“Support? Did you say support at this hour?”
“Yes. Rather than fall under your command, we will provide support as an independent strike force. Such is the will of our Sect Master.”
To Dokgo Gun, the Left Army Commander, this was absurd.
Yet he merely smiled and nodded.
“And?”
“And furthermore… that is…”
Jang Han-chung paused mid-sentence.
Dokgo Gun spoke gently.
“I’m well aware that his manner of speech is rough, so feel free to answer plainly without embellishment.”
“…Then I shall take the liberty.”
Jang Han-chung cleared his throat and continued.
“Even with enemies, it’s only proper to exchange names face to face. He said to tell you: ‘While we’re at it, we’ll leave our mark and be on our way, so don’t interfere—just watch.'”
As Jang Han-chung relayed the message, the corners of both Dokgo Gun and Dokgo Hye’s eyes twitched simultaneously.
* * *
“Is this right?”
“Is this right?”
“Is this right?”
I had no idea when these three had become so close. They were perfectly united.
Geum Seok-du pointed forward with his finger.
“Do you see that?”
“Seok-du, are your eyes that bad? You can’t see that?”
“I’m not asking because I can’t see it!”
Geum Seok-du shouted, trembling.
Though he’d grown bolder, such composure only held when the numbers made sense.
The fearful man Geum Seok-du was trembling with dread.
“It’s four times as many.”
“What?”
“I could accept two or three times. But this is at least four times the number.”
The direction Geum Seok-du pointed toward.
Dark flags fluttered across the encampment.
It was the camp of those called the Northern Black Heaven, a faction of the Pacheonggun.
“And it’s not just them either—there are other units packed tightly all around us! If the entire main camp mobilizes, we’re finished. We’ll be heading straight to the afterlife!”
“You brat! Your voice! Why aren’t you lowering it!? You might as well advertise our arrival to them directly!”
“Your own voice is loud enough to fill a ship, yet….”
“What did you say?”
“This really doesn’t seem right, Captain.”
“Back in my day… Ugh! Ack!?”
“Please lower your voice! I’m begging you!”
“They’re far enough away anyway. Why all the fuss?”
The managers and I bickered loudly despite being within sight of the enemy lines.
The Cheonma Sect disciples huddled nearby let out deep sighs.
The Cheonma Sect. Would things really be alright like this?
“It’ll be fine, I’m telling you.”
I spat and wiped my mouth as I spoke.
“Fine? What do you mean by that?”
“You all know those bastards want to kill me even more than the Left Army Commander of the main family, right?”
The managers nodded in agreement.
How could they not know, given how much I’d been provoking them.
“But they don’t know I’m here yet. So what happens when I show up and give them a little nudge?”
They’d naturally come rushing out, eager for the chance.
Besides, these Pacheonggun soldiers seemed to have lost their focus somewhat. I wasn’t sure if even their commander, the Heavenly King, had the same problem, but one little poke would definitely get a reaction.
“They’ll charge out thinking they’ve got me. Then in the meantime, you lot split up the disciples and cause some proper chaos, set some fires in the camp, and when the time comes, slip away. That’s all there is to it. Now, explanation over.”
“Ah.”
Ye-hwa suddenly nodded as if understanding.
“Could you have fallen victim to enemy sorcery without realizing? Just say the word. I still have plenty of White Time arrows.”
Ye-hwa spun a pure white arrow she’d created with inner force between her fingers as she spoke.
“No, this is what we’ve been doing all along. Why the sudden concern?”
“The difference in troop numbers and martial prowess levels is not the same as before.”
“That won’t matter.”
“What do you mean by that?”
I shook my head.
“Having to explain something this simple. Child, your vision still has a long way to go.”
Ye-hwa glared at me with cold eyes.
“…Someday, I will surely lodge this arrow between those eyebrows….”
Whether muttering curses or not, I continued speaking.
“A few hours ago, the Pacheonggun clashed violently with our Left Army, didn’t they?”
The managers all nodded in unison.
“But those Pacheonggun bastards—they’re all mad, but they’re mad in a different way than the Jeongheol Sect disciples.”
“…?”
“If this were a force from a prestigious clan, they’d grow suspicious the moment I appeared out of nowhere. But do those wretches even look like martial artists from a renowned family?”
“…!”
“Not to my eyes. In fact, I’d wager they’d come running the moment I dangle bait in front of them.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed with intensity.
A direct confrontation would prove formidable enough. But if those fools became fixated on me as bait, the situation would transform entirely.
“What if they react far more violently than anticipated?”
“Then we simply retreat. They’ll be exhausted from the battle as well, so they won’t mobilize their forces easily.”
“And if they do mobilize?”
“They won’t. Because if they do, the Left Army will move as well, and that means another bloodbath. They know this as well as I do.”
“But you’ve already instructed the Left Army not to move, sir.”
“That’s something they don’t know.”
“…!”
It resembled the Heaven-Severing Net Trap from before, yet differed in crucial ways.
Then, I’d been forced to break through the enemy’s massive forces. Now, I was the one carefully laying out the bait.
“Understood. But why go to such lengths?”
“First impressions shape all subsequent ones, after all.”
“Sir?”
“I’m going to give those so-called Pacheonggun forces a proper introduction. Let them know the Cheonma Sect has arrived.”
* * *
The Northern Sky King radiated a heavy presence as he channeled the Northern Black Divine Art.
Then, someone approached the command tent in haste.
“Your Majesty!”
“What is it?”
His voice resonated like thunder echoing through a cavern, deep and weighty.
Yet that voice was swallowed by the urgent cry of his subordinate.
“Dokgo Myeong…! The Cheonma Sect Master, Dokgo Myeong, has appeared alone before our forces!”

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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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