Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 336

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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 336
The night was dark, with neither moon nor stars visible through the clouds.
It had been two days since the Cheonma Sect joined the Left Army.
Dokgo Myeong walked alongside Dokgo Gun, engaged in conversation.
“Of all times, it has to be in the dead of night. Tsk.”
“If you dislike it, there’s no need to come out.”
“Never mind.”
Here I was, taking a walk I didn’t particularly enjoy in the middle of the night.
And my companion was none other than Dokgo Gun. One misstep and I might fall into demonic possession during this stroll.
But what could I do? We were all in the same boat now.
“How do you think the situation will unfold from here?”
Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue once before answering.
“Why ask the obvious? We’ll clash hard once and it’ll be over.”
“I heard you expressed concerns about the plan.”
“The longer we drag this out, the more favorable it is for the main family.”
“But shouldn’t victory already be in our grasp?”
“There’s no need to burn fresh lives just to win a bit sooner.”
“Indeed, that would be a regrettable thing.”
At those words, Dokgo Myeong stopped walking.
Dokgo Gun, who had taken a few more steps ahead, turned with the moon at his back and asked.
“What’s wrong?”
Dokgo Myeong stared at Dokgo Gun without opening his mouth.
“…It’s nothing.”
Then, as he slowly resumed walking, he opened his mouth again.
“I understand that the situation under heaven is dire, and the war must end as quickly as possible. So I’m not being difficult about it.”
“You’ve always valued human life. I can’t say I don’t understand.”
“….”
“But a simultaneous three-pronged attack…. Father has made a bold move indeed.”
The Right Army would strike Soxing, where all the enemy’s supplies were gathered, while the main force would target Jegi, where the enemy was most concentrated.
And here, the Left Army would launch a decisive battle against Seoho, where Pacheonggun was located, all at the same time.
Bold as Dokgo Gun said, but there was a reason for doing it this way.
‘The enemy’s unpredictability is too great. There are too many masters. We need to disperse their top experts.’
Conversely, the main family only needed to break through to Hangzhou from any direction. Once they shattered the gate and joined the other fronts for a combined assault, the enemy would have no reserves left.
“In any case, the main family’s victory can be considered certain.”
“It was already decided when the Muyong Gaju, intoxicated by his own martial prowess, committed the insanity of attacking the main family.”
“Thanks to that, we were able to push this far…. I suppose you could say it that way.”
Whether it was the Right or Left Army or the main force, we would definitely break through somewhere.
The problem was, no matter how many times it was said, it remained the enemy’s masters.
‘If we were prepared to die, it would be different, but we must return alive as much as possible.’
A perfect victory.
Right now, I’m fighting desperately for exactly that.
‘If only this man would finish all his fighting and die somewhere far from here.’
Dokgo Myeong gazed at Dokgo Gun with a cold smile.
Dokgo Gun turned his head slightly away.
“I sense killing intent.”
“Ah, I was merely steeling my resolve.”
Dokgo Gun offered a faint smile.
“What if the enemy refuses to fight?”
“I cannot speak for the Jeongheol Sect, but Muyong Tae will accept.”
“What grounds do you have for such a conclusion?”
“No concrete evidence, but I can roughly discern what the Muyong Gaju is after.”
As for why those Jeongheol dogs stake everything on the Muyong Family—that remains a mystery.
Dokgo Myeong spoke with absolute certainty.
“That madman, the Muyong Gaju, has no intention of protecting his own clan. Victory in battle—that alone consumes his thoughts. He will gladly step into this arena.”
“What are your prospects for our three divisions?”
“Well, we’ll win.”
“I desire a serious answer.”
Ah, this man certainly talks a lot today.
Fine, seriously then. Good. I needed someone to talk to anyway.
“The Right Army will win.”
General Seo Joongbaek will be crushing enemies with the resolve to die. With such overwhelming killing intent, the enemy’s morale will crumble from the very start.
“And us?”
“It will be evenly matched. In truth, isn’t our division the one falling behind?”
The greatest problem in fighting the Jeongheol Sect and Pacheonggun is that those madmen care nothing for death, while we cannot afford such recklessness.
Regardless of victory or defeat, the question is ‘how perfectly’ we achieve victory.
“I see. I had anticipated we would win without major complications.”
“Ha, if you were so confident, why not have won already?”
“You were not here then.”
“…”
Dokgo Myeong’s brow furrowed sharply.
Dokgo Gun smiled once more.
“Then let me hear your assessment of the main force.”
“With all the clan’s greatest masters gathered, they will naturally prevail.”
“You offer no definitive answer. Are you wary of the Grand General?”
Dokgo Gun’s eyes gleamed.
“A man who appeared alone, crushed the Paeng Family, and withdrew without a trace. His martial prowess is impossible to estimate.”
In truth, I have a rough idea.
In my past life, it was the Cheonma Sect who captured him. How could I not know?
‘A battlefield where so many forces clash—that is his stage.’
To capture the Grand General, the best approach would be a one-on-one, short-range engagement.
The best option is to combine forces with a small number of masters. A large-scale group battle would be the worst scenario.
‘Rather than face that opponent again, I’d prefer to fight the Jeongheol Sect’s Dharma Protector.’
In terms of pure martial prowess, he’s harder to deal with than the sect leader himself.
‘Tsk, if only I had one more elite force at my disposal. Or even a few more masters I could command freely.’
I wonder if a master might just fall from the heavens.
Regardless, where has this family head of ours disappeared to at such a critical moment?
Even if he’s lost interest in most things, wouldn’t it be helpful if he just appeared out of nowhere and swung his blade a few times?
‘Sigh, who can fathom the will of Heaven? I can only do my best with the circumstances given to me.’
Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue and opened his mouth.
“In any case, that’s why Muyong Tae is so important. His movements are the key.”
“He would be the strongest trump card for our enemies—capable of overturning the entire battle in a single stroke.”
“Since he covets my martial techniques and my captain’s, he might come after us.”
“Conversely, he might strike the main force for the symbolic value and strategic advantage of defeating the strongest master.”
“So it would be helpful if we could learn where he’s targeting right now.”
The two men soon arrived at a location.
It was midway up Cheonmok Mountain, in a valley where flowing water masked any sound.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Is this Cheon I-gak-won?”
“Yes. Please come this way.”
Following Cheon I-gak-won’s unexpected guidance, they arrived at a cave.
Dokgo Myeong spoke to Cheon I-gak-won.
“You return as you are.”
“…Very well.”
“I’ll report the information to the main family. Forget everything you’ve seen here and simply withdraw. I won’t repeat myself.”
“Jeon Myeong.”
Dokgo Gun turned to look at Dokgo Myeong.
“Is it because of the possibility they’re Jeongheol disciples? Cheon I-gak has already undergone a purge once.”
“Fat lot of good that did. After purging them, fire still broke out in their own house. How could I rest easy?”
Dokgo Myeong smirked and entered the cave.
Inside, four Cheon I-gak-won members stood in a circle, and in their center knelt two men.
“Oh, you’ve arrived? You’re here?”
“There’s no need for this. We have no intention of resisting…”
Clang! Clatter!
The two men had sacks pulled over their faces, and their wrists and ankles were bound with iron chains.
Dokgo Myeong spoke to the Cheon I-gak-won members.
“All four of you, withdraw. Return to your posts.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have torches?”
“We do.”
“Give me those, and hang a cloth at the entrance so no light escapes when you leave.”
“Jeon Myeong.”
Dokgo Myeong exhaled slowly, then blew heat into the torch’s kindling.
Whoosh!
Light soon flickered to life in the dim cave.
Dokgo Myeong crouched before the two men trembling with fear.
Then, with his free hand, he roughly tore away the masks covering their faces.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh! Ugh!”
As he brought the torch closer, the two men squinted and lowered their heads.
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Who are you? Why did you say you wanted to see the Cheonma Sect Leader?”
“W-who are you?”
“Reveal your true identities first. We won’t let this slide like those soft Cheon I-gak-won disciples do.”
The more composed of the two men spoke.
“That’s impossible. I’ll speak only when the Cheonma Sect Leader Dokgo Myeong arrives.”
“Acting defiant in a situation like this.”
“It’s not that. This is something I must tell only the Cheonma Sect Leader….”
“Speak now or I’ll kill you. Reveal your identity.”
“Please summon the Cheonma Sect Leader.”
“This is your last chance. Reveal who you are. If I have to ask again, you die.”
Dokgo Myeong raised one hand straight.
Crack!
Overwhelming killing intent poured forth.
Then, the frail-looking man trembled and cried out.
“Muyong Cheol, Elder Council Leader of the Moyong Family! This is Overseer Wi Jang-chun! We’ve come to see the Black Dragon Lord Dokgo Myeong!”
* * *
After waiting for the atmosphere to settle, Dokgo Gun unlocked their shackles and asked.
“So you two sent that letter.”
“You received a letter? Surely not?”
Wi Jang-chun lifted his head.
Immediately after, he alternated his gaze between the faces of the Dokgo brothers shadowed by torchlight and exclaimed.
“Black Dragon?!”
Dokgo Myeong glanced at Dokgo Gun.
“It seems you know each other? Then your identity is confirmed?”
“The Elder Council Leader is uncertain, but I have a memory of meeting the Overseer.”
“Ah, now that I think about it, our Left Army Captain went to the final negotiations, didn’t he?”
Dokgo Gun greeted Wi Jang-chun calmly.
“It’s been a long time.”
“If the Black Dragon has appeared, then this means….”
Dokgo Myeong spoke.
“I am Dokgo Myeong.”
“The Cheonma Sect Leader!”
“You sought me out?”
Dokgo Myeong and Dokgo Gun collapsed into the wooden chairs placed in the cave. There were only two.
Wi Jang-chun and Muyong Cheol dared not rise to their feet, despite their shackles being removed.
“H-how could you treat us this way, knowing who we are….”
Muyong Cheol’s complaint escaped his lips.
Dokgo Myeong nodded his head.
“Ah, such treatment is unbecoming. I made an error.”
“Y-yes…? Ah, I’m relieved you understand! We’ve come to present the Dokgo Family with a proposal that holds nothing but benefit….”
Dokgo Myeong’s hand swept through the air.
Crack!
A sound like a drum bursting echoed through the cave.
Muyong Cheol’s body lifted from the ground and slammed directly into the wall.
“Gack!”
He raised his head, clutching his mouth as blood streamed from it.
“Wh-what is this… Ugh!”
Smack!
“Hack!”
Thud! Crack! Smash!
“Ugh! Cough! S-stop! Stooop!”
Muyong Cheol thrashed and screamed.
Only then did Dokgo Myeong cease his assault and withdraw his hand.
“Wh-why did you… Hck!”
His lips were split and several teeth were missing, his speech slurred.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled, watching Muyong Cheol tremble in panic.
“I treated an enemy as an enemy. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“We are not enemies!”
“Then say that in front of those Pacheonggun bastards.”
“…!”
“I don’t care what you say. So keep your mouth in check. Especially you.”
Muyong Cheol flinched and shrank back.
Dokgo Myeong stared directly at Muyong Cheol, his eyes flashing.
‘Muyong Cheol. The Moyong Family’s Elder Council Leader Muyong Cheol… This bastard crawled in of his own accord.’
Dokgo Myeong wore a cold smile.
It was fortunate he’d regained his composure. In truth, with that first strike, he’d nearly broken the man’s neck instead of his mouth.
But that would not do. This man belonged to someone else’s reckoning.
“Hahaha!”
“…?”
“My mood has suddenly improved. Good. If you watch your tongue, I’ll treat you well enough. Do you understand?”
“Ah, I understand.”
“You understand?”
“Ah, I understand, sir.”
“You understand, sir? Tsk, this won’t do. There are still so many people who don’t know me.”
“Ah, I understand, sir!!”
At the booming declaration, Dokgo Myeong let out a derisive snort.
Wi Jang-chun cast a sidelong glance at Muyong Cheol.
“This shallow greeting….”
After glaring for a long moment, Wi Jang-chun turned to Dokgo Myeong with a composed expression and opened his mouth.
“Please disregard the Alliance Leader’s words. His sentiment does not represent ‘our’ will.”
“Our?”
Dokgo Gun seized upon that phrase.
Wi Jang-chun took a moment to steady his breathing before speaking.
“There are those within the Moyong Family who harbor concerns about the Gaju’s conduct… or rather, who oppose his intentions.”
“Opposition.”
“Today I have come on their behalf. You should have received the gift.”
“You mean the internal affairs of the Moyong Family?”
“Indeed.”
“It seemed too meager to call a gift.”
“Used properly, it will become a fine blade to sway public opinion throughout the martial realm.”
“My point is, if we win this war, we’ll learn all of it anyway.”
Dokgo Myeong turned to look at Dokgo Gun. Their gazes intertwined in the empty space between them.
When Dokgo Gun slowly nodded once, Dokgo Myeong turned his head back and spoke.
“Very well. You said your name was Overseer Wi? I think I might be able to have a conversation with you. Let me hear what you have to say.”
“….”
“But as you can see, my temperament is what it is, and I have little qualm about killing a few men. You’ll need to choose your words carefully.”
“…I understand, sir.”
“So then, what is your reason for seeking me out and even sending a gift?”

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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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