Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 370

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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 370
“We’re all just trying to make a living here. What in the world is this nonsense?”
Dokgo Myeong grumbled incessantly as he settled into a cross-legged position on the training ground floor.
It had been ages since the war ended, and only now could he finally get down to serious cultivation. Who in this world could possibly understand the feeling of working while constantly receiving internal injury medicine and vitality elixirs every time he groaned?
“Better to die than suffer like this.”
The Outer Hall duties that Dokgo Myeong had been handling were suspended for a while.
Martial artists from all walks of life continued to pour in, but now people had stopped looking like people and started looking like work to be done—everyone was on the verge of collapse.
Work any more and you’d die. And I don’t mean that figuratively—you’d actually die.
‘Phew.’
Dokgo Myeong took a light deep breath and closed his eyes.
Uuuuuuung!
The Heavenly Outer Spirit Orb slowly rotated, extending throughout his entire body.
Turbid qi filled various acupoints where damage had occurred, and due to the considerable blood loss, his blood vessels and internal organs had sustained significant injuries.
Hwa-a had helped, and he’d tended to his wounds in spare moments, yet here he was in this state.
‘Still, at this rate it should be quick.’
Dokgo Myeong exhaled sharply.
Tsssssss!
The Dark Heaven Technique activated.
A brilliant light mixing Xiao-tian, Hui-tian, Hong-tian, and Sheng-tian enveloped his body.
It was as if he were being enclosed in a cocoon. The true qi that unraveled thread by thread began to wrap around Dokgo Myeong’s entire body without gaps.
Crack!
In an instant, blood vessels stood out across Dokgo Myeong’s entire body.
The turbid qi accumulated in all his acupoints churned and gathered in his stomach, then traveled up his esophagus to his throat.
“Cough!”
Splash!
A murky, blackish liquid of indeterminate nature spilled onto the floor.
Whoooosh!
The true qi that had enveloped Dokgo Myeong’s body burst outward in all directions.
Simultaneously, his pallid complexion returned to normal in an instant.
“Hah.”
Dokgo Myeong opened his eyes.
The blue radiance of Xiao-tian qi gathered and faded in his gaze.
“Fortunately, the Heavenly Outer Spirit Orb remained intact without damage, so I was able to expel it quickly.”
In that moment, Dokgo Myeong’s expression hardened.
Right—his true qi had sustained no damage.
That shouldn’t have been possible given the circumstances.
“…In my battle against Jimeol Magoon, I poured everything into it with the resolve to recuperate for a long time.”
Dokgo Myeong calmly recalled that day.
He hadn’t been in a position to hold back against Jimeol Magoon. Though he’d had the advantage in compatibility, he’d been overwhelmed in absolute power.
‘So I truly expended everything. I was prepared to even draw upon my original source qi if needed.’
But in that final moment.
Right when that one tried to unfold the Suction Seal Art by forcing true energy into his body….
‘My true energy came back to life.’
Not only did I avoid having my true energy stolen by the Suction Seal Art, but it temporarily amplified and recovered as well. As if true energy of the same lineage had been injected into my body.
‘What on earth could it have been.’
Thanks to that, I was actually able to exchange several moves with the Grand General and Muyong Tae.
I was too frantic back then to ponder it, but it was definitely something I needed to examine carefully.
“Those bastards definitely used the terms Life and Death Art and Reverse Heaven Energy.”
Dokgo Myeong’s expression, muttered softly, suddenly hardened.
Crunch!
He ground his teeth roughly.
“Reverse Heaven Energy… isn’t that Hyeok Wi-sang’s true energy?”
Hyeok Wi-sang, the Shin Blood Sect Leader.
That one whom the Blood Sect disciples praised as the Hyeolbul Returned and the Maitreya Incarnate.
Whether that one was truly the incarnation of Hyeolbul as the disciples claimed, I couldn’t say, but it was a fact that he wielded tremendous power that no human should possess.
And the disciples called that power Reverse Heaven Energy.
‘That’s why I had to expend an enormous amount when sealing that one’s inner power.’
The phrase “the greatest inner power under heaven” was hardly an exaggeration. In quantity, quality, output, and firepower alike, it was something that couldn’t be opposed.
‘Nonsense. Words that make no sense….’
I want to just brush it aside, but I can’t, so all that comes out is a sigh.
Hunchen Art.
Didn’t the final secret realm of the Heavenly Outer Realm, which even my Sect Leader had been vague about, exist?
‘That black energy that erupted on its own that day. I’m now almost certain that’s the Hunchen Art.’
What if that was Reverse Heaven Energy?
Then why would the divine art Heavenly Outer Realm be connected to the energy of those Blood Sect bastards?
‘What was the Jeongheol Sect trying to test?’
It was far inferior compared to the Heavenly Outer Realm, but there were definitely similar aspects.
‘The same goes for Muyong Tae’s Northern Ming Divine Art.’
Didn’t I feel a phenomenon of cancellation in how that one operated his inner power?
Suddenly, my Sect Leader’s warning struck like lightning through my mind.
-The Heavenly Outer Realm has too much karma tangled up from its very creation.
-That karma may befall you in the future.
“Sect Leader.”
Dokgo Myeong looked up at the sky.
“Did you really teach me martial arts connected to those bastards?”
In that moment, his complexion darkened.
“…Could you have been a Blood Sect disciple?”
The sky offered no answer.
Dokgo Myeong, who had been staring at the sky with sharp eyes, closed his mouth as if deflated.
“Well, I don’t know about other things, but it can’t be that.”
It’s not that I trust my Sect Leader. What trust could I possibly have in a nobleman whose name I don’t even know? There’s simply something that makes me hesitant to definitively label him as a Jeongheol Disciple.
The reason being that I sensed no traces of evil arts or peculiar energy that would mark him as a Jeongheol Disciple.
The fact that he transmitted the Cheon Wae Gyeong to me, knowing full well I would clash with the Twin Horse Alliance.
The fact that those opponents lack the sensory nodes my Sect Leader emphasized so relentlessly.
And above all else….
‘Our Sect Leader spoke clearly. The Cheon Wae Gyeong shares its roots with the martial techniques of the Central Plains’ renowned schools.’
So even if they might share some lineage, my Sect Leader could not possibly be a Jeongheol Disciple.
‘Besides, given my Sect Leader’s temperament, he would never serve under Hyeok Wi-sang.’
Unless he were some hidden mastermind in the shadows, no matter how strong Hyeok Wi-sang is, he could never command my Sect Leader.
Furthermore, why would someone who could rival our Sect Leader—wherever he may be and whatever he may be doing—ever become a Jeongheol Disciple?
‘In any case, it’s clear that the Cheon Wae Gyeong is a martial technique with a rather murky scent to it.’
I sensed there might be secrets difficult to handle easily.
And there was only one way to obtain answers to all these questions.
“I need to find my Sect Leader.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed.
But first, there was something I had to do.
Whoosh!
As Dokgo Myeong rose from his seat, the energy of the Dark Heaven Technique began to surge through his entire body once more.
“To even have a conversation, I need to reach at least the Martial Extreme.”
The pinnacle of martial arts that humans can attain.
To reach that realm bordering on the illusory, I would need the resolve to abandon everything I had accumulated thus far and leap upward. Even in my past life, reaching this realm was difficult, and I did not believe it would come easily in this life.
‘My newly created martial technique has reached the completion stage. Now it’s time to unify it all.’
The Cheon Wae Young Dan, the Martial Extreme Heavenly Wave Sutra, the movement technique and combat method still without names.
And conveniently, a martial technique worth referencing for this purpose had come into my hands.
Slip.
Dokgo Myeong withdrew a book from his bosom.
[Northern Darkness Divine Technique]
It was then that I stared intently at those four characters.
“What are you doing?”
“Goodness, you startled me!”
Dokgo Myeong jumped in surprise while quickly hiding the secret manual back in his bosom.
“You dodge assassins even in your sleep, yet you’re so easily startled?”
Ye-hwa appeared without a trace, speaking flatly.
“Inma! You wouldn’t understand! I was concentrating!”
“What exactly were you concentrating on so intently? Surely nothing strange….”
“Strange? What are you talking about?”
“Well, you’re an adult too, Captain. I understand.”
“What is this child thinking right now? This is it, this! The one I took from Muyong Tae’s bosom back then!”
“…The Northern Darkness Divine Technique? Why are you reading something so ominous? You said you’d burn it.”
Dokgo Myeong grumbled.
“By filtering out the nonsense and reading only what was useful, I thought I could supplement my martial techniques.”
“…Is it not rather late to covet another’s martial arts now?”
“I’ll do as I see fit. More importantly, weren’t you training with Gwak Hyeong?”
Ye-hwa had been wandering about with Gwak Dae-ryong, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, exchanging martial techniques between father and daughter.
Gwak Dae-ryong was teaching the archery of the Cheon I-gak, which he had created by stripping away the killing intent from Salgok’s martial arts, while Ye-hwa demonstrated her own archery technique, which she had innovated based on her experiences in the martial world and the Jincheonu martial arts.
“I was just coming back from training. There was some commotion at the Sect Leader’s residence.”
“Commotion? What happened?”
“From what I heard, it seems the emissaries of the Three Great Families will arrive around tomorrow. I thought I should inform you… Captain? Captain?”
“….”
For a moment, it felt as though I had been struck hard on the back of my head.
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes twitched at the corners.
“…Why?”
“Pardon?”
“Why? Why are they coming so soon? Weren’t they supposed to arrive later? They’ve already rushed all that distance?”
“Rushed? They sent word ahead of time.”
“…!”
“Captain? Why do you have that expression?”
So that was it!
That was why he had so readily granted me rest!
Once the heads of the Three Great Families arrived, I wouldn’t be able to rest anyway!
‘Dokgo Un-hak, you deceived me…!’
The image of Dokgo Un-hak smiling with his lips curled up flashed through my mind.
* * *
-The Dokgo Family overwhelmingly crushed the alliance of the Moyong Family and the Jeongheol Sect.
-When the Geom Wang spoke, a thousand martial artists fell.
-The war was fought for the sake of innocent commoners suffering because of Sima Waidao.
-He even forgave his enemies and showed benevolence and compassion, allowing the Moyong line to continue.
The public opinion circulating about this war was roughly along these lines.
There were minor questions—whether the rumors spread too quickly, whether the exaggeration was severe, or whether certain details subtly differed from the truth—but….
In any case, all of it had arisen naturally.
Would the Dokgo Family, being the greatest clan under heaven, have even sent out Cheon I-gak-won disciples to spread rumors?
Righteous martial artists would simply accept it without suspicion and move on.
But those whose time had already come to fruition did not simply move on.
“It has been a while, Geom Wang.”
“You must have had a difficult journey from so far away, Jegal Family Head.”
Shin-san Jegal Mun had made the journey himself from distant Hubei to this place in Hangzhou.
“There are many rumors spreading throughout the martial world.”
“It was an incident that drew the attention of the entire martial world, after all.”
“I have heard some strange rumors as well. For instance… that the Moyong Family has been taken in as a vassal clan.”
“Why do you speak as though there is some problem with that?”
“Of course there’s a problem. How could you proceed with such matters without informing the Alliance at all?”
“….”
“In the initial negotiations, there was certainly no mention of such things. Isn’t that right, Cheonma Sect Leader?”
The Jegal Family Head’s piercing gaze turned toward Dokgo Myeong, seated beside Dokgo Un-hak.
“Ah, should I be calling you by your new title now—the Heavenly Sword of Divine Tremor? Your reputation has been making quite a stir even in Hubei, where my family’s main branch resides.”
The Heavenly Sword of Divine Tremor? A newly acquired epithet?
In any case, the martial world certainly did love bestowing such titles.
“Ahem! It’s merely an undeserved reputation, I’m afraid.”
“So what do you make of this situation?”
“I’m not entirely certain….”
Dokgo Myeong averted his gaze, pretending ignorance.
“But your complexion looks rather poor. Are you unwell?”
“Ah, no, I’m fine. It’s just….”
Dokgo Myeong glanced sideways at Dokgo Un-hak, grinding his teeth.
“I’ve been unable to rest for days, deceived by a certain someone.”
Dokgo Un-hak didn’t even snort in response.
“In any case, our captain owed you a great debt before.”
“If you understand that, I hope this final negotiation proceeds more smoothly.”
“Ah, I’m not well-informed on such matters. Our Chairman handles all of that….”
“Weren’t you called the Outer Hall Master? Did I mishear?”
Dokgo Un-hak, who had been listening silently, shook his head firmly.
“You heard correctly. The current Cheonma Sect Leader is serving as the temporary Outer Hall Master. He oversees all external affairs of the main family regarding matters related to the Moyong Family.”
Dokgo Un-hak… this relentless man….
The next day.
After some time had passed, the Hwangbo Family Head arrived, and Paeng Dae-seong, an Elder of the Paeng Family standing in for the Paeng Family Head, also came.
Since Paeng Dae-seong’s arrival was delayed, the conference was postponed to the following day, and after breakfast, everyone had just taken their seats when——
“Oh my, I’m a bit late! Surely you wouldn’t proceed without us!”
“Ju Hyeong!”
“Ah, little brother. It’s me. Surprised?”
Ju Won-gwang, the Hu Gu-dangju of the Gae-bang whose whereabouts had been unknown, appeared scratching his head as the representative of the Gae-bang.
“You’ve been alive all this time and haven’t sent a single word? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“Sorry, sorry! Wait, hold on! Why are you raising your fist, you bastard!”
“More importantly, where is the Bangju?”
“…I haven’t heard from him since we split up in Fujian.”
“….”
“I barely made it here myself. The Gae-bang is still in chaos. Those Jeongheol Disciples have been raging madly ever since their defeat.”
The Jeongheol Sect had suffered irreparable damage from this war. That news had reached the ears of common disciples as well, so their frenzied behavior was only natural.
Even with the war’s end, the realm remained in turmoil.
In any case, the conference began in this manner.
“Then let us now proceed with the conference to bring matters to a close.”
Throughout the realm, the Dokgo Family was known as the victor of this war.
Yet the truth was somewhat different.
Gae-bang sacrificed their own flesh and blood to bring intelligence from within Jeolgang, while dispersing the Jeongheol Sect’s forces.
The Three Great Houses pressured the Moyong Family to position a portion of their troops in the upper regions, and by drawing in Jeongheol Disciples, they enabled the Dokgo Family to swiftly enter Jeolgang.
In other words, everyone gathered here had justification to claim their share.
Before announcing the war’s end, one final negotiation was essential.
And Jegal Mun signaled its beginning.
“We must address this matter first and foremost.”
Jegal Mun’s eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.
“We must uproot the Moyong Family’s bloodline. I urge you to sever the neck of Moryong Sohgyo and that child—the last remaining heir of the Moyong Family—as soon as possible.”

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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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