Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 371

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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 371
The Moyong Family had become a succulent roasted whole bird, perfectly golden and appetizing.
With every bone picked clean, all that remained was for the chef to slice the meat and distribute it among the guests seated at the table.
Naturally, the Dokgo Family would be the one distributing the meat and claiming the largest, most delicious portions.
But from their perspective, it was only natural to want to extract even a single additional piece.
‘So they’re going straight for the most painful pressure point.’
The first target Jegal Mun chose was none other than Moyong Sohgyo.
“The extermination of the Moyong clan was agreed upon from the beginning. Do you now intend to overturn that decision?”
“The Moyong Family has already been exterminated. There are countless Moyongs scattered across the realm, yet you believe the Jegal Family Head should annihilate the entire bloodline?”
“How could I speak such ominous words? I merely suggest that the direct line should face punishment. The entire martial world laments the Moyong clan’s wickedness. And is Moyong Sohgyo not of the direct line?”
Dokgo Myeong interjected as well.
“She serves as my strategist and provided invaluable assistance during the war. She abandoned her family long ago and earned merit—how can you demand her execution?”
“Before that, she was a direct blood relative who participated in the Moyong clan’s atrocities. She must be implicated in the incidents at Hubei’s Dengyong Fortress, no?”
Damn it. He’s actually bringing that up. The Jegal Family Head’s tongue is truly sharp.
‘He doesn’t actually want Moyong Sohgyo’s head. He’s pressing on the most sensitive point to gain leverage in negotiations.’
Perhaps that’s why the Hwangbo Family and Paeng Family remained silent.
“Moreover, to take the Moyong clan as a vassal family and appoint Moyong Sohgyo as its head? It is utterly preposterous.”
“Do the rest of you share this sentiment?”
At Dokgo Un-hak’s words, Hwangbo Cheong and Paeng Dae-seong both nodded.
“I cannot fathom why your family insists on preserving the Moyong clan’s lineage.”
“Could it be that the Dokgo Family is orchestrating this entire affair to completely absorb the Moyong Family’s assets?”
Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes narrowed.
“Your words overstep. What do you take us for?”
“You deny it?”
“Of course.”
“Yet what I’ve heard differs. The Cheonma Sect Leader has been meeting with local influential figures day after day….”
“Ahem! What are you even saying? I know nothing of such matters. Besides, we suffered greatly in that war—what’s wrong with saving one person?!”
“Why are you raising your voice?”
“Did I say anything wrong?”
“Is this the Dokgo Family’s official position?!”
“And if it is, what then?”
“Geom Wang!”
It was chaos.
Grown men were exchanging heated words with veins bulging on their foreheads.
Yet in truth, none of them were truly angry—they were merely performing with cold, calculating eyes.
“Now, now, things are already heating up. Why don’t we all take a moment to calm down, get some fresh air, and reconvene?”
Ju Won-gwang, playing the role of mediator, stepped forward.
Thus came a recess in the proceedings.
Dokgo Un-hak issued instructions in a low voice.
“I will hear the position of Gae-bang. You try to persuade the Jegal Family Head.”
I felt my morale plummeting in real time, and I was about to grab some candy just to lift my spirits, but our Family Head’s proxy simply threw work at me and left without a second thought.
“Come with me for a moment.”
Jegal Mun-do dragged Dokgo Myeong outside as if he’d been waiting for this opportunity.
Dokgo Myeong followed along, thinking the timing was actually perfect.
* * *
Ju Won-gwang swallowed hard.
“What is the current situation in Gae-bang?”
The Sword King of All Under Heaven didn’t bother with formal pleasantries. He seemed uninterested in the Gae-bang Leader’s whereabouts as well, cutting straight to the point like a sword technique.
Right, this was how the Dokgo Family truly was. That bastard Dokgo Myeong was the strange one.
“…We are organizing things quickly. However, since those people seem intent merely on creating internal chaos rather than pursuing any specific objective, it may take some time.”
“Then you cannot claim to represent the will of all Gae-bang, can you?”
“Once the Leader returns, that will be the case. You may speak with him then.”
“Hmm.”
Dokgo Un-hak’s piercing gaze sliced through him like a blade.
My heart felt as though it had plummeted. As the Hu Gu-dangju and the next Gae-bang Leader, I prided myself on my composure, yet it was difficult to regain my composure now.
‘This crazy younger brother… You actually joked and argued with someone like this?’
It seemed I had unconsciously grown comfortable from repeatedly making light remarks about Dokgo Un-hak.
Even though I knew the likely successor to the greatest family under heaven, one of the Five Armies, the Sword King, could not possibly be taken lightly.
“Let’s say that’s settled then. So, does Gae-bang intend only to mediate?”
Ju Won-gwang spoke while inwardly releasing a sigh of relief.
“At minimum, we must receive compensation for the information we brought at the cost of blood.”
“What do you want?”
“Once the organization is complete, withdraw from Zhejiang.”
“That’s overstepping.”
Dokgo Un-hak chuckled softly.
For a moment, Ju Won-gwang felt a dizzying illusion of his throat being slit.
‘I cannot back down. This is the most important part of the grand plan my younger brother and I drew up.’
Ju Won-gwang clenched his fists tightly and spoke.
“Establishing a branch in Zhejiang and exerting influence in various sectors is acceptable. However, ruling over it is not permissible.”
“Why should we make concessions?”
“Take only Jiangxi. If you covet Zhejiang as well, the entire martial world will move to check the Dokgo Family.”
Dokgo Un-hak pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well. We shall withdraw.”
“Yes, yes?”
“That is what I said.”
Dokgo Un-hak gazed intently at Ju Won-gwang.
“And what Gae-bang wants is support to quell the chaos within Gae-bang, correct?”
“Y-yes, that is correct.”
“I will tell you this: consult with the Inner Sect Leader of the main family regarding funds and medicinal elixirs. We shall also promise full support from Cheon I-gak… and if you wish, take that bastard Dokgo Myeong with you. Would half a year of cooperation be sufficient?”
He had presented everything I wanted far too readily.
Ju Won-gwang was about to accept immediately when he suddenly closed his mouth.
After a brief pause, he looked directly at Dokgo Un-hak and spoke.
“Let us make it three months instead, and in exchange, provide more material support. We have many wounded in our division.”
Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes gleamed as he looked Ju Won-gwang up and down.
“Impressive.”
Negotiating at a time like this.
Seeing how he trembled with fear yet became bold when necessary… it seemed only capable men gathered around that Dokgo Myeong.
“Very well then. I shall handle it as the acting family head. Send me a list of what you need.”
“Yes, I shall do so.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Dokgo Un-hak’s expression changed.
Gae-bang had never intended to get involved from the start.
So only the three great families remained.
The Hwangbo and Paeng families were no concern.
The problem was Jegal Mun. Could that Dokgo Myeong actually persuade him?
* * *
In the rear courtyard of the guest hall where the conference had taken place, Dokgo Myeong and Jegal Mun stood side by side.
“Let me ask directly. What is your reason for taking the Moyong Family as retainers?”
Jegal Mun asked in a calm but cold voice.
“We cannot simply kill them all. Even traitors do not have their entire bloodlines exterminated… and we are not the type to do such things, are we?”
“What is the real reason?”
Jegal Mun’s eyes flashed.
Dokgo Myeong shrugged.
“There is no real reason to speak of.”
“Why are you like this? You are not usually this way.”
“Then perhaps it is to absorb the Moyong Family’s interests and influence. Would that suffice as an explanation?”
“There would be countless other methods without keeping the direct line alive.”
“Other methods, you say?”
“Is there not something the Dokgo Family excels at? Crushing everything with force and power.”
I cannot deny it, so I have nothing to say.
Dokgo Myeong spoke in a slightly lowered tone.
“I made a promise with a certain loyal retainer who saw things through to the end. I promised to preserve their bloodline.”
“…?”
“A person must keep their promises and live with honor, must they not?”
Jegal Mun’s eyes narrowed.
His gaze seemed to say, ‘Is this man out of his mind?’
Yes, bringing such sentimentality to a place like this is rather inappropriate.
That is why I prepared an excuse as well.
“Simply put, I wish to give a gift to my subordinate.”
“You mean Moryong Sohgyo.”
“Are you truly intending to take her life?”
“If necessary.”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
Jegal Mun’s voice turned cold in an instant.
“Do I seem incapable of it?”
“Then it seems I cannot stop you?”
“Stop me? You would prevent me from ending the life of a woman who once cooperated with the Moyong Family and has more than enough reason to die?”
“If I cannot stop you, then the Jegal Family’s signboard will be in danger that very day.”
“On what grounds?”
“Jegal Family Head. Do you think I started my conflict with the Moyong Family by quibbling over justifications from the beginning?”
“They did not guard against you. But I am not them.”
Silence descended.
Dokgo Myeong glared at Jegal Mun, then chuckled softly.
“If that were truly your intention, you would not have brought it up so openly as the first matter. Speak plainly. What do you want?”
A glimmer of light crossed Jegal Mun’s eyes.
“…A clever one indeed.”
“Pardon?”
“Good. What I want is simple. Not just for myself, but the Three Great Families desire to reclaim our old rights and interests that have fallen to the Moyong Family.”
“You must specify how far your desires extend.”
“Without limits. Everything.”
I fell into thought for a moment.
Since the Moyong Family joined hands with the Jeongheol Sect and began wielding the Three Great Families, I knew that many people, wealth, and interests had passed into their hands.
‘So he wants to reclaim all of it.’
This was rather thievish thinking.
To want to reclaim what was lost so long ago?
“What did the Three Great Families do to deserve such greed? You merely sent some troops to disperse the Moyong Family’s forces, did you not?”
“It seems you have forgotten how much money the Three Great Families invested. And what of when each family was attacked?”
“….”
“Did you not seize the opportunity when the forces were dispersed to push all the way to Zhejiang? Am I mistaken?”
“It is excessive to demand all of that for merely that much.”
“And what of you, who broke your promise and sought to swallow the Moyong Family whole?”
The two exchanged sharp words before simultaneously falling silent.
A gap in opinion that would not easily narrow.
‘This is maddening.’
Damn it, why must I handle this?
Truthfully, I had been able to defeat this man back then solely because I avoided direct confrontation and sowed discord instead.
Now the justifications and circumstances were hopelessly tangled.
‘If one side does not back down here, that will be a problem too.’
The Jegal Family Head would incite the other two families to trip up the main branch.
If that happened, the public opinion I had so carefully cultivated for the main branch would likely be greatly shaken.
‘Hmm? That might not be such a bad idea after all?’
In that moment, a tingling sensation crept across the back of my head, and it felt as though a brilliant idea was about to surface.
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed with sudden inspiration.
“Jegal Family Head.”
“Speak.”
“You understand that obtaining all of it is simply unrealistic, do you not?”
“What are you saying now?”
“Would you consider joining hands with me to devise a scheme?”
* * *
Dokgo Un-hak waited for Dokgo Myeong at the entrance of the guest hall.
“How did it go?”
“The discussion went well.”
Dokgo Myeong replied with a sly grin spreading across his face.
Dokgo Un-hak’s brow furrowed at that smile.
‘This fellow?’
By now, everyone knew.
Whenever this one wore that characteristic sinister smile, matters never ended favorably.
Though an ominous feeling crept over him, the negotiations resumed before he could ask anything.
After considerable back-and-forth, no concrete compromise had emerged when Dokgo Myeong suddenly spoke.
“We will make a concession. When you think about it, the Moyong Family has been seizing the interests of the Jegal, Hwangbo, and Paeng families through dishonorable means. We should return them to their rightful owners.”
Dokgo Un-hak’s head snapped around in surprise.
“You?”
Before Dokgo Un-hak could respond, Jegal Mun opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Your sudden concession seems suspicious. There must be conditions attached?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Dokgo Myeong glanced at Dokgo Un-hak once before continuing with a smile on his face.
“But before that….”

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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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