Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 385

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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 385
Dokgo Ak was grumbling as he packed his belongings.
“Why does it have to be me again? Is he dragging me along just because his hands are itching for a fight? This alley thug of an older brother really….”
He muttered with obvious displeasure, yet the corners of his mouth were subtly raised. His packing motions carried a certain lightness to them.
‘Does he think I’m not busy? I have so much to do.’
First, as the third squad leader of the Cheonma Sect, I need to train the disciples.
‘Though Bang Dan-a has been handling that for me lately.’
Beyond that, there are also duties as a military officer.
‘Though truthfully, I haven’t had any real officer duties to perform yet.’
And then, what else… was there?
In that moment, Dokgo Ak’s hands froze.
‘Could it be that I’m the one with the least to do in the entire Cheonma Sect?’
His face fell in shock, mouth agape.
That was when it happened.
“Are you still awake?”
A voice called from beyond the door.
“Father?”
“Yes, if you’re not asleep yet, let me come in for a moment.”
“W-wait just a moment, please!”
The moment Dokgo Ak rushed to tidy his utterly disheveled room, the door swung open.
Dokgo Jo-hak’s eyes took in the chaotic state of the room and his son cradling an armful of miscellaneous items.
Dokgo Jo-hak clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
“Tidy up and live properly. Your room is like a pigsty.”
“W-well, I was in the middle of packing….”
“If you pack one more time, everything will scatter to the winds.”
His irritable tone spared no exception, not even for his own son.
Though it was enough to feel hurt, Dokgo Ak simply laughed it off. He understood his father found it awkward to initiate conversation.
“By the way, what are the servants doing that you’re packing yourself?”
“These days I’m handling most things on my own without borrowing anyone’s hands.”
“Why go out of your way?”
“Well… I should take care of my own affairs myself.”
It was actually Dokgo Myeong who had pushed him toward this, but there was no need to mention that.
Dokgo Ak hastily cleared the scattered clothes on the table and sat facing his father.
“What brings you here, Father?”
“I heard you’re going to Hubei with Myeong-i this time.”
“Ah, is that why you came?”
“Hmm, actually that’s not quite it….”
Dokgo Jo-hak cleared his throat once, then spoke carefully.
“If there’s anything troubling you lately, you’re free to speak of it.”
“Pardon?”
“There was so much that happened during this war. If something troubles you….”
Dokgo Jo-hak didn’t finish his sentence, instead letting out a series of awkward coughs as he deliberately looked away.
‘Could he actually be concerned about me?’
Dokgo Ak’s eyes widened. This was the first time his father had approached him in such a manner.
‘Now that I think about it… I don’t think I’ve had many conversations with Father.’
As I grew older, I never made the effort to reach out either. It just felt awkward, uncomfortable, and somehow frightening….
‘Why was that?’
I’m not entirely sure. I suppose it just happened gradually as I kept hiding things.
In truth, he should be the closest and most comfortable person in the world to me—so why had it become so difficult?
Dokgo Ak pondered for a moment before suddenly opening his mouth.
“Father….”
“Hmm?”
“Have you ever felt ashamed of yourself?”
“What?”
“The truth is….”
Dokgo Ak honestly laid bare all the thoughts and worries he had harbored. Once he broke the ice, the words flowed out even more freely than when he had spoken to Dokgo Myeong.
“…That’s why I ended up following along.”
“….”
After finishing his words, Dokgo Ak cautiously glanced at his father’s expression and was startled.
‘Huh?’
It was an expression I had never seen before.
Regret, bewilderment, sorrow, and pride—all of them tangled together on his face.
“Ak.”
“Yes?”
“I….”
Dokgo Jo-hak fell silent for a moment, then continued slowly.
“I’ve lived my entire life trapped in such thoughts.”
“…!”
“I’m sorry. Because I’m a failure of a father… it seems you’ve come to see and learn even those aspects.”
“What are you saying! That’s not it.”
“No. No, it is.”
Dokgo Jo-hak let out a long sigh like a man who didn’t know how to have this kind of conversation.
For Dokgo Ak, this was a side of his father he had never witnessed.
After a long silence, Dokgo Jo-hak gazed into the distance and spoke.
“Just as you have Myeong-i, I too had remarkable older brothers and sisters.”
“….”
“My oldest brother… needed no explanation. Even when I was young, I heard he carried the blood of Geom-jon most deeply.”
Dokgo Jo-hak sighed.
“And your aunt—my older sister—had an extraordinarily brilliant mind. Truly exceptional.”
She had learned martial arts not through her body but through her intellect. How many times had I been shocked as a child, watching my sister recite secret manuals word-for-word after reading them just once?
“The tutors we brought in from outside changed so frequently that one of them could have easily become a great scholar. Perhaps that’s why? From childhood, my older sister had an odd aversion to the martial world, and one day she defied the Sect Leader’s wishes and entered the palace.”
I envied her. The courage to forge her own path without fearing my father’s gaze.
“Then what of Uncle Dokgo Wi-hak…?”
“My younger brother was only slightly younger than me, yet he was compared to my older brother. At that time, the Twin Dragons of the Dokgo Family were those two.”
Dokgo Jo-hak’s eyes grew distant.
“I was born into a family where all the greatest talents under heaven were my siblings. In comparison, I was merely a man of decent ability. Whenever I looked back, I found myself… so utterly insignificant beside them.”
“Father, insignificant? That cannot be true!”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“Of course!”
Dokgo Jo-hak chuckled softly.
“Yes, of course. To others, I must appear quite remarkable. But in my own eyes, you appear the same way.”
“…!”
“I understand your heart well. When one feels insignificant, no words truly reach the ears. The mind is already filled with one’s own harsh voice.”
And those words are always cruel.
“Sometimes thoughts become like a door without a key. When open, it serves well, but once locked, what lies within rots and crumbles before it can ever be opened again.”
“…Then what must be done?”
“Break it.”
“…!”
“Once broken, you realize it was never so formidable.”
Dokgo Jo-hak smiled gently.
“One day you will face such a moment. When that day comes, I hope you will not fear the breaking.”
Dokgo Ak asked carefully.
“How did you come to such enlightenment, Father?”
“Heh, enlightenment you say. This old fool… I…”
Dokgo Jo-hak paused suddenly, then his body trembled as if recalling something.
“Ah, Father?”
The startled Dokgo Ak called out to him cautiously.
Crack!
A grinding sound of teeth echoed from Dokgo Jo-hak’s mouth.
“Dokgo Myeong. That damnable bastard was the reason.”
“Y-yes?”
“He forced me to break. That vicious wretch, pummeling his own uncle to dust while grinning wickedly! If not for that incident back then…!”
Ah, that’s right.
I remember the image of Dokgo Myeong rubbing his palms together and swinging his fists.
“Wait. Are you saying I should also be beaten to come to my senses?”
“Ah, does it have to come to that?”
Father! What kind of nonsense is that!
“Ahem! In any case, think bigger and broader. Don’t get so caught up in it.”
“But what…”
Wasn’t the atmosphere just fine a moment ago?
Can I really end things like this?
‘…That’s not wrong.’
If I live without my wits about me, Dokgo Myeong will come find me….
Now that I think about it, it’s amusing. It’s not like some saying made up to stop children from crying.
“Ak-i.”
“Yes.”
“You will become a better person than this inadequate father of yours. So live while observing those around you carefully. Don’t you have many good people nearby?”
Dokgo Ak grinned widely.
“Yes, because a person like you, Father, is also my father.”
“…What shameless words.”
Dokgo Jo-hak turned his head away sharply.
Watching him, Dokgo Ak felt an inexplicable joy. It was as if something that had been stuck in his mind had cleared away a little more.
“Father. In the future, may I ask you for advice when difficult matters arise?”
Dokgo Jo-hak paused.
Then he nodded curtly.
“That’s up to you.”
“Yes.”
“Finish your preparations quickly and get some rest. It’s getting late.”
“May you have a peaceful night as well, Father.”
“Very well.”
As Dokgo Jo-hak stepped through the door, he felt an odd sensation and turned back several times.
It was both embarrassing and reassuring.
I never thought the day would come when I’d have such a conversation with my son. I always believed that a father should only show his children a stern and strong face.
‘There was no need for that.’
My child had become a man without my noticing.
Now that I think about it, we’ve never sat together and shared a drink. It might be nice to arrange such an occasion sometime.
That’s when it happened.
“Tsk, so our Commander can smile like that too. Why don’t you keep smiling like that from now on?”
At the voice that came from somewhere, Dokgo Jo-hak’s smile twisted in an instant.
“This impudent bastard….”
“Why do you curse right away again?”
“Whenever I see you, curses come out.”
Dokgo Myeong walked over with a smirk.
“By the way, how was the conversation between father and son?”
In truth, Dokgo Jo-hak had visited his son’s room today because of Dokgo Myeong’s request. Though he never expected to have such a conversation.
“You cunning fellow.”
“Hehe.”
“…When I go on the inspection tour this time, please look after Ak-i.”
“Don’t worry. Who am I, after all?”
* * *
“Are you prepared?”
“….”
The moment Dokgo Myeong stepped outside the family compound, his eyes began to gleam.
‘…This is bad.’
I should have seen this coming.
Only then did Dokgo Ak realize that everything had gone wrong.
“Since our sect leader went so far as to ask me personally, I’ll pay a bit more attention to you.”
Father! Why would you say such a thing!
“When there’s leisure, idle thoughts arise. So what happens when there’s no leisure?”
“….”
“The idle thoughts disappear. Do you understand?”
“…I, I just want to go back.”
“Who’s going to send you?”
“…!”
“Hehehehe! Little brother, give up now. From here on, it’s just you and me. Shall we spend some quality time together?”
Dokgo Myeong let out a sinister laugh.
“Don’t worry. Martial arts growth? I’ll teach you that. Once the Ascension Realm falls into my hands, it’ll be like eating rice cakes while lying down!”
“You’ll choke to death eating rice cakes while lying down!”
“Look at you spouting nonsense—you still have leisure in you.”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I—!”
Dokgo Myeong grinned wickedly and slung his hyeonchul sword across his shoulder.
Clang!
Dark bloodstains were scattered across the black blade.
Did he not even maintain his weapon? Whose blood was that anyway?
“Little brother.”
“Hik! W-why?”
“What do you think you’re lacking right now?”
“That is….”
Dokgo Ak clamped his mouth shut.
I had no idea.
My spirit, body, inner force, martial arts, training volume, and combat experience were all more than sufficient—yet breaking through the barrier still seemed distant.
“I don’t know. What exactly am I lacking?”
“Enlightenment.”
“Enlightenment? What kind of enlightenment exactly?”
“How would I know?”
What? Is he picking a fight? He says something and then what?
Just as Dokgo Ak’s expression was about to turn strange, Dokgo Myeong continued.
“Usually when martial arts growth stalls, it’s a matter of enlightenment, isn’t it? Once you blame it on enlightenment, nine times out of ten you’re right.”
“Ah, but that’s….”
“So let’s obtain enlightenment starting now.”
“You’re just spouting off whatever comes to mind because it’s not your problem, aren’t you?”
“It’s true that it’s not my problem, right?”
I must be insane. I actually expected something from this bastard.
“I’m asking out of concern, but….”
“Yeah, go ahead and ask.”
“How exactly are you planning to achieve enlightenment?”
“Suffer enough and enlightenment tends to appear on its own.”
“Damn it! I knew this would happen!”
Clang!
Dokgo Ak drew his blade.
“Did you think I’d go down so easily?”
“Oh, so our reckless little brother has finally gained some confidence?”
“Do you think I’m the same Dokgo Ak from before? Prepare yourself!”
“Your enthusiasm is admirable. But I won’t be fighting you.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
That was when it happened.
“Guffaw guffaw guffaw!”
“Hahahaha!”
Rough-looking men with boisterous laughter suddenly appeared in the middle of the mountain path.
“Hey there, young masters. What era do you think this is, coming up this mountain path? Do you really trust those toothpick swords?”
“Who dares trespass through our Daesan Bandits’ territory!”
“Kehehehe! If you just leave your valuables and run, we might let you live!”
Dokgo Ak’s expression turned sour as he glanced to the side.
“Don’t tell me…?”
“What?”
“The route you guided us through… and the warning not to wear clothes with the main family’s emblem… was it intentional?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Dokgo Myeong replied flatly.
“Go deal with the Daesan Bandits or whatever and come back.”
“…Why me?”
“Because you’ll get beaten by me if you don’t?”
“….”
“Well, they’re just bandits, so there should be some limits. I’ll give you half an hour. If you’re late, our sparring session will get longer too.”
Grind!
Dokgo Ak gnashed his teeth as he glared at the bandits.
The bandits all trembled involuntarily.
‘What is this?’
‘His eyes are red?’
‘Something feels wrong….’
Though they sensed danger instinctively, it was already too late, and the Daesan Bandits met their end that day.
* * *
Dokgo Ak let out a groan, his face gaunt and haggard.
“Ugh… water, wa-water…!”
“What, a man complaining like this?”
“Y-you… damn bastard! Just find an inn and let me rest already! How many more places are we passing by!?”
“I already have an inn picked out. Besides, why do you keep speaking in fragments?”
“Because I don’t have the strength to speak at length, that’s why!”
Dokgo Ak shouted, his face flushed with anger.
From the main family estate to the Infinite Martial Arts Tournament grounds in Honam.
Throughout the brief journey of several days, Dokgo Ak had become nothing more than a test subject for Dokgo Myeong’s martial arts innovations under the guise of training, and whenever they encountered bandits blocking their path, they had to fight.
As a result, they had destroyed nine mountain strongholds, three water bandit hideouts, and four Black Blade sect branches.
“I’m starting to sound like a wandering hero, which was never my fate. More than that, why are there so many bandits? At this rate, bandits will be sprouting from the hills behind every village and thieves from every stream! And how am I supposed to gain enlightenment like this!?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly as he watched Dokgo Ak grumble.
‘He still hasn’t figured it out.’
In fact, from Dokgo Myeong’s perspective, there was only one thing that Dokgo Ak needed: conviction.
Certainty.
Though he had lived his life basking in his own excellence, it was precisely because of that arrogance that he had matured and lost his conviction.
Moreover, surrounded by so many remarkable individuals, he had grown increasingly anxious, unaware of just how extraordinary his own abilities truly were.
‘It’s somewhat distasteful to boost that arrogant fool’s confidence, but there’s no helping it.’
Once he realized how much he could accomplish alone, conviction would naturally follow.
‘Still…’
As he had said, there were far too many bandits. Among them were quite a few who had properly learned martial arts.
‘The security in Honam, where the main family resides, has deteriorated.’
The commoners who had only been robbed now picked up swords instead of sickles, determined to rob and survive themselves. Bandits were always born this way.
Furthermore, the proliferation of bandits was always the beginning of chaos. What was needed urgently was a strong order to grip the realm.
And now, Dokgo Myeong was on his way to meet the one who would become the master of that order.
“Oh my! Handsome young masters! Have you come to participate in the martial arts tournament being held at the Infinite Grounds this year? Might I ask if you’ve secured lodgings?”
Just then, an innkeeper approached them, soliciting for business.
Dokgo Ak suddenly had a thought.
‘Come to think of it, isn’t it almost the new year? Is this when the martial arts tournament is held?’
Dokgo Myeong and Dokgo Ak, clearly young men to anyone’s eyes, certainly looked like they could be participants in the martial arts tournament.
‘Could he be aiming for that…?’
At that moment, Dokgo Myeong beside him spoke up.
“Is there something famous about this place?”
“Our Taewhagak is a small inn, but our dumplings and Olyangju wine are quite renowned!”
Something about his words didn’t quite add up.
What did being a small inn have to do with dumplings and Olyangju, and how could a small inn possibly stock such a famous premium wine?
“Fine. Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
The two men followed the innkeeper.
Dokgo Ak soon nudged Dokgo Myeong with his elbow and whispered.
“Brother.”
“What.”
“That just now was a blackening, wasn’t it?”
Dokgo Myeong let out a soft chuckle.
“You’ve got good instincts.”
“Really? Then could it be…?”
“I’m watching carefully from the side. To see that such a world exists.”
Upon entering the Tae Hwa Pavilion, Dokgo Myeong soon spotted a middle-aged man dressed in white robes and a long robe.
“Welcome, young hero of the martial realm.”
The Sword Immortal Baek Mu-heun was smiling broadly.

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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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