Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 391

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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 391
While various discussions about the Martial Alliance were in full swing.
Heo Un-jin opened his mouth.
“Baek Jang-mun.”
“Please, speak your mind.”
“I believe we should stop here.”
The weight in his voice had changed from before.
Everyone’s attention turned to Heo Un-jin.
“Stop here? What do you mean by that?”
“Do you remember what Baek Jang-mun said when he invited me to the Secret Council?”
“Of course I do.”
“You said this gathering exists to usher in a new era of peace. That my insight was necessary for that purpose.”
“Why bring that up so suddenly?”
“I’m not certain I possess any such insight, but…”
Heo Un-jin uttered a shocking statement in a calm voice.
“To these old eyes, the Martial Alliance appears no different from an organization seeking to unify the realm through the logic of force alone.”
“How can you say such a thing?”
“The form may differ, but its essence is ultimately the same—establishing a single standard and forcing the world to conform to it.”
When an alliance forms, those who are excluded naturally emerge.
Perhaps not immediately. But eventually, within the Martial Alliance’s domain, only the Alliance will be justice, and all other standards will be silenced.
With such absolute power, political strife becomes an inevitable future.
Political strife creates victims. That burden has always fallen upon the weak.
“It sounds as though you oppose the establishment of the Martial Alliance.”
“I acknowledge the necessity of an alliance council.”
His gaze fell upon Dokgo Myeong.
“A sect born from the logic of force and killing will end in force and killing. All things in this world turn in cycles, so one must not judge hastily.”
The air above the round table grew heavy.
Greater purpose and righteous path.
Heo Un-jin was discussing that difficult road which must nonetheless be pursued.
“I know my words sound like grasping at clouds. That is why I wish to say the Martial Alliance should not take this form.”
In the silence, Heo Un-jin continued in a lighter tone, as if admonishing.
“Would it not suffice for it to be a place where opinions gather, an institution to unite our will, and a bridge serving all sentient beings under heaven?”
“Is this the personal will of the Sage, or the will of the Daoists?”
“If you wish to distinguish, I shall do so. This is the collective will of the Daoists.”
At that moment, the young man who had remained silent throughout the intensifying discussions and conflicts regarding the Martial Alliance finally spoke.
“Then there is no choice. The Daoists must withdraw.”
At Dokgo Myeong’s words, the atmosphere froze.
* * *
Days earlier, Dokgo Myeong and Baek Mu-heun had a rather lengthy conversation at an inn.
“There are those within the Secret Council who oppose the matter of the Martial Alliance.”
“Are there people who oppose the establishment of the Martial Alliance?”
“No, everyone acknowledges the necessity of the alliance. However, objections have arisen regarding its direction and the position of alliance leader itself.”
What kind of absurd talk was this?
I thought I’d have to flail my tongue around mindlessly and win through sheer rhetoric, but the story that followed was far more complicated than that.
“If I had to divide it, you could be called a hardliner. In the eyes of the moderates, you’re a warmonger and a battle fanatic who speaks of war without fear.”
Dokgo Myeong was certainly a man worthy of the title “great hero.”
But if that heroism had a color, it was a vivid crimson red, and to the rigid eyes of the orthodox sects, it appeared infinitely dangerous.
“Yet this young man is again strongly advocating for the establishment of the Martial Alliance under the pretext of war, and emphasizing that he will gather all the power of the martial world and wield it as one.”
“You speak as though only you think that way. Didn’t the Sect Leader also align with me on that point?”
“My true feelings are indeed so. But I cannot reveal them.”
Baek Mu-heun sighed.
“I must maintain a facade of neutrality on the surface. That way, I can draw in both those who advocate strongly and those who hold moderate opinions.”
This is what makes Baek Mu-heun terrifying—he possesses the political acumen to deceive the renowned figures of the martial world.
And that was also the problem.
“I am in a position where I cannot push either side strongly. Especially if I clash with one praised as the ‘Old Sage’ of the martial world, the Martial Alliance will be crippled from the start.”
“You speak of Heo Un-jin.”
“Precisely.”
Baek Mu-heun nodded, then spoke in a subtle tone as if probing carefully.
“And truthfully… it’s possible that old grievances entangled with you have had some influence.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“My, didn’t you know?”
“…?”
“Then there’s nothing more I can say. In any case, that’s not the important part.”
Baek Mu-heun’s eyes gleamed.
“The Old Sage’s position is this: is there truly a need to establish a Martial Alliance and concentrate military power? Wouldn’t an organization where each faction merely shares opinions, as the Secret Alliance has done, be sufficient?”
And this moderate voice was not only coming from the gatherings led by Heo Un-jin, but also echoing from various corners of the martial world. They acknowledged the necessity of the Martial Alliance, but questioned whether its form truly needed to consolidate power.
“They say such things even after witnessing the danger of the Blood Sect disciples?”
“It’s not incomprehensible.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the martial world only saw the Jeongheol Sect, which the Dokgo Family destroyed.”
“…!”
“Moreover, the Dokgo Family and you made no effort to hide your tyrannical nature.”
It was an unexpected variable.
In other words, what they suspected was not Dokgo Myeong’s qualifications, but the ideology itself.
‘Frustrating fools. War is at our doorstep, yet they cling to this shortsighted thinking of not uniting their strength… I can’t blame them for it, though.’
If there was a fault, it was mine. Unlike my previous life, the Jeongheol Sect had been driven from the stage far too quickly, and as a result, the New Blood Sect had also been underestimated.
“There are also those who worry about the excessive power that would be concentrated through the Martial Alliance. A disparity would emerge between those who join and those who don’t, and that would create coercion through the majority.”
“So the rigid traditionalists of the martial world despise such irregularities to an extreme degree.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes brightened.
“Then what I must do within the Secret Alliance is….”
“Persuade the Sect Leader.”
Baek Mu-heun spoke with a mysterious smile playing at his lips.
“If you intend to make me the Alliance Leader… then you must imprint your presence upon them at this gathering, persuade the Sect Leader, and lend weight to my words.”
“Why not do it yourself, sir?”
“Through this, you can elevate your own standing, and more importantly…”
Baek Mu-heun’s eyes gleamed.
“It will be most effective coming from you.”
Dokgo Myeong was the one who exposed the covert Jeongheol Sect to the world and predicted their true nature through two books.
Dokgo Myeong’s words carried weight. He had proven it through his own abilities.
“If I step forward carelessly, I fear the atmosphere may deteriorate entirely.”
Heo Un-jin’s authority occupied a realm beyond reproach.
Revered as the master of all the martial realm, not merely through martial prowess but through character as well.
No matter how remarkable an achievement a rising talent might claim, openly challenging such a figure would surely sour the mood.
“You speak like a coward. But I believe you’re more than capable.”
“What if I fail, sir?”
Baek Mu-heun’s smile turned peculiar.
“You don’t seem to believe you’ll fail at all, yet you ask me this?”
I had lost this round.
While I was confident in concealing my true thoughts, Baek Mu-heun excelled at seeing through others’ hearts.
“If it truly seems impossible, you’ll step forward first anyway. And won’t you simply do what you do best?”
“What I do best, sir?”
“Charging in and overturning the table.”
What does he take me for?
Yet I had no words to refute him.
And so, back to the present.
“If the Wudang Sect withdraws, it will be a painful loss indeed. However, the Martial Alliance must be established, so it cannot be helped.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Dokgo Myeong, who had been quietly observing Heo Un-jin, continued speaking.
“What do you believe Martial Arts to be, Sage?”
Though the young man interjected boldly with an unexpected question, Heo Un-jin answered with sincerity, his voice unraised.
“It is to stop conflict.”
“You speak the same words as my father.”
“…!”
At those words, everyone in the hall shifted with a strange air. Heo Un-jin in particular stared unblinking at Dokgo Myeong with piercing eyes.
Dokgo Myeong, meeting that gaze quietly, suddenly understood.
‘The Sword Sect’s enmity. That was it.’
The bitter feud between Dokgo Wi-hak and Wudang.
Baek Mu-heun believed I knew nothing, but in truth, I had merely forgotten.
Heo Un-jin’s voice continued.
“Do you think differently?”
“No, I agree as well. However, at the same time, I believe the conflict that will arise is inevitable.”
“…!”
“Your teachings are righteous, Venerable One. They represent both justice and ideals—the correct path that all should aspire toward.”
“You make it sound as though my words are nothing but idle dreams.”
Dokgo Myeong fixed his gaze directly upon Heo Un-jin.
“Yes. I apologize, but that is what I believe.”
“Hehehehe, so I appear to you as a stubborn old fool who speaks only of ideals?”
“That could not be further from the truth.”
Heo Un-jin is neither incompetent nor ignorant.
He is truly a man capable of guiding the world toward the vision he beholds. And he possesses the sincere conviction and goodwill to dedicate his remaining years to that cause.
But.
“Yet surely you understand the nature of war, Venerable One?”
“….”
“Our enemies are advancing upon us even now. They are not creatures with whom one can reason. The Jeongheol Sect is comparatively civilized. The Sinheol Sect—they are nothing but beasts thirsting for blood. And such beasts have set their sights upon this place.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes blazed with intensity.
“Even as we debate here at this table, our enemies prepare themselves to spill blood without hesitation. To prevent that… some sacrifice is unavoidable.”
“Do you believe we have the right to weigh who should be sacrificed?”
“I am saying we have no luxury for such deliberation.”
“…!”
“They come. Blood-starved beasts with whom reason holds no sway. Just as the martial way was born to protect us from such creatures in ancient times, now we too must possess the strength to strike them down.”
Whoooosh!
Waves of martial energy rippled across Dokgo Myeong’s entire form.
Heo Un-jin, watching silently, released a long, weary sigh.
“An ideal that does not wield strength is no different from irresponsibility….”
“…?”
“It was something your grandfather once told me.”
“The Sect Leader said such things?”
“You resemble him. Yet you do not.”
Heo Un-jin murmured as though reciting, his words mingled with a sigh.
“You speak of the tyrant’s way, yet that path turns toward humanity….”
Heo Un-jin’s gaze shifted.
Many eyes were upon him.
“For now.”
“…?”
“For now, I shall say no more regarding the establishment of the Martial Alliance. However, you must remember that this silence does not constitute approval of all your intentions.”
Baek Mu-heun’s eyes gleamed with light.
“That alone is sufficient.”
The will of the Southern Sect Leader and the Wudang Sect Leader’s faction was broken. Those who had advocated for a more moderate approach could no longer speak with conviction.
Immediately after, the schedule for establishing the Martial Alliance was set.
One month hence, a proclamation bearing the names of renowned figures within the Mireun faction would be dispatched to all corners of the realm, summoning the Grand Martial Assembly.
The Martial Alliance Grounds were designated as an old fortress that had been abandoned since its use during the Secret Sect Rebellion.
“You’ve worked hard. I knew you could pull it off.”
“You’re too kind.”
As the gathering concluded, prominent figures clustered in small groups conversing, and Baek Mu-heun approached Dokgo Myeong.
Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue and cast a sidelong glance at Baek Mu-heun.
‘If anyone with a loose tongue speaks of it, let them say it’s merely a gathering for exchanging opinions.’
A gathering in name, but in truth, wasn’t it a secret organization that determined the political landscape of the martial realm?
Did the martial artists even know?
That the words spoken here manipulated the power structure of the entire world.
‘And that more than half of those words already flow according to Baek Mu-heun’s will.’
Dokgo Myeong was confident in setting the board in advance and elevating his opponent.
But not to the degree of Baek Mu-heun. In this regard, he was a step ahead. After all, I had learned this very method from him in the first place.
Blocking secondary variables in advance and orchestrating circumstances to culminate in a single desired outcome.
Everyone here spoke of ‘consensus’ and ‘consultation,’ but in reality, the result was already predetermined.
“The Council of Elders will be formed. After that, we simply rush toward the end.”
“But… there is one great mountain remaining, is there not?”
“Shaolin, you mean.”
Baek Mu-heun shook his head dismissively.
“Don’t concern yourself with them. The current Abbot of Shaolin is supporting our side.”
“…Shaolin, you say?”
Has history changed?
The current Abbot of Shaolin should be even more moderate than Heo Un-jin?
“Even Songshan casts shadows.”
Shadows? Could it be?
‘Shaolin desired war?’
Shaolin had not attended today. Yet to speak with such certainty meant there must be some form of communion between them.
“Do you have a connection with Shaolin?”
“A connection… if you call it fate, then perhaps. After all, the predecessor of the Secret Society itself originated from Shaolin.”
“What? This gathering… was it not founded by you, Baek Jang-mun?”
“It was Beobjon.”
Dokgo Myeong’s body came to an abrupt halt.
A name that symbolized an era. No, a name of supreme transcendence that could rival even the greatest of past and present ages.
“The Secret Society was founded by Jeonnyeon Beobjon. I merely inherited what came after.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened.
A realm that had been beyond reach in my past life was gradually drawing closer, and I could feel it.
“How do you know of that person?”
“I don’t think you need to know that.”
Baek Mu-heun wore an expression whose true thoughts remained inscrutable.
If that were the case, there would have been no reason to mention that name in the first place, so why did he bring it up?
“In any case, don’t concern yourself with Shaolin. The same applies to the Martial Alliance. For now, you must… first worry about a conversation with that person.”
“Pardon?”
“We have a guest.”
I stepped aside naturally.
As I turned my head, Heo Un-jin appeared, approaching without a sound.
“If you don’t mind, might I impose upon your time for a moment?”

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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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