Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 393

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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 393
Dokgo Family, Saheon Sect.
Saheon Sect Leader Dokgo Wi-hak sat by the window, gazing at the night sky.
The moon was unusually bright. Its pale light pushed back the curtain of night. The moonlight inevitably spilled into the narrow room where he sat.
For those who lived without a shred of shame, it would be a fine moon to share a drink with as a companion.
But for a flawed man burdened with secrets, it was nothing but a resentful night that laid bare his shameful form without mercy.
‘Though the world is full of inadequate people, could there be another man as pathetic as I?’
He gazed at the moon and recalled the past, shook his head and forced himself to think of other things, only to find himself remembering the old days once more.
Whoosh.
Dokgo Wi-hak turned his head to look at the table.
On the table, instead of tea or a wine bottle, lay a single scroll. Dokgo Wi-hak stared at it intently before finally unrolling it.
A portrait of a woman was revealed.
She wore a blue robe and a Daoist vestment of black and white, a Daoist crown upon her head, and held an ancient sword with pine-pattern engravings in one hand.
Though not an exceptionally beautiful woman, the portrait radiated such vitality and spirited energy that it seemed to pierce through the very image itself.
“It’s time… Myeong-i knew as well.”
It could not remain hidden forever, and soon that child would learn the truth.
Or perhaps he already knew.
Dokgo Wi-hak gazed once more at the moon, bright enough to break one’s heart.
* * *
The day after the secret gathering ended.
Baek Mu-heun’s eyes widened.
“You recognized both of them?”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Indeed, we did.”
The left and right dharma protectors of the Jeongheol Sect, the Eum-yang Twin Elders, answered simultaneously.
Nang-wang, who stood nearby, also spoke.
“I had already discerned his identity as well.”
“You too, Nang-wang? Are you certain I heard correctly?”
“I stated it clearly.”
“Was this investigated separately after he appeared at the inn?”
“It appears he was recognized already at the inn.”
“…”
Baek Mu-heun’s gaze deepened.
‘Recognizing the two elders is plausible. He’s a young man whose discernment is beyond question.’
The Eum-yang Twin Elders occupied one position among the Five Armies together. Since they hadn’t acted with their identities completely concealed, it wasn’t entirely strange that Dokgo Myeong recognized them.
But Nang-wang was a different matter.
‘He’s been operating behind the scenes for a long time now. All traces have been erased, and he’s never revealed any distinguishing features.’
Could he possibly possess an information network separate from Cheon I-gak?
‘Now that I think about it, information has occasionally come swiftly from unusual sources.’
It couldn’t possibly be Gae-bang.
Cheon I-gak might manage it, but uncovering information about Yongmo-pa would be impossible.
‘Could he have established an independent information network?’
Baek Mu-heun’s mind raced rapidly.
The problem wasn’t merely that he knew about his subordinates.
The question was what else, how much, and to what extent he knew.
Simultaneously, I reached a conclusion.
“What matters isn’t what was said, but why it was said. I’ve rarely encountered such a cunning fox.”
Baek Mu-heun let out a hollow laugh.
“What do you mean, sir?”
“He deliberately pretended to know. Thanks to that, I see it now. Didn’t he cloud my judgment with mere trifles? Heh.”
It was always this way.
Dokgo Myeong knew what was unknowable, accomplished what was impossible, and transformed suspicion into certainty.
It was wise to assume that such a man’s words and actions always harbored some intention, and that intention was clear.
“This is how I’ll push him out.”
“Sir?”
I had planned to remove myself from the center of power once Myeong-i was perfectly established. Or rather, it would have happened regardless of my wishes.”
“That’s only natural, since Dokgo Myeong cannot sit on the Council of Elders, is it not?”
“But I had intended to exert influence from the shadows in some manner. Perhaps even to shackle my ankles…”
Baek Mu-heun’s words grew halting, and he eventually stopped mid-sentence.
“Heo Un-jin?”
He soon furrowed his brow and spoke that name.
“Sect Leader, why do you ask?”
“What business does the Patriarch have?”
The Eum-yang Twin Elders sensed something unusual in Baek Mu-heun’s expression.
Baek Mu-heun burst into hearty laughter.
“It’s nothing. Pay it no mind.”
Now I could no longer simply let him go. I needed to keep him closer and understand him more thoroughly.
‘If I release him, what else might he accomplish and to what degree?’
He was too capable to oppose, yet their paths diverged too much to embrace him.
So I must keep his hand clasped in mine. If he ever tried to withdraw, I would seize his wrist.
“I should prepare a gift.”
“A gift, sir?”
“To add a bit more to what was requested.”
The preparations to make the Pungcheon Bi-do usable again were nearly complete. If I presented it along with a few additional items, I could gauge Dokgo Myeong’s reaction.
‘It will take considerable time… but the martial tournament is coming at just the right moment.’
The members of the secret society remained in the capital under the pretext that their disciples were participating in the martial tournament. In truth, that was merely a smokescreen; their primary purpose was to conduct small, secretive meetings and negotiations.
By the time the martial tournament ended, I would be able to present the gift.
So, what would be best?
* * *
Before long, the preliminaries of the martial tournament had ended, and the main tournament began.
People flocked in like clouds. Never before in the history of martial arts tournaments had participants of such caliber gathered.
Posterior disciples secretly cultivated by the Nine Sects, descendants of mysterious factions, young lords of the Four Great Families, disciples of minor sects ruling their regions as local tyrants—all of them.
Talents from across the land who had heard the call of the dragon and phoenix participated in this tournament. Some even began calling it the Heavenly Martial Arts Tournament.
And among the countless main tournament participants, Dokgo Ak was deeply troubled.
‘Damn it! I knew the scale would grow, but not to this extent!’
What in the world had Dokgo Myeong done?
Of course, I’d heard that this Dengyongji Martial Arts Tournament was a smokescreen for the Milyeon gathering.
I also knew that each sect had sent their secretly cultivated masters in large numbers.
But surely there should be limits?
‘That’s… Hwasan’s Swordmaster. The genius female swordsman who has already bloomed like plum blossoms.’
She was the woman called the Twin Peaks of the New Generation alongside Namgung Sohwa.
‘That one… Dolong Paeng Gangseong whom I saw before, a disciple of Jinmugak who serves Mudang Sect’s Heo Un-jin. And the successor of the mysterious Taehaeng-mun, plus Shaolin’s youngest Arhat…!’
The leading figures who would guide the next generation.
Geniuses who would at minimum become future sect leaders, become core masters of their sects, or even found their own schools—they had all gathered.
“Huff! Hah! Huff! Hah! Huff…!”
Dokgo Ak breathed frantically.
Despite trying to calm himself, his eyes were bloodshot, his lips pale, and his hands trembled.
‘The great Dokgo Ak, nervous?’
It was because he now understood he was no longer the best.
That he was merely one among countless talents, that the world contained remarkable people like grains of sand, and that the realm was vast.
Having realized this, he grew anxious. Fear gripped him.
“If I were to lose even once…”
I would die.
Not literally, of course, but at minimum I would experience something like a spiritual death.
Like bathing in the River of Three Paths and returning, or having an audience with the King of Hell…
‘But…’
Dokgo Ak glanced sideways.
Dokgo Myeong was lost in thought, his eyes distant.
‘Why has this older brother been so quiet?’
By now he should be mocking me.
Come to think of it, he’s been like this ever since returning from the Milyeon gathering.
‘Should I ask if something’s troubling him?’
Then Dokgo Myeong’s eyes suddenly turned toward him.
“What are you staring at, you brat?”
“…I thought so.”
“What are you hesitating about? Stop bothering me and get ready for your match. You’re always slacking off.”
“It’s not even my turn yet!”
Dokgo Ak grumbled, then lowered his voice and asked.
“What’s really going on? You seem completely out of it.”
“You’ll get hurt if you know. It concerns this older brother’s father.”
“Your father?”
Smack!
“Ow! Why are you hitting me again!”
“Your father is your uncle, you fool! You should call him Uncle! Your elder uncle!”
“R-right. Uncle. Uncle Baek.”
“Tsk.”
Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue sharply, then folded his arms again and sank into thought.
‘What could that phrase mean—a disciple and yet an enemy?’
I had heard only a very brief account.
A story far too short to make any hasty judgment about.
-Does Wi-hak still cling to that broken blade?
Those words had lodged themselves in my mind and wouldn’t leave easily.
What on earth had happened?
‘Somehow I’ve even made a promise now.’
I had come with only Dokgo Ak, but when returning to the family, there would be three of us.
Who was the third?
Heo Un-jin.
I wasn’t sure if this would work out. Without knowing the full circumstances, I had rashly extended an invitation at his mere mention of wanting to see something.
‘The water’s already spilled. There’s nothing to be done. For now, I just need to focus on this one.’
Dokgo Myeong tapped Dokgo Ak, who was trembling.
“What, what?”
“Ak. Let me say one thing.”
“Huh?”
Dokgo Ak’s eyes brightened.
He thought I was finally about to offer some real advice.
“If you lose, you die.”
“….”
“Even if you win, if you embarrass yourself, crawl back to the family.”
“….”
“I’ll be watching. If you don’t want to end up as incense ash, do well. Not hard—do it well.”
“….”
Shiver.
Dokgo Ak’s body trembled.
But unlike the tension from moments before, his expression now held the resolute determination of a seasoned commander.
* * *
Dokgo Ak ascended the martial stage.
“I am Ak of the Dokgo Family. I am honored to face you.”
“I bow to the legendary Fierce Dragon Palm. Ahem, I am Gong Cheon of Jongnam.”
“Gong Cheon? Could you be the one called the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven?”
“You know of me?”
“Isn’t that only natural?”
A master at the peak of perfection. Truly perfected.
Yet his aura was nothing particularly impressive.
‘Perhaps it’s because he’s a disciple of the Nine Sects.’
Mountain cultivators prioritize diminishing their presence over displaying it. Though I couldn’t be certain, an immense martial prowess must be concealed beneath that ordinariness.
‘Hah, stay focused! I will win no matter what!’
I will win without fail!
Even if it costs me my life!
Clang!
Gong Cheon’s blade clashed against Dokgo Ak’s sword.
A heavy strike. Truly, Jongnam’s next generation master.
But then.
‘Huh?’
Screech!
Dokgo Ak blocked again.
Whoosh! Tap!
He evaded lightly and pushed away the incoming blade.
‘What is this? Is he toying with me?’
Swift and solid swordwork. There were no openings.
Yet that was all.
‘Why exactly… no, I must be mistaken. That can’t be right.’
Screech! Clang clang clang clang!
After exchanging blades several times, Dokgo Ak blinked.
‘No, why is this so predictable?’
His physique, inner strength, and martial mastery were all remarkable.
Remarkable indeed, but far too predictable. I could see exactly where he was aiming, so I could simply dodge slightly and escape the sword exchange entirely.
‘Could this be a trap?’
Then let me try something.
Dokgo Ak poured strength into his blade and struck a true angle.
Boom!
A wave of energy spread outward.
The Eight Heavenly Divine Technique, the first strike of the One Yang Divine Sword’s Crimson Wheel Technique extended forth.
And then.
Crash!
“Ugh!”
“…Huh?”
“A… fine… match…”
Thud.
He had won.
In a single strike.
Dokgo Ak stared at Gong Cheon with a dazed expression.
“The victor! Dokgo Ak!”
“Huh? What…?”
Dokgo Ak descended from the arena with a blank look on his face.
What was this?
Why was it so easy?
* * *
“H-hey, brother. I won…”
“This bastard dragged it out to sixteen exchanges when five would’ve been enough? You lost.”
“What, what?”
Dokgo Ak flinched in surprise and stepped back.
No, the opponent was Songshan’s next generation greatest master—five exchanges? That made no sense!
Then Dokgo Myeong spoke.
“So, how was he?”
“…I wondered if it was a trap.”
“Why?”
“It was too predictable.”
Of course he was strong.
His inner force, his body, his martial arts.
“His concentration is lacking. His footwork is too basic, and his swordplay lacks finesse—he couldn’t capitalize on the openings he created.”
In short, it was a beautiful blade, but it had no edge.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“Do you understand now?”
“Understand what?”
“That you’re not at the level of playing with posterior disciples.”
Dokgo Ak was taken aback.
“Ah, but… those guys are the next generation’s greatest masters. So later, the Ten Greatest Masters of the Realm will emerge from there, and the Five Armies too…”
“And you’ll be one of them.”
“…!”
“Think about it coldly. Among them, how many have trained while facing dozens of death-defying crises, rubbing shoulders with geniuses equal to their own level?”
“…”
“Who among them has fought assassins, Jeongheol Disciples, and monsters like Pacheonggun who burned their very lives to amplify their martial arts?”
There couldn’t be any.
Their combat experience amounted to nothing more than descending the mountain and crushing Black Blade heretics.
But what of the Cheonma Sect?
The Cheonma Sect walked only the most brutal battlefields.
Does a dripping drop pierce stone?
Then a waterfall shatters it.
How could you compare mediocre posterior disciples to Dokgo Ak, commander of the Cheonma Sect’s third unit?
“Why do you envy others when you don’t even know what you possess?”
“Me? I’m that strong?”
“It’s good to maintain a humble attitude while learning. But that doesn’t mean you should endlessly compare yourself to others.”
“….”
Dokgo Ak’s wavering gaze gradually became clear.
“Now that you understand, go out there and crush them all. Don’t be pathetic about it.”
Dokgo Ak’s eyes gleamed.
Right. Now that I think about it, that’s true.
These inexperienced Young Masters who don’t even know the battlefield…!
“Tsk! Don’t get careless just because I gave you a little praise!”
“But that’s….”
“What did I say?”
“Learn humbly, but carry confidence.”
“Then go.”
Dokgo Ak nodded vigorously.
Soon a name was called, and Dokgo Myeong watched quietly as Dokgo Ak ascended the martial stage.
Whoooosh!
I could feel his vital energy growing increasingly sharp and refined.
He’s finally finding his footing.
Dokgo Ak’s weakness was his underdeveloped mentality itself. His vessel was larger than anyone’s, yet he couldn’t grasp his own potential.
But still.
‘Now he’s finally come to his senses.’
Clang! Clang!
Soon the Young Expert from Haman Province, four years Dokgo Ak’s senior, was sent flying off the martial stage.
“Victor! Dokgo Ak!”
Dokgo Myeong grinned and glanced around.
Renowned figures from various regions were watching Dokgo Ak with astonished eyes.
‘Ak is perfect for promotion.’
Those with discerning eyes would recognize it.
Not only Ak’s growth, but the future of the Martial Alliance after its establishment was becoming increasingly promising.

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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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