Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 414

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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 414
“You’ve been quite busy lately, it seems.”
“I suppose I’ve been rather inattentive, haven’t I?”
“A father takes pride in seeing his grown son lead a full and active life.”
Since completing the commission at Baekryeon Cheolbang, I had been constantly on the move, consumed by endless tasks. It had been nearly weeks since I’d last faced Dokgo Wi-hak like this.
“By the way, how do you feel about that?”
“It’s quite splendid. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
“Not at all. Master Heo deserves the credit for his care, truly.”
The sword had been a gift to mark a fresh beginning. I had worried he might refuse it, but fortunately, he seemed quite pleased with the new blade.
“But why do you still keep that broken fragment? Now that you have a new sword, wouldn’t it be better to set it aside?”
I gazed at the fractured blade displayed on the wall behind Dokgo Wi-hak’s chamber.
“Don’t worry yourself. I’m not clinging to it out of attachment.”
“Then I’m relieved to hear it.”
Dokgo Wi-hak smiled gently.
“You’ve been traveling frequently of late. How much longer do you plan to be away this time?”
“Most of my external affairs are concluded now, so I intend to remain here as much as possible. I need to look after the members of the Cheonma Sect and the Dharma Protector Division until the Martial Alliance’s dissolution.”
“Members?”
“The Cheonma Sect and the Dharma Protector Division, to be precise.”
I had devoted myself entirely to external activities for some time.
I frequently exchanged correspondence with Kang Yeop-cheong of the Guizhou Jeongcheonmaeng, met with Moryong Sohgyo, who was establishing a branch in Zhejiang, and Ju Won-gwang of Gae-bang at intervals. Beyond that, I had been rushing about attending various secret society gatherings.
All that frantic movement had been to create time. Now that I had largely concluded external matters, I intended to focus on internal affairs.
“Which brings me to this… Father, would you perhaps be willing to take on a task?”
“What sort of task?”
“I was hoping you might guide the members of our Cheonma Sect.”
Dokgo Wi-hak nodded without hesitation.
“Very well, let us do so.”
“Pardon? You didn’t even need to consider it?”
“In truth, I’ve been doing precisely that while you were away.”
“You have?”
“There was a minor incident, and since then, I’ve been offering instruction whenever I visit.”
“A minor incident? I haven’t heard anything about it.”
“It was truly minor. When I stopped by the Cheonma Sect recently, I was suddenly ambushed.”
At those words, I froze in place. My lips trembled slightly.
“Ambushed… you say?”
“I had gone to see what sort of people you were associating with, but they mistook me for an outsider. They drew their blades without warning.”
“I will… I will educate them very, very thoroughly…”
My eyes gleamed with lethal intensity.
Dokgo Wi-hak chuckled softly.
“Don’t be like that. I was merely being mischievous.”
“Pardon?”
“It seems you didn’t know I was your father. I deliberately left the misunderstanding unresolved and played a little trick on you. You tolerated everything else, but the moment I spoke as if I was looking down on you, you didn’t even look back before charging at me.”
“And… what happened after that?”
“Ak-i appeared at just the right moment and cleared up the misunderstanding. The instant he heard my true identity, he slammed his head to the ground and begged me to kill him. Hehehehe.”
Dokgo Wi-hak laughed with evident pleasure at the memory, but Dokgo Myeong ground his teeth audibly.
“The disciples seem to follow you well. It appears to be out of loyalty, so don’t blame them too harshly.”
“Ha ha, haha… Yes, of course.”
His mouth smiled, but his eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
The new recruits were clearly the problem. They didn’t know Father’s face.
‘You’re all dead, you bastards.’
The new recruits would pay for failing to manage their peers properly; the existing disciples would pay for failing to manage their juniors.
They would pay that price in blood.
“After that, whenever I had the chance, I offered guidance bit by bit. There’s no harm in providing formal assistance this time around.”
“That… would that be alright?”
Dokgo Wi-hak nodded calmly.
“On the contrary, if this father can be of help, that’s all I could ask for.”
“Thank you. Ah, since we’re on the subject, shall we begin right away starting today?”
Dokgo Wi-hak nodded.
“Yes, let’s go at once.”
Suddenly, I felt that Father’s manner of speaking and his demeanor had changed greatly.
This too was a great source of satisfaction gained from living this new life.
Soon Dokgo Myeong arrived at the Cheonma Sect grounds with Dokgo Wi-hak.
“Hah! Haaaah!”
“Kiyah!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Boom!
Even before opening the door to the Cheonma Sect grounds, the intense heat of training could be felt.
Dokgo Myeong, heading straight to the training grounds, swept his gaze across the disciples, his eyes shining brightly.
Nearly two hundred disciples sparring while drenched in sweat created an overwhelming presence.
‘Though it never gets old…’
Dokgo Myeong smiled contentedly.
‘My children have grown well.’
That was when it happened.
Whiiiiiine!
An arrow flew across the sky.
It was clearly an arrow shot by Ye-hwa.
Fwoooosh!
Another white arrow swiftly flew across the far side of the Cheonma Sect grounds.
Dokgo Myeong watched the arrows fly for a moment in silence.
Time, like the heavens themselves, flowed as swift as an arrow.
* * *
Over the course of several seasons, notices announcing the establishment of the Martial Alliance spread throughout the realm.
“The Martial Alliance? What does that mean?”
“Your news travels slowly indeed! Since those who waged this war might appear again, the heroes of the martial world are gathering together, aren’t they?”
“Then perhaps this dreadful era will finally stabilize?”
“But the fact that they’re establishing a Martial Alliance… it might mean another war is coming.”
Whether the commoners’ worries were known or not, the names of sects declaring their intention to join appeared on the proclamation boards day after day.
“Captain! A notice has arrived at the main family from the outer branch! It seems there were some disputes regarding the expansion of the Martial Alliance fortress, which delayed it somewhat.”
“Has a specific date been set?”
“It will be held in early next year, to coincide with the new year.”
“We still have time then. So… until then, we’ll strengthen our foundation as much as possible.”
Dokgo Myeong entrusted the Dharma Protector Division to Dokgo Wi-hak and focused on the Cheonma Sect.
The first contact came from the White Lotus Smithy.
“It appears the equipment you commissioned will arrive in sequence.”
“The first is the sword for Miss Jeongpung. Master Heo said she honed the blade while praying for the prosperity of the Namgung family.”
Namgung Sohwa received a double-edged sword of fundamentally sound design. Yet mysteriously, a subtle and mystical sky-blue hue shimmered across the blade.
“I shall name it the Sovereign Sword. There could be no other name for it.”
The moment Namgung Sohwa grasped the sword, she was so delighted that she spoke thus.
Cheolmu-baek received the weapons he had commissioned.
“The Heavenly Roar Great Axe.”
“Ohhh…”
“It has no special features—we focused solely on strength, elasticity, and weight.”
It was a double-bladed axe as large and heavy as an ordinary iron axe.
It hardly seemed like a weapon a person could wield, yet Cheolmu-baek swung it about with remarkable ease.
Geum Seok-du received a thick steel fan, and Ye-hwa received several quivers of specially crafted arrows.
“Um, may we also receive such divine weapons?”
“We swear our loyalty!”
The Cheonma Sect Members who now served as actual squad leaders and Neungmyeong, the leader of the reserve unit, also received weapons forged by the Dokgo smithy.
The other disciples received weapons worthy of being called renowned blades, so many martial artists of the main family envied the Cheonma Sect.
After equipment was prepared came training.
The Cheonma Sect immediately entered closed-door cultivation.
“Pardon? Closed-door cultivation? Where did you hear that?”
“The Great Mountain.”
“The Great Mountain… surely you don’t mean?”
“Yes, we’re going to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountain. Each squad will take turns conducting closed-door cultivation there for one month intervals. The remaining squads will receive guidance from Saheon Sect Leader at the Cheonma Grounds. Everyone should understand it that way.”
Normally, closed-door cultivation meant training in a limited space cut off from the outside world, but the Cheonma Sect’s approach was anything but ordinary.
The Hundred Thousand Great Mountain.
A land where the mountain’s essence itself was special, inhabited by mystical beasts and demonic creatures.
Normally one needed permission to enter, but Dokgo Myeong, having received the clan’s approval, used it as a training ground with his disciples.
“Kyaahhh! There really are demonic creatures here!”
“Watch out over there! It’s a venomous snake, a venomous snake!”
“What in the world? A three-headed snake? Since when does such a thing exist!”
Though the Cheonma Sect struggled at first, they quickly adapted.
While the number of demonic creatures was fewer compared to when the Gwisucheolmang existed, simply living in the mountains proved sufficient to refine their martial prowess.
And amid all this, a small reunion occurred.
Heuk-gu, Baek-gu, and Hwang-gu—the three brothers once released by Dokgo Myeong—appeared, now grown to the size of houses.
“Grrrrrowl!”
“Grrrgh!”
“Roooar! Roooarrr!”
According to Hong Lu and Hong Ta, they had become the true leaders of the nearby demonic creatures. True to Dokgo Myeong’s word, they hadn’t eaten any people, and though their demeanor was somewhat fierce, they emitted no malevolent aura.
Of course, there was a small incident where they, having grown a bit stronger, forgot the past and charged at the Cheonma Sect disciples….
“Roooaaarrr!”
“Screeeech! Screech!”
With a lion’s roar, Hoa appeared and a single swipe of her front paw restored order—all three had to show their bellies.
Meanwhile, there was someone who traveled between the main family and the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, bringing news from the outside world.
“Captain! I’ve arrived!”
“Ah, Seok-du! Is it alright for you to wander about so frequently?”
“Yes! The Hao Sect has now firmly established itself. Have you heard? Lately, people regard us as some sort of mysterious secret society. Hehe.”
The Hao Sect expanded its influence at a frightening pace. Since it was an information organization of the Black Blade that hadn’t existed before, consolidation was swift.
Of course, there were difficult trials and errors. Often, the identities of Cheonma Sect disciples had to be concealed while handling Hao Sect affairs on their behalf.
Still, thanks to this, the Hao Sect’s reputation grew. From a mere secret society of commoners to a mysterious underground organization of the martial world wielding unknown power.
Branches were established in various locations, and communication networks and systems were put in place. The flood of information pouring in was a natural consequence.
“It seems certain that the Jeongheol Disciples have begun moving. Regions bordering the frontier are in turmoil.”
“Lately, wandering monks have been visiting rural villages, preaching sermons that incite hostility toward martial artists. The people’s hearts are unsettled.”
“Recently, blood cultivation secret manuals have been circulating near Shaanxi. It appears many among the Black Blade practitioners are learning them.”
Traces of the Jeongheol Sect, which I had thought utterly destroyed, were being discovered everywhere. The fact that even the still-imperfect Hao Sect’s information network was picking this up meant the reality was far more dire.
Time continued to flow.
Summer passed, autumn arrived, and before long, winter came with the new year approaching.
The Murim Alliance’s founding ceremony drew near.
* * *
The process of calculating with the abacus had ended, and now the restructuring of the martial world’s order was nearly complete.
The Dokgo Family assembled a delegation to attend the Murim Alliance’s founding ceremony, which would soon be held.
“It has been a long time.”
“You entrusted family matters to Joa and didn’t show your face, yet you’ve arrived without delay. Good.”
Dokgo Un-hak spoke thus upon seeing Dokgo Myeong, who had appeared with the Cheonma Sect.
“How could I be late for such an important occasion?”
Though there was still some time before the founding ceremony, those who would play crucial roles in establishing the Murim Alliance decided to depart a bit early.
Dokgo Un-hak’s attendance in the Elder Council was naturally expected, and Dokgo Myeong, as vice-leader of the Dharma Protector Division overseeing all matters related to war and the Twin Horse Alliance, would also attend.
And an unexpected person would accompany them as well.
“Surely you’re not planning to go as well?”
“Yes, brother.”
It was none other than Dokgo Wi-hak.
A strange current flowed between the two brothers facing each other.
Those who had once managed the yin and yang of the Dokgo Family in the previous generation.
No one knew what emotions might exist between them.
Dokgo Un-hak’s expression hardened.
“What are you thinking, going there? You won’t hear anything pleasant.”
“I am unconcerned.”
“Whether you are unconcerned or not, as acting family head of the main branch, I cannot help but be concerned. Have you forgotten the Broken Sword Oath you made?”
“That debt has already been repaid by decades of time.”
….
Dokgo Un-hak’s face appeared complicated. Various emotions rose and fell in his eyes as he looked at Dokgo Wi-hak.
Soon after, Dokgo Un-hak clicked his tongue.
“Since you’re attending in the name of the independently operated Dharma Protector Division, I have nothing to say. Do as you see fit.”
“Yes. Thank you, brother.”
“From now on, I am the acting family head. Distinguish between public and private matters.”
Thus, the preparations at the Dokgo Family were also complete.
Suddenly, Dokgo Myeong asked.
“But will you truly be all right, Father?”
“What do you mean?”
“Won’t it be uncomfortable for you? Surely….”
This was a gathering where many figures from the old era would assemble. If he revealed himself before the renowned names and established powers of the martial world, his father might find himself in an awkward position.
However, to his son’s concern, Dokgo Wi-hak offered only a single remark.
“The discomfort will not be mine to bear, but theirs.”
At those words, Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened.
Dokgo Wi-hak placed a light hand on his son’s shoulder with a faint smile.
The Martial Alliance was more than a fitting stage to return to the martial world.
Dokgo Wi-hak intended to show those who would envy and resent his son, tripping him up along the way, exactly whose son he was.

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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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