Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 418

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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 418
“Bringing out the dishes!”
“Oh my, I only came to watch, but am I really worthy of such treatment…?”
“Geumsan Pavilion and Jungwon Trading Company are providing this, so please eat to your heart’s content!”
“You there! Move faster! We need more hands!”
A feast without a banquet on a celebration day would be shameful.
Baek Mu-heun issued strict orders to ensure the visitors felt welcomed, then opened the storehouse.
Endless streams of alcohol and food filled the banquet hall. It was only natural that the spectators’ eyes widened at the variety of dishes placed on each table.
“My, I thought it would just be enough to satisfy hunger, but they’re really serving such an abundant spread?”
“Do they have money to spare? How many people are there…?”
“Hey, you fool. Of course they wouldn’t be stingy when the Nine Factions and the Three Great Families have joined forces!”
“That’s true, I suppose.”
“But I heard this banquet was separately prepared by the Sword Saint and the Dokgo Family….”
“My! The Dokgo Family is one thing, but the Sword Saint? So that rumor about that Jin Cheon-sin-geom being the Sword Saint is true!”
Followers gathered in small groups, marveling and enjoying the banquet.
The atmosphere was quite pleasant. At a gathering where all the masters under heaven had assembled, there was no one bold enough to cause trouble while drunk, and besides, the musicians’ performances in the center rang out spiritedly.
Of course, even at such an occasion, there was someone with an irritable expression muttering complaints.
“They say among all nonsense, money nonsense is the worst, and he’s really making a spectacle of himself.”
“Ah, please!”
“Captain, I beg you!”
“Silence! You bunch of fools!”
Dokgo Myeong furrowed his brow sharply and snapped at them.
“What! Why! Did I say anything wrong!?”
“People are listening!”
“Please, just maintain some dignity!”
“The atmosphere is fine, so why are you being so difficult?”
Despite the managers’ nagging, Dokgo Myeong tapped his legs irritably with a face full of discontent.
“Don’t you see he’s doing this to boast about his wealth? And if he wanted to show off, he should do it alone—why drag Geumsan Pavilion into it, why!? Isn’t that right, Tae-im!”
“Cough! Hack! Yes? Why are you dragging me into this…?”
Son Tae-im, who had been peacefully drinking beside him, flinched.
“Are you really okay with this? How much is all this costing!?”
“Well, at this point it’s manageable, isn’t it? After all, through this, Geumsan Pavilion’s trading company is now known to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jungwon Trading Company.”
“As if people would care about that! It’s obvious that fellow will monopolize all the credit!”
This time, Baek Mu-heun revealed all his identities for the first time.
The identities of the Sword Saint and Jin Cheon-sin-geom, which had been kept secret until now, sent shockwaves through the assembly, and naturally all eyes turned toward him. As many eyes were focused on one person as had been on the inauguration of the Murim Alliance.
On the surface, it appeared he was treating the spectators generously, but in reality, it was clear he wanted to flaunt his wealth.
“Damn it, really. A banquet lasting four days? I’m so frustrated about the money I could go mad.”
“Hehe, hehehehe.”
Son Tae-im wiped the alcohol from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve and spoke.
“That… Young Master.”
“Sect Leader.”
“Ah, yes. Sect Leader. But you see, we’re not so strapped for funds that we need to worry about a four-day banquet anymore. It’s a good occasion—don’t be so stingy about it, will you? Hm? Hehe.”
Son Tae-im spoke while rubbing his hands together smoothly.
True to his words, Son Tae-im had expanded his business based on the trade goods flowing from Guizhou, and had become a merchant magnate commanding the distribution networks across the entire martial realm.
Moreover, he had even seized the commercial circles of regions entangled in this war.
Though not quite at the level of Baek Mu-heun, who had received salt monopoly and trading rights from the imperial court, Geumsan Pavilion had now risen to become the second-greatest merchant power under heaven.
“Say what you will, but do you know where these people come from and who they are? And you’re throwing a banquet with my money… Ugh! Mmph!”
“Ah! Please, just be quiet! Really!”
“When will this man ever grow up!”
Son Tae-im simply laughed it off.
After thrashing about for a while, Dokgo Myeong finally freed himself from the restraint and roughly snatched a wine bottle from the table.
“Bah! That’s enough, enough! Anyway, I can’t say anything. These fellows just keep badgering their own commander….”
Dokgo Myeong grumbled and drank directly from the bottle.
“By the way, any word from the Jeongcheon Alliance?”
At Dokgo Myeong’s question, Geum Seok-du nodded.
“Yes, it seems they’re not attending.”
“Kang Yeop-cheong needs to register his name on the Martial Alliance’s roster to have justification for protection… What in the world is going on?”
“Could the Paedobyeon be gradually making moves on the Jeongcheon Alliance as well?”
“This is giving me a headache.”
The Jeongcheon Alliance in Guizhou.
Kang Yeop-cheong had been managing Guizhou’s alliance well thus far.
The problem was the Paedobyeon again. Having begun their full-scale war, they were not only eyeing the Jecheon Society but also sniffing around Guizhou where the Jeongcheon Alliance was located.
“The moment he registers his name on the roster, war will break out, so there’s no helping it.”
“If he doesn’t register, he’ll be suppressed either way. There’s no choice but to become part of the Martial Alliance and combine forces.”
“That is true, but…”
“The Paedobyeon, the Paedobyeon…”
Yes, I need to think about this side of things now too.
‘When the Martial Alliance opens, I must first announce to the realm that new rules have been established.’
Likely they would hunt down the Black Blade sects and bandit gangs scattered across various regions. The Martial Alliance is an organization united under the pretext of stabilizing people’s livelihoods, so the moment we turn a blind eye, the people’s hearts turn away.
Hunting down and executing the Black Blade sect members is not the problem.
The problem is where those who are thus oppressed will turn.
‘They’ll join under the Paedobyeon’s command. Is Wi Mu-jin launching this full-scale war with that in mind?’
The more I think about it, the more my head throbs.
In fact, Dokgo Myeong’s forte is deception, extortion, and flipping the table—not untangling these complex and intricate political situations.
‘And there’s even Sado’s proposal on top of that.’
Hooking the Jeongheol Sect Leader and the Grand General.
The future direction of the Martial Alliance.
And the inevitable clash with the Paedobyeon.
“My head’s about to split. My stomach’s upset too—might as well drink! Hey! Everyone, raise your cups!”
Dokgo Myeong emptied the wine bottle he was holding in one go and picked up a fresh one.
He was about to bring the bottle straight to his lips.
Whoosh! Clack!
The bottle vanished from his hand.
Dokgo Myeong turned to the side with a dazed expression.
“Sohwa? You… what are you doing?”
“Captain, that’s enough. You’ve finished one bottle already, so stop here.”
“Who do you think you are!”
Namgung Sohwa clicked her tongue.
“Seriously! Did the Captain come here to enjoy the banquet? You came to attend the Council of Elders!”
At Namgung Sohwa’s words, Dokgo Myeong flinched.
True to her words, now that the Martial Alliance had officially launched, those who would serve as elders had gathered to discuss matters in detail.
Of course, Dokgo Myeong hadn’t been appointed as an elder, but there was no way he could excuse himself from attending.
Dokgo Myeong laughed awkwardly.
“Sohwa. Our Namgung Manager.”
“…Why are you calling me so sweetly? It makes me uneasy.”
“You know well enough. I’m someone who swallowed the inner core of a venomous water serpent filled with toxins, so one more bottle of alcohol won’t affect my liver. And you know how much mental anguish I’ve endured. Aren’t you worried about me?”
“And?”
“So what I’m saying is…”
Dokgo Myeong trailed off and suddenly reached out his hand.
Whoosh!
But Namgung Sohwa, as if she’d anticipated it, lifted the bottle high into the air and dodged it lightly.
“…”
“…”
Silence fell.
Namgung Sohwa let out a scoff of ridicule.
“Predictable.”
Dokgo Myeong’s face flushed red, and the other managers looked at him with expressions of disbelief.
‘Is he a child, really?’
‘He really is pathetic.’
‘Maybe a ghost of someone who died from not being able to drink is possessing him.’
Namgung Sohwa spoke in a stern voice.
“Even if it won’t affect your liver, the smell will linger, so give up and drink water instead.”
“I can just disperse the smell with my inner energy…”
Tsk!
“…”
Namgung Sohwa gestured with her chin toward something.
“Look over there. They’re all starting to stand up.”
True to her words, as the atmosphere of the banquet ripened somewhat, the sect leaders and family heads gathered on the platform began rising from their seats one by one.
Dokgo Un-hak, who was among them, straightened his collar and rose, then gestured to Dokgo Myeong with his eyes to follow.
“Sigh, what a fate. Why does work never leave me alone?”
“You say that, but you actually enjoy it.”
“Enjoy it? I just want to relax and have fun!”
No, he was just saying that.
Dokgo Myeong was the type who, if things didn’t go his way, would roll up his sleeves and take matters into his own hands.
“I’ll set aside some wine separately, so go on. You need to go with Saheon Sect Leader at the lodgings, right?”
“Really?”
“Don’t worry.”
“Alright, I trust you!”
Dokgo Myeong rose from his seat with a noticeably brighter expression.
But the moment he stepped out of the banquet hall, his expression hardened into something cold and sharp. The faint traces of alcohol that had been lingering dissipated completely in the breeze.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
His eyes, now serious, gleamed with a heavy intensity.
‘Time to focus.’
It was time to tighten the reins of tension that had been gradually loosening.
Those attending the banquet would believe the opening ceremony was the beginning of everything, but the real beginning was happening right now.
* * *
The major figures of the Murim Alliance gathered in the secret chamber.
Even though not everyone had arrived yet, with empty seats scattered about, the headcount was substantial.
‘More than in my previous life’s Murim Alliance. Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense.’
Many had walked the path of annihilation through the schemes of the Jeongheol Sect before war even broke out. Among them, several had been assassinated by those who had infiltrated as close associates.
‘All the family heads are here.’
The heads of the Three Great Families were all seated.
Even the Five Elders, who had supposedly entered seclusion for recuperation, appeared to have recovered and were present.
As I gave them a light nod of acknowledgment, I saw their expressions stiffen noticeably.
Their gazes were directed not at Dokgo Myeong, but at the figure behind him.
‘What’s this? Ah… are they reacting to Father?’
Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh.
Now that he looked, it wasn’t just one or two people.
“…!”
“Huh!”
“What?!”
As Dokgo Myeong and Dokgo Wi-hak passed by, people gasped, muttered, or turned to stare at Dokgo Wi-hak with expressions of shock, as if they’d witnessed something they shouldn’t have. Several sect leaders’ faces even went pale as if they’d seen a ghost.
“Father.”
“What is it?”
Dokgo Myeong whispered quietly to Dokgo Wi-hak.
“It seems you were quite the character back in the day.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Everyone looks like they’ve seen a ghost. Well, since a Sword Specter is technically a ghost, I suppose that’s not entirely wrong.”
“…I thought they’d forgotten. Seems I was mistaken.”
“What exactly did you do that has them so frightened?”
“….”
“Come now, say something. What exactly have you been up to?”
“Quiet.”
Soon the two of them took their seats beside Dokgo Un-hak.
By the time nearly all the seats were filled, Baek Mu-heun rose to his feet.
With everyone’s attention fixed upon him, his pleasant voice rang out through the hall.
“First, I wish to express my gratitude to all of you for setting aside your busy schedules to gather here in unity.”
“….”
“Then, without further preamble, let us proceed to the main matter. The first agenda is to finalize the organizational structure and specific objectives of the Alliance. I hope you will all speak your minds freely and candidly.”
A lengthy discussion commenced.
Those who already knew the circumstances, those who merely suspected, those who had been excluded—as everyone voiced their opinions, the room grew lively with debate.
Dokgo Myeong simply observed as several topics rose and fell in succession.
‘Broadly speaking, hawks and doves. In detail, idealism versus pragmatism.’
True conflict had not yet erupted. Rather, it resembled an exchange of pleasantries and casual conversation.
‘And Baek Mu-heun stands at the center of this atmosphere. He’s doing exactly as he did in my past life. That confidence in his ability to mediate from a neutral position….’
What can I say?
The fact that I had positioned myself between the two major factions within the Dokgo Family and become a pillar of the Dharma Protector Division was something I had learned by observing this very structure.
“The Dokgo Family has rendered great service. Your victory shall be remembered long in the annals of the martial world.”
“Haha! I am grateful. But surely this is merely the beginning, is it not? We have yet to capture the enemy’s leader, and we face an unprecedented threat in the form of the Jeongheol Sect.”
Baek Mu-heun maintained his dignified demeanor throughout, while Dokgo Un-hak displayed the hearty manner he was known for.
“Well spoken indeed. That is precisely why I wished to bring up a matter I mentioned beforehand….”
“As the main family, we have no reason to object. I am certain I would support it as well.”
In the moment I had lost focus, what had those two discussed?
Dokgo Myeong felt a sudden sense of confusion.
Something was amiss. The signs were ominous.
It was precisely when I shifted my gaze slightly.
“Since the subject has come up, I shall raise the next matter. As the elders surely know, what this Alliance needs most in these turbulent times is practical strength.”
A sense of foreboding crept over me.
The moment Dokgo Myeong’s brow furrowed slightly, Baek Mu-heun looked at him.
“The first combat unit to be established must not fail, given its symbolic significance, and thus should be led by one who lacks nothing in reputation, martial prowess, and cultivation.”
“…?”
“Therefore, I wish to recommend someone here. Jin Cheon-sin-geom, please stand.”
Dokgo Myeong blinked and let out an involuntary laugh.
What was Baek Mu-heun scheming from the very start?

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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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