Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 42

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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 42
“This tea has quite a distinctive flavor.”
“It’s tea I brought back from Guizhou this time. I heard it contains flower petals that only grow in Yunnan.”
“Is that so? I’m not well-versed in such things, but it seems to be precious tea, so I should savor it carefully. Ha ha!”
Dokgo Un-hak laughed heartily.
He set down his teacup and grinned widely.
“This is the first time we’ve sat across from each other like this, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’ve been thoughtless. What could have been so pressing that I never once looked upon my nephew’s face?”
Dokgo Myeong responded appropriately while observing Dokgo Un-hak intently.
‘What is this man really after?’
At first glance, he gave the impression of being a forthright and magnanimous gentleman without a trace of artifice.
Yet Dokgo Myeong remained guarded. This man who appeared so magnanimous was one of the Five Lords, known as the Sword King—a master of considerable renown.
Through bold and aggressive handling of affairs, he had seized control of the Dokgo Family’s Outer Sect, and was currently regarded as closer to the throne of the Dokgo Clan than anyone else.
“But what brings you to visit me today?”
“My, look at my scattered mind. I came here to deliver this.”
A sword was placed upon the table.
A long blade adorned with classical elegance.
The hilt bore the emblem of a black dragon inlaid in gold leaf, and the scabbard was wrapped with fish skin resembling dragon scales.
The Restraining Dragon Sword. A masterwork forged by a skilled craftsman, yet it was a ceremonial weapon whose symbolic significance far outweighed its practical application.
“Normally, the appointment of a Major Lord would be conducted at a proper ceremony, but given the exceptional nature of this appointment, it has been delivered in abbreviated form. The official appointment document will be transmitted separately.”
“It’s finally been processed. Thank you.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded and accepted the sword.
At his unexpectedly understated response, Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
‘Not bad. He’s deceived the family so thoroughly that one might think him a dullard until now.’
The Geumsan Sect incident, followed by the Jeongcheon Alliance matter, and now the appointment as Major Lord.
Dokgo Un-hak felt that a promising young talent had finally begun to bloom.
That was why he had come to observe him directly.
‘Let me observe a bit longer.’
Dokgo Un-hak’s demeanor shifted.
His expression remained the same, but his eyes took on a blade-like edge.
“I too have long lamented that a capable child like yourself was unable to grasp your potential and lived as an outsider. Yet seeing you stand so properly now brings me great joy. Ha ha!”
“…Is that so?”
“Still, I worry. Building the Musa Corps from the ground up won’t prove too difficult, will it?”
Dokgo Myeong paused momentarily, his eyes narrowing.
‘What is he getting at?’
His words were spoken like a concerned family elder, yet their implication was quite subtle.
What he was really saying was: ‘You did well, so you deserve a reward. But what made you request the position of Major Lord?’
Whether he was testing to see if I understood or simply probing remained ambiguous, but either way, it mattered little.
“I appreciate your concern. I will bear in mind the weight of this responsibility and strive to bring no shame upon the family.”
Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes gleamed with interest.
‘I’ll handle this myself. I have no intention of joining any faction, so don’t be bothersome.’
“Hehe, still, as the leader of the Outer Sect, it would be nice to hear what your plans are going forward.”
“We haven’t even recruited members yet, nor have we decided on a name. There are no particular plans at the moment.”
“Tsk, that won’t do. Shall I, your uncle, lend you some assistance?”
“Sigh.”
Suddenly, Dokgo Myeong exhaled deeply and shook his head vigorously.
“Haven’t you seen enough by now?”
At his blunt words, cutting through all the pleasantries, Dokgo Un-hak’s lips curled upward in amusement.
“What are you saying?”
“You’ve already taken the measure of me sufficiently. Shall we move on to the real matter now?”
“Hahahaha! Yes! I like your directness!”
Dokgo Un-hak grinned widely.
He found it genuinely amusing that the boy had seized control of the conversation’s direction.
“But truthfully, I came simply to see your face. After all, as an elder of the family, how could I not see my nephew’s face?”
“But now you’ve changed your mind?”
“Something like that.”
Dokgo Un-hak settled into a comfortable posture and smiled meaningfully.
“Let me speak plainly. The incident at Geumsan Sect before—the Outer Sect orchestrated it. Did you know?”
At his sudden words, Dokgo Myeong’s eyes brightened.
“Yes, I knew.”
“Ah, so it was as I thought.”
The Geumsan Sect matter was a topic that neither Dokgo Myeong nor Dokgo Un-hak stood to gain anything from broaching.
The moment that incident became an issue, the Outer Sect would lose face, and Saheon-gak would have to completely sever ties with the Outer Sect.
The Outer Sect had much to lose, so they backed down. Saheon-gak had nothing to lose, so they also backed down.
“How did you know?”
“It was simply rather obvious.”
“True, there was something obvious about it.”
“Why did you bring up that matter?”
Was it a threat, or perhaps an attempt at persuasion?
Dokgo Myeong questioned Dokgo Un-hak’s intentions.
“Have you ever been fishing?”
“Fishing, out of the blue?”
“I’m saying that I was merely fishing.”
Dokgo Un-hak leaned his upper body forward.
“I thought an interesting fellow had entered the lake and wanted to see what he looked like. I didn’t expect him to snap my fishing rod in two with a single strike, though.”
“You must have been disappointed?”
“What of it? I can just buy another fishing rod. Isn’t that so?”
Watching Dokgo Un-hak laugh heartily, Dokgo Myeong narrowed his eyes.
“The Geumsan Sect matter.”
Dokgo Un-hak asked with a smile.
“What if we let this matter pass?”
Dokgo Myeong furrowed his brow.
“You’re asking me to simply overlook it?”
“How could I just let what happened go unaddressed?”
“Then what?”
“If you wish, I will apologize. That matter was my fault.”
It was neither appeasement nor threat.
There was no need for such a thing, yet he was extending his hand in reconciliation without warning.
‘What is this?’
I never expected this.
The Outer Sect Master himself—one of the Five Lords—was lowering his stance.
“I find you quite likable. My mistake caused us to start off on the wrong foot, but there’s no reason we must continue that way, is there?”
Dokgo Un-hak leaned back deeply in his seat and chuckled.
After a moment of deliberation, Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Very well.”
“Ha! Yes, thank you.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened slightly.
“But… is that really all?”
“What?”
“Well, you know. Even when neighborhood children fight, they make peace by sharing candy or something. But you’re just going to settle this with words?”
“…”
“Show a little sincerity, won’t you?”
Dokgo Un-hak blinked for a while, then burst into hollow laughter.
* * *
“Take care, brother.”
“No need to see me out.”
After exchanging farewells with Dokgo Wi-hak, Dokgo Un-hak left Saheon-gak without delay.
He walked along in deep thought for some time before suddenly stopping in his tracks.
“Ha ha ha! That cheeky bastard!”
Dokgo Un-hak burst out laughing.
His only daughter, Dokgo Yeon, who was accompanying him, frowned.
“What is it? You laughed, then cursed. What on earth happened?”
“That boy—he knew.”
“Knew what?”
“About the Geumsan Sect matter.”
Dokgo Yeon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“How?”
“I don’t know either. He said it was obvious?”
Dokgo Un-hak briefly recounted the conversation he had shared with Dokgo Myeong.
Dokgo Yeon waved her hand dismissively mid-sentence, as if dizzy from the complexity.
“Ah, I don’t understand such difficult matters. More importantly, you’re quite generous—why did you let someone so rude get away with it?”
“Because he has ability.”
“So he made such ridiculous demands and you just listened? Like a fool?”
“This girl calls her father a fool.”
What Dokgo Myeong requested was simple.
Leave him alone.
Whether it was the Musa Corps, Saheon-gak, or Geumsan Sect—he refused the Outer Sect’s interference.
“That’s basically raising a private army. You didn’t actually agree to it, did you?”
“I did agree.”
“Good heavens.”
The Outer Sect held authority over personnel appointments and oversight of the Musa Corps.
If the Outer Sect relinquished this, then aside from the family head, one could effectively create an organization completely separate from the clan.
“That much had to be conceded.”
“Why on earth? Is Dokgo Myeong really worth that much?”
“Yes, now I’m certain. Paedobyeon—it’s all his scheming.”
“What?”
“His schemes run deep. His martial prowess is considerable.”
“Martial prowess? Even so…”
“He’s reached his peak.”
Dokgo Yeon’s eyes changed.
“Truly?”
Dokgo Yeon had dismissed both Geumsan Sect and Paedobyeon casually, but this was different.
She still remembered her martial duel with that reckless fool. Back then, Dokgo Myeong possessed potential like raw gemstone.
But doesn’t raw gemstone require years of careful refinement?
Not five years, not ten years. How long has it been since he showed his talents, and already he’s reached his peak?
“Yes. The quantity and quality of his inner force, his body and meridians—already at a complete peak level. Such growth in this short time, he’ll become a monster. Haha!”
Dokgo Un-hak casually opened his palm.
Though already faded, the part where he’d caught the iron rod Dokgo Myeong threw was still slightly discolored.
‘He progressed this quickly?’
Dokgo Yeon’s fingers twitched.
She looked ready to return immediately and test her skills against him.
‘How amusing.’
Truly amusing.
Dokgo Yeon’s eyes curved like a crescent moon.
Dokgo Un-hak’s gaze deepened.
“He’s different from me, from the family head, even from his own father. I can’t see his objective. The only certainty is his exceptional ability.”
He glanced back and saw the quiet form of Saheon-gak.
Dokgo Un-hak gazed quietly beyond the walls of that silent Saheon-gak.
“So I simply offered him some goodwill. Since he made mistakes too, and things have come to this, why not resolve it on good terms? Haha!”
Dokgo Un-hak burst into bright laughter, his footsteps echoing with vigor as he walked away.
Then, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
The grand garden he would cultivate—the greatest family under heaven.
What if Dokgo Myeong became the magnificent great tree that would fill that garden?
‘Father had Lee Seong-cheon and Wi Baek as his sword and shield.’
I have my children—Myeong-i and Dokgo Yeon.
But when the era of those children arrives, what if there were someone like Zhang Liang of Emperor Liu Bang to guide Myeong-i and Yeon?
“It’s too early to say. I’ll need to watch and see.”
Dokgo Un-hak smiled and turned away.
* * *
Geumsan Sect was busy.
Extremely busy.
Son Tae-im received reports from his subordinates with an expression barely distinguishable from that of a walking corpse.
“…and so, we’ve opened new trade routes and coordinated with the Pyo-guk stations….”
“Guizhou has many waterways, so using ships would be ideal, but there are many pirates in those waters….”
“Word has already spread in the merchant circles, and we’re receiving many requests for audiences. We await your approval, Sect Leader….”
Hah.
I’m dying.
Son Tae-im let out a hollow laugh.
From morning to night, for days now, he’d been managing affairs on barely one or two hours of sleep per day.
Obtaining the trade rights didn’t mean silver automatically flowed in. There was inventory storage, transportation, breaking into new markets, haggling over prices, structuring profit systems….
It was only because the merchants of Guizhou’s commercial circles cooperated fully that Geumsan Sect hadn’t collapsed under the weight of work.
“…Um, Sect Leader. Shouldn’t you rest a bit?”
“Why?”
“Well….”
The practical staff of Geumsan Sect gazed at Son Tae-im’s hairline, where flesh-colored scalp had begun to show through.
Yet they lacked the courage to speak openly. They could only look on with pitying eyes.
In that moment, Son Tae-im’s emotions surged.
“What are you looking at?”
“Ahem, ah, it’s nothing.”
“You look exhausted. Why don’t you rest a moment, Sect Leader.”
“….”
Son Tae-im trembled.
Was it from pulling at his hair too much? Or from worrying too hard?
They didn’t realize that such subtle consideration only kindled more anger.
“Damn it, everyone out. You’re right—I do need some rest.”
“Yes, do get some sleep, even if just for a moment.”
“…All right.”
After dismissing his subordinates, Son Tae-im collapsed like a deflated waterskin.
‘Phew, it’s hard… but rewarding, at least.’
Son Tae-im chuckled with a smirk.
The Geumsan Sect’s coffers had indeed run dry recently.
But once the operation truly began, silver would pile up so high it would trip him—surely that much was certain, wasn’t it?
Perhaps the Geumsan Sect would experience its greatest prosperity since its founding.
…Though that vicious Dokgo Myeong would claim it all, at least some scraps would fall to him.
That’s what he wanted to believe.
“Since he’s only just returned to the family, the young master won’t stir up trouble for a while… I hope things stay quiet for a bit….”
Snap!
Son Tae-im clapped his hand over his mouth, realizing what he’d been muttering.
‘Gasp! What am I doing right now…!’
And in that very moment.
Crash!
“Our Tae-im! What are you doing?”
Dokgo Myeong burst through the door.
He then saw Son Tae-im lounging deeply in a chair and narrowed his eyes to slits.
“This bastard’s subordinates are working themselves to the bone while you’re here enjoying yourself? Have you lost your mind?”
“….”
Son Tae-im hung his head low.
* * *
“Pardon? You’re going out again?”
Son Tae-im’s eyes widened at Dokgo Myeong’s words.
“I need to make a trip to Hangzhou in Zhejiang.”
Heaven above has paradise; on earth are Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Dokgo Myeong was referring to that very Hangzhou, famous for the saying that heaven has its paradise, and earth has Suzhou and Hangzhou.
“Why Hangzhou all of a sudden….”
“I need to find someone.”
“Pardon? Someone?”
Son Tae-im’s eyes narrowed.
Hangzhou had always been renowned for its beautiful scenery and abundant resources, famous for its nightlife and entertainment.
Finding someone in such a place?
“Ahem, well, you are at that age, young master.”
“Our Tae-im. Spouting nonsense like that—it seems your mouth disease has flared up again.”
“Gasp!”
Son Tae-im covered his mouth and scrambled backward.
Then he hesitantly opened his mouth again.
“But, but why are you asking me to go to Hangzhou….”
“I need some money. Not much, just a little?”
“Ah, travel expenses, I see. I thought it was something else….”
Son Tae-im nodded, exhaling a sigh of relief.
Since he was going privately, he couldn’t draw from the family’s budget like last time, so he must have come looking for him.
My finances are stretched thin these days with all the ventures I’m running, but travel expenses aren’t a burden I can’t bear.
“Understood. But exactly how much….”
“About this much?”
Dokgo Myeong spread all five fingers wide.
“Five hundred taels? I can prepare that right away.”
“No, five thousand taels.”
“…Pardon?”
“Just five thousand taels. I have some uses for it.”
Thud!
In that instant, several strands of hair fell from Son Tae-im’s head.
“My, Tae-im, you should take better care of yourself. How did it get so thin? Tsk tsk!”
Dokgo Myeong shook his head with a look of genuine concern.
Son Tae-im’s clenched fists trembled violently.

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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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