Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 421

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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 421
Two days later, in the banquet hall.
Baek Mu-heun wasted no time and immediately proclaimed the establishment of the Eradication Corps, the direct combat unit of the Martial Alliance. He announced that he would accept applicants based solely on skill, without discrimination by sect, region, faction, origin, or gender, and that members of the Eradication Corps would become exclusively disciples of the Martial Alliance.
It was a move faster than anyone had anticipated.
Reactions erupted immediately.
“Ooh! Should I give it a try? Though asking for applications within a month seems a bit rushed…”
“Ha! Jump in while you can! They’ll probably fill it with only peak-level masters. What chance do we have?”
“You never know. Once you’re in, they say they’ll provide full support and even teach secret techniques from various sects.”
Those who saw it as an opportunity burned with enthusiasm.
“Hmm, even if they say they only look at skill, they’ll obviously only recruit disciples from prestigious sects.”
“Hah! Of course. They’ll just pick a few token disciples from rural sects or independent masters as a formality, then discriminate against them compared to the prestigious sect disciples.”
Those who reacted with cynicism and pessimism.
“What does that matter? I just hope the Martial Alliance actually functions properly.”
“Either way… it’ll be under scrutiny from the start.”
Those who watched with a wait-and-see attitude, simply hoping for some improvement.
Right then, as if prepared in advance, beggars from all over the Central Plains simultaneously posted notices announcing the recruitment. A postscript was added stating that even those who unfortunately failed the test could still become official disciples of the Alliance after passing the examination.
Regardless, it was certainly an uncommon opportunity since they had publicly declared they would judge based on skill alone.
Interest poured in far beyond expectations.
* * *
“I pay my respects to General Jegal.”
Dokgo Myeong cupped his fists in salute.
“General? The Alliance hasn’t established specific titles yet.”
“Who else would take the position of Supreme General of the Martial Alliance if not you, Sect Leader?”
“I’m afraid of who might hear that.”
“What would it matter if they did? It’s an unspoken rule that the Advisor of the Martial Alliance is held by the Sect Leader of the Jegal Family.”
Jegal Mun regarded Dokgo Myeong with a peculiar gaze.
His tone was far too decisive to be mere flattery. He seemed like someone who had already seen the future.
“Sit for now.”
“Very well.”
Soon Geum Seok-du brought out a fruit tea.
The distinctive flavor, difficult to find anywhere else, caused Jegal Mun’s expression to waver slightly.
“I’d like to speak with you alone for a moment. Would you mind stepping out?”
Jegal Mun spoke, looking at his own guards and Geum Seok-du and Dokgo Ak, who stood in line behind Dokgo Myeong.
“Of course. Everyone, please leave.”
“Yes.”
With only the two of them facing each other, Dokgo Myeong spoke first.
“Did you come because of the Eradication Corps?”
“Indeed.
“Good heavens, this is unbearable. Do you know how many visitors we’ve had because of this matter?”
Despite Dokgo Myeong’s light jest, Jegal Mun’s response was dry.
“I came for a different reason altogether.”
“What reason might that be?”
“A sort of… warning.”
Dokgo Myeong’s face twitched.
“Did Sect Leader Baek send you?”
“No, I came of my own volition.”
*Clink.*
Jegal Mun set down his teacup calmly as he spoke.
“As you said, I intend to become the head of this Martial Alliance. It is the means by which I shall restore the main family to greatness—a family that has endured the dark ages and the Moyong Family’s claws for far too long.”
“I had assumed you belonged to the faction of my uncle, Sect Leader Baek.”
“Ha, why do you speak thus? Did the Sword King not clash with Sect Leader Baek? And in factional disputes, are there truly enemies and allies from the beginning?”
“….”
“Listen here, young master. Or rather, Jin Cheon-sin-geom.”
By deliberately using his epithet, he showed he would treat him with respect rather than as a child.
“I intend to make this Martial Alliance the perfect standard of the martial world. When that moment comes, the Martial Alliance will become an empire that dominates the martial realm.”
“You should watch your words. If others heard such talk, they would surely misunderstand.”
Jegal Mun spoke in a firm voice, as though unconcerned.
“I merely hope you do not cast ashes upon that process. The Martial Alliance is like a child to you as well, is it not?”
Dokgo Myeong laughed coldly.
“You speak as though you would make me your enemy if I continue to obstruct you.”
“No, that is not it. Your words are mistaken.”
Jegal Mun stared directly at Dokgo Myeong.
“Was it not you who first became hostile?”
In the silence, their gazes intertwined.
The intensity in both their eyes was such that sparks seemed ready to fly.
Jegal Mun then broke the silence.
“I heard from Sect Leader Baek about the matter of the Jeongheol Sect.”
Time was pressing. But that made it all the better.
A golden opportunity to make the entire martial world recognize the necessity of the Martial Alliance had arrived far sooner than expected.
“The reason you did not take command of the Demon Slaying Force was because you believed you could not raise it to a usable standard within that tight timeframe?”
“That is part of it, but….”
Dokgo Myeong set down his empty teacup.
“The greatest reason is that I am certain the Demon Slaying Force will fail no matter how hard I try.”
“What?”
“If the Demon Slaying Force falls apart in the midst of this great undertaking, what then? No matter how much I protest that I opposed it and that it is not my fault, will my name not be tarnished?”
“What are you saying now?”
“The Demon Slaying Force will certainly fail. Thoroughly so.”
“…!”
His gaze was far too resolute to be mere speculation.
Jegal Mun wavered for a moment, then asked with an expression of incomprehension.
“The finest hidden talents from each major sect will join forces, and the entire Hundred Blade Martial World will provide full support. You’re saying that fails?”
There would certainly be issues that make unity difficult.
But the kind of failure Dokgo Myeong speaks of makes no sense.
“Yes.”
“What’s your basis?”
“Rather, I’m curious about your basis for believing it will succeed.”
Jegal Mun’s expression twisted.
“…Right. Unlike me, you hold your conviction not through calculation and prediction, but through some baseless intuition.”
Jegal Mun regarded Dokgo Myeong with cold eyes.
“I’ll explain what lies ahead.”
“I’m listening.”
“Since you’ve refused the position of Melak Commander, you should prepare yourself for some public relations warfare.”
“You mean to tarnish my reputation?”
“It’s unavoidable. The trust and expectations the martial artists have in you have grown that much.”
I can roughly predict it.
That I continuously obstructed and opposed the establishment of the Melak Corps, that I refused the commander’s seat out of fear, that I avoided it due to lacking capacity, that I made excessive demands due to arrogance… and so on.
Predictable, isn’t it? That’s the sort of talk that will circulate.
But that’s only natural.
“I understand. If anything, wouldn’t it be more problematic if there were no retaliation at all? I only ask that you don’t cross the line.”
“Remarkably composed.”
“Well, I’ve never been particularly attached to reputation anyway.”
Jegal Mun’s brow furrowed.
Something felt off.
Why did Dokgo Myeong seem to want his own reputation to diminish?
“The Cheonma Sect will be deployed the same as any other sect’s forces going forward. You’ll be tasked with handling Black Blade heretical sects in various regions. Don’t expect special treatment.”
“I wouldn’t expect it even if offered.”
“You’ve wagered your standing on the Melak Corps’s failure. If the Melak Corps succeeds, your position will be different from what it is now.”
“I’m aware.”
But what if the opposite happens?
Once again, contrary to everyone’s expectations, I become the man who saw through the future and led the endeavor to success. When that moment comes, Dokgo Myeong’s authority will skyrocket.
The larger the wager, the greater the return.
“I’ve said all I need to say. I should be going. The tea was excellent.”
“Please visit anytime. That tea is a precious thing only the Cheonma Sect members can taste.”
“…”
Jegal Mun stared at Dokgo Myeong for a long moment, then nodded and withdrew.
“I’ll send down the orders once the banquet ends.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
* * *
Time passed.
The Melak Corps was established without issue.
Contrary to Dokgo Myeong’s expectations, the opening display was nothing short of magnificent.
The disciples the Nine Sects had kept hidden like secret weapons, the elite martial artists of the great families, and the young sect leaders and family heirs that each renowned school had cultivated at great cost—when they gathered together, they appeared to be an unprecedented force.
The Demon Slaying Alliance’s leadership, which everyone had expected would go to Baek Song of Mount Hua, instead fell to Elder Yuanhyeong of the Shaolin Temple.
“Amitabha Buddha. Though still imperfect, I shall dedicate my body and mind to guiding these wicked ones toward righteousness.”
Though called an elder, he was still in the prime of his years with a bright future ahead.
The Dokgo Family’s Gun and Yeon siblings, and the drummer of their generation—no one objected.
“Demon Slaying Alliance, departing! Our target is the Blood Crimson Gang committing atrocities in Shaanxi!”
The Blood Crimson Gang was a vicious organization formed by the combined efforts of the previous demonic leaders of the heterodox sects.
The Demon Slaying Alliance took on a major operation from their first mission, and just four days after departing, they triumphantly returned with the Blood Crimson Gang’s signboard in hand.
And at that very moment, the Cheonma Sect was….
“Captain.”
“What is it, Mu Baek?”
“Is this right?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking if it’s right for us to be dealing with small-time bandits collecting tribute in some mountain village.”
Crash!
Hang San-gwi emerged from some mountain stronghold in a cloud of dust.
“Kahahaha! Some nobody dares impersonate bandits!”
Dokgo Myeong glanced back at Cheolmu-baek.
“Your subordinate seems to be enjoying himself, doesn’t he?”
“One man would be enough to handle this, yet here we all are.”
“With nothing to do, we might as well take a stroll.”
….
Cheolmu-baek squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and gazed at the sky.
The sky was vast and clear.
And the Cheonma Sect was being dispatched to various locations by the Martial Alliance’s orders, dealing with small-time troublemakers.
* * *
“Cough! Ptui!”
Neungmyeong crouched down and spat on the ground.
“Listen, I’ll only say this once. Pay attention.”
“Y-yes!”
“Soon the Hao Sect will establish itself in this lower village. You know what the Hao Sect is?”
“N-no, I don’t!”
“If you don’t know, does your bandit life end? You need to find out! You want to die?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“Why did you do something to be sorry for?”
“I-I’m sorry….”
“What? You’re apologizing again?”
Neungmyeong glared fiercely as he interrogated the mountain stronghold leader.
The stronghold leader, kneeling in only his undergarments, had tears streaming down his face as if he might burst into sobs at any moment.
“Listen carefully. The reason we’ve tolerated you this far is because even if you disappeared, someone else would simply take your place.”
“Yes, sir. We do chase away the beasts and maintain the roads…”
“Right, in other words, you’re a necessary evil. So keep it moderate, understand? Moderate.”
“C-Captain. But moderate… what exactly do you mean by that?”
Neungmyeong glared once more.
“Figure it out yourself. Do you not understand?”
“Pardon?”
“With a clear conscience. Act properly with a clear conscience. So we don’t have to come back.”
“…”
“That’s why we’re keeping you alive. What? No answer? Watch this!”
“Eek! I’m so sorry!”
“Don’t go searching for the Hao Sect after we leave. They might be traveling merchants or farmers working the fields. If we hear through their mouths that you’ve been up to mischief again, the Cheonma Sect will chase you to the depths of hell itself.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good. Let’s do this right.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Managers watching from afar nodded with satisfied smiles.
“Hmm, he’s learned well.”
“His technique for handling people has improved considerably.”
“The Cheonma Sect’s discipline seems to be in excellent order.”
The Cheonma Sect Members who heard this felt conflicted.
That sharp junior of theirs seemed to be walking down the wrong path, yet since the superiors were satisfied, they couldn’t correct him.
‘This is why they say the upper waters must be clean for the lower waters to be clean.’
The problem was that those upper waters were exactly that.
“Yawn! Is it finally over?”
“Yes, Captain.”
Geum Seok-du approached and bowed his head.
Dokgo Myeong, who had been dozing in the shade of a tree, brushed himself off and stood up.
“If it’s done, let’s get moving. Ugh, my back’s killing me from lying on the ground.”
And so.
A day passed, a week passed, and nearly a month had gone by.
During that time, the Cheonma Sect had to dispatch members across the Central Plains to deal with small-time troublemakers.
Finally, the Managers exploded.
“Captain.”
“Ah, my Managers. What’s the matter?”
“What is this? What are you doing right now?”
“Can’t you see? I’m fishing for time.”
On his way back from receiving orders to eliminate bandits, Dokgo Myeong was lying by the water’s edge with a fishing rod, completely at ease.
The Managers’ eyes went wide.
“Before you commit insubordination, speak honestly.”
“I can’t take this anymore! What are you thinking now?!”
Their expressions were far from ordinary.
If I tried to dodge the issue here, I’d likely catch a real blade, so it seemed I truly needed to speak now.
‘Well, at this point, I suppose it’s time to let it slip out.’
Dokgo Myeong opened his mouth.
“Ak-i. You often chattered about Baek Song’s inn back in Myeong, so what’s the word on the Demon Slayer Brigade these days?”
“I don’t know! They say they keep raising their martial prowess!”
Dokgo Myeong looked at Geum Seok-du.
“Seok-du. What about the information you obtained from Hao Gate?”
“That is… exactly as Manager Ak said, sir.”
More than half a month had passed since the Demon Slayer Brigade’s establishment.
The Demon Slayer Brigade was living up to its name, achieving consecutive victories against great evils attempting to take root in the martial world.
“However… I heard something rather peculiar….”
“Tell me.”
“It appears the Demon Slayer Brigade Commander is in conflict with the Elders. This information came from the innkeeper of an old inn where the Demon Slayer Brigade stays.”
“Conflict?”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
The managers blinked in surprise at this unexpected news.
The Demon Slayer Brigade was an assembly of elite warriors, backed by the White Blade martial world itself. Truly a brilliant organization.
But the Demon Slayer Brigade harbored a grave problem.
“The arm always bends inward.”
“…?”
“If you were them, would you want your child to become the crane standing alone among the flock, or just one crane among many?”
“Wait. You’re saying the Elders are pressuring him to highlight their own disciples?”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
Autonomy. That cursed autonomy.
I didn’t emphasize it for nothing.
“That’s why I didn’t take command of the Demon Slayer Brigade. Even if I worked myself to the bone running it, it would ultimately crumble from internal problems. What would become of me then?”
“But the Captain kept warning and emphasizing it, so there shouldn’t be any question of responsibility.”
“Right, only then would they listen to me. But that would feel like ‘let’s see how well you do.’ It means I wouldn’t hold the initiative.”
So I went the opposite direction.
Simply decided to take a good beating instead.
“Now I’ve become the fool who rejected a good position and is just being difficult.”
My reputation has taken a hit lately. I hear they’re cursing me quite colorfully in the streets.
“But what if… it turns out exactly as I predicted?”
They would need to bring in someone with excellent foresight and capable abilities to cover up the problem caused by factional interference and seal it cleanly.
Who could that be?
‘Why, none other than me, Dokgo Myeong.’
Dokgo Myeong’s smile deepened.

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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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