Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 429

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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 429
Something was clearly amiss.
Yang Xiong’s face twisted as he hurried to the Administrative Bureau to discuss the matter of the Secret Inspector.
“What troubles you, General Yang?”
“What is all this commotion? Has some problem arisen?”
“…It is not a matter the Commander need concern himself with.”
Lee Ryang-mun, the Administrative Director, fell silent.
As silence descended, the chaotic noise from outside the office became all the more distinct.
“That’s not the urgent matter now! We must first deal with the forged orders!”
“Let’s send out the dispatch riders first! Verbal transmission should suffice!”
One didn’t need to spread rumors to understand what was happening. This place was in equal turmoil.
Yang Xiong lowered his voice and asked.
“Could this be a rebellion?”
“What a dreadful thing to say! We’re simply discovering and handling minor misconduct!”
“Then let me put it differently. Did one of your subordinates overstep their authority? Has this caused problems such as gates or passages being blocked?”
In that instant, Lee Ryang-mun’s eyes widened as he stared at Yang Xiong.
“Could it be?”
Yang Xiong nodded heavily.
“We experienced the same incident. One of my generals under my command moved soldiers without authorization.”
If the Military Commander was the head of the Military Affairs Bureau, then the Administrative Director was the head of the Administrative Bureau.
The two pillars supporting the provincial administration had both been shaken.
“Soldiers were moved. Could this truly be a revolt….”
Lee Ryang-mun couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
Yang Xiong shook his head.
“That doesn’t appear to be the case. He surrendered without resistance.”
Yang Xiong continued in a low, grave voice.
“…But seeing that you’re in this situation as well, it seems this won’t end as a simple matter.”
“Hmm.”
“So then, what happened?”
Lee Ryang-mun pondered for a moment.
But this was not the time to engage in disputes between civil and military factions.
“An inspector from the Censorate arrived. However, I knew nothing of it, and the Advisor of the Secretariat forged the official seal and issued false orders on his own authority. Some administrative functions have been disrupted, and we are currently restoring them.”
“What became of them?”
“The Censor went into hiding, and the Advisor was arrested without resistance at his residence.”
The subsequent circumstances were identical.
Yang Xiong’s eyes gleamed.
“It seems…the waters of a well have invaded the river.”
“What do you mean… Are you perhaps speaking of the martial world now?”
“Director Lee. You must have heard of the Martial Alliance.”
Yang Xiong continued his explanation calmly.
Lee Ryang-mun’s expression grew increasingly rigid as he listened to the story.
“So you’re saying the local government offices are now partially controlled by the martial sects. If that’s true… there’s a problem at the center.”
“But I haven’t heard a single word about this. How could the court not know something of this magnitude…”
“Yang Xiong.”
Lee Ryang-mun cut off Yang Xiong’s words.
“It would be better not to speak of this further.”
…
The atmosphere sank in an instant.
Both men wished the tea they were drinking now was cold water instead. Their frustration ran that deep.
‘It would be better if corruption had merely spread within the court.’
‘If that’s not the case… it means the court knew and simply let it happen.’
Why would they let it happen?
No. I shouldn’t think about this. It’s better not to know.
“…You said you’ve secured the whereabouts of this secret inspector?”
“No.”
Yang Xiong shook his head.
“He’s dead.”
…
“He died entangled in martial sect affairs. I’ll investigate, but only traces of combat were found. I’ll discipline the commander who moved troops without authorization according to military law.”
“And the reason Yang Xiong came here was to restore order within the city.”
“That’s correct.”
Their eyes met.
A certain understanding passed between their exchanged glances.
Yang Xiong rose from his seat.
“I should probably return immediately. This certainly isn’t the end. There will continue to be movements to stop those martial artists…”
“Officials are inviolable. Yang Xiong, be careful in your conduct.”
“Of course.”
The winds of chaos were not blowing only through the martial world.
* * *
My prediction had come true.
The face of the guide from the Gonggong Sect was twisted with humiliation.
“I apologize. This shouldn’t have happened… All the routes we had prepared are blocked. Even the merchants are trapped under inexplicable restrictions.”
The Gonggong Sect, which had agreed to find a path to Cheonghaesong, expressed reluctance.
“I understand. It’s as I expected.”
“You expected this?”
“From now on, we’ll move on our own. Thank you for your concern.”
Travel by land would be difficult.
The terrain was desolate and mountainous, with poor roads that often required traveling on foot.
That left the water route.
“Old Man. I need to procure a boat.”
“…How far are you planning to go?”
“To Qinghai.”
The old man, his face darkened by the sun, shook his head upon seeing the hundreds of strong men who had suddenly appeared.
“Look for yourself. Where on this Yellow River would you find a boat capable of carrying hundreds of people?”
The Yellow River was the largest waterway leading to Qinghai.
The problem was that, true to its name, it carried so much sediment that it flowed yellow. As a result, so much silt accumulated on the riverbed, and the water depth was so unpredictable that large vessels could not be launched.
“There’s no need to move everyone at once. We can divide into smaller groups and travel separately.”
“Even so, it’s impossible. You seem to be from the Central Plains, but the Yellow River is a different matter from the Yangtze.”
“If you just show us a way, I’ll give you this!”
Geum Seok-du stepped forward adeptly and pulled silver coins from his sleeve.
For a moment, the old man’s eyes gleamed, but he soon sighed.
“I’m sorry, but there really is none.”
“Are you just making excuses?”
“There used to be people who secretly transported others, but…the guards came and tore that place apart not long ago, so all the boat routes are completely blocked.”
Again.
The barriers set up by the Jeongheol Sect were thicker than expected.
“So there’s only one option left.”
“Land travel, on foot.”
Moryong Sohgyo’s expression hardened as she nodded.
“It feels like they’re not just trying to slow us down—they’re forcing us into this specific method.”
“We have no choice. We’ll use horses as far as they can go, then break through with lightness kung fu after that.”
Moving troops requires vast amounts of supplies.
Water, food, bedding, weapons.
The most an individual could carry was supplies for four days at best.
Even if we managed to procure supplies locally, logistics would definitely become a problem. Moreover, we expected interference and attacks during the march on foot.
And that interference came sooner than expected.
“Stop. No one may pass through this checkpoint.”
“What?”
“Those who attempt to pass through here will face severe punishment by order of our superiors.”
“….”
Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh.
Interference had found them the moment they began moving. In the end, Moryong Sohgyo had been right.
“I have one question.”
“W-what is it?”
“Which faction do you belong to? Exactly where are these superiors who issued this severe punishment?”
The soldiers hesitated and could not answer immediately.
One soldier shouted urgently.
“W-why should we tell you bastards that!”
“Then I suppose we have no choice.”
Dokgo Myeong spoke calmly while glancing back.
“Jeonmu Army. We break through by force.”
Crash!
* * *
The Jeonmu Army began their rapid westward advance.
As expected, the terrain was treacherous.
The fortunate part was that the disciples possessed exceptional lightness skills, and Yun Cheong, who had traveled to and from Qinghai Castle as a member of the Gonggong Sect, served as their guide.
Just as they entered a sparsely populated path, the ambushes finally began.
“Rear! Guards approaching!”
“Could they have been pursuing us from the checkpoint?”
“No. It seems they were lying in ambush here from the start!”
At first, I was flustered.
But as it repeated again and again, I soon realized the truth.
These were no ordinary guards.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
At every passage, mysterious enemies and guards emerged, unleashing arrows without warning or mercy. Those who fired volleys of arrows without announcement or warning could not possibly be guards.
Why would guards ambush the Martial Alliance’s soldiers on a desolate rocky mountain in the first place?
They were merely a strange group wearing military uniforms.
“Deflect them! The arrows are poisoned!”
Clang clang clang!
Since they weren’t firing qi-infused arrows like the Heavenly Kings’ disciples, the Jeonmu Army soldiers had no reason to fall to them.
“More coming! Front! Ambush!”
“We have no choice! Engage! Baek Song!”
“Cheonma Sect First and Second squads! Follow me!”
Boom!
A unit surged forward in a whirlwind, charging directly into the enemy.
“Seok-du! Scout!”
“Jeon Myeong! O Subordinates! Break from formation! Advance ahead!”
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Geum Seok-du’s O Subordinates, having instantly overtaken the main column, scattered in all directions.
“Ye-hwa! Archers on the cliff!”
Just calling out was enough.
The sound of four arrows tearing through the air erupted.
Boom!
Small explosions ignited where the arrows struck.
Not merely explosions from internal energy. These were specially crafted arrowheads made by Ma Jang Heo Yong-do—explosive arrows.
“Gunpowder? If we’re caught with this, it’s treason!”
“Then we simply won’t get caught!”
“Enemy appearing on the flank!”
“Little one!”
Ye-hwa, suspended in mid-air, smoothly twisted her upper body backward.
Three unusually thick arrows suddenly nocked on the bowstring of a four-stone bow.
*Twang! Whoooosh!*
The moment the bowstring released, each arrow split into five smaller projectiles mid-air.
Named for their arrowheads resembling cherry blossoms—the Sakura Arrows.
“Gahhhhh!”
“Ugh! Ahhhhh!”
Many enemies crumpled under the barrage of inner-force-infused Sakura Arrows.
Yet some deflected the arrows and pressed forward again.
After confirming this, Ye-hwa landed and spoke.
“Captain. These aren’t ordinary guards. Someone blocked the first strike of the Heavenly Kings’ arrows with a sword—arrows shot from my Sakura technique.”
“A Jeongheol Disciple?”
“Unknown, but they possess considerable martial prowess. That person seems to be the commander of this encirclement.”
“Moyang Soldier!”
The moment Dokgo Myeong called out to Moryong Sohgyo, she shouted back.
“It’s not just the rear—the front is problematic too! If this continues, we’ll be surrounded and lose stragglers! We must sever the enemy’s coordinated movements!”
Ye-hwa’s eyes gleamed.
“Squad Four will now engage in commander assassination and elimination.”
“Please do!”
“Jin-sa! Gung-pyeong! Begin!”
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh!*
At Ye-hwa’s command, the members of Squad Four scattered in all directions.
“Gack!”
“Gahhhhh!”
“Ahhh!”
Screams erupted from all sides. They were eliminating the commanders.
Moryong Sohgyo moved her legs frantically while scanning all directions.
‘The encirclement isn’t loosening. The enemy’s discipline remains intact. They’re still pressing forward in sequential waves.’
The momentum was fiercer than expected.
The enemy seemed unwilling to let them enter Cheonghaesong, or determined to entangle them at any cost.
‘No matter.’
Here now stood the man who earned the title of War King on the battlefield—the Dark Sword Sovereign leading them forward.
“Captain! Please handle the rear!”
“Finally! I thought I’d die waiting!”
Dokgo Myeong at the vanguard spun his body and struck the ground.
*Crash!*
Like witnessing the flight of a black dragon.
Dragon scales fluttered as he flew in the opposite direction from where the Jeonmu Army ran.
Soon the dragon’s fangs carved a pitch-black trajectory downward.
*Boom-crack-crack-crack!*
The current-iron heavy sword’s strike detonated, scattering pursuers in all directions.
The enemy general came into view in Dokgo Myeong’s eyes as he carved out a massive crater.
‘There he is.’
On the inhale, I gathered my inner force into a single point.
On the exhale, I stamped the ground.
Crack! Boom!
A single strike.
The enemy general’s body shattered and crumbled as my Hyeonchul Sword pierced straight through the few enemy soldiers blocking the way.
The nearby enemies stared at me with wide eyes.
Already by then, the Hyeonchul Sword was being swung again.
Whoooosh!
Geuksin Gyeol Hwacheon Gyeok—the most aggressive martial art of the Cheonoe Realm.
Yeonhwa’s strike sent eight enemy soldiers to the realm of no return in a single breath.
‘A monster!’
‘How does he possess such martial prowess…!’
‘He’s grown even stronger!’
Whether from the Muleok Sect or the Cheonma Sect, all of them clicked their tongues at my overwhelming martial might.
It was mad to say they would break through by force despite knowing an ambush awaited—yet it was a statement that made sense.
One man against a thousand.
If it was this man, it would surely be possible.
Crash! Boom!
Another explosion of sound erupted.
There was no time to stand in awe.
* * *
Fortune favored them.
Or perhaps it was simply intended that way.
“Sado! We are surrounded! It appears the Bloodfiends had already learned of our route!”
“…This is troublesome.”
Sado’s eyes widened as he surveyed his surroundings.
A vast plain with few trees, where the horizon stretched endlessly distant.
From every direction of that plain, an immense blood energy surged forth.
“Run! Toward Seonyeong territory! If we enter that plateau, surely…!”
Sado spoke urgently as he led his group forward.
‘Please! Hurry!’
For the first time, Sado prayed not to the gods, but to the bonds of his own karma.

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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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