Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 442

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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 442
It was around the time when Dokgo Myeong had finished his confidential discussion with Baek Mu-heun and ordered the troops to withdraw.
Baek Song sought out Dokgo Ak, avoiding the eyes of others.
“Captain Ak. Do you have a moment to spare?”
“Ah, Commander of the Demon Slayers.”
Baek Song hastily stopped Dokgo Ak as he moved to offer a military salute.
“Please don’t. I haven’t come to you as the Commander of the Demon Slayers. But you seem quite busy?”
“Well, I’m organizing the camp right now…”
Dokgo Ak wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced around.
“What brings you here?”
“There’s something urgent I need to discuss.”
“Ah, please speak.”
She hesitated for a moment, but soon opened her mouth.
“What kind of person is the Jeongmu Army Leader…”
“Why do you ask about my brother?”
“…”
It was then, as Baek Song fell silent and searched for words in her mind.
“Captain Ak! Where are you hiding again! If you don’t come out, this time I’ll definitely tell the Commander…”
Bang Dan-a, who had been shouting at the top of her lungs, spotted the two of them and widened her eyes.
She turned her head back and forth to grasp the situation, then smiled meaningfully.
“Well, well.”
Dokgo Ak clicked his tongue.
“The Commander has something to discuss, so I’ll be back shortly.”
“Of course! Go ahead! Hurry!”
Bang Dan-a chuckled with a sly expression and muttered.
“Our squad leader must be quite capable. Hehe!”
“…You really need to change your name someday.”
“Come on now, why do you always say things that hurt my feelings? I only became like this after joining the Cheonma Sect, you know?”
“Sure you did.”
Baek Song was newly amazed watching the two of them converse with the ease of intimate friends.
As they walked away from the camp, Baek Song spoke first.
“You seem to get along well with the disciples.”
“There’s just no hierarchy between us, that’s all.”
“I’ve never seen a unit with military discipline as tight as the Cheonma Sect in all my training and combat experience.”
“Wait, doesn’t that mean it’s not usually like that?”
Baek Song gave a faint smile at Dokgo Ak’s jest.
But soon her voice grew serious.
“That’s precisely what makes it so remarkable.”
“What do you mean?”
“The leaders handle not only duties but also menial tasks fairly, and they get along with the disciples like friends. Yet not a single disciple shows disrespect to their superiors.”
The same applies to the disciples among themselves.
The Cheonma Sect disciples took great pride in their respective teams and displayed competitive spirits, yet simultaneously acknowledged each other’s roles fully.
“Until now, I believed that such horizontal atmospheres in combat units—especially in the martial world—inevitably led to lax discipline. I certainly conducted the Plum Blossom Sword Squad that way.”
“Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case. Heh, how exactly does our unit even function?”
“Pardon…?”
“When I think about it, everyone comes from different backgrounds, statuses, and regions, yet it runs smoothly. That’s what’s remarkable.”
Listening to her, one might think she wasn’t part of the Cheonma Sect at all.
Dokgo Ak, noticing her subtle gaze, shrugged with a smile.
“Why do you look at me that way? Despite appearances, I am a direct descendant of the Central Plains’ most prestigious family.”
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“From childhood, I was strictly taught the hierarchy of status and rank. Not that I have any right to speak of it now, though. Ha ha.”
Dokgo Ak raised his arm as if making light of the matter.
His hair was disheveled from working, and dust clung to him in various places.
Yet he showed no sign of embarrassment about it.
“So to answer your question… the Cheonma Sect can be this way because of one person.”
“You mean the Captain?”
“Yes.”
Dokgo Ak chuckled softly.
“The Cheonma Sect can only be maintained because of the solid fence that is my older brother. And we all wish to become that fence for him someday.”
Dokgo Ak stopped walking.
His expression had grown serious.
“You asked what kind of person my older brother is, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“What have you seen?”
Baek Song suddenly froze in place.
There was something unfamiliar about the way Dokgo Ak stared at her.
“What is he thinking about? And the Cheonma Sect likewise… what goal are they moving toward?”
“…”
“Does the Cheonma Sect truly act for the greater cause?”
Baek Song recalled a scene she had witnessed by chance on that very day when the battle occurred.
It was the sight of Dokgo Myeong and the Cheonma Sect releasing a group of people carrying an iron palanquin.
‘How should I conduct myself?’
In truth, the easiest course of action would be to report it. She worked under Dokgo Myeong, but before that, she had been a person of Hwashan and Baek Mu-heun.
There was nothing she needed to protect for Dokgo Myeong’s sake.
Yet in her heart, she felt curiosity and goodwill toward the Cheonma Sect. Or rather, it was closer to admiration.
“The greater cause.”
Dokgo Ak shrugged. He had already returned to the demeanor she knew.
“Among us, only Captain Namgung would concern himself with such things.”
“…!”
“I have a rough idea of why you’re doing this… but you can do as you please.”
“Y-yes?”
“If you’re still uncertain, my recommendation is simply to tell him directly.”
“Tell him directly?”
“He’s overly honest, which causes problems, but he’s not the type to hide things. That’s just how my brother is.”
Dokgo Ak grinned wickedly.
And so Baek Song went to find Dokgo Myeong.
* * *
Baek Song told Dokgo Myeong what she had witnessed.
And his reaction was….
“Haha! Hahaha!”
“….”
“Come now, that can’t be right. I have no idea what the Captain is talking about.”
“….”
“Release enemies? There’s no way I would do such a thing!”
He played dumb with such blatant obviousness that all tension evaporated.
“At first, I thought they were civilians. But they came from the direction where the Jeongheol disciples appeared, and even from a distance, I could see signs of combat. They were….”
Baek Song swallowed hard as she spoke.
“Jeongheol disciples, weren’t they?”
“Are you sure you didn’t misread the situation? It was quite dark, and the distance….”
“As the Demon Slayer Captain, I felt it necessary to accurately pinpoint the Cheonma Sect’s location, so I’ve been consistently focusing my inner energy on my vision to observe carefully. The scene I witnessed was during such observation, so there’s no way I could have been mistaken.”
Suddenly, Dokgo Myeong let out a sigh.
“What is this? You’ve already made up your mind?”
Then, with shameless audacity, he changed his expression and deflected.
“I did think someone might see it, but of all people… so what?”
Baek Song was flustered.
“S-so what, you say?”
“There must be a reason you came to me. Why you didn’t report it immediately and came here first.”
“Wouldn’t it put you in a difficult position if this became known?”
“What, are you trying to extort money from me?”
“How could I! Where would I even use such money!”
Baek Song raised her voice without realizing it.
Then, startled by her own outburst, she lowered her head.
“My apologies.”
“…Wow, you’re just as rigid as our Sohwa. You two could compete for stubbornness.”
“Pardon?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled before opening his mouth again.
“Well, as you say, I might be suspected of collusion. Baek Jangmunin would seize on this and use it as a weapon.”
“Why is his name coming up now?”
“Weren’t you planning to report this to him? You’re one of his people, after all.”
“…?!”
Did you know about this?
No, actually, it would have been stranger not to know. But I didn’t realize you’d let them run free despite knowing.
“Surely you didn’t assign me to watch over them or interfere with their plans, sir.”
“Who said anything like that?”
Dokgo Myeong let out a soft chuckle.
After a brief pause, he explained only as much as could be said about the Baek Lotus Sect.
That they were a persecuted minority faction within the Jeongheol Sect, that he had conspired with them to orchestrate this situation, and that his intention was to protect them.
“That… what do you mean…?”
“I thought they deserved a chance. It would have been better if they hadn’t been discovered, but since they have, there’s nothing to be done about it. I have no intention of dictating to the Alliance Leader, so let them do as they wish.”
It was an answer so anticlimactic it drained all tension from the moment.
‘This isn’t what I expected.’
Who was Dokgo Myeong?
Wasn’t he the embodiment of political intrigue, moving the era from the shadows, known only to those in the know?
Honestly, I had expected threats, inducements, persuasion—something like that. But what came instead was a completely deflating answer.
“Then… why did you hide them in the first place?”
“If they were exposed, their future would be predictable.”
“Even so, you should follow the Alliance’s decision!”
“Why?”
“Pardon?”
“Why should I follow the Alliance’s decision?”
For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
It was only natural, after all.
Having always thought that way, she couldn’t come up with a proper answer. Eventually, after hesitating for a long while, she could only resort to a platitude.
“Because it’s the right path.”
“Is something automatically right just because the majority chooses it?”
“…!”
Baek Song felt confusion wash over her.
“Are you saying it isn’t, sir?”
“It could be wrong, or it could be right.”
“If this becomes known… you’ll have to bear considerable disadvantage.”
“It was my decision, so I have to take responsibility for it.”
Dokgo Myeong waved his hand dismissively.
“Well, thanks for giving me advance notice anyway. I’ll need to prepare for this.”
Only then did Baek Song begin to understand what kind of man Dokgo Myeong was, and the meaning behind what Ye-hwa and Dokgo Ak had told her.
To him, politics was merely a means. It was one tool among many to enforce his will, and a method to handle problems when they arose.
Baek Song ended her deliberation and opened her mouth.
“For now… I won’t say anything.”
“Hmm?”
“I think there’s merit to what you’ve said, sir. Given how severe the Jeongheol Sect’s corruption has become, those who have turned away from it will surely have to endure considerable hardship.”
“…”
“To be honest, I still don’t know what’s right. So… I’ll hold off on judgment for now. But if I ever think you’ve gone wrong, Captain, I’ll speak up then.”
Baek Song reflected on her words.
This wasn’t the righteous path she’d walked until now. Yet this was what she wanted to do.
‘And I’ll bear that responsibility myself.’
Wasn’t this the right way?
Though uncertain, her heart felt strangely refreshed.
* * *
There was no grand triumphal procession, but news of the victory had already spread throughout the martial world.
The Jeonmu Army returned to Maeng without major incident, marching boldly.
“Ugh, let me rest. Please, I’m begging you…”
I’d exhausted both my physical and mental strength. On top of that, my wounds hadn’t even healed yet.
But the world seemed to have no intention of granting me rest.
“General Jeonmu.”
“…I’m not here.”
“It’s urgent.”
“Tell them I collapsed from my injuries.”
“The Council of Elders is calling for you. They said if your injuries make it difficult to move, use a stretcher…”
“Arrrrrgh!”
That very day of my return.
In the dead of night, Dokgo Myeong attended the Council of Elders.
“General Jeonmu. You’ve done well.”
“Thank you, General. But if you know I’ve worked hard, couldn’t we talk tomorrow…?”
“Now tell us in detail. What exactly happened out there?”
“…”
A lengthy report followed, one that required me to drink tea several times in the middle.
The involvement of the Golden Guard, the government’s interference, the encirclement, the enemy’s movements, and the appearance of the New Bloodfiend Sect Leader Hyeok Wi-sang.
Not just Jegal Mun, but everyone’s expressions hardened.
“…Hyeok Wi-sang?”
“Do you know that name?”
“Hyeok… I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before.”
Jegal Mun, searching his memory, soon shook his head.
That wasn’t what mattered now.
His expression grew grave.
“You’re saying he was a master of the Wuji realm?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“What a pity. If you’d managed to strike him down or capture him alive on that battlefield, it would have dealt a severe blow to the New Bloodfiend Sect.”
At those words, Dokgo Myeong decided to simply remain silent.
‘Easy for him to say. I barely survived by holding a blade to my throat and feigning madness.’
In any case, this news was clearly shocking to them. After all, there were fewer than ten masters of the Wuji realm in this vast martial world, and now another one existed among the enemy ranks.
‘But this one won’t be the last.’
Dokgo Myeong glanced around at the elders.
‘How much can I reveal?’
Dokgo Myeong fell into contemplation.
He knew that not only the elders of the Martial Alliance, but even Baek Mu-heun had yet to fully grasp the true extent of the Bloodfiend Sect’s power.
‘The Jeongheol Sect has been completely destroyed. Now is the time to speak. No—it is the time I must speak.’
Dokgo Myeong opened his mouth with a grave expression.
“The Bloodfiend Sect possesses eight individuals known as the Eight Great Demon Kings.”
“The Eight Great Demon Kings?”
“The Eight Celestial Beings of the Bloodfiend Sect, led by Hyeolbul. Every single one of them is a master at the Boundless Realm.”
“…!!”

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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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