Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 443

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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 443
The elders filed out of the conference chamber with grave expressions etched upon their faces.
Only after they had all departed did Dokgo Myeong rise from his seat.
At that moment, someone approached silently from beside him.
“They seem quite shaken by the news.”
“Jegal Family Head.”
“General, Jeongmu Army Leader.”
Jegal Mun walked alongside Dokgo Myeong, murmuring to himself.
“The Bloodfiend Sect.”
“….”
“Everything you said just now—is it truly fact without a shred of exaggeration?”
“What reason would I have to fabricate such things?”
“I wish it were fabricated.”
Dokgo Myeong glanced at Jegal Mun’s face.
Unlike the other elders, he appeared composed with no change in expression.
“It seems the General is unperturbed.”
“I’m shocked in my own way.”
Jegal Mun’s eyes deepened.
“However, panic serves no purpose. One must think clearly and devise solutions first. That is the nature of a General’s position.”
In Jegal Mun’s composed demeanor, Dokgo Myeong saw the reflection of Wi Baek, the Inner Sect Leader of the main house.
Were all military strategists like this? Perhaps those who think rationally like him suffer far more than those who openly display their emotions.
“That’s precisely why such a position is unbearable. Why do you covet it so?”
“Are you one to speak?”
Jegal Mun turned to face Dokgo Myeong.
“Do you have a moment to spare?”
“I need to rest.”
“How fortunate that you have time.”
“How did you interpret my words?”
Jegal Mun stared at Dokgo Myeong in silence.
Dokgo Myeong shook his head and slightly raised his right arm, which was bound with a splint extending to his shoulder.
“You truly have no heart. Can’t you see this? This is merciless, truly.”
Jegal Mun caught the acrid scent of blood, serum, and medicinal herbs.
But that was not all. Dokgo Myeong’s gait was rigid like a wooden puppet. From the moment he entered the conference chamber, it was clear he was forcibly holding his muscles and joints together through sheer inner force.
“That is precisely why you must make time. The very fact that a master of your caliber is wounded so severely proves the gravity of what you said in that chamber.”
Jegal Mun’s expression became stern.
‘Even in the very heart of enemy territory, this formidable martial artist suffered such wounds. Despite the combined assault and even with the Gae-bang Master lending a hand.’
Dokgo Myeong’s pure combat prowess was truly worthy of aspiring to dominion over all under heaven.
Though his martial foundation itself might be lacking, in actual combat he was capable of contending with the Three Emperors and Seven Kings alike.
Yet the very fact that he had suffered such injuries lent weight to Dokgo Myeong’s warning.
Dokgo Myeong had ultimately surrendered completely.
“Understood. Let’s go. I was just being a bit dramatic.”
* * *
The Military Affairs Bureau’s main hall reeked of ink and paper from the moment one entered.
An institution responsible for everything from strategic tactics to detailed operations, missions, and even the administrative affairs of the Alliance.
The Military Affairs Bureau was the first organization to be completed in the Martial Alliance’s hierarchy.
“Drink.”
“This doesn’t smell like tea.”
“It’s a secret medicinal decoction from the main family. It’s quite effective for treating internal injuries.”
Jegal Mun didn’t waste time with pleasantries and got straight to the point.
“What you said in that meeting was filtered through your own judgment, wasn’t it?”
“That’s correct.”
“I prefer information brief and substantial. Tell me. What else do you know?”
Though they stood on opposite sides of the political divide, factional disputes and power struggles had become irrelevant.
This was a time for sharing intelligence.
“There may be minor discrepancies in my assessment.”
“I’ll account for that.”
“What they call the Eight Great Demon Kings are, in terms of our Alliance, equivalent to elders. Each commands their own branch and operates independently, yet individually, each possesses combat strength comparable to a Grand General.”
“Eight masters of the Boundless Realm… all belonging to a single organization.”
Depending on the era, the Boundless Realm produced either no masters at all, or only a handful per generation—a realm worthy of being called the greatest under heaven. It was strange that this current age, having passed through the Esoteric Heresy Uprising and now entering the Bloodfiend Heresy Uprising, should see such abundance.
“How could such formidable masters have remained hidden all this time?”
Becoming an absolute master through cultivation in a cave is mere fantasy. Those who reach such heights require trials proportional to their realm, and those who endure such trials inevitably emerge like an awl from a pocket.
“General. Do you believe all masters exist only within the martial world?”
Jegal Mun’s eyebrows twitched.
“You’re not suggesting the Outer Regions?”
“How much news reaches us from beyond the Central Plains?”
“Very little… or rather, practically none.”
For nearly decades, the Empire had pursued a policy of isolation.
And if he had to guess at another reason…
“The Jeongheol Sect orchestrated this.”
“Yes, that must be it.”
“You said this Jimeol Magoon was originally in the Outer Regions before being summoned to the Central Plains.”
They were vanguards meant to sow chaos in the martial world while simultaneously serving as fog obscuring sight and sound.
“It’s possible the martial world of the Outer Regions is already unified.”
“We should verify it.”
Jegal Mun twisted his lips upward.
“Were we frogs in a well?”
“For a well, it’s rather large. I’d say we’re more like frogs in a river and lake, wouldn’t you?”
He spoke it lightly as a jest, but it was the literal truth.
The river and lake were vast, yet they could not contain the entire world within them.
“The Eight Great Demon Kings, these elders called branch leaders—eight of them. Elders, elders… wait, elders?”
Jegal Mun’s expression grew grave.
“So when you say ‘elder-level,’ you mean there’s a separate fighting force handling the front lines besides them?”
Dokgo Myeong nodded silently, and Jegal Mun’s eyes widened.
“They are called the Six Divine Generals.”
“Six of them?”
“While there may be differences in martial prowess among the Six Divine Generals, they should at minimum be at the level of Jeongheol Sect’s upper captains or the Bloodfiend and Ji-myeol, who were once left and right commanders.”
It would not be easy to assess combat strength by realm alone.
But if I were to extrapolate using the calculations of a soldier and strategist….
“So you’re saying there are six masters of the caliber of a Sect Leader or the heads of the Nine Great Sects.”
“It likely won’t reach that level. Combat strength depends on timing and circumstances, and even among Sect Leaders there are variations in martial skill.”
“No, we must assume the worst case. It’s better to overestimate the enemy than to underestimate them.”
Jegal Mun was resolute.
To Dokgo Myeong, who knew his past life, the calculation seemed somewhat excessive, but vigilance toward the enemy could never be too great.
“Then what of these so-called Divine Bloodfiends? Do they also have large numbers like the Jeongheol Sect?”
“The Divine Bloodfiends are strictly a small elite force.”
At some point, Dokgo Myeong had begun speaking of the Shenxue Sect’s internal affairs with certainty.
“They are an extremely small number of masters born from repeated refinement, like poison cultivation. They are a pack of beasts trained in martial arts, operating without system, simply biting and tearing at command.”
“Hmm.”
“Considering the peculiarity of their martial techniques, their combat strength is truly formidable. With their small numbers, they cannot occupy a region, but that was never their purpose to begin with.”
“….”
“And the final problem is whether they are staking everything on the Hyeolbul or the Hyeolshin. If ‘that’ joins them….”
Jegal Mun, who had been silent, spoke a single phrase.
“It’s over.”
The martial world of this era is strong.
The Three Emperors and Seven Kings exist, and unprecedented talents are positioned throughout.
Yet they do not operate as a single organization. Righteous and demonic, black and white, regional and sectarian, and now even government and martial forces.
Countless obstacles and standards prevent power from concentrating in one place.
‘As if… it were arranged this way.’
Jegal Mun suddenly felt a strong sense of discord.
If the shape of the world seemed to carry the will of something, would that be too fanciful a thought?
“There is no need to become so grave just yet.”
Whether misinterpreting Jegal Mun’s expression, Dokgo Myeong continued in a calm voice.
“It is not too late. Rather, now that we have eliminated the Jeongheol Sect and exposed the Shenxue Sect early, the odds have turned in our favor.”
“Hmm.”
“However, to win without creating a mountain of blood and sea of corpses, we must prepare. Even accounting for various consequences.”
Dokgo Myeong’s voice resonated deeply and heavily.
“I understand. That is why we have the Martial Alliance.”
Jegal Mun’s eyes gleamed.
“War always begins with eliminating internal troubles, so alongside strengthening our forces, we must pacify the entire martial world.”
We must pressure those who have not yet joined the Alliance, or those who have joined but still act independently.
The Martial Alliance must become the absolute power of the martial world. Those who refuse to join must be treated as traitors to the realm.
Too coercive? I already knew that. Future generations will likely record this entire process as oppression. The imperial court might even judge it as rebellion.
Still, it must be done. A resolve was necessary.
Dokgo Myeong asked.
“So I wish to inquire—how complete is ‘that’?”
“What are you asking about?”
“Why do you feign ignorance? I drafted the preliminary plans together with Baek Jangmunin.”
Jegal Mun reluctantly nodded.
“It’s already in its completed state.”
“May I take a look at it?”
….
Jegal Mun pondered briefly before nodding.
Rising from his seat, he began pushing and pulling various objects in his office.
Soon, a space in the bookshelf opened, revealing a small safe that appeared to be made of iron.
Jegal Mun inserted a key into the safe’s entrance and infused his true energy for a considerable time before—click!—the entrance opened with a sound.
“The Four Colors Plan. I never thought I’d have to retrieve this so soon.”
Inside the safe were four volumes of books.
Mysterious tomes with White, Blue, Black, and Red written on their respective covers.
Dokgo Myeong exhaled deeply.
“You’ve even completed the color classification.”
The subject of the conversation had shifted.
These four volumes were top-secret documents containing the overall strategy of the Martial Alliance going forward.
“White will proceed without issue through the Jeongmu Army’s victory this time.”
“Blue is… the consolidation of anti-White forces and the expansion of dominance across the Central Plains, correct?”
“It will proceed step by step. Haste will ruin the great enterprise.”
The White Plan would expand the Martial Alliance’s size in preparation for war.
The Blue Plan was the response strategy against opposition and neutral factions. In essence, it was suppression.
“And regarding Black, there’s no need to speak in riddles when we both know the situation, is there?”
“Do as you see fit.”
“Paedobyeon. What will you do about him?”
The patriarch of the Black Blade heretical sect.
The foremost Sado of this generation—Paedobyeon.
“The best approach is to ignore and observe.”
Dokgo Myeong’s expression hardened.
“Such a passive method, you say?”
“There’s no other choice.”
“We must clarify whether he is enemy or ally. In this era, there is no room for gray.”
As the White martial world succeeded in forming the alliance, the oppressed Black Blade heretical sects were gathering into a single confederation.
That was Paedobyeon.
A clear response was needed toward those whom we had ignored as being far in the western reaches of the martial world.
“If you don’t join the alliance, you’re an enemy. Then you’re simply a target to be eliminated.”
“You speak dangerous words.”
“General.”
“I understand it too. If we settle Paedobyeon, we can bring the Righteous Heavenly Alliance of Sichuan’s martial world into the fold. But if we misstep, we’ll face a backlash.”
A Great Righteous-Evil War could erupt before we even contain the Bloodfiend Sect uprising. Then everything falls apart.
“It doesn’t have to be outright war. If we simply make Paedobyeon’s position clear enough, even the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, who have hesitated to join out of caution, will be able to commit.”
“….”
“Then the Crimson Plan will change entirely. Not an equal battle, but overwhelming dominance by the martial world.”
Jegal Mun showed no particular reaction.
Yet within his mind, the power structures of the entire martial world and countless calculations were surely turning over.
After a moment, Jegal Mun opened his mouth with a slightly softened tone.
“Is that all the information you have about the Bloodfiend Sect?”
“I’ll have the minor details documented and submitted separately.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Jegal Mun rose from his seat.
“Let’s leave it at that for today. You seem to need rest as well.”
It was a dismissal.
Just as Dokgo Myeong was rising from his seat, Jegal Mun spoke again.
“Jeongmu Army Leader.”
“Speak.”
“You’re a man who sees the immediate reality before you. But neither I nor Baek Jangmunin can help but think of what comes after. All those in power do.”
“….”
“Get some proper rest. Either way, the decision will come after the Alliance Leader is chosen.”
With those words, Dokgo Myeong realized he could no longer persuade Jegal Mun.
Before leaving through the door, he added one more thing.
“If you only think about where you’ll stand later, you’ll find yourself with nowhere to stand now.”
After a brief silence, Jegal Mun replied with an utterly composed expression.
“That’s why you have so many enemies.”
“….”
“Because you never believe you’re wrong.”
Even if you truly were wrong, you’d manipulate circumstances to make it right.
Jegal Mun did not voice this final thought.

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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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