Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 448

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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 448
“….”
“….”
Dokgo Un-hak broke the silence with a wry smile, asking me a question.
“So, did you achieve anything?”
“Ah, thanks to your concern….”
“Well, that’s a relief at least.”
“Pardon?”
“Because you destroyed half of my unit’s training grounds, I was dragged before the disciplinary bureau, and it even caused the elders to convene….”
Dokgo Un-hak paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as if trying to suppress his rising anger, then continued.
“Thanks to that, the family’s reputation has been dragged through the mud, but at least there’s some achievement in martial arts, so I suppose that’s something.”
“Ahem.”
My neck shrank like a turtle’s.
The problems caused by my “training” had grown somewhat larger. Not only did a deafening explosion ring out across the entire alliance, but I had completely destroyed my unit’s training grounds.
In any case, alliance law is strict, so I was confined to the detention cell for a time, and the elder council was convened.
Baek Mu-heun burst out laughing as if it were absurd, and Dokgo Un-hak, the representative of the Dokgo Family, had to lose face before the elders.
“What on earth were you doing?”
“Pardon?”
“What kind of bizarre training caused such a mess?”
“I was conducting an experiment.”
“An experiment?”
“Yes, it was just a small experiment… How was I supposed to know it would turn out like this?”
“….”
Dokgo Un-hak turned his head slowly and gazed at his sword standing right beside him.
I suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
“…Why are you suddenly looking at the sword?”
“….”
“Uncle? Acting Sect Leader?”
“….”
Dokgo Un-hak let out a sigh and deliberately turned his head away.
“What am I to do with you?”
“Problems can arise during training, but everyone’s making such a fuss….”
“Say that again.”
I grumbled.
“I can just compensate for it. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”
“….”
“…I’m sorry.”
Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes flashed.
“I don’t expect anything grand from you. I’m simply asking that you do things in moderation—just moderation.”
“I understand.”
Dokgo Un-hak clicked his tongue and examined Dokgo Myeong carefully.
‘His foundation is wavering.’
He had encountered some kind of transformation.
By this point, he should have been settling into stability, yet this man kept encountering changes at the most unexpected moments.
It was a path far different from the one he himself had walked. A path different from most martial artists as well.
Dokgo Un-hak asked in a lowered voice.
“Have you knocked on the Gate of Extremity?”
The gate at the end of martial arts—the realm of absolute emptiness.
Dokgo Myeong shook his head.
“That’s not it. Though it might be part of that process.”
“You’re telling me all this commotion happened without even knocking on the Gate of Extremity?”
“As I mentioned, I was simply experimenting with something new.”
Dokgo Un-hak’s expression became ambiguous.
“You did this while standing at the very threshold of absolute emptiness?”
“Yes, because it seems to be my path.”
“Are you certain that this is the correct path?”
“Pardon?”
Dokgo Un-hak’s eyes gleamed with light.
“Generally, there are two methods to open the Gate of Extremity.”
One is to find the principle that penetrates all things and achieve the convergence of ten thousand streams into one, or to refine a single path to its absolute pinnacle.
There might be more if we divide it further, but ultimately, it comes down to these two.
“Yet you speak of seeking something new. You may grow stronger that way, but you will never open the Gate of Extremity.”
“….”
“The realm of absolute emptiness is not a state you can reach simply by becoming stronger in inner energy or power. You must challenge it with the resolve to abandon everything you have accumulated thus far.”
Dokgo Myeong smiled wryly.
“When did you become so generous with advice? Is this truly who you are?”
“You are no longer yours alone.”
Dokgo Myeong smiled and gazed down at his fist, repeatedly clenching and unclenching it several times.
“I understand what you’re trying to say. And I don’t think you need to worry.”
“No need to worry?”
“Yes, I know what I must do. I’m already opening the gate bit by bit. It’s just that I still lack the resolve and the catalyst.”
At those words, Dokgo Un-hak became certain.
“You’re still mistaken.”
“Pardon?”
“Are you truly aware of your own state?”
In that moment, Dokgo Myeong’s expression hardened. His face was uncertain, but he seemed to grasp what had been said.
Dokgo Un-hak took a sip of tea and reflected.
‘Opening bit by bit—that’s merely a glimpse. And those fleeting glimpses seen through a crack can bewitch a person.’
The more desperate and urgent one’s heart, the more so. Yet he continues to obsess over growing stronger, schemes, and strives to advance—the reason why….
‘This man stands at a crossroads.’
I hadn’t realized it was a sign of demonic influence creeping into my heart. Perhaps it stemmed from the recent battle at Cheonghaesong.
‘Did I achieve something fleeting? Because the period of stagnation was so long, I convinced myself that was the answer and dug only into technical aspects rather than the essence.’
That way, I would deepen and broaden my understanding in place, but I wouldn’t see what lay beyond. The problem I caused this time might have been triggered by that very impatience.
“So that’s how I appeared in your eyes, Uncle.”
Dokgo Myeong’s expression grew serious.
One could tell just from his eyes. He had accepted those few words immediately.
“Hmm, I think I understand something about it too…”
“…”
“Now that I think about it, I really have been pushing myself too hard lately. Well, I suppose I should rest once work stops.”
Dokgo Myeong grinned and made light of it.
Dokgo Un-hak’s pupils trembled.
‘His demeanor changed that quickly?’
That’s what makes this man terrifying. He can transform himself instantly whenever he deems it necessary.
Wasn’t this very freedom and flexibility his true talent?
“The Cheonma Sect scattered, so what are you planning to do now?”
“I was thinking of handling some pending matters and then going into seclusion…”
Dokgo Myeong shook his head vigorously.
“I need to rest.”
“You’re taking a rest in times like these?”
“When else would I rest if not now?”
“Have you truly lost your mind?”
“I’m perfectly sane. I’ll let everything go and take a vacation. Ah! Since we’re on the subject, should I file for leave right now?”
Dokgo Un-hak’s brow furrowed sharply.
Ever since becoming entangled with Dokgo Myeong, the wrinkles on Dokgo Un-hak’s brow had only deepened.
* * *
Dokgo Myeong left the Murim Alliance that very day.
Cleanup? Well, the investigation is finished anyway, so someone will handle it roughly, won’t they?
“…Are you really sure about this?”
Namgung Sohwa, who followed him out, let out a sigh.
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Should I, a behind-the-scenes power broker, handle such cleanup myself? That’s absurd.”
“Kang.”
Hoa, following alongside, made a scoffing sound.
“What? Is this beast Hoa mocking your master right now?”
“Why are you like that to Hoa? Come here.”
“Grrr!”
Hoa nuzzled against Namgung Sohwa, seeking affection. As the massive head—larger than her own torso—came rushing in, Namgung Sohwa was momentarily flustered but began stroking its fur.
Watching this scene, Dokgo Myeong exhaled a long breath.
‘When I think about it, I really did rush forward too hastily.’
Capturing the Grand General and the Jeongheol Sect Leader was fine, but…
Witnessing the darkness of the government bureau—its intentions and causality beyond my grasp—Hyeok Wi-sang and the Bloodfiend Sect finally revealing themselves, and the realization that my objective drew near.
Perhaps all of this had made me restless without even realizing it.
‘That’s why I clung to the enlightenment I gained from completing the Heavenly Rend Step, and despite instinctively sensing the danger, I challenged the Reverse Heaven Technique.’
I shouldn’t obsess over martial arts so much.
Wasn’t my original goal to live a life worth living? Becoming stronger is fine, but that doesn’t mean I need to constantly strain myself and train with grim determination in everything I do.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh!
Dokgo Myeong suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Huh?”
Dokgo Myeong examined his own body with a dazed expression.
Hoa and Namgung Sohwa, who had taken a few more steps ahead, turned back to look at him with puzzled faces.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…”
Suddenly, a part of my mind became crystal clear. I hadn’t even realized I felt suffocated, yet the world suddenly appeared brighter and more luminous.
Hummmmm.
I could feel the circulation of the Heavenly Realm Spirit Orb becoming much smoother.
Dokgo Myeong stood with his mouth open in surprise before letting out a quiet chuckle.
“So the Demon Heart really did come after all.”
“What?”
Some of the previously blocked operational formulas of the Reverse Heaven Technique naturally surfaced in my mind. The footsteps after the first three steps of the Heavenly Rend Step also drew themselves naturally.
I wanted to test it immediately, but Dokgo Myeong deliberately cleared his mind.
“Sohwa.”
“Yes?”
“Have I really been a bit off lately?”
Namgung Sohwa nodded.
“You were always like that, but it’s been worse than usual.”
“…”
“You hold a blade to your own throat, you know the danger is obvious yet you just go ahead anyway. Even now, wounds that barely healed have all torn open again and you’re back to needing bandages, and you’re asking something so obvious?”
“Right, I guess I was going a bit mad. I really need to rest. What do you think, Sohwa?”
Namgung Sohwa’s brow suddenly furrowed sharply.
“Well…”
“Feel free to speak honestly.”
“Do you have a conscience?”
“…?”
“You open the path of hardship for the disciples to become stronger, but you want to rest yourself?”
“…”
“A person should have at least a minimum conscience. How can you be like this?”
Tch, how did it come to this?
“If you’re upset, you should have been stronger than me. Or become the captain yourselves.”
“Wow…”
“What, why?”
“It’s nothing.”
Namgung Sohwa shook her head dismissively and changed the subject.
“So, where do we go now? Is it my turn?”
“Hm?”
“Everyone else received assignments, but you didn’t give me one. I was wondering if it was my time now.”
Indeed, among the Cheonma Sect members, only Namgung Sohwa had not received any particular instructions. Even Moryong Sohgyo, who was merely a soldier, had entered the Murim Alliance’s military affairs bureau to gain experience, yet she had not.
“No, from the start, there was no point in having you learn from anyone or anything like that, so I didn’t give you separate instructions.”
“Pardon?”
“Your path is already clear, and your martial arts are already solid. If anything, just secluding yourself would be enough for your skills to grow rapidly.”
“You always say such smooth things.”
“I mean it.”
“Fine.”
Namgung Sohwa turned her gaze away with an awkward expression.
But Dokgo Myeong was not speaking idly. The most complete martial artist in the Cheonma Sect was neither one of the Five Dragon Generals, nor the Five Absolutes, nor even Dokgo Myeong himself—it was Namgung Sohwa.
In certain aspects, she surpassed even Dokgo Myeong.
Dokgo Myeong, who was pioneering his own martial way rather than relying on the Heavenly Realm, was overcoming endless doubts. But she moved forward without doubt, and that alone was sufficient.
What she needed was not enlightenment or anything else—merely time.
“You must cultivate your martial arts on your own, but there is work for you to do instead.”
“What kind of work?”
“First, there’s someone to meet.”
“Someone to meet… Ah, could it be.”
Namgung Sohwa glanced cautiously around, and Dokgo Myeong continued in a low voice.
“Right. The Baekryeon Sect disciples.”
Those who had escaped the hands of the Jeongheol Sect and survived.
I had heard that with Hao Wen’s help, they had hidden themselves well in Hunan.
Now it was time to meet them.
“The person who said they were resting until just now.”
“This is resting.”
“Isn’t the deal already finished? Is there a reason to seek them out again?”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes grew sharp.
“There’s something I want to inquire about.”
“…I understand. What comes after?”
“After that, there’s work for you, Sohwa.”
“Work for me?”
“It’s time we searched for the descendants of the Namgung clan—those who survived the sect’s destruction, abandoned their name, and lived in hiding.”
Namgung Sohwa came to an abrupt halt.
“So that’s why you brought me along?”
“Who knows? That fugitive might possess some lost secret manuals of the Namgung clan.”
“…I don’t even dare hope for secret manuals. I’d be satisfied if they had even some trace of the family.”
Namgung Sohwa’s expression as she spoke seemed quite complicated.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just… a bit.”
“It’s not nervousness, is it? Are you worried or feeling hurt?”
Namgung Sohwa startled and asked back.
“How do you really know me so well every time? Do you go inside my head and come back out?”
“I wish I could.”
“It seems like you already do.”
Namgung Sohwa let out a small laugh and sighed quietly.
Her expression hardened slightly.
“I can understand why he’s been hiding until now. I can’t blame him for lacking courage.”
“….”
“But now that my name has become fairly well-known, there hasn’t even been a single message from him.”
“Even distant branch members not recorded in the family registry come seeking me out, saying they’re actually from the Namgung family, yet he’s been completely silent?”
Namgung Sohwa closed her mouth and nodded.
“Don’t I seem petty?”
“A little?”
“You’re supposed to say no in situations like this!”
“Then consider it a no.”
As Namgung Sohwa laughed in exasperation, Dokgo Myeong smiled slightly and spoke.
“Let’s observe and judge.”
“….”
“Who knows? Perhaps he’s been cautious, or felt ashamed.”
“Or he could be paralyzed by fear, or truly be a disappointing person.”
Namgung Sohwa seemed uncertain about many things.
“I will definitely restore the family. But I have no intention of forcing myself to accept people for that sake. If it came to that instead….”
Namgung Sohwa, whose words had trailed off, shook her head vigorously.
“No. But you’ll just talk with the Baekryeon Sect disciples without any problems, right?”
Worry seeped into Namgung Sohwa’s voice.
Dokgo Myeong smiled coldly.
“If they tell me the truth willingly, then yes.”

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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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