Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 481

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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 481
“Ughhhh….”
“Kughhhh.”
“I’m dying. Oh no, I’m really dying….”
The Cheonma Sect disciples, reduced to tatters, lay scattered across the ground.
“That monster… has grown even stronger…. I was genuinely confident this time….”
“Is that really a person? Shouldn’t someone at that level grow at a slower pace?”
“We’re going to die… we’re really going to die.”
Dokgo Myeong clicked his tongue sharply as he observed the fallen disciples.
“Tsk tsk tsk! I separated these fools earlier, and it seems they’ve just been gallivanting around? Pathetic!”
Who was the one actually gallivanting?
The disciples wanted to shout in protest, but ultimately held their tongues. If they provoked him further, that massive hand of his would come flying at them once more.
Dokgo Myeong chuckled contentedly as he watched the disciples groaning.
‘They’ve grown considerably. How many of them have broken through their limits?’
Soon, he saw the disciples struggling to their feet.
‘I hit them quite seriously too….’
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes narrowed as he observed them.
Their level had improved noticeably—so much so that it was obvious at a glance. Moreover, since they had trained separately, yet coordinated their movements perfectly after just a year apart, not a single one showed any signs of rustiness.
Excellent.
Truly excellent.
‘With just a bit more refinement… it will be sufficient. They would put the Cheonma Sect of my past life to shame.’
If this group had improved so much, surely the rest hadn’t fallen behind?
I found myself looking forward to seeing the Managers again, and equally eager to see the remaining disciples, including the Cheonma Sect’s Five Pillars.
* * *
Before long, all the disciples had gathered, and a drinking celebration began immediately.
“Pour! Drink!”
“Ahhhhh! This is wonderful! How long has it been!”
“Kuhuhuk! I haven’t even touched alcohol all this time.”
“Alcohol? I’ve been living on grain-substitute pills!”
“Kahahaha! Bring us alcohol and food!”
Dokgo Myeong’s expression grew weary.
‘Is this the righteous path or the demonic path?’
This scene certainly seemed more aligned with the demonic path.
Regardless, the Cheonma Sect had gathered in one place.
Fortunately, it appeared they had all completed their training period in good health.
“Ahem! Squad Leader Six Neungmyeong! I have returned from the ronin life to the Cheonma Sect!”
“Oh, welcome back, our fake captain!”
“That… will the title ‘fake captain’ continue to persist…?”
Dokgo Myeong smiled as he looked at Neungmyeong.
He was puffing out his chest excessively, and there was a small embroidered mark upon it.
Dokgo Myeong understood perfectly what that meant.
“Don’t tell me you actually became a first-class ronin?”
“Yes! Didn’t you command me to? Huff! You have no idea how difficult it was….”
How much suffering had he endured over a single year to achieve first-class rank, something that normally took a minimum of three years even with the utmost dedication?
It was truly a time of endurance and pain.
But I had done it!
“I only said that as encouragement, but you actually achieved it? In just one year? How did you manage it?”
“Yes, yes? E-encouragement, you say… What do you….”
“No, no. You did well! You did very well!”
“Encouragement, sir? Captain? Yes? Captain? Encouragement, you say?”
Dokgo Myeong silently patted Neungmyeong’s shoulder repeatedly while pouring him a drink.
In the meantime, the other disciples began gathering around Dokgo Myeong one by one.
“Oh my, Captain! You must have a drink! I heard you’ve been traveling for a while? Heh! You must have had a wonderful time! Yes? You must have had such a wonderful time! Damn!”
“…?”
“Captain. Won’t you have a drink from my cup as well! But… I heard you were traveling with Manager Namgung? I do enjoy traveling myself…. Crack!”
“….”
The disciples had changed somewhat.
Whether it was for better or worse, I couldn’t tell.
‘But how did they find out about that?’
While Dokgo Myeong was puzzled, the Cheonma Sect disciples were already exchanging cups among themselves and chattering away as if they were about to share all the conversations they’d missed.
Among them were the five representatives of the Cheonma Sect’s regular disciples—the Cheonma Five Masters.
“Un-rang. How have you been?”
“Well, if it isn’t Han Chung!”
“What a surprise. Your voice has grown quite powerful. What happened?”
“Ugh. You wouldn’t understand….”
“Ah, I see. But where is that friend Jin-sa?”
Then a voice suddenly interjected.
“I’ve been right next to you the whole time.”
“Gasp! What a fright.”
“No, what kind of presence… Huh? But why is your skin so tanned?”
“Did you try farming under the blazing sun?”
“Huh? Farming?”
“The Heavenly Palace Sect… makes you farm before you can even enter the sect.”
“…?”
“If you resist, arrows fly at your face. Sect Leader Gwak… was just my captain….”
“…??”
“I have a story too.”
“Hang San-gwi!”
“You men whine too much. I was completely fine!”
Hang San-gwi roared loudly as usual.
It was at that moment.
“Hehe, so you’re all here? It’s been so long. Everyone’s been well, I hope?”
“…?”
“…!”
The expressions of the Cheonma Sect Members twisted grotesquely.
Yang Un-rang blinked his eyes as he greeted the approaching woman.
“W-who are you….”
“Why are you like that? It’s me. Bang Dan-a.”
“…!”
Her modest posture, her elegant smile, and her neat martial robes.
Yang Un-rang was astonished.
“B-Bang Member? That’s impossible!”
Bang Dan-a smiled faintly.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
Suddenly, a strange sound came from beside them.
“Ugh. What in the world….”
“She went to see a mudang, so could she have been cursed?”
The other three people, excluding Yang Un-rang who faced Bang Dan-a, whispered amongst themselves.
Bang Dan-a’s eyebrows, which had been smiling demurely, twitched.
“Miss Bang. I also liked your previous appearance. So please don’t strain yourself.”
“Ho, hehe… strain? I was originally….”
“Did you flip on a human skin mask or something?”
Suddenly, veins began to bulge across Bang Dan-a’s face.
Eventually, she gritted her teeth.
“Damn it! These bastards keep getting on my nerves! If someone’s minding their own business, you should leave them alone!”
“Whoa! The wine table! Don’t knock over the wine table!”
“Yeah, people really don’t change easily.”
“Miss Bang! I like you in any form!”
“Shut up!”
Since joining the Cheonma Sect, they had been apart for over a year, yet they were all exactly as they had been when they parted yesterday.
There was only one thing that had changed.
Their undeniable spiritual energy.
The intensity of rigorous cultivation gleamed in their eyes. Though no one spoke first, they immediately recognized each other’s progress.
As the regular disciples grew stronger, so too had the Cheonma Sect Members. They were now knocking on the doors of the higher realms.
* * *
Dokgo Myeong smiled contentedly.
Geum Seok-du, Dokgo Ak, Cheolmu-baek, Ye-hwa, and Namgung Sohwa.
All of them radiated an aura as if they had shed a layer of their former selves.
“It seems everyone’s been doing well?”
Dokgo Myeong spoke with a voice brimming with satisfaction.
A grumbling voice came from beside me.
“I wonder how you’ve been.”
“Did you learn well under your uncle?”
“Learn? No, it was less learning and more… survival.”
Dokgo Ak muttered something pitiful and raised his cup to his lips.
Yet the aura he emanated was incredibly sharp.
“By the way, Captain, how exactly did you ascend to the Wuji Realm?”
Geum Seok-du interjected abruptly with his question.
The explanation became somewhat lengthy, as I had to recount even the hidden history of the Three Masters.
After hearing the general explanation, Geum Seok-du let out a soft exclamation.
“So it’s the nine sword forms that symbolize the Dokgo Household. That’s truly magnificent.”
“And you, Seok-du—how have you been?”
“I spent about half a year following the Sect Leader, and about half a year working with the Hao Sect. Ah, I have something to report regarding that, but…”
“Let’s hear about work matters later.”
“Yes.”
A subtle gravitas emanated from Geum Seok-du. The timid expression from before was nowhere to be found.
“Mu Baek-a. I’ve heard the news. You even earned a title?”
“It’s merely a false reputation.”
“Now you know how to be modest too. You’ve truly become a martial artist of the realm.”
“Mm.”
“Have a drink.”
Cheolmu-baek, who had departed on his wandering martial pilgrimage, had earned the title “Azure-Eyed Divine General.”
From what I heard, he had traveled throughout the realm conducting his martial pilgrimage indiscriminately.
Perhaps because he had adhered to the condition of fighting without killing or injuring, the ferocious aura he once possessed had become far more refined.
“Our little one. How have you been?”
“Wouldn’t it be faster to see once than to hear a hundred times?”
Ye-hwa lightly lifted the Crimson Palace White Form. In truth, I could probably tell even without looking.
She seemed to have grasped the principles of wielding the Crimson Palace White Form. The connection between Ye-hwa and her weapon had grown far more intimate.
Then, someone suddenly spoke up from beside me.
“What about me? Why don’t you ask about me?”
“Sohwa, I already know about you. Why would I ask again?”
“The other captains are curious, but for me it’s just… oh, I see. Yes, I understand.”
“It means I trust you to do well on your own.”
“Just words again.”
Dokgo Myeong gazed steadily at Namgung Sohwa.
Crackle.
I felt an intense thunder qi emanating from her energy channels.
Previously, her aura had felt heavy and clear, but now a far more powerful force was evident.
I asked her.
“Heavenly Thunder Divine Art?”
Namgung Sohwa’s lips curved up ever so slightly before settling back into their composed state.
“From now on, please call it the Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art. What do you think?”
“At least I won’t be getting beaten up everywhere now.”
“So you’re saying it’s powerful, dignified, and beautiful? I understand perfectly.”
“When did I say that?”
“I simply read what was in your heart, Commander.”
“By the way, did all the children find out about me gallivanting around?”
“…Well, I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
Namgung Sohwa brazenly played innocent.
Meanwhile, the workers from the Dharma Protectors and Cheonma Sect continued to bring forth endless streams of alcohol and food.
I surveyed my surroundings quietly.
“…”
In the distance, I could see my advisors—Dokgo Jo-hak, Jo Ryang-ui, Son Tae-im, and Moryong Sohgyo—gathered together, conversing animatedly while clinking their cups.
When our eyes met, she bowed her head respectfully, her smile blooming like a flower.
My father, Dokgo Wi-hak, and Seoryun Daejoo had naturally joined in, sipping light wine together.
Dokgo Yeon arrived as expected and was blowing on a drinking horn, causing Yang Un-rang to shriek in terror and hide in a corner.
Hoa monopolized an entire roasted pig stuffed with medicinal herbs and chewed slowly, while the now-grown Hong Lu and Hong Ta siblings gently scratched her fur.
The air was filled with laughter, the food was delicious, the wine was fragrant, and the bustling atmosphere felt truly wonderful.
Though my body had grown resistant to intoxication even from drinking barrels at a time, I felt a strange pleasant haze settling over me.
It was good.
This was the martial world I had always wanted.
* * *
As the sun began to set and the heated atmosphere gradually calmed.
“Now then, my comrades.”
When I suddenly spoke, all the captains’ gazes turned toward me at once.
“You’ve all grown well. Here you are now. You’ve all changed so much that I can barely recall the old days.”
The captains wore bewildered expressions at the sudden praise.
I looked at Dokgo Ak.
“The reckless fool has matured and become dependable.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Seok-du, who was always grumbling, became the Sect Leader of the Mysterious Sect, and Sohwa succeeded in rebuilding her household and gained martial prowess.”
“…”
“The beast-like Mu-baek became the pillar of our Cheonma Sect, solid and dependable. Look at our little one here. Who would ever mistake him for an assassin now? He’s a bit peculiar, but that’s what makes him charming.”
“I’ve aged enough by now. How much longer will you keep calling me little one?”
The captains grumbled while exchanging meaningful glances with one another.
Geum Seok-du spoke.
“Captain. Please continue with what you were saying.”
I nodded and smiled widely as I spoke.
“From now on, we won’t be able to rest until everything is finished, but I’m not afraid. Seeing all of you, I’m no longer afraid.”
“There’s still war ahead, isn’t there?”
“War?”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled softly.
“We’ve already devoured the Sect Leader and even the Alliance Master with far inferior strength than we possess now. What could war possibly matter at this point?”
“…!”
“I have no more doubts. No doubts about losing. Even if we brought Sangcheon himself….”
“Even Sangcheon is a bit much.”
“That’s going too far.”
The Commander keeps speaking, and I can’t help but acknowledge every word.
But I meant it sincerely.
Now there was truly nothing to fear.
I had the confidence to destroy all the countless hardships and adversities that would come in the future before they could sweep over those gathered here.
The assembly had grown quiet.
Looking around, even the ordinary disciples had gathered one by one, settling themselves near Dokgo Myeong and the captains.
“…During my travels through the martial realm this time, I felt something peculiar. Thanks to that, I made a resolution. Would you all like to hear it?”
No one answered.
Neungmyeong from the corner kept glancing around before shouting at the top of his voice.
“Yes, we would like to hear it!”
That fellow has quite the social skills.
Dokgo Myeong spoke in a low tone.
“I remembered the eyes of the Bloodfiends. They too were driven by malice. No different from the Cheonma Sect.”
Everyone looked at Dokgo Myeong with expressions of surprise.
In their desperate struggle to break free from their assigned shackles, in their drive to become stronger through such means, I saw the Cheonma Sect reflected.
When I was Dokgo Hyeon, I didn’t understand this. Why did such thoughts come to me now?
Simply because I didn’t know then.
Now I understand.
“When I think about it, the Jeongheol disciples weren’t all brainwashed or drug-addled fools. There were those who simply disliked this wretched world and followed the doctrine.”
They were the marginalized. Driven mad by malice and turned inside out. And we have seen many such people.
Everyone gathered here could have become like that if they had lacked opportunity.
“The strange feeling troubled me, and upon reflection, I realized it was compassion.”
For a moment, everyone’s expressions shifted to shock.
Dokgo Ak grumbled from beside me.
“Now? So what are you going to do about it?”
“What can I do? Compassion is compassion, and those who must die will die. We’ll capture them all and slaughter them.”
The Jeongheol Sect are madmen with reasons. No, madmen who are ‘very strong’ with reasons.
How could we make such people come to their senses?
Is there any method other than killing them?
“So… if madness disappears between reason and madness, someone will need to bear that reason.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed.
After we eliminate both Paedobyeon and the Jeongheol Sect, the next step is to take over the martial realm.
The Three Masters, the Dark Streams, the Imperial Palace—we’ll crush them all regardless.
Now Dokgo Myeong could go anywhere. He had the confidence for it.
“….”
In the silence, the eyes of the Cheonma Sect disciples gleamed with light.
Their gaze bore a striking resemblance to Dokgo Myeong’s own.
After sharing their feelings in this way, several days later, the Cheonma Sect departed from the Dokgo Family and headed toward the Martial Alliance.

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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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