Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 69

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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 69
I gazed upon the Dokgo Family’s landscape for quite some time.
Dokgo Cheon’s eyes blazed like lightning, sparking with intensity, while my appreciation was merely that of admiring a beautiful view.
Perhaps that was the difference between Dokgo Cheon and me.
Instead, I found myself staring intently at the long sword held in Dokgo Cheon’s hand.
‘It does appear to be a rare divine blade….’
Aware of my gaze, Dokgo Cheon smiled mysteriously.
“Your eyes are captivated by a single sword rather than the family itself?”
“It simply appears to be such a remarkable blade.”
“It is a divine sword refined by the master craftsman who left that armor to you. Do you recognize it?”
Ting!
Dokgo Cheon lifted the sword lightly, brushing it as if to show it more clearly.
‘He seems rather delighted?’
The ferocity from moments before had vanished, replaced by a spark of enthusiasm—he looked exactly like a grandfather pleased by his grandson’s interest.
‘Well… that is certainly his age.’
I regarded Dokgo Cheon with sympathetic eyes.
Regardless, Dokgo Cheon continued smoothly.
“It is the precious blade that once revitalized this family. A fierce and formidable weapon. In my youth, I crossed blades with the warlords north of the Yangtze River using this very sword.”
“What name does this sword bear?”
“It has existed so long that it carries many names.”
“If it was refined by Yeo Singong, that would be merely a hundred years or so, would it not?”
“He merely refined the blade itself. The sword’s original maker remains unknown.”
Dokgo Cheon spun the sword and held its edge toward the fading sunlight.
“In ancient times it was called the Tyrant Suppressing Sword or the Eight Directions Sword, but I have named it Reverse Scale.”
Reverse Scale.
A fitting name indeed.
In his prime, whenever someone touched a nerve, he must have severed their heads with this very blade.
“But ancient times? It seems to be quite an old artifact?”
“It is difficult to measure in mere centuries.”
“…How many years?”
Not merely decades, but centuries, he said.
“Originally, we believe it was a ceremonial ritual implement. Yeo Singong refined it into a sword.”
Dokgo Cheon twirled the sword lightly before sheathing it.
Growl— Click!
It slid smoothly into the scabbard, releasing a resonant cry like that of a beast.
‘Hm.’
My eyes gleamed with brilliance.
I coveted it.
Though I am not particular about weapons, with a blade of that caliber….
“Haha! This greedy one. You hold a golden ingot in your hand yet covet silver?”
“Pardon?”
“That protective garment you obtained is worth at least twice as much as this sword.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
Dokgo Cheon regarded the Dragon Scale Robe with an enigmatic gaze.
“There were countless rumors that in his final years, Gi-wang scraped together all manner of magical artifacts and ritual implements—mysterious iron and cloud iron—to create his ultimate masterwork. I never imagined it would be nothing more than a single garment.”
Gleam!
For the briefest moment, even covetousness seemed to flicker across Dokgo Cheon’s eyes.
Dokgo Myeong lifted the hem of his robe with astonished hands. He had never imagined it could be something of such magnitude.
Dokgo Cheon chuckled softly.
“Consider it as having gained a spare life or two.”
“Wait a moment.”
Dokgo Myeong shifted his gaze slightly.
“Now that I think about it… how did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That this is Gi-wang’s legacy.”
“Would it not be stranger if I did not know?”
Dokgo Cheon spoke vaguely once more, smiling broadly.
Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh.
Indeed, this man likely knew far more than he did not know.
“Tell me, what trials did you face during this journey?”
“When you were driving me like I was about to die, where was this grandfatherly concern? Now you’re playing the wise elder?”
Dokgo Cheon’s brows narrowed.
“You grow increasingly disrespectful toward your grandfather. Shall I personally correct that insolent tongue of yours?”
“People find you terrifying as a matter of course, so surely there should be at least one person like me around.”
“…”
Dokgo Cheon paused, momentarily at a loss for words.
I won.
Dokgo Myeong grinned and asked.
“Besides, haven’t you already heard everything? There were always people following me wherever I went.”
“You noticed?”
“I have decent instincts.”
“Of course you do. However, there is one story I have not heard.”
Dokgo Myeong fell silent for a moment.
‘The truth of the Bidong incident.’
This man was not one to simply believe the rumors circulating through Gangho.
And he would have already received reports about the woman I brought back personally.
‘Yes, I knew this conversation would have to come eventually.’
I had uncovered traces of the Bloodfiend Cult. Even if they were merely the fringe of the fringe, what they signified was far from insignificant.
‘They have already infiltrated Zhongyuan.’
Where would those who had even embedded themselves as guests of the Muyong Family not hide?
The Black Path and White Path, the bureaucracy and literati, the upper echelons… perhaps even the Dokgo Household itself.
‘The problem is whether I should even speak of this.’
I cannot trust anyone.
Dokgo Cheon is neither a benevolent grandfather nor a reliable ally.
Injoong Yong—a man whose movements no one can predict.
“…In the main house.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed as he opened his mouth.
“What would you do if a spy with some hidden agenda had infiltrated the main house?”
* * *
A brief moment of silence.
Then Dokgo Cheon let out a dry chuckle.
“A spy, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Heh heh.”
Dokgo Cheon suddenly turned his gaze toward empty air.
“Tell me the number of spies who have entered the main house.”
“At your command.”
With that unexpected response, a figure clad entirely in black emerged from the empty air.
It was a Black Dragon Sect Member, the Gajubu’s direct martial force.
“There is no need to speak of their identities. Only the numbers.”
The Black Dragon Sect Member bowed his head and spoke respectfully.
“Among the instructors of the Muhakbu, two spies from the Nine Sects, three from the Jecheon Society, and the Pae Doryeon has spies in the martial units of Cheonryugak, Weiseong Pavilion, and Iim Pavilion…”
“…!”
“Three elders and two in the inner and outer halls. Seven of unknown affiliation, including those suspected of espionage activities—a total of one hundred and thirty-one.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened in shock.
So many spies had infiltrated? And spies from the Nine Sects, who supposedly walk the righteous path?
“The main house is already infested with rats, Myeong.”
Dokgo Cheon gazed at Dokgo Myeong with a mysterious smile.
“Then why do you leave them be?”
“There is no better piece to use than a spy whose identity has been confirmed.”
“…!”
“No matter how many rats you catch, they always find their way back in. So why not use them? Lee Seong-cheon identifies them, and Wi Baek manages them.”
“…”
“But a spy, you say… I hear the guest who traveled with the Muyong Family’s direct line was a certain woman. I have a rough sense of what this is about.”
Dokgo Cheon stroked his beard and looked toward the Black Dragon Sect Member.
“I must speak with the Chief Administrator. Summon him at once.”
“At your command.”
The Black Dragon Sect Member vanished immediately.
Dokgo Cheon turned his head toward Dokgo Myeong.
“I told you that you were growing arrogant.”
“Yes.”
“This is how it is. You still have far to go. The world visible to your eyes will take considerable time to reach this level.”
“….”
I had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Just now, Dokgo Myeong had witnessed a world I had never conceived of before.
‘Is this what the world looks like from above?’
It felt like my eyes were opening. I exhaled a long breath.
“Kekeke! Your expression is quite the sight. You’ll be kicking off your blankets tonight, won’t you?”
“….”
“Don’t be impatient. If you steadily gaze upward and climb, eventually you will develop such vision.”
Dokgo Cheon chuckled softly.
“Still, I hear the elders’ council and the outer sect are already making noise. You’ll have quite the ordeal ahead.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“You’ll understand soon enough. Now, take your leave.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
I turned my body with an uneasy expression.
Then I stopped abruptly and turned back to face Dokgo Cheon.
“Now that I think of it, I never heard the sword technique’s name.”
“What?”
“What is its name?”
“Why do you ask that?”
I hesitated for a moment, then simply spoke.
“Because someday I will overcome it.”
“Nonsense. That’s at least fifty years away.”
Dokgo Cheon laughed silently.
I bowed my head and retreated.
“It has no name yet.”
As I descended below the building using my lightness technique, a voice reached me on the wind.
“But when this technique receives a name, there will be none on this earth who can stand against it.”
It was a voice as distant as grasping at clouds.
“Then it will be worth overcoming.”
With those words, I left the Gajubu.
* * *
Finally, home.
Looking at the Saheongang in the distance, I felt a peculiar emotion.
I wanted to rush there and collapse into sleep immediately… yet at the same time, I didn’t want to go.
‘…Surely he won’t suddenly make me copy the Four Books and Three Classics. Surely not.’
Everything was not yet finished!
First, I would need to gauge the atmosphere from Jang Sam, who was probably waiting anxiously to greet me.
‘No, how old am I that I should fear being scolded?’
Dokgo Myeong trudged forward with his face scrunched up, and soon arrived at Saheongang.
‘Where is Jang hyung?’
That gentleman who always came out to wait at the front gate was nowhere to be seen, which felt oddly empty.
Things have changed, they really have.
Feeling a bit disappointed, I smacked my lips and pushed open the door to step inside.
“Oh, Young Master?”
At that moment, I spotted Jang Sam walking out from the direction of the Sect Leader’s quarters.
“Welcome, Young Master!”
“You’ve changed too, Jang hyung.”
“Changed? What do you mean?”
“You used to come greet me every time, but now you don’t even bother. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, and I have to say, I’m disappointed.”
“Then why don’t you do better yourself?”
“Is there anyone who does it as well as I do?”
“Of course there is, sir.”
Jang Sam let out a soft chuckle.
“Welcome. At least your body seems to be—”
Jang Sam’s eyes caught sight of the bandages wrapped around Dokgo Myeong’s body.
Though he had recovered considerably, the lingering traces of injury scattered across his frame made Jang Sam bite his lip slightly.
“…Please, be more careful with your body. Do you get tongue-tied if you don’t cause trouble?”
“Hearing the concerns of Saheongang’s famous Jang Sam makes me feel like I’m truly home.”
“Sir?”
“Besides, I’m already going to get scolded by the Sect Leader anyway, so I’ll hear your nagging next time.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Jang Sam’s expression hardened as if he had just remembered something.
“We have a guest inside. That’s why I couldn’t come greet you.”
“A guest? Ah, Geum Seok-du?”
“No. Geum is already in his room unpacking his things.”
Wait, I think I just heard something strange in that address.
“…What? What do you mean ‘younger brother’?”
“Our hearts aligned, so we decided to address each other as sworn siblings.”
“…”
“That’s not the important part right now.”
Dokgo Myeong furrowed his brow.
“Who exactly has come here?”
“That is…”
Jang Sam’s face grew uncomfortable as he lowered his voice considerably.
“The Elder Council Chairman. The Elder Council Chairman has graced us with his personal visit.”
* * *
The organizational structure of the Dokgo Family was different from other clans in many ways.
While other families operated under the leadership of elders or an elder council, the Dokgo Family moved under the direction of the Hundred Pavilions.
The Dokgo Family’s Council of Elders served a different purpose.
While they upheld and enforced the main family’s traditions and touched upon family law, externally they were little more than honorary positions held by those who had stepped back from the front lines.
Or rather, they had been.
Until this old man took his seat as the Council Leader.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You ungrateful brat. How can you live within the same walls and not even pay your respects once?”
An old man whose speech and appearance bore the weight of long years, yet whose straight posture and bearing made him appear far younger.
He was Dokgo Hwi-hwa, the Council Leader.
“My apologies, Council Leader.”
“Call me Aunt casually. Surely you’re not drawing a line because I’m a collateral branch woman?”
“…”
“You’ve always been an unlovable one. Even as a child. Sigh, tsk, tsk!”
The Council Leader, Dokgo Hwi-hwa, clicked her tongue openly.
For someone from a collateral branch who had risen to Council Leader despite being a woman, her tone was remarkably light and casual.
Clink!
Dokgo Wi-hak set down his teacup as he spoke.
“Is this meeting a private matter or an official one? Please clarify first.”
“Is that really so important?”
“Yes.”
“Ha, truly. You’re acting like you’ll devour an elder over your own child’s affairs. You shouldn’t speak to me this way, you brat.”
“…”
“When the main family opposed it, who was it that tacitly approved your betrothal? I’m truly hurt!”
“It wasn’t approval—merely silence on your part.”
Dokgo Wi-hak’s sharply contrasting eyes gleamed with a heavy light.
“These young people these days. Too fearful to speak their minds.”
“Please do not mention past matters anymore.”
“Tsk, tsk!”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa shook her head with a stubborn expression.
“So, when is your son arriving?”
“When the time comes, he will arrive.”
“Hmm, what kind of fellow is he?”
“Why do you take such interest?”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa’s lips curled upward.
Deep wrinkles etched across her face like furrows in a field.
“Are you asking without knowing, or asking while knowing?”
“…”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk! Don’t worry. Today I simply wanted to see your face. This old body might have to drag you here myself since you don’t even visit on holidays.”
It was then.
Creak!
Without warning, the door suddenly swung open and a young man stepped inside.
With handsome features and a sturdy frame, his slightly sharp eyes gave him a strangely commanding presence.
‘Hmm? Quite impressive?’
A glimmer of interest sparkled beneath the wrinkles around Dokgo Hwi-hwa’s eyes.
Dokgo Myeong bowed his head briefly.
“My apologies for the delay. My conversation with the Family Head ran longer than expected.”
“No matter.”
Dokgo Wi-hak nodded and gestured to the side.
“First, pay your respects. This is the Elder Council Leader. She came here on foot personally to see you.”
“Tsk tsk! I haven’t seen you since you were a child. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Dokgo Myeong promptly clasped his fists in a respectful salute.
“I am Dokgo Myeong. It is an honor to meet you, Elder Council Leader.”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa stared intently at Dokgo Myeong as he bowed.
Then, with a sly smile, she spoke.
“I heard you were a reckless brat with no respect for hierarchy, yet it seems you know how to show proper courtesy after all?”
At her sudden remark, Dokgo Myeong’s face crumpled.

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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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