Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 72

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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 72
“Ugh, ugh, uhhhhh….”
Dokgo Myeong lay sprawled across the Training Hall in a spread-eagle position.
I’m dying.
No, seriously.
‘Why… is the sky yellow?’
What is this, did dust get in my eyes?
Good grief, now the world is spinning?
Shwing! Clang!
At that moment, the sound of Dokgo Wi-hak sheathing his sword echoed through the air.
“Let’s call it a day.”
“A day…?”
“You’ve grown far too strong.”
Never had praise been delivered with such irony.
Dokgo Myeong pushed himself upright, letting out a hollow laugh.
“Phew, I’ve been getting beaten this whole time… and you’re teasing me like this?”
Dokgo Wi-hak shook his head firmly.
“I say with certainty—there is not a single person in all the realm of your generation who has cultivated martial prowess enough to land this many successful strikes against me.”
Dokgo Wi-hak spoke as he straightened his disheveled robes.
From the intense exchange, the sash of his martial garb had come undone, and his sleeves were torn in several places. Between the tears, small bruises were visible.
“Still, I have far to go. I should have landed at least one clean, direct blow.”
“…You speak of committing such transgression with remarkable confidence.”
“Ah, how did it come to that again?”
Dokgo Wi-hak studied Dokgo Myeong for a moment before speaking.
“Your martial prowess has already transcended your generation. Despite learning martial arts later than anyone else.”
“Hehe, suddenly offering such praise again.”
“So that’s why you cause trouble so recklessly without fear?”
“….”
“Answer me.”
“…I apologize.”
Dokgo Wi-hak’s expression grew stern.
“I told you to spread your wings freely, but that did not mean you should disregard your own safety.”
“….”
“There is nothing in this world more precious than one’s life. Do you understand?”
Dokgo Myeong smiled bitterly.
“Yes, I understand.”
“If you understand, then for the next week, you will copy the Thirteen Classics three times over.”
“What? No, Sect Leader. I’m rather busy right now, and I don’t have time to….”
“You still haven’t come to your senses.”
“What?!”
“Copy the Four Books and Three Classics two additional times each, for a total of five copies. I will inspect every single one.”
“…!”
Dokgo Myeong’s jaw dropped.
Dokgo Wi-hak let out a scoff.
“That aside.”
Curiosity flickered across Dokgo Wi-hak’s eyes.
“You mentioned acquiring martial arts with the same root. May I ask its name?”
“…It is called Cheonoe Gyeong.”
“You answer so readily?”
“Yes, well, it doesn’t matter.”
In fact, I would have been happy to proclaim it from the rooftops.
Perhaps someone might recognize its origins and provide me with a clue.
“Cheonoe Gyeong….”
The scripture beyond the heavens—Cheonoe Gyeong.
If it were a religious scripture, perhaps, but as a martial secret manual, the name felt somewhat grandiose.
“Three in total, then?”
“Pardon?”
“One external energy technique, two internal energies of different natures, and it appeared you had mastered two combat forms and movement techniques compatible with them.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Nearly correct. There is one more specialized technique for sensory perception, and it can be applied not only to unarmed combat but also to weapon techniques….”
Dokgo Myeong outlined the structure of Cheonoe Gyeong roughly.
The sensory perception that formed its foundation.
The martial disciplines that branched upward from it.
In that instant, Dokgo Wi-hak’s eyes changed.
“This Cheonoe Gyeong martial art—is it truly a Zhongyuan technique?”
“It seems you also find it strange, Sect Leader.”
“Hmm?”
“In truth, I do not know the details of Cheonoe Gyeong either.”
The corners of Dokgo Wi-hak’s eyes twitched.
“May I ask why it did not feel like a Zhongyuan technique to you?”
“….”
His expression suggested he was not asking out of genuine curiosity, but rather seeking to organize his thoughts by comparing them with mine.
Dokgo Wi-hak slowly parted his lips.
“…Most Zhongyuan martial arts are fundamentally based on the sequential linking of techniques that flow continuously without interruption.”
This was because their roots lay in Daoism and Buddhism. Though they varied somewhat with the ages, the tradition of prioritizing the purpose and flow of seeking the Way was maintained.
“Yet Cheonoe Gyeong has no fixed techniques or forms. It contains only the force-release methods at the technical level, the application of internal energy, and the principles of exerting power. This allows for free variation.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Such characteristics are typically….”
Dokgo Wi-hak paused briefly.
“Found mainly in martial arts developed in the Frontier or on the battlefield, where combat is frequent.”
A martial art designed to be applicable in any situation, where the development of techniques and their combinations hold no particular importance.
“By observing the methods of the Jecheon-gi, I became certain. It must have evolved from a martial art created to account for losing one’s weapon in a chaotic melee.”
“….”
“In the Gangho, martial arts of the grappling lineage never developed much. Do you know why?”
“Because of inner energy, sir.”
“Precisely.”
Actions such as grappling, pushing, pulling, and strangling inevitably require physical contact.
The problem is that the closer the distance, the more vital points across the entire body become exposed. This is why martial arts in Zhongyuan fundamentally developed around striking techniques that maintain distance.
“While their effectiveness cannot be ignored, they failed to advance significantly because clear countermeasures exist. Of course, the Jecheon-gi appears to have overcome those weaknesses.”
In the end, it all circled back to qi.
The weakness created by the existence of qi was sealed with qi itself. Hard outer energy like diamond protected the vital points, while inner energy that seeps into an opponent’s meridians and disrupts their structure strengthened the attacks.
“Then do you believe it might be martial arts from the Military Schools or the Frontier, sir?”
Dokgo Wi-hak shook his head.
“I cannot say.”
“Pardon?”
“It is too complex to be from the Military Schools. Yet the force emission methods and forms are identical to those of Zhongyuan, so it cannot be from the Frontier either.”
The corners of Dokgo Wi-hak’s eyes twitched slightly.
“This is purely my speculation, but….”
“Please, tell me anything you can think of.”
“The Cheonoe Gyeong feels to me like an entirely new martial lineage.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that, sir?”
“Exactly as I said. It feels like a martial art created by taking a new framework and adding or removing what was necessary. It appears not to have been created very long ago.”
Dokgo Wi-hak sighed as he watched Dokgo Myeong tilt his head in confusion.
“It is merely my speculation. Do not dwell on it too deeply.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“But how on earth did you come to learn such an alien martial art?”
“That is….”
Dokgo Myeong hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully.
“I have a master.”
“…What?”
“Someone I met by chance. Actually, they told me not to call them a master, but….”
“A master? When exactly?”
“Can you not guess?”
I deliberately kept my words vague.
I could not tell him everything. Because behind that story lay the fact that I was not your child.
At least.
At least, I could not speak of it yet.
“It must have been around the time you learned outer energy. Who exactly is this person?”
“I do not know much about them.”
“What?”
“I don’t know my master’s name, age, sect affiliation, or birthplace. All I received from him were a few secret manuals to memorize and burn, along with guidance for a time.”
“…!”
* * *
It happened not long after Dokgo Hyeon entered the Bloodfiend Guard.
Naturally, it was before he became the Bloodfiend Guard Leader, and by misfortune, his route had been exposed to a spy of the Jeonghyeolma Sect, leading to an ambush.
-I thought you were a corpse, yet you still breathe?
That man approached Dokgo Hyeon, who lay dying face-down.
From that point on, Dokgo Hyeon followed that person.
When a year had passed.
-I’ve taught you all there is to teach. Descend the mountain.
-We’re in the middle of a prairie right now. Where is this mountain you speak of?
-Getting a bit familiar, are we? Should I take back the life I saved?
-I’ve only just awakened my meridian gates. You must teach me more.
-That’s enough.
-What?
-The martial arts of Cheonoe Gyeong have no fixed forms or rules. The remaining secret realms are all things you must build upon yourself.
With those words, we parted without even saying goodbye.
I could have fled to Zhongyuan, but I returned to the Bloodfiend Guard instead. I wanted to achieve something based on the divine techniques I had mastered.
Back then, I believed it was possible.
Dokgo Myeong opened his eyes, which had been closed, and shook off the memories.
“He said I had talent and transmitted the incantations and principles of martial arts to me. That was all.”
Dokgo Wi-hak’s eyes widened.
“You met an eccentric.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Dokgo Wi-hak nodded.
Dokgo Myeong paused before speaking again.
“Is there perhaps something you suspect?”
“You seek to trace the origins of martial arts.”
“I wish to become stronger.”
“Hmm.”
Martial arts are not merely about accumulating inner energy and learning to move one’s limbs.
One must understand their true essence—the genuine intent that each martial art possesses—to reach beyond the heavens.
“Perhaps… no, never mind.”
A momentary unease flickered across Dokgo Wi-hak’s usually expressionless face.
It seemed as though he was deliberating whether to speak of this.
“What is it that troubles you?”
“Cheonra Majon. That name came to mind for a moment.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes widened in shock.
“Cheonra Majon? Isn’t that the great demon lord who, intoxicated by blood long ago, brought countless calamities upon Zhongyuan?”
Dokgo Wi-hak nodded.
Cheonra Majon was a figure from several hundred years past. He appeared suddenly in Zhongyuan as if dropped from the heavens themselves, and it was said that, intoxicated by blood, he slaughtered countless martial artists and imperial soldiers.
“One reason his epithet ‘Cheonra’ was bestowed upon him is because he possessed an extraordinarily vast and meticulous ki perception, or so the records indicate.”
“Ki perception, you say?”
“I cannot say with certainty, but I recall reading records that he utilized that keen sensibility in the analysis and dismantling of martial techniques.”
My eyes wavered.
Keen sensibility, the dismantling of martial techniques.
‘A sense technique…?’
It was difficult to confirm.
How many martial schools specialized in disrupting an opponent’s flow of technique?
“I heard you obtained the authority to enter the Sipjeon Archives.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“The fifth archive contains records of all manner of martial world figures. Should you wish to learn more about Cheonra Majon, search there.”
“The fifth… Yes, I understand.”
“Do not delve too deeply into this matter. He was merely a demon-man from several hundred years ago. If he shared any connection with your sect, there would be other traces remaining by now.”
“Regardless, I am grateful.”
“Indeed.”
Dokgo Wi-hak exhaled a long breath.
Seeing my son grown so much larger, I found myself smiling without realizing it.
“What are your plans going forward? Do you intend to bring more people from outside?”
“Yes, I plan to bring two or three more. However, before that….”
My eyes gleamed.
“I must first establish my position within the family.”
“You mean to involve yourself in family politics?”
Dokgo Wi-hak’s expression hardened slightly.
I spoke with resolve.
“Yes, it is necessary.”
“Surely you do not aspire to become the family head?”
“As I mentioned before, I have no interest in the position of family head.”
“Then what?”
“I am merely interested in the power of the Main Sect.”
It was to prevent the Twin Demon Alliance.
Truthfully, what became of the Gangho mattered little to me. However, I could never tolerate those vermin who sought to spread a hellfire across the land where I would live.
‘I must utilize the Dokgo Family to the fullest.’
The Dokgo Family’s influence, wealth, reputation, and backing… all of it would prove useful.
And to achieve that, merely being a promising direct descendant of the family was insufficient. I needed to advance further and establish a powerful foundation.
“To my ears, it sounds as though you wish to create your own faction.”
“Yes.”
“It is a difficult path.”
Dokgo Wi-hak spoke those final words.
I grinned widely.
“I’ve attempted far more difficult endeavors than this.”
Dokgo Myeong grinned wickedly.
“If you merely engage in a tug of war, you might find yourself facing a backlash.”
“I have no intention of merely playing tug of war. I plan to gnaw away gradually and expand my own strength.”
Dokgo Wi-hak regarded Dokgo Myeong with eyes widened in surprise.
The boy had grown noticeably in such a short time.
‘Children truly do grow at such a frightening pace.’
Regret suddenly washed over me.
Nearly twenty years spent locked away in isolation, leaving this child alone.
“I understand.”
The worry seemed to lift from Dokgo Wi-hak’s eyes.
“I believe in you. You will succeed.”
“Thank you.”
Dokgo Wi-hak shifted his gaze away.
“We must move swiftly.”
“Yes, it seems so. There is much to prepare….”
“Before that, complete your transcription first.”
“….”
“If you’re caught slacking off, know that it will double.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eye twitched slightly.
* * *
Dokgo Myeong walked through the night air.
His footsteps carried him past the bustling district near the Dokgo Family, venturing far into the distance.
Soon, he arrived at an abandoned manor where not a single soul could be felt nearby.
“You’ve arrived.”
Greeting him from the darkness was Seo Ryun, the White Tiger Sect Leader.
“I apologize for burdening you with such an unpleasant task.”
“Not at all, Young Master.”
“It’s a task that must be entrusted to someone I can trust. Please understand.”
“Command me whenever you wish.”
“Thank you. Now return and resume your position.”
“….”
“Don’t make that expression. It’s not that I distrust you.”
“No, that’s not it….”
“If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have asked in the first place. It’s simply that… I don’t want you to witness what I’m about to do.”
“…Young Master?”
In that instant, Seo Ryun stiffened upon seeing the look in Dokgo Myeong’s eyes.
“I’m asking you.”
“….”
Seo Ryun closed his eyes slowly.
“If there is anything you require, please inform me at any time.”
Seo Ryun asked no further questions and, after offering a respectful salute, took his leave.
Only after his footsteps had faded into the distance did Dokgo Myeong begin to move.
“Is this the place?”
It was a small storage shed tucked away in the corner of the manor courtyard.
Dokgo Myeong grasped the heavily rusted door handle and pulled it open.
Whoosh!
Dust billowed forth in a cloud, and the path of moonlight streaming through became starkly visible.
Dokgo Myeong’s gaze slowly traced toward the end of that luminous trail.
“Mmph, mmph, mmmph…!”
There, a woman with a gag stuffed in her mouth trembled with fear etched across her face.
It was Gi Sohwa, the lackey of the Jeonghyeolma Sect.
“I told you, didn’t I?”
Thud!
Dokgo Myeong crossed the threshold of the storage shed.
A deep shadow fell across his face as he turned his back to the moonlight.
“That I had much to ask you.”
Dokgo Myeong closed the door of the shed.
Darkness swallowed the moonlight.

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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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