Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 77

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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 77
“You won’t show a single card of your own, yet you demand to peek at others’ hands?”
“But it was you who summoned me, was it not?”
“Quite the filial grandson, I must say.”
“Your counsel just now was the only guidance you’ve offered as a grandfather, was it not?”
“Heh heh! Yes, well said.”
Dokgo Cheon reached his hand toward empty air.
The atmosphere trembled for an instant.
Thunk! Whirrrr! Whoosh!
With sounds of something opening and rotating, a single book flew through the air and settled gently upon the table.
Dokgo Myeong broke into a cold sweat.
‘What manner of monster is this…’
For a moment, I doubted my own eyes.
It wasn’t something left outside—he had retrieved a book that was hidden and stored somewhere through spatial manipulation.
“…Are you trying to frighten me?”
“Don’t worry. If you truly know more than this old man as you boasted, what problem could there be?”
In other words, if he was merely bluffing without real knowledge, he would be severely punished.
Dokgo Cheon gestured.
“Well? Why aren’t you reading it?”
“Yes, of course.”
As Dokgo Myeong flipped through the book with a light heart, his expression hardened.
‘This is…’
Every step of identifying and tracking the mole was recorded here.
A person’s birth, growth, suspicious behavior, related organizations, and even the criminal networks connected to those organizations.
‘Even trivial gossip shared with family and colleagues back home was documented.’
The sheer volume was staggering, but the meticulous detail and accuracy sent chills down my spine.
This was no book that could be compiled in merely a week.
Dokgo Myeong furrowed his brow.
“When exactly did you discover this?”
“Roughly two years ago.”
“…I must have looked quite foolish pretending to know, then.”
“On the contrary. I was surprised that you actually knew something.”
Dokgo Cheon continued, looking at Dokgo Myeong.
“Jeongheol—a particularly vicious organization. Some didn’t even know they were moles themselves, and countless others had been brainwashed or cursed.”
“That is their specialty.”
“Because of that, we still haven’t identified their main headquarters or key members. We could do so with more time and manpower, but you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, I understand.”
In other words, adding the information I possessed could reduce the time needed considerably.
“Now then, let me make a proposal. What I ask of you is simple.”
Dokgo Cheon spoke with a leisurely tone.
“Tell me everything you know about the Bloodfiend Sect, or what you suspect. If that woman captured by the Guhua Bloodfiend is still alive, hand over information about her whereabouts as well.”
“How much will you pay for it?”
“That depends on what you’re selling.”
“Then….”
Dokgo Cheon raised his hand, cutting off his grandson’s words.
“Don’t even think about haggling this time. This isn’t that kind of transaction.”
“So you’re saying I should just hand over everything I have and accept whatever you give? Where in this world does such a law exist?”
“In the Main Sect, the Family Head’s word is law.”
Dokgo Myeong let out a hollow laugh.
Then he tapped the book with his index finger.
“So showing me this first was to make sure I couldn’t back out, wasn’t it?”
“It was you who opened it so quickly.”
“…I’ve been caught.”
This was definitely a mistake. I never expected him to use such tactics.
A cunning old fox… no, a man who had already become a dragon had outmaneuvered me.
‘Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve held the sword. Is that why?’
I needed to keep my wits about me.
Holding the sword made dealing with him all the more difficult.
Perhaps Dokgo Cheon had only been treating me as his grandfather all along.
“What’s your second offer?”
“So you’re refusing?”
“When have I ever been the type to do as I’m told?”
“Fair point.”
Dokgo Cheon smiled broadly.
But his words were sharp as a blade.
“However, there is no second offer. If you refuse, the Law Enforcement Bureau will move instead.”
“The Law Enforcement Bureau? Why are they suddenly involved?”
“Information about the traitor is directly connected to the Main Sect’s safety. If you knew such information and hid it, shouldn’t you be prepared to face appropriate punishment?”
So this is how it’s going to be.
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“If there’s no second offer, then I’ll create one myself.”
“Don’t you understand the situation?”
Dokgo Myeong exhaled slowly.
“It seems like you’re the one who doesn’t understand the situation, Family Head.”
“What did you say?”
Dokgo Myeong closed his eyes slightly.
* * *
Never taking a loss—that was one of the principles I absolutely upheld.
As long as it brought future gains, or even if it was a material loss but a spiritual gain, it didn’t matter.
But I never did things like avoiding something because it was distasteful, or letting something slide just once.
However, there were exceptions.
The Twin Demon Alliance, Jeongheol Sect, and Shinheol Sect.
When it came to matters concerning them, I did not weigh profit and loss.
That’s why I sometimes harbored such thoughts.
‘What if I released information before the chaos arrived, allowing Gangho to prepare in advance?’
‘Or what if I could secure the cooperation of the Sect Leader beforehand? Wouldn’t that resolve many things?’
Yet Dokgo Myeong could not act rashly.
One suspicion clouded his mind.
Would Dokgo Cheon truly—would those who lead this Zhongyuan truly….
‘Would they actually wish to prevent the Twin Demon Alliance’s rebellion?’
At the end of this brief contemplation.
Dokgo Myeong’s eyelids slowly rose, and a heavy voice flowed forth.
“I have but one question, Sect Leader. What do you intend to do once you come to understand them completely?”
Dokgo Cheon answered with composure.
“An obvious question. I’ll put them to use.”
….
“They possess the ability to infiltrate my own courtyard. Even if I cannot bring them fully under my control, depending on how I employ them, they would prove useful.”
This answer did not stem from Dokgo Cheon’s particular greed.
Now I understand. Among those in positions to lead Gangho, any who cannot think in such terms lack the qualifications to do so.
But.
“That cannot be, Sect Leader.”
“What are you trying to say now?”
“As you said, they have infiltrated even the Main Sect. They are vermin who breached the defenses of Cheonjigak and Heukryongdae, and were only discovered after the Sword Sage himself issued direct orders for their capture.”
Only then did the corners of Dokgo Cheon’s eyes twitch slightly.
“And this.”
Dokgo Myeong lifted the tome.
“Who conducted this investigation?”
“Well, naturally….”
Hm!
Dokgo Cheon could not finish his words.
He merely stared at Dokgo Myeong with astonished eyes.
Dokgo Myeong did not pause.
“Moreover, surely you are aware, Sect Leader.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes gleamed.
“That they are not confined to the Main Sect alone.”
….
“Many in Gangho may know of their existence. But none possess true vigilance. Not just you, Sect Leader, but all of them.”
Because the power of Gangho had grown far too immense.
After the war, in this peace, everyone had grown their strength tremendously.
‘Only.’
In this vast world, only I truly understood the cunning and precision of Jeongheol, and the ruthlessness and madness of Shinheol.
“We’ve excavated this organization for two whole years, yet we haven’t even discovered their headquarters.”
“….”
“Does the Gajubu underestimate an enemy that hasn’t even revealed its shadow?”
“That’s enough. I understand what you’re saying.”
Dokgo Cheon nodded his head.
What thoughts occupied his mind, I couldn’t say, but his expression had certainly changed.
“Dokgo Myeong.”
“Yes.”
“Are you confident?”
It was a terse question, but I read between the lines perfectly.
“I am confident and certain.”
“This old man doesn’t think so.”
“….”
“But as Gajubu, I see it differently. I should summon Seongcheon from outside.”
That did it.
I clenched my fist.
“Chasing scattered cells will be meaningless anyway. The path to their headquarters won’t come that way.”
“You….”
Dokgo Cheon furrowed his brow as if he’d noticed something.
“Let me ask you one thing. Are you planning to do this yourself?”
“That’s why I came in the first place. I’m the most efficient.”
The furrow between Dokgo Cheon’s brows deepened further.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you like this. What on earth is the reason?”
Reason.
I turned the word over in my mind for a moment.
“It’s nothing special. I simply thought I’d feel more at ease doing it myself.”
“….”
The corners of Dokgo Cheon’s eyes shifted.
It flickered briefly before vanishing, but Dokgo Cheon had seen it clearly.
A raw emotion from my usually slick self that he’d never witnessed before.
Emotions burned more intensely when concealed rather than revealed.
Dokgo Cheon saw the blazing fire demon within me.
“Very well, let it be so. Now tell me. What do you know, and what are you thinking?”
Dokgo Cheon’s tone had changed.
At last, it was time for the real conversation.
* * *
Dokgo Cheon quietly gazed at the place where I had been standing.
Time flowed in the silence.
Only when the light filtering through the window began to fade did Dokgo Cheon’s lips finally open.
“Who’s there?”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
“Summon the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Second Sect, the Inner Sect Leader, the Outer Sect Leader, the Elder Council Leader, and the Law Enforcement Bureau Leader to the Patriarch’s residence immediately.”
“Yes.”
The guard withdrew from beyond the chamber doors.
It took less than a quarter hour for everyone to gather in Dokgo Cheon’s quarters.
“We greet the Patriarch.”
Inner Sect Leader Wi Baek.
Outer Sect Leader Dokgo Un-hak.
Elder Council Leader Dokgo Hwi-hwa.
Law Enforcement Bureau Leader Dokgo Yeon-sin.
And Sect Leader Jang Pyeong of the Heavenly Second Sect.
The pillars of the Dokgo Family—those who would never ordinarily gather in one place—had assembled completely.
Dokgo Cheon swept his gaze across them all before speaking.
“Be seated.”
‘What matter brings the Patriarch to summon us?’
‘Hmm, how peculiar. Called together right after that cunning fool departed.’
They all exchanged meaningful glances, studying their surroundings.
Since the family had stabilized, Dokgo Cheon had never gathered such figures in one place. This was truly unprecedented.
“First, let me hear of the major matters currently underway at the Main Sect.”
Wi Baek spoke calmly.
“Primarily, there is the trade matter led by the Geumsan Sect, the long-term dispatch of Sect Leader Dokgo Hye, and the subjugation of southern sea pirates under Young Master Dokgo Gun.”
“Beyond that, are there any matters the Outer Sect, Inner Sect, Law Enforcement, Elders, or Heavenly Second cannot set aside?”
“There are none.”
All bowed their heads simultaneously.
No urgent matter could take precedence over the Patriarch’s directives.
Dokgo Cheon nodded.
“Then I hereby prohibit factional disputes and other ventures for the time being. Effective immediately, the Main Sect enters a state of temporary wartime mobilization.”
“Patriarch, may I inquire the reason?”
It was Elder Council Leader Dokgo Hwi-hwa.
“Recently, we’ve discovered vermin of unknown origin within the Main Sect.”
“….”
“Vermin infiltration is nothing new, but upon investigation, these are no ordinary creatures. Thus, I intend to conduct a thorough cleansing.”
The atmosphere among them grew tense.
It was an unexpected topic.
Not the existence of spies themselves, but Dokgo Cheon’s declaration regarding them.
Dokgo Un-hak spoke abruptly.
“What manner of creatures are they?”
“The Jeongheol Sect—I have designated them the Bloodfiend Sect.”
“Could it be… that Myeong-i is involved in this matter?”
The eyes of everyone gathered in the hall grew peculiar.
Dokgo Cheon let out a hollow laugh internally.
‘That cunning bastard. He’s been bewitching people left and right.’
To be mentioned in such a position at barely twenty years of age.
Explaining just how remarkable that was would only wear out one’s mouth.
“I was about to mention it anyway. The tracking began in the first place thanks to him.”
“I see.”
“The crucial clue currently remains in his possession.”
“What sort of crucial clue might that be?”
“The scriptures of Jeongheol, or so I’m told. It appears to be a form of cipher, and once decryption is complete, we should be able to reveal the location of their headquarters.”
“If decryption is underway, is Cheonieach handling it?”
“He’s doing it himself.”
“Pardon?”
Dokgo Cheon chuckled softly.
“He won’t trust anyone but himself. Quite the cautious fellow.”
“Ha, well. You certainly have a remarkable nephew. I do wish my own sons would learn from his example. Haha!”
Dokgo Un-hak laughed heartily.
Yet his eyes held something peculiar. A flicker of wariness seemed to cross his pupils.
Dokgo Cheon turned his head.
“Jang Pyeong.”
Perhaps a man as difficult to see at the Main Sect as the Sect Leader himself.
Jang Pyeong, a man of utterly unremarkable appearance with nothing particularly distinctive about him, responded.
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Cease pursuit of those fellows. Instead, prepare Cheonieach for wartime operations.”
“Understood.”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“If I may ask one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
Jang Pyeong opened his mouth with an expressionless face devoid of emotion.
“Could you provide an approximate date for when decryption will be completed? I shall prepare accordingly.”
“Tomorrow.”
“…?”
“It will be finished by tomorrow. Since we’re on the subject, ensure there’s no confusion in Cheonieach or the Black Dragon Corps. Relay this in advance.”
“Understood.”
Dokgo Cheon then surveyed those gathered in the hall.
He recalled the conversation he’d had with Dokgo Myeong.
-If you spread word so extensively, they will react.
-Didn’t you say it was all lies? Would men so meticulous really act so recklessly?
-They will act recklessly.
Dokgo Myeong had spoken with absolute certainty.
-I know those fellows well.

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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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