Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 81

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 81
“Cough!”
Whoosh! Crash!
Yalul-ryeong spewed blood as he was hurled through the air.
Boom! Bang!
When he slammed into the wall, the presence of Shadow Energy Technique could no longer be felt.
Victory.
Transcending the gap in cultivation realms, Dokgo Myeong had achieved an overwhelming triumph.
“Hah.”
Dokgo Myeong exhaled sharply.
Steadying his breath as if taking a brief respite, Dokgo Myeong trudged toward Yalul-ryeong.
“H-how… how is this…”
Yalul-ryeong trembled as he opened his mouth.
Dokgo Myeong stood towering above him, looking down.
“You lost, and I won. That’s all there is to it.”
“…”
The light in Yalul-ryeong’s eyes shifted abruptly.
Dokgo Myeong’s hand shot out like lightning.
Crack!
Dokgo Myeong seized Yalul-ryeong’s jaw with brutal force.
Then he shoved his fingers directly into the man’s mouth.
Splurt!
A dark, grimy pill wrapped in fish skin was expelled from between his lips.
“I knew you’d try something like this.”
“…Gack! Cough!”
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. Once I’m finished, I’ll send you off properly.”
To the underworld, that is.
Tap! Tap!
Dokgo Myeong’s fingers pressed against Yalul-ryeong’s vital points.
As Yalul-ryeong’s eyes began to glaze over, fear flickered across them for the first time.
It was then.
“Young Master!”
“Are you alright—!”
Thud!
Geum Seok-du and Seo Ryun came rushing over before stopping short in shock.
Surrounded by pitch-black darkness without a single torch, Dokgo Myeong’s aura was utterly sinister.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
Flash!
Only after Dokgo Myeong spoke in his usual manner did the two men regain their senses.
“It can’t be nothing! You’ve lost that much blood!”
“Capturing a master at the Ascending Realm with this much effort—it’s a profitable venture.”
And it truly was.
Even at this very moment, Dokgo Myeong was recovering his vitality.
The power of Hongcheon, Huicheon, and Hyocheon that nourished the flesh, combined with the function of Yongrinpo that communed with true qi.
‘I have some injuries, but this is nearly perfect.’
A state that couldn’t even be called fighting someone a few levels above.
Crunch!
Dokgo Myeong clenched his fist.
He’d always been confident, but never had he felt his own strength so viscerally.
Dokgo Myeong grinned and looked at Seo Ryun.
“From what I can tell, you’ve grown quite strong too, Seo?”
Seo Ryun smiled sheepishly.
“It’s all thanks to you, sir.”
“Right, I know. I spar with you, put you through real combat, ah! Where would you find a superior like me?”
“….”
Spar with you? Put you through combat?
More like he’d endured it.
Seo Ryun’s expression crumpled without his realizing it.
“Your composure seems lacking these days, Seo.”
“Ah, well….”
“In any case, I’m grateful. There’s no one but you, Seo.”
Such words must be spoken when the moment calls for it. One shouldn’t assume the other understands without being told. Even if they do understand, it’s never the same as hearing it directly.
“…Whenever you command, I shall serve you faithfully.”
Seo Ryun bowed deeply.
Dokgo Myeong smiled faintly and turned his gaze away.
“And you too, Seok-du—you’ve worked hard.”
“Not at all. Without me, you couldn’t do anything, sir. I’m quite an extraordinary person.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“It’s not wrong, is it?”
Something seemed off about the boy.
Then Seo Ryun gazed down at Yalul-ryeong sprawled across the floor with a bitter expression.
“…After the Tortoise Shell Sect Leader, now even a Black Dragon Sect squad commander. This is truly unbelievable.”
“The household will be in turmoil again.”
A Black Dragon Sect member and the Tortoise Shell Sect Leader had been revealed as traitors.
This was not something to be dismissed lightly.
“Everything went according to plan, so why does the atmosphere feel like this?”
Geum Seok-du tilted his head as he spoke.
“With this opportunity, we’ve swept it all clean, haven’t we? Think only of the good things.”
“Swept clean? To this extent?”
“Pardon?”
Dokgo Myeong smiled bitterly.
“I’ve merely swept away one corner. This is just the beginning.”
These men had come to eliminate me, but would it truly end with them?
It would not.
Perhaps.
Perhaps there was someone sleeping in the shadows, someone who could not be drawn out even by this chaos.
“Why do you speak so ominously, sir?”
“Because you’ll need to help me greatly from now on. It’s only natural.”
“….”
“Why do you look like that?”
“I am grateful for all this time. As a man, Geum Seok-du, I believe I have repaid my debt.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
“Yes, from now on, live as Geum Seok-du, disciple of Manpaknoesa. I shall personally distribute a letter of introduction to every gambling house throughout Zhongyuan.”
“….”
“Seok-du, let’s do this well.”
“Yes.”
Geum Seok-du turned his head with a resigned expression.
Then, he felt a wave of martial energy approaching from afar.
“Brother! Your sister has come to rescue you!”
At the echoing voice of Dokgo Yeon, Dokgo Myeong let out a scoff.
“Rescue? What nonsense. Why did you take so long?”
Dokgo Myeong exhaled sharply and collapsed into his seat.
“Well, at least it’s finally over.”
The physical work is done.
Now only the mental work remains.
* * *
The dreary sky that had hung over the night finally began to release its rain as morning broke.
Pitter-patter-patter!
The sound of rain striking the tiles of the Gajubu echoed like arrows striking stone.
“The rain falls quite refreshingly.”
Dokgo Cheon murmured.
The family’s senior executives, gathered in the Study once again after just one day, sat with grave expressions and sealed lips.
“At least the servants will have less work to do. Cleaning up the blood of those rats must have been quite the ordeal.”
Dokgo Cheon slowly turned his gaze.
The expressions of all gathered were far from pleasant. They could not be.
“That list was compiled together with the Black Dragon Sect since the year before last. If anyone harbors doubts, they may verify it with our inner faction.”
“….”
“The records have been verified multiple times, so there should be no issues.”
A single ledger was placed before the Patriarch of both inner and outer factions, the Law Enforcement Bureau Leader, and the Elder Council Leader.
Then, Elder Council Leader Dokgo Hwi-hwa opened her mouth.
“What wind has blown in to cause this?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not as though traitors haven’t existed within the Main Sect for days on end, yet we’ve never orchestrated a purge of this scale before.”
Dokgo Cheon chuckled softly.
“I was persuaded to do so.”
“…?”
“Though I cannot yet be certain, these are not adversaries to be underestimated. I have determined that they are forces requiring vigilance rather than complete subjugation and control.”
In that instant, everyone except Dokgo Yeon-sin froze.
That swordmaster spoke of caution.
He who had built the greatest family under heaven from the ashes and was lauded as the supreme master of the present age.
Dokgo Hwi-hwa’s expression hardened.
“Jeongheol Sect? Could they possibly be remnants of the Esoteric School?”
“We shall investigate further from this point onward.”
“…”
Then, Dokgo Un-hak, the Outer Sect Leader, carefully opened his mouth.
“Family Head, did you truly say that this entire affair was planned by that child?”
Dokgo Un-hak’s expression was enigmatic.
A youth barely past his coming of age, only now beginning to show his talents.
At that child’s words, Dokgo Cheon had moved, and the entire family had been set ablaze with activity.
Dokgo Cheon’s head turned slowly toward Dokgo Un-hak.
“What is your intent in asking?”
“…”
“Fool. Do you lack understanding of the current situation?”
At the harsh tone, Dokgo Un-hak’s expression stiffened.
Only then did Dokgo Un-hak perceive the fury burning in his father’s eyes.
“My apologies.”
Dokgo Un-hak immediately bowed his head.
Dokgo Cheon regarded Dokgo Un-hak with a stern gaze.
“Enough. Many vacancies have opened, so you must be eager to play games of power. The same likely applies to you, Hwi-hwa. However, I speak with absolute resolve…”
“…”
“Should any of you engage in petty factional strife until the expulsion of those listed and the subsequent cleanup is complete, I shall personally administer punishment.”
Dokgo Cheon gazed upon Dokgo Yeon-sin.
“Law Enforcement Bureau Leader.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
Dokgo Cheon and Dokgo Yeon-sin.
Despite being blood brothers, neither warmth nor kinship emanated from their gazes and tones toward one another.
“Those who acted unknowingly as traitors shall be questioned and expelled, while the true betrayers shall be executed without hesitation.”
“Understood.”
“And those captured alive shall be thoroughly interrogated until they divulge all information. I shall receive the report directly.”
“As you command.”
Dokgo Cheon looked at Wi Baek.
“Inner Hall Master.”
“Yes, Household Head.”
“Since reorganizing Cheon-i Hall takes priority, first ensure perfect internal discipline.”
Dokgo Cheon looked toward the Outer Hall Master and the Elder Council Leader without waiting for a response.
“Elder Council Leader and Outer Hall Master. I trust you will not ignore my warning.”
With those words, Dokgo Cheon rose from his seat.
“You are dismissed.”
As Dokgo Cheon turned sharply, everyone bowed respectfully and departed.
* * *
“It seems Father is quite angry. Ha ha.”
Dokgo Un-hak walked forward with an awkward smile.
Dokgo Hwi-hwa, tapping her cane rhythmically, let out a scoff.
“You were so greedy, yet you’ve suffered a great loss, Outer Hall Master? Tsk tsk!”
“Greedy? It seems you have no right to speak of such things, Elder Council Leader, clinging to power at an age when you should have retired.”
Dokgo Hwi-hwa let out another scoff.
“I suppose I must lay low for a while.”
“With the Household Head’s stern command, that is only proper. For my family’s sake, I must settle this matter thoroughly.”
“Your family? That’s quite an unpleasant way to put it.”
“Don’t nitpick my words. In the end, the position of Household Head will naturally fall to me, will it not?”
At Dokgo Un-hak’s words, Dokgo Hwi-hwa’s eyes sharpened.
It was not an incorrect statement.
The Dokgo Family had no Secondary Household Head, but if there were one, it could only be Dokgo Un-hak.
The second son, Dokgo Hye, had long since left the family, the third son, Dokgo Wi-hak, showed no interest in power, and the fourth son, Dokgo Jo-hak, lacked the ability.
“What makes you think it will become entirely yours?”
“Once this period of laying low ends, it shall be so.”
“Tsk tsk tsk! We shall see. Do try.”
It was then.
“I greet the Outer Hall Master and the Elder Council Leader.”
Dokgo Myeong laughed, barely raising his umbrella in the rain.
Dokgo Un-hak’s expression changed instantly as he welcomed Dokgo Myeong.
“Ah! If it isn’t Myeong. Where are you headed?”
“To see the Household Head.”
“The Household Head?”
“Yes, he summoned me.”
….
Dokgo Un-hak’s nose bridge suddenly twitched.
The scent of blood.
Despite the heavy rain, the smell of blood hung in the air.
Dokgo Un-hak’s expression changed.
“You did it?”
The words escaped my lips before I could stop myself.
Dokgo Myeong answered with a faint smirk.
“Yes, I did it.”
He neither asked what it was nor explained it.
The sound of rain drumming against the umbrella pushed back the silence.
“Let’s share a drink next time.”
“I’m actually quite a poor drinker, sir.”
“Ha, don’t worry about it. I’m no better myself.”
Dokgo Un-hak turned his body.
“Elder Leader. I shall take my leave now.”
“Hmm, very well.”
Dokgo Un-hak walked away with heavy steps.
Was it because of the rain? Or the dreary atmosphere?
The smile that appeared on his lips felt strangely chilling.
* * *
“As you said, the Main Sect will cease its factional disputes for some time.”
Dokgo Myeong nodded at Dokgo Cheon’s words.
“Thank you.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for. It’s a fair reward for what you’ve done. Besides, I was planning to do this anyway.”
Dokgo Cheon furrowed his brow.
“But do you really need to enter the prison yourself?”
“Yes, I should try it myself.”
“Trust your grand-uncle. So far, there hasn’t been a spy that Yeon-sin couldn’t make talk.”
“That man is one I captured myself.”
….
Dokgo Cheon reluctantly nodded.
“Very well. I’ll inform the Law Enforcement Bureau. However, you’ll need to obtain the Leader’s permission directly.”
“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that.”
I had even made a drinking appointment with the Law Enforcement Bureau Leader—how could that be a problem?
“In any case… you’ve done well.”
“Yes.”
“I heard you understand martial arts well. You truly captured a master of the Ascending Realm.”
“If that man had faced me as a Black Dragon Sect Member rather than as a Blood Army Commander, it would have been quite difficult.”
I had conducted considerable research on the primary martial techniques of the Twin Demon Alliance.
Because Yalul-ryeong had chosen the Shadow Demon Sword and Shadow Demon Technique, I was able to win more easily.
Dokgo Cheon opened his eyes slightly.
“When you say it would have been difficult, you mean it wouldn’t have been impossible. Yet the difference in realm is clear?”
“Isn’t distinguishing realms one of the most meaningless things there is?”
Of course, realms of martial arts exist. There is a clear level difference between a master of the Peak Realm and a master of the Ascending Realm.
But that is where it ends.
In Gangho, there are only two meaningful distinctions.
Strong or weak.
Dead or alive.
The level of one’s realm is merely one condition among many.
“Truly spoken. Hold fast to that conviction.”
“That said, may I inquire how you intend to handle the aftermath?”
“Hmm.”
Dokgo Cheon’s eyes gleamed with light.
“I shall entrust the minor purges to my subordinate leaders. Even if we allow five days, matters will settle down.”
“Things will be tidied up nicely then.”
Dokgo Cheon wore a peculiar smile.
“I intend to leave some matters unresolved, so one cannot call it clean.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“I plan to leave an opening for them to breathe.”
Dokgo Myeong hesitated.
“Whose breathing room do you speak of?”
“Naturally, I mean the rats who have burrowed into the Main Sect.”
Dokgo Myeong’s eyes grew dark.
Despite all his persuasion, nothing had changed.
Perhaps the truly difficult task was only beginning now.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————