I Became the Namgung Clan’s Omnipotent Item-Powered Martial God - Chapter 101

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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 101
Chapter 101 — The Slums
#1
Healing internal injuries and restoring the meridians to their natural state was, any martial master would say, one of the most grueling tasks a warrior could undertake.
The human body was constructed with truly subtle and intricate complexity.
To master it completely was work that even the most celebrated physicians found nearly impossible.
But Namgung Yeon possessed an ability that surpassed all others — he could heal internal injuries and ascend to higher cultivation realms.
If asked why such work came easily to him, the answer was simple enough: endless experience.
He had died countless times and suffered countless wounds.
‘At least this much is fortunate. I’ll be able to claim all the energy No Gyeong Hu absorbed as my own.’
In his desperate bid to survive, there was little he hadn’t attempted.
He had even dabbled in forbidden Demonic Cultivation, sorcery, and shamanic magic.
But once he understood that the true answer lay in steadily accumulating pure, righteous energy, he had abandoned such practices——
Yet his recovery to the point where he could move progressed swiftly.
He did not neglect layering the energy the Mareung Sword sent him into his dantian, piece by piece.
Now, at last, he could see the limits of his lower dantian beginning to emerge.
It was drawing close——the time for another breakthrough.
Namgung Yeon opened his eyes and instinctively considered the next cultivation realm ahead of him.
‘I must achieve another breakthrough before the Sword Discussion Tournament.’
To do that, what would he need to accomplish?
The answer was straightforward.
Money could elevate one’s cultivation realm.
“How are you feeling? Any lingering internal injuries?”
As his thoughts spiraled into one another, a voice called out to him.
Dang Sal.
His uncle by marriage, a seasoned warrior, gazed at him with concern.
Namgung Yeon rose unsteadily from his seat and replied.
“I’m fine, thank you for your worry.”
“It seems you’ve learned the martial techniques of our clan, haven’t you?”
“That’s correct.”
There was no point hiding it.
After all, the Namgung and Dang Clan were now one family.
Though how they would accept it remained to be seen.
Dang Sal stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Ordinarily, the Dang Clan’s martial arts were a secret that outsiders were forbidden to learn.
Yet here was a member of a betrothed family who had mastered the clan’s techniques——it was genuinely awkward.
‘What would the Family Head say if he knew?’
The current Family Head was also So Yeon’s older brother.
How would he react upon seeing his niece’s betrothed?
Would he subtly obstruct him, or offer encouragement instead?
The Martial Realm was fickle by nature.
And the Dang Clan in Sichuan——doubly so.
Dang Sal turned to regard Namgung Yeon and spoke.
“For now, I’ll hold my tongue about this.”
“That suits me fine.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s fine. You can report it to the Family Head if you wish.”
“Well, well……is that so.”
Namgung Yeon nodded readily.
Concealment often became a poison of its own.
There had been times when he’d hidden everything, believing no one would ever know.
And those moments when such concealment turned into bitter regret had come far more often than he’d expected.
Once misunderstanding took root, could human emotion really be swayed so easily?
Trust built across years could crumble in an instant——it happened more often than not.
Especially among family.
So Namgung Yeon chose to face it head-on.
“Yes, it’s fine. And if you would inform him that I plan to visit Sichuan myself, I would appreciate it.”
“Heh…… whether that’s boldness or confidence, I cannot say.”
“I’d say it’s both. But as for this……”
Namgung Yeon gazed out at the still-unsettled Slums around them.
Now that he had a moment’s peace, it was time to look inward.
Who had deliberately spread filth across a place so carefully cleaned?
He needed to identify the source of the corruption that had drawn these parasites.
#2
The Slums had been reduced to a wasteland.
As the sun descended, the oppressive gloom only deepened across the ruins.
The group couldn’t bear to look directly at the bodies of the dead as they passed through—they could only move forward with their eyes averted.
Because they understood how terrible what they had done truly was.
“Children, don’t trouble yourselves over this. As you grow stronger, you’ll find ways to resolve such matters far more peacefully.”
“…Yes, my lady.”
>”My dear ones, you did well. Excellently well.”
It was So Yeon’s gentle words that allowed them to gather themselves.
She moved among the disciples, steadying their shoulders, fulfilling her role as mistress of the household with quiet grace.
Namgung Yeon watched the scene with quiet pride.
Now the real investigation had to begin.
But…
“I’m not sure there’s much worth salvaging—it’s all burned through.”
“You’re right. It’s almost as if…”
The Slums had become nothing more than ruins.
Everyone swept their gaze across the desolation, hollow-eyed.
Crack—the sound of collapsing buildings echoed intermittently through the wreckage.
Following the sound of movement, they found only people kneeling among the ashes, weeping.
Just as the group moved to pass quietly by, maintaining their silence—
A powerful presence surged from the opposite direction, and everyone tensed involuntarily.
Everyone except Namgung Yeon.
“My lady! And… you, my lord?”
“Inspection Chief. How did you come to be here?”
The Chief of the Changcheon Inspection had appeared in the Slums, leading his contingent.
Those who hadn’t expected the Inspection to mobilize directly wore expressions of shock.
Why would men so burdened with official duties move themselves?
The Changcheon Inspection exhaled in relief the moment they spotted So Yeon.
Their direct involvement stemmed entirely from concern for her safety.
Soho and the Slums were places deeply connected to one another.
“You’re all unharmed. Thank heavens.”
“We were dispatched urgently to ensure the safety of you and your disciples.”
At their words, Dang Sal posed a pressing question directly.
Surely there had been people who arrived here carrying supplies.
What had become of them?
“Do you know who called for help?”
“Warriors from the Dang Clan. They departed to conduct their own investigation first.”
“We haven’t located them yet, so we’ll need to wait a bit longer.”
As the saying goes, speak of the tiger and he arrives—the two Dang Clan warriors were already rushing toward the group, having spotted them.
Dang Sal let out a long breath.
If even they had fallen, he would have worn himself out with worry.
This was a day to give thanks for their survival.
They arrived breathless and spoke with urgent expressions.
“Thank goodness you’re all safe. The Namgung warriors have arrived as well…”
“No incidents?”
“No, my lord. But we discovered something rather strange.”
Whatever could it be?
Everyone’s eyes began to gleam with interest.
The fierce battle was over, but nothing had truly been resolved yet.
“Lead us to it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’d certainly hope to gain something from this as well.”
Namgung Pae, Chief of the Changcheon Inspection, spoke up.
They were conducting their investigation into collusion between Demons and internal officials.
Having come this far, there had to be something worthwhile to show for it.
Each carrying their own purpose, they moved forward silently under the escort’s guidance.
And there they would discover something utterly shocking.
“This is…….”
“It’s clearly a beggar’s den, so what…….”
“Wait, what did you just say?”
What lay before them was nothing but corpses and the charred remains of a beggar’s den.
Yes.
A beggar’s den.
In the Martial Realm, beggars fall into two categories.
The first are the destitute—those with nothing.
Truly the dispossessed, though most of them had fallen into ruin at someone’s hand.
They were pitiable folk.
The second…….
“Gaebang.”
Namgung Yeon murmured the word.
Everyone’s expressions hardened, and they fell into grave contemplation.
So what was being said here was…….
“That Gaebang has been seized by Demons……?”
“It’s not a possibility without merit.”
Namgung Yeon’s mind turned to the beggars he had first encountered in the Slums.
Yes, perhaps it had begun then…….
‘Yet another truth I never knew.’
What is the purpose of Gaebang?
They move for the protection of the nation.
They move for the protection of its people.
Those who guard the realm and undertake countless tasks for the common folk.
That was Gaebang—the stalwart support of the Righteous Martial World.
And yet.
And yet…….
‘How dare those wretches…….’
Namgung Yeon’s eyes sank deeper into shadow.
Those who should have stood beside the people at the very bottom were instead unraveling the peace of the Martial Realm from that same foundation.
“We must begin a thorough investigation.”
They gazed upon the places where the beggars had dwelt, their expressions grave.
For now……. Yes.
It was better that no one else knew.
Not unless they wished to see the Martial Realm overturn in a single stroke.
The party returned from their mission bearing this shock.
And many questions besides, along with emotions they could not name.
#3
Namgung Yeon and his companions returned to the training ground after their report.
The first to greet them were Bang Ya and Han Rim, who were overseeing the construction of a new training hall.
“Welcome back. It seems you undertook a grueling mission.”
“I need some rest.”
“To hear such words from you—truly difficult indeed. I shall brief you on further details tomorrow.”
At Bang Ya’s words, Namgung Yeon gave a light nod and stepped into his quarters.
His entire body was caked with blood, fragments of flesh, and sweat—thoroughly unsettling.
Alone in the bathhouse, he exhaled a shallow breath.
Gaebang…….
Had they truly betrayed the Righteous Martial World and unleashed Demons?
If so, where should the investigation even begin?
Now that he thought on it, he hadn’t seen a single beggar on the streets of Anhui in some time.
That’s right.
Not since Namgung Hyeon Geum came through.
He’d been too occupied to notice such a thing…….
“There is still so much left to uncover…….”
Unease crept in, but he sought to wash it away by sinking into the warm water.
He had grown accustomed to these bathing hours now.
No longer did they feel like drowning into darkness—they were becoming instead a time for discernment, for choosing his next step.
Namgung Yeon considered the matter there, immersed in the warm current.
Gaebang.
And Demons…….
Then it meant that Namgung Hyeon Geum was not the only one who had sown and spread Calamity through the Slums.
‘Surely not…….’
Thoughts he should never entertain kept surfacing.
On the surface, the Murim Alliance and the Righteous Martial World appeared as fierce resistors.
Whenever Demons sought to destroy the world, they always stood their ground and fought back.
But…….
What if all of it had been nothing but a lie-riddled performance?
What if only the innocent were ruthlessly sacrificed while the leaders themselves hastened the Martial Realm’s downfall?
Namgung Yeon slowly wiped his face with his hand.
‘I must grow stronger still. Even if the Namgung Family has to shatter the entire Martial Realm in the process.’
But what more could be done to achieve that?
The answer had always been clear.
According to the law of Namgung.
In a world where only the strong survive…….
He would become strong enough to endure.

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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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