I Became the Namgung Clan’s Omnipotent Item-Powered Martial God - Chapter 103

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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 103
Chapter 103 – The Funeral
#1
Once upon a time.
There existed a man called Byeokryeok Doje.
The sole being in all the Martial Realm who wielded Lightning Qi, and once the greatest master under heaven.
Was he a man of the Namgung Family?
No.
He was a figure of the Peng Family.
In those days, the Namgung could not wield lightning, and their swordsmanship did not involve the mastery of Lightning Qi.
Yet his disciples, Noe Sin and Paeng Hyeon Do, restored the Lightning Qi of the Namgung anew.
Still today, at the very summit of Hwangsan where thunder occasionally crashes down.
There was a legend that if one received a special resonance there, one could master the legendary martial art of the Namgung — the Heavenly Lightning Qi.
“Hah…… I’ve managed to give it form, at least.”
Namgung Yeon had studied and researched, keeping that legend in mind.
If the Heavenly Lightning Qi existed, could he walk in the footsteps of Noe Sin?
That legendary figure who had defeated an Outer God alone and triumphed in a duel against the Heavenly Demon.
Would mastering the Heavenly Lightning Qi truly allow him to reach such heights and save the world?
From what he’d heard, he was extraordinary from the moment he appeared in this world.
He possessed a talent beyond the pale, operating on a different plane than an ordinary man like himself.
‘And yet……’
And yet.
The traces he left were scattered throughout the Martial Realm.
The Heavenly Lightning Qi was one such trace he had left behind.
Not a single person had ever truly mastered it until now…….
Crack—!
A faint spark of electricity flowed from his fingertips.
Along with the absorption of the Yongmaek Stone, he drew in the vast water Qi that existed in nature around him.
When the one and the two unite and repel each other, new Qi will be born.
This was a passage he had discovered once when he entered Noe Sin’s secret chamber.
He could not know what kind of person he had been, or what level of martial mastery he had possessed.
But based on this, it seemed he was treading in the same direction.
“Though I walk this path for the first time……”
Perhaps that made it all the more worthwhile.
The very passage of time that Namgung Yeon was experiencing now was filled with events he had never encountered before.
There were still so many things left in the secret vault.
He couldn’t afford to give up.
Since the end was near anyway, he might as well try everything he had so carefully gathered.
Namgung Yeon rose and straightened his posture.
“The inner Qi accumulated in my middle dantian is……roughly an Il Gapja’s worth.”
The amount of inner power a normal person would need sixty years to gather through ordinary Tonap-beop cultivation.
That was the standard by which masters of the Martial Realm measured an Il Gapja.
Just as he began to slowly circulate the inner power from his middle dantian through his body.
‘……Hmm?’
He sensed a presence from far away and had no choice but to stop his Qi circulation.
Turning quietly, he saw his group member Namgung Jinjin approaching him.
“There you are. We have a problem. You need to go to the Main Estate right now.”
“What’s happened?”
“Remember that trainee you saved alone last time?”
Namgung Yeon nodded.
The one who had been in the same group as his younger sister Namgung Hwa Yeon.
He recalled it was Yi Elder’s grandson, if he remembered correctly.
But what could have happened to him?
“Did he get injured or killed on a mission?”
“……Yes. But something suspicious was discovered during the investigation.”
“Something suspicious?”
Namgung Yeon considered several possibilities.
Could there have been a traitor lurking elsewhere, working in the shadows?
‘That’s strange. At least, this shouldn’t be their time to be active……’
All of it felt wrong somehow.
The forces opposing Namgung grew more vicious and fierce with each passing day.
He needed to discover the exact reason for their resistance and identify their allies.
“Let’s head to the Main Estate first.”
“Agreed.”
“It will be good to see everyone’s faces again after so long.”
“How can you speak so calmly at a time like this?”
Namgung Jinjin stared at him as if bewildered.
His objection was entirely reasonable.
And yet Namgung Yeon uttered something even more shocking without changing his expression.
“The culprit could very well be among them. There are many who wish to see Namgung fall…… very many indeed.”
…….
In twenty-first-century Korea, the land of Namgung Yeon’s origin, such a saying had once been popular.
The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
#2
The Main Estate of the Namgung Family.
The atmosphere here was steeped in profound sorrow.
A martial family clan, at its core, was not so different from a single household bound by blood.
One could speak of degrees of kinship — distant or near — by tracing lineages and counting generations.
But fundamentally, they were all family, all bearing the same surname.
And because of that, the death of a family member was a tragedy that afflicted the entire clan.
Especially the death of an Elder — a figure of such importance to the family…….
“We must identify the culprit at once and eliminate them all!”
“Compose yourself. Everyone in the family has gathered here.”
“How could I possibly remain calm!”
In the midst of the solemn gathering, one corner descended into chaos.
A middle-aged man with tears streaming down his face.
And beside him, a woman wiping her eyes in shared grief.
Namgung Yeon remembered their identities well.
‘Jeok Ryong Daejoo.’
One of the Namgung Family’s mightiest military forces, the Red Dragon Unit.
The son of Yi Elder, and the father of the one who had died today.
The sorrow of a parent losing a child could not be captured in words.
Like the phrase “heartbreak,” he endured a pain as if his very entrails were being torn asunder.
Though such conduct seemed unseemly in so formal a setting, no one blamed Jeok Ryong Daejoo for it.
If he did not release his grief in some fashion, he would surely sink into Juhwa Ipma — a descent into madness born of emotional devastation.
His close friend, Cheol Ryong Gakjoo, was even now offering him comfort.
“The Changcheon Inspection and Cheongryong Dae are conducting their investigation. So…….”
“Jeok Ryong Daejoo, please accept our deepest condolences.”
Just as Cheol Ryong Gakjoo was about to say more, the Family Head Namgung Moo and So Yeon appeared.
They too had heard the news and rushed here at once, abandoning their duties.
Whatever grievances existed between the Elders and the leadership, in the face of tragedy, all tears flowed as one.
“Family Head…….”
“I find myself at a loss for words.”
“Everything else can wait. I only ask…… that you send me to the scene.”
Namgung Moo met the burning gaze of Jeok Ryong Daejoo.
To assign such a man to a task was ordinarily forbidden.
Emotion corrupted all undertakings.
The Family Head spoke to him in measured tones.
Though the loss of a son was a sorrow, the safety of Namgung itself mattered far more.
“I cannot send you there. But I will make you this promise.”
…….
“The moment we identify the culprit, I will commit all forces of the Red Dragon Unit to the pursuit.”
“…… I will hold you to that.”
Jeok Ryong Daejoo seemed ready to protest further, but after a brief moment, he lowered his head and withdrew.
Next, Yi Elder approached the Family Head.
He too made no effort to conceal his anguish as he faced Namgung Moo.
“Family Head, allow me to take charge of identifying the culprit.”
“Can you do this without faltering, Yi Elder?”
“…… I made all such mistakes in my youth, letting personal feeling cloud my judgment.”
As one who held the rank of Elder, he had wisdom enough from experience.
This time, the Family Head could not refuse outright either.
But instead.
The matter would need to be handled according to proper procedure.
“Then I shall expect it to be conducted by the book.”
“Understood. I shall certainly… ensure my grandson’s revenge succeeds.”
The Family Head issued the command and turned his gaze toward where all the disciples had gathered.
Somewhere among them… there were surely those connected to this death.
He recalled his fourth son, Namgung Yeon, and the martial instructor of that time.
‘Even so, the Small Family Head Competition must proceed.’
Outside the Namgung Family, greater threats surely awaited.
The purpose of the Small Family Head Competition was not merely to cultivate strong martial artists.
A storm of blood might well descend upon Namgung’s next generation…
This too was preparation for that day.
Should he, the Family Head himself, fall in battle.
Or should all the elders, great lords, branch lords, and masters of the family disappear, the family would need the capacity to stand alone.
For that to happen, they would need to grow callous to sacrifice.
And only by forging the abilities of those who remained into something far stronger could Namgung endure.
‘Surely among these people… there are those communicating with outsiders.’
Namgung Moo’s lips parted.
“From this moment until the Sword Discussion Tournament, all disciples shall conduct their training within the Main Estate.”
“…We obey!”
Then there was nothing for it but to confine them all and observe their movements.
He met eyes with his son, Namgung Yeon.
Then he issued his command through spiritual transmission.
-Yeon, come to my office.
Confirming that Namgung Yeon gave a light nod, the Family Head turned away.
After that, the place prepared for the funeral held only the sound of weeping and heavy silence.
Namgung Yeon stood motionless, gazing at the coffin that held a boy of nearly his own age.
‘I have become remiss.’
Feeling somehow as though all of this were his responsibility, he offered a quiet apology and turned to leave.
And then one more.
He noticed Namgung Hwa Yeon, who had been in his group, standing with eyes now hollow and vacant.
Endure it.
Only then would you move troops without hesitation in some grand war, and expend warriors as needed…
Namgung Yeon left that thought behind and quietly vanished from the place.
And then.
“Well, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”
“…”
Namgung Jin and Namgung Jinjin, once companions.
The two of them too faced each other again with the Sword Discussion Tournament drawing near.
#3
Namgung Moo’s office.
“Family Head, it is Namgung Yeon.”
“Come in.”
Namgung Yeon carefully opened the door to the Family Head’s chambers and entered.
There, Namgung Moo, who had been gazing out the window, turned and looked at him directly.
He seemed somewhat stronger than before.
Perhaps he had gained some new understanding in the interim.
Namgung Yeon thought this as he waited for his father’s words.
Why had the Family Head summoned him?
And how would he navigate through this crisis?
“You have founded the Eun Wol Faction. Well done.”
“…You knew of it.”
“Your maternal grandfather informed me. I am relieved to see you carrying out what I spoke of before.”
“…”
“If you need anything, speak of it freely.”
Namgung Moo spoke with unexpected kindness, and Namgung Yeon nodded.
He handed Namgung Yeon a letter.
“And there is a matter I would ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“Before the Sword Discussion Tournament begins, bring your paternal grandfather to me.”
“My grandfather……?”
The Grand Family Head of the Namgung Family.
The man who raised the Namgung name to the very heights of heaven.
Namgung Cheon, known as the Sword Sovereign.
“Yes. At this tournament, I will sweep away everyone whose name matches the list you provided.”
At last.
The Family Head had made his decision.

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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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