I Became the Namgung Clan’s Omnipotent Item-Powered Martial God - Chapter 67

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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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Episode 67
Episode 67 – The Power of Range
#1
The trainees of the Namgung Clan had no idea what was happening within and outside their gates.
As always, they returned to their respective Training Grounds and continued their practice.
Next came the turn for External Missions.
Unlike the martial sects that ventured into the mountains to seek enlightenment, the Murim Family moved purely for profit.
It was an environment where completing missions abroad was absolutely necessary.
“After morning training ends, gather for a moment.”
Today was no different from any other.
In the morning, they scaled the mountain carrying the Golden Dragon Chain and an enormous Water Bucket.
They trained all day long alongside quality meals.
Before such a day could begin, Gwangmin relayed the matter he needed to address to the members of Group Three.
Those who had been dripping with sweat finished their morning training.
After washing themselves lightly at the Riverside and gathering again, the weather was beginning to grow warmer.
“The reason I called you all here is because there are upcoming External Mission schedules.”
“External Missions, you say…….”
“Bandit subjugation that disturbs the livelihood of commoners, merchant escort, or if not that, assassination of dignitaries……. The Namgung Clan receives far too many commissions.”
What was the primary source of income for the Namgung Clan?
Merchant ventures?
Martial arts instruction?
Of course, such things could contribute to revenue.
However, the true primary source of the Namgung Clan’s income was the Commission Fee itself.
On a smaller scale, handling petty village affairs.
And there were enormous sums from escort missions, subjugation missions, and the like.
Since this had close ties to the state itself, it was confidential information known only to those in the know.
“From now on, you trainees will face a variety of External Missions. Consider this a trial run of such work.”
“…….”
“You may have heard whispers from those around you, but even a Lowest Rank mission will be no simple matter.”
At that, Yi Hyeon’s hand shot up.
Given his nature of being unable to hold back curiosity, he had to ask whatever questions came to mind right away.
The instructor gestured to him.
Permission to ask was granted.
“Then what rank would be assigned to the previous Demon attacks on us?”
“A fine question. Since you’ve already experienced combat…….”
Gwangmin considered for a moment.
Though he didn’t know the full details, he could estimate roughly enough to offer a response.
After a brief deliberation, Gwangmin opened his mouth.
“Mid-Low Rank, or perhaps Lower-High Rank missions at best.”
“Huh……. That’s all it amounted to?”
“There were only Demons who didn’t know how to properly use martial arts. Mid-Level Rank missions and above are crowded with first-rate masters.”
“Damn……. Is that really all we managed?”
Yi Hyeon appeared quite shocked.
After all that hardship, it was only a Mid-Low or Lower-High Rank mission…….
It was proof they had a long way to go, so they needed to push even harder in their training.
‘But that mission back then……. It was at least High Rank.’
Gwangmin quietly observed Namgung Yeon and made his own assessment.
The hidden history of the Namgung Clan that even he didn’t know.
He had pushed through all those Demons, faced down the source of the threat, and ultimately eliminated it.
Could he himself have managed such a feat?
Or would the Crown Prince Namgung Cheon, lauded as the eldest son of the great Namgung Family, have been capable?
A person genuinely terrifying in his chilling presence.
“Build up your strength further. You’re fortunate to be training under a truly excellent Group Leader.”
Gwangmin spoke with deliberate coldness.
One of the things he most needed to guard against as an instructor was excessive kindness.
Namgung Yeon rose from his seat and spoke.
“Then we should start preparing now. Everyone, bring out the newly selected weapons.”
“Are you going to use that spear?”
“I am.”
The trainees seemed not yet to understand.
In actual combat, one learns just how troublesome a polearm can be.
Namgung Yeon smiled as he watched their expressions.
“Whoever lands an effective hit on me today won’t need to fetch water for a week.”
“……You’re serious about that, aren’t you?”
“Have you ever seen me say something twice?”
Crack-pop!
Sparks flew from their eyes.
#2
After the pleasant meal ended, Namgung Yeon came out with the polearm.
He was appraising it as a rather well-crafted weapon, solid in its weight.
Still, it was the sort that deserved a place in the Namgung Family’s armory.
A polearm that had earned the approval of the Namgung Family, who were particularly exacting about such weapons.
Nameless though it was, it served perfectly as a training weapon.
He was slowly rotating the polearm to warm up his body when—
A jingling bell sound rang out unusually loud.
Turning his head, it looked as though the Maryeong Sword was trembling noticeably.
“Jealous, are you?”
The Maryeong Sword couldn’t speak, of course, but Namgung Yeon said it aloud anyway.
Then he spoke to the sword again.
As one might coax a long-time companion.
“Don’t worry. When the moment truly matters, I’ll reach for you.”
Right now is only training, after all.
Namgung Yeon turned back and stretched again.
As he was loosening up with the polearm in hand, the trainees appeared.
“So, have you been waiting?”
“You’re really serious about that? Not joking?”
“We can slack off for a whole week legally?”
Seeing how eagerly they’d shown up, the training must have been quite grueling.
Then again, they were being forced to consume Recovery Elixir after Recovery Elixir, and the weight of the Golden Dragon Chain increased with each passing day……
It was only natural they’d covet a week of sweet respite.
Namgung Yeon chuckled and grasped the polearm.
Who would step forward to challenge him first?
Namgung Yeon waited quietly for challengers, feeling the heft of the weapon in his hands.
It was Yi Hyeon who came forward first, as always burning with enthusiasm.
“Let me go first. A polearm’s just a polearm—I’ll pierce right through with overwhelming speed, won’t I?”
“I’ll match your pace.”
Namgung Yeon spread his feet and took his stance.
The polearm held low seemed to magnify its intimidating presence somehow.
It made a person look larger, longer.
If one didn’t know how to respond, closing the distance of a polearm would be impossible.
Yi Hyeon, wanting to capitalize on his distinctive speed, had chosen an unusual weapon from the Namgung Family’s armory.
A pair of swords treated as a matched set—the Dual Swords.
Commonly known as the Two-Sword Style.
It was certainly the right approach for someone as swift as Yi Hyeon.
Perhaps he wanted to carve out a distinctive name for himself one day.
“Come.”
“Here I gooo—!”
Yi Hyeon shouted as he charged toward Namgung Yeon.
A single strike that swept around in a circle, using his speed to thrust from a blind angle.
An attack route that snuck into the gap in an instant—deeply threatening.
That is, if his opponent weren’t wielding a polearm.
“With a polearm—”
Whoooosh!
The shaft of the polearm whistled through the air, spinning in a circle.
It was a weapon that could defend in all directions with merely a twist of the torso.
To pierce this defense, one would need to think very carefully indeed.
“What—?”
“A polearm covers more space with fewer movements than swordsmanship.”
“Damn—!”
“Find its weakness.”
The polearm swung again.
With just the basics—blocking, seizing, and thrusting—a polearm could stand against most martial artists. That was its nature.
The shaft whistled and bent, its tip probing the blind spots in Yi Hyeon’s guard, and he stumbled backward with a gasp.
“Thought I was about to get my face skewered there.”
“Well? Don’t you think it’s a rather serviceable weapon?”
“Still… the sword is the king of all weapons!”
Why would anyone use such an inelegant instrument?
Yi Hyeon refused to concede and pressed forward again.
Slipping inside the polearm’s reach was no simple feat.
Yet Yi Hyeon had grown skilled at it by now, using his characteristic speed to strike and retreat.
Those watching exchanged murmurs among themselves.
“He’s flailing around quite a lot.”
“…….”
“Did you notice, sir? One of his feet hasn’t moved an inch.”
“Hmm…….”
Ho Ho had spotted something remarkable.
Namgung Yeon kept one foot planted firmly while using only the other to toy with Yi Hyeon’s attacks.
Lost in the heat of combat, Yi Hyeon noticed nothing and hammered away at Namgung Yeon’s steadfast defense until exhaustion took him.
“Hah… hah… Something’s wrong? Why do I feel worn down?”
“That narrow vision of yours is definitely something you need to correct.”
“…….”
Namgung Yeon’s lips curled in a cold smile.
In an instant he closed the distance and drove the polearm’s shaft toward Yi Hyeon’s belly.
“You bas—Gaaaack!?”
Crack!
Yi Hyeon’s eyes rolled back and he crumpled unconscious, making a sickening sound.
He’d been struck in the very spot where Gwangmin had pummeled him earlier.
It must have hurt terribly.
“Next.”
Thud!
The weighty polearm struck the ground, radiating intimidation.
#3
In the end, not a single one of them landed an effective hit on Namgung Yeon.
Even Namgung Jinjin, known for his cold precision, had yet to discover the polearm’s weak points.
Namgung Yeon looked down at the scattered group members and spoke.
“We’ll resume tomorrow. Take time to study and prepare.”
“…….”
No one answered.
They’d all been beaten so thoroughly that they lacked the strength to respond.
Namgung Yeon chuckled quietly, then picked up his sword for personal training.
Those watching shook their heads in disbelief.
“The man’s a monster.”
“For the time being, we can forget about any ranking bouts or anything else.”
“Ungh… how on earth do you even close the distance on that polearm?”
They lay scattered about, murmuring to one another.
Discussing how, in one way or another, they might pierce through the towering barrier that was the polearm.
Seeing the young recruits huddled together like that, Manho quietly approached Namgung Yeon.
“Sir, would you spare a match with me as well?”
“With a sword? Or a polearm?”
“With a polearm, if you please. It’s been a long time, and I feel something awakening in me.”
“……Very well.”
Namgung Yeon set down the Maryeong Sword and took up the polearm once more.
Manho was a master of a different caliber entirely from those fumbling recruits.
This would require a more serious approach.
“This time I’ll need to commit myself fully as well.”
“I won’t make it easy for you either.”
The two of them immediately began an exchange so fierce that the entire Training Ground rang with the force of it.
Boom!
As the space hummed and reverberated, every instructor and recruit nearby turned toward the sound.
“Wow…….”
“Should I take up the spear instead?”
“…….”
Two figures clashed in brilliant, intricate movements.
This was a match between masters who had transcended the first rank.
Watching the trainees entranced by the sparring, Gwangmin spoke up.
“For your reference, your Group Leader has the skill to handle assignments up to Mid-High Rank without difficulty.”
“…….”
The words landed heavily on the young cadets.
In the next moment, they clenched their fists and began burning with renewed determination.
“I’m going to train a bit longer before bed.”
“……Me too.”
What had stirred them so?
The trainees forced Recovery Elixirs into their mouths to aid recovery, then resumed their practice.
‘These children will surely make their mark.’
Gwangmin was certain of it.
The trainees here.
So long as no misfortune befell them, they would become indispensable to the Namgung Family.
He could also confirm that joining Third Group had been a wise choice.

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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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