I Became the Namgung Clan’s Omnipotent Item-Powered Martial God - Chapter 74

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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 74
Chapter 74 – Before Death
#1
Death.
In the Martial Realm, it was hardly an uncommon occurrence.
Death was something that could happen to a martial artist at any moment.
Yet those who witnessed it did not think of it so simply.
Human affection was not something that could be defined by mere words.
Before the corpse that had grown cold throughout the night, Namgung Yeon stood motionless.
He had always witnessed the deaths of others.
At some point, death itself had begun to feel trivial.
After all, every human life ended in the same place—death.
‘And yet I said I would treasure him….’
People rushed to the scene, and soldiers from the magistrate’s office arrived to investigate.
A death in the middle of the street was not something that could simply be overlooked.
They immediately turned to Namgung Yeon with a question.
“Did you know him? We heard you were seen together last night.”
“…….”
“This must be quite a shock, but you’ll need to come to the magistrate’s office for questioning. We’ll release you after the investigation.”
They moved to drag away Namgung Yeon, who had barely reached his twenties.
A boy who knew nothing.
Outwardly, he seemed to know nothing—yet they were determined to bring him to the magistrate’s office regardless.
It was the Chief Instructor, Gwang Min, who stepped forward to block them.
“Hold on. This child is the Fourth Young Master of the Namgung Family. He is not someone you can handle so carelessly.”
“…….”
“W-what does that matter!?”
“It matters greatly. This territory belongs to the Namgung Family, so it would be better for us to conduct the investigation rather than you.”
Perhaps it was Gwang Min’s overwhelming presence and his cold gaze.
The soldiers could say nothing.
Martial-Administrative Non-Interference was an unspoken rule that had been strictly observed since the time of the Thunder God.
Once, there had been a time when the imperial throne was nearly toppled by a martial artist.
It was an incident that made the throne realize that the martial artists were not sparing the throne—the throne was sparing the martial artists.
After that, the imperial court was careful to maintain no ties with the Martial Realm.
Yet now, here, they were trying to entangle themselves with martial artists again.
At that moment, Namgung Yeon stepped forward toward the soldiers.
His fathomless gaze fixed upon the two men with such intensity it seemed to pierce through them.
“Gentlemen.”
“…….”
“This man was my close friend.”
“A… a close friend…?”
“Someone caused his death. I would ask that you investigate this matter.”
The two soldiers exchanged glances.
This was a different story than what they’d expected.
A memory flickered—they had received certain instructions before coming here.
<No matter what, bring someone connected to this man.>
And the person they had targeted was the Fourth Young Master of the Namgung Family…?
As they began to realize something had gone terribly wrong, cold sweat broke out on their brows.
Namgung Yeon then produced something and handed it to them.
“Here is money for the investigation. Feel free to use it all, but the murderer must be found.”
“This is….”
“W-wait, is this…?”
“Why not report directly to your superiors?”
In that moment, they felt as though they were hearing the voice of some colossal creature clawing its way up from the depths of an abyss.
All that lowly soldiers like them could do was gather the scraps that fell and nod obediently.
Gwang Min stood silently beside them, watching Namgung Yeon.
He appeared remarkably composed and rational.
Before death, the Fourth Young Master always stood unmoved.
Yet now, Gwang Min recognized something else—a quiet rage burning beneath the surface.
He was a different person than he had been when Namgung Hyeon Geum died.
“If the murderer is not found….”
Namgung Yeon regarded the soldiers with vacant eyes, his voice hollow and measured.
“Everything you heard before coming here will reach those above us.”
He already knew it all.
Not because his senses were so keen.
No—because this was a horror he knew far too well.
#2
Namgung Yeon stood gazing at the sky all day long.
It was time to depart, yet no one dared approach him.
The aura he gave off was far from ordinary.
“Instructor. Won’t you say something……?”
“Mm…… It isn’t easy, is it. Since you called him a friend…….”
“Heh, if we don’t leave tonight, we won’t arrive on time, you see.”
At some distance, instructor Gwang Min and O Gwang Seok of the Patrol Sword Squad were conversing in hushed tones.
By the original schedule, they should have departed long ago.
But Namgung Yeon’s strange bearing had kept them from speaking up hastily.
As the two men’s unease deepened, neither knew what to do.
“Let us depart.”
“Young Master—are you certain?”
Namgung Yeon had turned back to his usual expression, speaking as if nothing were amiss.
Both men felt a hidden shock, yet still they questioned him.
Gwang Min said nothing aloud, but his heart mirrored O Gwang Seok’s concern.
What man could stand unmoved before another’s death?
Yet Namgung Yeon’s face betrayed not a flicker of emotion.
“Time is pressing. If we delay, the mission will suffer. We must move quickly.”
……
“Yes, understood for now.”
O Gwang Seok gave a slight nod.
His feelings mattered, true enough—but the mission was a grave affair.
One could not allow personal sentiment to jeopardize an important task.
There was no one to blame.
The situation had simply created an unbearably awkward moment.
The young master knew this, which was why he urged them to move with haste.
The group set their course back toward Cheongyang.
Inside the carriage, Namgung Yeon sank into quiet contemplation.
‘Wol Young will grieve when she learns of this.’
The fact that he would never see that person again still felt unreal.
In truth, it was merely a vagrant who had died.
An occurrence so familiar to him by now that he ought to feel nothing at all—the normal response.
And yet.
He could not fathom why fury was welling up inside him.
Something kept pounding at the walls of his numbness, shaking his emotions over and over.
His thoughts turned, almost of their own accord, toward the culprit.
‘Was his name Hwang Chil?’
It was rare that he remembered names.
They usually remained only as scars—brands that gnawed at his mind.
Yet this one he remembered, which meant he would have his vengeance.
If one were to ask what he had done most often in all his years…… would it not be vengeance?
Those who begged for their lives, understanding nothing of why.
Those who spat curses, never once repenting their wrongs.
He had always avenged the unjust deaths, even across different lifetimes.
If he failed, he would try again.
And if he failed there, he would train and make another attempt.
‘This time will be no different.’
So, Hwang Chil.
I shall send many servants for you to command in the afterlife.
Even if they lack a limb or two…… yes.
If I send some hundred souls your way, couldn’t they help one another and manage the menial tasks?
There you would not be a vagrant of the Heukpung Faction, but a wealthy lord commanding hundreds of subordinates.
Namgung Yeon closed his eyes.
Countless memories swept past him, and when he opened them again, a flicker of light had returned to his gaze.
‘A small goal has taken shape.’
They say short-term objectives awaken the human heart.
Before death, forgotten feelings stirred awake.
Before the fixed destiny of the end, the sleeping monster began to stir.
#3
“What is the status?”
“He’s dead, but…….”
“But what?”
Fengyun Escort Bureau.
Someone was reporting to Pyo Guk Joo about the completion of the task.
Not long ago, some unknown figure had bought up every scrap of yellow tea in sight.
By monopolizing such an enormous quantity, they’d thrown the Bureau’s plans into disarray.
What was the name again.
The Eun Company from Hwangsan, or so they’d called themselves.
When the image of that woman—the one who’d announced herself as the Family Head of the Eun household—surfaced in his mind, rage boiled up in him.
Appearing out of nowhere to muddy the waters…….
No matter how he turned it over in his head, Pyo Guk Joo felt the offense keenly, breathing hard, when a cold remark flew at him and struck home.
It was spoken by the fixer who’d killed the target, yet felt something was off about it.
“Before he died, it seems he met someone from the Namgung Family.”
“……What?”
What in the world was this supposed to mean.
Investigation had turned up nothing at the time……?
Pyo Guk Joo’s face went deathly pale.
The Fengyun Escort Bureau was entangled with the Namgung Family—and with quite high-ranking members at that.
Naturally, there was nothing good to be had in making enemies of the Namgung.
Pyo Guk Joo’s objective had been singular.
A show of force directed at the master of Cheongyang Tower.
It was also meant to be a lesson—a warning of what happened when someone dared cross the Fengyun Escort Bureau.
But now, suddenly, the Namgung Family…….
This wasn’t part of the plan.
“Are you certain? Who did he meet, and what was their relationship?”
“I’m not entirely sure. It appeared to be some young man, but they only exchanged a few words before parting ways.”
“Hmm……. Wait. Could it be……?”
Young warriors from the Namgung Family rarely ventured far from home.
Even when they did go out, they’d only wander near Hapbi at most.
Yet young warriors had appeared here, hundreds of li away…….
“A mission? They came into contact because of a mission……? Are you saying he sought their aid to save his life?”
“It’s plausible, Pyo Guk Joo.”
“Then we needn’t worry about it, I suppose. No, wait—actually, it might be best to carefully extract what information we can.”
“Will they give up their secrets so easily?”
That was something no one could know.
But if they were young warriors of the Namgung, they would surely crumble under pressure from their elders.
We are adults, and we maintain connections with the elder statesmen of the Namgung.
No matter what name they bear from the Namgung Family, they were still unripened young warriors.
How could they resist those who understood the ways of the world?
Pyo Guk Joo made his resolve, preparing thoroughly.
Meanwhile, the master of Cheongyang Tower would surely tremble and grovel before them.
As was only right.
Otherwise, more innocent lives would be forfeit.
“Investigate the movements of the Eun household and the master of Cheongyang Tower carefully.”
“Yes.”
“And have someone obtain, if possible, the roster of those arriving for this mission.”
“Understood.”
He believed he had acted with adequate thoroughness.
Unaware of what kind of monster was approaching.
Meanwhile.
A carrier pigeon fluttered down and alighted on Wol Young’s hand with a soft thud.
She examined the slip of paper attached to its leg, and her brow furrowed as she crumpled the paper.
[Hwang Chil – Deceased -]
[The ominous beast is either the Fengyun Escort Bureau or a Demon.]
[She would be at the Cheongyang River.]
“Hwang Chil…….”
Her eyes grew red at the rims.
And she made a vow.
This vengeance would be carried out by her own hand, she swore it.
They were not powerless.
We are…… those who have received the Prince’s grace.
So I shall see his will fulfilled without soiling his hands.
Brutally.
Cleanly.

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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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