I Became the Namgung Clan’s Omnipotent Item-Powered Martial God - Chapter 79

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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 79
Chapter 79 — Looking Forward to the Future
#1
Jin Muik.
Crossing blades with him had become quite familiar by now.
His swordsmanship seemed carelessly learned, yet the fundamentals ran deep and true.
The O Eochi, as he called his blade, had always been a threat to the Namgung Family’s martial artists.
A man who cuts through mist and fog to slaughter merchant vessels and fighters alike.
Which is why they clashed often, and why he always had to face the brunt of Jin Muik’s fury.
The O Eochi came sweeping sideways.
As fierce as some great fish bearing down upon prey.
‘Hmm. That talent is indeed remarkable. Not the kind to waste away as a mere escort agent.’
Namgung Yeon deflected the attack with fluid grace, taking measure of his opponent.
A master who had reached his peak.
Whether that talent’s wellspring was rage or something else, one thing was certain — this was a battle fought for stakes of life and death.
“Isn’t he going to get himself killed like this!?”
…….
“No, we should at least prepare to—”
“Let’s observe for now. There’s no harm in stepping in once things truly grow dangerous.”
Groan.
O Gwangseok watched Namgung Yeon, who had rashly thrown himself into the fray with theatrical flair.
He’d heard the rumors well enough.
How he had aided the elder in resolving some matter, and distinguished himself with remarkable martial talent…….
That place lay under the Namgung Family’s protection.
But this — this was the Jianghu itself, boundless as the open sea.
A place where one could never know what might happen, or when, or where.
To O Gwangseok’s eyes, it still looked like youthful recklessness.
“Third Squad, all of you — exterminate the remaining water bandits.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep the enemy from interfering with your Group Leader.”
“Understood!”
Gwang Min, by contrast, issued his orders with cold composure.
He had already seen it once before.
The battle for Namgung Hyeon-geum.
Against an opponent even he could not guarantee victory over, Young Master Yeon had endured — without a single wound.
It would be the same now.
He was far stronger than he had been in that moment.
And beyond that…….
‘He must have consumed even more of those mysterious elixirs by now. So we trust him, and we do our part.’
“These dogs might target the cargo. Guard it well. Remember your mission.”
……Understood.
Third Squad moved with perfect synchronization.
Yet their eyes kept drifting back, seeking assurance of their Group Leader’s safety.
Clang!
The force was so violent the entire ship rocked.
Escort agents and common sailors staggered and reeled.
Only the fighters of Third Squad held their ground firm and steady, shielding the cargo hold with unbending resolve.
Seeing this, O Gwangseok moved the Paegeom Squad into action as well.
The bandits needed a lesson.
They had ignored words, after all.
Now they would learn the price of choosing rebellion.
O Gwangseok issued his command to the Paegeom Squad.
This was no personal vendetta of the Namgung Family’s.
It was simply business.
“Paegeom Squad. Keep those water bandits from boarding this vessel.”
“Understood!”
“Seize their ships and eliminate those who pose a threat!”
The order rang out clear and harsh.
The Paegeom Squad.
True to the name that meant “becoming supreme with the sword alone,” one of Anhui’s finest martial forces unleashed a torrent of silver light.
#2
Across the deck’s center, fierce combat raged on.
Yet Jin Muik’s momentum, scattering terrifying sword strikes, could not fully unfold.
“…Why.”
“….”
“How did a genius like you come from the Namgung? Why—!”
The blade seized by fury grew steadily duller.
The sword path steeped in resentment wavered unsteadily, as though weeping.
Namgung Yeon pressed forward, fully channeling the elixir’s power, driving his blade into the middle of Jin Muik’s path.
Clang!
No matter how perfectly one wielded Sword Energy, a weapon with superior material durability could offset it.
Manifesting Sword Energy was, by nature, an act that transcended one’s inherent limits.
‘Yet if a sword possessed exceptional durability from the start, it could surely withstand Sword Energy.’
The impact sent numbness through his arms and his legs continued sliding backward.
But the Hanchul Sword that Seun had forged remained steadfast and resolute, enduring the Sword Energy.
“If I break the Namgung’s heir, what do you think will become of the Martial Realm?”
“Save your sophistry!”
Savage strikes rained down without pause.
In response, Namgung Yeon’s True Energy erupted violently as well.
Rumble!
As though a dragon were slowly releasing its cry, the very air trembled.
[Daeyeon Jeong Geom]
The most forthright technique—to receive all that fury head-on.
Namgung Yeon clenched his teeth and received the relentless onslaught of techniques.
[Mancheon Bidok Dan]
(萬千比毒團)
The elixir’s power, dissolved throughout his meridians, began to be steadily absorbed.
The Sichuan Tang Clan’s forbidden elixir.
A concentrated toxin forged from ten thousand poisons and a thousand toxic essences.
Only those who had mastered the Manryu Gwiwon Singong could fully digest this elixir.
[Manryu Gwiwon Singong]
The elixir’s latent potential drew his limits to their absolute peak.
Divine Power that should never have emanated from a young boy.
A body forged through relentless training, hours spent tempering flesh and bone, now unleashing that dormant power.
“Guh!?”
Why Namgung Yeon could not help but victory.
Overwhelming financial resources
and experience earned through countless battles.
And Jin Muik—he had always been one of the adversaries Namgung Yeon had to face.
Knowing all his techniques and habits, Namgung Yeon could not be defeated.
Right now, with his internal power activated to its maximum and his opponent’s emotions shattered.
A single technique for victory cut through the air.
[Daeyeon Jecheon]
(大衍濟天)
The Namgung sword transcends the sky, touching the supreme dragon beyond.
Exploiting the moment when Jin Muik’s sword path wavered and his center of gravity shifted, Namgung Yeon kicked off from the ship’s rail and surged forward.
The instant his center lifted.
Piercing through the moment when the flow of technique to technique fractured.
‘Your Martial Talent is exceptional, but your weakness lies in overconfidence in that very talent.’
And so you leave no small gaps unguarded.
Not that it mattered—everyone fell before the O Eochi anyway.
Yet the path to becoming a true master is never smooth.
A single trivial habit.
One tiny opening.
Such things are seen by true masters—they are everywhere.
Whoosh!
Namgung Yeon’s blade, finding the gap in Jin Muik’s defense, raced forward like something cutting across the heavens.
And.
Before he knew it, Namgung Yeon’s sword had reached Jin Muik’s heart.
“Heh…ack….”
“I’ve won. Now you shall become my loyal hound.”
“…….”
As Jin Muik lurched forward, a vertiginous stab of pain shot through his chest.
Thunk.
Namgung Yeon’s blade had moved fractionally closer to his heart.
Blood trickled down, spreading across his clothing.
“You said you harbored a grudge against the Namgung.”
“Those who took my son, my wife from me……. I can never, never forgive them.”
“Then watch from my side. See how I punish them.”
“…….”
Namgung Yeon regarded him with eyes that were profoundly, utterly hollow.
He himself harbored great grievances against the elders of the Namgung, and so he could speak such words.
“If you dislike it, you can die.”
“…….”
“That scar. Its price must be collected, must it not?”
Namgung Yeon spoke while regarding the scar that ran across Jin Muik’s shoulder blade to his opposite ribs.
With his words, Jin Muik’s rage felt itself gradually subsiding.
What remained after the fury?
“……It’s hardly pleasant to see a full-grown man weeping like that.”
“Uhhh…….”
A deep sorrow and resentment toward days long past.
And the feeling that someone had understood his pain.
A man’s tears—especially those of a martial master—were rarely seen.
‘This time, I shall embrace you as well and move forward.’
Namgung Yeon spoke again to Jin Muik, who shed tears like grains of millet.
And he declared boldly.
That the Namgung he led would be an entirely different world.
“The Namgung I lead shall be wholly unlike what you have endured.”
“…….”
“So lay aside your anger and look forward to what is to come. Should you be disappointed even then, strike off my head with your own hand.”
Though he spoke with the tone of an old soul, his words were grave and sincere.
Not the words of the young man in Namgung Yeon’s body, but those of one who had lived tens and hundreds of years—words he spoke with true conviction.
The duel had been brief, but he had already received all of Jin Muik’s wrath.
Since he had been a good man to begin with, he could harbor even a glimmer of hope.
Namgung Yeon withdrew his blade and spoke.
“In exchange, you must also pay the price for the lives you have taken.”
Namgung Yeon intended to work him thoroughly.
And he made no secret of his intent.
After all, he would make it so Jin Muik could not refuse.
How would he do it?
‘For a fresh start…… nothing quite compares to coin.’
The beginning would be…… yes.
Ten gold taels or so.
Jingle.
The sound of money jingled from within Namgung Yeon’s pouch.
#3
“Suppression is complete.”
“Feed the corpses to the fish.”
“Yes. And…… what shall we do with these vessels?”
Once the Paegeom Squad moved into action, the matter was resolved swiftly.
In moments, the pirates’ ships were seized.
The vessels were small and fast, suited well enough as escort ships, but…….
“I wonder if anyone here knows how to navigate them.”
“The oarsmen from below are still here. A steady hand on the helm is all that’s needed.”
“Will they obey willingly?”
“Well, if they won’t comply, we simply abandon them and leave.”
O Gwangseok strode purposefully down into the lower deck of the ship.
The vessels used by pirates required oarsmen by necessity.
Using manpower rather than the wind alone was far swifter for both flight and approach.
“From now on, the Eunwol Trading Company has taken possession of this ship.”
“…….”
“You’ll have to choose as well.”
Die here, or finish the work you’ve begun without complaint.
They had no other option.
So someone spoke up.
“Most of us were dragged here by force anyway, sir.”
“True. Which means little will really change for you either way.”
“Hmm…….”
O Gwangseok watched the laborers speak so casually and sighed.
Of course. Everything these petty men do follows the same pattern.
In that case, all the better.
“Then things have worked out well. If you cooperate with us, I’ll let you live freely here at Hwanghakmnu once this is finished.”
“…….”
“What, you don’t believe me?”
“No, no, sir. It’s just come so suddenly…….”
They didn’t understand.
O Gwangseok hadn’t made that offer out of the goodness of his heart.
The Namgung Family had no obligation to look after them.
Regrettable as it was… they’d have to fend for themselves.
‘I won’t tolerate any whining.’
Surely some of them would be foolish enough to slip back under their former masters’ control.
But that was no concern of his.
If they met again, he’d simply kill them.
“Then, I leave it to you.”
With that, O Gwangseok turned and climbed back up.
There was another matter to attend to.
“So, what will you do with this one?”
“I’m not sure. It seems a waste to kill him…….”
“A waste? This man bears a grudge against the Namgung Family.”
O Gwangseok’s objection was reasonable.
One could never know when such a person might strike again.
It was common enough for former enemies to return with renewed malice.
But Namgung Yeon’s resolve was unshakeable.
To break the cycle of hatred, one side had to know when to stop.
Someone would say it differently.
That you must eliminate the root entirely, leave no room for future trouble.
‘No. This man…… will change the direction of the Namgung and the Martial Realm itself.’
A man who could settle old grudges and reduce the Family’s enemies.
A beacon who would inspire adversaries and make them revere the Namgung anew.
His purpose was clear.
And so Namgung Yeon spoke with certainty.
“It is natural that the victor hold power over the vanquished’s life and death. I shall do as I see fit.”
“…….”
O Gwangseok’s brow furrowed, but there was nothing he could do.
Such was the law of the Martial Realm.
Still, other feelings would take root in his heart.
It mattered not.
In the Namgung that Namgung Yeon envisioned, there was no place for men like O Gwangseok.

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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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