I Became the Namgung Clan’s Omnipotent Item-Powered Martial God - Chapter 8

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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 8
Episode 8 – Demon Person Hunt
#1
“Just a coin, please~.”
“Ugh, filthy……. Get lost!”
…….
This was one of the darkest corners of Hapbi.
Situated near Soho, the area harbored crime, prostitution, and poverty in equal measure.
The people here never tried to leave.
As if this shadowed alley were their entire world, they refused to step into the light.
It was a district where the unwary could stumble into grave criminality.
Those born and raised here learned to strike, to dodge, and to steal before they could properly speak.
“No one’s come down here today, it seems.”
“Thank goodness~. Any word from outside lately?”
Beggars haunted the entrance, harassing passersby for coins.
Their appearance was pitiful, and a sour reek clung to them like a second skin.
The ignorant might have taken them for nothing more than common vagrants.
But those with even a shred of knowledge about the Martial World would not speak carelessly to them.
Indeed, they would take pains to avoid looking like martial artists—not within earshot of such eyes and ears.
For despite their idle posture, their senses drank in everything the world offered.
The Gaebanang.
A core pillar of the Orthodox Faction, and the home of most beggars in the land.
They were merely beggars, yes—yet they carried a true mandate.
Even now, loafing about as if they had nothing to do, they stood guard against civilians trying to enter this danger zone.
“If there’s news, well……it’s always the same thing.”
“What’s that?”
“One of the young masters from the Namgung Clan has left for recuperation, or so they say.”
“Ah, nothing special about that, I suppose.”
“But—”
With no passersby to interrupt, they spoke freely now.
The rumors drifting through the market stalls sounded anything but ordinary.
An extravagant show of wealth.
Stories were already circulating about how the young master had cleared out the butchers’ stalls in half a day.
And that was not all.
Those who had seen the carts spoke in one voice.
A young master from the Namgung Clan had passed through, laden with rice from the magistrate’s stores.
Normally only rice was distributed—but meat as well……?
The Gaebanang beggars swallowed hard.
“They say he set out with meat and relief grain both packed into his carriage! What could that mean?”
“Gulp—. It’s been a while since we’ve had proper meat. Hehehehe. But why would he bring meat?”
“I can’t quite figure it out either. Strange, isn’t it? The Namgung Clan always distributed relief grain purely as a formality.”
That was true enough.
But why……?
Faced with this odd behavior, they began to speculate.
“Could it be because of the Succession Trial?”
“Ah! It’s about time for that to begin, isn’t it?”
“They say the young master is sickly. Perhaps he’s trying to win the people’s favor this way?”
Perhaps…….
But the Namgung Clan proved themselves through martial prowess alone. Would a sickly heir really seek merit through relief grain?
It made no sense.
They were deep in this very discussion when—
“Why do you take such interest in another’s household affairs?”
“Ack!?”
“Huh……? When did you—?”
Creak, creak-creak.
The sound of cart wheels rolling echoed faintly.
A shadow had fallen over them, and with it came an ominous bell chiming on a sword.
Namgung Yeon stood before the beggars, his gaze cold as winter ice.
#2
“Th—thank you, Young Master.”
“I’d prefer it if Gaebanang turned a blind eye to what happens in here today.”
“How could—”
The beggars of Gaebanang exchanged glances.
They were mendicants, yes, but they also served as the ones who brought information to each Division Head.
Their role was more vital than most realized, which meant it could never be overlooked.
One misstep and the Division Head would beat them senseless.
Yet Namgung Yeon was resolute.
This intelligence could not be allowed to spread beyond these walls—not yet.
Demon Persons.
And those behind them as well—to root them out completely, the work had to proceed in shadow and silence.
Which was why he chose the most certain method available.
Money.
Even beggars needed to eat and survive.
Thus coin was as essential to them as breath.
“This should satisfy you without need for any further information.”
“Gasp—!”
“No, wait—so much alms at once—!”
Namgung Yeon smiled faintly and spoke.
Gaebanang.
Their aid would prove necessary soon enough.
Rats were the most effective way to dispose of garbage, after all.
“Consider it thanks for helping the Orthodox Faction and the Martial World.”
“Ha—haha! Of course! We shall forget everything we see and hear here today!”
“No. That’s not what I mean.”
The Gaebanang beggars stared up at Namgung Yeon with vacant expressions.
These wretches and their miserable scrambling to avoid loss—he’d never grown accustomed to it.
Namgung Yeon exhaled slowly, his voice dropping to something lethal.
“I said vanish. Now.”
……
No matter how skilled an information broker the Orthodox Faction might employ, none dared speak back before the Namgung.
Rumors?
Let them come.
The Namgung cared nothing for such things anyway.
‘If anything, they thought him ruthless, they’d simply tremble and obey.’
A dark reputation served far better than a bright one.
People stretched their limbs as far as they dared before those with gentle reputations, but they kept their distance from the wicked.
Namgung Yeon considered this truth, then turned to Man Ho.
“Clear it away.”
“As you command.”
Creak, creak-creak-creak—
The cart rumbled loudly as it was drawn away.
The sound was great enough for all the people in the slums to hear.
For some, it represented food precious enough to fill a hungry belly.
For others, it was poison bitter enough to make them regret all the years behind them.
Which, truly, was salvation?
‘Perhaps being the first to escape this life is the only salvation there is.’
Namgung Yeon wandered deeper into the shadowed alley, his gaze empty.
The image of fire consuming everything seemed to overlay his vision.
The faces of the rioting mob and the rampaging Demon Persons from this place appeared to stare at him.
Ting—
As if to suppress it all, the bell of the Maryeong Sword chimed.
It was peculiar, truly.
Whenever dark thoughts surfaced, hearing that bell’s call would chase them away entirely.
‘A sword is a sword.’
Though it now held the strength of merely an ordinary Qingqiang Sword, it would grow harder still if imbued with Demonic Qi or other exotic energies.
Ting—
As the bell sounded once more, the small clearing was suddenly filled with the slum’s people.
Curiosity, wariness, and countless other subtle emotions.
Some gazed at the food with greedy eyes; others released sighs of relief.
A few wore expressions of grim resignation—as if to say, ‘Here it comes again.’
“Ah, what a relief……!”
“Wait, this time there seems to be something else too?”
“Sniff sniff, could it be… meat……?”
The murmuring grew louder.
Namgung Yeon quelled the commotion.
Boom—!
As he stamped his foot lightly, the people clutched their chests and stumbled backward.
The Tremor Stomp, channeling True Qi.
Its shockwave rippled through the bodies of the civilians.
For a moment, silence fell, and in the next instant, Man Ho’s eyes widened as large as a lamp.
‘The control of True Qi……?’
This doesn’t make sense.
What is this?
He’d sensed something unusual from their first battle at the Martial Hall, but not to this degree.
Watching him execute it so naturally, as though it were the simplest thing in the world, made it certain.
‘He’s far more skilled than I thought.’
Which meant no one could predict how the Succession Trial would unfold.
While Man Ho stood alone in shock, Namgung Yeon opened his mouth.
“Out of pity for you, I’ve brought meat dishes with my own hands.”
“Oooooh—!”
“You are magnanimous……!”
“Thank you so much! We are grateful!”
For the people of the slums, meat dishes were something you could only eat if you hadn’t stolen them.
Yet here he’d brought so many dishes with his own hands!
Of course they were moved to tears.
Feeling the murmur rise again, Namgung Yeon spoke.
A flood of surging emotion pressed down upon him, making it hard even to stand.
But now there was no turning back—he would have to endure.
Normally, distributing provisions like this would require multiple guards.
‘The reason is simple. At any moment, they might transform into monsters and attack…….’
Namgung Yeon spoke in a commanding voice.
“If you wish to fight, stay out of my sight. Otherwise, you will see blood.”
Shing—.
He unsheathed the Maryeong Sword, showing he could swing it at any moment.
Whether it was the weight of his presence—
No one answered.
Or so he thought.
If not for the one who suddenly burst forth.
#3
The one who erupted suddenly shouted loudly, as though speaking for them all.
To look at him, he seemed sickly.
Moreover, he’d brought few guards with him.
So he must have judged there was something more to extract.
He approached Namgung Yeon, spitting as he raised his voice.
“Who are you to threaten us! Just because you’re some fancy nobleman, you think you can lord it over everyone!”
“…….”
Namgung Yeon strode toward the one who’d bellowed at him.
Jingle—.
The bell sound rang harshly.
A revolting stench wafted up.
It was not merely the reek of filth that rose from the slums.
The foul miasma of Demonic Qi reeked from him.
Namgung Yeon could not restrain himself—he swung his sword.
Splash—!
In an instant, the surroundings were drenched in blood.
The incident had happened so suddenly that no one could react.
“I should have cut him down at a distance.”
“…….”
“Some filth might have gotten on the provisions I brought with such effort.”
“Young Master, are you unharmed?”
Man Ho quickly drew his sword and scanned the surroundings with caution.
Nam Ho Ho, witnessing murder for the first time, stood frozen in place.
His eyes glistened with tears, whether from the warmth of blood that had splattered across him or from the shock itself.
Ting—
The Maryeong Sword began greedily devouring the corpse’s aura.
As the Possessed Human’s power was drawn into the blade, Namgung Yeon spoke once more.
“You won’t be leaving anyway. Don’t trouble yourselves—fill your empty bellies.”
“Move in order. Unless you’d like to end up like this.”
Thanks to Man Ho’s timely reinforcement, the crowd moved with disciplined efficiency.
Some of the slum dwellers’ faces turned ashen.
And yet, hunger burned in their eyes alongside it.
They’d seen blood now. Excitement would follow.
Yes, show your teeth soon.
Your filthy, wretched bodies will serve as fertile ground for salvation.

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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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