Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 112

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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 112. The Sword Ghost’s Fortune
Baekga Maeng’s Strategic Headquarters.
“The Sovereign’s eastern advance is moving far too quickly. At this rate, all of Guangdong will fall under Gucheon Seong’s control.”
“We would aid the Guangdong Jin clan, but the means elude us. Being so remote in the south, the only ones who could help them are the Hainan Sword Sect in Hainan Province.”
“They won’t move. The Murim Meng is still dominated by the anti-war faction.”
“Ah, so we must abandon Guangdong….”
“Who says we’re abandoning it?”
“Pardon?”
Jegal Ma Seung, an aging strategist of cadet stock from the Jegal Clan, lifted his gaze to regard the woman before him.
Jegal Ahyeon swept her hair—black as ebony—behind her ear, her dark eyes gleaming with sudden clarity.
“Guangdong isn’t populated by warriors alone.”
“……?”
“We must bring the Wol Sang merchants into our fold.”
“The Wol Sang, you say…….”
“Those who claim descent from the Wol Tribe are all possessed of fierce temperament. They are not the sort to bend to Gucheon Seong’s threats.”
Jegal Ahyeon continued, a smile playing across her lips.
“What’s more, they possess ships.”
“Ah! With those vessels properly deployed, we could execute numerous diversionary operations!”
“To merchants who trade in tea, silk, and ceramics for foreign markets, a war consuming Zhongyuan will be nothing but an irritant.”
Generally speaking, merchants thrive in wartime.
The prices of all goods—from military supplies to daily necessities—soar dramatically, and opportunities bloom in every quarter.
But the Wol Sang merchants, whose profits from inland trade remain thin, are an exception to this rule.
They purchase goods from Zhongyuan for export; when prices rise, their losses mount proportionally.
“They view Gucheon Seong with undisguised disdain, so recruiting them should prove straightforward.”
“Brilliant!”
“Guangdong is home to thirteen great merchant houses holding imperial monopoly trading rights.”
“The Sipsamhaing you refer to.”
“If we first persuade Yi Hwa Haeng, their de facto head, the rest will follow easily.”
“Hmm…….”
Jegal Ma Seung marveled at Jegal Ahyeon’s brilliant strategizing.
Where no path appeared to exist, she somehow carved one forward.
Nearly all the stratagems born from her mind had proven sound.
Buoyed by these successes, the warriors of Baekga Maeng trusted her implicitly and withheld no reinforcements.
‘With such wit as this, the next supreme commander will be Ahyeon, not Gwan-wol.’
Jegal Ma Seung gazed at her with warmth, as one might regard a cherished granddaughter, and nodded in approval.
Though of late her focus had wavered considerably, causing her several missteps.
These lapses were trifling compared to her proven accomplishments.
‘Besides, there was good reason for them.’
Jegal Ma Seung smiled gently and posed a question to her.
“Has our son-in-law sent no letter today?”
“Sigh… No. A few lines confirming his safety several days ago—that was the last.”
Ahyeon puffed out her cheek and exhaled deeply.
When word of the Light Dragon Demon Slayer spread across Zhongyuan.
Everyone sang praises of the Light Dragon, but Ahyeon had lost sleep to worry over Ho Yeon.
Her work slipped from her grasp; the sharp mind that normally turned so swiftly went blank and dull as a fool’s.
Until his handwritten letter arrived confirming his safety, Ahyeon’s world had simply stopped.
She pouted slightly and muttered under her breath.
“Tch. Does telling me not to worry make the worry disappear?”
“Haha. Our son-in-law can be rather cold, can’t he?”
“Well, it’s an improvement. Two years ago, there wouldn’t have been a letter at all.”
Ahyeon sighed and shook her head.
For two years Ho Yeon had sent not a word.
She’d only learned of Mo Yong Yul’s death at the Yongbong Conference.
“……Whether good news or ill, husband and wife should share it. Ho Yeon simply cannot do that. He broods alone, suffering in silence.”
Ahyeon spoke her grievances to Jegal Ma Seung as though confiding in him.
“He knows not how to lean on others. He insists on bearing everything alone.”
“Haha. Isn’t that the mark of a true hero?”
“It’s just softness.”
“What’s that?”
Jegal Ma Seung’s eyes widened with surprise.
Gwangyong is weak?
Many who witnessed his unconventional moves at the Yongbong Conference would never agree with her words.
Yet Jegal Ahyeon pressed on, her concern evident in every syllable.
“He’d rather sacrifice himself than see those around him hurt. That’s why he can’t use people well.”
“Hmm…….”
“I don’t know why, but Namgung Ho Yeon carries deep wounds in his heart.”
It had been that way from their first meeting.
He pushed her away.
Not just her—he seemed to harbor an instinctive aversion to forming new bonds with anyone.
‘Like someone who suffered a great betrayal in childhood…….’
Beneath his deliberately cold exterior lay a tender heart that simply couldn’t bear another wound.
“That’s why I’m necessary. Someone has to do what he cannot.”
Jegal Ahyeon smiled softly as the thought crossed her mind.
‘Ho Yeon. Have faith in yourself. You’re a good person. Don’t reject those drifters drawn to your light. If you accept them, you’ll never be alone again.’
* * *
“What? What are you talking about?”
Namgung Ho Yeon stared at him with disbelief, but Cheon Se Geuk’s expression remained utterly unmoved.
He sent another transmission.
‘When my benefactor slew Jin Heuk Cheon, I too was trapped within the Gugung Juk Gyeok Jin.’
Blood poured ceaselessly from his mouth, his limbs refusing to obey his will.
Yet Cheon Se Geuk limped and ran, again and again, desperate to be of use.
But in the end, his aid proved unnecessary.
For one thing, he couldn’t get close enough to the overwhelming surge of power.
Namgung Ho Yeon, the Thunder God’s Gwangyong—he was a Sword Ghost who had awakened the Uigi Yeondong after three hundred years.
“Tch. I never meant to hide it forever, but this is faster than I expected.”
Ho Yeon clicked his tongue.
At the time, his focus had been entirely on Jin Heuk Cheon; he hadn’t noticed anything.
‘I’d planned to reveal it at least after breaking through the wall.’
Now that an age of war had arrived—
He’d never believed he could hide a power as useful and conspicuous as Uigi Yeondong forever.
Revelation was inevitable, but he hadn’t foreseen it coming so soon.
“Still, I was careless. I’ve been using it all over the place these past days.”
‘Do not worry, sir. I told no one, and if you desire secrecy, I shall remain silent henceforth.’
“A secret’s only a secret if one person knows it. Two or more, and it’s gossip. Want me to silence you?”
‘……If that is what you wish, I am ready.’
Cheon Se Geuk craned his neck, offering himself, but Ho Yeon clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Tch tch, forget it. I don’t like killing innocent people—it feels wrong.”
Besides, he was no longer Dan Wee Myeong, that orphan of the streets.
He was Namgung Ho Yeon.
Even if Uigi Yeondong were revealed, the odds of him being branded a Martial World criminal as he once was were extremely low.
Especially now, after slaying the Cannibal Demon Jin Heuk Cheon and rising as the darling of the Martial World.
‘There will be envy and jealousy, perhaps, but I can handle that much now.’
Ho Yeon analyzed the situation coldly and concluded that killing Cheon Se Geuk would be a waste.
“I’ll let you live. Just go. You can do me a few favors later.”
“Favors…… you say?”
“You’re from Geumgeom Mun, aren’t you? There’s something I want from there.”
“……!”
Hot fervor blazed in Cheon Se Geuk’s eyes at Ho Yeon’s words.
“I knew it! You mean to take us under your wing!”
“Eh?”
“Article One, Section One of the Geumgeom Mun Charter: ‘If a wielder of that power appears, all Sword Ghosts shall revere him as the Sword Ghost and become his faithful blades!'”
“W-what?”
Ho Yeon blinked.
Such a charter existed?
He’d never heard of it.
Thud!
As Ho Yeon stood bewildered, Cheon Se Geuk dropped to his knees and cried out with overwhelming fervor.
“Divine One! I am Nan Pung Gwui Geom, the left middle finger of the Sword Ghosts! Grant me the honor of becoming your blade!”
“This crazy bas—get up, would you?”
Ho Yeon shouted, glancing around in alarm at this sudden outburst.
But Cheon Se Geuk didn’t budge. He cried out again.
“Geumgeom Mun has waited over three hundred years for you! From the very beginning, the founder of our sect, Dan Cheon Hon, was the adopted son and disciple of the Sword Ghost, Dan Wee Myeong!”
“Adopted son? The kid was just some orphan trailing after me……”
“Countless people drawn to the legend of the Sword Ghost have knocked upon Geumgeom Mun’s gates, and they have long hoped that one day a successor to the Sword Ghost would appear and guide us!”
Snap!
Cheon Se Geuk lifted his head, his eyes blazing with fervent intensity as he stared at Ho Yeon.
“Though the current Geumgeom Mun has fallen into the hands of corrupt swordsmen over long ages, many allies would come running the moment they hear of the Sword Ghost’s return!”
“Damn it……”
Faced with Cheon Se Geuk’s refusal to listen,
Ho Yeon activated Uigi Yeondong and forcibly lifted him to his feet.
Whoosh!
“Ohhh! This is truly…!”
“Shut it! Listen to me! What I want from Geumgeom Mun is the Hyeol Gok Geom that’s there!”
“Of course that blade belongs to you. It rests honorably in the shrine of Dan Wee Myeong!”
“That’s the thing—I need the sword, but I don’t need you people.”
……
At Ho Yeon’s words, Cheon Se Geuk froze like a broken wooden puppet.
“I’m the heir of a righteous orthodox clan, Namgung Ho Yeon. You lot are heretics, aren’t you? One of the Gucheon Sung sects at that—you shouldn’t be ordinary heretics.”
“……When I first entered the sect, that was not the case. We were merely seekers of the sword, following in the Sword Ghost’s footsteps.”
Cheon Se Geuk continued, his expression burning with anger.
“For thirty years now, the corrupt swordsmen have monopolized Gwi Hyeol and wielded power as they please. I will gather the pure seekers who resist them and offer them to you.”
“Gwi Hyeol? What’s that…… Never mind. I don’t care.”
Ho Yeon shook his head, watching Cheon Se Geuk.
“It doesn’t make sense from the start—saying you’ll follow me just because of one martial skill.”
“Within Geumgeom Mun, that is precisely what constitutes legitimacy.”
“I wasn’t asking Geumgeom Mun anything. I was asking you.”
Ho Yeon smiled faintly and continued.
“Why should I trust someone who just sees my ability and decides to follow me?”
……
At Ho Yeon’s scorn, Cheon Se Geuk bit his lip and muttered.
“I don’t expect trust. I simply ask that you use me as a tool.”
“What?”
“An orphan from the gutters of despair, living each day without hope, made a vow. I have sworn to dedicate everything and follow that person’s will.”
Cheon Se Geuk gazed at Ho Yeon and pleaded earnestly.
“The Sword Ghost is my faith. After witnessing the battle with Jin Heuk Cheon, I am certain—you will become the equal of Dan Wee Myeong, or perhaps even greater. I wish to witness that legend unfold at your side.”
……
“I will follow you. You have given me back my arms—with these hands, I will cut down your enemies!”
Ho Yeon felt from Cheon Se Geuk’s cry that his resolve was no ordinary thing.
His conviction carried a fanatical, almost blind quality to it.
“Hmm, what about your daughter?”
“Now that I’ve regained my arms, I’m confident I can find the means to support her somehow.”
……
As Ho Yeon fell silent, the voices of Cheonrae Geom and Heukya Tae Geom reached him.
—Boy, it’s not a bad thing. In times of war, the more allies you have, the better.
—Come now! Why hesitate? It’s as if heaven itself is dropping rice cakes into your lap!
‘Hmm……’
Ho Yeon turned the matter over in his mind again and again.
All this time, he had done many things to make the Namgung Clan the premier clan under heaven.
He had overhauled the clan’s martial arts and even served as a teacher, raising the level of its warriors.
He had sold tea leaves to supplement the finances and made a name for himself at the Yongbong Conference, announcing to the world that Namgung had been revived.
‘I’ve done most of what could be done within the clan itself. It’s time to turn my eyes outward.’
Though he had recruited many external martial artists for his escort business, that wasn’t enough now that war had broken out.
‘And the enemy is Gucheon Sung. If I could plant an agent within Geumgeom Mun, one of their sects, and sow division……’
Ho Yeon regarded Cheon Se Geuk intently.
At first, he’d thought of him as merely a guide to obtain the Hyeol Gok Geom.
Seeing how skillfully he wielded the Cheonsa Geom Ryeong Gong, he’d been impressed enough to restore his arms.
He’d only meant to establish a connection for future dealings, but the other man had hoped for submission itself.
And if used well, it seemed he could deal a devastating blow to his enemies.
Ho Yeon nodded and asked.
“You said you wanted me to use you as a tool, right?”
“Indeed.”
“And you won’t hold it against me later?”
“I would never, sir.”
Cheon Se Geuk answered with resolve etched into his features, and Ho Yeon laughed softly.
“Congratulations. You’re no longer just an ordinary piece on my board—you’re my pawn now.”
“I—thank you, sir!”
“A pawn is strategically vital. It can leap over other pieces and advance in ways others cannot.”
Snap.
Ho Yeon extended his hand, and Cheon Se Geuk clasped it with an expression brimming with gratitude.
“Be an unexpected move. If you prove useless, I’ll discard you without hesitation.”
“This humble servant, Cheon Se Geuk, swears to offer all loyalty to my lord and master!”
And so Ho Yeon gained, for the first time, a subordinate who did not spring from the Namgung Clan’s bloodline.

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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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