Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 148

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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 148. The Sword Demon and the Attention-Seeker
Baekmu Academy, Instruction Department.
The instructors gathered in the spacious hall numbered well over a hundred.
Those who had assembled—each with a reputation of their own—made up roughly a tenth of the academy’s entire teaching staff.
Setting aside the sheer number of students requiring instruction, it was the result of each sect and noble house wanting to place as many instructors as possible within Baekmu Academy.
‘Even without age restrictions, there are plenty who look hesitant about being enrolled as students.’
Peng Man Do, who had been appointed to the Blade Division, swept his gaze across the surroundings and reflected.
Each and every one of them was a master of considerable renown in the martial world.
It was almost unthinkable when such a force had last gathered in one place.
‘Compared to the Murim Alliance’s ineffectuality thirty years ago when it fell into decline, this is quite remarkable progress.’
Peng Man Do let out a soft laugh.
If they could have done this all along.
What amused him was how they had refused to dispatch troops all this time, inventing excuse after excuse.
‘In the localized conflict with the Pasuhn Blood Cult, only Shaolin and the Gaebangjang among the Nine Major Sects and One Faction offered aid. Even now, countless lives are being lost in the Yeop Region.’
If just those assembled here would step forward, the front lines could breathe.
Yet the heads of each noble house and sect had simply stuffed these people into Baekmu Academy as instructors, as though it were mere internal strife.
‘Still, it’s fortunate they’ve gathered at all. That girl Hye Bong has a sharp mind. Is it desire that moves people, then?’
Peng Man Do observed the instructors clustered in their groups and mentally divided them into factions.
Broadly speaking, they could be split between those from the Baekga Maeng and those from the Murim Alliance.
Within the Murim Alliance itself, various factions existed—those opposed to war, those eager for it, the neutral.
‘The shortage of instructors from the Baekga Maeng is unavoidable; the Nine Hundred Contention for Supremacy is ongoing, so they can’t spare many masters. Should I be grateful that the divisions within the Murim Alliance are so severe?’
Peng Man Do shook his head, uncertain whether to laugh or cry at the situation.
‘In any case, what truly matters is not the Instruction Department but the Student Council. Baekmu Academy exists for the sake of its students.’
The Student Council was granted independent operational authority, and the Student Council President held command.
This was a right acknowledged by every sect and house that had supported the academy’s founding.
Even if a Student Council President from one’s own faction never emerged, there was no justification for withdrawing students from the academy.
‘It’s practically a small martial world unto itself. Worth fighting tooth and nail for.’
As Peng Man Do finished analyzing the situation around him, a powerful voice cut through the hall.
“Amitabha. I, Dam Hae, shall convey the message in place of the absent Geumjeong Seonni.”
A middle-aged Buddhist monk in yellow robes spoke.
Though he appeared to be around five feet three inches, his entire frame seemed solid as granite.
He was the Hundred Paces Golden Guardian among Shaolin’s Four Golden Guardians, and one of the Hundred Immortals known to the world as the Hundred Paces Victory Lord.
“The master is likely to be delayed, tidying up internal affairs within the Ami Faction. Rest assured, however—he has said he will arrive before the opening ceremony.”
“Heh heh, if the master is busy, then what of the Blade King of our own sect? I believe none would be more suited to the position of academy head than he.”
At Dam Hae’s words, a Daoist in black robes with wild, unkempt hair laughed and spoke.
Those around him wore expressions that mingled distaste with unease.
‘Gongdong Faction. The Absolute Slaying Demon Hand, perhaps.’
For a swordsman of the Gongdong Faction—one of the Nine Major Sects and One Faction and a martial lineage—his epithet felt sinister, almost demonic.
It couldn’t be helped, really; the Gongdong Faction pursued the principle of Using Demon to Control Demon—subduing the demonic through demonic means.
‘Just as the Sichuan Dang Family’s forbidden arts and the Jinjuyeon Clan’s dark techniques are shunned yet recognized as countermeasures, the Daoists of Gongdong cultivate Demon Art without official sanction.’
The Gongdong Faction were those who had drawn so close to the demonic that they harbored it within themselves.
Yet they denounced the demonic and called out for Demon Suppression, standing in contradiction.
Because of this, they were often cast aside and isolated even within the Nine Major Sects and One Faction.
‘Yet their strength is genuine. That the Blue-Green Hall, the main seat of the Nokseon, remains bound in Gansu owes much to Gongdong’s efforts.’
The Absolute Slaying Demon Hand bore the focused gaze of all around him while grinning wickedly.
It revealed how bold his nature was and how confident he remained in his own power.
“Amitabha. I too understand the Demon-Suppressing Blade King’s spirit well, but please refrain from dredging up past matters, Gyeong Geo.”
“Heheheh, I’m just making conversation. Isn’t the mood a bit too stiff? We’re going to be eating from the same pot, after all. Thought we might introduce ourselves properly.”
Gyeong Geo glanced around as he continued.
“I am Gyeong Geo. My favorite pastime is smashing demon cultists’ heads, and my second favorite is cracking bandits’ balls.”
“Ahem.”
“Cough, cough.”
“Good grief.”
At Gyeong Geo’s unguarded words, several who valued propriety let out awkward coughs and shot uncomfortable looks.
Yet Gyeong Geo pressed on, undeterred.
“Just call me Gyeong Geo. ‘Immortal sage’? What a ridiculous title. Let’s be friends, shall we? A little sparring now and then, maybe some back-and-forth, and we’ll be thick as thieves before long.”
Gyeong Geo looked hopefully around the hall, but no one met his gaze.
At this, Gyeong Geo clicked his tongue and scratched his head.
“Tsk, they say you grow into your name. Looks like I’ve lived up to mine again—lost my footing.”
“Hey, you idiot. Shut your mouth already. Why do you have to be such an attention-seeker?”
An elderly man with snow-white hair spoke sharply to Gyeong Geo, who looked uneasy.
‘So you’ve brought the Kunlun Sect’s Sage Yo Gyeon. Quite the feat.’
Peng Man Do’s eyes flickered with interest as he regarded the old man.
The Kunlun Sect was famous for never leaving Qinghai.
Yet when discussing the Divine Method, there was no overlooking them.
Bang Ui Chae had been making the rounds seeking support, and it seemed he’d succeeded in inviting Yo Gyeon, the Grand Master of Kunlun’s Void Dao.
“An attention-seeker? I was just trying to lighten the mood a bit.”
“If all hundred people here spoke up, how many hours do you think it would take? Did you think everyone was mute and would just sit there?”
“Come now. If you’ve got a mouth, you speak with it. If you’ve got something else, you use that. Since when do we need permission?”
“What vulgarity! And you call yourself a sage? Your manners are those of a black sect rabble calling their seniors ‘brother’!”
Yo Gyeon rebuked Gyeong Geo.
Yet those who could read the currents understood that Yo Gyeon was quite fond of Gyeong Geo.
Standing out was not always a good thing, but by pointing out Gyeong Geo’s mistake, Yo Gyeon had softened the blow.
‘They know each other well, it seems. And why not—the Kunlun Sect is the first line of defense against the demonic sects, and the Gongdong Faction the second. There’s reason enough for them to exchange words.’
The Kunlun Sect wielded little influence in Zhongyuan and, like sages within the Nine Major Sects and One Faction, took no part in factional strife.
It was no surprise that they got along well with the Gongdong Faction, equally shunned within the Nine Major Sects and One Faction.
“Ahem! Sage Dam Hae, since this old one has spoken plainly, do continue.”
“Amitabha. Thank you.”
Dam Hae pressed his palms together toward Yo Gyeon and went on.
“As you know, the Placement Exam is in full swing outside. It will be divided into four seasons—Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter—and within each, further divided into groups by the Four Gentlemen of Plum-Orchid-Chrysanthemum-Bamboo.”
“In other words, the weakest students are in the Spring Division, Plum Group, and the strongest are in the Winter Division, Bamboo Group?”
The heavy-browed sage asked, and Dam Hae nodded.
“Precisely. As Sage Geumjeong says, the divisions and groups will be sorted by skill level, but with so many people, they’ll be further divided into blue, red, yellow, white, and black.”
“So after the four seasons and four gentlemen, we have the Five Elements. Then those five divisions won’t be determined by skill level?”
“That’s correct. Once the Placement Exam is complete, the Academy Director will personally organize the groups.”
At Dam Hae’s words, everyone nodded.
The fairness of Geumjeong Seonni, the Sorrowful King, was well established.
Had anyone else overseen the assignments, there would have been complaints, but with the Sorrowful King conducting it personally, the mood was one of universal acceptance.
‘I see. They mean to separate out the problematic later generation disciples.’
Peng Man Do grasped the hidden intent and mused silently.
‘The Winter Division, Bamboo Group will gather a great many Dragons and Phoenixes. One misstep and a serious fight could break out.’
To guard against this, the Sorrowful King intended to divide them into five groups, separating water from oil.
“Hmm, so the number of students decreases as you go up toward the Winter Division, Bamboo Group?”
“Of course. There are far fewer masters out there.”
“So the Spring Division, Plum Group would have hundreds of students per group?”
“Shouldn’t that be divided further? Third-rate and second-rate rabble will be tripping over each other.”
“Tsk, those subpar ones shouldn’t have been admitted in the first place.”
“You can’t look at it that way. If there’s a head, there must be hands and feet too.”
“True enough—this place was only called an academy in name, wasn’t it? Ha ha.”
The instructors began to speculate about what lay ahead based on Dam Hae’s words.
“Amitabha. One more thing I should mention: for the first semester before the Student Council President is chosen, the Academy Director will personally oversee all personnel.”
When the words “Student Council President” left Dam Hae’s lips, every instructor’s gaze turned toward him.
“Each semester lasts six months, split into two semesters, and within each semester are two quarters lasting three months each. These will be designated as the Learning Quarter and the Practice Quarter.”
“Learning Quarter and Practice Quarter?”
“I see. So for three months students learn theory at the academy, and the remaining three months practice outside it?”
“This is getting serious. That Gucheon Sung and his black sect dogs had better stay on their toes.”
Every instructor gathered here understood perfectly.
That ‘Practice Quarter’ would be when the white path Martial World—which had only been taking blows—would strike back.
‘So.’
‘Who will be the commander?’
‘What are the qualifications?’
‘What authority do they have?’
The instructors fixed Dam Hae with gazes burning with fervent hope.
For only one piece of news could come from his mouth now.
Dam Hae chanted a Buddhist prayer and continued.
“Amitabha. The authority to establish Companies belongs only to students of the Winter Division, Bamboo Group.”
“Of course.”
“Just as I thought!”
“Ha ha, how fair.”
As the instructors reacted with fervent enthusiasm, Dam Hae continued calmly.
“Minimum members: ten. Maximum: one hundred. Those who become Student Company Commanders must produce results during the Practice Quarter.”
No one in that hall was ignorant of what “results” meant.
‘Guangdong is a goldmine. Hunt those Peng family dogs and accomplishments will pile up in no time.’
‘We need to head to the Yeop Region. There’s no quicker way to make a name than by cutting down the fanatics of the Pasuhn Blood Cult.’
‘Suppressing the bandits would be worth it too. We’d win the people’s backing along with it.’
It was then, while the instructors were calculating how to help the Later Generation Disciples they backed earn achievements.
Dam Hae spoke briefly, as if delivering the final word.
“Whichever Student Company Commander achieves the greatest results this semester will become Student Council President.”
A moment of silence.
A deep, resonant hum—
Then the hall flooded with churning ambitions and desires of every sort.
‘Ah, it’s finally begun. The competition that will reshape the playing field of the next generation.’
Peng Man Do surveyed his surroundings with eyes clouded by conflicting feelings.
Their faces all bore the same expression.
Did his own face wear the same look?
‘That brat Gupal didn’t seem to be after the Student Council President position, though.’
Peng Man Do recalled his nephew, who had been delighted at the prospect of fighting the strong at Baekmu Academy—and then another nephew came to mind.
‘Come to think of it, wasn’t Sohwa’s son the strongest candidate?’
Peng Man Do murmured the name of the most celebrated Later Generation Disciple in the current Martial World.
‘Namgung Ho Yeon.’
“Namgung Ho Yeon!”
Bang!
At that moment, a man burst through the doors and into the hall, crying out urgently.
“Namgung Ho Yeon has arrived and wishes to take the Placement Exam now!”
“…That can’t be. Today is the exam day for the Spring-Summer class, isn’t it? The Autumn-Winter class exams don’t begin until tomorrow.”
Dam Hae furrowed his brow as he spoke.
They had arranged for Later Generation Disciples of considerable reputation to take separate exams as a precaution against unforeseen complications.
“It seems he simply… joined the line without warning!”
“What? Send him back at once.”
“That is to say… well…”
“What is it?”
“Nearly a thousand people have already gathered hoping to witness Namgung Ho Yeon’s Placement Exam. There’s simply no way to turn him away…”
“Ah…”
Dam Hae sighed.
Peng Man Do pressed his palm to his forehead.
‘Sister, what do you mean “well-behaved and pretty”? This child is nothing but trouble!’
The murmur that followed from Gyeong Geo spoke for everyone in the hall.
“My goodness, is he even more of an attention-seeker than I am?”

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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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