Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 162

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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 162. The Sword Demon Hunts the Twin Demons
Whoooosh!
Tap-tap-tap! Tap-tap-tap-tap!
Five figures raced through the streets of Yiling District.
Yiling District was the largest of the five central districts by area,
and the students of Baekmu Academy had already arrested most of the Gongryeong Mun members scattered throughout Seoling and Ogagang Districts, which bordered Jeomgun District, and were now expanding their search perimeter.
“Hah-hah! When small-time thieves like these fall into the Nakjeon Squad’s hands, they’re as good as done!”
As Ak Du Gu puffed out his chest and spoke, a dark-skinned girl with a Gaggung slung at her waist answered brightly.
“Hehe, easier than eating cold dumplings!”
“Xia Ying, the proper saying is ‘easier than eating cold porridge.'”
When Fang Feng Gai corrected her, the girl, Miao Xia Ying, pouted and shot back.
“I like dumplings better than porridge, Mr. Gai.”
“That’s not the point, little one. And I’m not ‘Mr.’ anything—call me brother, would you?”
“Ugh!”
“You little brat—”
Fang Feng Gai raised his fist, but Miao Xia Ying didn’t bat an eye.
If anything, her gaze turned sharp and piercing, and it was Fang Feng Gai who flinched back.
‘Damn, this pint-sized thing is harder to face than I expected. Like she’s seeing straight through me somehow.’
Fang Feng Gai quietly lowered his fist and scratched the back of his head.
Miao Xia Ying was among the youngest in the Chunha Division, yet no one disrespected her.
Not only did she handle the Gaggung at her waist with uncanny precision, but the bow’s draw strength was so formidable that even grown men struggled to pull it taut.
‘Besides, it seems like Ho Yeon takes a liking to her.’
Namgung Ho Yeon would occasionally take Miao Xia Ying alone for walks around Baekmu Academy, and to anyone watching, they looked like a pair of close siblings.
Because of this, Miao Xia Ying’s standing in the Chunha Division had risen to a level equal to that of Fang Feng Gai, the Main Sword Master—untouchable territory.
A few students who had once teased her for being just a young girl were later seen packing their belongings and leaving as though driven out.
“Hey, Gong Hyo. You say something too. You’re in the same division as her.”
Fang Feng Gai turned his head toward a young man wearing a bamboo hat.
“Heh heh heh, give it up. By my calculations, you’ll be apologizing to Xia Ying within five moves.”
The man, known as Gong Hyo within the academy—Gong Son Il Bi—spoke in a lowered voice with an air of mystery.
Fang Feng Gai shook his head in resignation.
‘One’s a muscle-headed fool, another’s a kid who traded away all her manners, and then there’s this pretentious weight-thrower. What did I do to deserve this squad?’
As Fang Feng Gai heaved an inward sigh, a solemn voice called out from the front of the group.
“We’re approaching our destination. Please keep the chatter to a minimum.”
“Roger that.”
“Yes, Squad Leader.”
“Heh heh, a sound judgment.”
The man’s words brought order to the previously rowdy atmosphere.
Fang Feng Gai studied the figure at the front with an expression of relief.
Red plum blossoms embroidered on his sleeves and a formidable sword hung at his waist—no ordinary blade.
By any measure, the man was a model of a Later Generation Disciple from a renowned orthodox sect.
‘Un Am, the Plum Blossom Sword Master of the Huashan Sect’s third generation. Thank goodness someone with his head on straight is our squad leader.’
Fang Feng Gai gazed at Un Am’s steady silhouette ahead with gratitude.
The Nakjeon Squad had divided its forces into groups of five before this practical evaluation.
Students from the East Bamboo or East Kingdom Cohorts served as squad leaders, with members from the Spring and Summer, Autumn and Winter divisions assigned as squad members.
Naturally, the members wanted strong and renowned squad leaders, and the Three Peak Sword Master Un Am fit that description perfectly.
‘He blocked that cannibal demon with righteous spirit and drew out his sword at an ultimate level of skill.’
Fang Feng Gai regarded Un Am with admiring eyes.
He saw before him the very ideal of a chivalrous swordsman he had always dreamed of becoming.
Namgung Ho Yeon was beyond such comparisons—he belonged to a different world entirely.
But Un Am, who guided his squad members with care and conducted their missions with skill, was something Fang Feng Gai dared to admire and aspire to emulate.
‘The talk about the Huashan Sect’s decline is all nonsense. If that’s decline, they must have unified the entire Martial World in their heyday. God, I envy him. And we’re not even that far apart in age.’
Just as Fang Feng Gai’s eyes filled with longing, Un Am came to a halt.
“Chohui Pavilion. Here it is.”
The group had reached their destination.
Chohui Pavilion was a two-story inn where Gongryeong Mun members were known to lodge together.
“We estimate approximately fifteen enemy combatants. There may be users of Unhanggi among them—ones we encountered before—so exercise caution.”
“That was strange, wasn’t it? Are they from that Ice Palace far away in Hanhai?”
“Yin-style martial arts are hardly the exclusive province of the Northern Sea. I’ve heard that the eunuchs of Dongchuang frequently employ Binggong as well.”
Un Am answered Ak Du Gu’s question, and then Gong Son Il Bi spoke up.
“Heh heh, eunuchs lose their masculine essence through castration and become bodies that readily accept feminine essence instead.”
“Hmph, if I have to remove my lower body to master it, then I won’t learn it even if you give it to me.”
“That’s not necessarily true. The Ice Palace Master’s supreme technique, Binggong, should be free from such restrictions.”
“If you encounter a user of Unhanggi, buy as much time as possible. Our intelligence suggests their power has limitations. Now then, we advance.”
Screech!
Un Am drew the Jahaesingeom and slashed it with clean precision, and the steel lock parted like tofu.
Creak!
Clatter!
The party swept in rapidly, forming a formation as they entered.
It was a simple diamond formation, with Un Am leading at the front, Ak Du Gu on the right flank, and Gong Son Il Bi on the left.
Behind them came Miao Xia Ying in the center as the archer, with Fang Feng Gai covering her rear position.
“Hmm? A presence… but there’s nothing?”
Un Am frowned as he surveyed the dim surroundings.
Chohui Pavilion was a tavern on the first floor with an inn above it—this was the current floor of the building.
Yet from above came no sense of any living presence at all.
“There! Two people!”
Just then, Miao Xia Ying cried out in a sharp voice, pointing to a corner of the tavern.
“Hehe, brother. You’ve come. Wake up.”
“Huh? Oh… hmm, I must have dozed off for a moment.”
Creak!
A male and female voice emerged from the tavern corner, and then a massive form rose to its feet.
The size of that body was such that Ak Du Gu, standing at seven feet tall, looked ordinary by comparison.
Yet there had been two voices—why had only one person stood up?
“Gasp!”
“Wh-what is that?!”
“A monster!”
The party let out screams at the sight of the giant whose head nearly brushed the ceiling.
The reason was clear enough.
The giant had limbs like any other man—two arms and two legs—but where there should have been one neck and head, there were two.
“Krhehe, a monster, you say. No matter how often I hear it, it still wounds me, doesn’t it?”
“Hohohо! These young disciples nowadays have no fear. How dare you spout such nonsense to us.”
The right head belonged to a bold-featured man, while the left head had long hair cascading down over the face of a beautiful woman.
“Conjoined twins?”
“Could it be the Yin Yang Twin Demon?!”
Gong Son Il Bi cried out in response to Un Am’s words.
A flicker of interest crossed the eyes of the Yin Yang Twin Demon.
“Oh? You know of us?”
“Hehe, our first appearance in fifteen years. Your knowledge is broad for one so young.”
At the Yin Yang Twin Demon’s exclamation, Gong Son Il Bi spoke in a stiffly rigid voice.
“…My master told me. One of the Ten Demons of Zhongyuan. The Yin Yang Twin Demon, Du Il and Du Yi. Two souls dwelling in one body—a union forbidden throughout the Martial World. Both of you are masters at the absolute peak of skill.”
“Wh-what?!”
“This is madness!”
“We have to flee! We can’t possibly win!”
Miao Xia Ying’s terrified voice reached the ears of the shocked group.
Her eyes were not fixed on the Yin Yang Twin Demon itself, but rather on something more intimate—the Qi Acupoints within them.
Boom-boom-boom!
Crackle-crackle!
From the right man’s Qihai Acupoint surged a Qi as scorching as lava, erupting like an active volcano.
From the left woman’s Qihai Acupoint swept a Qi as frigid as arctic ice, whirling like a blizzard.
These opposing forces flowed unobstructed through both their bodies, generating a power unprecedented and immeasurable.
“A m-monster!”
Miao Xia Ying gasped aloud.
Her supernatural ability—Gyuchalgian—was precisely what its name suggested: the power to secretly perceive another’s Qi.
The Yin Yang Twin Demon were true monsters that could not be defeated even if one died and was reborn.
“Krhehe. Breaking an unspoken rule again. None who have ever uttered that word before us have lived.”
“Hehehe! Du Il, please forgive them. They’re just ignorant children. What could they possibly know about us?”
“Du Yi, you are so gentle-hearted. How will you ever survive in this harsh world with such a tender spirit?”
“Hehe, as long as you protect me always, brother, that’s all I need.”
“Krhahaha! Of course I will! Our Du Yi, trust only in this brother!”
While the Yin Yang Twin Demon conversed affectionately with each other, Un Am gave orders to the group.
“Retreat while I hold them off.”
“That can’t be…!”
“Fan out in all directions and call for reinforcements. That will give us the best chance of survival. I place my life in your hands.”
Clang!
Un Am raised the Jahaesingeom upright, his voice ringing with resolve as he challenged the Yin Yang Twin Demon.
“I shall face you, monster!”
“Ha, you want to die? I distinctly told you not to speak that word.”
“Hehe! Brother, this Daoist is using the Sacrifice Technique.”
“Oh? So that’s it?”
“Sacrificing himself for the youngsters in the back, it seems?”
“Kra-haha! Now that’s the spirit of a true man. What’s your name?”
“…Un Am, Plum Blossom Sword of the Huashan Sect!”
Whoosh!
As Un Am treaded the Seryupio, his form wavered and swayed like willow branches dancing in the wind.
“Come on!”
As Un Am rushed at the Yin Yang Twin Demon with a shout, the four figures bolted toward the door in unison.
“Un Am? That’s not one of them, is it?”
“Right. Our targets were three. Un Am wasn’t among them.”
“Who were they?”
“Namgung Ho Yeon, Ak San Gun, and Mo Yong Cheol. None of them seem to be here. A bust.”
“Kreu-heh! Sister’s got a sharp mind, as always.”
Slash-slash-slash!
Red sword light split into three streams from the right, but the Yin Yang Twin Demon remained utterly unruffled.
Thunk! Flash!
Du Il, the Yang Demon, seized the Hwandudeado at his right hip, and a brilliant crimson gleam flared as the temperature in the vicinity surged wildly.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
The Taeol Three Peak Sword that Un Am unleashed was torn to shreds by Du Il’s single stroke.
Bang-crash! Thud!
Spitting blood, Un Am was hurled backward, smashing the tavern tables to splinters before crashing into the wall.
“Cough! Gaaa…!”
Even as Un Am struggled to rise, Du Il laughed with obvious delight.
“Kra-ha! You’ve got spirit!”
“Brother, we’re losing him!”
“Ah, that won’t do.”
Pop!
At Du Yi’s cry, the Yin Yang Twin Demon vanished from their spot.
In a blink, they materialized at the main gate, blocking the exit. Ak Du Gu gritted his teeth and charged.
“Hah!”
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Ak Du Gu’s fists poured down like a sudden downpour.
Based on Ho Yeon’s counsel that large movements were forbidden against true masters, this time he unleashed the Horse Form Fist instead of the Bear Form Fist.
Fists flew with the force of a horse’s powerful hind kick, tearing through the air with sharp cracks—
Crack—!
“Hehe! Youth makes you vigorous, doesn’t it?”
“Ugh!”
As Du Yi, the Yin Demon, extended a palm, frost erupted across Ak Du Gu’s body and he tumbled to the floor.
Whoosh! Snap!
“Krrgh!”
The Twin Demon’s right foot then lashed out like a whip, and Fang Feng Gai, who raised his Chogwa as a makeshift shield, was sent crashing into a pillar, his head striking hard as he collapsed.
Thud!
“Crack!”
Miao Xia Ying, nocking an arrow to her Gaggung, was caught by Du Il’s wind pressure, and her head snapped back.
“Kreu-heu-heu, one left.”
“Hoho. Little one, are you frozen? Though my Yin frost never quite touched you.”
The Yin Yang Twin Demon’s four eyes fixed on Gong Son Il Bi.
He met their gaze with eyes that glowed pale white as he answered.
“Perhaps. But I have been taking your measure.”
“Hmm?”
“What was that?”
“Your weakness.”
Crash! Bang!
Gong Son Il Bi drew his sword with practiced speed, his feet tracing the Xuantian Nine Star Step as he rushed at the Yin Yang Twin Demon.
True to its mystical name—the nine stars’ footwork unfolded across a black heaven—the Xuantian Nine Star Step was an ultimate movement art in its purest form.
Thump-thump-thump!
One white, two black, three white, four green, five yellow, six white, seven red, eight white, nine purple—the nine directional stars of the compass dazzled the Twin Demon’s four eyes.
Shwack!
In that moment, Gong Son Il Bi rushed in as if cradled by the Twin Demon’s own chest, his blade shooting straight toward their heart.
‘Their frame is massive, but their arms are short. That means their torso lacks the distance to defend itself properly.’
Gong Son Il Bi, having analyzed the Twin Demon’s movements with meticulous precision through his keen insight, felt certain of victory.
Thud!
“Got it—! Wait?”
His blade had pierced the Twin Demon’s center perfectly, yet Gong Son Il Bi’s triumph caught in his throat.
There was no sensation in his hand—as if he’d thrust into empty air.
“Kwaahaha!”
“Ohoho!”
Whoosh!
The Twin Demon, seeing Gong Son Il Bi’s dazed expression, burst into raucous laughter and shed its outer robe.
What emerged was two torsos splitting from the waist like a tree grown from intertwined roots—and four arms linked together at the shoulders.
‘Two upper bodies… four arms…?!’
Boom! Boom!
Toward the face of Gong Son Il Bi, now aware of the Twin Demon’s true nature,
both the Yin and Yang aspects unclenched their linked arms and threw punches in perfect unison.
Crack!
‘…This is madness.’
Thump! Splash!
Like a frog struck by lightning, Gong Son Il Bi collapsed, twin streams of blood pouring from his nose, and the Twin Demon laughed.
“Kehehehe, Sister Du Yi. This one’s even dimmer than me, isn’t he?”
“Hoho! Brother Du Il, you’re actually quite clever for once.”
“Stop… that.”
Using the Jahaesingeom like a staff, Un Am struggled to his feet and cried out at the Twin Demon, who was already moving to leave.
“I… can still fight!”
“Hehehehe, young Sword Geom Soo of Huashan. Treasure your life. We don’t particularly enjoy killing.”
“Hoho! Child, you’re not our target.”
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Twin Demon spoke as they moved through the shop toward the exit.
“Ah, right. If those friends of yours are among them, tell them this. What was his name again?”
“Brother Du Il. Namgung Ho Yeon. Ak Du Gu. Mo Yong Cheol.”
“Ah yes. If you’re friends with those bastards, go tell them: wash their necks and wait for us.”
“Hoho! We’re currently employed by the Gongryeong Mun, you see. We’re counting on you?”
Pop!
The Twin Demon vanished into the pouring rain, and Un Am’s body, which had been held up by sheer will alone, crumpled to the floor.
Thump! Clang!

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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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