Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 174

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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 174. The Sword Demon Gathers Wedding Guests
“A wedding ceremony?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ha, they’re blessed indeed.”
“They mean to flaunt the union of the Namgung Clan and the Qingyang Family. The word is that Qingyang is in full festival mode because of it.”
Jiangxi Province, Nanchang.
The Shura Dao Men.
Jong Li San, the Shura Blade King and one of the Ten Extremes Ten Families, let out a derisive snort at his administrator’s report.
“Tch! These fools grow bolder by the day. They dare hold a wedding ceremony in the midst of war?”
Tss-tss-tss!
A crimson killing intent materialized across Jong Li San’s entire body, wavering like heat shimmer.
The Liu Dao Zhan Lun Shen Gong—the supreme cultivation technique that had elevated Jong Li San to the rank of Twelve Kings—had stirred to life in response to its master’s emotion.
Because of this uncanny pressure, Jong Li San’s lean frame loomed vast as Mount Tai.
“K-keugh! It appears their purpose is to hold a grand wedding ceremony to display their prestige!”
As the administrator finished his report, trembling, Jong Li San, who had been lost in thought, smiled faintly and spoke.
“The Namgung Clan. Don’t you think they’ve been getting too brazen lately?”
“Y-yes, sir. Word is they received commendations from the imperial court not long ago.”
“Hmph! The Peng family must be pulling strings. That cursed old man has connections to the imperial court, after all.”
Jong Li San recalled the monster—eight chi in height, wielding a large blade exceeding a hundred jin as casually as chopsticks.
Peng Hwan, the Five Tigers Blade Emperor.
The reason Jong Li San had to content himself with the rank of Blade King was entirely because of that monstrous old man’s overwhelming power.
Crack! Crack-crack!
Jong Li San felt stiffness settle into his left shoulder as he twisted his neck left and right.
A memory surfaced—ten years ago, when he had challenged the Blade Emperor and his left arm had nearly been torn clean from his body.
“According to the sect leader’s intelligence, the Blade Emperor has begun moving south from Beijing.”
“Is that from the Red Eye Intelligence Bureau?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then it’s certain.”
Jong Li San grasped the shifting circumstances.
The Blade Emperor typically remained stationary in the Hebei region to contain the Blood Emperor.
It seemed he had roused himself for this wedding ceremony.
‘He won’t descend all the way to Qingyang, certainly. Hapbi would be the furthest reach—barely within range. The old man is worried about the Namgung forces being spread thin, so he’s come to lend his strength. And I’ve heard he dotes terribly on his youngest daughter. So it’s true.’
A few months ago, word of the Swordmaster Namgung Baek’s breakthrough had set Anhui ablaze.
Jong Li San had dismissed the freshly ascended novice, seeing no reason to pay him heed.
But if the Blade Emperor himself was moving, matters stood differently.
“Request intelligence from the Red Eye Bureau. Have them report the Blade Emperor’s movements every three hours.”
“Understood.”
“Unlikely though it is, should that old man cross the Yangtze, evade combat at all costs and buy time. In the meantime, promise sacrifices to Gwang Myeong in Hunan and secure his support.”
“W-what? You’d join hands with the Gambling King?”
The administrator asked in a fearful voice, and Jong Li San answered with a faint smile.
“I’m speaking of contingencies. If that old man has any sense, he’ll halt at Hapbi. Were he to get entangled here, the Blood Emperor would move as well.”
“Gulp! Understood, sir.”
As the administrator swallowed hard in response, Jong Li San’s next command fell.
“Conversely, should the Blade Emperor stop at Hapbi, order the Blood Flame Dao Men, the Golden Heaven Dao Men, and the Butterfly Dao Men to march north.”
“B-but according to the Red Eye Thousand Strategies’ Silkworm-Eating Strategy, we haven’t yet met our quota! An all-out campaign is premature!”
The administrator voiced his objection.
The Silkworm-Eating Strategy was, in essence, a campaign of gradual conquest—like a silkworm gnawing through mulberry leaves bite by bite.
The strategy’s crux lay in beginning with modest demands so the opponent could not respond immediately, then progressively asking for more.
Sa Ma Hwan, the Red Eye Thousand Strategies, regarded Zhongyuan as one vast mulberry leaf and was gnawing at its edges.
“The Blood Flame Dao Men have claimed Shitai, the Golden Heaven Dao Men hold Hongcun, and the Butterfly Dao Men control Yixian—yet we still have no foothold in Huangshan!”
“Tsk, the Gambling King proved to be a variable. It can’t be helped. That madman is best left untouched—that’s a constant.”
“Then……!”
“Yet I cannot allow their peaceful wedding ceremony to proceed uncontested.”
Jong Li San continued, brushing aside the administrator’s objection.
“Strategists like Sa Ma Hwan lack understanding of the battlefield’s atmosphere. War is momentum. Lose the initiative, and all their schemes crumble to dust. This is the Dao Mountain Sword Forest—we are finished if we are ignored.”
“……Understood, sir.”
As the administrator lowered his head, Jong Li San, who had been lost in thought, smiled broadly and spoke.
“A fine idea has occurred to me. If they hold a wedding ceremony, why shouldn’t we do the same?”
“Sir?”
“The Moon Shadow Dao Men’s girl has lost her mother and struggles alone. It pains me to watch.”
“Ah!”
The Administrator understood Jong Li San’s meaning.
Five pillars that formed Blade Heaven. The Jiangxi Five Tyrants were as follows.
Shura Dao Men, Blood Flame Dao Men, Golden Heaven Dao Men, Butterfly Dao Men, and Moon Shadow Dao Men.
It was only natural that Shura Dao Men, where the Blade King held his ground, was ranked First Strength, but even five years ago, Moon Shadow Dao Men had been strong enough to threaten Shura Dao Men.
However, after the death of Moon Shadow Dao Men’s Leader, Mu Ye Ryeong, the sect’s fortunes had declined, and it was now rated as First Weakness.
As a result, Moon Shadow Dao Men lacked the capacity even to participate in Gubaek Sheng Pae and was instead focused on rear supply operations in Duanchang.
‘I see. The Leader intends to absorb and consolidate Moon Shadow Dao Men in this opportunity!’
Moon Shadow Dao Men traditionally passed leadership to the eldest daughter, so if he paired the current Moon Shadow Dao Men Leader, Mu Ga Yak, with the Sub-Leader, he could swallow their entire power whole.
As the Namgung Clan and the Qingyang Family demonstrated, marriage was the finest means of symbolizing the union of households.
“A brilliant strategy, sir! I shall inform the Sub-Leader at once and dispatch a matchmaker!”
At the Administrator’s obsequious remark, Jong Li San’s brow twitched as he spoke.
“What nonsense is that?”
“Sir?”
“It is I, the Dao Men Leader, who shall dispatch the matchmaker.”
…….
At Jong Li San’s words, the Administrator fell silent.
Thanks to his formidable martial prowess, Jong Li San appeared to be in his forties, yet he had long since passed sixty—a veteran of the Jianghu.
By contrast, Mu Ga Yak was only twenty-five, a young woman. The age gap between them was nearly forty years.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, sir. None at all.”
“Heh. Call upon a matchmaker to advance the proposal. And do not forget to explain the current situation to that girl as well.”
……I understand.
Jong Li San’s words carried with them a subtle threat.
Watching the Administrator nod his head, Jong Li San offered a meaningful smile.
‘Bah, the gossip of idle tongues. Compared to what I stand to gain, it is nothing.’
Taking a girl young enough to be his granddaughter as his wife would invite scandal, true enough.
But in return, he would obtain the Full Moon.
‘The Man Wol Woman Guqin’s Unique Sect Blade Technique! Surely that girl inherited it. If I gain that, I could even face the old Blade Emperor in combat.’
Jong Li San’s eyes glinted like a ravenous demon worn down by hunger.
* * *
“Come with me, Gong Son Il Bi.”
…….
“In two days, the Practice Season begins. Shen Wu Dan shall head to Guangdong.”
Mo Yong Cheol began explaining his plan to the man in the Bamboo Hat sitting on the steps.
“Guangdong has been devastated east of the Dong Jiang due to Pae Cheon’s eastern advance. It barely holds on with the support of the Thirteen Guilds, but soon Guangzhou will fall, and the Guangdong family will be in grave peril.”
…….
“You surely know that swordsmen from the Haenam Sword Sect have joined Shen Wu Dan. They too are in a difficult position if Gucheon Sung captures Guangdong—their only inland gateway will be sealed shut.”
…….
“Thus Shen Wu Dan shall, with the support of the Haenam Sword Sect, drive Pae Cheon from Guangdong. I trust you understand why this is advantageous.”
Despite Mo Yong Cheol’s fervent explanation, the man in the Bamboo Hat did not raise his head.
With a twitch of his brow, Mo Yong Cheol silently recited the character for patience and continued.
“If Guangdong falls, even Fujian Province will be in danger. Trapped between Pae Cheon and Blade Heaven, it will be treated as a dead stone. That means Shen Wu Dan will save not just Guangdong, but Fujian as well.”
Crack!
Mo Yong Cheol clenched his fist with a triumphant smile.
“Save two provinces, and it’s obvious that Shen Wu Dan will rank first in this Practice Season! Don’t worry about command. I may look it, but I’m seasoned in Water Warfare. My maternal grandfather has a post at the Great Trading Port, so from childhood…….”
Despite Mo Yong Cheol’s lengthy exposition, the man in the Bamboo Hat remained unresponsive.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Mo Yong Cheol spoke harshly.
“This is exhausting, talking to myself. Say something! You promised to give me an answer a month ago!”
At Mo Yong Cheol’s exasperation, the man in the Bamboo Hat asked weakly.
“……I don’t understand. Why someone useless like me?”
“Not this again! Tsk!”
‘There’s no help for it. I’ve tried my best to persuade him.’
With the Practice Season only two days away, he had to unearth this pearl buried in mud, no matter how unpromising.
Mo Yong Cheol lowered his voice and spoke.
“Gong Hyo. No—Gong Son Il Bi.”
…….
“How could I not covet you, the disciple of the Undefeated Sword Emperor Mu Yeo Hae?”
Mo Yong Cheol had finally revealed his hand.
He was declaring that he knew his true identity, and he intended to propose a forthright deal.
However, Mo Yong Cheol did not know that his words had produced the opposite effect.
“I see. Is it because of Master…?”
“I know your ambitions. If you dream of rebuilding the Hwang San Sect, you’ll surely need a reputation. In that case, the Shen Wu Dan would be ideal.”
“Heh, if you’re trying to recruit me out of consideration for Master, that’s a grave misunderstanding.”
“…What?”
“I’m merely a poor imitation, following in his footsteps.”
Slip.
Gong Son Il Bi removed his bamboo hat.
A handsome young man with a stern face smiled weakly and declined Mo Yong Cheol’s offer.
“I was foolish. I underestimated the Jianghu too greatly.”
Until just a few months ago, Gong Son Il Bi had possessed his own meticulous and grand plan.
He had intended to enroll at Baekmu Academy and personally select steadfast companions to rebuild the Hwang San Sect.
For this reason, he had concealed his martial realm and entered the Spring-Summer Class to gather influence.
After all, the Spring-Summer Class had no masters, and many martial artists hungry for advanced techniques would enroll.
‘Yet it failed. The Spring-Summer Class was not free from Namgung Ho Yeon’s influence. Without defeating him, I had no chance of success.’
That is why he had challenged him.
He had been confident.
With the Sword Technique of the Sword Emperor, copied through perfect imitation—
He had believed he could strike down Namgung Ho Yeon, renowned as a genius.
But it was a grave delusion.
He was nothing but a frog in a well, not even reaching the level of Namgung Ho Yeon’s One Sword Strike Superiority.
“I must learn more of the world. Therefore, I cannot accept your offer.”
“…I cannot understand this.”
Mo Yong Cheol furrowed his brow at Gong Son Il Bi’s refusal and asked.
“If you wish to learn of the world, wouldn’t it be best to come with me? Surely you’re not thinking of the Gwang Pung Dan?”
“No.”
“Then…”
“Huh?!”
Gong Son Il Bi, who had been conversing with Mo Yong Cheol, suddenly rose from his seat.
Soon a commotion began to echo from around the corner.
“Hye Il! I’m so excited!”
“Gwang Myeong, me too! It’s my first wedding!”
“Ahhh, a wedding! It’s my dream!”
“You crazy Gwang Myeong. Are you a Daoist or something?”
“Hehe! Ho Yeon, what era are you from? These days, even Daoists get married!”
“What? Really?”
“Of course! As long as you don’t indulge in lust, you can have a wife as timid as a rabbit and children clever as foxes!”
“Hah! The Way of the Martial World has not merely fallen to earth—it’s burrowed underground.”
“Haha. Gwang Myeong, your words have gotten mixed up. It should be a wife clever as a fox and children timid as rabbits.”
“Hmph, I don’t trust what Un Am says anymore. They say he’s become so popular with the young ladies these days? The enemy of Daoists! A Dao enemy! Master will pass judgment upon you!”
“Stop spouting nonsense. Good grief.”
At the head of the group emerging from around the corner, Ho Yeon exhaled a weary sigh, looking exhausted.
Tap-tap-tap!
Gong Son Il Bi rushed toward Ho Yeon, who moved through the crowd like a gathering of clouds, and offered a fist salute.
Thwack!
“Namgung, please teach this humble person about the world!”
“What are you going on about now?”
“Please take me with you during this practice season! I beg of you!”
At Gong Son Il Bi’s earnest plea, the corners of Ho Yeon’s mouth slowly curved upward.
“Oh? Do you wish to attend our seniors’ wedding that badly?”
“…A wedding?”
“Fine. More wedding guests is always better. Let’s boost our senior’s spirits with sheer numbers!”
“Whatever works! Just take me along, please!”
“Ah, the gift should be at least two silver taels? Anything less will make things awkward between us.”
“Gasp! Two silver taels? Ho Yeon, since I’m your friend, that’s okay, right?”
“Friends give two gold taels.”
“Ugh, two gold taels? That’s my whole savings…”
Watching the boisterous crowd, Mo Yong Cheol clenched his fist until blood threatened to spill.
‘Namgung Ho Yeon! You again! You’re taking everything from me once more!’
Crunch!
Watching Namgung Ho Yeon slip further away, Mo Yong Cheol made himself a vow.
‘Just you wait. This time, I’ll overtake you for certain.’

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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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