Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 176

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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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Chapter 176. The Sword Demon’s Wedding
Qingyang lived up to its name, brimming with warm verdant light.
The sky itself seemed to bless the auspicious day, casting down gentle sunshine.
Most of all, the bright smiles of the people had flooded Qingyang’s Eight Garrison Three Villages.
“Hurrah!”
“Long live the Namgung Clan! Ten thousand blessings on the Qingyang Sega!”
“Hahahaha! With this, Qingyang will know greater safety!”
Rongcheng Town, where the Qingyang Sega was situated within the Eight Garrison Three Villages, was especially raucous.
People had come out wearing the blue garments they owned to celebrate the union of the Namgung Clan and the Qingyang Sega.
“Ahahah! I am the Thunder God Broad Dragon! Hiyah! Hiyah!”
“Ahem, and I am the Sovereign Sword Dragon.”
“Brother! I’m the Delicate Martial Flying Phoenix!”
The children mimicked the three siblings of the Namgung Clan, whose names rang throughout Zhongyuan, swinging twigs like swords.
The people, whose spirits had been worn thin by war and constant unease, began to pour out the grievances they had accumulated through this long-awaited celebration.
In stark contrast to the bustling streets, the courtyard of the Qingyang Sega where the ceremony was being held maintained a quiet, solemn atmosphere.
“Haah……”
“Namgung Ho Yeon. Hush!”
Jegal Ahyeon whispered a quiet warning to Ho Yeon, who was yawning heavily beside her.
“We’re in the middle of the Incense Ancestral Ceremony.”
“Tch, I’m tired. What can I do?”
“What were you doing up so late?”
“Watched some of the Huashan disciples’ forms, did a little sparring.”
“Good grief, you should have spared yourself at least yesterday, considering today.”
Yet despite her words, the look in Ahyeon’s eyes as she watched Ho Yeon deepened into a tender arc.
The sight of Ho Yeon—teary-eyed, making no effort to hide his boredom—was beautiful as a painting.
‘He’s been held up all morning, so he deserves to be tired. Hehe.’
Peng So Hwa and Namgung Sang A had groomed Ho Yeon with utmost care, as if they had been waiting for this day alone.
Thanks to their efforts, Ho Yeon’s already refined features had bloomed not merely luminous but radiant.
His usually unkempt long hair had been oiled to a lustrous shine, and instead of the loose hair cord he normally wore, a White Gold Crown held it high, making him look like the son of some distinguished official.
His martial robes, which he usually wore loose, were now fastened neatly, and over them draped a long outer robe of green silk woven from Jade-Blue Brocade, giving him the appearance of a youthful immortal.
On his wrists gleamed a Silver Wrist Ornament intricately carved with cloud fragments, and at his waist hung a Jade Pendant engraved with the character “Namgung”.
“Tch, shouldn’t it be enough to sing a little and nibble on pastries? Why must there be so many ceremonies? Noble families really are a bother.”
Most of all, with a jade-like face that could make even idle talk sound convincing, the eyes of the women nearby kept drifting toward Ho Yeon.
Noticing those gazes, Ahyeon moved close to Ho Yeon’s side.
“What is it?”
“Hehe, it is only natural that a wife remains at her husband’s side.”
“I told you not to say things like that. Won’t you stay back?”
“Oh! Have I already grown tiresome to you?”
“Stop talking nonsense. You’ve got so much powder on—step back.”
Ho Yeon wrinkled his nose as he spoke.
Ahyeon, dressed in an elaborate White Palace Dress and adorned with various ornaments, drew attention no less than Ho Yeon himself.
Moreover, she had applied so much powder that the subtle sandalwood fragrance that normally emanated from her had vanished entirely.
“Why did you apply so much powder?”
“It’s a good day. I’m seeing the elders for the first time in a while—I should look my best. How do I look today?”
As Ahyeon returned to her usual manner of speech and asked brightly, Ho Yeon, who had been studying her intently, threw out his words casually.
“Well, you’re beautiful.”
“……!”
“It would be better if you wore less powder. You’re the type whose skin naturally has its own glow—why deliberately dust yourself with flour? Is this what they mean by adding to what’s already complete?”
Ahyeon couldn’t quite answer Ho Yeon’s question.
She had received an unexpected answer to what she thought was casual banter.
“I’m… beautiful? Really?”
“Why suddenly act surprised? Haven’t I said so from our first meeting?”
When Ho Yeon spoke bluntly, Ahyeon searched her memory.
It was when they had finished their first formal meeting, and he had escorted her back to her quarters.
When she was flustered, with her Spirit Synchronization suddenly severed, he had said something absurd.
“No matter how I look at it, you are not ordinary. Excessively beautiful, even.”
‘Now that I think about it…… did he say something like that back then?’
Ho Yeon had thought her beautiful from the very beginning.
With sudden realization, Ahyeon blinked, felt heat rise to her face, and opened her mouth as if nothing were amiss.
“I applied the powder simply because…… I didn’t want to stand out too much.”
Jegal Ahyeon answered Ho Yeon’s question in a measured voice.
“After all, I look different from an ordinary Han Chinese, don’t I? I can’t exactly shorten my height or change the color of my eyes, so…….”
“So you used makeup to hide it?”
“……Yes.”
“Ah, needless worry.”
Ho Yeon scoffed and dismissed Ahyeon’s concern with a wave of his hand.
“The master doesn’t mind such things. Tsk, being overly cautious about the strangest matters.”
“……The master doesn’t mind such things?”
As Ahyeon echoed his words in a murmur, Ho Yeon nodded and continued.
“That’s right. Being different from others certainly isn’t a favorable sign, but there’s only a thin line between being shunned and being revered.”
Ahyeon stared at him blankly at his words.
“That thin line is nothing but the heart. Don’t hide your true self. Show it with confidence. Then people will accept you exactly as you are.”
“Really……will they?”
“Hmph, what does it matter if they don’t? I already accept you as you are, don’t I?”
“…….”
“So stop with the makeup. Ugh! The smell keeps reaching me—it’s giving me a headache.”
“……Yes.”
Ahyeon nodded her agreement a moment later.
By then, her face had already bloomed into a radiant smile.
Meanwhile, the wedding ceremony had entered its final stage.
Yang Seon Hee and Namgung Cheong Gang gazed at each other, their smiles bright with joy.
Everyone blessed the well-matched pair as they exchanged their vows.
After the Hair Cutting and Binding Ceremony, where the bride and groom’s hair was cut and bound together,
the Shared Cup Ceremony—the final rite where they drank from small cups bound with red silk—concluded the marriage vows.
* * *
“Wow! Delicious!”
“Another bowl here!”
“I’ll easily eat two taels’ worth.”
After the wedding ceremony ended, the Qingyang Sega estate had transformed into a grand banquet hall.
The Baekmu Academy students who had attended as guests were drawing all eyes as they scraped their bowls clean.
“Huh, quite the appetites they have. Did they say they were the Nakjeon Unit?”
So the commander is the Thunder God Dragon. Quite impressive, isn’t it? At such a young age, he already commands such a force under him.”
“I saw him earlier—his bearing is flawless. Even if they called him the Jade Dragon instead of the Thunder God Dragon, it would be fitting.”
“They say he’s the hero who saved the city from submersion! The imperial court is watching him, and it seems no rumor was exaggerated!”
People’s attention turned to the Nakjeon Unit and to Namgung Ho Yeon, who had brought them here.
“The reason they went to such lengths to come to Qingyang…….”
“Hehe, why ask? The heroes of the Martial World have come to punish the Five Wolves of Jiangxi Province!”
“Ah, if they truly do that, I would want for nothing else! My wife’s family lives in Shitai, and they say the place is like a house of mourning these days.”
“In truth, even Qingyang would have fallen to Do Cheon’s hands long ago without the Namgung Clan’s support.”
“We mustn’t forget the great masters of the Dan Ri Sega either. Indeed, the families of Anhui are bound by deep bonds of kinship!”
“Truly, the Thunder God Dragon—the pride of our Anhui!”
People gazed toward the main hall where Namgung Ho Yeon stood, hoping the Nakjeon Unit would bring peace to the regions south of the Yangtze.
There, the households of both the Namgung Clan and the Qingyang Sega were gathered, enjoying a Tea and Pastry Gathering.
“Hmm.”
Ho Yeon was lost in deep contemplation.
“Should I eat the Snowflake Cake first? No, Snowflake Cake has too light a texture—it might spoil the taste of the Apricot Kernel Cake I’ll eat later. Then perhaps safely go with Candy? No, I’ve eaten too much of that lately. So then……?”
After careful deliberation, Ho Yeon settled on the amber-colored Osmanthus Cake.
“Smack-smack, yes. In autumn, it’s definitely Osmanthus Cake.”
The chewy texture reminiscent of glutinous rice harmonized with the subtle, sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms and a gentle sweetness, dancing upon his tongue.
As Ho Yeon savored his choice, a discontented chirp reached his ear from Baek Seol O.
“Chirp! Chirp!”
“Hold on, wait.”
“Chirp-chirp-squeak!”
As Ho Yeon tapped his breast pocket, Baek Seol O cried out miserably in protest.
“Hm? What’s that sound?”
“Is there a rat somewhere?”
“Ah, all right, all right.”
As the people around them began to glance about at Baek Seol O’s noise,
Ho Yeon took some nuts from the nearby pastries and placed them in his pocket.
‘Smack, who knew I’d end up playing wet nurse to a rat…….’
Not long ago, Ho Yeon had tried to hand Baek Seol O off to Mo Yong Yul.
Yul, startled, asked how Ho Yeon had come into possession of Baek Seol O, but Ho Yeon himself didn’t know the answer.
“Well, you certainly are extraordinary. We searched everywhere for Baek Seol O, yet you’ve found him just like that…….”
“Enough. Take him with you.”
“Chirp!”
“……Hm? He’s saying he doesn’t want to go?”
“What?”
But Baek Seol O refused.
“You stubborn little thing. Won’t you let go?”
“Chirp!”
“Ha ha! He’s taken to you, hasn’t he?”
“What are you laughing about? That’s your spirit beast. Take it with you already.”
“Actually, this works out well.”
“How so?”
“Mastering the Silver Form Technique and the Self-Transformation Poison Technique is already overwhelming for me. I’ll need at least another year before I can accept Baek Seol O.”
“……So you’re saying I should keep him until then?”
“I’d feel at ease with him in your care. Besides, this way…….”
“Chirp?”
Yul cradled Baek Seol O in his palm and closed his eyes, concentrating his thoughts.
The creature, who had been gazing at Yul with those dark, beady eyes, nodded vigorously as if in understanding.
“Chirp!”
“Thank you.”
“What was that?”
“I’ve connected your souls through Spirit Synchronization. Now you can relay information to me anytime, anywhere.”
“……You can do that?”
“Of course. Soul resonance knows no distance. That’s precisely why Seol O is able to stay in Beijing, after all.”
Ho Yeon let out a sigh as he recalled his conversation with Yul.
“Fine then. Seol O, I’ll work you as hard as I feed you. Understood?”
“Chirp!”
Baek Seol O chirped brightly and began gnawing on nuts.
Ho Yeon reached for more Osmanthus Cake and surveyed his surroundings.
Mother and Father were chatting cheerfully with the in-laws, while Ahyeon was conversing with her sister.
‘Where’s my brother…….’
Just as Ho Yeon was searching for Cheong Gang, a familiar yet subtly altered voice came from behind him.
“Ho Yeon.”
He turned to find Namgung Cheong Gang regarding him with a smile.
“It’s been a while.”
“Brother.”
The brothers, who had parted in haste after the Yongbong Conference, met once more.

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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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