Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 177

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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 177. The Sword Demon and His Brother Meet Again
The youth had become a man.
It was not merely because of his father’s broad, sturdy shoulders and tall frame, his wide chest and the bold, decisive features carved in strong lines.
Whoooosh!
Namgung Cheong Gang’s Qi Aura was markedly different from Namgung Baek’s.
If Namgung Baek’s was a fierce wind that embraced all things under heaven and earth, then Namgung Cheong Gang’s carried the imperious bearing of a sovereign gazing down from an azure sky.
Within his stern composure lay warmth, and his eyes held a weighty, unshakable center that would not waver even through harsh trials.
‘Not just his Qi Aura—his whole presence has changed.’
Over half a year of repelling Docheon’s invasions, refined through countless real battles, Namgung Cheong Gang seemed to have tempered his natural disposition ever more finely.
Or perhaps marriage had transformed his spirit, as the old saying goes—that a man becomes fully human only when he builds a household.
“Ah, so that’s why you’re not fully human.”
“Ha! Because I’m a demon, not a man!”
‘Enough already.’
To Namgung Ho Yeon, who retorted to the jabs of the two swords, Cheong Gang spoke with admiration in his voice.
“It’s remarkable.”
“What is?”
“Your very existence.”
“Out of nowhere?”
Namgung Ho Yeon shrugged as though asking what his brother meant, and Cheong Gang shook his head and continued.
“I knew you were a genius, but now that I can faintly see the wall, I truly grasp how utterly extraordinary you are.”
Cheong Gang had begun to wonder if his younger brother was even human.
It was a different shock than when he’d met Ho Yeon right after emerging from closed-door training.
Then he had only guessed at the wall’s height without understanding it; now he felt vividly just how absurd the realm Ho Yeon had reached truly was.
“If you were given an opportunity right now, you’d vault clean over the wall and claim dominion over all under heaven in an instant.
At Cheong Gang’s words of wonder, Ho Yeon laughed softly and spoke.
“From where I stand, it’s far more impressive that my brother can see that far. You’re the true genius.”
“Don’t mock your older brother like that.”
“I’m serious.”
“Ha! You’ve always championed this inadequate brother of yours as someone great. You’ve always been a good one.”
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Cheong Gang laughed heartily and ruffled Ho Yeon’s hair.
Then, as though just remembering, he drew the sword at his waist and spoke.
“Ah, and I’m grateful for this. It’s far too fine a blade for my skill—I feel ashamed drawing it every time.”
The sword Namgung Cheong Gang held was an elegant long blade with a black jade pommel, the Emperor Sword that Ho Yeon had forged in collaboration with Ho Mok No.
Ho Yeon spoke as though it were nothing.
“It’s only fair, since I pilfered the Cheonrae Geom.”
“Ha, you’re something else.”
“Hmph! It’s a well-made blade, certainly, but nowhere near this magnificent treasure. Wait a thousand years and try again.”
Ignoring the Cheonrae Geom’s boastful words, Ho Yeon asked.
“How does it feel?”
“Like I could soar into the heavens.”
“Is marriage really that wonderful?”
“It’s not so much that marriage is good—it’s that I’m finally happy to welcome her into the family. Ha.”
Cheong Gang smiled and continued.
“She’s had to yield so much because of my stubbornness all this time. From now on, it’s my turn to yield to her.”
“Mm.”
“Ha, you’ll understand soon enough. Your fiancée seems to get along with you well.”
“Well, we’re still young. My sister should marry first.”
“That’s true.”
At Ho Yeon’s words, Cheong Gang chuckled and went on.
“By the way, you’ve brought quite a crowd of guests.”
At Cheong Gang’s words, Ho Yeon scratched his cheek.
“They do eat a lot, don’t they? I feel bad for the kitchen staff.”
“Not at all. Even Father-in-law was delighted. With what happened last night and all—they’re truly people to be grateful for.”
Cheong Gang spoke with admiration in his tone.
“It’s remarkable. Baekmu Academy has only been open for three months. However did you gather so many people?”
“Well, it just happened that way. I never thought things would grow this big at first.”
“Ha, it’s not easy, is it? I didn’t know managing people could be this difficult either. Unified command hierarchy, coordinating conflict between units, motivation—the more time passes, the more I admire Father.”
“Really? I’ve found that most problems solve themselves if you just beat them down. It’s like an external enemy tactic, you could say.”
Ho Yeon shrugged as he spoke.
Cheong Gang gazed at his younger brother with an expression of pure adoration, stroking his hair again as he spoke.
“You rascal. For all your words, I know you care deeply about them. You’ve always hated taking on responsibility, yet once you commit to something, you see it through to the bitter end.”
……
“In truth, I worried you might settle for a narrow world. But looking at you now, I realize my fears were groundless. I’m proud of you. You’re truly my brother.”
Cheong Gang smiled, relief washing over his face.
Ho Yeon found himself reflecting.
‘……He’s not wrong. Back when I was the Sword Demon, I was always alone—I only had to look after myself.’
But now things were different.
His mother, father, sister, and brother—all the members of the Namgung Clan—and Ahyeon, Yul, Hye Il, Gwang Myeong, Un Am, Nan A, and so many others.
The number of people bound to him since becoming Namgung Ho Yeon was too vast to count on his fingers.
There had been times when he pushed away the thought that he couldn’t shoulder responsibility for all of them, when he fled from it.
But he’d gained a small insight before the Three Peak Barrier and changed his mind.
“Heh, I realized I had more ambition than I thought. And I have the talent to fulfill that ambition.”
“Ha ha ha! That’s wonderful. Yes, only those who are loved can give love. Our Ho Yeon grew up surrounded by so much affection—he has that much to share with others!”
As Cheong Gang declared this proudly, Ho Yeon let out a dry chuckle, looking embarrassed.
“Hmph. Don’t talk nonsense. You should be the one sharing generously. In-laws’ house life is about to get serious for me.”
“Ha ha, my father-in-law and mother-in-law treat me like their own son. I’ve accumulated quite a bit of goodwill over the past half-year.”
Cheong Gang then fixed Ho Yeon with a meaningful look and continued.
“And perhaps my younger brother might just be the one to bring that in-laws’ house life to an end.”
“Ah, about that……”
Just as Ho Yeon opened his mouth.
“Ga? Where are you?”
From a distance, Yang Seon Hee appeared, looking around in search of Cheong Gang.
Ho Yeon pointed toward her and continued.
“You’d better go. I’ll call you later.”
“Understood. We’ll talk then.”
* * *
Several days later.
As the initial clamor began to settle.
Nearly a hundred people gathered for a meeting in the Yangguang Pavilion, an annex of the Yangyang Clan compound.
“Greetings. I am Jegal Ahyeon, strategist of the Nakjeon Corps.”
Ahyeon stepped forward and bowed formally.
Present in the Yangguang Pavilion were not only the Nakjeon Corps but also leading figures from the Namgung Clan, the Yangyang Clan, the Dan Ri Sega, and other major powers.
“Since we have guests, I’ll begin by briefly explaining the current situation.”
Ahyeon gestured to a map of Zhongyuan she had hung on the wall beforehand and continued.
“The Practical Training Quarter at Baekmu Academy means precisely what it says—students independently set their own objectives and carry out missions over three months. The stage is all of Zhongyuan.”
“Hmm, so they really do have independent operational authority.”
“Is this the revival of the Martial Alliance?”
“Not yet. But I’ve heard discussions are already underway.”
“Well, now that things have come to this pass, the faster we move, the more we stand to gain.”
As murmurs spread through the assembly, Ahyeon pressed on with her explanation.
“The Hojung Corps has headed to Yunnan. While it’s true Cheon Rae’s offensive has weakened recently, the Red Blood Demon Sword Brigade has pushed past Yingshan and Xiaotong and now digs as far as Wuding.”
“Wuding—isn’t that just above Kunming, Yunnan’s capital city?”
“Hah, when did those devils manage to reach that far……!”
“They’ve been quietly growing their power and now they’ve crawled all the way to our doorstep!”
Yunnan was precisely the region where the Gradual Encroachment Strategy of the Sworn Enemy Sima Hwan had proven most successful.
Thus the support from the Hojung Corps, built around the pillars of Jeomchang, Qingcheng, and Zhongnan, would be like rain in a drought.
“The Seommu Corps will head south to Guangdong to stop Pae Cheon’s advance, while the Gwangpung Corps is bound for the notoriously turbulent region of Ye.”line>
“Hmm, Mo Yong Cheol—I heard he lost out in the succession struggle of the Moyong Clan. Even spoiled goods still have some value, I suppose?”

“The Explosive Heaven Strong General should have the advantage. The Ye region is where he earned his fame on the battlefield.”
“And surely the Shandong Ak Family will lend solid support.”
The people nodded, understanding the situation as it unfolded.
After all, Baekmu Academy was founded precisely to foster unity and cooperation among the fractured White Path Martial World.
Though the three-month deployment under the guise of the Practical Training Quarter was limited in scope, it was a military force substantial enough to make a real difference.
“So then, the Nakjeon Corps came here to drive out those Invasion Heaven bastards from Anhui, correct?”
Yang Deok Jo, the patriarch of the Yangyang Clan, looked at Jegal Ahyeon with an earnest expression and posed the question.
Ahyeon answered with a slight smile, nodding in affirmation.
“That is correct.”
Ah……!
“However, there is one important matter we must clarify before proceeding.”
Ahyeon swept her gaze across the gathering, her dark eyes gleaming like polished lacquer as she spoke.
“You likely assume that the Nakjeon Corps came to Anhui because of our commander, Namgung Ho Yeon, yes?”
Most of the assembled nodded, their eyes betraying the obviousness of the assumption.
“Not at all. It was I who proposed to the commander that we come to Anhui.”
Jegal Ahyeon glanced sidelong at Ho Yeon.
Ho Yeon, meeting her gaze, let out a quiet laugh.
‘She didn’t need to go this far,’ he thought.
He understood her intention at once.
By deflecting any potential resentment that might arise, Ahyeon had turned the arrow of blame toward herself.
“My reasoning is simple: I believed Anhui to be the region most capable of yielding tangible results during this Practical Training Quarter.”
Tap.
Ahyeon pointed to Yunnan on the map of Zhongyuan as she continued.
“Yunnan does host the formidable Jeomchang Sect, but regrettably, Kunming, the provincial capital, lies at some distance. Coordination with the Hojung Corps would be far from seamless.”
Tap.
Next, she indicated the Guangdong region.
“Guangdong, by contrast, lacks any major sect of note. The Guangdong Jin Clan exists, certainly, but their influence falls far short of that of the Nine Great Sects or the Ten Families.”
Tap.
Finally, pointing to the Yunnan region, Ahyeon smiled thinly.
“As for the rest, there is little to say—without razing the Pa Sun Blood Sect entirely, recognizing any achievement would prove difficult.”
“Hmm……”
“True enough.”
“Each region has its drawbacks, it seems.”
As the others nodded in agreement, Ahyeon indicated the Anhui region and opened her mouth once more.
Tap.
“By comparison, Anhui’s situation is far more favorable. From the early stages of the conflict, the Namgung Clan, the Dan Ri Sega, and the Yangyang Clan responded with swift coordination, keeping damage to the region minimal.”
The Nakjeon Corps nodded in understanding at her words.
Those who had fought Docheon thus far wore expressions brimming with pride.
She pressed on.
“For this reason, Anhui is the region most suited to producing visible results under current circumstances. It was why I earnestly recommended it to the commander.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, that makes sense.”
“Indeed. In three months, the achievements we can claim are limited. You’ve targeted the one most likely to yield results?”
“Truly, the calculations of a brilliant mind run swift.”
Having drawn a distinction between the Nakjeon Corps’s movements and Namgung Ho Yeon’s private interests, Ahyeon swiftly presented her next move.
“Moreover, geography favors us. Docheon holds Seok Tae, Hong Chon, and Yi Hyeon—positions that can be starved out using the Three Peak Barrier Strategy I have devised.”
“The Three Peak Barrier Strategy?”
“A fence of three mountains.”
“One would be Guhua Mountain. What of the other two?”
As curious glances fell upon her, Ahyeon pointed to three mountains that curved like a crescent moon around the southern reaches of Anhui on the Zhongyuan map, indicating each in turn.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“Guhua Mountain to the north, Hwangshan to the east, and Jeyun Mountain to the south—these three are the barrier peaks.”
“Ah, the three great mountains of Anhui!”
“You mean to use those three peaks as your barrier?”
“……True. Docheon’s forces have not yet reached that far.”
“Mountain terrain, when properly utilized, allows a small force to hold back many.”
Those who grasped her meaning lit up with understanding.
Especially since they had thus far used Guhua Mountain as a defensive anchor to stall Docheon’s northern advance, her strategy drew their full support.
“By linking these three peaks into a barrier line and organizing a flanking force to cut off enemy supply lines, the invaders—lacking any foothold in Anhui—will starve and retreat of their own accord.”
“Hah……”
“……It has merit. With Nakjeon Corps forces numbering close to two thousand, we could certainly establish such a line.”
“The Three Peak Barrier Strategy!”
The atmosphere at Yangguang Pavilion grew heated.
All could see promise in her scheme.
Ahyeon smiled faintly and spoke.
“I must confess, I was surprised. I assumed Hwangshan, if not Guhua, would already have fallen into their hands.”
“We were able to determine the reason behind this only recently.”
A man who raised his hand at Ahyeon’s words was a Murin affiliated with the Wind Pavilion, newly established under the Namgung Clan’s Cheon-i Hall.
Having once acted as one of the Eight Posterior Marshals in their shadow work, they had already expanded their intelligence network deep into the southern reaches of Anhui.
“The King of Contests, Yang Mu Cheon, currently resides on Hwangshan.”
“The King of Contests?!”
“The Ten Fingers Ten Toes Doctrine!”
“What is he doing here?!”
Those who had just discovered the presence of Yang Mu Cheon nearby were seized with shock.
Yang Mu Cheon the King of Gamblers.
Among the Ten Fingers Ten Toes Doctrine, only three masters stood apart from factional allegiances.
Yang Mu Cheon was one of them.
“We have reports that the Butterfly Sword Gate attempted to seize Hwangshan but was annihilated by the King of Gamblers and has ceased their advance.”
“We were fortunate. Had the King of Gamblers not been here, we would never have dared attempt the Three Peak Barrier Strategy.”
“…You knew all along.”
Ahyeon smiled softly, confirming it.
She had already received information about the King of Gamblers from Yul.
“Be that as it may, the King of Gamblers remains an outsider. Since we cannot know how long he will remain, we must seize control of Hwangshan swiftly. After that, we must move south and secure Xuning County, where Jeyun Mountain stands.”
“Then the Three Peak Barrier Strategy is complete.”
“A kind of Gate-Closing Thief-Catching maneuver, I see.”
“Magnificent!”
As all nodded in agreement, Ahyeon tilted her head and spoke.
“Therefore, the first thing we must do now is dispatch forces to Hwangshan. Is there anyone here who hails from Hwangshan?”
“Well, I…”
The one who answered Ahyeon’s question was an unexpected figure.
A stern-faced young man who had been quietly listening from a corner of the Yangguang Pavilion cautiously raised his hand.
“I am a native of Hwangshan.”
It was Gong Sun Il Bi.

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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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