Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 194

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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 194. Sword Demon Meets Gucheon
Yu Village.
A settlement situated midway between Hwangshan and Jeyunsan.
Yu Village, a traditional and serene place that revered Confucian virtues, was among those that had suffered greatly from Docheon’s northern advance.
They had plundered the commoners under the guise of requisitioning supplies and violated the women.
But the long and suffocating darkness seemed at last to be nearing its end.
“Yeom No! Nakjeon-dan and Hojeopdomun’s men clashed at Sungnyeon Plain!”
“What? Is that true?”
“One of the arrow scouts saw it, so it must be.”
“Who fought whom?”
“Well, I’m not entirely sure, but they say both wore red robes… and one of them wielded a saw-like blade.”
“Gasp! They’re not Hojeopdomun’s men!”
“Then who are they?”
“They’re the notorious Killing Squad of Suradaomun—the Chamsaldae!”
“Merciful heavens! Su, Suradaomun?!”
“Good Lord, the front lines are crumbling, so reinforcements must have come from the south. We’re finished!”
As Yeom No despaired, a man asked him a question.
“A-are they really that strong?”
“Strong? Of course they are! And they’re infamous for their cruelty. The Hojeopdomun men will look civilized compared to the atrocities they’ll commit!”
“Yeom No, stop spouting such ill omens! If Nakjeon-dan wins, there’s nothing to fear!”
“True enough, but…”
“The arrow scout said the Nakjeon-dan warriors were in extraordinary form. Daoists with plum blossoms embroidered on their sleeves, he said…”
“What?! Ah! We’re truly done for!”
At the man’s words, Yeom No clutched his head and wailed.
“They’re Huashan Sect daoists! Those who’ve been rumored to be expelled from the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance after centuries of decline!”
“Surely… not.”
“It’s true! Heavens, pack your things quickly! We can’t stay here any longer!”
* * *
“Hehehehe! I underestimated them.”
Gwang Jeok Sa, captain of the Chamsaldae, known as the Flesh-Saw Fang Crusher, gazed across Sungnyeon Plain.
There, some two hundred youths stood arrayed in crimson martial robes that bloomed like plum blossoms.
“Huashan? A fallen sect at that? Did you truly believe pups from a doomed faction could stop the Chamsaldae? Hehe, Jegal Ahyeon. So you’re called the Virtuous Wisdom of the Current Age? How disappointing.”
“Pft! Captain! At the end of the day, she’s just a milk-smelling woman! When has she ever seen real combat?”
“Quite right. Let’s grind them to dust in one breath and take that bitch’s head!”
“I hear the Virtuous Wisdom of the Current Age is quite the beauty. Tee-hee!”
The Chamsaldae seemed already victorious before the battle had even begun, their mood light and gleeful.
Justly so.
How many centuries had it been since Huashan’s name had shone brightly?
Flowers bloom but ten days; power endures no decade.
The moon waxes and wanes. Huashan, having fallen into repeated decline, was now a sect utterly dimmed beneath the mountain’s shadow.
“Heh, these must be the last hope of Huashan. There’s a certain satisfaction in finishing with our own hands a deep-rooted, prestigious lineage.”
“Kahahaha, let’s uproot the rotten plum tree!”
“Pups! I’ll carve you up, bit by bit!”
Boom!
Fifty-odd members of the Chamsaldae began to radiate Killing Intent.
Though their numbers were double, not a trace of concern about defeat could be seen in their eyes.
“Brothers and sisters. As you know, today is a day of great importance.”
Shring.
Facing the Chamsaldae thus, Un Am drew the Jaha Divine Sword.
“It is the day we prove that the plum blossom of Huashan has not fallen.”
To Un Am’s words, the disciples of Huashan added their own.
“Long and long the time has been. The plum blossom that endured through hardship and patience shall spread its fragrance ten thousand miles hence.”
“Hah, to what can the beauty of a plum blossom that survived the winter be compared?”
“Let us advance. If we trust the brothers and sisters arrayed before and behind us, the sword of Huashan shall be invincible.”
Swoosh! Clash-clash-clash!
The disciples of Huashan drew their blades in unison.
Un Am drew in a deep breath.
And cried out.
“Yukhap Plum Blossom Sword Formation—open!”
Crack! Screech-screech-screech!
The disciples of Huashan Sect moved swiftly to their assigned positions.
Yukhap, as the name suggested, referred to six specific combinations.
Though many interpretations of Yukhap existed, it was generally understood as the union of heaven and earth with the four cardinal directions.
‘But that was far from the whole story.’
“Yukhap is the foundation of Huashan’s sword art. Without Yukhap, there is no Plum Blossom; without Plum Blossom, there is no Huashan.”
“I understand. That’s why young disciples who enter Huashan train first in the Yukhap Sword.”
“What is the Yukhap Sword?”
“It’s… a swordsmanship that occupies the six directions—east, west, south, north, heaven, and earth—controlling all of an opponent’s pathways, is it not?”
“Half right.”
“Sir?”
“When the foundation tilts, nothing built upon it endures. Listen well. Yukhap is….”
Sword Friend.
The voice of Namgung Ho Yeon flashed through his mind.
‘Yukhap is not merely the designation of directions, but the cosmic harmony and balance born from the mutual generation of Celestial Stems and Earthly Branches!’
Un Am’s voice rang out.
“Rat-Ox Harmony, Tiger-Pig Harmony, Rabbit-Dog Harmony, Dragon-Rooster Harmony, Snake-Monkey Harmony, Horse-Sheep Harmony—these six unite to form Yukhap! When the essence of the Twelve Earthly Branches converges, the Plum Blossom shall bloom!”
Shwing—!
With Un Am’s command, nine Sword Plum Blossoms unfurled across Sungnyeon Plain.
Each Plum Blossom was composed of a total of twelve sword masters.
Two at the center, like pistil and stamen, anchored the formation, while five inner petals and five outer petals recreated the Five-Petal Flower pattern that gave the Plum Blossom its name.
“Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom!”
Shwing-ring-ring!
Shwing-ring-ring!
Following Un Am’s cry, the inner five petals began rotating clockwise in Following Heaven, while the outer five petals rotated counterclockwise in Reverse Heaven.
The two flower patterns spun in counterpoint, achieving the universe’s perfect balance, permitting not even the narrowest gap.
This was the true face of the legendary Yukhap Plum Blossom Sword Formation—the same formation with which twelve warriors once held back the mounted cavalry of the Turkic invaders of late-Han Shanxi.
Swish—!
For the first time in three hundred years, Huashan’s Plum Blossom bloomed in Zhongyuan, its fresh fragrance wafting forth as it suppressed the murderous energy of the Chamsaldae.
“Brothers! Let us show a Huashan sword spirit worthy of Plum Restorer Namgung Ho Yeon!”
“Huashan Sword Shadow Thousand Changes Ten Thousand Variations!”
“Within transformation lies joy and anger, sorrow and delight!”
A thousand transformations, ten thousand variations—within them flowed all the emotions of humanity, every feeling bright and dark.
* * *
“Achoo!”
Ho Yeon coughed and reproached Beom Seok.
“For heaven’s sake, put on some clothes!”
“Amitabha. This humble monk is quite well.”
“I’m the one watching you, and I’m freezing. What are you, some kind of wandering ascetic?”
Ho Yeon fixed Beom Seok with a sharp glare and continued.
“They say a modest monk climbs the kitchen roof first. Of all people, it had to be the First Commander causing trouble.”
“Ahem.”
“Sigh.”
Watching Beom Seok clear his throat sheepishly, Ho Yeon let out a long sigh.
‘What? I capture someone only to find out he was the leader of the Yueyingdaomun? I must be losing my mind.’
The guerrilla unit’s objective was to disrupt enemy supply lines, not engage in direct combat.
Yet they had managed to snatch the enemy’s chief commander and bring him back?
‘If it had been the Third or Second Commander, I could at least understand.’
If it had been the work of hotheaded Peng Gu Pae or mad scholar So Gyu, he could have borne the frustration without feeling quite so betrayed.
But Beom Seok, the one commander he had believed to be the only sane one, had committed such a spectacular blunder that Ho Yeon’s head was burning with heat.
It was the sensation of being stabbed in the foot by the very person you trusted most.
“Alas! What a useless lot of guardians!”
“Ahem, I fear my ears burn, sir.”
“Well, you should listen, shouldn’t you? Guardians of enlightenment indeed—not a single one of you has achieved understanding of your own foolishness.”
“Amitabha.”
“Why don’t you just commit seppuku while you’re at it?”
“Young Master, this humble monk has erred.”
Beom Seok, bearing the weight of his transgression, could offer nothing but apology to Ho Yeon’s withering critique.
Watching this scene unfold, a woman named Mu Ga Yak pulled the hem of her yellow monastic robe over her shoulder in alarm.
‘Good heavens. To speak of Beom Seok in such a manner.’
Though they had quarreled over differing views on the Split-Shoulder Robe, Ga Yak knew that Beom Seok was a virtuous one.
Had he lacked such certainty, he would have abandoned the False Capture Strategy no matter how urgent the situation.
‘If I’m captured by Nakjeon-dan, my personal honor will fall, but the clan can survive.’
His disappearance would allow him to evade the marriage proposal from the Suradaomun King.
It would prevent Yueyingdaomun from being absorbed and annexed by Suradaomun.
Moreover, Suradaomun King Jong Ri San was a man of considerable pride.
He calculated that the king would never again pursue marriage with someone captured by the righteous sects.
‘The only worry with this plan is whether Nakjeon-dan will actually guarantee the prisoner’s safety.’
One cannot avoid a tiger only to meet a wolf.
Even among the righteous, wicked men exist.
For this reason, Mu Ga Yak wanted to meet Nakjeon-dan’s leader and make her choice.
Beom Seok, whom she met that way, was somewhat overly conservative, but that very quality made him trustworthy.
‘But… Beom Seok wasn’t the leader?’
Mu Ga Yak’s pupils trembled.
Beom Seok was a master of the highest caliber from Shaolin Temple.
What could be the identity of this youth called the ‘youngest,’ who surpassed even such a man who lacked nothing in both Buddhist teachings and martial skill?
“Well, please show more restraint from now on.”
“Understood, Lord Namgung.”
‘Lord Namgung? No… surely not… could that be the Divine Thunder Heavenly Dragon Namgung Ho Yeon…?!’
Mu Ga Yak, who had been eavesdropping in silence, stared at Ho Yeon with wide eyes.
Namgung Ho Yeon.
The terrifying Destruction Demon who had demolished Geumcheon Daomun without leaving a single stone.
‘…Oh no. This is bad. Terrible. What do I do?’
As Mu Ga Yak trembled from head to toe, Ho Yeon, glancing at her waist, asked Beom Seok.
“A prisoner, yet you haven’t even disarmed her?”
“Amitabha. How could I inflict such humiliation upon a warrior who has acknowledged her own defeat?”
“Tsk, no matter how confident in one’s skill, complacency is forbidden. In a case like this, you sever two of the four limb meridians.”
“…!”
Tap!
Mu Ga Yak quickly retreated backward.
But this place was a narrow tower.
Moreover, the surroundings were nothing but a blue lake—there was nowhere to flee.
Step, step, step.
Namgung Ho Yeon approached her.
His eyes were as cold and impartial as the King of Hell surveying a sinner.
Mu Ga Yak cried out reflexively.
“I-if you wish for me to disarm myself, I will!”
Clink!
Mu Ga Yak swiftly drew the Weol Ah Sword from her waist and offered it to Ho Yeon.
“Hmm?”
Ho Yeon took the Weol Ah Sword, examined it, and pointed to Mu Ga Yak’s chest.
“I’ll take that as well.”
“W-what do you mean by trying to humiliate me…!”
“What are you talking about? Hand over the dagger hidden in your bosom.”
“…Oh.”
Mu Ga Yak’s dusky skin flushed red.
She had been so intimidated by the Heavenly Dragon’s fearsome reputation that she’d jumped to conclusions on her own.
“H-here it is.”
“Ho?”
When Mu Ga Yak reluctantly drew the Weol Wang Gucheon Sword, light flashed across Ho Yeon’s eyes.
Even sheathed, the blade emanated an extraordinary presence.
Swish!
Ho Yeon took the Weol Wang Gucheon Sword and unsheathed the dagger.
It appeared to be made of bronze rather than steel, yet its opalescence and hardness seemed to rival the Cheonrae Geom itself.
‘An exceptional blade indeed. Should I just take it?’
—Don’t you dare!
‘I was joking.’
—You were deadly serious, and you know it!
‘Caught red-handed.’
Speaking with the Cheonrae Geom, Ho Yeon examined the dagger—it was remarkably distinctive.
Unlike ordinary blades, its surface bore diamond-shaped patterns that immediately caught his eye.
Most striking of all were the countless points and lines etched in gold across the blade’s surface—they held an almost mystical quality.
‘What is this? There’s something…… about it. A pattern of some kind?’
A deep hum resonated through the air.
Ho Yeon’s eyes widened, flooding with azure light as he traced the connections between the points and lines.
Without conscious effort, his concentration sharpened, and Nae Gong surged upward from his lower dantian.
This was the manifestation of Mind Generates Following Qi—the principle that when the mind moves first, Qi naturally follows in its wake.
Could it be that this bronze blade harbored something powerful enough to stir his very soul?
‘Like this, or perhaps the reverse direction? If I connect them in sequence, a pattern emerges. And if I gather all of these together…….’
As Ho Yeon plunged deeper into intense concentration on the points and lines, a voice cut through his thoughts.
―Please, do not harm that child.
The voice shattered his focus. Ho Yeon’s brow furrowed in annoyance as he shot back his response.
‘It was a joke, I told you. Does this old codger really see me as a murderer?’
―Hmm? That last voice was not mine.
―What? No, nor mine either.
‘What?’
At the simultaneous denial from both blades, Ho Yeon blinked, bewildered.
A deep, resonant hum filled the air.
The Weol Wang Gucheon Sword sang out its cry, and a third voice—composed and grave—echoed through his mind.
―A pleasure to meet you. I am Weol Wang, known as Gucheon.

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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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