Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 195

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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 195. The Sword Demon Persuades Yueiwang Goujian
‘A sword with Spiritual Nature? That can’t be right.’
Namgung Ho Yeon stared at the Yueiwang Goujian Sword in disbelief.
In all his years handling blades, he’d encountered only three swords whose Spiritual Nature ran deep enough to communicate through Sword Heart Resonance.
The Cheonrae Sword, the Heukya Tae Geom, and the Jaha Shingeom.
What they shared was that each had endured countless ages, bearing its own history.
‘Then this blade as well…?’
At Namgung Ho Yeon’s thought, the sword identifying itself as Yueiwang Goujian spoke.
―Indeed. More than two thousand years have passed since the Spring and Autumn Period, so this king too has weathered quite a span of years.
―Hmm? By creation alone, you’re older than our Dae Gon Dae here.
―Oh! Older than our venerable elder! Now speak to him with respect, Dae Gon Dae!
―You insolent whelp. Do you think the meteorite from which this body was born endured only a few centuries or millennia?
―Hah, by that reckoning, which sword isn’t old? If I count my mineral days, I’m Dae Gon Dae’s contemporary!
―What? This presumptuous youngster!
―Ha, you’re all quite entertaining.
Yueiwang Goujian laughed at the bickering between the Cheonrae Sword and the Heukya Tae Geom.
‘This is embarrassing. Both of you, please hush.’
Namgung Ho Yeon shook his head at how their quarrel leaked from within and without alike.
‘But Yueiwang Goujian? You were once human in life, then?’
―That could be so, or it may not be.
‘What do you mean?’
―Before this body perished, this king made a request of the greatest blade craftsmen of the age—Ganjiang and Moye. I asked them to forge, from my corpse, a single sword that would eternally protect the Kingdom of Yue.
‘You’re saying…?’
―Ganjiang and Moye honored that wish. They blended my hair, my fingernails, my bone powder, and my blood into bronze and forged it into one blade—which is this very body you see.
Hearing Yueiwang Goujian’s explanation, Namgung Ho Yeon’s expression turned uncertain.
‘Then isn’t this a demonic sword that devours people?’
―Ha, don’t think so harshly. The truth is, I myself don’t know all the details. But when I first awakened to Spiritual Nature, the Kingdom of Yue had already fallen to the Kingdom of Chu.
Yueiwang Goujian’s voice took on a rueful edge.
―Since then, I have witnessed countless descendants struggling and toiling to survive.
‘Then… that girl is your descendant?’
When Namgung Ho Yeon glanced toward Moo Ga Yak, who was watching warily, she startled and drew her sleeve closer.
―Ga Yak is a pitiful child. She lost her mother to vile factional strife and became sect leader while barely more than a girl, suffering greatly from it.
‘Hmm?’
―Will you not aid Ga Yak? Please protect that girl from the Poison King’s grasp.
‘And why should I?’
―If you do so, I shall teach you the Man-wol technique in return.
At the gravity in Yueiwang Goujian’s voice, Namgung Ho Yeon’s brow twitched slightly.
‘Man-wol? What is that?’
―A technique I myself innovated. In this age, it goes by the name Dok-mun Ganggi.
‘Interesting.’
―How does it sound? Surely there is no finer reward for a Murin who pursues the zenith of the martial way.
Yueiwang Goujian spoke with absolute confidence.
He was certain Namgung Ho Yeon would accept his proposal.
But then.
‘I refuse.’
―What… what did you say?
‘Dok-mun Ganggi? I know around ten of them already.’
―You know… around ten Dok-mun Ganggi techniques?
Yueiwang Goujian asked as if unable to believe his ears.
What was Dok-mun Ganggi?
It was the crystallization of martial learning accumulated over a lifetime by a single Murin—true to its name, “the one and only school.”
It was a personal, individual martial system so unique that many Ascended Masters never managed to create even one throughout their entire lives.
Yet this man claimed to know not just one, but around ten?
―Is this a jest? Or perhaps a gentle refusal?
‘I’m being serious.’
Namgung Ho Yeon smiled faintly as he spoke.
‘What’s so remarkable about Dok-mun Ganggi? Actually, there’s a story that Jik-ganggi was originally the Dok-mun Ganggi of Jang Sam Bong.
As time passes, such secrets inevitably leak and become known to the masses. Jik-ganggi was itself a splendid Dok-mun Ganggi.
Therefore, Namgung Ho Yeon had no particular attachment to unique Dok-mun Ganggi techniques.
The truth was, mastering Jik-ganggi alone would surpass most mediocre Dok-mun Ganggi in practical worth.
In Ho Yeon’s judgment, it was the Jik-ganggi that maintained the best balance across all aspects of offense and defense.
―But Man-wol is different! That is my royal secret! The decisive reason I defeated the kingdom of Wu in life was the Man-wol Technique!
‘Not interested. I can’t use it anyway, not right now.’
Ho Yeon replied dismissively.
With the destruction of his karma, he could barely weave together even a single Jik-ganggi properly—he had no desire to waste his focus learning other Dok-mun techniques.
―Then, I shall arrange for you to be together with Moo Ga Yak.
‘What?’
―I will tell you what she likes and dislikes, so that you might win her heart.
‘Pardon? You mean catching mist instead of rain? If this is some desperate stratagem, I’d rather decline.’
―It would be good for you as well. To gain a beauty like Moo Ga Yak and take the Wolryeong Moon as your wife’s family—a golden opportunity.
‘Then what difference is there between me and you? Besides, I already have a betrothed. She’s far prettier than that woman, and her family background is superior.’
―Impossible! There is no woman in this world more beautiful than my Moo Ga Yak!
‘There are limits to doting on someone, Your Majesty.’
―Then, what about this? I shall tell you of an iron mine I know—a secret iron mine of the kingdom of Yue!
‘That is tempting, but no. The price is direct confrontation with you. The profit and loss don’t balance.’
―Then, perhaps―!
‘Tsk. How persistent you are.’
As Ho Yeon clicked his tongue, the Cheonrae Sword spoke in a blunt voice.
―Of course he is. Yueiwang Goujian was dragged into slavery by the kingdom of Wu, lay upon brushwood and tasted gall in remembrance of his oath for revenge—a man of legendary resolve.
‘What? He’s the one from Wouxin-Changdan?’
―Wouxin-Changdan alone? He is also the originator of Tusha Goupaeng. His loyal minister Wen Zhong was purged and executed by Goujian the moment the war ended.
‘This is a sword I simply cannot trust?’
―That… I have reflected upon that matter!
―Arranging for Moo Ga Yak to be with this one? You, who sent Xishi to Fu Chai to bring ruin upon Wu—you have no right to speak.
―Why are you doing this to me? What have I done to offend you?
―Hehehehe! Dae Gon Dae is simply in a foul mood. You said you were older than Dae Gon Dae, after all.
―If that is the case, I shall treat you as my elder.
―Ahem! This one seems to understand propriety well enough—help him out, won’t you.
Ho Yeon, listening to the swords’ exchange, found the whole thing absurd.
‘They’re squabbling amongst themselves while not even thinking of the person who would receive the benefits. Forget it. I won’t do it.’
With that, Ho Yeon severed the Sword Heart Resonance.
Then he spoke to Beom Seok.
“When dawn breaks, take this woman to the shore.”
“Master, are you certain? I shouldn’t speak, having brought her here myself, but she knows the location of our base.”
At Beom Seok’s words, Ho Yeon smiled slightly and looked at Moo Ga Yak.
“From her perspective as well, our existence is essential. Without us, she would be sold to you immediately.”
“…….”
“She came here as a prisoner because she intended to use us as a human shield, did she not?”
At Ho Yeon’s question, Moo Ga Yak, who had been biting her lip, spoke.
“……That’s right.”
“Amitabha!”
“You cannot deceive me as you do foolish monks. Don’t bring your problems with me. Keeping you around will only invite needless trouble.”
At Ho Yeon’s words, Moo Ga Yak, who had been lost in thought for a moment, smiled and spoke.
“Is that so?”
“Hmm?”
“Whether I’m a troublemaker or a blessing will be revealed before long.”
“What?”
“Your goal is to cause chaos at Poyang Lake and cut off the supply routes to Anhui, isn’t it?”
“And?”
“You’ll fail.”
At Moo Ga Yak’s meaningful remark, Ho Yeon’s brow furrowed.
She continued.
“The supply route’s path will be completely different from before.”
“……The supply route will change?”
“The original supply lines came from Nanchang, the capital, through Ganjiang River and into Poyang Lake, anchored at Dochang, then passed through Hukou to merge into the Yangtze River and enter Anhui. That’s the structure.”
At Moo Ga Yak’s words, the members of the Separate Unit nodded.
Her account was accurate.
This was why they had been executing their operation here at Nakseong-don, near the northern waterway heading toward the Yangtze River.
“But due to continued attacks, the Suradomon has decided to change the supply route.”
“……Where to?”
“I’m not sure?”
At Ho Yeon’s question, Moo Ga Yak lifted her shoulders with a slight smile.
“If you’d kindly kidnap me, I think it might come back to me.”
“…….”
“One thing I should mention—they say this time they’re moving all the accumulated supplies at once. It’d be better to make one big strike than to keep picking away at them, wouldn’t it?”
“…….”
“Ah, I really don’t want to tell you, but if the Righteous Faction’s ascended master—so cold and impartial—threatens me like this, I suppose I have no choice.”
At Moo Ga Yak’s feigned reluctance, Ho Yeon let out a hollow laugh.
“……ha.”
If the supply route had truly changed as she claimed, this was serious.
Even Hao Mun couldn’t avoid taking time to map out a new route.
And he couldn’t exactly search the entire expanse of Poyang Lake.
‘And if they really are gathering all the accumulated supplies in one place, this is an opportunity not to miss.’
It wasn’t just about making one big haul—what mattered was the time it would save.
Even now, the enemy was constructing an encirclement to catch the Separate Unit.
He’d prepared a breakthrough route, but slipping through while the net still had loose threads was the better play.
‘If we take losses this time, resupply will take months. By then, the Three Evil Illness Strategy will be complete and then some.’
The calculation was clear.
Ho Yeon studied Moo Ga Yak.
She held his gaze with confidence, but inside, her nerves were stretched taut.
‘……Did it work? Did it fail? Surely he won’t torture me?’
To her, Ho Yeon spoke.
“Better than your ancestors.”
“Pardon?”
“The foundation of any deal is preparing what the other party wants. It seems you have what I need.”
“Then… does that mean…?”
As color rose to Moo Ga Yak’s cheeks, Ho Yeon nodded and made his declaration.
“All right. Tell me what you know. If it’s true, I’ll take responsibility and kidnap you.”
“……!”
* * *
Two days later.
“……It was true.”
A dark-skinned middle-aged man climbing the tower by rope spoke.
It was Po Seom, chief of the Seonamun branch in Dochang.
“The supply route has genuinely changed.”
“We tried several times and gave up.”
“There’s no help for it. The supply ships no longer pass through Dochang and Hukou at all.”
Po Seom glanced inward into the tower.
“Oh my, really? It must have been so hard.”
“To take on the position of sect leader before even turning twenty…”
“Goodness, how you must miss your mother?”
“N-no, it’s not really like that. It’s simply what I’m meant to do. Besides, both the Righteous Faction and the Heterodox Faction are helping me…”
Surrounded by the female disciples, Moo Ga Yak fidgeted with her fingers, her face flushed.
It was an odd cohabitation—disciples of the Righteous Faction and a sect leader of the Heterodox Faction—but.
The two days spent in the cramped tower had opened their hearts beyond status and faction.
Of course, the fact that Moo Ga Yak was their age and that Wolryeong Moon hadn’t participated in Gubaek Sheng Pae had played its part.
“The security was so tight that without the Wolryeong Moon leader’s advice, we might never have found it.”
“But you did find it?”
“Yes. They’ve altered the supply route from the Main Stream to a tributary.”
“A tributary?”
“The supply ships that used to pass through Dochang and Hukou and continue along the Yangtze’s Main Stream now go through Paoyang and Jingdezhen to a tributary of the Yangtze.”
“Paoyang and Jingdezhen—isn’t that where Suradomon supposedly formed their encirclement?”
“Precisely. That’s why they chose this route. Paoyang and Jingdezhen connect via the Xinjiang, and from Jingdezhen to Anhui, one can use the Changjiang.”
“So while they’re setting up the encirclement, they cover the supply route escort too? These dogs have actually used their heads.”
Ho Yeon nodded, and Po Seom continued.
“The intermediate waypoint the Wolryeong Moon leader mentioned has been confirmed to be Shuangzhong Sandbank, located between Nanchang and Paoyang.”
“Shuangzhong Sandbank?”
“Literally, it’s a massive sandbar island that rises up in the shape of two bells. They intend to pile supplies there and move it all at once.”
“The escort will be thick as thieves.”
“Yes, which is why it’s crucial we strike Shuangzhong Sandbank as quickly as possible. Once the convoy begins, it will be too late.”
“All right.”
Namgung Ho Yeon gazed up at the sky.
The sun was sinking slowly toward the horizon.
“Tonight we finish this and leave. I’m tired of Jiangxi.”

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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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