Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 209

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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 209. The Sword-Demon Receives a Gift of Arm Guard
“Where is Ho Bangju?”
“He’s gone to Shaoxing.”
“Ah, because of that iron mine.”
“You’ve got it easy, don’t you? You stir up trouble and wash your hands of it?”
“Hmm, well, leaders are supposed to set the direction. The actual work falls to the staff.”
“Remarkable. You say something so oddly convincing that I can’t argue with you.”
Ho Mok No, the blind master blacksmith well past eighty, let out a soft chuckle.
Namgung Ho Yeon, visiting Cheon Nam Iron Forge after a long absence, had changed somehow.
“You’ve changed, haven’t you?”
“I have. I’ve broken through.”
“I’m not talking about your level of attainment. I mean your vessel.”
“My vessel?”
“Steel is hard and strong, but it shatters and breaks easily. Wrought iron, on the other hand, is soft and weak, yet flexible and resists rust.”
Ho Mok No gazed at Ho Yeon with his blind eyes, his expression gentle and knowing.
“Strength alone doesn’t make a blade good, nor does softness. Only when the two are balanced does a sword become truly renowned.”
The words sent a tremor through him.
This was the enlightenment of Ho Mok No, who had ascended to the rank of master craftsman.
As Ho Yeon listened intently, Ho Mok No continued, his tone tender as though speaking to a grandson.
“The you from before reminded me of a steel blade—brittle and prone to breaking. True, you radiated tremendous promise, but you stood on the edge of shattering.”
“So you’re saying I’m different now?”
“Indeed. You’ve taken on the nature of wrought iron—maintaining firm will and principle while cultivating flexible thought and adaptability.”
“Tch, all that praise and nothing comes of it?”
“Hahaha! What would a man my age want? I’m merely fascinated by watching a legendary blade being forged.”
Ho Mok No shook his head to change the subject.
“Now, here’s the thing you ordered.”
“Oh!”
Ho Yeon exclaimed as Ho Mok No handed him a blue cylinder.
Unlike the red jade container holding eternal cold iron, this was a blue jade container bearing an icy chill.
“The red metal spear you sent me was made from Yang Hua Chi Tong—a rare metal.”
“Yang Hua Chi Tong? Copper? Ah, I was hoping for something better.”
Ho Yeon’s disappointed expression made Ho Mok No laugh.
“Heh, it’s true—copper is softer and weaker than most metals. Unsuitable for forging weapons.”
“Still, it can be used for needles, so I’m grateful.”
Pop!
As Ho Yeon opened the blue jade container’s lid, ninety-nine slender red copper needles were arranged neatly inside.
“The Ten-Thousand Cold Needles that Ho Mok No made for me have proven invaluable. Now that I have Yang Warm Needles as well, the harmony of yin and yang is complete.”
“Take these along too.”
“Hmm?”
Ho Yeon closed the blue jade container’s lid and accepted the ornaments Ho Mok No held out.
Clink-clink! Clink!
“What are these?”
As Ho Yeon examined the five red ornaments, Ho Mok No spoke.
“Yang Hua Chi Tong is nearly as rare as eternal cold iron.”
“Is that so?”
“Heh, weapons aren’t everything. Yang Hua Chi Tong is spirit metal that has absorbed the heat of deep earth. It’s especially good for women.”
“Really?”
“Simply carrying it warms the body by supplementing Yang energy, and it awakens the spiritual essence of an unborn child—so nobles and officials hunt for it with fierce desire.”
“Well, that explains its value.”
Ho Yeon nodded with understanding at Ho Mok No’s explanation.
That metal cage that had once held Baek Sol O.
Thinking that any ordinary iron cage wouldn’t suffice to hold a spirit beast, he’d sent it to Ho Mok No through a merchant network.
As expected, it turned out to be something precious.
“Thank you. I can distribute these as gifts.”
“Don’t mention it. It was a pleasure to work with Yang Hua Chi Tong again after so long.”
“I’ll have Pil send some green fruit preserve your way.”
“I won’t refuse. That preserve—the sweet and bitter blend was quite pleasant. Oh, and take this as well.”
Whish!
Thump.
Ho Mok No grabbed something from the table and tossed it; Ho Yeon caught it reflexively.
“What is this……?”
It was an arm guard made of dark leather of unknown origin.
By its shape, it wrapped around the forearm and wrist, and the ornate patterns embroidered in gold thread made it look expensive.
“Ahem, well, that’s a personal gift. Congratulations on the breakthrough.”
Ho Mok No spoke with a dry cough.
Namgung Ho Yeon, who had been staring at him intently, scratched his cheek as he spoke.
“I appreciate it, but……I don’t usually wear arm guards. They’re too restrictive, and I hate that feeling.”
“Heh heh, just try putting it on. I think your concern will vanish.”
“Tsk, very well.”
Namgung Ho Yeon clicked his tongue and fastened the arm guard on.
A Geom Soo, for whom wrist mobility is paramount, typically avoids arm guards.
They are mostly the domain of assassins who conceal hidden blades, or generals who charge across battlefields thick with arrow fire.
‘Ho Mok No isn’t the type to overlook that. How limiting a restricted wrist would be for mobility…… wait?’
But the moment Namgung Ho Yeon put on the arm guard, he gasped in surprise.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
He flexed his wrist in every direction and felt no sense of constraint whatsoever.
“Wow! What is this?”
“Hahahaha! It’s the hide of an Ink Scale Flood Dragon. The creature prowled through waters, so its hide is exceptionally supple and resilient.”
“A spirit beast?”
“Ahem, it’s not quite so rare. A flood dragon, after all, is a dragon that failed to ascend to heaven. It’s leftover material from long ago.”
Though Ho Mok No called it unremarkable, spirit beasts have been extinct since the era after the Divine Calamity.
And if it involved dragon scales, its value would be astronomical indeed.
“A Geom Soo’s hands are their lifeline. It’s wise to take precautions. The Ink Scale Arm Guard is quite serviceable by any measure.”
“……I’m grateful. I cannot refuse this.”
“Use it well, and that will suffice. I’m pleased this forge can repay a fraction of the debt the Namgung Clan has bestowed upon us.”
Swish! Swish!
Ho Mok No waved his hand as if ushering Namgung Ho Yeon along.
* * *
“Hm-hm-hmm! Hm-hmm!”
Tap! Tack! Tap-tap-tap!
Namgung Ho Yeon hummed as he bounded back in three great strides, barely touching the ground.
As he returned from his brief outing, two gatekeepers of the Hobeop Hall Guardian Pavilion called out loudly to greet him.
“Our respects to the Young Master!”
“Our respects to the Thunder God Celestial General!”
The gatekeepers expected a reaction.
The youngest young master disliked drawing attention.
Whenever they greeted him so loudly, he would scold them and tell them not to.
‘Keh, now that’s the real fun!’
‘Hehe, it’s been a while since we got scolded.’
But their hopes went unfulfilled.
“Oh, thanks for the work.”
Tap-tap-tap!
Namgung Ho Yeon waved his hand and accepted their greeting.
“Uh, uh-huh? What’s wrong?”
“Who knows? Is he in a good mood?”
Passing the bewildered gatekeepers, Namgung Ho Yeon headed straight for the Mu Ae Pavilion.
“Hehehehe! I need to test this right away!”
Namgung Ho Yeon gazed at the Ink Scale Arm Guard adorning both his wrists and broke into a smile.
―You’re this pleased, are you, boy?
“Of course! Good armor is like a second life! A pair of arm guards like these couldn’t be bought for a fortune!”
Namgung Ho Yeon answered the Cheonrae Geom’s question with unbridled enthusiasm.
“Besides, what part is the wrist? It lacks thick muscle and is primarily ligaments and tendons that absorb impact—a delicate region. There are only two bones, the radius and ulna, so structural support is limited!”
An arm guard protecting such a vulnerable wrist.
And one that didn’t restrict range of motion in the slightest.
It was only natural to be delighted as a Geom Soo.
“Heh heh, lately I’ve been making decent use of the Quan Zhang Technique as well. The utility of this arm guard will be beyond imagination……!”
Tap-tap! Snap!
Namgung Ho Yeon’s steps halted abruptly as he headed toward the pavilion.
“……What? Why is the old tiger over there?”
He felt an unfamiliar yet formidable presence emanating from the cultivation chamber that only direct members of the Namgung Clan could access.
“Tsk, I’ll have to come back next time…….”
Crunch-crunch-crunch!
The moment Ho Yeon turned to leave.
Five tigers emerged from the direction of Mu Ae Pavilion, their ten eyes gleaming as they began radiating their presence.
“Ah.”
At this obvious summons, Ho Yeon shuffled forward with the expression of someone who’d just eaten shit.
As expected, the moment he entered the cultivation hall.
“Good timing.”
An elderly man with muscles corded like iron stood rigid in the center, grinning as he fixed his gaze on Ho Yeon.
“Our grandson. Let me see what you’re made of.”
“…….”
* * *
“Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!”
“Stop whining and get up. This is exactly why I questioned whether our daughter could be trusted in your hands.”
Peng Hwan reproached Namgung Baek, who knelt on one knee catching his breath.
There were many reasons why he had journeyed from Hebei all the way to Anhui in person.
His daughter’s letter had been decisive, but even without that plea, Peng Hwan had been planning to visit the Namgung Clan within the coming days.
‘A breakthrough is not an ending but a beginning. Since the daughter-stealing rogue achieved one, I intended to pass on my teachings.’
Peng Hwan’s expression grew subtle.
As far as he knew, the Namgung Clan’s martial lineage had been severed multiple times throughout its history.
To climb beyond the wall by groping through incomplete martial principles deserved praise.
Yet an understanding of inner force cannot be obtained overnight.
This was why Peng Hwan had not returned to Hebei but waited instead, intending to pass on his knowledge of Qi Weaving to Namgung Baek.
‘But what is this? He’s already begun the weaving, however crudely. Was this one a genius after all?’
Peng Hwan looked down at Namgung Baek and shook his head.
This had nothing to do with genius or mediocrity.
It was a matter of information—who possessed it and who did not.
“Where did you hear of this?”
“Huff! Pardon?”
“Qi Weaving. Did you learn it from a Geom Soo? Or a Gapja?”
At Peng Hwan’s question, Namgung Baek smiled and replied.
“Haha, father-in-law. Warriors of Namgung follow only Namgung’s teachings. We walk no other path.”
“Hmm, so secret transmissions still remained?”
“Not so much remained as…… returned, I would say.”
At Namgung Baek’s cryptic words, Peng Hwan’s mouth quirked before he turned his head and spoke.
“Good timing.”
“……Ho Yeon?”
“Our grandson. Let me see what you’re made of.”
Ho Yeon replied to Peng Hwan’s words with a reluctant expression.
“Why me?”
“Hmm?”
“It’s obvious I can’t beat you now. Why would I fight with grandfather? I’m the type who only takes fights I can win.”
“What? Puahahaha!”
Peng Hwan burst out laughing.
What did this adorable grandson just say?
He “can’t” win now?
Peng Hwan caught the hidden meaning in Ho Yeon’s words, and his heart soared.
‘In other words, this disciple is confident he will surpass me someday?’
He’d heard recently that people were calling him the Thunder God Celestial General in the martial world.
Already bearing the title of One Hundred and Eight Renowned Swords before even reaching his twenties after achieving his breakthrough—the confidence blazed bright as a flame reaching toward heaven.
‘Truly, my bloodline! Yes, confidence is everything in this world!’
Yet alongside his delight, Peng Hwan felt concern.
He had witnessed far too many geniuses who climbed from victory to victory, only to shatter devastatingly before a single wall.
Peng Hwan believed his youngest grandson needed to bloody his nose before such a fate could befall him.
“Krhehe! Our youngest grandson has good ambition, but reality cannot be overcome by momentum alone, I’m afraid.”
Crack-crack-crack!
Peng Hwan clenched his fists.
At once, arms thick as an average adult woman’s torso contracted, brimming with divine power.
“It seems this grandfather must teach his cute grandson a lesson about reality.”
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
As Peng Hwan activated the Hun Yuan Pi Li Shen Gong, wisps of grey energy began to rise from every part of his body.
Recognizing that escape was impossible when he radiated such boundless fighting spirit, Ho Yeon let out a short sigh and laid down a condition.
“Well then, if I land a blow on grandfather, would you grant me one favor?”
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Of course! I’ll grant you anything!”
Peng Hwan nodded eagerly at the prospect, and only then did Ho Yeon smile brightly and draw the Cheonrae Geom from its sheath.
Ring!
“You… gave me your word?”
The duel between grandfather and grandson had begun.

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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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