Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 49

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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 49. Sword Ghost and Sword Emperor Face to Face
Whoooosh!
A large merchant vessel traveled south along the Yangtze River.
It was the ship carrying Ho Yeon’s party, who had departed from the Muyong Clan Estate six days ago and were now returning to Anhui.
Ho Yeon sat in the cabin with his legs crossed, his eyes closed.
He had his mind focused on the Qihai Point.
Rumble!
Crack!
Electricity flowed back and forth through the Red Cloud Thunder, and Ho Yeon felt his internal wounds healing completely.
‘I pushed too hard. Even though I took the Baekseon Gangtae Bodan, I still burned through my Qi Flame recklessly.’
If Sword Qi were like dewdrops settling gently on a leaf,
then Qi Flame was like coating a leaf with oil and setting it ablaze.
Since it required explosive circulation of internal power all at once, his body had taken considerable strain.
‘Pouring water from a bucket into a narrow channel—the channel breaks.’
Though a well held one measure of internal power, attempting to deploy it all at once had caused internal injury because his meridians were too narrow and weak.
‘Still, it’s useful in a pinch. I should ask Sanggwan about getting more Baekseon Gangtae Bodan—or something even better if it exists.’
Currently, the ship carried not only Sanggwan Hae and Dang Seggi, but also troops from both the Sanggwan Clan and the Sichuan Tang Family.
When he’d visited them to pay respects before parting ways, they’d said they were heading to Anhui anyway and asked if he could put them up for a while.
‘And Yul came along too.’
The surprising one was Muyong Yul.
To empty the clan estate in the middle of a succession struggle?
It was tantamount to indirectly renouncing his claim to the Minor Clan Head position.
‘It seemed unlikely from the start, but such open surrender feels like a different matter entirely….’
He could see it clearly enough just looking at Jegal Ahyeon, who had returned to the Jegal Clan.
The reason she’d gone back to her clan was to cultivate her own people and expand her influence.
Yul too would have been wise not to seek the Minor Clan Head position but instead to consolidate his own faction in preparation for the future.
That way he could either strike out independently if circumstances demanded it, or negotiate with whoever was confirmed as Minor Clan Head.
‘Power matters no matter what path you take. Well, I’m sure they know what they’re doing. Same with Ahyeon.’
Thinking of Jegal Ahyeon brought a natural concern to mind.
‘Hmm. She should be fine. Her Spiritual Ability Disorder seemed to be resolved somewhat.’
Though he’d helped suppress it with Yi Gi Yeom Dong each time they met, it seemed she’d found her own way to control her Spiritual Ability.
‘A stabilized Spiritual Ability means her soul’s power has grown stronger. Either something shocking happened while we were apart, or she’s made a firm resolution.’
Hum…
With that thought, Ho Yeon shifted his focus this time to the Yintang Point.
‘……An increase of at least fifty percent.’
He had changed as well.
The Spiritual Power felt through his Upper Dantian had progressed to a new level in both quantity and quality.
This was the change that came after simultaneously sealing the Hundred Convergence Points of fifty-odd children at the Baeyak Mountain Manor’s Medicine Hall.
Spiritual Power was a force that grew stronger the more it was used, the more it was pushed beyond its limits.
In his past as a Sword Ghost, he’d wrung it out to kill, and kill again, and kill more. This time, he’d wrung it out to save small children—that was the only difference.
‘But just what kind of bastards are they? Creating Spiritual Ability users artificially with some forbidden art….’
The story he’d heard from Muyong Hak’s sword was genuinely shocking.
An unidentified group was using an implement called the Shinpyeon to extract children’s Spiritual Power and artificially create Spiritual Ability users.
‘The Seeker of Lost Ones—a fitting play on words, if a grim one.’
Ho Yeon had thoroughly searched the Baeyak Mountain Manor and examined one by one the swords that had accumulated as trophies.
But he’d gained no additional information, only suspicions.
‘Still, it’s certain that Gu Cheon-seong is entangled with them in some way. Nokrim and Salmak—traces have already been found at two places.’
As Ho Yeon was lost in thought, pursuing one doubt after another,
an old man’s voice called from outside the door.
“Ahem, ahem. The river wind is terribly cold. Surely some generous young soul wouldn’t deny this old man a blanket?”
‘Good grief, what’s he after now?’
With one more thing to occupy his mind, Ho Yeon frowned and reached for the blanket beside him.
* * *
Whoooosh!
The cold wind of the Yangtze swept across the deck.
An ordinary person would have felt the bite of such cruel wind, but the old man before him had no such concern.
“Heh heh, much obliged.”
“Ah, yes.”
‘Obliged, my foot. An old man who’s long since surpassed Han Seo Bul Chim pretending to be cold.’
Ho Yeon stared at Muyong Sangcheon, who had wrapped the blanket around himself, utterly exasperated.
I wanted to say something, but the moment I saw the Heukyah Tae Sword hanging from his belt, I found myself straightening up respectfully.
“It’s cold outside. Won’t you come in? I’d be happy to offer you some tea.”
“Heh, no need. Once I reach Henan, I’ll be cooped up indoors for months. I should get plenty of fresh air while I have the chance.”
At Ho Yeon’s words, Muyong Sangcheon smiled warmly and studied his face carefully.
“You really do resemble him.”
“Pardon?”
“Janghak, I mean.”
……
He’d said something similar before.
As Ho Yeon remained silent, Muyong Sangcheon nodded and continued.
“Nangung Janghak. Your grandfather. Though you never met him, I suppose. He died young.”
Muyong Sangcheon gazed out at the waters of the Yangtze River, lost in memory.
“He was a striking beauty—the ladies adored him. When he walked about, the scent of flowers seemed to follow in his wake.”
……
“Yet he showed little interest in romance. His mind was devoted entirely to restoring his clan, to the revival of the Nangung.”
……
“He was a sincere man, laboring tirelessly to restore the lost martial arts of his house and reclaim its former glory.”
Ho Yeon simply listened to Muyong Sangcheon’s reminiscent rambling.
His gaze turned toward Ho Yeon.
“He died without achieving his dream, but his grandson has realized it in his place, hasn’t he?”
“Is that… so?”
“Heh, I heard you restored the Cheonrae Jewang Shingong. They call it the Thunder Ray Apostle, don’t they?”
“Yes, well.”
“Sixteen years old. A fine age to set one’s ambitions.”
Muyong Sangcheon smiled broadly, then posed a question to Ho Yeon.
“Do you harbor ambition?”
“Ambition… you mean?”
“Call it a dream if you prefer, or a purpose.”
“Well, for now, I want to make the Nangung Clan the supreme clan of all under heaven.”
“Hm?”
At Ho Yeon’s answer, Muyong Sangcheon’s eyes widened, and then he burst into hearty laughter.
“Bahahaha! The supreme clan of all under heaven? Now that’s grand! But you’d have to surpass this sword master to manage it, wouldn’t you?”
“Well, given your age, surely time alone will grant me victory without my doing anything?”
“Kaha! Kahahaha!”
At Ho Yeon’s words, Muyong Sangcheon dissolved into genuine laughter.
Tears glistened at the corners of his eyes—proof this was real mirth, not mere performance.
“Khehehe! True enough, nothing conquers youth. I’ve lost.”
After laughing for some time, Muyong Sangcheon licked his lips and looked down at Ho Yeon.
There was a strange, gleaming hunger dancing in his eyes.
“Do you know there are different kinds of desire?”
“Different kinds?”
“Public Desire and Private Desire. Do you understand the distinction?”
“Well, Public Desire is desire for the good of all, while Private Desire is desire for oneself, I suppose?”
“Close enough. In truth, only one thing exists without Private Desire, and that is the universe itself.”
Snap!
Muyong Sangcheon pointed to the dark night sky and continued speaking.
“The movement of the universe is not for selfish gain, but the endless cycle of transformation that gives life and sustains all things. Therefore, only the universe embodies pure Public Desire.”
“And Private Desire?”
“Private Desire springs from conscious purpose. The pursuit of wealth, glory, and status—the acquisition of power through rank, or the very will to gain power itself. These are the essence of Private Desire.”
In Muyong Sangcheon’s words, Ho Yeon sensed a profound mystery.
He was imparting his own hard-won understanding to him now.
“Remember this if you would ascend to greater heights: the natural world changes according to the Principle of Cause and Effect, but the realm of the spirit transforms according to the Principle of Purpose.”
“… Why are you telling me such things?”
Ho Yeon regarded Muyong Sangcheon with a wary gaze.
Enlightenment was the collective whole of a warrior’s self, built over a lifetime.
To reveal it to another was as if one were tearing away not merely flesh and bone, but one’s very soul.
It was not something to be lightly disclosed even to blood kin or direct disciples.
“Heheheh, I too have desire. When I was young, I wished to cross swords with the Sword Ghost. He was acknowledged by all as the Supreme Master of All Under Heaven.”
……
“But he is dead now. Moreover, the martial arts of the Central Plains underwent rapid advancement in the three hundred years after his passing. Even were he to rise again, it would be questionable whether he could claim supremacy in the world.”
“…….”
“Then what of the Nangung Clan’s sword—the one that slew the Sword Ghost?”
Snap.
Muyong Sangcheon pointed at Ho Yeon with a meaningful smile.
“Young man. Cultivate ambition. Do not wait for me to wither and die. Climb that wall with all your strength, scratch by scratch, until you stand where I stand.”
“…….”
At his words, Ho Yeon’s eyes grew distant.
Then, from the deck above came a sudden chorus of screams.
“Pi, pirates!”
“That flag! The Haeshin Bang!”
“And the Yangtze River Route Alliance banner too!”
“That can’t be! We paid the toll just days ago!”
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three massive junks emerged from the dark Yangtze, cutting through the water.
Bang! Boom!
“Kahahaha! I am the master of the Haeshin Bang, known as the River Route Remnant Slaughter—Yuk Gupae! I hear there is a pup from the Nangung Clan aboard!”
A hairy giant launched himself like a meteor from the flagship, drawing his sword as he bellowed.
Clang!
“No lengthy words! Hand over the wretch called Ho Yeon, and you pass unharmed! But if you resist……!”
Whooom!
A crimson Qi Force erupted from Yuk Gupae’s blade, and terror flooded the sailors’ faces.
“G-God help us! It really is the River Route Remnant Slaughter!”
“A peak master!”
“W-who is Ho Yeon anyway!”
Thud! Tap-tap-tap!
And now, one by one, the pirates vaulted onto the deck.
Chaos erupted on the deck, yet Ho Yeon and Muyong Sangcheon remained fixed on each other.
Muyong Sangcheon smiled softly and spoke as a parting word.
“Talented young friend. Watch closely. This is the name of the wall you must reach—the Principle of Purpose.”
“Kehehehe! Is that small thing in the blue robe over there? Kill the old man and bring the brat to me!”
Snap.
Yuk Gupae pointed his Qi-shrouded blade at Ho Yeon, and in the same instant, Muyong Sangcheon gripped a sword seal in his right hand.
The moment Ho Yeon’s brow twitched at the sight, something impossible occurred.
Whooooom—!
A golden sword materialized upon the deck.
Muyong Sangcheon swung the sword seal with the casual grace of lifting a teacup.
Splinter-crack!
Yuk Gupae and his lackeys were severed in two.
Blades shrouded in Qi Force, blades bare—all were rent asunder.
Whoosh!
As Muyong Sangcheon swung the seal once more, the three massive junks split lengthwise.
Crack-crack-crack-crack!
Gurgle-gurgle-gurgle-boom!
The stricken vessels slowly sank beneath the Yangtze and vanished.
Everyone on deck struggled to comprehend what had just transpired.
Whoooosh!
The impact of the sinking junk sent water droplets cascading from the sky like rain.
Whooooom!
The golden sword now stood behind Muyong Sangcheon, casting its radiance upon him like a halo.
Every wrinkle on his face was etched with deep shadow, and he, with his teeth bared in that rigid expression, spoke to Ho Yeon.
“Remember me. I am the Light Sword Emperor, Muyong Sangcheon. I will await you above this sky.”

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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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