Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 53

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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 53. The Sword Demon Witnesses Harmony
Baek Won Ui was in a foul mood.
His allowance had been cut off recently, keeping him away from the pleasure houses for days.
Today, some girl from a place called the Yuk An Clan had shown up at his door, and his father had ordered him to marry her.
Her face wasn’t without merit, but to a man who’d been dreaming of becoming the son-in-law and consort of the Namgung Clan, she fell short of expectations.
‘I was only trying to be polite, offer her a cup of tea, and send her on her way—’
But he’d even sent servants to queue at Dangdangdang, the most famous tea house in Hapbi lately.
No tables on the third floor? Was that even possible?
Surely no one would dare treat Baek Won Ui, heir to the Baek Won Merchant Clan, so dismissively.
“Sir, perhaps we should try somewhere else.”
“Wait! I need to teach these fools a lesson!”
When Yuk Yeo Ran tried to dissuade him with a worried expression, Baek Won Ui commanded his guards with even greater force.
“Clear the way! I’ll go up to the third floor myself and verify whether there really are no tables!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir!”
Two swordsmen with blades at their belts stepped forward, leaving the tea house staff bewildered and at a loss.
Just then.
“Oh, young master!”
Pil Jong Dae came hurrying down from the third floor, addressing Baek Won Ui.
“Please, forgive us! We’ll show you to the third floor at once!”
“Ha! See? There was a table after all.”
“Actually… there really isn’t one, sir.”
“What?”
“But when several guests heard Young Master Baek’s name, they were more than happy to yield their seats!”
Pleased by Pil Jong Dae’s words, Baek Won Ui glanced at Yuk Yeo Ran and boasted, “Ha ha! So I have friends upstairs after all.”
“…Yes.”
“Shall we go up? I’ll introduce you.”
Baek Won Ui assumed the people upstairs were the sons and daughters of Hapbi’s elite who usually fawned over him.
But when he reached the third floor, he found himself facing someone entirely unexpected.
“No…!”
Five people sat by the window, yet his eyes saw only one—a sharp-featured beauty in an azure fighting jacket.
“Ha ha! Miss Namgung Sang Ah, did you give up your seat for me?”
At the sound of his own name from Baek Won Ui’s lips, Namgung Sang Ah’s brow furrowed.
But she had no desire for a scene, so she nodded in agreement.
“Yes, we were just leaving.”
“Surely you’ll stay and chat awhile? I haven’t seen you in ages—where have you been?”
“…I had business in Sichuan.”
Namgung Sang Ah answered reluctantly and rose from her seat.
“Since we’re both here with guests, I think it best we part ways.”
“Guests?”
Only then did Baek Won Ui, his small eyes buried in flesh, scan the other faces at the table.
One was Namgung Ho Yeon, Namgung Sang Ah’s brother, and beside him sat an unpleasant-looking boy with blue eyes.
And across from them—
a broad-shouldered youth in brocaded silk and a lean man in a wide-sleeved green martial robe.
‘Tsk! How dare these lowborn—’
Sitting down for tea with Namgung Sang Ah, no less.
Were these men connected to her? He’d never heard rumors of such companions.
‘Men she made acquaintance with in Sichuan, perhaps? Such presumptuous fools—’
Rage flared hot in Baek Won Ui’s chest.
How dare they fawn over the woman he’d already claimed?
‘Hmph, judging by their clothes—the son of some nouveau riche family and a country warrior’s brat, no doubt.’
Having deduced their stations from their garb, Baek Won Ui smiled mockingly and spoke.
“Sichuan, you say. What business could possibly take you to such a rustic backwater?”
Thump.
At Baek Won Ui’s words, Dang Se Ki’s arm—which had been lifting the Iron Goddess of Mercy Tea—froze in mid-air.
“My apologies, but Sichuan was actually quite vibrant and pleasant.”
“Hardly. I’ve heard the men there are uniformly uncouth—always eating spicy food, which makes them hot-tempered and volatile, or so they say.”
Though Namgung Sang Ah cried out with a pallid face, Baek Won Ui continued his insults unabated.
Then from behind, Yuk Yeo Ran, who had been fidgeting anxiously, tried to stop him.

“Young Master, please! Let’s just go somewhere else.”
“What?”
Baek Won Ui frowned as he looked at Yuk Yeo Ran, who was tugging him away.
A moment ago he’d thought her looks were passable, but now that he’d seen Namgung Sang Ah, he realized there was no homelier face in the world.
Slap!
“Get lost! Who gave you permission to call yourself my companion?”
“Aaaah!”
When Baek Won Ui shoved Yuk Yeo Ran away, her body stumbled backward toward the stairs.
“Huh!”
“Oh no……!”
“Aaaaah!”
The moment screams erupted from the other patrons who had been watching the sudden commotion.
Whoosh!
“Oof!”
“Are you hurt?”
Dang Se Ki had repositioned himself in an instant and appeared behind Yuk Yeo Ran, who had squeezed her eyes shut, steadying her.
“Oh!”
Slurp.
When Yuk Yeo Ran opened her eyes and looked up, she saw Dang Se Ki sipping his Iron Goddess of Mercy Tea.
He had deployed his Divine Movement Technique with remarkable speed, yet hadn’t spilled a single drop from the cup he held.
‘A master…….’
‘Heavens!’
‘Such transcendent skill.’
Anyone with eyes could tell that Dang Se Ki was no ordinary martial artist.
But Baek Won Ui, who was utterly ignorant of martial arts, merely curled up his lips and muttered to himself.
“Well, what a fitting pair. A country warrior’s son and the daughter of some minor family.”
“You——!”
Slurp.
Just as Yuk Yeo Ran gritted her teeth and swallowed her tears at Baek Won Ui’s insult, Dang Se Ki drank another sip of tea, his expression unchanged.
‘This has gone too far.’
But Sang Kwan Hae knew that Dang Se Ki was furious right now.
Normally he was indifferent and preferred to stay out of things.
But there was one circumstance in which he became terrifying.
And that was——.
“Nothing he said was wrong, actually. I do lack refinement. I do enjoy spicy food. And yes, I’ve been told I have a fiery temper.”
“Ha, so you’re a man without pride either. Get him out of here!”
At Dang Se Ki’s words, Baek Won Ui sneered and issued an order to his guards.
His escort consisted of first-rate warriors—men skilled enough to command elite rogue swordsmen.
They were no match for a country warrior’s son to handle alone.
“I know only one principle: repay kindness twofold, vengeance tenfold.”
When Dang Se Ki smiled and spoke these words, the guards approaching him froze, their eyes widening as they stopped in their tracks.
“What are you standing around for? Drag him out!”
“……Perhaps. What might your name be, sir?”
“Could it be…….”
Baek Won Ui issued another command, but the guards remained unmoved.
Then Dang Se Ki finished the last of his Iron Goddess of Mercy Tea and revealed his identity.
“Well then. I am the eldest son of the Sichuan Dang Clan, known as Dang Se Ki. My associates call me the Poison Heart Hand.”
“Gasp!”
“T-the Sichuan Dang Clan!”
Everyone in the teahouse, including the guards, was taken aback at the revelation of Dang Se Ki’s identity.
There is a saying that circulates through the martial world: beware feuding with the Dang clan.
It means one should sooner make enemies of the world than make enemies of the Dang family.
The Dang clan was famous for pursuing even the smallest grudge to the bitter end and exacting vengeance.
“T-the Sichuan Dang Clan?!”
Baek Won Ui too was startled by Dang Se Ki’s revelation, but the damage was already done.
“To insult a guest is to insult the Dang clan. Our family has repaid kindness twofold and vengeance tenfold to reach the heights we have today.”
“S-stop him!”
“There’s nothing to stop. It’s already begun.”
“What?! Hic!”
The moment Baek Won Ui’s eyes widened, he suddenly erupted into violent laughter along with a hiccup.
“Hehehehe! Hehehehehehe!”
“What—what is this?”
“Why are you laughing all of a sudden?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
The patrons watched Baek Won Ui in alarm as he clutched his belly, shaking with uncontrollable laughter.
“Puhehehehe! Ehehehehehe!”
“The spores of the Tangerine Madness Fungus make for an entertaining substance, wouldn’t you say? Aren’t you feeling joyful?”
“Kehehehe! Ehehehehehe!”
“Seeing you laugh like that—it lifts my spirits too. Do laugh a bit more for me.”
Baek Won Ui was laughing, but tears streamed from his eyes and mucus ran from his nose—he looked miserable.
Dang Se Ki observed this with a nod and offered his counsel.
“The effects will last about fifteen minutes. Since we’re here at the teahouse, we should take the time to enjoy a cup.”
“Puhehehehe!”
“Life is short—one should laugh through it. You seem to carry far too much anger, friend.”
“Kehehehehehe!”
Thump-thump!
Baek Won Ui’s face flushed crimson as if it might burst. He shook off the attendants trying to support him and bolted from the teahouse in panic.
“Puhaha! What a pathetic sight!”
“Tee-hee, that pig’s finally met his match.”
“Yes, laughter brings fortune. Hehehehe!”
The teahouse patrons merely laughed at Baek Won Ui’s desperate flight. No one showed concern.
Anyone living in Hapbi knew well of Baek Won Ui’s arrogant tyranny.
As Dang Se Ki returned to his seat, turning the teahouse into a sea of mirth, Sang Kwan Hae shook his head slowly and spoke.
“My, Se Ki. Using poison on a common citizen—isn’t that excessive?”
“I exercised some restraint, I assure you. And it wasn’t poison—merely the gift of laughter.”
Tap!
At Sang Kwan Hae’s words, Dang Se Ki set down his empty teacup on the table and shrugged.
“I’ve come to see you in a new light, Dang.”
“Hah! Hmm.”
Namgung Ho Yeon gave Dang Se Ki a thumbs-up, while Namgung Sang Ah stifled her laughter with a cough.
At this, Dang Se Ki grinned and murmured to himself.
“It was good—a way to confirm who I really am.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“There have been so many strange affairs of late that I’d begun to wonder if I’d turned respectable.”
“……?”
Namgung Ho Yeon tilted his head at these cryptic words, while Dang Se Ki merely settled into his seat with a satisfied expression.
“Well then! My sincerest apologies for the disturbance! As penance, I, Sang Kwan Hae, shall cover everyone’s bill. I beg your gracious forgiveness!”
Sang Kwan Hae stepped forward with a bow to shield his friend’s transgression.
Exclamations erupted throughout the teahouse.
“Sang Kwan Hae? Ah, a young master of the Sangkwan Clan? That explains your distinguished bearing.”
“One of the Ten Great Merchant Clans, no less!”
“Ha! A fine show and free tea—this is indeed a fortunate day!”
“So the Namgung still know how to cultivate friendships. The young master mixing with princes of the Sichuan Dang Clan and the Sangkwan Clan……”
The patrons who had come to the teahouse seemed far more delighted than troubled by the spectacle before them.
As the commotion settled, Namgung Ho Yeon leaned close to Mo Yong Yul’s ear and whispered.
“Yul.”
“Hehehehe! Yes?”
“I need to ask you for something.”
“……!”
Mo Yong Yul’s eyes widened at Namgung Ho Yeon’s words, and he nodded eagerly with delight.
“Shall I follow him and kill him?”
“……That’s not what I meant.”
* * *
“Aaaaaaah!”
Bang! Crash-crash-crash!
Baek Won Ui thrashed about in his chamber, smashing everything in sight.
Expensive porcelain lay in pieces, blood dripping from his fists, yet he did not stop.
“I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them all!”
Merely thinking of what happened this morning made his blood boil in rage.
What shameful spectacle was this, done in front of everyone!
How am I supposed to walk these streets of Hapbi with any dignity?
“That wretched Dang Se Ki!”
But what burned deepest was something else.
The man’s position—his status—meant Baek Won Ui couldn’t simply do with him as he pleased.
‘How do I kill him? Should I put in a contract with the Assassination Bureau? How much would it cost?’
In a world where money solved everything.
Impossible merely meant one hadn’t enough silver.
‘Money, money, money! I need more money!’
Grind, grind!
Baek Won Ui was gnashing his teeth like a man possessed by the Money Ghost when.
A voice came from beyond the door.
“Young Master. It is U Chief Eunuch.”
“What is it!”
“Your father summons you.”
“……Father?”
Baek Won Ui, who had just snapped out the words, now twisted his expression in displeasure.
“Damn it all—is it because of that woman Yuk Yeo Ran? What has the Yuk An Clan been saying!”
“That is not it, sir.”
“……It’s not?”
“This concerns a matter far more pressing. Please make haste in preparing yourself.”
Noting the unusual gravity in U Chief Eunuch’s voice, Baek Won Ui furrowed his brow and began gathering his robes.
And from atop the crossbeam, a small presence watched his every movement.
A crimson rat, its sharp front teeth working lightly against the wooden post.
It was Jeok Seo.
Patter-patter-patter!
The moment Baek Won Ui left the room, Jeok Seo’s nose twitched and it scurried after him, its claws clicking urgently.
“Squeak-squeak! Chirp-chirp!”

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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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