Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 78

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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 78. The Sword Demon Meets a Beauty Again
“Hmm… As expected, all eyes are on Ho Yeon.”
“Why? Are you jealous?”
Namgung Ja Ryang asked in response to Namgung Cheong Gang’s murmur.
“Not really. It’s just that I think Ho Yeon would hate the attention. My brother doesn’t enjoy being singled out.”
“Good grief. What am I to do with this stubborn one? More importantly, soften that frown. Who’s going to approach you looking like that?”
“What’s wrong with my expression?”
“It’s a face of ice.”
True to Namgung Ja Ryang’s words, the Later Generation Disciples around them hesitated to approach Namgung Cheong Gang, whose face radiated an icy chill.
‘Indeed, the arrogant pride of a renowned clan once called the greatest family under heaven.’
‘Heh, that must mean he’s confident in his skills.’
‘How refreshingly bold he looks!’
‘If only that ice-like face would smile at me…’
The male Later Generation Disciples sensed an uncommon Qi Aura emanating from Namgung Cheong Gang and felt their competitive spirit ignited.
The female Later Generation Disciples were drawn to Namgung Cheong Gang’s striking features and sharp, well-defined face.
‘Compared to his younger brother… tsk, was it all just a false reputation after all? Three swords—how ridiculous.’
‘His muscles seem well-built, but his height and arm length aren’t particularly impressive. A flaw for a swordsman.’
In contrast, the male Later Generation Disciples regarding Namgung Ho Yeon’s presence showed clear disappointment in their eyes.
His Qi Aura was as ordinary as rumored, and his frame lacked the imposing stature they’d anticipated.
‘Wow, such a decadent beauty among the White Blade Sect’s young masters.’
‘He stirs the imagination toward dangerous encounters!’
‘And that young master in blue beside him has a sharp flavor to him as well.’
Yet the female Later Generation Disciples’ eyes gleamed all the brighter.
All three of the Namgung brothers were handsome men—each in a different way.
“Ha-ha-ha! So the Jade-faced young masters have all come out together for the gathering?”
Thump! Thump!
Then, with a hearty laugh, a muscular giant wearing a sword at his hip approached the Namgung Clan members.
“Ho Yeon!”
“Hmm? Sang A, is that you?”
“Elder sister.”
Beside the giant stood Namgung Sang A in blue martial robes, waving her hand.
Namgung Sang A introduced the giant.
“Everyone, say hello. He’s our cousin, Peng Gu Pae.”
“Ah, so you’re the renowned Lightning Blade, Peng Gu Pae.”
“Blade Dragon!”
Namgung Cheong Gang’s eyes brightened as he clasped his fist in salute, while Namgung Ja Ryang gasped in recognition, speaking Peng Gu Pae’s alias aloud.
Five years prior, Peng Gu Pae had secured the title of Dragon at his first Yongbong Conference, appearing at the age of twenty-three.
“Cousin, we’re the same age, so let’s speak comfortably.”
“Well… all right.”
“Ha-ha-ha! How spirited! This is what true camaraderie between men looks like!”
Peng Gu Pae burst into an enthusiastic laugh, then threw his arms wide and embraced Namgung Cheong Gang without hesitation.
At this uninhibited gesture, Namgung Cheong Gang’s brow furrowed slightly, but he refrained from pushing away, thinking his cousin was simply an enthusiastic person.
“Oh, oh! These trained muscles! Each one firm and defined! Magnificent!”
“…Please stop groping me.”
“Ha-ha-ha! My apologies. I have a habit of checking the muscles of anyone who stirs my competitive spirit.”
After stepping back from Namgung Cheong Gang, Peng Gu Pae turned his gaze to Ho Yeon.
“So you’re the famous younger cousin!”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Namgung Ho Yeon.”
Since this man belonged to his mother’s family line, Ho Yeon made a point of being as courteous as possible, returning the fist salute.
“Ha-ha-ha! Our youngest aunt’s beauty is still spoken of within the clan, and now meeting her children, I find myself nodding in understanding!”
Peng Gu Pae looked from Namgung Cheong Gang to Namgung Sang A to Namgung Ho Yeon, nodding approvingly.
Unlike himself with his bandit-like appearance, they all bore the refined demeanor of noble family children.
“Let me embrace our younger cousin too!”
Whoosh! Slip.
‘Does this Blade Dragon bastard have a death wish?’
As Peng Gu Pae opened his arms to embrace him, Ho Yeon’s brow creased sharply, and he glided away as smoothly as water by treading the Gam Bo, evading the attempt entirely.
“Hmm?”
A flash of interest crossed Peng Gu Pae’s eyes.
‘So what I see isn’t all there is. Heh, both brothers are monsters.’
Now, at last, Peng Gu Pae began to look forward to the Yongbong Conference.
His reason for participating in the Yongbong Conference a second time had nothing to do with maintaining the Dragon title.
He simply wanted to test himself against strong opponents and measure where he truly stood.
“Ha ha ha! Splendid! Absolutely magnificent!”
“Peng! What are you doing! Ho Yeon doesn’t do well with strangers!”
As Peng Gu Pae burst into raucous laughter, Namgung Sang A embraced Ho Yeon soothingly while shooting him a meaningful look.
“Oh dear, our cousin’s upset now.”
“Sang A, mind your manners. What if you spoke to me that way?”
“Ha ha ha! Cheong Gang, it’s fine. Sang A and I grew quite close on the way down from Beijing.”
“Is that so? You must have had your hands full. She’s not easy to get along with, that reckless one.”
“What did you say?”
“Just that here you are, ignoring your brother after three years apart, and clinging to Ho Yeon instead.”
“Pffft! What admirable sibling affection!”
Perhaps because they were cousins from the maternal side, Peng Gu Pae blended easily with the Namgung Clan members.
Then.
“Oi, Gu Pae. Did you rent out the entire Taehwa Pavilion? Keep your voice down.”
A resounding voice rang out.
Turning his head, Hwangbo Pil Seong and Ak San Seo approached.
“What? It’s Pil Seong. Your voice is even louder.”
“Heh heh, this is a symbol of innate strength—I can’t help it. It’s not something manufactured like yours.”
“What?”
“Hmph! You cunning fox playing the bear! Last Yongbong Conference, you snatched the Dragon title because I wasn’t there, but this time will be different!”
Crack!
Hwangbo Pil Seong flexed his bulging muscles, openly challenging Peng Gu Pae to competition.
“This time, let’s settle who truly ranks first among the Two Divine Strength Houses!”
In Zhongyuan, there were two families said to be blessed with strength from heaven itself—the Two Divine Strength Houses.
A title referring to the Hebei Peng Family and the Hwangbo Clan.
Moreover, Hebei and Shandong, where these two families were located, were close enough to touch noses across a border.
Since childhood, Hwangbo Pil Seong had heard Peng Gu Pae hailed as Hebei’s finest talent, yet he never doubted he would be the one to become the Fist Dragon.
“Huh huh huh, Pil Seong. Calm yourself. This isn’t a martial competition hall.”
As Hwangbo Pil Seong grew excited, Ak San Seo quieted him and surveyed the gathering.
“Hmm?”
His gaze fixed on Namgung Sang A.
She was a stunning beauty, with slightly raised eyes that gave her an imperious air.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Ak San Seo of the Shandong Ak Family. The Spear King is my grandfather.”
Ak San Seo extended a formal salute pointedly toward Namgung Sang A.
When Namgung Sang A’s brow furrowed, Peng Gu Pae stepped forward and spoke.
“I know. My grandfather said to pass his regards to the Spear King whenever we meet.”
“……The Blade Emperor?”
At Peng Gu Pae’s words, the corners of Ak San Seo’s mouth trembled.
He took considerable pride in the Shandong Ak Family.
Most of that pride stemmed from his grandfather, the Mad Wind Spear King, Ak Bul Gun.
But Peng Gu Pae’s grandfather was no lesser figure.
The Five Tigers Blade Emperor, Peng Hwan, ranked among the Five Emperors—placed even above the Twelve Kings.
‘Well now. The Hundred Regions Martial World certainly runs itself well.’
Ho Yeon, observing the situation, smirked quietly.
One man was an illiterate fool who didn’t even know honeyed words with a dagger heart.
The other was a fox borrowing the tiger’s authority.
Seeing such creatures strut about told him plenty about the caliber of the Hundred Regions Martial World.
“……Gu Pae. I’d like to have a word with this young lady, if I may?”
“Our cousin here has a prior appointment with me.”
“Then perhaps you could schedule the next one and step aside?”
“That’s the thing—the next appointment is booked with me as well.”
The gazes of Peng Gu Pae and Ak San Seo collided in midair, sparks flying between them.
As subtle waves of Qi Aura emanated from both their bodies—
“Oh my, everyone be careful. My younger sister just lost the Hak Jeong Hong while playing with it.”
“What?”
Dang Se Ki walked over holding his younger sister’s hand as he spoke.
Dang So Mi, the one in question, looked up at her brother bewildered by his words, but the commotion had already begun.
“The, the Hak Jeong Hong?!”
“Damn it, that’s a deadly poison!”
“Put down your cups, all of you! One false move and you’ll be crossing into the Yellow Springs!”
“The Sichuan Dang Family, those madmen again……!”
Hak Jeong Hong was an extremely potent toxin extracted from the comb of a crane. Even a small dose was said to trigger the Seven Orifice Bleeding and death, earning it a fearsome reputation.
“Brother! Brother!”
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Dang So Mi, who had somehow become the girl playing around with Hak Jeong Hong, struck Dang Se Ki repeatedly.
Of course she had possessed it, but she’d wrapped it carefully and stored it securely in a poison pouch — and now she felt utterly wronged.
“……Hmph. We’ll settle this another time.”
“Peng Gu Pae. I’ll crush you on the arena floor.”
As the atmosphere around them grew turbulent, Ak San Seo and Hwangbo Pil Seong withdrew with evident displeasure.
“Dang Se Ki.”
“Ha, Namgung Ho Yeon. It’s been a long time.”
When Ho Yeon spotted a familiar face, he spoke first.
It was certainly not because of his mother’s nagging about making friends.
Dang Se Ki greeted Ho Yeon warmly in return, and the two fell into conversation.
“How is he? Didn’t he come?”
“Namgung Sang A must be swamped right now.”
“That’s true — running Anhui’s foremost trading operation would leave no time for sleep.”
“People are in short supply. We’re forcibly conscripting street orphans to work, but……”
As Ho Yeon conversed with Dang Se Ki, he sensed a burning gaze and glanced downward.
A girl of perhaps fifteen or sixteen, with hair styled in buns and dressed in green, was gazing up at him with bright, gleaming eyes.
Poke! Poke!
Dang So Mi jabbed her brother, and Dang Se Ki scratched his cheek as he introduced her.
“My younger sister.”
“Hello! I’m Dang So Mi!”
“……Namgung Ho Yeon.”
“Hehe, please speak comfortably. You’re my elder brother, after all.”
“Well…… fine.”
“Then, would it be alright if I called you ‘brother’?”
“Hmm?”
Ho Yeon looked at Dang Se Ki.
While it was said that martial women were more open than sheltered young ladies of wealthy families, to use an endearment at first meeting?
“Well, So Mi is quite spirited. It’s her first time in the Martial World, so she’s excited.”
“I see.”
When Dang Se Ki spoke apologetically, Ho Yeon nodded in understanding.
‘She seems to have an excitable temperament. It’s a shame at her age.’
Ho Yeon gazed at Dang So Mi with a pitying expression and granted her request.
“Call me as you wish.”
“Yay! Brother, you’re the best!”
Dang So Mi clenched her tiny fists triumphantly and trembled with delight.
‘Coming to the Yongbong Conference was the right choice. I finally found a handsome elder brother! Yahoo!’
Just as Dang So Mi’s lips curved skyward in joy.
“Young Master.”
Tap, tap, tap.
Every eye in Taehwa Pavilion shifted toward the woman in white robes approaching Ho Yeon.
Tall for a woman, with a body perfectly proportioned and balanced, her skin gleamed with a lustrous mystery as if glistening with water.
Her high, prominent nose, dark, defined brows, large chestnut eyes, and ruddy lips lent her an exotic air.
“Jegal Ahyeon.”
“Wow……!”
As Ho Yeon’s eyes lit up at the sight of Jegal Ahyeon, Dang So Mi’s jaw fell open in awe.
‘Ah, she’s touched the Peak Realm. She hasn’t neglected her cultivation.’
‘Such beauty! Absolutely gorgeous! I finally found my older sister!’
Ho Yeon found his interest piqued by the change in Jegal Ahyeon’s martial presence. Dang So Mi, who adored beauty and handsomeness, clasped her hands together and turned an imploring gaze upon Jegal Ahyeon.
“Hehe, young lady. I’m terribly sorry, but might I borrow the Young Master?”
“Yes, yes. Sister!”
When Jegal Ahyeon made her request with a gentle smile, Dang So Mi quickly nodded in assent.
“Young Master. It’s been so long.”
“……Why do you have to be so irritating?”
“My, how you wound me — calling your beloved irritating after all this time apart.”
“This is truly…….”
“Hehe, all right, I’ll stop.”
As Namgung Ho Yeon’s brow began to furrow, Jegal Ahyeon met his eyes with a soft, radiant smile.
Once, she’d had to look down at him; now their gazes aligned perfectly.
“I suppose I can’t keep calling you ‘young lord’ anymore, can I?”
“Don’t call me that either. It’s making my skin crawl.”
“Hehe, what about gaga, then?”
“Every house, every family? What nonsense would that stir up? Just call me Namgung Ho Yeon.”
The reunion of the two was watched not only by Dang So Mi, but by all the Later Generation Disciples at Taehwa Pavilion.
It had been two years since Namgung Ho Yeon and Jegal Ahyeon had seen each other again.

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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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