Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 99

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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 99. The Sword Demon and the Danli Clan Forge a Bond
Cheongyang. Guhuashan.
Once renowned as one of Buddhism’s four sacred peaks, the mountain stood eerily quiet—pilgrims no longer made the pilgrimage.
Since the war between the Baekga Maeng and Gucheon Sung began, Guhuashan had become a crucial contested ground.
“Patron Namgung. For days now, there has been no movement from them. I fear they may be planning to bypass Guhuashan altogether.”
The mountain, true to its sacred reputation, housed more than fifty temples of various sizes, and it was the abbot of Jijangsa, the largest among them, who spoke these words.
Namgung Cheong Gang turned to him and then addressed Yang Chang Hae, the Yang Wind Company Captain attached to the Cheongyang Clan.
“What is the enemy’s disposition?”
“Yes, sir. There are no signs of them dispersing their forces. However, we cannot afford complacency. Three of the Five Overlords remain suspiciously quiet.”
Yang Chang Hae answered with martial precision etched across his face.
He watched Namgung Cheong Gang lost in thought, his expression cold and distant, yet Yang Chang Hae’s eyes shone with admiration.
‘Heavens! The Emperor Sword Dragon! And he is to be my brother-in-law!’
Namgung Cheong Gang, who had restored the Emperor Sword Form, had earned a reputation at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering that pierced the heavens themselves.
In his youth, Yang Chang Hae had thought of him as a troublemaker who plagued his sister, but that judgment had been utterly overturned.
‘Eight years ago, when news of the engagement spread, everyone around us wagged their tongues. They said the Namgung Clan was in decline, that our Cheongyang would become but a shadow.’
Yet now Yang Chang Hae could face those same gossips with confidence.
‘Where else would someone stand so readily for their wife’s family in their hour of need? If such a place exists, I dare them to show themselves!’
When he first heard news of Do Cheon’s northern advance, despair had seemed absolute.
But then the Namgung Clan rushed reinforcements, and his brother-in-law—the Emperor Sword Dragon himself—arrived, and the Cheongyang Clan’s spirits soared to the heavens.
A consensus formed that even Do Cheon himself would find it worthwhile to engage in battle under these circumstances.
“The Golden Sky Sword Gate alone cannot seize Guhuashan. Your prediction appears sound.”
“Your prediction? By whom?”
“Jegal Ahyeon. Ho Yeon’s fiancée.”
“Hui Bong!”
Yang Chang Hae’s eyes widened.
Jegal Ahyeon was renowned as a woman of exceptional talent in both the martial and scholarly arts, and through the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, her name had become known across the land.
“Her letter contained this: Do Cheon intends to wage a protracted war, tying up as much of our force here as possible.”
“What advantage does that offer them?”
“To prevent us from reinforcing the Danli Clan.”
Namgung Cheong Gang gazed northward, his voice dropping low.
‘I worry for Ho Yeon. Had I known this would unfold, I would have left the Third Elder behind.’
Prodigy or not, his younger brother was only eighteen—far too young to endure the horrors of war.
“Ah, if the enemy truly intends a protracted war, that is fortunate indeed.”
Hyun Gak, the abbot of Jijangsa, exhaled in relief, pulling Namgung Cheong Gang from his thoughts.
“Not necessarily.”
“Pardon?”
“Their aim is to preserve as many troops as possible until word of victory arrives from Buyang.”
“I see. A prolonged stalemate is precisely what they desire.”
As Yang Chang Hae spoke, Namgung Cheong Gang’s eyes gleamed with cold purpose.
“I wonder whether they grasp what it truly means to be invaders. They should be preparing for an ambush.”
Strike the enemy, consider the ambush.
It was a fundamental principle of warfare.
Namgung Cheong Gang intended to test whether they understood this truth.
* * *
The main chamber of the Danli Clan compound.
A round table divided the gathering into two opposing sides.
On one side stood Namgung Ho Yeon, Namgung Ja Ryang, and Namgung Moon Yeon of the Namgung Clan, together with Sam Do Il Hwa.
On the other stood Danli San Wol, Danli Il—the master of the Ten Cross Sword Unit—and Danli Hwan, the patriarch of the Danli Clan, along with their kin.
In ordinary times, they would have exchanged lengthy courtesies and offered mutual felicitations at great length.
But in wartime, the introductions were brief, and they had moved swiftly to business.
“The Cannibal Demon Squadron…”
“Gwang Cheon has made his move.”
“The Cannibal Demon Jin Heuk Cheon!”
“His infamy rivals that of the Ten Earthly Branches Ten Zodiac Signs themselves.”
At Sam Do Il Hwa’s words, Ho Yeon asked, “A Cannibal Squadron? A demon who devours people?”
“Precisely. In Hunan, there is a saying—if you see the Cannibal Sedan, run at once.”
“The Cannibal Sedan? A sedan chair that devours people?”
As Ho Yeon tilted his head in bewilderment, Hye Il continued in a voice taut with tension.
“Word reaches us only occasionally, being neighbors to Hubei where the Wudang Sect dwells. The Cannibal Demon Jin Heuk Cheon travels in that sedan, indulging in what they call the Gourmet Journey.”

“Ha, there’s no end to the madness out there. Eating people because there’s nothing else to eat?”
Namgung Ho Yeon let out a hollow laugh, and Danli Hwan spoke.
“The problem is that this madman happens to be a Sovereign Wall master.”
“A general’s epithet cannot be won through mere rumor. He’s been an expert in Fire Mirror for ten years now, and one of the 108 Stars of Heaven.”
Danli Il picked up where Danli Hwan left off.
He wore black silk garments with a silver cross stitched across his chest, his expression stoic and unwavering throughout.
“One of the 108 Stars…”
Namgung Ho Yeon murmured.
He’d heard what the 108 Stars of Heaven meant.
The 108 Stars of Heaven.
Beneath heaven there were 108 stars, and they were the 108 greatest masters under heaven itself.
‘The 1st through 20th stars are the Ten Earthly Branches Ten Zodiac Signs, and the remaining 88 are divided into lords and generals, wasn’t it?’
Three Sovereigns, Five Emperors, Twelve Kings.
36 Lords, 52 Generals.
These were the 108 Stars of Heaven.
‘Tsk, these martial artists do love their drama. Why so many kings and generals?’
Namgung Ho Yeon clicked his tongue inwardly.
Ranking people and evaluating who was stronger was human nature, after all.
But did they really need to divide things into 108 categories?
‘Probably did it because of the 108 Afflictions or the 108 Heroes or some such nonsense.’
While Namgung Ho Yeon was contemplating the flower garden of pedantry in the minds of these enthusiasts,
Danli Hwan spoke, looking at him.
“Among them, a general is a title bestowed upon the leader of a group. Your father is one of the 108 Stars as well, is he not?”
“…”
This wasn’t the time to disparage others.
Now that he thought about it, the Namgung Clan had one too.
The Sword General of Intention and Heaven—Namgung Baek.
‘Father always disliked that epithet, though.’
Until a few years ago, there had been many who resented him bearing the title of general.
There was a widespread perception that his epithet had been lifted on the strength of his past reputation.
But since Namgung Ho Yeon had completely transformed the clan three years ago, such talk had vanished.
“As the patriarch of the great Namgung Clan, your father surely deserves the title of general.”
Danli Hwan smiled, praising Namgung Baek.
He had once been among those who refused to acknowledge Namgung Baek as a general, but times had changed.
“Please tell him that I will repay his generosity in willingly sending aid to help a fellow member of the Baekga Maeng.”
“Of course.”
Namgung Ho Yeon nodded with a lukewarm expression, when Danli Hwan’s face hardened and he continued.
“But unlike your father, Jin Heuk Cheon did not become a general because of the Cannibal Demon Squadron.”
“Jin Heuk Cheon keeps the Cannibal Demon Squadron with him because they serve as errand runners, procuring food supplies for the demons.”
As Danli Il’s words continued, Hye Il added his own.
“Jin Heuk Cheon was originally a Taoist priest of the Bohwa Gate, a branch of the Yeongbo Sect, but he destroyed his own sect and walked the path of a demon cultivator.”
“A fallen Taoist, then?”
Gwang Myeong’s brow furrowed at his side, and Hye Il nodded before continuing.
“Even the Martial Saint once pursued Jin Heuk Cheon with intent to guide him back, but each time he used his subordinates as shields and fled.”
When Hye Il finished speaking, Danli Hwan opened his mouth.
“The very fact that he survived committing such atrocities that heaven and earth condemn is proof of his strength.”
“Hmm.”
Namgung Ho Yeon assembled the information he’d gathered in his mind.
In a word, the bastard was like a loach—slippery at killing and slippery at running.
‘Don’t like the look of this guy much.’
As Namgung Ho Yeon furrowed his brow and muttered inwardly, the voices of the swords reached him.
—Hey now, that’s self-hatred, kid.
—Guffaw! So you’re the same type of monster!
‘I killed indiscriminately, sure, but I never ate anyone. That’s a big difference.’
Namgung Ho Yeon made a rough excuse to Cheon Roe Geom and Heuk Ya Tae Geom.
‘In any case, if he’s been mastering Fire Mirror for ten years, he wouldn’t have reached Sovereign Wall through shortcuts like Gwang Byeok Chang or Chu Eum.’
In other words, Jin Heuk Cheon had to be considered a genuine Sovereign Wall master.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Whoooosh!
Imagining a clash with a formidable opponent, his heart raced faster, and his Spirit Energy stirred, beginning to circulate through his Upper Dantian.
“To face a Sovereign Wall master, you need at least some elite forces. How many Super Pinnacle experts does the Danli Clan possess? I’m certain of at least two.”
Namgung Ho Yeon looked between Danli Hwan and Danli Il in turn as he asked.
Danli Hwan opened his mouth in response.
“With the First Elder who went to Wayang and the Third Elder who went to Mongseong, that makes four. Originally there were five, but…… that’s how it stands now.”
“…….”
As Danli Hwan trailed off with a sorrowful expression, Danli Il’s lips twitched slightly.
He spoke to Namgung Ho Yeon in a clipped voice.
“I heard you killed Chu Eum.”
“Yes.”
“Are you a Sovereign Wall master?”
“Not yet.”
“Not yet…… is it.”
Danli Il’s pupils trembled faintly.
He could read the hidden meaning in Namgung Ho Yeon’s words.
‘The wall…… already within sight? This is unbelievable.’
Just as Pinnacle and Pinnacle Extreme differ, not all Super Pinnacle masters are equal.
He himself had crossed the threshold of Super Pinnacle a decade ago.
Only now was he beginning to see the wall after barely passing the midpoint, yet this young man claimed to already stand before it?
“Was Chu Eum…… strong?”
“He had strength, certainly. Though with those wide-set eyes, he seemed to have lost his way somewhat.”
Namgung Ho Yeon answered with a slight shrug, and Danli Il, who had been watching him intently, extended his fist in salute.
“My apologies for the late greeting. Thank you for avenging the death of Danli Jeok.”
“……Do you hold no resentment toward me?”
“None whatsoever.”
Danli Il shook his head and continued in answer to Namgung Ho Yeon’s question.
“I feel only gratitude toward you. My resentment is for Gucheon Sung, who orchestrated this cowardly scheme.”
Namgung Ho Yeon glimpsed the quiet fury rippling beneath Danli Il’s gaze.
He nodded and returned the salute, speaking in kind.
“I should be thanking you as well.”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks to Danli Jeok’s aid in holding back Chu Eum, my betrothed was able to remain safe. I am grateful.”
At Namgung Ho Yeon’s words, the expressions of those in the Danli Clan shifted.
“What? Such a thing happened?”
“Jeok. This rascal…….”
“Ah! So that’s why the Namgung Clan was…….”
Looking at Namgung Ho Yeon as he extended his fist, Danli Il murmured in a trembling voice.
“……Jeok. You saw your duty through to the very end. Well done. Rest easy now.”
He had wondered why the Namgung Clan was so actively offering support.
It seemed the dead Danli Jeok had already conferred a debt of honor upon Namgung Ho Yeon.
The thought that his cherished younger brother’s death had not been meaningless filled Danli Il with resolve, and he clenched both fists firmly.
A quiet heaviness settled over the main hall for a moment.
At the same time, genuine warmth kindled in the eyes of those from the Danli Clan as they regarded Namgung Ho Yeon.
“Blood debts bind tighter than anything else. Let us of Anhui weather this crisis together as one family.”
Even the clan head, Danli Hwan, now addressed Namgung Ho Yeon with a markedly different air.
Watching from behind, Namgung Ja Ryang felt genuine admiration stir within him.
‘Remarkable—by preserving the other’s dignity, he achieved such an effect. This is truly worth a thousand taels of debt repaid with a single word.’
Having witnessed Namgung Ho Yeon’s steady composure, Namgung Ja Ryang realized he was gifted not merely in martial arts but in far more than that.
“I look forward to your cooperation as well. With all of us together, whether it be Jin Heuk Cheon or whatever muddy fool he is, we’ll be more than enough to bring him down.”
“Ha-ha-ha! Now that’s the right spirit!”
“Right, we’ve made thorough preparations.”
“We’ll take vengeance for Jeok by slaying Gucheon Sung’s rabble!”
At Namgung Ho Yeon’s stirring words, the atmosphere in the main hall grew heated and urgent.
Having confirmed his mastery of the mood, Namgung Ho Yeon’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
‘Now is the moment.’
Seizing the perfect opening, Namgung Ho Yeon spoke to Danli Hwan.
“Clan Head. Might I ask one favor?”
“What is it? Please, speak freely.”
“As the saying goes, preparation is better than regret. I see no harm in preparing for any eventuality.”
“Indeed.”
“In that spirit, might I ask you to give me the caged bird with broken wings that was just now held in the dungeon?”
At Namgung Ho Yeon’s words, doubt flickered across everyone’s eyes in unison.
Drawing all their gazes upon himself, Namgung Ho Yeon offered a meaningful smile.
‘A person cannot be rewritten, but a Sword Hand can be.’

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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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