The Wizard Who Endured the World of Murim - Chapter 22

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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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Surviving in the Martial Realm as a Mage: Episode 22
“I’ve heard plenty of stories about the previous Lord. But didn’t I see him a few times myself before his passing? We never went on missions together, but… even then, I remember our Lord didn’t always maintain such perfect etiquette.”
“Hmm, there’s no point dwelling on old stories that have already passed. It only wears out our mouths.”
Just then, Na Han-il felt pain rising from his wound and let out a strained chuckle before wincing slightly.
Song Gwang-sik, the Chussal Division Lord and Bright Moon Swordsman.
He gazed at Na Han-il and let out a soft laugh.
“Complaining over such a trivial wound? You’re still in your prime—you should be bouncing back up. In my day, let me tell you, wounds like this would heal with just a bit of saliva.”
“Just saliva and it healed?”
“That’s right.”
Na Han-il couldn’t help but chuckle despite his pain, finding the claim absurd.
Song Gwang-sik laughed along, blood trickling from his split lips.
Then Na Han-il calmed his aching body and slowly recounted the events of that day.
After hearing the full story, Song Gwang-sik fell silent in thought for a moment.
Then he spoke with a serious expression.
“I asked the physician here earlier, and he said you all need at least one or two months of recovery, minimum.”
“Yes. Unlike our Lord, I’m not blessed with such robust health. Saliva alone won’t do the trick for me.”
“Right, weaklings need more rest. Getting paid to lie around for free—is that such a bad thing?”
“No, sir. I’ll gladly enjoy the generous benefits of the Three Great Families for once.”
According to what Song Gwang-sik heard from the physician,
when his subordinates arrived at this place,
they had sustained severe injuries—damage not just to muscle but to bone as well.
It was only because they had consumed numerous emergency medicines prepared by the Namgung Clan beforehand,
including the special Life-Redeeming Pellets, that they were in this condition at all.
The physician added that he honestly couldn’t guarantee there would be no lingering aftereffects.
So they couldn’t carelessly move them back to the Main Family House for recovery.
“Stay put here and focus on recuperating. I’ll keep close watch on that mysterious Kid called Ilhyang.”
“Alone? That won’t do. It’s far too dangerous.”
Na Han-il protested with wide eyes, but Song Gwang-sik shook his head with a weary expression.
“No. Moving alone is actually less risky. Besides, when you look at him, he’s traveling with a Jiangshi hidden away, right? He doesn’t seem like the type to cause a Blood Calamity or anything. The fact that he let you all live proves it.”
“But that’s just speculation, isn’t it?”
“True enough. But are we just going to sit idle with our hands folded? A suspicious character like that is roaming our territory?”
“Why not call upon one of the Elders instead? The Youngest Elder should be mobile by now, shouldn’t he? He’d come running barefoot for a mission like this.”
“Unfortunately, that old man can’t come out—he’s tied up with other urgent matters. The Family Head seems determined to keep the Youngest Elder on a tight leash. He’s been far too free-spirited lately.”
“…Well, that’s true enough.”
“Don’t worry. I have instincts sharp as a ghost’s.”
“Let’s hope you don’t come back as an actual ghost.”
“You bastard… you’re being awfully honest now that you’re injured, knowing I can’t hit you?”
Na Han-il simply gazed at Song Gwang-sik and spoke.
“I won’t stop you, but don’t expect me to prepare your memorial meal.”
“Ungrateful wretch. Don’t worry. I’ll live until I’m covered in shit on a wall.”
Song Gwang-sik rose from his seat as he spoke.
Na Han-il then exclaimed in surprise.
“Where are you going? In that condition?”
“To the adjacent room to rest, you fool. Did you think I’d go anywhere in this state?”
“Ah….”
And so Song Gwang-sik spent a full day recuperating.
Then he moved swiftly, circling near Ilhyang’s vicinity.
Since it was dangerous work, he didn’t conduct overt surveillance.
Instead, using a forged identity badge from the Ronin Guild that he’d obtained previously, he completed commissions while
loosely monitoring Ilhyang’s movements.
Then, yesterday.
When Song Gwang-sik suddenly learned that Ilhyang had accepted a subcontracted commission and was leaving Giyang County,
he moved quickly and joined the Jinseong Escort Agency ahead of time.
‘That was close.’
In truth, what he’d learned about Ilhyang over the past month amounted to only trivial details.
The list of commissions Ilhyang had accepted over the month, or how he’d devoted himself to studying written language for that duration—
merely scattered pieces of information.
Yet Song Gwang-sik was satisfied.
Even this much was crucial intelligence for understanding what sort of person that fellow truly was.
“I go by Jang Geo. I have a guild badge.”
Thus, with his fabricated identity, he managed to formally introduce himself to Ilhyang.
Naturally and without suspicion.
He had finally achieved intimate proximity with his surveillance target.
By Song Gwang-sik’s own assessment, it was flawless intelligence work.
Yet there was one minor accident he hadn’t anticipated.
And that was—
the subcontracted commission Ilhyang had accepted this time happened to be intimately connected to the Namgung Clan.
* * *
“Why has the Lord of the Assassination Squad come here? Surely you’re on a secret mission?”
“Well… that would be complicated to explain.”
“Hmm, I understand. However, this has become somewhat troublesome.”
Namgung Min, the Astonishing Heavenly Sword.
One of the core rising talents that the Namgung Clan proudly displayed to the Kangho.
A direct blood relative standing foremost among the five potential successors who might one day become the Family Head of the Namgung Clan.
Moreover, Namgung Min was a sword genius who had reached the pinnacle of mastery by merely thirty years of age.
Yet the remarkable truth was—
that despite possessing such extraordinary sword skills, he showed no overwhelming difference in ability compared to the other successors.
This itself testified to the immense depth of the Namgung Clan’s power.
Thus, evaluations among the successors had to be made in aspects beyond mere sword technique.
Following the traditions passed down through generations of the Namgung Clan—
To evaluate the candidates for the next Family Head, special missions had to be completed separately.
‘Of all the timing….’
Song Gwang-sik clicked his tongue inwardly.
Of all moments, it had to be during that crucial special mission.
By sheer coincidence, he had encountered Song Gwang-sik, who happened to be executing a different mission at the same time.
Even Namgung Min, the Heavenly Sword, had never dreamed he would meet the Chusal Daeju in such a manner.
Originally, he was supposed to pass the special mission without the Family’s assistance.
Meeting a master of the Family in this way had made the situation rather awkward and uncomfortable for both of them.
At first, they had tried to pretend not to recognize each other until the end.
But thinking that a conversation would be necessary to clarify the situation, the two had slipped away during the escort operation to speak privately.
It was Song Gwang-sik who broke the long silence first.
He glanced at the ronin gathered in the distance, then scratched the back of his head and spoke in a low voice.
“My apologies. It appears you were in the middle of your qualification test.”
“Ah… Yes. This won’t count as a deduction, will it?”
“No. Since neither of us knew we would meet like this, it shouldn’t. When I return to the Main Family House, I will explain the situation clearly to the elders. My subordinates also know about my mission, so they can testify to it.”
“Phew, thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s simply the proper procedure.”
The Namgung Clan.
To become the successor of a Family daring to call itself the greatest in all the realm, one had to overcome countless obstacles.
It was the Family’s law that without ability, even the Family Head’s own blood could not become the successor.
Therefore, if the evaluation score from the special mission called the qualification test was low,
becoming the successor would be difficult.
That was why Namgung Min appeared composed, but the moment he encountered Song Gwang-sik,
he had been inwardly worried that his evaluation score might be lowered.
But hearing the other side offer to explain first put his mind at ease somewhat.
“Then it seems we should simply do our respective duties well.”
“Understood.”
“If we continue to pretend not to know each other as we have been, would that be acceptable?”
“Yes. Then I ask for your cooperation, Jang Geo, Ronin.”
Namgung Min smiled as he settled on the form of address first.
Song Gwang-sik also clasped his hands together respectfully and bowed.
“I likewise ask for your cooperation, Heavenly Sword Great Hero.”
Thus the two parted ways with smiles on their faces.
After speaking with Namgung Min, Song Gwang-sik
took a wide detour and moved toward the carriage where the ronin were gathered, his mind working rapidly.
In truth, when he had learned belatedly that the Jinseong Escort Agency’s escort mission was heading to the Namgung Clan,
he had been truly startled.
The Namgung Clan already operated its own escort bureau.
So the Namgung Clan had commissioned an escort mission with the Jinseong Escort Agency?
And moreover, the Heavenly Sword Namgung Min was part of that escort?
The conclusion became clear at that point.
Song Gwang-sik could immediately discern that this escort mission was a special evaluation task for potential successors.
‘Sigh, if the Youngest Elder had come, we wouldn’t have this mess.’
Namgung Hyeok, the Lightning Sword Master.
Among the direct elders of the Namgung Clan.
The most vigorous and notoriously restless supreme master.
The fact that even after hearing about the Mansizong, he hadn’t rushed to the scene until now.
Was genuinely an unexpected variable, even for Song Gwang-sik.
‘Well, I heard his schedule has been quite packed since the autumn Gangnam Murim assembly.’
Regardless, the situation had become considerably more tangled than initially predicted.
However, considering that the final destination of this Jinseong Escort Agency mission was the Namgung Clan in Cheonjoong Holy Capital.
Song Gwang-sik hadn’t orchestrated any particular schemes in between.
He had managed to deliver the important surveillance target to the Namgung Clan quite naturally.
‘But something feels off about this.’
In truth, while monitoring Ilhyang from nearby all this time.
Song Gwang-sik had been forced to continuously sense something intensely discordant.
It was true that Ilhyang controlled the Blood Corpse.
So I had assumed he was a master of the Mansizong.
Yet he had actually killed a high-ranking sorcerer of the Mansizong.
From here, complete chaos.
‘Moreover, he didn’t control the Jiangshi at all, and he didn’t even attempt any secret human sacrifices.’
The reason the Mansizong became a public enemy of the Kangho Murim.
Was because they periodically slaughtered humans—especially children—as sacrifices to offer to the heavens, just like the Blood Cult.
Thanks to this, the Mansizong proudly earned its place as a public enemy of the Kangho Murim.
Truly vicious bastards.
But Ilhyang hadn’t shown any such tendencies during all this time.
‘Of course, that kid did kill someone.’
When first entering the village.
He had discreetly disposed of and burned some ruffian named Pyeong So-byeok from the Pyeong Family of Giyang County in the mountains.
But honestly, that had to be seen as Pyeong So-byeok’s own karma.
‘He started the trouble first, so it’s just cause and effect.’
I had heard rumors that Pyeong So-byeok was a ruffian, but I never expected he was a madman who enjoyed human flesh.
Such a creature deserved to die.
Apart from that minor incident back then.
I detected absolutely none of the distinctive madness characteristic of the Mansizong in Ilhyang.
If this were an act, it would be remarkable.
But if it weren’t an act?
‘Then what about the Blood Corpse?’
The situation was quite confusing in many ways.
‘Could he be a master who came from the Moshan Sect?’
The Moshan Sect also dealt with Jiangshi.
The difference between the Moshan Sect and the Mansizong, however, lay in this:
The sorcerers of the Moshan Sect transformed the corpses of those who died far from home into Jiangshi, then delivered them to grieving families as a service.
Thus, the Kangho grudgingly recognized the sorcerers of the Moshan Sect as a legitimate faction.
I shook my head with a sigh, unable to reach a conclusion.
Song Gwang-sik, lost in thought, exhaled deeply and lowered his head in bewilderment.

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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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