Make the Namgung Family Great Again – Chapter 7

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Song Chae-ji fidgeted anxiously.

Winning the spar felt good. Witnessing such impressive martial arts was an unexpected bonus, a true eye-opener.

But none of that helped her figure out how to deal with this mysterious, nameless master.

‘Ugh… I can’t believe I talked about him dying in the streets… to him, someone of that caliber…? I’m such an idiot…’
She was mortified…utterly humiliated.

She, a proud martial artist, had boasted about her own swordsmanship, only to be defeated.

It was a fight she should have won, too, if she hadn’t let her emotions get the better of her.

And if she knew that, surely this young master, whose skill was leagues beyond hers, knew it too.

The memory of trying to stop him, saying he wasn’t trained in martial arts, made her ears burn with shame.

As she stood there, speechless and flustered, Namgung-Woo offered her a way out.

“But why choose a spar? I understand it’s better to handle things within the martial world than to involve officials, but you said the Black Bear Gang has a Peak Realm master.”

On their way to the Black Bear Gang’s headquarters, they trailed behind Pung-hyo, who was now reluctantly serving as their guide. Namgung-Woo, having learned more about the gang, voiced his concern about the reckless sparring decision.

‘I hear their leader is one of the top Peak Realm masters.’

As if she’d been waiting for him to speak, Song Chae-ji quickly answered.

“Well, the leader is the only known Peak Realm master in the Black Bear Gang. It’s pretty typical for unorthodox sects…the top brass always hoards the best resources.

Only a handful at the top have high cultivation levels, the rest are much weaker.”

Song Chae-ji had challenged them to a spar with a calculated plan.

The leader, their only Peak Realm master, wouldn’t lower himself to participate in a spar, which meant someone weaker would have to step forward…someone she, just a step away from the Peak Realm herself, could defeat.

“There might be other first-rate martial artists around my level, but even within the same realm, righteous martial artists are generally considered a bit stronger than those from the black path.

The quality of the techniques we practice makes a difference.”

Righteous sects had a long history of refining their martial arts.

There was a reason why most prestigious sects belonged to the righteous faction.

Techniques refined and passed down through generations, though slower to master, carried a depth and stability that black path techniques…often dependent on unorthodox and harmful methods for rapid advancement…could never match.

“But why are you all alone in Pingyao County, Song Chae-ji?”

He intended to ask why she was alone in Pingyao County, so far from the Hangsang Sect, assisting the Yang family… but Song Chae-ji seemed to misunderstand.

“Well, if the Hangsang Sect intervened directly, it might give the Shadowless Sect of Taiyuan an excuse to get involved.”

“Shadowless Sect?”

At the unfamiliar name, Namgung-Woo’s brow furrowed in confusion… while Song Chae-ji’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You don’t know them? They’re one of the strongest unorthodox sects around…”

Namgung-Woo sensed a flicker of disbelief in her eyes.

‘You don’t know something that basic?’

It wasn’t disdain, more like astonishment at his ignorance.

As Namgung-Woo stared at her, Song Chae-ji quickly recovered, realizing her slip-up.

“Ahem, well, I suppose it’s possible. Anyway, the Shadowless Sect is practically the ruler of the Shanxi martial world.

They’re also the ones backing the Black Bear Gang.”

Her words dispelled Namgung-Woo’s last lingering doubt.

He had wondered if this might be an alternate timeline within Chu-rok Murim.

‘This definitely isn’t the world I know. There was no Shadowless Sect in the past, and while they might exist in the future, that’s irrelevant.’

He let go of that last sliver of hope.

He hadn’t expected much anyway, so his disappointment was minimal.

“That’s why I thought a spar would be our best bet. Even though the Hangsang Sect has lost some of its power, we’re still strong enough to make the Shadowless Sect think twice.”

Just as the Black Bear Gang had the Shadowless Sect backing them, Song Chae-ji had the Hangsang Sect.

She’d thought they would both be mindful of their reputations and honor the terms of the spar. But her plan had backfired spectacularly.

“Ugh, it’s still so frustrating.”

Song Chae-ji shot a glare at the back of Pung-hyo’s head… a look sharp enough to kill.

As if feeling her gaze, Pung-hyo hurried his steps.

His pathetic demeanor made Song Chae-ji sigh and look away.

‘I haven’t even gotten his name yet.’

She cautiously approached Namgung-Woo, who was walking just ahead.

“Um…”

Just as she was about to speak, another voice cut in.

“W-We’re here.”

Pung-hyo’s back was soaked in sweat. He was clearly terrified of the death god walking behind him. His voice was thick with relief, as if he were finally freed.

“We’ve arrived.”

“S-So it seems!”

“We can finish our conversation after we’re done here.”

At Namgung-Woo’s gentle words, Song Chae-ji quickly nodded.

Yang So-dang, watching from the side, giggled,amused by the uncharacteristically flustered behavior of her usually dependable Unnie.

“Dang-ah…”

“Unnie, look! He’s going in. Let’s follow.”

Kids could be incredibly perceptive. But you didn’t need to be a mind reader to see that Namgung-Woo was now the leader of their little group.

Yang So-dang used his name to distract Song Chae-ji.

And indeed, Namgung-Woo was already walking through the open gates of the Black Bear Gang’s headquarters, and Yang So-dang skipped after him, staying close behind.

“Honestly…”

This was so frustrating.

What goes around comes around. Song Chae-ji had never felt the weight of the Taoist scriptures she’d studied at the Hangsang Sect so heavily as she did today.

Yet, even this frustration was laced with a sense of relief and hope, knowing they had overcome a major obstacle.

So, Song Chae-ji’s expression was bright.

“Let’s go.”

With a light step, she followed them.

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Hwang Mu-tak, leader of the Black Bear Gang, The Great Power Overlord Blade.

He was undeniably powerful.

His martial arts skills, placing him at the very pinnacle of the Peak Realm, had secured him a spot among the top one hundred masters in Shanxi Province.

Beyond that, he was politically shrewd, having cultivated a strong alliance with the Shadowless Sect, the dominant unorthodox sect that held sway over the Shanxi martial world.

He was more than qualified to rule over a small county like Pingyao.

He could easily manipulate the county magistrate, an imperial official responsible for maintaining peace, through a combination of intimidating displays of force and generous bribes.

But now, Hwang Mu-tak faced a disaster that rendered his authority useless.

‘Damn, what rotten luck.’

Unlike those third-rate thugs who, intoxicated by power, lost all sense of judgment… Hwang Mu-tak was different.

He placed more trust in his discerning eye—the very trait that had elevated him to this position…than in his martial arts, which were approaching the absolute peak of the Peak Realm.

That’s why, the moment he saw Namgung-Woo, he knew he was facing an insurmountable opponent.

He couldn’t sense any outward Qi. Mediocre martial artists like Song Chae-ji and Pung-hyo, blinded by their own incompetence, might mistake a lack of Qi for weakness, but Hwang Mu-tak knew better.

He carefully observed every one of Namgung-Woo’s movements: his breathing, his gait, his balance. Everything was leagues beyond an ordinary person.

His precise, controlled movements revealed the true reason why Hwang Mu-tak couldn’t sense his Qi.

It was a difference in caliber.

This was a supreme master… someone with absolute control over their internal energy, capable of completely concealing it.

Returning to the origin, reaching ultimate simplicity.

It was a state of perfection, a transcendent level of skill.

‘I must yield. I have to resolve this peacefully.’

Hwang Mu-tak approached the entrance and bowed deeply, exuding the utmost respect.

“This humble abode is honored by your esteemed presence…”

“I haven’t come for a chat.”

Namgung-Woo cut him off sharply.

He then gestured to Song Chae-ji and Yang So-dang, who were trailing behind him.

“Yang’s Inn. It’s time to settle the bill.”

His words instantly made it clear to Hwang Mu-tak what had happened.

He knew about the spar with Song Chae-ji.

“Your men used dirty tricks. A group attack in a one-on-one spar? Is that how the Black Bear Gang operates?”

“It seems my subordinates got carried away, blinded by misplaced loyalty. As leader of the Black Bear Gang, I apologize.”

With every word Namgung-Woo spoke, Hwang Mu-tak felt his mouth grow drier.

‘Damn that idiot, Pung-hyo…’

He had nurtured him, recognized his potential… and this was how he repaid his kindness? He would never forgive him.

“It’s not that we’re unwilling to sell. We simply wished for the proper price.”

Hwang Mu-tak bowed his head subserviently. Dealing with Pung-hyo could wait. He had a bigger problem to deal with right now.

“You even called it a spar between the Black Bear Gang and Yang’s Inn. You lost, yet you refuse to accept defeat. Fine. I’m all that’s left of Yang’s Inn now. If you want to continue this spar, go ahead… send out more men or step forward yourself. So, what’s it going to be?””

Naturally, Namgung-Woo expected Hwang Mu-tak to fight him.

He hoped the gang leader would at least partially satisfy his craving to test his martial arts.

But Hwang Mu-tak was a pioneer, a man who had carved out his own territory in the brutal world of the black path!

“I concede. The Black Bear Gang admits defeat.”

Hwang Mu-tak bowed deeply, his back bending like a willow branch.

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