Chapter 45: Training
Nancheongung.
The headquarters of the Southern Martial World and a major powerhouse of this era, boasting strength equivalent to one-fifth of Nine Dragon City.
What sets them apart from other factions is that they were founded as a state-owned enterprise under the patronage of the ancient kingdom that once ruled the Southern Wilderness, the Southern Five Kingdom.
It was likely a hobby of the successive kings of the Nam-O Kingdom, who loved martial arts and were masters themselves.
Initially, they did much good—leading the defense against foreign invasions and being the first to eliminate bandits when they appeared.
But one day, specifically the day the Nam-O Kingdom was defeated in war against the Empire and its capital was besieged.
Namcheongung’s attitude changed completely.
He betrayed his homeland and sided with the Empire.
Thanks to this, the Southern Five Kingdoms collapsed from within, unable to even attempt resistance, and perished like dogs.
The problem didn’t end there.
The Empire, which had conquered the Southern Five Kingdoms, also began to decline and lost its control over the Southern Man region.
The emperor, just as he had done with the Lord of Guryongseong, bestowed a title upon the Lord of Namcheongung and entrusted him with administrative authority over the southern regions of Yunnan Province.
In other words, the entire Nanman region became Namcheongung’s domain.
Thus, Namcheongung reigned as the overlord of Nanman, growing by sucking the lifeblood from the tribal people.
