Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 101

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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 101
The next day.
Namgung Geom made his way to the quarters of the Sichuan Tang Clan in the Gwibin Pavilion.
The Gwibin Pavilion was composed of several separate buildings.
The Sichuan Tang Clan was currently occupying one of them.
Namgung Geom announced himself to the warrior guarding the entrance of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
“I am Namgung Geom of the Namgung Clan. I have come hoping to meet with the Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“Did you have an appointment arranged with the Patriarch?”
The warrior of the Sichuan Tang Clan asked.
“No prior appointment was made.”
“Without an appointment, the Patriarch cannot see you.”
The warrior spoke with finality.
“Still, I have come with sincerity. Surely you could at least pass word of my arrival?”
“I have already told you it cannot be done.”
“You refuse without even knowing what I’ve come about? Can you take responsibility for the consequences that may follow?”
At Namgung Geom’s words, the warrior’s expression hardened slightly.
“Then what is the matter that brings the young master of Namgung to seek an audience with the Patriarch?”
“There is something I must discuss regarding an incident between myself and the young master of the Tang Clan at yesterday’s banquet. If misunderstanding takes root, it could damage the goodwill between our two houses.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, the warrior of the Sichuan Tang Clan spoke as though he had no choice.
“Please wait a moment.”
The warrior of the Sichuan Tang Clan went inside.
After a short time, he returned and spoke respectfully.
“The Patriarch says he will see you. Please come in.”
The warrior led Namgung Geom into the great hall of the building.
Upon entering, he saw a gray-haired elder seated upon a high-backed chair.
His frame was small and his appearance unassuming, yet the aura that emanated from him felt as formidable as facing Mount Tai itself.
Tang Cheonoh, the Silent King.
The current Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Clan—the giant who had restored the legendary Ten Thousand Heaven Flowers Rain technique that had been lost to history.
Though not counted among the Six Nobles, he was an absolute master whom even the Six Nobles could not dismiss.
Facing him, Namgung Geom felt as though hundreds of poison needles had been driven into his entire body.
A terror as though hidden projectiles might pierce him at any moment.
Cold sweat trickled down Namgung Geom’s spine.
Such overwhelming presence from mere confrontation.
It was no wonder he was considered a master rivaling the Six Nobles.
‘Ho! Look at him.’
Tang Cheonoh was inwardly astonished at how Namgung Geom withstood his aura.
Though not his full strength, it was difficult for one of ordinary realm to endure his momentum.
At minimum, one needed to be in the late stage of the Divine Martial Realm to hold against it like this.
‘So it wasn’t a lie that he defeated Heuk Cheonsal.’
Tang Cheonoh became curious about Namgung Geom’s true power.
He elevated his aura further.
Namgung Geom gritted his teeth against the intensifying momentum of Tang Cheonoh’s aura.
Namgung Geom realized that Tang Cheonoh was testing him.
If that was the case, he could not back down.
Namgung Geom synchronized his energy with the Bing Long Sword at his waist.
Crack!
A bone-chilling Qi rose up, meeting the momentum of Tang Cheonoh’s aura.
Boom-crash!
The two auras collided, and the air itself recoiled.
“Ugh.”
From the impact, Namgung Geom let out a groan as he was pushed backward.
Tang Cheonoh withdrew his aura.
If he pressed further and caused an internal injury, Namgung Paek would not let it rest.
“For one of your age to withstand my aura—truly remarkable.”
Tang Cheonoh spoke with genuine admiration.
He showed not a trace of apology for suddenly pressuring him with his aura.
“It is only thanks to the Silent King showing restraint.”
“I have never shown restraint.”
“Yet you did not deploy your full strength, did you?”
Tang Cheonoh shrugged his shoulders and asked.
“You humiliated my grandson in front of the other young martial artists yesterday?”
“Have you heard that Young Master Tang spread rumors about me and insulted the Namgung Clan’s main house?”
“My grandson spoke carelessly, I grant you that. But did he deserve to be shamed so publicly?”
Tang Cheonoh spoke as though Namgung Geom had overstepped.
“If Young Master Tang hadn’t provoked the quarrel in the first place, none of this would have happened.”
“So you’re claiming you did nothing wrong?”
Tang Cheonoh narrowed his eyes as he asked.
“Of course, I acknowledge I went too far in some respects. But had I not acted that way, Young Master Tang would have made an even greater mistake.”
Tang Cheonoh knew his grandson’s nature well enough.
He believed himself superior to all, and could not bear to see anyone attract more attention than he did.
And whenever he encountered such a person, he would do whatever it took to trample them and show off his own superiority.
Tang Cheonoh had tried hard to correct this temperament in his grandson, but it did not change easily.
Namgung Geom had read Tang Baiho correctly.
Had Namgung Geom shown weakness, Tang Baiho would have thought him worthless and done everything to crush him.
That would have led to a far greater confrontation, and Tang Baiho would have suffered far greater humiliation.
“If you wish to hold me responsible for my part in this, I will accept it willingly.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Tang Cheonoh’s expression grew bitter.
If he insisted on holding the boy responsible now, he would appear a narrow-minded elder meddling in children’s quarrels.
“Enough. My grandson shares the blame as well, so I won’t hold you personally responsible.”
In truth, Tang Cheonoh’s earlier test of Namgung Geom’s aura amounted to holding him responsible in its own way.
Tang Cheonoh had intended to repay Namgung Geom with the same treatment Tang Baiho had received.
Though Tang Baiho had erred, publicly shaming him damaged the reputation of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
So he had meant to issue a small warning through his aura, yet Namgung Geom had not been crushed by it—he had stood his ground.
By withstanding that test of strength, Namgung Geom had earned Tang Cheonoh’s recognition, and the elder chose to pursue the matter no further.
Besides, if one examined the rights and wrongs of it, Tang Baiho had been at fault first.
“Thank you. And there is one more thing I wish to ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“I would hope that you would keep Young Master Tang in check.”
At Namgung Geom’s request, Tang Cheonoh’s expression turned puzzled.
“Keep Baiho in check?”
He did not understand what the boy meant to restrain.
“Though it may be presumptuous of me to say, I am concerned that Young Master Tang might harbor resentment over yesterday’s events and seek revenge against me.”
Tang Baiho was entirely capable of such a thing.
And if he truly attempted retaliation, matters could easily spiral out of control.
“I understand what you mean. Don’t worry—I’ll keep that boy in line.”
“Thank you. I should take my leave now.”
After bowing to Tang Cheonoh, Namgung Geom left the hall.
Watching him depart, Tang Cheonoh furrowed his brow.
“It will be difficult to surpass the Namgung Clan for decades to come.”
Namgung Geom had already reached the Divine Martial Realm Late Stage while still in his twenties.
Judging by his rate of growth, it was highly likely he would reach the Absolute Realm within five years at most.
To achieve the Absolute Realm in his twenties at all.
Throughout the history of the Martial World, only a handful had reached the Absolute Realm in their twenties.
And every one of them had become a supreme master who dominated the realm.
If Namgung Geom reached the Absolute Realm in his twenties, he too would become such a supreme master.
And with him, the power of the Namgung Clan would grow ever stronger.
Above all, the Namgung Clan possessed more than just Namgung Geom.
With Namgung Paek, one of the Six Nobles and the Sword King, still in his prime, if Namgung Geom reached the Absolute Realm in his twenties—
The Namgung Clan, bearing those two, would have every right to be called the greatest house under heaven.
And the Sichuan Tang Clan could never surpass the Namgung Clan.
The Sichuan Tang Clan had always been second among the Five Great Clans.
The Namgung Clan had always stood above the Sichuan Tang Clan.
And at some point, even the Hebei Peng Clan had overtaken them.
Tang Cheonoh had devoted all his efforts to raising the Sichuan Tang Clan to the highest rank.
Yet it still could not surpass the Namgung Clan or the Hebei Peng Clan.
And now a prodigy like Namgung Geom had appeared in the Namgung Clan.
The Sichuan Tang Clan did have Tang Baekryong, a brilliant genius.
He was the elder brother of Tang Baiho and had reached the Divine Martial Realm before turning thirty—a true prodigy.
Yet even he paled in comparison to Namgung Geom.
Tang Cheonoh sighed and called for Tang Baiho.
Tang Baiho was simply trying to prevent Namgung Geom from doing anything reckless.
Considering Namgung Geom’s realm and growth potential, there was no benefit in antagonizing him unnecessarily.
If Tang Baiho allowed his hot blood to override reason and built a grudge against Namgung Geom, it would serve neither Tang Baiho nor the Sichuan Tang Clan.
So it was necessary to make sure Tang Baiho understood clearly that he could not act without thinking.
* * *
After meeting with Tang Cheonoh, Namgung Geom went straight to the Patriarch Hall.
There he reported his encounter with Tang Cheonoh to Namgung Paek.
“If something like that happens, you should come to me first. How could you go off alone to find that scheming old fox without knowing what he might do?”
Namgung Paek rebuked Namgung Geom.
“Since it was a matter I created, I should resolve it myself. And surely the Elder would not wish to harm his own grandson.”
Namgung Geom spoke as if he already knew Tang Cheonoh would not harm him.
“So the old fox did nothing reckless to you?”
Namgung Paek let out a contemptuous snort before asking.
“Nothing beyond testing my realm at the beginning.”
“Withstanding that old man’s aura cannot have been easy.”
“Thanks to the Elder not using his full strength, I barely managed to endure it.”
He had nearly suffered an internal injury at the end, but there seemed no point in mentioning that.
“And you did not pursue the matter with Tang Baiho?”
“After hearing my account, the Elder let it pass. And he promised to keep the Young Master from causing further trouble.”
“That scheming old fox would never let something go so easily.”
Namgung Paek spoke as if something did not add up.
“The incident between myself and the Young Master is merely a small quarrel among young martial artists, so it would have been difficult for the Elder to hold anyone accountable. Besides, the Young Master was the one who started the trouble in the first place.”
Namgung Paek let out another contemptuous snort.
The Tang Cheonoh he knew was not the sort to judge right and wrong with fairness.
He was a difficult old man—whatever pleased him was right, and whatever displeased him was wrong.
Yet he had simply let it pass?
“That old fox must have taken a liking to you.”
Or perhaps he had his reasons for wanting to stay on Namgung Geom’s good side.
“In any case, I apologize for causing you worry, Grandfather.”
Namgung Geom bowed his head.
“It’s fine. As long as it turned out well.”
Namgung Paek waved his hand, indicating there was nothing more to say.
He did not especially take issue with the matter at yesterday’s gathering either.
If you let someone who provokes you go without consequence, you invite disrespect.
It was necessary to show strength decisively, so no one would dare lay hands on him again.
Namgung Geom had demonstrated his power properly in front of the young martial artists watching.
From now on, no one would dare treat Namgung Geom carelessly.
And there would be no more talk about Namgung Geom’s realm.
In any case, it had been a necessary lesson.
“And I have one proposal regarding the Martial Arts Tournament.”
“What is it?”
“What would you think of awarding Spirit Pills as prizes to those who advance to the Semi-Finals?”
“Who is to prepare these Spirit Pills?”
“Would it not be appropriate for each of the Five Great Clans to prepare one equally?”
“The young martial artists from the Five Great Clans are likely to dominate the Semi-Finals anyway. What meaning would there be in such a prize?”
If the young martial artists from the Five Great Clans advanced to the Semi-Finals, the Spirit Pills provided by the Five Great Clans would simply end up back in their hands.
It would be better to give Spirit Pills directly to one’s own young martial artists.
Namgung Geom wore a meaningful expression before speaking.
“What if the champion were to receive two Spirit Pills?”
Namgung Bing Long
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Baekwol Geom
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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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