Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 103

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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 103
“Just say you’re envious if you are. Why resort to fists? Really, resorting to fists.”
Moyong Jun rubbed his blackened eyes with an egg while glaring at Peng Daozhou.
He’d taken a punch from Peng Daozhou for getting too cheeky.
“Who told you to provoke my anger?”
Peng Daozhou let out a derisive snort.
“Why hit only me? If you’re going to hit someone, hit Namgung too.”
Peng Daozhou shot a look at Namgung Geom and shook his head.
“Do you think I could land a hit on him? You only get hit because you’re an easy target.”
“So I’m easy prey, am I?”
Namgung Geom watched the bickering pair and smiled to himself.
Peng Daozhou and Moyong Jun were the same age.
On top of that, Peng Daozhou’s mother had become Moyong Jun’s aunt.
So the two had spent much time together since childhood, and as one could see, they’d become quite comfortable with each other.
Though Moyong Jun might dispute that claim.
“Those two bicker like that, yet they can’t live without each other.”
Jegal Woon, standing beside Namgung Geom, spoke up.
“You don’t wish to join in yourself?”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Jegal Woon shook his head firmly.
“If I took one of Peng’s punches, there’d be nothing left of me.”
“What about Moyong?”
“Moyong gets hit so often his constitution’s toughened up.”
“Perhaps Peng strikes with good intentions.”
Jegal Woon’s expression turned bewildered at Namgung Geom’s comment.
“Doesn’t the Shaolin Temple begin training the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art by taking strikes?”
Jegal Woon laughed in exasperation at Namgung Geom’s earnest reply.
“You’re quite the jester, aren’t you?”
Namgung Geom hadn’t been joking, but he didn’t bother to say so.
Somehow, it felt better this way.
Namgung Geom turned his gaze to Tang Baiho, who sat quietly.
“I hear you’ve taken up Hidden Weapon Technique.”
The Sichuan Tang Clan was renowned for poison and hidden weapons.
Tang Baiho had specialized in the latter.
“You should see Tang’s Hidden Weapon Technique—it’s like flower petals falling from the sky.”
Jegal Woon praised Tang Baiho’s technique effusively.
“Then I’d like to see it once.”
Namgung Geom had heard much about the Sichuan Tang Clan’s Hidden Weapon Technique.
But he’d never actually witnessed it.
“If you’re truly curious about my Hidden Weapon Technique, we could have a Martial Combat.”
Tang Baiho said this in passing.
Yet Namgung Geom caught the sharp glint in Tang Baiho’s eyes.
It was the look of someone hunting for something.
Namgung Geom wondered what Tang Baiho’s intention was in proposing a Martial Combat.
By his own strength, it was clear he would lose such a match.
But what if Tang Baiho used the Secret Transmission Hidden Weapon of the Sichuan Tang Clan?
Every secret transmission hidden weapon of the Sichuan Tang Clan was lethal.
With a secret transmission hidden weapon, one could strike down even a master of higher realm than oneself.
It was no accident that the Martial World feared the Sichuan Tang Clan.
The warriors of the Sichuan Tang Clan were inferior in realm and martial skill compared to the other Five Great Clans.
But in a fight for one’s life, there were few opponents as dangerous as those of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Even with high realm, it was difficult to easily defend against poison and hidden weapons.
Especially the Secret Transmission Hidden Weapon, used only by the direct lineage, was rumored to be beyond the reach of even masters of the True Martial Realm.
“Well, if you’d rather not, there’s nothing I can do.”
Tang Baiho spoke as though unconcerned.
“No, I’ve always been curious about the Sichuan Tang Clan’s Hidden Weapon Technique. Let me experience it this time.”
At Namgung Geom’s response, Tang Baiho’s eyes brightened with satisfaction.
“But given how exceptional your realm is, I wonder if ordinary hidden weapons would be adequate.”
Tang Baiho spoke as though troubled.
“Unless I use the main clan’s Secret Transmission Hidden Weapon.”
Tang Baiho spoke while gauging Namgung Geom’s reaction.
‘He clearly still holds a grudge against me.’
Namgung Geom saw through Tang Baiho’s intentions at once.
The man meant to settle the score using Secret Transmission Hidden Weapons.
But he couldn’t simply deploy them without permission—so he was banking on Namgung Geom’s higher realm to agree.
“If you’re going to do it, do it properly. Use the Secret Transmission Hidden Weapons without hesitation.”
“Hidden weapons have no eyes—you could be seriously hurt. Are you sure?”
Tang Baiho spoke as if concerned.
“If a martial artist shrinks from combat out of fear of injury, what claim can he have to the name?”
“Then I won’t hold back either.”
Tang Baiho’s smile was one of vindication.
On the surface, he’d agreed to reconcile, but beneath it all, he harbored deep resentment toward Namgung Geom.
Yet his grandfather Tang Cheonoh’s stern orders weighed on him, forcing him to swallow his desire for revenge.
But now, in this martial combat, he would be permitted to use Secret Transmission Hidden Weapons.
Even a master of the True Martial Realm like Namgung Geom would have difficulty deflecting the Sichuan Tang Clan’s forbidden arsenal.
In ordinary martial competitions, Secret Transmission Hidden Weapons were strictly prohibited.
The risk of serious injury was too great.
But now that Namgung Geom had consented, any harm that came to him was no longer a concern.
“Using Secret Transmission Hidden Weapons—isn’t that too dangerous?”
Jegal Woon voiced his worry.
“When else will I get the chance to face the Sichuan Tang Clan’s Hidden Weapon Technique? Besides, surely Tang won’t actually try to kill me.”
Namgung Geom glanced at Tang Baiho, his expression untroubled.
Even if Tang Baiho did harbor resentment, he wouldn’t go so far as to take a life.
At worst, he was trying to restore his wounded pride.
In truth, had Namgung Geom seriously doubted Tang Baiho’s intent, he simply wouldn’t have accepted the match.
But he was genuinely curious to experience the Sichuan Tang Clan’s Hidden Weapon arsenal firsthand.
More importantly, even if their Secret Transmission Hidden Weapons were as formidable as rumored, Namgung Geom was confident he wouldn’t be hurt.
In another sense, he wanted to deliver Tang Baiho a decisive warning.
If he could demonstrate martial prowess so overwhelming that even the Sichuan Tang Clan’s forbidden weapons proved useless, Tang Baiho would abandon any foolish notions.
“Of course. At your level, I couldn’t kill you even if I tried.”
“Since we’re on the subject, what if we held the match after visiting Xiaohu?”
Namgung Geom proposed delaying the combat.
“Very well. Let’s do that.”
Tang Baiho accepted, barely restraining an eager grin.
“We can’t let only Tang witness your prowess. What if we all participated together?”
Peng Daozhou made the suggestion.
The other young martial artists inside the carriage looked at Namgung Geom with eager eyes.
Sparring with a master like Namgung Geom was an opportunity rarely granted.
More than that, they burned with curiosity to test his actual power directly.
They had seen Namgung Geom overwhelm Tang Baiho with sheer force.
But no one had yet witnessed his true martial technique in action.
Namgung Geom had earned his fame in the Martial World as the Little Bing Dragon.
According to rumor, he wielded the Namgung Clan Sword Technique infused with the Bing-gong.
These young martial artists were desperately curious to see it firsthand.
“I’m happy to oblige. But isn’t tomorrow the Martial Competition? Won’t that be a problem?”
“You’re not trying to injure us so you can guarantee your cousin Namgung Chang wins first place, are you?”
Moyong Jun narrowed his eyes as he asked.
“Ah! Now there’s a strategy I hadn’t considered. I may have to think that over.”
At Namgung Geom’s teasing remark, the young martial artists in the carriage laughed.
“If we leave today with injuries, know that you’re responsible.”
“Everything’s always my fault anyway. Without fail.”
Peng Daozhou and Moyong Jun resumed their bickering.
Watching them, Namgung Geom let out a quiet chuckle.
He’d wondered what amusement he could find in the company of younger martial artists.
Yet sitting among them now, laughter came unbidden.
Spending time like this with these young martial artists didn’t seem so bad after all.
Fundamentally, he found the young martial artists of the Five Great Clans likeable.
He wouldn’t mind becoming friends with them.
Tang Baiho gave him some pause, though it wasn’t as if he needed to befriend everyone.
Still, if Tang Baiho had a change of heart, things could shift.
Once the young martial artists arrived in Xiaohu, they followed Namgung Geom’s guidance to the town’s most famous teahouse.
The teahouse stood in a propitious location with a view of all Xiaohu spread below it, and it was crowded with patrons.
Namgung Geom had rented the entire top floor of the establishment.
It had cost a considerable sum, but that mattered little to him.
The place belonged to Gang Moyeon, after all.
‘My maternal grandfather’s family certainly has deep pockets.’
The Geumhwa Pavilion he’d visited yesterday was the same—this teahouse too was beyond what ordinary wealth could procure.
Namgung Geom found himself freshly impressed by the Hangzhou Gold Merchant’s financial reach.
It also spoke to how dearly Gang Moyeon’s father, the previous head of the merchant house, must have cherished her.
Few parents sent their married daughters away with luxury establishments—fine pavilions and teahouses—as parting gifts.
Such generosity required not just wealth, but a depth of affection that few could match.
Namgung Geom felt a fresh wave of gratitude toward his maternal grandfather.
He resolved to prepare something truly magnificent as a gift for the old man’s sixtieth birthday celebration.
As they climbed to the top floor, the view of Xiaohu opened before them through the wide-flung windows.
“Oh! It’s even more beautiful than I’d heard!”
“Truly magnificent. A masterpiece of nature.”
“I imagine it must be absolutely breathtaking at sunset.”
The young martial artists exclaimed in wonder.
“We’re fortunate to see such a place, thanks to you, Young Master Namgung.”
Baili Xiao of the Baili Clan spoke with a smile.
By any measure, she was quite beautiful.
When she smiled, the space around her seemed to brighten.
Any man would have found himself captivated by that smile.
But Namgung Geom was not that man.
He merely noted that she was smiling and moved on.
He could acknowledge her beauty well enough, yet it stirred nothing in him.
The same held true for the other women present.
“Shall we sit and have some tea first?”
At Namgung Geom’s suggestion, everyone took their seats.
Presently, the tea he had ordered in advance arrived.
The young martial artists sipped their tea while gazing out at Xiaohu’s scenery.
The women stole glances at Namgung Geom as they drank.
All of them were keenly interested in him.
Namgung Geom was handsome and possessed formidable martial skill.
And he carried the prestige of the Namgung Clan behind him.
He had everything a woman of the Martial World could desire.
So it was only natural that these women took notice of him.
They engaged him in conversation, asking this and that.
Namgung Geom recalled Namgung Pae’s words and studied the women more carefully.
Every one of them was lovely.
In the wider Martial World, men would queue for the chance to meet women of their caliber.
Their personalities differed, but each possessed her own charm.
Yet none of them captured Namgung Geom’s attention.
He had hoped that conversation might kindle some spark of feeling, but it did not.
Seeing his lack of response, the women gradually fell silent.
Namgung Geom treated them with courtesy.
But only that—and nothing more.
When the women sensed his romantic indifference toward them, they too withdrew their interest.
They were accomplished women in their own right.
And they carried that pride accordingly.
They had no intention of chasing a man who showed them no affection.
Instead, they turned their attention to the other young martial artists.
It was a consolation prize, perhaps, but the other young men were hardly lesser—capable and accomplished in their own ways.
The young martial artists who had lost the women’s attention became animated, engaging with them eagerly.
Most of their conversation was idle gossip and pleasantries.
Namgung Geom had joined in at first, but found himself growing increasingly bored.
‘I wish I could return and focus on the Martial Combat instead.’
Namgung Geom found martial skill far more engaging than socializing with these women.
What would the Sichuan Tang Clan’s Secret Transmission Hidden Weapon techniques be like?
What of the martial arts of the Five Great Clans?
His fingers itched with anticipation to test himself against them.
Moyong Jun, watching Namgung Geom like this, offered a remark.
“What’s wrong? You look like a dog desperate for a piss.”
Namgung Geom understood why Moyong Jun kept getting beaten by Peng Daozhou.
Namgung Bing-ryong
Author |
Baek Wol-geom
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(주) Samyang C&C
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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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