Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 104

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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 104
All things that begin must end.
The outing to Xiaohu with the young martial artists had come to a close.
They had drunk tea at a teahouse, taken a boat ride on the river, strolled through the plum blossom streets of Xiaohu, and done everything worth doing.
Upon returning to the Namgung Clan, the young martial artists split into two groups.
The women returned to their quarters, while the men headed toward the Training Hall.
They intended to keep their promise and engage in Martial Combat.
However, today’s Martial Combat would end with a duel between Namgung Geom and Tang Baiho.
The other young martial artists had postponed their matches.
Upon reflection, engaging in Martial Combat before the approaching Martial Arts Tournament felt burdensome.
If anyone were injured during practice, it could ruin the tournament itself.
The match with Namgung Geom could wait until after the tournament.
Namgung Geom had respected their wishes and deferred the bouts.
But Tang Baiho did not defer his.
He wanted nothing more than to take revenge on Namgung Geom.
If they postponed today’s match, he would have to wait several more days.
Tang Baiho could not bear to wait that long.
Moreover, he had obtained consent to use Secret Projectile Techniques.
If Namgung Geom changed his mind, Tang Baiho would lose his chance for vengeance.
So today, he had to fight no matter what.
Namgung Geom led the young martial artists of the Five Great Clans to the Changyong Sword Corps’ Training Hall.
Since the match would take place anyway, he wanted to show it to the Changyong Sword Corps.
The Secret Projectile Techniques of the Sichuan Tang Clan were not easy to witness.
It would be valuable experience for the Changyong Sword Corps.
Upon arriving at the Changyong Sword Corps’ Training Hall, three of the men were engaged in a joint exercise against Vice-Commander Namgung Woo, excluding Namgung Chang.
Since the Black Shadow Three Swords had gone with Namgung Geom, Namgung Woo had become their training partner in their stead.
Meanwhile, Namgung Chang was quietly reviewing his own martial skills in preparation for the tournament.
Namgung Woo and the three men halted their practice upon seeing Namgung Geom and the young martial artists of the Five Great Clans suddenly appear.
“Welcome.”
Namgung Woo and the three men bowed respectfully to Namgung Geom.
“Greet them. These are the young heirs of the Five Great Clans.”
Namgung Woo and the three men exchanged greetings with the young martial artists of the Five Great Clans.
The young martial artists of the Five Great Clans returned their greetings casually.
“But what brings the young heirs of the Five Great Clans here……?”
Namgung Woo asked.
“I came to engage in Martial Combat with our friend here.”
“Martial Combat?”
“He agreed to show me the Secret Projectile Techniques of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Namgung Woo and the three men’s eyes widened.
“Surely Secret Projectile Techniques would be too dangerous?”
“Don’t worry. Just watch. This isn’t an opportunity you get every day.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Tang Baiho’s brow furrowed.
The Sichuan Tang Clan did not reveal their Secret Projectile Techniques casually.
And yet here were so many eyes to see it—it made him uneasy.
“I’m sorry, but I’d prefer if the match could be held privately.”
“Privately?”
“Since these are Secret Projectile Techniques, I’m hesitant to display them so openly.”
“If that’s your wish, there’s nothing to be done about it.”
Namgung Geom, disappointed, asked Namgung Woo and the three men to withdraw.
He could not insist on watching Secret Projectile Techniques.
“If it’s private, we shouldn’t watch either, should we?”
Peng Daozhou asked.
“No. You three may observe.”
“Is that so?”
“In case there’s any dispute later about what occurred in the match, I’ll need witnesses.”
If Namgung Geom were injured by the Secret Projectile Techniques, the Namgung Clan could make trouble.
But if the young martial artists of the Five Great Clans testified that the match had been conducted fairly, the Namgung Clan would have nothing to say.
The young martial artists of the Five Great Clans felt somewhat uneasy, but they could hardly leave now that they’d come this far.
Besides, they wanted to witness the duel between Namgung Geom and Tang Baiho.
They took their seats on one side of the Training Hall.
Namgung Geom and Tang Baiho faced each other in the center of the Training Hall for their Martial Combat.
“Shall we begin?”
Namgung Geom spoke as he drew his Bing Long Sword.
Tang Baiho’s hand slipped into the folds of the Long Robe unique to the Sichuan Tang Clan.
According to rumor, the Projectile King Tang Tian-o carried hundreds of projectiles hidden within his robe.
He couldn’t fathom how so many could be concealed and carried about, yet
Tang Baiho’s robe surely held no shortage of them.
“I’m coming first!”
Namgung Geom rushed forward toward Tang Baiho.
In an instant, something gleamed in Tang Baiho’s hand as it emerged from his robe.
Whip-crack!
Then black Iron Sand sprayed into the air.
The Iron Sand was a lethal projectile—a grain striking the eye could rob one of sight entirely.
Namgung Geom’s brow hardened against Tang Baiho’s opening barrage, and he swung the Bing Long Sword with force.
The Icy Cold Sword Wind that erupted from the blade froze the space around it, wrapping the Iron Sand in crystalline prison.
Crack-snap!
The black Iron Sand, caught within the Icy Cold Sword Wind, froze solid and fell to the ground with a dull clatter.
Tang Baiho’s eyes widened in shock.
To conjure the Icy Cold Sword Wind in that fraction of a second and freeze every grain of Iron Sand—
What manner of opponent was this?
Tang Baiho’s hand plunged back into his robe with urgency.
Hiss-hiss-hiss!!
Then dozens of Throwing Stars erupted from his palm as he withdrew it.
Namgung Geom swung the Bing Long Sword, drawing forth the Icy Cold Sword Wind.
The Throwing Stars caught in the wind’s grip tumbled and bounced away on either side.
Each time he deflected a Throwing Star, Namgung Geom remained vigilant.
An impact on a projectile could trigger secondary attacks.
Yet the Throwing Stars he swatted aside proved to be nothing more than ordinary weapons.
Tang Baiho employed his Shin-bop, circling around Namgung Geom’s position while unleashing projectile after projectile.
Throwing Stars gave way to Short Swords, Iron Caltrops, Steel Needles, Gold Coin Projectiles—a torrent of varied armaments.
Tang Baiho’s Projectile Arts were formidable indeed.
He did not simply hurl wildly; each projectile found a trajectory difficult for his opponent to parry.
His Shin-bop was equally sharp.
The method of circling his opponent while seeking gaps to exploit was simple yet remarkably menacing.
Against an opponent of comparable cultivation, such tactics would have forced a desperate struggle.
But Namgung Geom left no openings.
Try as Tang Baiho might to create one, Namgung Geom yielded not an inch.
Every projectile he hurled bounced harmlessly away from the Bing Long Sword’s iron defense.
Tang Baiho’s teeth clenched.
A weapon or two might slip through—but this was absolute, impenetrable defense.
‘Common projectiles won’t suffice.’
No matter how exquisite his Projectile Arts, ordinary weapons could not breach that defense.
To wound Namgung Geom, he would have to resort to Secret Projectile Techniques.
Having resolved to deploy such methods, Tang Baiho flung dozens of Throwing Stars once more.
Namgung Geom deflected them with ease as before.
Hiss-hiss-hiss!
Then, from behind, a single Throwing Star came spinning with terrible velocity.
‘It’s different from the others—!?’
The moment Namgung Geom’s instincts flared, the star that had been hurtling toward him suddenly split into dozens of pieces just before impact.
Before he could register his alarm, the separated stars accelerated and converged upon his entire body.
The Flash Lightning Projectile.
One of the Sichuan Tang Clan’s Secret Projectile Techniques—dozens of thin stars layered atop one another that, upon rotation, separate and simultaneously assault the target’s entire frame with devastating force.
Most perilously, the trajectories of the separated stars varied so wildly that tracking them was nearly impossible.
With movements so extreme and speed so fierce that the eye could scarcely follow, dozens of razor-thin stars burst forth in unison.
“……!!”
Namgung Geom, startled, retreated swiftly and opened distance before spinning the Bing Long Sword with urgency.
The Icy Cold Aura that poured from the blade froze the very air, raising a wall of ice before him.
Crack-slam!
As the thin stars struck the ice wall, a deafening boom rang out—and they burrowed through.
The ice wall crumbled against the grinding force of the spinning stars.
Namgung Geom started in surprise.
The force carried by the thin throwing star was stronger than he’d expected.
Crack!
Unable to withstand the shattering force of the thin throwing star, the ice barrier finally shattered.
But the throwing star too had spent its momentum, ricocheting away and falling to the ground.
Namgung Geom was startled by the power of the Flash Lightning Projectile.
Not content with its speed and extreme unpredictability, it had actually pierced through an ice barrier wrapped in the Icy Cold Sword Wind.
Had he reacted even a moment slower, the projectile would have found its mark.
‘They say Sichuan Tang Clan’s projectile arts are fearsome—it lives up to its reputation.’
Meanwhile, Tang Baiho was taken aback when he saw Namgung Geom deflect the Flash Lightning Projectile so easily.
‘He blocked the Flash Lightning Projectile that simply?’
The Flash Lightning Projectile was no ordinary projectile.
It was one of the Ten Great Secret Techniques of Sichuan Tang Clan.
Sichuan Tang Clan’s projectile arts numbered in the hundreds by type alone.
Among them, the ten most formidable were called the Ten Great Secret Techniques.
The Flash Lightning Projectile ranked tenth among the Ten Great Secret Techniques.
Tang Baiho had never expected the Flash Lightning Projectile to fell Namgung Geom outright.
Still, he’d thought at least one or two might penetrate his defense.
Yet he’d blocked dozens of them completely.
Tang Baiho now understood that Namgung Geom’s martial prowess was far greater than he’d assessed.
This was not part of his plan.
He’d meant to wound Namgung Geom with the Flash Lightning Projectile and end the bout triumphantly.
But Namgung Geom had neutralized it with ease.
Once a technique is revealed, its effectiveness diminishes with repeated use.
The Flash Lightning Projectile could no longer threaten Namgung Geom.
Which meant he would have to employ a different technique.
Tang Baiho had been permitted to use three of the Ten Great Secret Techniques.
He still had two Secret Projectile Techniques remaining.
Yet Tang Baiho found it difficult to use them recklessly.
Sichuan Tang Clan enforced strict restrictions on the use of the Ten Great Secret Techniques.
A projectile’s power is maximized when the opponent is unaware of it.
No matter how formidable the technique, once its nature becomes known, its effectiveness wanes.
Therefore, the Ten Great Secret Techniques should never be used carelessly.
The basic policy was to forbid their use except in truly unavoidable circumstances.
Using the Secret Techniques in a martial bout was, in effect, a violation of the clan’s principles.
If this came to light, Tang Baiho would likely face punishment according to the family law.
Tang Baiho was well aware of this.
Yet the very fact that he’d deployed a Secret Projectile Technique spoke to how deep his vendetta against Namgung Geom ran.
But if he used the Ten Great Secret Techniques and still failed to harm Namgung Geom, he would gain nothing and suffer punishment for nothing.
It was the worst possible outcome.
Tang Baiho could not help but hesitate.
The Flash Lightning Projectile was a Secret Technique, but relatively well-known.
So using it might result in nothing more than a few days of self-reflection as punishment.
But if he deployed another Secret Technique, the consequences would likely be far more severe.
The desire to avenge himself against Namgung Geom warred against the dread of what punishment might follow.
Caught between the two, Tang Baiho could not make up his mind.
“Is that all?”
Namgung Geom asked.
‘That’s it? Sichuan Tang Clan’s projectile arts aren’t much after all.’
That was how Tang Baiho heard Namgung Geom’s words.
Pride kindled in Tang Baiho, and he decided he would no longer worry about consequences.
“No. We haven’t even begun.”
Tang Baiho spat out the words, then flicked both his sleeves toward Namgung Geom.
Whoosh!
Dozens of projectiles cascaded from Tang Baiho’s sleeves.
They were butterfly-shaped projectiles.
The Flying Butterfly Projectile.
The ninth-ranked technique among Sichuan Tang Clan’s Ten Great Secret Techniques.
A dual projectile that fluttered on the wind as it descended, unleashing dozens of strikes from multiple angles.
Namgung Geom extended the Bing Long Sword toward the Flying Butterfly Projectiles descending upon him.
The Icy Cold Sword Wind erupting from his blade swept across the Flying Butterfly Projectiles.
But the projectiles twisted through the air with uncanny grace, weaving around the sword wind.
Namgung Geom’s eyes widened at the sight.
The Flying Butterfly Projectile was fearsome precisely because it shifted its trajectory freely in response to the opponent’s attack.
Rather than clashing against the incoming strike, it rode upon the force embedded within it, gliding past with effortless grace.
Yet there was indeed a way to stop it.
‘Then I’ll simply freeze them solid.’
Namgung Geom channeled the Icy Cold Aura through his Bing Long Sword, amplifying its potency.
Crack!
The Icy Cold Aura swept outward in an instant, freezing everything in its path as it engulfed the projectiles.
Ensnared in the extreme cold, the Flying Butterfly Projectiles froze solid, their motion arrested.
Like butterflies caught in frost, they plummeted toward the ground.
The concealed needles hidden within their wings never found release.
Tang Baiho’s eyes flooded with shock as he witnessed this.
“You can stop the Flying Butterfly Projectile like that?”
Namgung Bing Long
Author |
Baek Wol Geom
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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Editorial Department
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The contents of this book may not be used in any form or by any means without the written permission of Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dream Books.

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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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