Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 11

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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 11
The Practice Yard of Chang Ryong Gak.
The three leaders of Chang Ryong Sam Jo rushed at Nam Goong Geom.
Three extended blades poured down from three directions.
Following Nam Goong Chul Ung’s strike like a Lightning Strike came Nam Goong Chang’s ever-shifting Sword Wind and Nam Goong Cheon Sang’s oppressive Sword Momentum, dominating the space.
Each of the three attacks was powerful enough to demand utmost attention.
And they had already sealed off the space through which Nam Goong Geom might escape.
Yet to Nam Goong Geom’s eye, gaps still remained.
He slipped his body through the space they had failed to block.
His form glided smoothly as he evaded their Coordinated Attack.
All three immediately gave chase, renewing their assault.
Nam Goong Geom deployed his Movement Art again, slipping past their strikes as he spoke.
“No matter how powerful an attack is, it’s worthless if you cannot land it.”
The three leaders threw everything they had into landing a blow on Nam Goong Geom.
Their blades grew fiercer and more relentless with each exchange.
Yet they still could not so much as graze his sleeve.
Nam Goong Geom found each opening as if by supernatural instinct.
And slipped through them like water.
In that instant, Nam Goong Chul Ung’s eyes flashed.
He deliberately created a gap, drawing Nam Goong Geom toward it.
The moment Nam Goong Geom moved into that opening, Nam Goong Chul Ung struck without mercy.
His Great Sword cleaved the space like lightning, driving toward Nam Goong Geom’s waist.
Nam Goong Geom extended his blade lightly, and the space froze solid, pinning Nam Goong Chul Ung’s Great Sword.
Crash!
Nam Goong Chul Ung’s Great Sword slammed into the ground.
A groan escaped him.
Nam Goong Chul Ung gasped.
It was not merely the force—the bitter cold flowing through the blade felt as if his entire arm were freezing solid.
He quickly drew up his Inner Strength, forcing the chill away.
At that moment, a sharp Sword Wind shot toward Nam Goong Geom from the front.
The Sword Wind, coiling through space like a whirlwind, cut across it and drove toward him.
But that was not all.
From behind Nam Goong Geom, Nam Goong Cheon Sang’s oppressive Sword Momentum unfolded.
In Nam Goong Cheon Sang’s single blade dwelt the momentum of the great expanse, carrying a force that pressed down upon space itself.
Their Coordinated Attack was exquisite—perfectly cutting off every avenue of escape.
‘Not bad at all.’
Nam Goong Geom felt an inward smile at their Coordinated Attack.
While he held Nam Goong Chul Ung’s blade, Nam Goong Chang and Nam Goong Cheon Sang had seized the space and woven a Coordinated Attack from which there was no escape.
Simple, yet devastatingly effective.
With no space to flee, he had no choice but to block both their strikes.
Meeting attacks simultaneously from front and back is no simple feat.
Yet Nam Goong Geom’s expression was utterly at ease.
His blade moved toward the rear.
Crash-crack!
Extreme cold erupted from his blade, seizing the space behind him and driving back Nam Goong Cheon Sang’s Sword Momentum.
Nam Goong Cheon Sang could not overcome the blade pressure from the cold that Nam Goong Geom’s strike had unleashed, and he was pushed back.
Simultaneously, Nam Goong Geom’s blade pivoted forward, releasing a Sword Wind of pure cold.
Crash-crack!
Boom-crash!
Nam Goong Chang’s Sword Wind, colliding with the frigid blade wind, froze solid and shattered apart.
A groan escaped him.
Nam Goong Chang gasped and stumbled backward from the impact.
“All of you, attack at once!”
Nam Goong Chang gritted his teeth and shouted.
Nam Goong Cheon Sang and Nam Goong Chul Ung rushed toward Nam Goong Geom without hesitation.
Nam Goong Chang, recovering his stance, immediately extended his blade toward Nam Goong Geom.
Three waves of assault bore down upon Nam Goong Geom.
Nam Goong Geom could easily have evaded.
But instead of fleeing, he moved his blade.
Following the sweep of his sword, space rippled and the air around him froze solid.
A chill-laden Sword Wind swept across all directions in its wake.
Crash!
The icy Sword Wind conjured by Nam Goong Geom’s blade shattered the three attackers’ strikes utterly, scattering them like dust.
The three troop leaders groaned under the impact and were hurled backward.
Nam Goong Geom’s assault did not end there.
Lightning Strike poured forth in succession from his blade, striking all three simultaneously.
Crash!
The three troop leaders hastily parried the blade strikes of the Lightning Strike technique.
“Ugh.”
The chill embedded in the Lightning Strike’s blade strikes burrowed deep into their bodies.
The three troop leaders retreated, swallowing their groans.
Their faces were etched with exhaustion.
For the past five years, they had striven ceaselessly to catch up with Nam Goong Geom.
As a result, they had grown incomparably stronger than five years prior.
In truth, all three had reached the First Class realm.
For their age, it was a staggering achievement.
Yet compared to Nam Goong Geom’s advancement, it was but a drop in the ocean.
As was plain to see, even First Class masters executing a Coordinated Attack were pushed back entirely one-sided.
Moreover, Nam Goong Geom was not fighting at full strength.
The gap between Nam Goong Geom and them was now unmistakable.
They felt anew the magnitude of Nam Goong Geom’s power.
“This is absurd. Rather than narrowing, the gap only widens.”
Nam Goong Chul Ung sheathed his Great Sword and let out a weary sigh.
Over the past five years, his frame had grown even more massive.
Were you to drape him in furs, one might believe he was a bear.
“To lead men of pride, I must demonstrate this level of strength.”
Nam Goong Geom spoke with a faint smile.
His appearance had transformed beyond recognition.
Six feet tall, his physique honed to lean muscle—a sturdy, commanding frame.
The frailness that had marked him before was nowhere to be found.
The youthful, almost pretty face had sharpened into that of a man radiating wild strength.
“True enough. If we’re to trust and follow you, that level of skill is the least we’d expect.”
Nam Goong Cheon Sang nodded in agreement.
The beautiful youth remained possessed of a face as fair as a woman’s.
“Had it not been for that Ice Art of his, the outcome might have been different.”
Nam Goong Chang spoke as though aggrieved.
He too had ripened into a capable man over the span of five years.
“In real combat, you wouldn’t blame your opponent’s martial skills, would you?”
At Nam Goong Geom’s words, Nam Goong Chang pouted.
Though displeased, he could not deny what Nam Goong Geom had said.
Nam Goong Geom smiled faintly at this display.
Compared to how he had quarreled with him over everything at first, this was almost endearing.
“Today I have something urgent to tell all of you.”
Nam Goong Geom’s expression grew serious as he spoke.
“What is it? Why the grave tone all of a sudden?”
Nam Goong Chul Ung asked.
“It concerns your futures.”
“Our futures?”
“You all know that in one month, the training at Chang Ryong Gak will be complete?”
“Of course we do.”
“Normally, after the graduation ceremony concludes, you would enter the Sam Dae Geom Dan.”
“The way you’re speaking, it seems you have other ideas.”
Nam Goong Cheon Sang’s words drew a nod from Nam Goong Geom.
“Separate from Sam Dae Geom Dan, I intend to establish an independent unit and make all of you its members.”
Nam Goong Geom spoke while regarding the three troop leaders who had just fought and the recruits behind them.
“A separate unit?”
Nam Goong Chang’s eyes widened at this unexpected declaration.
The other trainees were equally taken aback.
“Yes. For now we’ll begin small, but I intend to expand and develop it into a larger unit.”
“Have you received approval from above for this?”
Nam Goong Chang asked.
Founding a new unit wasn’t something Nam Goong Geom could do simply because he wanted to.
It required approval from the leadership.
“Not yet. First, I need to gauge where you all stand on this.”
In truth, he could have proceeded without his peers’ consent.
Once orders came down from above, they’d have to follow, willing or not.
But Nam Goong Geom wanted his peers to follow him out of genuine conviction, not mere obedience.
“I’m completely in favor.”
Nam Goong Chul Ung answered without hesitation.
He had already chosen to follow Nam Goong Geom in his heart.
The thought of being separated from Nam Goong Geom upon entering the Sam Dae Geom Dan troubled him deeply, but if he could remain at Nam Goong Geom’s side, he would follow him anywhere.
“If the leadership approves, I’ll join as well.”
Nam Goong Cheon Sang’s answer amounted to consent.
“I’m in favor too.”
Nam Goong Seol, followed by the other peers, pledged their support for Nam Goong Geom’s vision.
Nam Goong Geom smiled.
Abandoning the Sam Dae Geom Dan to stand with Nam Goong Geom was no easy choice.
The peers at Chang Ryong Gak were no naive children.
They understood Nam Goong Geom’s ambitions for the position of Branch Family Head, and what it meant to align with him.
Joining Nam Goong Geom’s unit meant supporting him as Branch Family Head and sharing his fate.
Nam Goong Geom felt a surge of gratitude toward his peers.
For the past five years, he had given them his whole heart.
Now that investment was returning to him.
Yet there remained one who had not decided.
Nam Goong Chang.
Nam Goong Geom’s gaze turned toward him.
Nam Goong Geom could read the conflict in his eyes.
‘It seems these five years weren’t wasted after all.’
Nam Goong Chang was the son of the Second Uncle.
From his position, choosing Nam Goong Geom—who would compete with his father for Branch Family Head—amounted to a betrayal of his own father.
Five years ago, he would have refused without a moment’s hesitation.
The fact that he was deliberating now spoke volumes.
It meant Nam Goong Geom occupied a significant place in his heart.
“Whatever you decide, I will respect it. So choose freely, without burden.”
Nam Goong Chang looked at Nam Goong Geom.
Apart from everything else, Nam Goong Geom’s Realm and martial prowess were extraordinary.
At his young age, he had already reached the mid-Peak Realm.
What was astonishing was that he had only seriously begun training in martial arts five years ago.
To reach the Peak Realm in just five years was nearly unprecedented in the history of the Martial World.
At his current rate of growth, ascending to the Absolute Realm before reaching thirty was not impossible.
The conviction grew firmer: Nam Goong Geom must become Branch Family Head for the future of the Nam Goong Family.
If not for his own father, he too would have followed Nam Goong Geom without hesitation.
But to abandon his father and follow Nam Goong Geom was not a decision he could make lightly.
“I’d like time to think this through.”
“Take what time you need. It won’t happen until we get approval from above anyway.”
Nam Goong Geom did not press for a decision.
Having secured the consent of his peers except Nam Goong Chang, Nam Goong Geom headed directly to the Patriarch’s Residence.
“Come in.”
Nam Goong Pae greeted Nam Goong Geom warmly.
Nam Goong Pae was older, yet still robust in appearance.
“I’ve come today to make a request of you, Patriarch.
“What is it you wish to ask?”
Nam Goong Pae asked lightly.
But upon hearing Nam Goong Geom’s request, his expression shifted.
“I wish to form a new unit with my peers from Chang Ryong Gak as its members.”
Nam Goong 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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