Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 110

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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 110
Namgung Pae tapped the armrest of his chair absently, as though wrestling with a difficult thought.
“What’s your view on this, Silver Dragon Corner Master?”
He turned to Namgung Bing for his opinion.
“I cannot speak for the other officers, but the heads of the Three Branches and the Elder’s investigation must proceed with caution.”
If word spread that the Three Branch heads and the Elder had been investigated, the backlash would be considerable.
“Above all, it’s inconceivable that the Three Branch heads or the Elder could be a cult mole.”
The heads of the Three Branches were direct descendants of the Namgung Clan.
They had no reason to serve as a cult mole.
The Elder had spent decades fighting for the Namgung Clan, never sparing his own life.
As a result of his countless deeds, he had earned recognition and the position of Elder.
Would such a man have gone mad and become a cult mole?
“I trust the Three Branch heads and the Elder as well. But in a situation where the cult mole remains unidentified, we can guarantee the clan’s safety only by excluding even the slimmest possibility.”
The Three Branch heads and the Elder were the very core of the Namgung Clan.
If a cult mole existed among them, the consequences would be catastrophic.
“By that logic, the Crown Prince can’t be excluded either.”
“If necessary, I will submit to any investigation you conduct.”
Namgung Geom spoke with perfect composure.
“That’s not a real investigation if you already know what they’ll be looking for.”
“Would it suffice if I accept any investigation the Silver Dragon Corner conducts without refusal?”
“Enough.”
Namgung Pae stepped in to halt the debate between Namgung Geom and Namgung Bing.
“Silver Dragon Corner, proceed as the Crown Prince suggests.”
“But—”
As Namgung Bing moved to object, Namgung Pae raised his hand to silence him.
“I will take responsibility for any resistance from the Three Branch heads and the Elder. Don’t concern yourself with that.”
“Understood.”
“And as for investigating the Changyong Sword Corps Commander, that won’t be necessary.”
“But—”
Namgung Bing tried to raise an objection, but once again Namgung Pae’s words cut him short.
“I will vouch for him personally.”
“Understood.”
Namgung Bing nodded reluctantly.
What more could be said when the Clan Patriarch himself stood as guarantor?
Besides, he himself had only suggested investigating Namgung Geom for fairness’s sake—he held no actual suspicion that the Crown Prince was a cult mole.
For one thing, Namgung Geom had faced assassination attempts on more than one occasion.
A cult mole would have no reason to face such threats.
“And what of releasing Heavenly Abyss Manor Master? Would that be acceptable?”
At Namgung Geom’s proposal, Namgung Pae’s eyes widened.
“Release Heavenly Abyss Manor Master?”
“If Heavenly Abyss Manor Master is released, he will very likely attempt to make contact with the cult mole.”
“The cult mole would see through such an obvious ploy.”
Namgung Bing countered immediately.
“The cult mole might, but Heavenly Abyss Manor Master is a different matter.”
“You’re suggesting Heavenly Abyss Manor Master will contact the cult mole?”
Namgung Bing asked.
“Heavenly Abyss Manor Master will never abandon his desire for revenge against the main clan. Yet alone, he cannot achieve it.”
“So he’ll seek revenge by relying on the cult’s power?”
Namgung Bing, following Namgung Geom’s logic, posed the question.
Namgung Geom nodded and continued his explanation.
“Right now, Heavenly Abyss Manor Master has nowhere to turn but the heterodox sects, including Sa Pae Ryun, and the cult. If he must choose, the cult—with whom he already has ties—is the more likely path.”
“Then there’s a strong possibility Heavenly Abyss Manor Master will try to make contact with the cult mole by any means.”
“I don’t know exactly how they’ll communicate, but if Heavenly Abyss Manor Master makes an attempt at contact, it will give us a thread to trace back to the cult mole.”
Namgung Bing nodded at Namgung Geom’s explanation.
There was certainly merit to it.
But agreement was another matter.
“I understand the reasoning, but releasing Heavenly Abyss Manor Master based on uncertain possibilities carries too great a risk.”
Heavenly Abyss Manor Master Wei Taijiang harbored intense vengeful feelings toward the Namgung Clan.
If released, he would resume his pursuit of revenge.
He might even attempt to strike at Namgung Geom at once.
“We need only maintain thorough surveillance to prevent him from seeking revenge.”
“He’s a master of the True Martial Realm.”
From the True Martial Realm onward, Energy Sensing develops to an extraordinary degree.
Close surveillance became correspondingly difficult.
“The Black Shadow Three Swords could manage it.”
With the Black Shadow Three Swords’ Stealth Technique, even Wei Taijiang would find it hard to notice.
And if necessary, they could eliminate Wei Taijiang on the spot.
“Can we trust the Black Shadow Three Swords?”
The Black Shadow Three Swords served as Namgung Geom’s shadow guard precisely because of the Golden Restriction.
If they ever broke free of Namgung Geom’s control, there was no knowing how they might turn.
“We cannot rely on the Golden Restriction alone to command them forever. This opportunity to test their loyalty may not be a bad thing.”
“But in doing so, we risk losing both the Black Shadow Three Swords and the Desolate Heaven Patriarch.”
“On the other hand, we could confirm the Black Shadow Three Swords’ loyalty and uncover clues to track down the Cult Mole.”
To gain something, one must be prepared to lose something.
“Patriarch! The Crown Prince’s proposal carries far too much risk.”
Namgung Bing spoke as though Namgung Geom’s plan should not be accepted.
“If it fails, how will you take responsibility?”
Namgung Pae questioned Namgung Geom.
“Should it fail against all odds, I will personally behead both the Black Shadow Three Swords and the Desolate Heaven Patriarch and present their heads before you. And I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit for this failure.”
Namgung Pae could read the resolve in Namgung Geom’s eyes.
“Since the Commander of the Changyong Sword Corps takes responsibility, proceed as he sees fit.”
Namgung Pae spoke to Namgung Bing.
Namgung Bing sighed and nodded slowly.
“Understood.”
Once the Patriarch had decided, there was nothing to do but comply.
“The Chief of Silver Dragon—step outside for now.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Namgung Bing bowed and left the Family Head Hall.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“Do you understand how heavy this old man’s trust truly is?”
“Of course. I would never betray your trust, so please have no worry.”
Namgung Pae nodded at Namgung Geom’s answer.
“Now then, what will you do with the Spirit Pill you received as the prize for the Martial Combat champion?”
“If the First Commander agrees, I intend to distribute it to the Second and Third Commanders of the Changyong Sword Corps. Of course, only with your permission first.”
Namgung Pae let out a soft laugh at Namgung Geom’s reply.
“Are you suggesting you’d return it to the Three Branches if I refused?”
“How could I possibly defy you if you commanded it?”
“Stop speaking words that don’t mean anything. Since you’ve received the Spirit Pill as a prize, use it as you see fit.”
Namgung Pae entrusted the use of the Spirit Pill to Namgung Geom.
“Thank you.”
“Just make sure the Spirit Pill isn’t wasted.”
“It won’t be.”
After finishing their conversation, Namgung Geom left the Family Head Hall.
* * *
The Training Ground of the Changyong Sword Corps.
Namgung Chang stood surrounded by his cohort, including the inseparable trio, receiving their congratulations.
“I knew you’d win.”
“I really thought you’d lose in the final, but when I saw you surge back and claim victory at the end, I was moved.”
“Doesn’t winning the tournament mean you’ll get an epithet?”
Namgung Chang waved his hand bashfully.
“An epithet? I’m still far from that.”
“Far from it, nothing. With your skill, you deserve an epithet. But what would suit you?”
“Since the Commander has the epithet ‘Young Ice Dragon,’ what about ‘Young Wind Dragon’?”
At Namgung Seol’s suggestion, one of the cohort began to applaud.
“Oh! That’s not bad. Should we push for ‘Young Wind Dragon’?”
“Don’t say such unlucky things. Why invite ridicule by being compared to the Commander?”
“He’s a skilled martial artist who won the Jeongcheon Assembly’s Martial Combat tournament—who would think it ridiculous?”
Namgung Geom stepped into the Training Ground with a smile.
“You’ve come?”
The members saluted respectfully toward Namgung Geom.
“That’s enough. Everyone, stand.”
Namgung Geom acknowledged their bows, then turned to Namgung Chang.
“Let me congratulate you once more on your victory in the Martial Combat.”
“It’s all thanks to you, sir.”
Namgung Chang deflected the praise to Namgung Geom.
He spoke from the heart.
Without Namgung Geom, he never would have reached the Peak Realm in the first place.
And his victory over Peng Daozhou in the finals was owed entirely to the countless matches he’d fought against Namgung Geom.
“Never mind the courtesy. There’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”
“Is it something difficult to discuss here?”
“I think it would be better if just the two of us talked about it.”
“Then let’s move somewhere more private.”
Namgung Geom and Namgung Chang relocated to the Administrative Office of the Changyong Sword Corps.
“What is it?”
Once they were alone, Namgung Chang spoke immediately.
“It’s about the Spirit Pills I received as the prize for winning the Martial Combat.”
“You’re not asking for the Spirit Pills because I helped you win, are you?”
“Not for me—I’d like you to give them to the senior members of the Changyong Sword Corps.”
Namgung Chang’s brow furrowed.
He had been planning to consume one Spirit Pill himself and give the other to Namgung Geom.
But this unexpected proposal caught him off guard.
“Of course, since you earned them, I won’t stop you if you decide to consume the Spirit Pills yourself.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Namgung Chang’s smile turned bitter.
“But if I did that, I’d become nothing but a selfish man who thinks only of himself.”
“Not at all. It’s only natural for a martial artist to covet Spirit Pills if it means growing stronger—I would never condemn you for that. But if you choose not merely to grow stronger alone, but to grow stronger together with the Changyong Sword Corps, then I would be truly grateful.”
Namgung Geom’s words touched something deep within Namgung Chang.
If Namgung Geom had only sought to grow stronger by himself, those words would have meant nothing.
Yet Namgung Geom had forgone even his own reward to look after the Changyong Sword Corps.
More than that—he had given up his own chance to compete in the Martial Combat, allowing Namgung Chang to consume the Great Flame Pill instead.
It was Namgung Geom’s own proposal that the Semi-Finals contestants from the Five Great Clans receive Spirit Pills as well.
Without Namgung Geom, Namgung Chang would never have entered the tournament at all, much less won it.
Thanks to Namgung Geom, he had ascended to the Peak Realm and earned the honor of being the Martial Combat champion.
If he now coveted those Spirit Pills for himself, it would be a betrayal of all that.
Above all, Namgung Geom wasn’t asking for those pills out of personal greed.
He was asking for them for the sake of the Changyong Sword Corps.
And that, in turn, was for the sake of the Namgung Clan itself.
Namgung Chang opened his mouth, his decision made.
“Very well. I entrust the Spirit Pills I received as my prize to you.”
“Will you have no regrets?”
“In return, you bear the responsibility.”
At Namgung Chang’s words, Namgung Geom looked at him as if asking what he meant.
“Responsibility for what?”
“To guide me to an even higher realm in exchange for these Spirit Pills.”
Namgung Geom let out a low chuckle and replied.
“Don’t worry. Even if you protest, I’ll drag you forward relentlessly.”
At Namgung Geom’s wicked expression, Namgung Chang felt a twinge of unease.
It felt as though he’d volunteered for a path of hardship.
“So who are you planning to give the Spirit Pills to?”
“I’m thinking of giving them to Cheolung and Cheonsan.”
“Hmm. Won’t the Deputy Patriarch and Seol be disappointed?”
“Disappointed or not, there’s nothing to be done. No matter who receives the Spirit Pills, someone will end up disappointed anyway.”
With only two Spirit Pills, it was inevitable.
The real question was: who would benefit most from consuming them?
That was all that mattered.
In Namgung Geom’s judgment, giving the Spirit Pills to Namgung Cheolung and Namgung Cheonsan was the optimal choice.
Namgung Woo was already in the Peak Realm.
Namgung Seol had the lowest cultivation among them.
Even with a Spirit Pill, it would be difficult for her to reach the Peak Realm immediately.
But with Namgung Cheolung and Namgung Cheonsan, there was a genuine possibility they could ascend to the Peak Realm.
Of course, that would require more than their own strength alone—Namgung Geom would need to guide them every step of the way.
In any case, the ones who could maximize the effects of the Spirit Pills most effectively were Namgung Cheolung and Namgung Cheonsan.
Namgung Chang nodded in agreement.
It was impossible to satisfy everyone anyway.
Even if he heard complaints, it was right to give them to those who needed them most.
To him, Namgung Geom spoke with a mischievous expression.
“Still, if the resentment gets too heavy, you should say you picked the two yourself.”
Namgung Bing-ryong
Author |
Baek Wol-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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