Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 129

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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 129
A person’s eyes reveal many truths.
Namgung Geom caught a flicker of hatred in Gang Baekcheon’s gaze as he looked upon Gang Taecheon.
It was only for an instant.
Had Namgung Geom not been watching Gang Baekcheon so intently, he would never have noticed it.
Gang Baekcheon had not come here to reconcile.
There was something else at work.
But what?
Gang Baekcheon surely harbored deep resentment toward Gang Taecheon.
Not only had he lost his position as master of the Hangzhou Gold Merchant to Gang Taecheon, but he’d been cast out of the organization entirely.
Since it was all his own doing, it was absurd for him to nurse a grudge at all.
Yet men like Gang Baekcheon rarely admitted their own faults.
Instead, they cast themselves as victims and laid all blame at another’s feet.
Gang Baekcheon likely harbored a desire to bring down Gang Taecheon and seize control of the Hangzhou Gold Merchant for himself.
After all these years of no contact, his sudden appearance at Gang Taecheon’s seventieth birthday banquet must mean he was plotting something to happen there.
Of course, it could be mere speculation.
But it was a threat Namgung Geom could not ignore.
Even if it was mere speculation, precautions were necessary.
Besides, such dark premonitions had an uncanny habit of coming true.
If Gang Baekcheon were seeking vengeance, what method would he use?
Namgung Geom considered the matter from Gang Baekcheon’s perspective.
He would not make a direct move in front of so many witnesses.
Conversely, it was likely he would work unseen.
The first thing that came to mind was poison.
Yet if poison were used, Gang Baekcheon would be the immediate suspect.
Gang Baekcheon had suddenly come seeking reconciliation, attending the banquet with apparent goodwill.
If Gang Taecheon were then poisoned, everyone would suspect Gang Baekcheon.
Gang Baekcheon surely understood this.
But without conclusive evidence, it would be difficult to charge him with any crime.
Or—Gang Baekcheon could pin the blame on someone else entirely.
Had not the conspirators in the Namgung Clan attempted to lay a false accusation upon Namgung Byuk?
Namgung Geom leaned toward the latter possibility.
To take control of the Hangzhou Gold Merchant, Gang Baekcheon would need justification.
Even without evidence, if suspicion fell on him for poisoning Gang Taecheon, he would struggle to assert a legitimate claim to the merchant house.
But if he could frame another, he would have his pretext.
If that other were one of Gang Taecheon’s own sons, it would be perfect.
He could present a plausible justification: to punish a nephew blinded by ambition who had committed a grave breach of familial duty, and to restore order to the Hangzhou Gold Merchant.
What began as idle suspicion gradually took shape in Namgung Geom’s mind.
The more he considered it, the more plausible it became.
Poison administered to Gang Taecheon and his elder brother Gang Yonghyun, with the blame laid upon one of the other uncles—
And then Gang Baekcheon stepping in under the guise of restoring order to the chaos-stricken Hangzhou Gold Merchant.
His attendance at the banquet today likely served as groundwork for exactly such a plan.
Had Gang Baekcheon maintained no contact with Gang Taecheon, it would have been difficult for him to intervene in the merchant house’s affairs.
But if he appeared to have reconciled with Gang Taecheon, he would have every pretext—as a senior family elder—to involve himself in the Hangzhou Gold Merchant’s matters.
The critical question was how Gang Baekcheon intended to deliver the poison.
He would not administer it directly; more likely, he had already planted someone within the Hangzhou Gold Merchant.
Through that person, he might poison the food or drink brought into the banquet hall.
But was such a thing realistically possible?
Large organizations like the Hangzhou Gold Merchant conducted rigorous poison inspections at all times.
At a gathering like this, such inspections were far more stringent than usual.
It was far more than simply inserting a silver needle and withdrawing it.
Multiple methods were employed to seal off any possibility of poison entering the food or drink.
Only trusted individuals were permitted to prepare the feast and beverages.
Even these were thoroughly searched to ensure they carried no poison before being allowed to touch the food or drink.
Of course, human work could always leave gaps.
But even if Gang Baekcheon had planted someone, using poison would not be simple.
It would be possible only if Gang Baekcheon controlled the person overseeing the banquet or conducting the poison inspections.
Was such a thing truly feasible?
Namgung Geom posed the question to himself.
If Gang Baekcheon had planted his person long ago in preparation for this day, then yes—it was entirely possible.
Over the years, if he could win the trust of Gang Taecheon and Gang Yonghyun, it wouldn’t be impossible to secure a position as chief inspector or poison examiner.
So for now, he had to leave the possibility open and consider his options carefully.
Of course, there were other, unknowable ways poison could be used besides those.
Namgung Geom didn’t know every method in existence, after all.
The crucial thing was that Namgung Geom’s calculation that Gang Baekcheon would use poison was nothing more than speculation.
It was difficult to claim poison had been used without any evidence whatsoever.
If there were no poison, then Namgung Geom would have slandered an innocent person.
‘But I can test for poison.’
If he tested the food and wine for poison without singling out Gang Baekcheon, there would be no problem.
Still, testing for poison out of nowhere would draw suspicious looks.
Moreover, if Namgung Geom—not even a poison master—claimed to test for poison, everyone would have doubts.
Fortunately, Namgung Geom had something that could solve this.
A Poison-Absorbing Pearl he’d obtained from a secret chamber in Muyeong Sinhtu.
‘I never thought I’d use the pearl this way.’
If he said he would test for poison using the Poison-Absorbing Pearl, Gang Taecheon wouldn’t object.
Just then, Gang Taecheon raised his cup to offer thanks to those in attendance at his seventieth birthday banquet and to share a drink with them together.
Namgung Geom quickly rose from his seat.
“Grandfather! Forgive me, but before we begin the festivities, I’ve prepared a small entertainment for you and our honored guests.”
“What might that be?”
“Grandfather, have you perhaps heard of the Poison-Absorbing Pearl?”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Gang Taecheon’s eyes brightened.
“I do indeed. Isn’t that the wondrous pearl that absorbs poison when it comes near? A miraculous thing.”
Gang Taecheon had also sought far and wide to obtain a Poison-Absorbing Pearl.
But despite his considerable efforts, he had been unable to acquire one.
The pearl was so rare that he hadn’t even managed to see one, much less obtain it.
When Namgung Geom mentioned it, Gang Taecheon’s interest was piqued.
“Indeed, I was fortunate enough to acquire one. I thought it would be wonderful to show the Poison-Absorbing Pearl to you and the many distinguished guests at this banquet.”
“Oh! That’s an excellent idea.”
“To see the Poison-Absorbing Pearl we’ve only heard of in tales—how exciting.”
“Young Master Namgung, do show us the pearl at once.”
The guests at the banquet, eager to see the Poison-Absorbing Pearl, urged Namgung Geom forward.
Namgung Geom smiled faintly and spoke.
“Simply showing the pearl would be dull, wouldn’t it? What if we tested your grandfather’s wine and food to see if perhaps any poison had found its way in?”
Gang Taecheon, grasping Namgung Geom’s intent, readily agreed.
“Go ahead and try.”
There was no reason to refuse when Namgung Geom was showing such concern by offering to verify whether poison had been added to his food and drink.
“Then I shall proceed.”
Namgung Geom withdrew the Poison-Absorbing Pearl.
At the sight of the luminous, jade-green sphere, the guests’ eyes gleamed.
It was said that the Poison-Absorbing Pearl would turn black if it absorbed poison.
If poison had been added to Gang Taecheon’s wine and food, the green pearl would darken.
As Namgung Geom approached Gang Taecheon’s table, he cast a sidelong glance at Gang Baekcheon.
Something like unease flickered in the man’s eyes and expression.
He looked as though he were worried the pearl might change color.
Namgung Geom was now certain that poison had been placed in the food and drink.
He brought the Poison-Absorbing Pearl close to Gang Taecheon’s dishes and cup in turn.
But the pearl’s color did not change.
The Poison-Absorbing Pearl would react to poison even within a chang’s distance.
That it showed no reaction even when brought near meant there was no poison present.
‘Hmm. Was my reasoning mistaken?’
Namgung Geom was slightly taken aback when his assumption proved wrong.
He examined the pearl again just to be sure, but its color remained unchanged.
Namgung Geom suppressed his confusion and spoke with a smile.
“Fortunately, the pearl shows no reaction whatsoever. Grandfather, you may eat and drink with ease.”
“Good. Thanks to your pearl, I can eat with peace of mind.”
Gang Taecheon smiled with satisfaction and raised his cup.
“I offer my sincere thanks once more to all of you who have come to celebrate this old man’s birthday. In gratitude, I shall propose a toast to you all.”
Gang Taecheon extended his cup toward the gathered guests.
The guests raised their cups in return to Gang Taecheon.
As Gang Taecheon drank first, the guests followed suit, draining their cups.
And so the banquet began in earnest.
The Hangzhou Gold Merchant had prepared various performances for the occasion.
Each one was a rare spectacle to behold.
Just from the caliber of the entertainment, one could gauge the extraordinary wealth at the Hangzhou Gold Merchant’s command.
But as the atmosphere of the banquet deepened, Gang Taecheon’s complexion suddenly darkened, and he collapsed forward.
Namgung Geom, who had been watching Gang Taecheon throughout the evening, sensed at once that something was terribly wrong.
“Grandfather!”
Namgung Geom rushed to Gang Taecheon’s side.
Buzz!
As he drew near, the Poison-Absorbing Pearl in his breast began to vibrate.
It was the pearl’s warning—a sign that poison was present.
Namgung Geom quickly drew out the pearl and placed it in Gang Taecheon’s mouth.
The pearl’s green light shimmered, then began to darken to black.
“Poison!”
“The former Hangzhou Gold Merchant has been poisoned.”
The faces of the assembled guests turned ashen.
They were alarmed that Gang Taecheon had been poisoned, certainly—but more than that, they feared whether the wine and food they themselves had consumed might also be laced with poison.
“Father!”
Gang Yonghyun and his brothers rushed to Gang Taecheon’s side.
But suddenly Gang Yonghyun clutched at his chest and collapsed to the ground.
His face twisted in agony as though he could not draw breath.
“Eldest brother!”
“Brother!”
Gang Yonghyun’s younger brothers cried out in shock and moved to support him.
“It seems the eldest brother has also been poisoned.”
Gang Myeonghyun, the fourth son, examined his brother’s condition and cried out urgently.
Namgung Geom checked the Poison-Absorbing Pearl still lodged in Gang Taecheon’s mouth.
The pearl, now darkened to a deep black, continued to draw the poison from his body.
Poison remained within Gang Taecheon still.
If he removed the pearl now, he could not know what would happen.
“Second uncle, please watch over grandfather.”
Namgung Geom called out to Gang Seonghyun, his second uncle, then moved swiftly toward Gang Yonghyun.
He raised Gang Yonghyun to a sitting position and placed his hands on an acupoint.
If Gang Yonghyun were left as he was, he could lose his life.
In a situation where he could not use the pearl immediately, the only recourse was to draw the poison from within Gang Yonghyun’s body using his Inner Power.
But if he did so, Namgung Geom himself risked being poisoned.
He did not know what poison had spread through Gang Yonghyun’s body.
What if it were an Extreme Poison potent enough to claim his own life?
The situation held grave danger for him.
Yet Namgung Geom did not hesitate.
Not from recklessness.
He had a plan.
‘The moment I draw out the poison, I freeze it.’
Namgung Byuk
Author |
Baek Wol Geom
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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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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