Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 138

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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 138
Namgung Geom had always wondered how he came to inhabit this body.
If Bingsa was right—if the Soul of the Ice Dragon truly dwelled within him—then his arrival in this body must be connected to it somehow.
Yet there was no way to verify it.
Not unless the Soul of the Ice Dragon awakened.
“Could that aura have been…?”
Namgung Geom suddenly recalled the strange energy that had stirred within him when he’d faced the man from Red Cloud.
Had the Soul of the Ice Dragon sensed his peril and lent him its strength?
It was mere speculation.
He still couldn’t confirm whether the Soul of the Ice Dragon truly dwelled within him.
But if it did, one day it would awaken.
And when that day came, perhaps he could learn from the soul itself what had happened to him.
In any case, he was satisfied to have confirmed one possibility.
That didn’t mean he intended to let Bingsa live.
By Bingsa’s own logic, he felt some regret at having attacked an innocent creature.
But acquiring Bingsa’s Inner Core was unavoidable.
“I’m sorry, but I need your Inner Core.”
―Hundreds of years of cultivation, and you’d simply take it from me like this?
Bingsa cried out as if deeply wronged.
From his perspective, the outrage was justified.
In truth, Namgung Geom himself felt some unease at extracting the Inner Core from an innocent Bingsa.
But he viewed Bingsa through a human lens.
Spirit Being or not, Bingsa was a snake.
While one shouldn’t kill a snake carelessly, there was less karmic weight than in taking a human life.
“That’s for me to decide.”
―If you shatter centuries of cultivation, you’ll face divine retribution.
“I doubt heaven is that industrious.”
Bingsa’s eyes rolled, and he transmitted his words through the spirit-tongue.
―What if you took a Bing Yeon Fruit instead of my Inner Core?
“A Bing Yeon Fruit?”
―It won’t be as valuable as my Inner Core, but it would grant you considerable energy.
Bingsa had decided to offer the Bing Yeon Fruit he’d been saving for himself.
But Namgung Geom wasn’t so easily swayed.
“Why not take both your Inner Core and the Bing Yeon Fruit? That would be the better gain.”
―The Bing Yeon Fruit cannot be found without me.
“It must be somewhere in this gorge. If I search thoroughly enough, I’ll find it.”
Bingsa’s spirit-speech fell silent.
He seemed to be deliberating.
Namgung Geom waited for Bingsa’s answer.
―Then what if I became your subordinate instead of giving you my Inner Core?
Bingsa made a new proposal.
“You’d become my subordinate?”
Namgung Geom stared at him in surprise.
It was an offer he hadn’t remotely anticipated.
―Yes. For the next hundred years, I’ll serve you and aid you.
Namgung Geom shook his head.
“I’m not sure how much use a subordinate like you would be. Besides, I can’t exactly go around carrying a massive snake like you.”
―I can shrink my body as much as I need.
Bingsa immediately contracted his form.
His massive body, more than ten feet long, shrank in an instant to no larger than Namgung Geom’s forearm.
His thickness narrowed to about the width of a finger.
At this smaller size, his appearance was quite endearing.
Namgung Geom regarded Bingsa with newfound interest.
At that size, he could wrap around an arm without difficulty.
―And though you’re absurdly strong, my power is quite formidable as well.
Bingsa spoke with evident indignation.
Though Namgung Geom had dismissed the idea of Bingsa being much help, he knew the snake’s strength was far from negligible.
Bingsa had been utterly overwhelmed by Namgung Geom only because they shared the Ice Attribute.
Being of the same ice nature, he was simply no match for Namgung Geom’s superior energy.
Had his opponent been any other martial artist, one would need to reach at least the Absolute Realm to overcome Bingsa.
Taking Bingsa as a subordinate would prove an enormous asset.
As for Bingsa’s Inner Core, it could be replaced with the Bing Yeon Fruit easily enough.
“But how can I trust that you won’t betray me?”
―A spirit being such as myself does not lie.
“Isn’t that statement itself a lie?”
―Do not insult a spirit being!
Bingsa bristled at this.
Namgung Geom decided to trust him for now.
“Very well. I’ll take your word for it. Then let’s obtain the Bing Yeon Fruit first.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Bingsa slipped deeper into the gorge.
Following him, Namgung Geom spotted the Bing Yeon blooming in a pond within the valley’s depths.
The Bing Yeon was an exceptionally rare plant, taking centuries to mature its fruit.
Across those centuries, Extreme Yin Energy accumulated within each fruit.
A Bing Yeon Fruit of several hundred years’ growth possessed chi comparable to Bingsa’s own Inner Core.
Judging by the size of the fruit here in this gorge, it had likely ripened for well over a century.
Bingsa had apparently been waiting for the fruit to reach its fullest maturity.
But Namgung Geom could not afford to wait such a span.
Even a hundred-year-old specimen would suffice to neutralize the Dae Hwan Dan’s potency.
Namgung Geom carefully harvested the Bing Yeon Fruit.
The fruit was enclosed within a natural shell.
This shell served as nature’s own storage vessel, requiring no further preservation.
Bingsa gazed at the Bing Yeon Fruit, his tongue flicking across his lips in longing.
Had Bingsa consumed and absorbed the fruit’s essence, he would never have fallen so easily to Namgung Geom.
In sparing it, he’d only been doing favors for a man who would become his master.
Yet without the Bing Yeon Fruit, he would have had his Inner Core torn away without resistance.
Losing the fruit was far preferable to losing the Core.
And for Bingsa, remaining at Namgung Geom’s side offered greater advantage than consuming the fruit ever could.
The Soul of the Ice Dragon dwelling within Namgung Geom was a blessing to him.
Merely by staying close to Namgung Geom, Bingsa could absorb tremendous chi.
Over a hundred years, he would gain far more power than from consuming several Bing Yeon Fruits.
Bingsa had not offered his service lightly.
Namgung Geom remained unaware of this calculation.
Yet he distinctly felt Bingsa’s reverence for the Soul of the Ice Dragon dwelling in his body.
Because of that soul, Bingsa would not dare betray him.
Should Bingsa display even the slightest sign of treachery, there would be time enough to kill him then.
With the Bing Yeon Fruit secured, Namgung Geom wrapped Bingsa around his arm and left the gorge.
Bingsa remained docile, coiled around Namgung Geom’s arm.
All the while drawing in the spiritual energy radiating from the Ice Dragon’s soul.
* * *
Namgung Geom emerged from the gorge and returned to Mak Sam.
“What became of the ice serpent?”
“I killed it.”
Though he owed Mak Sam honesty, he could not reveal that he had taken Bingsa as his own.
Keeping Bingsa’s recruitment secret was best.
“And the creature’s body, sir—what did you do with it?”
“The moment it died, it melted away like water and vanished.”
“That’s…”
“Let’s not dwell on it. Shall we descend?”
Namgung Geom cut off further questions and descended the mountain with Mak Sam.
He then rewarded Mak Sam with a thousand silver taels.
It was a pittance compared to what Namgung Geom had gained.
In truth, he had intended to give far more.
But Mak Sam had asked only that he look after his son.
Namgung Geom accepted this request and performed the Chuigung Gwahyeol on Mak Sam’s son.
Through Namgung Geom’s Chuigung Gwahyeol, the boy’s chi and blood meridians opened, laying the foundation for rapid advancement.
Moreover, Namgung Geom wrote a special letter of recommendation to the Changyong Martial School.
The school would certainly extend special care to any student bearing his endorsement.
Having repaid his debt of gratitude, Namgung Geom departed Hwang Mountain.
Before leaving, he had deliberated whether to consume the Dae Hwan Dan and Bing Yeon Fruit immediately.
With the power of both, he could ascend beyond the Divine Martial Realm into the Absolute Realm.
But the ascent to the Absolute Realm demanded extreme caution.
A single misstep could plunge him into Demonic Possession of Cultivation.
Moreover, reaching the Absolute Realm required at minimum a month’s time.
Namgung Geom could shorten that period thanks to his past-life experience, but even at his fastest, a fortnight would be needed.
During that interval, he would have to focus entirely on cultivation without interference from anyone.
This was why those attempting the Absolute Realm typically chose Closed-door Cultivation in the safest possible place.
While he worried about potential ambush during the journey home to the Namgung Clan, attempting to advance his realm forcefully outside was far too dangerous.
Returning to the Namgung Clan, securing safety, and then elevating his realm would be the wiser course.
And so Namgung Geom postponed his grand breakthrough for now and turned his steps toward the Namgung Clan.
* * *
Guhuashan in Anhui Province.
At a crossroads leading to Qingyang, two middle-aged men had taken their positions.
Both bore blades, and their auras were striking to any discerning eye.
The one on the left, radiating an eerie presence, was Heuk Noe with his Splitting Thunder Sword; on the right, emanating raw ferocity, was Jeok Pung with his Crimson Fire Blade.
They were two of the Saepae Sipgang, the elite masters of the Sa Pae Ryun.
The Saepae Sipgang were the finest experts cultivated by the Sa Pae Ryun.
All were masters of the Divine Martial Realm or higher, the true strength of the Sa Pae Ryun.
Yet they seldom took direct action themselves.
And now two of the Saepae Sipgang had emerged at once.
It meant something grave was afoot.
That grave matter was none other than the death of Namgung Geom.
“Are we certain he comes this way?”
Jeok Pung spoke in a disinterested tone.
His expression betrayed the tedium of simply sitting and waiting.
“We’ll know soon enough.”
Heuk Noe replied with his eyes closed.
“Why do we need both of us just to kill some barely-adult boy?”
At Jeok Pung’s grumbling, Heuk Noe clicked his tongue and answered.
“The one who killed Heuk Cheonsal and gravely wounded the regional lord. Not someone to dismiss for his youth.”
“You really believe someone that young could do such a thing?”
Jeok Pung didn’t believe the intelligence about Namgung Geom.
To him, it seemed absurd.
“I don’t believe it either, but the Master wouldn’t send both of us on a whim.”
“Either way, with both of us here, killing him should be simple.”
“Overconfidence is a peril we must avoid.”
“Such pedantic talk—”
Jeok Pung clicked his tongue dismissively.
Then Heuk Noe’s eyes flashed.
An unusual presence was swiftly approaching from ahead.
“There he is.”
Heuk Noe was certain the aura belonged to Namgung Geom.
One corner of Jeok Pung’s mouth lifted.
“Let’s finish this quickly and grab some wine.”
“I don’t think it’ll end that easily.”
Heuk Noe’s expression hardened as he sensed the magnitude of the approaching aura.
And in the distance, a young man rode forward on a wind—
Namgung Geom himself.
Jeok Pung’s face went rigid at the sight.
‘His realm surpasses mine?’
He could tell the moment he saw Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom was of a higher realm than himself.
The ease he’d felt moments before evaporated instantly.
He realized now that Namgung Geom was no trivial opponent.
Namgung Geom, meanwhile, spotted the two figures ahead and brought his Shin-bop to a halt.
They were openly barring the road.
He recognized at once that they had been waiting for him.
He assessed their auras.
One was Divine Martial Realm Late Stage; the other, Divine Martial Realm Middle Stage.
Namgung Geom’s expression hardened.
He was confident he could defeat them one at a time.
But if the two of them deployed a Combined Attack, it would be difficult to guarantee victory.
That said, he wasn’t afraid.
If all else failed, he could simply run.
‘Though they don’t seem to be from the cult.’
He sensed no demonic energy whatsoever from either of them.
They didn’t appear to be cult members.
Of course, they could be cult agents like Heuk Cheonsal or the Master of the Four Seas.
But something about them didn’t feel like cult operatives.
If not the cult, there was only one place that would send such masters.
“They must have come from the Sa Pae Ryun.”
Namgung Geom
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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