Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 17

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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 17
Guo Daojin, the master of the Hei Xiong Bang, tilted his head as he received a report from his deputy, Zhang Mingche.
“The Yi Family Estate is preparing to transport tea?”
“Yes, sir.”
“They’ve had their shipments plundered several times already, yet they’re attempting another transport—which means they must have some countermeasure in place. Have we heard anything about the Nangong Clan making moves?”
If the Yi Family Estate were seeking outside help, it could only be the Nangong Clan.
If the Nangong Clan had sent reinforcements, then the Yi Family Estate’s actions would make sense.
Guo Daojin was almost certain the Nangong Clan had intervened.
But Zhang Mingche shook his head.
“We have detected no movement from the Nangong Clan thus far.”
“You’re certain of that?”
Guo Daojin asked, his expression skeptical.
“If the Nangong Clan had made any moves, we would have received word from the Hao Men.”
The Hei Xiong Bang received intelligence support from the Hao Men.
Had the Nangong Clan sent aid, the Hao Men would have reported it immediately.
Of course, there remained the possibility that the Nangong Clan had moved while evading the Hao Men’s notice.
But there was no reason for the Nangong Clan to go to such lengths.
“Then what is the master of the Yi Family Estate counting on if not the Nangong Clan?”
“According to our sources, the master of the Yi Family Estate has hired ronin.”
“Ronin?”
Guo Daojin’s face betrayed his astonishment.
He had not anticipated ronin entering the picture at all.
“Indeed. The master of the Yi Family Estate has brought fewer than thirty ronin into his employ.”
“He hired ronin when the Nangong Clan is available?”
The Yi Family Estate operated within the Nangong Clan’s sphere of influence.
They could seek the clan’s assistance whenever they wished.
Yet the idea of hiring ronin instead made no sense.
“It appears the timeline was too tight to wait for the Nangong Clan’s support.”
“Too tight?”
“Upon investigation, they must deliver their goods to the Tai Hu Tea House in Nan Jing within five days.”
Should they miss the delivery deadline, a breach penalty would come due.
To avoid losing money, they had no choice but to deliver the goods within the stipulated time.
“So they hired ronin out of necessity, to rush the tea to Nan Jing on schedule?”
“Precisely.”
Even with Zhang Mingche’s explanation, Guo Daojin remained unconvinced.
They could have made a request to the Nangong Clan just days ago and received aid.
What troubled him was that they had put off requesting the clan’s support and then hastily hired inexperienced ronin instead.
“Have you gathered intelligence on these ronin?”
“Most of them are reportedly young—barely past the age of coming of age.”
“They hired inexperienced green recruits in such a critical situation?”
Guo Daojin’s expression deepened into bewilderment.
“Wouldn’t that suggest the situation is that urgent?”
Zhang Mingche spoke without overthinking the matter.
‘Something feels off about this…’
Guo Daojin found the Yi Family Estate’s movements suspicious.
Most peculiar was that they had not requested aid from the Nangong Clan and instead hired ronin.
“When is the tea transport scheduled?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
Guo Daojin’s brow furrowed.
There was no time to investigate the truth of the matter.
“Shall we proceed as we have before?”
As Nangong Jian had foreseen, it was the Hei Xiong Bang itself that had been plundering the Yi Family Estate’s shipments.
“We shall.”
If the Yi Family Estate succeeded in delivering their tea to the Tai Hu Tea House this time, all the effort Guo Daojin had invested would come to nothing.
Therefore, he had to stop this transport.
Judging by the volume of tea they cultivated, this shipment was likely their last.
If he intercepted this final transport, the Yi Family Estate would be driven to the brink of ruin.
Then, if Guo Daojin himself stepped in, he could seize the Yi Family Estate’s assets and business.
Though something felt amiss, Guo Daojin could not afford to miss this opportunity to take control of the Yi Family Estate’s wealth and enterprise.
Still, he needed to take at least minimal precautions.
“This time, have the Deputy Faction Leader go out directly.”
“You mean me, sir?”
Zhang Mingche’s expression showed clear reluctance.
“I’ll feel more at ease that way.”
He would have preferred to handle it himself.
But an important guest was scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
Guo Daojin had to receive them, so he couldn’t leave.
* * *
Nangong Jian and his sworn brothers from Chuang Long Jiao traveled alongside the Yi Family Estate’s transport caravan, disguised as wandering martial artists.
The amusing part was that the transport team from the Yi Family Estate had no idea who Nangong Jian’s group really were.
They believed them to be genuine wandering martial artists.
And so their faces were clouded with anxiety.
What skill could mere wandering martial artists, freshly come of age, possibly possess?
They were convinced the group wouldn’t be able to withstand an attack from the bandits.
Nangong Jian and his sworn brothers, by contrast, remained composed.
Though they didn’t know the bandits’ capabilities, they didn’t believe the group would be stronger than themselves.
More than anything, their faith in Nangong Jian ran deep.
This was the man who had defeated the Three Sword Masters of the Tian Feng Sword Sect.
Against such a person, they believed nothing could stand.
Of course, if an expert of higher realm appeared, even Nangong Jian would have his limits.
But given the martial factions around Huang Shan, the chance of such an opponent materializing was almost nonexistent.
Besides, Nangong Jian wasn’t alone.
The martial prowess of the three squad leaders and Nangong Xue was nothing to dismiss either.
They could easily handle forces on the level of the Hei Xiong Bang or similar.
“But will the Hei Xiong Bang actually move?”
Nangong Chuang, walking beside Nangong Jian, posed the question.
“Unless they knew who we are, they’ll act out of greed alone.”
“What if the Hei Xiong Bang wasn’t the one behind the thefts?”
This time it was Nangong Tianshang who asked.
Without solid proof that the Hei Xiong Bang was responsible, they had to consider the possibility that another faction might be staging the robberies.
“Whoever it is, they’ll try to stop this shipment. We’ll capture them and confirm their identity.”
Nangong Jian spoke as though the matter posed no difficulty.
Nangong Tianshang nodded, seeming satisfied.
Nangong Jian instructed his sworn brothers to keep careful watch of their surroundings, then moved to stand beside Yi Hongbai, who was overseeing the Yi Family Estate’s caravan transport.
“I hear there’s been theft at one particular location.”
“That’s right. It’s a gorge we must pass through to descend from Huang Shan, and knowing full well we’ll be robbed, we keep having to go through it anyway.”
Yi Hongbai let out a frustrated sigh.
Knowing they would be robbed yet having no choice but to traverse the gorge was truly maddening.
“You needn’t worry this time.”
Despite Nangong Jian’s assurance, Yi Hongbai couldn’t bring himself to feel confident.
But there was no other option at this point.
Dubious though he was, he had no choice but to trust Nangong Jian’s group.
And so Nangong Jian’s party and the transport team entered the gorge that Yi Hongbai had mentioned.
Known as Bai Long Xia, the passage twisted like a dragon’s body, winding endlessly through the narrow canyon.
“Everyone, prepare yourselves!”
Nangong Jian divided his sworn brothers into three groups and positioned them at the front and flanks of the caravan.
Nangong Jian himself took the front position.
The front was most dangerous, as it would meet any attackers first.
Seeing Nangong Jian taking on the most perilous post, his sworn brothers trusted him all the more.
Nangong Jian walked forward with his Qi Perception fully open.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The moment they rounded a bend in the twisting path, arrows came screaming down with a sharp whistle through the air.
“Stop!”
Nangong Jian halted his group and quickly drew his sword, deflecting the arrows away.
The arrows Nangong Jian missed flew backward, but his sworn brothers, protected by the curve of the canyon wall, were able to evade them.
Having blocked the initial volley, Nangong Jian surveyed the way ahead.
Some fifty figures in black robes had formed a formation.
The distance made their exact martial power difficult to assess, but none of them seemed to pose a genuine threat.
“I’ll break through first—follow me!”
Nangong Jian shouted to his fellow disciples and hurled himself toward the black-clad figures.
“Loose your arrows!”
The black-clad figures swiftly unleashed a volley at Nangong Jian.
Nangong Jian stripped off the Wind-Breaking Robe he wore and swept it forward in a broad arc.
The robe unfurled wide, shielding the space before him.
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
The arrows struck the robe and ricocheted away.
Nangong Jian’s internal Qi, woven into the robe, had created a barrier against the assault.
The black-clad figures recoiled in shock at the sight.
Nangong Jian gathered the robe and launched himself forward without pause.
A gust of wind rose as his silhouette shot skyward, closing the distance in an instant.
Alarmed by his wind-swift approach, the black-clad figures hastily fired another barrage.
Nangong Jian dropped to the ground, evaded the arrows, and slid forward in a dash toward his enemies.
“Defend!”
The black-clad figures lowered their bows and drew their blades.
In that same moment, Nangong Jian, now within striking distance, extended his sword.
A blade wind erupted from his weapon, sweeping toward the black-clad figures.
Startled by the force of it, they hastily mounted their defense.
Clang-clang!
But the instant their blades met the blade wind, their swords were flung aside as though a gate had burst open.
The blade wind pierced through the gap.
The black-clad figures who took the brunt of it spewed blood and collapsed.
Zhang Mingche, the second-in-command of the Hei Xiong Bang, was taken aback by Nangong Jian’s prowess.
This was no wandering martial artist’s skill.
More than that, the swordplay seemed familiar to him.
The Tian Feng Sword Technique.
It was unmistakably the technique of the Nangong Clan.
‘Could he truly be from the Nangong Clan?’
Swordplay aside, such prowess at coming of age could only emerge from the Nangong Clan.
Zhang Mingche now understood that they had fallen into a trap orchestrated by the Nangong Clan and the Yi Family Estate.
‘What am I to do?’
If Nangong Jian and the other wandering martial artists were truly warriors of the Nangong Clan, there was no chance of victory.
He could cling to hope only because they were barely past coming of age, yet witnessing Nangong Jian’s skill, even that seemed unlikely.
Holding back even one Nangong Jian proved difficult enough.
Then there was no other choice.
He had to flee this place.
Zhang Mingche quietly retreated backward, praying Nangong Jian wouldn’t notice.
Then he abruptly threw himself in the opposite direction.
He believed Nangong Jian wouldn’t be able to pursue him immediately.
But that was merely his miscalculation.
Nangong Jian had been watching him all along.
He had observed that Zhang Mingche’s aura was the strongest and deduced he was the leader of the black-clad figures.
While facing the black-clad figures, Nangong Jian had kept track of Zhang Mingche’s movements.
The moment he saw him attempt to flee, Nangong Jian gave chase.
The other black-clad figures tried to hold him back, but Nangong Jian, deploying the Tian Feng Divine Movement, slipped past them in an instant.
Like a breath of wind, he caught up to Zhang Mingche.
Nangong Jian overtook Zhang Mingche in moments and cut off his path.
“Die!”
Zhang Mingche thrust his blade toward Nangong Jian.
The blade light flashed and descended toward Nangong Jian’s head.
Nangong Jian made no attempt to dodge, simply raising his sword to meet it.
Crash!
The moment Nangong Jian’s sword collided with Zhang Mingche’s blade, white frost cascaded down, and biting cold pierced through.
“What is this?!”
Cold Qi in the techniques of the Nangong Clan—impossible.
Panicked, Zhang Mingche drew upon his internal Qi with urgency, trying to force back the encroaching cold.
“Ugh!”
But the power of the invading cold was overwhelming.
His right arm, gripping the blade, felt as though it were freezing solid.
Zhang Mingche clenched his teeth and resisted the cold creeping into his core.
The cold that had penetrated deep into his shoulder was gradually driven back by his Internal Qi.
But in focusing on blocking the chill, he’d left himself vulnerable to Nangong Jian.
Nangong Jian struck lightly at a vital acupoint on Zhang Mingche’s body.
Zhang Mingche’s eyes widened in alarm as he looked toward Nangong Jian.
“We can speak of this later.”
Nangong Bingyong
Author |
Baiyue Jian
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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Editorial Department
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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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