Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 18

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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 18
After subduing Jang Myeong-cheol, Namgung Geom surveyed the situation around him.
His classmates had arrived and were now engaged in combat with the black-clad figures.
The black-clad fighters outnumbered his classmates.
Yet his classmates were not being pushed back in the slightest.
Namgung Geom felt no need to intervene directly.
For his classmates, this was their first real combat.
Unless they faced mortal danger, it was better to let them handle it—if only for the experience.
Still, he kept watching the fight unfold, just in case.
He was prepared to move the instant they found themselves in genuine peril.
But his classmates subdued the black-clad figures without serious incident.
A few were injured, though the wounds were light—they would heal in days.
Namgung Geom had never intended to shield his classmates from every scratch.
For a martial artist, injury in combat was commonplace.
So long as no limbs were severed and no mortal wounds sustained, every hurt was a lesson—bone and flesh teaching what the mind must learn.
That was why he held back unless the danger became truly dire.
Still, in their first real engagement, his classmates had fought far better than he’d expected.
The first real fight is always the hardest, regardless of skill.
Because cutting down and killing an actual person—even an enemy—is never easy.
Many martial artists have hesitated at that moment, afraid of drawing blood, only to be struck down by weaker opponents who showed no such mercy.
In that respect, his classmates had fought exceptionally well.
It spoke to the strength of their spirit as much as their martial arts.
Namgung Geom felt anew how formidable his classmates truly were.
They were the Golden Generation—blessed with talent that set them apart.
Under his own tutelage, they had refined their understanding further.
The result was prowess that surpassed their peers of the same age.
If they continued to grow at this rate, they would become a tremendous asset to him.
“You all fought well. For a first engagement, that was excellent work.”
Namgung Geom praised his classmates.
“Isn’t this your first real fight too?” Namgung Chang said, bemused.
Namgung Chang regarded him with disbelief.
“That’s different—there was too great a gap in our abilities,” Namgung Geom said, shrugging.
Namgung Geom shrugged as he spoke.
“True enough. The leader’s skill does leave him beyond the scope of such comparisons,” Namgung Cheon-sang said in acknowledgment.
Namgung Cheon-sang nodded in agreement.
Namgung Chang let the matter drop.
“But using the Pi-poong Technique to pierce through that volley of arrows—I never would have thought of it. Truly remarkable,” Namgung Cheol-ung said with admiration, heaping praise on Namgung Geom.
Namgung Cheol-ung spoke in a voice full of wonder, praising Namgung Geom.
The other classmates nodded in agreement.
“It’s nothing special. If you practice envisioning various scenarios regularly, anyone can manage that kind of improvisation,” Namgung Geom said dismissively.
Namgung Geom spoke as though it were trivial.
“That’s only possible for geniuses like you.”
“No. It’s something anyone can achieve with effort. So when you train, picture many different situations in your mind.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, his classmates nodded.
Every word he spoke carried value for their training.
They could not afford to dismiss anything he said about martial cultivation.
“Still, be more careful going forward. Don’t try to handle everything alone like this time. If you get hurt doing that, who will you blame?” Namgung Chang said bluntly.
Namgung Chang spoke curtly.
Yet beneath his tone lay genuine concern for Namgung Geom.
“Are you worried about me?” Namgung Geom asked.
“Worried? Nothing of the sort. I just can’t stand watching you show off like you’re all that,” Namgung Chang replied with characteristic stubbornness.
At Namgung Chang’s petulant answer, Namgung Geom let out a helpless laugh and said,
“Then strengthen yourself quickly and fight beside me. How’s that?”
“Already planning on it,” Namgung Chang shot back, his pride kindled.
At Namgung Chang’s spirited retort, Namgung Geom simply smiled and walked toward Jang Myeong-cheol.
Jang Myeong-cheol’s face was twisted in agony.
With cold qi having infiltrated his body and his Death Acupoint now sealed, the chill ravaged his meridians at will.
With each wave of cold, it felt as though icy needles were shredding through his meridian channels.
The pain was beyond words.
He wanted to cry out—it might bring some relief—but his Speech Acupoint had been sealed along with the Death Acupoint, so even that was denied him.
“You seem to be in considerable pain. If you promise to answer my questions truthfully from this moment on, I’ll stop the pain.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Jang Myeong-cheol’s eyes fluttered rapidly.
To anyone watching, it was clear he was agreeing to speak the truth.
Namgung Geom pressed several acupoints along Jang Myeong-cheol’s meridians.
Then he released the Speech Acupoint.
“Gasp!”
Jang Myeong-cheol exhaled a painful breath.
Namgung Geom waited while he steadied his breathing.
“Are you ready to talk?”
“I am.”
Jang Myeong-cheol answered respectfully.
He had already witnessed Namgung Geom’s skill firsthand, and after enduring such agony moments before, any thought of resistance had fled him entirely.
“Let’s start with your organization and name, shall we? And just so we’re clear—lying wouldn’t be wise. Unless you’d like to experience that pain for the rest of your life.”
At his words, Jang Myeong-cheol trembled.
“I am Jang Myeong-cheol, deputy leader of the Heok-ung Bang.”
He revealed his true identity without hesitation.
Even if he’d wanted to lie, he couldn’t—the people from the Yi House Caravan would recognize his face immediately.
He had no desire to suffer more pain for a lie that was bound to be discovered anyway.
“Were all those robberies we encountered the work of the Heok-ung Bang?”
“Yes.”
Jang Myeong-cheol answered without resistance.
“Then where have you hidden the plundered goods?”
Namgung Geom was certain the Heok-ung Bang had stored the stolen cargo somewhere.
“They’re kept in our organization’s secret warehouse.”
“And where is that?”
“Ho-du Valley on Hwang Mountain.”
Ho-du Valley had earned its name from the rocky formations that resembled a tiger’s head, and it lay within Heok-ung Bang territory.
“You’re not lying, are you?”
“What good would lying do at this point? But even if you reach Ho-du Valley, you won’t be able to open the vault without the key.”
Jang Myeong-cheol volunteered information he hadn’t been asked for, resigned to his fate.
“The key must be with the leader of the Heok-ung Bang, naturally.”
“That’s right.”
“Then we’ll need to visit the Heok-ung Bang first.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, a flash of light suddenly crossed Jang Myeong-cheol’s eyes.
But the moment was so fleeting that Namgung Geom didn’t catch it.
“What do we do with these others?”
Namgung Chang gestured toward Jang Myeong-cheol and the members of the Heok-ung Bang.
“Send them to the Yi House Caravan for now.”
Namgung Geom handed over Jang Myeong-cheol and the Heok-ung Bang members to the caravan’s transport unit.
The unit bound them and immediately escorted them to the Yi House Caravan.
The transport unit had been moving cargo all along.
But the goods they were transporting were low-grade merchandise that couldn’t be delivered to the Tae-ho Tea House.
It was a decoy operation to draw out the Heok-ung Bang.
Now that they had proof of the Heok-ung Bang’s robberies, all that remained was to recover the stolen goods and deliver them to the Tae-ho Tea House.
And the success of that mission rested entirely on Namgung Geom and his fellow disciples from the Changryong Pavilion.
* * *
Namgung Geom and his fellow disciples from the Changryong Pavilion rushed straight toward the Heok-ung Bang.
Once the Heok-ung Bang learned that the robbery had failed, they would prepare their defenses.
It was crucial to settle matters quickly, before they could take precautions.
“Is everyone ready?”
Namgung Geom’s fellow disciples nodded with resolute expressions.
“Then let’s move in.”
Namgung Geom advanced toward the Heok-ung Bang’s compound.
His fellow disciples followed in his wake.
The guards at the entrance of the Heok-ung Bang’s compound were startled at the sight of Namgung Geom and his companions.
Thirty-odd armed men had appeared without warning, swords at their sides.
Anyone could see their intentions were far from peaceful.
“Who are you bastards?”
A member of the Heok-ung Bang shouted, his stance wary.
“We’re from the Namgung Clan.”
“What did you say?”
“Go inside and tell them. We’ve come to settle the matter of the Heok-ung Bang’s theft of goods belonging to the Yi House Caravan under the Namgung Clan’s protection.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, one of the Heok-ung Bang members let out a scornful laugh.
Namgung Geom and his companions bore no resemblance to martial artists of the Namgung Clan.
“Where are you spouting such lies? You think we’ll cower just because you mention the Namgung Clan?”
“Words won’t work, then.”
Namgung Geom shrugged and drew his sword in one fluid motion.
A blade wind erupted from his steel, hurtling forward like an arrow.
The Heok-ung Bang member’s eyes widened in terror as he threw himself to the side.
Crash!
The main gate of the Heok-ung Bang shattered into splinters.
The member stared at Namgung Geom with an expression of pure shock.
Namgung Geom paid him no mind and strode into the compound.
The member rushed to raise a signal horn.
“Just stay down.”
But Namgung Cheol-ung, passing him by, struck the back of his head and left him unconscious on the ground.
As Namgung Geom and his companions entered the courtyard, a Heok-ung Bang officer spotted them and urgently sounded the alarm.
Namgung Geom moved deeper into the compound without hurrying.
Members of the Heok-ung Bang came pouring out from within like a swarm.
Namgung Geom and his companions waited for the Heok-ung Bang members to gather around them.
They were soon surrounded by the bandits.
There were roughly fifty of them.
Nearly twice the number of Namgung Geom’s group.
“Who are you devils to attack our headquarters with such recklessness?”
The strongest-looking among the Heok-ung Bang members stepped forward and demanded an answer.
He was Jang Hyeon-ung, leader of the Heok-ung Dan, a martial artist of First-class Intermediate standing.
“As if the Heok-ung Bang amounts to anything worth boasting about.”
At Namgung Geom’s contemptuous remark, Jang Hyeon-ung’s aura turned fierce.
“So you mock our headquarters? You must be tired of living.”
Jang Hyeon-ung’s presence was formidable enough.
But it posed no threat to Namgung Geom whatsoever.
“If you knew who we were, you wouldn’t speak such words.”
“And who exactly are you?”
Jang Hyeon-ung sneered and posed the question.
“We are the Changryong Swordsmen of the Namgung Clan.”
Namgung Geom offered the name of the swordsmen group he had already prepared.
“Ha. The Changryong Swordsmen of the Namgung Clan?”
Jang Hyeon-ung laughed mockingly.
“If you’re going to impersonate the Namgung Clan, at least get your facts straight. I’ve never heard of any Changryong Swordsmen in the Namgung Clan.”
At his words, Namgung Geom smiled faintly.
“That’s to be expected. This is the first assignment since the Changryong Swordsmen was formed.”
For Namgung Geom, the Changryong Swordsmen was already as good as established.
No matter what happened, he would see this mission through to success.
“You’re making a swordsmen group out of boys barely past their twenties? That’s absurd.”
Jang Hyeon-ung still refused to believe Namgung Geom’s words.
“If you won’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Namgung Geom spoke as if it made no difference to him.
His composed manner made Jang Hyeon-ung’s brow furrow.
“Then what is your reason for attacking our headquarters?”
“To hold you accountable for stealing the tea of the Yi House Caravan, which enjoys the protection of our main clan.”
“This headquarters stealing tea from the Yi House Caravan? I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”
At Jang Hyeon-ung’s feigned ignorance, Namgung Geom scoffed.
“Denial won’t help. Your deputy leader has already confessed.”
Jang Hyeon-ung’s expression hardened at the mention of the deputy leader.
The fact that they knew to reference the deputy leader suggested this was no bluff.
And if it were true, the deputy leader and his men had likely been subdued by these intruders.
‘Are they truly martial artists of the Namgung Clan?’
If so, the situation had become grave indeed.
“Now that you’ve grasped the situation, I’ll offer you one final chance.”
“A chance, you say?”
Namgung Geom raised his aura against the Heok-ung Bang members.
A cold, oppressive force swept through the space, crushing down upon their bodies.
At that overwhelming presence, the Heok-ung Bang members flinched and stepped back.
Namgung Geom moved a step closer and spoke.
“If you discard your weapons and surrender, I shall spare your lives. But if you resist, death is inevitable.”
Namgung Bing-ryong
Author |
Baek Weol-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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