Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 21

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 21
Namgung Geom returned to the Yi household and reported to Yi Geom Baek what had transpired at Heuk Woong Bang.
He also handed over the Secret Key to Heuk Woong Bang’s hidden storage in Hodu Valley.
Yi Geom Baek was overjoyed.
Not only had they recovered the tea that Heuk Woong Bang had plundered, but they’d also extracted compensation from them.
He hadn’t expected Namgung Geom to handle the matter with such speed and precision.
What truly astonished him was that Heuk Woong Bang harbored a master of the Sapa Alliance.
And not just any master—Ak Seung Do, one of the most formidable warriors the Sapa Alliance could boast.
Had his opponent been Ak Seung Do, Yi Geom Baek would have understood a simple withdrawal.
Yet Namgung Geom had achieved such a remarkable outcome against Ak Seung Do.
Yi Geom Baek could now grasp just how formidable Namgung Geom’s abilities truly were.
Most striking of all was that Namgung Geom had held his own against Ak Seung Do without the slightest disadvantage.
Yi Geom Baek recognized that though Namgung Geom was still in his prime years, he possessed everything needed to stand at the helm of the Namgung Clan.
It would be wise to cultivate this connection with him in advance.
“Without the young master, we’d have been utterly helpless against Heuk Woong Bang. I’m truly grateful.”
He began by expressing his thanks to Namgung Geom.
“The Yi household stands under the protection of the main clan, so resolving its difficulties is only natural.”
Yi Geom Baek shook his head at Namgung Geom’s modesty.
“Still, I cannot pretend ignorance of the Namgung Clan’s kindness. If there’s anything you’d like in return, speak freely.”
“I acted not for reward, so please think nothing of it, Master Yi.”
Namgung Geom declined politely.
“Don’t be like that. Tell me. If it’s something I can provide, I’ll do whatever I can.”
When Yi Geom Baek pressed further, Namgung Geom fell into thought.
He considered what might benefit the Namgung Clan.
Then, an idea suddenly occurred to him.
“In that case, please grant the Yi household’s tea Distribution Rights to the Soho Commerce Guild.”
The Soho Commerce Guild was operated by a cadet branch of the Namgung Clan.
Tea Distribution Rights were a highly profitable holding, and the Namgung Clan had long sought to acquire them.
But the Yi household had refused, preventing them from realizing this goal.
Yi Geom Baek’s expression stiffened as he heard Namgung Geom’s request.
“If you’re unwilling, Master Yi, I have no intention of pressing the matter. Please decide according to your own wishes.”
Yi Geom Baek pondered briefly, then spoke as though he’d reached a resolution.
“I’ll do it.”
“Truly, sir?”
Namgung Geom had made the suggestion half as a gamble, expecting nothing.
When Yi Geom Baek accepted, he was genuinely startled.
“There’s no guarantee such an incident won’t happen again. It seems wiser to entrust the distribution to the Soho Commerce Guild rather than risk it further.”
Yi Geom Baek had chosen security over profit.
“It must be a difficult decision, yet you’ve accepted so readily. I’m grateful.”
Namgung Geom smiled with satisfaction.
Obtaining the Yi household’s tea Distribution Rights had been an unexpected windfall.
And it would be recorded as his achievement.
“And now that we’re discussing this, there’s one more favor I’d like to ask of the young master.”
“What might that be?”
“We must deliver tea to the Taeho Tea House within five days, but we’re in difficulty finding an escort right now.”
The original transport unit’s escort had suffered losses in the attack by Heuk Woong Bang and couldn’t move.
The same was true for the Yi household’s martial artists.
“Are you asking me and the disciples of Changryong Pavilion to serve as your escort?”
“I know it’s an unreasonable request, but you’re the only person I can turn to.”
Yi Geom Baek spoke with an air of difficulty.
He worried that Namgung Geom might refuse because of his status as young master.
But to his surprise, Namgung Geom readily nodded.
“Understood. You’ve granted the Distribution Rights to the Soho Commerce Guild—how could an escort be any trouble?”
Compared to the profit the Soho Commerce Guild would gain in the future, escorting all the way to Nanking was barely worth calling effort.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you. I’ll never forget this kindness.”
Yi Geom Baek spoke as though a great weight had lifted from his shoulders.
“Then, since time is pressing, once we retrieve the tea that Heuk Woong Bang took, we’ll depart immediately.”
“That would help greatly. I’ll have the escort unit ready to depart at once.”
Yi Geom Baek immediately began preparing a transport unit to head for Nanking.
As soon as they brought the tea from Heuk Woong Bang’s secret storage, they set out.
* * *
The tea transport unit of the Yi household moved overland to Anqing, then proceeded to Nanking by waterway.
Namgung Geom and his party boarded the same vessel to provide protection for the transport unit.
“I’ve heard the Yangtze River Alliance has grown increasingly tyrannical of late. Surely they wouldn’t target our boat?”
Namgung Cheol Woong scoffed at Namgung Cheon Sang’s concern.
“What use is such timidity?”
“Do you not know the saying—’Plan for danger while at peace’?”
“Would the Yangtze River Alliance dare touch the Yi household, under our clan’s protection?”
Namgung Cheol Woong spoke as though the worry were groundless.
“Then how do you explain Heuk Woong Bang targeting the Yi household?”
“That was simply because Heuk Woong Bang’s master lost his senses.”
“Then the river pirates of the Yangtze River Alliance might have lost theirs too.”
At Namgung Cheon Sang’s rebuttal, Namgung Cheol Woong let out a derisive snort.
“Even so, what’s there to worry about? With our skills, crushing a few river pirates would be child’s play.”
“If this were land, I’d have no qualms. But this is the Yangtze River. We have no experience fighting on water, so regardless of our strength, we could find ourselves at a disadvantage.”
Namgung Cheol Woong shook his head at Namgung Cheon Sang’s words.
“A man who worries this much is pathetic.”
“It’s better than a fool relying only on brute strength.”
“What did you say? Are you proposing we fight right now?”
“Are you afraid I’d best you?”
Namgung Cheol Woong and Namgung Cheon Sang growled at each other as though ready to come to blows at any moment.
Namgung Geom shook his head in resignation.
“Both of you, enough.”
At a single word from Namgung Geom, Namgung Cheol Woong and Namgung Cheon Sang sat back down as if nothing had happened.
“As Namgung Cheon Sang says, the Yangtze River Alliance’s arrogance grows by the day. I’m told they frequently pillage even those protected by the Five Great Clans. So we cannot assume the Yi household is safe either.”
“Then do you have a countermeasure?”
Namgung Chang asked.
“If we reveal our identity, the Yangtze River Alliance won’t dare touch us.”
“That seems too naive. They could genuinely be mad enough to attack us anyway.”
At Namgung Chang’s objection, Namgung Geom smiled and replied.
“That’s why I sent a letter to the Changgang Battle Group before we departed, requesting their support.”
The Changgang Battle Group was one of the external forces of the Namgung Clan, overseeing the waterways of the Yangtze River in Anhui Province.
They patrolled the upper and lower reaches of the river, monitoring and suppressing the Yangtze River Alliance.
Yet the Yangtze River in Anhui Province stretched long, and there were limits to what they could surveil.
The Yangtze River Alliance, familiar with the waterways, engaged in pillaging while evading the Changgang Battle Group.
Still, their presence was better than nothing.
Because of the Changgang Battle Group, the Yangtze River Alliance could not operate with complete impunity.
Namgung Geom had sent a support request to the Changgang Battle Group to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.
Had time been more generous, they would have waited for the Changgang Battle Group to join before moving.
But time was pressing, so they had no choice but to depart without waiting.
“Thinking that far ahead—truly worthy of you, captain.”
Namgung Cheol Woong gave a thumbs up.
Namgung Chang also nodded at Namgung Geom’s thoroughness.
Namgung Geom possessed not only formidable martial skill but also keen strategic acumen.
Nor was this an isolated instance.
It was Namgung Geom’s strategy that had lured Heuk Woong Bang out by feigning a false transport at the Yi household.
Reluctant as he was to admit it, Namgung Geom lacked nothing as a candidate for Sogaju.
The more Namgung Chang observed Namgung Geom, the more his heart inclined toward him.
Though his own father weighed on his mind, for the sake of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Geom becoming Sogaju would be better than his father.
In any case, even without Namgung Geom, his father Namgung Byeok had little chance of becoming Sogaju.
The one currently leading the race for Sogaju was Namgung Seong, master of Changryong Pavilion.
Namgung Seong held an advantage over Namgung Byeok in both martial power and influence.
Objectively, his father had almost no chance of defeating Namgung Seong.
Of course, Namgung Geom, too, would find it difficult to defeat Namgung Seong at this moment.
Yet Namgung Geom possessed potential.
Overwhelming talent—having reached the Peak Realm while still in his early twenties.
And the legitimacy of being the Namgung Clan’s eldest grandson.
With even modest achievements in the Martial World, his support would rise significantly.
Given Namgung Geom’s talent, it was only a matter of time before he surpassed Namgung Seong’s martial power.
Above all, the fact that the patriarch, Namgung Pae, had yet to appoint a Sogaju suggested he was likely already considering Namgung Geom for the position.
It would be wise, then, to side with Namgung Geom early on.
Later, when his position as Sogaju became likely, everyone would want to stand with him anyway.
“The Janggangsuromeng has appeared!”
Just then, an urgent cry rang out from Yi’s transport fleet.
Namgung Geom and his party rushed out of the cabin at once.
Boats from the Janggangsuromeng could be seen approaching from both the front and rear of the transport ship.
It was the Janggangsuromeng’s typical tactic — encircling from both sides to prevent escape.
Yi’s transport ship came to a halt and waited for the Janggangsuromeng boats to draw near.
The Janggangsuromeng did not resort to pillaging from the start.
Usually they demanded a passage tax, and only resorted to pillaging if refused.
The question was how much passage tax the Janggangsuromeng would demand.
If the amount was reasonable, it was better to pay it and move on.
The problem arose when they demanded an exorbitant passage tax.
Then there was a choice to be made.
Either pay the passage tax and accept the loss.
Or refuse the passage tax and fight the Janggangsuromeng.
For now, it was necessary to see how the Janggangsuromeng would act.
As the Janggangsuromeng boats drew near, Yi Hong Baek, who was responsible for the transport fleet, went to the bow.
“Yi Hong Baek of the Yi Commerce Guild greets the heroes of Heuksuchae.”
Yi Hong Baek recognized the banner flying from the Janggangsuromeng boat and identified them as Heuksuchae.
“Well, if it isn’t the great merchant Yi of the Yi Commerce Guild.”
A river pirate from Heuksuchae who had come to the bow of his own boat spoke with feigned familiarity.
“Our fleet wishes to pass through Heuksuchae’s territory, and we hope you heroes will graciously allow us passage.”
“It’s the Yi Commerce Guild’s boat — of course we’ll open the way. But we’ve come this far, and it wouldn’t do to return empty-handed, now would it?”
The river pirate demanded a passage tax.
“Of course, one must pay a passage tax to travel through Heuksuchae’s territory.”
“But this time, the passage tax has gone up considerably.”
The river pirate spoke as if the situation were unavoidable.
“Then how much would be required?”
Yi Hong Baek asked.
“One hundred taels of silver, if you please.”
Yi Hong Baek’s expression hardened.
“One hundred taels of silver? What kind of extortion is it to raise the fee tenfold all at once?”
“It takes considerable effort to maintain the waterways of the Yangtze River.”
The river pirate spoke with shameless composure.
“Even so, one hundred taels of silver is too much.”
If they paid one hundred taels of silver as passage tax, the cost would exceed the cargo’s value.
“If the Yi Commerce Guild cannot pay the passage tax, then we’ll have to take cargo from your ship instead.”
The river pirate from Heuksuchae spoke as though there were no other choice.
At his words, Yi Hong Baek’s expression turned rigid.
“Are you saying you’ll rob our ship?”
“Surely you understand we can’t return empty-handed either?”
The river pirate from Heuksuchae shrugged and spoke.
Yi Hong Baek was about to protest, but Namgung Geom stopped him and stepped forward.
“It seems the gall of Heuksuchae has swollen rather large.”
Namgung Bing Ryong
Author |
Baek Wol Geom
Publisher |
(주) Samyang C&C
Editorial Director |
Editorial Department
Published by |
(주) Samyang C&C – Dream Books
Address |
7th Floor, Gwangseong Building, 28 Bongeunsa-ro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260511103
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter(X) |
@dreambookss
Submissions |
[email protected]
© Samyang C&C — No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from Dream Books.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————