Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 24

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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 24
The Beihaibing Palace had once established an undercover force to gather intelligence from the Central Plains.
It was a matter of utmost secrecy, known only to the Palace Master, Deputy Master, and Seol Yeong Gakju, who oversaw intelligence for the Beihaibing Palace.
Namgung Geom, who had been the Deputy Master of Beihaibing Palace in his past life, possessed knowledge of the undercover force that had infiltrated the Central Plains.
One of those undercover forces was none other than the Seol Family Fort.
‘I’ve completely forgotten about them.’
Namgung Geom had resolved to let go of his past life at Beihaibing Palace and live fully as Namgung Geom alone.
In practice, he had focused entirely on his life as Namgung Geom without dwelling on Beihaibing Palace at all.
That was why he hadn’t given a thought to Beihaibing Palace’s undercover forces.
But hearing the name Seol Family Fort unexpectedly had stirred the memories of his past life.
‘Remarkable that they’ve maintained their strength all this time.’
A hundred years had passed since his past life.
In a hundred years, countless martial schools rose and fell.
For an organization to endure more than a century in the Central Plains was an extraordinary feat.
“Forgive me, but do you have some other connection to the Seol Family Fort?”
Yi Hongbaek asked with evident curiosity.
“No. I’ve merely taken an interest after hearing that they practice the Ice Technique.”
“I see. Then you are considering meeting with the proprietor of the Taeho Teahouse?”
Namgung Geom could not help but deliberate.
If he met with the proprietor of the Taeho Teahouse, he would surely be asked to handle the matter of the Seol Family Fort.
If he had no intention of granting such a request, there was no reason to meet him at all.
Meeting him would essentially amount to agreeing to his request.
And if he were to grant that request, he would inevitably clash with the Seol Family Fort.
Namgung Geom, who had been the Deputy Master of Beihaibing Palace in his former life, harbored great affection for the palace itself.
He despised Seol Jinag and the Beihaibing Family for their rebellion that had killed him and his father, but he retained fondness for Beihaibing Palace itself.
For that reason, the thought of battling the Seol Family Fort, which was a branch of Beihaibing Palace, did not sit well with him.
Then, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
‘I could bring the Seol Family Fort to my side instead.’
The Seol Family Fort was an undercover force of Beihaibing Palace.
And Namgung Geom possessed knowledge of Beihaibing Palace’s secret martial arts.
If he used that knowledge carefully, he might well bring the Seol Family Fort over to his side.
“What would become of Changryong Division if the Taeho Teahouse should fall into difficulty?”
“The Taeho Teahouse is one of our major interests, so the blow would be considerable.”
“Then for the sake of Changryong Division, I cannot simply ignore the danger facing the Taeho Teahouse.”
Namgung Geom deliberately attached the pretext of protecting Changryong Division.
If he was going to do this, it was all the better to win over Yi Hongbaek’s heart.
Whether by design or fortune, Yi Hongbaek’s expression brightened with gratitude.
“Your Highness shows such regard for our division. We are deeply honored.”
“For now, it would be best to meet with the proprietor of the Taeho Teahouse and ascertain the situation precisely.”
“Understood. I shall arrange a meeting at once.”
Yi Hongbaek promptly conveyed Namgung Geom’s wishes to the proprietor of the Taeho Teahouse.
* * *
Taeho Teahouse Hall.
At that establishment, counted among Nanjing’s finest teahouses, Namgung Geom met with the proprietor of the Taeho Teahouse.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Namgung Geom of the Namgung Clan.”
“I am Baek Nagkhyeon, proprietor of the Taeho Teahouse. I am honored to meet the Crown Prince of the Namgung Clan.”
“The honor is mine—to meet a proprietor who has built such a vast enterprise from a single teahouse.”
At Namgung Geom’s courteous reply, Baek Nagkhyeon gave a bitter smile.
“What good is it? A lifetime’s work built with no strength to protect it.”
“I understand from Hongbaek that you are being threatened by the Seol Family Fort.”
Baek Nagkhyeon sighed and offered an explanation.
“Indeed. The Seol Family Fort proposed that I cede all my teahouses in Nanjing to them.”
“You surely refused such a proposal.”
“Of course. How could I hand over what I’ve built in a lifetime? Besides, the sum they offered was absurdly low, lacking any semblance of worth.”
“The Seol Family Fort would not have taken that lightly.”
“Indeed. From that day forward, they sent martial artists to obstruct my business.”
“I believed the Taeho Teahouse enjoyed the protection of the Seomun Clan. Have you not sought their aid?”
Baek Nagkhyeon shook his head.
“The Seomun Clan is currently preoccupied with their conflict against the Sahaebang and lacks the resources to attend to Nanjing.”
The Sahaebang was a pirate confederation that controlled the waters off Fujian and Zhejiang.
They had recently attempted to expand their influence into Jiangsu Province, which brought them into conflict with the Seomun Clan.
And the struggle between the Seomun Clan and the Sahaebang was intensifying with each passing day.
“Is the Seomun Clan’s situation dire?”
Namgung Geom asked, his expression etched with concern.
The Seomun Clan was his maternal family in his previous life, so he couldn’t help but worry.
“The Sahaebang’s fighting strength is formidable—more so than expected. They’re struggling.”
Baek Nagkhyeon spoke with a bitter smile.
Namgung Geom’s face darkened.
He’d heard that the Seomun Clan’s power had withered considerably compared to the previous life.
But he hadn’t realized they’d weakened so much that they’d be hard-pressed against the Sahaebang.
His instinct was to rush to the Seomun Clan immediately and lend his aid.
Yet if he helped them, he would incur the Sahaebang’s enmity.
That would have been bearable had he been alone.
But behind Namgung Geom stood the Namgung Clan.
If the Sahaebang harbored a grudge against the Namgung Clan because of his rash decision, it could bring calamity upon his entire family.
True, the Namgung Clan possessed enough strength to crush the Sahaebang and still have power to spare.
But the Namgung Clan would have to pay a price for it.
He couldn’t make such a momentous decision on his own.
It was a matter that required deliberation with the clan’s leadership.
Namgung Geom resolved to request support for the Seomun Clan as soon as he returned to the family.
For now, he needed to focus on the matter at hand—the Seol Family Fort.
“The Seol Family Fort struck at the Taeho Teahouse precisely because they knew the Seomun Clan couldn’t move.”
“Indeed. Since the Seomun Clan cannot offer aid at present, I have no choice but to seek help from the Crown Prince of the Namgung Clan.”
“What is the military strength of the Seol Family Fort?”
“They command the Snow Wind Corps—their elite force—and are said to have over a hundred martial artists in their ranks. Moreover, the Fort Master of the Seol Family Fort is rumored to be on the verge of breaking through to the True Martial Realm.”
“With my peers from the Changryong Division, it would be impossible for us to face the Seol Family Fort.”
The Yangtze River Corps had escorted Namgung Geom to Nanjing, then departed immediately.
Those who remained in Nanjing were only Namgung Geom and his peers from the Changryong Division.
They alone could not possibly stand against the Seol Family Fort.
Baek Nagkhyeon knew well that Namgung Geom and his companions were insufficient for such a confrontation.
“However, the mere presence of the Crown Prince will pose a threat to the Seol Family Fort.”
Namgung Geom was the Crown Prince of the Namgung Clan.
He need not even fight directly.
Simply delivering a warning from Namgung Geom would suffice.
The Seol Family Fort, for fear of the Namgung Clan alone, would not dare ignore his warning.
“Then I shall meet the Fort Master of the Seol Family Fort in person.”
“The Fort Master himself?”
“Would it not be more certain to meet the Fort Master directly and settle this matter face to face?”
“It would be, but there is the risk that should the Fort Master harbor ill intent, the Crown Prince could be placed in danger.”
“Unless the Fort Master has lost his mind, he would not dare harm me. Therefore, please arrange such a meeting.”
“Very well.”
Baek Nagkhyeon nodded.
“And I am deeply grateful that the Crown Prince would step forward personally for the Taeho Teahouse, with which the Namgung Clan has no connection whatsoever. This kindness I shall never forget.”
Baek Nagkhyeon had not expected Namgung Geom to come forward so readily.
And for good reason—the Namgung Clan and the Taeho Teahouse had no ties whatsoever.
There was no compelling reason for him to aid them.
Yet Namgung Geom had offered his help without any conditions in return.
Though the outcome was not yet certain, his willingness to stand for the Taeho Teahouse was itself cause for gratitude.
“The Namgung Clan has always protected the weak and valued righteousness. To aid the Taeho Teahouse is therefore only natural.”
He could have extracted a price for helping them.
But Namgung Geom chose instead to win Baek Nagkhyeon’s trust over immediate gain.
‘Truly the Crown Prince of the Namgung Clan.’
Baek Nagkhyeon silently marveled at Namgung Geom’s magnanimity.
And he resolved in his heart to repay this debt when the time came.
“Then I shall contact the Fort Master at once.”
Baek Nagkhyeon sent a messenger immediately to the Seol Family Fort.
He conveyed that Namgung Geom wished to meet with the Fort Master regarding the matter of the Taeho Teahouse.
The Fort Master of the Seol Family Fort accepted the request.
He decided to meet and hear what Namgung Geom had to say.
That evening.
Namgung Geom left for the pavilion on the Yangtze River Bank to meet the master of Seol Family Fort.
It was the place Seol Uncheon had designated.
When he arrived at the pavilion, martial artists from Seol Family Fort surrounded the area.
Namgung Geom assessed their auras.
Among the twenty, five were first-rate martial masters.
Namgung Geom recognized them as the Snow Wind Corps, the elite force of Seol Family Fort.
‘Not bad at all.’
Considering the scale of Seol Family Fort, it was quite impressive.
Namgung Geom shifted his gaze toward the pavilion’s interior.
A middle-aged man sat there.
Seol Uncheon, master of Seol Family Fort.
A familiar aura emanated from him.
The Northern Sea Snow Cold Technique.
One of the internal energy cultivation methods of Beihaibing Palace, it was an ascending technique that could reach the Peak Realm without difficulty.
Judging by the density of that aura, he had not yet achieved the True Martial Realm.
In truth, the Northern Sea Snow Cold Technique alone made reaching the True Martial Realm difficult.
This was because there was no Secret Method to ascend to the True Martial Realm.
Of course, geniuses who transcended normal limits could awaken the secret methods themselves and achieve that realm, but Seol Uncheon did not appear to possess such talent.
Namgung Geom stepped into the pavilion.
At that moment, one of the Snow Wind Corps members blocked his path.
“Leave your sword and proceed.”
“So Seol Family Fort thinks itself the Heavenly Sword Sect now, does it?”
At Namgung Geom’s words, the martial artist’s face flushed.
“Let him pass.”
Seol Uncheon called from inside the pavilion.
The martial artist stepped aside, and Namgung Geom shrugged and climbed into the pavilion.
Seol Uncheon studied Namgung Geom as he entered.
Surprise flickered in his eyes as he recognized the man’s realm.
The late Peak Realm alone was astonishing.
But what truly startled him was the aura of the Ice Technique.
‘The Crown Prince of the Namgung Clan has mastered the Ice Technique?’
And not ordinary Ice Technique at that.
Judging by the density of the cold energy, it surpassed the Northern Sea Snow Cold Technique.
Then Seol Uncheon’s internal energy began to stir.
It was as though it reacted to Namgung Geom’s internal energy.
Yet that reaction felt like watching a puppy wagging its tail before a lion.
Seol Uncheon’s brow furrowed.
‘The only internal energy that would elicit such a response from the Northern Sea Snow Cold Technique is the Ice White Divine Technique.’
But it was impossible that Namgung Geom had mastered the Ice White Divine Technique.
Still, it was clear he had learned an Ice Technique exceptional enough to provoke such a reaction.
“I am Namgung Geom of the Namgung Clan. I thank you for agreeing to this meeting.”
“I am Seol Uncheon. How could I refuse when the Crown Prince of the Namgung Clan wishes to see me?”
Brief pleasantries were exchanged, and Namgung Geom stated his business directly.
“I’ll speak plainly. I ask that you cease your threats against Taeho Teahouse.”
“Even if you are the Crown Prince of the Namgung Clan, you have no authority to dictate terms to this fort, or so it seems.”
Seol Uncheon’s expression darkened.
“That is precisely why I am making a respectful request.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Seol Uncheon let out a dry laugh.
“But to this fort master’s ears, it sounds like a threat.”
“Then you will not grant this Crown Prince’s request?”
“If Taeho Teahouse were under the protection of the Namgung Clan, perhaps. But it is not Namgung’s concern.”
Seol Uncheon’s expression grew resolute.
“What if this Crown Prince were to protect Taeho Teahouse?”
Seol Uncheon’s brow deepened.
“Does the Crown Prince wish for this fort to become an enemy of the Namgung Clan?”
“The opposite. I have no desire to fight Seol Family Fort. That is precisely why I came to resolve this through dialogue.”
“No matter what the Crown Prince says, this fort’s stance toward Taeho Teahouse will not change. So if you do not intend to fight this fort, cease your interference in its affairs.”
Namgung Geom’s expression grew meaningful at Seol Uncheon’s words.
“What if this Crown Prince were to reveal what he knows of Seol Family Fort’s true nature?”
Seol Uncheon flinched at those words.
But as though nothing had happened, he shifted his expression and feigned ignorance as he spoke.
“The identity of the fort master? What do you mean by that?”
Namgung Geom, who had not missed the shift in Seol Uncheon’s expression, smiled and spoke.
“I am aware that the Seol Family Fort is an undercover force of the Beihaibing Palace.”
Namgung Bing-ryong
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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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