Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 28

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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 28
Namgung Jihwan watched as Namgung Geom sparred with the captains of the Tri-Sword Band, pointing out their shortcomings and guiding them through corrections.
Namgung Geom saw through the flaws in each captain’s technique at a glance.
And right there, he corrected or refined what was lacking.
Such a thing was impossible without a profound understanding of martial arts.
Namgung Geom’s cultivation level was in the late Peak Realm.
For his age, it was a remarkable achievement, yet even that didn’t fully explain the depth of his instruction.
‘At minimum, he possesses the enlightenment of the True Martial Realm.’
It seemed absurd, but there was no other way to account for it.
Usually, cultivation level and enlightenment grew in proportion to one another.
But there were cases where enlightenment surpassed one’s cultivated realm.
It was typically the hallmark of martial geniuses.
That Namgung Geom was a genius in martial arts was already established fact.
Still, for one so young to possess the enlightenment of the True Martial Realm seemed impossible.
Yet watching him teach, Namgung Jihwan had no choice but to believe it.
Part of him wondered just how far Namgung Geom might develop.
At twenty years old, he had already attained the enlightenment of the True Martial Realm.
Reaching the True Martial Realm itself was merely a matter of time.
And with his prodigious talent, realms beyond that were far from impossible.
The three faction leaders all possessed exceptional gifts.
But none could compare to Namgung Geom.
‘It pains me to think it, but for the sake of the Namgung Family, perhaps it would be better if the Crown Prince became Young Family Head.’
Namgung Jihwan belonged to the Cheonpung Sword Band.
He had hoped Namgung Un, the leader of the Cheonpung Sword Band, would become the successor.
Yet looking at it objectively, he also understood that Namgung Un was not the right vessel to become the next head of the Namgung Family.
Even from Namgung Jihwan’s perspective, Namgung Geom seemed far better suited to lead the family than Namgung Un.
Not that he was prepared to openly support Namgung Geom becoming Young Family Head right now.
But if it came to pass, he felt he could accept it without reservation.
‘Perhaps the Crown Prince could help me break through this wall in my martial arts.’
For some time now, Namgung Jihwan’s martial progress had hit a barrier.
No matter how hard he pushed, he could not advance further.
But somehow, he had a feeling that Namgung Geom could be the one to help him break through.
Still, he was the captain of the Tri-Sword Band of the Cheonpung Sword Band.
To ask for instruction from someone so much younger in front of his own men would wound his pride.
But then, a realization struck him.
‘I’ve been full of myself.’
Here was a chance to break through his impasse, and he would throw it away for the sake of face?
What did it matter if the other was younger?
What did it matter if he held the same rank?
What mattered was skill.
Martial prowess.
If he could gain enlightenment from Namgung Geom, it was the way of a true warrior to humble himself and seek his teaching.
Namgung Jihwan waited for the sparring between Namgung Geom and the captains to end.
Once it was finished, he approached Namgung Geom.
“Crown Prince! Might I also receive your instruction?”
“Instruction between captains of equal rank? That would be presumptuous. But I am always glad to cross blades lightly with you.”
Namgung Jihwan smiled at Namgung Geom’s tactful words, which preserved his dignity.
“Still, I worry I may be tiring you excessively.”
“I have strength enough left to spar with the captain of the Tri-Sword Band. Don’t concern yourself.”
Namgung Geom was somewhat worn from the successive bouts.
Yet he still had reserves of strength to face Namgung Jihwan.
Namgung Geom and Namgung Jihwan turned to face each other.
The Four Elders of the Changryong Sword Band and the Tri-Sword Band of the Cheonpung Sword Band gathered to watch the two spar.
In truth, the outcome of the match was all but predetermined.
Yet the clash of Peak Realm masters was a sight rarely seen.
More than that, simply watching the martial arts of Peak Realm experts provided tremendous benefit.
“After you.”
Namgung Geom spoke with his sword held at a slight angle.
At first glance, his stance appeared loose, yet Namgung Jihwan could find no opening to exploit.
‘If there’s no opening, I’ll create one!’
Namgung Jihwan rushed forward eagerly, extending his blade.
Whissh!
His sword cut through the air with a sharp cry, unleashing a fierce blade wind.
The wind-infused blade qi shot toward Namgung Geom’s shoulder.
The momentum carried in Namgung Jihwan’s blade wind was far from negligible.
Yet Namgung Geom simply raised his sword lightly and swept aside Namgung Jihwan’s blade wind.
Boom!
The blade wind scattered, and Namgung Jihwan’s sword sprang away to the side.
He quickly corrected his blade, his expression startled.
He had known his attack would fail, but to be stopped so easily—
“Will you still be so surprised in real combat?” Namgung Geom said coolly.
At his words, Namgung Jihwan abandoned his musings and launched a fresh attack.
Whissh!
Successive blade winds erupted from his sword, pouring down upon Namgung Geom’s entire body.
Cheonpung Swaehon.
A supreme technique of the Cheonpung Sword style—sending blade winds in eight directions to trap an enemy with no escape.
In that instant, Namgung Geom’s eyes flashed with sharp clarity.
Namgung Jihwan’s sword work was precise.
Each trajectory calculated without a trace of error.
The distribution of inner force was appropriate as well.
Looking at the technique form alone, there was nothing to fault.
But that was all there was to it.
“Your sword is too confined within technique forms. Wind trapped in technique is merely dead wind.”
Namgung Geom extended his blade toward the blade wind of Cheonpung Swaehon.
The blade wind that erupted from his sword drove into the Cheonpung Swaehon.
Crack!
The Cheonpung Swaehon that Namgung Jihwan had deployed shattered in an instant, scattering into nothing.
“Technique forms are merely a means to master the wind. Wind imprisoned in technique disperses as easily as this.”
At those words, Namgung Jihwan’s eyes wavered.
“Try again.”
At Namgung Geom’s command, Namgung Jihwan moved his blade.
Whoosh!
Energy surged from his entire body, gathering at the sword’s tip and spiraling into a helical blade wind.
Namgung Jihwan, thinking his blade wind had been too weak and scattered too easily, now deployed a spiraling blade wind instead.
Whoosh!
The spiraling blade wind crashed ferociously toward Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom did not evade.
Instead, he stepped toward the spiraling blade wind.
And he extended his blade toward it.
His sword raised a single strand of wind, driving into the spiraling blade wind.
Boom!
The spiraling blade wind split helplessly, and Namgung Jihwan’s sword was flung back.
“What—?”
Namgung Geom opened his mouth to the bewildered Namgung Jihwan.
“The wind must be free. Do not confine it within your blade—entrust your blade to the wind instead.”
Namgung Jihwan’s eyes showed complete incomprehension.
“A hundred words are not worth one look. Receive my blade once.”
Namgung Jihwan adjusted his grip and prepared to meet Namgung Geom’s strike.
Once his preparations were complete, Namgung Geom extended his blade.
The blade wind that arose from his sword drove into Namgung Jihwan.
‘Cheonpung Sanuhn!’
Namgung Jihwan recognized the technique form at a glance.
And he extended his blade to block Namgung Geom’s strike.
In that moment, Namgung Geom’s blade suddenly shifted.
The technique form of Cheonpung Sanuhn transformed in an instant into the technique form of Cheonpung Pabyeok.
The change was so seamless that Namgung Jihwan’s eyes widened in shock.
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in technique, Namgung Jihwan hastily twisted his blade to the side.
But his delayed reaction left him unable to put his full strength behind it.
Boom!
The defense Namgung Jihwan had deployed crumbled helplessly beneath Namgung Geom’s blade wind.
Unable to withstand the impact, Namgung Jihwan was driven backward.
Namgung Geom pursued him and unleashed another blade wind.
Once again, the same Cheonpung Sanuhn form as before.
The moment Namgung Jihwan attempted to raise his defense, Namgung Geom’s sword shifted into a different technique.
This time it was not Cheonpung Pabyeok, but Cheonpung Nanhwa.
The blade wind fractured like petals scattering in disarray, descending upon Namgung Jihwan in a chaotic rush.
‘Shifting from Cheonpung Sanuhn to Cheonpung Nanhwa?!’
Startled by the sudden change in technique, Namgung Jihwan hastily raised his guard.
Crash!
He barely managed to block the blade wind, but the impact hurled him backward.
“When the blade wind achieves freedom, it is no longer bound by the constraints of technique. You gain the ability to shift forms at will.”
Namgung Jihwan felt as though his head had been struck by a hammer.
The wind has no fixed place; in a flash, all changes.
The wind dwells nowhere, transforming at every moment.
The secret principle of Cheonpung swordsmanship, which he had only understood in theory, now finally resonated within his heart.
Namgung Jihwan realized that until now, he had been far too fixated upon technique itself.
The blade wind must be freed rather than confined within rigid forms.
And if one could transcend the boundaries of technique in this way, then true mastery of the Cheonpung sword would at last be within reach.
“I am grateful for your instruction. Thanks to you, I can now see the path forward—how to overcome the barrier that has stood before me.”
“I’m glad it proved useful. But achieving it will not be an easy task.”
If it were easy, everyone would become a master.
“That is precisely why I wish to ask—might I continue to spar with you in the future?”
Namgung Jihwan believed that there was no faster path to advancement than facing Namgung Geom’s sword directly.
“A simple matter. Whenever you wish to spar, come find me.”
Namgung Geom agreed without hesitation.
For the competition to become Young Family Head, the support of the Tri-Sword Band was paramount.
Without their backing—the core martial strength of the Namgung Family—it would be difficult to achieve that position.
For Namgung Geom to become Young Family Head, he needed the Tri-Sword Band’s support.
Yet that was far from simple.
The Tri-Sword Band typically gave their support to the patriarchs of the three sword bands to which they belonged.
To change their allegiance would require Namgung Geom to make some effort.
And what Namgung Geom excelled at most was martial prowess.
The Tri-Sword Band valued martial strength above wealth and glory.
For them, growing stronger was everything.
If Namgung Geom could help them become stronger, gratitude alone would move them to support him.
This was precisely why Namgung Geom did not refuse the sparring match with Namgung Jihwan.
Beyond that, as the eldest son of the Namgung Family, it was his natural duty to help strengthen the family’s martial practitioners.
While gaining Namgung Jihwan’s support played a part, his actions also stemmed from genuine care for the Namgung Family itself.
“Thank you. I shall not forget your kindness.”
“Shall we continue then?”
Namgung Geom resumed sparring with Namgung Jihwan.
During the day, Namgung Geom traveled toward Namgyeong, and after evening meals, he sparred with commanders and officers of both sword bands.
Meanwhile, the commanders of both bands would spar among themselves once their matches with Namgung Geom concluded.
At first, they fought with pride, squabbling over victory and defeat.
But with each exchange of blades, they came to respect one another.
By the time they reached Namgyeong, they had grown quite close.
Upon arriving in Namgyeong, Namgung Geom’s party and the Tri-Sword Band made straight for the port.
At Namgyeong Port, the Janggang Sword Band’s commander was already waiting.
Namgung Geom’s party immediately joined with the Janggang Sword Band’s commander.
“Welcome.”
Namgung Gwan, the commander of the Janggang Sword Band, greeted Namgung Geom and Namgung Jihwan.
“We meet again.”
Namgung Geom was already acquainted with Namgung Gwan.
During their last expedition with the Janggang Sword Band, Namgung Gwan had participated alongside the band’s leader, Namgung Seok Young.
“It is an honor to undertake this mission alongside you.”
“Do exchange greetings with the patriarch as well.”
Namgung Jihwan and Namgung Gwan exchanged brief courtesies.
“Have you heard anything about how matters stand with the Seomuun Family?”
Namgung Geom asked Namgung Gwan.
“The Four Seas Faction has blockaded the sea routes and continues to harass the Seomuun Family’s territory, striking and withdrawing.”
The Four Seas Faction’s strategy was simple.
Strike at the Seomuun Family’s territory, then retreat to the sea before they could mount a counteroffensive.
A single raid didn’t inflict heavy damage.
But persistent drizzle soaks through cloth.
As the raids multiplied, so did the Seomuun Family’s losses.
The Seomuun Family wanted to gather their full strength and face the Four Seas Faction in open battle.
But the Four Seas Faction scrupulously avoided direct confrontation, instead harassing them through hit-and-run raids.
“The Seomuun Family has no means of stopping the Four Seas Faction’s raids?”
Namgung Geom asked.
“The Seomuun Family’s forces are limited, and there are many places to defend, so it appears difficult to prevent the Four Seas Faction’s raids.”
Namgung Gwan had spoken, and Namgung Geom nodded.
“Then we must discover where the Four Seas Faction will strike next.”
“But the Four Seas Faction’s movements are so secretive that learning their plans appears difficult.”
At his reply, Namgung Geom’s expression grew meaningful.
“If we don’t know where they’ll come, we need only make them come where we wish.”
Namgung Byeong-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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