Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 29

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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 29
“How do you propose to draw the Sahaebang to the location of our choosing?”
Namgung Jihwan asked, plainly baffled.
Namgung Gwan was equally curious.
“By emptying a key stronghold of the Seomunsega Clan.”
“But won’t the Sahaebang grow suspicious?”
Namgung Jihwan raised the objection.
“If we relocate their defensive forces elsewhere, we can deceive the Sahaebang’s scouts.”
Namgung Gwan grasped Namgung Geom’s thinking at once.
“I see—you’ll move your forces as if conducting another operation, luring the Sahaebang to strike at what appears to be an undefended position.”
“Precisely. We conceal ourselves there and simply repel their surprise attack when it comes.”
“Then we must ensure the Sahaebang learns nothing of our movements.”
Namgung Geom nodded.
“We must move with the utmost secrecy.”
“In that case, we’d do better to travel overland than by water.”
The Jangggang Front Unit’s forces were far too conspicuous.
Moving along the Yangtze River would expose them instantly.
“The main force will travel overland, and the Jangggang Front Unit’s fleet can join us later.”
“But I’m uncertain whether the Seomunsega Clan will trust us enough to move their forces.”
Namgung Jihwan worried aloud about their allies’ response.
“They understand that to stop a surprise attack by the Sahaebang, they must be willing to take a calculated risk.”
Namgung Jihwan nodded at Namgung Geom’s words.
“But how do we contact the Seomunsega Clan with our plan?”
Namgung Gwan posed the question.
The Namgung Clan had no direct communication network with the Seomunsega Clan.
Sending an envoy would consume precious time.
“We can use the communication network of the Taeho Tavern in Nangjing.”
“That will work.”
Namgung Geom set out immediately for the Taeho Tavern.
There he explained the situation to Baek Naghyeon, the tavern’s proprietor, and requested that he send a letter to the Seomunsega Clan.
Baek Naghyeon readily accepted the request.
He dispatched a letter to the Seomunsega Clan containing Namgung Geom’s plan.
The Seomunsega Clan’s reply arrived the very next day.
They agreed to proceed according to Namgung Geom’s strategy.
The Seomunsega Clan decided to withdraw their defensive forces from Janggahang.
Janggahang was the vital junction where goods from the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal converged.
The Seomunsega Clan maintained a logistics warehouse there.
Merchandise arriving via the Yangtze and the Grand Canal was stored there before transport by sea to Gangnam.
But now, with the Sahaebang blockading the sea routes, that was impossible.
The logistics warehouse must be overflowing with goods awaiting transport to Gangnam.
Should the Sahaebang seize the warehouse, the gain would be immense.
Once the Sahaebang learned that Janggahang had been stripped of defenders, they would likely target the Seomunsega warehouse.
Of course, an abrupt withdrawal of forces might arouse suspicion.
But if the Sahaebang actually witnessed the Seomunsega forces departing, their doubts would ease.
Especially if rumors spread that the Seomunsega were massing their strength to assault the Sahaebang’s main stronghold.
Above all, greed itself would keep the Sahaebang from overlooking the riches stacked in that warehouse.
There was wisdom in the old saying that avarice blinds the eye.
“Since the Seomunsega Clan has agreed to move according to our plan, we must depart for Janggahang without delay.”
The Changryong Sword Brigade and the Cheonpung Sword Unit—the combined three sword brigades—set out immediately for Janggahang.
The Jangggang Front Unit remained in Nangjing for the time being, ordered to monitor the situation.
* * *
The Yongwang Unit, the elite force of the Sahaebang, consisted of four divisions.
Among them, the Heuk Ryong Unit—specialists in surprise assault—moved through the darkness toward Janggahang.
The Heuk Ryong Unit’s fleet was equipped with Night-Light Ships, their prows set with Night-Light Pearls, allowing them to navigate even in darkness.
That the Seomunsega Clan had repeatedly fallen victim to the Sahaebang’s surprise attacks was partly due to their failure to anticipate the Night-Light Ships.
Hwang Sadok, commander of the Heuk Ryong Unit, narrowed his eyes as he observed a young man sipping wine beside him.
“Second Young Master! Would it not be wiser to turn back even now?”
The young man called Second Young Master clicked his tongue.
He was Yeom Changseon, the second son of the Sahaebang.
“Commander Hwang! What cause have you to worry? We confirmed that the Seomunsega forces have abandoned Janggahang and moved toward Taechang.”
“True enough, but it seems far too suspicious that the Seomunsega Clan would leave the logistics warehouse in Janggahang undefended.”
Hwang Sadok could not shake the suspicion that the Seomunsega Clan had deliberately stripped the area of reinforcements.
“You fear the Seomunsega Clan might have laid a trap?”
Yeom Changseon asked in a flat tone.
“There is no harm in caution, is there?”
“Even if a trap exists, we can simply smash through it with force.”
Yeom Changseon spoke as though the matter were trivial.
“I understand your abilities well, but we cannot afford to underestimate the Seomunsega Clan’s full strength.”
Hwang Sadok struggled to persuade him.
But it was useless with Yeom Changseon.
“If we only creep about in caution, when shall I ever establish merit and claim the position of Sahaebang’s lord? This time I must secure a decisive victory to triumph over my brother in our competition.”
Yeom Changseon was contending with his older brother, Yeom Taeseong, the eldest heir of the Sahaebang, for the position of leader.
But in every respect inferior to Yeom Taeseong, Yeom Changseon was no match for him.
Even in this ongoing conflict with the Seomunsega Clan, Yeom Taeseong had executed several successful surprise attacks and accumulated considerable merit.
Meanwhile, Yeom Changseon had achieved nothing of note.
His desperation was only natural.
It was then that intelligence reached him—the Seomunsega Clan had withdrawn the garrison that had been protecting Janggahang’s logistics warehouse.
Without hesitation, Yeom Changseon led the Heuk Ryong Unit under his command straight toward Janggahang.
His sole intention was to seize the logistics warehouse and claim the glory for himself.
If he could take the Janggahang warehouse, all the merit Yeom Taeseong had accumulated until now would pale in comparison.
So Hwang Sadok’s words fell on deaf ears.
Hwang Sadok sighed at Yeom Changseon’s obstinacy.
When Yeom Changseon set his mind to something, no one could dissuade him.
In due course, the Heuk Ryong Unit’s forces arrived at Janggahang.
Ordinarily there would have been a garrison and defenders protecting the port, but now none were visible.
The Heuk Ryong Unit halted a hundred paces from Janggahang, then boarded small transport boats to enter the port.
Hwang Sadok worried whether the Seomunsega Clan might have an ambush in waiting, but fortunately there was none.
The Heuk Ryong Unit advanced toward the logistics warehouse deeper within the port.
The warehouse stood roughly a mile from the docks.
As they neared the warehouse, Seomunsega warriors standing guard came into view.
Their number was about twenty.
The Heuk Ryong Unit, by contrast, numbered well over a hundred.
Yeom Changseon smiled with satisfaction.
“So they truly have withdrawn their full strength. Then there is no further reason to hesitate—let us attack at once.”
“The numbers are few, but there may be masters inside.”
“If there are masters, I shall handle them myself. Attack without worry.”
Yeom Changseon spoke with supreme confidence.
Hwang Sadok had no choice but to give the order to attack.
“Kill them all and seize the logistics warehouse.”
The Heuk Ryong Unit moved at once.
As the Heuk Ryong Unit suddenly burst from the darkness, the warehouse guards were caught completely off guard.
“Enemies!”
“Hold them back!”
But their numbers were far too few to mount a defense.
“Kill them all!”
The Heuk Ryong Unit surged forward with overwhelming force, crashing down upon the warehouse defenders.
Then it happened.
From behind the warehouse, a group of warriors suddenly emerged.
They were warriors of the Namgung Clan.
At the sudden appearance of Namgung warriors, the Heuk Ryong Unit froze in confusion.
“Commander! Namgung Clan warriors!”
Hwang Sadok fixed Yeom Changseon with a hard stare.
“Why are the Namgung warriors appearing now?”
Even Yeom Changseon’s alarm was evident.
Then, from among the Namgung warriors, a single man stepped forward.
He was barely past his twentieth year—and he was none other than Namgung Geom.
“I hardly expected you to walk into the snare so readily.”
“Who are you?”
Yeom Changseon studied the man’s martial aura as he asked.
“I am Namgung Geom.”
“Namgung Geom?”
Yeom Changseon tilted his head, puzzled.
‘I’ve heard that name somewhere before…….’
“The eldest son of the Namgung Clan!!”
The moment Yeom Changseon recognized who Namgung Geom was, his eyes widened in shock.
“And what might your name be?”
“I am Yeom Changseon, Second Young Master of the Sahaebang.”
“I’ve heard of Yeom Taeseong, but this is the first I’ve heard the name Yeom Changseon.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, killing intent flickered across Yeom Changseon’s eyes.
“So you’ve got a death wish.”
Namgung Geom smiled faintly.
“You think you can kill me?”
“I’ll tear that arrogant mouth of yours to shreds.”
Unable to ignore the provocation, Yeom Changseon lunged forward.
But he had his own strategy in mind.
‘If I seize him, I can force the Namgung Clan’s warriors to withdraw.’
Yeom Changseon planned to use Namgung Geom, the Namgung Clan’s eldest son, as a hostage to drive back their martial artists.
He was certain he could subdue Namgung Geom.
The aura he had sensed from Namgung Geom moments earlier was inferior to his own.
Accounting for age, his martial prowess would be even weaker.
As Yeom Changseon closed in on Namgung Geom, he immediately swung his blade.
The sword shadow erupting from his weapon crashed down like a tidal wave upon Namgung Geom.
It was the Haelang Sword Technique, the signature art of the Sahaebang.
Yeom Changseon’s swordplay was respectable.
The only problem was that his opponent was Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom extended his blade toward the incoming sword shadow.
The Freezing Cold Wind erupting from his sword bore into Yeom Changseon’s blade shadow.
Crack-crackle!
Crunch-shatter!
Yeom Changseon’s sword shadow froze solid and shattered in an instant.
“What is this!”
Toward the panicked Yeom Changseon, Namgung Geom’s blade poured forth the Freezing Cold Wind.
Yeom Changseon hastily retreated, throwing up a defensive stance.
Boom!
But that defense crumbled in a single strike.
Thrown backward violently by the impact, Yeom Changseon found Namgung Geom moving like wind in pursuit.
In the next instant, Namgung Geom seized him by the nape of the neck and slammed him into the ground.
Thud!
“Gahhh!”
Yeom Changseon’s face drove into the earth, his nasal bone shattering, teeth broken.
Unable to bear the agony, Yeom Changseon let out a desperate scream.
Hwang Sadok, commander of the Heuk Ryong Unit, stood dumbfounded at what had unfolded in mere seconds.
Yeom Changseon was a Master of Peak Realm.
Yet in just a single breath, he had been overwhelmed by Namgung Geom.
Such a thing would be impossible unless Namgung Geom surpassed Yeom Changseon in both realm and martial prowess.
Which meant Namgung Geom was at minimum a Master of Peak Realm.
It was unthinkable.
Namgung Geom was scarcely past his twenties.
To reach the Peak Realm at such an age.
Hwang Sadok could not believe it.
“Lay down your weapons and surrender. Unless you wish to watch the Second Young Master of the Sahaebang die.”
At that moment, Namgung Geom pressed his blade against Yeom Changseon’s throat and spoke.
Hwang Sadok hesitated for a moment.
Should he surrender to save Yeom Changseon’s life?
But he quickly shook his head.
If he surrendered now, everything would be lost.
Pirates caught and captured at best faced exile and labor in the frontier mines.
There was no guarantee that Namgung Geom would spare Yeom Changseon’s life even if they surrendered.
Then there was only one choice.
“Kill them all and save the Young Master!”
Namgung Geom sighed at Hwang Sadok’s choice.
“If you insist on drinking the penalty, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
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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