Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 31

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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 31
Namgung Geom lit the Blue Fuse.
Whistle!
Bang!
The Signal Flare rocketed high into the sky and burst, casting a blue luminescence across the heavens.
It was a Signal Flare that the Sihae Faction had commissioned a master craftsman to create specially.
The light suspended in the sky would persist for half a day and could be seen from hundreds of miles away, or so they said.
Hwang Sa Dok, upon hearing Namgung Geom’s unconditional promise to spare him, reversed his position at once.
Namgung Geom, having heard those words, fired the Signal Flare with the Blue Fuse.
“Is that really a rescue signal?”
Namgung Chang spoke, watching the blue luminescence hanging in the sky.
“We’ll know soon enough.”
“And if it’s not a rescue signal?”
“We’ll figure that out when the time comes.”
First, they needed to see how the Sihae Faction responded before any strategy could be devised.
“For now, we move toward Chongming Island.”
Chongming Island lay at the mouth of the Changjiang River, and the Sihae Faction was said to use the island’s terrain to conceal their strength and launch ambush attacks.
This intelligence too had come from Hwang Sa Dok.
The Black Dragon Fleet’s warship set course directly for Chongming Island.
The sailors operating the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship were from the Sihae Faction.
They were seasoned mariners, inured to the violence of rough seas, and while they could not fight, their skill at handling a vessel was unmatched.
Namgung Geom had won them over by promising to admit them into the Namgung Clan’s Changjiang Fleet Unit.
The Sihae Faction’s sailors had no choice.
If they refused Namgung Geom’s proposal, their only alternatives were death or forced labor.
Joining the Namgung Clan was far preferable to either.
In truth, they had never enjoyed their lives as pirates of the Sihae Faction.
Becoming a member of the Namgung Clan would be a complete reversal of their fortunes.
Thus, the Sihae Faction sailors who fell in with Namgung Geom’s overture manned the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship.
And behind the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship, the Changjiang Fleet Unit’s warship followed in pursuit.
To an uninformed observer, it appeared the Changjiang Fleet Unit was chasing the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship.
The Black Dragon Fleet’s warship maintained a fixed distance from the Changjiang Fleet Unit as it headed toward Chongming Island.
After half a day’s journey, several warships appeared from the direction of Chongming Island.
“They appear to be warships of the White Dragon Fleet.”
Namgung Ji Hwan spoke, having spotted the White Dragon banner on the vessels’ masts.
“All personnel, prepare for combat.”
At Namgung Geom’s command, the members of the Samgeom Unit took up battle positions.
The members of the Changryong Sword Unit also gathered beside Namgung Geom.
The Black Dragon Fleet’s warship charged directly toward the White Dragon Fleet’s vessels.
The White Dragon Fleet’s warships were equipped with Ship-Mounted Ballistas.
Normally, crossbow bolts would have rained down before the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship could draw near.
But the White Dragon Fleet, believing the approaching warship to be their own, did not attack.
As the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship drew closer and the figures aboard became visible, they realized something was wrong.
“Hold!”
Gok Dae Hyeon, the commander of the White Dragon Fleet, shouted.
But the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship did not slow and continued advancing toward the White Dragon Fleet’s vessels.
“Fire! Open fire!”
Fleet Commander Gok Dae Hyeon urgently issued the attack order.
The distance was too close to use the Ship-Mounted Ballistas effectively.
But the White Dragon Fleet’s pirates had Anti-Personnel Crossbows at their disposal.
The White Dragon Fleet’s pirates fired their crossbows.
Whistle-whistle-whistle!
The bolts streaked through the air with a sharp keening sound, descending upon the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship.
“Block them!”
The warriors of the Namgung Clan aboard the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship raised shields to deflect the crossbow bolts.
These were shields stored aboard the Black Dragon Fleet’s warship.
Crude shields made from cut wooden planks, but sturdy enough to stop crossbow bolts.
Thud-thud-thud!
The bolts embedded themselves in the wooden shields.
But they did not pierce through.
“Focus on defense until the Changjiang Fleet Unit arrives!”
Namgung Ji Hwan shouted toward the members of the Samgeom Unit.
The Black Dragon Fleet’s vanguard alone possessed the strength to crush the White Dragon Fleet’s pirates.
But fighting alongside the Changjiang Fleet Unit would make victory far easier.
And their losses would be considerably reduced.
“Attack the Changjiang Fleet Unit!”
Gok Dae Hyeon caught sight of the Changjiang Fleet Unit’s vanguard approaching rapidly behind the Black Dragon Fleet’s lines and cried out urgently.
The White Dragon Fleet’s pirates immediately loaded bolts into the Ship-Mounted Ballistas and adjusted their aim.
“Fire!”
A volley of bolts from the massive crossbows streaked toward the Changjiang Fleet Unit’s vanguard.
Whoosh!
But the aim was off, and the bolts fell short of the Changjiang Fleet Unit’s vanguard.
The White Dragon Fleet’s pirates nocked fresh bolts and prepared to fire again.
The first shot had missed, but the second stood a good chance of finding its mark.
If those massive bolts struck home, the Changjiang Fleet Unit would suffer grievous losses.
In the worst case, their vessel could sink.
Namgung Geom instantly snatched up an arrow lodged in the deck.
Then he hurled it toward the pirates operating the massive crossbow.
Though thrown bare-handed, the arrow was driven by his Internal Energy and flew with terrifying speed.
Crack!
The pirates manning the crossbow were struck by Namgung Geom’s arrow and toppled.
The others tried to fire the massive crossbow, but they too fell to the arrows Namgung Geom sent their way.
“Just who is that man?”
The White Dragon Fleet Master’s expression twisted in rage.
From a distance of more than ten zhang, he threw an arrow by hand as though it had been fired from a crossbow.
Such a technique required at least the Peak Realm of cultivation.
What was most shocking was Namgung Geom’s age.
The distance made it hard to see his face clearly, but he appeared to be barely past his early adulthood.
Meanwhile, the Changjiang Fleet Unit’s vanguard drew within fifty zhang.
He had to stop the Changjiang Fleet Unit’s advance somehow.
“First squad fires the Ship-Mounted Ballistas, and third squad blocks the incoming arrows!”
Gok Dae Hyeon issued commands to two squads of the White Dragon Fleet.
The two squads sprang into action at once.
But before they could even reach the crossbows, they fell to the arrows Namgung Geom unleashed.
They tried to block the arrows with shields, but the flimsy Wooden Shields could not withstand the projectiles of Internal Energy-infused power.
Crash!
The Wooden Shields shattered, and the arrows pierced the pirates’ bodies.
Gok Dae Hyeon’s expression grew darker still.
With Namgung Geom present, firing the massive crossbows was impossible.
Nor could he close to close combat with the other vessel.
The Sihae Faction excelled at Naval Warfare but was weak in Close Combat.
Moreover, their opponents were warriors of the Namgung Clan.
The White Dragon Fleet was no match for them.
The only remaining option was to flee, but that too seemed difficult.
To flee, he would need to turn the vanguard around, and that would take time.
Yet it was not entirely without possibility.
He would use the rest of the White Dragon Fleet’s vessels to hold back the Black Dragon Fleet’s vanguard while turning the flagship around and making his escape.
This meant sacrificing his subordinates, but Gok Dae Hyeon did not hesitate.
He had to save himself first.
“Left flank and right flank, close the distance and engage in Close Combat at once!”
At Gok Dae Hyeon’s command, two vessels rushed toward the Black Dragon Fleet’s vanguard.
The two vessels that had closed alongside the Black Dragon Fleet lashed the vessels together with gangplanks and hurled themselves onto the Black Dragon Fleet’s deck.
Close Combat erupted between the warriors of the Namgung Clan and the White Dragon Fleet’s pirates.
At that moment, the flagship carrying Gok Dae Hyeon was turning its hull about.
Namgung Geom saw through his intention at once.
“That won’t happen.”
Namgung Geom hurled himself toward the flagship Gok Dae Hyeon commanded.
His form unfolded the Heavenly Wind Divine Method, soaring through the air and descending upon the White Dragon Fleet’s flagship.
“Stop him!”
The flagship’s pirates rushed toward Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom charged forward to meet them, his sword extended.
The Sword Wind that erupted from his blade scattered in all directions, engulfing the pirates.
Unable to react properly to the speed and trajectory of the Sword Wind, the pirates fell, spraying blood.
In that moment, a Red Signal Flare shot up into the empty sky.
Boom!
As the signal flare burst, a red light rose into the heavens.
The moment Namgung Geom crossed over to the flagship, Gok Dae Hyeon had fired a retreat flare.
Namgung Geom’s brow furrowed.
He had planned to crush the White Dragon Fleet and then immediately launch a surprise assault on the Sihae Faction’s main force, but the retreat flare had thrown his strategy into disarray.
Namgung Geom hurled himself toward Gok Dae Hyeon, who had ruined his plan.
But the pirates on the flagship fought desperately to block him.
“Leave the small fry to us!”
It was Namgung Chang, who had followed Namgung Geom onto the flagship, who shouted this.
Three unit commanders stood beside him.
“Watch yourselves!”
Namgung Geom left them to handle the smaller threats and threw himself toward Gok Dae Hyeon.
The pirates attempted to block Namgung Geom, but Namgung Chang and the other three began their assault.
Though inferior compared to Namgung Geom, the four of them were skilled enough to surpass the pirates.
Occupied with defending against their attacks, the pirates had no attention to spare for Namgung Geom.
A few pirates blocked his path, but one sweep of Namgung Geom’s blade made short work of them.
And then Namgung Geom stood before Gok Dae Hyeon.
“Sacrificing your men to save your own skin—truly the mark of a Sihae Faction pirate.”
“And interfering in the affairs of others is acceptable to you?”
Gok Dae Hyeon mocked the Namgung Clan for meddling in the quarrel between the Sihae Faction and the Seomun Clan.
“The main branch and the Seomun Clan are ancient allies, so aiding the Seomun Clan is not meddling but the keeping of faith.”
“You speak fairly, but you move for the Namgung Clan’s own profit.”
Gok Dae Hyeon sneered with a cold laugh.
He was deliberately trying to provoke Namgung Geom.
It was a ploy to create any opening he could find.
But it had no effect on Namgung Geom whatsoever.
“Does the Sihae Faction not know that Lee Gong-ja is already in my hands?”
“What did you say?”
Gok Dae Hyeon was taken aback.
“I also captured the Black Dragon Fleet commander, but I’ve agreed to spare him in exchange for information he’s provided.”
“That dog, daring to—!”
Gok Dae Hyeon ground his teeth toward Hwang Sa Dok.
“If you reveal information about the Sihae Faction, I’m prepared to spare you as well.”
“Not a chance!”
Gok Dae Hyeon charged at Namgung Geom.
His saber carved a fierce torrent of wind as it drove at Namgung Geom.
His Saber Technique surpassed Hwang Sa Dok’s.
But it was not enough to threaten Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom did not evade Gok Dae Hyeon’s saber; instead, he extended his blade to meet it head-on.
The Frigid Sword Wind erupting from his blade pierced through the torrent of wind unleashed by Gok Dae Hyeon’s saber.
Crack!
Shatter!
The whirlwind of the saber froze in an instant, then shattered.
The impact sent Gok Dae Hyeon’s saber flying back.
And Namgung Geom’s blade drove straight into Gok Dae Hyeon’s now-unguarded chest.
Piercing!
Gok Dae Hyeon fell, blood pouring from his right chest as it caved inward.
But at that very moment—
Namgung Geom’s senses screamed a warning.
He yanked his blade free from Gok Dae Hyeon’s chest and frantically swept it to the side.
Bang!
The heavy impact sent Namgung Geom’s body sliding backward.
Namgung Geom looked to see who had attacked him.
But his attacker was nowhere to be seen.
‘The Invisibility Technique!’
Namgung Geom realized that his attacker had concealed themselves using the Invisibility Technique.
Had they not appeared suddenly before as well?
The Invisibility Technique was primarily a skill studied by assassins.
To deceive the eyes of Namgung Geom, a master at the Peak Realm, required more than ordinary concealment.
At that moment, a sharp force burrowed into Namgung Geom from behind.
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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