Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 41

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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 41
Heuk Isal’s expression hardened at Namgung Geom’s words.
“You wretch! Were you actually waiting for my attack?”
Namgung Geom shrugged and replied.
“You were taking so long, so I deliberately showed you an opening.”
“You deliberately showed me an opening?”
Heuk Isal recalled how Namgung Geom’s body had staggered right after he unleashed the Heavenly Wind Dragon Fist.
“That’s right. I swayed on purpose to draw you out.”
Namgung Geom had anticipated that Heuk Samsal would be hiding.
But he couldn’t pinpoint his exact location.
So he’d deliberately revealed a weakness.
To provoke him into attacking.
Heuk Isal had fallen right into the trap.
“Cunning little fox, aren’t you?”
Heuk Isal ground his teeth and signaled the remaining Black Shadow Guard to attack.
The Black Shadow Guard surged forward without hesitation.
They knew well they were no match for Namgung Geom.
Yet they showed no doubt.
It was the result of the Black Assassin Sect’s brainwashing.
Namgung Geom narrowed his brows as the Black Shadow Guard rushed toward him like moths to flame.
“Troublesome.”
He sent the Freezing Cold Sword Wind toward them.
The Black Shadow Guard caught in that wind spray fell, blood scattering from their bodies.
They did not stop; they kept charging.
But they never even reached close to Namgung Geom before being torn and frozen by the Freezing Cold Sword Wind, collapsing one after another.
Even while fighting the Black Shadow Guard, Namgung Geom did not lose track of Heuk Isal’s movements.
Heuk Isal was watching for any opening to strike.
Yet despite the sacrifice of his men, Namgung Geom gave him none.
Heuk Isal’s brow furrowed.
Namgung Geom’s skill was staggering.
It was unbelievable that someone so young could display such martial prowess.
If all the Black Shadow Guard fell and he stood alone, his chances of victory were nearly nonexistent.
Right now, while they still fought, was his only opportunity.
He had to stake everything on this single attack.
Heuk Isal unfolded the Black Shadow Illusion Technique.
His form split into two phantoms as he flew toward Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom found it difficult to distinguish between Heuk Isal’s true body and the illusions.
Moreover, as the true body and phantoms swapped positions in an instant, he couldn’t tell which was real.
Under normal circumstances, he might have been caught off guard.
But Namgung Geom had faced Heuk Samsal’s Black Shadow Illusion Technique before.
Though Heuk Isal’s mastery exceeded his brother’s, the underlying principle was the same.
Namgung Geom had a countermeasure.
Ideally, he would distinguish the true body from the illusions.
‘But if that’s too difficult, I’ll just obliterate them all at once.’
It was a crude approach, but also the most certain.
The key was to eliminate both the true body and the illusions simultaneously, despite their different positions.
Namgung Geom possessed a technique capable of facing enemies from all directions at once.
The Heavenly Wind Dragon Fist.
The very same technique he had used against the Black Shadow Guard.
Without delay, Namgung Geom unleashed the Heavenly Wind Dragon Fist.
His body spun as a spiraling sword wind infused with Freezing Cold Aura erupted violently upward.
Crack-snap!
The spiraling sword wind cascaded in succession, birthing a vortex of freezing cold.
The icy whirlwind enveloped all directions, releasing a torrent of bitter cold.
“Ugh!”
Heuk Isal was blocked by the numbing chill the vortex unleashed and could not draw near.
The phantom created by the Black Shadow Illusion Technique was engulfed in that cold and simply scattered.
Heuk Isal’s proudly deployed Black Shadow Illusion Technique shattered in an instant, helplessly undone.
Panicked, Heuk Isal tried to retreat hastily.
But Namgung Geom’s attack came faster.
The whirlwind of freezing cold that had enveloped his entire body swelled in size as it bore down on Heuk Isal.
Heuk Isal clenched his teeth and swung his blade.
The sword aura that poured from his weapon blocked the path of the freezing whirlwind.
Crack-crack!
Boom-crash!
The moment his sword aura collided with the freezing whirlwind, it froze and shattered.
The freezing whirlwind, having destroyed his sword aura, continued its relentless pursuit of Heuk Isal.
Heuk Isal unleashed his sword aura again and again to block the freezing whirlwind, but the result never changed.
His sword aura froze and broke against the whirlwind, and the freezing vortex pressed on, engulfing him completely.
Boom-crash!
Heuk Isal quickly retreated while squeezing out every last ounce of strength to throw up a Sword Barrier around himself.
Sword aura formed a barrier that surrounded his entire body.
In that instant, the freezing whirlwind bore down ferociously upon the barrier.
Crack-crack!
Boom-crash!
The freezing whirlwind struck the Sword Barrier head-on.
The barrier began to freeze from the outside and shattered into fragments.
“Cough!”
The impact sent Heuk Isal crashing down, blood spraying from his mouth.
‘I should have just run.’
Even as his consciousness dimmed, Heuk Isal felt the sting of regret—but it was too late.
After subduing the fallen Heuk Isal, Namgung Geom turned toward the remaining Black Shadow Guard members.
Fewer than ten of them were still standing.
None dared to throw themselves at Namgung Geom.
With Heuk Isal now fallen, they had only one option left.
Flee.
Without hesitation, they scattered in all directions and bolted.
Namgung Geom made no move to chase them.
The excessive use of the Heavenly Wind Dragon Fist to subdue Heuk Isal had taken its toll on his body.
Besides, letting fewer than ten people escape would make no real difference.
What concerned him more was the situation of Sa Inbang, who had fled with Heuk Samsal.
The number of Black Shadow Guard members pursuing them had been considerable.
If the Seol Family Sect warriors didn’t arrive in time, they could be in serious danger.
Once the fighting had stabilized, Namgung Geom immediately launched himself in the direction Sa Inbang had fled.
But the moment he began to deploy the Heavenly Wind Divine Method, Sa Inbang appeared from the opposite direction with the Seol Family Sect warriors.
Namgung Geom halted his technique and took in the sight of Sa Inbang.
Sa Inbang and his companions were unharmed, without a scratch among them.
Namgung Geom exhaled in relief and glanced behind Sa Inbang’s group.
Seol Uncheon, the master of the Seol Family Sect, was approaching with some thirty warriors from his sect.
Seeing that Seol Uncheon had moved personally, Namgung Geom’s expression grew satisfied.
“Is everyone unharmed?”
“We nearly didn’t make it, but thanks to the Seol Family Sect warriors arriving in time, we managed to get through safely.”
Namgung Chang spoke with formal politeness, unlike his usual manner.
He had switched to respectful speech out of deference to Seol Uncheon.
Namgung Geom nodded and offered his thanks to Seol Uncheon.
“Attacking the Black Assassin Sect wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I’m grateful you answered my request.”
“I’m pleased it proved helpful to you, young master of the Namgung Family.”
“I won’t forget what you’ve done for us today.”
“Remember this—I moved solely for your sake.”
Seol Uncheon spoke with meaningful weight to his words.
“Of course. I shall repay the trust you’ve shown with trust of my own.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Seol Uncheon’s expression brightened with satisfaction.
“Then we shall take our leave now.”
Seol Uncheon departed immediately with his sect warriors.
With the Black Shadow Guard dealt with, there was no reason for them to linger.
The Seol Family Sect’s involvement in tonight’s events had to remain entirely secret.
If it became known that they had helped Namgung Geom’s group attack the Black Shadow Guard, they could become targets of the Black Assassin Sect.
To prevent that, it was best they returned as quickly as possible.
Namgung Geom did not try to detain Seol Uncheon and let him go as planned.
“Is Namgung Geom all right?”
Namgung Cheolwoong examined Namgung Geom’s condition and asked a question.
“As you can see, I’m fine. No need to worry.”
“So you brought down all of them alone?”
Namgung Chang looked at the Black Shadow Guard scattered about the chamber and asked.
“Then who else would it have been?”
“Was one of the Three Black Assassins among them?”
“That one lying subdued over there—he’s one of the Three Black Assassins.”
Namgung Geom pointed to Heuk Isal, pinned down and sprawled on the ground.
“You faced sixty men alone and defeated one of the Three Black Assassins? Just how formidable is your Martial Art, Master Geom?”
Namgung Seol stared at him in astonishment.
The others felt no differently.
“Compared to the true masters of the Martial World, I’m still far from their level.”
“Those true masters would have been far weaker than you at your age.”
Namgung Cheolwoong spoke as if to contradict that assessment.
“Such suppositions hold no meaning in the Martial World. They won’t adjust their skills to match my age.”
“You know what I mean. Why do you always take things so seriously?”
Namgung Cheolwoong spoke playfully, and Namgung Geom’s expression grew awkward.
“Still, the fact that the Black Assassin Sect attacked us—that’s not something we can simply overlook.”
Namgung Chang spoke with clear displeasure.
An attack on Namgung Geom and his party was tantamount to an attack on the Namgung Family itself.
If they remained passive after being attacked, other factions would begin to view the Namgung Family as an easy target.
“We need to make it crystal clear what happens when someone dares to touch the Namgung Family.”
Namgung Cheolwoong nodded in agreement.
Since the Black Assassin Sect had struck at the Namgung Family, they had ample justification to retaliate.
“But won’t it be difficult to attack the Black Assassin Sect directly, given that the Four Patron Consortium stands behind them?”
Namgung Cheongsang raised a pragmatic concern.
Even if this incident gave them grounds to strike at the Black Assassin Sect, the Four Patron Consortium would not stand idly by and watch their ally crumble.
An attack on the Black Assassin Sect would prompt the Four Patron Consortium to mobilize, and if mishandled, it could escalate into a full Righteous War.
“In any case, that’s a decision for the higher-ups to make. We simply do our part.”
Namgung Geom spoke as if the matter were of no consequence.
Sa Inbang nodded and took charge of Heuk Isal, who lay subdued on the ground.
He then surveyed the Black Shadow Guard—and found none alive.
Some had been killed by Namgung Geom’s attacks, but far more had taken their own lives.
The Black Assassin Sect had thoroughly brainwashed its members to commit suicide rather than be captured by enemies, to prevent information from leaking out.
The Black Shadow Guard had followed their training and ended their own lives accordingly.
“Ruthless lot, aren’t they.”
Namgung Geom’s party shook their heads at the Black Assassin Sect’s brutality.
After tidying the chamber, they set out once more.
Five days later.
Namgung Geom’s party arrived safely at the Namgung Family Estate.
Namgung Geom bathed at his quarters, changed into fresh clothes, and made his way to the Family Head’s Chamber.
In the Family Head’s Chamber sat Namgung Pae, the patriarch of the Namgung Family, and Samjeonju, his uncle.
“Master Geom of the Dragon-Soaring Sword—I have safely completed my mission and returned.”
Namgung Geom bowed respectfully to Namgung Pae.
Namgung Pae sensed that Namgung Geom’s Aura had changed.
Namgung Pae’s eyes widened as he scrutinized Namgung Geom’s Aura.
“You’ve broken through to the True Martial Realm?”
Namgung Pae asked in disbelief.
At his words, Samjeonju too started in surprise and examined Namgung Geom’s Aura.
When they confirmed Namgung Geom’s Aura, astonishment crossed their faces.
Namgung Geom’s Aura was unmistakably that of the True Martial Realm.
The True Martial Realm at such a young age.
Everyone in the Family Head’s Chamber stared at Namgung Geom in disbelief.
Namgung Geom smiled at them and spoke.
“I was able to achieve this breakthrough not long ago.”
Namgung Bing-ryong
Author |
Baek Wol-geom
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(Co.) Samyang C&C
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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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