Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 47

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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 47
After the council of elders concluded, the Family Head’s Residence made an announcement regarding the Junior Family Head Selection.
The announcement included the news that Namgung Geom would participate in the selection as a candidate.
The martial artists of the Namgung Clan were busy discussing the Junior Family Head Selection whenever they crossed paths.
“At last the Junior Family Head Selection is happening.”
“The lords of the three branches must be dying to see it—they’ve been waiting long enough.”
“But I never expected the crown prince to enter the selection.”
The most surprising aspect of the Junior Family Head Selection announcement was that Namgung Geom had become a candidate.
“He’ll probably be eliminated in the martial contest anyway, so why bother entering at all?”
Many of the Namgung Clan’s martial artists thought precisely that.
Of course, not everyone agreed.
“A crown prince who overcame the Guyang Jeolmaek and reached the True Martial Realm while barely an adult—if anyone can win the Junior Family Head Selection, surely it would be him.”
As word of Namgung Geom’s martial prowess and exploits spread, more and more young warriors began to admire him.
They hoped he would emerge victorious in the Junior Family Head Selection and become the Junior Family Head.
“Still, it must be difficult for the crown prince to defeat the three branch lords, wouldn’t it?”
“No, I think he has more than enough capability.”
The martial artists of the Namgung Clan engaged in heated debate over whether Namgung Geom could truly overcome the three branch lords.
But that was a question without a clear answer from the start.
Only by holding the Junior Family Head Selection a year hence would they know for certain.
Meanwhile, following the announcement of the Junior Family Head Selection, news came of the Changyong Sword Unit’s promotion.
The announcement stated that the Changyong Sword Unit, which Namgung Geom commanded, would be elevated to the Changyong Sword Corps, with personnel drafted from the Sabanng Sword Corps.
The members of the Changyong Sword Unit were stunned by the news.
“We’re being promoted to the Changyong Sword Corps? Is that really true?”
Namgung Chang asked Namgung Geom.
“Yes. We’ll be promoted to the Changyong Sword Corps exactly as announced today.”
Namgung Chang and the three unit sub-commanders looked incredulous.
The Changyong Sword Unit had been founded less than six months ago.
Yet it was being promoted to a full corps—an unprecedented honor.
Namgung Geom saw their bewildered expressions and smiled slightly.
“This is all thanks to your excellent work.”
“You’re the one who did all the work.”
At Namgung Cheol-ung’s words, the other three commanders nodded in agreement.
“The Changyong Sword Unit is one. There’s no need to divide whose contribution is greater. The Changyong Sword Unit’s achievements are all of our achievements.”
“Then why was only you rewarded?”
Namgung Cheol-ung spoke with playful sarcasm.
“Would buying you all a drink make up for it?”
Namgung Geom smiled faintly and asked.
“One round? That’s nowhere near enough. At least four rounds.”
“Why four?”
“Because there are four of us. One round per person, so four rounds.”
At Namgung Cheol-ung’s answer, Namgung Geom’s expression became one of exasperation.
The lighthearted banter passed, and Namgung Cheon-sang steered the conversation back to serious matters.
“How will the corps be structured?”
“The Changyong Sword Corps will consist of four sword units. We’ll recruit the personnel from the Sabanng Sword Corps.”
A sword unit of the Namgung Clan is staffed at fifty members.
Four units meant two hundred warriors.
“What happens to the Changyong Sword Unit then?”
“The Changyong Sword Unit will be divided among the four new units. You four will each become a unit commander.”
“We’re becoming unit commanders?”
The four were taken aback.
Normally, a unit commander must be at least at the Peak Realm.
The four of them were still only First-rate Martial Artists.
Their cultivation was insufficient for such a position.
Nor did they possess extensive experience.
“It’s true that you lack both the strength and experience needed to hold such a position. But I’m entrusting you with these commands because I see potential in you.”
There was an old saying: the position makes the person.
Even if the four were lacking now, he believed that once they held the position of unit commander, they would develop the abilities suited to it.
With their talent and effort, it was entirely possible.
It would have been simple to bring capable masters from the Sabanng Sword Corps and place them as unit commanders.
But doing so would weaken the Sabanng Sword Corps proportionally.
The veteran clansmen who were wary of Namgung Geom’s growing influence would certainly have opposed him fiercely.
The Four Talents might lack strength for now, but they were the ones Namgung Geom could trust most.
Above all, their talent was exceptional enough that even Namgung Geom acknowledged it.
In another ten years—or even five—they would grow into formidable leaders.
The Four Talents understood the meaning behind Namgung Geom’s words perfectly.
“We will do our utmost to repay your faith in us, whether as the Young Master or as the Unit Commander.”
“We won’t disappoint you, Commander. We’ll give it everything.”
The Four Talents spoke with fierce determination written across their faces.
Namgung Geom shook his head, dissatisfied with what he heard.
“Doing your best isn’t enough. In the next five years, you must absolutely become people worthy of leading the Changyong Sword Corps.”
The Four Talents’ faces hardened at those words.
Looking at Namgung Geom’s expression, it seemed those five years ahead would be far from easy.
* * *
The Family Head’s Residence.
Namgung Geom sought out Namgung Pae.
“Welcome.”
“I hope I’m not stealing your time when you must be busy.”
Namgung Pae was deeply occupied with preparations for establishing the Jeongcheon Alliance.
“There’s nothing urgent at the moment, so don’t worry. What brings you here today?”
“I’m thinking of visiting the Sabanng Sword Corps to recruit members for the Changyong Sword Corps.”
Namgung Geom intended to accelerate the recruitment for the Changyong Sword Corps as much as possible.
The sooner he brought people in, the sooner he could begin their training.
“Do you really need to go yourself?”
“I think it would be best to see them with my own eyes and select them personally.”
This was about choosing the subordinates he would nurture and lead.
He didn’t want to entrust that task to anyone else.
“And how are you planning to select the members of the Changyong Sword Corps?”
Namgung Pae asked with evident curiosity.
“I intend to conduct Martial Contests against the existing members of the Changyong Sword Unit to make my selections.”
“There won’t be many martial artists among the Sabanng Sword Corps who can defeat the members of the Changyong Sword Unit, will there?”
The martial artists of the Sabanng Sword Corps were inferior in skill to those of the main family.
Moreover, to maintain the military strength of the Sabanng Sword Corps, he had decided not to recruit anyone at the rank of Unit Sub-commander or above.
He could only select from those below the Unit Sub-commander rank, and among them, few possessed the strength to defeat the members of the Changyong Sword Unit.
The members of the Changyong Sword Unit possessed talent exceptional enough to be selected for the Changyong Pavilion.
And having undergone the systematic training of the Changyong Pavilion and special instruction from Namgung Geom, they displayed remarkable skill for their age.
They were on an entirely different level from ordinary members of the Sabanng Sword Corps.
Namgung Geom was certainly aware of this.
“I plan to observe the process of the contest, not merely its outcome.”
Namgung Geom wasn’t looking at who won or lost in the martial contests.
He meant to assess their talent through the contests themselves.
And if someone showed promise even if their current martial skill was lacking, he would recruit them.
If the talent was solid, martial technique could always be developed.
“Indeed. Talent matters far more than immediate ability.”
The martial artists of the Sabanng Sword Corps did not receive training as systematic as that of the main family’s sword unit.
The level of martial techniques they could learn also fell short compared to the main family’s sword unit.
Even with talent, the conditions made true growth difficult.
Of course, there were some who bloomed despite these constraints.
But such talent rarely emerged easily.
Had someone possessed talent truly exceptional from the start, they would never have remained in the Sabanng Sword Corps.
The main family’s sword unit would have recruited them long ago.
But below that level of outstanding talent, there were many with the potential to grow if properly guided.
What mattered was the eye to recognize such potential.
Namgung Pae was curious whether Namgung Geom truly possessed such discernment.
‘Time will tell.’
Hope outweighed doubt.
“When are you planning to depart for the Sabanng Sword Corps?”
“If you permit it, I plan to set out tomorrow.”
“Go as you see fit.”
“Thank you.”
Having received Namgung Pae’s consent, Namgung Geom immediately began preparations to depart for the Sabanng Sword Corps.
* * *
Deep within Cheonchu Mountain in Anhui Province.
The Hyeolrang Bandit Den, a subsidiary of the Noksup Alliance, had made its lair here.
Cheonchu Mountain was Namgung Clan Territory.
Most bandit strongholds wouldn’t dare set foot in Namgung Clan lands.
Even if they did, they could never know when the Namgung Clan would move to suppress them.
Yet the Hyeolrang Bandit Den had not only coiled itself around Cheonchu Mountain but remained there still.
This alone spoke to the considerable strength of the bandit den.
The den master was Hwang Dae-in, known to be a master of the Peak Realm.
His Blood Wolf Blade Method in particular was a technique even the finest martial artists of the jianghu rarely witnessed.
Hwang Dae-in, in his thirties, drank heartily with his subordinates before making his way to his chambers.
The thought of the woman his men had brought in quickened his pace.
Upon reaching his quarters, Hwang Dae-in entered his room at once.
Inside, his eyes fell upon a woman bound to the bed.
“Hehehehe.”
As he approached the bed, saliva dripping from his lips, a shadow wreathed in black energy came into view.
Hwang Dae-in startled.
A moment later, he prostrated himself before the figure cloaked in that dark aura.
“This humble servant of the Dark Cult, Hwang Dae-in, pays respects to the Heukyun Messenger.”
“Your distasteful habits remain unchanged, I see.”
The figure known as the Heukyun Messenger spoke with unmistakable disdain.
“Forgive me. What brings you here, Heukyun Messenger?”
“I have an order for you.”
“Speak, and I shall obey.”
Hwang Dae-in’s posture conveyed absolute willingness to comply.
“In a few days, Namgung Geom of the Namgung Clan will pass through this region. Kill him.”
“Namgung Geom? Is he not the eldest grandson of the Namgung Clan?”
Hwang Dae-in asked, his surprise unmistakable.
“Does that trouble you?”
The Heukyun Messenger’s voice turned cold.
“Not at all, Heukyun Messenger. I was merely startled by the unexpected task. But I’ve heard that Namgung Geom’s martial skill is extraordinary. I confess I’m uncertain whether I possess the strength to kill him.”
Hwang Dae-in spoke without confidence.
“Tsk. Had you spent your training hours on the blade instead of warming beds, such doubts would never cross your lips. What a waste of the Blood Wolf Blade Method I bestowed upon you.”
The Heukyun Messenger’s tongue clicked with disapproval, and Hwang Dae-in lowered his head.
“I am deeply sorry.”
The Heukyun Messenger shook his head and continued.
“Never mind. You need only lead the Hyeolrang Bandit Den in an ambush against Namgung Geom and his party. I have already arranged for one capable of striking the killing blow.”
“Understood.”
Hwang Dae-in bowed respectfully.
When he raised his head again, the Heukyun Messenger had already vanished.
Namgung Bing-ryong
Author |
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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