Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 61

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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 61
Namgung Geom emerged from the interrogation chamber with Namgung Jinseong, stepping out into the night air.
Exhaustion clung to his face in the moonlight like a second skin.
The midnight assault and the combat that followed had already drained him, and the interrogation of Namgung Cho had consumed what little remained of his mental reserves.
Worse still, he’d gained no answers worth the cost—and this hollowed out his fatigue into something deeper.
Namgung Cho had maintained his story without wavering: Namgung Byuk had ordered the assassination.
Even when Namgung Geom had employed the Bing-gong to apply pressure, the man’s account never shifted.
“Are you unwell? Your color is poor.”
Namgung Jinseong studied his face, concern shadowing his eyes.
Namgung Geom forced a smile.
“Merely tired. Don’t worry.”
“Do you suspect the Samma Sect, then?”
Watching the interrogation unfold, Namgung Jinseong had sensed that Namgung Geom was convinced Namgung Cho was a spy for the Samma Sect.
“While traveling to the Western Sword Unit, I was ambushed by the Hyeolrang Chae on Cheonju Mountain.”
“The Hyeolrang Chae attacked you?”
Namgung Jinseong started—he hadn’t heard of this incident before.
Namgung Geom nodded and continued.
“During my interrogation of the Hyeolrang Chae Master, the name ‘Sect’ escaped his lips.”
“Sect?”
“In the martial world, there is only one place known by that name—the Samma Sect.”
Namgung Jinseong’s expression hardened.
“You mean the Hyeolrang Chae Master is a spy planted by the Samma Sect?”
“That’s my working theory. But the Hyeolrang Chae Master died from the Seven Palace Severing Blood shortly after mentioning the Sect, so I couldn’t extract further details.”
“But surely that’s insufficient grounds to suspect the Qingyang Branch Head of being a Sect spy, is it not?”
Namgung Jinseong raised the objection carefully.
The Hyeolrang Chae Master and Namgung Cho had no apparent connection.
One could not simply assume that because the Hyeolrang Chae Master served the Sect, Namgung Cho did as well.
“Tell me—from an objective standpoint, does the Qingyang Branch Head have reason to want me dead?”
“Perhaps he received orders from the Thunder Platform Master, as he claimed.”
Namgung Geom shook his head.
“Would the Thunder Platform Master entrust his fate to the Qingyang Branch Head?”
If the plot failed, everything would be lost.
Even if the attempt succeeded, suspicion would be unavoidable.
Would Namgung Byuk really gamble so recklessly with another man’s hands?
It made no sense.
Namgung Byuk would have acted directly, or sent someone far stronger than Namgung Cho.
Namgung Jinseong saw the logic in what was said.
“Yet surely, now that the Qingyang Branch Head has mentioned the Thunder Platform Master, the matter must be reported to the main house?”
Logic or not, nothing was proven.
The possibility that Namgung Byuk had orchestrated this could not be ruled out.
Therefore, the main house needed to be informed so they could investigate thoroughly.
Namgung Geom shook his head.
“Given the gravity of the matter, it’s best we hold our report for now. Namgung Cho’s testimony alone is too thin a reed to lean on.”
The stakes demanded caution.
To relay Namgung Cho’s claims without corroboration would only stir unnecessary turmoil.
Naturally, if he’d believed Namgung Byuk was likely behind this, he would have reported it immediately.
But since that seemed highly improbable, he chose to watch and wait rather than rush word to the house.
Yet Namgung Jinseong could not accept this reasoning.
“Surely a matter this serious demands immediate report precisely because it is serious?”
“If the Thunder Platform Master is innocent, and I report him as guilty, he will believe I fabricated the charge to gain advantage in the Small Family Head Competition. That could trigger family conflict.”
From Namgung Byuk’s perspective, it would be easy to misinterpret Namgung Geom’s report as a scheme to eliminate his rival for the succession.
Nursing that suspicion, Namgung Byuk would seek revenge.
Such a misstep could spiral into tragedy—blood against blood.
This too, Namgung Cho had likely intended: to frame Namgung Byuk and ignite internal strife.
And that was precisely what the Sect desired.
“I understand your concern for my safety, but reporting this to the main house would still be the prudent course.”
Namgung Geom was certain the Samma Sect bore responsibility, though he could not prove it yet.
The Thunder Platform Master might have acted alone.
If Namgung Byuk was guilty, this could not be overlooked.
Evidence would have to be found, and justice properly served.
Or else he would try to kill Namgung Geom again.
“I understand what you’re saying, Sword Unit Master.”
Namgung Geom nodded as if he comprehended.
Namgung Jinseong said nothing more.
If he’d said this much, Namgung Geom would handle the rest himself.
* * *
The next day.
Namgung Geom sent a letter to the main house, informing them that Namgung Cho, the Qingyang Branch Master, had attempted to kill him, and requested an investigation at the main house level.
The main house replied immediately, saying they would dispatch an investigation unit from Eun Ryong Gak.
But even if the main house came to the Qingyang Branch right away, it would take at least four days.
There was no guarantee that Namgung Cho would still be alive by then.
Namgung Cho had forcibly drawn upon his Innate Qi, the very source of life itself.
As a result, his physical vitality had suffered severe damage.
And the interrogation by Namgung Geom had drained it further.
In his current state, he would be fortunate to last more than a few days.
If Namgung Cho died before the Eun Ryong Gak investigation unit arrived, it would be difficult to uncover who stood behind him.
Even if he survived, Namgung Cho didn’t seem likely to reveal the truth.
Still, through testimony, it could be made clear that Namgung Cho had indeed tried to kill Namgung Geom.
At the very least, the fact that a branch master of Qingyang had attempted treason was beyond dispute—though the identity of his backer remained open to debate.
Namgung Geom found himself troubled over how to handle Namgung Cho’s confession that the Heavenly Thunder Sword Master was behind this.
If he reported it as is, conflict with Namgung Byuk seemed inevitable.
But if he simply buried it, Namgung Jinseong had already heard the confession with his own ears.
And he couldn’t completely rule out the possibility that Namgung Byuk himself was the mastermind.
Though he was confident Namgung Cho’s backer was the sect, the truth remained unknown to anyone.
After deliberating, Namgung Geom decided to inform Namgung Chang of the facts first.
Whether others needed to know or not, Namgung Chang—being Namgung Byuk’s son—seemed like he should be aware.
“What is it?”
Namgung Chang, summoned by Namgung Geom, asked why he’d been called.
“I thought you should know the results of yesterday’s interrogation of the Qingyang Branch Master.”
“Me?”
Namgung Chang asked, puzzled.
He was curious about the interrogation results, but this didn’t seem like the sort of thing worth summoning him privately to discuss.
“During the interrogation, your father’s name came up.”
Namgung Chang’s expression hardened.
“My father? Surely he wasn’t involved in this?”
“According to the Qingyang Branch Master, it was your father who ordered him to kill me.”
“That’s absurd! You don’t actually believe that, do you?”
As Namgung Chang spoke in agitation, Namgung Geom raised a hand to calm him.
“Don’t worry. I know your father isn’t the sort of person who would do such a thing.”
“Then do you have any idea who actually ordered the Qingyang Branch Master?”
The branch master couldn’t have acted alone in something like this.
To clear his father’s name, he needed to find the real backer.
“I suspect it might be the same people who ordered the Hyeolrang Chae Master last time.”
“That sect you mentioned before?”
“Yes. I tried to find out through the Qingyang Branch Master, but he kept insisting it was your father’s orders, right to the end.”
Namgung Chang sighed and replied.
“If the Qingyang Branch Master keeps clinging to your father’s involvement, an investigation becomes unavoidable.”
Namgung Geom nodded.
“The investigation can’t be avoided, but if no other evidence emerges, the suspicion against your father will be cleared. Still, I’m worried he might misunderstand because of this incident.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll explain the situation to him properly.”
“I appreciate it.”
If Namgung Chang conveyed things well, Namgung Byuk wouldn’t harbor further misunderstandings.
“I’m more grateful than you. You could have used this to attack my father, but you trusted him instead.”
“Then let’s call it even.”
Namgung Geom shrugged as he spoke.
Namgung Chang let out a soft laugh.
“But what would you do if I had to fight your father?”
Namgung Geom suddenly felt curious and asked.
“I don’t know. It would depend on the reason.”
“Are you saying you might take my side in some circumstances?”
Namgung Chang fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
“To be honest, it’s difficult to say for certain.”
“If you stand with your uncle, I won’t blame you for it. But don’t stab me in the back.”
How could he fault his own son for taking his father’s side?
But if Namgung Chang betrayed his trust, that would be something he could not bear.
“Whatever else may come, I won’t resort to cowardice with you. Don’t worry about that.”
“Then that’s enough.”
After his conversation with Namgung Chang, Namgung Geom attended the martial selection combat for the Changyong Sword Unit.
He could not neglect the purpose of his journey here, separate though it was from the Qingyang Branch matter.
Meanwhile, the martial artists of the Southern Sword Unit who participated in the selection combat knew nothing of the Qingyang Branch affair.
Namgung Geom had enforced strict silence to avoid disrupting the atmosphere of the selection trials.
Beyond that, there was no good in letting such matters leak outside.
As a result, the martial artists of the Southern Sword Unit could focus entirely on the selection combat.
The selection combat proceeded much as it had with the Western Sword Unit.
The martial artists of the Southern Sword Unit faced off against the existing members of the Changyong Sword Unit.
As expected, the Southern Sword Unit’s martial artists were no match for the Changyong Sword Unit’s members.
Yet losing in combat did not mean automatic elimination.
Namgung Geom selected those who showed talent, regardless of their performance in the trials.
Once the members of the Southern Sword Unit realized that even those who lost in combat could be selected if they had talent, hope took root.
And they poured every ounce of their strength into demonstrating their abilities.
But few caught Namgung Geom’s eye.
Out of every ten who competed, perhaps one would be selected.
Those who passed the selection cheered as though they had gained the world, while those eliminated shed tears of regret.
Namgung Geom found himself moved by pity for the martial artists who wept in disappointment at rejection.
Yet the world of martial arts is unforgiving.
Those without talent could not enter the Changyong Sword Unit.
Namgung Geom examined their abilities with the utmost severity and made his decisions accordingly.
Meanwhile, Namgung Jinseong, the commander of the Southern Sword Unit, asked for the reason behind each selection that Namgung Geom granted.
Namgung Geom explained what particular talent he had observed in those he selected.
Each time Namgung Jinseong heard these explanations, he was struck with admiration.
There were many aspects he had never considered, which Namgung Geom perceived at a glance.
And he was moved to reflect upon himself.
Namgung Jinseong came to realize how greatly he had neglected the Southern Sword Unit all this time.
Among the ordinary members of the Southern Sword Unit, there were not a few possessed of genuine talent.
They were uncut gems, waiting to be refined.
Yet he had never even thought to seek them out, let alone polish them into brilliance.
As commander of the Southern Sword Unit, he had failed to truly know his own martial artists.
From this moment forward, Namgung Jinseong resolved that he would seek out talented members and nurture them.
The selection trials for the Changyong Sword Unit took place over four days.
As a result, forty-five members were selected for the Changyong Sword Unit.
And on the day the selection trials ended, an investigation team from Eun Ryong Gak arrived at the Qingyang Branch.
Namgung Byeol-ryong
Author |
Baek Wol-geom
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(주) Samyang C&C
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(주) Samyang C&C – Dream Books. All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without written permission from Dream Books.

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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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