Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 67

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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 67
Namgung Geom grasped Hwang Jin-ung’s intent the moment he strapped on the oil barrel and set flame to the fire torch.
But once he’d committed his body to motion, he couldn’t suddenly change course.
A thin line shot from Hwang Jin-ung’s harpoon.
Boom!
The oil barrel shattered directly in front of Namgung Geom, spraying its contents in all directions.
Hwang Jin-ung followed, rushing forward with the flaming torch.
Whoosh!
The torch’s flame caught the oil and detonated in a burst of fire.
Blaze!
A wall of flame engulfed Namgung Geom.
He swung the Ice Dragon Sword with desperate speed.
Crack!
The Freezing Cold Sword Wind erupted from the blade in a vortex, colliding with the descending inferno.
The flames caught in the icy wind shattered and froze, scattering in all directions.
In that instant, Namgung Geom plunged into the river.
Blaze!
The fire came crashing down where he’d stood, consuming the water’s surface.
Namgung Geom dove deep, avoiding the flames, then swam sideways to break the surface.
And there he spotted Hwang Jin-ung.
Hwang Jin-ung floated on the water, consumed by fire.
Had he deployed the Freezing Cold Sword Wind even a moment later, he would have been engulfed in the oil’s inferno himself.
The thought made his blood run cold.
Yet at the same time, Hwang Jin-ung’s ruthlessness sent a chill down his spine.
“To attempt Mutual Destruction while accepting his own death…”
It was something an ordinary heart could never bring itself to attempt.
Which meant his loyalty to the cult was absolute, even blind.
Of course, there was no physical evidence that Hwang Jin-ung was the cult’s spy.
It remained only circumstantial.
But Namgung Geom was certain.
No one but a cult agent would burn his own body to ash while trying to kill him.
The problem was that his plan to use Hwang Jin-ung as a trail leading to the cult’s true identity had now come to nothing.
It was a bitter disappointment, but there was nothing to be done.
Namgung Geom moved without hesitation, turning his attention to the water disciples of the Heuksuchae.
The Heuksuchae’s water disciples moved like fish, attacking the drowning members of the Changyong-gak Sword Brigade and the Jangggang Sword Brigade.
At least the Jangggang Sword Brigade’s members could hold their own.
Having operated in the Jangggang, they’d learned the basics of Water Combat Technique.
The Changyong-gak Sword Brigade was the real problem.
Without Water Combat training, they floundered against the Heuksuchae’s water disciples’ assault.
And with each passing moment, their casualties mounted.
Namgung Geom moved before the losses could grow worse.
Stepping off an oil barrel, he flew at the Heuksuchae’s water disciples, his blade extended in rapid succession.
Flash!
Ice Thunder shot from his sword like arrows.
Crack!
The water disciples attacking the Changyong-gak Sword Brigade were struck by the Ice Thunder blade energy and sank beneath the surface.
The Heuksuchae’s water disciples dove to escape Namgung Geom’s assault.
But he found them underwater with uncanny precision, releasing Ice Thunder blade energy in their direction.
The water’s resistance proved no barrier to Ice Thunder.
The blade energy pierced the water and struck the disciples’ bodies.
The struck disciples rose to the surface, staining the river red with blood.
The Heuksuchae’s water disciples fled from Namgung Geom.
Even underwater, they couldn’t escape Ice Thunder.
And they lacked the skill to stand against him.
Their only choice was flight.
Namgung Geom didn’t bother pursuing them.
In truth, his own condition was far from sound.
He’d exceeded his limits deploying Heaven and Earth Freezing, straining his body greatly.
And while in that state, facing Hwang Jin-ung, he’d suffered two sharp impacts.
Releasing blade energy at the water disciples under such circumstances had cost him dearly.
If we chase after the water bandits here, our bodies truly won’t hold up.
Besides, we don’t need to capture every last one of them.
Namgung Geom kicked away a nearby oil barrel and clambered aboard the flagship of the Jangggang Sword Brigade.
“Your Highness! Are you all right?”
Namgung Gwan rushed over and examined Namgung Geom’s condition.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“Are you truly all right?”
Namgung Gwan didn’t seem reassured and checked once more.
“Truly fine.”
Namgung Geom did not reveal the state of his body.
There was no need to show weakness to Namgung Gwan.
“When that oil barrel exploded, I really thought something had happened to Your Highness.”
Namgung Gwan spoke as though the mere thought made him dizzy.
“I didn’t expect the Heuksuchae leader to attempt Mutual Destruction in that manner either.”
“Rest for a moment, please. It seems we need to rescue the people who fell into the water first.”
“Go at once.”
Namgung Geom waved his hand, urging him to leave quickly.
The Heuksuchae warships attacking the Jangggang Sword Brigade’s flagship confirmed Hwang Jin-ung’s death and immediately turned to flee.
Under normal circumstances, they would have pursued the Heuksuchae fleet to the end.
But now rescuing those who had fallen into the river took priority.
Even with martial training, enduring the Jangggang River’s fierce currents was no easy task.
If time dragged on, things could go wrong.
Namgung Gwan mobilized the crew aboard the flagship to rescue those who had fallen into the water.
* * *
“The Changyong-gak Sword Brigade’s casualties are nine dead and fifteen severely wounded.”
At Namgung Woo’s report, Namgung Geom swallowed hard.
“The damage is heavier than expected.”
Though not included in Namgung Woo’s report, if the moderately wounded were added, it would amount to nearly half the total force.
And the Jangggang Sword Brigade’s losses were equally considerable.
“The heavy casualties are because Heuksuchae used suicide ships.”
“It’s all my fault. I should have foreseen that Heuksuchae would resort to such extremes.”
A heavy weight of self-recrimination settled over Namgung Geom’s face.
He had already anticipated Heuksuchae’s attack.
Yet his preparations had been woefully insufficient.
He had not considered that they would employ such extreme measures.
It was arrogance—the presumption that his martial arts could defend against any attack—that had blinded him.
“Even a brigade leader cannot foresee everything. So please, do not blame yourself so harshly.”
Namgung Woo attempted to comfort him.
Namgung Geom shook his head.
“The leader of the Changyong-gak Sword Brigade should have anticipated at least that much.”
That position bore the heavy responsibility of over a hundred lives.
A single judgment or decision of his could determine the life and death of those below him.
So he ought to have foreseen and prepared for the possibility that Heuksuchae would escalate to extreme measures.
“Your resolve to bear the burden of your soldiers’ lives is admirable, but tormenting yourself with excessive responsibility is not what the fallen would wish for.”
“It feels as though the loss of these precious members is entirely my responsibility.”
Namgung Geom spoke with a bitter smile.
“The fault is not yours, Brigade Leader. So please, cease this self-recrimination. None of your soldiers harbor resentment toward you.”
“Thank you. Hearing the Deputy Leader’s words eases the heaviness in my heart somewhat.”
It was no mere politeness—Namgung Woo’s words had genuinely lightened the burden he carried.
“I’m glad it helped.”
Namgung Woo offered a relieved smile.
Just then, Namgung Gwan approached with an troubled expression.
“What troubles you?”
Namgung Geom, seeing Namgung Gwan’s face, asked.
“The thing is, we’ve exceeded the flagship’s capacity, so it may be difficult to operate safely.”
Two warships had sunk from the impact of the suicide vessels.
All the people aboard them had been rescued and brought onto the flagship.
But there were too many.
Operating with such overcrowding risked capsizing the ship.
“Then set down only the Changyong-gak Sword Brigade on the riverbank. From here, we’ll proceed overland.”
He chose to use the Jangggang River to save time.
They could have traveled overland just as easily.
“We have many wounded among us. Will that be a problem?”
“We’ll leave the wounded with the nearest physicians for now, and send people back to the main house to check on them later.”
“That should work, then.”
Namgung Gwan immediately ordered the formation to shift toward the river bank.
“But how do you intend to handle the matter of Heuksuchae?”
Namgung Gwan asked.
The attack by Heuksuchae had claimed no small number of warriors from both the Changyong-gak Sword Brigade and the Jangggang Sword Brigade.
It was a debt that could not simply be overlooked.
“First, we need to determine whether this attack by Heuksuchae was carried out under orders from the Jangggang Water Alliance.”
“You don’t believe it was the Jangggang Water Alliance, then?”
Namgung Gwan pressed him.
“I don’t. I believe the leader of Heuksuchae was a pawn of the Cult, and that this attack was also carried out at their instruction.”
Namgung Geom spoke with utter certainty.
“But now that the leader of Heuksuchae is dead, we have no evidence to prove it, do we?”
Namgung Woo spoke with evident discomfort.
“We should at least hear what the Jangggang Water Alliance has to say for itself.”
“They’ll simply deny giving any such order, won’t they?”
Namgung Gwan’s expression grew skeptical.
Whether the Jangggang Water Alliance had actually given the order or not, they would deny it regardless.
They would likely claim ignorance and insist that Heuksuchae acted on its own authority.
“If they truly had nothing to do with it, they will show sincerity in their response.”
If the Jangggang Water Alliance was not behind the attack, they would make an active effort to clarify their position.
“And if they show such sincerity, you won’t hold them accountable?”
“If the Jangggang Water Alliance did not orchestrate this, how could we possibly hold them responsible?”
Namgung Geom posed it as if the answer were obvious.
“But the Martial World may view it differently, sir.”
“You mean they’ll say the main house avoided confrontation out of fear of the Jangggang Water Alliance?”
Namgung Geom read his intention and asked.
“The gossips will certainly say something to that effect.”
“Let them. They’re merely the idle talk of gossipers and busybodies. Ignore them and they’ll fade away.”
One could not go to war with the Jangggang Water Alliance simply to silence the tongues of gossipers.
That was precisely what the Cult wanted.
There was no room for the Cult’s schemes to take root.
Whoot!
Just then, a horn suddenly blew from the front line, signaling the appearance of enemies.
“Vessels from the Jangggang Water Alliance approaching from the rear!”
A warrior from the Jangggang Sword Brigade’s unit shouted urgently.
Namgung Geom turned his head toward the rear of the lead vessel.
A formation of ships could be seen approaching in the distance.
There were five vessels in total.
The lead ship’s size was overwhelmingly dominant among them.
Namgung Geom’s gaze fixed on the flag hanging from the mast of the lead vessel.
Embroidered upon it was a water dragon surging upward through the turbulent waves of the Jangggang River.
It was the Water Dragon Flag, the symbol of the Jangggang Water Alliance.
Namgung Geom’s expression hardened at the sight.
“Could it be that the Water Dragon King has come in person?”
Ice Dragon Sword
Author |
Baek Wol-geom
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Chief Editor |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dream Books
Address |
7th Floor, Gwangseong Building, 28 Bongeunsa-ro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260511103
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter (X) |
@dreambookss
Submission |
[email protected]
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – No part of this book may be used in any form or by any means without the written permission of 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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