Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 76

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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 76
‘If it weren’t for the Bing Baek Cheon Mang, things could have gone very badly.’
Namgung Geom felt a chill run down his spine as he recalled the moment just past.
He had entrusted his defense to Namgung Gwon while using the Bing Baek Cheon Mang to locate Heukssal Monju.
But within a radius of fifteen paces, he detected no body heat from Heukssal Monju.
There were two possibilities.
Either Heukssal Monju hadn’t come.
Or he was beyond the fifteen-pace range.
Namgung Geom leaned toward the latter.
And he adjusted how he wielded the Bing Baek Cheon Mang.
Instead of narrowing the range in one direction, he extended the distance.
The web of Cold Qi that had spread out in all directions now stretched in a single beam.
With this change, he couldn’t sense all directions simultaneously.
He had to examine one direction, then check another.
The Bing Baek Cheon Mang, now extended to twenty paces, swept methodically through the space around him in each direction.
And finally, one heat signature registered on the Bing Baek Cheon Mang.
Namgung Geom was certain it belonged to Heukssal Monju, and he moved to strike first.
But Heukssal Monju was faster.
Heukssal Monju closed the twenty-pace distance in a single breath, his strike aimed at Namgung Geom’s heart.
Heukssal Monju’s speed exceeded Namgung Geom’s expectations.
Namgung Geom deployed the Yi Hyung Hwan Wi and barely managed to evade Heukssal Monju’s attack.
Without the Bing Baek Cheon Mang, he would have been struck down.
What made Heukssal Monju most terrifying was his concealment technique—so subtle that even masters of the highest realm struggled to detect it.
But even without his concealment, he was a formidable opponent.
The Heukssal Moo Yeong Sin he’d just demonstrated was fast enough to slip from sight in an instant.
Namgung Geom alone could never defeat him.
But Namgung Geom was not alone.
Namgung Gwon stood at his side.
“Please handle the defense for us.”
Namgung Geom entrusted defense to Namgung Gwon.
“No attack from Heukssal Monju will pierce my shield.”
Namgung Gwon spoke with confidence.
Unless Heukssal Monju could conceal himself—which wouldn’t happen now that he’d revealed his presence—there was no attack he couldn’t block.
“Then I’ll focus on the offensive while trusting in you.”
The moment Heukssal Monju’s attack struck Namgung Gwon’s shield, an opening would appear.
Namgung Geom was determined to seize that moment.
Meanwhile, Heukssal Monju’s mind reeled.
He had believed Namgung Geom couldn’t possibly evade his attack.
At that distance and speed, it was impossible to react without prior knowledge.
Yet Namgung Geom had dodged.
More than that—he’d launched a counterattack.
Somehow he’d sensed the assault. There was no doubt about it.
The second opening he’d found was swallowed by Namgung Gwon’s shield.
He’d squandered the opportunity that Heukssal Daejoo had sacrificed to create.
From this point forward, he would have to rely entirely on his own skill.
But the situation was grim.
He’d already abandoned his concealment.
He could no longer exploit that advantage.
And worse, he had to face both Namgung Geom and Namgung Gwon at once.
Heukssal Monju had no confidence he could defeat the two of them.
It seemed better to retreat and wait for the next opportunity.
“And yet you’re the master of an entire sect—you’d flee so cowardly?”
Namgung Geom, reading his intent, taunted him.
And his words were backed by action.
Before the sentence left his lips, Namgung Geom hurled himself toward Heukssal Monju.
He meant to leave no opening for escape.
In that instant, Heukssal Monju’s eyes blazed.
Hiding behind Namgung Gwon’s shield would make it difficult to kill Namgung Geom.
But if he took the bait and charged in like this—the situation changed entirely.
Heukssal Monju abandoned his flight and extended his blade toward Namgung Geom.
Yet Namgung Geom’s blade was faster.
Flash!
Crack!
Bing Rye Sword Energy poured from Namgung Geom’s sword.
The Bing Rye Sword Energy froze the space around it, drilling toward Heukssal Monju in an instant.
It was not merely speed.
The Bing Rye Sword Energy, converging from both sides to envelope him, cut off every avenue of escape available to Heukssal Monju.
Heukssal Monju’s choice was singular.
He had no option but to block with his blade.
‘A boy barely of age, unleashing an attack like this?’
Heukssal Monju could not hide his shock at Namgung Geom’s assault, which forced a direct clash.
It was not something that could be explained by sheer mastery of realm alone.
It required the ability to read the opponent’s movements and intentions with perfect clarity.
In truth, he had harbored contempt when he first saw Namgung Geom’s youth.
He had assumed that while his mastery might be high, his experience would be lacking.
But not anymore.
Namgung Geom was not an opponent to be dismissed for his age.
Heukssal Monju unleashed the Heukssal Moo Yeong Geom with all his strength.
The shadowless sword energy scattered like flashes of light, colliding repeatedly with the Bing Rye Sword Energy.
Boom-crash!
As the Bing Rye Sword Energy shattered and dispersed, Namgung Geom was driven backward.
Heukssal Monju immediately deployed the Heukssal Moo Yeong Sin, attacking Namgung Geom.
The shadowless sword energy erupting from his blade aimed at Namgung Geom’s heart.
But this time too, his blade was intercepted midway.
Namgung Gwon had slipped in front of Namgung Geom and blocked Heukssal Monju’s strike.
Boom!
Heukssal Monju was driven backward by the powerful rebound force that erupted from Namgung Gwon’s shield.
Then Namgung Geom, who had been pushed back, sprang forward and unleashed the Bing Han Sword Wind.
Whoosh—
Layered Bing Han Sword Winds erupted into whirlwinds, descending upon Heukssal Monju from both sides.
It was an attack that completely sealed off his retreat.
Heukssal Monju furrowed his brow and extended his sword to both sides.
The shadowless sword energy pierced through the whirlwind of Sword Wind.
Boom-crash-crash!
The whirlwind of Sword Wind, pierced by the shadowless sword energy, scattered with astonishing ease.
It was not because the Sword Wind whirlwind was weak.
It was because the shadowless sword energy had pierced the exact central axis of the Sword Wind whirlwind.
It was no accident.
Heukssal Monju had discerned and pierced the precise central axis of the Sword Wind whirlwind.
Indeed, he was not an easy opponent.
Namgung Geom did not slacken the reins of his assault.
This time, instead of the Bing Han Sword Wind, he unleashed the Bing Rye Sword Energy.
Successive bursts of Bing Rye Sword Energy converged around Heukssal Monju’s entire body, striking from all directions.
Heukssal Monju deployed the Heukssal Moo Yeong Sin to slip free from the Bing Rye Sword Energy.
The moment he deployed the Heukssal Moo Yeong Sin, his form sank into the space itself.
Heukssal Monju’s figure disappeared from sight.
It was a movement as if he had employed a concealment art.
Namgung Gwon heightened his senses to track Heukssal Monju’s movements.
Confirming that Heukssal Monju was boring toward Namgung Geom’s flank, he moved without hesitation.
‘I’ll bring you down first.’
Heukssal Monju’s eyes flickered with murderous intent.
He had realized that as long as Namgung Gwon remained, it would be difficult to kill Namgung Geom.
So he resolved to deal with Namgung Gwon first.
Though it appeared he was attacking Namgung Geom, his movement was in fact aimed at Namgung Gwon.
The moment Namgung Gwon raised his shield, Heukssal Monju deployed the Heuk Yeong Yi Hwan Sul.
His form split in two, scattering to both sides of Namgung Gwon.
Namgung Gwon could not immediately judge which side to block.
“Block the left!”
At that moment, Namgung Geom shouted.
Namgung Gwon immediately turned his shield to the left.
There was not a shred of hesitation in his movement.
Only someone who trusted Namgung Geom completely would have reacted this way.
Clang!
Heukssal Monju’s blade crashed against Namgung Gwon’s shield.
The impact sent Namgung Gwon sliding backward.
Heukssal Monju rebounded from the shield’s counterforce, driven back as well.
For Namgung Geom, it was a golden opportunity.
He pursued Heukssal Monju and thrust his sword forward.
Crack!
The Bing Rye Sword Energy unleashed from his blade shot forward like an arrow.
Heukssal Monju hastily raised his sword to block the Bing Rye Sword Energy.
Clang!
The moment the Bing Rye Sword Energy collided with his blade, the shock of Cold Qi crashed over Heukssal Monju.
“Ugh!”
He gasped and was hurled backward.
Namgung Geom did not relent, pressing his pursuit.
Heukssal Monju deployed the Heuk Yeong Yi Hwan Sul once more.
His form split impossibly in two, scattering left and right.
One was his true body, the other a phantom.
Heukssal Monju believed Namgung Geom would not see through his true form immediately.
Even if found out, he would have earned time to retreat.
But his calculations fell short.
Namgung Geom pursued Heukssal Monju’s true body without the slightest hesitation.
‘It must be coincidence.’
Heukssal Monju deployed the Heuk Yeong Yi Hwan Sul again.
Yet again, Namgung Geom moved precisely after his true body.
Now that he thought about it, when attacking Namgung Gwon, Namgung Geom had located his true position accurately.
Not once, but three times.
There could be no coincidence here.
Namgung Geom was clearly seeing through the Heuk Yeong Yi Hwan Sul.
‘Impossible!’
Heukssal Monju could not believe it.
Even masters of the Jeol Dae Gyeong could not easily distinguish his technique.
Yet Namgung Geom had pierced through it so effortlessly.
How in the world could he do such a thing?
Just as he feared, Namgung Geom had indeed seen through the Heuk Yeong Yi Hwan Sul’s true form perfectly.
In truth, it was a shortcut.
The Bing Baek Sin Gong contained a technique called the Bing Ryeong Bu, which affixed Cold Qi to an opponent’s body like a charm.
Once marked by the Bing Ryeong Bu, no concealment art or illusion could deceive the one who placed it.
To the user of the Bing Ryeong Bu, the mark shone as bright as day.
Namgung Geom’s ability to pierce through Heukssal Monju’s Heuk Yeong Yi Hwan Sul was entirely thanks to the Bing Ryeong Bu.
But when had Namgung Geom applied it?
When Heukssal Monju first attacked him, Namgung Geom had evaded while secretly affixing the Bing Ryeong Bu.
Through it, he could see Heukssal Monju’s movements with perfect clarity.
Unaware of this, Heukssal Monju could only feel the frustration mounting.
Namgung Geom gave him no breathing room, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks.
One moment the Bing Han Sword Wind swept across, the next the Bing Rye Sword Energy flew in.
Heukssal Monju was left scrambling to defend, driven steadily backward.
By any measure, Namgung Geom held the advantage.
Then, in that instant.
Heukssal Monju’s eyes gleamed with a sinister light.
‘Danger!’
Namgung Geom’s instinct screamed a warning.
In that moment, a flash erupted from Heukssal Monju’s left hand, and a barrage of slender needles cascaded forth.
They were the Heukssal Moo Yeong Chim, his trump card weapon.
It was a hidden projectile—normally worn on the fingers in the form of the Heuk Ji Hwan, which released fine Woo Mo Chim when infused with Qi.
Namgung Geom swiftly swung his sword.
A fierce Sword Wind erupted from his blade, deflecting the needles to the side.
But the distance was too close, and the needles had appeared so suddenly that he could not deflect them all.
As the Woo Mo Chim pierced through the Sword Wind and were about to lodge in Namgung Geom’s body.
Namgung Gwon yanked Namgung Geom toward him while raising his shield to block the incoming assault.
Ping-ping-ping!
The Woo Mo Chim needles scattered to the ground, deflected by Namgung Gwon’s shield.
“I shall withdraw for now.”
In that moment, Heukssal Monju retreated swiftly into the distance.
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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