Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 77

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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 77
Namgung Geom stopped himself from pursuing Heuksalmunje.
The man had already vanished without a trace.
Even if he gave chase now, catching him would be nearly impossible.
He might have tracked him by following the aura of the Bingryong Sword, but the distance had grown too great, and the trail had gone cold.
“I owe you my life. Thank you, truly.”
Namgung Geom offered his gratitude to Namgung Gwon.
Without him, there would have been no way to evade the Umochim that Heuksalmunje had unleashed.
A few strikes from ordinary Umochim wouldn’t be fatal.
But if poison had been applied to them, the outcome could have been death.
He hadn’t checked, yet knowing the Heuksalmun’s nature, these would certainly not be mere needles.
“For a moment there, I thought my heart would stop.”
Namgung Gwon spoke as if genuinely shaken.
He had come here under a special order from the Clan Master to serve as Namgung Geom’s escort.
If something were to happen to Namgung Geom, how could he ever raise his head before the Clan Master again?
“I thought I was finished—that those needles would find their mark.”
Namgung Geom’s shock was no less profound.
He had never anticipated that Heuksalmunje would resort to the Dark Blade.
Even knowing that heterodox sects abandon all scruple in pursuit of their goals, he had grown too complacent.
Namgung Geom resolved that from now on, he would prepare far more thoroughly.
“You must be more vigilant regarding your own safety. Exposing the cult’s existence is worthwhile, but using yourself as bait as you did today—that must not happen again.”
“I will take your words to heart.”
Namgung Gwon said nothing more.
Namgung Geom would certainly learn from this ordeal and exercise greater caution going forward.
Besides, the battle was not yet entirely finished.
Though Heuksalmunje had fled, his forces remained.
The Heuksalmunje army, abandoned by their master, showed clear signs of panic.
“Everyone—run!”
In that moment, someone shouted an order.
It was one of the unit commanders of the Heuksalmunje army.
At his cry, they immediately ceased their assault and began their retreat.
Heuksalmunje had fled, and the unit captain was already dead.
There was no sense in continuing the fight.
The Paerunyong-gak guards did not pursue them, letting them go.
Their priority was protecting their charge.
They could not abandon Namgung Geom to chase down the enemy.
By contrast, the Changyong Swordsmanship Division did pursue them.
“Everyone—hold!”
But Namgung Geom immediately called them back.
A desperate rat will bite the cat.
In trying to capture a few more of the fleeing soldiers, the Changyong Swordsmanship Division risked unnecessary casualties.
Once the Heuksalmunje army had fully retreated and the fighting ceased, Namgung Geom assessed the damage.
The Paerunyong-gak guards had lost two and suffered five wounded.
The Changyong Swordsmanship Division had no deaths, though four were injured.
That the Changyong Swordsmanship Division’s losses were lighter had nothing to do with superior skill.
It was because the Paerunyong-gak guards had sacrificed themselves to shield them.
Namgung Geom expressed his gratitude to the Paerunyong-gak guards on behalf of the Changyong Swordsmanship Division.
“Still, Heuksalmunje won’t let this end here. I fear for the prince’s safety going forward.”
Namgung Gwon spoke with a grave expression.
Heuksalmunje would certainly attempt Namgung Geom’s life again.
So long as Heuksalmunje lived, Namgung Geom could only fear further assassination attempts.
This time, he had survived thanks to Namgung Gwon’s escort.
Yet Namgung Gwon could not guard him forever.
The hard truth was that with his current level of skill, Namgung Geom could not withstand a determined assault from Heuksalmunje.
Namgung Geom shook his head.
“So long as one lives in the Murim, danger is ever-present.”
“Then you’re saying Heuksalmunje’s threat doesn’t concern you?”
“Of course it concerns me. But worry alone won’t make him disappear. Better to use that time devising countermeasures.”
Namgung Gwon felt a quiet admiration at Namgung Geom’s response.
Though Heuksalmunje’s threat might well inspire fear, Namgung Geom showed no sign of wavering.
What struck him was that someone so young could maintain such composure.
“So, does the Crown Prince have a strategy to counter Heuksalmunje’s assassination attempt?”
Namgung Gwon asked.
“The best strategy would be to strengthen my skills enough to withstand Heuksalmunje’s assault.”
“But it’s difficult to improve one’s abilities in such a short time.”
“Difficult or not, if I wish to survive, I must find a way to grow stronger—wouldn’t you agree?”
Namgung Geom spoke with a meaningful expression.
Namgung Gwon could sense that this was no idle remark.
Something suggested the Crown Prince possessed a method to dramatically improve his strength in a brief span.
Yet there remained the question of Namgung Geom’s true nature.
Even for a genius, his current realm was absurdly advanced.
The notion that he could ascend further seemed unreasonable.
Even martial arts that advanced through sheer affinity alone would not reach such heights.
Namgung Gwon suspected the Crown Prince harbored some secret he did not yet understand.
But what that secret might be, he could not begin to guess.
“Still, at least for the time being, the Master of Paerunyong-gak will protect me, so I find reassurance in that.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Namgung Gwon let out a dry laugh.
“You didn’t even notice Heuksalmunje’s first strike. What reassurance is there in that?”
“It was only thanks to the Master’s protection that I could sense Heuksalmunje’s approach and evade it.”
This was no mere courtesy.
Without Namgung Gwon’s vigilance, Namgung Geom would not have been able to deploy the Bingbaek Cheonmang with a clear mind.
And without it, he would never have detected Heuksalmunje’s stealth and strike.
“More than that, the mere presence of the Master will itself become a threat to Heuksalmunje.”
Heuksalmunje had already tasted failure once.
He had come perilously close to falling to a combined assault from both Namgung Geom and Namgung Gwon.
So if he attempted another assassination, he would wait for a moment when Namgung Gwon was absent.
Namgung Gwon, for his part, believed that as long as he and his guard remained present, Heuksalmunje would not strike again.
Though caution was still warranted, lest the assassin find an opening.
“Let us depart this place at once.”
Beyond Jangbong Mountain lay the Hoiremun Branch.
Within the branch’s territory, at least, they need not fear Heuksalmunje’s attacks.
Namgung Geom’s party gathered their wounded and crossed Jangbong Mountain.
Fortunately, no further assaults came, and they arrived safely at the Hoiremun Branch.
* * *
Namgung Yeol, the Master of the Hoiremun Branch, received Namgung Geom’s party with formal courtesy.
The visit of Namgung Geom, the eldest grandson of the Namgung Clan and heir presumptive, alongside Namgung Gwon, Master of Paerunyong-gak, was no ordinary occurrence.
Namgung Yeol had prepared a banquet in their honor.
In truth, with casualties from Heuksalmun’s attack, no one had much appetite for celebration.
Yet Namgung Yeol and the Hoiremun Branch’s sincerity could not be spurned.
Namgung Geom enjoyed the banquet while taking care not to dampen the mood.
Throughout the meal, key figures from the Hoiremun Branch and the Northern Sword Division approached Namgung Geom.
He exchanged greetings and conversation with them, gradually establishing rapport.
Since the incident at the Cheongyang Branch, Namgung Geom had grown more wary of the clan’s subsidiary houses.
Enemy spies could be hidden within any of the branches.
Yet he could not simply suspect everyone without cause.
So he observed the gathered company carefully while enjoying the feast.
But he found no one particularly suspicious.
Even Namgung Yeol himself, though maintaining proper restraint, showed no breach of courtesy—nothing that warranted special suspicion.
Then a young boy approached Namgung Geom.
He bowed deeply to the Crown Prince, his back held at a perfect ninety degrees, and spoke with a clear, ringing voice.
“Greetings, Crown Prince! I am Namgung Min of the Hoiremun Branch. It is a great honor to meet the Crown Prince, whom I have long admired.”
“Ha! This ill-mannered boy is my youngest son.”
Namgung Yeol, who stood nearby, introduced Namgung Min.
“So that’s who you are—the Master’s son? Namgung Min, is it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
At Namgung Geom’s warm greeting, Namgung Min’s mouth fell open in delight.
“I have heard so much about the Crown Prince and have long wished to meet you.”
“And now that you see me in person—what do you think?”
Namgung Geom smiled faintly and posed the question.
“It’s far more impressive than I’d imagined, sir.”
Namgung Geom burst out laughing at Namgung Min’s words.
“Ha ha. Thank you. Is there anything you’d like to ask me, or something on your mind?”
“How can I become as strong as you, sir?”
Namgung Min asked, eyes bright with eager curiosity.
“Well, there are many ways, but one thing is certain: you cannot become strong without effort.”
“How much effort did you put in, sir?”
“Every moment except eating and sleeping, I devoted to martial cultivation.”
Namgung Min’s eyes widened at this answer.
“You didn’t go out and play like other people?”
“How could you grow stronger while playing as much as everyone else?”
Namgung Min’s expression shifted to one of profound understanding.
“Then I’ll do the same as you, sir.”
Namgung Min spoke with newfound resolve.
Namgung Geom smiled.
“Consistent training is what matters most. If you push too hard at the beginning, you may only exhaust yourself and collapse later. So you must train according to your own strength and will.”
“I want to become as strong as you, sir. I’m willing to endure any hardship to achieve that.”
Seeing the determination burning in Namgung Min’s eyes, Namgung Geom nodded.
“If you truly wish to become strong, then enter the Changyong-gak at the main estate.”
“I will. I’ll train hard in Changyong-gak and join the Changyong Swordsmanship Division where you are, without fail.”
Namgung Min spoke with gleaming eyes.
“Ha ha! Then I’ll be waiting for the day you join the Changyong Swordsmanship Division.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Namgung Min clenched his fist as if he’d just obtained the whole world.
That single promise from the Namgung Geom he so admired became a greater source of strength to Namgung Min than any other words could have been.
“You have a most intelligent son, sir.”
Namgung Geom said with a smile to Namgung Yeol.
“I’m not sure he can even enter Changyong-gak.”
“From what I can see, he has the potential to become the top student of Changyong-gak.”
It was no empty praise.
Namgung Min’s bone structure and vital energy were enough to astound even Namgung Geom.
Compared to the Four Pillars when they entered Changyong-gak, he was no less gifted.
Namgung Min would have no trouble claiming the position of top student in Changyong-gak.
If Namgung Min grew properly, he could become a pillar supporting the entire Namgung Clan.
Namgung Geom felt a warmth in his heart, seeing a bright future for his family.
And he resolved to observe Namgung Min whenever time permitted.
After finishing the feast in good spirits, Namgung Geom retired to his quarters in the guest pavilion.
There he used the Changgung Bing-hwa Divine Art to dispel the alcohol from his body.
Since he’d drunk only moderately, it took no great effort to burn away the intoxication.
Once the alcohol was cleared, Namgung Geom did not retire to sleep but instead drew out the Bingryong Sword and sat in a cross-legged position.
“Then let me raise my realm once more.”
Namgung Bingryong
Author |
Baek Wol-geom
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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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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