Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 8

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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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Episode 8
The second match of the Four-Round Tournament.
The duel between Namgung Cheol-ung and Namgung Seol ended in Namgung Cheol-ung’s victory.
Namgung Seol fought with all he had, but he could not overcome Namgung Cheol-ung’s blade, driven by raw strength.
And then came the long-awaited final.
Namgung Geom and Namgung Cheol-ung stepped onto the Arena.
Namgung Geom regarded Namgung Cheol-ung across from him.
He hadn’t known who he was at first, but now he understood perfectly.
Namgung Cheol-ung.
A distant branch member of the Branch Family, and one of this year’s most promising talents.
Despite receiving less support than the Main Family, being named among the finest prospects spoke volumes about his exceptional gifts.
Namgung Cheol-ung possessed Exceptional Strength from birth—power that rivaled first-class Inner Force.
His relatively inferior cultivation of Inner Force and Sword Technique were wholly compensated by his overwhelming physical power.
The Exceptional Strength Namgung Geom had witnessed in their earlier bout was not something to dismiss lightly.
“If you’re confident, why not trade a single blade with me directly?”
Then Namgung Cheol-ung made the proposal with a meaningful expression.
He had watched all of Namgung Geom’s matches up to this point.
And he had come to realize he could not defeat him through martial prowess alone.
But if they competed purely on strength, he was confident he could win.
Namgung Geom let out a soft laugh at Namgung Cheol-ung’s proposal.
He grasped his intention without difficulty.
“If you’re going to do this, do it properly. What if we compete purely through physical strength—without Inner Force?”
At Namgung Geom’s suggestion, Namgung Cheol-ung looked at him with suspicion.
“That would put you at a disadvantage, wouldn’t it?”
“I need you to defeat me with the strength you trust most. That way you won’t have excuses later.”
Namgung Cheol-ung took great pride in his strength.
If he broke him using the power he trusted, he could utterly dominate him.
“You’re saying you can beat me even without Inner Force?”
Namgung Geom answered with a smile instead.
Namgung Cheol-ung’s eyes turned savage.
“I’ll smash that arrogance to pieces.”
Namgung Cheol-ung brought his Wooden Sword down toward Namgung Geom with all his might.
Whoosh!
The sound of his Wooden Sword cleaving the air was brutal.
One could feel the ferocity of the power contained within it.
‘Impressive.’
Namgung Geom silently admired Namgung Cheol-ung’s strength.
In terms of pure physical power alone, Namgung Cheol-ung surpassed him.
But strength alone does not guarantee victory.
What mattered was how tightly one could concentrate that strength.
That was the crucial factor.
Namgung Geom’s consciousness seized control of his body, gathering all his force into a single point.
His condensed power suddenly amplified in that instant, pouring into his Wooden Sword.
And it extended toward Namgung Cheol-ung’s blade.
Crack!
Namgung Cheol-ung’s Wooden Sword shattered, and his massive frame flew backward, slamming hard into the ground.
Unable to bear the impact, Namgung Cheol-ung tumbled across the arena floor, staring at Namgung Geom in disbelief.
Not only had his Wooden Sword splintered under Namgung Geom’s single strike, but he had been knocked back and driven into the ground.
For a moment, he wondered if Namgung Geom had broken his promise and used Inner Force.
But the instant their Wooden Swords collided, the force that had overwhelmed him bore no trace of Inner Force.
Namgung Geom had crushed him with nothing but pure physical strength.
In less than a single second, no less.
‘A flawless defeat.’
Namgung Cheol-ung let out a bitter laugh.
His loss admitted no excuses.
Namgung Geom, who had drawn near, extended his hand.
Namgung Cheol-ung grasped his hand and pulled himself to his feet.
“I lost.”
Namgung Cheol-ung acknowledged his defeat straightforwardly.
“But don’t think today is the end. Next time, I will win.”
I’ve lost only once so far.
Namgung Geom made a silent vow that he would win next time, without fail.
“What. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big.”
As Namgung Geom spoke with a smile, Namgung Cheol-ung’s eyes flashed.
Namgung Geom lightly dismissed the glare and turned his gaze toward the Viewing Platform.
He could see Namgung Baek, the master of Changyong Tower, watching with keen interest, and the sword guild masters with expressions of shock.
‘That should be introduction enough.’
Through his match at Changyong Tower, Namgung Geom had made no attempt to conceal his skill.
The masters of the Three Major Sword Guilds would report his martial prowess to his uncles, and their wariness would grow accordingly.
Direct threats might even come his way.
But if he hid his strength out of fear, he could never establish his place within the clan.
Namgung Geom’s standing within the clan was terribly low.
Few among the clan’s members considered him a candidate for Clan Successor.
To become Clan Successor, Namgung Geom first needed to change how they perceived him.
And the fastest, most certain way to shift their perception was through martial prowess.
Now that Namgung Geom had claimed the top position at Changyong Tower with his exceptional skill, the clan would take notice of him.
Among them, some would begin to regard him seriously as a candidate for Clan Successor.
Meanwhile, even after Namgung Geom’s victory and his ranking as First Place among the passing candidates, the matches continued.
The Losers’ Bracket remained, for those who had failed to reach the Round of Sixteen.
The bracket draw took place, and the matches proceeded at once.
As a result, twelve additional candidates were selected to pass.
Namgung Chang, who had sustained internal injuries from his match against Namgung Geom, barely managed to secure his place among the additional candidates.
Thus, the initial sixteen candidates who had advanced to the Round of Sixteen, plus the twelve additional candidates selected through the Losers’ Bracket—
A total of twenty-eight final candidates were confirmed.
Namgung Pil, the senior instructor of Changyong Tower, recorded all twenty-eight final candidates in the tower’s registry and issued them certificates of passage.
“Congratulations to you all on your passage. The Entrance Ceremony of Changyong Tower will take place seven weeks from now, so be sure not to miss it.”
“Understood.”
“Then we will adjourn for today and meet again at the Entrance Ceremony.”
At Namgung Pil’s words, the final candidates departed the Training Ground of Changyong Tower.
Namgung Geom returned directly to his quarters.
Shortly after his arrival, Kang Mo-yeon was waiting for him.
The moment Kang Mo-yeon saw Namgung Geom, she asked at once.
“Is it true you placed first in the Second Examination at Changyong Tower?”
“Yes. Your son has claimed the top position at Changyong Tower.”
“What joyous news. How splendid you are. Your father in heaven must surely be pleased as well.”
Kang Mo-yeon was more delighted than anyone.
She remained puzzled about how Namgung Geom had overcome the Gugyang Severed Meridian and raised his martial skill in such a short time.
But believing that what mattered was good news, she decided not to press the matter further.
What was important was that Namgung Geom had escaped the agony of the Gugyang Severed Meridian and was now able to cultivate his martial skill.
“So you needn’t worry about me anymore.”
Kang Mo-yeon shook her head.
“Now that you’ve overcome the Gugyang Severed Meridian and begun cultivating martial skill, there’s no telling what threats your uncles might pose.”
“Surely my uncles wouldn’t harm their own nephew?”
Kang Mo-yeon shook her head.
“You speak foolishly. Before the lure of power, even blood ties mean nothing.”
Namgung Geom knew this better than anyone.
He had only feigned ignorance to spare Kang Mo-yeon worry.
“As long as Grandfather lives, my uncles won’t dare lay a hand on me.”
Namgung Geom invoked the name of Namgung Pae, hoping to reassure his mother.
But once again, Kang Mo-yeon shook her head.
“If your uncles are truly determined and act in concert, even your grandfather would be powerless to stop them.”
“Then I must become strong enough to overcome any threat they pose before that happens.”
“And is that truly so simple to accomplish?”
“Trust me. I swear I will never give you cause for sorrow.”
At his words, Kang Mo-yeon fell silent and said no more.
In her heart, she resolved to do everything within her power to protect her son.
After sharing an evening meal with Namgung Geom, Kang Mo-yeon returned to her quarters.
Namgung Geom cultivated the Changgung Ice Flame Divine Technique before retiring for the night.
The next day, he went to visit his grandfather, Namgung Pae.
“Come here.”
Namgung Pae welcomed Namgung Geom warmly.
“Did you hear that I passed the entrance examination at Changyong Tower?”
“You took First Place in both the First and Second Examinations?”
“Yes. I achieved First Place as promised.”
Namgung Geom spoke with unmistakable pride.
“So should I offer you praise?”
“I’d prefer the reward from our wager instead.”
Namgung Pae chuckled softly and asked.
“Very well. What reward do you want?”
“I’d like you to officially recognize my martial technique, Grandfather.”
Namgung Pae immediately grasped his intent.
“You mean so that no one can question the Ice Technique you used in the tournament?”
“That’s correct.”
His uncles would certainly try to challenge the origin of the Ice Technique.
Of course, he could have claimed he invented it himself — a lie easy enough to tell.
But there was no chance his uncles would believe it.
They would press him on the Ice Technique’s source no matter what.
Yet if the Clan Patriarch himself officially recognized it as legitimate, his uncles would have no further grounds to question its origin.
“So be it.”
The moment Namgung Pae agreed, Namgung Geom’s expression shifted to surprise.
“I didn’t expect you to consent so readily, Grandfather.”
“Changgung embraces all things, so what’s the matter with holding coldness within it? Isn’t that what you said to Namgung Chang?”
Namgung Pae knew exactly what Namgung Geom had told Namgung Chang — word for word.
Though he hadn’t been present himself, Namgung Pae heard every detail of what transpired at the Training Ground.
Nothing that happened within the Namgung Clan could escape his notice.
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re right. Whatever Changgung holds, it is still Changgung — there’s no reason I shouldn’t recognize your technique.”
“I thought you would question the origin of the Ice Technique, Grandfather.”
Namgung Geom spoke as though genuinely taken aback.
“Last time, I believe we already agreed not to press you about your martial methods.”
For Namgung Pae, the Ice Technique’s origin held little importance.
What mattered was that Namgung Geom had used it to heal the Gugyang Severed Meridian and achieve the rank of a first-rate master in a single leap.
Of course, if the Ice Technique were an evil demonic art, the story would be different.
But in Namgung Geom’s aura, he detected no deception or demonic taint whatsoever.
So Namgung Pae resolved to trust and watch over him.
It was the smallest compensation he could offer for all he had failed to do for Namgung Geom until now.
But there was also another reason — curiosity about his grandson’s potential.
What would happen when the Ice Technique joined with the martial arts of the Namgung Clan?
If Namgung Geom could open a new chapter in the Namgung Clan’s techniques through the Ice Technique, it would be more than worth watching.
“Had I known Grandfather would grant it so easily, I should have made a different wish.”
Namgung Geom spoke wistfully, and Namgung Pae laughed again.
“Regardless of the wager, I’ll grant you one wish as a gift for your First Place entrance at Changyong Tower.”
Considering the competition he would soon face with his uncles, it was the least he deserved.
“Is that truly the case?”
Namgung Geom asked with evident delight.
“Yes, but don’t ask for anything too unreasonable.”
“Of course not.”
“Then what is it you wish for?”
Namgung Geom paused to consider, then spoke as if resolved.
“I wish to learn the Three Great Sword Techniques of the Namgung Clan directly from you, Grandfather.”
Namgung Bing-ryong
Author |
Baek Wol-geom
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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Editorial Department
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(주) Samyang C&C – Dream Books. No part of this book may be 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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