Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 9

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 9
The Namgung Clan was known as the supreme sword family under heaven.
True to that name, they possessed countless sword techniques.
Of these, the three most exceptional were called the Three Great Sword Techniques.
The Boundless Firmament Sword Technique.
The Thirteen Flash Thunder Sword Strike.
The Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique.
Each was counted among the finest ascending sword arts in the martial realm.
The Three Great Sword Techniques could only be learned by direct bloodline descendants of the Namgung Clan.
Even then, one had to enter the Three Great Sword Units to receive proper transmission.
Namgung Geom, still merely a disciple at Changyong Hall, was not yet qualified to learn the Three Great Sword Techniques.
“A boy who hasn’t learned to walk is trying to run? Start with the Azure Dragon Three Swords first.”
The Azure Dragon Three Swords was a generalized version of the Three Great Sword Techniques.
It omitted the core secrets of the Three Great Sword Techniques and lowered the difficulty of the forms to make them easier to master.
The proper order was to first lay a foundation in the Azure Dragon Three Swords, then enter the Three Great Sword Units to formally study the Three Great Sword Techniques.
“If one could run from the beginning, why would there be any need to learn to walk first?”
Namgung Geom’s confident reply made Namgung Pae’s expression turn exasperated.
Yet it was difficult to deny the boy’s words.
No one knew better than he how extraordinary Namgung Geom’s talent truly was.
Without anyone’s help, he had corrected the Guyang Severed Meridian and reached the First Class realm in a single bound.
Even a martial genius would find such a feat difficult.
A genius must walk his own path; one could not force him down the road of the ordinary.
To do so would only stifle Namgung Geom’s talent.
“Very well. Since you are so confident, I shall transmit the Three Great Sword Techniques to you. But if you cannot keep pace with my instruction, I will halt the transmission.”
“Understood.”
Namgung Geom nodded readily.
There was no reason to doubt his own ability to follow the instruction.
“Then when would you like to begin?”
“If you are willing, Grandfather, I should like to start right now.”
“Then let us go to the Training Ground.”
Namgung Pae led Namgung Geom to the Patriarch’s private training ground.
“So, which of the Three Great Sword Techniques would you like to learn?”
Namgung Pae asked.
“I should like to receive instruction in all three of the Great Sword Techniques.”
“All three of the Great Sword Techniques?”
Namgung Pae’s brow furrowed.
Ordinarily, one would select a single technique from the Three Great Sword Techniques to master.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with learning all three.
But even dedicating one’s entire life, it was rare to glimpse the completion of a single sword art.
It was far better to focus on one technique than to dabble carelessly in many.
“Yes. I wish to master all three of the Great Sword Techniques if at all possible.”
“Completing even one of the Three Great Sword Techniques is no simple matter.”
“But you, Grandfather, have completed all three.”
Namgung Pae laughed as though amused.
“You are comparing yourself to this old man?”
“How could I dare to compare myself to you? I merely wish to follow your example as your grandson.”
Namgung Geom’s words drew another laugh from Namgung Pae, this one tinged with resignation.
“Your tongue flows with the eloquence of a thousand streams.”
Namgung Geom smiled faintly and spoke.
“If you judge that I lack the aptitude to master all three techniques, I shall then obey your guidance.”
“Very well. For now, I shall teach you as you wish.”
He could judge Namgung Geom’s capability as they progressed through the instruction.
“I shall first transmit the Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique.”
The Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique.
An advanced art built upon the Wind Sword Technique, it was a flowing, ceaseless chain of strikes like the wind itself.
“The essence of the Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique lies in continuity—you must grasp the principle that wind may weaken but never breaks.”
Namgung Pae began to move his sword slowly.
From his blade, a gust of wind rose.
That wind flowed without interruption, following the path of Namgung Pae’s sword.
With each movement of his blade, the wind accumulated, until the entire training ground was engulfed in sword wind.
‘Deeper than the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique, certainly.’
The relentless cascade of sword wind was incomparable to the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique.
Namgung Geom focused intently on the stances Namgung Pae was unfolding.
He observed not merely the sword’s trajectory, but Namgung Pae’s breathing and footwork with equal concentration.
The stances of the Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique were extraordinarily complex.
Memorizing them after a single viewing was nearly impossible.
Yet after watching Namgung Pae display it just once, Namgung Geom had committed most of the stances to memory.
To one who had reached a high realm in a previous life, the flow of the sword technique revealed itself naturally.
Once that current was grasped, memorizing the stances became a trivial matter.
But in an advanced sword technique, what truly matters is not the form of the stances.
The secret incantations and the circulation method of internal energy—those are what matter.
After displaying the sequence once, Namgung Pae explained the incantations and the method of energy circulation.
Namgung Geom understood and committed it to memory without difficulty.
His previous life’s attainment was part of it, but also because the Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique resembled the Ice White Snow Wind Sword he had mastered in that former life.
“Then from now on, I’ll teach you the incantations and energy circulation methods as we demonstrate each section.”
“There’s no need, Grandfather.”
“No need?”
Namgung Pae regarded him with bewilderment.
“I’ve already understood it all and memorized the stances.”
“You understood and memorized it all in one showing?”
Namgung Pae asked, his expression skeptical.
“Allow me to demonstrate it once, Grandfather. Please observe.”
Seeing once surpasses a hundred descriptions.
A single demonstration was worth far more than endless explanation.
Namgung Geom unfolded the Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique before Namgung Pae.
Namgung Pae’s initially skeptical eyes grew wider and wider as he watched.
Namgung Geom executed the Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique flawlessly.
Though gaps remained, it was an accomplishment beyond measure.
‘They say no one born with the Guyang Severed Meridian lacks genius.’
The Guyang Severed Meridian was said to grant an extraordinary number of talents in exchange for a shortened lifespan.
Looking at Namgung Geom, it seemed that legend was no fabrication.
Namgung Geom executed every stance of the Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique through to its final form, then halted.
“To watch the Heavenly Wind Infinite Sword Technique once and then replicate it—it defies belief even seeing it myself.”
Namgung Geom smiled at Namgung Pae’s exclamation.
“Surely it is only because I’ve inherited the talents of a Sword King such as yourself?”
Namgung Pae shook his head.
“It’s your father’s talents you’ve inherited, not mine.”
In terms of raw talent alone, Namgung Il surpassed Namgung Pae.
And Namgung Geom’s talents lay closer still to Namgung Il’s.
“Yet Father’s talents came from you, Grandfather, so in the end, my abilities are also a gift from you.”
Namgung Geom continued to exalt Namgung Pae.
Namgung Pae didn’t seem displeased, letting out a soft laugh before asking, “When did you learn such flattery?”
“When did you learn such flattery?”
“It’s not flattery—it’s the truth.”
Namgung Pae recalled his deceased son.
Namgung Il had been born with the Heavenly Martial Body, the highest talent imaginable.
Namgung Pae had hoped Namgung Il would surpass him, becoming a master of supreme skill and bringing greater glory to the Namgung Clan.
Yet before he could blossom, death had claimed him in his youth.
Namgung Pae found that loss unbearably tragic.
His other children existed, but they fell far short compared to Namgung Il.
None of them satisfied him, which was why he had yet to appoint a Deputy Patriarch.
Yet the position could not remain vacant indefinitely.
If the competition for Deputy Patriarch dragged on, it could undermine the clan’s stability and harmony.
That was why he had meant to decide soon.
‘If the boy’s talents are genuine…’
Witnessing Namgung Geom’s abilities, Namgung Pae’s resolve wavered.
‘Perhaps it would be better to observe the boy’s growth before deciding who becomes Deputy Patriarch?’
He did worry whether Namgung Geom could truly prevail against his uncles in the competition.
But if Namgung Geom’s talents were genuine, he would overcome his uncles and claim the Deputy Patriarch’s seat.
‘For now, I should watch the boy’s growth.’
And since things had come to this, he decided to pass on the Three Great Sword Techniques to Namgung Geom in their entirety.
Including, moreover, all the profound insights he had gained over the years.
For Namgung Geom, this was an opportunity beyond measure.
Had it been anyone else, they would have struggled to grasp Namgung Pae’s insights.
Namgung Pae himself did not expect Namgung Geom to understand his insights immediately.
He was offering them for the future, not for now.
But this was Namgung Geom, who in his past life had already attained enlightenment in the Absolute Realm. He was able to comprehend a substantial portion, if not all, of Namgung Pae’s insights.
Through Namgung Pae’s profound insights, Namgung Geom not only came to understand the Three Great Sword Techniques with greater depth, but his understanding of the sword itself deepened considerably as well.
It was truly the greatest of opportunities.
* * *
Over four days, Namgung Geom received the transmission of the Three Great Sword Techniques and the profound insights from Namgung Pae.
And for the following four days, he refined those techniques and cultivated the understanding he had gained.
Then came the day of the Initiation Ceremony at Changyong Hall.
After his preparations were complete, Namgung Geom made his way to the Training Ground of Changyong Hall.
Upon arriving at the Training Ground, he saw his classmates gathered there, their faces tense with anticipation.
A guest section had been prepared along one side of the Training Ground.
Since time remained, many seats in the guest section still sat empty.
At least the lower section, where the commanders and vice-commanders of the Three Great Sword Units were seated, was mostly filled.
“The Initiation Ceremony will commence shortly. All disciples are to form ranks.”
At the call of Namgung Pil, the senior instructor of Changyong Hall, the disciples quickly fell into neat rows and columns.
As the ceremony drew near, the empty seats in the guest section filled rapidly.
The masters of the Three Pavilions and the lords of the Four Halls, along with the elders of the Elder Council, took their places.
And at last, one final figure made his entrance.
“The Patriarch is arriving.”
As Namgung Pae, the Patriarch of the Namgung Clan, stepped in, everyone in the guest section rose and bowed their heads.
“We bow before the Patriarch!”
The youths in the Training Ground also offered their respects in unison.
“You may dispense with the formalities.”
Namgung Pae raised the elders and senior figures to their feet.
He then displayed his hand to the children in the Training Ground before taking his seat of honor.
“Then we shall now commence the Initiation Ceremony of Changyong Hall.”
The ceremony began under Namgung Pil’s direction.
“First, the Patriarch will offer his words of congratulation.”
Namgung Pae ascended the platform.
“I congratulate you all on passing the examination of Changyong Hall. You are the pillars who will lead the Namgung Clan in the days to come. I urge you to cultivate with all your strength, to grow, and to bring honor to the Namgung Clan.”
Namgung Pae spoke briefly and stepped down.
“Next, the Master of Changyong Hall will present the Azure Dragon Sword to those who have passed.”
Following Namgung Pae, Namgung Baek, Master of Changyong Hall, ascended the platform.
“Those whose names are called shall come forward and receive the Azure Dragon Sword.”
Namgung Pil called the names of the successful candidates one by one, and Namgung Baek presented each of them with the Azure Dragon Sword.
The Azure Dragon Sword was given only to disciples of Changyong Hall.
In itself, it was a badge that proved one’s status as a disciple of Changyong Hall.
Within the Namgung Clan, to possess the Azure Dragon Sword was to be held in respect.
Every child who belonged to the Namgung Clan dreamed of entering Changyong Hall and receiving the Azure Dragon Sword.
Yet in reality, only a few ever received it.
Therefore, receiving the Azure Dragon Sword was glorious in itself.
The children who received the Azure Dragon Sword wore expressions of profound emotion.
And then came Namgung Geom’s turn, the last.
“I congratulate you on your initiation into Changyong Hall. Go forward with renewed diligence, and become a pillar of the Namgung Clan.”
Namgung Baek presented the Azure Dragon Sword to him along with words of encouragement.
“Thank you.”
Namgung Geom accepted the Azure Dragon Sword with deference.
“My expectations for you are great. I trust you will not disappoint me.”
At Namgung Baek’s words, Namgung Geom smiled.
“I will strive to live up to the Master’s expectations.”
Namgung Geom could sense Namgung Baek’s favor toward him.
If he could win the heart of Namgung Baek, one of the Three Great Swordsmen, it would be of considerable help in all that lay ahead.
As Namgung Geom descended from the platform after receiving the Azure Dragon Sword, he suddenly felt eyes upon him.
Following that gaze, he turned his head and saw three uncles seated in the guest section.
Their eyes held different expressions, each distinct from the others.
His eldest uncle, Namgung Seong, gazing at him with cool composure.
His second uncle, Namgung Byeok, staring with cold intensity.
His third uncle, Namgung Un, lifting the corners of his mouth as if amused.
Looking into their eyes, he understood.
The fight with his uncles had begun.
Namgung Byeok Yong
Author |
Baek Wol Geom
Publisher |
(Co.) Samyang C&C
Editor in Chief |
Editorial Department
Published by |
(Co.) Samyang C&C — Dreambooks
Address |
7th Floor, Gwangseong Building, 28 Bongeunsa-ro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260511103
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
X (Twitter) |
@dreambookss
Submissions |
[email protected]
Without the express written consent of (Co.) Samyang C&C — Dreambooks, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————