Ice Dragon of Namgung - Chapter 91

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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 91
A few days later.
The Martial Combat between Namgung Chang and Namgung Do took place.
Namgung Do had been the strongest of his generation at Changyong-gak.
Yet prevailing opinion held that his generation lacked talent compared to the others.
By contrast, Namgung Chang’s generation was called the Golden Generation, boasting the greatest talent in the clan’s history.
Within that generation, Namgung Chang stood at the very apex.
Save for Namgung Geom, who was an absolute anomaly, he was undoubtedly the strongest.
One man, the best of a weak generation; the other, second only in the strongest generation.
Who would prevail?
With all eyes upon them, the two began their match.
The result was Namgung Chang’s victory.
He dominated Namgung Do—a man a generation above him—from start to finish.
And he defeated him in fifty seconds.
With that, Namgung Chang was confirmed as the representative for the Martial Tournament.
“Pathetic fool.”
Namgung Seong sighed at Namgung Do’s loss.
He had hoped this opportunity would bring his son to the clan’s attention.
If Namgung Do won the Martial Tournament, interest in him would skyrocket accordingly.
Naturally, his father Namgung Seong would receive more notice, and attention on Namgung Geom would proportionally wane.
It was his chance to leap ahead in the race for the position of clan leader.
But with Namgung Do’s defeat, all of it came to nothing.
Instead, Namgung Chang’s victory brought Namgung Geom into the spotlight.
It was already common knowledge that Namgung Geom had personally trained the peers of Changyong-gak.
With Namgung Chang’s victory, his teacher Namgung Geom couldn’t help but receive attention.
Already formidable, Namgung Geom had been given wings.
If Namgung Chang won the Martial Tournament itself……
Namgung Seong could only resent his son, who seemed bent on throwing away every opportunity laid before him.
Meanwhile, Namgung Geom showed little emotion at Namgung Chang’s victory.
Namgung Chang was equally unexcited.
His true goal was victory at the Martial Tournament.
Defeating Namgung Do and securing entry was a given, not something to celebrate.
“Then let’s take a Great Harmony Pill and begin serious training in earnest.”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Namgung Chang’s eyes flickered.
“What have we been doing until now, then?”
“Just warming up?”
Namgung Geom chuckled and nodded.
Namgung Chang did not smile.
Then his gaze fell upon three senior disciples standing nearby.
‘That’s right. I can’t bear this alone.’
“I can’t grow stronger by myself. What if the other senior disciples trained with me?”
The three senior disciples flinched at Namgung Chang’s words.
“What are you talking about? We’re not competing in the Martial Tournament.”
“Right. Unlike some, we’re not taking a Great Harmony Pill either.”
“To win the tournament, you need the unit commander’s focused guidance. We’d only be in the way.”
All three senior disciples refused in unison.
“Have you forgotten we’re one? We should train and suffer together, shouldn’t we?”
Namgung Chang spoke as if genuinely hurt by their rejection.
The three senior disciples glared at Namgung Chang as though they could kill him with their eyes.
‘If anyone dies, let it be you alone!’
That was exactly what their gaze conveyed.
Namgung Chang let out a dry laugh and turned to Namgung Geom.
“Unit commander! I think training together with the senior disciples would be even more effective.”
At Namgung Chang’s words, the three senior disciples held their breath and stared at Namgung Geom.
‘Please refuse!’
‘Say no!’
Namgung Geom, reading their desperate gazes, let out an amused laugh.
“As the first senior disciple says, training and hardship shared together build lasting bonds.”
The three senior disciples shook their heads, but Namgung Geom pretended not to see and rose to his feet.
“Rest well today, then. Tomorrow we begin in earnest.”
Namgung Geom left those words behind and departed.
The three Lords, who had watched him recede with dazed expressions, whipped their heads toward Namgung Chang.
Namgung Chang flinched at their sinister gazes, all three bearing the same malevolent gleam.
“Ha ha! Isn’t it nice when we all get stronger together?”
“Kill that bastard first!”
At Namgung Cheolung’s cry, Namgung Cheonsan and Namgung Seol rushed at Namgung Chang.
And they began trampling him mercilessly.
“Wait! Just hear me out! Gahhh!”
Namgung Chang called out desperately, but the three Lords showed no sign of stopping.
“Why should you drag us down just because you’re willing to die alone?”
“You get all the benefits of the Great Harmony Pill and we all share the suffering? Not a chance!”
“Just keep stomping!”
Their kicks continued relentlessly, and Namgung Chang’s cries echoed pitifully.
And the next day.
Namgung Chang appeared with both eyes swollen a deep purple-blue.
Heh!
Namgung Geom laughed upon seeing him.
“Don’t laugh!”
“Why did you go asking for a beating? I was planning to put you through training anyway.”
“What? Why didn’t you say that earlier?”
Namgung Chang cried out as if deeply wronged.
“You never asked.”
At Namgung Geom’s reply, Namgung Chang’s expression turned blank with disbelief.
“Fine. I won’t speak anymore.”
“Then we shall begin earnest training from today. Before taking the Great Harmony Pill, you will study the profound insights of the Heavenly Wind Infinite Heart Method with me.”
Namgung Chang nodded.
“The other three Lords will train with the Black Shadow Three Swords, so work alongside them.”
The Black Shadow Three Swords was another name for the Black Killing Sect’s Three Swords.
Having chosen to live a new life, they had even changed their name.
“Train with the Black Shadow Three Swords?”
The three Lords were startled.
They had been the elite assassins of the Black Killing Sect.
Even after defecting to the Namgung Clan, they could never truly abandon the way of the killer’s blade.
The three Lords shrank from facing their swords.
It was an instinctive dread of the assassin’s blade.
Namgung Geom understood their hearts well.
But this was not something to avoid out of fear—it was something that must be overcome.
And if they conquered their fear of the assassin’s blade, their skill would grow far beyond what it was now.
“I won’t kill you, so don’t worry too much.”
Namgung Geom left those utterly reassuring words and departed.
Then space rippled, and the Black Shadow Three Swords materialized.
“Shall we begin training then? The method is simple. We attack, and you defend. Any questions?”
Heuk Il Sal asked.
The three Lords shook their heads.
“Then let’s start immediately.”
The Black Shadow Three Swords blurred and vanished into space.
The three Lords marveled at the sight.
They had been watching right before their eyes, yet they couldn’t tell how they disappeared.
And they couldn’t sense their presence at all.
“How long will you stand there dazed like that?”
At Heuk Il Sal’s voice, the three Lords snapped to attention and concentrated their minds.
In an instant, space tore open and the Black Shadow Three Swords erupted forth.
Their blades pierced into the trio.
Slash!
Before they could even react, the blades grazed across their bodies.
Blood sprayed from the trio’s wounds.
The three felt their skin prickle with dread.
They couldn’t sense the Black Shadow Three Swords’ presence.
By the time they noticed the blades, their flesh was already cut.
If the Black Shadow Three Swords had aimed to kill, there would have been no escape.
The three were struck anew by how formidable Namgung Geom was to have subdued them so effortlessly.
And that was far from all.
Had he not laid low the Black Killing Sect’s master single-handedly, a foe stronger than they?
None of them could suppress the Black Shadow Three Swords as Namgung Geom did.
Still, they had to be capable of blocking his blade.
Determination hardened across all three faces.
“Please, teach us again!”
* * *
Having entrusted the three’s training to Heuk Il Sal, Namgung Geom moved with Namgung Chang to the Meditation Chamber prepared in the Martial Training Grounds.
“Once you take the Great Harmony Pill this time, you’ll be able to reach the Peak Realm.”
Namgung Chang was taken aback by his words.
“The Peak Realm?”
Currently, Namgung Chang stood at the mid-tier of First Class.
Even with the Great Harmony Pill, reaching the Peak Realm would have been difficult.
Of course, the pill would provide sufficient Inner Power.
The obstacle lay in understanding and enlightenment regarding that Inner Power.
“From now on, I intend to transmit to you my Profound Understanding of the Heavenly Wind Infinite Heart Method. If you grasp even thirty percent of it, you’ll have no trouble ascending to the Peak Realm.”
“You’re going to transmit your Profound Understanding of the Heavenly Wind Infinite Heart Method to me?”
Namgung Chang’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
“What is it? Do you see some problem?”
“Why are you helping me this much?”
“Because it serves me.”
“It serves you?”
“The Changyong Sword Unit is my greatest strength. The stronger the unit becomes, the stronger I become. And for the Changyong Sword Unit to grow stronger, the commanders like yourself must grow stronger.”
Namgung Geom wished to make the Changyong Sword Unit the greatest sword unit in the Namgung Clan.
For that to happen, the unit’s commanders had to grow stronger.
And if the Changyong Sword Unit grew stronger, it served Namgung Geom well.
As he said, the Changyong Sword Unit was power he wielded.
If Namgung Chang grew stronger, the unit grew stronger; if the unit grew stronger, Namgung Geom’s power expanded.
Thus, nurturing Namgung Chang was the same as expanding his own strength.
“So carry no burden. You need only grow stronger.”
“Understood. I’ll give my utmost effort.”
Transmitting Profound Understanding was no ordinary matter, whatever the reason.
At the very least, it was clear that Namgung Geom was sincere with him.
To repay that sincerity, Namgung Chang resolved he would certainly reach the Peak Realm.
Namgung Geom could sense the determination taking shape across his face.
“Then shall we begin?”
Namgung Geom started transmitting his Profound Understanding of the Heavenly Wind Infinite Heart Method to Namgung Chang.
Profound Understanding differed from mere formulaic incantations.
It was not easy to convey through words alone.
Yet Namgung Geom had been granted not only his past-life enlightenment but also the Profound Understanding of Namgung Pae in this life.
As a result, his enlightenment had deepened further still.
The challenge lay in conveying that enlightenment clearly enough for understanding.
Namgung Geom drew on his own experience as examples, explaining as concretely as possible to Namgung Chang.
Yet even that proved difficult for Namgung Chang to grasp.
“Even if you don’t understand now, simply hold it in your mind. It will prove helpful later.”
“Understood.”
From the start, he harbored no expectation of grasping everything fully.
If he could understand and gain enlightenment for even thirty percent of it, there would be no obstacle to reaching the Peak Realm.
With Namgung Chang’s talent, that much was entirely achievable.
Meanwhile, Namgung Chang found himself newly struck by Namgung Geom’s greatness.
Every scrap of Profound Understanding that Namgung Geom conveyed brimmed with profundity.
How could he know such profound truths in such abundance?
Were they truly the same age?
He found himself doubting whether they were truly the same person at all.
One truth was undeniable: Namgung Geom was an existence of such towering height that Namgung Chang could scarcely dare to aspire toward him.
To pursue such a figure, mere effort would not suffice.
One had to exhaust every fiber of one’s being.
Namgung Chang focused every ounce of his mind on grasping the Profound Understanding that Namgung Geom conveyed.
As a result, within four days he had gained understanding and enlightenment enough to satisfy Namgung Geom.
Namgung Chang possessed talent, certainly, but it was Namgung Geom’s exceptional instruction that made such progress possible.
“This should suffice for now. Rest well today, and we’ll have you take the Great Harmony Pill tomorrow.”
“Understood. And thank you.”
“If you’re grateful, then tomorrow you must reach the Peak Realm without fail.”
Namgung Geom smiled and left the Meditation Chamber.
Stepping out into the Martial Training Grounds, he found three Lords locked in a fierce battle with the Black Shadow Three Swords.
Their bodies were wrapped entirely in bandages.
Wounds inflicted by the Black Shadow Three Swords.
“I feel a bit guilty about this.”
Watching the three bandaged fighters, Namgung Geom felt a twinge of remorse.
Yet strength cannot be forged without suffering.
Their present pain would only make them stronger.
“I’d better slip away.”
If he stayed now, he’d certainly hear some sharp words.
Namgung Geom carefully made his way out of the Martial Training Grounds, taking care not to be noticed.
Just as he was about to slip away, a chilling voice called out from behind him.
“Lord! Where are you trying to go like that?”
Namgung Bing-ryong
Author |
Baek Wol Geom
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(주) Samyang C&C
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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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