Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1559

“Aaaaargh!”

It was like hell on earth. Screams filled the air, and fire seemed to spread everywhere.

The Surochae attacked like a black wave, destroying everything in their path.

Their destruction was more than just hate. It was like they wanted to erase everything.

The Janggang Suro were once very powerful. People feared them like death itself on the Janggang River.

But when they joined the Four Faction Alliance, they became less important than before.

Also, the Black Dragon King lost to the Hwasan Sword Master. After that, the Janggang River was no longer just a border between groups. So, they became weaker and weaker over time.

Now, the Janggang Suro had to be careful around people they used to see as equal.

Their anger had grown huge over time. It was much stronger than the small troubles caused by the Demonic Sect.

“S-Stop them!”

The smaller groups, who had been watching from a distance, were now terrified and started to fight back.

Unlike the weaker fighters who ran away, the Surochae were moving forward, searching every small space where people could hide, like hunters looking for rats.

They could run or fight, but really, they had to fight.

“Aaaaargh!”

A swordsman fell, a trident through his chest. He coughed up blood. The pirate who stabbed him had cruel, excited eyes.

“Heh heh. Did you think you were safe just because you hid in this unimportant place?”

The swordsman tried to grab the trident with shaking hands. The pirate grinned and twisted the weapon. It tore through the man’s chest, making a horrible sound.

“Kuh-ugh…”

Every time the swordsman moved in pain, the pirate’s eyes shone brighter with excitement.

“You fiend!”

Suddenly, someone ran in and swung a sword, trying to cut off the pirate’s head in one strike.

WHOOSH! Dark, curved energy flew through the air. It cut the person in half instantly.

BOOM! The energy was still strong even after cutting through the person. It smashed a big rock behind them.

“Ugh…”

It was terrifying. The pirate’s eyes widened, and he shook as he turned.

“H-His Majesty, the Black Dragon King.”

Jeok Sekwang was suddenly behind him, eyes burning with anger.

The pirate froze as if he had suddenly encountered a tiger.

SMACK! The Black Dragon King punched the pirate hard. The pirate spat blood and stumbled back. The Black Dragon King’s stare felt like it could kill.

“You pathetic bastard…”

“S-Sorry…”

The pirate, covered in blood, tried to ignore the pain and bowed again and again.

The Black Dragon King looked at him quickly, then shouted loudly.

“I will destroy anyone who stands in our way! Stay alert!”

“Yes!”

The pirates, now even more tense, ran forward.

They were scared of angering the Black Dragon King, but also excited by his great power.

Armed with these two emotions, the pirates ran through the unknown land like well-trained hunting dogs.

CRACK. The Black Dragon King held his weapon tightly and stepped forward.

This dramatic start would be known everywhere soon.

‘Don’t run away. No, run away if you dare!’

Because I will chase you to the ends of the earth.

“Young Lord!”

“You’re here!”

Namgung Dowi greeted Namgung Myeong, who was running towards him, with a gentle smile.

Namgung Myeong quickly scanned the young lord’s complexion. He had rushed over with all his might as soon as he heard the news and joined Namgung Dowi. Surprisingly, Namgung Dowi seemed calm. He must have heard that the enemy who killed his father was alive right nearby.

“Are you alright?”

“What do you mean, ‘alright’?”

Namgung Dowi tilted his head as if he were rather puzzled.

‘Is he really calm?’

Seeing that, he felt relieved and worried at the same time. The fact that he was not agitated was certainly a good thing, but…

Namgung Myeong carefully asked again.

“Did you hear the news?”

“About the Black Dragon King? Yes, I heard.”

Namgung Dowi shrugged. As if it were nothing important.

“Yes, I heard. Hmm. Things are getting messy, Uncle. I didn’t think they would betray us like this.”

…

“So, all those Demonic Sect people we sent to Gangbuk were just used as bait… It’s terrible to say, but they were just sacrifices. I can’t believe someone could be so cruel.”

Even though Namgung Dowi was spouting gruesome words, Namgung Myeong secretly let out a sigh of relief.

The young lord is currently calm.

That was the most important thing right now.

How anxiously had he rushed over, fearing that Namgung Dowi, burning with revenge, might run to the Janggang River right away?

But fortunately, Namgung Dowi seemed to have grown up better than he had thought.

Namgung Myeong let out a short sigh and nodded.

“We need a plan now.”

“Yes, Uncle. We know what they want to do. If we don’t stop them, things will get much worse.”

People were being moved out of Anhui, but it was slow. ‘We can’t save everyone,’ Namgung Myeong thought. ‘Even the whole country couldn’t move so many people so fast. It’s too much for us alone.’

“Then, first of all, the orders from the Alliance…”

“No, that will take too long. Even though we can talk to the Alliance quickly, they don’t really know what’s happening here, right? We have to act now to stop things from getting worse.”

Namgung Myeong glanced at Namgung Dowi and asked cautiously.

“What can we do…”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Namgung Dowi smiled brightly.

“We must kill him. The Black Dragon King.”

The air instantly froze over.

Namgung Myeong was at a loss for words. He forgot to be mindful of the situation and just stared blankly at Namgung Dowi.

But Namgung Dowi, for his part, was as calm as if he had said something obvious.

“Y-Young Lord. That’s…”

Cold sweat formed on Namgung Myeong’s forehead.

“I understand how you feel. But now is not the time to think so impulsively. First of all…”

“Don’t misunderstand, Uncle.”

Before he could finish speaking, Namgung Dowi slowly shook his head.

“I am not angry right now, and I am certainly not swayed by emotions. I am just telling you what is obvious.”

“Young Lord!”

“The Surochae have invaded Anhui. Then who should stop them?”

Namgung Myeong closed his mouth.

“…That is…”

“It is naturally the Namgung Clan. And didn’t they teach us that cutting off the head is much more efficient than eliminating many enemies one by one?”

“Young Lord!”

“So I am merely doing the same.”

Namgung Myung’s face turned deathly pale.

He wasn’t calm. Or perhaps he truly was calm. But if the conclusion is the same regardless of his state, what difference does it make? Unable to bear it any longer, Namgung Myung raised his voice.

“Why are you doing this, Young Lord! The Namgung Clan alone can’t stand against the Suro Troop. Don’t you know that?”

“Uncle,” Namgung Dowi said, his voice calm but firm. He looked at Namgung Myung, his eyes serious.

“Are you going to back down just because of that?”

Namgung Myung blinked, confused. “Pardon?”

Dowi leaned forward slightly. “Because we are not as strong as the Suro Troop, are you saying we should abandon the people who trust us? Should we run and hide here, holding our breath and hoping someone else will save us?” His voice rose a little with each question, showing his growing passion.

The tips of Namgung Myung’s fingers trembled, like dry leaves in a cold wind.

“Yes. You’re right, Uncle. That would be the wise thing to do. But Uncle, you must not forget. Namgung barely survived thanks to those who did not choose that wise path. If they had chosen the ‘wise path’ like the Nine Factions, the Namgung name would be gone.”

“…Young Lord.”

“It is the Azure Sky.”

Namgung Dowi smiled faintly and looked up at the sky. It was a bright, clear blue, the kind of blue that seemed to go on forever. That sky is looking down on them.

“Why does Namgung adopt the Azure Sky as its banner? I have thought about it for a long time since I was young. I have heard many answers, but none of them were truly understandable. But then I saw my father, and I saw others. As the situation Namgung faced changed, I finally understood. Uncle, do you know why Namgung is the Azure Sky?”

“…Why is it?”

“Because we must not be ashamed under the heavens.”

Namgung Dowi slowly rose to his feet.

At that, the bodies of the others who were watching the two began to tremble slightly.

“If we retreat from here, can you be proud, Uncle?”

“Dowi…”

“I cannot.”

Namgung Dowi shook his head and looked straight at the sky.

“Perhaps my father would not want this. He might think that choice was his mistake, and that revenge is meaningless.”

“That is likely. If it were my brother, he would certainly…!”

“But I am not. I find it hard to imagine my father condoning us abandoning the people of Anhui to danger.”

Namgung Myung’s body also began to tremble.

He recalled Namgung Hwang, his brother and the head of the family.

There was no need to think. If Namgung Hwang heard the news, he would immediately take his sword and head to the Yangtze River. He would ensure that not a single one of those filthy bandits returned to the Yangtze alive.

But…

“Uncle, don’t say that we lack strength. Even if he lacked strength, my father would have risked his life.”

A heavy aura flowed from Namgung Dowi.

“If you tell me, who must carry on the name of Namgung and become a head of the family like my father, that I still cannot do it, then wouldn’t that mean that Namgung became unlike Namgung because of me?”

“Dowi.”

Namgung Dowi smiled faintly.

“Uncle, please step back. This is an order as the Young Lord… No, as the acting head of the family.”

“What, what are you talking about?”

“If something were to happen to me, wouldn’t someone have to take my place and lead the family?”

In that instant, Namgung Myung’s heart turned cold.

Namgung Dowi wasn’t going because he believed he could win. He was going because he had to go, regardless of victory or defeat.

This meant that there was no way to stop Namgung Dowi, no matter what he did.

“I am going to protect the name of Namgung. As for personal feelings of revenge… Hmm, I can’t honestly say they don’t exist. But wouldn’t it be alright? Revenge and duty are telling me to do the same thing: fight. So, it’s right for me to do both.”

Namgung Dowi tapped his father’s sword. The metal was cold and smooth under his fingers. It was old, but still strong, like the Namgung name itself.

“This is my father’s sword. Even if its power is not what it used to be, it will prove that Namgung is still Namgung. I will, with this sword.”

Namgung Myung closed his eyes tightly. His eyelashes were trembling faintly.

“So, Uncle…”

“You are the acting head of the family. Not the head.” Namgung Myung’s eyes, which had reopened, were cold.

“So don’t order me. You can’t exclude me from avenging my brother’s death.”

“Uncle…”

“Every day, every single day since my brother died, I have dreamed of this moment. I want to tear those Suro Troop dogs apart!” Namgung Myung abandoned reason. And he filled the void with a desire for revenge.

“I will stand at the front.”

“…”

“Will you stop me?”

Namgung Dowi shook his head.

“I can’t do that.”

“Yes. The remaining ones are also Namgung. It will not collapse even if I am not there.”

With even Namgung Myung taking Namgung Dowi’s side, everything went smoothly.

“Are there any among you who wish to retreat?”

“No!”

“I will take revenge with my sword!”

“We cannot allow the Suro Troop to trample on Anhui! Never!”

Namgung Myung nodded.

“Young Lord. When everyone comes…”

“No.” Namgung Dowi shook his head.

“If we leave first, those who will follow will come on their own. We cannot force a path that they may not be able to return from.”

“…That’s right. You speak the truth.” Namgung Myung nodded heavily and said, “I am ready.”

“Raise the Azure Sky Banner!”

“Yes!”

A large sky-blue flag is raised. The flag symbolizing the head of the Namgung Clan. A flag proving that Namgung is here.

Namgung Dowi turned his head slightly.

Perhaps someone was running towards this place with all their might. But this time, he could not wait for him.

‘I’m sorry, Dojang.’

You can curse me for being stubborn, or criticize me for being immature. But sometimes, people have to face things with half-baked stubbornness!

“What is the enemy’s location?”

“According to the information sent by the Beggars’ Sect, they have not moved far from the Yangtze River yet.”

Namgung Dowi nodded.

If he adjusted his speed to some extent, taking into account the time it would take for the other Namgung Clan groups scattered throughout Anhui to join them?

“It would be about a day’s journey.”

Everyone nodded firmly.

‘A day…’

Namgung Dowi smiled faintly.

“It’s just the right amount of time.”

To sharpen this sword of revenge to a razor’s edge.

“We depart! We will not return until we have taken the enemy’s heads!”

“Understood!”

He took a step forward.

Namgung’s blue flag began to advance towards the Yangtze River. To stain that flag red with the blood of the black dragon.