Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 803

“Humph!” Namgung Hwang’s eyes narrowed as he entered the valley.

The valley was strange. Water filled a long space between tall cliffs, making a passage. It was wide enough for two ships to go side-by-side, but not much wider.

Namgung Hwang frowned as he looked around. This valley was perfect for a secret waterway. Tall cliffs rose on both sides, and water filled the space between them, creating a long passage. It was just wide enough for two ships to squeeze through. ‘A perfect trap,’ he thought.

As they went deeper, the valley walls blocked out the sun, and it grew darker. Looking up, the sky was just a thin blue line far above, like a crack in a dark ceiling.

“Stay alert!” Namgung Hwang’s voice boomed through the valley, echoing off the cliffs. “Even for a small enemy, we must be like a lion hunting. These are not just bandits; they are from the Evil Sect! We don’t know what they will try. It’s no shame to lose to a stronger fighter, but to die because you are not careful? That is a disgrace!”

“Yes!”

Namgung Hwang scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes.

It was his first time leading so many people and fighting such a formidable enemy. It wouldn’t be strange if he were excited.

However, as if proving that the position of the Namgung Clan’s head was not given to just anyone, his eyes were utterly cold.

“Father,” Namgung Dowi began, then quickly corrected himself, “Clan Head! This path is narrow, and the water is fast. If we are attacked here…”

“Don’t worry,” Namgung Hwang said, his voice full of confidence. “That’s why I brought the Azure Sky Sword Unit – my best warriors – to protect the ship. No common bandits can defeat them and reach us.”

Namgung Dowi nodded.

Someone else might have called it arrogance, but Namgung Dowi knew it was just confidence. His father had earned the right to speak like this.

“But more than that…” Namgung Hwang’s eyes flicked upwards. A cold smile touched his lips. “Those bandits are foolish. If they were smart, they’d be hiding in the water.”

Namgung Dowi followed his gaze. Then he saw them. Black figures were racing along the tops of the cliffs, like insects crawling on giant walls.

‘This is not like before!’ A jolt of fear went through Namgung Dowi. These men moved on the steep cliffs as easily as walking on flat ground. This was not just normal speed; this was a special skill, a kind of martial art. He knew at once these bandits were much more dangerous than any they had fought before.

“So, these are the Black Dragon Gang?” Namgung Hwang said, a cold smile playing on his lips. Even before he gave the command, the Azure Sky Sword Unit exploded into action. They leaped from the ship like eagles taking flight, soaring up the cliff face.

The two groups crashed together, a whirlwind of motion on the impossible slopes. “Attack!” roared one side. “Kill them all!” screamed the other.

Blades flashed, and strange energy crackled in the air. Swords sliced through the bandits’ rough clothes, and the bandits’ short spears ripped into the armor of the Azure Sky Sword Unit. One bandit, with a gaping wound in his chest, tumbled silently into the water below. *Splash!* *Splash!*

Even on this strange battlefield, the Azure Sky Sword Unit were clearly winning. They might not have trained to fight on cliffs, but their skill was too great to be stopped by a little uneven ground.

“This is too easy,” Namgung Hwang muttered, looking up. “Fire!” As if in answer, the sky above the narrow valley suddenly filled with black arrows. “Just as I thought,” Namgung Hwang said, a hint of boredom in his voice. It was a simple, obvious attack. But it was also useless.

*Clang! Clang!* His sword moved like lightning, deflecting every arrow that came near him. For normal soldiers on a battlefield, such a rain of arrows would be deadly. Even skilled fighters from other groups would have to be careful.

But these were the Azure Sky Namgung Clan. Ordinary arrows, without any special power, could not even pierce their skin, no matter how many were fired. To make arrows truly dangerous, the bandits would need to put *internal energy* into them – a special force used by martial artists. But to do that from this distance was too difficult, even for skilled archers. The cliffs, which the bandits thought were their advantage, were actually working against them.

“Clan Head! Should we attack them on the cliffs?” Namgung Dowi asked.

“No,” Namgung Hwang roared, his voice echoing again. “Ignore these weaklings! Let those behind us deal with them!”

“Yes, Clan Head!” The ship, which had paused briefly, surged forward again. Desperate bandits leaped from the cliffs, throwing themselves at the ship, trying to stop it. But they were no match for the Namgung Clan.

“*Kraaah!*” one cried as he was cut down.

“*Guh!*” another gasped.

The older members of the Namgung Clan stood like statues along the ship’s edge, their swords flashing, instantly cutting down anyone who dared to approach.

“Get out of our way, you dogs!” one elder yelled.

“How dare you attack the Namgung Clan!” shouted another.

Despite the chaos around them, the Namgung ship pushed forward, leaving the Wudang ship behind. It moved through the water with power and speed, unstoppable. Nothing seemed able to stand in Namgung Hwang’s path.

Namgung Dowi felt a thrill as he watched Namgung Hwang standing proudly on the lion figurehead at the front of the ship. Around them, chaos raged. Desperate bandits scrambled on the cliffs, arrows rained down, and now even huge rocks, as big as people, tumbled from above. Water splashed everywhere. It was a scene of fierce battle.

But Namgung Hwang stood completely still, his back straight and strong, as if nothing could touch him. ‘This is the head of the Namgung Clan,’ Dowi thought, his heart swelling with pride. ‘Emperor Sword Namgung Hwang. And this is the power of the Azure Sky Namgung Clan.’ He understood, deep in his bones, the strength of his family. One day, he would be the one leading them, just like his father.

‘One day,’ he thought, deflecting an arrow that flew too close, ‘even the great Shaolin and Wudang will bow before the Namgung Clan.’ Just as he made this vow to himself, Namgung Hwang’s voice boomed out again.

“I see it!” Namgung Hwang shouted. At last, the long canyon opened up ahead. The narrow valley suddenly widened, and they could see into the heart of the bandit lair. It was huge. ‘Like the inside of a giant volcano,’ Dowi thought, looking around in amazement.

The water, which had been squeezed through the narrow passage, now spread out like a fan, reaching a wide area of land. It was a vast basin, completely surrounded by towering cliffs.

“They have made a real fortress here,” Namgung Hwang said, impressed despite himself. It was a perfect place to defend. The entrance was so narrow that only one ship could enter at a time, and anyone entering would be attacked from above. For normal people, it would be impossible to get in. But they were not normal people. They were martial artists. Arrows and rocks from above were nothing to them.

Namgung Hwang smiled, a cruel twist to his lips. “They are trapped,” he said. “Like animals in a cage.” He drew his sword, the steel gleaming in the dim light.

“Disembark!” Namgung Hwang commanded. “We will crush them all at once!”

“Yes!” On the land, there were several large buildings. Bandit camps were usually temporary and messy, but these buildings were surprisingly solid and well-built. They looked like they were meant to last. It showed that the Black Dragon Gang was different from ordinary bandits; they were here to stay, and they were confident. ‘Still,’ Namgung Hwang thought, ‘they are just bandits!’

Namgung Hwang pushed off the lion figurehead with a powerful kick and launched himself forward. *Boom!* He flew through the air, landing on the ground with a heavy thud.

“Kill him!” Instantly, more than ten bandits rushed at him, weapons raised. They were armed with swords, axes, and spears, and they attacked fiercely.

“Worthless!” Namgung Hwang growled. He stamped his foot and swung his sword in a wide arc. *Kwaaaaang!* The force of the blow was incredible. It wasn’t just cutting; it was like a wave of power that smashed into the bandits. They were thrown backwards like toys, their bodies broken before they even hit the ground.

“Get out of my way, insects!” Namgung Hwang bellowed. “Black Dragon King! Show yourself! Emperor Sword Namgung Hwang has come for you!” With their leader in the front, the Azure Sky Sword Unit leaped onto the land, ready to fight.

“Clan Head!”

“Give us your orders!”

Namgung Hwang scowled, then shouted, “Kill every last one of them! Find the Black Dragon King and bring him to me!”

“Yes!” The Azure Sky Sword Unit surged forward, a wave of blue and silver crashing into the bandits.

“Hold them back!”

“You dogs!” The Black Dragon Gang fought back fiercely. They knew they were trapped. This fortress, which was supposed to protect them, now held them prisoner. There was no escape. The Black Dragon Gang was made up of the worst bandits from all over the land. They had done terrible things, and they knew there would be no mercy if they surrendered. Their only choice was to fight to the death.

“Die!” one screamed.

“*Kuh!*” another groaned as a sword found its mark. The sound of clashing metal rang out across the basin, a harsh, deafening noise. Individually, the Azure Sky Sword Unit were stronger. With the experienced elders and honored guests of the Namgung Clan fighting alongside them, the bandits should have been quickly defeated. But the Black Dragon Gang had numbers on their side. More and more bandits in black uniforms seemed to pour out of the buildings, like ants swarming from a nest.

“Fire!” *Boom! Boom!* Heavy iron harpoons shot from the towers on the buildings. One of the Azure Sky Sword Unit warriors turned to deflect a harpoon with his sword. *Clang!* He knocked it aside, but the wind caught it, and it slammed into the warrior next to him. *Crack!* The harpoon pierced through his armor.

“*Kuh…*” The warrior gasped, blood spraying out. He stumbled back, his body shaking, then collapsed to the ground and lay still. The Azure Sky Sword Unit were used to fighting with skill and space, but this chaotic battle was different.

“You monsters!” Namgung Hwang roared, his face contorted with rage. He charged forward, a blur of motion.

*Kwaaaaang!* Namgung Hwang’s sword flashed again, sending bandits flying like rag dolls.

“Show them the strength of the Namgung Clan!” he bellowed.

“Yes, Clan Head!” Just as the Namgung Clan seemed to be gaining ground, a new force entered the battle. The Wudang ship had finally arrived, and now their warriors poured onto the land, led by Heo Do-jin. He leaped into the fight, his sword already drawn.

“You… you righteous dogs…” one bandit stammered, caught between the two powerful groups.

*Slicing!* Heo Do-jin’s blade flashed, and the bandit fell, a thin line of blood appearing on his neck.

“Don’t lag behind!” Heo Do-jin said to his followers, his voice cold and sharp. “We will finish this quickly!”

“Yes!” Namgung and Wudang. The two great sword schools, the most famous in the land, fought side-by-side, cutting down bandits as if in a contest to see who was stronger.