Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 934

People often think ships sink slowly. But tonight, that idea was about to be proven wrong.

Ships have many rooms inside, even below the main floor. This means if a hole breaks the bottom and the ship leans to one side, there is still time before it fully goes underwater. Most people believe this.

However.

*Rumble!* A low sound, like thunder far away, but deeper.

But now, what everyone thought was true was being destroyed right in front of them. No one saw where the attack came from or how, but the huge ship was pulled underwater very quickly. It was like a giant hand from below was dragging it down.

Watching the dark water pull the ship down, like it was eating it, filled everyone watching with cold fear. The black river seemed to open up and swallow the ship whole.

“The, the ship⋯⋯”

If they were attacked by people, they would understand. But for those who didn’t know about sea fights, it was shocking that the ship was attacked first, not the people on it.

Someone suddenly understood what was happening when the second ship leaned to one side with a very loud noise.

“St, stop it! You blasted fools! Stop it now!”

A voice, more scream than command, echoed through the air. People who were just starting to understand what was happening looked at the ship with worry.

Yes, they had to stop it. If they let it continue, all the ships would sink.

But how?

How could they stop an attack that came from an unseen place and sank their ships?

“Jump in! The aquatic bastards are attacking from underwater!”

There is always someone who thinks fast. These people often show others what to do. Those who heard the clear answer rushed into the water as if they didn’t need to think at all.

People who could move quickly jumped into the water, hitting the surface hard like cannonballs. Water splashed up again and again.

If someone could have watched without being in danger, it might have looked amazing. But no one had time to enjoy the view.

*Rumble!*

Just then, another ship leaned over with a loud noise and was pulled down, making a huge cloud of white foam.

“You sons of bitches!”

Yeop Sang of the Azure Sky Sword Squad screamed as he threw himself into the water.

Splash!

Hitting the water was a big shock to Yeop Sang’s body. The faster you jump in, the harder it hits you.

But something else really worried him.

The fact that he couldn’t see anything before him.

A world of darkness.

The river water in the dark night was blacker than he ever thought possible.

It was so dark, he couldn’t see anything, even with his eyes trained for fighting. The moment he faced it, a shiver ran down his spine. It was a fear that was truly difficult to overcome.

But Yeop Sang didn’t have time to feel that fear for long, whether that was good or bad.

Thud!

Feeling fear was not important now, because he felt something cold and sharp stab into his chest and stomach.

Yeop Sang’s mouth opened wide. Black water kept rushing in, filling his stomach and lungs.

“Glug.”

Bubbles poured from his open mouth. His eyes, just getting used to the dark, saw that long things stuck in his chest and stomach were the sea attackers’ spears.

“Glug.”

But that was all.

He was just starting to see shapes in the dark, but then everything went black again, very quickly.

A darkness so deep and complete – the darkness of death.

Yeop Sang’s dead body, no longer moving, floated slowly up to the surface, carried by the water. Not just Yeop Sang, but many dead bodies of those who had quickly jumped into the water came up at the same time.

If they weren’t in the water… or even if they were in the water, but it wasn’t night, this would not have happened.

But the river, covered in darkness, was more dangerous than they could have ever guessed.

In a place where they couldn’t see, couldn’t feel, and couldn’t breathe, everything they had learned was meaningless. Those who rushed in without thinking about fighting in the dark water paid a terrible price.

“So-ahyaaaa! Namgung So!”

“Aargh!”

The swordsmen of the Namgung Clan, seeing the rising corpses, screamed until their throats were raw.

And just then.

Rumble!

As if to destroy any hope left, another ship started to sink. The blood drained from the faces of the Namgung Clan swordsmen.

‘Again⋯⋯’

Now, only one ship was still floating on the rough water.

If they lost even that, they would completely lose their means of escape from this island.

The thought of stopping it crossed their minds, but their feet wouldn’t move. Seeing people who jumped in become dead bodies so quickly, who would be brave enough to jump in now?

“Get out of the way! I’m going!”

Then, a voice full of anger shouted from behind, and someone jumped into the water right away, without stopping to think.

“Gasp!”

“Lo, Lord Namgung!”

“It’s dangerous!”

The Namgung Clan swordsmen, seeing the back of Namgung Dowi jumping into the river, cried out in alarm. But he had already leaped in like a bird of prey hunting fish below the water.

With a spray of water, Namgung Dowi disappeared at once.

Because the young leader, the one who would lead the family next, jumped into the water without fear, the swordsmen watching him felt brave and strong.

“Protect the young lord!”

“We must protect both the ship and the young lord!”

“There is no fear in the name of Namgung! Let’s go!”

The swordsmen by the river and even the Azure Sky Sword Squad who came running late, all felt braver and followed Namgung Dowi. As if ashamed of having hesitated even for a moment.

Until a desperate scream was heard from behind them.

“Not thereeeeee!”

Those who were rushing into the water turned around in surprise.

Namgung Myeong, who had rushed over at some point, was shouting at the top of his lungs with a face that was visibly pale.

“It’s not the ship! The docks! Protect the docks! You must protect the docks!”

“Pardon?”

“The docks! Didn’t I say the docks! The docks before the ship⋯⋯”

KABOOOOM!

Just then, a huge column of water exploded upwards, swallowing the docks built by the river. The docks couldn’t handle the power. The wood broke into pieces and flew up into the air like fireworks.

KABOOOOM!

“Ah⋯⋯”

Namgung Myeong’s face turned as white as if he had seen a ghost.

He clearly saw the pillar of water swallowing the White Thunder Cannons that had been stationed at the docks.

“No⋯ way⋯⋯”

His legs seemed to give way, and he collapsed on the spot.

KABOOOOM!

At the same time, the last ship they were trying to save also started to sink, with one last loud boom.

Namgung Myeong stared blankly at the entire scene. His face was as if his soul had completely left him.

The long docks and the White Thunder Cannons placed there.

The core of defending this Plum Blossom Island was these two things. The docks gave them land to fight on with their swords, and made it easier to reach the mainland, helping them stay alive.

And the White Thunder Cannons were the only thing stopping ships from getting close to the docks – they were their most important protection.

But now, they had lost the land to fight on and the weapons to stop enemy ships. Even the ships that were supposed to be their way to escape.

‘Wait, the weapons?’

Namgung Myeong hurriedly turned his head.

And he saw that the Namgung Clan warriors were all running towards him together, because they heard the noise.

“D-don’t come!”

Namgung Myeong screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Hold your positions, you blasted fools! You morons! You must protect the White Thunder Cannons deployed around the island! Go back! Go back now!”

His cry was desperate.

But it was too late. The warriors, surprised by his shout, quickly turned back and saw only broken batteries and White Thunder Cannons that were gone, like they were never there.

“Th, this⋯⋯”

It was the same everywhere else.

The sea attackers just waited for them to run over when they heard the noise. Then they jumped out of the water fast, broke the batteries, and disappeared completely.

Darkness and water.

Against enemies who could use darkness and water so well, the Namgung Clan’s sword skills were useless. They couldn’t even face their opponents, so what could they do with their swords?

The warriors who came back to Namgung Myeong, feeling heartbroken, knelt down on the ground.

“M-Master, the batteries have been destroyed.”

“We failed to protect the batteries.”

“⋯⋯”

Splash. Splash.

Namgung Dowi came out of the water and bit his lip, looking very sad after seeing what happened to the island.

“⋯⋯They tricked us.”

Namgung Myeong listened to all the sad news and looked around the island, confused.

They had lost everything they should never have lost. The docks, the ships, and the White Thunder Cannons.

This place could no longer be called Plum Blossom Island.

Plum Blossom Island, without weapons to fight the sea attackers and docks that were destroyed, was now just a dangerous place in the middle of the river. And now, the Namgung Clan was like animals trapped in that dangerous place.

They had been tricked. Completely.

Were they not careful enough? No.

Did they think the enemy was weaker than they were? No, that wasn’t it either.

The reason they lost so badly was because they didn’t understand that they were on an island in a river. Even a strong lion can be eaten by crocodiles in a dark river. They didn’t realize this.

“You’ve been completely beaten.”

Namgung Myeong bit his lip at the booming voice that came from behind him.

“L-Lord.”

His eyes trembled as he turned around.

Namgung Hwang, who walked quickly towards them, threw something he was holding onto the ground.

Three heads.

Heads that were clearly from the sea attackers rolled on the ground.

“Insects.”

Namgung Myeong knelt down and bowed his head low to the ground.

“Lord! I am useless. I have ruined everything. Please punish me.”

“Fool!”

Namgung Hwang roared at the sight.

“Raise your head! People of the Namgung Clan don’t bow down easily!”

“L-Lord⋯⋯”

“What is the problem? The ships? The cannons? The docks? What problem is there in losing such things!”

“⋯⋯”

“Even if we lost our ships, those enemies cannot come onto this island! Not one sea attacker will be allowed on the land I, Namgung Hwang, protect with my sword!”

Namgung Hwang drew his sword violently and shouted.

“Sea attackers or the Black Dragon King, it’s the same! We just need to show those fish who play small tricks that they can never beat the sword of the Namgung Clan! Do you understand?”

“Yes!”

The swordsmen of the Namgung Clan, made brave by his loud shout, answered with new strength.

Namgung Hwang, who had made them feel better after they felt so down, looked at the dark river water with a serious face.

‘⋯⋯This isn’t good.’

He had pretended to be confident to keep them from losing hope, but he knew the problem was very bad.

‘Damn it.’

The situation was getting worse and worse, going in a way he didn’t want.

Like a small boat being sucked into a whirlpool that had formed in the middle of the river.