Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 935

Fear filled the night for the Namgung swordsmen. They had never felt a night like this before.

The swordsmen of the Namgung Clan were scared, waiting for the river pirates to attack. They couldn’t even try to escape the island, already knowing the dangers of the dark river.

In the end, the swordsmen of the Namgung Clan stayed awake all night.

When dawn finally came, they faced an even deeper despair than the darkness.

Namgung Myung spoke, his voice heavy with worry, like he was in pain.

“…Battleships. Su Rochae battleships.”

Namgung Hwang just made a sound in his throat, showing he understood.

He frowned deeply. As the sun climbed into the sky, light spread across the river. Suddenly, they could see them clearly – ships. Many ships, all around the island. They were big and dark, with rows of cannons pointing at them like hungry mouths.

“…That little snake,” Namgung Hwang hissed, his teeth grinding together in anger.

It seemed they had brought every river pirate ship on the Jang River. This showed they would not let anyone escape.

“Great Sky Leader.”

“Yes, Clan Leader!”

“Can we break through?”

Namgung Myung bit his lip tightly.

“…It’s difficult, Clan Leader.”

“Why?”

He swallowed hard and replied.

“The riverbank is too far. We could cross it if we really tried, but… we can’t reach the riverbank while blocking the cannons and arrows from those pirate ships.”

Namgung Hwang bit his lip.

“What if I cross the river alone? It wouldn’t be too hard for me and the elders, even if the Great Sky warriors can’t, right?”

“…It might be possible. But…”

Namgung Myung spoke with difficulty.

“Even if you and the elders break through and reach the land… nothing will change.”

This place is an island.

To get people to the land, they need a boat. Even if Namgung Hwang goes to the shore, gets a boat, and comes back to the island, how can he face so many ships alone?

The boat he gets will eventually sink under the cannon fire.

“Wouldn’t it be better than now?”

“Clan Leader…”

Namgung Myung’s tightly closed lips turned white. It was embarrassing to say, but he had no choice.

“…The moment you and the elders leave this island, they will attack the island without waiting for you. If that happens…”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Hwang groaned, understanding without hearing the rest of the story. Namgung Myung said in a sad voice.

“Those who remain on the island…”

“Will be killed.”

Namgung Hwang, who muttered quietly, closed his eyes.

For a clan, a strong leader is responsible for more than half of the clan’s power. The Namgung Clan without Namgung Hwang can never stand against the Su Rochae.

The reason is simple.

A black ship was showing its impressive appearance among the ships around the island.

‘Black Dragon Ship…’

The Black Dragon King must be on that ship.

There’s no need to even think about the elders. The moment Namgung Hwang takes one step away, the Black Dragon King will steer the ship here and try to land. Who in the Namgung Clan without Namgung Hwang would face the Black Dragon King?

They were trapped on the island. For the Black Dragon King, attacking them would be easy, like a cat catching mice.

“In the end… you’re saying there’s nothing we can do.”

“Clan Leader…”

Namgung Hwang’s face was calm. He didn’t seem angry.

But Namgung Myung and Namgung Dowi clearly saw it: blood flowing from his tightly clenched fist.

He was holding back his anger, clenching his fist so hard that his nails were digging into his palm. He would never show such signs to the other members of the Namgung Clan.

“Humph!”

Namgung Hwang snorted and spoke as if growling.

“They are too scared to even come closer.”

Soon, his loud voice spread out.

“Those idiots can’t approach the island anyway. Then, the fight will continue. Don’t waste your energy guarding your positions. Go and rest. There are plenty of buildings, so resting won’t be a problem.”

When the swordsmen of the Namgung Clan sent worried glances, Namgung Hwang spoke again, cutting them off.

“There’s nothing to worry about. As long as we stay on this island for a while, everything will be okay!”

“Clan Leader…”

“Great Sky Leader!”

“Yes, Clan Leader!”

“Divide the warriors into groups and have them rest in shifts. Keep guard, but don’t waste too much energy! Just watch out for ships approaching the island.”

“Yes!”

Namgung Myung called the warriors and quickly formed groups. He made the remaining people go into the buildings.

The warriors were anxious and uneasy about going inside where they couldn’t see outside. But they knew they couldn’t help by guarding outside, so they followed Namgung Myung’s orders.

When things were a little calmer, Namgung Hwang called Namgung Myung and Namgung Dowi to talk privately. He moved to a place where others wouldn’t notice and asked them with a different face than before.

“What do you think we should do now?”

He wasn’t a fool.

He knew things were going terribly wrong.

“Clan Leader…”

Namgung Myung opened his mouth, looking ashamed.

“There’s nothing we can do right now.”

“…Nothing we can do?”

“Yes, Clan Leader… First, we must protect this island. If we try to break out carelessly, Namgung will end today.”

“…”

“What you said is right. Su Rochae won’t dare to land on the island that Namgung is guarding.”

“…It’s not that they don’t dare, but that they don’t need to.”

Namgung Myung, realizing the truth, closed his mouth.

Even if a tiger is caught in a trap, it’s dangerous to approach it while it still has strength. A smart hunter will wait for the tiger to weaken.

When it’s too weak to fight back, they will slowly approach and kill it without damaging its skin.

“Okay. Let’s say that’s the only way for now. Will things change if we wait?”

“…Help will come.”

“Help?”

Namgung Myung nodded with difficulty.

“Yes… Shaolin or the Nine Sects won’t be happy that our Namgung is surrounded by Su Rochae. If they help us, we can break out and escape this island.”

Namgung Hwang’s face changed.

“Haven’t you seen their power?”

“C, Clan Leader.”

“We couldn’t even fight back properly. We won the naval battle three years ago because Paegun was trying to bring us into the Black Dragon Clan, not because we were stronger. Don’t you know that yet?”

“…”

“And can Shaolin fight them on the river? Do you really think so?”

“Clan Leader…”

It wasn’t an angry voice.

Instead, it was a question asking about the situation with terrible calmness.

“Even so, it’s Shaolin.”

“…”

“They may not be able to fully save us, but they can at least open a path.”

“…I see.”

Namgung Hwang nodded and looked up at the sky.

His shoulders looked a little smaller than usual.

“Was it greed?”

“C, Clan Leader.”

“I tried to get out of Shaolin’s shadow and stand on my own, but now I’m trapped by the enemy and waiting for Shaolin’s help. It’s ridiculous.”

“Don’t say that, Father.”

Then Namgung Dowi said firmly.

“Winning one fight is not everything. What matters is winning in the end.”

“…”

“If you win in the end, it doesn’t matter what happens along the way. If I weren’t a Namgung, I would laugh at you, not at the crisis Namgung is facing.”

“Dowiya!”

Namgung Myung shouted in surprise, but Namgung Hwang laughed.

“That’s right. Namgung Hwang is complaining.”

Namgung Hwang laughed, then gritted his teeth and said.

“There is always a chance. If we can survive this, we will throw them all into this cold river.”

“We will, Father.”

“Dowi.”

“Yes, Clan Leader!”

Namgung Hwang gave a firm order.

“Calm the family members so they don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry, Clan Leader. Namgung’s swords are never weak. If they were scared by this, they wouldn’t dare to call themselves Namgung.”

Namgung Hwang smiled and nodded.

His son has grown up and is becoming his strength. His words sound more like a clan leader’s than his own.

“Great Sky Leader.”

“Yes, Clan Leader.”

“Help the Young Clan Leader.”

Namgung Myung nodded.

“I will.”

Namgung Myung and Namgung Dowi bowed and left. Namgung Hwang, alone by the river, turned his head and looked at the ships around the island.

‘Just wait for Shaolin’s help?’

Namgung Hwang twisted his lips.

‘Myung is trying to make things sound better than they are.’

It’s not really a lie. His words are true.

He just didn’t say everything.

If Shaolin knows and starts to move, Paegun will also move.

What if Paegun and Maninbang arrive at the Jang River before Shaolin?

‘Then this will be the tomb of me and Namgung.’

Paegun will not miss this chance.

“Haha.”

He laughed and glared at the Black Dragon Ship far away.

“Even if I die here, I will take your head with me, Black Dragon King!”

His spirit spread out on the waves of the Jang River.

The Black Dragon King, watching the island from the river, clearly felt that spirit.

“Namgung Hwang.”

A cruel smile appeared on the Black Dragon King’s lips.

Namgung Hwang’s spirit was threatening, even more so than when they worked together three years ago.

But that’s all. A beast rages most when it’s trapped. That spirit just shows Namgung Hwang’s current situation.

“Did you send a message to the Lianju?”

“Yes, Black Dragon King!”

“Good.”

A bitter smile formed on the Black Dragon King’s lips.

“Then, shall we slowly cook the rat?”

He couldn’t hold back his laughter.

‘I’ll show you what it means to have your blood run dry, Emperor Sword.’

Soon, this river will be red with the blood of Namgung.