Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 941

The Black Dragon King stood at the front of his ship. He looked at Plum Blossom Island and smirked.

What’s the situation?

It’s going well. They will be tired soon.

Hmm.

The Black Dragon King hummed with satisfaction.

‘Imperial Sword.’

Sometimes, Namgung Hwang’s voice, filled with rage, reached even there. Each time he heard it, the Black Dragon King couldn’t stop his smile from growing.

Such a fool.

They are so foolish to think they can fight the Waterway Fortress on water.

Once they are on the water, they are not enemies anymore. They are just prey to be played with.

Black Dragon King, they look very tired now. Should we attack harder?

Foolish talk.

The Black Dragon King waved his hand dismissively.

This is like fishing.

A sneer touched his lips.

This is like fishing,” the Black Dragon King said. “If you want to catch a big fish, you can’t be too strong. If you pull too hard, the line will break, and you lose the fish. Patience is more important than strength when fishing.

The Black Dragon King’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Plum Blossom Island. It was the gaze of a predator biding its time.

Just need to tire them out a little more. No matter how big the fish, when it’s tired, it has to be pulled onto the boat.

He gestured towards Plum Blossom Island.

Attack them, then stop. Attack again when they are not ready. Like pulling and letting go of a fishing line.

Yes!

Heh heh heh.

You could see victory in the Black Dragon King’s eyes.

‘He is weak after all.’

He acknowledged Namgung Hwang’s skill. Namgung Hwang was very strong and powerful. Even the Black Dragon King felt a little afraid of him.

But this was the Jianghu. A world where victory wasn’t determined only by strength.

Now, the Namgung Clan felt like fish caught on a hook.

The more they fight, the deeper the hook goes, and the weaker they become.

The Yangtze River was like a needle stuck in the Namgung Clan. They couldn’t get rid of it.

Hunger, tiredness, fear, and a little hope – all of this was making the Namgung Clan feel like they were in hell.

Two days at most.

It’s not good to wait too long either. There was a time for everything. The Black Dragon King thought for two more days. If they kept tiring them out for two more days, they could destroy the Namgung Clan. They could do it with just the Waterway Fortress, without waiting for more soldiers. They wouldn’t even lose any of their own men.

Continue the attacks!

Yes!

The Black Dragon King chuckled softly.

Namgung Hwang… I will personally cut off your head.

His burning gaze seemed to eat Plum Blossom Island whole.

Meanwhile, Namgung Hwang’s eyes were dark and deep in his face. He looked very tired and sad. You could see how much pain he was in by looking at his eyes.

…They have no intention of attacking.

Lord…

Namgung Hwang lamented, watching the ships that continued to circle the island. He turned his gaze and saw the exhausted clansmen of the Namgung Clan, slumped on the ground.

…

After a long silence, a sigh escaped Namgung Hwang’s lips.

The attacks had finally stopped.

But he knew. They stopped attacking not because they were weak. It was because they knew it was better to attack hard, then stop, then attack again. This would make the Namgung Clan more worried and tired.

Namgung Myung.

Yes… Brother.

Namgung Myung had hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to call him Clan Lord, but the word ‘Brother’ slipped out. He guessed that Namgung Hwang was seeking not the Azure Sky Great Lord, but his brother, Namgung Myung.

Was I wrong?

Namgung Hwang asked in a self-deprecating voice.

Do-wi said I should have defeated the Black Dragon King when I was strong. If not, we would become weak and die.

Brother…

It’s coming true.

The swordsmen of the Namgung Clan had fallen down. They looked too weak to even lift their swords. They were trying hard not to fall completely to the ground, to keep some respect.

But how long would that last?

Everyone was tired as much as they could be. Even Namgung Hwang felt weak and sleepy. He knew it must be much worse for his men.

Tell me, Namgung Myung.

…

Was I wrong?

B-Brother!

Namgung Myung said in a desperate voice.

No, you weren’t. Your choice was the best one. No Clan Lord would risk the lives of his clansmen on a chance!

…

It’s not over yet. If we just hold on a little longer… if we just hold on a little longer, reinforcements will surely come!

Reinforcements…

Namgung Hwang chuckled softly.

What if they don’t come?

…

What happens if those reinforcements don’t arrive in time?

Th-That’s…

Namgung Myung couldn’t bring himself to answer. He knew the outcome, and so did Namgung Hwang.

Heh heh heh.

Namgung Hwang’s shoulders shook.

I can’t bear it. I can’t bear it…

Crack.

He clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles protruded sharply.

What I truly can’t bear isn’t death. It’s not even the end of the Namgung Clan.

…

It’s the thought of these men. They trained hard for three years, trusting me. I don’t want them to die like this, not like swordsmen, but like animals being hunted. That’s what’s unfair. That’s why I feel so guilty.

Namgung Hwang’s voice trembled.

He was full of anger and hate. He felt sick inside.

Brother…

Did I really make that choice for the sake of the clan’s future?

…Yes?

It was a voice directed at Namgung Myung, but it wasn’t a question aimed at him. It was a question he was asking himself.

Was I just afraid?

Namgung Myung held his tongue and held his breath. It was such a heavy voice that he couldn’t even think of offering clumsy comfort.

Was I just afraid to risk the clan and their lives by fighting?

Instead, Namgung Myung bit his lip tightly.

He had never seen Namgung Hwang so weak. Even though they were not much different in age, Namgung Hwang had always been like a strong mountain to him.

But now, that Namgung Hwang was crumbling.

Brother! You can’t be like this. You are the Clan Lord of the Namgung! Even if the world falls apart, you must not give up!

…That’s right. Yes, that must be what it means to be a Clan Lord.

Namgung Hwang closed his eyes tightly.

The words ‘Clan Lord’ felt very heavy on him.

I…

Namgung Hwang said with a touch of self-pity.

Many times I have wished I was not born in this time.

…

It was a somewhat irrelevant statement, but Namgung Myung didn’t interrupt him. Right now, Namgung Hwang simply needed someone to talk to.

Because in this peaceful time, I can’t use my sword to fight.

Namgung Hwang’s gaze turned towards the distant sky.

If I was born a hundred years ago, in that time of trouble… I would have become very famous, more famous than now. I would have been strong enough to save the world. I would have cut off the head of that Heavenly Demon with my sword.

Brother…

But…

A chuckle escaped Namgung Hwang’s lips.

They fought in wars like this for years. They lived in a hell much worse than this. They saw their families and friends die right next to them. But they kept fighting…

…

How could they do it? How… how could their hearts not break?

There was no strength in Namgung Hwang’s voice. It was the first time in his life that he had felt so small.

I can’t even be brave enough to cut off the Black Dragon King’s head to save my clan… A time of chaos? A Heavenly Demon? Haha.

He shook his head, laughing.

I was just like a young dog who didn’t know anything. I am just a normal person, not very strong. Just…

His clenched fist, about to burst, trembled.

Brother…

I know.

But before Namgung Myung could offer words of comfort, Namgung Hwang shook his head.

I know that this isn’t the time to be like this.

…

Azure Sky Great Lord.

Yes, Clan Lord!

The enemy will launch a big attack within the next few days. They’ll try to tire us out as much as possible and then finish us off.

Yes.

Until then, somehow, let the clansmen rest in shifts.

Namgung Hwang gritted his teeth.

We must make sure they at least get to fight before they die.

I will obey your command!

Namgung Myung ran towards the clansmen. Namgung Hwang, who had been staring blankly at his departing figure, let out another deep sigh.

The attacks continued relentlessly, never quite stopping.

The Namgung Clan had no place to hide anymore. So, they changed their plan. They made a circle in the middle of the island. The men on the outside protected the ones inside. They took turns resting, even for a short time.

They couldn’t rest well with cannonballs and pirates attacking. But just not having to fight all the time helped them save some strength.

But it wasn’t a very good solution.

From inside the circle, they could see everything around them more clearly. They could see how bad their situation really was.

They had a small hope. They strongly believed someone would come to save them, even though there was no real reason to believe it. This hope kept them going.

But… a day passed, two days passed, and it became the third day.

Salvation did not arrive.

…

Namgung Do-wi struggled to open his eyes and looked at the blazing sun.

It was truly a warm sunlight, but even this was too much for him to bear without becoming breathless.

…Have they not come?

He looked at the riverbank without thinking. But still, no one was there. He felt angry at the empty riverbank.

Cough.

A dry cough escaped his lips without him wanting it to. Even though he had drunk enough water, his entire body felt withered.

Can I endure any longer?

No, whether he could or not wasn’t important. He had to endure, no matter what.

Because others were suffering even more and still holding on.

Namgung Do-wi grabbed his sword and stuck it in the ground. He used it to help himself stand up. It was very hard for him.

He looked at the pirate ships with angry eyes. He had never felt so much hatred for those ships that were surrounding Plum Blossom Island…

!

At that moment, Namgung Do-wi’s eyes widened.

Uh…

His mouth opened without him wanting it to, and his eyes blinked fast.

G-Get up. Get up!

He shouted in a weak voice.

The ships that had been circling Plum Blossom Island, slowly killing the Namgung Clan, were all turning their bows towards the island at once!

Blood spurted from Namgung Do-wi’s mouth. But he didn’t even notice as he shouted as if screaming.

They are coming! It’s a big attack! The Waterway Fortress is going to finish us!

This was the end. The long, terrible time on the Yangtze River was ending.