Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 947

Beopjeong looked at Mae Hwa Island. He was very confused.

The Maninbang fleet, led by Jang Il-so, blocked the view of the island. Beopjeong could see the situation by looking through the gaps between the ships.

‘…What is happening?’

A war was happening. Jang Il-so arrived at Mae Hwa Island during the fight. Anyone could guess what would happen next.

But right now, nothing was happening on Mae Hwa Island. No one was screaming, and no weapons were clashing.

The silence was too much. It felt like a cold knife cutting into his heart. Beopjeong’s lips trembled slightly.

He knew it in his gut. He knew where the silence came from.

Jang Il-so was defeated.

It was clear he was planning something. A giant snake, which seemed to threaten the sky, was wrapping around the island, squeezing it tight.

But…

‘What is he doing?’

What could he do in this situation? Jang Il-so arrived, and he… No, from the moment Shaolin arrived, the result was decided.

“…Amitabha.”

The Buddha’s name came out of his mouth.

He could not understand it at all. He could only feel the strong evil coming from Jang Il-so on that island. Just looking at it made him shiver…

‘Please…’

If he got involved in whatever Jang Il-so was planning, it would end badly. Beopjeong hoped that Namgung Hwang would do the right thing.

But… even then, Beopjeong didn’t know.

He shouldn’t have been thinking about what the Namgung Clan would do. He needed to know what the snake’s fangs, wrapped around Mae Hwa Island, were really aiming for.

Jang Il-so turned to Namgung Hwang, his lips twisting strangely.

Namgung Hwang looked empty, like a man who had lost his soul. He was no longer the powerful leader he once was. Inside, he felt hollow and ashamed. All that was left was a broken man, controlled by Jang Il-so’s words, giving up everything he believed in.

“Hee-eum.”

Jang Il-so made a sound in his nose, slowly licking his red lips with his tongue.

“Lost, you say…”

“…”

“No, Namgung Hwang.”

Namgung Hwang slowly lifted his head, which had been bent low. His chin trembled slightly, showing the emotions he was trying to hide.

“You should be begging for your life. Hmm?”

“…”

“Begging like a loser. Yes, that’s what you should do.”

He didn’t sound like he was talking to an enemy. It was more like scolding a child who had misbehaved. This way of speaking was even more humiliating for Namgung Hwang than losing.

“You don’t understand, do you? This isn’t a fight just between you and me. It’s not a fight between the Namgung Clan and Maninbang. Do you understand?”

The wide smile on Jang Il-so’s face was like a crack in ice, cold and dangerous.

“You don’t even have the right to talk about losing to me.”

Namgung Hwang’s shoulders shook.

The great leader of the Namgung name was now falling apart. Completely sad and cruel.

“So, say it again correctly.”

Jang Il-so’s whisper spread clearly across the quiet island.

“Beg for your life.”

“…”

“Come on, beg, Namgung Hwang. That’s a good boy.”

A cruel feeling of victory came over Jang Il-so’s face. That one look said more about the situation than any words could.

Jang Il-so, without even lifting a finger, pushed Namgung Hwang and the Namgung Clan into complete defeat. This defeat was worse than if they had fought and died.

Namgung Hwang looked away from Jang Il-so and looked at his followers.

They had trusted him and come here. Even now, they hadn’t said a single word of anger. Could he watch them die?

Namgung Hwang’s mouth opened. A desperate sound, more sad than any angry shout, came out.

“Save…”

Jang Il-so smiled as he watched.

“Sa…ve…”

His jaw was twitching, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hands were shaking like dry leaves in the wind.

It was the moment when the great man of the time was finally giving up everything.

Paaah!

A sword flew out, quickly closing the distance and heading towards Jang Il-so’s face.

“Hmm?”

Clang!

Jang Il-so calmly raised his hand, using the ring on his finger to block the sword. His eyes were cold, like a snake’s.

A deadly silence fell.

The most shocked were the followers of the Namgung Clan. They all opened their eyes wide and gasped in surprise.

They groaned in despair. They were afraid that this small hope might be gone because of the attack.

Cagagak.

The sound of Jang Il-so’s ring twisting the sword blade echoed.

“…What do you think you’re doing, young master?”

Namgung Dowi.

His hand trembled, but he knew he had to do something. He gritted his teeth and growled, putting strength into the hand holding the sword he had thrust at Jang Il-so.

“Don’t make me laugh, Jang Il-so.”

“…”

“I will die here.”

Jang Il-so looked at him with interest.

“Do, Dowi!”

Namgung Myeong shouted loudly. His voice cracked with desperation.

“What are you doing! Step back!”

“If I step back?”

“Wha, what?”

Namgung Dowi gritted his teeth and looked back. His bloodshot eyes looked like they would cut through Namgung Myeong.

“If I step back, are you planning to beg this bastard for your life and go back to Anhui?”

“…”

“And are you even going to tell the children waiting in the clan that you fought as hard as you could against the evil Demonic Sect and came back?!”

That last word was almost a scream.

“Father!”

Namgung Dowi shouted to Namgung Hwang.

“A swordsman who has lost his honor is not a swordsman at all! What we must protect until the very end is not life, but the soul of a martial artist!”

Namgung Hwang’s body shook.

“These are the words you taught me! You of all people! But now you’re telling me to beg the Demonic Sect for my life?”

At that desperate cry, Namgung Hwang bit his lip tightly and said.

“…Step back, Dowi.”

“No! I will not step back.”

“Dowi!”

Namgung Dowi glared at Jang Il-so.

“Did you say that one chooses their own death, Jang Il-so?”

“I did.”

“Then I…”

Namgung Dowi’s eyes were shaking. His words didn’t sound completely sure or strong. In fact, he hesitated several times even as he spoke.

But that was why his words were powerful.

“I will die here.”

“…”

The moment he said those words, all the swordsmen of Namgung trembled.

Was it youthful bravery? A simple choice by someone who doesn’t know anything?

The air was thick with fear, heavy and cold like the river mist. Everyone in the Namgung Clan stared at Namgung Dowi. His right hand, gripping his sword, was shaking. A visible tremble. *That couldn’t be.* Not Namgung Dowi, the bravest of them all.

That shaking hand told a story of terror. Namgung Dowi was facing death itself, right in front of him, in the form of Jang Il-so. He clenched his jaw, teeth grinding, trying to control his fear against the huge evil that stood before him.

“Namgung Dowi! What are you doing—?” Namgung Myung’s voice was sharp with panic as he tried to grab Dowi’s arm.

But Dowi stopped him, his voice low but firm. “Live.”

“……”

“Live and return. There’s nothing wrong with that. It is the right choice.”

Namgung Myung fell silent.

“But someone has to… someone has to keep Namgung’s honor. Even for the sake of the Namgung children who will face you when you return!”

Namgung Dowi bit his lip.

“That is the role of one who bears the blood of Namgung.”

No one could speak.

They had always been taught: ‘A warrior protects their honor, not just their life.’ It was a saying that not only Namgung Dowi but they, too, had heard countless times. But cornered at the very last, they ultimately failed to choose honor.

In such a situation, only Namgung Dowi, who could still be called young, was upholding what he had learned on his own.

They felt both serious and ashamed, and it made them feel tight inside.

Some raised their heads with bloodshot eyes. Some bowed their heads instead, and still others clenched their fists so hard that their nails dug into their flesh.

The reactions were different, but what they were thinking was clear. A faint spark rekindled in the candle that had been extinguished, leaving only bitter smoke.

Perhaps it was nothing.

Honor, chivalry—perhaps all of it was merely an illusion, as Jang Il-so said. But here and now, there was someone willing to risk his life for that illusion.

Gnashing.

The sound of someone grinding their teeth could be heard. Emotion surged through them like a hot fire, starting in their toes and rising up. Bloodshot eyes followed Namgung Dowi’s back.

The one they had been protecting.

The future of Namgung they had to protect with their lives.

That future was now throwing away his life to protect their last shred of pride. If one called oneself a warrior, if one knew how to wield a sword and fight, there was no way one could watch this scene without emotion.

Anger sparked back to life in their dull eyes. As if they could explode again if someone just opened the gate.

But at that moment, what they heard was Jang Il-so’s slow, slightly whiny voice.

“Hmmm.”

And the moment they heard the words that followed, everyone in Namgung instinctively sensed that something was wrong.

“That’s how it should be.”

Even Namgung Dowi looked greatly confused and stared at Jang Il-so.

The Fiend King looked at Namgung Dowi with a smile that was exceedingly gentle.

“Yes, that’s how Namgung should be. I was worried. I feared that you might beg pathetically and return from this place alive.”

Namgung Dowi thought.

This man is a devil come to seduce humans.

That voice, so soft and warm, devoid of any malice, was the voice of a devil. Behind that voice was something dark and heavy that humans could not even imagine.

“What a commendable young master.”

Jang Il-so smiled brightly, as if praising a child who had done a good deed.

Click.

Jang Il-so pushed away the sword he was holding and lightly dusted off his hands.

“It can’t be helped.”

Then, he spread his arms slightly and slowly shrugged his shoulders.

“If you won’t accept my mercy, I have no choice but to give you what you want.”

“……”

“Hoga-myung.”

“Yes, Supreme Leader.”

“Withdraw everyone.”

Hoga-myung looked at the Supreme Leader with eyes that widened in an instant. The confusion and shock in his eyes were so clear that even the swordsmen of the Namgung Clan could easily recognize it.

“…You mean… all of the Myriad Man Group?”

Normally, Hoga-myung would never question Jang Il-so, but he was quite taken aback.

Jang Il-so clicked his tongue with a slightly displeased look.

“Hoga-myung, are you having trouble understanding me? I clearly said everyone. The entire Evil Palace is withdrawing from this island.”

“Su-Supreme Leader, that’s…”

Then, Jang Il-so’s gaze flicked towards Hoga-myung. Hoga-myung flinched at the chilling gaze and lowered his head.

“I will carry out your orders.”

“Yes, yes.”

As if nothing had happened, Jang Il-so smiled again and slowly scanned Namgung Hwang, the Namgung Clan, and Namgung Dowi.

“Such touching honor.”

And he nodded like an actor on a grand stage, with an expression that seemed purely admiring.

At that moment, even greater unease crept into Namgung Dowi’s heart than before.

“Then… it would be polite to grant you a final befitting that honor.”

Jang Il-so turned his body. His red robe fluttered in the river breeze like wings.

A quiet, calm voice flowed from him as he turned.

“Die here. Grieve and agonize over whether your choice was right.”

Having made his decision, there was not a moment’s hesitation.

Jang Il-so walked away, walking proudly. Then, Hoga-myung gave a signal with his hand.

The bandits were confused. They didn’t understand what was happening. When they got the order, they stopped moving for a moment. Then, with confused looks, they started to leave Mae Hwa Island.

It was an absurd sight: the enemies who had held swords to their throats were now lowering their swords and returning the way they had come. The Namgung Clan could not react quickly in any way and could only watch.

“What is…”

Namgung Myung muttered in a voice that sounded squeezed out.

Doubt beyond suspicion began to settle in the eyes of the Namgung Clan’s swordsmen.

Perhaps…

Was Jang Il-so’s offer not truly mercy?

Was he not driving them with some hidden intention, but truly trying to save them?

That couldn’t be. It absolutely couldn’t be…

If so, then why does that man turn away like that without the slightest regret? Why does he not force them? No, why does he not even take their lives himself?

What on earth have they done?

In a situation where everyone was at a loss as to how to accept this situation, only Namgung Dowi came up with one thought.

Perhaps everything that had happened on this island was Jang Il-so’s plan.

From the moment Jang Il-so first arrived here to this very moment, perhaps they had never escaped Jang Il-so’s palm for even a moment—a terrifying thought.

“Supreme Leader. Those people…”

“Surround the island with ships so that not even an ant can escape.”

“Yes? Yes! I will do so.”

Hoga-myung bit his lip slightly. Then, he finally asked cautiously.

“May I dare to ask what you plan to do from now on?”

Jang Il-so smiled.

“What else? I have to show them what true despair is.”

“…Ah.”

Hoga-myung nodded as if he understood.

“Certainly, a comfortable death is a luxury for them.”

“Tsk tsk tsk. Hoga-myung. Why are you so out of it today, unlike yourself? That’s not it.”

“…Yes?”

Hoga-myung asked, puzzled, and Jang Il-so twisted his lips and smiled.

“Namgung was never in my sights from the beginning. My target is…”

And he slowly shifted his gaze.

“Those monks.”

An eerie energy settled in Jang Il-so’s eyes as he looked at the Shaolin across the river.

“The stage is finally set. Now it begins. Now, let’s show those fellows just how much ugliness is hidden within them!”

Watching him laugh as if he was truly excited, Hoga-myung felt goosebumps all over his body for a moment.

It was the moment Jang Il-so revealed his poisonous teeth to the world.