Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 957

A loud crash echoed! Light flashed again and again. The Jang River, once peaceful, was now filled with shouts and screams.

Ships moved quickly. It was clear something was happening.

Gulp. The Shaolin disciples on the riverbank clenched their fists, their knuckles white. They leaned forward, bodies tense, ready to jump into action.

But they couldn’t move.

The Dharma Lord stood in front of them, his back like a wall, stopping them.

Grind. The Shaolin monks ground their teeth, watching with bloodshot eyes. They weren’t just watching; they were glaring, full of rage.

In the middle of the river, the Demonic Sect now controlled that place. The Shaolin monks could not go there. The Namgung family was fighting for their lives, like animals surrounded by enemies.

“Abbot!”

Someone shouted. But the Dharma Lord didn’t even turn around, simply staring at the scene with cold eyes.

“Abbot! Shouldn’t we help!”

“Wait.”

“Abbot!”

“Didn’t I tell you to wait!”

The Dharma Lord replied as if shouting.

“Namgung is not even fighting with all their power yet! Why should we risk our lives for them?”

“⋯⋯.”

“Can’t you see the Myriad Man Clan is not helping? If Jang Il-so and the Black Dragon King joined the fight, it would be over quickly! Why are they just watching, do you think?”

“Ugh⋯⋯.”

The Dharma Lord bit his lip.

If we are tricked into fighting, we will all be in danger. Not just them, but everyone at Plum Blossom Island, even us here, could be destroyed.

The sound of someone grinding their teeth was uncomfortably loud.

They were strong enough to help. If they decided to, they could rush in and fight. That’s what made it so hard. They had to ignore people who were so close, people they could almost touch.

One disciple lowered his head, unable to watch the suffering any longer.

“Don’t bow your head!”

But at that moment, a rough shout burst from Hyebang’s mouth.

“S, Senior Uncle⋯⋯.”

“Look closely! Look with those two eyes! You’re not even brave enough, and you’re going to turn away? How much more cowardly are you going to be!”

“Hyebang!”

Beopgye scolded him loudly, but Hyebang didn’t move. He just stared at the river, eyes wide, as if trying to burn the scene into his memory.

Beopgye closed his eyes tightly. *How did things get so bad?* he thought. Before they came here, they were all eager to save Namgung. But now, they were divided. There was a deep split between the leaders and the followers.

Beopgye slowly opened his eyes and looked back at the river. The white light of Namgung Hwang’s sword felt sharp and cold, like ice.

The sound of rushing water. The sword’s edge seemed to lose its sharpness. Or rather, it was Namgung Hwang’s arm that was losing strength. His sword was no longer quick or strong.

But…

A scraping sound.

A groan.

*It’s okay,* Namgung Hwang thought. *My sword is still hitting where it needs to, when it needs to.*

The pirates’ blood turned the dark Jang River a bright red. Even the bubbles that rose to the surface were red, not white.

Namgung Hwang kept pushing forward through the blood-stained Jang River.

The air whistled! More than ten harpoons flew at him again.

Could he block them all? No, it was impossible.

Namgung Hwang swung his sword without hesitation. He didn’t block the harpoon aimed at the most important part of his body first. Instead, he blocked the harpoon that could hit Namgung Dowi behind him.

Metal clashed! Namgung Hwang’s sword knocked one harpoon aside. But two others, he couldn’t stop. They went straight into his body, sharp and cruel.

The harpoon went through his skin, ripped through his muscles, and got stuck deep inside.

“Lord!”

At the same time as Namgung Dowi’s shout, Namgung Hwang’s sword, which had been stabbing at the pirates, chopped off their heads.

“I can block that much too! Me⋯⋯.”

“Dowi.”

“⋯⋯.”

Namgung Dowi closed his mouth.

There was no strength in his voice. It wasn’t the always resounding voice that naturally led those who heard it.

But⋯⋯ the determination contained in that voice was incomparable to the past.

“⋯⋯Watch to the end.”

That was all he said. Namgung Hwang, looking straight ahead, started moving forward again.

The blood flowing down from his head seeped into his eyes, and then the rushing waves washed it away again.

He couldn’t clearly know how much time had passed.

“Heuaaaaaack!”

“Die! You monster!”

He just kept stabbing and cutting. He felt something go into his leg, but he didn’t care. He hadn’t felt anything below his waist for a long time anyway.

*The elders?*

They were still fighting.

He knew he would be dead already if not for them. He was pushing himself to the limit, and they were doing the same, giving everything they had to survive.

Soon, their blood would join the blood in the river. Namgung Hwang looked at the red foam splashing on his face and laughed sadly.

*For what?* Why are they giving their lives? To make up for bringing trouble to the Namgung family? Or to give a small bit of hope to the family on the island? He didn’t know. And now, it didn’t matter anymore.

Thud! Thud! The pirates could see Namgung Hwang getting weaker. They charged at him even faster. They showed their teeth as they ran, like monsters from a nightmare, rushing through the red waves.

At that moment, he knew what he had to do.

‘Dowi!’

*Would it be enough?* He had to believe it would be. A faint, hopeful smile touched Namgung Hwang’s lips.

A deep roar! He forced energy from his stomach, which was shaking like it would rip apart. His inner power exploded out in waves. Even though his center of power felt empty, somehow, energy flowed into his arms and into his sword.

At that moment, Namgung Hwang felt Namgung Dowi’s hand grabbing his shoulder. That hand, which had only been small, had grown so big.

‘I’ll open it for you!’

There was only one thing he had to do.

It was to save Namgung Dowi and send him out of this place. There was no need to think about anything else.

A mighty roar! Namgung Hwang roared with all his strength, the Lion’s Roar. Through his blurring vision, he saw a wave of pirates charging at him.

He gripped his sword tightly, and then released all his tense muscles and energy at once. A blast of white sword energy exploded outwards, like a giant dragon flying across the Jang River.

It was a terrifying sword strike. The pirates who had charged, thinking Namgung Hwang was weak, were destroyed in a flash, without even a scream. They were thrown across the Jang River.

But Namgung Hwang was not safe.

Snap.

He broke the harpoon stuck in his chest. He couldn’t pull out the sharp point without ripping his skin.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

He broke the harpoons stuck in his chest, abdomen, and shoulder in turn, and looked ahead with half-closed eyes.

His vision blurred. He felt like he was going to pass out.

Chaos filled the air. Crack!

The sharp pain in his side brought Nangong Hwang back to reality. Without thinking, he swung his sword. He cut down the river pirate who had attacked from underwater.

He quickly ducked his head underwater.

Underwater, he could just make out the shapes of the elders sinking slowly. He couldn’t see their faces.

Only… the elders were sinking.

Nangong Hwang bit his lip, raised his head, and looked ahead again.

“Lord!”

“Let’s go… Dowi.”

He didn’t need to be sad. He would die soon too.

He pushed off the water and moved forward quickly.

He sliced through a pirate’s neck as they charged. He grabbed a spear coming at him with his bare hand.

He cut, cut, cut, and cut again.

His wet hair was messy and stuck to his face.

Crack! Crack!

Spears hit his sides and legs. But Nangong Hwang seemed to feel no pain. He kept cutting down the pirates who attacked him, moving forward.

So much blood poured out, it looked like a second river was flowing on top of the first.

Nangong Hwang fought like a wild beast. Even the experienced river pirates, who had fought many times, were shocked and stepped back.

“Heeeuu⋯⋯.”

“Cough. Cough!” Nangong Hwang coughed, his breath ragged, revealing teeth stained with blood. He breathed hard, like air rushing out of a broken lung.

Whaaaaaaaam! A huge sound, like thunder, hit Nangong Hwang’s ears. It felt like his eardrums would burst. He didn’t have time to think. His instincts took over, and he raised his sword.

Kaaaaaaaboom! A powerful sword attack from the ship hit his sword. He was thrown back, spitting blood.

“You stupid fools!” The Black Dragon King, standing on the prow of the Black Dragon Ship, roared like a tiger.

“Why are you scared of a dying man? Attack him! Kill him!”

“Yes, sir!” The Black Dragon King’s anger made the river pirates grit their teeth and charge at Nangong Hwang again.

“Lord! Father! Damn it! Faaather!” Nangong Dowi desperately kicked through the water, standing in front of Nangong Hwang, who was floating on the surface. His eyes were red with tears, showing he would never let them take Nangong Hwang.

But… a hand touched his shoulder.

Thump. Nangong Hwang’s hand, shaking, touched Nangong Dowi’s shoulder.

“F, Fathe⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯Fall⋯⋯back⋯⋯.”

“Father!”

“⋯⋯Now.”

His eyes were swollen almost closed. But the desperate look in his eyes was something Nangong Dowi couldn’t ignore.

“Be⋯⋯hind. Behind⋯⋯me⋯⋯.”

Bloody tears ran down Nangong Dowi’s face. He knew. He knew. It was Nangong Dowi who had asked him to leave this island, even if it meant sacrificing his own life. So, he had to remember what was most important.

But⋯⋯ but!

“You are⋯⋯ the next head⋯⋯of Nangong.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Behind⋯⋯me⋯⋯.”

Nangong Dowi lowered his head. Silently, he moved through the water and went behind Nangong Hwang, holding onto his back. Like a child riding on his father’s back.

“Heu⋯⋯.” A small smile appeared on Nangong Hwang’s bloody face.

Thwack! He felt something hit his leg again. Then another hit in his stomach. He could no longer block the attacks from underwater.

But it was alright. As long as he was carrying Nangong Dowi, the attacks wouldn’t hurt his son.

“Dowi.”

Suddenly, he heard a clear voice. Nangong Dowi gripped his shoulders tightly.

“F, Fathe⋯⋯.”

Kaaaaaaboom! Nangong Hwang shot out of the water like lightning. He used all his inner power, getting his strength back for a short time.

“Block him!”

“Aaaaaaargh!” The river pirates screamed in terror, jumping out of the water to stop him.

Kaaaaaaboom! With one swing of his sword, Nangong Hwang cut down the pirates. He pushed off the water and rushed forward.

“Oooooooooh!” White light from his sword burst out in all directions, like fireworks. The river pirates screamed in terror and dove back into the water. They couldn’t stop that sword energy.

Wham! Nangong Hwang pushed off the water, went past the ships around him, and moved forward.

One step! Just one more step⋯⋯.

Whaaaaaaaam! A dark energy blade from the Black Dragon Ship flew towards Nangong Hwang’s face. This black blade was stronger than Nangong Hwang’s white sword energy. It easily cut through it. Then, it hit Nangong Hwang’s body.

Crack! “Th⋯⋯.” As the Black Dragon King watched Nangong Hwang stumble, ready to speak again. Then, it happened.

Bang! Nangong Hwang did not fall; he kicked off the water again.

Nangong Hwang’s eyes shone with anger through his wet hair. His face was covered in blood and looked like a demon. Blood sprayed from his body, flying everywhere. At that moment, Nangong Hwang gripped Nangong Dowi’s arm tightly on his back.

“Uooooooooh!” Using all his last strength, he threw Nangong Dowi towards the riverbank.

“Faaather!” A desperate scream poured from Nangong Dowi’s mouth. As he flew through the air, he saw Nangong Hwang falling into the river. Nangong Hwang looked weak and helpless.

Everything was upside down as he flew. He saw Nangong Hwang’s face for a moment.

He⋯⋯ was definitely smiling.

Splash. Nangong Hwang, plunged into the river, slowly sank downwards. Underwater in the darkness, he thought. ‘Was this enough⋯⋯.’ He didn’t know. But he had done his best.

He wasn’t sure if he had done everything right, but he knew he had tried his best until the end. Now, he just had to trust his son to continue the Nangong family.

‘⋯⋯Dowi⋯⋯.’ A smile appeared on his lips as he sank to the bottom of the dark river.

‘⋯⋯Be a good father.’ With that last small smile, Nangong Hwang closed his eyes forever.