Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 972

“Hold on!” Namgung Myeong’s eyes blazed with fierce determination.

The island was vast and filled with many pirates.

Unexpectedly, this made things harder for the Namgung Clan.

The pirates thought the enemy attacking the island was very strong. Maybe the Mount Hua were very skilled, or maybe the pirates were just scared by how fast they attacked. It didn’t matter why, they were being pushed back.

But the Namgung Clan survivors were easier for the pirates to fight.

The pirates didn’t want to fight Mount Hua and the Tang Clan, so they attacked the Namgung Clan like wolves trying to finish off a hurt deer.

But the Namgung Clan was ready to fight back.

Even before Mount Hua arrived, they fought like they didn’t care if they died. Now that they had hope, they felt new strength.

“Hold on! The Young Lord is coming!” Namgung Myeong roared. His voice was rough with desperation, but also filled with a spark of hope. In the eyes of the Namgung Clan swordsmen, a fierce, blue light shone.

They had seen it themselves – the state Namgung Dowi was in when he came back to the island. He could have been safe, alone, but he had returned with them, his hand tight on his sword, all to save them here on this island. How could they complain of being tired or hurt in front of such bravery? It was a matter of honor for anyone who held a sword, especially one who carried the name of Namgung.

The Namgung swordsmen got ready.

Before, they fought like they didn’t care if they died, just wanting to hurt the enemy. But now, their swords changed. They started to just block and protect themselves.

Because they believed.

They believed that if they could just hold out, Mount Hua, the Tang Clan, and Namgung Dowi would come and save them.

Sometimes, martial artists feel so strong that their spirit is more powerful than their body. The Namgung swordsmen felt like that now. Their bodies were tired, but their spirit pushed them to face the enemy.

And something else gave them strength.

Whoosh!

Many thin needles flew into the air. They went high up, then turned and fell down like rain.

“Aaaaargh!”

The pirates screamed in fear.

The Tang Clan was strongest when they had someone to fight.

They used deadly poisons and hidden weapons that couldn’t be used in normal fights. Now, for the first time in a hundred years, these weapons were used in the sunlight against the pirates of Surochae.

Whoosh!

A throwing knife almost hit Baek Cheon’s head. It hit an enemy in the forehead, then flew behind Baek Cheon in a wide circle.

‘They’re so reliable!’ Baek Cheon thought, gripping his sword tightly.

Of course, there were people behind him protecting him with swords, but this was different.

He knew that someone could help him anytime, anywhere, no matter how far away they were.

That made Baek Cheon feel stronger.

Wham!

Baek Cheon ran forward, kicking up dust. He stared at the pirates blocking his way, their faces full of fear.

‘If I fight with this look in my eyes!’

Wham!

His sword came down like a beam of light.

“That damned bastard will curse for three days straight!”

Baek Cheon’s sword cut through pirates and their harpoons, then spun again. Soon, it looked like dozens of plum blossoms were blooming.

The harpoons, thrown at him like spears, were blocked by the plum blossoms and fell everywhere.

And then!

“Taat!”

When he moved his sword forward, the flowers scattered, pushing away the enemies in front of him.

This was the Plum Blossom Sword Technique of Mount Hua.

Hundreds of flower petals made of sword energy, looking real and fake, floated like the wind blowing through Plum Blossom Island, heading towards the pirates.

The pirates saw the flower petals of sword energy and the rain of Cow Hair Needles. It was a terrible situation for them.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Sa, save meeeee!”

As the pirates screamed, the Mount Hua swordsmen behind Baek Cheon ran forward, waving their swords.

They only wanted to break through to Namgung.

In the middle of all this, Namgung Dowi held his sword tightly, breathing hard.

‘I need to do something too….’

He was the Young Lord of Namgung. He couldn’t just stand there and watch!

But….

‘What should I do?’

The others were too strong. They moved together perfectly. Namgung Dowi felt like he didn’t belong. If he stepped forward, they wouldn’t be able to move so fast.

So, what should he do?

‘What do I need to do?’

Should he jump in and show the pride of Namgung? Or should he forget his pride and try to save the Namgung Clan?

Saving the clan was more important.

He was hurt and couldn’t use his full strength. Would it be right to step forward just because of pride?

Namgung Dowi stared at the survivors far away, his eyes empty.

‘This is right.’

Just then, as he was about to lose his grip on his sword…

Thud!

Someone grabbed Namgung Dowi’s shoulder hard.

He turned and saw Chung Myung, his face looking very serious.

“D-Daojang!”

When did he get here?

He had been fighting those ships. How did he get to Plum Blossom Island?

Chung Myung frowned at Namgung Dowi.

“What are you doing here?”

“I, I’m……”

Chung Myung knew what Namgung Dowi was thinking and snapped at him.

“You pathetic bastard!”

Namgung Dowi had never heard such harsh words. But he knew this wasn’t just to make him angry. It was a real curse, full of anger. He hunched his shoulders.

Chung Myung shouted again.

“Go!”

Chung Myung grabbed his shoulder and pushed him hard.

“D-Daojang! I’m!”

“I know you’re a burden right now! Everyone here knows that!”

Namgung Dowi bit his lip at the harsh shout. The hand pushing his shoulder became stronger, and Namgung Dowi had to move faster.

“Listen carefully!”

“……Yes?”

“Someone who stands in front doesn’t need skill.”

Chung Myung’s voice was clear in his ear.

“They need to deserve it!”

Chung Myung looked at the Namgung Clan with cold eyes. The Namgung deserved to be saved, and Namgung Dowi deserved to be the one leading them.

If so, he knew what to do.

“Then clear the path!”

Just then, he heard the most reliable voice in the world.

“I’ll cover the rear!”

Tang Gunak’s throwing knife went past Namgung Dowi’s head and hit a pirate in the chest.

“Go!”

At Chung Myung’s shout, Namgung Dowi turned and ran forward.

It was strange.

As he ran, everyone he passed looked at him strongly.

It was like they had been waiting for this moment.

Those looks gave Namgung Dowi strength, even though he was hurt.

“Haaah!”

White sword energy came from Namgung Dowi’s sword as he ran past Baek Cheon.

Kwaaaaang!

This was the Emperor’s Sword Form!

The sword of the emperor only moved forward, breaking the enemy and protecting those behind!

Namgung Dowi now understood what his father had learned. The family passes on what the ancestors achieved. That’s why families exist!

“Get out of the way!”

Kwaaaaang!

White sword energy came from the sword as it slashed down. The pirates were pushed away without even fighting back.

“Young Lord!”

Namgung Myeong shouted with tears in his eyes.

The fact that Namgung Dowi was using a sword technique that only the Namgung family could learn meant so much.

He wasn’t as good as Namgung Hwang yet, but it was definitely the Emperor’s Sword! The white sword energy was the symbol of the Namgung Clan.

“Cough!”

Namgung Dowi stumbled.

He felt dizzy as he used his inner energy, and his legs shook like he was about to fall.

“Ki, kill him!”

The pirates saw his weakness and swung their swords. Showing weakness meant death!

But…….

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Just then, a black figure flew over Namgung Dowi’s head.

“Hwa, Mount Hua Sword Master!”

The pirates who knew him turned pale.

Wham!

Dozens of red sword energies came from Chung Myung’s sword. They hit the pirates who were attacking Namgung Dowi in the neck.

The pirates fell without even screaming.

Chung Myung landed next to Namgung Dowi, grabbed his shoulder, and lifted him up. But Namgung Dowi stood up on his own.

Bang!

Namgung Dowi’s sword flashed white again.

The others were waiting for him.

‘I can’t say I’m tired!’

Kwaaaaang!

Namgung Dowi used his sword energy again and staggered forward. He put his sword into the neck of an enemy, barely stood up, and moved forward.

Thud!

He couldn’t have done this alone. He couldn’t have fought those who were blocking him.

But he wasn’t alone now. He could feel it. Someone was protecting him from behind. Someone was waiting for him to move forward!

‘Move!’

Blood came from his nose and mouth, but Namgung Dowi’s eyes showed he was determined.

“I am!”

He shouted with all his strength.

“The head of the Namgung Clan!”

Namgung Dowi’s sword flashed as he attacked the pirates.

The sword energy was weak, like it would disappear.

But it didn’t disappear and hit the pirates’ harpoons.

Kagaaaang!

The sword energy should have cut down the enemy, but it was pushed back by the harpoons.

“Ah……”

Namgung Dowi sighed. But then…

“Well done, kid.”

Explosive sword energy came from behind him. The red sword energy spread out and drew a red plum blossom.

The plum blossoms swirled like a storm, pushing away the pirates. The screams of the dying pirates echoed.

Namgung Dowi saw a clear path between him and the Namgung Clan.

He didn’t need to think anymore.

“Run!”

Namgung Dowi gritted his teeth and ran forward.

He ran through the path made by blood and saw Namgung Myeong looking at him.

“Young Lord!”

Namgung Dowi smiled and fell into Namgung Myeong’s arms.

Squeeze!

Namgung Myeong hugged Namgung Dowi tightly.

“You did well, really…… You really did well. Young Lord…… No.”

He bit his lip.

“Lord.”

Chung Myung walked past them and cut off the head of a pirate. Then he shouted.

“Kill them all!”

“Uwoooo!”

The Mount Hua swordsmen finally reached Namgung and began to defeat the pirates.