Return of the Mount Hua Sect
Chap 963

Dozens of huge ships turned their bows in unison. The impact was so great that it shook the calm waters of the Yangtze River.

The boat was rocked by the incoming waves, but Jang Il-so, standing on top of it, still remained unshaking as if he were standing on a flat surface. He glanced back at Shaolin and Kunlun, who were not knowing what to do.

“Pathetic… … .”

A look of blatant contempt bloomed on his face.

Ho Gamyeong quietly observed his expression.

If Shaolin, the leader of the Nine Great Sects and One Union and is called the North Peak of Kangho, is such a pitiful person, the day when Jang Il-so's grand plan will be fulfilled will soon come then.

But now, Jang Il-so's expression clearly looked closer to annoyance than joy.

“You don’t seem to be in a good mood.”

“Of course I don’t… … .”

Jang Il-so replied calmly.

“When I struggled in despair with no hope in sight, what supported me… … .”

Bloodlust flashed across his face for a moment.

“Was an oath that one day I would take everything they had and make it mine.”

“… … .”

"However… … .”

Jang Il-so stopped talking for a moment and glared at Shaolin with contempt.

“Those who control the Jianghu are just like that.”

A self-deprecating sneer escaped from his red lips.

“Human beings hide their true feelings behind logic. They've probably come up with dozens of reasons why they shouldn't step forward by now. A logic that sounds plausible and cannot be refuted in any way.”

Jang Il-so's ridicule deepened even more.

“But in the end, when you dig them up, they were actually a bunch of greedy fools who are afraid of death. Because those who have never won anything by shedding blood cannot help but feel the value of what they will lose more than the value of what they will gain.”

If someone else had said this, Ho Ga-myeong would not hesitate to evaluate him as arrogant. Even if Shaolin cannot become the ruler of the world, they can be said to be the master of Jianghu though. It's too simplistic to evaluate such people like that.

But at least Jang Ilso had the right to say this. It was because he knew Jang Il-so better than anyone else, how desperately he had risked his life, to rise to this position.

“You will find out eventually.”

Jang Il-so said in a low voice.

“One who is afraid to lose the little things will eventually lose everything. I will make that come true.”

Ho Ga-myung slowly shook his head.

“By the time they find out, they will already have lost everything.”

Hearing this, Jang Il-so chuckled and laughed.

"Right. Perhaps.”

Then, tilting the bottle in his hand, he took a sip and, and poured the liquor over the Yangtze River as if losing interest.

“Well, fine. Because I got everything you got.”

Those prestigous factions were still glaring at this side as if to tear him apart. But seeing them like that, Jang Il-so just found them amusing.

Right now, they might be out of their mind with anger at the Evil Supreme Alliance and Jang Il-so. But soon enough, they'll find out, after the anger subsides, what they actually did.

What do people who feel guilty do?

Regret? Apology?

'Bullshit!'

There are very few people who can do that. Isn't it human to find excuses for things that obviously happened through our own fault, and to blame others for their faults?

It was Jang Il-so who made the crack.

However, it will be them themselves who will catch and open the crack.

Now all you have to do is wait. Until the wounds he made festered and festered until they rotted his flesh and melted his bones.

Everything he wanted to achieve here has already been achieved. All that remains is... … .

“It’s entertaining.”

Jang Il-so's gaze turned to the Plum Blossom Island.

"So… … .”

As he lightly bent his neck, the jewelry all over his body jingled. It sounded like a cheering sound.

"Now it's time to decorate the end of this stage with the blood of that pitiful Namgung Family."

“I will escort you.”

It was the time when Ho Gamyeong was about to drive the boat towards the Black Dragon Ship.

"No. That's it now.”

Jang Il-so raised one hand to stop him. When Ho Gamyeong looked back with his young eyes, Jang Ilso raised the corners of his mouth.

“I’m tired of seeing the Black Dragon King so much, so let’s go back to our ship.”

“… … Yes, my liege.”

A small suspicion arose, but Ho Ga-myeong did not bother to ask why. All of Jang Il-so's actions are always calculated. Again, there must be a reason he can't guess.

Jang Il-so looked back with a sad expression on the boat that was moving through the rough water. His gaze went beyond Gupa, located on the riverside, to a farther place.

"Don’t ya think?"

His incomprehensible question was thrown into the distant air.

“Cough cough.”

Namgung Myung's eyes were filled with deep remorse as he smiled lightly.

“In the end… … .”

The last sun has risen.

Expectations were immediately abandoned. If they, Shaolin and other old factions had even the slightest idea to save them, they wouldn't have watched the situation get to this point.

Right. He didn't even expect anything more, he thought.

However, as this moment approached, Namgung Myung had no choice but to admit that he had not completely abandoned his attachment to them.

No, maybe that's not his belief in them.

It is a belief in the path he has walked, having venerated the two letters of chivalry and justice. It was a nasty lingering feeling that what he had believed so far would not be completely false.

But at this moment, everything including his life was denied.

'What are we here for?'

What made Namgoong Myung even more angry was the pitiful lingering feelings they showed.

If you're not going to help, if you're just going to keep your eyes open and just watch, you'd rather turn away resolutely!

What are you doing there for? Are you going to find comfort in watching our deaths?

“… … Squad leader."

Namgungmyung, who was swept away by the turbulence of terrible emotions, closed his eyes tightly at the call. He couldn't bear to look back at it.

What were you supposed to say? He shouted so hard to hold on and hold on until the end, but was this the last thing he could give them?

Being shunned by those who believed to be allies walking the same path, and being made fun of by a group of Evil Clan like a pack of hungry wolves?

It was at that moment when Namgung Myung was about to bow his head as if he were about to collapse.

“We must line up, Squad Leader.”

At the unexpected words, he clenched his trembling jaw tightly and looked back.

Everyone was getting up from their seats.

Those who took care of the injured, those who somehow recovered from exhaustion and prepared for the end, even those who had wandered near death’s door not too long ago.

Everyone got up from their seats and lined up in an orderly formation.

He desperately grabbed onto his wobbly legs, trying to somehow grasp the string of consciousness that seemed like it would break at any moment.

“… … Isn’t it the last anyway?”

“… … .”

Namgung Pyeong looked at him and smiled.

“There is no such thing as lying down and waiting for the enemy's blade. Even if I die when I die, I will die fighting.”

“Pyeong… … .”

“That is correct.”

A chuckle of laughter erupted from behind.

“There are also spectators watching… … . We have to show how the swordsmen of the Namgung family die.”

“For those cowards?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Namgung Myung closed his eyes tightly.

It was the mistakes of the top leaders, including Namgung’s Patriarch Namgung Hwang, that brought about all this. But even though they were in a situation where they would lose their lives because of that mistake, none of them uttered a single word of resentment.

If he had been in their position, would he have been so resolute?

Namgung Myung had no confidence in that. Because of that, he felt more sorry and more grateful for them.

“I’m glad though.”

A voice mingled with laughter came out of someone's mouth.

“At least the Young Patriarch isn’t here.”

"Yeah."

“If the Young Patriarch had been here, it would have been really ruined.”

Namgung Myung, taken aback for a moment, hurriedly spoke.

“It's not like that. Young Patriarch... … !”

“I know, Lord.”

Namgung Family's swordsmen burst into laughter as they saw Namgung Myung's face stained with bewilderment.

“Everyone knows very well that the Young Patriarch did not mind his life to save us, and did not escape to live alone.”

“Isn’t that what makes you happy?”

“At least the soul will continue.”

Determination and fighting spirit gradually rose in the eyes of Namgung swordsmen.

“I don’t even want revenge. However, the Young Patriarch will take care of our offering rice, right?”

“Yes, yes. That’s enough then.”

Namgungmyung lowered his head.

Who doesn't want to live? Who wouldn't want to grab hold of an enemy's trouser legs and beg for their lives?

But they can't do it.

If they think of Namgung Dowi, who risked his life to escape to save them, Namgung Hwang, who was sinking under the ice-cold Yangtze River, and the elders who died without even screaming, they cannot bow their heads to them even if they die.

Because of the Patriarch?

No. It was because they fought together.

Because they don't want to be ashamed when facing those who died for them to be standing here.

“You fools.”

Namgungmyung hurriedly turned around. It was because he felt like he would shed tears if he looked at them like this. As they said, this is the end. Then at least it shouldn't look ugly.

“It will take time.”

“… … .”

“Maybe it will take a hundred years or more. No matter how many children are left in the family, it will be necessary to regain the status of the Namgung.”

Everyone stared at Namgungmyung’s back as he clenched his sword.

“So let’s become a lamp.”

Namgungmyung slowly drew his sword.

“For those who remain in the family, the time ahead will be like wandering in terrible darkness. They will have to endure that long time to see the sun rising in the sky again. So die a death that will make your descendants proud! Prove to everyone in the realm that Namgung's swordsmen are not cowardly!”

Everyone grabbed their swords.

Martial artist proves himself with his death.

Only at the end of the day did everyone understand what the words really meant. With no hesitation in his eyes, they glared at the pirates jumping off the ship and advancing towards the island.

“Get your line up!”

"Clear!"

The survivors of the Heavenly Sword Squad standing at the forefront shouted their throats out.

The Azure Sky Namgung Family.

People can die. But that name will remain and forever be remembered.

If this death can convey their will, it will never be a dog’s death.

“In the name of the Azure SkyNamgung Family!”

Namgungmyung shouted as if vomiting blood.

“Kill the villains!”

Then, with a loud shout, the swordsmen of the Namgung family ran toward the landing pirates.

There is no point in holding on to your seat. What they need to show is not persistence, but will!

'Young Patriarch!'

Namgung Myung, who grabbed the sword, also rushed like a beam of light.

'You must survive! You must!'

May our will, shown here and now, can be passed on to Namgung Dowi.

And I hope that it reaches the children of Namgung who will grow up for a long time.

Red blood gushed out.

The blood gushing from the bodies of the swordsmen at the forefront, and the blood gushing out as the heads of the pirates were cut off, stained Namgung Myung's vision red.

But the screams don't come out. None of those who carry the name of Namgung let out a weak scream.

Even at the moment when his chest was cut and his arm was cut off, he just gritted his teeth and swung his sword one more time.

Death. And another life.

Even Namgung Myung's life will be added to these countless deaths!

“I’m Namgung Myung of the Namgung family! Come, you evil motherfuckers!”

Namgung Myung jumped over the head of the Heavenly Sword Squad and descended among the pirates. The sword he was holding emitted an infinitely dazzling light in the sunlight.