Return of Mount Hua Sect

Novel Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 954

“Hmmm.”

Jang Ilso snorted and raised his cup. The faint moonlight reflected in his pale eyes.

“On a late night, over the Yangtze River…”

His lips drew a soft arc.

“Drinking alone with the moon as my friend, how can one not be moved?”

Just as the moon seemed to gently touch his cup.

“…I am also here.”

“Tsk.”

At that moment, Jang Ilso glanced back at Ho Gamyeong sitting across from him with an annoyed look on his face.

“You don’t know the beauty of the world.”

“I may not understand beauty, but I do understand reason.”

“Enough.”

Jang Ilso waved his hand dismissively and slowly emptied his cup. After downing every last drop, he laid the cup on the table, his face slightly relaxed.

“Isn’t it pleasant?”

Looking at Jang Ilso, who seemed to be in a good mood as if he was out moon-viewing, Ho Gamyeong sighed.

“Perhaps it’s entertaining for Ryeonju-nim, but not for me.”

“Why? Is there something troubling you?”

“Troubling, huh?”

Ho Gamyeong looked around with a puzzled face. The place where they are drinking is none other than the deck of the Black Dragon Ship.

It is said that Black Dragon King is the deputy leader of Evil Tyrant Alliance, and Jang Ilso is the leader… but the Black Dragon Ship is akin to a symbol of water fortress. Acting on that deck as if it were their own home was no different from barging into someone else’s home with muddy feet.

‘It’s like that for me right now.’

If Black Dragon King invades Myriad Man Manor and sits on Jang Ilso’s throne, there will be nothing Ho Gamyeong can’t do to kill Black Dragon King.

‘Can I express this by being bold?’

Moreover, they were above the river.

And the subordinates of Myriad Man Manor they brought with them are staying on a ship other than this Black Dragon ship. This means that if Black Dragon King harbored ill intentions, it could become seriously dangerous.

However, Jang Ilso was calmly sipping his drink as if such things did not matter.

“Kukukukuk.”

Jang Ilso chuckled softly as he looked at Ho Gamyeong, who kept glancing around with an anxious face.

“Gamyeong, you’re too fearful to be of use.”

“…If it were just my life at stake, I wouldn’t be scared. But I’m not great enough to have the audacity to risk Ryeonju-nim’s life.”

“Audacity….”

Jang Ilso lightly swayed his index finger from side to side.

“No, no. This isn’t audacity, it’s calculation.”

“….”

“Black Dragon King is smarter than you think. That’s why he can’t touch me right now.”

“Why…”

“If I die, Evil Tyrant Alliance will instantly lose their heads and split apart. Then who will bear the wrath of those Righteous punks eyeing us with bloodshot eyes from over there?”

“Ah….”

Ho Gamyeong nodded his head slowly.

It is clear that if Jang Ilso were to step back, not just Gangnam, but this entire region of the Yangtze would be devastated. Shaolin’s anger must be terrifying now.

“Black Dragon King is probably restless, worrying that a stray arrow might kill me. So don’t worry unnecessarily and just enjoy the drink. Drinking alone is rather lonely.”

“…Ryeonju-nim were just talking about enjoying the drink with moon as a friend.”

“You hold on to things too long. That’s a bad habit.”

Jang Ilso chuckled and slowly turned his head. He could see Plum Blossom Island submerged in darkness at a glance.

“Aren’t they pitiful?”

“Isn’t that an obvious statement?”

Ho Gamyeong slowly downed the drink in front of him.

Tak.

Ho Gamyeong placed the cup on the table and spoke with a grave expression.

“Compared to what Ryeonju-nim has been through, such matters hardly qualify as a crisis.”

“It’s not about what I’ve been through.”

“…?”

“It’s about what you and I have been through.”

At Jang Ilso’s words, a faint smile appeared on Ho Gamyeong’s face, which was usually expressionless the whole time.

People only see the glamorous side of Jang Ilso.

At a young age, he became Bangju of Myriad Man Manor and grew it into one of the Five Great Evil Sects. And now, he has surpassed Myriad Man Manor and ascended to the position of head of Evil Tyrant Alliance, which oversees Evil Sects of the world.

An undeniably illustrious career.

But who could know?

What path did Jang Ilso and Ho Gamyeong take to achieve such splendid feats?

Overcoming the danger of death is not even suitable for drinking partners. For them, the danger to their lives was as natural as the night that comes after the sun sets.

Ho Gamyeong picked up the bottle and filled Jang Ilso’s empty cup.

“And this is something we will continue to experience in the future.”

“Indeed. Hahaha.”

Jang Ilso laughed heartily and emptied the cup filled with alcohol in one go. His gaze, however, remained fixed on the darkness-enshrouded Plum Blossom Island.

“Hm?”

Suddenly, Jang Ilso’s eyes twitched slightly. In response, Ho Gamyeong’s face stiffened as he asked,

“Is there something wrong?”

“No.”

But Jang Ilso soon calmly shook his head.

“It’s nothing.”

His blood-red lips drew an arc.

“Is it ready?”

“…It is done.”

—

Namgung Hwang looks back at Namgung Dowi with a stern face. His son, who seemed forever young, was now looking back at him with the face of a martial artist.

Namgung Hwang shook his head loudly.

Even if it wasn’t his son, it didn’t matter. Anyone who could wear such an expression is worth risking life for.

“What about the elders?”

“We are ready, Gaju-nim.”

The same was true for the elders who stood behind Namgung Dowi.

They looked haggard and gaunt, a look that wouldn’t be surprising if they collapsed at any time, but their eyes shone intensely clear and bright. To the point where he was worried that they might be discovered just because of it.

Namgung Hwang exhaled shortly.

“Dowi.”

“Yes, Gaju-nim.”

“I know you’ve made up your mind, but I ask you one last time.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t look back.”

Namgung Dowi clenched his fists tightly.

“What hangs on your shoulders is the life of Namgung Family on this island. Compared to that, our lives are insignificant.”

“…I understand.”

Having finished speaking, Namgung Hwang nodded his head. He then looked quietly at Namgung Dowi, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

“… … .”

With his son’s image engraved in his eyes for the last time, Namgung Hwang turned around as if he had no regrets left behind.

“Namgung Myung.”

“Ga- Gaju-nim.”

“Please take care of this place.”

Namgung Myung gritted his teeth. A firm determination soon settled on his face.

“Yes, please leave it to me.”

“Good.”

Namgung Hwang spoke firmly without looking back.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

“Approach as stealthily as possible without being detected.”

There were exactly seven of them: Namgung Huang, Namgung Dowi, and five elders who were the core of Namgung.

They began to seep silently into the Yangtze River, which was stained as black as ink.

They began to merge into the ink-black Yangtze River

Not making a sound, not even a splash, as they dived beneath the water and slowly approached the ship.

Namgung Dowi followed right behind Namgung Hwang and proceeded to swim as carefully as possible.

After swimming in the murky waters for a while, a fleeting hope crept into Namgung Dowi’s heart. Like this, they might be able to pass under the fleets and reach land without being detected.

But hope is often just hope, and it often shatters.

Before they even got halfway to the ship, something erupted from the riverbed.

“Tsk!”

A stream of white bubbles escaped Namgung Hwang’s mouth.

Those crazy pirates were stuck on the riverbed, watching to see if anyone was coming and going.

If it had been outside the water, there is no way they would have been able to detect the presence of Namgung Hwang. But this is underwater. To put it another way, there was absolutely no cover to hide.

This means that no matter how much Namgung Hwang is, he cannot escape their eyes.

Rumble!

A series of loud sounds came from the water, and dozens of long harpoons flew towards them in a whirling manner.

Namgung Hwang clenched his teeth and drew his sword.

Kwaaaaaaang!

Soon, a huge column of water rose onto the calm surface of the Yangtze River.

“What’s that!”

“It’s an enemy attack! There are rats in the water!”

“Crossbow unit!”

The once tranquil Yangtze River was instantly filled with shouts and curses.

Kwang!

Black Dragon King, who was inside the cabin, jumped out like a thunderbolt.

“What’s happening!”

“It seems they’re attempting to escape.”

“What?”

Black Dragon King turned his head and looked at Plum Blossom Island. When he narrowed his eyes, he could still clearly see the people groaning in the center of Plum Blossom Island.

‘Huh?’

Most of the people were still on the island.

Then?

“Namgung Hwang!”

Black Dragon King ran across the deck, roaring loudly.

Chwaaaak!

Soon, the image of Namgung Hwang rising above the water clearly caught his eye.

“Euhahahahat! You damn rat! So you want to live too even by yourself, huh!”

Black Dragon King, who burst into a hearty laugh, then made a sweeping gesture with his hand as if there was nothing to delay.

“Fire! Turn that coward into a porcupine!”

As the pirates flocked to one side of the deck, the ship suddenly tilted. The pirates were so tightly packed that their shoulders were touching each other and they all raised their bows and aimed at Namgung Hwang.

“Fireeeeeeeeeee!”

Swaeaeaeaeaek!

Arrows loaded with internal strength were fired all at once. Not just from Black Dragon Ship, but from dozens of other ships as well, the arrows covered Namgung Hwang’s head like a torrential downpour.

If it were daytime instead of night, the sheer number of arrows would have cast a giant shadow over the Yangtze River.

“Black Dragon Kiiiiiiiiiing!”

But at that moment.

Kwaaaaaaaaang!

The huge sword energy unleashed by Namgung Hwang shone like the sun piercing through the river, illuminating the surroundings. Then downpour of arrows collided with the soaring sword energy, scattering in all directions.

It was such a formidable sword technique that it gave those watching it chills.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

However, Black Dragon King was rather roared with laughter at the sight.

“Tear him apart! Let him know clearly what it costs to dip his body in the Yangtze!”

The pirates, discarding their bows, plunged into the water one after another. There were so many of them that the foam that rose as they jumped into the water made the river seem momentarily stained white.

Chwaaaak!

That many people rushed through the water at incredible speed toward the seven people, including Namgung Hwang.

Both above and below the water.

It resembled a scene where hundreds of sharks swarmed towards a tiger trapped in the water.

“Gaju-nim!”

“I know!”

Namgung Hwang shouted loudly.

“Elders, fend off those approaching underwater! I’ll take care of the surface!”

He gripped the sword handle so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

‘I must send Dowi alive!’

A fierce determination surged in his eyes, stronger than ever before.

“Come! Dogs of water fortress! Witness how Gaju of Namgung faces death!”

With a roar like a wounded tiger, Namgung Hwang’s sword unleashed an enormous force, slicing through the river’s surface.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

Then, huge ripples began to appear on the surface of the Yangtze River. The rising waves rocked the ships floating above significantly.

And that moment.

Paaaaaaaat!

The pirates, like dolphins leaping from the water, launched harpoons towards Namgung Hwang and Namgung Dowi.

“Dowi!”

“Yes!”

Taaat!

Namgung Dowi stepped on Namgung Hwang’s shoulder and leaped above the water like a sparrowhawk. His sword drew white streaks in the air.

The dark sky.

The pitch-black Yangtze River.

Amidst them, the white streaks seemed somewhat forlorn.