Return of the Mount Hua Sect

“Thi- This can’t be! Chaeju! The harpoons aren’t working, and the ones approaching from the water are getting slaughtered! There’s no way!”

Eududuk.

Chaeju’s eyes, which had his teeth gnashed, were bloodshot.

“Move forward!”

“Huh?”

“If we, filled with fear, join those who are fleeing now and attack from all sides, no matter how formidable they are, they can’t block us all! If we take the lead and bravely charge, the other ships will change their minds too!”

“B- But Chaeju! Y- You saw it! Just now……”

“Shut up! No matter how great Namgung Family is, we are the Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River! You want me to be scared of the Righteous Sect on this Yangtze River and get out of here!”

“….”

“If the harpoons don’t work, we can ram them. We just have to make a hole in their ship! No matter how great they are, they’re not skilled swimmers! Without their ships, they’re nothing!”

“Cha- Chaeju… Please rethink this…”

Chaeng!

Wagon Water Fortress’s Chaeju pulled out a large Amiza.

“You punk, must a trident be stuck in your mouth for you to listen? Can’t you turn the helm now?”

“U- Understood!”

The subordinates moved in a hurry. Chaeju’s face was distorted violently.

‘These disloyal bastards.’

In truth, the subordinates could flee, and that would be that. But he could not allow himself to escape.

The degree to which they abandon their base and come to Black Dragon Water Fortress is somehow acceptable. Because the situation wasn’t that good. However, it is absolutely unforgivable to abandon Black Dragon Water Fortress and run away.

‘The Black Dragon King will never let me live!’

Even considering the persistence of the Black Dragon King, nowhere in the world would be safe.

“It’s the same whether I die this way or that! Row! We’ll ram them from the side!”

“Yes!”

In any case, it is also the same for the pirates whether they die this way or that way. If they refuse to do as ordered now, the Amiza of Chaeju will penetrate their hearts.

Gritting their teeth, they turned the helm and rowed. The boat cut through the current, rapidly charging towards Namgung Family.

“Ram them!”

At the very moment the pirates, driven by rage, raised a battle cry,

Paaaaaat!

From the lead ship of the Namgung Family’s fleet, a white sword energy burst forth and pierced their ship.

Kwaduduk!

Chaeju’s eyes bulged.

Due to the nature of pirate ships, which often collide with each other, they are made of twice as hard material as ordinary wood. Yet that sword energy had cleaved through it like tofu.

“This is….”

The deck was split nearly in half. Looking at the gaping, black hole, cold sweat ran down his spine.

But that was not the end.

Paaaaat! Paaaaaaaaat!

More white sword energy poured one after another. Those standing on the side of the railing swung swords at them with expressionless faces, and every time the sword was swung, a crescent-shaped sword energy fiercely flew.

Kwadeuk! Kwadududuk! Kwaduduk!

The pirate ships quickly lost momentum and turned into a wreck.

“Wha- What the hell is this!”

The Chaeju almost screamed.

Such a sword strike is not something that anyone can dish out. In particular, someone who exerts enough sword energy to fly this long distance and cut this sturdy ship, it is no exaggeration to call the wielder as a peak martial master.

But how many peak martial masters were there on that single ship to cause such a situation?

‘Na- Namgung Family!’

Chaeju’s face turned pale in an instant.

‘Were they this formidable?’

The Ten Great Sect and Five Great Family. People who are so familiar, so naturally regarded as powerful.

But perhaps they had been underestimated precisely because of this.

Only now did he see with his own eyes why they had been able to dominate Kangho over the years.

“Cha- Chaeju!”

“The, the ship is sinking! Escape!”

“The water’s already coming in……”

Sogok!

But even before the words were finished, the white sword energy cut through the pirate’s throat. Red blood spurted all over the deck. At the same time, the ship, which had barely been holding on with one side torn like a rag, lurched and tilted. Blue water rushed onto the deck at an incredible speed.

“Those monster-like creatures…”

The Chaeju looked at the ship of Namgung Family with devastated eyes.

What was even more humiliating than the defeat was that Namgung’s ships were no longer paying any attention to them. Following the lead ship, Namgung’s ships were leaving them behind and entered the valley.

“Cha- Chaeju!”

“Abandon the ship and jump into the water immediately! We’ll join the ships behind us!”

Chaeju of Wagon Water Fortress, who gave the order, suddenly looked down at his own hand.

It was trembling pitifully.

No matter how ferocious the shark may be, in a place where tigers and dragons rampage, it is nothing more than a meal. Realizing his limitations desperately, he closed his eyes tightly and turned away.

“Follow them!”

Bop Kye raised his voice.

His grave eyes were fixed on the leading ship of the wNamgung Family.

‘Emperor Sword, Namgang Hwang. I thought he had grown stronger, but…’

Of course, it was nothing more than dealing with small fries. However, just by that, Namgung Family was confidently displaying the power they possessed.

“Amitabha.”

Just like what Namgung Family was showing now, the place that should have been flaunting the power of their sect was none other than Shaolin. However, due to the check between Wudang and Qingcheng, they were only watching Namgung elevate its reputation.

‘How greedy can one be!’

It’s about defeating the evils of the Yangtze River, but they’re only seeking the safety of their sect.

He now clearly understood the repeated warnings of Bangjang not to meddle in the affairs of Kangho.

“Speed up! We mustn’t let the distance grow!”

“But Elder-nim. Shouldn’t we keep a safe distance? If we are encircled from behind…”

“Encircled?”

Bop Kye frowned.

“It’s not all surrounding to block the back, is it? No matter how encircled we are, can they stop us?”

“That’s…”

Hye Jin couldn’t answer quickly and mumbled.

In terms of strategy, one must always secure a retreat in any circumstances. However, this is also true now. It’s the path that Namgung Family broke through in one go. There’s no way Shaolin can’t penetrate that path, right?

This was not just about preserving pride. It was the logical thing. It is true that Namgung Family showed a great appearance, but this is Shaolin, not anywhere else.

“Those left behind will secure the retreat route…”

Then Bop Kye abruptly closed his mouth.

The ships of Wudang Sect, advancing alongside them, suddenly increased their speed, quickly moving forward. They had already calculated their move.

“Thi- This!”

Bop Kye’s voice grew louder.

“Qingcheng will take care of the rear! Hurry up! We must not fall behind Wudang!”

“Yes!”

When the name Shudang came out, Hye Jin’s face hardened.

It was inevitable that Namgung Family was given the lead. But under no circumstances could they allow Wudang to take the credit.

Wouldn’t it be better for Namgung Family to monopolize the credit?

‘Heo Dojin!’

Bop Kye’s face distorted.

They were just a bit faster in their judgment. However, because of that, Wudang’s ships were already more than ten zhang ahead.

‘If Bangjang had come, he might have tolerated your actions, but I would never sit idly by!’

Bop Kye clenched his fist lightly and gritted his teeth.

Wudang’s ship came close to the rear of the ship of the Namgung Family in the lead. And behind them, the ships of Shaolin and Qingcheng sped up.

If the change of position had occurred in an urgent but orderly manner, it would have been a majestic scene, but instead, it seemed more like chaos itself.

It did not seem worthy of the reputation of Ten Great Sect and Five Great Family.

Mount Hua’s disciples, who were watching from behind, were silent for a moment as if they were speechless.

“…Chung Myung-ah.”

“What?”

Baek Cheon asked, looking perplexedly at the front.

“……The retreat of the pirates in the face of the Namgung Family’s grandeur was undoubtedly an extraordinary sight. But if they end up doing that, won’t all the pirates on the river run away?”

“That’s right.”

“Then the number of pirates won’t decrease much. Wouldn’t it be right for at least two sects to stay behind and deal with those pirates? Two sects are enough to fight against Black Dragon Water Fortress, and they will have some leftovers.”

“Right, right.”

“But what’s wrong with them?”

Chung Myung smirks.

“Who’s going to stay behind and take care of it?”

“It doesn’t matter who. They’re just pirates, and those guys are the Ten Great Sects.”

“How can you get a reputation for catching and disposing of some small fries?”

“….”

“We’ve come a long way, and nobody wants to give up the greatest achievement. Regardless of whether there are pirates left in the Yangtze River or not, they just have to cut off Black Dragon King’s neck. Or annihilate the Black Dragon Water Fortress.”

Baek Cheon hardens his complexion.

“Are you saying they came to help the common people, only to seek merit?”

“Sasuk.”

“…What.”

“Take a good look. This is the nature of those who call themselves the Ten Great Sects or Five Great Family. If only one sect had come here, they would have taken care of all those pirates up there, organized the situation, and then moved inward.”

“….”

“But the moment more than one sect gathers in one place, strategy and everything else are gone. Those guys will never give in.”

Chung Myung twisted the corners of his mouth.

It was a sight he had seen so often that it was tiring.

‘But I cannot say that it’s wrong.’

Being fed up with that crap, he and Hawsan fought against Magyo without discussing gain and fame. What was the price they paid?

If Chung Myung hadn’t returned, Mount Hua would have been crushed to death by debt, and they would still be making a name for themselves in the world, monopolizing all the credit and gain.

Fight even if no one acknowledges you?

Nonsense. He knew now.

Without acknowledgement, only weeds flourish on the grave of the dead. Chung Myung never intended to follow in the footsteps of the past.

“……They’re cold and cruel, these people are called the Ten Great Sects.”

“And fierce too. But don’t laugh or curse at them for their ridiculousness. Don’t get the order wrong. It’s not that they are relentless despite being the Ten Great Sects; they became the Ten Great Sects and Five Great Family because they were so relentless.”

“….”

Baek Cheon, seemingly feeling the weight of those words, nodded heavily.

“……But you said to watch carefully. If this happens, we won’t be able to see what’s going on inside, right?”

“Ei, come on. There’s always a way.”

“Huh?”

“Look over there.”

Chung Myung chins towards the side.

On the opposite side of the scattering pirate ships, some ships revealed themselves.

“……What’s that?”

“Our ship.”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened.

“Our ship? That one?”

Yeah. I told them to bring some extra ships just in case. I thought we wouldn’t be able to use them since they left late, but thanks to those fools dawdling, we can.”

“….”

Chung Myung grinned triumphantly.

“Let’s go. We need to see with our own eyes whether the place they’ve entered is filled with treasures or a tiger’s mouth.”

“…I can’t compete with you, really.”

Baek Cheon shook his head and saw ships entering the valley. His expression hardened slowly.

Strangely enough, in his eyes, this scene seemed so ominous…….

“Hey! Grab some of the leftover booze there!”

“….”

No.

It seemed to be just a misconception.