Don’t bow your head. (5)
Paaah!
Namgung Dowi’s sword ruthlessly cut through the bodies of the pirates rushing at him. There was no hint of hesitation. At the tip of his sword, a young venom whispered Namgung Dowi’s resolve.
And at that moment, beneath him, his father unleashed a lion’s roar.
“Rraaargh!”
Kwaaaaah!
A dazzling white sword energy surged forward, sweeping away the pirates charging from the front.
Peerless.
No, even that description falls short of capturing the essence of his momentum.
“Come! You filthy pirates!”
A storm-like shout erupted. In this dark river, only Namgung Hwang’s gaze remained crystal clear, as if it were on fire.
Swoooosh!
The harpoons flew aggressively.
Clang!
The Sword Emperor cut the flying harpoon in two at once, but there was no time to cut down the enemy who actually threw the harpoon. Before the sword could be swung again, another harpoon flew in, and before that harpoon could even reach his proximity, another harpoon flew in.
Harpoons were not meant for war but for hunting.
Thinner than spears, harpoons didn’t get tangled up. The barbed hooks at the end, once they pierced flesh, couldn’t be pulled out without tearing it apart.
When individuals face off against each other, weapons like harpoons may be at a disadvantage, but when hunting in small numbers like this, harpoons are more effective than any other weapon.
The pirates’ eyes sparkled with a youthful madness, even in the darkness. Over a dozen harpoons flew vigorously toward Namgung Hwang and Dowi.
“Don’t underestimate us!”
Dowi leaped back onto the water’s surface and unleashed his sword energy at the approaching pirates and their harpoons.
Twelve Strikes of the Iron Sword.
A basic sword technique of the Namgung family that was different from the Imperial Swordsmanship, which required immense inner strength. It simplicity made it more effective in situations like this.
Simple yet fast, and fast yet powerful. The white sword energy cut through the harpoons in the air and shattered them, impaling the pirates and sending them flying.
“Aaaargh!”
“Kraaaargh!”
The pirates screamed as they were thrown back. While their blood splattered and mingled with the river, the darkness below simply consumed their blood and corpses, paying them no heed.
However, even after their comrades were hacked to death, the harpoons kept coming, unstoppable.
“Woohoo!”
This time, Namgung Hwang shouted and swung his sword. The bursting sword energy exploded like a wave, creating a giant surge that pushed the pirates, who had been riding on the water’s surface, away.
However…
“Kill them!”
“They’re just a few! Kill them all!”
“I’ll slay the Sword Emperor!”
Even if they killed and killed again, more people rushed in, and no matter how hard they pushed back, more followed.
No, it was not just to that extent. Even as their comrades were dying right in front of them, the enemies leaped forward like hungry sharks swarm, smelling blood.
“Shoot them!”
Paaah!
At that moment, hundreds of arrows shot from several ships that were slowly approaching them. The rain of arrows, as if to cover the sky, changed direction and began to pour over Namgung Hwang and Namgung Dowi.
“These crazy bastards…!”
Namgung Hwang couldn’t contain his anger.
Kakang! Kakagang!
The arrows, infused with inner power, pierced at an incredible speed, but Namgung Hwang was not one to be hit by such crude arrows. It was the enemies who were rushing at the two who got hurt by those arrows.
“Koah!”
“Aaargh!”
An arrow that pierced the back of the enemies’ heads shot out in front of their faces. Those who had rushed without thinking couldn’t avoid the flying arrows and turned into pincushions in an instant.
“This…!”
Namgung Hwang’s eyes blazed with anger.
They shoot arrows knowing that their comrades are here. Even if they shot arrows, they should have known that it would only tickle Namgung Hwang!
Are their lives worth nothing more than just scarring Namgung Hwang’s body?
“Heukryongwaaaaah!”
“Shoot!”
Namgung Hwang shouted in anger, but the Black Dragon King only gave orders with a solemn face.
“It’s okay if we don’t injure him. Just draining his energy is enough.”
Fundamentally, all the power of a swordsman comes from the lower body. In a place where there is no ground to step on, it is difficult for any sword to exert its full power. In other words, to deploy a sword with the same power as usual, more inner power needs to be expended than usual.
Especially for Namgung Hwang, who carries a tremendous amount of inner power in a single sword strike, he will soon tire out. Even more so because he has been trapped on that Maehwa Island for a while without being able to recover his energy.
Once Sword Emperor’s energy is depleted, the Black Dragon King can step in and cut his throat.
‘You fool.’
A wicked smile played on the Black Dragon King’s lips.
I don’t know what he was thinking, but the moment he jumped into this river, Namgung Hwang’s fate was sealed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Arrows filled with intense inner power pierced through the surface and plunged downward.
Certainly, those arrows didn’t cause significant damage to Namgung Hwang. However, that’s limited to Namgung Hwang alone. The situation was entirely different for the elders who were facing the underwater enemies.
Unexpectedly, arrows rained down on them while they were dealing with the rising enemies from below. The arrows, filled with inner power, pierced through the water’s surface without losing their effectiveness. They had to deal with dozens of arrows that suddenly flew behind them, and their fate was quite apparent.
Thunk!
Their momentary efforts to fend off the arrows were not in vain, but it was impossible to block them all. Sharp arrowheads penetrated their backs and sides.
Thunk!
“Elders!”
A scream burst from Namgung Hwang’s mouth. One of the Elders, who had been hit by an arrow, was pushed further into the water.
Namgung Hwang gritted his teeth. There was no time to tend to their injuries. The moment they withdrew from the front lines, Namgung Hwang would have to deal with not only the enemies on the water’s surface but also the incoming arrows underwater.
Knowing this, the Elders had chosen to confront the enemies without regard for their own lives.
Namgung Hwang looked around.
Endless.
He couldn’t tell whether what he was seeing was the river itself or the countless enemies filling the river.
Namgung Hwang gritted his teeth.
“Dowi!”
“Yes!”
“Stay behind me!”
Namgung Dowi momentarily looked at Namgung Hwang. He seemed to want to say something but ended up biting his lips before swallowing his words.
As he glided through the water to position himself behind his father, a heavy sigh escaped Namgung Hwang’s lips.
“Dowi!”
“Yes, Lord.”
Even amid the chaos, Namgung Hwang cast a quick glance back at Dowi. His eyes revealed intentions that were hard to decipher. Namgung Hwang’s lips moved slightly.
“From your father’s back… don’t fall behind.”
That was all he said. Namgung Hwang tightened his grip on the sword once again. If they were already trapped in a place like this, the outcome was clear. However, what they needed to do was not just endure but move forward, no matter the cost.
“Guard Dowi, Elders!”
His voice might or might not have penetrated the water below, but they would surely understand Namgung Hwang’s intent without the need for words.
With a resounding roar, a brilliant light emanated, as if it could momentarily dispel the dark sky and turn it into a clear blue sky. Namgung Hwang’s sword energy swept forward.
The powerful sword energy split the river in an instant. The path where the sword energy extended was filled with enemies who couldn’t even scream before being crushed.
“Let’s go!”
As the receding waters surged back in, the river surged like an ocean in a storm. Namgung Hwang strode forward, pushing through the water.
“Die!”
“This monster!”
The enemies turned their eyes wide open and rushed towards Namgung Hwang.
Once again, the single sword!
Kwaaaah!
The sword energy emitted by Namgung Hwang swept away the approaching enemies, along with the rushing river.
Splashing! Splashing!
It felt like someone was poking his entire body with a giant needle. Namgung Hwang wasn’t in perfect condition when he jumped into the river. It was only natural that his inner energy would be depleted when he continued to unleash sword energy in that situation.
But the Sword Emperor didn’t think about what lay behind him. There was nothing behind him. Only what lay ahead existed.
“Aaah!”
Namgung Hwang’s sword moved grandly once again. The dazzling white sword energy seemed to be drawing a path on the river for them to follow.
“Charge!”
Kwaaaah!
The riverbed, impacted by that sword energy, burst open as if a giant was tearing it apart with their bare hands.
“Charge!”
Namgung Hwang roared with all his might.
His body had no strength left. The battle was now as painful as being slashed with a knife repeatedly. Despite that, his heart was more at peace than before he had jumped into the water.
Once again, the sword energy was unleashed.
‘Now I understand.’
He had pondered it from time to time. The one-sided swordsmanship known as the Emperor’s Sword Style. It was extremely offensive, using an extraordinary amount of inner energy to unleash immense destructive power, but it was also exceptionally vulnerable to attacks from behind.
This was why the Namgung family had always produced top swordsmen, but they had never managed to overcome the final hurdle to claim the title of the greatest swordsman in the world. The title of “Greatest Swordsman in the World” had always eluded them.
Why had his ancestors chosen such a peculiar sword technique as the centerpiece of the Namgung family’s martial tradition?
But…
‘Now I understand.’
There was no need to protect his back anymore. There was his son behind him.
The Emperor’s Sword Style. The sword of an emperor.
That sword wasn’t meant to showcase itself. It wasn’t meant to defeat enemies.
It was simply meant to protect those who followed.
That was what the emperor Namgung aspired to be.
‘No… perhaps it’s the path of a leader.’
His sword spoke.
It meant to squeeze out everything he had left to protect his son, no matter the cost.
Namgung Hwang’s lips curled upward, revealing his white teeth. The crashing waves relentlessly pounded his face, and the biting river water surged into his throat. Yet, his eyes were clearer than ever before.
“Dowi!”
“Yes!”
“Watch closely!”
This was the path he was taking. And someday, it would be the path his son would have to walk.
Kwaaaaah!
The terrifying sword energy he unleashed swept away the relentless attackers.
Kwaduk!
However, amid the imperfect sword energy, an harpoon pierced his side.
Namgung Hwang didn’t avert his gaze.
Paaaaaah!
He swiftly struck down the assailant whose harpoon had pierced his belly and then decapitated the startled attackers one after another.
Kwaduk! Kwaduk!
Underwater, harpoons flew, piercing his legs, and a rain of arrows pierced his shoulders.
Yet, Namgung Hwang continued to fixate on what lay ahead.
‘Open up.’
Even if he had to burn down everything.
The path Namgung Clan will take.
The path his son… had to move forward on.
________
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Return of the Mount Hua 
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