Return of the Mount Hua

Where is Hwasan? (1)

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Splash!

Namgung Dowi, who fell into the water, clenched his teeth.

“Father!”

He must not be sad. There’s no time to be sad.

He waved his arms and legs frantically, looking at the nearby riverside.

“Aaaargh!”

A desperate cry burst from his lips, an animalistic howl mingling with anger, sorrow, and pain.

Blood, tears, or river water, he couldn’t tell what was streaming down his face. He just moved his limbs frantically as he pressed forward.

If he died here, it would be a pitiful end for those who had fought valiantly over there.

So he had to go!

“Aaaargh!”

With a desperate scream, Namgung Dowi tried to advance, but he had to stop before taking a few steps. The enemies in front of him quickly surrounded him.

Namgung Dowi stared at them with eyes filled with determination and drew his sword.

‘Don’t get excited.’

In his heart, he wanted to release all the pent-up anger on them, to swing his sword until he collapsed, abandoning all reason.

But he couldn’t.

His life wasn’t his alone right now.

‘I must survive.’

Absolutely! Without a doubt!

Paaah!

His sword sliced through the waist of an approaching enemy in one swift motion. From the torn body hot blood spurted out, covering Namgung Dowi’s face. The cold river water mixed with the warm blood.

Thud!

A flying arrow grazed his arm, leaving a shallow wound, but he didn’t even feel the pain. Reflexively, Dowi thrust his sword, impaling the enemy as he continued to move forward in the water.

‘I must live!’

Thud!

Another harpoon flew from the water, embedding itself in his abdomen. Namgung Dowi snapped the shaft of it with his outstretched hand and continued to swing his sword.

‘Absolutely!’

The riverside was now within reach.

Just a little more… just a bit more!

“Aaargh!”

With every swing of his sword, a surge of white light cut through the bodies of the enemies. Even as he was drenched in warm blood, his limbs never stopped moving.

‘Absolutely…’

Just a little further…

Kwaaaah!

At that moment, a sinister rumble pierced his ears, and Namgung Dowi reflexively turned around.

A dark, massive blade.

The mighty sword energy, which had brought down Namgung Hwang, was flying straight towards Namgung Dowi. An attack so powerful that his exhausted body couldn’t possibly endure.

Dowi’s pupils shook as he widened his eyes.

“No…”

Kwaaaah!

Just then, the dark sword energy, flying in a straight line, caused a massive explosion in mid-air. The enemies pursuing Namgung Dowi were swept away by the colossal burst of energy, screaming in terror.

“Aaaargh!”

“Aaaargh!”

Namgung Dowi was momentarily taken aback.

‘What’s happening?’

What kind of situation had unfolded?

But instead of dwelling on it, he turned his body around. The most important thing now was not “why,” but finding a way to survive.

“Out of the way, you bastards!”

With a desperate shout, Namgung Dowi made his way toward the shore.

“This…”

Rage filled the eyes of the furious Black Dragon King.

“What kind of trickery is this!”

His face was contorted with anger. The Black Dragon King had never suppressed such rage before. If he were this furious, he would go after and finish off anyone, no matter who they were. That was his nature.

However, despite his anger, the current situation prevented him from rushing at his opponent. The reason was quite simple: the one who had infuriated him was none other than Jang Ilso himself.

“Why did you block my attack?”

he demanded.

He had clearly unleashed his attack with the intention to finish Namgung Dowi off. If there had been no interference, Namgung Dowi would have undoubtedly perished on the spot. However, his attack exploded upon impact with the force exerted by Jang Ilso before it could even reach Namgung Dowi.

In other words, it was Jang Ilso who had spared Namgung Dowi’s life.

“Hmm,”

Jang Ilso grunted softly, his face wearing a sullen expression as he stared at the Black Dragon King.

“Ryeonju!”

“Tsk, tsk.”

Unable to contain himself any longer, the Black Dragon King shouted again. Jang Ilso glanced at him casually and made a displeased sound.

“People really should control themselves…”

“What did you say?”

Jang Ilso smiled with his crimson lips.

“I went to great lengths to save a life, but it’s against human principles to kill even the savior and the saved. That’s just too painful for a human to bear..”

The Black Dragon King frowned.

What kind of nonsense is this?

“Ha-ha-ha-ha!”

With that expression, Jang Ilso laughed loudly and glanced at Namgung Dowi. He was desperately fending off the attacks from the enemies. Jang Ilso’s eyes darkened.

“Do you not want to see it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“When he arrives at the riverbank and faces Shaolin.”

The Black Dragon King was about to say something but closed his mouth. Jang Ilso spoke slowly.

“Isn’t it true for humans? They hide, bury, and turn away from what they consider their own faults. But… as you live, you’ll definitely face that moment. When you have to confront your own faults head-on.”

“…”

“At that time…”

Jang Ilso slowly licked his red lips and turned his gaze to the Black Dragon King.

“Do you know what expression humans make?”

The Black Dragon King’s shoulders trembled slightly.

He couldn’t possibly understand Jang Ilso’s thoughts. However, there was no need to understand. The malice that he possessed was palpable even without comprehension.

“You will see it soon.”

As he listened to Jang Ilso’s light voice, the Black Dragon King silently glared at him. However, as time passed, once again, it was the Black Dragon King who eventually averted his gaze.

“Recover the bodies!”

The Black Dragon King ordered in a rough voice, then turned away from Jang Ilso as if he couldn’t stand it any longer.

Listening to all of this, Ho Gamyeong raised his head.

He might understand the sentiment, but he didn’t like that attitude.

“It won’t be long now.”

With sharp eyes, Ho Gamyeong stared at the Black Dragon King’s retreating figure and then spoke to Jang Ilso.

“Lord Ryeonju, now…”

“Hush.”

Jang Ilso quietly stopped Ho Gamyeong telling him to be quiet, then slowly extended his hand. He grabbed the bottle of alcohol on the table. While gazing at the pure white bottle, he reached his hand outside the railing and slowly tilted the bottle.

Drip, drip, drip, drip.

The flowing alcohol scattered onto the cold surface of the Jang River.

Understanding the meaning behind this action, Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Ilso with a puzzled expression.

“Don’t you dislike foolish people, Lord Ryeonju?”

“I do.”

Jang Ilso nodded slowly.

“But I don’t hate them.”

“…”

Suddenly tranquil silence had settled over the Yangtze River once again. Jang Ilso, his eyes slightly downcast, gazed at the flowing river as if there was nothing at all.

“I’ve achieved what I set out to do, so there’s no room for regret,”

Jang Ilso said. His spilled alcohol scattered like raindrops on the river’s surface.

His foot touched the ground.

Splash.

Namgung Dowi extended his firm foot forward like a thousand-pound weight. By this point, the pursuers had halted their chase.

A path of blood appeared on the dark river he had passed. At its end, Namgung Dowi staggered but continued walking ceaselessly.

The water, which had reached his neck, soon touched his chest, and his upper body emerged from the water.

Splash. Splash.

“Survive…”

he murmured as if he was possessed by something. His eyes were half-closed, and his pupils were hazy, but Namgung Dowi kept moving forward.

“I have to survive…”

Splash. Splash.

Finally, his foot emerged from the water.

Chinn.

Upon reaching the shore, water and blood flowed down his face. From his sword, water dripped down onto the ground.

And…

Those standing by the riverbank, unable to even breathe as they watched him emerge from the water, couldn’t bring themselves to do anything, not out of guilt, but rather out of shame.

They couldn’t muster the courage to support him as he staggered towards them.

Thud. Thud.

Finally, Namgung Dowi, who had reached them, lowered his sword to the ground and leaned on it.

It was truly a pitiful sight. There wasn’t a spot on his entire body that was free of wounds, and the water dripping from him was tinged with a deep crimson, just as his clothes became stained red. The onlookers’ hearts ached as much as the fabric turning scarlet.

“Cough! Cough!”

Namgung Dowi, having cleared his wet coughs, shook violently, then slowly regained his composure.

Finally, very slowly, as if it were intentionally drawn out, Namgung Dowi lifted his head. Who would dare meet those eyes?

Despite Namgung Dowi lifting his head, their gazes still couldn’t meet. Everyone, as if they had made some unspoken agreement, lowered their eyes and turned away.

Shaolin’s monks who had stood here like stone statues, observing every aspect of the Yangtze River, did the same. Kongtong sect, who had arrived at the river late and couldn’t do anything, followed suit.

Even the beggars of The Beggars Sect, who had lived only in the lowest places, embracing nothing but their unity, turned away with shame.

No one dared to meet Namgung Dowi’s gaze. Even Beop Jong, the head of the Shaolin, turned his gaze away to the distant sky. Anyone would do the same, even if they had a shred of conscience left, they couldn’t bear to look into those eyes.

“Huh…”

A voice that was more like a groan escaped from Namgung Dowi’s lips.

“Hehe…”

And that twisted voice soon turned into a bitter laughter. None here understood the meaning behind that laughter. They could only guess from the tinge of self-pity and sorrow buried within it.

“Cough! Cough!”

Namgung Dowi, after another loud cough that made him seem on the verge of collapsing, straightened up, gripping his sword tightly. Then, he took a long, deep breath.

In that moment, everyone there were filled with dread. Whether it would be a sharp criticism, a severe reprimand, or even blatant mockery coming from his mouth… they had no choice but to listen with their eyes closed.

What could Namgung Dowi possibly say to them? There were too many anticipated words, and each one was painful in its own way.

And at the end of this long and short time of agony… Namgung Dowi finally spoke.

Overcoming the urge to block their ears, they strained to hear Namgung Dowi’s voice.

However, at that moment, what came out of Namgung Dowi’s mouth wasn’t criticism, reprimand, or mockery. It was something none of the people there had expected, a completely unexpected statement.

Everyone who had been bowing their heads suddenly opened their eyes wide and raised their heads, trying to confirm that they hadn’t misheard.

Naturally, the many gazes and Namgung Dowi’s gaze met.

In Namgung Dowi’s gaze, there was no expectation, no emotion. When they saw his indifferent and dark eyes, everyone realized what they had done wrong.

And at that moment, Namgung Dowi spoke clearly once again.

“…Hwasan.”

Without a hint of emotion, his voice was so clear that it was hard to ignore.

“…Where is Hwasan?”

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