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During a night they had never experienced before in their lives, the swordsmen of the Namgung Family had to live with the fear that pirates might attack at any moment.

However, they couldn’t even attempt to escape the island. Haven’t they already experienced the dangers of the river under the cover of night?

So, the swordsmen of the Namgung Family had no choice but to spend the entire night awake, with their eyes wide open.

And finally, when dawn broke, they faced a deeper despair than the darkness of the night.

Namgung Myung groaned.

“…It’s the battle fleet of the pirates.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Hwang furrowed his brow.

The moment the sun rose from the east illuminated the river, the ships surrounding the island in the middle of the river appeared. All were heavily armed with large cannons.

“…Those slippery eels.”

Namgung Hwang gritted his teeth in anger.

At a glance, it seemed that all the pirate ships of the water fortress in the Yangtze River had been brought. The sight of the siege implied a determination not to let even a single ant cub escape.

“Azure Sky Daeju.”

“Yes, Gaju-nim!”

“What about breaking through?”

Namgung Myung bit his lip hard.

“…It’s difficult, Gaju-nim.”

“Why?”

He swallowed dryly before answering,

“The distance to the riverbank is too far. It’s not impossible to cross if we push hard, but… reaching the riverbank while fending off the cannon and arrow fire from those pirate ships is an impossible task.”

Namgung Hwang bites his lip hard.

“What about me crossing the river alone? The Azure Sky members may not make it, but the elders and I should be able to do it, right?”

“…It will be possible. But….”

Namgung Myung couldn’t bear to open his mouth.

“If Gaju-nim and the elders break through the siege and reach the land… another problem is that it won’t change the situation.”

This place was an island.

To transport people to the mainland, ships were needed. Even if Namgung Hwang went to the shore, secured a boat, and returned to the island, how would he face all those ships alone?

In the end, the ship that was for rescue will sink due to the pouring bombardment.

“But wouldn’t it be better than the current situation?”

“Gaju-nim…”

Soon after, Namgung Myung, who bit his lip too hard, had his lips turned white. It was an embarrassing thing to say, but he had no choice.

“…The moment Gaju-nim and the elders leave this island, they will attack without waiting. If that happens…”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Hwang let out a sigh, already understanding what would follow. Namgung Myung said in a sorrowful voice.

“Those who remain on the island…”

“Will be massacred.”

Namgung Hwang murmured softly, closing his eyes.

To a sect, an absolute master represents more than half of the entire sect’s strength. Namgung Family without Namgug Hwang can never beat the water fortress.

The reason was simple.

Among the ships widely surrounding the island, a black vessel emerged with a majestic presence.

‘Black Dragon Ship…’

There will be King Black Dragon on that ship.

There is no need to argue with the elders. The moment Namgung Hwang took even one step away, the Black Dragon King will definitely drive his ship here and attempt to land. Who would face King Heukryong in the Namgung Family without Namgung Hwang?

On this island, akin to a trap with no escape, the Black Dragon King would be like a cat leaping among mice caught in a trap.

“In the end… it means we can do nothing,”

“Gaju-nim…”

Namgung Hwang’s face was composed. He didn’t seem particularly angry.

However, Namgung Myung and Namgung Dowi saw it clearly. The sight of blood flowing from his tightly clenched fist.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, suppressing his rage. He would never show such a sign to the other members of the Namgung Family.

“Hmph!”

Namgung Hwang, who snorted briefly, growled.

“Those who don’t even dare to attack.”

His deep voice then echoed loudly.

“Those idiots can’t get to the island anyway. If so, the confrontation will only continue. Instead of sitting around needlessly and wasting your strength, everyone should go and get some rest. There is enough space to rest, so there will be no problem.”

As the swordsmen of the Namgung Family sent anxious glances, Namgung Hwang spoke decisively again.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Just holding out on this island for a while will solve everything!”

“Gaju-nim…”

“Azure Sky Daeju!”

“Yes, Gaju-nim!”

“Form the disciples into groups and have them take turns resting. Keep watch, but there’s no need to exhaust yourselves! Just be alert for ships approaching the island.”

“Yes!”

Namgung Myung called in the disciples and quickly formed a group. And the remaining manpower was forced into the pavilion.

Although the disciples were visibly uneasy about resting inside the pavilions where they couldn’t see outside, ultimately, they followed Namgung Myung’s orders as there really was no other option.

Once the situation was somewhat settled, Namgoong Hwang quietly called Namgung Myung and Namgung Dowi separately. Moving to a place away from the eyes of the other family members, he asked them with a different expression than before.

“What do you think we should do from now on?”

He was no fool either.

There was no way he could not understand that things were going terribly badly.

“Gaju-nim…”

Namgung Myung opened his mouth with a face full of humiliation.

“There is nothing we can do right now.”

“…Nothing we can do?”

“Yes, Gaju-nim…. First of all, we must protect this island first. Any rash attempt to break the siege will end the Namgung Family at that very moment.”

“…….”

“What Gaju-nim said is right. No matter how strong water fortresses are, they wouldn’t dare to land on an island guarded by the Namgung Family.”

“…It’s not that they don’t dare, but that they don’t need to.”

Namgung Myung clenched his mouth upon being hit with the truth.

Even if the tiger is caught in a trap, it is suicidal to approach the tiger while it is still strong. An experienced hunter will wait leisurely for the tiger to weaken without rushing.

When the tiger loses the strength to resist, the hunter would leisurely approach and finish it off without damaging its hide.

“Fine. Let’s assume that’s all we can do for now. But will the situation change if we just hold out?”

“…Salvation will come.”

“Salvation?”

Namgung Myung nodded with difficulty.

“Yes… Shaolin and the Ten Great Sects will not rejoice at our Namgung Family being besieged by the water fortress. As long as they come to our aid, we can break the siege and escape this island.”

Namgung Hwang’s face distorted.

“Haven’t you already experienced their power?”

“Ga- Gaju-nim.”

“We couldn’t even properly defend against their attack. Don’t you still know that the reason we were able to win the battle three years ago with a one-sided victory was not because we were stronger than them, but because Paegun was trying to drag us into the Black Dragon Water Fortress?”

“…….”

“And you think Shaolin can confront them on the river? Do you really believe that?”

“Gaju-nim….”

It’s not an angry, scolding voice.

On the contrary, he asked the situation in such a calm manner that it was disturbing.

“Even so, it’s Shaolin.”

“…….”

“It may be difficult to completely save us with their power, but at least they will be able to open a way out.”

“…I see.”

Namgung Hwang nodded and looked up at the sky.

His shoulders seemed a bit smaller than usual.

“Was it excessive greed?”

“…Ga- Gaju.”

“What I started to do to escape from the shadow of Shaolin and stand independently in the name of the Namgung Family ended up being besieged by the pirates and waiting for Shaolin’s salvation. I can’t stand how ridiculous I find myself.”

“Don’t say such things, Father-nim.”

Then Namgung Dowi spoke firmly.

“Winning or losing a battle is not significant. The crucial thing is not to win battles, but to win the war.”

“…….”

“No matter what ups and downs you go through, if you can win at the end, you are never defeated. If I wasn’t of Namgung’s blood, I would have laughed at Father’s attitude right now rather than the crisis Namgung faces.”

“Dowi!”

Namgung Myung shouted in surprise, but Namgung Hwang actually laughed upon hearing it.

“That’s right. To think that Namgung Hwang, of all people, would be lamenting.”

Namgung Hwang laughed heartily and then clenched his teeth, saying,

“There’s always an opportunity. If we can withstand this siege, there will come a moment when we can sink them all to the cold riverbed.”

“That’s true, Father-nim.”

“Dowi.”

“Yes, Gaju-nim!”

Namgung Hwang gave a firm directive.

“Comfort our disciples so they don’t get agitated.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Gaju-nim. The swords of Namgung are never weak. If they could be disheartened by this much, they wouldn’t have dared to bear the name of Namgung.”

Namgung Hwang rolled up the corners of his mouth and nodded.

His son had grown so much, now being a source of strength for him. Doesn’t every single one of the words sound more like a Gaju than his?

“Azure Sky Daeju.”

“Yes, Gaju-nim.”

“Assist Sogaju.”

Namgung Myung nodded.

“I certainly will.”

Namgung Myung and Namgung Dowi bowed deeply and left. Namgung Hwang, who was left alone by the river, quietly turned his head and saw the ships surrounding the island.

“Hold on until Shaolin’s salvation?”

Namgung Hwang twisted the corners of his mouth.

‘Myung is quite skilled at lying.’

No, in truth, it wasn’t a lie. It was indeed a fact.

It was just that he hadn’t mentioned something.

If Shaolin is aware of this situation and starts moving, then Paegun will also act.

What if Paegun and Myriad Man Manor reach this river before the Shaolin?

‘Then here will become my and Namgung’s grave.’

Paegun would certainly not miss such an opportunity.

“Haha.”

He laughed self-deprecatingly and glared at the Black Dragon Ship in the distance.

“Even if I die here, I will take your head with me, Black Dragon King!”

The momentum he gave off spread through the waves of the Yangtze River.

And that momentum was clearly conveyed to the Black Dragon King, who was looking at the island from the river.

“Namgung Hwang.”

A triumphant smile on the lips of Black Dragon King was evident.

The momentum of Namgung Hwang was indeed threatening. Even more so than when they had clashed three years ago.

But that was all. The fiercest moment of a beast is precisely when it’s caught in a trap. On the contrary, that momentum only tells the current situation of Namgung Hwang.

“Have you sent the message to Ryeonju?”

“Yes, Black Dragon King!”

“Good.”

A sinister smile formed on the Black Dragon King’s face.

“Then how… shall we slowly savor the mouse trapped in the poison?”

A laugh that couldn’t be contained escaped his lips.

‘I’ll make sure you understand exactly what it means to be bloodthirsty, Emperor Sword.’

Soon, the river would run red with the blood of Namgung.