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The fleet of Myriad Man Manor led by Jang Ilso blocked their view of the island, but it was not difficult to see the scene between the ships and assess the situation.

‘…What’s happening?’

The war was in full swing. In the violent situation, Jang Ilso arrived at Plum Blossom Island. What would happen next was something even a naive child could predict.

However, at this moment, there was no sign of any activity on Plum Blossom Island. Not a single common scream or the sound of weapons clashing is heard.

It’s quiet.

The silence was so overwhelming that it felt like it was cutting into his chest. The corners of Bop Jeong’s lips trembled.

He knew it intuitively. What is the source of that silence?

Paegun Jang Ilso.

It was clear that he was concocting something. It was as if a giant serpent, now threatening even the heavens, was coiling around the island, tightening its grip.

But….

‘What exactly?’

What could possibly be attempted in this situation? When Jang Ilso arrived here…. no, from the moment Shaolin took its stance, the outcome seemed predetermined.

“…Amitabha.”

A soft chant slipped from his lips.

He couldn’t read the situation. All he could see was Jang Ilso’s thick malice emanating from that island. Just looking at it from afar gives him chills….

‘Please…’

Whatever that Jang Ilso is after, the end is self-evident if he gets involved. Bop Jeong wanted Namgung to take the right action.

However…. Up to that point, Bop Jeong was unaware.

What he should have really paid close attention to was not the reaction of the Namgung Family. What are the fangs of the snake surrounding Plum Blossom Island really aiming for?

The corner of Jang Ilso’s mouth twisted strangely as he looked back at Namgung Hwang.

Namgung Hwang looked like a person whose soul had disappeared. The appearance that seemed to be the embodiment of dao of evil is nowhere to be found. What remained was merely the figure of a defeated man, who had been manipulated by a mere flick of a tongue, denying everything he stood for.

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso made a humming sound with a nasal tone and slowly licked his red lips with his tongue.

“Lost, you say…”

“…….”

“No, Namgung Hwang.”

Namgung Hwang slowly raised his head, which he had been holding down. His chin was trembling slightly. It seemed to tell how he was feeling right now.

“Beg for your life. Right?”

“…….”

“Pitifully and miserably. Yes, you should say it like that.”

That is not the way to speak to an enemy. It was as if he was lightly scolding a disobedient child. Perhaps, to Namgung Hwang, this tone was several times more humiliating than the situation itself.

“You seem to misunderstand. This isn’t a fight between you and me. It’s even less of a battle between Namgung Family and Myriad Man Manor. Do you understand?”

Jang Ilso’s broad smile seemed so bright, it was all the more cruel.

“You don’t even have the right to discuss defeat with me.”

Namgung Hwang’s shoulders trembled violently.

The giant who led the name of Namgung was now collapsing. In an infinite amount of misery and brutality.

“So, say it properly again.”

Jang Ilso’s whispers spread clearly on the island, where everyone held their breath.

“Please save me.”

“…….”

“Come on, Namgung Hwang. Beg. That’s how to be a good boy.”

A cruel sense of victory shadowed Jang Ilso’s face. That one expression spoke of this situation more clearly than any words.

Jang Ilso literally pushed Namgung Hwang and Namgung Family into a feeling of extreme defeat without even lifting a finger. Into a terrible sense of defeat that they would not have felt even if everyone had died fighting.

Namgung Hwang took his eyes off Jang Ilso and looked at his men.

Those who came here only believed in him. Those who hadn’t uttered a word of resentment against him even though the situation had reached this far. Is he confident that he can witness the deaths of those people with his own eyes?

Namgung Hwang’s lips twisted and opened. A lament more desperate than any furious cry started to spill out.

“Save…”

Jang Ilso stared at the scene with a smile.

“Save…. Us…”

The jaws convulsed in disarray, eyes blazing with bloodshot, and hands trembling like aspen leaves.

It was the moment when the giant of the eras was about to relinquish everything.

Paaaaat!

Suddenly, a sword flew, cutting the distance in a breath, charging towards Jang Ilso’s face.

“Hm?”

Kakang!

Jang Ilso calmly lifted his hand and blocked the sword with a ring on his finger.

A deathly silence fell at once.

The most shocked were the members of Namgung Family. They all widened their eyes, gasping in surprise at the situation.

They groaned in despair as the lifeline they barely held onto might have been cut off by that one attack.

Kkagagak.

The sound of Jang Ilso’s ring grinding against the sword blade chillingly echoed.

“…What are you doing, young man-nim?”

Namgung Dowi.

He, who had thrust the sword at Jang Ilso, clenched the sword tightly with his hand and growled.

“Don’t joke with me, Jang Ilso.”

“…….”

“I die here.”

Jang Ilso looked at him with an intrigued expression.

“Do- Dowi!”

A loud scream came out of Namgung Myung’s mouth.

“What are you doing! Step back!”

“What if I step back?”

“Wha- What?”

Namgung Dowi gnashed his teeth and glanced behind him. His bloodshot eyes seemed ready to pierce through Namgung Myung at any moment.

“If I step back, do you plan to grovel for your life to this wretch and return to Anhui?”

“…….”

“And then, will you tell the kids waiting at the family that you fought your best against the villains of the Evil Sects and returned?”

His last words were almost a scream.

“Father!”

Namgung Dowi shouted towards Namgung Hwang.

“A swordsman who has lost his chivalrousness is not a swordsman. What must be protected until the end is not life, but the soul of a warrior!”

Namgung Hwang’s body trembled.

“That’s what you taught me! No one else, but you! And now you’re telling me to beg for my life from the Evil Sects?”

In response to that desperate cry, Namgung Hwang bit his lip and said.

“…Step back, Dowi.”

“No! I will not step back.”

“Dowi!”

Namgung Dowi glared at Jang Ilso.

“Did you say one chooses their own life, Jang Ilso?”

“I did.”

“Then I….”

Namgung Dowi’s eyes were wavering. It wasn’t a statement delivered with firm conviction. In fact, his mind wavered multiple times even as he spoke.

But that’s why those words have more power.

“I choose to die here.”

“…….”

As soon as the word fell, all the sword warriors of Namgung Family shivered.

Youthful bravado? A naive choice made by someone who knows nothing?

That can’t be true.

That trembling hand told the story. Right now, Namgung Dowi was confronting the terror of death head-on. He was gritting his teeth, standing against the immense evil that is Jang Ilso.

“Namgung Dowi! What…”

Namgung Myung tried to restrain him urgently, but Namgung Dowi said as if cutting off his words.

“Live on.”

“…….”

“Return alive. That’s not wrong. It is the right choice.”

Namgung Myung closed his mouth.

“But at least one person… At the very least, there must be one person who protects Namgung’s spirit. At least for the sake of the children of Namgung who we will face when we return!”

Namgung Dowi bit his lip.

“That’s the role of those who carry the blood of Namgung.”

No one could open their mouth.

What must be protected until the end is not life, but the soul of the warrior. It was something they, as well as Namgung Dowi, had heard countless times. However, as they were pushed to the very end, they were unable to choose courage in the end.

In such a situation, it was Namgung Dowi, perhaps still considered young, who was living the teachings he had learned.

Solemnity and shame swept through them at the same time, and engulfed them.

Someone raised their head with bloodshot eyes. Someone else bowed their head even further, and yet another clenched their fists so tight their nails dug into their flesh.

Their reactions varied, but what they were thinking was clear. Just when the fire was extinguished and only acrid smoke was flowing out, a weak ember appeared again.

Perhaps it’s all nothing.

Chivalrousness, Righteousness, all might just be illusions as Jang Ilso said. But right here, right now, there’s someone willing to stake their life on that illusion.

Eudeuduk.

The sound of someone grinding their teeth. Intense emotions spread like wildfire from the toes, and two bloodshot eyes followed Namgung Dowi’s back.

The one they were protecting.

The future of Namgung, which they had protected with their lives.

That future now gave up its life to protect their last shred of dignity. Anyone who calls themselves a warrior or knows how to fight with a sword cannot possibly look at this scene without being moved.

The deadly spirit began to rise again in their extinguished eyes. It was as if they were ready to explode again, just waiting for someone to open the floodgates.

But at that moment, what they heard was Jang Ilso’s voice mixed with a languid nasal voice.

“Hmm.”

And the moment they heard the next words, everyone of the Namgung Family instinctively sensed that something was terribly wrong.

“Indeed.”

Even Namgung Dowi looked at Jang Ilso in great confusion.

Paegun Jang Ilso looked at Namgung Family with a peerlessly gentle smile.

“That’s right, that’s how it should be for the Namgung Family. I was worried, you know. That perhaps you would grovel and return alive from here in such a disgraceful manner.”

Namgung Dowi thought to himself.

This man must be a demon sent to bewitch humans.

That voice, soft and warm, seemingly devoid of malice, belonged to a demon. Behind that voice lurked something deep and heavy, something humans couldn’t even begin to imagine.

“You’re a commendable young man.”

Jang Ilso smiled radiantly. It was as if he was praising a child for doing something good.

Kkagak.

Jang Ilso pushed the sword away from his hand and casually dusted off his hands.

“It can’t be helped.”

Then, he slowly shrugged his shoulders with his arms slightly open.

“If you won’t accept the mercy I offer, I can only give you what you want.”

“…….”

“Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”

“Order everyone to retreat.”

Ho Gamyeong looked at Ryeonju with wide eyes for a moment. The bewilderment and astonishment in his eyes were clearly noticeable even to the sword warrior of the Namgung Family.

“…Are Ryeonju-nim referring to Myriad Man Manor?”

Under normal circumstances, he would never ask Jang Ilso back, but Ho Gamyeong was quite flustered.

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue with a hint of displeasure.

“Gaemyeong-ah, you’re not catching on. I clearly said everyone. The entire Evil Tyrant Alliance will retreat from this island.”

“Ryeo- Ryeonju-nim. That’s….”

Then Jang Ilso’s gaze sharply turned towards Ho Gaemyeong. The chilling look made Ho Gaemyeong flinch and bow his head.

“I’ll carry out your order.”

“Good, good.”

As if nothing had happened, Jang Ilso resumed his gentle smile and slowly scanned over Namgung Hwang, Namgung Family, and Namgung Dowi.

“Such an emotional display of spirit.”

And he nodded like an actor on a well-organized opera stage. With a pure look of admiration.

At that moment, even greater anxiety crept into Namgung Dowi’s heart.

“Then… It’s only right to give you a fitting end for that spirit.”

Jang Ilso turned away. His red long sleeves fluttered like wings in the strong wind.

A quiet and calm voice flowed from him as he turned.

“Die here. While contemplating over and over whether your choice was right.”

Once he made the decision, he didn’t have a single moment of regret.

Jang Ilso strolled away casually. Following his gesture, Ho Gamyeong issued orders.

The pirates, who were confused as they could not keep up with the changing situation, seemed to freeze in place after receiving the instructions but soon began to leave Plum Blossom Island with expressions of no understanding.

It was a ridiculous sight as the pirates who had stabbed swords in their throats and went back the way they had come. The Namgung Family was unable to react in any way and could only watch.

“This is…”

Namgung Myung murmured with a strained voice.

Doubt began to seep into the eyes of the sword warriors of Namgung Family, surpassing mere suspicion.

Maybe…

Was Jang Ilso’s offer not truly an act of mercy?

You didn’t hide your intentions and drive them away, but you really tried to save them?

That can’t be true. That can’t be true.….

Then why does the man turn around like that without any hesitation? Why doesn’t he force them? No, why not take their lives with his own hands?

What exactly have they done?

In a situation where everyone had no idea how to accept this situation, Namgung Dowi had one idea.

Perhaps everything that unfolded on this island was part of Jang Ilso’s plan.

The terrible idea that from the moment Jang Ilso first reached this place to this moment, perhaps they had never stepped off the palm of Jang Ilso’s hand.

“Ryeonju-nim, they are….”

“Surround the island with ships so not even an ant can escape.”

“Huh? Yes! As you command.”

Ho Gamyeong bit his lip slightly. Then he ended up asking carefully.

“May I dare ask what Ryeonju-nim plans to do next?”

Jang Ilso grinned broadly.

“What to do? Show them what true despair is.”

“…Ah.”

Ho Gamyeong nodded as if he understood.

“Indeed, a comfortable death is a luxury for them.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Gaemyeong-ah, you’re usually on point. Why can’t you grasp it today? That’s not it.”

“…Yes?”

Jang Ilso twisted the corners of his mouth and laughed When Ho Gamyeong asked as if he was puzzled.

“Namgung was never in my sights from the start. My target is…”

And slowly shifted his gaze.

“Those monk bastards over there.”

Jang Ilso’s eyes gleamed sinisterly as he looked at Shaolin across the river.

“The stage has finally been settled. It’s only the beginning. Now, let’s show them. Let’s reveal how hideous things are hidden inside them!”

Looking at him smiling so excitedly, Ho Gamyeong felt goosebumps running all over his body.

It was the moment Jang Ilso bared his fangs to the world.