Chapter 966: The Fight You Started (Part 1)

The atmosphere, previously frozen like ice, suddenly transformed into a violent tempest.

Those who had been silently oppressing their martial arts were suddenly ablaze and flew forward.

"What... what is this?"

"They're coming this way!"

A scream-like shout came from the mouths of the pirates.

However, among those shouting and yelling, very few actively opposed the situation.

This was because they were bewildered. Since they already had Plum Blossom Island surrounded and had almost conquered the island, there was no need to worry about external attacks. Even if they were impressive martial artists, crossing this distance would undoubtedly require time.

During that time, they would be subjected to attacks from the boats on the Yangtze River. Even if they could penetrate these attacks, they would have to endure significant damage. And once they reached Plum Blossom Island, they would have to battle the troops who had taken over the island.

Wasn't it because they completely understood the situation that Shaolin didn't throw themselves into this river?

The direness of the situation had been proven by the fact that Namgung Hwang had lost his life. So, despite all the talk of the recently soaring Mount Hua Sect, they couldn't see it as any different from what they had previously anticipated.

However, the Mount Hua Sect's actions went far beyond their expectations.

Baek Cheon stamped the wooden panels with his feet, and those panels, which had slightly sunk in the water, rose up again.

Squelch! Squelch!

Baek Cheon, who was using the wooden boards floating on water like stepping stones, flew across at a speed that was no slower than running on flat ground.

The distance from the river banks to Plum Blossom Island was undoubtedly considerable.

However, what if it wasn't a river but rather solid ground?

To the martial artists, this distance was by no means far.

Squelch!

Following Baek Cheon, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect, dressed in black robes, lined up in a row. From a distance, it appeared as though they were racing across the water.

Among those who were gaping in awe at this unimaginable scene, someone shouted in shock.

"What... what are you doing? You idiots! Shoot! Fire arrows!"

Of course, the moment they were absorbed in their astonishment was only brief. During that short time, the Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Family had already crossed about a quarter of the way.

While they had hastily fired arrows without forming a proper formation, the arrows were undoubtedly remarkable. 

Arrows that seemed to pierce the heavens were shot into the air and rained down in unison towards the Mount Hua Sect disciples, who were leading the charge like a black dragon.

Swish!

It was as if black rain was falling from the sky. However, Mount Hua's martial artists charging forward didn't slow down, holding their swords to the sky.

Clang, clang, clang!

As a result, the falling arrows were cleanly deflected by the swords, without any waste.

The reason archery was not commonly employed in martial arts battles was clear. Long-range weapons with predictable trajectories were ineffective against martial artists' defenses.

Nevertheless, there was one reason why the Su Lo Chae preferred to use arrows. This was because those submerged in water could block the attack even if they could predict it.

But for the Mount Hua Sect's martial artists charging across the river like it was level ground, the arrows were no hindrance.

"Shoot! Keep shooting! Damn it, we need to grab their ankles!"

When their attacks weren't working, someone screamed in frustration, as if in a fit.

Even if these arrows couldn't bring them down, they needed to buy time somehow.

The strategy was undeniably valid.

However, the one thing he had overlooked was that those racing across the water to rescue Namgung were not only from the Mount Hua Sect.

"Shoot faster! ... Agh!"

A martial artist leading the way suddenly convulsed, as if struck by lightning.

"Ugh... Ugh."

"All, leader!"

"Leader! Why are you...?"

When the surrounding pirates turned their heads, the leader who had been giving orders fell backward like a rotten log.

Thud!

With eyes rolled back, he collapsed on the ground, and a trickle of blood ran down his forehead.

"Poison, poison!"

A single dart was deeply embedded in the leader's forehead, and the pirates panicked and screamed.

That was the beginning.

Screams filled the air:

"Aaaah!"

"Aaaahaaaah!"

Those who had been shooting arrows from the ship's railing one by one screamed and fell, tumbling overboard.

Splash! Splash!

Amid the chaotic scene, just as everyone was regaining their senses, someone's frantic shouts burst out:

"Poison! Poison! The Tang Family! Get down! Shrink your size... Uggh!"

Swish!

The poisonous darts from the Tang Family swept over those who had crouched down in terror. Those who narrowly escaped with their lives were soaked in cold sweat.

The darts were undoubtedly coated with the Tang Family's poison. With their level of martial arts, just brushing against those darts could kill them, and not everyone was fortunate enough to avoid them.

"Aaaahaah!"

A man struck in the face by a flying dart collapsed, clutching his face.

"Aaah! Aaaah! Aaaahaah!"

His face covered in foam, he writhed on the ground, letting out desperate screams. Convulsions racked his body as he rolled around, and soon his eyes rolled back, trembling uncontrollably.

"Grrr... Grrrgrrr!"

Starting from the face, an eerie energy spread through his entire body. It wasn't long before his skin turned reddish-black with blotches.

"Uh... Uuuh..."

As the onlookers watched in horror, their suppressed moans escaped. Just witnessing the sight made their bodies tremble.

As if suffering from seizures, his body quivered before gradually stiffening. Struck by only a few of those thin darts as thin as a strand of hair, he succumbed without even having the chance to catch his breath.

The observers turned a sickly pallor as they witnessed the power of the poison. In times that had been anything but peaceful, they had all forgotten the reason.

Why, despite the Tang Family's weakness in one-on-one combat, could they be in the Second Seat of the Five Great Families?

It was because in massive battles like this, where sects clashed with sects, the Tang Family was the most dangerous force of all.

After lying dormant for a long time in distant Sichuan, the snake had finally broken its silence, and now it was uncoiling itself on the waters of the Yangtze River.

"You idiots! Stop dawdling and shoot those arrows! Do you want to die in my hands?"

The warnings echoed, as pirates grabbed their bows and shot arrows, hoping to neutralize the danger.

The commander, eyes bloodshot, wore a grim expression. There was no way they could survive by hiding below the railing. Wasn't it obvious that the Black Dragon King's wrath would be unleashed? Whether they raised their heads or lowered them, they were ultimately waiting for death.

However, fortunately or unfortunately, they no longer needed to deliberate. Just as they bowed their heads in resignation, something other than poison darts fell upon their bowed heads.

Swish!

The attention of the martial artists, who had their heads down, reflexively turned upward.

'A pouch?'

Their eyes filled with doubt when they noticed small green pouches flying swiftly over their heads.

Splash! Splash!

Multiple pouches that had flown overhead burst open and spewed out pungent poison and venomous sand. The martial artists, who had been crouching down, were engulfed in the deadly substances.

"Uwaaaah!"

"Kwaaah! Aah! Aaaaah!"

In an instant, agonizing screams erupted. The venomous sand penetrated their flesh, and the blackish venom particles spread, leaving the martial artists in agony.

"Krrr..."

"Kwaaah! Krrrk."

The ship's deck quickly turned into a battlefield of death. The toxins rattled the body and the venomous particles covered their noses and mouths.

"Uugh! Uuugh!"

The martial artists' cries of despair pierced the air. Witnessing this horrific sight, the onlookers trembled, feeling the suffocating dread.

Amid the chaos, Tang Gunak observed the situation with cold eyes and issued a command.

"Save your weapons! The battle will be prolonged!"

"Yes!"

The Tang Family martial artists who followed him responded firmly. Meanwhile, the Mount Hua Sect continued to advance.

In the midst of their charge, a sharp voice from Chung Myung echoed through the central group.

"Now!"

Before the words could fade away, the Mount Hua Sect's martial artists, with an unsettling calm, drew their swords, hoisting them to their waists. Then they thrust the swords toward the water below.

Swish!

A powerful energy surged from the tips of their swords, piercing through the water's surface. Even though the surface below was obscured, there was no hesitation in their movements.

And...

"One more time!"

Together with Chung Myung's command, the Mount Hua Sect's martial artists unleashed their sword energy into the water once more. Of course, their running pace didn't falter for even a moment.

The result of their attack was immediately visible. The river began to turn blood-red.

Before the pirates lurking beneath the water could approach Mount Hua's disciples, the sword energy shot out, piercing and eliminating them.

Splaat!

A few of Mount Hua's disciples who were standing on the wooden planks suddenly propelled themselves upward. At the same time, the wooden planks they had been standing on were pierced. Long, narrow harpoons to shot out of the water.

Splaah!

A bright blue sword rushed forward. The pirates had no time to evade before their bodies were impaled.

Although the pirate hit by the harpoon convulsed as if he were suffering from epilepsy, Mount Hua's disciples did not waste a moment confirming his life or death. They pressed on, advancing relentlessly.

Splaah!

As if they were determined to thwart their advance, dozens of pirates sprang up in front of Baek Cheon and Yoo Iseol.

But Baek Cheon and Yoo Iseol didn't slow down; they sped up instead.

Thud!

Yoo Iseol lightly tapped the wooden plank and stood on Baek Cheon's shoulder. Baek Cheon tilted his head slightly, providing Yoo Iseol with a foothold.

And then...

Whoosh!

Having stepped on Baek Cheon's shoulder, Yoo Iseol leaped into the air, almost hovering over the pirates who were still floating above the water.

With support from below, Baek Cheon charged forward.

"Haaaah!"

Baek Cheon's sword generated dozens of sword energies that enveloped the pirates before them.

"What?"

The pirates' eyes widened in disbelief. The number of sword energies unleashed from a single sword was hard to believe.

But the surprise was far from over. Even before the sword energies from Baek Cheon's strike could reach the pirates, Yoo Iseol's sword, while hovering behind, released dozens of sword energies as well.

A storm of sword energies flying from both the front and back simultaneously. It was a formidable combination against dozens of pirates.

The result was truly gruesome.

"Aaaargh!"

"Aaargh!"

The flying sword energies mercilessly pierced the rising pirates' bodies. 

Scream after scream echoed as the sword energies fiercely penetrated the pirates. It was a merciless scene.

Pat!

The pirates' bodies were ruthlessly pierced by the flying sword energies and were flung to the side.

"I'll clear the way!"

Baek Cheon declared as he cleaved through the air with his sword. 

"Run! We're saving Namgung!"

"Yes!"

The Mount Hua Sect's martial artists charged forward, crossing the river stained with blood. Plum Blossom Island was getting closer.