Chapter 949: How Could A Person Do This (Part 3)

Standing on the deck, Ho Gakmyung welcomed Jang Ilso with great courtesy.

"You've been through a lot, Lord Ryeonjul."

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso nodded slowly.

However, unlike Ho Gakmyung, the Black Dragon King's expression wasn't as bright.

"Jang Il... No, Ryeonjul."

The Black Dragon King asked with a stern expression.

"I can't for the life of me understand what Ryeonjul is doing. Is there any need to keep that Namgung alive for several days?"

"..."

"It's understandable that you need to make it clear to them that they'll be wiped out. But why give them more time?"

Jang Ilso turned to him slowly.

"Because it's necessary."

"..."

"It's necessary, Black Dragon King."

A twisted smile formed on Jang Ilso's lips.

"If we were to kill Namgung now, what would Shaolin say to the other righteous factions arriving behind us?"

"...Well."

The Black Dragon King closed his mouth, seemingly having nothing more to say.

Would Shaolin calmly confess that they couldn't jump into the river because Jang Ilso arrived?

There's no way. If it were Shaolin, they would never say that. They would probably say that they did their best to rush here, but by the time they arrived, Namgung had already died at the hands of the wicked Evil Sect men.

There was no one present by the Yangtze who could contradict Shaolin like that. Besides Namgung and the Evil Sect, there was only Shaolin here.

Even if the curious commoners who happened to stop by the Yangtze were to see this scene, who would believe their words? After all, these were the North Star of the Murim world.

"Namgung can be taken care of anytime. What's important is to let the world know that Shaolin stopped here and watched Namgung's destruction."

Jang Ilso laughed coldly.

"Our enemies are not Namgung and the Evil Sect, they are the Righteous Sects."

"..."

For a moment, the Black Dragon King felt a cold chill run down his spine.

Su Lo Chae also skillfully trapped Namgung without rushing. But the Black Dragon King had no intention of using Namgung as bait to disgrace Shaolin and to twist the other righteous sects.

Who would think of such a thing?

The Black Dragon King also became curious. How would Shaolin greet those who arrived after them? They would probably have a face mixed with guilt and disgrace.

"However, the fact that reinforcements are coming ultimately means that their strength is increasing. If they really intend to cross the river to save Namgung, what should we do?"

"They?"

Jang Ilso chuckled.

"If they were the kind of people to do that, the war would have already begun."

"..."

"What do you think they are thinking right now? Are they delighted that they have a chance to save Namgung?"

The Black Dragon King furrowed his brow.

"If it were me..."

Between Jang Ilso's bright red lips, a set of gleaming white teeth were revealed, giving him an eerie appearance.

"I think I'd rather have every single one of those Namgungs die and disappear to seal their mouth, don't you?"

The Black Dragon King looked at Jang Ilso with a blank expression.

"Even if they get the support to save Namgung, nothing will come to Shaolin. The only result of Shaolin fighting with evil is that Namgung, who is returning to Gangbuk, will have a deep-seated grudge against them."

"..."

"Let me ask again..."

A cold sweat ran down the Black Dragon King's back.

"Do you really think Shaolin wants to save Namgung? Really?"

"..."

"I don't... I don't think so."

Jang Ilso chuckled darkly, as if he found the situation extremely amusing.

The Black Dragon King felt a shiver down his spine.

This man was insane.

Control?

There's no way to control such a person. This was the case with Jang Ilso and the other faction leaders, who seemed to be firmly mistaken about something.

Jang Ilso would undoubtedly seize the entire world in his hands and shake it as he pleased.

"Human beings..."

At that moment, Jang Ilso, who had suddenly stopped laughing, gave the Black Dragon King a heavy look. It was as if he were looking at the Black Dragon King with eyes that said they were no different.

"Say one thing and do another."

"..."

"Words spoken by people are just something they've skillfully crafted for their own benefit. The true intentions always lie deep within. What's interesting is..."

While speaking gently, Jang Ilso turned his gaze toward the Shaolin side.

"People often don't really know their true intentions themselves."

"..."

"Curious, aren't you? How those people from the Righteous Sects will react. How the disciples who have learned for a lifetime to keep the agreement react to the orders of that Righteous Sects. Namgung or Shaolin, it doesn't matter how many people die. What's important is what we show them. That they are not such great people after all."

"..."

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso's long eyelashes darkened slightly.

"There's no alcohol."

At that, the Black Dragon King quickly cleared his throat. Those who had been subdued by Jang Ilso's presence rushed toward the cabin.

Since Jang Ilso didn't show any intention to enter, the Black Dragon King asked, "Here?"

"Wouldn't it be nice?"

Jang Ilso laughed heartily.

"Drinking in a place like this, where Shaolin, who cannot do anything, would feel quite luxurious."

The Black Dragon King nodded solemnly. "I'll, I'll get a table..."

The servant who brought the liquor stammered with a faintly nauseous expression. Then Jang Ilso slowly extended his hand.

"Hand me the liquor."

"Yes? Oh... yes!"

The servant politely handed over a bottle of liquor. Jang Ilso, holding the bottle, walked slowly and sat down on the edge of the deck railing.

'Good.'

His gaze was directed towards Shaolin across the river, appearing as if frozen in place like stone statues. A person of faith would jump into a pit, even if it were a pit, but a person who stopped their feet before a pit couldn't jump back in.

What Jang Ilso wanted was to leave a deep scar in their hearts.

'A victory, even just once, it just okay. What's important is winning in the end.'

At that moment, Ho Gakmyung approached Jang Ilso cautiously. "My Lord."

"Yes?"

"Naturally, they won't be able to jump back into the river. However, will the sects that arrive later be different?"

"They're no different from pigs. Shaolin doesn't respond, so do they have the courage to fight with us on their own?

"..."

"Namgung, who was supposed to lead the Five Great Families, is in such a situation, and the other axis of support, the Tang family, left the alliance. Shaolin has no idea what they are doing, and Wudang who were supposed to be an alternative choice are in Bongmun."

As Jang Ilso slowly considered the situation, he raised the corners of his lips.

"All that's left are just noisy scoundrels."

Ho Gakmyung nodded slowly. "I understand."

Just when it seemed that the conversation had ended, Jang Ilso opened his mouth again.

"But..."

"Yes?"

Ho Gakmyung looked puzzled, but Jang Ilso didn't answer immediately and instead smiled mysteriously.

"He's there too."

"What are you talking about?"

"That unpredictable madman, that's what I mean."

"..."

"Hahaha!"

Jang Ilso cheerfully nodded and started to drink from the bottle.

"Is that so?"

His gaze fixed on the north.

Namgung Dowi slumped down as if collapsing in place.

They all heard it. All of them.

Jang Ilso spread his voice throughout the entire river with his inner energy. Not a single person should be left in the dark about the current situation.

Thanks to that, even those here at the Plum Blossom Island had to hear Jang Ilso's conversation with the Black Dragon King.

"Hahaha..."

A bitter laugh emanated from Namgung Dowi's lips.

Was it so cruel?

What he had dreamt of, a utopian world filled with cooperation and romance, was merely an illusion. Reality was cruel to the point of being ruthless.

But what made it even more painful was that he couldn't even turn his eyes away from that cruelty.

"Ugh..."

"Cough..."

Pained sounds echoed around. Namgung's guards were bleeding, falling, and writhing in agony. Those who had endured injuries were now crumbling as if their strength had deserted them, and even some severely wounded might not survive the day.

"Why did we come here? For what?"

When they had advanced to Plum Blossom Island in pursuit of their pride as guardians of righteousness, there had been no hesitation. But now, with the situation having unfolded to this extent, there was nothing to do but let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

Did it even exist? Was there truly such a thing as righteousness? If so, then why did Shaolin halt there, allowing Jang Ilso to mock them?

"Haha..."

It felt like everything was falling apart. Everything he had...

But at that moment, someone placed a hand on Namgung Dowi's shoulder.

"..."

As he turned weakly, he found Namgung Hwang holding his shoulder. His face was pale as if he hadn't felt the emotional blow, but his lips were firmer than ever.

"Get up."

"...Father."

"Take care of the injured. Now we have to endure. We have to save even one more person."

"..."

"For the next five days..."

"Endure?!"

Tears welled up in Namgung Dowi's eyes as he cut himself off in a choked voice, biting his lips until they bled.

"And what after those five days? Are you satisfied if we endure, then die?"

"Do...wi..."

"Do you really think they'll help us, my Lord? Really?"

Namgung Hwang closed his eyes. His son had shown an extraordinary level of dedication to the end, even more than Namgung Hwang had expected.

That's why the sense of betrayal must be more overwhelming for him than anyone else.

"They..."

Gulp.

As Namgung Dowi was about to speak again, Namgung Hwang forcefully gripped his shoulder once more.

"Just because they won't help doesn't mean we should leave those who are dying."

"..."

"Resisting pointlessly is futile. Sometimes, rather than achieving something, you just have to do what you need to do."

Namgung Dowi bit his lip again, his shoulders trembling. Namgung Hwang waited in silence for his son.

"I'm sorry. I... I..."

"Accepted."

Namgung Dowi struggled to lift his heavy body.

"I'll take care of the injured and try to endure as much as we can. But..."

"I understand."

Here, where there wasn't even a single grain of grain left, there must be a limit to how long the injured can endure. During this five-day period, it's uncertain how many will survive.

"Just surviving is enough."

"...Hm."

Namgung Dowi closed his eyes slowly as he listened to Namgung Hwang. After taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes again, and determination shone in them.

He turned around and shouted immediately, "Those who can move, follow me! Rescue and treat the wounded!"

"Understood..."

The response came back without any vigor. The reality of Namgung's situation was clearly evident. However, instead of trying to forcibly motivate them, Namgung Dowi focused on quietly tending to the wounded. There was no point in trying to persuade them when the situation was so grim.

Namgung Hwang slowly shifted his gaze from Namgung Dowi, who was moving methodically, to the ships surrounding the island, and beyond the island, where Shaolin had come to a halt.

'I feel lonely.'

It felt as though the whole world had abandoned them.