Chapter 972: Consider It An Honor, Kid (Part 2)

"Die!"

A flying harpoon shot towards Namgung Pyeong's throat at a rapid speed.

Instinctively realizing he couldn't avoid it, Namgung Pyeong tightly closed his eyes. But at that moment...

Ka-kang!

From somewhere, a sword that flew like a flash vigorously deflected the arrow aimed at Namgung Pyeong's throat. And yet, the unfazed sword pierced straight through the enemy's throat, who still held the harpoon.

Fwwoooooosh!

Namgung Pyeong stared blankly at the blood spurting from the enemy's throat.

"Back."

"..."

"Back."

"Yes? Oh... yes!"

Startled, Namgung Pyeong replied. The female swordsman who silently shielded him stepped forward.

That was the beginning.

"Ooohhh!"

It was like a landslide. Like a violent downpour of earth and rocks on a steep mountain slope, the waves of black pushed their way through the path amid the enemies.

In contrast to the white-clad swordsman, the black waves sliced through the air like the wind.

To the enemies that had been overwhelming the Namgung Family, it was a scene that resembled a disaster.

Everything in the world was relative.

From the Namgung Family's perspective, the enemies who attacked him mercilessly were nothing less than formidable predators, as they were already exhausted. However, in the face of the massive surge driven by the Mount Hua Sect, the enemies were no more than leaves being swept away.

Paaah!

The Mount Hua Sect swordsmen who charged forward all swung their swords simultaneously. As if a single person was wielding them, the dozen or so swords drew the same trajectory. They coldly penetrated the chests of the enemies who were unable to react in time.

"Aaargh!"

"Like dogs... Nyeech..."

Witnessing their companions turning into lifeless corpses within moments, the enemies who were close to the gruesome spectacle were filled with terror.

Those who only pursued profit, when gaining the upper hand, could become more ruthless and violent than anyone else. But when their own lives were at stake, they would turn into bigger cowards than anyone else.

It was only natural. What reason was there for those who valued their lives to endure a battlefield where they were sure to die?

And unfortunately for them, there was someone here who understood the nature of the Evil Sect members better than anyone.

Thump!

Someone stepped firmly, shouting loudly, "Destroy!"

Before the words had even finished, five black shadows lifted themselves into the air. Baek Cheon, Yoo Iseol, Yoon Jong, Hye Yeon, and even Jo Gol, who had done his best to catch up with the main force.

As if they were swords that Chung Myung wielded, they followed his will.

"Strike!"

Baek Cheon's command was barely spoken when red plum blossoms bloomed from all four swords simultaneously. These swords were not the practical ones seen until now but rather exceedingly extravagant.

Countless plum blossoms splendidly bloomed from the swords of the four swordsmen, as if they were going to shroud the entire Plum Blossom Island with red plum blossoms.

In the center of it all,

"A-Mi-Ta-Bul!"

With a majestic light and golden energy, it explosively burst out.

Universal Radiance of Buddha (불광보조)!

The scene of magnificent radiance, erupting between the red plum blossoms surrounding the Namgung Family, was truly overwhelming.

Shaaaaa!

The flying plum blossoms showered the enemies like rain. Those at the forefront were met with a wave of golden energy.

"Aaargh!"

The ones struck by the Universal Radiance of Buddha scattered in all directions, bleeding profusely.

"Argh! My arm!"

"Kkuk..."

The ones who hid behind were hit by the sharp plum blossom sword energy and let out cries of agony. The sword energy, fluttering lightly like a flower petal, was too sharp to match its appearance. A mere graze would cut through flesh and bone upon direct contact.

In this densely populated space, these deadly petals displayed their full power.

Others weren't just watching either.

"Protect Namgung!"

Baek Sang's shout and the Mount Hua's swordsmen's strength in the ground. Like lightning strikes, they rushed forward and stabbed the terrified enemies as if they were trying to skewer them.

"Eurachaaaah!"

Paaaat!

Baek Sang's sword pierced the heart of an enemy. After incapacitating them instantly, he swiftly withdrew his sword and charged toward the next opponent. Despite one of the enemies stabbing back as a final act, Baek Sang did not care.

Kakang!

Guak Hye, who was following him closely, deftly deflected a harpoon aimed at Baek Sang.

Baek Sang just needed to do what he had to do. The rest was for those following him, his sajae's and sajii's. They were every bit as capable as him, and there was no reason to doubt that!

"Your head must remain cool."

At that moment, a voice reached Baek Sang's ears, making him shudder.

"Yes, Sasuk!"

Shweaaak!

Once Un Geom dealt with an enemy that had targeted Baek Sang, he cast a calm gaze around him. The Mount Hua disciples under his gaze adjusted their bloody state and regained composure in their eyes.

Taak!

At that moment, the Five Swords that had risen up descended as if to guard the four sides of Namgung.

"What the...! Why are you all so frightened by just those numbers? Crush them right now!... Kkuk!"

The raving enemy couldn't finish his sentence and fell backward.

His forehead bore a deep scarlet cut.

Of course, that wasn't the end.

"Euaaaaah!"

"Argh! My face! My faceeeee!"

Once again, under the rain of daggers and needles, one corner of the encirclement crumbled, and they tumbled down. Their shoulders were so close that there was no escape route.

The number of warriors was now a hindrance instead of being one of Su Lo Chae's strengths. The havoc wreaked on the front by Mount Hua annihilated them. All they had to do was pour out the deadly arsenal in the direction they wanted.

In a battlefield where there was no need for defense, the Tang Clan was displaying peak efficiency.

"Hmm."

Tang Gunak glared at his enemies with cold eyes, just like when he first met Chung Myung and spoke in a biting tone.

"Show them what real suffering means."

"Yes!"

Upon their leader's command, the warriors of the Tang Family swung their weapons even faster. Every time their hands emerged from their sleeves, agonizing cries poured from the mouths of the enemies.

The Namgung Family's swordsmen, who couldn't believe this situation and were unable to let down their guard, gazed blankly at the Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Family. Finally, they sank down, seemingly deflated.

"They... came..."

"Really... reinforcements have arrived..."

They couldn't quite bring themselves to say they had "survived" because they knew the occupation of this island was far from over.

To truly survive, they had to escape the island.

But in their hearts, they were saying something different from what their minds were speaking. They turned their gaze toward Namgung Myung. Or rather, they looked at the unconscious figure leaning on Namgung Myung.

"..."

Gazing at the collapsed Namgung Dowi, no matter how much they tried to endure, their eyes kept tearing up, and their vision kept blurring.

"Sogaju... "

How much did you have to sacrifice?

Being beaten to a pulp and turned into rags was nothing compared to this. In order to save them, Namgung Dowi had even sacrificed his own father, Namgung Hwang.

It was impossible to face him. And the fact that Namgung Dowi, who led them all the way, was lying like that was heart-wrenching.

They did not dare to look at his face.

And now, Namgung Dowi had led these people here, and they were protecting them.

"Push forward!"

The Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Family.

Who could have imagined that they would come running for Namgung's sake? They had been abandoned even by the righteous sects. The Five Families, who they believed in as blood brothers, had not shown their faces here. However, the Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Family, who had nothing to do with them, had set foot on Plum Blossom Island without any conditions, all for their sake.

Although they knew how dangerous this place was, they had risked everything to save the Namgung Family.

How could these emotions be expressed?

"Get up and raise your swords!"

At that moment, Namgung Myung seized Namgung Do-wi and yelled.

"If you still have the strength to hold a sword, even if you have to exert every ounce of your strength, get up! You are the warriors of Namgung. Just because we're getting help doesn't mean we should sit and wait like cowards! If sacrifices are needed, we will make them; if bloodshed is necessary, we will shed blood! Do not take their morale lightly!"

These words jolted everyone as if struck by lightning, and their eyes once again filled with determination. Trembling, the Namgung Family's swordsmen managed to rise, staggering forward. They intended to join the ranks of the volcano's swordsmen to surround them.

Seeing this scene, Chung Myung burst into laughter. 

'At any rate, they are not cowards. Well, that's Namgung for you.'

Because from a long time ago, the Namgung Family had always been the best in the world based on honor alone.

His gaze coldly surveyed the battlefield. The heat of the raging battlefield had a way of engulfing people. The side with the advantage and the disadvantaged side alike would be eventually swept along by the flow.

However, Chung Myung's eyes were sharper and colder than ever as he took in the whole battlefield.

In truth, the war had already ended.

No, it was over from the very beginning.

Those who believed that salvation would never come to Plum Blossom Island were taken by surprise when the Mount Hua Sect and the Tang Family suddenly appeared. People who had resigned themselves to not being saved were unexpectedly delivered from peril.

In the first place, if they had faced each other head-on in a location where both sides could fully unleash their power, the Su Lo Chae would not have been the Namgung Family's opponents.

The Su Lo Chae could only win because they had managed to maneuver the Namgung Family to their advntage. However, they were not strong enough to win in a fair battle. Now, the situation on Plum Blossom Island changed from being the Namgung's Family enemy to Mount Hua and the Tang Family's advantage.

All that remained was to be swept away.

'If not....'

Kwaaaack!

At that moment, there was a terrifying crashing sound, like a massive boulder rolling down a mountain. Baek Cheon's head turned sharply to the side.

'What's going on?'

But all he could see were the retreating enemies, trembling in fear. However, Baek Cheon's instincts were faster than his thoughts.

Thump!

As he forcefully struck the ground and launched himself forward, the bodies of the enemies in front of him split and were sent flying, while sharp, black spikes were launched fiercely towards the Mount Hua Sect's disciples.

"Hyaaaah!"

As if he knew, Baek Cheon blocked his path, wielding his sword with all his might against the incoming spikes.

Kwaaaack!

Baek Cheon twisted the spike and flung his body backwards, like an arrow shot through the air. He hit the ground once and rebounded into the air, causing the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect to scream in horror.

"Sasuuuuuk!"

"Sasuk! Holy shit!"

Baek Cheon landed back on the ground with a thud.

Thump.

As he touched the ground, Baek Cheon jammed his sword into the earth and used it to support his body. Fresh red blood dripped from his lips.

"This..."

Baek Cheon's eyes were now filled with a bloodshot rage. He didn't seem to care about his own physical condition. He was on the verge of losing his rationality due to his anger.

"This bastard..."

How... how could he possibly throw spikes on the backs of his subordinates?

"This...!"

It was perfectly clear in Baek Cheon's eyes. The vivid crimson path created by the blood of the enemies he had killed a moment ago.

At the end of that path, among the enemies...

"...These punks."

With his hair standing on end from anger, Black Dragon King was advancing with steps that seemed capable of crushing the earth.