Don’t t bow your head. (6)

Kwaaaaaaah!

The light continued to shine brilliantly. The once serene Yangtze River was now filled with the sounds of roaring and screaming.

Even the boats were rapidly changing position, so there was no way to remain oblivious to what was happening over there.

Grrrr.

Disciples of the Shaolin by the riverside clenched their fists. Their bodies leaning forward seemed ready to sprint at any moment.

However, it was an impossible task. The stern figures ahead firmly held their feet in place, preventing them from moving forward.

Udook.

The Shaolin monks who sharpened their skills watched the situation with bloodshot eyes, or rather, they were waiting for something.

In the middle of that river, where they couldn’t set foot, some with the name of Namgung struggled as if they were being torn apart by a pack of wolves.

“Abbot!”

Someone shouted, but the monks didn’t even turn around, only gazing at the scene with cold eyes.

“Abbot! Shouldn’t we help?”

“Wait.”

“Abbot!”

“Didn’t I tell you to wait?”

The Abbot replied in a loud voice.

“Namgung himself didn’t rely on us to use his full power! So why should we shed blood for him?”

“…”

“Don’t you see that none of the Maninbang are moving? If Jang Ilso and the Black Dragon King had personally intervened, the situation would have been resolved by now! Why do you think they are just watching?”

“Well…”

The disciple bit his lip.

“If we are deceived, it’s all over. It might not only be them but also those who remain on Maehwado and even us.”

These words sounded ominous.

Certainly, they could go. They could go help them anytime they wanted if they set their minds to it.

That’s why it was even more painful. They were in a position to reach out, yet they had to turn a blind eye to those in need.

Someone lowered their head as if they couldn’t bear to witness.

“Don’t lower your heads!”

But at that moment, a harsh shout erupted from Hye Bang’s mouth.

“Sa.. Sa..suk…”

“Look closely! I mean it, with those two eyes! You can’t even muster the courage to help, and you want to ignore it too? Just how cowardly can you become!”

“Hye Bang!”

A reprimanding voice from the Abbot burst out, but Hye Bang didn’t flinch. He just stared at the river with determined eyes, as if he intended to etch that scene into his memory.

The Abbot tightly closed his eyes.

‘How did it come to this?’

Certainly, until they arrived here, they were overflowing with the determination to save Namgung. But now, even among them, there was a clear rift. A gap had formed that could not be bridged between those giving orders and those following them.

The weary gazes slowly turned back to the river. Namgung Hwang’s white light radiating from his sword felt painfully piercing.

“Chyaaaaaah!”

The sword’s tip had dulled. More precisely, it was the arm wielding the sword that had gone limp. Namgung Hwang’s sword was no longer agile or powerful.

But…

Swish!

‘It’s okay…’

It was okay because his sword existed where and when it needed to be. The blood spilled by the enemy had turned even the dark Yangtze River into a vivid shade of crimson. Even the occasional water spout rising from it was red, not white.

Namgung Hwang continued to advance towards the crimson river.

“Paah!”

Once again, a dozen or so harpoons were shot at him. Could he block them all? It was impossible. Without a hint of hesitation, Namgung Hwang swung his sword. Instead of targeting the most dangerous ones aimed at vital spots, the first one he struck was one that could reach Namgung Dowi, right beyond him.

“Kagagagang!”

The harpoon hit by Namgung Hwang’s sword was deflected, but two others that he hadn’t managed to block pierced his body without mercy.

The harpoons, having pierced through his skin and muscle, lodged firmly in place.

“Lord!”

Simultaneous with Namgung Dowi’s cry, Namgung Hwang’s sword, which had been swung, struck the throats of the enemies who were throwing the harpoons.

“I can handle that much myself! Please, let me…”

“Dowi.”

“… “

Namgung Dowi sealed his lips. His father’s voice lacked strength. It wasn’t the same as his usual thunderous tone, the one that naturally led those who listened.

But… the determination in his voice was stronger than ever, far surpassing his past self.

“Just watch to the end.”

That was all. With his gaze locked forward, Namgung Hwang continued to move forward.

As blood trickled down from his head, the rushing waves soon washed it away again.

They had lost track of time.

“Hhhaaaaap!”

“Die, you monster!”

They just kept stabbing, slashing. He felt like something had pierced his thigh, but at this point, it didn’t matter. Sensation below his waist had long faded away.

“What about the elders?”

They were still there.

If it weren’t for them, he wouldn’t be alive right now. As much as he endured, they were also desperately holding on.

While burning their lives away.

In the river, the blood mixing with the blood of their enemies, Namgung Hwang couldn’t help but smile.

For what?

What were they sacrificing their lives for? To atone for leading Namgung into this crisis? Or to bring a glimmer of hope to the remaining members of the Namgung family on that island?

Well, it was hard to say. And now, none of that mattered anymore.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

As Namgung Hwang visibly lost strength, the approaching enemies pressed on even more fiercely. Their figures, mixing with the crimson waves, were like fiends from hell.

In this moment, he had only one thing to do.

“Dowi!”

“Isn’t that enough?”

Is there any other way?

A faint white smile appeared on Namgung Hwang’s lips.

Goooooooo!

From his trembling lower daintain, as if it were about to tear apart, he mustered all the strength he could. Even though he had already exhausted his reserves, he squeezed out more. Extracting every bit of power left in him, he focused his inner strength through his damaged daintain, flowing it into his sword.

At that moment, Namgung Hwang felt Dowi’s hand gripping his shoulder. That hand, so small before, had somehow grown larger.

‘I’ll open it for you!’

There was only one thing he had to do. To save Namgung Dowi from this place. Nothing else mattered.

“Uwaaaaaaaaah!”

With all his strength, Namgung Hwang unleashed a powerful shockwave. His eyes caught sight of dozens of enemies charging towards him.

Gripping the sword tightly, he released the tension in his muscles and unleashed his power.

Kwaaaaaaaah!

A white sword energy surged forth like a mighty dragon, erupting from the surface of the river. It was an indescribably fearsome sword strike. The enemies who rushed at the weakened Namgung Hwang could not even scream as they were instantly crushed and scattered across the surface of the river.

However, it was only natural that Namgung Hwang himself was not unscathed.

Udeuk.

He broke the harpoon lodged in his chest. The pointed tip had no other way of being removed without tearing through the flesh.

Udeuk. Udeuk. Udeuk.

One by one, he shattered the harpoons stuck in his chest, stomach, and shoulders. They were embedded too deep to be pulled out without causing further damage.

Udeuk!

With his vision blurred and consciousness fading, Namgung Hwang half-consciously looked ahead.

His sight was becoming hazy, and his consciousness was slipping away.

Kwa-deuk!

What brought Namgung Hwang back to his senses was the intense pain radiating from his lower back. Reflexively, he swung his sword to counter an attack from an enemy coming from underwater, then momentarily submerged his head.

“…”

In the deep, dark waters, the elders were slowly sinking, their forms appearing faintly. It was impossible to discern their expressions.

Namgung Hwang, lips trembling, raised his head and looked ahead once more.

“My lord!”

“Let’s go… Dowi.”

There was no need to feel sadness. He would share the same fate as them.

He propelled himself through the water, beheading the charging enemies, and grabbing incoming harpoons with his bare hands.

Chop, chop, chop, and chop.

His hair, which had already become a mess, was now plastered to his head by the water.

Kwaduk! Kwaduk!

Even as arrows pierced his side and thigh, Namgung Hwang advanced as if he was immune to pain, simply pushing aside his attackers and moving forward.

As an overwhelming amount of blood poured forth, it seemed like another river was forming on top of the river.

The Sword Emperor ran wild like an Asura from hell. Even the enemies who had fought tirelessly were now faltering and staggering.

“Huuh…”

“Cough. Cough!”

Namgung Hwang, who was coughing mixed with pain, revealed a bloody grin. His harsh breath gushed continuously from his mouth and nose.

It was at that very moment.

“Paaah!”

A deafening roar, as if tearing through his eardrums, pierced Namgung Hwang’s ears. Before his mind could react, his instincts raised his sword.

Kwaaah!

Colliding with the mighty blow descending from above, he was sent flying, blood spurting out as he was expelled.

“These damn bastards!”

Standing at the helm of the Black Dragon Ship, the Black Dragon King roared like a beast.

“Why are you trembling in fear when all these dying bastards are before you? Rush in and crush them all!”

“Yes!”

Influenced by the Black Dragon King’s determination, the enemies growled and rushed towards Namgung Hwang.

“My lord! Father! Dammit! Father, it’s me!”

Namgung Dowi desperately propelled himself forward, blocking Namgung Hwang, who was floating on the water.

His bloodshot eyes clearly conveyed the unwavering determination not to surrender Namgung Hwang to them.

..Pat…

Namgung Hwang’s trembling hand rested on Namgung Dowi’s shoulder.

“Fa…Father…”

“…To the water…”

“Father!”

“…Quickly…”

His eyes were nearly swollen shut, and he looked like a wreck.

But the desperate determination in his eyes was something Namgung Dowi couldn’t possibly resist.

“My…back…to my back…”

Tears of blood streamed from Namgung Dowi’s eyes.

Understood. He understood.

Namgung Dowi had asked his father to leave this cursed island, even if it meant sacrificing his own life. So, there was no confusion about what took precedence.

But… But!

“You… You’re the next leader… of Namgung.”

“…”

“Use my back…”

Namgung Dowi bowed his head and, without a word, guided by the currents, he went behind his back. Just like a child riding on his father’s back.

“Hu…”

A faint smile appeared on Namgung Hwang’s contorted face.

Whoosh!

Once again, he felt something piercing his legs. The lower abdomen as well. He couldn’t fend off the underwater attacks any longer.

But that was fine.

As long as Dowi was behind him, these attacks wouldn’t reach his son.

“Dowi.”

Suddenly, a clear voice resounded.

Namgung Dowi gripped his shoulders tightly.

“Fa…Father…”

It was that moment.

Whoosh!

Namgung Hwang’s body surged above the surface like an island, lifting every remaining inner strength within him, regaining his strength in that final moment.

“Block them!”

“Aaargh!”

Pirates screamed, fearing they would be torn apart as they rose from the water, blocking his path.

Whoosh!

With a single swing of his sword, Namgung Hwang shattered his enemies into pieces and surged forward through the water.

“Waaah!”

The white sword energy erupted in all directions like fireworks. The pirates panicked and submerged themselves. There was no way to resist that sword energy.

Crash!

Pushing through the water, Namgung Hwang advanced, just one more step…

It was that moment.

Paaah!

The obsidian blade energy flying from the Black Dragon Ship, charged straight at Namgung Hwang. The black sword slash easily cut through the white sword energy that Namgung Hwang had unleashed with all his might and lodged itself deeply into Namgung Hwang’s body.

Crash!

“This…”

Just as Namgung Hwang staggered, the Black Dragon King was about to shout once more.

Thunk!

Namgung Hwang didn’t collapse but pushed through the water again.

His face, soaked in blood, and his eyes shone with a terrifying light. Droplets of blood that had sprung from his body scattered in all directions. At that moment, Namgung Hwang firmly grasped his son’s arm on his back.

“Eeeaaargh!”

With all his remaining strength, he hurled Dowi toward the riverbank.

“Fatherrrrr!”

A desperate scream echoed from Namgung Dowi’s mouth.

With his own eyes he witnessed The Sword Emperor Namgung Hwang, seemingly losing all strength, plummeting down into the depth of the river.

In the upside down world Namgung Dowi caught a glimpse of Namgung Hwang’s face.

He was… undoubtedly smiling.

Splash.

Namgung Hwang, lodged in the river, sank slowly.

As he was enveloped in the darkness of the world below, he thought to himself.

‘Is this… enough?’

He wasn’t sure.

But he had done his best.

While not everything he had done could be considered right, at least he had given his best until the end.

Now, all he could do was to trust and entrust his son, who would carry on the name of Namgung.

‘…Dowi…’

A faint smile graced his lips as he sunk into the dark depths of the Yangtze River.

‘…Be a good father.’

With that faint smile, Namgung Hwang finally closed his eyes.