��Elder-nim!��
��I know!��
Bop Kye raised his voice uncharacteristically.
Shaolin is a sect that always teaches its disciples to maintain an unshakeable mind. Bop Kye was also a man who didn��t know how important an unshakeable mind was.
However, the scene unfolding before his eyes was enough to turn Bop Kye��s long-standing discipline to nothing in an instant.
Blood splatters, and screams abound.
People who were breathing just moments ago instantly turned into cold corpses sprawled out.
��Elder-nim! We must go!��
��Get off the ship!��
Bop Kye shouted and in an instant leaped off the ship, landing on the water��s edge.
The thick smell of blood rushed into his nose. In addition, the smell of pungent gunpowder, the clouds of thick dust rising, and unidentified scents, all combined to make his head dizzy.
Not only Bop Kye, but the faces of the other Shaolin monks were all equally flushed.
��Hurry! We cannot let it be said that Shaolin just watched and left!��
��Yes!��
As Bop Kye beckoned, the Shaolin monks rushed forward in unison. The sight of Shaolin monks in yellow robes displaying their martial arts like a hailstorm invoked both awe and terror.
But only one person.
Hye Yeon alone did not join the ranks.
Looking at the back of his Sahyung moving forward, he closed his eyes tightly.
��No.��
This is not right.
At least, Shaolin should not be like this. The Shaolin he knew was never like this.
To bravely fight against the enemy?
That is all too natural. And that fight must have an upright intention (��?����??(??«???)).
But now, among the Shaolin monks who are fiercely charging, there is no heart to protect the commoners. There��s only pride, filled with not wanting to fall behind other sects.
��How come it feels so empty?'
Hye Yeon bit his lips tightly.
One person��s face keeps coming to mind.
A person who always shouts how justification or whatever crap it is, it��s all about gain in the end, and who would not bear to see other sects gain reputation even if he were to die.
But in the end, his act always benefits everyone.
a�?They are so different.'
Chung Myung discusses Gains (?��?(??��)) but does righteousness, while Shaolin discusses Righteousness (��??(???)), yet aren��t they chasing gains?
Of course, Chung Myung would have snorted if he heard this, but at least that��s how it looked to Hye Yeon.
That difference weighed down Hye Yeon��s feet.
Compared to the time he spent at Shaolin, the time he spent in Mount Hua Sect was only short. And yet, Mount Hua Sect occupied a huge place in his heart.
��Amitabha.��
With a deep sigh, he looked back.
He can��t see them now that he has come this far. The only thing in front of me is the high cliff and Qingcheng��s ship that enters the valley.
The one who always used to run ahead is not visible, nor are those who used to support his back.
a�?Let��s not think about it.'
Hye Yeon chanted in a small voice.
Even if this situation pained him, he couldn��t just let his Sahyung fight alone.
��Amitabha!��
Hye Yeon, who forced the temptations out of his mind, ran forward roughly.
��Keuk! Goddamnit��
��You filthy bastards! Four of you attacking at once! And you call yourselves Righteous Sect!��
��Don't, don��t back down!��
The direction of the battlefield was decided in an instant.
Of course, not all the forces of each sect have come here. There were quite a few remaining in the sect, and since not everyone could fit on the ships, some people were left behind.
But the same was true for the Black Dragon Water Fortress.
Even if all the forces of the Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River were gathered, they would only be equivalent to one of the sects here. No matter how much Black Dragon Water Fortress accounts for about half of the total power of the Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River, it would be difficult to deal with one of the sects who came here with such force.
But now, aren��t the four sects forming a coalition?
From the beginning, it was a battle where the odds were not given to Black Dragon Water Fortress.
Uuuuung!
Paaaat!
The majestic sword of the Namgung Family and Wudang��s sword, which contained seriousness within its softness, relentlessly struck down the opponents as if they were competing.
��Amitabha!��
And indeed, Shaolin lived up to its reputation.
Kuung!
The force of golden lights emitting from their fists lightly sent the charging pirates flying and bounced them away.
Shaolin is not a sect that simply uses Fist Arts. Shaolin monks are all fairly proficient in at least the Eighteen Arms Technique (��?-��?��?��?/????��«��??). Nevertheless, the reason why they persist on fist art is because there is nothing better than Fist Art to subdue an opponent without killing them.
Tuung!
Bop Kye, who struck out the pirate ahead, burst into a lion��s roar.
He spoke in a low voice. His voice clearly reached the ears of Wudang Sect disciples following him.
��Seize the opportunity when it comes. Don��t lose your composure!��
Wudang��s disciples, who were impatient with Namgung Family��s advance, barely managed to steady themselves at his words. They then took a short, deep breath and repelled the pirates with an even more resolute stance.
a�?Bop Jeong, this is your mistake.'
If there were only Namgung Hwang or Baek Hyeonja here, Bop Kye could have led Shaolin well. But with him here, Shaolin wouldn��t have a chance to shine.
��Charge in!��
As Namgung and Wudang simultaneously raised their momentum, the defense line of the pirate, which had been barely maintained, crumbled.
��N- No��.”
��We can��t hold on any longer!��
Heo Dojin and Namgung Hwang didn��t miss the gap.
��Move aside, you fools!��
As Namgung Hwang penetrated the gap, Heo Dojin rose like a bird and jumped over the heads of the pirates and flew into the pavilion.
��Damn it!��
Sparks flew from Namgung Hwang��s eyes.
��Taaaaaat!��
Crushing the pirates in one fell swoop, Namgung Hwang pursued Heo Dojin like a hungry tiger.
��This, damned!��
Kwaaaang!
Namgung Hwang, who had broken the pavilion��s door in a single strike, narrowed his eyes and scanned left and right.
��Where is he?��
The body moved first before the head realized it. He sprinted like a flash of light towards the broken door at the center of the pavilion and charged in.
��Black Dragon King!��
Namgung Hwang, who had rushed in with tremendous momentum, suddenly came to a halt.
What he saw was a vast inner chamber, and in the center, a luxurious and imposing chair, and�� the figure of Heo Dojin, staring at the chair with a stern face.
��Where is Black Dragon King?��
����He��s not here.��
��What, what did you say?��
Namgung Hwang��s face distorted in confusion for the first time.
This place was like the heart of the Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River. Even if the Black Dragon King had single-handedly swallowed the water fortress with his martial might, losing the Black Dragon Water Fortress meant he could never rise again.
So, does it make sense that Black Dragon King, who should protect the Black Dragon Water Fortress more than anyone else, is not here?
Bop Kye, who came in belatedly, frowned upon seeing the two with blank faces.
��The Black Dragon King is not here?��
����It seems so, great monk.��
��How come��.��
Even Bop Kye seemed unable to continue, clearly flustered.
��Did you say Black Dragon King is not here?��
The continuous repetition annoyed Heo Dojin. But as he turned his head to retort, he looked at the face of the person who asked the last question and raised his eyes wide.
��Didn��t Qingcheng agree to take care of the upper part?��
Baek Hyeonja being here now means that Qingcheng��s disciples are also here.
��Why are you here? Why!��
“E- Even if you say so�� Didn��t we decide to take care of the pirates on the river and support those who will defend the upper part in the first place? I thought the strategy had changed because everyone went inside without saying a word.��
��This��.��
A look of dismay appeared on Heo Dojin��s face.
a�?He's so brazenly lying!'
Obviously, they had disregarded the plan and followed inside due to pride. But now was not the time to argue about that.
��What about the escape route?��
��We broke through easily, do we really need an escape route��?��
However, Heo Dojin��s face became as cold as if he had worn a steel mask.
��Then�� You��re saying everyone is in here right now? In this trap?��
It was only when he mentioned ��trap�� that the other sect leaders�� faces lost color.
��Surely not����
��N- No! No way! Here is the Black Dragon Water Fortress! They��re not just hands or feet of a water fortress, they��re like heads and hearts! Where is the man who gives up his heart and sets traps!”
����The Black Dragon cannot do that for sure.”
��What are you��?��
��Ah.��
At that moment, Bop Kye exclaimed as if he understood what Heo Dojin said. His face turned pale.
��Tra- Trap��”
It was at that exact moment.
��Euhahahahahahahahahat!��
A burst of huge, ear-splitting laughter exploded from above.
The enormous laughter, filled with horrifying internal strength, echoed endlessly against the surrounding cliffs as if it would last forever.
It was the moment when everyone finally and perfectly sensed that something was going horribly wrong.