The Black Dragon King, standing on the ship, gazed at Plum Blossom Island, and his lips curved slightly.
"What's the situation?"
"It's progressing steadily. Soon, they'll run out of all their remaining energy."
"Hmm."
The Black Dragon King let out a contented snort.
'The Sword Emperor.'
From time to time, the enraged voice of Nanggung Hwang could be heard from this distance. Each time he heard that voice, the Black Dragon King couldn't help but break into a sly smile.
"What an idiot. How foolish can one be to think they can stand against the Su Lo Chae on this water? If they dared to come above water, they are no longer the enemies of the Su Lo Chae. They were merely prey that had to be cooked deftly."
"Your Majesty, Black Dragon King. The enemies seem to be quite exhausted now. Would it be time to gradually tighten the reins...?"
"Nonsense."
The Black Dragon King raised his hand high.
"This is fishing."
A sly grin appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"When fishing, you mustn't show your strength. If you wrestle with your prey, the fishing line might snap, and you could lose the hard-earned catch. What's important in fishing isn't strength, but patience."
The Black Dragon King's eyes sharply fixated on Plum Blossom Island. It was the gaze of a predator waiting for the right moment.
"Just pull your strength back a little. No matter how massive the fish is, once it's exhausted, it can only be brought up to the surface."
He pointed at Plum Blossom Island.
"Keep the attacks going! Like releasing the fishing line, relax your tension, and repeat the attack when the time is right."
"Yes!"
"Hehehe."
A victorious air filled the Black Dragon King's eyes.
"Look at it this way: he's just a youngling raised in a hothouse."
He acknowledged Namgung Hwang's skill. His prowess and innate talent were sufficient to make even the Black Dragon King feel threatened.
But this was the Kangho, where the world was not decided by strength alone. Right now, the Namgung Family was understanding the feelings of a fish caught on a hook.
"The more you resist, the deeper the hook will penetrate, and your strength will drain away."
The needle called "Yangtze River" was deeply embedded in the Namgung Hwang's throat. There was no way he could remove it himself.
Hunger, fatigue, fear, and a faint glimmer of hope. All of these must have plunged the Namgung Sect to the depths of hell right now.
"It's still two days at the most. Delaying the inevitable isn't that great. Everything has its time. According to the Black Dragon King's calculations, if we just hold back a bit more, we won't need to wait for reinforcements. The Su Lo Chae alone can annihilate Namgung Sect without a hitch."
"Continue the attack!"
"Yes!"
The Black Dragon King chuckled.
"Namgung Hwang... I'll personally cut your throat."
His burning eyes stared at Plum Blossom Island as if he could devour it any moment.
On the other hand, Namgung Hwang's eyes were dark and deep. The dense shadows that hung beneath his cruel gaze seemed to reveal how deeply he was tormented.
"...They have no intention of attacking."
"Ka-joo..."
Namgung Hwang continued to gaze at the ships surrounding the island. He saw Namgung Sect's martial artists sitting exhausted, slumped in their places.
"..."
After silently observing them for a while, Namgung Hwang sighed. The relentless attacks had come to a halt. But he knew that the reason behind the pause wasn't because of a lack of energy, but rather because they understood that alternating between attacks and neglect was more effective than ceaseless assault.
"Namgung Myung."
"Yes... Brother."
Namgung Myung hesitated for a moment, debating whether to address him as "Gaju" but ended up calling him "Brother." He suspected that Namgung Hwang was looking for his younger brother, Namgung Myung, rather than the leader of the Changgung Clan.
"Was I wrong?"
Namgung Hwang spoke with a despondent tone.
"Dowi said the same. We had to strike the Black Dragon King while he was still strong. Otherwise, we'd eventually wither away."
"Brother..."
"Things are unfolding just as he said."
Namgung Sects' swordsmen, who had fallen to the ground, seemed to have no strength left to wield their swords. They were barely holding onto their pride by not collapsing entirely.
But for how much longer could they endure? Everyone had reached their limits. Namgung Hwang himself, fatigued by the endless fighting and suffering from the smog, had lost his senses.
"Tell me, Namgung Myung."
"..."
"Was I wrong?"
"Brother!"
Namgung Myung desperately spoke.
"No, you were not wrong. Your choice was the best. No leader would embark on an adventure putting the lives of their family at risk!"
"..."
"It's not over yet. If we hold on a little longer... If we persevere just a bit more, reinforcements will surely come!"
"Reinforcements..."
Namgung Hwang let out a faint laugh.
"What if they don't come?"
"..."
"What happens if that reinforcement doesn't arrive on time?"
"W-well..."
Namgung Myung couldn't bring himself to answer, and the result was clear to both him and Namgung Hwang.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Namgung Hwang's shoulders twitched.
"I can't stand it. I just can't stand it..."
With a brisk motion, he clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white.
"What I truly can't stand is not death. It's not even the annihilation of Namgung."
"..."
"To think that I may not be able to make them, the ones who trusted only me for the past three years and endured such painful training, die as swordsmen but might instead be hunted down and die like this... I'm... I'm just too frustrated and ashamed."
Namgung Hwang's voice was trembling, filled with anger and frustration, unable to contain the disgust he felt toward himself.
"Brother..."
"Did I really make that choice for the future of our clan?"
"Y-yes?"
Although that question was directed at Namgung Myung, it was not meant for him; it was a question Namgung Hwang was asking himself.
"I wonder if it was just my fear..."
Namgung Myung held his breath and spoke. His voice was heavy, as he couldn't bring himself to offer any weak consolation.
"Perhaps, deep down, it was the fear of risking the fate of our clan and their lives with my sword."
Namgung Myung tightly bit his lips instead.
He had never seen Namgung Hwang in such a vulnerable state. Despite their small age difference, Namgung Hwang had always been a towering presence.
Yet now, Namgung Hwang was falling apart.
"Brother! You can't be like this. You're the leader of the Namgung clan! Even if the whole world trembles, you can't afford to waver!"
"Right... I suppose that's what a leader is."
Namgung Hwang tightly closed his eyes. The heaviness that the title 'Gaju' brought was pressing down on him endlessly.
"I...,"
Namgung Hwang spoke with self-pity.
"There have been times when I regretted being born in this era."
"...,"
Although it was a somewhat random story, Namgung Myung did not interrupt his brother. Right now, Namgung Hwang needed someone to talk to.
"In this peaceful era, there's no reason for me to draw my sword."
Namgung Hwang's gaze extended towards the distant sky.
"A hundred years ago, in the times of chaos, I was confident that, had I been born then, I could have gained unmatched fame, saving the world. I would have cut down that Heavenly Demon with my own sword."
"Brother..."
"But..."
Laughter burst from Namgung Hwang's lips.
"They've fought this war for several years... Enduring an incomparable hell, watching their loved ones and disciples bleed and lose their lives right next to them, just to keep fighting..."
"..."
"How was it possible? How... how could their spirits remain unbroken?"
Namgung Hwang's voice was drained of strength. He felt so small, more so than ever before.
"I couldn't even gather the courage to cut down the Black Dragon King and save the clan. An era of chaos? A celestial horse? Heh heh heh."
He laughed and lowered his head.
"I was nothing more than an ignorant puppy. I was nothing but that..."
His clenched fist was trembling as if it were about to burst.
"Brother..."
"I know."
However, before Namgung Myung could offer any words of comfort, Namgung Hwang raised his head.
"This is not the time for this."
"..."
"Changgung Clan."
"Yes, Gaju!"
"We will soon initiate an all-out assault in a few days. They will do everything they can to finish the fight, exerting all the strength they have."
"Understood."
"Until then, find a way to let the disciples take turns resting."
Namgung Hwang clenched his teeth.
"At least, we must ensure that they won't die without swinging a sword."
"I will do my best."
Namgung Myung rushed towards the disciples. Watching his figure, Namgung Hwang sighed deeply.
The attacks continued relentlessly, as if they wouldn't stop.
The Namgung Family, who had nowhere to hide, changed his strategy, forming a circular formation at the center of the island. Those on the outside protected those on the inside, allowing them to take turns resting, even if just for a short while.
With shells flying and the enemy launching sneak attacks, they could hardly rest comfortably. But the mere fact that they didn't have to wield their swords preserved their stamina.
However, it wasn't a favorable situation.
Those who had gathered inside were now able to observe their surroundings more objectively, which made them painfully aware of how desperate their situation was. A faint glimmer of hope was all that upheld them, a fervent belief that someone would come to rescue them, though it felt endless.
However, as days passed, turning into weeks, salvation remained elusive.
Namgung Dowi strained to open his eyes, gazing at the piercing sunlight. Even the gentle sunlight had become oppressive to him now.
"Hasn't it come yet?"
Instinctively, he turned his head to scan the riverside, but still, there was no one to be seen. The barren riverside was nothing short of resentment.
*Hnng.*
A dry cough involuntarily escaped him. Even though he had drunk enough water, his entire body felt parched and withered.
"Can I hold on longer?"
No, whether he could or not wasn't important. He had to endure no matter what.
There were others who were suffering more than he was.
Namgung Dowi instinctively gripped his sword and plunged it into the ground. Then, he struggled to get up.
His gaze, filled with anger, met the enemy's ships that surrounded Ma Hwado.
The enemy ships surrounding Plum Blossom Island were so filled with hatred...
"!"
At that moment, Namgung Dowi's eyes widened infinitely.
"Wha... what?"
His mouth hung open, and the corners of his eyes trembled.
"Get up. Wake up!"
A squeezed voice burst from his mouth.
The ships that had been circling Plum Blossom Island to besiege Plum Blossom Island were suddenly all turning their bows toward the island!
Blood poured from Namgung Dowi's mouth, but he shouted without even knowing.
"They're coming! It's an attack!"
This was the final attack, the last blow by the Su Lo Chae to cut off the Namgung Sect's lifeline. The final act in the long and painful drama of Yangtze River Hell was unfolding.