Episode 946 I need to teach you what real despair is. (5)
The court looked at Maehwado with a perplexed face.
The fleet of Maninbang led by Jang Il-so blocked the view between them and the island, but it was not difficult to see the scene between the ships and assess the situation.
‘…What’s going on?’
The war was in full swing. In that intense situation, Jang Il-so arrived at Maehwa Island. Wouldn’t even a little boy know what would happen after that?
But right now, nothing is happening on Maehwa Island. Not a single scream or the sound of weapons clashing is heard.
It’s quiet.
The silence was so overwhelming that it felt like it was cutting into my chest. The corners of the court’s lips trembled.
I knew it intuitively. What is the source of that silence?
Defeated Jang Il-so.
It was clear that he was planning something. Now it seems as if a huge snake that threatens even the sky is wrapping itself around the island and squeezing it.
But…
‘What on earth?’
What on earth can you try in this situation? From the moment Jang Il-so arrived here and he… or rather, So-rim set foot, the conclusion was almost certain.
“…Amitabha Buddha.”
A new disapproval flowed from my lips.
I can’t read it at all. All he could know was Jang Il-so’s thick malice emanating from that island. Just looking at it from afar gives me goosebumps…
‘Please…’
If you get caught up in whatever that Jang Il-so is aiming for, the end is obvious. The court hoped that Emperor Namgung would take the right action.
But… the court didn’t know until then.
What he should have really paid close attention to was not the reaction of the Namgung family. What are the fangs of the snake surrounding Maehwado Island really aiming for?
The corner of Jang Il-so’s mouth twisted strangely as he looked back at Emperor Nangong.
Emperor Nangong looked like a person whose soul had disappeared. The appearance that seemed to be the embodiment of paedo is nowhere to be found. All that remains is the appearance of a loser who has been fooled by three inches of tongue and denied everything about himself.
“Hmm.”
Jang Il-so made a nasal sound and slowly licked his red lips with his tongue.
“You lost….”
“….”
“No, King Namgung.”
Emperor Nangong slowly raised his bowed head. My chin was trembling slightly. It seemed to tell how he was feeling right now.
“I have to ask for my life. huh?”
“….”
“Servant and miserable. Yes, you should say that.”
That is not the way to speak to an enemy. It was as if he was lightly scolding a disobedient child. Perhaps the tone of voice was several times more humiliating to Emperor Nangong than this situation.
“You seem to misunderstand. This is not a contest between you and me. It’s not even a match between Namgung Sega and Maninbang. Do you understand?”
Jang Il-so’s wide smile was so bright that it only made him look even crueler.
“You don’t even have the right to discuss defeat with me.”
Emperor Nangong’s shoulders were shaking.
The giant that led Namgung’s name was now collapsing. Infinitely gruesome and cruel.
“So, try saying it again properly.”
Jang Il-so’s whispers clearly spread across the island where everyone held their breath.
“Please save me.”
“….”
“Now, let me pray, King Namgung. “That makes him a good kid.”
A look of cruel victory appeared on Jang Il-so’s face. That one expression spoke of this situation more clearly than any words.
Jang Il-so literally pushed the Emperor Namgung and the Namgung family into a feeling of extreme defeat without even lifting a finger. Into a terrible sense of defeat that I would not have felt even if everyone had died fighting.
Emperor Namgung took his eyes off Jang Il-so and looked at Gasol.
Those who came here only believing in him. Even though the situation had come to this point, these people did not add a single word of resentment toward him. Are you confident enough to witness the death of such people with your own eyes?
Emperor Nangong’s mouth was twisted and opened. Even more desperate thoughts began to flow out than the blood-curdling shouts.
“Sal….”
Jang Il-so stared at that figure with a smile.
“Save… save…”
The jaw twitching in a mess, the bloodshot eyes, and the hands shaking like aspen trees.
It was the moment when the giant of the era finally put it all aside.
Paaaaaa!
In an instant, the sword flew through the distance and immediately rushed towards Jang Il-so’s face.
“hmm?”
Kakang!
Jang Il-so calmly raised his hand and blocked the sword with the ring on his hand.
For an instant, a dead silence fell.
The most shocking thing was the family members of the Namgung family. Everyone opened their eyes and gasped in surprise at this situation.
I groaned in despair as the lifeline I barely held onto might have been cut off by that one attack.
Gakkagak.
The sound of Jang Il-so’s ring twisting the blade rang eerily.
“…What are you doing, master?”
Namgungdowi.
He gritted his teeth and stabbed Jang Il-so with his sword, then growled as he strengthened the hand holding the sword.
“Don’t be funny, Jang Il-so.”
“….”
“I die here.”
Jang Il-so looked at him with interest.
“Do do do wi!”
A loud scream came out of Namgungmyeong’s mouth.
“What are you doing! “Get back!”
“What if I step back?”
“What what?”
Nangong Daowi gritted his teeth and glanced behind him. His bloodshot eyes seemed as if they would pierce Namgung Myeong at any moment.
“If you back down, are you going to beg this guy for your life and return to Anhui?”
“….”
“And are you going to tell the children waiting at Sega that you came back after doing your best to fight against the evil enemies of Sapa?!”
Those last words were almost like screams.
“father!”
Nangong Daowi shouted at Nangong Emperor.
“An inspection that loses agreement is not an inspection. “What must be protected until the end is not life, but the soul of the warrior!”
Emperor Nangong’s body trembled.
“That’s what you taught me! You and no one else! “But now you’re telling me to beg for Safa’s life?”
Hearing that desperate cry, Emperor Namgung bit his lip tightly and spoke.
“…Step back, Dowie.”
“no! “I am not backing down.”
“Dowi!”
Namgung Do-wi glared at Jang Il-so.
“Did you say that you choose your own life? Jang Il-so?”
“It did.”
“Then I…”
Nangong Daowi’s eyes were shaking. These were not words uttered with firm will and conviction. Even as I’m actually speaking, my heart flutters several times.
But that’s why those words have more power.
“I die here.”
“….”
The moment those words fell, all the swordsmen of Namgung trembled.
Young guest? A naive choice from someone who knows nothing?
That can’t be possible.
Because those trembling hands are telling me. Now Nangung Dowi is fighting head on with the fear of death. I grit my teeth and fight against the great evil that is Jang Il-so.
“Nangungdowi! “What…”
Namgungmyeong urgently tried to stop him, but Namgungdowi cut him off.
“Live.”
“….”
“Please return alive. There’s nothing wrong with that. “It’s the right choice.”
Namgungmyeong closed his mouth.
“But at least one person… at least one person must protect Namgung’s spirit. “At least for the sake of the children of Namgung who I will face when I return!”
Nangung Dowi bit his lips.
“That is the role of the one who carries Namgung’s blood.”
No one could open their mouths.
What must be protected until the end is not life, but the soul of the warrior. It was something they, as well as Namgung Dowi, had heard countless times. However, as they were pushed to the very end, they were unable to choose courage in the end.
In such a situation, only Namgung Do-wi, who is still young, is keeping what he learned on his own.
Solemnity and shame swept through them at the same time, constricting them.
Someone raised their head with bloodshot eyes. Some people lowered their heads again, while others clenched their fists until their nails dug into their flesh.
The reactions were different, but it was clear what they were thinking. Just when the fire was extinguished and only acrid smoke was flowing out, a weak ember appeared again.
Maybe it’s nothing.
As Jang Il-so said, everything, whether it be agreement or agreement, may be nothing more than an illusion. But now there is someone here who is willing to risk his life for that illusion.
Crash.
The sound of someone grinding their teeth was heard. Intense emotions spread like wildfire from the tips of the feet, and two bloodshot eyes followed Nangong Daowi’s back.
The one they were protecting.
Namgung’s future, which he had to protect with his life.
That future now gave up its life to protect their last pride. Anyone who calls themselves a warrior or knows how to fight with a sword cannot possibly look at this scene without being moved.
Their dead eyes began to fill with poison again. As if if someone opened the gun, it could explode again.
But at that moment, what they heard was Jang Il-so’s voice mixed with a languid nasal voice.
“Hmmmm.”
And the moment they heard the next words, everyone at Namgung instinctively sensed that something was wrong.
“That’s right.”
Even Namgung Dowi looked at Jang Ilso in great confusion.
Pegun looked at Nangong Daowi with a very gentle smile.
“Yes, that’s how it is for the three Namgungs. I was worried. “I am afraid that you will continue to humbly pray and return here alive.”
Nangung Dowi thought.
This person is the devil who came to deceive humans.
That voice, so soft and warm and without any hint of malice, is that of the devil. Behind that voice is hidden something deep and heavy that humans cannot even imagine.
“You are an amazing young master.”
Jang Il-so smiled brightly. It’s like praising a child for doing something good.
Kakak.
Jang Il-so pushed away the sword in his hand and lightly shook his hand.
“I can’t help it.”
Then he spread his arms slightly and slowly shrugged his shoulders.
“If you won’t accept mercy even when I offer it, I have no choice but to do whatever you want.”
“….”
“A pseudonym.”
“Yes, Lord Ryeon.”
“Evacuate everyone.”
Hu Jiaming looked at Lianju with wide eyes for a moment. The bewilderment and astonishment in his eyes was clearly noticeable even to the inspectors of the Namgung family.
“…Are you talking about everyone’s room?”
Normally, he would never have asked Jang Il-so a question, but Ho Ji-myeong was quite embarrassed.
Jang Il-so clicked his tongue with a slightly displeased look.
“Gamyeong, you don’t understand what I’m saying. I said definitely everyone. “The entire SPA Federation is withdrawing from this island.”
“Lord Ryeo. “That’s…”
Then Jang Il-so’s gaze fell on Ho Ji-myeong. Hu Jiaming was shocked by that cold gaze and lowered his head.
“I will carry out your orders.”
“Okay, okay.”
As if he had never done that before, Jang Il-so grinned again and slowly glanced at Nangung Dowi, the Emperor of Namgung.
“It’s a touching spirit.”
And he nodded like an actor on a well-choreographed opera stage. With an expression of pure admiration.
At that moment, even more anxiety than before was felt in Nangong Daowi’s heart.
“Then… it would be polite to give him an end worthy of his courage.”
Jang Il-so turned around. His red long sleeves fluttered like wings in the strong wind.
As he turned around, a quiet and calm voice came out.
“Die here. “I agonized over and over whether my choice was right.”
Once I made the decision, I didn’t have a single moment of regret.
Jang Il-so continued to walk without hesitation. Then Hu Jiaming gave instructions with hand gestures.
The bandits, who were confused as they could not keep up with the situation, seemed to have frozen in place after receiving the instructions, but soon began to leave Maehwa Island with expressions of no understanding.
It was a ridiculous sight as the enemy who had held a knife to their throat lowered the knife and went back the way they had come. The Namgung family was unable to react in any way and could only do so.
“This is…”
Namgung-myeong muttered in a voice that sounded like he was being squeezed.
In the eyes of the Namgung family’s inspectors, suspicion began to grow beyond suspicion.
Maybe…
wasn’t Jang Il-so’s offer really mercy?
Rather than driving them away with some hidden intention, wasn’t he really trying to save them?
That can’t be possible. That can’t possibly be the case…
Then why does the author turn around like that without the slightest regret? Why not force it? Why not take their lives at least in your own hands?
What on earth have they done now?
In a situation where everyone had no idea how to accept this situation, Namgung Dowi had one idea.
Maybe everything that happened on this island was Jang Il-so’s plan.
The terrible thought that from the moment Jang Il-so first arrived here to this moment, they may not have been able to escape from Jang Il-so’s palm even for a moment.
“Ryeonju. They….”
“They are going to surround the island with boats and prevent even a single ant from escaping.”
“yes? yes! “I will.”
Hu Jiaming bit his lip slightly. Then, I ended up asking carefully.
“May I ask what you plan to do next?”
Jang Il-so smiled.
“Whatever. “I need to teach you what real despair is.”
“…ah.”
Hu Jiaming nodded as if he understood.
“Surely, a comfortable death is a luxury for them.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Pseudonym. Why are you so out of touch with yourself today? “That’s not it.”
“…yes?”
When Ho Ji-myeong asked curiously, Jang Il-so twitched the corner of his mouth and laughed.
“I didn’t even care about things like Namgung from the beginning. “My goal is…”
And then he slowly shifted his gaze.
“Those middle-class guys.”
I was fascinated by Jang Il-so’s eyes as he looked at Shaolin across the river.
“The board has finally been settled. It’s starting now. “Now let’s tell them how ugly things are hidden inside me!”
Looking at him smiling so excitedly, Hu Jiaming felt goosebumps running all over his body.
It was the moment when Jang Il-so exposed his fangs to the world.
