Chapter 787: Live Like a Dog, or Die Like a Wolf (Part 2)

"The Gyoryong Faction has fallen to Shaolin! Word has come that Faction Leader Sama is abandoning the faction and fleeing!"

"Wudang is advancing toward the Cheongha Faction! The faction leader of Cheongha is requesting reinforcements."

"Th-the Namgung Family is moving north! We need a solution… anything…."

A middle-aged man sat on a black throne, overlooking it all.

The throne upon which the man sat was so dark that it felt like it could pull one into its depths, and the man's clothing was entirely black as well. Even his long beard, reminiscent of Guan Yu, and his wild, unkempt hair were all an inky black.

But the feature that most resembled the color of darkness was his eyes. Those dark pupils stared down at the prostrated figures before him.

"O, O Black Dragon King!"

At the urgent cries, the man’s eyebrows twitched for a moment.

The ruler of the Eighteen Waterways of the Yangtze River—only one person in the entire world held the supreme title that governed these pirate factions.

As mighty as the Eighteen Waterway Factions of the Yangtze may seem, when caught between the Nine Great Sects and the Heavenly Alliance, they were nothing more than small fish.

Even if the Eighteen Waterways were united, they could not stand against powers like Shaolin and Wudang of the Nine Great Sects, the Namgung Family of the Five Great Families, or the Sichuan Tang Clan of the Heavenly Alliance. Any one of these groups could crush the pirate factions single-handedly.

And what of the countless other sects who had yet to join the fray? It was as if more than half of the righteous factions in the world were descending upon the Yangtze.

"And so...?"

"Y-Yes, Black Dragon King."

"What’s the plan?"

"……."

At the Black Dragon King's question, silence fell upon the room.

"Surely, you don’t intend to claim you have no plan with those open mouths of yours."

"……."

"Then let’s hear it—what is your grand solution?"

The prostrated figures glanced nervously at each other.

This was like trying to put a bell on a cat. Even though the answer was obvious, who had the courage to offer honest counsel in front of the Black Dragon King?

"No answer?"

The Black Dragon King's voice became rougher.

"You feast on the rewards of this river and gorge yourselves in safety, but when the time comes to speak, you fall silent? Should I take it that your tongues—and heads—are now useless?"

The color drained from the faces of those lying prostrate.

There was a reason why the Black Dragon King earned his title. He was the type of man who wouldn’t hesitate to cut down everyone in the room if he felt like it.

Unable to endure the pressure any longer, one of them cautiously opened his mouth.

"F-Forgive me for speaking out of turn…."

"Speak."

"Th-there’s an old saying: 'When it rains, take shelter.' Though they are advancing on the Yangtze now, in the end, they are on an expedition. They won’t be able to remain on the Yangtze for long because their headquarters lie far away."

"And so?"

"If we lie low for a while, telling our factions to retreat temporarily, we can return once the storm has passed…."

Bang!

The man speaking was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth.

Crash!

But no one dared to turn and look at him. They merely pressed their heads lower to the ground, praying that the Black Dragon King's wrath wouldn’t fall upon them next.

With a simple wave of his hand, the Black Dragon King had turned a man into a bloody pulp. He rose from his throne, his expression fierce.

"You worms dare open your mouths and suggest I abandon the Yangtze? Me? The Dragon of the Yangtze? You expect me to flee like a coward before these righteous sect dogs? Me?"

At his thunderous roar, everyone held their breath.

"Speak! Say it again! I dare you!"

It was said that when the Dragon of the Yangtze raged, the river itself would be engulfed in a storm. Though the river remained calm for now, the Black Dragon King's killing intent was more than enough to envelop the entire fortress.

"O, Black Dragon King. Even the mightiest tiger, the king of the mountains, cannot survive if a pack of wolves descends upon it. Wouldn’t it be wiser for the Dragon of the Yangtze to retreat if a pack of crocodiles were to attack?"

Bang!

Once again, the man who spoke was sent flying, blood splattering as his body hit the ground.

"You fools! You dare compare me to a mere tiger? A dragon is not something that crocodiles can take down!"

Whether they spoke or remained silent, it seemed death awaited them.

The reason why flatterers surrounded tyrants was simple: if they didn’t speak words that pleased the tyrant, their heads would be the first to roll.

History is filled with examples of advisors risking their lives to offer honest counsel to tyrannical rulers. But no one in this room, full of pirates, was brave enough to take such a risk.

Normally, they would have sweetened their words to flatter the Black Dragon King, but this was no normal situation.

'Damn it, we’re all in danger at this rate.'

'Whether it’s the Black Dragon King’s hand or Shaolin’s, we’re dead either way!'

"The so-called heroes of the Yangtze are cowards who think only of running without even attempting to fight? You pathetic worms!"

The Black Dragon King’s eyes flared with fury.

"Better to die fighting with honor than to flee like a coward! That is what it means to bear the name of the Eighteen Waterway Factions of the Yangtze!"

The prostrated men let out subtle sighs of frustration.

‘Damn it.’

They all knew. Everything the Black Dragon King was shouting was nothing but bluster.

If he were truly reckless enough to face the righteous sects head-on, without regard for the consequences, he would have died long ago, his body sinking to the bottom of the Yangtze.

In the world of unorthodox sects, brute strength might let one survive, but it took cunning and strategy to reach the top. The Black Dragon King was no fool.

Even so, the reason he continued to spout such nonsense was to preserve his dignity and avoid losing face.

At the very least, he wanted to leave behind the impression that he had intended to fight but had been held back by his subordinates. It was all part of maintaining his pride.

This absurd charade wouldn’t end until several more people were beaten bloody. But, knowing this, they had no choice but to play along.

"Who else dares to suggest retreat? I’ll make it clear—there is no fleeing the Yangtze unless it's as a corpse! I will stand at the front. Who will speak of retreat now?"

It was a hopeless situation.

All the while, their factions were being attacked. If they hoped to recover, they needed to preserve as much of their strength as possible.

If not, even if the righteous sects left, other unorthodox factions would swarm in like wolves to claim what remained.

Just as someone was about to open their mouth and continue the farce, a commotion erupted near the entrance.

"Who dares approach?"

"Do you know where you are?"

The prostrated men flinched and turned to look.

'Righteous sects?'

'Have they come this far already?'

Fortunately, their fears were unfounded. The strangers at the entrance didn’t seem like righteous sect members at all.

A cold-looking man at the front twisted his lips as he spoke.

"Only fools would dare threaten an envoy. Are you truly so ignorant, you river-dwelling thugs?"

"You insolent…."

From his seat, the Black Dragon King scowled and barked, "What’s going on?"

A subordinate quickly approached and reported, "They request an audience with you, Black Dragon King."

"Hmm? Who are they?"

"Well…."

Upon hearing the report, the Black Dragon King’s eyes grew cold.

"Let them in."

"Yes, sir!"

As the pirates stepped aside, six envoys strode confidently into the room. They knelt on one knee before the Black Dragon King.

"We greet the Black Dragon King."

"Etiquette, is it? What a rare sight."

The Black Dragon King’s lips twisted into a mocking smile.

"So, what message is so important that you dared come here, risking your lives? Let’s hear it."

The man kneeling at the front carefully pulled a sealed letter from his robes and presented it.

"This is a letter from the Patriarch."

Without a word, the Black Dragon King stared at him. One of the prostrated subordinates quickly stood up, received the letter, and handed it to the king.

"Hmm."

The Black Dragon King tore open the seal and began reading.

The letter wasn’t long, but as the Black Dragon King read, his expression changed several times in just a few moments.

Finally, he lowered the letter and frowned deeply. At the same time, the letter in his hand burst into flames, turning to ash.

"Do you know what was written in that letter?"

"We do not."

"Then you understand that its contents won’t protect your lives?"

"We do."

"Then what gave you the nerve to bring such a letter to me, you pups?"

The Black Dragon King's murderous aura exploded.

The overwhelming force of his killing intent caused the envoys to break out in a cold sweat, their bodies drenched in fear.

"Tell me, was delivering that letter more important than your lives?"

"That… that we don’t know."

"Then why did you come?"

The man at the front gritted his teeth and answered.

"If the Patriarch commands it, I would go to hell itself. What do I have to fear?"

Suddenly, the oppressive killing intent vanished.

"…Ha."

The Black Dragon King let out a laugh as he stood and gazed toward the distant south.

"Jang Ilso. Jang Ilso, huh…."

His lips twisted.

"That brat from Guangxi has grown bold, daring to summon me."

"Black Dragon King?"

Turning to his confused subordinates, the Black Dragon King spoke coldly.

"Dokmang!"

"Yes, Black Dragon King!"

"Send word to all the factions. Tell them to lay low for a while."

"W-What does that mean…?"

"I’m going to see what that venomous brat has in store for me."

With a billow of his black cloak, the Black Dragon King strode out of the room without hesitation.