The Terminally-Ill Side-Character Inside of a Martial Arts Novel

In the end, we couldn’t continue the search due to the Murim Alliance warriors. Or rather, there was no need to continue in the first place. There was no need to waste energy on searching when it was certain that the Five Leaf Fire Grass was inside the cave.

Therefore, we kept quiet until the Murim Alliance warriors left.

The sun had completely set and darkness descended as the moon rose. Only when it became completely night could we return to the camp. As if he had been waiting, Yoo Doha approached first.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Although he smiled as he spoke, seeing his eyes rolling around, it seemed he was worried that Hyuk Dojin would burst into anger.

His gaze, which had been looking at Hyuk Dojin, moved to me. The slight raising of his eyebrows seemed to ask if he was very angry. I shook my head slightly at his gaze.

Hyuk Dojin glanced at Yoo Doha while handing his dust-covered outer coat and clothes to Joo Hwarin.

“You seem to have rested well. Your skin is glossy and your complexion is so fine, you could get married right away.”

“…Is that so? Thanks to the Young Madam’s sun-like consideration, I was able to replenish my energy.”

Although he smiled and spoke, his constant checking of the atmosphere was pitiful.

Hyuk Dojin narrowed his eyes as he stared blankly at Yoo Doha, who was restless as if sitting on pins and needles. His eyes were sharp, like those of a beast pondering how to cook this fellow.

…Should I intervene? Come to think of it, this happened because I insisted on going…

While I was alternately examining Hyuk Dojin and Yoo Doha, a small clicking sound was heard from Hyuk Dojin’s mouth.

“Well, never mind. You don’t need to be so restless.”

Hyuk Dojin continued speaking while brushing off the remaining dust on his shoulders.

“Having done it myself today, I realized that what you did was by no means easy. You must be tired after doing it for two days in a row. So you don’t need to make that expression.”

As if thinking he was saying something unexpected, Yoo Doha opened his eyes wide in surprise. He stared blankly at Hyuk Dojin, then hurriedly threw a glance in my direction.

[…Young Cult Leader, did something happen today?]

I lightly shrugged my shoulders at Yoo Doha’s voice transmission that flowed simultaneously. If there was, there was, and if there wasn’t, there wasn’t. Yoo Doha smacked his lips with a sour-looking face and spoke carefully.

“Is, is that so? I’m sincerely grateful that you think that way. From tomorrow, I’ll personally assist the Young Cult Leader again…”

“There’s no need for that.”

“What?”

You’re especially surprised a lot today. Hyuk Dojin grinned at Yoo Doha, who was making a blank expression.

The sullen expression he had just moments ago was gone without a trace, and the deep smile drawn on top of it spoke of his state.

“Because we found it.”

Hyuk Dojin jerked his chin at Joo Hwarin standing beside him. Hyuk Dojin looked at Joo Hwarin, who was carefully retreating, then slowly opened his mouth.

“Gather all the team leaders. I have something to relay.”

“We’ve found out the location of the Five Leaf Fire Grass.”

At the words that fell from his mouth, a stir spread among the team leaders. Even those who usually maintained reticence were whispering.

While Hyuk Dojin was quickly scanning the people, Ji Seok, who had been sitting on the ground grinding herbs, got up from his seat and spoke quietly.

“Did you bring it?”

“No. We just found out the location, we haven’t retrieved it yet. And we’re not the only ones who found out the location.”

“Then…”

Hyuk Dojin moved his head vertically with a heavy nod.

“The Murim Alliance knows too. Or rather, we stole the information that the Murim Alliance found out.”

This time too, everyone seemed surprised, but there was no commotion. Instead, sighs burst out here and there. Their reaction was similar to mine.

The fact that the Murim Alliance discovered it first meant the herb had fallen into their hands, so it was fair to say hope was lost.

Hyuk Dojin scanned them and relaxed his expression as if he had expected it all, then spoke up again.

“For now, it doesn’t seem like the Murim Alliance has gotten their hands on the Five Leaf Fire Grass. From what I briefly heard, they’ve only found out the location.”

“What does that mean?”

To Ji Seok, who asked again, Hyuk Dojin explained what had happened today. After hearing the whole story, Ji Seok rubbed his chin and tilted his head.

“…A cave blocked by geomantic formations and formations, from which massive yang energy is flowing out. That’s probably the location of the Five Leaf Fire Grass… is that what you mean?”

“Exactly.”

At Hyuk Dojin’s affirmation, Ji Seok slightly narrowed his brows as if deeply pondering something, then raised his head and spoke quietly.

“Are you sure the Five Leaf Fire Grass is in there? I’ve never once heard that the Five Leaf Fire Grass possesses massive yang energy, let alone emits heat. What if it’s a rumor intentionally spread by the Murim Alliance?”

“That’s certainly a point we need to consider carefully. So we’ll maintain the existing search to some extent, but when the Murim Alliance dismantles all the geomantic formations of the cave and enters, we plan to attack and check inside first.”

“But the Murim Alliance won’t be easy to deal with. They’ve maintained balance as the center of the righteous sects for hundreds of years now. They won’t think that you don’t know what they’ve discovered. Moreover, the one currently controlling the Huai River is Geum Hyul, the leader of the Yeonwi Left Army. I don’t know the details, but a Flowering Realm master won’t be that simple…”

“Geum Hyul isn’t here right now.”

I stepped forward and cut off Ji Seok’s words. People’s gazes gathered on me. After calmly meeting their eyes, I looked back at Ji Seok and continued speaking.

“Right now, most of Geum Hyul and the Yeonwi Left Army are headed north. The Golden Blood Sand Sect caused trouble in the north, so Geum Hyul rushed there to stop it. So the one controlling the Huai River now isn’t Geum Hyul. Therefore, we still have time.”

It would be troublesome if Geum Hyul returns tomorrow, though. I hope Jeok Biwol buys us enough time.

But even setting that aside, it was still burdensome as Ji Seok said.

I too found it hard to fully believe that the Five Leaf Fire Grass was there. Or it could be an intentionally created trap.

Ji Seok, who closed his mouth at my words, stared at Hyuk Dojin. His eyes seemed to ask what he was going to do.

Hyuk Dojin seemed to feel his gaze too, as he calmly nodded his head and then issued orders to each team leader.

The method was changed to maintain the search of each assigned area but also allocate personnel to monitor the cave.

After issuing orders, Hyuk Dojin looked at Yoo Doha and spoke quietly.

“And Yoo Doha, you lead half of the members to block the path coming from the north to here. If Geum Hyul and the Yeonwi Left Army try to return, attack them in the middle and delay their return speed as much as possible.”

“Understood. But I think there will be a limit to how much time we can buy since there’s a Flowering Realm master.”

“Man Do will join us by tomorrow. Depart together with Man Do. Then you should be able to hold them back to some extent.”

Hyuk Dojin looked around intently and opened his mouth gently.

“Everyone, focus. And don’t get carried away by emotions. Our goal is the spirit herb, not a direct confrontation with the Righteous Sect. If anyone causes trouble by getting swayed by emotions, I’ll personally smash their skull.”

The team leaders gulped at Hyuk Dojin’s sharp words.

“Our life here will end soon. Hang in there just a bit more until then.”

* * *

“What brings you here?”

A soft and calm voice, but containing poison, flowed out quietly.

Jeok Biwol, who had come down the stairs, slightly raised her eyebrows as she looked at the man sitting in front of her.

The man who had taken a seat on the first floor, a man with a calm impression. Moyong Do raised his head at Jeok Biwol’s words.

Jeok Biwol made a puzzled expression at the unexpected appearance of the man. Of all people, Moyong Do suddenly coming to see her? Hadn’t the Moyong clan left for Liaoning?

Jeok Biwol looked at Moyong Do, then flicked her finger. The man standing behind her approached and whispered quietly.

Jeok Biwol’s brows narrowed slightly. She kept her mouth tightly shut and looked down at Moyong Do who was looking at her, then soon smiled.

Jeok Biwol took a seat on the opposite side of the chair where Moyong Do was sitting and mixed in a seductive laugh.

“To come here secretly, evading the eyes and ears of the Golden Blood Sand Sect that are said to be unrivaled even compared to the Beggar’s Sect, you’re really amazing. Moreover, you’ve even figured out my current location that even the Murim Alliance can’t find. You’re amazing, Hero Moyong Do.”

Jeok Biwol smiled faintly while adjusting her white silk clothes that had slipped down.

Moyong Do kept his mouth tightly shut without saying anything to her words. Jeok Biwol stared blankly at his unchanging expression, then frowned.

“To come suddenly and keep your mouth shut without saying anything… It’s a bit perplexing. Didn’t you come because you want something from me? If so, you’ve come to the right place. I’m infinitely generous to people I like. And Hero Moyong Do is someone I like, so as much as…”

“The Murim Alliance Leader came by.”

“…”

Jeok Biwol, who had been smiling and continuing her words, froze her face coldly at Moyong Do’s single sentence. Jeok Biwol, who had been sitting down, immediately raised her arm.

The people on the first floor left instantly at her signal. It didn’t take much time for the first floor, which had been filled with people, to be emptied.

Eventually, in the wide first floor that had become a space with just the two of them, Moyong Do looked around briefly and jerked his chin.

Jeok Biwol slightly narrowed her brows at his chin gesture. When she made another hand gesture, the presence felt close to Moyong Do disappeared instantly.

Only after completely dismissing even her own guards did Jeok Biwol open her mouth.

“So. I’m curious about the rest of the story. Why did the Murim Alliance Leader come by?”

At her question, Moyong Do slightly delayed, rolling his eyes down once. When Jeok Biwol’s brows narrowed again at his delayed answer, his mouth opened.

“He made an interesting suggestion.”

“An interesting suggestion?”

Moyong Do, who rarely showed changes in expression, let out a faint laugh. As Jeok Biwol made a puzzled expression, Moyong Do’s voice fell sharply.

“He made a very tempting proposal that could make the Moyong clan rise again.”

“Tempting…”

Moyong Do slightly raised his chin.

“He suggested the position of the next Murim Alliance Leader.”

Clang!

At the words that came out of his mouth, Jeok Biwol got up roughly and the chair fell backwards, making a harsh sound.

Her fingertips holding the table tightly trembled quietly.

“What do you mean…?!”

“If I agree to the conditions the Alliance Leader presented, he said he would help me grow and establish myself, and eventually seat me in the position of Murim Alliance Leader. It was a very sweet talk. Thinking I might not believe him, he even brought a guarantee certificate with the direct seals of the Alliance Leader and elders.”

“…”

Jeok Biwol’s mouth felt dry. It wasn’t just anything. It was the position of Murim Alliance Leader. The position of Murim Alliance Leader, who wields absolute power said to be even greater than the emperor’s, was more attractive than any other position. To seat Moyong Do there?

It wasn’t something to take lightly, giving the position that the Namgoong clan had monopolized for hundreds of years to the Moyong clan.

Strength entered Jeok Biwol’s hands. Moyong Do stared blankly at such a Jeok Biwol.

“What… were the conditions?”

“It was nothing much.”

Moyong Do stroked his chin and tilted his body crookedly. Boredom seemed to ripple across his face, then his mouth opened slowly.

“He wanted me to kill someone.”

“Someone?”

Moyong Do looked up at Jeok Biwol with a slight smile. Their gazes crossed. And Moyong Do’s voice fell sharply.

“Moyong Sowol.”

“…”

“My younger sister.”