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

Leaving the murmuring of the spectators behind, I immediately moved my legs.

Ignoring even Hyuk Dojin’s call waiting in front, I quickly went down and entered where Jeok Biwol had disappeared.

As I went inside following the long corridor, Jeok Biwol was leaning against the wall, looking in the direction I was coming from.

As soon as she saw me, she let out a snicker.

“You came?”

“Jeok Biwol…!!”

“Why are you making such an angry face? Could it be you’re thinking I did something to your brother?”

My legs stepping on the floor flinched.

As I stopped with my knees slightly bent, Jeok Biwol smirked. When I frowned, Jeok Biwol shrugged her shoulders.

“That’s right. Actually, it’s not wrong. I did touch him.”

Like this, tok. At the sight of her flicking the small needle in her hand, my reason snapped.

I immediately rushed in and grabbed Jeok Biwol’s neck. Whether Jeok Biwol had no energy after just finishing the martial arts match or whether she deliberately let herself be caught, she easily gave up her vital point.

Jeok Biwol was nonchalant even with her neck caught.

“…They say a person’s personality changes according to their environment and situation, but has the timid and quiet Moyong Sowol become so rough in her actions just from learning some martial arts?”

“I don’t know when you saw me to evaluate me as if you know everything.”

“There are many things I can know without seeing. The Golden Blood Sand Sect, which is relatively weak in power, is a group that takes such information as its main business. Others may think it’s all about poison, but the hidden power of the Golden Blood Sand Sect is information.”

I stared intently at her leisurely appearance, then slowly loosened my hand.

Jeok Biwol rubbed her neck that had been caught in my hand and chuckled. At her laugh, I narrowed my brows and spoke quietly.

“Seeing your attitude now, it doesn’t seem like you did something to my brother… Speak. What is that needle and what do you know?”

“The Golden Blood Sand Sect’s information is expensive. I told you the detoxification method for the Qi-Dispersing Powder for free last time, do you want this for free too?”

“If you have something you want, say it. Whatever it is, if it’s something I can give…”

“Moyong Do.”

“Do you want to die?”

Heehee. Jeok Biwol giggled softly and showed her palm.

At my glaring gaze, Jeok Biwol shrugged her shoulders and stepped back one step.

She looked at my face, then glanced behind diagonally. When I slightly twisted my waist, Hyuk Dojin was waiting behind me, having come at some point.

For a moment I felt angry, then looked at him with apology mixed in for leaving him behind, and he smiled as if saying it was okay.

After nodding my head once, I turned back to Jeok Biwol.

Jeok Biwol maintained her leisurely attitude and opened her mouth.

“The needle I stabbed Moyong Do with was coated with a liquid made by grinding the roots and fruits of the Sang-dong tree.”

“Sang-dong tree…?”

“The Sang-dong tree contains components that detoxify various poisons and harmful things. Most poisons can be detoxified with just this one thing. Ah, is this quite valuable information that I’m saying too easily?”

She opened her eyes round, then covered her lips slightly with an ‘oops’ face, and I frowned.

I wasn’t in the mood to play along with her act now, so I couldn’t match her tone.

Jeok Biwol examined my reaction, then soon erased her expression as if understanding and spoke in a serious voice.

“Moyong Do’s expression wasn’t good even before climbing onto the martial arts arena. The corners of his lips were blue and his complexion was dark. Thinking he had probably been poisoned, I exchanged voice transmissions with him and then stabbed his acupoints with this needle. This is the evidence.”

She took out a needle case from her bosom and showed it. When she opened the lid, there were dozens of needles inside with their tips dyed black. I looked down at the needle case, then raised my eyes.

“But I don’t know what kind of poison he was afflicted with, and although the detoxification needle made from the Sang-dong tree is effective, it’s not omnipotent. Therefore, the detoxification wasn’t complete and he eventually collapsed.”

“Poison…”

First with Nam Sojeong and now this. Who on earth is plotting such things using secret poisons?

As I chewed on my lip, her eyes narrowed.

“Actually, although I laughed just now, I’m not in a very good mood either. As you know, I quite like Moyong Do. I like his talent and also how he keeps his mouth shut. His appearance is outstanding too, so it’s all good. But to ruin my mood when I was looking forward to a martial arts match with such a Moyong Do…”

Her lips twisted and a rough sneer escaped.

“I want to find them right away, tear off their limbs and chew them up.”

I could see Jeok Biwol’s true energy churning inside her body. I stared intently at her appearance unable to swallow her anger.

Jeok Biwol glanced at my eyes, then gathered her scattered killing intent and exhaled shortly. Looking at her appearance returning to her original self, I quietly asked.

“Do you know who the culprit is?”

“No. But I have a guess.”

Black Dao Sect.

At the words that flowed shortly from her mouth, my body flinched. When I turned around, Hyuk Dojin had also stepped forward one step from leaning against the wall.

A small laugh escaped from Jeok Biwol’s mouth.

“You knew too, it seems. Well, since Black Demon was the first to kill a Cult Leader as an outsider in Demon Cult history, you couldn’t not know.”

“…Are you certain about calling it the Black Dao Sect just now?”

“As I said earlier, it’s just a guess. I saw Moyong Do exchanging a few words with a Black Dao Sect disciple who had forfeited before climbing onto the martial arts arena to have a match with me. They seemed to shake hands separately, so if he was poisoned, it was probably then.”

If her words were true, it wasn’t a matter we could just overlook.

If they had touched Moyong Do, who was the son of one of the Five Great Clans, Moyong Danli’s disciple, and the vanguard of the Four Dragons, it would be an issue that would provoke the Righteous Sect’ public anger.

But why did the Black Dao Sect use a trick on Moyong Do?

Just to win the martial arts competition? No, that couldn’t explain why the majority forfeited in the Round of 32.

If it was to make Lee Jehak win, they could have directly advanced to the finals and deliberately lost.

While I was frowning, unable to organize my complicated thoughts, Jeok Biwol’s voice languidly came.

“I’d have to check directly to know the type of poison, but judging from the outward symptoms, it doesn’t seem to be a very strong one. Moreover, a master like Moyong Do should be able to endure to some extent with his inner energy. But it’s safe to say the finals are out of reach. The Sichuan Tang clan will take charge of the treatment, but… Well? It seems impossible to treat that poison and return him to his original state within three days unless the head of the Tang family steps in.”

“What about you?”

“Me? Hohoho! I didn’t know you’d evaluate me so highly. I didn’t know you had such expectations of me… Well, to answer, unfortunately it’s impossible. Even I don’t have skills surpassing the Ten Thousand Li Poison Monarch.”

“Then it’s a matter of asking the Murim Alliance Leader to postpone the martial arts competition.”

Jeok Biwol let out a light sneer.

When I frowned, she spread her palm as if saying she was sorry. I glared at her, then let out a long sigh.

I knew that the martial arts competition wasn’t the only issue now. Moyong Do’s health was one thing, but why the Black Dao Sect touched Moyong Do was more important.

I stared intently at Jeok Biwol, then turned my body.

As I turned direction and moved away from Jeok Biwol, her voice followed.

“Shall I tell you something interesting?”

When I stopped in my place and turned around, Jeok Biwol smiled languidly and her eyes shone.

I narrowed my brows at her bewitching atmosphere emitting an ominous light. Jeok Biwol’s mouth slowly opened.

“Black Demon is still alive.”

“…”

“And Black Demon wants revenge on those who drove him out. Neither the Demon Cult nor the Righteous Sect nor the evil sects can be free from that.”

We’re in the same situation of having the same opponent as our enemy.

* * *

As soon as I opened the door of the building and entered, gazes immediately turned towards me.

The warriors standing guard at the door put their hands on their sword hilts, and some even drew them.

All kinds of hostility poured out. While I was meeting their gazes one by one, Hyuk Dojin who approached from the side emitted a faint energy.

Even if not strong, it was profound. At the demonic energy that couldn’t be easily faced, ordinary warriors and people slowly turned their gazes away.

I pulled Hyuk Dojin’s arm and shook my head lightly to restrain him. When Hyuk Dojin clicked his tongue and withdrew his energy, sighs of relief came.

“We didn’t come to fight. It’s okay.”

“…Alright.”

After smiling slightly at Hyuk Dojin, I passed by them and went inside. When I opened one more door, a wide space appeared and I saw a familiar face.

“Junior Sister…!”

It was Moyong Chae. As soon as he saw me, he opened his eyes wide as if surprised, then tried to approach closely but shrank back after seeing Hyuk Dojin standing beside me.

Knowing that Moyong Chae was at least favorable towards me, I slowly approached and greeted him, then spoke quietly.

“…How is my brother?”

Moyong Chae’s eyes shook anxiously. He glanced at Hyuk Dojin, then looked behind slightly and spoke quietly.

“He still hasn’t regained consciousness…”

I smiled faintly at his appearance of raising his speech after thinking of my status when he had been speaking comfortably.

When I told him it was okay to speak comfortably, Moyong Chae looked around carefully. He turned his body and guided behind while continuing to speak.

“We’ll need to wait for the Sichuan Tang clan to move to know the details, but it’s presumed to be poison as expected. As for the culprit, it seems that bewitching woman from the Golden Blood Sand Sect…”

“It’s not her.”

“Huh?”

“Jeok Biwol is not the culprit. I can guarantee that.”

At my firm words, Moyong Chae rolled his eyes as if perplexed.

Well, it’s funny for the Demon Cult to defend the Golden Blood Sand Sect too. The Demon Cult leading the Ten Thousand Evil Sects was a major axis of the evil sects.

Arms bend inwards. I had nothing to say even if looked at suspiciously from the Righteous Sect’ standpoint.

Moyong Chae stared at me blankly, then nodded his head.

“You wouldn’t lie about your brother, being nothing else. Then it means poison was used from somewhere else… It’s not certain yet. It’s an issue to investigate from now on. But more important than that is Senior Brother who’s been poisoned…”

He spoke slowly while opening a door. The room was revealed and the figures inside stood up from their seats.

It was a familiar face. An old man with a bald head full of wrinkles.

“…Elder Hyeon.”

As I lightly bowed my head, a roar burst out.

“How dare the filthy Demon Cult set foot in this place!”

It was Elder Hyeon. He was the elder of the Moyong clan with the highest status except for Clan Leader Moyong Danli.

From what my mother had vaguely said before, he was a man famous for his excessive greed.

I stared intently at him glaring at me, then twisted my gaze to examine Moyong Do collapsed on the bed.

The fact that his whole body was covered in moxibustion marks and needles didn’t look like the situation was very good. When I narrowed my eyes, a rough voice burst out again.

“You dare ignore my words…!”

“You should be careful with your words, Elder Moyong Hyeon.”

When I turned my head while cutting off his words, Moyong Hyeon was glaring at me while letting out an empty breath as if dumbfounded.

“Did you just speak to me?”

“Yes. I spoke to Elder Moyong Hyeon. Since my brother is critically ill, wouldn’t it be better to be quiet rather than causing a commotion?”

“You, you lowly thing…!”

“It was Elder Hyeon who argued to sell off this lowly woman’s life first. Even if others curse at me, the Moyong clan has no right to curse at me. And no matter how much you distinguish between righteous and evil, my brother is my family. I cannot ignore my family bound by blood ties collapsing.”

“Huh… Huh…!”

I looked at Moyong Hyeon grabbing his neck, then approached Moyong Do.

The doctor placing needles beside the bed glanced at me.

“How is his condition?”

“…He’s passed the critical situation, but it’s not very good. We can’t distinguish what kind of poison was used unless confirmed by the Tang family, so treatment is slow.”

I narrowed my eyes at the doctor’s answer. After quietly looking at Moyong Do sleeping as if dead, I raised my head and looked at Moyong Hyeon.

Meeting Moyong Hyeon’s eyes frowning at my gaze, I spoke quietly.

“What do you plan to do about the martial arts competition?”

“That’s not for you to worry about.”

“It’s my brother’s martial arts competition. If I, as his sister, don’t worry about it, who will?”

“That’s an issue for the main family to handle! It’s not something for the Demon Cult to be concerned about!”

I frowned at Moyong Hyeon’s appearance, clearly drawing a line.

To say such things about taking sides in the current situation. I gritted my teeth hard.

“We should be concerned.”

Hyuk Dojin’s voice flowed. When I turned my head, Hyuk Dojin looked at Moyong Do with a hardened face, then turned his gaze to alternately examine me and Moyong Hyeon before speaking quietly.

“If he’s my wife’s brother, he’d be my brother-in-law, so how could we not be concerned?”

He chuckled.

“He’s family.”