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

The novel I had read was quite a long time ago, so I don’t remember the exact details. However, there were exactly two opponents who had driven Moyong Do to the brink of death.

One was Hyuk Dojin, whom Moyong Do faced before his awakening.

And the other was the man now before my eyes, Lee Jehak.

However, the difference between the two fights was based on whether it was before or after Moyong Do’s awakening.

In the novel, Moyong Do was so strong that it wouldn’t be strange to call him the strongest.

After being completely defeated in his first fight with Hyuk Dojin, he often competed with Hyuk Dojin afterwards.

However, after Hyuk Dojin died in an unexpected accident, when Moyong Do’s anger was directed towards the Murim Alliance, the figure who appeared was Lee Jehak.

Lee Jehak, who appeared before Moyong Do, who even the Murim Alliance Leader had to yield to at that time, overwhelmed Moyong Do with his overwhelming martial prowess.

However, I couldn’t know exactly how that was possible or who Lee Jehak was.

‘Did he appear here?’

Despite the clear distance, I couldn’t react at all to the eyes directed towards us.

I could only stare blankly, as if being pulled into that darkness of unknown depth.

At that moment, Hyuk Dojin’s hand quietly settled on my arm. Then the chilling feeling from just before disappeared and my heart regained its calm.

“Are you alright?”

“Huh… Dojin?”

Hyuk Dojin glanced at Lee Jehak, then spoke slowly.

“It’s alright. You can relax. That guy won’t do anything to harm you, so don’t worry.”

I slowly shook my head at his concerned gaze.

The ominousness that had clung to my body completely disappeared when his hand touched me.

I looked at Lee Jehak again. He had already climbed back onto the martial arts arena and was preparing for another match.

I bit my lip. Hyuk Dojin stared at me like that, then said something to Namgoong Baek before getting up from his seat and raising me.

“Let’s go back. There’s no need to stay here forcibly.”

“But…”

“You need to think of your body first. Monk Jeongun also said your condition could change at any time, so you should rest immediately if you feel unwell. So, let’s go back.”

I looked down at his hand, then raised my head to examine Hyuk Dojin, then looked at Namgoong Baek again. He nodded as if it was fine.

I bit my lip and let out a small sigh, then looked at Hyuk Dojin.

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

I got up from my seat and turned to Namgoong Baek.

“I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well, so I’ll go back first.”

“Go ahead. Get some good rest. If you need my help anytime, just say so. You are my invited guests, so I’ll provide anything you need.”

“Thank you for your words. Then…”

I turned my body and stepped on the stairs. I glanced at Hyuk Dojin following behind me and slightly turned back again.

Lee Jehak, who was having a match on the martial arts arena, caught my eye.

‘It’s ominous…’

I had a feeling that his appearance wouldn’t have a very good influence on Hyuk Dojin and me.

Perhaps, on Moyong Do as well.

* * *

I returned with Hyuk Dojin, took medicine and rested, and for the first time in a long while, I could feel a fever rising.

It was certainly encouraging that my physical condition had improved thanks to the ten-thousand-year-old fleeceflower root.

However, Monk Jeongun said that even though ten-thousand-year-old fleeceflower root was a heavenly medicine, there was clearly a limit to how much it could heal the body.

He said I needed to closely observe my physical condition until I reached the Flowering Realm and restored the vessel of vitality to balance.

But after taking the medicine, my physical condition for half a year was the best it had ever been, as if all the years I had passed through until now were a lie.

I didn’t think I would get sick again…

“It’s just a simple cold. It seems your body was very tired from the long journey from Guangxi to here. If you rest well for a few days, there will be no problem.”

I opened my eyes at the voice I heard in my dazed state. The doctor who had been taking my pulse said a few more words of caution before getting up from his seat.

Hyuk Dojin followed the doctor and asked something more, and in the meantime, Joo Hwarin approached and examined me, then opened her eyes wide.

“Oh, are you awake?”

At Joo Hwarin’s words, Hyuk Dojin hurriedly ran over and took a seat beside me. I smiled faintly at his appearance and raised my body.

I slowly shook my head at Hyuk Dojin’s words to lie down more, and with his support, leaned my body against the wall and exhaled lowly. It was a heavy body and head I was experiencing after a long time.

Getting sick again made me realize how precious the things I had enjoyed in the meantime were.

“Are you alright?”

I stared blankly at Hyuk Dojin asking worriedly, then slowly nodded.

“Did I sleep for a long time?”

“Only a day has passed. You suddenly had a fever at night and didn’t open your eyes, so I was very worried… But I’m glad. Your physical condition doesn’t seem to be too bad. They said it’s simply a cold overlapping with fatigue, so it seems you’ll be fine if you rest well.”

“Is that so…”

I let out my voice quietly as if muttering.

Hyuk Dojin stared at me intently, then instructed Joo Hwarin to make water and light porridge for me to eat, sent her out, adjusted his posture, and held my hand. I raised my head and faced him.

“Why didn’t you say anything? If the journey was tiring and difficult, if you had just said so, I would have thought of another way…”

“It wasn’t difficult. I wasn’t tired either. My physical condition was better than ever.”

What I was saying was the unvarnished truth. Not once did I feel tired. I never thought I was overdoing it either.

I closed my eyes while leaning my head languidly against the wall. I could feel Hyuk Dojin’s gaze on me. Beyond the dark vision with my eyelids lowered, Lee Jehak, whom I had last seen, was drawn.

“…How did yesterday’s results turn out?”

“All the preliminaries will end by this evening. The people to participate in the main tournament have all been selected.”

“Is that man included?”

“…You mean the man called Lee Jehak?”

I opened my eyes to look at him and moved my head.

Hyuk Dojin slowly let out a sigh. It must mean he advanced. Well, someone with such skills wouldn’t fall in the preliminaries.

Hyuk Dojin stared blankly at me sighing, then reached out his hand and brushed back my hair that had fallen. His gentle fingertips brushed my cheek. I raised my hand to cover the back of his hand and closed my eyes.

In the quiet, his hand covering my cheek felt cool. I smiled slightly and opened my eyes, and Hyuk Dojin smiled back. I let go of his hand and spoke.

“Yesterday, when that man Lee Jehak looked our way, I felt strange. It wasn’t killing intent, but the hair all over my body stood on end and my spine chilled. What could it have been?”

“Probably the martial arts of the Black Dao Sect.”

“Martial arts…?”

“The Black Dao Sect… that is, Black Demon was feared not only for his formidable martial power, but also for the darkness he handled. They say he digs into the deepest part of a person and draws out their fear. Probably, the reason you reacted sensitively was because of that.”

“Fear…”

“Don’t worry too much. Whatever that guy does, I’ll protect you. And with the Murim Alliance and Demon Cult watching with wide open eyes, would he dare to do anything?”

I slowly pulled up the corners of my mouth at Hyuk Dojin’s appearance as he tried to speak emphatically while forcing a bright smile.

From Hyuk Dojin’s perspective, is my being sick a scarier thing than that man’s appearance? Because I understood his feelings, I also just smiled with a bright face.

“From tomorrow, it will be the main tournament, right?”

“The whole of Luoyang was noisy. It seemed they were more curious about which side would win rather than who would win… I don’t know what Father wants by sending us here.”

“We’ll find out gradually. By the way, are you okay, Dojin? Am I preventing you from doing your work because I caught a cold?”

“It’s fine. The Alliance Leader also said to rest well today. You don’t need to worry. However, since it’s the main tournament tomorrow, he said to show my face, so I’ll have to go for a while.”

I let out a small sigh at those words. If only the cold would go away quickly so I could go together tomorrow.

Knowing my feelings, Hyuk Dojin quietly hugged me and rubbed my back as if saying it was alright.

After that, while I was having light conversation with Hyuk Dojin and eating the medicine and porridge that Joo Hwarin had brought, someone knocked on the door.

“It’s Nam Sojeong.”

At the voice I hadn’t heard in a long time, I answered for them to come in, and Nam Sojeong entered with Beon Yang, whom I had faced in the finals of the Crimson Lotus Festival, following behind.

Nam Sojeong poked Beon Yang, who was standing crookedly, in the side, then bent one knee in front of Hyuk Dojin and me.

“I heard you were unwell and came because I was worried. I was going to see your face tomorrow, but it seemed you wouldn’t be able to come, so I inevitably came to visit first.”

Nam Sojeong lightly bowed her head, then slightly turned her head to glare at Beon Yang.

After apologizing to me for her remarks after the martial arts match with Beon Yang last time, my relationship with her was smooth.

Beon Yang pouted her lips as if displeased at Nam Sojeong’s gaze, but soon followed her example.

“…For the woman who defeated me to fall to a cold… Ow!”

Nam Sojeong jabbed Beon Yang in the side as she was speaking gruffly, then glared at him.

The two looked at each other and growled lowly. Their appearance looked like close friends, so I quietly laughed, and Nam Sojeong blushed and bowed her head.

“I showed an unseemly sight.”

“It’s alright. By the way, were you two originally friends?”

“As if. Since coming here, she kept pestering me to spar and have matches, so I obliged a few times and she started climbing… Ow! Stop hitting!”

“You’re the one who should shut your mouth before I burst your stomach! Didn’t we come here because you said we should go since you were worried about the Young Madam?!”

“Wh-when did I?!”

“Oh really? Last evening, you grabbed me and said ‘What if she’s very sick? Should we buy some medicine…'”

“Hey!!”

As Nam Sojeong imitated Beon Yang’s voice, Beon Yang, who had turned bright red, hurriedly rushed over and covered Nam Sojeong’s mouth.

While I was laughing at the lively appearance of the two, Hyuk Dojin tried to stop them as if displeased.

I reached out my hand and lightly placed it on Hyuk Dojin’s shoulder. His gaze turned to me. When I shook my head slightly, Hyuk Dojin nodded lightly. I turned my gaze back to the two.

“I heard the main tournament starts from tomorrow. You two are participating too, right?”

“What? Ah, yes! That’s right.”

Nam Sojeong hurriedly adjusted her posture. I looked at her and smiled gently.

“You two were my opponents in the first martial arts competition I participated in. You were stronger than any other opponent I faced. So, I believe you’ll have good results.”

“I will certainly win and bring joy to the Demon Cult!”

At Nam Sojeong’s words, Beon Yang grumbled softly, but even that sight was pleasant to see. I wanted to get up from my seat if possible, but that was my limit now.

After handing them some sweets that had been given to me as gifts, I told them they could withdraw now and lay back down on the bed. The medicine was taking effect and my eyes closed.

“I’ll be by your side, so sleep.”

I held Hyuk Dojin’s large hand that was firmly grasping mine and closed my eyes. Quietly, I fell asleep.

* * *

The next day, I only opened my eyes around noon. Hyuk Dojin had already left to work.

After washing up with Joo Hwarin’s help, taking medicine, and doing some light energy circulation, while I was playing with Harang, the evening time was approaching.

“I wonder if Dojin will be late.”

While I was thinking about when he would return as I looked at the lengthening sun, the door of the Jinhua Pavilion opened.

The ominousness I had felt not long ago seemed to be climbing up the back of my hand again.

The man who came in whispered something lowly to Joo Hwarin. Joo Hwarin, who had been looking after Harang, stiffened her expression the moment she heard those words, then hurriedly turned to look at me.

I narrowed my brows at the unknown ominousness.

Joo Hwarin approached and looked at me, then spoke quietly with her face still stiff.

“…They say Miss Nam Sojeong is unconscious.”

It was the moment when the ominousness became reality.