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

All the Righteous Sect masters in front of me were elder-level figures from famous clans and the Nine Renowned Sects.

If you were to pick 500 masters in the martial arts world, most of them would be among those here.

Even Sword Protector Jin was a sword master second only to the Wudang Sect Leader, and his actual status was high, being one of the supreme masters entering the top 100.

Hyuk Dojin was telling such people to their faces to come at him with their lives as the price.

If it were someone else, they would have laughed it off as a joke, but this was none other than the Young Cult Leader of the Demon Cult.

And the killing intent Dojin showed was real. If he wanted to, Hyuk Dojin alone could take the heads of all those people in front and have some left over, such was the difference.

The wall between the Flowering Realm and the Transcendent Demonic Realm was too high and the difference too extreme.

For example, the difference between someone struggling right below the wall of the Flowering Realm and someone who had just crossed that wall was like the difference in strength between a newborn baby and an adult.

It wasn’t simply a difference of one level. It was literally the first step to becoming a god, that was the Flowering Realm and Transcendent Demonic Realm.

“Why? No more talking? Let’s see… There he is. Geum Mukcheol of Mount Heng. We’re acquainted, aren’t we?”

He was the nephew disciple that Cha Jinmok had with him when we encountered them on the way to the Murim Alliance.

He visibly flinched his shoulders at Hyuk Dojin’s call, then hurriedly looked around.

But at this point when everyone was only concerned about themselves, there was no one to help him anywhere.

“Speak. Say those same words to my wife as you did at the inn when you fought.”

His mouth seemed glued shut, not opening.

Geum Mukcheol trembled so much he looked like he might collapse to the floor.

“Can’t do it? That’s a shame. Then who else will try? You? Or you? If not, Sword Protector Jin, will you do it? If you can’t, you could just read the contents in that scroll. Come on, read it.”

“…”

“Why can’t you? You’re the righteous and chivalrous ones of the Righteous Sect who always speak so confidently! Ah- is that it?”

Hyuk Dojin’s voice was thick with obvious mockery.

“Is it the righteousness and chivalry of those great Righteous Sect to speak words behind people’s backs that you can’t say to their faces…”

His trailing voice dragged out.

Hyuk Dojin lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“You’re a group worse than dogs that run away with their tails between their legs?”

“This bastard…!!”

A rough voice burst out at Hyuk Dojin’s provocation.

It was a huge man standing in the back.

He glared at Hyuk Dojin and took out the saber he was carrying as he walked forward with big strides.

“You dare discuss and disparage the righteousness of the Righteous Sect with your filthy Demon Cult mouth? You must want to die…!”

“If you’ve drawn your saber, shut that mouth and just come at me quietly.”

“Fine. I, Seo Gwangho of Diancang, will break the Young Cult Leader of the Demon Cult today and that spirit…!!”

“You talk too much.”

Hyuk Dojin cut off his words. And in an instant, Hyuk Dojin’s body seemed to move, and Seo Gwangho’s neck, which had been about five zhang away just a moment ago, was caught in his hand.

“Kuk…!”

“Didn’t I tell you? Shut up and come at me. I gave you the first move, but you just keep talking with your mouth, what a stupid bastard.”

There wasn’t even the slightest tremor as he held up the huge man with one hand.

Hyuk Dojin looked up at him, then turned to look at the Righteous Sect and jerked his chin.

“No one else? Isn’t there anyone who will save this disciple of Diancang dying in my hand? It seems like the time to display that great righteousness and chivalry… Or should I assume you acknowledge what I said?”

At Hyuk Dojin’s words, most of the Righteous Sect masters turned their eyes away.

Who could step forward readily after seeing the martial prowess Hyuk Dojin had just shown?

Even I couldn’t follow Hyuk Dojin’s movements with my eyes. How much more so for others? Was there even anyone who saw it?

While everyone was frozen, Seo Gwangho’s breath was gulping in his neck.

The Righteous Sect masters gritted their teeth but couldn’t rashly step forward.

Hyuk Dojin looked around at them and was slowly loosening his grip with a frown when-

“That’s enough.”

Moyong Do stepped forward.

At his appearance, Hyuk Dojin narrowed his eyes.

“You’re going too far. This much is enough to understand the reason for the Demon Cult’s complaints and anger. So, how about withdrawing now?”

Hyuk Dojin stared intently at Moyong Do calmly continuing his words, then rolled his eyes to glance at me.

When Moyong Do stepped forward, there was a stir on the Righteous Sect side.

I nodded slightly to Hyuk Dojin.

At my answer, he turned his head and lightly threw Seo Gwangho.

At Hyuk Dojin’s gesture, Seo Gwangho’s huge body flew and fell with a thud in front of the Righteous Sect side.

“Kuuugh…!”

The Diancang martial artists supported Seo Gwangho.

Moyong Do glanced behind to look at Seo Gwangho, then looked at Hyuk Dojin again. The gazes of the two men crossed in the air.

Moyong Do and Hyuk Dojin.

In the novel, from their first meeting to the end, it was all just revenge and anger between these two.

Moyong Do’s aimless anger was directed at Hyuk Dojin, and Hyuk Dojin accepted Moyong Do’s anger without any rebuttal.

I had thought the two would meet someday, but I didn’t want them to meet in this kind of situation.

For me, Moyong Do and Hyuk Dojin were both too precious to dare choose one and discard the other.

As I was alternately looking at the two of them while biting my lip hard, Moyong Do’s gaze slowly turned.

“You’ve become healthy, Sowol.”

“…Brother.”

“To think that you who were like a child in my arms have now become a proper woman. I never thought that you who seemed like you would break at any moment would be standing so healthily in front of me like this…”

Moyong Do smiled gently at me, then made a cupped hand salute to Hyuk Dojin and lowered his head.

“It must be thanks to the Young Cult Leader.”

“Hero Do!”

“What, what are you…”

“Hah, is this because he’s in-laws with the Demon Cult?”

Murmurs were heard from behind.

Moyong Do faced Hyuk Dojin with his back to their voices. Hyuk Dojin’s eyes swept past Moyong Do to scan the Righteous Sect before looking back at Moyong Do and withdrawing his energy.

As the demonic energy that had filled the space disappeared, deep breaths burst out from all around.

“Are you Moyong Do of the Moyong clan? It seems it’s not just an empty rumor that you’re called the best of the Four Dragons.”

“You flatter me. I’m an insufficient vessel before the Young Cult Leader.”

“…”

Sighs were heard from the Righteous Sect side at his attitude of lowering himself so much.

They must be displeased. How could it be proper for the son of one of the Five Great Clans and the best of the Four Dragons to lower his head?

The fact that he could turn his back on his roots and lower his head showed Moyong Do’s capacity.

But at the same time, thinking of the criticism he would receive from the Moyong clan and furthermore the Righteous Sect, it couldn’t be seen as entirely welcome.

[…This has become awkward. I never thought Sowol’s brother would step forward.]

At Hyuk Dojin’s voice transmission, I too inwardly sighed. He’s not usually one to meddle…

[What should we do?]

[What do you mean?]

[If Sowol wishes, we can end it here. Even if we don’t participate in the martial arts competition, if we can express our complaints and maintain our pride, this is enough. But I’m worried. If it ends like this, it seems Moyong Do, Sowol’s brother, won’t receive favorable gazes in the Righteous Sect.]

He saved Seo Gwangho and resolved the situation, but if the method was lowering his head to the Demon Cult, the Righteous Sect would have more than enough to curse Moyong Do.

They would probably sneer at him as a coward or say he has connections with the Demon Cult.

I stared intently at Moyong Do, then shook my head and stepped forward.

The gazes around gathered on me.

Moyong Do’s eyes trembled finely. The distance closing with him seemed to signify the years I had spent with Moyong Do.

Just one year. In that short time, I had changed and it seemed a deep rift had formed that couldn’t be bridged with Moyong Do.

I stopped in front of Moyong Do and faced him.

“Sowol…”

His hand slowly rose. As always, I quietly looked at his fingertips trying to gently stroke my cheek with concern, then shook my head.

Moyong Do’s eyes trembled. He seemed to realize what he was trying to do and bit his lip hard while turning his gaze away.

Moyong Do, who had become even stronger and more resolute, a splendid man, still looked like a kind and caring older brother to my eyes.

“It’s been a long time, Brother.”

“…It’s been a year.”

“You’ve become even stronger. You must have worked hard while I was gone.”

Moyong Do smiled slowly. I knew that smile.

When he quietly lowered his gaze and raised the corners of his mouth, it meant he was very pleased.

“I worked hard to bring you back. Still not enough though.”

“That’s enough.”

He’ll probably become even stronger. Strong enough to pressure Hyuk Dojin and not lose to anyone.

I twisted my waist to look at Hyuk Dojin. He was quietly facing me. He remained silent as if entrusting everything to me.

After quietly meeting that gaze, I looked back at Moyong Do and spoke.

“There’s a lot I want to say and a lot I want to hear… But the situation isn’t good. The positions too.”

“…”

“I think we need to resolve this situation first.”

I withdrew my gaze from Moyong Do and swept it over the Righteous Sect people.

One by one. I met their eyes and turned my gaze, then slowly opened my mouth.

“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult deeply regrets this incident. We never thought we would receive such insults and be ignored like this after taking the Murim Alliance’s hand inviting us to the martial arts competition. As Sword Protector Jin said, we should follow the Murim Alliance’s will, but since the Demon Cult is not below the Murim Alliance, we can’t do that.”

I paused my words and took a moment before opening my mouth again.

“So…”

‘Traitor. Shame of the Righteous Sect. Defiled woman. Trash. Young Cult Leader’s plaything.’

But as I was opening my mouth, very small voices heard in my ears blocked my words.

They were words that were shameful and painful just to hear.

Moyong Do hurriedly turned around.

“What are you saying now…!!”

“How dare these trash! I’ll rip out all those mouths and tongues that insist on babbling…!”

Their anger burst out simultaneously. Those mouths and actions that didn’t know where to stop were vessels smaller than petty people.

I grabbed the arms of Hyuk Dojin and Moyong Do as they were about to rush forward. Their gazes turned to me.

“Sowol…”

“Wife!”

“…Wait. I’m not finished speaking yet.”

I forcibly smiled at the two of them while calming my surging heart.

Hyuk Dojin shook his head with a face saying he couldn’t do that, but after intently meeting my eyes, he bit his lip hard.

He scanned Moyong Do and the Righteous Sect once each, then nodded and approached my side.

After examining Hyuk Dojin’s still stiff face, I withdrew my gaze and quietly spoke while looking at the Righteous Sect.

“…So, we’ll acknowledge the revocation of the Demon Cult members’ qualifications to participate in the martial arts competition. Wrong is wrong after all. But I want an apology and compensation for receiving disgraceful insults that were uncomfortable even for me to hear.”

I extended my hand to the side. Eun Do appeared from the empty space and handed me a sword.

As soon as I received the sword, I drew it and thrust it into the ground. I looked down at the sword that sank in as if cutting through the stirring air, then raised my gaze vertically.

“Let’s have a martial arts match with me. If you win against me, the Demon Cult will cleanly accept this matter and return to our sect. But if I win, you’ll have to revoke the qualifications of all the Righteous Sect participants in this martial arts competition. And the Righteous Sect elders who used insulting words towards me will have to kneel before me, lower their heads, and beg for forgiveness.”

The reactions burst out immediately.

“What nonsense…!”

“Why should we do that?!”

“Hah, your arrogance reaches the heavens! Was the Moyong clan’s education so sloppy!”

“Elder Moyong Danli must have lived in vain.”

“For a Moyong clan woman to dare spout such words, where did you sell your manners?”

Most reactions were that it was absurd. They were reactions asking why they should lower their heads to me, who was no different from a Righteous Sect youngster. I smiled faintly while examining their reactions.

“Why? You don’t like it? You can’t bend those heavy knees because I’m a Righteous Sect woman?”

“Of course that’s…”

“Then that’s unfortunate. You recited that great righteousness and chivalry while making such rough taunts that can’t even be spoken to a daughter of the same Righteous Sect?”

“…”

“I think it’s a great righteousness and chivalry. I’ll acknowledge it. If that’s your righteousness and chivalry towards the Demon Cult, I should understand. But you should speak correctly.”

I crossed my arms and looked around at them, then narrowed my brows.

“The person you have in front of you now is not just a Righteous Sect woman, but the Young Madam of the Demon Cult. If you put me in your mouths and taunted me, you should pay the price for it. So, choose.”

I spread my fingertips to bring them to my chin, then smiled languidly.

“Will you emphasize the cowardly righteousness and chivalry that insulted a Righteous Sect woman and turn away, or will you have a martial arts match with me and submit to the results, kneeling before me?”

I spoke quietly while hardening my smiling face.

“Now, choose.”