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

Moyong Do stared intently at Moyong Sowol cradled in Hyuk Dojin’s arms.

He felt confused. The Moyong Sowol he knew was an extremely frail child who seemed like she could stop breathing at any moment.

He had thought she was much better with rosy cheeks and brighter complexion, but the results led in a completely different direction.

She defeated Seo Gwangho and then consecutively defeated Na Yul, the elder of Diancang who was his master.

Na Yul was a supreme master who had mastered the Wind-Dancing Flowing Sword. It was hard to accept the fact that Moyong Sowol had defeated a skilled person who ranked in the top ten within the Diancang Sect.

“Plum blossom…”

Moyong Do turned his head at Cha Yeonhwa’s words, who was standing at a distance.

Cha Yeonhwa was also staring intently at Moyong Sowol.

“It was clearly the Plum Blossom Sword Technique. Not the Fourteen Moves, but the Twenty-Four Moves. Were my eyes mistaken?”

“…That can’t be.”

He could be certain because he had seen it himself. Moreover, the plum blossom fragrance still lingering in his nostrils was an indicator showing that the sword technique Moyong Sowol had unfolded was the Plum Blossom Sword Technique and at the same time that she had achieved quite a high level.

“The Twenty-Four Moves Plum Blossom Sword Technique is only passed down to disciples who will become Plum Blossom Sword Masters even in Mount Hua. It’s an ascending sword technique excluding the Purple Sunset Divine Technique. The Young Madam of the Demon Cult unfolded it at the Eight Stars level.”

While repeatedly saying it was impossible, a thin smile hung on Cha Yeonhwa’s lips.

Moyong Do knew Cha Yeonhwa’s personality.

Mount Hua’s First Beauty.

She was a phoenix, the flower among flowers that all men desired, captivated by her appearance as beautiful as a flower bud and mysterious atmosphere.

But she was a woman who had little interest in men and was only passionate about martial arts, causing many men to sigh.

The Cha Yeonhwa he had encountered before was strong and also dry. She thoroughly turned off her interest in things she wasn’t interested in.

Conversely, once she felt interest in something, she was a woman who had to have it no matter what to be satisfied.

Moyong Do’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s interesting. Even I still only have five stars in the Twenty-Four Moves Plum Blossom Sword Technique, but the Young Madam unfolded it at eight stars…”

Cha Yeonhwa’s eyes rolled slowly.

“Hero Moyong Do’s younger sister is really an interesting person. The siblings are just alike.”

“…”

Moyong Do calmly turned his head.

His view captured Moyong Sowol stumbling. It was true that he had felt deep energy from his sister’s body.

He had thought it was just training to make her body healthy.

But in reality, Moyong Sowol had used sword energy that even he had only started handling less than a year ago.

If he had a martial arts match with her, he couldn’t guarantee he would win unconditionally.

Moyong Do’s eyes rolled to scan Hyuk Dojin who was holding the sword with his bare hand.

‘Is it that man?’

Was he the one who raised Moyong Sowol? The fact that his younger sister, who had difficulty even walking in his arms, was now smiling and healthier in another man’s arms, felt complicated.

If he thought she had met a good companion, his mind would be at ease, but on the other hand, the thought that he still considered the Demon Cult as an enemy conflicted.

“By the way, the elders must be going through quite a bit of mental anguish. They failed to thoroughly control their members’ mouths, and now they have to bend their knees and lower their heads before the Young Madam of the Demon Cult they despise… It’s interesting.”

“As a bonus, we’ve also had our qualifications revoked from the martial arts competition.”

“That’s fine. I didn’t want to participate in this martial arts competition anyway, so I’m actually glad if we can return quickly. Isn’t Hero Moyong Do the same?”

“It doesn’t matter either way to me.”

Just, he was worried if there would be time to have a conversation with his sister. Cha Yeonhwa chuckled.

Anyway, Mount Hua was free from this incident. Mount Hua had thoroughly controlled their disciples’ mouths in preparation for any possible incidents.

Thanks to that, Mount Hua’s name was not included in the scroll Hyuk Dojin had thrown.

The same was true for the Moyong clan.

“A blue star will fall. Diancang, which has endured for a thousand years, might be expelled from the Nine Renowned Sects.”

“I’m not interested.”

At Moyong Do’s curt answer, Cha Yeonhwa shrugged her shoulders.

She pulled out the hairpin from her hair that had been twisted up for the martial arts match. Her long flowing hair cascaded down past her waist.

Her hair like black silk rippled like a waterfall. A hundred out of a hundred men would covet that sight.

However, Moyong Do showed no particular reaction to that appearance.

“I’ve sometimes wondered. Most men try to at least speak to me once when they see my appearance, as if in a trance, but Hero Moyong Do showed so little interest in me that I wondered if you were deliberately trying to attract my attention or if you were impotent.”

“…Impotent.”

Moyong Do’s brows furrowed. Words difficult to hear came from those small, delicate lips.

Cha Yeonhwa laughed lowly at his wrinkled brows. She looked at Moyong Sowol again and opened her eyes wide.

“But now I understand why. With such a beautiful younger sister right beside you, I suppose even I would look ordinary.”

“…That can’t be.”

Cha Yeonhwa turned to look at Moyong Do with a puzzled face. He still had his gaze fixed on Moyong Sowol.

“It would be difficult for anyone to think Mount Hua’s First Beauty is not beautiful. I think so too.”

“…”

Cha Yeonhwa’s eyes widened at his inner thoughts that she was hearing for the first time.

As she was frozen, not having expected to hear such words from Moyong Do’s mouth, Moyong Do spoke quietly.

“But I had something more important than that, and I didn’t have time to turn my eyes to women for that. That’s all. There’s no other reason.”

At Moyong Do’s calmly continuing words, Cha Yeonhwa made a blank expression then hurriedly opened her mouth.

“Moyong…”

“We should end the conversation here. It seems it’ll be troublesome if I stay here longer, so I’ll take my leave first.”

Before Moyong Do’s words could finish, Peng Muryeong’s voice calling “Hero Moyong Do!” was heard from behind.

She came in and alternately examined Moyong Do and Cha Yeonhwa, then frowned.

Cha Yeonhwa calmly smiled again, lowering her expression at her appearance. Cha Yeonhwa lightly bowed her head to Peng Muryeong and spoke quietly.

“Well then, I’ll see you again later.”

* * *

After repelling everything including Cha Jinmok’s attack, when things settled down to some extent, the Martial Arts Alliance side suspended the martial arts competition according to the orders of Alliance Leader Namgoong Baek, who had received the report.

While the stirring spectators were being cleared out, Namgoong Baek came down from the Martial Arts Alliance, calmed the surroundings, then stood before Hyuk Dojin.

Contrary to the thought that Namgoong Baek would be upset because the Righteous Sect had lost to the Demon Cult, he was nonchalant.

He rubbed his chin and laughed heartily, then looked at me and spoke calmly.

“I heard you handled the sudden martial arts match admirably, Miss Moyong. Defeating Seo Gwangho and Elder Na Yul consecutively, I don’t know whether to call this the greatness of the Demon Cult or the hidden strength of the Moyong clan.”

At the Flash Sky Sword City’s quiet laughter, even the world’s Sword Protector Jin and the other elders could not make any rebuttal.

Namgoong Baek stared at me intently, then turned his gaze to Hyuk Dojin.

“I heard you had many complaints about the Martial Arts Alliance’s decision. I apologize.”

“Alliance Leader!!”

At Namgoong Baek’s words, the Righteous Sect people standing behind urgently shouted.

That was because Namgoong Baek had lightly bowed his head even before they could stop him.

It was none other than the Flash Sky Sword City.

For the highest elder in the Righteous Sect and at the same time a figure receiving much respect to bow his head to the Young Cult Leader of the Demon Cult.

That was an action that could cause gossip for a long time.

Everyone was shocked, but Namgoong Baek was relaxed. His expression was as if bowing one’s head once was no big deal.

“Right, what was it you asked? To disqualify all the Righteous Sect personnel from the martial arts competition and receive apologies from the elders, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. I made that decision alone because the words were too humiliating and shameful to just hear and let pass.”

“I see. Well, even I would flip if I heard my granddaughter receiving such words. I understand. I express my sincere apologies to you, and to the Young Cult Leader as well.”

Hyuk Dojin shook his head, saying it was fine.

Namgoong Baek smiled gently, glanced behind him, then turned to look at me again.

“By the way, may I make a request of you?”

“By all means.”

“Thank you. It’s nothing much. Among the conditions you set, just restore the qualifications of the Righteous Sect martial artists who were disqualified from the martial arts competition. I too will acknowledge this incident as a fault of the Martial Arts Alliance and restore the qualifications of the Demon Cult martial artists. If you agree, I’ll give you a separate reward.”

I glanced at Hyuk Dojin. He nodded as if telling me to handle it myself.

I turned my gaze back to Namgoong Baek.

“I’ll do that.”

He smiled slowly at my answer. In fact, it wasn’t a difficult decision.

I was actually worried about referring to all the Righteous Sect when discussing the revocation of qualifications. I didn’t care about the others, but the fact that Moyong Do was included bothered me.

Therefore, I could concede to this extent for Moyong Do’s sake.

“Well then, what’s left is the apology.”

Namgoong Baek stroked his chin beard and turned his body to examine the elders.

The shoulders of the elders flinched as Namgoong Baek’s gaze touched them.

“What are you doing? Not apologizing.”

“But…”

“Hah, are the so-called elders of the Righteous Sect who protect righteousness and chivalry trying to break the words they spoke with one mouth? The reputation of the Righteous Sect fell to the ground from the moment Elder Na Yul rushed at Miss Moyong who had defeated Seo Gwangho who had stepped forward to have a martial arts match. Rather than being grateful that the Demon Cult side didn’t say anything, are you trying to save face?”

The elders rolled their eyes at Namgoong Baek’s stern rebuke.

Some glared at the Diancang Sect and gritted their teeth. The elders moved to come before me and muttered something in voices so small only ants could hear. My brows furrowed at that sight.

“Clearly, in case the Righteous Sect lost in the martial arts match, we bet that you would bend your knees to me and put your heads to the ground and apologize, but is this kneeling and apologizing?”

“Is that so? Then kneel and bow your heads.”

“Alliance Leader…!”

At Namgoong Baek’s curt words, the elders turned back with shocked faces. Their voices were as if saying how could that be.

Namgoong Baek stared blankly at the elders turning to look at him, then frowned.

“I too bowed my head and apologized to the young Young Madam, yet do you want to say your heads and knees are heavier than this old man’s neck and apology?”

“That, that is…”

“If you made my head heavy due to the things your disciples and family members blabbered about, you should naturally stake more than that.”

A faint energy spread from Namgoong Baek’s body.

It was a pure and clean energy, but the moment I felt it, my whole body stiffened.

A high mountain was standing right in front. It was a mountain so high its end couldn’t be known, to the extent that even daring to climb it was not allowed.

‘This is the Flash Sky Sword City…’

A master said to even split the sky.

A master of the Flowering Realm who can easily kill people just with the energy flowing from his body.

And a man who is seeing the end even within the Flowering Realm.

“Receive punishment for your wrongdoing.”

I could get a glimpse of Namgoong Baek’s true face for just a moment.

“We apologize for the wrongs committed by the Righteous Sect’s mistakes and words.”

“We apologize.”

Led by Sword Protector Jin, the elders bent their knees before me and put their foreheads to the ground.

I rolled my eyes to stare intently at Namgoong Baek making a satisfied expression, then turned my head.

It was a humiliating day when the Righteous Sect bowed their heads to the Demon Cult for the first time in thousands of years of martial arts history.