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

I understood what she wanted to say and her position.

I also felt partly responsible for the situation that had arisen. I could tell what kind of determination Cha Yeonhwa had come with.

But apart from that, my stepping forward voluntarily to attend as a representative proving Mount Hua’s innocence was an issue for the Demon Cult’s prestige.

In its thousands of years of history, the Demon Cult had never once tried to protect the Righteous Sect from their side. No, they had never even had a conversation on the same level from the beginning.

No need for words.

Swinging swords came before words. Even if they killed someone, it was also the Demon Cult’s way to point out others’ faults first rather than admitting their own mistakes.

But for me, who is the Young Madam of such a Demon Cult, to attend as a representative to speak for Mount Hua’s position which has become awkward just because I used a variation of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique?

That could result in proving that the Demon Cult and Mount Hua have some kind of relationship.

Even if not, if this incident remains as a precedent, there’s a possibility that conflicts between Righteous Sect related to the Demon Cult could have a negative impact on the Demon Cult.

“Why…?”

To Cha Yeonhwa opening her heavy mouth with a hardened expression, I exhaled a small breath and spoke slowly.

“If I step forward directly to represent Mount Hua, that proactiveness could rather raise issues about the relationship between Mount Hua and the Demon Cult. Are you considering that?”

“Ah, that…”

I shook my head while examining her, who opened her mouth with an ‘oops’ face.

“And that’s not something I can decide on my own.”

“…”

I slightly narrowed my brows at Cha Yeonhwa’s appearance tightly closing her mouth.

She looked somewhat sorrowful. Not being cold enough to harshly push her away, I glanced at her face and let out a sigh. I quietly called Eun Do.

[Eun Do.]

[Yes, Young Madam.]

[Could you ask Yoo Doha if he has a separate book on the Plum Blossom Sword Technique?]

[Understood.]

After the final voice transmission with Eun Do, I mixed my voice between long breaths.

“Still, since I also have some responsibility, it would be heartless to draw a harsh line.”

“…?”

I put strength into my voice while facing Cha Yeonhwa raising her head.

“It’s difficult to attend as a representative, but I’ll check if there’s a martial arts book in the Demon Cult and let you know. Will that be enough?”

A bright expression shone on her face that had been like a precarious magnolia about to fall in spring rain. When I smiled slightly, Cha Yeonhwa nodded her head.

“Thank you. It could be a rude request to someone I’m meeting for the first time, but thank you for helping.”

“If you’re a friend of my brother, you’re like a friend to me too.”

I smiled slightly at her appearance exhaling a long breath with a relieved face.

After quietly exchanging gazes with her, I threw my gaze at Peng Muryeong who was standing there like a sack of barley placed beside.

“Does Miss Peng Muryeong also have something to say to me?”

She slowly shook her head. Did she just follow along when Moyong Do came? Peng Muryeong hurriedly erased her blank expression as the arrow suddenly turned to her.

Her eyes rolled slowly. Her eyes wandered as if looking for a topic to talk about, not knowing what to say, then suddenly lit up. Her mouth opened.

“I heard the Demon Cult is returning in three days.”

“Yes… Well, given my condition, it’s taking longer to return since I can’t move easily on a long journey. When is the Hebei Peng clan returning?”

“We’ll probably rest a bit more and move depending on the situation. Luoyang and Beijing in Hebei are close enough to reach if you fall, and since there are many people making their first appearance in the martial arts world, we’ll probably look around here and there before leaving.”

“Is that so? I’m envious.”

“What?”

I looked at Peng Muryeong opening her eyes round, then slowly turned my head and shifted my gaze out the window.

It was already summer. It had been a year since I entered the Demon Cult, and a year and a half had passed since I left home.

The natural scenery I faced when passing through here was the last for me.

The blooming flowers, the spring rain drumming on the carriage roof, even the faintly shining sunlight were the last.

At that time, I couldn’t think these things were beautiful, but thinking about it now, everywhere my eyes touched was a spectacular view.

If possible, I wanted to return to the Demon Cult a little later.

If you go up along the Yellow River, you can see Shaanxi, and if you go down a little more from there, it’s Sichuan.

I wanted to capture in my eyes Sichuan, which encompasses all the beauty of the Central Plains.

There were countless places I hadn’t seen yet, but even though my body had improved a little, I couldn’t go that far.

“I’m also making my first appearance in the martial arts world, so I feel regretful to just do work and return like this.”

“Couldn’t you ask the Young Cult Leader to return a little later?”

I smiled and shook my head at her innocent question.

“I’d like to, but the situation doesn’t allow it.”

“Is it internal affairs?”

Peng Muryeong asked naturally following up, then covered her mouth with an expression of regret.

Just because we were having a comfortable conversation now didn’t mean the Demon Cult wasn’t the enemy of the Righteous Sect.

With many people considering the Demon Cult as a mortal enemy, the Young Cult Leader couple of the Demon Cult touring the martial arts world with people would be like sticking out their necks and asking to be killed.

Moreover, although Hyuk Dojin’s appearance might not be recognized from afar, my hair color was unique enough to say there was only one in the Central Plains.

And even if not that, there wasn’t enough medicine. Although we brought medicine generously, it wasn’t enough until we returned.

It was very tight. If Monk Jeongun had come along, we could have gotten help by obtaining medicinal ingredients, but since that wasn’t the case, we had to return quickly.

I gave a smile saying it was okay to Peng Muryeong who was making an embarrassed expression realizing the weight of her words, then turned my head.

“I guess seeing you all for the last time will be in three days. When we leave here, the next time we meet, we’ll each be occupying high positions in our clans and sects, so we probably won’t be able to have light conversations while smiling then.”

“Even so, for me, the Young Madam is a benefactor who has given me a lot of help. Even if the Demon Cult commits evil and cruel deeds and turns into an enemy, if I’m not involved in those matters, I will trust the Young Madam.”

“Huh? Ah! I, I feel the same way. I too will remember that I trusted the Young Madam and formed a good connection, regardless of my position in the Hebei Peng clan.”

The two people’s expressions were embarrassing but also grateful. I entrusted my face to a naturally flowing smile and grinned.

“Thank you. I’ll remember you two as good friends too.”

* * *

“Aren’t you sick?”

A good friend in the morning, an unwelcome benefactor in the evening.

I glared with narrowed eyes at Jeok Biwol standing in front of me with a seductive expression and her arms crossed.

Hyuk Dojin standing behind stared blankly, seemingly uneasy about her appearing in front of me.

Jeok Biwol glanced at Hyuk Dojin, then looked at me again and spoke slowly.

“There’s a secret conversation to have among women, is the great man Young Cult Leader planning to secretly hide behind and eavesdrop?”

“…What.”

“The more secrets a woman has, the more charming she becomes, and the more she hides her inner self, the more beautiful she becomes.”

She raised her chin and smiled brightly.

Hyuk Dojin slightly narrowed his brows, then glanced at me. I nodded my head with a sigh at his eyes.

Looking alternately at me and Jeok Biwol as if very uneasy, he eventually left the room, and Jeok Biwol opened her mouth curtly.

“The Young Cult Leader of the Demon Cult who overwhelmed over a hundred Righteous Sect masters with overwhelming fear and killing intent, making them lose their will to fight, is a henpecked husband in the world. People in the world would all laugh if they heard this story.”

“It’s not even a flaw, so there’s nothing to laugh about.”

“I’m envious. That you can receive the love of such a handsome man in abundance. Ah- I should quickly win Moyong Do’s love too…”

“If you came to talk such nonsense, go back quickly. Just seeing you gives me a headache I didn’t have before, so you’re not welcome.”

Jeok Biwol, who had been lamenting while holding her forehead, grinned and shrugged her shoulders.

She stared at me intently. As I slightly narrowed my brows at her gaze staring at me without reacting to my words, Jeok Biwol’s mouth slowly opened.

“But do you really dislike it?”

“That’s random. What?”

“Donating your body to me when you die. Personally, I really like your appearance. You’re beautiful with your white skin and hair that strangely harmonizes while resembling Moyong Do. What do you think? I’m interested.”

The absurdity that was washing over me as her words continued was about to turn into anger at the last words, but then sublimated into dejection.

I stared intently at her eyes looking at me with a smile, then slowly opened my mouth.

“…If you’re not thinking of making me angrier to make me sicker, stop talking nonsense and get to the point of why you came here.”

“Nonsense… I’m serious. Well, anyway, I understand if you don’t like it.”

Jeok Biwol adjusted her posture and took out a cloth tied with a string from her bosom.

She untied the string and removed the cloth. Inside was a small bamboo tube.

She opened the lid of the bamboo tube and took out the large needle inside, examined it this way and that, then held out her palm.

“What is it?”

“Aren’t you sick? Give me your arm. I’ll give you acupuncture.”

“…Acupuncture?”

I glared at the large needle she was holding in her hand.

Jeok Biwol calmly nodded her head. I slightly narrowed my brows at her answer.

“Why should I trust my arm to the bloodline of the Jeok family of the Golden Blood Sand Sect, which is poison itself? How do I know if poison is applied to it, or if it will stab the wrong place and harm my body?”

“I didn’t apply poison. And I won’t stab the wrong place.”

At my natural doubt, Jeok Biwol rather pushed her eyebrows as if displeased.

“I’ve helped you several times at a loss, and you can’t trust me like this?”

“If you were me, do you think you would trust yourself?”

At my question, Jeok Biwol slightly rolled her eyes, then smiled brightly like a flower bud blooming.

“No.”

“See.”

“I understand not trusting myself, but still, try trusting me. I’m quite versed in medicine despite appearances. I can make that mere cold and fatigue disappear completely by tomorrow morning, so trust me.”

I’m uneasy. A feeling of uneasiness washed over me like a criminal covered in weapons all over their body saying they’re safe so turn your back and walk down the road.

When I pointed at my arm with suspicious eyes, Jeok Biwol let out a deep sigh, rolled up her own sleeve, checked her pulse, then immediately stabbed the needle she was holding.

“The arm is the core where the Triple Burner Meridian passes. It’s the passage that sends original energy to the five viscera and six bowels. If you just unblock the acupoints here well, original energy recovery is quick and it smooths the flow of energy throughout the body. So if you unblock here, fatigue and colds will quickly heal. For martial artists, if the flow of energy is smooth, minor illnesses are practically non-existent, right?”

Her appearance explaining in detail was unfamiliar.

Was she originally a person who gave off this kind of atmosphere?

Jeok Biwol pulled out the large needle she had stuck in her arm and put it in another bamboo tube, then took out another large needle.

After staring at her intently, I slowly held out my arm, and Jeok Biwol calmly grabbed my wrist and applied acupuncture.

She applied acupuncture with a serious face. In the quiet room, Jeok Biwol slowly moved her arm. As I blankly watched that appearance, drowsiness washed over me.

Between my fading consciousness, Jeok Biwol’s voice dug in finely.

“The Black Dao Sect is moving.”

“…?”

When I slightly raised my head, her eyes applying acupuncture were directed towards me.

As I slightly frowned, Jeok Biwol’s voice continued quietly.

“It seems they’ve found something that makes their mouths water.”

The corners of Jeok Biwol’s mouth rose slowly.