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

The bewilderment I felt at the book in my hands was brief; I hurriedly returned it to Moyong Do.

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s not a problem… I shouldn’t receive this. Even if it wasn’t you, Brother, but Elder Moyong Danli himself who came to hand this to me, I couldn’t accept it. How could I take the ultimate technique called the foundation of the Moyong clan…”

“But I think you need it more than anyone else, Sowol.”

I was about to refute Moyong Do’s words but tightly closed my mouth.

Complete Nature Transference. It wasn’t just a simple martial art or sword technique.

The Moyong clan was also a prestigious family with a thousand years of history.

As such, there were quite a few renowned sword techniques of the Moyong clan.

Including the commonly known Three Heavenly Fortunes Sword and Fifteen Flying Thunder Swords, the Dark Gate Nine Swords Technique, and even the Eleven Swords of Flowing Water in Nine Rivers that was passed down almost as legend.

Just as the Wudang Sect focuses on swords to the extent of calling themselves the Wudang Sword Sect, the Moyong clan also prides itself on not being inferior to Wudang when it comes to swords.

However, despite the numerous sword techniques and other mind methods of the Moyong clan, what firmly established the Moyong clan’s position was none other than Complete Nature Transference.

The essence of Complete Nature Transference lay in its nature of returning attacks. Unlike protective energy that simply deflects others’ attacks, it returned the damage inflicted intact.

In some ways, people say it has similarities to the Rebound Divine Technique, but it was different from that too.

The Rebound Divine Technique only returns part of the damage one has received, but Complete Nature Transference transfers all that damage to the opponent.

From what I’ve heard, if you see the extreme of Complete Nature Transference, just walking on a battlefield would be enough to slaughter thousands of soldiers and more.

In fact, this Complete Nature Transference was created by the Moyong clan, who worked to rebuild the Yan Kingdom, in preparation for war.

However, because it was tricky to learn and consumed enormous inner power just to use it briefly, ordinary people couldn’t even attempt to learn it.

Even Moyong Danli could only master Complete Nature Transference up to 9 levels.

The fact that Moyong Do was learning such a Complete Nature Transference meant, in other words, that he was already recognized as the next clan leader.

“It’s difficult to learn, but even if you only master the first level, it will be able to block most ordinary attacks.”

“I know what it is. But this isn’t right. This is…”

I gritted my teeth and shook my head.

When it became known to the clan that he had freely given the clan leader’s secret technique to me, I could clearly see what kind of ordeal Moyong Do would go through.

“I understand your feelings, Brother. But if I receive and learn something like this, it will surely cause problems.”

In a situation where Mount Hua was suspected of having some kind of relationship with the Demon Cult just because I used Mount Hua’s sword technique, if I used Complete Nature Transference, it wouldn’t be strange if the Moyong clan was expelled from the Righteous Sect.

“Moreover, if Elder Moyong Danli knows about this, surely Brother too…”

“It was Master’s direct order.”

“…What?”

I opened my eyes round at the words I hadn’t expected at all.

Moyong Do smiled slowly and lifted the book.

“The reason nothing is written here is partly to hide the identity of this book, but it also means it’s a copy. And this is the first volume of a book that totals three volumes.”

“This is…”

“Master seems to have been pondering a lot since that day. Guilt, regret. After much thought about you, Sowol, he told me to hand this over. Although it can’t be an apology for driving you to death, it seems he still wanted to help.”

I stared blankly at the book Moyong Do was handing to me again.

I raised my hand and slowly turned the pages of the book, narrowing my eyes.

On that day, when Moyong Danli finalized my treatment, I was in a state of giving up everything.

I had already anticipated it would be like that, so I wasn’t angry and didn’t resent it.

I tried to understand that Moyong Danli had no choice but to make such a decision. And looking at the sad faces of my parents and Moyong Do, I knew that all I could do was leave quietly without crying.

So I could leave. Without resenting anyone, without hating anyone.

“Unlike what I thought, that you would endure alone there all by yourself, it’s certainly a good and fortunate thing that there are many people around you and many people trying to protect you. But to speak coldly, there are far more people in the world who take a negative attitude towards you than those who protect you. So, you must protect yourself.”

Moyong Do slowly raised his hand and stroked my head.

I raised my gaze and looked at Moyong Do’s face slightly hidden by his arm. He was smiling gently.

“Now that you’re leaving, I don’t know when we’ll see each other again, so I feel reassured as a brother if I can do at least this much.”

“…Brother.”

The corners of Moyong Do’s mouth dropped slightly. He looked somewhat sorrowful and a little sad.

“It’s regrettable that I finally met my sister after a long time but can’t easily have conversations and have to part again, but still, I think we can part without crying like before.”

His voice flowed gently.

“Back then, it was a parting without promise of reunion, but now, no matter how long it takes, I’ll be able to see the face of my precious sister at least once.”

Moyong Do stood up from his seat. He turned his body away from me and faced Hyuk Dojin.

Moyong Do put his hands together in a cupped fist salute and bowed his waist.

“The Moyong clan has a long way to go, so we’re leaving Luoyang today. If possible, I’d like to talk more with Sowol and see her face more, but there are many internal clan matters, so I can’t move freely.”

“That’s a shame. My wife always smiled brightly whenever she saw her brother, which was nice to see.”

At Hyuk Dojin’s considerate words, Moyong Do shook his head with a calm expression.

“I’m grateful that you allowed me to easily meet the Young Cult Leader and Young Madam, whom not just anyone can easily meet, in the Demon Cult’s retreat that not just anyone can easily enter and leave.”

“Not at all. If Hero Moyong Do knocks on the gates of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, the Demon Cult will open its doors anytime. You’re welcome to come as much as you want.”

Moyong Do quietly bowed his head deeply.

I felt resentful of his footsteps already trying to leave when we had just met, but knowing he had to move with his clan, I couldn’t stop him.

Instead, I got up from my seat and followed behind him to see him off as he left the Jinhua Pavilion.

Moyong Do stopped in front of the door and turned to look at me. People passing by on the street glanced at me and Moyong Do, but that wasn’t important.

Moyong Do stared blankly at me standing in the sunlight.

As if feeling a very strange and new emotion, he faced me with shaking eyes and spread his arms.

When I was young, Moyong Do often spread his arms like this to me. It was his own way of caring for me, who was weak and often got tired and fell.

I stared at him quietly, then glanced behind me slightly to look at Hyuk Dojin.

He shrugged his shoulders as if to say ‘What’s wrong with it?’ then turned his body slightly. At his reaction, I softened my expression and looked at Moyong Do again. Then I raised my arms and rushed into his embrace in one breath.

Moyong Do pulled me into his arms and hugged my head and back tightly.

“Let’s see each other again, Sowol.”

“You must be healthy. Don’t get hurt.”

“Of course. You be healthy too.”

His voice flowed low and quietly.

“I love you, my precious sister.”

* * *

After Moyong Do left and we spent about one more day, the Demon Cult also finished preparations to leave Luoyang.

The time the Demon Cult stayed in Luoyang was one month and five days.

I thought I had become somewhat accustomed to this place after staying in Luoyang for quite a long time, but this wasn’t my home.

Looking around at the sight of people living, I felt somewhat regretful at the thought of having to leave now.

The people leaving with smiles waved their hands saying let’s come again later.

Seeing that sight, I suddenly felt like I wanted to leave together with them too.

‘Since my childhood dream was to tour the martial arts world, I suppose it’s natural.’

I quietly looked at their appearances, then shook my head.

Stop it. What martial arts world tour? I should be grateful just for being able to stand in the sunlight right now.

They say human greed has no end. Deeply sympathizing with those words, I turned my body.

“Huh?”

As I turned my body, a wall came into view. I raised my head. Hyuk Dojin was staring intently at where I had been looking. Then he rolled his eyes to look at me at my gaze. His mouth opened gently.

“Do you remember what I said before?”

“Which words?”

“What I said the night before our wedding.”

“The night before the wedding… Ah!”

-Whenever you recover, I want to wander Sichuan with you, share a drink on May Peak of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, lie in bed and listen to the rain falling on rainy days, and look forward to stepping on the pure snow piled high in winter.

Hyuk Dojin’s voice I had forgotten came to mind. To think this was already almost a year ago, time really flies.

Hyuk Dojin looked at me intently and smiled.

“Someday, when Sowol no longer needs to take medicine, we can tour the martial arts world like them and enjoy a leisurely life. At that time, no one will be sick or sad, and we’ll lean on each other and drink a cup of alcohol together.”

So. Hyuk Dojin stroked my head and smiled brightly.

“You must get well, wife.”

I smiled and nodded my head at his voice.

After Hyuk Dojin finished speaking and while we were having a conversation recalling the events in Luoyang with him, Yoo Doha approached.

“Preparations are complete.”

“Then let’s go. We’ve already said goodbye to the Alliance Leader before, so there shouldn’t be a problem leaving without separate notice.”

“Understood.”

Hyuk Dojin followed Yoo Doha with his eyes as he retreated, then looked at me and spoke in a regretful voice.

“If only we could return separately, just the two of us, like before…”

I looked at him sourly at his regret that was decidedly not wholesome.

Hyuk Dojin shrugged his shoulders shamelessly.

“No, I don’t mean anything in particular, just that it was nice then, don’t you think?”

“Because it was just the two of us at night?”

His eyes rolled around.

I can’t live with this. I chuckled softly and linked my arm with his.

“Let’s go. We’re not going to stay here forever, are we?”

I looked up at him with our arms linked.

Hyuk Dojin stared at me blankly, then grinned and nodded his head.

“Let’s do that.”

* * *

Leaving behind only the dispatched personnel to stay at the Jinhua Pavilion, the Demon Cult quickly left Luoyang.

Because they didn’t want to be visible to people’s eyes, they divided the personnel into several groups and left Luoyang sequentially.

I and Hyuk Dojin moved together with about ten people.

Yoo Doha, Joo Hwarin, and ordinary warriors followed behind us as we moved on horseback wearing veils.

It was a journey heading towards Hubei Province, which is flanked by Mount Fulong, circling around Mount Song after leaving Henan, Luoyang.

It wasn’t a place where we would meet bandits or where someone would particularly attack.

It was a safe path chosen by Hyuk Dojin after I conveyed Jeok Biwol’s words to him.

We set up scouts from when we left Luoyang and human presence became sparse. Recalling Jeok Biwol’s words, we moved as safely as possible.

Although I was anxious, Yoo Doha and Eun Do were here, and the warriors deployed around were members of the Blood Flow Thousand Wolves Corps.

Each person was a supreme master. And even if not for them, who was the person beside me? It was none other than Hyuk Dojin.

It was difficult to think that anyone could harm Hyuk Dojin, let alone others.

I glanced at him slightly. As if feeling my gaze, Hyuk Dojin with his back to the sunset smiled brightly. I smiled back and looked ahead again.

Right, what’s there to worry about? The people attacking these people would be pitiful.

Time passed and soon it became night.

The members who had moved as scouts had already arrived and finished preparing for camping.

After settling at the campsite and finishing a simple meal, we prepared to sleep.

At that time, Harang, who was in my arms, suddenly got up and growled towards one direction.

Wondering what was going on suddenly, I approached Harang, and the bushes made a rustling sound.

Startled, I hurriedly picked up Harang and stepped back.

The warriors stepped forward and drew their swords. In the tense situation, the bushes moved a few more times, and then a sturdy man appeared and burst into laughter.

“Ah! You’re not bandits! I’m really relieved. I got lost in the mountains and followed the fire, worried you might be bandits.”

The man who appeared with a hearty laugh was carrying a large bundle on his back.

At his appearance, the warriors rolled their eyes and looked at Hyuk Dojin.

Hyuk Dojin nodded as if it was okay. As the warriors sheathed their swords, Yoo Doha approached.

“Who are you?”

“Ah! I’m a merchant who travels between Henan and Hubei.”

He laughed heartily, then made a powerful cupped fist salute and bowed his head.

“My name is Daebok.”