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

There were many suspicious points from the beginning. Fundamentally, thinking of the Black Dao Sect and the Murim Alliance together was, in a way, the start of the problem.

The Murim Alliance Leader who condoned Lee Jehak’s nonsensical actions in the martial arts competition finals.

And now this problem where the Black Dao Sect directly intervened along with the Murim Alliance’s attack when we were returning.

It seemed almost certain that the Murim Alliance had some kind of relationship with the Black Dao Sect. So I thought the Murim Alliance was joining forces with the Black Dao Sect with the same interests. But I felt that was a misconception.

“I’m not sure what kind of relationship the two groups have. They could be in an equal relationship, or it could be an unbalanced relationship like master and servant. But recalling how the Murim Alliance turned a blind eye to the Black Dao Sect’s actions, I don’t think they’re in a lower position.”

“But the Black Dao Sect is a small to medium-sized sect that’s not well known. I wonder if such a Black Dao Sect has that kind of power.”

“If you look only at the visible size, that’s true. But the Black Dao Sect has a dangerous person who can more than offset that size.”

Hyuk Dojin’s eyes narrowed. The words Jeok Biwol had told me before flashed through my mind.

‘Black Demon is still alive.’

An absolute powerhouse who disappeared long ago and a master who was resented by the righteous sects, the Demon Cult, and all evil sects. A man who killed the Demon Cult Leader and had the power to dismantle the Murim Alliance.

“If Black Demon is alive, I don’t think it would be that difficult for the Black Dao Sect to stand above the Murim Alliance. Moreover, the Flowering Realm master who showed himself when we were attacked before… Considering the circumstances, I can only think he’s a person raised by the Black Dao Sect. Because Flowering Realm masters whose locations are unconfirmed wouldn’t follow the Murim Alliance Leader’s orders.”

“…If we think that way, it’s very dangerous. A Flowering Realm master has the power to blow away the Blood Flow Thousand Wolves Corps single-handedly. If Black Demon is still alive in the Black Dao Sect that has such a person under their command…”

“A hundred years have passed since Black Demon was reported dead. If someone who was monstrous even then is still alive now, there’s only one possibility.”

Hyuk Dojin frowned while letting out a groan. He got up from his seat and paced around the room with a complicated face, closing his eyes tightly then slowly opening them.

“…We can only think he’s entered the realm of Transcending Demonic Nature.”

It was a realm that had only appeared once in the history of the Central Plains, something only heard of in legends.

Hyuk Dojin frowned and repeatedly pondered complex thoughts. Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“If Black Demon is really alive and he’s a master who’s entered Transcending Demonic Nature, I can’t guarantee they could easily win even if all the clans and sects of the righteous sects, let alone the Demon Cult, attacked him. A Transcending Demonic Nature master and the Murim Alliance Leader couldn’t be touched even if thousands of masters attacked.”

It wasn’t wrong. The energy emanating from Namgoong Baek was by no means low.

The Murim Alliance Leader was a monster enough to make Hyuk Dojin cower. He was a master who could barely match up in class only with someone at the Cult Leader level.

If there was an even greater monster backing him up, the future would be bleak.

“But if the Murim Alliance Leader has other intentions, the story changes a bit. Moyong Do.”

I quietly recited that name.

“Along with the strange proposal he made to my brother, there’s also the strange appearance of Geum Soso who revealed herself before us. The Namgoong Baek I saw was smiling gently, but he wasn’t a light-hearted man. He could never be a dog wagging its tail at someone’s feet.”

“Are you saying the Murim Alliance is trying to break away from the Black Dao Sect?”

“Exactly. That’s why he’s demanding me. It’s funny to say this with my own mouth, but I wonder if there’s anyone else in this Central Plains who has as much influence as me right now.”

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

“In the Demon Cult, I’m Dojin, your wife and the Young Madam of the Demon Cult, and the Black Dao Sect directly wants me. Lee Jehak, called the bloodline of Black Demon, directly. Moreover, in the righteous sects, there’s my brother and the Moyong clan.”

My tongue felt bitter. I just wanted to live comfortably, but while staying still, I was getting caught in the whirlwind of a storm.

As if drifting on waves, when I opened my eyes, storms were about to blow in from three directions.

“The Alliance Leader is trying to capture me and take all of this. If the Murim Alliance can’t face the Black Dao Sect alone, I think they can bring in the Demon Cult and the clans of the righteous sects to bring down the Black Dao Sect anytime. So they need me.”

A self-deprecating laugh flowed out even as I spoke. I pulled the corners of my mouth and continued speaking.

“If the Murim Alliance Leader has the technique to revive even the dead, it won’t matter whether I die or not. He just needs the corpse. If he can revive my corpse and constrain me, he can get his hands on both the Demon Cult and the righteous sects.”

Proposing the Alliance Leader position to Moyong Do would be in the same context. If he taught the secret technique to make me, who had become a corpse and come back to life, live forever, he could control everything.

“Namgoong Baek is trying to step down from the Alliance Leader position and grasp everything… the righteous and evil sects. With the plausible cause of opposing the Black Dao Sect.”

I turned my head to look at Hyuk Dojin. His face was frozen coldly. I stared blankly at Hyuk Dojin, then spoke slowly.

“Dojin.”

Hyuk Dojin’s gaze, which had been quietly looking at the floor, slowly rose. Meeting his gaze reaching me, I slowly parted my lips.

“Can you do it?”

“…”

It was a question thrown without beating around the bush, but Hyuk Dojin didn’t ask back what he could do. No, there was no need to ask. From the beginning, there was only one thing I was asking if he could do.

Geum Soso.

The only person who could shake Hyuk Dojin now was Geum Soso. Although he looks fine now, I couldn’t guarantee that Hyuk Dojin could stand firmly if Geum Soso appeared again.

I trusted him as much as the time I’ve known him, but because I trusted him, I had to doubt him.

Because I knew that Geum Soso was the one who had the greatest influence on his life, and what influence her death had on Hyuk Dojin.

I let out a small sigh as I saw Hyuk Dojin move his lips a few times then tightly close his mouth. It was regrettable that his answer couldn’t come out clearly, but I wasn’t disappointed.

I had expected this to some extent. I stared at him intently, then turned my head to look out the window. The window reflecting the dark scenery became a mirror showing me and Hyuk Dojin.

“The Murim Alliance Leader… Namgoong Baek is a man who is frighteningly wise and quick to grasp situations. He didn’t sit in that position just because he’s strong. He’s skilled at handling people. Namgoong Baek won’t mobilize masters to deal with you, Dojin. Because he has a more efficient person who can bind you.”

“Sowol, that’s…”

“If. If Geum Soso restrains you during the next attack, we’ll have no choice but to all die. It’s impossible to withstand the Murim Alliance’s attack without your strength in a state where support from the Demon Cult is almost cut off. So, you must be able to cut down Geum Soso without hesitation even if she appears before your eyes again. That’s how we can survive.”

I turned my head again. Hyuk Dojin’s face was distorted. I knew I was pressing him and making an unreasonable demand.

No matter how much Geum Soso had died once and was a corpse that had died and come back to life as I saw, she was a precious mother to Hyuk Dojin.

And not just resembling her face, but having the same voice, manner of speaking, and even all the memories Hyuk Dojin had… she was the most dangerous person.

“Dojin.”

Hyuk Dojin’s shoulders shook slightly at my voice. I stared at him intently, then smiled gently and raised my uninjured arm.

“Come here.”

I gestured for him to come closer while slightly pushing out my chest. Looking at Hyuk Dojin hesitating, I smiled gently, and he slowly approached. I slightly raised my arm and embraced his head as he sat on the bed, pulling him into my arms.

I quietly stroked his back while feeling his warm body temperature. There was no reaction from Hyuk Dojin.

“…I know it’s very hard.”

His shoulders shook finely at my quietly reciting voice.

“It hasn’t been that long since I’ve known you, but you’ve shown me so much in that time. And I’ve learned a lot. You’re a warmer person than anyone else. You have a lot of affection, laugh well, like people, and you’re someone who didn’t let go of me until the end when I was about to give up. That appearance of always guarding your place without shaking is reliable and cool, so I always feel sorry for just leaning on you.”

Hyuk Dojin’s arm, which had been quietly resting in my arms, rose to wrap around my waist. I smiled and continued speaking.

“As much as I know you, I know and understand that you’re shaken by the unbelievable reality of that person appearing before your eyes. But… we can’t give up like this. We can’t all die here.”

“…”

“Do you remember what you said to me on the day we were returning from seeing the cave in Luoyang? You said you didn’t want to see a child born while extinguishing its mother’s lamp.”

Hyuk Dojin’s shoulders seemed to shake, then his head rose. I smiled slowly while looking at his face.

“…Maybe I. I might be pregnant.”

Hyuk Dojin’s eyes opened wide. He stared blankly at my face, then hurriedly lowered his gaze to look at my stomach, then looked up at me again. His voice came out stuttering.

“Th… Wha… Child… What?”

“It’s exactly what I said. I haven’t had my period for a while, so I thought it was strange and consulted with Ji Seok, and he said I might be pregnant.”

“Really? Really…”

I could feel his bewilderment. It wasn’t that he was displeased or overjoyed, but rather worry and concern for me came first.

He was someone who knew better than anyone that my body was weak. In the worst case, I could die giving birth to a child, or die along with the child. Knowing this, Hyuk Dojin couldn’t be unreservedly happy.

“It’s not certain yet. At the time, my body wasn’t well, so it was difficult to confirm even by taking my pulse, and it could have been that I simply didn’t have my period because I was sick. But if there’s a child in my womb… if there’s a child that resembles you and me half and half…”

I stroked Hyuk Dojin’s cheek and drew a gentle smile.

“We can’t give up and crumble like this. We can’t hesitate.”

I briefly kissed his lips.

“Dojin, you might become someone’s father now.”

“Sowol…”

“We can’t give up. We can’t hesitate. The moment we hesitate, someone will die, and that someone could be me. I think we’re almost there. If I eat the spirit herb and there’s something blocked, I can also reach the Flowering Realm. You heard Ji Seok say that, didn’t you? Then we can safely give birth to the child and live without being sick.”

Hyuk Dojin bit his lip. I quietly looked at his tightly closed lips, then spoke my final words.

“Next time Geum Soso reveals herself before you, you must cut her down without mercy. If you fail…”

It was cruel, but if I could live, Hyuk Dojin could live, and someone else could live more, I could be as cruel as needed. I stroked Hyuk Dojin’s cheek and threw out quiet and heavy words.

“…The next person to die will surely be me.”