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

I couldn’t react at all, making a blank expression at his words.

Lee Jehak spoke with a very gentle face and calm voice, but the content that dug into my ears was by no means just that.

As I froze for a moment, Lee Jehak smiled faintly and continued speaking.

“You seem surprised. I understand. Well, for a martial artist to want to win by default without even having a martial arts match in the final round of the martial arts competition… It’s surprising. However, that’s only from the righteous sects’ standpoint, not the evil sects’.”

At Lee Jehak’s words, something I hadn’t been paying attention to hit me like lightning striking my head.

The Black Dao Sect was an evil sect. I had said there were no martial artists in evil sects who valued honor, but when I actually opened the lid, there was clearly a difference.

Lee Jehak rolled his eyes as if examining my reaction and slowly opened his mouth.

“The Black Dao Sect must win this martial arts competition. The Righteous Sect may choose the right path, but does the evil sect have to do that? When considering results, bringing up methods is the path chosen by the weak or the foolish. Methods cannot overcome results, and only the victors can enjoy the results. Therefore, the Black Dao Sect has no intention of postponing this martial arts competition.”

There was no rise or fall in his voice. As a result, it felt as if expressing his thoughts so confidently was justice.

As I stared at him intently, Lee Jehak also looked towards me and smiled gently.

“I think the Young Cult Leader couple of the Demon Cult will understand my thoughts, if no one else. Anyway, aren’t evil sects and the Demon Cult all the same in the eyes of the Righteous Sect, and cursed no matter what we do? Even if we win, we’re first suspected of using vile tricks… What’s there to regret if we win after being cursed once?”

I had to fold my thoughts at his words.

Having clearly stated his position, no persuasion would work.

Anger boiled up inside me and curses were about to burst out, asking if it wasn’t them who used poison on my brother and brought the situation to this point, but I had to suppress it.

My hasty attitude could make things difficult for the Moyong clan and the Demon Cult in a situation where nothing was certain yet.

So I had to swallow the words lingering in my mouth.

Hyuk Dojin didn’t give up and uttered a few more words, but Lee Jehak was firm.

Seeing him shaking his head, I patted Hyuk Dojin’s shoulder as he was trying hard to persuade, and stood up from my seat.

As I stood up, I made a cupped hand salute to Lee Jehak whose gaze rose to match my movement, then spoke quietly.

“It seems you won’t change your mind no matter what we say.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

I slowly shook my head. I told Hyuk Dojin, who had stood up from his seat, that we should go back now and turned my body towards the door.

Somehow knowing, the man who had guided us was waiting as the door opened. After glancing at him, as I was passing through the door, something suddenly occurred to me and I turned around. Lee Jehak tilted his head while smiling.

“May I ask one thing?”

“Please ask freely.”

I stared blankly at his eyes, then spoke slowly.

“Is there a reason the Black Dao Sect must win in the martial arts competition hosted by the Murim Alliance? You don’t need honor, and it’s not like there’s an enormous prize money either.”

His gentle eyes that were smiling in a crescent moon shape shone sharply.

It was only for an instant, but it was a sharp blade energy. Lee Jehak’s tightly closed mouth slowly opened.

“…Why are you curious about that?”

“Just because. I want to know the reason, since I’m giving up anyway.”

“Just because…”

I stared blankly at Lee Jehak who was quietly rolling his eyes and slowly opening his lips.

His face with his back to the sunlight coming through the open window was very dark, shadowed.

Lee Jehak raised his eyes in a heavy atmosphere different from before. The gentle smile had disappeared and only coldness remained.

‘…Ten Thousand Killing Ghost.’

To be honest, if possible, he was a person who would threaten Moyong Do and Hyuk Dojin after growing up in the future, so it would be beneficial to end him now.

But just as I had survived, and Moyong Do and Hyuk Dojin weren’t at odds with each other like they would kill each other, I had thought a little that perhaps this man could be possible too.

However, his eyes were sharp like a beast that would never be tamed.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“Pardon?”

Lee Jehak straightened his back and raised the corners of his mouth while looking at me.

“I’ll give you a chance. As I said, we don’t plan to change the date of the martial arts competition. But we don’t mind if the Moyong clan sends someone else to the finals.”

“Does that mean you don’t mind if someone else climbs up to the final stage?”

“That’s right. We don’t mind whoever climbs up. A young youngest child can climb up, an elder can climb up, even if the Moyong clan leader climbs up directly, we don’t mind. No matter who climbs up, we won’t mind. But there’s a condition.”

“Condition?”

His eyes flashed, emitting a cold light in the darkness.

“Even if Hero Moyong Do returns to a normal body within three days, he must not climb up as my opponent. In other words…”

As his trailing voice was about to be cut off, Lee Jehak’s words flowed slowly.

“Hero Moyong Do must forfeit.”

* * *

Two days passed after the conversation with Lee Jehak. He conveyed his conditions to the Moyong clan and the Murim Alliance, and the Murim Alliance approved that proposal.

But the Moyong clan couldn’t answer hastily.

The situation was ambiguous.

It wasn’t that there was no one to replace him. Since Lee Jehak said even an elder could step up, there would be no problem even if Moyong Hyeon stepped up if necessary.

However, there were eyes watching, and the Moyong clan’s pride was also an obstacle.

For an old senior to step up and unfold martial arts in a martial arts competition for late-blooming talents?

It would be a loss whether they won or lost.

Therefore, they had to send out one of the late-blooming talents instead of an elder… but in reality, there was no one among the late-blooming talents who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Moyong Do.

Another issue was the card of forfeiture. What if Moyong Do opened his eyes on the third day and could at least climb up to the martial arts competition?

There were ‘what ifs’ in life.

Even though he had been poisoned, the Moyong clan’s expectations for Moyong Do had meaning beyond a simple late-blooming talent.

They had great expectations for Moyong Do, treating him as if he were the undecided future Clan Leader.

Therefore, they couldn’t make a decision with the thought of ‘just in case’.

In the end, time flowed indifferently and it became the third day, and the Moyong clan decided to have Moyong Do forfeit.

“Come in, please.”

When Hyuk Dojin and I visited the martial arts arena to watch the final match, we were greeted by Namgoong Baek who had already arrived.

I didn’t like the appearance of the Murim Alliance Leader smiling as if he were kind after acting cowardly, but I had to distinguish between public and private matters, so I forcibly smiled.

“It’s the last day. It feels like we’ve seen a long festival.”

“Luoyang during this period when the martial arts competition is held is more bustling and lively than anywhere else in the Central Plains. Now that it’s the end, it’s both sad and joyful.”

As I was blankly looking at the conversation between the two people sitting in their seats, Namgoong Baek’s gaze turned to me.

“Come to think of it, I think what happened to the Young Madam’s brother is really unfortunate. You must be disappointed that the other side didn’t show a magnanimous appearance.”

“It’s fine.”

I shook my head while answering shortly, then looked down at the martial arts arena.

I was already disappointed in Namgoong Baek’s attitude, so I didn’t feel like having a comfortable conversation with him like before.

I could feel Hyuk Dojin glancing at me, but I deliberately ignored it. A few more exchanges of conversation passed between Hyuk Dojin and Namgoong Baek.

When people had filled in to some extent and the match time was approaching, Namgoong Baek stood up from his seat.

The noisy crowd miraculously fell into silence as if in an instant.

Namgoong Baek looked around, then slowly raised his voice.

Even though he spoke quietly, I could feel his profound inner energy in his voice that spread far by imbuing it with inner power.

When Namgoong Baek’s speech ended and he sat down in his seat, everyone’s gazes rose to the martial arts arena.

According to the referee’s call, Lee Jehak of the Black Dao Sect revealed himself.

Jeers poured out from the Righteous Sect people towards him who showed a neat appearance.

It was an enormous noise as if the martial arts arena would be washed away, but Lee Jehak showed a nonchalant appearance without changing his expression at all.

The referee turned his gaze to the opposite side and raised his voice.

“…As his opponent! One of the Four Dragons and the likely next clan leader of the Moyong clan, the Righteous Sect’ best late-blooming talent, Hero Moyong Do!”

At his words, cheers rang out very loudly. They called Moyong Do’s name and waited for him to come out.

But Moyong Do couldn’t get up from his seat, so it was impossible for him to appear.

When Moyong Do didn’t appear, the referee spoke haltingly with a flustered face.

“It must be very difficult for the Moyong clan to find someone to replace Hero Moyong Do.”

Namgoong Baek’s words dug into my ear.

I chewed on my lip while looking at the Moyong clan’s side.

Are they giving up like this? While I was watching anxiously, embracing worry, there was some movement from the Moyong clan’s side.

A man came out and climbed the stairs.

It was Moyong Chae. At his appearance, a great stir arose from all around.

That was understandable, as Moyong Chae was a man who had fallen in the Round of 32. For such a person to climb up in place of Moyong Do?

Moyong Chae approached the referee and explained something, and soon the referee spoke loudly towards the surroundings.

“I’m told that Hero Moyong Do collapsed from an unfair accident earlier and cannot climb up for the martial arts match. Therefore, the Moyong clan has forfeited Hero Moyong Do and instead, Young Hero Moyong Chae will participate in the final match.”

“How can that be! Call Moyong Do!!”

“Is the final a child’s play? What nonsense is this! Is the Moyong clan making a fool of the Murim Alliance!”

Protests burst out immediately at the referee’s words.

I let out a small sigh at Moyong Chae’s shrinking appearance. Moyong Chae wasn’t a late-blooming talent evaluated as lacking anywhere, but compared to Moyong Do, his fame and the weight his name carried fell short.

As the commotion continued to grow, Namgoong Baek finally raised his hand to calm the crowd.

“This is something I, the Alliance Leader, have permitted. Although they may be defeated, it’s a decision to protect the Moyong clan’s honor, so I hope everyone understands.”

As soon as Namgoong Baek’s words fell, the commotion quieted down as if it had never happened.

There seemed to still be dissatisfaction remaining, but no one would burst out in complaint right in front of the Murim Alliance Leader.

Thanks to Namgoong Baek’s intervention, the referee was able to buy time and immediately started the martial arts match.

Moyong Chae and Lee Jehak lightly exchanged courtesies, then exchanged the three moves that were the basics of martial arts matches.

Moyong Chae moved first, and then Lee Jehak.

At a glance, it seemed like it would be doable, but after Lee Jehak’s three moves ended and they separated, it was one-sided.

He rushed in instantly, deflected Moyong Chae’s sword, and overwhelmingly pressed him down.

The difference in strength was enormous to the point where it was hard to see as swordsmanship, and the depth of inner power was also tremendous.

Moyong Chae seemed to be gritting his teeth and enduring, but when over twenty moves had passed, Moyong Chae finally retreated and knelt down.

Sighs burst out at that sight.

Everyone hoped for the Righteous Sect, especially one of the Five Great Clans to win, rather than the Black Dao Sect, an evil sect, winning.

Lee Jehak was evil to them. But Moyong Chae was overwhelmingly pushed back and finally, realizing he was no match, slowly lowered his sword.

That was an intention to forfeit.

As the sighs deepened, a sigh mixed with them escaped from my mouth.

So it ends up like this after all. As I was thinking that, Lee Jehak moved.

“Aaaagh!”

Lee Jehak rushed at Moyong Chae who was lowering his sword and swung his sword.

It was sharper, more destructive, and more dangerous than before. And Moyong Chae’s whole body began to be dyed with blood.