C1712. That’s Enough. (7)
Whooosh!
The Mount Hua disciples tore through the burning forest and rapidly ascended Mount Wudang.
‘Please! Please!’
Baek Sang mobilized all his internal energy with overwhelming intensity.
He knew he wasn't one of Mount Hua’s strongest. So, it would have been better if someone stronger had carried Baek Cheon up the mountain. For Baek Cheon's sake.
But Baek Sang didn't yield Baek Cheon to anyone else. This was his responsibility. It was something he couldn’t hand over to anyone.
Bam!
The ground resonated under his feet as his body shot up the mountain like a lightning bolt.
“Over here!”
His breathing grew heavier as he ascended the steep slope without pause. Finally, ancient and majestic structures appeared. Though different from Mount Hua’s, they exuded a familiar Taoist essence.
“Wudang...!”
“Where is the medical hall?”
“Over... over there.”
“It’s not possible! The Wudang medical hall doesn’t have enough space for everyone!”
“Damn it! Then why not bring in those in critical condition first?”
Baek Sang shouted impatiently, causing the Wudang disciple to nod, startled.
“Where is it?”
“Over there! In that building!”
Just as Baek Sang was about to push open the door to the medical hall, someone stopped him.
“Wait a moment! You can’t enter!”
A relatively less injured Wudang disciple looked at them in horror and shouted again.
“The... the medical hall is off-limits.”
“What the hell are you saying? Off-limits?”
“Wudang has yet... to formally lift its lockdown. According to the rules, outsiders aren’t allowed in.”
“What?”
“Even the medical hall. This... this is beyond our authority. We need the Sect Leader...”
In disbelief, Gwak Hoi cursed harshly.
“Sect Leader? Damn it! Where are we supposed to find someone who didn’t even show up during the battle?”
“Still, that’s the only option.”
“So what? Are we supposed to die here?”
“As a principle, Wudang disciples can enter the medical hall, but you, Mount Hua disciples... must stay outside.”
Gwak Hoi’s eyes filled with cold anger.
“What did you say? Outside?”
The other Mount Hua disciples were also furious. Hostility emanated from their bodies.
They all looked at Baek Cheon on Baek Sang’s back and couldn’t contain their anger.
“Did you say outside?”
“No... no...”
The Wudang disciple who had stopped them looked at Baek Cheon and couldn’t continue speaking. Baek Cheon’s condition was obvious: he was gravely injured, beyond any simple description.
“Damn you! We risked our lives to help you, and this is what you say?”
“If the lockdown isn't lifted, then why are you outside?”
“That... due to the situation, the temporary leader allowed an exception. But we can’t say the lockdown has been formally lifted.”
“Damn it!”
“We understand your feelings. But those are the rules of Wudang. Please...”
“Rules?”
Someone asked coldly.
As if it were a signal, the Mount Hua disciples left the Wudang disciples on the ground.
The hands that had saved lives now clenched into fists, grasping the cold air, feeling betrayed.
The Wudang disciples, thrown to the ground, looked at the Mount Hua disciples in panic. At that moment, they had to face looks filled with hostility.
The Mount Hua disciples muttered angrily.
“You shouldn’t trust traitors.”
“Repaying kindness with ingratitude.”
If it were about themselves, they wouldn’t have been so angry. But this was about Baek Cheon. They couldn’t tolerate Baek Cheon receiving such treatment.
“We understand, but...”
“Shut up, damn you!”
The Mount Hua disciples seemed ready to draw their swords. Baek Sang gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Stop it!”
“But, Sasuk! Those...!”
“I said stop it! Shut up!”
Baek Sang shouted furiously, and everyone immediately fell silent. Baek Sang also bit his lips. He was as distressed as they were, if not more.
But they couldn’t waste time on this.
“It’s fine. We’ll do it here.”
“Sasuk...”
Baek Sang, with bloodshot eyes, silenced them with a look.
“In return, we need medical supplies. We need medicine immediately! First, we need ointments and medicinal water.”
“That... that too...”
The Wudang disciple, Mu Yi, once again showed discomfort.
“That’s also not possible...”
Baek Sang remained silent. His gaze was clear, without hatred or anger.
Mu Yi, nervous, tried to explain.
“What belongs to a closed sect cannot leave the sect. Outsiders remain external...”
“Ha...”
Baek Sang laughed bitterly.
Just a moment ago, they had been horrified by the cruelty of the Evil Tyrant Alliance. And now, they faced the indifference of a righteous sect.
“They can’t give anything...”
Baek Sang gripped his sword.
“If they don’t give us anything, we’ll have to take it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Move! If you don’t want to die!”
Baek Sang drew his sword. The faces of the Wudang disciples hardened.
“You can’t draw your sword on Wudang’s territory! Even if you don’t follow the ritual of drawing, at least you should...!”
“Yeah, keep talking. We’ll see if you can talk with a sword at your throat.”
“This is unacceptable...!”
Baek Sang walked towards the Wudang disciples, with Baek Cheon on his back.
The Wudang disciples, using their last strength, stood up.
Tension was about to erupt into another battle.
“Open the medical hall and bring the Deputy Sect Leader inside!”
“Sa, Sasuk!”
Everyone turned their heads in surprise. Heo Gong, supported by Mu Jin, looked at them.
“Right now.”
“But, Sasuk, the Sect Leader...”
“I will take full responsibility. Bring them inside.”
“...Yes, Sasuk. This way, please!”
The Wudang disciples hurriedly opened the doors to the medical hall.
Baek Sang briefly observed Heo Gong, who coughed and said:
“Rules are made for people.”
“...”
“I apologize on behalf of Wudang.”
Even bowing his head seemed like a great effort for him. Despite his condition, he did his best to show respect. Seeing this, Baek Sang said nothing more and hurried into the medical hall.
The most important thing now was to save Baek Cheon.
“Gaju-nim!”
“I know.”
They quickly placed Baek Cheon on a bed. Tang Gunak tore Baek Cheon’s clothes without hesitation.
“Uh...”
“Ho...”
Gasps of horror and astonishment were heard everywhere.
The scene was so horrifying it almost seemed unreal.
Seeing Baek Cheon’s burned and blackened body generated a strange sensation, beyond sadness. It was like looking at something not human.
However, it couldn’t be denied that the being on that bed was Baek Cheon.
“Gaju-nim, will Baek Cheon be alright?”
“Step back!”
“Yes, yes, step back!”
Baek Sang pushed back the gathered disciples. Tang Gunak closely observed Baek Cheon’s wounds and then searched for something in his clothing.
“But Gaju-nim also needs treatment...”
“Silence!”
Tang Gunak silenced them firmly.
Although he wasn’t wrong, Tang Gunak was also gravely injured and exhausted from the battle with the Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
But now was not the time to think about that. Baek Cheon was on the verge of death. They couldn’t waste time.
Tang Gunak opened a small box he had taken out. Inside, wrapped in blue silk, was a golden needle.
“Watch the surroundings. Even the slightest disturbance could be fatal.”
“Yes, Gaju-nim!”
The Mount Hua disciples began to watch with extreme diligence, determined to protect Baek Cheon at any cost.
Tang Gunak infused his energy into the golden needle, which began to glow faintly.
With utmost care, he brought the needle close to Baek Cheon’s body.
But he hesitated. He barely touched the burned skin and then pulled back.
Drops of sweat began to form on his forehead and fall.
Finally, he inserted the needle into Baek Cheon’s shoulder.
But...
Crack!
Tang Gunak’s eyes trembled. The skin crumbled like dust under the needle.
He quickly withdrew the needle, biting his lip until it bled.
‘Again!’
He tried again, with the needle infused with golden energy.
But once again, the skin crumbled before the needle could penetrate deeply.
“Damn it...”
Tang Gunak’s hand began to tremble.
After several failed attempts, he finally stopped, straightening up with a sigh.
“Gaju-nim...?”
Baek Sang asked in a subdued voice, trying to ignore the growing fear in his heart.
“Why not...?”
Tang Gunak sighed deeply. His eyes were filled with sorrow.
“I can’t...”
“What...?”
“The Tang Family’s treatment is based on revitalizing the patient’s internal energy. But Baek Cheon doesn’t have enough energy to sustain the treatment. Even my own energy would be too much for his weakened body.”
“What do you mean...?”
Desperate, Baek Sang looked at Tang Gunak, not wanting to understand.
“Gaju-nim...”
“...”
“Then, what...?”
But quickly, strength began to leave Baek Sang’s body.
Tang Gunak, being one of the world’s best doctors, didn’t say those words lightly.
“With my skills...”
“Gaju-nim!”
Baek Sang shouted instinctively. He wanted to cover his ears, not to hear.
Tang Gunak also felt deeply sorrowful. But finally, he said what everyone feared.
“With my skills, I can’t save Baek Cheon.”
Tang Gunak closed his eyes tightly. Baek Sang collapsed on the floor.
With a vacant expression, he looked at Baek Cheon and Tang Gunak.
“This can’t be...”
The sentence, more painful than a stab to the heart, was unavoidable.
