Chapter 1724. You Can't Help But Lose. (4)
"Will he be okay?"
"......"
"No, Sahyung. I understand how you feel, but if we think rationally, Sasuk is in a worse situation than an ordinary person. He could die at any moment."
"......"
"Someone like that... a person who can't even hold a brush properly, can they really carry out those kinds of tasks?"
At that moment, Yoon Jong, who had been silent, looked at Jo Gul. Faced with the intensity of his gaze, Jo Gul closed his mouth.
Yoon Jong lightly bit his lip before speaking.
"So, can you tell Sasuk to stop and rest? Even knowing how he feels?"
"Of course, I could. But he wouldn't listen to me."
Yoon Jong sighed deeply at Jo Gul's complaint. Clearly, Jo Gul still didn't understand what it meant for Baek Cheon to have ended up as a martial artist.
Yoon Jong repeatedly clenched and released the book in his hand, showing his anxiety. This action caught Jo Gul's attention.
"Sahyung."
"What?"
"What is that you're holding? You've been carrying it since the office, but it doesn't look like you're reading it."
Yoon Jong glanced sideways at the book in his hand. A book without a title.
"...Sasuk gave it to me."
"What? Sasuk?"
"Yes."
Yoon Jong's eyes darkened deeply. With great effort, he opened his mouth.
"It's the record of the Mount Hua Sect."
"What?"
"And... it contains the rules of the Mount Hua Sect and what the Grand Disciple of the sect must uphold."
Jo Gul narrowed his eyes silently.
"How...?"
"He seemed to have prepared it in advance. It contains his impressions and advice from when he served as Deputy Sect Leader."
At that moment, Jo Gul's face flushed, and he burst out in an agitated voice.
"What...?! Why would he give that to you?"
"..."
"And you... did you accept it without even knowing what it means?"
"Gul."
"Is he crazy?! What's wrong with his common sense? Did you accept that when he's about to die?"
"Do you think I accepted it because I wanted to, idiot?"
Yoon Jong responded vehemently. But Jo Gul, not listening, jumped up.
"Give it to me."
"What are you going to do?"
"What do you think? I'm going to throw it back in his face."
"..."
"What does it mean for the Deputy Sect Leader of Mount Hua to hand this over so easily? He deserves to be beaten for three days and three nights."
"Sit down."
"Sahyung."
"Sit down!"
Yoon Jong finally erupted in anger. Jo Gul, gritting his teeth, sank back into his chair. However, his posture with crossed arms clearly indicated he was still unconvinced.
Yoon Jong sighed deeply before speaking in a soothing tone.
"Gul."
"Wasn't this something inevitable?"
"..."
"We all knew that Sasuk would eventually lose his martial arts skills. It just happened a bit sooner than expected."
This was the reason for Jo Gul's anger.
"Then what is this? Why is everyone looking at Sasuk like that? Are martial arts so important? If he can't wield a sword, does Sasuk have no value? I didn't follow Sasuk because he was stronger than me!"
"Quiet. They'll hear us."
"Damn it! Let them hear if they want! Am I saying something wrong?"
Bang!
Jo Gul, furious, slammed the table with his fist. The tea cups toppled from the impact, spilling tea onto the floor.
As he watched the tea flow across the table, Yoon Jong closed his eyes tightly.
The future that would someday come and the reality that had already arrived were different. No matter how much you prepared, they would never be the same.
"Anyway, I don't accept it. Sasuk..."
"Gul. It's Sasuk's decision."
"Sahyung."
"And... do you really think that would be the best for Sasuk? On the battlefield..."
"Damn it! Do you think I'm an idiot? I could take him myself!"
"And how would Sasuk feel?"
Finally, Jo Gul fell silent.
"Yes. That would make you feel better, but what about Sasuk? How would he feel knowing that you took him to a place where he can't use his martial arts? Did you ever think about that?"
Jo Gul couldn't respond. He just clenched his fist tightly.
Yoon Jong, with a haggard face, rubbed his face. He felt an indescribable fatigue.
"This is just a precaution. You know well, Sasuk is not someone who gives up easily."
This was true. Baek Cheon had said the same thing when he handed over the book.
But both Yoon Jong and Jo Gul knew how much was hidden behind that precaution.
Actually, I think this should have been done earlier. It's something I should have done a long time ago.
Recalling those words of Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong unknowingly clenched his fist.
"But, Sasuk... For me, it's too soon."
No matter how much he sighed, his heart continued sinking into a bottomless abyss.
-------------
Baek Cheon looked at the brush rolling on the floor. The brush had fallen from his hand amid loose bandages.
For several moments, as the lamp flickered, Baek Cheon stared at the brush with a vacant expression before trying to stand up.
Ugh!
A pain that seemed to cut through his body overwhelmed him. With superhuman effort, he straightened up, gritting his teeth until they creaked to endure the pain.
A drop of sweat that had accumulated on his chin fell to the ground.
Ugh! Ugh!
He instinctively knew that this pain wouldn't go away.
As Tang Gunak had said, his body was now nothing more than a cracked vessel that had been clumsily patched up. Even if he improved, as long as the cracks weren't completely eliminated, this pain would accompany him for the rest of his life.
With all his strength, he extended his half-bandaged hand.
He raised his arm and stretched it out to grasp the brush.
What had once been a movement so simple that he didn't even think about it now seemed more complicated than any martial technique he had ever learned.
Finally, his trembling fingers touched the brush.
But cruelly, the brush rolled even further away.
"......"
Baek Cheon watched the scene, stunned.
"Is it okay not to have martial arts?"
Part of him believed it. He had mentally prepared himself. He had told himself over and over again that he wouldn't become a useless person, even if he lost all his martial skills.
But...
"Haha..."
He hadn't imagined that he would become crippled.
Baek Cheon collapsed to the ground. A mad laugh escaped his lips.
What could he do now?
He had imagined a life without being able to wield a sword. But a life in which he couldn't even hold a brush...
Could he endure a life where even breathing required someone's help? Had he really considered all the consequences?
Finally, the words he didn't want to utter escaped his lips.
"A dead weight..."
He had accepted the possibility of death. He believed that by doing so, he was showing bravery.
But perhaps Baek Cheon had underestimated life, not death. He believed that death would be the greatest suffering that could be inflicted on him. How naive he had been.
What can I do? What should I do?
Baek Cheon crawled again towards the brush. Although the pain felt like dozens of knives stabbing him simultaneously, that physical pain didn't compare to the torment of his mind.
He extended his thin, fragile arm and finally managed to grasp the brush.
Slip.
But only for a moment, the brush he had managed to hold slipped from his hand again.
Not giving up, he tried to grab the brush again. His movements were weaker than a baby's. However, his face was drenched in sweat due to the effort.
"Grab it..."
But he couldn't do it.
"Grab it...!"
Hadn't he always firmly believed that there was nothing that couldn't be achieved with effort? That as long as he didn't give up, there was always a chance of victory? That even if he failed, his will would prevail? Hadn't he believed that more than anyone else?
But now, what did he have before him?
Could he overcome this with effort? Was there any victory to be won? More importantly, what kind of will could he leave behind with this insignificant struggle?
"Grab it, damn it!"
Finally, the brush fell from his hand again.
Baek Cheon looked down silently. His bandages and the floor were stained with ink.
Suddenly, his situation seemed ridiculous to him.
"Hehe..."
He had overcome rivers of blood on the battlefield, but now, a bit of ink was making him cry with frustration.
"Hehe..."
Baek Cheon's shoulders began to tremble. His arms, unable to support his body, gave way, and his body collapsed onto the floor.
With his cheek pressed against the ground, Baek Cheon looked at the fallen brush.
A sword that couldn't be wielded.
A brush that couldn't be used.
A person who couldn't do anything.
"Do I have any value?"
If a person's life consisted of leaving something behind, then Baek Cheon's life had already come to an end. He didn't know if he had managed to convey something, but at least he had made the attempt.
But then, what remained of his body?
Was it not just an empty shell with nothing left to give? A ghost that had missed its moment to disappear? Was there any value left in him?
Knock, knock.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Baek Cheon's eyes filled with panic.
He didn't want to be seen.
Baek Cheon, who had faced numerous enemies with bravery, was now terrified at the thought of someone seeing him in this pitiful state.
"Don't come in!"
Shouting desperately, he looked around frantically.
The floor was a mess, and his appearance was pitiful. He couldn't even get up from the floor.
"Don't open! Go away! No matter who you are, not now...!"
It wasn't an order or a warning. It was almost a plea. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. It was too miserable and pathetic.
"Go away! Please...!"
Creak.
But his desperate voice was ignored, and the door slowly opened. A person entered the room.
A suffocating silence filled the space.
One person was standing, and the other was on the floor. Baek Cheon, seeing the person, let out a bitter laugh.
It would have been better if it had been someone else.
If it had been Chung Myung, maybe he would have cried.
Though that too would have been pathetic, it would have been better than this.
Reality was more cruel than imagination.
With a face as cold as ice, Baek Cheon looked up with a bitter smile. What made him even more desperate was that the person in front of him didn't show mockery, but genuine indignation.
"...Dongryong."
"You...!"
Baek Cheon bit his lip until it bled.
"No...!"
"Don't come closer."
Baek Cheon shouted at the person trying to help him up.
"Don't touch me! Damn it, don't touch me!"
"Dongryong."
"Go away, Jin Geumryong! Don't touch me! Don't..."
Baek Cheon's furious voice trailed off. He couldn't say more. He couldn't do anything more.
All he could do was bite his lip to hold back the tears.
Jin Geumryong, looking at Baek Cheon, also had a face twisted with anguish.
"How pitiful you are, you idiot. I knew this would happen... I knew you'd end up like this!"
"Shut up!"
Baek Cheon's eyes were bloodshot.
Though his attitude was fierce, Jin Geumryong didn't show more anger. Taking a deep breath, he looked intently at Baek Cheon.
The eyes full of despair of Baek Cheon and the cold, angry eyes of Jin Geumryong met. Finally, Jin Geumryong spoke.
"Do you want to wield a sword again?"
"What...?"
"I. No. We can give it back to you."
Baek Cheon doubted his ears. What was he saying...?
"Leave the Mount Hua Sect."
Jin Geumryong's voice sounded like thunder. Baek Cheon's eyes widened.
"If you leave the Mount Hua Sect and regain your original place."
Each word etched into his mind.
"We will also return your past glory."
Baek Cheon, forgetting his anger, looked at Jin Geumryong in astonishment. Jin Geumryong's extended hand was cautious.
"Return to the Southern Edge Sect, Dongryong-ah. You don't need to endure this suffering any longer."
Baek Cheon, staring at Jin Geumryong, closed his eyes.
This wasn't a diabolical temptation. But precisely because of that, it was more lethal and therefore more... painful.
