Chapter 1728. It Can't Be Helped to Lose. (8)
"Excuse me..."
A weak, rather exhausted voice slid softly.
"This is my room, so everyone..."
"Shut up."
"You're annoying."
"Amitabha. It would be better if you didn't speak."
"Uh, sorry."
Jo Gul's eyes filled with sadness.
'Damn it...'
This place is undoubtedly the room assigned to him by Mount Wudang.
Even Wudang, being a Taoist sect, considers austerity a virtue. Therefore, the room they gave him was narrow and uncomfortable.
So, why are there so many people crowded into this small room?
The bed was occupied by Yoo Iseol and Yoon Jong, while the rest of the space was taken up by Hye Yeon and Namgung Dowi. Jo Gul, barely sitting at the entrance, murmured bitterly.
"Why do you have to be here...?"
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
"If you have nothing to do, train."
"It's rare to train in another sect."
"Yeah."
"Amitabha. That wouldn't be proper."
"Now that I think about it, you have a lot of nerve, Jo Gul."
"......"
Jo Gul simply decided to give up and closed his eyes. It was better to talk to the wall than to them.
When Jo Gul shut his mouth, silence returned to the room. Usually, when they gathered, they talked endlessly, but today, everyone remained silent as if they had agreed beforehand, wasting time.
Hye Yeon was the first to break the silence.
"The Deputy Sect Leader hasn't left his room in two days."
Everyone's gaze turned to an empty spot. They all knew it, but no one dared to say it out loud.
"Shouldn't we go see him?"
It's the right thing to do. It's natural. Losing the use of both arms overnight means Baek Cheon can't live a normal life. Someone has to take care of him.
But even though everyone knew, no one dared to knock on Baek Cheon's door.
"I understand it's hard, but..."
Jo Gul sighed and spoke, unable to keep listening to Hye Yeon.
"I know. I know it's hard, but..."
"Amitabha."
"Sahyung, why don't we send someone else?"
"Who?"
"Uh, how about the Beast Palace Leader or something?"
Yoon Jong shook his head immediately.
"Many people have died and been injured. Besides, the Evil Tyrant Alliance is still nearby. We don't know when the next battle will start."
"But..."
"Right now, asking others to take care of an injured person is too much."
"Too much?! Sasuk is...!"
"My feelings are the same as yours. But there's no reason for others to see Sasuk like we do."
Jo Gul bit his lower lip hard. Yoon Jong sighed and spoke.
"And us too. Now..."
He couldn't continue, and Jo Gul's expression darkened.
"What? Do you mean we should prepare for the next battle instead of worrying about Sasuk's injury?"
"......"
"That's...!"
At that moment, Yoo Iseol struck Jo Gul's head with her sword sheath. Jo Gul's eyes widened.
"Why did you hit me, Sahyung?"
"Don't vent your anger."
Yoo Iseol looked at him with cold eyes.
"You know perfectly well."
Jo Gul lowered his head silently.
Sahyung was right. He knew that Yoon Jong's words didn't reflect his true feelings. If he really thought that way, he wouldn't be here, sitting in this small room.
Yoon Jong was only saying what he had to due to his position. Jo Gul murmured.
"I'm just worried if Sasuk is eating well..."
"I know."
"Ah, it's okay..."
Jo Gul tried to apologize for his earlier outburst, but at that moment, Namgung Dowi murmured to himself.
"A warrior who cut mountains and leaped rivers..."
Everyone's gaze turned to him.
"Now he can't even feed himself..."
The heavy silence fell again. His words might sound disrespectful, especially to the disciples of Mount Hua, but everyone understood they were full of sadness and melancholy.
"I can't imagine how the Deputy Sect Leader feels. If I were in his place..."
Unable to continue, Namgung Dowi sighed deeply.
Everyone understood again.
The life they had desired as warriors was full of light. Baek Cheon's life had been too. The path he had walked shone brightly, even for Namgung Dowi.
But the brighter the light, the darker the shadow. Baek Cheon must be struggling in a deep abyss.
The sound of Jo Gul's fingers drumming on the floor echoed in the room.
"Isn't there really any way? Anything would do, any method..."
"What if there was a way? What would you do?"
"Of course, I would seek it. Whatever it took, wherever it took. Even if it were in the Demon Cult's lair or the Imperial Palace!"
Yoon Jong sighed at hearing Jo Gul's passionate words.
His feelings were no different.
But there are no answers for everything in the world. Tang Gunak, Chung Myung, and even the Supreme Elder of the Beggar’s Union, Pung Yeon Shin Gae, had raised their hands in defeat.
There was nothing they could do. But Jo Gul still didn't give up and shouted.
"Monk! Couldn't we use the Great Shaolin Pill?"
"Amitabha..."
Hye Yeon responded with an uncomfortable expression.
"I'm excommunicated..."
"Couldn't you ask Master Hye Bang to consider it?"
"It might be possible to obtain it, but... The Great Pill is not an object for healing."
"What?"
"A spiritual pill is meant to strengthen the body, but it's not the same as an elixir. People believe it heals because its side effects are powerful, but..."
"Ah..."
"No elixir in the world could heal the Deputy Sect Leader in his current state."
"This is..."
Jo Gul was about to complain when suddenly, someone else spoke.
"He's right."
"It's true."
"Ah!"
The door suddenly opened with such force that Jo Gul, who was nearby, hit his head and fell to the ground screaming. The person who had barged in showed no sign of remorse at the scene but frowned.
"Tch, tch. What kind of martial artist can't dodge something like that?"
"And what kind of person barges into someone's room like that? Eh?"
"Doors are meant to be opened and martial artists to dodge."
"This bandit...!"
Jo Gul's eyes rolled up, but Im So Byeong, with his fan in hand, entered calmly.
"The monk is right. Although spiritual pills in Kangho are rare and considered almost panaceas, they weren't designed specifically to treat injuries. They're meant to increase internal energy and, as a side effect, also help in healing."
"Then what about the Rejuvenation Pills? They're created by a specialized doctor and are also spiritual pills."
"That's why that person was in Kangho. If not, he would have been a real doctor in the Imperial Palace."
"Eh? That makes sense... huh?"
It was as if all the logic of the martial arts world crumbled. Confusion reigned in their minds.
"So... is there really no solution?"
Yoon Jong asked cautiously, and Im So Byeong's eyes shone with an enigmatic expression.
"Who knows."
"Eh?"
"Just as martial artists obsess over spiritual pills, the powerful obsess over tonics. Their devotion surpasses that of martial artists for pills."
"......"
"It's said that there are some legendary tonics that can lift any patient from their bed."
"Where are they found?"
"If I knew, I would have already searched for them myself. They're just legends. As always, your understanding is limited."
"This guy!"
Jo Gul tried to get up angrily, but Yoon Jong gently pushed him back down with his foot.
"Is there any source where we can get information about them?"
"If such information existed, the Beggar’s Union would have already given it to us."
Im So Byeong touched his cheek with his fan, looking equally frustrated.
"As you know, these things don't appear just because you search the world over. You can only hope to get lucky."
...Luck.
Yoon Jong murmured to himself and smiled bitterly.
These kinds of stories were worse than hearing nothing. An unattainable hope was more painful than despair.
"Damn it. Did you come here just to state the obvious? Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Ah."
Im Sobyeong opened his fan and fanned himself gently.
"Sorry, I almost forgot why I came here. I need to keep my mind clear."
Everyone looked on curiously. Im So Byeong looked at everyone in the room and spoke.
"The Sect Leader has arrived."
"Ah..."
The disciples of Mount Hua jumped to their feet. But they couldn't receive the news with their usual joy; their faces instantly darkened.
-------------------
"Great Sect Leader!"
"Have you arrived?"
When they ran out, they saw Hyun Jong surrounded by people.
Although visibly tired from the long journey, his appearance was no different from what everyone knew.
"That..."
But the O-Gum (Five Swords) abruptly stopped when they saw the people surrounding him, people so important that they couldn't afford to interrupt.
"Sahyung."
"Let's wait..."
"Yeah."
Once again, they realized that Hyun Jong was not only the Great Sect Leader of Mount Hua but also the Maenjgu of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
After a great battle, he had many responsibilities as a leader. They couldn't act like children at this moment...
At that moment, Hyun Jong saw them and their gazes met. Jo Gul tried to move discreetly, but Hyun Jong spoke firmly to those around him.
"One moment, please. I have something I must do first."
Although his tone was gentle, his firm words made everyone nod and step back.
Hyun Jong, without hesitation, strode toward Yoon Jong, Jo Gul, and Yoo Iseol with great strides.
With each step he took towards them, their faces grew more serious.
Before they could fully process their feelings, Hyun Jong arrived and gently touched their shoulders. His touch was comforting.
"Really... you've been through a lot."
"......"
"Well done."
Suddenly, Jo Gul lowered his head. He felt a surge of emotion in his chest that he hadn't perceived before. Everything he had held back was released upon seeing Hyun Jong.
"Sect Leader..."
Hyun Jong, understanding their feelings, silently consoled everyone.
At that moment, someone approached and spoke.
"You've worked hard, Sahyungs."
"SoSo..."
Tang Soso looked extremely thin. Although partly due to hard work, Yoon Jong instinctively knew there was more to it.
Tang Soso had always been vibrant and full of energy. Seeing her so downcast could only mean one thing.
'She knows.'
She knew about Baek Cheon's condition. She probably felt more guilty than any of them, as the Healer she was. She had repeatedly warned about the risks and now blamed herself.
Even though she wasn't at fault, Tang Soso wouldn't stop blaming herself.
There were many things they wanted to say, but they couldn't find the words. Tang Soso knew, and that meant...
"Where is he?"
Hyun Jong withdrew his hands from his disciples' shoulders and asked.
"Where is Baek Cheon-ah?"
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned tense, and the three of them lowered their shoulders.
