Chapter 1723 - I Can't Avoid Losing It (3)

The Wudang Medical Hall.

In a secluded place deep within a hall that appears twice as large as any in Mount Hua, where outsiders are rarely allowed, two individuals who do not belong to the Wudang Sect are seated opposite each other.

One person's face is calm, while the other's is dark and heavy.

"To put it simply..."

Tang Gunak, who had unconsciously lifted his teacup as he spoke softly, paused with a start. He noticed Baek Cheon's arm wrapped in bandages. Feigning composure, he placed the teacup back down and continued speaking.

"Fortunately, there's no danger to your life."

It was an obvious statement. The person seated in front of him hadn't come to hear such words.

Even though he was fully aware, Tang Gunak continued to speak in a predictable manner. It wasn't easy, even for him, a man known as the Poison King, to utter the words the person opposite him truly wanted to hear.

"As for your arm... it will be uncomfortable for now, but with steady effort, it will get much better than it is now. That much I can guarantee."

The situation felt extremely heavy. The unwavering gaze staring back at him made him feel that way, even more than when he was overwhelmed by his responsibilities as the family head, almost losing himself.

In the end, Tang Gunak sighed and opened his mouth.

"But... you will no longer be able to practice martial arts."

There was no particular reaction.

Perhaps because of this, Tang Gunak continued to speak words that hadn't been asked.

"Miracles do happen in this world, so I can't say anything with certainty. Of course, it will be very difficult to walk the path of a martial artist, but..."

Tang Gunak, observing Baek Cheon's complexion, continued.

"However, even if you're not a martial artist, as a Taoist..."

"Leader."

At that moment, Baek Cheon's tightly closed lips opened.

"Would it be rude to ask if I could just hear your opinion as a physician?"

There was a polite formality in his words. Despite the situation, his unwavering tone made Tang Gunak let out a deep sigh.

"The body is the vessel of energy, and yours has been shattered."

"..."

"It's not just the dantian. If only your dantian had been damaged, you could've retained the physical strength you've trained so far, but your body itself also suffered severe damage. In other words..."

"You mean my weakened body can't return to its original state."

Tang Gunak clenched his eyes shut. However, he couldn't close his ears, and Baek Cheon's soft voice pierced through.

"Even if the broken vessel is repaired, it can't be as it was before."

Eventually, Tang Gunak nodded faintly.

"As a physician... that is the reality."

It was truly unfortunate, but from his perspective, Baek Cheon was now no different from an ordinary civilian who had suffered a major injury. It might take several months, or even years, just to walk properly and use his arm again. And that's only if he puts in constant effort.

"Especially your arm..."

Tang Gunak bit his lower lip. No matter how hard he tried to remain calm, his heart couldn't easily be soothed.

How could it not be?

Baek Cheon was one of the most promising talents in the martial world. Everyone who knew him acknowledged him as the future leader of the martial world, rather than the eccentric Chung Myung. While it couldn't be said that he would become the greatest martial artist in the world, it was certain that he would become one of the most influential figures.

Tang Gunak now had to deliver the declaration that Baek Cheon's life as a martial artist was over. It was practically a death sentence.

"No matter what methods are used... you won't be able to return to your former self."

"..."

"Of course, with effort, there may be some improvement... but it won't be like before..."

He desperately tried to remain composed and forced the words out. In his life, had there ever been a time when it was this difficult to speak?

But fortunately, Baek Cheon saved Tang Gunak. Baek Cheon looked directly at Tang Gunak and asked.

"Even if I can't use internal energy or exert strength, can I not hold a sword again?"

Tang Gunak couldn't easily answer.

All he could do was meet Baek Cheon's gaze without looking away. That was the best he could do, the only thing he could offer.

"I see."

Baek Cheon spoke without wavering. His voice was as calm as if he were merely repeating something he already knew.

"I expected as much."

"Sect Leader Baek Cheon."

Baek Cheon glanced down at his arm.

"It seems I pushed myself too hard."

A faint sigh escaped from Tang Gunak's lips, unable to be suppressed.

Perhaps Baek Cheon had already been prepared to lose his martial arts. No, perhaps he had even been prepared for death. The Baek Cheon he knew was that kind of person.

But had he been prepared for this? Had he imagined this?

A life where, after being denied even death, he would simply live on, having lost everything he wanted and desired?

Had this young man really imagined such an outcome?

Tang Gunak had no regrets. Even if he could go back, he would do his utmost to save Baek Cheon without a moment's hesitation, even knowing the result. After all, he was the head of the Tang family, and a physician as well.

But what about Baek Cheon? Was this really the outcome he had wished for?

Had Tang Gunak's efforts pushed Baek Cheon into an even deeper abyss?

Perhaps... a heroic death, rather than a miraculous survival, might have been a better ending for this young man.

He couldn't be sure. He didn't dare to assert it.

"Are you...?"

That's why Tang Gunak opened his mouth to speak. It might be an immature question, but he couldn't hold back from asking.

"Are you alright?"

At those words that slipped out despite himself, a strange light flashed in Baek Cheon's eyes. As if he hadn't expected Tang Gunak to say such a thing.

But only for a moment, as calmness soon settled in Baek Cheon's eyes.

"'Am I alright'..."

Baek Cheon's words trailed off slightly. However, the emotion in his voice was not sadness.

"It would be a lie to say that I'm unaffected."

"...I thought so."

"But..."

Baek Cheon's gaze shifted to the window. He could see the traditional Wudang halls outside.

1111

"Already, many have lost their precious lives."

"..."

"They too had dreams they wished to fulfill, and a tomorrow they hoped for. Those left behind must now suffer in the absence of those they've lost."

Tang Gunak nodded heavily.

"In such a situation, how can I, who at least survived, dare to complain and weep?"

"You are absolutely right."

Contrary to his words, Tang Gunak slowly shook his head.

"But isn't that a superficial issue?"

He looked straight at Baek Cheon and asked again.

"I'm asking if your heart is truly okay."

A heavy silence settled between the two.

Baek Cheon lowered his eyes, while Tang Gunak anxiously fidgeted with a teacup. The long silence eventually pushed Tang Gunak into a state of regret when Baek Cheon finally opened his tightly closed lips.

"Honestly... I'm still not sure."

"..."

"Still... Yes, I'm still not sure. My mind is not clear, and I can't accurately tell you what state I'm in right now."

Tang Gunak removed his hand from the teacup he had been fiddling with. He suddenly realized just how childishly he had been behaving. The pain, the regret, the sorrow—all of it belonged to Baek Cheon. So why had he been pressing him so insistently from the side?

"Yes, I suppose so. I asked a needless question. Don't dwell on it."

"But..."

Baek Cheon, quietly gazing at Tang Gunak, spoke.

"Whether I will regret it or not, I don't know... but if I were to go back to that moment, I would choose the same path without a moment's hesitation."

Tang Gunak sighed deeply as he looked at Baek Cheon, who smiled faintly despite his weathered face.

"That... is what we call 'no regrets,' my friend..."

His voice was laden with endless sorrow.

* * *

"S-Sasuk."

In the large hall temporarily assigned to Mount Hua and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, Baek Cheon entered through the door, and Yoon Jong's face turned pale.

He was simply walking, doing nothing else. Yet Yoon Jong's face became as white as a sheet for one reason.

He knew just how painful it must be for Baek Cheon to be walking right now.

Sure enough, cold sweat poured from Baek Cheon's face as if it were raining, as he took each step. In the brief moment it took for Baek Cheon to approach, sweat had already soaked Yoon Jong's palms.

"Sasuk, y-you should be resting..."

"Yoon Jong."

"Yes? Y-Yes, Sasuk!"

"Don't just stand there staring. Come and help me."

"...Yes?" 

"What are you doing?"

Yoon Jong, who was momentarily stunned and stared blankly at Baek Cheon, suddenly snapped out of it and rushed to him. He carefully supported Baek Cheon by the waist, avoiding touching the shoulders.

"Sasuk, you need to rest right now. Why did you come out?"

"Over there."

Baek Cheon pointed to the desk on one side of the hall. It was empty, not one he usually used.

Realizing what that meant, Yoon Jong's face turned pale.

"Hurry."

But at Baek Cheon's urging, Yoon Jong had no choice but to head toward the desk without saying anything.

"Hoo."

Baek Cheon let out a long breath as he slowly sat down in the chair.

"Sitting down feels a bit better."

...How could it possibly be?

In his current condition, Baek Cheon would struggle even to lie in bed. There's no way he could feel comfortable just by sitting in a chair.

"What... do you intend to do, Sasuk?"

"Bring me the reports on the movements of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, the list and status of the casualties, and the progress on securing supplies. Ah, and all the reports sent to the main sect so far."

"Yes, Sasuk."

Yoon Jong reluctantly nodded.

"What else do you need?"

"The reports from the Evil Tyrant Alliance, the casualty lists, the status updates, and the progress on securing supplies. Oh, and bring all the reports that were sent to the main sect."

(idk it just was a repeat.)

"Yes, Sasuk."

Yoon Jong turned and quickly ran out.

Soon, the documents Yoon Jong had been holding and the letters that had flown in were all moved to Baek Cheon's desk.

Baek Cheon quickly skimmed through the letters in front of him and then stared intently at the brush Yoon Jong brought him.

In that moment, Yoon Jong realized his mistake and bit his lip, about to take the brush away.

But before he could, Baek Cheon's trembling hand, like a shaking aspen leaf, reached out.

The hall grew quieter and quieter.

At one time, Baek Cheon's sword had reached the soul of the Black Dragon King and pierced the heart of the Sun Palace Lord. And the hand that had wielded that sword, the hand that had once reached the peak of the martial world, was now pitifully reaching out to grasp a mere brush, with all the strength he had left.

His arm was pitifully thin.

The arm that everyone had believed would hold the future of Mount Hua and lead it forward was now so pitifully broken.

The disciples of Mount Hua unconsciously clenched their fists or covered their mouths. It was hard to watch Baek Cheon's trembling hand and sweat-drenched face.

"...Sahyung."

"Shut up."

When someone, unable to hold back, murmured in a sobbing tone, another person quietly but angrily reprimanded them.

"Just... shut it."

But even that anger was soaked with tears.

Despite feeling all the gazes and the heavy atmosphere, Baek Cheon did not stop straining his hand toward the brush.

- It seems like you have nothing left now, doesn't it?

'Not yet... not yet. Not yet.'

The trembling fingertips finally touched the brush that Yoon Jong held out. But even then, he couldn't fully grasp it.

"Yoon Jong."

"Yes... Yes, Sasuk."

Yoon Jong tried to sound calm, but his voice trembled endlessly.

"Tie the brush to my hand."

"...Sasuk."

"Please... help me."

Yoon Jong tightly closed his eyes. Then, he started to unwrap the bandage that bound Baek Cheon's hand and tied the brush to it.

Baek Cheon, exhausted, closed his eyes slowly.

'Not yet... Not yet...'

His long eyelashes trembled faintly. Although his face was stoic, he couldn't hide this one thing.