Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1723 – I Can't Help Losing It (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Wudang's Medicine Hall.
A chamber deep inside a hall that looked twice as large as Mount Hua's.
In this innermost sanctuary that would not easily open its doors to outsiders, two people in robes unrelated to Wudang sat facing each other.
While one person's face was very calm, the other person's face was dark and extremely heavy.
“In conclusion….”
Tang Gun-ak, who had been speaking low and unconsciously lifting his teacup, flinched and paused. Baek Cheon's bandaged arm had caught his eye. Feigning composure, he set the teacup back down and continued.
"Fortunately, your life isn’t in danger."
It was a truly obvious statement. The man sitting across from him surely hadn't sat here just to hear such words.
Even knowing this clearly, Tang Gun-ak listed these conventional word. Because it wasn't easy even for the Poison King to directly bring up the words the person sitting across from him truly wanted to hear.
“As for your arm… it will be inconvenient for now, but if you make steady efforts, it will become far better than it is now. That much I can promise.”
The atmosphere was truly heavy.
Especially those eyes watching without a flicker of wavering at any word. This moment felt even more burdensome than when he was losing himself under the crushing weight of being the patriarch.
Eventually, unable to withstand that gaze, Tang Gun-ak spoke as if sighing.
"But… you likely won't be able to use martial arts anymore."
There wasn't any particular reaction.
On the contrary, that was why Tang Gun-ak continued to spit out words that weren't even asked.
"There exists a word called 'miracle' in this world, so I cannot state it definitively. Of course, walking the path of a martial artist would be extremely difficult.”
Tang Gun-ak, who examined Baek Cheon's complexion, continued.
"But even if not as a martial artist, as a Taoist….”
“Gaju-nim.”
Baek Cheon's tightly shut mouth opened.
"Would it be rude if I requested to hear only your opinion as a physician?"
There was impeccable courtesy in his words. Those unwavering words, even in this situation, rather drew a deep sigh from Tang Gun-ak.
"The body is the vessel of energy, and your vessel is broken."
“….”
"It doesn't refer simply to the dantian. If only the dantian were broken, you might preserve the physical strength you've honed until now, but your body itself also suffered severe damage from this incident. In other words…"
"My weakened body cannot return to its original state."
Tang Gun-ak squeezed his eyes shut. But he couldn't close his ears, so Baek Cheon's gentle voice pierced through relentlessly.
"Just as a shattered vessel, even if glued back together, can never be as it was in the beginning."
In the end, Tang Gun-ak nodded slightly.
"Speaking as a physician.... That’s right."
It was truly regrettable, but in his view, Baek Cheon's current state was no different from an ordinary civilian who had suffered a major accident. It might take months… No, perhaps years, just to walk properly and use his arms correctly. And that was assuming he made ceaseless efforts.
"Among them, the arms..."
Tang Gun-ak bit his lower lip. No matter how hard he tried to remain calm, his heart wouldn't settle easily.
How could it?
Baek Cheon was one of the most promising talents in Kangho. Anyone who knew him acknowledged him as a pillar who would lead the future Kangho in place of the eccentric Chung Myung.
Even if they couldn't say he would become the world's greatest, it was certain he would become one of the most influential figures in the world.
Tang Gun-ak now had to declare to such a man that his life as a martial artist was over. This was no different from a death sentence.
"No matter what methods are used... You cannot return to the past."
“…….”
"Of course, depending on your efforts, you might improve to some extent… But to how you were before…"
He desperately struggled to compose and utter his words calmly. Had there ever been a time in his life when speaking was this difficult?
Fortunately, Baek Cheon saved Tang Gun-ak from that torment. Baek Cheon looked straight at him and asked.
"Even if I cannot use internal strength, and even if I cannot swing it with power, will I not be able to hold a sword again?"
Tang Gun-ak couldn't answer easily.
Simply meeting Baek Cheon's gaze without avoiding it was the best, and all he could do.
"I see."
Instead, Baek Cheon spoke without wavering. His voice was only composed, as if reiterating something already known.
"I thought as much."
“Acting Sect Leader.”
Baek Cheon glanced down at his arm.
"I did push myself too far, after all."
A faint sigh that Tang Gun-ak could no longer hold back escaped his lips.
Perhaps Baek Cheon too was prepared to lose his martial arts. No, perhaps he was even prepared to face death. The Mount Hua Acting Sect Leader Baek Cheon he knew was that kind of person.
But had he been prepared for this? Had he even imagined it?
A life where he was not even granted death, but forced to live on having lost everything he desired and hoped for?
Had this young man truly imagined such an ending?
Tang Gun-ak has no regrets. Even if he went back, he would do his utmost to save Baek Cheon without a moment's hesitation. Even knowing the result. Because he was the Tang Family patriarch, but also simultaneously a physician.
But what about Baek Cheon? Was this truly the result he wanted?
Had Tang Gun-ak's efforts pushed Baek Cheon into an abyss with no bottom?
Perhaps... for this young man, a heroic death might have been a better ending than a miraculous survival?
He couldn't fathom it. He couldn't dare determine it.
“You….”
And so Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth. It might have been immature of him. But he couldn’t bear it without asking.
"Are you alright?"
At that question, which finally forced its way past his lips, a flicker of emotion crossed Baek Cheon's gaze. It was as if he hadn't expected Tang Gun-ak to say such a thing.
But that too was fleeting, and composure quickly settled in Baek Cheon's eyes.
“Am I alright?”
Baek Cheon's words trailed off slightly. But the emotion carried in those fading words wasn't sorrow.
"It would be a lie to say I'm completely fine."
"...I suppose so."
"But…."
Baek Cheon's gaze turned toward the window. In his eyes was the ancient Wudang's halls.
"Many have already lost precious lives."
“….”
"They too must have had things they wanted to achieve, tomorrows they hoped for. Those left behind will have to groan from the emptiness of those lost."
Tang Gun-ak nodded heavily.
"In such a situation, I, who at least escaped with my life, cannot sit here whining like a child, can I?"
“That is certainly a fair point.”
Despite his words, Tang Gun-ak slowly shook his head.
“But isn’t that just a superficial problem?”
He looked straight at Baek Cheon and asked again.
“I’m asking whether your heart is truly alright.”
A heavy silence settled between them.
Baek Cheon cast his eyes downward, and Tang Gun-ak rubbed the rim of the innocent teacup as if wearing it down. Just as the long silence was finally pushing Tang Gun-ak into regret, Baek Cheon's firmly closed lips parted.
"Honestly... I still don't know."
“…….”
"Not yet... Yes, I still don't know them well. My heart isn't sorted out, so it's difficult to tell you exactly what state I'm in right now."
Tang Gun-ak removed his hand from the teacup he had been fiddling with. He belatedly realized how childishly he had been behaving. Since all the pain, regret, and sorrow belonged to Baek Cheon, why had he been pressing him like this from the side?
"Right, I suppose so. I asked a useless question. Pay it no mind."
"However…."
Baek Cheon stared at Tang Gun-ak and spoke softly.
“Whether I’ll regret it or not… if I were to return to that moment again, I would choose the same path without a moment’s hesitation.”
Tang Gun-ak sighed deeply as he looked at Baek Cheon, who was smiling brightly with a haggard face.
"That... is what you call 'not regretting it,' you rascal..."
Boundless sorrow seeped into his voice.
* * *
“Sa- Sasuk.”
In the large hall temporarily assigned for Mount Hua and Heavenly Comrade Alliance, Yoon Jong’s face went pale as he saw Baek Cheon walking in through the door.
He wasn't doing any other action, just walking. Yet, there was one reason why Yoon Jong's face was as pale as a sheet of paper.
Because he knew just how painful the act of walking must be for Baek Cheon right now.
Sure enough, cold sweat was pouring like rain from Baek Cheon’s face as he took his steps. In that brief moment as Baek Cheon approached, Yoon Jong's palms also became drenched in sweat.
“Sasuk. R- Right now, you should rest..."
“Yoon Jong-ah.”
“Huh? Yes! Yes, Sasuk!”
"Instead of standing there blankly, come and support me."
"…Yes?"
“What are you doing?”
Yoon Jong, who had been staring blankly at Baek Cheon while momentarily doubting his ears, jumped in surprise and rushed toward him. He then carefully grabbed his waist and supported him. He dared not even touch his shoulders, as that would require contact with his arms.
"Sasuk. You should be resting right now. Why did you come out?"
“Over there.”
The place Baek Cheon pointed to was an office desk placed in one corner of the hall. It was empty, as it wasn’t usually in use.
Realizing what that implied, Yoon Jong turned pale with shock.
"Hurry."
But under Baek Cheon's urging, he ended up saying nothing and headed toward the desk.
"Huuu."
Baek Cheon sat down slowly on the chair and let out a long breath.
"It feels a bit better sitting down."
...How could that be?
The present Baek Cheon would find it difficult even to endure lying in bed. He wouldn't feel comfortable sitting on a chair.
"What... are you planning to do, Sasuk?"
“Bring the work I’m supposed to handle. Ah, and what you've handled during this time too."
"S- Sasuk. I can do that."
“Yoon Jong-ah.”
Yoon Jong clenched his jaw. Seeing Baek Cheon's composed yet firm face, he was left speechless.
“I know you can do it.”
“Sasuk….”
“But there are things I must do as well. Just do as I say.”
Yoon Jong reluctantly nodded.
“What do you need?”
"Reports on Evil Tyrant Alliance martial artists' movements, the list of casualties and status updates, progress on securing supplies. Oh, and all the reports sent to headquarters so far."
“Yes, Sasuk.”
Yoon Jong turned around and ran quickly.
Before long, all the documents held by Yoon Jong and the messages that had flown in were moved to Baek Cheon's desk.
Baek Cheon, who quickly scanned through the messages placed before him, stared intently at the brush Yoon Jong had brought.
Realizing his mistake a moment too late, Yoon Jong bit his lip and tried to take the brush away.
But before he could, Baek Cheon reached out a hand that was trembling like an aspen tree.
The hall gradually became quieter.
Once, Baek Cheon's sword had reached the Black Dragon King's heart and pierced the Sun Palace Master's chest. And the hand that had gripped that sword, the hand that had reached the pinnacle of Kangho, was now pathetically extending to grasp a mere brush. With every ounce of his strength.
It was a wretchedly gaunt arm.
The sturdy arm everyone had believed would grasp Mount Hua’s future and lead it forward without doubt was now damaged to a miserable degree.
Mount Hua’s disciples unconsciously clenched their fists or covered their mouth. It was hard to watch the pitifully trembling hand and Baek Cheon's face drenched in cold sweat.
"…Sahyung."
“Shut it.”
When someone couldn't bear it and spoke sobbingly, someone else sharply shouted quietly in an angry voice.
"Just... shut up."
But even that anger became choked with tears.
Even while feeling all these gazes and the atmosphere, Baek Cheon did not stop reaching for the brush with all his might.
- It seems you have nothing left now?
'Not yet... Not yet. Not yet.'
His trembling fingertips finally reached out to the brush Yoon Jong offered. But he couldn't quite grasp it.
“Yoon Jong-ah.”
“Yes… Yes, Sasuk.”
He tried to feign composure, but Yoon Jong's voice was trembling endlessly.
"Tie the brush to my hand."
“…Sasuk.”
“Help me.”
Yoon Jong squeezed his eyes shut. And soon, he unwrapped the bandages covering Baek Cheon's hand and began to secure the brush.
Baek Cheon, who had been watching this scene in exhaustion, slowly cast his eyes downward.
'Not yet. Not yet... '
His long eyelashes quivered slightly. Though his face was terribly calm, this was the one thing he couldn't hide.
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