Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1728 – I Can't Help Losing It (8)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"Excuse me..."
A weak, or rather, a drained voice slipped out quietly.
“This is my room, but everyone...”
“Be quiet.”
"You're interrupting.”
"Amitabha. Siju, it would be best if you did not speak."
“Um, I’m sorry.”
A dazed sorrow filled Jo-Gol's eyes.
‘Damn people.’
This was clearly a room that Wudang had given to him.
Moreover, Wudang was a Taoist sect, so they valued frugality as a virtue. So it was only natural that a single room given to him would be narrow and uncomfortable.
But why on earth were so many human beings packed into this tiny, cramped room!
The bed was taken by Yoo Iseol and Yoon Jong, and the remaining space was taken by Hye Yeon and Namgung Dowi. Jo-Gol, barely able to crouch in the doorway, grumbled in frustration.
“No, but why here of all places...”
"We don't really have anything to do anyway, do we?"
"If you have nothing to do, go train or something!"
"Training in another sect's territory is a bit.”
"Right."
“Amitabha. That won't do."
“Come to think of it, you’re quite brazen, Jo-Gol Dojang.”
“...”
Jo-Gol simply gave up on the conversation and closed his eyes. He would rather talk to a wall than to them.
As Jo-Gol shut his mouth, silence settled in the room again. Those who would normally talk nonstop whenever they gathered were today keeping their mouths shut as if by agreement, letting time pass aimlessly.
The one who broke the silence and spoke first was Hye Yeon.
"It has been two days since Acting Sect Leader last left his room."
People's gazes drifted toward the empty space. It was a fact they all knew but had been unable to voice.
"Shouldn't we... at least try visiting him?"
That was right. It was only natural. Having lost the use of both arms overnight, Baek Cheon would find it difficult to manage even daily life now. Someone needed to look after him.
But despite knowing this, not one of them dared to knock on Baek Cheon's door.
"Of course, I know it's difficult, but... How long can we..."
Jo-Gol, who couldn't let Hye Yeon continue muttering to himself, opened his mouth with a sigh.
"I know. I know, but... It's really not easy, Monk."
“…Amitabha.”
"Sahyung. How about instead, we quietly send someone else?"
“Who?”
"...Like, Beast Palace Master or something."
Yoon Jong immediately shook his head.
"Many people died and were injured. And Evil Tyrant Alliance is still encamped not far away. War could break out again at any moment."
"But..."
"Requesting detailed care for one injured person in such circumstances is excessive."
"Excessive! Sasuk is..."
"My heart is the same as yours. But is there any reason for people of other sects to view Sasuk with the same eyes as we do?"
Jo-Gol chewed his lower lip. Yoon Jong spoke with a sigh.
"And the same goes for us. Right now..."
When he hesitated without finishing his words, Jo-Gol's eyes became fierce.
"Why? Are you saying we shouldn't cling to small matters like Sasuk's injury and should prepare for the next battle?"
“...”
"How can you... Agh!"
At that moment, Yoo Iseol suddenly thrust out her scabbard and struck Jo-Gol on the head with a thud. Jo-Gol’s eyes widened.
“Wh- Why are you hitting me, Sago!”
"Don't take out your anger."
Yoo Iseol glared at Jo-Gol with ice-cold eyes.
"When you obviously know."
Jo-Gol lowered his eyes silently.
Sago's words were absolutely right. Even Jo-Gol knew that Yoon Jong's words were at odds with his true feelings. If Yoon Jong truly thought that way, he wouldn't be sitting around uselessly in this cramped room.
Yoon Jong simply had to say what needed to be said from his position. Jo Geol mumbled.
"I'm just worried whether Sasuk is eating properly or not..."
"Again."
“I- I got it. That….”
Jo-Gol hesitated, trying to apologize for his sudden outburst a moment ago. But in that gap, Namgung Dowi muttered as if talking to himself.
"A martial artist who cut mountains and leaped over rivers..."
People's gazes turned toward him all at once.
"To be in a situation where he can't even feed himself..."
A heavy silence descended. At first glance, it might have sounded rude. Especially enough for the disciples of Mount Hua to fly into a rage without listening further.
However, the reason no one here could dare get angry was that Namgung Dowi's words were filled with that much regret, bitterness, and sadness.
"I can't even imagine what Acting Sect Leader must be feeling now. If I were in the same situation..."
Finding it difficult to continue, Namgung Dowi ended up letting out a deep sigh.
They realized it anew.
The life of a martial artist they had wished for was filled with light. No, perhaps Baek Cheon's life was the same. The path Baek Cheon had walked until now shone so brilliantly that even Namgung Dowi felt envious.
But as the light had been bright, the darkness would only feel deeper. Baek Cheon was probably floundering in a deep abyss.
Tap. Tap.
Only the sound of Jo-Gol tapping the floor with his finger for no reason spread out.
"Is there really no way? Anything at all, if there's any way..."
"If there were a way, what would you do?"
"I would go and get it, obviously. Anything necessary, anywhere! Whether it's Magyo's lair or the Imperial Palace!"
Hearing Jo-Gol's agitated voice, Yoon Jong sighed.
Was his heart any different?
But not everything in the world has an answer. This was something Tang Gun-ak, Chuing Myung, and even Wind Shadow Divine Beggar, the grand sect leader of Beggar Union who gathered all the world's information, had given up on.
There was nothing they could do. But Jo-Gol still couldn't give up and shouted.
"Monk! Would the Great Rejunevation Pill of Shaolin work?"
“Amitabha...”
Hye Yeon answered with a troubled expression.
“I am excommunicated...”
“Well… how about trying to explain it to Monk Hyebang?”
"Getting it might be possible, but... actually, the Great Rejunevation Pill isn't something that heals the body."
"Huh?"
"Though elixirs are originally meant to fortify the body, their concept differs from healing medicinal pills. They are known as such only because their secondary effect of healing the body is so significant."
"Ah..."
"Elixirs can't heal the current Acting Sect Leader. Not the Great Rejunevation Pill, nor any elixir under heaven."
“No, what the...”
Just as Jo-Gol was about to voice his complaint out of frustration.
“That’s right.”
"Aak!"
The door burst open violently. Jo-Gol, who hit his head hard in the process, screamed and tumbled. The person who had flung the door open, however, frowned instead of looking apologetic upon seeing the scene.
"Tsk, tsk. Does it make sense that someone who's a martial artist can't dodge this?"
"And does it make sense for a person to throw someone else's door open like that? Huh?"
"Doors are meant to be opened, and martial artists are meant to dodge."
"This bandit bastard, the more I see..."
Jo-Gol rolled his eyes. However, Im Sobyeong entered calmly while holding his fan and spoke.
"The monk is right. Elixirs of Kangho are rumored to be precious items and are known like panaceas, but in truth, they are not manufactured specifically for treating injuries. They just happen to have healing effects as a bonus while being made to increase internal strength."
"Then what about the Chaos Origin Pill? The Medicine Immortal made the Chaos Origin Pill, and that's an elixir. The Medicine Immortal is a physician who treats people."
"That's exactly why that man stuck to Kangho. Otherwise, he would have gone to the Imperial Palace and become a royal physician!"
"Huh? Now that you mention it, that's true? Huh?"
Judging the world by Kangho's standards made his head feel strange. His thoughts were in a jumble.
"Then... there's really no way?"
When Yoon Jong asked cautiously, Im Sobyeong half-opened his eyes meaningfully.
"Who knows."
"Hm?"
"Just as martial artists are obsessed with elixirs, those in power are obsessed with tonic medicine. That obsession is on a different level compared to martial artists desiring elixirs.”
“...”
"I have heard that there are a few such items in the world, though rare. Legendary medicines that allow any patient to cleanly shake off their illness and rise again."
“W- Where are those?”
"If I knew, I would have already found and secured it myself, wouldn't I? I'm just saying that's the legend. As I always feel, you really lack comprehension."
"But this punk!"
As Jo-Gol rolled his eyes and tried to get up, Yoon Jong lightly kicked him with his toe and flipped him back over.
"...Is there no place where we might obtain information about that?"
"If there was information, Beggar Union would have already informed us."
Im Sobyeong poked his cheek with his fan. As if his own heart was complicated while saying that.
"As you know, these things don't appear just because you scour the world for them. You simply... have to hope for a fate."
...Fate.
Yoon Jong thought about it for a moment and then chuckled.
Such stories were better left unheard. For a hope that can never be reached was more painful than despair.
"Damn it. You're just spouting obvious nonsense. Did you come just to say that? You must have a lot of free time."
“Ah.”
Im Sobyeong snapped his fan open and lightly waved it toward his face.
"Oh my, I forgot the purpose of my visit. This is why one needs to keep their wits about them."
A hint of curiosity crossed everyone's eyes. Im Sobyeong looked at everyone sitting in the room and spoke.
“Maengju-nim has arrived.”
"Uh..."
Mount Hua disciples sprang to their feet as if bouncing up. But it was difficult to greet him with the usual delight. Everyone's faces quickly darkened.
* * *
“Grand Sect Leader!”
"You've arrived?"
Running outside, they saw Hyun Jong surrounded by people.
Although signs of fatigue were inevitably visible from rushing such a long distance, he still looked not much different from the Hyun Jong everyone knew.
"Well...!"
But Five Swords, who was about to run towards Hyun Jong, hesitated for a moment and couldn't move. The people encircling Hyun Jong were too formidable for them to dare intrude.
"Sahyung."
“Let’s wait...”
"Yeah."
They couldn't help but realize anew. Hyun Jong wasn’t only the Grand Sect Elder of Mount Hua but also the alliance leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
After such a major battle, he would undoubtedly have many important tasks to attend to as alliance leader. So they couldn't act childishly here and...
At that moment.
Hyun Jong turned his head and his eyes happened to meet theirs. Jo-Gol, unsure what to do, was about to quietly step aside when Hyun Jong spoke firmly to those around him.
"Just a moment. I have something to do first, so I ask for your understanding."
At the gentle yet firm words, everyone around nodded and stepped back.
Without the slightest hesitation, Hyun Jong approached Yoon Jong, Jo-Gol, and Yoo Iseol with large strides.
With each step he took closer, the faces of the three stiffened.
But before they could even identify the source of the discomfort rising in their hearts, Hyun Jong approached and patted their shoulders. It was a gentle touch.
“Really… You really worked so hard."
“...”
"You did well."
In an instant, Jo-Gol's head dropped sharply. A corner of his heart suddenly welled up. Emotions he hadn't particularly been conscious of surged up like a broken dam the moment he faced Hyun Jong.
"Sect Leader...”
Hyun Jong quietly patted everyone's shoulders as if he understood that feeling.
Then, one person who had approached beside them spoke.
"You all worked too hard, Sahyung."
“Soso...”
Tang Soso's face was indescribably gaunt. Of course, it was partly due to being overworked, but Yoon Jong intuitively knew that wasn't all.
Tang Soso was originally bright and full of energy. For her expression to be that dark…
'She heard.'
She must already know. About Baek Cheon's condition.
Tang Soso's heart might be even heavier than theirs. Because she was a physician. No, beyond being a physician, she had constantly told and worried about Mount Hua’s disciples that something like this would happen someday.
That was likely the reason why deep self-reproach could be felt in her big eyes.
Objectively speaking, there was absolutely no reason for Tang Soso to blame herself. She had always done her best to prevent it. It was Baek Cheon and them who didn't listen to her.
But no matter how much they told her that, Tang Soso wouldn't be able to stop reproaching herself.
Though there were many things they wanted to say and should say, they couldn't easily open their mouths. The reason was one. The fact that Tang Soso knew meant...
"Yes, how is that child?"
Hyun Jong lowered the hand that had been patting his disciples and asked.
“Where is Baek Cheon?”
As if the air had suddenly become heavy, the shoulders of the three people standing in front of him slumped.
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