The Terminally-Ill Side-Character Inside of a Martial Arts Novel

Man Do, who was cutting down enemies at the very front, frowned. The number of enemies rushing in endlessly, no matter how many he killed, was excessive.

Moreover, among the rushing enemies, some high-level masters were included who couldn’t be easily dealt with.

The Yeonwi Left Army, hiding among the rabble, moved to attack Man Do from hidden places. However, it was nearly impossible to take down Man Do, a veteran of a hundred battles, with clumsy tricks.

When the battle first broke out, everyone tried to take down Man Do with high spirits, but as time passed, the number of those who died by Man Do’s hand only increased.

In the end, the Yeonwi Left Army gave up on subduing Man Do and attacked other places to break through.

But if the Murim Alliance had the Yeonwi Left Army, the Demon Cult had the Blood Flow Thousand Wolves Corps. They skillfully continued fighting while withstanding the Yeonwi Left Army’s joint attacks.

On top of that, suddenly a huge wolf leaped out and began mercilessly slaughtering the enemies.

The Yeonwi Left Army and Murim Alliance warriors were surprised by the Demon Cult’s counterattack and retreated, but as time passed, they realized their opponents were getting tired and pressed even more fiercely.

“You bastards!!”

Although the Blood Flow Thousand Wolves Corps members kept falling, Man Do filled all those empty spaces. Even though the battle had continued for quite a long time, Man Do showed no signs of fatigue and dealt with the enemies while emitting overwhelming martial prowess and tremendous demonic energy.

Just as the Murim Alliance soldiers were thinking they might be pushed back like this, Geum Hyul leaped out and rushed at Man Do.

At his sudden intervention, even Man Do, who had been displaying overwhelming martial prowess, gradually began to be pushed back.

No matter how great a Demonic Realm master he was, he couldn’t win against the extremely well-trained Yeonwi Left Army and Geum Hyul together.

Man Do clenched his teeth and forcibly held on. If he was pushed back like this, everything would be over.

If Hyuk Dojin, the Young Cult Leader, joined this side, they could win. He held on thinking that, but the moment he saw Yoo Doha appear behind him, Man Do instinctively felt something was going wrong.

“…Young Cult Leader?”

“Vice Cult Leader. You must retreat. We can’t fight anymore.”

Man Do slightly retreated from the frontline and urgently ran to Yoo Doha. Man Do looked down at Hyuk Dojin, covered in blood in his arms, and urgently checked his pulse.

The very faint pulse under Man Do’s hand meant that Hyuk Dojin’s life was in grave danger.

“What happened?”

“While the Young Cult Leader was fighting with Geum Hyul, Geum Hyul seized the opportunity when the madman intervened and launched a surprise attack. Because of that…”

“So that’s why that Geum Hyul fellow joined the battle so late.”

Man Do frowned, baring his teeth. He flowed true qi into Hyuk Dojin to slightly stabilize his condition, then raised his head. Man Do’s brows narrowed as he examined the direction Yoo Doha had run from just now.

“…But then, what happened to the madman? Was he taken down?”

“…”

At Man Do’s question, he quietly shook his head.

“Then? Did Eun Do block him?”

“…The Young Madam stepped forward.”

“What?!”

Man Do shouted with wide eyes. It was a momentary event, but even just the inner power spreading from his body felt like it was crushing down.

When Yoo Doha groaned lowly, Man Do hurriedly withdrew his aura. Man Do looked back and urgently moved his feet to go over there. But the one who blocked him was Eun Do.

“…You mustn’t go.”

“Why are you here when you should be protecting the Young Madam?!”

“The Young Madam sent me herself.”

“No matter if the Young Madam sent you here, how can you leave her to face that dangerous madman? Get out of the way!!”

Man Do roughly pushed Eun Do’s shoulder to pass, but he grabbed the Vice Cult Leader’s shoulder to stop him. Man Do’s gaze turned towards him.

“Are you trying to block this old man’s path…?!”

“If you go…!!”

Eun Do, who was directly blocking the enraged Vice Cult Leader, gritted his teeth and shouted roughly.

“If you go, everyone here will die!”

“…”

“If you don’t help us, Vice Cult Leader, we and those children back there, and also…”

His gaze fell on Hyuk Dojin. Man Do clenched his teeth at the sight of the Young Cult Leader breathing faintly.

“Even the Young Cult Leader won’t be able to save his life. So, come to your senses and help us.”

“…”

“You’re the only one here who can face Geum Hyul, Vice Cult Leader. Please…”

At Eun Do’s cry that was almost like sobbing, Man Do slowly exhaled. His face, which had rarely shown anger and was distorted, slowly relaxed.

Man Do inhaled at the terrifying inner power felt from far away. It was a monster to the point where he doubted if he could win even if he went.

‘Is that what you’re facing?’

Moyong Sowol, who had been swimming in pain and now could live normally, threw away her life for Hyuk Dojin.

To protect the person she loved. To continue that person’s breath.

Man Do felt his heart ache.

What on earth was different?

‘Soso…’

Man Do tightly closed his eyes at the face flickering in his vision.

A Demonic Realm master, the Vice Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and even a demon who had lived for over a hundred years.

He felt that any of those titles referring to him were meaningless. It was the same 10 years ago and the same now. It was all just turning a blind eye to survive.

He had added bone-cutting efforts for ten years to not experience that day’s pain again, but in the end, nothing changed.

Man Do met the gazes looking at his eyes. They were all looking at him with heavy and serious eyes. They all knew. How shameful and embarrassing a decision they had just made.

It was a situation where they should throw away their lives and still not be enough, yet they were hiding behind the back of a small woman. What on earth was power as the law and power as justice?

How could losers who turn their backs and run away like beaten dogs talk about power?

-Have you come, Uncle? Have you eaten?

-Welcome, Man Do. Have you eaten?

The faces of two people appeared and disappeared repeatedly in Man Do’s mind.

“Vice Cult Leader…!”

Eun Do urged once more. Man Do looked at Hyuk Dojin one last time, then took a deep breath and spoke quietly.

“The Yeonwi Left Army, guard this place. When an opportunity arises to open a path, escort the Young Cult Leader and retreat.”

The Demon Cult lowered his sword and turned around with a crumpled face, struggling.

“…Don’t make mistakes. It’s the last chance sacrificing a noble life.”

* * *

“…Haa.”

I raised my head with my sword stuck in the ground. My muscles were already screaming. Sweat was pouring like rain, and my breath had been rough for a long time.

It was difficult to accurately grasp the current moment to the point where rational judgment was impossible.

The madman quietly looking down at me in front of my eyes showed destructive power that was unbelievable for a human. I had met many masters before, but none were like the madman in front of me.

No attack worked.

I had already unleashed all the extreme martial arts I could perform. Even drawing out every bit of inner power filling my body to attack, I couldn’t inflict a single wound. Even tricks causing hallucinations and mental confusion were meaningless to him.

His sword, which pierced accurately while cutting through scattered cherry blossoms, was more destructive and tyrannical than anything else. It seemed to contain the will to cut down whatever was in front of it. When he moved, the sword was seen first. And then his figure was seen next.

‘…Is this unity of sword and person?’

The will of the sword is my will, and my will is the will of the sword.

The stage where body and sword become one.

Yoo Doha emphasized that if one reaches that stage, martial arts have already entered the beginning of the Flowering Realm. I didn’t know what it meant then, but now I understand. What unity of sword and person is.

I laughed lowly. What’s the use of knowing that now? It’s already over.

Thanks to the madman quietly looking down at me, as if giving me one last leisure, I could turn my gaze.

Some time had passed since Eun Do and Yoo Doha had disappeared with Hyuk Dojin. By now, they would have escaped with the Vice Cult Leader. Is this enough to have bought time decently?

A small laugh flowed out. Unlike what I thought, that I wouldn’t be able to withstand even one move, I was able to buy some time, perhaps because the madman was going easy on me.

It would be humiliating as a martial artist, but I was just grateful now as I was trying to save Hyuk Dojin.

“Haa…”

I exhaled deeply and used my sword as support to raise my body. With arms shaking as if about to collapse at any moment, I pulled out my sword and took a stance.

The madman’s eyes narrowed. At his appearance, I smiled faintly and opened my mouth.

“I thought since you were called a madman, you’d be someone who kills indiscriminately without mercy… but you’re surprisingly quiet. I thought you’d be drooling and screaming while attacking recklessly…”

“…”

“It doesn’t matter either way. Thanks to you doing that, I was fortunately able to buy time. Should I thank you for that?”

The madman’s mouth remained closed and didn’t seem like it would open. I didn’t particularly expect an answer either, so I slowly closed my mouth.

The madman quietly looked at me, then turned his gaze to look in the direction where Hyuk Dojin had disappeared.

“That’s not allowed.”

When I opened my mouth again, the madman turned his gaze towards me. I shook my head slightly.

“If you want to go that way, kill me and go. If not, you can’t move a single step from here. So…”

I exhaled while drawing up my last remaining true qi.

“Kill me.”

The madman’s eyes narrowed, then he slowly approached. I swallowed my laughter as I watched him approach one step at a time.

…Is this how I die? I struggled so hard to live, but I never thought I’d die like this.

I thought everything would work out without any problems this time too, since things had always worked out well before.

But that was an illusion. The moment Hyuk Dojin collapsed, everything came crashing down like a dam breaking.

In the end, I was just someone who couldn’t do anything without Hyuk Dojin. So, giving up my life for him, for others, when he’s in danger now, wasn’t a waste.

Anyway, I had barely prolonged my life by placing a little bit of my burden on everyone. So sacrificing myself for them was only natural.

Yes, it’s natural. It’s very… very natural…

“Still, it’s regrettable.”

I put on a bitter smile while recalling Hyuk Dojin’s face as he collapsed bleeding.

“I couldn’t even say goodbye properly…”

I quietly drew the kind man who reached out his hand telling me to run away even when his own life was in danger.

“If I had known it would be like this, I should have left a letter.”

The madman reached a distance where my sword could reach if I stretched it out. I raised my sword while drawing up my true qi. I met the madman’s dry eyes.

I could see myself in them, and Hyuk Dojin’s face was drawn in my pupils.

Remembering my last love recalled at the end of death.

‘Please, live.’

I swung my sword while conveying my last words I couldn’t say to him.