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

I had thought that people who didn’t know me could say such things.

Looking at it objectively, it wasn’t a particularly bad environment.

Born into the prestigious Moyong clan, the younger sister of Moyong Do who was evaluated as the best late-blooming talent, and now the wife of the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

From others’ perspective, I had nothing to complain about if they said I was walking a path adorned with beautiful flowers.

But what I had to endure inside wasn’t simple. A life of just waiting for the grim reaper’s scythe with death before my eyes was never peaceful.

Knowing that death is approaching soon means that much more frustration and pain.

Isn’t it too pitiful to express that as merely a flower, like a hydrangea that wilts overnight?

“Kuh…!”

I chased after Beon Yang who was struggling fiercely to escape. Her speed was certainly superior to the previous two opponents.

But it wasn’t to the extent that I couldn’t keep up. If those attacks were poured on me, it would be difficult to parry, but it wasn’t bad to chase after her aggressive moves.

As if trying to break through the urgent situation, Beon Yang threw one of her daggers towards my cheek.

Surprised by her sudden action, I stopped in place, deflected the dagger, then looked at Beon Yang who had moved away. She was wiping her sweat while exhaling rough breaths.

I released the low stance I had taken to regain balance, then lowered my sword. I slowly approached.

“Honestly, what you said earlier was very uncomfortable. Those who don’t know me can talk behind my back all they want, but I never thought I’d hear those words to my face. Others may only see the good sides of someone else’s life and think it’s glamorous and joyful, but how could they not know that there are circumstances inside that they can’t see?”

I tilted my head slightly.

Beon Yang’s eyes looking at me flashed, and soon she put her daggers back in their sheaths and took out hand guards from her bosom to put on her hands. Then she grinned.

“Holding a sword is really troublesome after all.”

“…Bare-handed?”

“Cutting and slashing with a sword is boring. The best is to break and burst things with your fists.”

I hadn’t heard that Beon Yang was a bare-handed fighter. But her appearance as she bounced lightly and took a stance looked nimble.

Beon Yang stared intently into my eyes, then her eyes flashed as she quickly rushed in.

Her stance was even lower than before. That much faster and more aggressive. Surprised by the distance closing in an instant, I dodged to the side, but she followed that distance and swung her fist towards my face.

The fist filled with inner energy was dangerous by itself. If hit wrong, it was violent enough to shatter the jawbone.

I hurriedly raised my sword to block the swinging fist, but this time the other hand flew in and accurately jabbed my side. I twisted my body to disperse the impact of the fist stabbing my side, but I couldn’t prevent my body from being pushed back.

I staggered back and looked at Beon Yang. She clashed her fists together.

“You were talking big earlier, but now you’re quiet. Why? Are you thinking of cuddling up to your great husband and acting cute, asking him to scold you? Or do you want to cry, shedding tears saying it hurts too much?”

Her mouth held a big smile.

“A stupid woman who just grew up prettily like a flower can’t beat me.”

Beon Yang took her stance again. It was a low stance with the balance shifted downwards.

“So if you lose to me, it means you’re that kind of person.”

“…”

I bit my lip hard. It was clear provocation. I felt my heart beating rapidly. An urge to cut down the woman in front of me surged. Strength entered the hand holding the sword.

“I’ll shut that vulgar mouth that speaks carelessly.”

“Go ahead and try.”

She jerked her head to the side and immediately rushed in. Her speed was higher than when she was holding the daggers.

But it wasn’t to the extent that I couldn’t keep up. I imbued energy into the sword and raised it from bottom to top.

The 14th form of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Plum Blossom Full Bloom, pours out sword energy that obscures the opponent’s vision like flower petals scattered in the wind. From here, the nature of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique changes.

As soon as I saw Beon Yang hesitate when her vision was blocked by the faint red sword energies, I also immediately rushed in.

I had no intention of falling behind. Strength against strength. I had to break through her strength head-on. Beon Yang gritted her teeth after blocking my sword that flew through the petal-like sword energies with her overlapped hand guards.

“Such tricks…!”

“I’ll shatter those troublesome hand guards for you.”

I chased after Beon Yang as she retreated, consecutively unfolding Plum Blossom Falling Island, Plum Blossom Nine Variations, and Plum Fragrance Permeating Bones.

They were all higher forms of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique and consumed massive amounts of inner energy to use, but it didn’t matter.

I had enough inner energy, and I needed to use strong forms to break those hand guards. Beon Yang blocked my pursuing sword with one hand, sometimes both hands. She seemed to barely hold out until about the 20th form, but after that it looked difficult for her.

I was also pouring out massive amounts of inner energy. By the time I unfolded the 50th form, the inner energy that had been overflowing like a lake now seemed to be showing its bottom. I felt a sweet taste in my mouth due to my lack of stamina.

I pressed on without giving time to breathe. I gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to lose. I felt that if I lost here, I wouldn’t be able to deny that I had lived an easy life, as Beon Yang had said.

The life I had lived was by no means a peaceful flowery path. It was a thorny path of powerlessness and suffering.

The one who pulled me out of there was none other than Hyuk Dojin.

That effort couldn’t be undervalued by calling it a flowery path. What gave life to me who had lived powerlessly for 40 years was his effort and devotion, and his lovely heart that cherished insignificant me.

So, I can’t lose.

I endured with evil the insufficient stamina and inner energy. While confirming with my eyes Beon Yang’s appearance that was also nearing its end like me, I drew out my last strength.

“…Plum Blossom Flowing Stream.”

The fragrance of plum blossoms becomes one flow-

“Plum Blossom Ten Thousand Li Fragrance.”

And that fragrance travels ten thousand li.

So that it can be felt and smelled no matter how far away.

The fragments of sword energy that extended from the sword engulfed Beon Yang. The floor of the martial arts arena cracked and dust rose, and Beon Yang’s figure disappeared in between.

“Haa… Haa.”

Exhaling rough breaths, I watched the dust cloud and then sat down with the sword stuck in the ground. Immediately, all the inner energy in my body was depleted and thirst surged.

It was a completely different feeling from when Hyuk Dojin had sucked out my inner energy saying he would teach me a protective strong energy technique.

It wouldn’t be strange if I lost consciousness like this, but I didn’t let go of my senses. Because there was still something I needed to confirm.

Eventually the dust cloud cleared and a figure was revealed. There stood Beon Yang, still intact. She was looking at me in the same posture she had blocked my sword energy.

‘In the end…’

Was my training insufficient? I should have worked harder. Regret surged. I should have pushed myself more fiercely instead of whining that it was hard.

In the end, am I unable to overcome that wall? I bit my lip hard.

The dust completely cleared and Beon Yang adjusted her posture before slowly approaching.

Beon Yang’s appearance as she reached me was also in tatters. There were numerous cuts embedded in her body.

Beon Yang exhaled roughly. I narrowed my brows as I looked up at her.

Beon Yang stared at me silently, then showed me her hand guard. Inside was a hand already stained with blood.

Beon Yang sighed, took off the hand guard and threw it on the ground, then quietly said:

“Why did you withdraw your inner energy at the end?”

At her words, I slightly narrowed my brows and then answered grumpily.

“This is a martial arts competition. I had no intention of using killing techniques.”

The final forms of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique were extremely powerful.

They were much more destructive than the original Mount Hua’s sword techniques. I thought it would be dangerous for Beon Yang if I poured them out as they were.

What I wanted to break was Beon Yang’s beliefs and hand guards, not take her life.

Beon Yang heard my answer and stared at me silently, then nodded her head and stepped back.

To the referee approaching, she stretched out her hand to show her ruined hand and told him she had no strength left to attack me, then turned her body.

“Uh… Uh?!”

The referee widened his eyes in surprise as he looked at Beon Yang, then hurriedly raised his hand. There seemed to be a murmur from the surroundings, and then applause burst out.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

“Waaaa!”

A loud sound echoed in the martial arts arena.

I got up from my seat, leaning on my sword, and looked around. They were cheering for me.

“…”

As I watched them applauding, I saw Hyuk Dojin waiting for me at the edge of the arena.

A smile came to my face. I slowly approached him. Quickly, I wanted to be in his arms.

* * *

“Hooh…”

Beon Yuk, who had been watching the match from afar, stroked his chin and let out a low exclamation.

Beon Yuk stared intently at Moyong Sowol’s back as she slowly walked away after finishing the match. He honestly thought it was unexpected.

Moyong Sowol’s martial arts match, who was said to not be in good physical condition. Although she had proven her skills were good in the first and second matches, from his perspective it was quite unsatisfactory.

It lacked the aggressive appearance of demonic martial arts. It made him feel uncomfortable, as if watching something from the Righteous Sect.

Being soft and gentle, it was less enjoyable to watch and seemed to lack destructive power.

But the appearance she showed at the end was beyond expectation.

Pushing through from beginning to end without considering her stamina and inner energy looked like a fighter betting her life.

It wasn’t a strength that seemed possible from that white hair, pale skin, and thin arms.

The forms she kept using as if being chased by something were all aggressive. Beon Yuk grinned and leaned back.

“Are you satisfied?”

Instead of answering Man Do’s question, Beon Yuk just let out a low laugh. Man Do looked at Moyong Sowol walking away and spoke languidly.

“How was that? Is it enough when measured by your standards?”

“Well… it’s somewhat usable.”

Man Do spat out harsh words at his friend who gave such a stingy evaluation. Then he narrowed his brows and clicked his tongue, the asked:

“Did you send out your granddaughter to give such a stingy evaluation? That monster?”

“Monster? Isn’t that too much for an ordinary girl?”

“A girl who can crush rocks with her bare hands is not ordinary.”

Beon Yuk chuckled. He never thought Beon Yang would put on hand guards.

When she put on hand guards, forgetting the agreement to only use daggers, he thought Moyong Sowol would lose. But the result was the opposite.

Beon Yuk tilted his body to the side. He stared intently at Moyong Sowol being embraced by Hyuk Dojin.

“I thought she wouldn’t be much…”

A faint sneer hung on his lips.

“But she seems more useful than I expected.”