Chapter 1712
That will be enough. (7)
Whoosh!
The disciples of Hwasan tore through the burning forest as they rushed up Mount Wudang in a single breath.
‘Please! Please!’
Baek Sang summoned all his inner strength, drawing it from his dantian until it felt like it might shatter.
He knew. He was well aware that he wasn’t among the strongest in Hwasan. It would make more sense for someone stronger to carry Baek Cheon up the mountain. It would be better for Baek Cheon that way.
But Baek Sang refused to hand Baek Cheon over to anyone else. This was something he had to do. It was his role, one he could not relinquish to anyone.
Bang!
His feet struck the ground with force as his body shot up the mountain like a streak of lightning.
“This way!”
As he climbed the steep mountain path without a moment’s rest, gasping for breath, the ancient and majestic pavilions of Wudang came into view. Though different from those of Hwasan, they were imbued with the unmistakable aura of a Taoist sect.
“Wudang…!”
“Which way is the medical hall?”
“T-This way.”
“No, we can’t! Wudang’s medical hall doesn’t have enough space to accommodate all of them!”
“Damn it! Then just bring in those who are in critical condition first!”
Frustrated, Baek Sang sharply shouted, causing Wudang swordsman to flinch and nod hurriedly.
“Where is it?”
“Over there! That hall!”
Baek Sang sprinted towards the medical hall and was about to throw open its doors when…
“Please wait! You can’t go in!”
Someone urgently shouted, stopping Baek Sang in his tracks. All Hwasan’s disciples, including Baek Sang, turned to look at the speaker.
A disciple of Wudang, whose injuries were relatively minor, stood pale-faced as he called out to them again.
“The, the medical hall is off-limits!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Off-limits?”
“Wudang hasn’t officially lifted Bongmun. According to our principles, allowing outsiders into the inner grounds is strictly forbidden.”
“…What?”
“And especially the medical hall! This… this is beyond our authority. The Sect Leader would need to be consulted…”
Gwak Hoe, unable to contain his frustration, cursed loudly.
“Sect Leader? Damn it! Where are we supposed to find him? We haven’t seen a trace of him during the entire battle!”
“Still, that’s the only option we have.”
“So what? Are we supposed to just let them die?”
“As… as per our rules, Wudang’s disciples are allowed to enter the medical hall, but for Hwasan’s disciples… you would have to stay outside the hall…”
A cold, murderous intent flared in Gwak Hoe’s eyes.
“What did you just say? Outside the hall?”
The other disciples of Hwasan were no different. The air around them began to simmer with rising fury.
All of them glanced at Baek Cheon, who was slung over Baek Sang’s back, their anger barely contained.
“Did you just say outside the hall?”
“N-No, I didn’t mean-“
Even the one who had initially tried to stop them fell silent when he saw Baek Cheon. It was obvious at a glance that Baek Cheon’s condition was dire, beyond what the word ‘critical’ could describe.
“You bastard! We risked our lives to help you, and this is what you say in return?”
“If your gates are closed, then why are you out here walking around?”
“That’s because… given the circumstances, the Acting Sect Leader temporarily declared an exception. But it doesn’t mean the gates are officially open.”
“You…!”
“Of course, I… I understand how you feel. But the laws of Wudang are strict. Please, I ask you to understand…”
“The laws?”
Someone asked coldly.
As if that had been the signal, Hwasan’s disciples simultaneously laid down Wudang’s disciples they had been carrying.
The hands that had fiercely fought to save lives now grasped at the cold air, along with an invisible, bitter sense of betrayal.
Wudang’s disciples, who had been unceremoniously dumped on the ground, looked up at Hwasan’s disciples in shock. In that moment, they were met with icy stares filled with hostility.
Hwasan’s disciples gritted their teeth and muttered darkly.
“Just as they say, you shouldn’t take in a black-haired beast*.”
“Repaying kindness with betrayal – this is beyond disgraceful.”
If they themselves had been treated this way, they might not have been so furious. But this was Baek Cheon. No one in Hwasan could tolerate seeing Baek Cheon treated with such disrespect.
“Please, understand…”
“Shut your mouth, you damn bastards!”
The Baek disciples were nearly ready to draw their swords. Baek Sang clenched his teeth and shouted.
“Enough!”
“But, Sahyeong! These scum-“
“I said, enough! Shut your mouths!”
When Baek Sang roared in anger, everyone fell silent. He, too, bit his lip hard. The frustration burning inside him was no less intense than what the others felt – if anything, it was worse.
But now was not the time to waste precious moments in a futile argument.
“Fine. We’ll treat him here!”
“Sahyeong!”
Baek Sang quelled the dissent among his brothers with a sharp glare, his bloodshot eyes daring anyone to challenge him further. Clenching his teeth, he bowed his head slightly.
“At least provide us with the necessary medical supplies for treatment. We need them immediately! Start with the wound medicine and medicinal water [약수(藥水)]!”
“T-that… well…”
But the man standing in their way, Mu Ui [무의(無疑)], once again hesitated, his face clouded with reluctance.
“That too… is not possible.”
Baek Sang fell silent. The way he looked at Mu Ui was devoid of hostility or anger – it was just coldly transparent.
Mu Ui, flustered, stumbled over his words as he tried to explain.
“Since the gates are closed, nothing from within the sect can be taken outside. Outsiders must be regarded as… external to the sect…”
“Hah…”
Baek Sang let out a bitter laugh.
It had been barely a moment since he had trembled with rage at the treachery of Sapaeryeon, who sacrificed their own men. Yet here he was, having escaped that hellish scene, only to be met with the outdated, rigid dogma of a Just Sect – one that seemed even worse than those of the Evil Sects.
“So, you won’t hand it over…”
Clank.
Baek Sang’s gaze turned icy as he slowly grasped the hilt of his sword.
“In that case, there’s no other option. If you won’t give it to us, we’ll just have to take it.”
“W-What do you mean by that?”
“Move. Unless you want to die!”
Baek Sang drew his sword, and the faces of Wudang’s disciples immediately hardened.
“Do you not know that drawing a sword within the grounds of Wudang is forbidden? Even if you do not observe the ritual of ‘surrendering weapons’, at the very least-“
“Yeah, go ahead, keep talking. Let’s see if you can still speak with a sword shoved down your throat.”
“This is outrageous!”
Baek Sang strode towards Wudang’s disciples, supporting Baek Cheon on his back with one arm.
Seeing this, Wudang’s disciples mustered what little strength they had left to stand, preparing for what seemed to be an imminent clash. The tension in the air was thick, as if another conflict, different from the one with the Evil Sects, was about to explode.
Just then, a voice cut through the tension.
“Open the medical hall and bring the Vice Sect Leader inside.”
“S-Sasuk!”
Everyone turned in shock to see Heo Gong, supported by Mu Jin, looking directly at them.
“Do it now.”
“But, Sasuk! The Sect Leader…”
“I will take full responsibility. Do it.”
“…Yes, Sasuk. Please, this way!”
Wudang’s disciples hurriedly opened the doors to the medical hall wide.
Baek Sang glanced briefly at Heo Gong, who coughed before speaking.
“Laws exist to serve people.”
“…”
“I humbly apologize on behalf of Wudang.”
Even bowing his head seemed to be a struggle for him. Despite his weakened state, Heo Gong did his best to show respect. Seeing this, Baek Sang said nothing more and rushed into the medical hall.
Right now, saving Baek Cheon was the priority.
“Lord Tang!”
“I know.”
They hurriedly laid Baek Cheon down on a bed. Without hesitation, Tang Gunak tore open Baek Cheon’s shirt.
“Ugh…”
“Haa…”
Gasps and sighs of disbelief echoed around the room.
It was beyond horrifying.
Seeing his body, red and charred black, evoked not just sadness but a strange sense of alienation. It felt as if something other than a human being was lying on that bed.
Yet, no matter how much they wished to deny it, they couldn’t escape the truth – this person was Baek Cheon.
“Lord Tang! Will Sahyeong be okay?”
“Step aside!”
“Y-Yes! Step aside, everyone!”
Baek Sang pulled the gathered disciples back, urging them to step aside. Tang Gunak, with an intensely serious expression, carefully examined Baek Cheon’s condition before beginning to search through his own robes.
“But, Lord, you need treatment as well…”
“Quiet!”
Tang Gunak silenced them all with a firm command.
Though they weren’t wrong – Tang Gunak had suffered severe injuries and exhaustion from fighting Cheon Myeon Susa – now was not the time to address it. Baek Cheon stood on the border between life and death. In the face of such a situation, who could afford to worry about mere flesh wounds?
Click.
Tang Gunak opened a small box he had pulled from his robes. Despite the intense battle, the box had remained intact, and inside was a golden acupuncture needle wrapped in a blue silk cloth.
“Guard the area. Even the slightest disturbance could cost him his life, so there must be no interruptions.”
“Yes, Lord Tang!”
The disciples of Hwasan began to guard the surroundings with unyielding vigilance. The atmosphere around them was charged with killing intent, ready to strike down anyone who dared approach, no matter who they were.
Woooong.
Tang Gunak infused the fine golden needle with his internal energy. As it absorbed the energy, the needle glowed with a soft golden light and extended a bit in its length.
With utmost caution, Tang Gunak placed the golden needle onto Baek Cheon’s body.
However, he hesitated, unable to pierce Baek Cheon’s skin. He repeatedly brought the needle close to the charred, barely recognizable flesh, only to pull it back again.
A bead of sweat, formed from his intense concentration, clung to his chin before dripping down. Tang Gunak, now drenched in sweat as if caught in a downpour, was completely focused.
Finally, with utmost care, he inserted the golden needle near Baek Cheon’s shoulder.
Crack.
Tang Gunak’s eyes widened in shock. The needle had pierced the skin, but the flesh crumbled like dust.
He quickly withdrew the needle, biting his lip until it bled.
‘Again!’
He guided the golden needle, infused with his internal energy, back toward Baek Cheon’s shoulder.
Crackle.
But once more, the needle had to be withdrawn before it even penetrated halfway.
“Damn it…”
Tang Gunak’s hand began to tremble.
He tried several more times, searching for a place where the needle might hold, but each attempt ended in failure. After a long moment of hesitation, he finally closed his eyes and straightened his back.
“…Lord Tang?”
One of the disciples, noticing Tang Gunak’s resignation, spoke up, uncertainty and concern lacing his voice.
Baek Sang asked in a dazed voice, trying desperately to ignore the growing sense of dread in his chest.
“Why aren’t you treating him…?”
Tang Gunak let out a deep sigh, his eyes dark as he met Baek Sang’s gaze.
“It… it’s beyond my ability.”
“…What?”
“As with all medicine, the art of the Tang clan focuses on enhancing the residual energy within a patient’s body. However… there’s no energy left in the Vice Sect Leader’s body to serve as a catalyst for treatment. Worse still, his body can’t even withstand my own energy.”
“What… what do you mean by that?”
Baek Sang looked at Tang Gunak with an expression that conveyed his unwillingness to comprehend, his face twisted with desperation.
“Lord!”
“…”
“So, what does that even mean…?”
But as the realization slowly sank in, the strength drained from Baek Sang’s body.
The Tang clan was renowned for both its mastery of poisons and its unmatched medical skills. As the head of the Tang clan, Tang Gunak was one of the most skilled physicians in the world. If even he was saying it was impossible, then the situation was truly dire.
But now, Tang Gunak was saying something unthinkable.
“My medical skills… are not enough…”
“Lord!”
Baek Sang shouted, almost instinctively. He wanted to cover his mouth, to block out the words he feared were coming. He didn’t want to hear them.
Tang Gunak, filled with regret and sorrow, could not hold back any longer. He finally spoke the words that everyone desperately wished to deny.
“My medical skills cannot save the Vice Sect Leader.”
Tang Gunak shut his eyes tightly, as if unable to bear looking at Baek Sang any longer. Baek Sang collapsed to the ground, the weight of the news too much to bear.
Thud.
With a blank expression, he looked back and forth between Baek Cheon and Tang Gunak.
“Lies…”
The finality of the verdict, which he had no power to resist, was more painful than if a blade had been driven into his heart.
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