He does not disappoint. (1)
Kwanpyeong!
Namgung Myeong injected some inner strength into the barely conscious patient’s body.
“Just a little more… Hang on a little longer!”
The condition of the injured was worsening. The physical injuries were severe, but the biggest problem was the loss of their will to live.
They had lost “hope.”
“Young Lord will definitely lead the rescue. So, just a bit more! Just a bit longer!”
Namgung Myeong spoke as if he was scolding them.
He had already exhausted his energy, and he was drenched in sweat from trying to squeeze out even a little more strength. However, Gwanpyeong’s condition only deteriorated.
“Aren’t you going to hold on? You damn bastard!”
In the end, a curse slipped from Namgung Myeong’s lips.
He released his grip from Gwanpyeong’s acupuncture point and firmly grasped his collar.
“Didn’t you see it with your own eyes? How Young Lord left! Why the elders sacrificed their lives!”
Gwanpyeong’s eyes, which had been going out of focus, refocused slightly.
“Do you want to turn their deaths into meaningless ones? They gave their lives to save you! So, at least, shouldn’t you fight to survive, you bastards!”
The desperate cries of Namgung Myeong were akin to a scream that knew no bounds. Even the wounded, whose consciousness was fading, and those who cared for them, all bowed their heads and swallowed their tears.
The gaze of Gwanpyeong, who had been staring into the distant emptiness with unfocused eyes, slowly moved and landed on Namgung Myeong.
“Lea…der….”
His parched lips trembled and opened slightly.
“the leader…will…save…”
“Yes!”
Namgung Myeong urgently grasped Gwanpyeong’s hand tightly.
“He will come back! He will find a solution and return! So hold on a little longer! Endure it with determination!”
There was no clear change.
It was merely the fact that lips, which had weakly parted, had firmly closed. Their condition was still not good, and the situation remained the same. But for Namgung Myeong, this small change was enough. As long as they didn’t lose their will to live.
Namgung Myeong gritted his teeth and lifted his head.
“…Don’t forget why everyone risked their lives for the leader.”
The eyes of everyone became resolute.
“If you’ve seen that death with your own eyes, if you’re the ones who bear the name of Namgung and protect what he wanted, then at the very least, do not die in disgrace! So endure it relentlessly, no matter what it takes, until Young Lord returns!”
“Yes!”
Namgung Myeong gritted his teeth and looked up at the sky. He didn’t want to meet eyes with clan members, fearing that tears would spill needlessly.
Having lost the Lord and the elders, Namgung had lost its anchor. Namgung Myeong alone couldn’t lead them. So the only place he could lean on was Namgung Dowi.
‘Lord…’
He knew. The expectations placed on the still young boy were immense and harsh.
But it was a destiny that went hand in hand with the one who would become the Lord of Namgung Clan.
‘Please, as soon as possible…’
Namgung Myeong’s gaze stretched beyond the river to the vast land. To the land that Namgung Dowi was treading upon.
***
Paaah!
A single ray of light pierced through the dense forest, forging ahead. Soon, dozens of rays of light followed behind, cutting through the earth.
“Huuk!”
Jao Gae’s rough breath escaped his lips. He might be an Elder of the Beggars Sect, and while he wasn’t like the others, he had his own pride in martial arts. Yet, now he was merely following behind those who had rushed out.
The beggars who had come with him had long disappeared from sight.
‘This, this is…’
Of course, the circumstances needed to be considered. Jao Gae had exerted all his energy to run tirelessly towards Jangwon with Namgung Dowi.
But…
“Weren’t they shuttling between the Wuhan and Jangwon just yesterday?”
And still, they could maintain this speed? Jao Gae’s gaze shifted to a man up ahead. It was Baek Cheon, carrying the unconscious Namgung Dowi on his back.
Paat!
With every strong step Baek Cheon took, his body stretched forward, but there was no hint of sway in his upper body. He was doing his best to minimize the burden on the severely injured Namgung Dowi.
“How is he?”
“Not good.”
When Baek Cheon asked, Tang Soso, who was examining Namgung Dowi’s condition, replied quietly.
“He has lost too much blood.”
Tang Soso bit her lip lightly.
Namgung Dowi had suffered several severe injuries that required immediate rest. Taking someone like him to the battlefield? From a medical perspective, it was madness.
But…
‘I can’t do that.’
Tang Soso was a physician, but she was also a warrior. That’s why she could understand Namgung Dowi’s perspective. Leaving those who were like family under the enemy’s blade, waiting only for death, and stopping here to rest?
It wasn’t an option.
“But his condition…”
Tang Soso’s gaze turned to Namgung Dowi’s pale face. His pulse was faint and irregular. He could collapse at any moment.
“Cough!”
At that moment, the unconscious Namgung Dowi coughed up a large amount of blood. Tang Soso grabbed Baekcheon’s shoulder in alarm.
“Sasuk! Don’t push it any further…”
“Step aside.”
Then, someone abruptly intervened and approached. When Tang Soso turned around, she saw Tang Gunak, who had suddenly run over.
She nodded, allowing him to take over by Namgung Dowi’s side.
“Hmm.”
Tang Gunak’s expression tightened as he briefly examined Namgung Dowi.
“Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
Chung Myung, who had been running ahead with an indifferent expression, glanced back briefly.
“His condition is extremely critical. If we continue like this, he might not make it even before reaching our destination.”
“…”
“What can we do?”
Chung Myung answered as if there was no need for further thought.
“A warrior standing on the battlefield…”
His lips twisted, revealing white teeth.
“If he can die riding on someone else’s back, that’s also a good way to go.”
It was a chillingly cold statement. But Tang Gunak nodded as if he had expected it.
“This situation isn’t ideal for using Yosangdan*. Did you bring any medicinal herbs or elixirs with you?”
Chung Myung’s gaze turned towards Hyun Jong. Without hesitation, Hyun Jong spoke up.
“Hyun Young!”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
“Hand over the Yosangdan.”
“Yes.”
There weren’t many Yosangdan left at Hwasan now. They couldn’t procure materials while training during the Bongmun, which is why their stock was limited.
That’s why this Yosangdan is incredibly important. They don’t know what might happen on the path they’re running right now, and because of that, even one Yosangdan could potentially save one more disciple of Hwasan.
However, when Hyun Jong gave the order, and to Hyun Young, who received the order, there was no sign of hesitation. Hyun Young took the Yosangdan from and handed it to Tang Gunak without delay.
“Hmm!”
Taking the box, Tang Gunak immediately opened it. A refreshing scent touched his nose. At a glance, it was evident that this was no ordinary pill. It was a valuable elixir that couldn’t be dismissed as a simple remedy.
Nodding, Tang Gunakk pushed the it into Namgung Dowi’s mouth, who was still being carried by Baek Cheon. After forcibly making him swallow the elixir by pressing his throat, Tang Gunak placed his hand on Namgung Dowi’s back to start infusing energy.
Managing one’s energy while running was by no means an easy task. A slight mistake could endanger not only the patient but also Tang Gunak, who was attempting to administer the treatment.
However, his hands were steady.
Wooooong!
As time passed, large beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Those around him watched his efforts with seriousness. The decision to exhaust one’s inner strength to the point of sweating profusely on the way to the battlefield was no easy one.
It meant that Tang Gunak was pouring his heart into saving Namgung Dowi.
How much longer did they run like this?
“Hoo…”
Finally, a deep breath escaped from his lips.
“…We’ve passed the dangerous moment. But… if he push himself further, even the elixir he’s taken might be in vain. Right now, it’s just that we’ve barely managed to reconnect the nearly severed lifeline.”
He said to Chung Myung.
Although he conveyed his thoughts as a physician, in the end, it meant that he couldn’t guarantee Dowi lives if he pushed himself too hard.
But Chung Myung didn’t even blink upon hearing those words.
“Still planning to take him?”
He asked again, and Chung Myung chuckled.
“That’s stating the obvious.”
“…Can’t stop you, I guess.”
Tang Gunak nodded slightly.
But he, too, shared the same thought as Chung Myung. While he had formally voiced his opposition as a physician, he knew that if he were in Namgung Dowi’s position, he would likely make the same choice.
‘Even if my legs were cut off, I’d crawl to Maehwado.’
For warriors like them, there were sometimes things more important than life itself.
Tang Gunak’s gaze slowly turned towards Baek Cheon.
Whether it was Sect Leader, who was willingly giving up the precious elixir to someone who wasn’t his disciple, or Baek Cheon, who was dragging someone who looked like he might stop breathing at any moment to Yangtze, they were all remarkable in their own right…
‘But the most surprising one is here.’
Baek Cheon was carrying an unconscious person while running. It was not an ordinary feat to maintain this speed while carrying someone. Even more astonishing was the stability and calmness with which he did it.
Considering his young age, it was even more impressive. To possess remarkable inner strength and delicate energy control simultaneously was nothing short of astounding.
If Baek Cheon hadn’t carefully protected Namgung Dowi, it would have been impossible to consider any form of treatment in this situation.
Tang Gunak looked around with fresh eyes. While he kept his gaze fixed ahead, he could sense the pressure of Hwasan’s disciples running with all their might.
He had already confirmed Chung Myung’s growth with his own eyes. What he felt in their sparring was the assurance that Chung Myung still hadn’t shown him everything.
However…
‘What we should be paying attention to might not be the Hwasan Geomhyeop, but them.’
Unnoticed, the distance between Sichuan Tang and Hwasan had begun to widen. Even elite warriors of the Tang Clan found it challenging to keep up with them.
Of course, Light arts is not a criterion for classifying martial arts, but it was still a meaningful sight.
Amidst all these thoughts, even as Tang Gunak pondered, the disciples of Hwasan, including Five Swords, continued to strengthen their determination.
“Faster.”
‘Paaah’
Baek Cheon’s foot struck the ground. If, by any chance, they were too late and Namgung met their demise, all their efforts would be in vain.
‘I absolutely can’t bear to see that.’
He didn’t want to think about agreements, strategies, or the overall situation now. What meaning did it hold at this moment?
Baek Cheon simply wanted to protect the earnestness of the injured warrior he was carrying. If Hwasan was in the same situation, Baek Cheon wouldn’t have been any different from Namgung Dowi.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll definitely take you to Maehwado!’
Baek Cheon roared as if to reassure him.
“Increase the speed! We can’t be late!”
“Yes!”
Paaaah!
The disciples of Hwasan, carrying Namgung Dowi, pushed themselves even harder in their sprint.
However, time was relentless nonetheless.
Finally, on the fifth day as promised by Jang Ilso, the sun began to rise beyond Yangtze river.
_________
*Yosangdan – 요상단(療傷丹) – “Healing Pill for Internal Injuries.” It’s a type of medicine used to treat internal injuries, in contrast to “금창약 – geumchang-yag” which is used for external or traumatic injuries.
Return of the Mount Hua 
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