Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Regret - 2
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There was a saying in the world: the righteous factions are insidious, and the evil factions are ruthless.
The righteous factions pretended to be just while securing their gains behind the scenes, and the evil factions didn't even bother with the pretense—they simply took what they wanted. That was the saying's origin.
Namgung Hye hated it.
In the past, they said the righteous factions lived by righteousness and propriety. Even if it meant taking a loss, they upheld justice; even if harmed, they valued the code of brotherhood.
Her great-grandfather's generation, and the one before that—they said the righteous factions were like that back then.
So why had the righteous factions of today become so twisted?
That's why, from a young age, she'd always thought to herself:
If she became the family head, if she led the Namgung Family—one of the Five Great Clans—she would show the world what righteousness and propriety truly meant.
.
.
.
.
"Is Jin Hyun okay?"
"He lost too much blood and pushed himself way too hard in the fight. One wrong move, and he could've damaged his core energy."
The subjugation of Mythical Hound had ended faster than expected, so they'd been on their way back early when they ran into the Namgung Family's Soaring Heaven Sword Unit and hurried over first.
That's how Yu Ye-ryeon had been able to save Jin Hyun. She smacked her lips bitterly and explained his condition to Namgung Hye.
Jin Hyun's body was a wreck. His energy channels were half-twisted, and he'd shed far too much blood.
Even with the Five Elements Circulation Art's ability to naturally repair the body, the wounds were too severe to heal easily.
She still felt dizzy thinking about how he was in such a critical state that people might say it was a miracle he was even alive.
There was so much she wanted to teach him.
So much she wanted to do for him.
And they'd almost lost him here.
"What the hell happened? Why was that guy fighting alone?"
Namgung Hye flinched at Yu Ye-ryeon's question, her shoulders trembling. How was she supposed to explain?
Should she say Jin Hyun had said he'd buy time and gone off to fight the demon beast?
It was the plain truth.
But what it implied was ruthless self-preservation on her part.
Unable to voice it, Namgung Hye bowed her head deeply. That's when Namgung Je arrived.
"We've arrived."
"Ah. Good."
"How's Young Master Jin's condition?"
Jin Hyun was in too grave a state to travel far, so Yu Ye-ryeon had set up camp near the gorge to treat him. She explained his status in a voice thick with bitterness.
"Damn... I see."
"We should head back for now."
"Yes, that sounds best. We've taken down Mythical Hound anyway, so no issues there... But."
His gaze landed on Namgung Hye. She flinched again and bowed her head. Puzzled, Namgung Je looked to Yu Ye-ryeon.
But there was no answer—just a calm, impassive stare.
That gaze felt too heavy, and Namgung Hye couldn't bear staying there.
"I-I'll head out first."
"Sure."
Namgung Hye fled like she was escaping. Namgung Je tilted his head, then followed after her. Watching them go, Yu Ye-ryeon let out a deep sigh.
'What a hero.'
She glanced toward the tent where Jin Hyun lay. From what she'd heard from the others, she could guess why he'd done it.
It was the right thing to do.
He'd saved over a hundred lives, after all.
It deserved praise and acclaim.
But as someone close to him, she couldn't just be happy about it.
Of course not.
'Heroes... die young.'
Yeah. A hero's life isn't long.
Upholding righteousness, brotherhood, and propriety is dangerous. Sometimes you have to fight unexpectedly powerful foes.
In today's martial world, such ideals weren't just outdated—they were something people actively avoided.
And yet here was someone trying to live by them?
If it were anyone else, she'd think it was cool. But since it was Jin Hyun, Yu Ye-ryeon couldn't feel at ease.
"Well..."
Thinking back, he'd been like that from the start.
According to him, chaos would soon engulf the world: the Blood Cult's rise, the tower's appearance, and the Blood God's descent.
Dangerous events that could topple the world.
And Jin Hyun knew it all.
So what would ordinary people think?
The answer was simple.
Leave everything to the strong and run.
Back then, Jin Hyun had been a total novice who didn't know a single martial art. And what did he choose?
To throw himself right into the danger.
Because no one knew the situation better than he did.
Because he saw himself as the best replacement for the vanished 'protagonist.'
That's why he'd taken on that role, risks and all.
No one had forced him—he'd chosen it casually.
A man who moved for others before himself.
In the past, they called such people 'heroes.'
Recalling Jin Hyun acting the hero, Yu Ye-ryeon sighed heavily.
His condition had improved some, but he still hadn't woken. Unable to stay outside forever, she carried him, and the subjugation team moved to Changik Village.
Fortunate in misfortune—the demon beasts hadn't touched the village, so there wasn't much damage.
Even as the villagers returned to daily life, Jin Hyun remained unconscious.
"Back again?"
Yu Ye-ryeon, sitting cross-legged on the porch, greeted Namgung Hye, who'd been visiting for days now. Her expression grew worse with each passing day as she gazed wistfully at the house.
"He still hasn't woken."
"Is he... okay?"
A trembling voice. A gaze full of longing. Fists clenched tight, Namgung Hye's face overflowed with guilt, at a loss for what to do.
"...I need to apologize."
"Apologize..."
"I preached about righteousness and propriety, then dumped everything on him. And yet I..."
Tears streamed down. Her eyes were already slightly swollen from crying before she arrived, but she didn't care.
She just wept, consumed by regret and pain.
"...You're caught in heart demon now."
Unable to regulate her emotions, swept away by them.
Martial artists had to always control their inner selves. When that control slipped, the heart demon stirred.
That was exactly Namgung Hye's state.
Guilt toward Jin Hyun, deep self-loathing—they were rousing the heart demon within her.
"This is a heart demon...? No."
Hand slowly on her chest, she burst into fresh tears and looked toward the room where Jin Hyun was.
"This is... the sin I must bear. The karma I have to endure..."
"Anyway, Jin Hyun hasn't woken yet. I'll let you know the moment he does, so go home and calm yourself."
"...Can't I wait here? I have to leave soon anyway... Just until then..."
Yu Ye-ryeon shook her head at Namgung Hye's desperate plea.
She was lost in her heart demon, unable to control herself. How could Yu Ye-ryeon entrust Jin Hyun to her like that?
What Namgung Hye needed most right now was to look after herself.
"...I understand."
She'd begged several times already, only to be refused.
So Namgung Hye left dejectedly. Watching her go, Yu Ye-ryeon sighed.
"When will he wake up?"
"....."
An unfamiliar ceiling.
When he sat up, most of his injuries had healed.
Is this okay? He sat cross-legged and circulated the Five Elements Circulation Art...
...Huh?
Something felt off.
He tried circulating it again. Inner energy flowed from his dantian through his channels and back into the dantian. Up to here, it was the same as always, but...
His inner energy had doubled. Ten years' worth had become twenty in an instant.
What did I do?
-Creak.
"Oh, you're up?"
The door opened then. Yu Ye-ryeon came in, plopped down in front of him, and handed him a bowl of medicine.
"Drink it."
"Thank you."
He downed the black herbal broth in one go. She placed a candy on his palm.
As he popped it in his mouth to wash away the taste, Yu Ye-ryeon poked his forehead with her finger.
"Don't you have something to say to me?"
"...Sorry. I worried you."
"Good, you get it. But why'd you do it?"
"Someone had to."
"You have bigger things to do. One slip, and you'd have died right there."
"I thought it was possible. And it worked, didn't it?"
"You nearly got yourself killed. You were just lucky this time. Anyway, putting that aside... You planning to be a hero?"
A hero.
He fell silent at her question.
"The greater good over the individual didn't sit right with you?"
"If possible, I want to save the individuals too."
"Such a greedy guy."
Yu Ye-ryeon's pretty face scrunched up a bit.
It felt like he'd disappointed her, and it didn't sit well.
Did she read his unease?
After staring at him for a while, she reached out and gently stroked his cheek.
"But I don't hate it."
Good, that's a relief.