Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: Grotto Sect
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Just to make sure he wasn't seeing things, Hong Geolgae examined Yarul Dalum closely once more.
Her eyes were closed, and her face was badly emaciated.
But the large, striking features and sturdy frame that he'd seen before—unusually robust for a woman—remained the same. It was just heartbreaking to see that massive frame reduced to nothing but skin and bones.
Hong Geolgae almost let out a sigh without thinking, then caught himself. He worried the sound might reach Yarul Dalum's ears.
It had been about two years since he'd met Yarul Dalum and killed Muryangja.
Yet she looked as if a full decade or more had passed, aged beyond her years. Part of it was the extreme thinness, but the hardships she'd endured must have taken an even greater toll.
'What on earth happened to make her like this?'
If he accepted Myo Sun's story at face value, then Yarul Dalum had joined a group of unorthodox martial artists trying to overthrow the Grotto Sect and had been subdued.
But Hong Geolgae couldn't shake his doubts.
'Anyone else, maybe—but Yarul Dalum?'
The Yarul Dalum he remembered wasn't the type.
The Yarul Dalum in his memory was a martial artist who galloped across the harsh northern plains, eyes sparkling with promises of a new future for the unorthodox.
Among everyone he knew, she was the one who fit the Grotto Sect best—better even than their sect leader, Muryangja.
Even if every martial artist from Bone Shedding Pavilion had abandoned their training and returned to barbaric ways after witnessing Muryangja's death, Yarul Dalum alone would not have.
And so Hong Geolgae shifted his thinking. To the worst possibility—and the only one he could imagine.
What if the unorthodox martial artists who had swarmed the Grotto Sect had truly seized control? What if the people of Pingliang County simply didn't know?
Hong Geolgae nearly sent a telepathic message to Yarul Dalum right then but hesitated.
He sensed that Dang Mujin's group must have played some role in her current broken state.
Of course, they hadn't killed Muryangja just because they wanted to, nor burned down Bone Shedding Pavilion out of spite.
Moreover, Hong Geolgae himself hadn't played a major role in the fight with Muryangja. He'd just barely blocked one or two sword strikes while surrounded by his friends.
But one thing was certain.
If Dang Mujin's group hadn't wandered the north, this situation never would have arisen.
And the one who had led Dang Mujin north was none other than Hong Geolgae.
What if he sent that telepathic message and she responded with resentment? The thought terrified him.
'What if I just pretend I didn't see her and move on? No need to tell the others, right?'
If he did that, he could let this moment pass as if nothing had happened. Even if his friends spotted her by some chance, he could say her face was too ruined to recognize. No one would suspect a thing.
But Hong Geolgae drew a deep breath and bit his lower lip.
'No—this is something I've already gotten involved in. I can't back out now.'
Hong Geolgae sent a telepathic message to Yarul Dalum.
—Yarul Dalum. This is Hong Geolgae of Hong Jusam. Do you remember my voice?
Yarul Dalum twitched in response to the telepathic message. It didn't seem like mere surprise at the transmission. She clearly remembered Hong Geolgae.
Yarul Dalum tried to prop herself up using her elbows against the ground.
Unlike the other men, whose groin and armpit meridians were intact, hers had been severed at the wrists and ankles—allowing minimal movement, at least.
But like them, she was utterly drained of energy, so she couldn't fully rise.
Yarul Dalum gave up on moving her body.
Instead, she tried to speak by moving her severed tongue.
"Uh-uh, uuh-uuuh."
Myo Sun panicked at Yarul Dalum's reaction.
"What's this? Why's she suddenly like that?"
"Who knows."
Hong Geolgae brushed it off vaguely, then sent another telepathic message.
—No need to strain yourself responding. If you'd like to talk at length, just nod slightly.
Yarul Dalum nodded desperately.
And as if her corpse-like stillness until now had been a lie, tears streamed from her scarred eyes.
She couldn't contain the flood of surging emotions.
Hong Geolgae felt afraid. He couldn't guess what she wanted to say.
It surely wasn't that she wanted to freely share the information Dang Mujin's group needed.
Behind those closed eyelids, flames of resentment must be burning. He dreaded the horrific curses and blame he was about to hear.
But he'd already started the conversation.
Hong Geolgae steadied his quickened breath and sent another message.
—I'll come back soon. Tonight, or tomorrow night at the latest.
Hong Geolgae stepped out of the hut with Myo Sun. Of course, Myo Sun had no idea what was going on.
*
That night, Dang Mujin's group entered the hut.
—The one lying deepest inside is Yarul Dalum, right?
—Yeah.
The three silently extracted Yarul Dalum and carried her on their back to the forge. Contrary to what Hong Geolgae had expected, she was extremely docile.
Before bringing Yarul Dalum into the inner room of the forge, Dang Mujin heated some water and wiped her body clean.
He knew it was highly improper for a man to wash a woman's body.
But Yarul Dalum surely didn't want to converse covered in filth.
Fortunately, she seemed to feel the same, accepting Dang Mujin's care with a somewhat relieved expression.
After fully cleaning her, Dang Mujin didn't question her right away. Instead, he prepared some porridge and fed her.
While Dang Mujin helped Yarul Dalum eat, Hong Geolgae asked,
"Can you treat her?"
"I can help her regain her strength, but opening her eyes, speaking, or using her limbs—that's beyond my abilities."
Dang Mujin let out a deep sigh.
Just looking at Yarul Dalum stirred complicated feelings.
How should he describe this emotion? If he had to pin it down, it was closer to pity than guilt.
They hadn't killed Muryangja to destroy Yarul Dalum or the Grotto Sect.
Muryangja had attacked first, and he was the one who harbored grudges against Yoo Jin-gwang's father, Yoo Gwan-il.
There was reason to pity her, but no cause for guilt.
At that moment, Yarul Dalum, having finished the porridge, made a faint sound.
"Uuh."
"Seems like she wants to say something."
"Wait a moment, Yarul Dalum. Do you know how to write?"
Yarul Dalum nodded. Dang Mujin tied a brush dipped in water to her wrist.
With extremely slow movements, Yarul Dalum wrote on the floor.
—Why have you come to see me?
Despite her miserable state, the strokes were forceful. Just from the writing, it felt like her voice echoed.
Dang Mujin said,
"We sensed something wrong with the Grotto Sect and came to investigate."
—Good. You came to the right place.
A soft smile rose on Yarul Dalum's lips.
The same smile as before. The expression of a resolute heroine.
If she'd only resented them, he could have defended himself boldly. But he couldn't stay silent before this attitude.
Unable to hold back, Dang Mujin apologized to Yarul Dalum.
"...I'm sorry. We didn't come north expecting this outcome."
Yarul Dalum replied in firm script.
—Why apologize?
—Muryangja challenged you to fight and died in defeat. That's Muryangja's fault.
—Bone Shedding Pavilion failed to properly control its martial artists and burned. That's Bone Shedding Pavilion's fault.
—The Grotto Sect, having lost its leader, failed to prepare for chaos. That's the fault of everyone in the Grotto Sect.
—You were merely caught up in it.
"But..."
—Don't feel sorry. Incoming waves battered a steadfast rock. Even if the waves shattered without breaking the rock, that's not the rock's fault.
Her composed attitude only made it harder to breathe.
Her suffering had ravaged only her body. It hadn't broken her spirit.
It might have been better if she'd voiced even a little resentment.
—What did you want to ask that brought you here?
"We want to know what happened to the Grotto Sect."
—Do you still hold grudges against the Grotto Sect?
"No. We had bad blood with Muryangja, but we've never opposed the Grotto Sect itself. I hope it doesn't fall into unorthodox hands. I hope it continues guiding unorthodox martial artists as before."
Pleased with the answer, Yarul Dalum smiled, creasing her sunken cheeks.
—Baekyahyo infiltrated the Grotto Sect with unorthodox martial artists. They seemed docile at first, but eventually rebelled and seized control. Those who resisted were killed or left like me.
"All of them?"
—No. Some must be biding their time, harboring discontent. Unorthodox martial artists are used to bowing their heads and waiting for opportunities.
The writing was hard to read from overuse. Before Yarul Dalum could write more, Hyun Gong quickly brought a cloth and wiped the floor.
Yarul Dalum finished her account.
—This happened due to the Grotto Sect's failings. I know it's foolish to ask outsiders for help. But given my state and the sect's, you're the only ones we can turn to. Please save the Grotto Sect.
Dang Mujin recalled the day they left the north for the south.
On a starry night, by a campfire, the story Yoo Jin-gwang had shared. That in time, all sects would become alike.
Yoo Jin-gwang had called it mere amusement, but Dang Mujin didn't dismiss it as nonsense.
And now, the Grotto Sect stood at a crossroads.
Only two futures remained: drive out the unorthodox martial artists, or be fully devoured by them.
Even if things went well, it could never return to the old Grotto Sect. As long as people lived, memories endured. Time never rewound.
"Understood. Even if it's uncomfortable, please stay here for the time being."
—Send me back to the hut. Come ask whenever you have questions.
The script aimed for nonchalance, but Dang Mujin could read her true feelings in the water-written words. She didn't want to return to the hut.
It didn't take great insight.
Who in the world would want to go back to a hut reeking of filth and despair to await death?
Dang Mujin gazed quietly at Yarul Dalum.
Her condition was a wreck by any measure. She'd never walk again. But with luck, she might wield a spoon with one arm.
Her tongue wouldn't regrow. Yet with fortune, her eyes might improve somewhat. Though she'd never see clearly—likely a hazier world than an elderly man tormented by presbyopia.
But a physician must instill hope in a patient.
As far as Dang Mujin knew, that was the first step in treatment.
And so Dang Mujin said firmly,
"You won't be going back to the hut. Stay at the forge for now, then we'll return to the Grotto Sect together."
Yarul Dalum's face showed surprise at his words.
Then she smiled contentedly. That was precisely what she'd most wanted to hear.