Thud.
Pyeong-u's hand dropped away from Cheon Ryu-yeong's vital acupoint.
His clothes were drenched in cold sweat, and he exhaled ragged breaths with an utterly exhausted expression.
"Haaah… haaah…"
Then Elder Jeolsudok, who had been holding Cheon Ryu-yeong's head and jaw, asked:
"Is it over?"
"Yes."
Pyeong-u answered weakly with a faint smile.
It had taken a little over two hours, though it had felt like several days.
"Did we succeed?"
Though relieved at Pyeong-u's smile, Elder Jeolsudok still asked with worry. Pyeong-u nodded.
"Yes. Thankfully, Brother endured well."
At those words, Elder Jeolsudok relaxed his tense expression and released his hands from Cheon Ryu-yeong, carefully studying his complexion.
It was still red, but noticeably lighter than before.
"Young Master Cheon."
He called softly.
Just moments ago, Cheon Ryu-yeong had been trembling violently, but now he sat motionless.
"Young Master Cheon!"
He raised his voice, but still there was no reaction.
Though worried, Elder Jeolsudok saw that his breathing was steady and rhythmic. He stepped back and collapsed into a chair, looking ten years older in the span of a short while.
Having already wept to the point of tears and snot, he wiped his face with his sleeve, then tilted his head.
"Pyeong-u, what is Young Master Cheon's condition now?"
Leaning against the wall beside the bed,Pyeong-u replied:
"Seems he fainted when we cleared the last acupoint."
"Then why is his head still so rigidly upright?"
"His muscles must have stiffened."
But Elder Jeolsudok touched Cheon Ryu-yeong's neck and shook his head.
"They're tense, but not that much."
At his words, Pyeong-u also looked puzzled. He climbed down from the bed and stood before Cheon Ryu-yeong.
"Brother? Are you conscious?"
"..."
"Brother, can you hear me?"
Elder Jeolsudok's relaxed expression hardened again.
"Something's strange."
Both tensed. Pyeong-u quickly grabbed Cheon Ryu-yeong's wrist and checked his pulse.
Fast.
But calmer than before.
"It doesn't seem like there's any major issue, but…"
As Pyeong-u trailed off uneasily, Elder Jeolsudok swallowed and spoke in a trembling voice.
"Could it be… that he's trapped in unconsciousness?"
He was suggesting that, unable to withstand the pain, Cheon Ryu-yeong might have become a living corpse—his body instinctively severing the five senses and consciousness, temporarily or permanently.
But Pyeong-u shook his head.
"That's impossible. The energy of the Ten-Thousand Calamity Elixir is circulating smoothly through his dantian and meridians."
"That's not what I mean. I'm saying, if he had already broken before that point…"
"I believe in my brother's will. And he showed it to us. You saw it yourself, Elder."
Elder Jeolsudok was speechless for a moment. He had seen even more clearly than Pyeong-u—Cheon Ryu-yeong, forcing a smile amid unbearable agony.
"Yes… I saw his will. But… if the pain exceeded the limits of willpower…"
He couldn't bring himself to finish. The thought that their clan's benefactor could end up a vegetable was too dreadful.
Just then, Tang Hyemi entered through the chamber door.
"Is it over?"
Pyeong-u and Elder Jeolsudok, still examining Cheon Ryu-yeong's condition, nodded silently.
"Then why haven't you laid him down?"
At her obvious remark, both looked embarrassed.
Pyeong-u said, "Let's lay him down, Brother."
"Yes."
The two reached for his shoulders when—
Flash!
Cheon Ryu-yeong's eyes snapped open.
Blood vessels had burst in his eyes, and blood-red light flared from them.
"Gah!"
"Ugh!"
Startled, Pyeong-u and Elder Jeolsudok stumbled back. Pyeong-u even fell on his rear.
Cheon Ryu-yeong's lips parted, the cloth gag dropping to the floor.
"Haaaah…"
A long breath escaped him.
The three in the room were speechless.
Despite the torment, Cheon Ryu-yeong had never lost consciousness.
He closed his eyes and drew deep, ragged breaths. His harsh breathing filled the quiet chamber.
At last, he spoke.
"It's… over… now?"
Pyeong-u only stared blankly, so Elder Jeolsudok answered in his place.
"Y-yes. But… are you alright?"
Pyeong-u collected himself and urged,
"Brother, please lie down and rest. It's time to recover."
Cheon Ryu-yeong's eyes opened again—
Flash!
Blood-red light burst forth once more.
With that cursed aura, he resembled a demonic overlord who had mastered forbidden arts. His expression was chilling enough to unnerve even Elder Jeolsudok, seasoned by life's storms, and the youthful Pyeong-u. Tang Hyemi was frozen like stone.
"I… still…"
Cheon Ryu-yeong's stiff mouth muscles worked slowly.
"have things… left to do."
Pyeong-u shook his head in dismay.
"Everyone is already moving according to your plan. The Tang Clan warriors and the White Tiger Band have already set out."
Elder Jeolsudok added,
"So don't worry. Rest and leave the rest to us."
"Truly… the treatment is done? My stomach still feels… so… hot…"
Pyeong-u quickly explained,
"That's because the Ten-Thousand Calamity Elixir's energy is so powerful. But it's settling. You'll be fine soon."
Cheon Ryu-yeong slowly moved a hand to his abdomen, then looked at Pyeong-u. He didn't know what this elixir was, but he understood well how much effort they had given for him.
"Thank you."
Though his eyes still blazed, a faint smile curved his lips.
Seeing that, Pyeong-u smiled back despite himself.
"No, thank you—for proving my choice wasn't wrong."
"What… do you mean?"
"I'll tell you later. For now, just rest."
He moved closer, but Cheon Ryu-yeong shook his head.
"I'll rest… just a bit… then get up."
Pyeong-u frowned, sighing helplessly.
"Brother! Trust the others. Trust Clan Leader Dokgo, the Invincible Sword, Master Neung Un-bi, Hero Nangwang, and Elder Doksoo."
"..."
"You're not alone in this world. You can't do or bear everything yourself. Give those people the chance, too. You trusted them when you made your plans."
"..."
"Even without you taking the lead, you've already contributed the most. So…"
Cheon Ryu-yeong slowly shook his head, cutting him off.
"Pyeong-u… I'm not… seeking merit. I just… want to be with them."
His words made Pyeong-u's chest tighten. Cheon Ryu-yeong continued:
"I've been alone… for so long. But now… you and so many others… have seen me, acknowledged me. Like you said… I'm not alone anymore. That's why I want… to be with them. The ones… who believed in me."
"Brother…"
"Even if just a little… I want to help."
Tears streamed down Tang Hyemi's cheeks again. She had already wept silently through his groans for hours, her eyes swollen, but fresh tears still rolled.
Elder Jeolsudok, too, turned his head and wiped his eyes.
Thud.
Pyeong-u's hand dropped away from Cheon Ryu-yeong's vital acupoint.
His clothes were drenched in cold sweat, and he exhaled ragged breaths with an utterly exhausted expression.
"Haaah… haaah…"
Then Elder Jeolsudok, who had been holding Cheon Ryu-yeong's head and jaw, asked:
"Is it over?"
"Yes."
Pyeong-u answered weakly with a faint smile.
It had taken a little over two hours, though it had felt like several days.
"Did we succeed?"
Though relieved at Pyeong-u's smile, Elder Jeolsudok still asked with worry. Pyeong-u nodded.
"Yes. Thankfully, Brother endured well."
At those words, Elder Jeolsudok relaxed his tense expression and released his hands from Cheon Ryu-yeong, carefully studying his complexion.
It was still red, but noticeably lighter than before.
"Young Master Cheon."
He called softly.
Just moments ago, Cheon Ryu-yeong had been trembling violently, but now he sat motionless.
"Young Master Cheon!"
He raised his voice, but still there was no reaction.
Though worried, Elder Jeolsudok saw that his breathing was steady and rhythmic. He stepped back and collapsed into a chair, looking ten years older in the span of a short while.
Having already wept to the point of tears and snot, he wiped his face with his sleeve, then tilted his head.
"Pyeong-u, what is Young Master Cheon's condition now?"
Leaning against the wall beside the bed, Pyeong-u replied:
"Seems he fainted when we cleared the last acupoint."
"Then why is his head still so rigidly upright?"
"His muscles must have stiffened."
But Elder Jeolsudok touched Cheon Ryu-yeong's neck and shook his head.
"They're tense, but not that much."
At his words, Pyeong-u also looked puzzled. He climbed down from the bed and stood before Cheon Ryu-yeong.
"Brother? Are you conscious?"
"..."
"Brother, can you hear me?"
Elder Jeolsudok's relaxed expression hardened again.
"Something's strange."
Both tensed. Pyeong-u quickly grabbed Cheon Ryu-yeong's wrist and checked his pulse.
Fast.
But calmer than before.
"It doesn't seem like there's any major issue, but…"
As Pyeong-u trailed off uneasily, Elder Jeolsudok swallowed and spoke in a trembling voice.
"Could it be… that he's trapped in unconsciousness?"
He was suggesting that, unable to withstand the pain, Cheon Ryu-yeong might have become a living corpse—his body instinctively severing the five senses and consciousness, temporarily or permanently.
But Pyeong-u shook his head.
"That's impossible. The energy of the Ten-Thousand Calamity Elixir is circulating smoothly through his dantian and meridians."
"That's not what I mean. I'm saying, if he had already broken before that point…"
"I believe in my brother's will. And he showed it to us. You saw it yourself, Elder."
Elder Jeolsudok was speechless for a moment. He had seen even more clearly than Pyeong-u—Cheon Ryu-yeong, forcing a smile amid unbearable agony.
"Yes… I saw his will. But… if the pain exceeded the limits of willpower…"
He couldn't bring himself to finish. The thought that their clan's benefactor could end up a vegetable was too dreadful.
Just then, Tang Hyemi entered through the chamber door.
"Is it over?"
Pyeong-u and Elder Jeolsudok, still examining Cheon Ryu-yeong's condition, nodded silently.
"Then why haven't you laid him down?"
At her obvious remark, both looked embarrassed.
Pyeong-u said, "Let's lay him down, Brother."
"Yes."
The two reached for his shoulders when—
Flash!
Cheon Ryu-yeong's eyes snapped open.
Blood vessels had burst in his eyes, and blood-red light flared from them.
"Gah!"
"Ugh!"
Startled, Pyeong-u and Elder Jeolsudok stumbled back. Pyeong-u even fell on his rear.
Cheon Ryu-yeong's lips parted, the cloth gag dropping to the floor.
"Haaaah…"
A long breath escaped him.
The three in the room were speechless.
Despite the torment, Cheon Ryu-yeong had never lost consciousness.
He closed his eyes and drew deep, ragged breaths. His harsh breathing filled the quiet chamber.
At last, he spoke.
"It's… over… now?"
Pyeong-u only stared blankly, so Elder Jeolsudok answered in his place.
"Y-yes. But… are you alright?"
Pyeong-u collected himself and urged,
"Brother, please lie down and rest. It's time to recover."
Cheon Ryu-yeong's eyes opened again—
Flash!
Blood-red light burst forth once more.
With that cursed aura, he resembled a demonic overlord who had mastered forbidden arts. His expression was chilling enough to unnerve even Elder Jeolsudok, seasoned by life's storms, and the youthful Pyeong-u. Tang Hyemi was frozen like stone.
"I… still…"
Cheon Ryu-yeong's stiff mouth muscles worked slowly.
"have things… left to do."
Pyeong-u shook his head in dismay.
"Everyone is already moving according to your plan. The Tang Clan warriors and the White Tiger Band have already set out."
Elder Jeolsudok added,
"So don't worry. Rest and leave the rest to us."
"Truly… the treatment is done? My stomach still feels… so… hot…"
Pyeong-u quickly explained,
"That's because the Ten-Thousand Calamity Elixir's energy is so powerful. But it's settling. You'll be fine soon."
Cheon Ryu-yeong slowly moved a hand to his abdomen, then looked at Pyeong-u. He didn't know what this elixir was, but he understood well how much effort they had given for him.
"Thank you."
Though his eyes still blazed, a faint smile curved his lips.
Seeing that, Pyeong-u smiled back despite himself.
"No, thank you—for proving my choice wasn't wrong."
"What… do you mean?"
"I'll tell you later. For now, just rest."
He moved closer, but Cheon Ryu-yeong shook his head.
"I'll rest… just a bit… then get up."
Pyeong-u frowned, sighing helplessly.
"Brother! Trust the others. Trust Clan Leader Dokgo, the Invincible Sword, Master Neung Un-bi, Hero Nangwang, and Elder Doksoo."
"..."
"You're not alone in this world. You can't do or bear everything yourself. Give those people the chance, too. You trusted them when you made your plans."
"..."
"Even without you taking the lead, you've already contributed the most. So…"
Cheon Ryu-yeong slowly shook his head, cutting him off.
"Pyeong-u… I'm not… seeking merit. I just… want to be with them."
His words made Pyeong-u's chest tighten. Cheon Ryu-yeong continued:
"I've been alone… for so long. But now… you and so many others… have seen me, acknowledged me. Like you said… I'm not alone anymore. That's why I want… to be with them. The ones… who believed in me."
"Brother…"
"Even if just a little… I want to help."
Tears streamed down Tang Hyemi's cheeks again. She had already wept silently through his groans for hours, her eyes swollen, but fresh tears still rolled.
Elder Jeolsudok, too, turned his head and wiped his eyes.