Chapter 25

“Gasp!”

A groan of pain echoed through the room.

Doo Jin-woo, the head of Baegun Jokju, had cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

He was sitting in a cross-legged position, deeply engrossed in his qi circulation.

“Huff.”

A moment later, after completing the grand circulation, which involved circulating his inner energy through all the meridians, Doo Jin-woo let out a deep breath.

However, unlike a martial artist who should appear revitalized after completing qi circulation, Doo Jin-woo's face was dark and grim.

‘...The pain is getting worse.’

With a pale face, Doo Jin-woo looked down to see his hands trembling like those of a sick person. A look of sorrow settled on his face.

He had been suffering from an unknown internal injury for quite some time.

Ever since he started having difficulty generating his inner energy, he also began experiencing intense pain. Despite secretly trying every possible treatment, he could not find the cause.

He could only speculate that it might be due to a mental illness from losing his lifelong master, leading to a state of madness.

Knowing that if his condition were to become public, Baegun Piaoju would face even greater difficulties, he kept it a secret.

‘It’s not time yet, Master. Please give me a little more time.’

Just as he was fervently wishing to his departed master,

A voice came from the door.

“Jokju, may I come in?”

It was No Dae-woong, the head of Hojun Jokju.

Doo Jin-woo quickly got up, straightened his appearance, and then spoke.

“...Come in.”

As soon as he finished speaking, No Dae-woong entered the room, revealing his imposing figure. Although he had a bright smile, his expression darkened when he saw Doo Jin-woo's condition.

No Dae-woong spoke cautiously.

“You seem to be feeling worse.”

His words were filled with genuine concern.

No Dae-woong was the only person in the piaoju who knew about Doo Jin-woo's condition.

Doo Jin-woo forced a bright smile and replied.

“Hehe, I skipped dinner while focusing on my practice, so that’s probably why.”

“...Ha, it’s because you pushed yourself too hard back then.”

No Dae-woong was referring to the time of the battle with Jinbu Heung.

Despite No Dae-woong's advice to use only minimal strength until a cure was found, Doo Jin-woo had exerted all his energy to protect Yushin Yun.

Since then, Doo Jin-woo's condition had only worsened.

However, in response to No Dae-woong's words, Doo Jin-wooo merely smiled, showing no sign of regret. His eyes conveyed that it was something he had to do.

No Dae-woong shook his head and thought to himself.

‘Sigh, what’s the point of blaming him? I would have made the same choice.’

Doo Jin-woo, who had been quietly observing, subtly changed the topic.

“It’s already been four days since the deputy head left on the mission.”

No Dae-woong quickly realized Doo Jin-woo's intention but pretended not to notice, sitting down on the chair.

“Already? It seems like the time since Gongja Il complained about not meeting anyone has been exactly that long.”

The deputy head referred to No Dae-woong's son, No Geon-ho, who had been leading a mission for four days.

“Are you not worried?”

“I am. But isn’t it time for him to lead a major mission on his own?”

However, despite his seemingly indifferent tone, a hint of concern lingered in No Dae-woong's eyes.

No Geon-ho's martial skills were the best in Baegun Piaoju, second only to the heads, but that was the nature of a father's concern for his child.

Clack.

Doo Jin-woo, seated opposite, poured tea for No Dae-woong.

“Although the distance to the destination is far, it’s a regular mission, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

“Hmm, he will return safely soon. However...”

No Dae-woong's eyes became intensely serious as he paused. He met Doo Jin-woo's gaze and spoke in a low voice.

“...Have you made a decision?”

His words had a clear meaning.

He was asking if Doo Jin-woo had decided who would be the successor of Baegun Piaoju.

Doo Jin-woo's answer did not come easily.

Silence filled the room.

‘As expected.’

No Dae-woong's expression became complex.

Even in silence, he could infer Doo Jin-woo's answer.

After the incident with Jinbu Heung, Doo Jin-woo had changed. He had moved away from his neutral stance and started supporting Yushin Yun.

This shift in Doo Jin-woo's actions and words had further destabilized the members of Baegun Piaoju.

“I know Gongja Il’s character and abilities are lacking. But I also have no firm confidence in Gongja Il...”

No Dae-woong's words made Doo Jin-woo close his eyes. He knew the unspoken part of No Dae-woong's statement.

‘Even though he has shown a change, considering Gongja Il’s past, it might just be a temporary phenomenon.’

Whether No Dae-woong knew it or not, Doo Jin-woo fell into deep thought.

‘...Moreover, you know that a weak person cannot protect their position, right?’

In fact, how could Doo Jin-woo not know?

He knew that the battle between Yushin Yun and Yujin Sang was already decided.

It was a fact known only to the high-ranking members, but the gap between Jigun Jokju and the other three jokju was so wide that Jigun Jokju could easily handle them.

They had not taken power by force until now solely to gain a legitimate reason.

It was a struggle more difficult than breaking a rock with an egg.

However.

‘...Why can’t I forget that look in his eyes?’

Yushin Yun's eyes kept appearing before Doo Jin-woo.

That look reminded him of someone.

It was none other than

Yuhoryeol.

His beloved master who had passed away.

As the silence in the room grew longer, No Dae-woong spoke in a serious tone.

“Jigun Jokju’s movements are not normal. The situation is getting serious, Jokju.”

At that moment.

Bam.

The door, which had been closed, suddenly opened.

Both men were startled and looked at the unexpected visitor.

There stood

“Oh, great. I don’t have to go looking for you.”

“...?”

“Gongja Il?”

Yushin Yun had appeared.

As the saying goes, if you speak of the tiger, it will appear. Both men were taken aback by Yushin Yun's sudden appearance.

“...I greet you, Gongja Il.”

“Thank you for coming. If you had informed us, we could have prepared some refreshments.”

No Dae-woong, who had regained his composure, stood up and greeted Yushin Yun, and Doo Jin-woo also smiled and welcomed him.

However, Doo Jin-woo was gritting his teeth behind his smile.

He had forced himself to gather his energy to hide his illness and maintain a good complexion.

As a result, there was no sign of his condition on the surface.

Clearly, that should have been the case.

‘...What is it?’

Yushin Yun was staring at him with sleepy eyes, making Doo Jin-woo break out in a cold sweat.

Then Yushin Yun broke the silence.

“It’s fine, no need for refreshments. I’ll never eat sweets again.”

“...Hehe, is that so? Please, take the seat of honor.”

Doo Jin-woo laughed and guided Yushin Yun to his seat.

However, for some reason, No Dae-woong's expression was twisted.

‘Huh, they said he was staying in his room. It was all a lie.’

He had just noticed Yushin Yun's appearance.

Yushin Yun's clothes were almost rags, having just finished training in a cave and come directly here.

The members of Baegun Piaoju thought Yushin Yun was staying in his room.

But it turned out to be a lie, and he had actually been outside.

‘...As they say, people don’t change. I can see what he’s been doing all this time, even without seeing it.’

Disappointment appeared in No Dae-woong's eyes.

In the past, when Yushin Yun returned to the piaoju in such a state, there was only one reason.

He had lost a lot of money gambling and had been sleeping on the ground.

To think that Doo Jin-woo had risked his life to protect such a person.

Doo Jin-woo was pitiful.

No Dae-woong was so angry that his body was trembling.

He suppressed his anger and asked Yushin Yun.

“...Where have you been all this time?”

“I had a lot to do. But that’s not important now.”

Yushin Yun turned his gaze away from No Dae-woong and continued.

“How long are you going to keep doing that?”

“...What?”

Doo Jin-woo was startled and asked in confusion.

“Stop practicing qi. You’ll really die if you keep it up.”

“...!”

Doo Jin-woo and No Dae-woong's eyes widened in shock.

Unbelievably, Yushin Yun had immediately recognized Doo Jin-woo's condition.

At that moment, Doo Jin-woo remembered Yushin Yun's words during their battle with Jinbu Heung.

- ...Be careful, Uncle. You don’t look well.

‘So he knew from then on!’

To think that he had known about his condition for a long time.

Doo Jin-woo was even more surprised by Yushin Yun.

“...Did you know?”

With no reason to hide it anymore, Doo Jin-woo stopped his qi practice and answered.

Instantly, his face turned dark.

Seeing this, Yushin Yun clicked his tongue.

“This is worse than I thought.”

“...It’s fine. I can still endure it.”

“You can endure it until you’re dead.”

“Listen, Gongja Il! Be careful with your words! Do you know why Jokju Baegun is like this!”

No Dae-woong, not Doo Jin-woo, was furious at Yushin Yun's rude comment.

However, Yushin Yun paid no attention to the agitated No Dae-woong.

He approached Doo Jin-woo without a word.

“Good luck, Uncle.”

“...What do you mean?”

“What I mean is, if I hadn’t come today, you wouldn’t have made it through the night.”

“...!”

Yushin Yun's chilling words made both men's faces stiffen.

Just as they were trying to understand the situation,

Swoosh.

Yushin Yun subtly placed his right hand on Doo Jin-woo's shoulder.

“Relax and leave it to me.”

A cryptic statement.

Then,

Whoosh! Whoosh!

“...!”

Doo Jin-woo's body began to convulse with inner energy.

‘What is this!’

An unknown energy was surging through Yushin Yun's hand into Doo Jin-woo's body.

His internal organs were being shaken.

“Cough!”

Doo Jin-woo spat out a mouthful of black blood.

“Jokju Doo!”

No Dae-woong, startled, rushed to stop Yushin Yun.

Snap!

Yushin Yun extended his other hand, stopping No Dae-woong's actions.

“No, Gongja Il...!”

No Dae-woong was frozen in place, unable to speak further. The martial artist at the peak of his skill was rooted to the spot like ice.

Yushin Yun's eyes, glowing like will-o'-the-wisps,

were telling him to shut up and sit still.

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