Chapter 28
On the way to the Shaolin Temple, the protagonist happens upon a village where a bloodbath is taking place.
The perpetrator of the bloodbath is none other than a member of the Demonic Sect.
A notorious figure from the Demonic Sect, a leader, appears, and since the protagonist hasn’t yet gathered enough power, he begins to lose ground.
At that moment, when it seems the protagonist is about to lose his life, the Mad Demon (Kwangma) appears.
‘Ah, it was such an impressive moment.’
The Mad Demon easily defeats the Demonic Sect leader with just ten strikes, eliminating all other Demonic Sect members as well.
From that moment on, the protagonist decides that he needs to make the Mad Demon his ally and proposes that they travel together.
However, the Mad Demon’s personality isn’t the type to agree so easily. The protagonist is harshly rejected.
‘Every time we randomly meet, he turns me down. It’s only later, after the final battle, that he finally joins my group.’
After the Mad Demon leaves, the protagonist hears about his past from a surviving witness.
‘The Mad Demon, known as Kwang-ryong, used to visit this place often. He especially frequented the largest inn in Southern Yang.’
‘Where is that inn now?’
‘It was burned down.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘When the Demonic Sect attacked, the innkeeper led the resistance.’
Sadly, the innkeeper lost his life in that battle.
At that time, the scene revealed the protagonist’s weakness, not yet strong enough to fight back, while simultaneously introducing the Mad Demon in a dramatic manner.
But then, the protagonist wonders…
‘Could that innkeeper have been this person?’
Realizing that the person before him met the same tragic fate, a chill runs down his spine.
Suddenly, the words the Mad Demon had once said to him resurface.
‘There’s no one left for me to protect. But I’m helping you, not because I want to join your group, but to prevent further harm. Don’t misunderstand this.’
Could the Mad Demon have come to Southern Yang to save Lee Ji-cheol? But, in the end, he wasn’t able to in time.
The protagonist begins to feel a tightness in his chest as he recalls how Lee Ji-cheol might have been included in the Mad Demon’s list of people to protect.
Morning arrives…
“Kid, wake up and eat quickly. We’re leaving.”
Eun Sowol groggily blinked her eyes at the sound of someone shaking her shoulder.
“Deja vu…?”
She muttered, feeling like she had experienced this before.
“Did you dream of becoming a great man?”
“…I think so, but maybe not.”
It had been a similar dream. In the dream, she had grown to several times her size, towering over the adults.
Dok Go-ryong looked at her with awe, while the annoying members of the Dokgo family struggled beneath her.
Her body had grown so large that each step and swing of her arm sent buildings and mountains collapsing.
‘Hahaha! From now on, don’t mess with me!’
She felt a strange exhilaration when she thought about carrying Dok Go-ryong, now tiny compared to her, on her shoulder, wreaking havoc in the Dokgo family.
“I think I became Godzilla, not a great man!”
“What? What are you talking about? You should wash your face and come back.”
Dok Go-ryong handed her a bowl of water, and Eun Sowol, using her small hands, hurriedly washed her face.
“All clean now.”
“Clean? You still have sleep in your eyes.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
“Here?”
“No, not there… here, let me help you.”
Eun Sowol fumbled around, and Dok Go-ryong, growing frustrated, wet his hands and wiped her face.
“All done.”
Eun Sowol closed her eyes tightly from his rough touch but gradually opened them as he carefully dried her face and hair with a towel.
His large hand covered her forehead and eyes.
“Your fever’s gone. How do you feel now?”
“I feel good! No headache anymore!”
“Looks like you’re not entirely a quack after all.”
The doctor had treated her and given her medicine. After taking it and resting, she felt much lighter than yesterday.
“Get your things together if you have anything. We’re leaving today.”
“Okay!”
She didn’t have much to pack, but Eun Sowol put together the emergency funds she had saved and followed Dok Go-ryong out to the hallway.
Down in the dining area, Lee Ji-cheol was waiting for them.
“Good morning! Did you sleep well?”
“Yes! But when did I sleep? I was with Uncle, wasn’t I?”
“Do you remember telling me you’d wait for me?”
“Yes.”
“You must have been really tired because you fell asleep halfway through. But don’t worry, I was with you until Uncle came.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered. Once I sleep, I wouldn’t even notice if someone carried me away.”
“Not that much, huh? Don’t sleep anywhere. You might get kidnapped.”
Lee Ji-cheol watched as the two bickered over something trivial, a warm smile on his face. He shook his head.
“You two really are something else.”
Eun Sowol grinned, feeling lighter now. Despite everything, despite the illness, she felt like things were slowly coming together.
After breakfast, they gathered their things and prepared for the journey ahead.
The road was long and uncertain, but Eun Sowol felt a sense of resolve building inside her.
She wasn’t going to be a burden anymore.
She would fight for herself and for the people who cared about her.
The sun was still low in the sky as they set out, but the road ahead felt like a new beginning.
Lee Ji-cheol, despite his usual gruffness, had proven to be someone she could rely on.
Dok Go-ryong, though mysterious and distant, was the one she trusted with her life.
The bond between them, though unspoken at times, was undeniable.
As they walked, Eun Sowol’s thoughts drifted back to the Mad Demon—Kwangma.
His words, his actions, had left a lasting impact on her.
Though he wasn’t with them now, she could feel his presence, as if he had given her a silent promise to always be there when needed.
“I’ll be okay,” she murmured to herself.
Dok Go-ryong glanced at her, hearing her soft words.
“You’re going to be fine,” he said simply, his voice low but steady. “We’ll make sure of it.”
Eun Sowol nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.
She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew she wouldn’t face it alone. Not anymore.
The journey took them through the countryside, the landscape shifting from fields to dense forests, and the sun climbing higher in the sky.
They passed through several villages, but none felt like home—not like the place she had left behind.
But with each step, she felt a little stronger, a little more like the person she wanted to be.
By evening, they reached a quiet inn. The night air was crisp, and the smell of roasting meat wafted from the kitchens, making Eun Sowol’s stomach rumble.
“I thought you were full after breakfast,” Dok Go-ryong teased, noticing the way she eyed the food.
“I’m always hungry,” she grinned.
Lee Ji-cheol chuckled and patted her head. “Come on, let’s eat. We need all the energy we can get for tomorrow.”
They sat down at a table inside the inn, and Eun Sowol dug into the meal with enthusiasm.
Despite the weight of everything that had happened, there was a sense of peace in that moment.
They were safe, they were together, and for now, that was enough.
As they finished eating, Lee Ji-cheol looked at the two of them—Dok Go-ryong and Eun Sowol—and his expression softened.
“You two are something else,” he said again, this time with more affection in his voice.
“Maybe we’ll be something else,”
Eun Sowol replied, her voice filled with determination.
“But I’ll make sure I’m not just a burden anymore. I’ll get better, and I’ll fight for what’s important.”
Dok Go-ryong looked at her, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“You’ve got spirit, kid. That’s what I like about you.”
Eun Sowol smiled back, feeling like she was finally starting to understand what it meant to truly fight for herself.
The next day, as they prepared to leave the inn and continue their journey, Eun Sowol felt ready.
Ready to face whatever came her way.
The past, the illness, the struggles—they were part of her story, but they didn’t define her.
As they set out again, the road stretching before them, she knew there were more battles ahead.
But for the first time in a long while, she felt like she had the strength to face them.
With Dok Go-ryong and Lee Ji-cheol by her side, she knew she wouldn’t be alone.
The journey was far from over, but for Eun Sowol, it was only the beginning.
The following morning, the road ahead felt even more daunting.
The day stretched out before them, filled with uncertainty and the promise of new challenges, but Eun Sowol felt stronger with each step.
Her heart wasn’t burdened as it had been.
The sense of duty she carried, the desire to not be a burden anymore, made her even more determined.
As they walked on, Lee Ji-cheol occasionally glanced at her, noticing how her posture had changed.
She was no longer the fragile, sick girl who had only wished to be left alone; she was someone ready to fight for herself.
Eun Sowol had spent the last few days reflecting on her place in this world.
She realized that though she couldn’t change her past or her illness, she could control how she moved forward.
She didn’t have to let her disease define her, just as she didn’t have to let her family’s history or her mistakes define her either.
“Uncle, do you think things will ever change?” she asked, breaking the silence.
Lee Ji-cheol raised an eyebrow at her question.
He had known her long enough to see the change in her. The confidence was growing in her, like a slow burn.
“They already are changing,” he replied, his tone soft yet firm.
“You’ve already started changing. You’re not the same as you were before.”
Eun Sowol paused for a moment, considering his words.
She looked up at the sky, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. She had come so far already.
“I don’t want to be weak anymore. I want to be strong enough to stand on my own,” she whispered.
Dok Go-ryong, who had been walking a few steps ahead, slowed down to match her pace.
“You’re stronger than you think,” he said without looking at her.
His words, though simple, were a rare form of encouragement from him.
Eun Sowol could tell that he had been watching her closely, perhaps even more than Lee Ji-cheol.
As they continued their journey, the land around them grew more rugged, the path more treacherous.
The mountains loomed ahead, their peaks shrouded in mist.
The scent of pine and earth filled the air, grounding Eun Sowol in the present, in the reality of the journey she was on.
Later that night, they stopped at a small village for rest.
It wasn’t much, just a cluster of humble homes surrounded by fields and trees, but it was a welcome sight.
The evening air was cool, and the stars glittered in the sky.
Eun Sowol sat on a wooden bench, watching the stars.
Lee Ji-cheol and Dok Go-ryong were inside the inn making arrangements for the next day, but she needed a moment to herself.
Everything was changing.
The way Lee Ji-cheol had treated her, the way Dok Go-ryong was starting to open up, even just a little—it was all different from before.
She wasn’t just someone they pitied or felt obligated to protect.
She was starting to become someone they saw as an equal.
It felt like freedom.
But there was still so much uncertainty ahead.
She still had her illness, still faced the weight of her past, and the journey to the Sacheon Dang Clan was far from guaranteed to succeed.
But for the first time, she wasn’t afraid to face it.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
She looked up to find Lee Ji-cheol standing beside her, his expression thoughtful.
“Thinking about something deep?” he asked with a small smile.
Eun Sowol nodded, still staring at the stars.
“I’m thinking about the future. I’ve been running from it for so long, but now… I think I’m ready to face it.”
Lee Ji-cheol sat down beside her, resting his arms on his knees.
“Good. You should be.”
The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable.
It was filled with understanding, a mutual respect that had developed over time.
Eun Sowol felt a sense of calm wash over her.
“I’m glad I met you, Ji-cheol Uncle,” she said quietly.
Lee Ji-cheol chuckled, a sound that was rare from him.
“And I’m glad I met you, too. You’ve grown a lot, Sowol.”
The next morning, the sun rose early, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold.
The village was still asleep as the trio packed up and prepared to continue their journey.
Eun Sowol felt a renewed sense of purpose.
She wasn’t just going to the Sacheon Dang Clan for a cure.
She was going because it was part of her journey.
She was going to claim her future, no matter how uncertain or difficult it might be.
Dok Go-ryong handed her a small pack, and she accepted it without hesitation.
She was no longer the girl who clung to the past for safety.
She was ready to move forward.
“Let’s go,” Dok Go-ryong said, his voice as calm as ever.
As they walked out of the village, the road ahead still uncertain, Eun Sowol couldn’t help but feel that for the first time, she was walking it as her own person.
Not as a sick child or a burden, but as someone who could make her own choices, no matter what came next.
With the two men by her side, she wasn’t alone.
