Chapter 623

Chapter 623. The Lazy Man Who Overexerts Himself (3)

“Ugh…”

Guo Cheolho let out a moan. He felt as if his entire body was shattered.

‘A-am I alive?’

Naturally, he had assumed he was dead.

No, perhaps he was. This pain wasn’t proof that he was still alive. Maybe he had fallen into hell, where he was to suffer infinite torment.

He opened his eyes.

His eyelids, heavier than a thousand jin, trembled slightly as they slowly opened.

His eyes ached.

For a moment, he felt as if an unbearable light rushed into his vision. Guo Cheolho squeezed his eyes shut again. Tears streamed down his cheeks.

He cautiously opened them again.

“Ghhh…”

A groan escaped involuntarily.

But at least he saw light.

The fact that when he opened his eyes, what entered his field of vision wasn’t absolute darkness, but a dazzling light, comforted him. At least it meant this place wasn’t hell.

However, the sharp pain he felt in his eyes and throughout his body was impossible to accept, no matter how hard he tried. It was suffering that perfectly deserved the word “atrocious.”

Was he really alive?

He couldn’t know. He had never died before, how was he supposed to know if his state corresponded to life or death?

Fortunately, a voice came to his aid.

“Don’t overexert yourself.”

“…”.

“Your body is not in normal condition. If you try to get up by force, the qi and blood that we have barely stabilized might flow in reverse. So for now, resting is your priority.”

The calm, measured voice helped him relax the tension in his body.

It wasn’t hell.

The demons of hell didn’t speak in that tone.

“W-where…?”

His throat was so dry that he could barely make sounds. The moment he opened his mouth to speak, he felt as if his throat would split and blood would gush out.

After closing his mouth and swallowing dry saliva, Guo Cheolho finally managed to speak.

“Where…?”

“The Medical Hall of the Righteous Martial Alliance.”

“…Righteous Martial Alliance.”

Guo Cheolho relaxed the tension in his eyes. Upon hearing the name of the Righteous Martial Alliance, he felt his nervousness dissipate.

‘How did I get here?’

He tried to remember. The last place he remembered was Hefei. He had gone there to fight against the Baekgeom Fortress and had felt a strange energy approaching from somewhere.

Then, his memories faded.

‘My memories…’

Guo Cheolho’s body trembled.

No, the memories hadn’t disappeared. The blurred memories began to return.

‘I…’

He remembered what he had done. He had lost his reason and attacked his companions. His fists clenched involuntarily, and his teeth gnashed.

He couldn’t understand why he had done something like that. At that moment, he wasn’t Guo Cheolho, he wasn’t himself. He had the memories, but even he himself couldn’t comprehend his actions.

Yes, that wasn’t Guo Cheolho.

But…

How had he gotten here now?

“And… and the others…?”

“Don’t worry. Everyone is receiving treatment.”

“Ah…”

“It’s not time for you to worry about others. Those in the Medical Hall are the ones in the worst condition. At least those who are still alive are better off than you, so don’t worry.”

Guo Cheolho nodded slightly.

It was the most he could do. As his consciousness cleared, the terrible pain subsided a little, but he had no strength in his entire body. His dantian felt completely empty.

‘It’s a miracle I’m still alive.’

He was surprised that he could still breathe in that state.

“Consider this a blessing. If the Radiant Sword Hero had arrived a little later, you wouldn’t be among the living anymore.”

“Radiant?”

“Ah, right, you don’t know that nickname yet. I mean Wei Yanho, the Radiant Sword.”

Wei Yanho, the Radiant Sword.

Guo Cheolho repeated the name in his mind.

Wei Yanho, Wei Yanho…

It was the most famous name in the martial world at that moment. Did he mean that Wei Yanho had saved them?

‘Then that light…?’

The last image he remembered was something shining brightly before his eyes.

A dazzling, blinding light.

‘Radiant…’

If Wei Yanho was the one who had emitted that light, then the nickname suited him perfectly. It seemed to describe him better than simply calling him “Radiant Sword”.

“So… it was he who saved us.”

“Of course, he did something incredible. Despite his youth, he is truly extraordinary.”

If Wei Yanho had saved them, then his age didn’t matter. The reason why young people are not treated as adults is because they cannot do the same things as them.

But if a young person surpasses adults, then he deserves all the recognition.

“Where… where is Wei Yanho?”

“Hmm, it seems he’s locked in his room without coming out. But why are you looking for him?”

“To thank him.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

A clicking of the tongue was heard.

“Acknowledging a debt of gratitude is undoubtedly every man’s duty. But right now, your priority should be to recover. Only if you live will you be able to fulfill that duty.”

“…”.

“And there’s something else I must tell you…”

A low sigh was heard.

“Don’t forget that feeling.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t forget the gratitude you feel towards Wei Yanho. Remember it well.”

The tone seemed a bit strange to him, and just as he was about to ask, he felt a hand pressing his sleeping acupoint. Guo Cheolho slowly drifted off to sleep again.

Observing him, the Master of the Medical Hall let out a sigh.

‘They are slowly waking up.’

That the most serious patients were starting to wake up here meant that in other places everyone would already be conscious.

‘This is going to be a headache. How are they going to react to this situation?’

They had lost half of their internal qi.

Since they hadn’t completely lost their martial abilities, there wouldn’t be many who would spit blood and run towards Wei Yanho, but they would undoubtedly harbor resentment in their hearts.

The Master of the Medical Hall sighed deeply.

When he reported this, the Master of Divine Abilities, with a bitter smile, said:

“It’s inevitable. Like a predetermined destiny.”

Destiny.

Destiny…?

The Master of the Medical Hall couldn’t agree with that.

The lives of heroes who save others are not always beautiful. In fact, it is surprisingly difficult to find cases in which so-called heroes have had a happy ending.

In a turbulent world, the heroes who survive to the end inevitably end up isolated.

When the world needs heroes, people admire them. But when they no longer need them, they begin to envy and resent them.

Because they cannot reach them.

It is more common than one might think to envy someone who becomes a hero in the same era. The real desire to bring down a hero arises when people realize that they will never be able to match him.

When the war ends and there are no more achievements to be made, when they realize that there is no way to equal the hero’s brilliant achievements, humans feel envy and jealousy.

Even those who are not dominated by ambition.

Fame and achievements eventually bring benefits. As long as the hero protects them, people praise him. But the moment they feel that the hero is taking the benefits that should be theirs, they become his enemies.

That is why, since ancient times, heroes have rarely had good endings.

Because they have no choice.

If they fight against those who oppress them for personal gain, they lose their integrity as heroes. But if they stand idly by, they will eventually lose everything.

A hero who survives can no longer be a hero. Because a hero is someone who is praised by everyone. How can someone who no longer receives praise be a hero?

That is why the only truly praised heroes are those who die before the war ends.

Guan Yu, known as the God of War, was like that. Zhuge Liang, nicknamed the Crouching Dragon, too.

King Xiang Yu, although defeated, left a name greater than that of Emperor Gaozu of Han. Yue Fei is still remembered no matter how much time passes.

‘It’s sad’.

How can this be called destiny?

It’s all because greedy people can’t leave the heroes alone.

The Master of the Medical Hall carefully examined Guo Cheolho and stood up.

‘I think I should talk to the Master of Divine Abilities again’.

Wei Yanho’s situation was not good at all.

If the Master of Divine Abilities did not intervene to calm tempers, those whom Wei Yanho had saved might become ungrateful and harbor resentment towards him.

It may not make sense, but that’s how people are. When someone receives help but also suffers damage, they forget the gratitude and only remember the resentment. Isn’t that human nature?

The Master of the Medical Hall left the room.

Although the treatment rooms were full of patients, they were all weak and he didn’t need to stay and watch over them. The worst had already passed.

As he headed to the temporary office of the Master of Divine Abilities, he heard voices.

“So he saved them all?”

“Yes, and they say he also defeated the evil ones of the Baekgeom Fortress in the process.”

“A single person?”

“Well, not exactly. The Great Hero Wei Jeonghan was also with him, as well as the Little Beggar of the Beggar Sect, Musan of Mount Hua, Peng Dogeuk of the Peng family, and even Jegal Munin of the Jegal.”

“How much did they help?”

“Come on, don’t talk nonsense! They say they’re not the same as before. The Radiant Sword Hero trained and guided them, and now they are as strong as the elders of the Nine Sects and Five Families.”

“…Does that make sense?”

“Why not? Don’t judge it with common sense. Does it make common sense that someone his age defeats the Heavenly Flowing Sword, repels the attack of the Demon Cult, and single-handedly stops the assault of the Baekgeom Fortress?”

“Now that you mention it, you’re right. It’s more realistic to think that he trained some to the level of elders.”

“Exactly! That’s why he’s the Radiant Sword Hero. A hero sent by the heavens! While those conceited ones from Mount Hua, Wudang, and the Namgung Clan were running away with their tails between their legs, the Radiant Sword Hero faced them head-on…”

At that moment, the man who was speaking fell silent.

He had felt a look full of anger directed at him.

“…With their tails between their legs?”

“Ahem, ahem.”

Seeing a man dressed in the Wudang uniform staring at him, the speaker coughed nervously and walked away.

The Master of the Medical Hall, witnessing the scene, sighed deeply.

‘This is not going to work’.

Cracks were forming. If they weren’t fixed in time, the Righteous Martial Alliance could collapse from within. The great sects would feel ashamed because Wei Yanho had stopped the Baekgeom Fortress in their place, and Wei Yanho would demand the respect he deserved.

That could only end in trouble.

They had to mediate before it was too late.

Mediate…

…so he thought, but.

“Mediate?”

The Master of Divine Abilities scratched his ear as he looked at the Master of the Medical Hall.

At that moment, the Master of the Medical Hall realized that he had made a mistake in his reasoning.

“Between that kid and the great sects?”

The Master of Divine Abilities smiled mockingly before speaking.

“I think you need to see it for yourself.”