The Sword Demon Regr Chapter 113

Chapter 113

“I will undergo the surgery.”

At Kang Hosan’s declaration, a momentary silence fell.

The Divine Physician met Kang Hosan’s eyes as if asking whether he was truly certain, and Kang Hosan nodded with a resolute expression.

However, Hyeon-gang held a different opinion.

“Hosan. Are you truly going to undergo the surgery?”

“Yes.”

“If you undergo it and it fails, you will die.”

“Even so, I am fine with that.”

“If that is merely the greed of a Martial Artist—if those words are because you wish to wield a sword with both hands rather than one—I do not wish to assist in this surgery.”

It was a shocking statement. And it was very much like Hyeon-gang. He knew nothing of a Martial Artist’s pride.

All he carried was a sense of duty to save the patient before his eyes.

If this was a choice born from a Martial Artist’s ambition—one that risked his life—then Hyeon-gang had no intention of participating in the surgery.

It was also for the sake of his own mental well-being, and words spoken because Hyeon-gang regarded Kang Hosan like a younger brother in medicine.

Perhaps he sensed Hyeon-gang’s concern. Kang Hosan showed a faint smile.

“Hyung, I do not like seeing Chowon sink into sorrow every time she looks at my missing right sleeve.”

At that moment, everyone in Hwa Ryeong’s treatment room realized it.

The reason Kang Hosan wished to undergo surgery was not merely the petty greed of a Martial Artist. It was for another’s sake.

For his beloved younger sister.

“If my younger sister cries because of some man, I will beat that man into a pulp. But if she cries because of me, then who am I supposed to beat into a pulp?”

“…….”

Silence.

Not only Hyeon-gang—even Hwa Ryeong, who never lost the hint of a smile on her face, listened to Kang Hosan with a serious expression.

“To be honest, I do have some selfish desire as a Martial Artist.”

Kang Hosan deliberately avoided Kang Chowon’s gaze. He did not have the confidence to endure her eyes right now, and above all, he did not wish to see her grieving because of him.

“Even so, it is more important that I can hold Chowon tightly with both arms.”

Suddenly, a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of Hwa Ryeong’s lips.

“I like that answer.”

“Pardon?”

Hwa Ryeong chuckled.

“No matter what happens, I will fix your right arm. I have performed quite a number of surgeries thus far, but if I succeed with yours, it will feel more rewarding than any before.”

“Then…?”

“We begin the surgery at once.”

“Understood.”

“And Youngho.”

Suddenly called out, Youngho looked at Hwa Ryeong with a puzzled expression.

“What is it?”

“If you wish to save this fellow’s arm, you would do well to participate in the surgery as well.”

“Understood.”

He did not ask for the reason. Even if it had been someone other than Kang Hosan from the Asura Squad, Youngho would have answered without hesitation.

They were his precious subordinates.

“We are going to the treatment chamber.”

As Hwa Ryeong rose from her chair and walked toward the surgery room, Hyeon-gang naturally stepped behind her and said,

“Hosan. Come quickly.”

Kang Hosan nodded and spoke to Horyeung.

“Master, I will return.”

“…I only hope the Divine Physician keeps her word.”

Soon, Kang Hosan followed behind Hyeon-gang with the resolute expression of a soldier heading into enemy territory.

He deliberately did not look at Kang Chowon’s face. The sound of her quiet sobbing since earlier had already made his resolve waver.

He forced himself to ignore her.

After calming Kang Chowon for a moment, Youngho followed behind them.

The place Hwa Ryeong headed toward was where the surgical instruments were arranged.

It was a surgery room that seemed to perfectly reflect Hwa Ryeong’s peculiar temperament.

“Lie down.”

“Yes.”

As instructed, Kang Hosan lay flat on the floor.

“I will press your acupoints now. If you feel no pain upon waking, you may rejoice. That will mean the surgery was successfully completed.”

“Understood.”

Hwa Ryeong pressed his acupoints firmly so that Kang Hosan would fall into a deep sleep.

Soon, as Kang Hosan’s eyes closed, Hwa Ryeong turned to Youngho and spoke.

“From this point onward, your assistance will be quite significant.”

“Why exactly am I necessary? I came because you said it would help Hosan, but I do not quite understand.”

“It is because of your Internal Energy.”

“Surely you do not mean that channeling Refined Internal Energy into the patient increases the success rate of the surgery?”

“There are several other reasons, but to put it concisely, yes.”

“That is a relief. To think I can be of help to a subordinate who may soon die.”

Though his face remained expressionless, Hwa Ryeong smirked faintly as she saw the genuine relief in Youngho’s eyes.

“You cherish your people greatly.”

“I accepted them. It is only right that I take responsibility.”

“That is why they say you are unusual.”

“It is not as though there are none among the Unorthodox Faction like me.”

“I know. But listen—there are quite a number of scoundrels who commit deeds and refuse to take responsibility, even within the Orthodox Sect. In fact, some are far worse in character than those of the Unorthodox Faction.”

“…Such words should not be spoken lightly.”

“And why not? I treat anyone so long as they are not of the Demonic Cult.”

“I suppose you would. Then all I must do is infuse Internal Energy into Hosan’s body?”

“Yes. That alone increases the surgery’s success rate by one-tenth.”

“Then shall we begin?”

“Yes. It seems Hyeon-gang is prepared as well.”

Hyeon-gang, who had already arranged all the surgical tools, looked at Youngho and said,

“Fifth Young Master, this surgery will likely take quite some time.”

“My concentration does not waver even after three days and nights without sleep. Worry about yourself instead.”

“Indeed, I am the weakest in stamina here, so I suppose I must be the careful one.”

“Then let us begin.”

With Hwa Ryeong’s declaration, Kang Hosan’s surgery began.

***

He dreamed.

Kang Chowon, who had been wasting away inside a room, his younger sister trembling no matter how many blankets she covered herself with.

Kang Hosan’s heart always ached. How could it not, when that fragile body was fighting a terminal illness in a desperate struggle?

And he entered the Asura Squad. In the place he had passed through for basic training before entering the Asura Squad, there had been almost no bullying.

However, once he entered the Asura Squad, many things changed.

The members of the Asura Squad treated Kang Hosan well. They occasionally tossed him a slightly mischievous joke, but most of them were not the sort one would easily associate with the Unorthodox Faction.

The problem, however, was that there were many who looked down on the Asura Squad.

Members belonging to other units such as the Yama Unit, the Blood Flame Unit, and the Flying Phoenix Unit bullied Kang Hosan, who had been the weakest within the Asura Squad.

Kang Hosan’s vision suddenly shifted.

Before he knew it, he was facing his younger self. More precisely, he was watching someone strike the young Kang Hosan hard in the abdomen and repeatedly stomp on him, while the child silently endured the pain.

Weak.

That word was accurate. His former self had been far too weak. He had not even considered resisting.

Because he feared retaliation. And because he feared that retaliation might be directed toward his beloved younger sister.

It was then that Kang Hosan encountered light.

The light named Youngho.

At first, he had wondered what sort of person he was. When he heard the title Fifth Young Master, he was startled, and when he heard that he could treat Chowon, hope swelled within him.

Of course, suspicion had come first. Naturally, Youngho was also a member of the Unorthodox Faction, so he had thought there could be no pure goodwill.

After all, someone as insignificant as Kang Hosan could be discarded at any time if the Fifth Young Master chose to use his position.

Yet even when he faced him with full wariness, the words that came were neither biting nor warm.

Rather, they were indifferent and languid.

Youngho had told him to use him. He had said to discard him once he was no longer needed, and to remain by his side for only a few years.

He could not believe it. But once he learned that Chowon possessed the Three Yin Severed Meridians and Youngho treated her, Kang Hosan began to revere him as his Lord.

In truth, even calling him Lord felt ambiguous. Youngho and Kang Hosan were nearly akin to true friends.

A genuine friend with whom one could open his heart.

Thus Kang Hosan thought: this man is my Lord. Since he chose me, I must live up to that choice.

He wished to wield his sword for Youngho. But if he lost his arm, it would become exceedingly difficult to do so.

Part of the reason he chose to undergo the surgery was because he wished to wield his sword for Youngho.

Youngho had saved Chowon’s life and had also arranged for him to meet the master Horyeung, helping him train.

Such grace could likely never be fully repaid, even across three lifetimes.

It was that deep a debt of gratitude, and he earnestly wished to repay it.

The remaining reason was, of course, for Chowon.

His beloved younger sister. He had wished that she would never have to hold a sword or experience something as dreadful as killing…

‘It is greed.’

It was greed. Kang Chowon was exceptionally outstanding—his proud younger sister—and a talent acknowledged by Youngho.

There was no way the world would leave such a person alone.

He had wanted to see her live an ordinary woman’s life. He had wanted to see Chowon marry. It was something that would hardly come to pass now, but he could not help the lingering attachment.

Therefore, he absolutely could not die. It was not only for Chowon.

‘I already have several precious people in my life.’

His friends in the Asura Squad, his beloved younger sister, and his respected master.

And Tanyeong, whom he had promised to meet again.

He did not wish to lose any of it. Once, such things would have been unimaginable. But not now.

He would not die. Even if the surgery failed, he would not lose to mere pain.

Suicide?

If he did such a thing, Chowon would chase him even into the afterlife and kill him herself.

And he did not wish to lose his light.

At some point, Youngho stood before him.

As always, his infuriatingly handsome face, his well-built body, and even his languid expression remained the same.

The one who had swept away the darkness with brilliant light when it approached Kang Hosan.

The one who had turned Chowon, who had been consumed by darkness, into light.

For a brief moment, a playful smile curved Youngho’s lips.

The same expression that made one want to strike him once out of sheer irritation.

Then Youngho opened his mouth.

“What are you doing? We need to go.”

At once, Kang Hosan’s vision flickered.

He smelled the scent of earth clinging to medicinal herbs, as though someone were brewing a decoction.

Kang Hosan slowly began to open his eyes. After glancing around with a hazy gaze, he looked at his right arm.

It was attached. He felt no pain whatsoever.

At that moment, Kang Chowon met his eyes and said,

“Oppa!”

Her eyes and cheeks were swollen from crying so much, tear stains marking her face.

But it was fine. The surgery had succeeded. It was only a feeling, but Kang Hosan trusted his intuition without doubt.

Soon, hearing Kang Chowon’s sobs, Youngho and Horyeung entered the room. Shortly after, Hwa Ryeong and Hyeon-gang appeared and sat beside Kang Hosan.

“Hyung, thank—”

“I am sorry.”

Hyeon-gang looked at Kang Hosan with a guilt-ridden expression.

His mind would not process it. Sorry? Why? For what reason?

Then Hwa Ryeong spoke with a bitter expression.

“Child, I am sorry. Never before have I felt such shame bearing the title Divine Physician. Even if I had ten mouths, I would have no excuse.”

“What do you mean…?”

At this point, Kang Hosan began to feel an ominous chill.

Thud.

Hyeon-gang, who looked as though he might burst into tears at any moment as he gazed at Kang Hosan, opened his mouth.

“It failed.”

…What?