Chapter 28 – Once Again at the Edge of Life and Death (2)
Cheol-un ran out.
He rushed to the room where the 9th Unit leaderlay after treatment.
A guard blocked his path.
"What poison was it? Give me the antidote!"
The man who had brought the 9th Unit leader shoved him aside.
"What antidote?"
"You bastards poisoned our captain!"
"Poison!"
"I don't know anything."
"Then get out of the way."
They shoved each other.
The two men crashed to the floor in a loud struggle.
Kyeong-taek arrived running.
He leapt over the tangled bodies and grabbed the 9th Unit leader by the collar.
"You use poison against your own side?"
"I know nothing."
"Then who does?"
"Whose sword was it?"
"Several people fought him."
"How would I know?"
"You—!"
Kyeong-taek released the collar violently.
Meanwhile Yeong-woo struggled desperately to cling to his fading consciousness.
But it was useless.
The messenger of death stood beside him.
Soon he fell into a sleep like death.
His breathing slowed.
His pulse nearly vanished.
The physician returned and examined him.
His lips trembled.
His tongue twitched.
The heartbeat was irregular.
Cold sweat ran down his body.
His hands and feet convulsed.
The physician spoke quietly.
"He's dead."
Cheol-un sprang up.
"What did you say?"
"There's no hope."
"There is almost no breathing."
"The pulse is nearly gone."
"That means he's dead?"
"It's poison."
"Poison works like that."
"It kills slowly."
Cheol-ryong arrived a moment later.
"What do we do?"
Cheol-un asked.
Cheol-ryong lowered his head.
A good friend.
But one they could not save.
It was unbearable.
He wanted to help him.
But there was nothing he could do.
What should he do?
His friend was dying from poison.
The physician had already given up.
The three men leaned close together.
"We must find the antidote."
"If we knew who used the poison…"
"The one who used it must have the cure."
Cheol-ryong muttered coldly.
"There is someone inside this fortress who knows the antidote."
"At the very least someone knows the poison."
Cheol-un nodded.
"Yes."
"It must be one of the unit leaders."
"If we confront them, they won't tell us."
"So what?"
"Do we just watch him die?"
"There are many who would be happy if he died."
"Then what do we do?"
"Who could order them to give the antidote?"
"Whose words would they obey?"
One name rose in all their minds.
General Yi Hee-song.
But that was unrealistic.
Even if he could help—
he probably would not.
Then Cheol-ryong thought of someone else.
Baek In-gyeom.
One of the Black-Robed Immortals.
He and Yeong-woo maintained a quiet connection.
They pretended not to know each other.
But sometimes Baek In-gyeom visited.
They spoke for long hours.
Sometimes he even taught Yeong-woo sword forms.
Master and disciple.
Perhaps that was their relationship.
And such a man would never simply watch Yeong-woo die.
Cheol-ryong gathered the others.
They ran toward the residence of the Immortals.
They called for Baek In-gyeom.
He appeared immediately.
They explained everything.
They told him Yeong-woo was dying.
Baek In-gyeom looked up at the sky once.
Then he vanished like a gust of wind.
Less than a quarter hour later,
he returned.
"Fuzi poison."
"If you do not boil licorice and mung beans to neutralize it,"
"the heart meridian will stop."
"We understand."
"Thank you!"
The three men ran back in haste.
They told the physician.
The antidote was prepared at once.