The Demon Physician was looking out the window.
There were few patients today. Some days were like this. Days that seemed to say, like the clouds drifting leisurely across the sky, You too should rest at ease for a day.
But it seemed that day was not today.
The door to the medical chamber flew wide open, and someone stepped inside.
It was Geom Mugeuk, drenched in sweat from head to toe, carrying Geugak Soma on his back. An astonishing heat surged from him.
“……Please save him!”
After saying those words, Geom Mugeuk collapsed where he stood.
Startled, the Demon Physician first took Geugak Soma in his arms and laid him on the bed.
He was about to lay Geom Mugeuk on another bed when Geom Mugeuk, coming back to his senses, said,
“I’m fine…… Please treat Soma-nim.”
“You are not fine.”
The Demon Physician could tell that Geom Mugeuk was in a state of complete exhaustion. Even the fact that he was speaking and moving now was only because he was enduring through sheer willpower.
“Soma-nim first.”
Since Geugak Soma was the more urgent case, the Demon Physician hurriedly took his pulse. He realized that some mighty energy was suppressing the wild rampage of his meridians.
“What is this energy?”
“Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
Geom Mugeuk got up and came to the bed. His legs trembled so badly that even walking was difficult, but he was too worried about Geugak Soma to remain still.
As the Demon Physician removed Geugak Soma’s upper garment, he said,
“If not for the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, he would already be dead.”
Geugak Soma’s condition was still perilous.
The Demon Physician quickly opened his acupuncture bag. The leather bag was densely packed with needles large and small.
The Demon Physician began to insert the needles. His hands moved with practiced ease. The essence of medical skill, something no other physician could imitate, resided in every single needle.
After inserting the needles, the Demon Physician began applying moxibustion over Geugak Soma’s dantian with some unknown medicinal herb. A distinctive medicinal fragrance filled the chamber.
“Uuuugh.”
Geugak Soma let out a groan of pain.
This time, the Demon Physician took out a long red needle and inserted it. He pushed it in so deeply that one wondered whether such a long needle could really go that far.
Then Geugak Soma’s expression seemed to ease, only for his body to immediately convulse.
The Demon Physician swiftly withdrew the needle and began inserting needles into new acupoints. His hands were fast and precise.
At that, Geugak Soma’s convulsions stopped.
Until now, the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng had kept Geugak Soma alive, but now it had become the greatest danger obstructing treatment. Somehow, he had to drive it into one place and finish the treatment.
Crisis came after crisis, and the Demon Physician skillfully overcame each one, proving why he was called a divine physician. If it had not been him, Geugak Soma’s condition would not have allowed anyone to even attempt treatment in the first place. The process consumed an enormous amount of mental strength, and sweat poured from the Demon Physician’s forehead and body like rain.
Geom Mugeuk watched the treatment tensely. He felt so exhausted he could die. He had truly run here like a madman. Without exaggeration, it had been harder than fighting Yayul Han.
Even so, he could not take his eyes away for even a moment.
At last, the treatment that had been like a war came to an end, and Geugak Soma entered a stable period.
“For now, he has passed the first crisis. It is not yet the stage where we can be at ease, but he is an exceptionally strong-willed man, so I believe he will endure.”
“Please save him!”
The reason he had run that long road without rest was because the one waiting here was the Demon Physician. Because he believed that even if no one else could save him, the Demon Physician would.
The Demon Physician nodded and said,
“I will do my best.”
“Thank you.”
Only then did the tension leave Geom Mugeuk, and he sank down where he stood.
The Demon Physician took Geom Mugeuk’s pulse and checked his condition. Geom Mugeuk, too, was in a state of complete exhaustion.
“How on earth did you come all the way here in that body?”
The Demon Physician was astonished. With a body like this, let alone running while carrying someone on his back, it would have been difficult just to move on his own.
“Here. Take this first.”
The Demon Physician handed him a pill. It was medicine that replenished vitality when one was exhausted.
“I’m fine.”
“I am not fine with it. Take it at once.”
“Thank you.”
Geom Mugeuk swallowed the medicine.
The Demon Physician also applied golden wound medicine to Geom Mugeuk’s injuries. Judging by the wounds on Geom Mugeuk and Geugak Soma, it was clear they had fought a truly fierce battle.
Just then, a warrior came in and delivered a written dispatch.
After checking the contents, the Demon Physician was shocked and asked Geom Mugeuk,
“From where, exactly, did you run here?”
The dispatch said that Geom Mugeuk had set out with the injured Geugak Soma and that preparations should be made in advance. Astonishingly, Geom Mugeuk had arrived faster than the dispatch.
‘Is such a thing possible?’
And while carrying Geugak Soma on his back, no less.
If it had been anyone else, he would naturally have thought there had been some mistake. But seeing Geom Mugeuk’s current state, he found himself thinking that perhaps he truly had run faster than the dispatch.
In truth, there was something the Demon Physician wanted to ask.
Geom Mugeuk had left to kill Yayul Han. He was curious to know what had happened.
But he felt he already knew the outcome without asking. They had returned injured like this, after all.
He felt sorry toward the two of them. Though he had known it was not a revenge that could be easily accomplished, his greed had been too great.
‘I am sorry. Truly sorry.’
The Demon Physician was turning around to check Geugak Soma’s condition when Geom Mugeuk spoke from behind him.
“I conveyed your words to Yayul Han.”
“!”
Startled, the Demon Physician turned back to see Geom Mugeuk sitting with his back against the wall, looking up at him.
“I told him clearly while looking into Yayul Han’s dying eyes. That this was your will.”
The Demon Physician was so shocked that his eyes widened, and for a moment he could not say anything. Only after a long while did he ask,
“You killed Yayul Han?”
“Yes, I killed him.”
“Truly…… you killed him?”
The Demon Physician’s voice trembled, and soon his entire body began to tremble.
“Yes, I killed him.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
The Demon Physician sat down facing Geom Mugeuk and clasped his hands.
“Please live the rest of your life in peace. Your family would want that as well.”
The moment he heard those words, intense emotion surged up within the Demon Physician. Still holding Geom Mugeuk’s hands, he bowed low before him. Feelings difficult to express in words welled up inside him. How long had he longed for this moment? Thousands, tens of thousands of times, he had imagined this very moment.
Suddenly, his son’s figure came to mind.
Father, you’re busy for us, aren’t you? If you weren’t busy, you’d play with me, right?
Tears flowed from the Demon Physician’s eyes. If he had lived, he would have been middle-aged by now…… but to the Demon Physician, his son still remained a child.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t play with you more. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more often that I loved you.’
In the Demon Physician’s heart, his son was smiling brightly.
The tears poured down even harder.
‘Yes. When we meet later, I will play with you all you want.’
It was the moment the Demon Physician laid down the heavy stone he had carried on his heart all his life.
After shedding tears as he thought of his son, the Demon Physician raised his head to see that Geom Mugeuk had fallen asleep while sitting with his back against the wall. With the relief that everything was over, all the fatigue that had accumulated until now had come crashing down on him. He had fallen into such a deep sleep that he would not have noticed even if someone carried him away.
‘Thank you, Second Young Master. I will never forget this grace.’
Just then, someone arrived there.
The person who entered with a face full of worry was none other than the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He had heard that Geom Mugeuk had arrived and gone straight to the medical chamber, and had rushed over in a single breath.
Geugak Soma, lying on the bed receiving treatment, entered his eyes first, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon went to check on Geom Mugeuk first.
“Is he all right?”
“He carried that man on his back and ran here without resting. How could he be all right?”
But there was ease in the Demon Physician’s expression. He could tell that Geom Mugeuk was safe.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon acted needlessly spiteful.
“What’s so precious about that masked bastard?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon crouched in front of Geom Mugeuk. Between the parted edges of his clothes, he could see the Ghost Tiger Robe he had given him. It was soaked in blood.
“Causing me trouble in my old age.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon picked up the blood-soaked supreme-grade Heavenly Silkworm Thread that had fallen beside the bed and wrapped it around the hilt of the Black Demon Sword. Then he stood the sword beside Geom Mugeuk.
“Is it really trouble?”
“What do you mean?”
“Look at your face reflected in that bronze mirror.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon raised his head and looked into the mirror.
“What am I supposed to see?”
The Demon Physician merely smiled an inscrutable smile. He could clearly feel it. Recently, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had changed. He also knew what had begun that change.
Just then, the Fist Demon arrived.
“What happened?”
When his large frame entered, the medical chamber seemed to fill completely.
After greeting the two of them, the Fist Demon first asked after Geugak Soma, who lay on the bed.
“Is Soma all right?”
“We will have to watch him a little longer, but it seems he has passed the crisis.”
It looked as though he had come out of concern for Soma, but the Demon Physician knew. He had come because he was worried about his disciple’s safety.
“Your disciple is merely exhausted. After he rests well for a few days, he will be fine.”
Relief flickered across the Fist Demon’s terrifying face. This was the first time the Demon Physician realized that the Fist Demon had expressions too, and he also realized now that his feelings toward Geom Mugeuk ran deep enough for him to reveal that relief without hiding it. To change these fearsome Demon Venerables like this.
‘Second Young Master, you are remarkable.’
But it did not end there. Someone stepped into the medical chamber and spoke.
“What are these sorry sights? Did the two of them fight the entire murim?”
The person who entered, reeking strongly of alcohol, was the Drunken Demon.
Skipping even the greetings, he crouched in front of Geom Mugeuk. After silently gazing at Geom Mugeuk for a moment, the Drunken Demon said to the other two Demon Venerables,
“Once he wakes up, he’ll go around boasting about his heroic tale, so you’d better avoid him for a while.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon added to his words.
“We’ll be lucky if he doesn’t launch into a long speech.”
Just then, another person entered.
“What are you all doing around an injured man?”
The last to arrive was the Ilhwa Sword Venerable. Her beautiful appearance, untouched by age, remained as ever.
The Demon Physician was inwardly surprised. He already knew that Geom Mugeuk mingled with the Demon Venerables, but he had not expected all the Demon Venerables to come here.
The Drunken Demon clicked his tongue as he looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“Little brother, what is this? No pretty women came.”
“I’m here.”
At the Ilhwa Sword Venerable’s words, the Drunken Demon spoke again.
“Little brother, what kind of situation is this, with no pretty young women coming and only old people like us gathered here? Back in my youth, you see……”
Just then, Ian and Cheon Sohui arrived.
Ian’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of the Demon Venerables gathered there. She could not dare approach, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon gestured for her to come closer.
When the Demon Venerables opened a path for her, she sat down in front of Geom Mugeuk.
“He is only asleep, so do not worry.”
At the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s words, Ian began to cry. The moment she heard that Geom Mugeuk was safe, the tears simply poured out.
Rather than the sight of him injured and collapsed, the way he slept from sheer exhaustion felt even more pitiful. How exhausted must he be that he could not wake even in a situation like this?
She felt so upset and sorry that she had not been by his side. If the Demon Venerables and the Demon Physician had not been there, she might have shouted then and there that she would quit being the Ghost Shadow Unit Leader and follow him from now on. That he should take her with him.
She wanted to offer him her shoulder so he could lean against her and sleep comfortably. Of course, she could not bring herself to do that in front of the Demon Venerables.
Cheon Sohui, too, watched the scene from behind with worry. Since the Fist Demon was there, he stood a little distance away and did not step forward.
And there was someone else who marked the final visit of the day.
Everyone’s gazes turned to the door at once. Even before he entered the room, they knew who had arrived. Even without releasing his aura, his very presence announced his arrival.
The Heavenly Demon, Geom Ujin, had appeared.
The Demon Venerables, Ian, and Cheon Sohui lined up to either side and paid their respects solemnly.
“We greet the Cult Leader.”
After receiving their greeting, Geom Ujin first asked about Geugak Soma’s condition.
“What is Soma’s state?”
“Fortunately, he has passed the dangerous crisis. He is an extremely sturdy man, so he should regain his original condition before long.”
“Do not spare any medicine.”
“You need not worry about that. The energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng has not yet dissolved inside his body, so once he recovers and absorbs it, he will become much stronger.”
Everyone was shocked at the mention of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked back at Geom Mugeuk and said,
“That greedy fellow must have even yielded the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
Only then did Geom Ujin’s gaze turn to Geom Mugeuk.
His eyes toward his son were calm. After looking down at the sleeping Geom Mugeuk for a moment, Geom Ujin said something unexpected.
“If we leave him here, he will only get in the way of your treatment. I will take that one with me.”
Geom Ujin strode over and lifted Geom Mugeuk into his arms.
At the sight, everyone was startled. The image of Geom Ujin holding someone in his arms was something they had quite literally never imagined even once.
Even if he were to hold someone, they had thought he would lift them with the Void-Grasping Art and then carry them. But Geom Ujin bent at the waist and personally took Geom Mugeuk into his arms.
To the Demon Venerables, that sight was far too unfamiliar, and shocking.
Whether the Demon Venerables were surprised or not, Geom Ujin walked out of the room with his son in his arms.
“Are you still envious?”
At the Ilhwa Sword Venerable’s question, the Drunken Demon answered. She naturally expected an answer like, “Being held by the Cult Leader? No! I hate it! I hate it more than anything in the world!”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been held by my father.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable looked back at the Drunken Demon.
“Are you drunk?”
The Drunken Demon chuckled and drank.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon also acted needlessly spiteful.
“That shameless brat! He stubbornly took my spiritual medicine, but yielded the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng?”
At that, the Demon Physician took Geom Mugeuk’s side.
“If he had not yielded it, that man would be dead.”
“Then let him die!”
After the Blood Heaven Blade Demon left, the other Demon Venerables also bid farewell to the Demon Physician and departed the medical chamber. Ian and Cheon Sohui, too, greeted the Demon Physician before leaving.
Left alone, the Demon Physician let out a light sigh. It felt as though a storm had swept through and passed.
The Demon Physician walked over to the bed where Geugak Soma slept.
The gaze with which he looked down at him was gentle. This was the man who had fought alongside Geom Mugeuk for the sake of his revenge. How could he repay that gratitude with words? He would repay it by saving him.
“I intend to save you no matter what, so you must also hold on. If nothing else, you should hold on for the sake of the man who carried you on his back and ran that long road, should you not?”
The Demon Physician looked out the window. The sky he had seen earlier now seemed to be saying this:
Like the clouds drifting leisurely across that sky, live the rest of your life with an unburdened heart.