EP.65 Divine Doctor. (2)
Kuwung-!
Kuwung-!
Deep within the cave, the rough sound of scrap metal clashing echoed.
My face instinctively scrunched up at the nauseating stench piercing my nose.
Bae Chong walked deeper into the cave on trembling legs.
Following the torches mounted on the cave wall, after walking a bit further, a man sitting on a massive chair came into view.
A great blade (大刀) casually propped against the side of the chair was as large as a grown man.
Upon reaching the man, Bae Chong slowly dropped to one knee.
The owner of the blade looked at Bae Chong with a listless expression and opened his mouth.
"You got your tail stepped on?"
A dull voice full of annoyance.
Bae Chong swallowed dry saliva and answered.
"Yes…. It seems the Huashan Sect has caught on."
"Hmm…. Bringing the Wandering Sword (喩浪劍) was too much greed after all."
Huashan's Plum Blossom Swordsman, the Wandering Sword Xin Chong.
He had painstakingly captured him when an opportunity arose, only to needlessly get his tail stepped on.
It was because Huashan was quicker to notice than expected.
"Since they've already sensed something amiss, drawing it out further would be impossible."
"I will report to the Main Palace (本宮)."
"Don't be late. You've seen arms pulled off for being slow with work, so you'll do well, right?"
"…Yes!"
The man, who had been chewing on a fried scorpion set beside him, pulled a letter from his robes and tossed it to Bae Chong.
"Bae Chong."
"…Yes, Branch Leader."
"I heard there was an incident on the Yuk Cheon side too. Do you know what it was?"
"…I heard raccoons appeared."
"Raccoons? How did they know?"
Raccoon was a derogatory term for the Hao Wen Sect.
They figured out that deep place of all places? No matter how outstanding the Hao Wen Sect was in intelligence, this was not something easily understood.
"Hmm…. Could there be a mole?"
He couldn't be certain there wasn't one, but he found it hard to believe the Hao Wen side had planted someone when they weren't the Murim Alliance.
The rustling hand stopped.
Because he had finished eating the scorpion.
Quick-witted Bae Chong saw that and hastily spoke to the man.
"I will have the boys bring more."
"I like that you're quick on the uptake."
The man grinned and stood up.
His flesh exceeding eight feet in height brought an overwhelming sense of pressure just by standing.
Seeing that, Bae Chong urgently added.
"An order came down from the Main Palace."
"Speak, I'm listening."
"They say the Divine Doctor has appeared in Shaanxi."
At Bae Chong's words, the man's eyes gleamed.
"The Divine Doctor?"
"Yes."
"Last time they said he was in Anhui Province, and now he's come all the way to Shaanxi? That old man has quite the energy for his age."
"We have the boys out tracking his location now."
At Bae Chong's words, the man bared his yellow teeth.
The dense killing intent seeping from the man shook the cave.
"Bae Chong."
"Ye-… Yes! Branch Leader…!"
"I don't think I ordered the boys to be released, did I?"
It increasingly constricted his heart.
At the approaching hand, Bae Chong rapidly spat out words.
"I-It's an order directly from the Palace Master…!"
At Bae Chong's words, the approaching man's presence stopped, and the pressing killing intent slowly faded.
"Is that so?"
"Y-Yes…. It's a letter the Palace Master sent directly."
When he offered the paper with trembling hands, the man snatched it and unfolded it.
The letter indeed bore the Palace Master's direct seal.
Thanks to that, the man's expression became conflicted.
"To leave the Branch Leader alone and send a letter to an underling… the Palace Master must be very busy, but I'm a little hurt."
"…That's right…! He must be very busy."
It's because you do a piss-poor job that you can't be trusted, you boar bastard.
Crunch.
Bae Chong swallowed back the words he couldn't dare spit out even if he died.
"So, what are we supposed to do, just kill him?"
Everything was written in the letter, and the sight of him asking without even reading it properly was truly obnoxious.
But there was nothing Bae Chong could do about it.
"…The order is to bind him and imprison him in the branch basement."
"…Hmm. Just imprisoning again."
"Yes, even if something happens, he said not to touch the eyes and hands."
"Not entertaining at all."
He assumed a listless expression the moment he heard the contents.
Bae Chong suppressed the fury rising inside.
It was a wonder he was serving as Branch Leader looking like that.
But seeing the martial prowess he possessed, all questions became unnecessary.
The Great Absolute Ghost (大絶鬼), Ya Xue Chi.
Based on martial power alone, he should have been a martial artist belonging to the Main Palace.
However, due to his foulness that crossed the line and his ignorant combat style that knew no proper path, he was eventually pushed out all the way here from the Main Palace.
Put differently, unlike his stupidity, his martial power was monstrous enough that even after being pushed out of the Main Palace, he still sat as Branch Leader.
"Ah, I can tear apart anyone who gets in the way, right?"
"…Yes, they said as long as you capture and imprison the Divine Doctor."
"Right, right. Hope we find him soon…. Even better if those Huashan bastards come swarming."
Saying that, Ya Xue Chi lifted his great sword.
It was clearly an enormous size, yet when Ya Xue Chi held it, it looked comparatively small.
Hwung-!
"…!"
The sword wind from a light swing grazed past Bae Chong's head.
Kwaaang-!
At the subsequent roar from behind, Bae Chong had to calm his violently trembling heart.
Ya Xue Chi, ignoring such Bae Chong, smiled with his yellow teeth gleaming.
"Jian Long, was it? Heard he's decent among the kids…. Hope I get to meet him. Trampling those kinds of kids brings me such joy."
Hehe. Ya Xue Chi laughed.
Kkiegieg-.
At the sound of the great sword scraping across the ground, Bae Chong squeezed his eyes shut.
Only after Ya Xue Chi slowly passed him and melted into the darkness of the cave did Bae Chong finally exhale the breath he had been holding.
"Fuck…."
He had to get out of here quickly.
He felt like he couldn't endure any longer under that crazy pig bastard.
******************
Just as Mei Hua Xian had said, after having a simple breakfast, we immediately departed for the Huashan Sect.
Since the mountain was considerably high, the attendants couldn't be brought along, so we departed with only a few guards including Mu Yeon.
Namgung Bi A also seemed intent on following all the way to the Huashan Sect, so I told her to do as she pleased.
Because I knew she wouldn't listen even if I told her not to come.
We trudged up to the peak of Yeon Hwa Peak, which showed no end in sight.
If it were before, I would have collapsed before even making it a quarter of the way.
Thanks to steadily training for several months, it was somewhat bearable.
Of course, from the middle onward it was so difficult I had to circulate my internal qi, though.
"Young Hero! We're almost there!"
At Yeong Pung's words, I scowled deeply.
"…Elder, you said thaaaaat earlier too."
"There really isn't much left. Please hang in there."
Why is he so energetic…?
Yeong Pung hadn't shed a single drop of sweat climbing all these stairs.
Even Namgung Bi A following beside didn't seem bothered.
A little sweat seemed to be flowing down her cheek, but she didn't appear particularly strained.
…Wait, am I the weak one here?
[I, in my time…]
'If you're going to start with "in my time," please just stay quiet.'
[…]
As Old Man Shin tried to say something, I blocked him first.
As if my preemptive strike was the correct answer, Old Man Shin clamped his mouth shut.
After climbing for a while without rest, the sect's main gate began to come into view.
"We're here…!"
"…Wow."
The hellish stair climbing ended, and looking back, the view below the mountain spread out before me.
Seeing it from such a high mountain, it was certainly beautiful.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
At Yeong Pung's question, I nodded.
It seemed I wasn't the only one captivated by the sight.
[…Still…. It's still beautiful. Thank goodness, truly….]
Old Man Shin's emotionally dampened voice came through.
It was a low, delicate voice unlike his usual.
While gazing at the magnificent view below the high Mount Hua, the sound of a door opening was heard from behind.
Creak.
"What are you doing there?"
At the voice, Yeong Pung startled and quickly bowed.
Because the one who opened the door and came out was none other than Mei Hua Xian.
Why is the Sect Leader personally opening the door and coming out to greet…?
"S-Sect Leader."
"Oh, it's Yeong Pung. You've worked hard."
Saying that, Mei Hua Xian patted Yeong Pung's head.
The Gu Family guards behind, seeing Mei Hua Xian already come out, froze up tight.
Especially Namgung Bi A and Mu Yeon, who had been expressionless the whole time, seemed to have a bit of light in their eyes.
I also promptly followed with a bow.
"I am Gu Yang Cheon of the Gu Family."
"I saw you so intensely this morning, and you're greeting me again."
Mei Hua Xian let out a laugh.
"Come in. I hope you won't be disappointed finding it humble."
Following Mei Hua Xian's calm footsteps, we entered the Huashan Sect.
Inside the sect, plum blossoms that should have bloomed in early spring were blooming everywhere despite it being late summer.
Thanks to that, the sweltering heat was forgotten, almost creating the illusion that spring had arrived.
They said all of this was related to their mental cultivation method.
Huashan's mental cultivation method is called Divine Art (神功).
Reaching a level where it could influence nature itself—perhaps that was when it could finally be called a Divine Art.
Walking along the path thick with blooming plum blossoms, the annexes built here and there came into view.
Though it seemed a long time had passed with the years visible, they were maintained so cleanly that there was no sense of rust or decay.
Following the path past the relatively small annexes and climbing up the slope, a single house stood at the end.
"Come in comfortably."
It was the Sect Leader's residence.
"Ah, only this child should come in, the rest of you please wait outside for a moment."
Mei Hua Xian said, pointing at me.
Because of that, I couldn't help but pause for a moment.
Though briefly flustered, after telling the guards it was fine, I followed the Sect Leader into the residence.
Namgung Bi A seemed somewhat disappointed, but it was the Sect Leader's words, so there was nothing to be done.
The interior of the residence was exceedingly modest for a place where the Sect Leader of the Nine Sects One Faction resided.
It felt like it had only what was necessary.
In the center of it, Mei Hua Xian began personally brewing tea.
Uh, this is more burdensome than expected…?
"Since it's an old man's room, I have nothing to offer but plum tea…."
"I like plum tea too."
"Oh…. That's a relief. It seemed like young kids these days don't really like it."
Truthfully, I didn't particularly like it, but I didn't dislike it either.
The plum tea Mei Hua Xian personally brewed had a rich fragrance.
Taking a sip, it was much sweeter and more sour than expected, making for an agreeable taste.
Wi Seol A would probably love it if I gave her some.
'Even in this situation….'
Now whenever I see anything sweet, Wi Seol A's face comes to mind.
I could vividly feel that gap narrowing.
"I'm glad it suits your taste."
At Mei Hua Xian's words, I smiled awkwardly.
Was I being too obvious about tasting it?
"I'd like to offer something to snack on, but I don't have anything brought into the room."
"It's fine. Just being offered tea is more than enough."
After taking a few more sips, I carefully brought out the box I had carried in my robes.
It was the box containing theguiwu (Demonic Artifact).
Mei Hua Xian opened the box and untied the cloth bound inside.
Immediately, a brilliant light and plum blossom fragrance filled the room.
"…Huu."
Mei Hua Xin exhaled a breath of relief upon seeing it.
And then he swiftly wrapped the cloth back up and threw it—!
He threw it!?
Kung!
The box containing the guiwu flew behind Mei Hua Xian and crashed somewhere in the room.
"…Uh, um?"
"Now that you've brought it, the Elders won't be able to pester me…. What a relief."
…No, is it okay to do that? That's your own sect's guiwu?
Was Old Man Shin always like th….
'Old Man Shin?'
There was no answer, so I called out, but even after calling repeatedly, the old man said nothing.
'What's going on?'
Since when? Since when had Old Man Shin gone silent?
It didn't seem like he was sulking and staying quiet.
"First of all."
While I was thinking, Mei Hua Xian's voice brought me to full attention.
Because there was a main point being prioritized.
"Thank you for bringing the guiwu to our sect, Young Master Gu."
Mei Hua Xian, offering formal courtesy as Sect Leader, had a grave voice.
I too carefully corrected my posture once more.
"Thank you for coming such a long way and working hard."
"Not at all."
"I will send my thanks separately to the Gu Family Head, but please also convey once more that this old man is grateful."
"Yes, I won't forget to convey it to the Family Head when I return to the estate."
I took out a letter from my robes and handed it to Mei Hua Xian.
He took out a seal bearing the plum blossom pattern and firmly pressed it onto the letter.
With this, the official handover of the guiwu was complete.
As he neatly folded the letter and placed it inside his robes, Mei Hua Xian spoke to me.
"Child."
The tone had returned now that the formal matters between the family and sect had concluded.
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Enough about the guiwu. Let us now talk about what you harbor within your body."
"…"
It has come.
Because Mei Hua Xian had pointed it out directly, cold sweat flowed.
I didn't think I could hide it… but I didn't expect to be caught this quickly.
Looking at Mei Hua Xian with trembling eyes, he was simply drinking tea.
Was he waiting for me to answer myself?
What should I do? Should I just deny it? Should I brazenly play dumb?
While I was hesitating, Mei Hua Xian quietly spoke.
"The qi you carry inside is certainly our sect's qi."
…Shit, denial was out of the question then.
No matter how much the old man suppressed his powerful qi, hiding it from Mei Hua Xian seemed impossible.
"I am curious as to how it came to be inside you."
At times like this, having Old Man Shin around would have made things at least a bit easier….
Whether Mei Hua Xian had done something, the old man's voice couldn't be heard.
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no particular method.
Because I didn't yet have the skill to deceive Mei Hua Xian's eyes.
I finally steadied my breath and began recounting to Mei Hua Xian what had happened on the way here.