NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6
Abandoned orphan.
Assassin of the Demon Cult.
More than that, my identity is a bit closer to ‘Physician’.
It’s true that my master is the ‘White Mask Witch Doctor’, but the skills I learned to survive are in medicine.
– A physician must think logically and systematically, eliminating possibilities to derive the correct answer. They must diagnose symptoms and find treatment methods.
That was the mindset my master taught me as a physician.
Just laying someone down with a wet towel on their head when they have a fever is not enough; the process of finding a single answer based on my knowledge and experience is the foundation of my life.
In that sense, until just before the current situation unfolded.
I was able to make various suggestions regarding the two daughters of the Mo Yong family.
Since prescriptions can be varied, I could present numerous possibilities regarding the current situation.
Those possibilities have now become meaningless.
Physician Seok Muwol spent a night with Mo Yongseol, the critically ill daughter of the Mo Yong family, and a case of Sickness of Absolute Meridians occurred.
Because I let it slip at a large banquet that included people from the Gu Bae Il Bang, the Five Great Families, and even the Imperial Palace.
Regarding this situation, of course, I worried.
“Sickness of Absolute Meridians occurred?! That’s impossible! It’s an incurable disease! How many have died from this sickness until now!!”
Denial. I worried about the reactions of those caught in confusion over the sudden overturning of conventional wisdom.
I understand.
That was my first thought as well.
“I can’t deny that it has occurred, but to say it was cured after one night? Hah, that can’t be true. Surely, Physician Seok found some method. There’s no way an incurable disease can be healed through Yin and Yang harmony.”
“He’s certainly created a miraculous medicine. More outstanding than the Great Healing Pill of the Shaolin… a miracle drug that can cure any illness!”
Suspicion. A reaction somewhat different from denial, worrying about not being able to trust the Mo Yong family’s official statement.
I understand.
I’d rather believe that the special medicine left behind by my master did its job.
“Sickness of Absolute Meridians has been cured…? Is it because Mo Yongseol is the daughter of the world’s number one Sword Saint, or is it because of that Physician Seok Muwol over there?”
Analysis. I worried about the reactions guessing ‘how’ the Sickness of Absolute Meridians was cured amidst the confusion.
I understand.
It’s not just Mo Yongseol who suffers from Sickness of Absolute Meridians; many others are still afflicted.
I thought that there would certainly be those who deny, question, and analyze.
However, if there are people I’m more worried about than them.
“Hey, Sword Saint!!”
Those in whose eyes hope sparkles.
“Please, tell us the truth! Please!!”
“Calm down, head of the family.”
“Calm down, you say?! They say Sickness of Absolute Meridians has been cured!!”
The first to express concern are those like the head of the Sichuan family, [Poison King] Dang Sahyeok, who traveled through the Central Plains from Sichuan.
“If your daughter has been cured, could my daughter be cured as well!!”
Families of those afflicted with Sickness of Absolute Meridians.
“Please tell us! What method did you use?! I refuse to believe that the Sword Saint is hiding the cure for Sickness of Absolute Meridians by using his daughter!”
“…Brother. As you know, I am not someone who would resort to such tricks.”
Some nod briefly at the Sword Saint’s words.
“Is that even possible? That just by sharing a bed, the Sickness of Absolute Meridians could be cured?! Ah, could it be that during the night, they held hands and shared their innate energy, or devised some special technique?! Could it be?! Huh?!”
The eyes of the Poison King are filled with desperation.
The normally cold and intellectual demeanor he is known for, likened to a snake, makes him go off on a tangent like a ‘poisonous snake’.
Contradictory feelings arise; he wants to affirm yet denies.
If Mo Yongseol actually recovered from the Sickness of Absolute Meridians because I slept with her.
And if that method is not some trick, but indeed due to ‘Yin and Yang harmony’.
“Could it be that my daughter could be cured too if she spent a night with Physician Seok…? Huh? Is that so…?!”
Hope emerges, yet that method twists the heart of a father into disarray.
“…….”
The Sword Saint remains silent.
Not denying it, he simply nods in silence.
“Uh, huh….”
“Sword Saint.”
Thud.
“May I speak for a moment?”
Stepping forward, the Martial World Alliance Leader, Grand Master Taesangjin, intervenes.
“Since everyone is confused, if this chaos is not resolved, it is obvious that not just the Mo Yong family will be plunged into chaos, but all of the Martial World as well. Therefore, let’s suspend the banquet—”
“Suspend the banquet?”
The Sword Saint took a step forward.
Thud!
Several people staggered.
It felt as if the ground’s pull on a person had increased, weighting the air down oppressively, like a pressure weighing on my head.
“The banquet has been held by the Mo Yong family, so it is up to them to decide whether to continue or not.”
The Sword Saint extends his hand.
The black blade of his blue sword begins to emit a dark light, and the Sword Saint, with sparkling blue eyes, scans the crowd.
“Today’s banquet will be a day to celebrate my daughter’s healing, and it will also be the engagement ceremony declaring the covenant between my daughter and Physician Seok Muwol. Already… the covenant was spoken directly by their own lips.”
Let me reiterate, I had many worries.
The matter related to my origins associated with the Demon Cult.
The very nature of the cure for Sickness of Absolute Meridians.
She was a woman everyone desired, but I hadn’t seen her as a target for a ‘political marriage’ since she was supposed to die.
I thought many would soon come to target Mo Yongseol or me.
And the biggest problem.
-Kill Mo Yongseol.
The Heavenly Demon’s command.
-Kill the daughter of Mo Yongcheon the most wretchedly, causing the Sword Saint to shed tears of blood, inflicting a pain that would leave him feeling as though he lost everything. That is the reason you are still alive.
Those who do not obey the order will be killed by the demons sent by the Heavenly Demon.
Just like how my master was killed, by the assassin dispatched from the Demon Cult.
But.
What use is worrying about that?
“I only wish for my daughter to no longer suffer, to no longer shed tears. Whether that be with her body or her heart.”
Not the Gu Bae Il Bang, not the Five Great Families, not the Imperial Palace, not the Demon Cult, nor the Heavenly Demon.
“None shall oppress Mo Yong. Even if there are certain circumstances.”
There is a threat greater than all of those ‘threats of death’ beyond.
“As long as I, Mo Yongcheon, am alive with my eyes open, anyone who dares to act recklessly against the Mo Yong family or dishonor them will meet my sword.”
In that moment, as blue light glimmered from behind Mo Yongcheon, numerous specks of blue light began to glow around him.
“The Seven Star Sword…!”
Seven swords made of strong energy.
Those were shining in a way that guarded both me and Mo Yongseol like protectors.
“Royal Sword Technique…!”
Floating in mid-air.
“Anyone disturbing the banquet will be cut down by this sword.”
The number one in the world.
Though there may be those of lesser standing who confront the number one in various eras.
Now, in the world of martial arts, Mo Yongcheon truly resembles ‘heaven’.
An existence that no one can touch, the ‘supreme being’.
‘With seven strong swords all wielded by a Royal Sword art, who would dare challenge Mo Yongcheon with force?’
My master once said.
-The Heavenly Demon was the strongest of all the leaders of the Ilwol Shinkyo throughout history. If it weren’t for the Sword Saint, the Central Plains would have been under the dominion of the Ilwon Shinkyo. …Because of the Sword Saint, they had to grovel and even claimed to be the Demon Cult.
Originally, it wouldn’t have been strange for anyone present here to be killed by the Heavenly Demon.
-Even if the entire Central Plains charged at that time, they could not defeat the Heavenly Demon. It was the Sword Saint Mo Yongcheon who defeated the Heavenly Demon with not a drop of blood spilled. The number one in the world… or rather perhaps the strongest martial artist in the entire history of martial arts.
That person is protecting me and keeping me alive.
‘Let the Heavenly Demon come, or whatever.’
The moment that sword turns towards me is only a fleeting moment.
“Mo Yongseol.”
I grasped Mo Yongseol’s waist.
“I will not allow a single tear to flow from your eyes.”
If I can keep Mo Yongseol from crying, the Sword Saint’s sword will not target me.
“…What should we do now?”
Mo Yongseol’s eyes were already glistening with tears.
“Every single day, I’ll be so happy that I will end up crying.”
Ah.
Is this woman trying to assassinate me after all?
Or is she trying to assassinate her own father?
Regardless of either.
The radiant smile lit by tears directed at me by her is so beautiful that for a moment, I couldn’t see or hear anything around us.
All my senses were focused solely on Mo Yongseol.
* * *
The banquet has ended.
-Leave now. I will not forgive any disturbances. If the Sickness of Absolute Meridians were to recur due to any disturbances, my sword will not forgive it.
Although Mo Yongcheon said he would continue the banquet with the Martial World Alliance Leader, that was entirely due to the pressure of having the Mo Yong family lead the situation.
As we walked, Mo Yongcheon followed quietly behind us.
“Head…! Hiiik…!”
Everyone we passed immediately stepped aside.
This included not only the vassals we met, but also the servants.
“Brother!”
If anyone mustered the courage, it was Mo Yongcheon’s biological brother and Mo Yongseol’s uncle—
“San. We’ll talk later. For now, retreat.”
Mo Yongsan.
Yet Mo Yongcheon immediately issued a command to him.
“Brother! No, head! What on earth is going on…!”
Even the family members were unaware.
Of Mo Yongseol’s healing.
“When I heard she collapsed and hurried here, what kind of chaos is this…!”
“In half a jinjung, the Martial World Alliance Leader, New Ascendant, and Ami Sinyeo will make their way back through the family’s main gate. Guide them to the reception room.”
“……Yes.”
Mo Yongsan bowed his head in response to Mo Yongcheon’s orders.
“Is it true? That she was cured in just one night.”
“…….”
“Oh, I understand. I’ll instruct the younger sibling to proceed as directed.”
Only after a considerable distance into the inner estate of the Mo Yong family did the surroundings quiet down.
“Mo Yongseol, and Physician Seok Muwol.”
The Sword Saint stopped abruptly.
“The world will come looking for you both. Especially you, Physician Seok; you must have a somewhat accurate guess already.”
“Yes, Head.”
“To act as you did despite that means you must have been prepared in your heart.”
“That is so.”
It’s already settled.
From the moment Yin and Yang harmonized, and I confirmed that the symptoms of Sickness of Absolute Meridians disappeared through Mo Yongseol’s blood vessels, it was predetermined.
“For the time being, reside in the safest place within the family. In the innermost estate.”
“Ah, Father. That place…?”
“It is the annex where your mother and I once lived together.”
“Ah… then…”
Mo Yongseol cautiously approached the Sword Saint, gripping his sleeve.
“I-I said that Sickness of Absolute Meridians was cured because of ‘that’.”
“…That’s right.”
“Then, in that house, in that room.”
It seems that…
“…Can I continue treatment for Sickness of Absolute Meridians with you, Physician?”
“What?”
Could Mo Yongseol be trying to assassinate her father as well?
“Y-you see. Maybe it’s been some time, but… I’m feeling a bit chilly… Kyaah?!”
In an instant, Mo Yongcheon immediately seized Mo Yongseol’s wrist.
He remained silent for a while, then with a face that seemed shocked—
“Physician Seok.”
“Yes, Head.”
“Take her pulse.”
He extended Mo Yongseol’s wrist towards me.
“……!”
The moment I laid my hand on it, I had a premonition.
“This is not a matter for jokes.”
It was not a complete ‘cure.’ Verification.
“Um, Physician?”
“Seok Physician.”
“Yes, Head.”
Mo Yongcheon sends me a signal that is hidden from Mo Yongseol.
“From now on, you will—”
Creak.
“Investigate whether Yin and Yang harmony has an immediate correlation with the improvement of Sickness of Absolute Meridians. Immediately.”
“Ah, Father?! I-I didn’t mean I wanted to do something like that in your private chambers with the Physician…!”
“Seolah.”
Mo Yongcheon placed a hand on the shoulder of the flustered Mo Yongseol.
“If you cannot clearly uncover that correlation, other women will try to conduct ‘theoretical verification’.”
“!!”
Though a lie to deceive Mo Yongseol, it also served as a plausible justification.
“They will try to attempt treatment with Physician Seok.”
Mo Yongseol’s body stiffened.
Unaware of whether the chill she mentioned was real.
“Did you not see Poison King Dang Sahyeok? If it were not me, by now, Physician Seok might have been kidnapped and dragged away to Sichuan by the Poison King.”
“…That’s true.”
“So we must uncover it by any means necessary.”
Topic of discussion.
Is the cure for Sickness of Absolute Meridians actually Yin and Yang harmony?
If it is genuinely curable through Yin and Yang harmony, is it because Mo Yongseol is the daughter of the world number one Sword Saint?
Or is it merely a miracle that only Physician Seok Muwol can perform?
I don’t know how it is for me, but for Mo Yongcheon, wanting to portray himself as a father who dislikes ‘relations with his daughter’, the most ideal inference is one.
“That the improvement of Sickness of Absolute Meridians was merely a coincidence and a miracle aligning. It must absolutely have no relation to Yin and Yang harmony.”
The foundation of the theory pertaining to this topic is already collapsing.
Yin and Yang harmony has no relation to the treatment of Sickness of Absolute Meridians—this is it.
“Do you understand?”
“…Yes!!”
Mo Yongseol answered with a determined voice.
“I’ll hurry to the bedroom with Physician starting right now! Let’s go, Physician!!”
Mo Yongseol grabbed my wrist and ran, pulling me along.
“…Physician.”
As I was being dragged along, the Sword Saint called out to me.
“Yes, Head.”
“To be honest, I hope that there was no relation, as you tricked Seol.”
To be honest, I also hope that there’s no relation.
‘I’m not in my right mind right now.’
Logic and emotion, common sense of a martial artist, and the instinct of the world’s number one are clashing violently.
Truthfully, I wish to conclude that it is merely coincidence and a miracle, that Sickness of Absolute Meridians would have healed without me.
“What do you think, Physician, as a man, as a physician…? Is it unrelated?”
“As a physician, as a man, I will only state the facts without shame before my deceased teacher.”
But I know.
“There is a relation.”
“Is that so.”
The Sword Saint closed his eyes.
“As expected, it is so….”
‘I’m sorry, Father.’
I, who had treated her, know all too well.
‘What times’ do blood vessels unblock.
What is the decisive factor for the symptoms to improve after blood vessels are unblocked.
And why, even for just a brief moment, the Yin energy began to gather around the blood vessels.
I slept. I healed.
I was clear from the beginning.
And wasn’t it obvious that my examination admitted as much?
-So, you’re saying my daughter’s maiden blood was normalized thanks to you taking her virginity?
“Then.”
Mo Yongcheon pointed ahead.
“I trust you will continue to care for my daughter.”
In the annex filled with memories of him and Mo Yongseol’s mother, the woman he loved.
“…Wait.”
As I approached Mo Yongseol, who was waving at the door, Mo Yongcheon stopped me.
“I just thought of a theoretical flaw all of a sudden.”
“Yes, Head.”
“…Is it absolutely necessary to be inside? If we’re talking about infusing Yang energy, wouldn’t it be enough just to raise the body’s heat?”
Truly, the supreme martial master.
“Isn’t acupuncture enough to resolve it? Isn’t that right? Hmm?”
Without even being the principal party and not witnessing the situation, with just circumstantial evidence, he grasped the crux of the Sickness of Absolute Meridians treatment process.
“I’ll give it a try.”
“…What?”
“Well.”
I resorted to boxing toward the Sword Saint.
“I’ve never tried it outside.”