Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: The Dawn Physician
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He was undoubtedly the true Dawn Physician. It was the first time Ok Kirin had laid eyes on him, and he had heard no tales of the man's appearance, but certainty struck him all the same.
Just moments ago, this room had held only Ok Kirin, yet after ringing the Dawn Bell three times as instructed, a blood-soaked monster of a man had appeared out of nowhere. If he wasn't the Dawn Physician, that would be the real problem.
"So, you're the grandson of Ok Seongil."
"Pardon? Y-you know me?"
"When you inherited the Dawn Bell, they must have fed it your blood, no? Before it started trembling, blood from everyone except Ok Seongil went in twice, so unless they skipped someone along the way, you must be the grandson. Given the years that have passed, it seems the head of the Primordial Fragrance Sect still hasn't come of age..."
"Yes... I am Ok Kirin, the acting sect leader."
Ok Kirin straightened from his awkward stance and offered a respectful clasped-hands salute. Even though he belonged to the Black Tyrants, hailed as the greatest prodigy of the unorthodox paths of his generation, his opponent was one of the Ten Heroes: the Dawn Physician.
He felt not a shred of resentment that the man knew nothing about him.
"You're no sect head, yet you rang the Dawn Bell. Was this your own decision?"
"Y-yes."
"Fine enough. The bell was given to be used, and how it's used is up to the one who received it. In fact, I'm grateful you rang it now."
The Dawn Physician chuckled heartily as he wiped the blood drenching his face. Only then did his features come into clear view.
Like the other Ten Heroes, he had achieved reversal of age to reclaim his youthful vigor, but there was nothing particularly striking about him otherwise.
His hair, eyes, skin, facial features—all utterly ordinary, without a hint of excellence. Ok Kirin, who knew the White Flame Witch was a stunning beauty, the Black Demon King a coldly handsome man, and the Green Forest Demon Emperor a broad-shouldered, jovial brute, found even the Dawn Physician's plain looks surprising.
'The Dawn Physician, famed for reviving the dead—yet he can't erase that scar on his own forehead...?'
A monk can't shave his own head, they say. Ok Kirin eyed the thin scar smack in the middle of the Dawn Physician's forehead, inwardly dismayed. If he couldn't even fix his own scar, could he really heal a severed left arm and a crushed right testicle?
"Well then, Ok Kirin. You've rung the Dawn Bell, so I must grant you one request—but what is it you wish for?"
"...Anything at all?"
"I can't grant just anything. I'm no god, after all. But what you're after right now? Those should be easy enough. That freshly severed left arm of yours? Or perhaps your pitifully crushed right nut? Speak it, whatever it is."
The Dawn Physician smirked, curling the corner of his mouth. The missing right arm was plain to see, but Ok Kirin was stunned that even the crushed testicle hadn't escaped notice.
In an instant, relief and anticipation lit up Ok Kirin's face.
"Th-then..."
"But here's a question. I'm grateful you summoned me, but where the hell is this place? The stench of rot had me thinking it was Primordial Fragrance territory, but no."
The Dawn Physician cut him off abruptly. He'd appeared like a ghost, yet he didn't even know where he was?
Ok Kirin was desperate for swift treatment, but he didn't ignore the question.
"This is Black Forest."
The Dawn Physician, who had been scanning the surroundings, froze solid.
"Black Forest? The one the Black Demon King, Baili Mowon, relocated to that remote island?"
"Pardon? Y-yes..."
"This is Black Forest?"
"Yes, that's right."
"You rotten bastard—bringing me to Black Forest?!"
The Dawn Physician bellowed in fury. Ok Kirin's eyes spun wildly at the roar.
As Ok Kirin staggered and collapsed, the Dawn Physician thrust out a hand. The fainted man's body floated up and flew into his grasp. He couldn't just leave him here.
"If not for the Dawn Bell, I'd kill you right now!"
The Dawn Physician grimaced and growled. He could kill Ok Kirin after granting the request, but not before hearing it properly.
Gripping Ok Kirin's collar, the Dawn Physician whirled around. Getting off this island came first.
"Oh, please."
Truth be told, he'd expected this the moment he heard it was Black Forest. The Dawn Physician slumped his shoulders in despair.
Was the delay before entering a kindness, lest he startle him?
Or did they want him sweating in dread? The Dawn Physician stared gloomily at the closed door.
"Not coming in?"
"I wanted to give you time to compose yourself."
A voice replied from beyond the door. The Dawn Physician sighed deeply and shook his head.
"Just come in."
The door burst open.
The Black Demon King, Baili Mowon, flung both doors wide and strode into the room. He approached with confident steps, flashing a grin at Ok Kirin in the Dawn Physician's hold.
"Put him down."
"Can't I kill him?"
"If you can, go ahead. But killing him changes nothing, does it?"
"True enough, now that you've come before me."
"Watch your words, True Worm. This Sovereign isn't coming to you—you're coming to this Sovereign."
The Black Demon King's smile deepened. Instead of replying, the Dawn Physician growled and flung Ok Kirin aside. Toward the sprawled body, the Black Demon King flicked a finger, firing a qi bullet to seal his acupoints.
Ok Kirin's limp form stiffened rigid.
"I can guess how you got here."
"The Dawn Bell."
"Obviously. To avoid misunderstanding, I'll say it: this Sovereign never once forced that boy to use it. Not him, nor the current head of Primordial Fragrance."
"..."
"Know why? I hoped you'd come to me yourself. Besides, it wasn't worth the effort for this Sovereign to hunt you down."
"...If that's what you thought, then lucky..."
"So tell me, True Worm. You've come to this Sovereign—speak."
The smile vanished from the Black Demon King's face. With it went his overwhelming presence. He gazed at the Dawn Physician without killing intent or hostility, utterly impassive. Yet under that indifferent stare, the Dawn Physician broke out in cold sweat.
"What... do you want me to say?"
"Why this Sovereign shouldn't kill you."
Damn it all.
The curse died unspoken. Instead, the Dawn Physician's face drained of color.
For decades, he'd avoided facing the Black Demon King. To be dragged to Black Forest by the Dawn Bell? And of all places, with the Black Demon King here? What rotten luck.
"W-well... you see, that is..."
"Best answer carefully."
"I-I didn't think you'd be angry. I mean... you didn't kill it!"
"I said answer properly."
"I'm speaking after due consideration..."
"This Sovereign has no idea what you're on about. This Sovereign didn't kill 'it'? When did you ever send this Sovereign something you could call an 'it' worth killing?"
"Strictly speaking, I didn't send..."
The Dawn Physician clamped his mouth shut. Opening his upper dantian, his divine sight caught the Black Demon King's impassivity twisting into irritation.
Any more, and he'd come for the kill. What was so wrong?
'It.'
"...Baili Hyang."
He wondered if even uttering the name would enrage the Black Demon King, so he'd avoided it. Had that been the mistake?
"I... figured you wouldn't be mad since you let Baili Hyang live. And... would I be insane enough to send her straight to you?"
"True enough."
The Black Demon King issued no further warnings. He pulled a nearby chair over with void grasp and sat.
"How'd you do it?"
"...Pardon?"
"Baili Hyang. How? I have my suspicions, but they defy this Sovereign's common sense."
"...You remember?"
The Dawn Physician averted his eyes from the Black Demon King's piercing stare.
"Fifty years ago. You... survived your death match with Poison Wraith, but nearly died from poison sunk into your marrow."
"It was rough, but not fatal. Ten years' rest, and I'd have been fine."
Still proud after half a century. The Dawn Physician desperately stifled a hollow laugh.
"Of course. But as the newly minted Black Death Alliance Leader, you had no ten years to waste recuperating. So I came personally to treat you."
"Planned from the start, then."
"Not exactly..."
"Forget my advice to think before speaking?"
"Yes. I was thinking about it then. Not some elaborate scheme—just interest. You were the finest among the new blood. Not quite heavenly genius, but born for martial arts, without exaggeration."
"You're not thinking flattery will cool this Sovereign's wrath. Nor is it worth flattering—it's simple fact."
The Black Demon King replied shamelessly, face unchanging.
"...Truth is, you weren't my only interest. Poison Wraith's venom intrigued me too. Treating you meant killing two birds. And, well, thanks to me, you shook off the poisoning in under half a year, didn't you?"
"Don't change the subject. I thanked you then. Granted your request too."
The Black Demon King's lip twitched.
"Thought it an odd request at the time. But meeting Hyang, the girl? It made sense."
"...Never meant for you to meet..."
"What did you do with this Sovereign's blood?"
The Black Demon King's icy tone sliced through the excuse.
"Fifty years ago. You demanded a bottle of fresh, pure blood. You could've taken as much as needed while treating me, yet you asked me directly."
"...Needed untainted pure blood. Ambushing you was suicide, and since you'd grant a request, I asked."
"So I granted it. A bottle of blood. Just blood. What did you do with it?"
"...Made her. Made Baili Hyang."
The Dawn Physician muttered, eyes downcast.
"Something I'd long wanted to try. Your blood... was the finest material I could obtain. For decades, I experimented with it to craft a vessel infused with life."
"Success at last."
"No. Failure."
The Dawn Physician sighed deeply and shook his head.
"Making a doll is simple. Animating it with sorcery, simpler still. But I wanted a vessel to hold blood—a vessel of life."
"And?"
"...Received the Pitch-Black Yaksha's aid."
He squeezed his eyes shut as he spoke. The Black Demon King would kill him now. But... nothing happened. The Dawn Physician cautiously opened his eyes.
The Black Demon King still regarded him with impassive eyes.
"So. What aid from the Pitch-Black Yaksha?"
"...She drank that blood. And conceived."
"Remarkable. Conception from drinking blood?"
"She's... a being who makes the impossible possible through immortal arts."
"This Sovereign knows. So what did the Pitch-Black Yaksha demand of you?"
"..."
"No idea why you're clamming up now. Fine. Plenty of time to ask. So. Why did your Hyang, made with even her help, stray from your intent and come to this Sovereign?"
"...The Pitch-Black Yaksha told me to go to the Demonic Cult in two years."
The Dawn Physician's head drooped.
"She'd unconditionally spare my life. Just visit the Demonic Cult. That's what she said. I... didn't refuse. Enter the Demonic Cult? And her guaranteeing my life—the true Yaksha Immortal, intimately tied to them! What better protection? So I went to the Demonic Cult. Wanted to bring two-year-old Baili Hyang too, but... better not risk it. Didn't think it'd take long."
That became his lifelong regret. The maid he'd tasked with watching Baili Hyang grew too attached while raising the two-year-old.
"The Demonic Cult stay dragged on too long..."
Years passed with no return from the Demonic Cult, and the maid, seeing Baili Hyang grow fatherless and endure hardships from the Dawn Physician, felt maternal pity. So she fled near Black Death Alliance territory.
"...I didn't blindly trust the maid. I planted a poison that kills without regular antidote doses. But that fool."
"Watch your tongue."
"...The maid... abandoned her own life to leave my hideout. The antidote herb grew only in the garden I'd made there, and she left it behind."
Ah.
The Black Demon King nodded quietly. Baili Hyang's mother, said to have died diseased in a slum—no clues about her. That made sense.
The Black Demon King and that slum woman had never met in person.
"Probably... the maid was scared too. If she brought the girl claiming her as daughter, you'd rage and kill them both. Yet she left the hideout..."
"For Hyang's sake."
"...Still, before dying, she spilled about you. That's how Baili Hyang became your daughter."
"Strange talk."
The Black Demon King scoffed and shook his head.
"Baili Hyang, my daughter? She was born as this Sovereign's daughter from the start. This Sovereign simply didn't know of her. I don't know the maid's face, but she was an excellent mother. She knew well what to say—and what not to."
Baili Hyang knows nothing of her birth. The dead maid never told her. She hadn't wanted her bound by it.
"So. What did you do in the Demonic Cult?"
"...Pardon?"
"You went at the Pitch-Black Yaksha's behest? What there? And that blood?"
He'd wiped the blood from his face, but the Dawn Physician's body was still soaked in it.
"Not yours. Not human either. Beast... demonic beast? Can't tell. Were you wandering the Demonic Realm?"
"...I'd been in the Demonic Cult until moments ago. They kept me there nearly twenty years, not letting me leave."
"What did you do those twenty years? Your eyes say you didn't even receive the Deathblood Eyes."
"..."
"No need to fear the Heavenly Demon's notice, then. Some binding spell?"
"No, no. Just... how to explain..."
"Try. Everyone's curious about the Demonic Cult. Lucky for this Sovereign—learning its last twenty years from you of all people. Even the Murim Alliance scrambles for scraps."
The Black Demon King chuckled, propping his chin as he eyed the Dawn Physician steadily.
"What did you see in the Demonic Cult those twenty years? Heavenly Demon Hyeok Wolun—what manner of man is he? Why doesn't the Cult rampage with its power? Why no descent of the Demon King..."
"...The Demon King has already descended."
The Dawn Physician muttered softly. The Black Demon King's smile vanished completely.
"...Already? When?"
"Not long ago."
"...Then why has nothing happened?"
"This... how to explain so you'd understand—no, I'm not even sure I understand..."
The Dawn Physician bowed his head, tearing at his hair. He groaned like a beast.
"The Demon King is dead."
"What?"
"The Heavenly Demon Hyeok Wolun killed the Demon King."