Chapter 239: Did the Two of Them Fight the Entire Murim?
Chapter 239: Did the Two of Them Fight the Entire Murim?
The Demon Doctor was gazing out the window.
Patients had been scarce today. There were days like this—days that seemed to whisper, Like the clouds drifting lazily across the sky, perhaps it is time for you to rest.
But it seemed today was not meant to be one of them.
The door to the infirmary swung wide, and a figure stumbled inside.
It was Geom Mu-geuk. He was drenched in sweat, carrying the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon on his back. Heat radiated from his body in staggering waves.
"…Please, save him!"
With those desperate words, Geom Mu-geuk collapsed where he stood.
Startled, the Demon Doctor rushed forward, catching the Smiling Demon and carefully laying him onto a treatment bed. He moved to help Geom Mu-geuk onto another, but the young man clung to a flicker of consciousness and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I am fine… Please, treat Lord Smiling Demon first."
"You are far from fine, boy."
The Demon Doctor could see that Geom Mu-geuk was in a state of total exhaustion. He was only speaking and moving now through sheer, indomitable force of will.
"Lord Smiling Demon… first."
Since the Smiling Demon was in more critical condition, the Demon Doctor hurried to check his pulse. He immediately realized that a powerful, frigid energy was suppressing the chaos within the man’s blood vessels.
"What is this energy?"
"Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng."
Geom Mu-geuk forced himself up, stumbling toward the bed. His legs shook so violently he could barely stand, but his worry for the Smiling Demon wouldn't let him remain down.
The Demon Doctor began stripping the Smiling Demon’s upper garments as he worked. "If not for the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, he would be dead already."
Even so, the Smiling Demon’s condition remained precarious.
The Demon Doctor hurriedly unfurled his acupuncture kit. The leather wrap was filled with needles of all sizes. He began to apply them, his movements practiced and fluid. The essence of a medical art that no ordinary physician could hope to mimic was infused into every single needle he placed.
After the acupuncture, the Demon Doctor began applying moxibustion over the Smiling Demon’s dantian using a rare, unknown herb. A unique medicinal fragrance filled the room.
"Uuuugh…"
A pained groan escaped the Smiling Demon’s lips.
Next, the Demon Doctor pulled out a long, crimson needle and inserted it. He drove it in so deep it looked as though it might be fatal. The Smiling Demon’s expression seemed to relax for a moment, but then his body began to convulse violently.
The Demon Doctor quickly withdrew the needle and began striking new pressure points. His hands moved with lightning speed and absolute precision.
The convulsions stopped.
Until now, the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng had kept the Smiling Demon alive, but it had suddenly become the greatest obstacle to his treatment. The doctor had to drive the energy into a single point before he could finish the procedure.
Crisis after crisis arose, but the Demon Doctor navigated them skillfully, proving why he was hailed as a Divine Doctor. Had it been anyone else, they wouldn't have even dared to attempt treatment on a body in such a state. The mental toll was immense; sweat poured from the Demon Doctor’s brow like rain.
Geom Mu-geuk watched the treatment with bated breath. He felt as though he might die of exhaustion. He had run like a madman to get here; without exaggeration, the journey had been more taxing than the fight against Ya Yul-han.
Yet, he couldn't take his eyes off the scene for even a second.
Finally, the battle-like treatment ended, and the Smiling Demon’s breathing stabilized.
"The first crisis has passed. It’s too early to be completely at ease, but he is a man of great fortitude. I believe he will pull through."
"Please, you must save him!"
The only reason Mu-geuk had run that vast distance without rest was because the person waiting at the end was the Demon Doctor. He believed that even if the heavens turned their back, the Demon Doctor could save him.
The Demon Doctor nodded solemnly. "I will do my absolute best."
"Thank you."
Only then did the tension finally leave Geom Mu-geuk’s body, and he slumped to the floor.
The Demon Doctor checked Mu-geuk’s pulse to assess his condition. He, too, was completely spent.
"How on earth did you make it here in this state?"
The Demon Doctor was genuinely shocked. In this condition, it should have been difficult for him to even move his own limbs, let alone run while carrying a grown man.
"Here, take this first." The Demon Doctor handed him an elixir—a pill designed to replenish vitality after total exhaustion.
"I’m fine."
"I am not. Take it, now."
"Thank you."
Geom Mu-geuk swallowed the medicine.
The Demon Doctor also applied Golden Wound Medicine to Mu-geuk’s injuries. Looking at the wounds on both Mu-geuk and the Smiling Demon, it was clear they had survived a truly titanic struggle.
Just then, a martial artist entered and delivered a missive. After checking the contents, the Demon Doctor looked at Geom Mu-geuk in disbelief.
"Just how fast did you run to get here?"
The missive stated that Geom Mu-geuk had departed with the injured Smiling Demon and told the doctor to prepare. Incredibly, Geom Mu-geuk had arrived faster than the messenger bird itself.
Is such a thing even possible?
And he had done it while carrying the Smiling Demon.
If it had been anyone else, the doctor would have assumed there was a mistake in the timing. But looking at Mu-geuk’s current state, he realized the young man really had outrun the message.
In truth, there was something the Demon Doctor desperately wanted to ask. Mu-geuk had left to kill Ya Yul-han. He was curious about the outcome. But he felt he didn't need to ask. Seeing them return this battered told the story.
He felt a pang of guilt for the two of them. He knew that revenge was never easy, yet his own greed for it had been too great.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
As the Demon Doctor turned back to check on the Smiling Demon, Geom Mu-geuk spoke from behind him.
"I delivered your message to Ya Yul-han."
"!"
Startled, the doctor turned around. Geom Mu-geuk was sitting against the wall, looking up at him with weary eyes.
"I looked into the eyes of the dying Ya Yul-han and told him clearly. I told him that this was your will."
The Demon Doctor’s eyes widened, and he stood frozen in silence. It was a long time before he could find his voice.
"Did you… kill Ya Yul-han?"
"Yes. I killed him."
"You truly… killed him?" The Demon Doctor’s voice trembled, and soon his whole body began to shake.
"Yes. He is dead."
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
The Demon Doctor sat down in front of Geom Mu-geuk and took his hands.
"Now, please live the rest of your life with a light heart. Your family would have wanted that as well."
The moment he heard those words, a surge of overwhelming emotion rose within the Demon Doctor. Still holding Mu-geuk’s hands, he bowed his head to the floor in a deep kowtow. Emotions that were hard to put into words welled up. How long had he prayed for this moment? He had imagined this thousands, tens of thousands of times.
Suddenly, the image of his son came to mind.
Father, you’re only busy because of us. When you’re not busy, you’ll play with me, right?
Tears streamed from the Demon Doctor’s eyes. If his son were alive, he would be a middle-aged man by now… but in the doctor’s heart, he remained a child.
I’m sorry I couldn't play with you more. I’m sorry I didn't tell you I loved you more often.
In his mind, his son was smiling brightly. The tears fell even harder.
Yes. When we meet again, I will play with you as much as you want.
It was the moment the heavy stone the Demon Doctor had carried on his heart for a lifetime was finally set down.
When the Demon Doctor finally lifted his head, still weeping for his son, he saw that Geom Mu-geuk had fallen asleep leaning against the wall. The relief that everything was over had allowed the accumulated fatigue to finally crash over him. He was in a sleep so deep he wouldn't have noticed if the building collapsed around him.
Thank you, Second Young Master. I will never forget this debt of gratitude.
At that moment, another person arrived.
The one who entered with a face full of worry was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He had rushed over the moment he heard that Mu-geuk had arrived. The sight of the Smiling Demon receiving treatment caught his eye first, but the Blade Demon went straight to Mu-geuk.
"Is he alright?"
"He ran all that way without rest while carrying that man. How could he be alright?"
However, there was a sense of ease in the Demon Doctor’s expression. It was clear Mu-geuk was safe.
The Blade Demon grumbled peevishly. "What’s so precious about this brat in a mask anyway!"
The Blade Demon crouched down in front of Mu-geuk. Through the gap in the young man's collar, he saw the Ghost Guard Robe he had given him. It was shredded and covered in blood.
"Causing me trouble in my old age."
The Blade Demon picked up the blood-stained Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread that had fallen by the bed and wrapped it around the hilt of the Black Demonic Sword. Then, he leaned the sword against the wall next to Mu-geuk.
"Are you really troubled?" the Demon Doctor asked.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Look at your face in the bronze mirror over there."
The Blade Demon looked up at the mirror. "What am I supposed to be looking at?"
The Demon Doctor only offered a cryptic smile. He could feel it clearly—the Blade Demon had changed recently. And he knew exactly what had triggered that change.
Then, the Fist Demon arrived.
"What happened?"
The infirmary seemed to shrink as the massive man stepped inside. After greeting the other two, the Fist Demon immediately asked about the Smiling Demon’s well-being.
"Is the Smiling Demon alright?"
"We’ll have to wait and see, but the worst seems to have passed."
He acted as if he had come for the Smiling Demon, but the Demon Doctor knew better. He had come out of concern for his disciple.
"Your disciple is merely exhausted. He’ll be fine after a few days of deep rest."
A flash of relief crossed the Fist Demon’s fearsome face. This was the first time the Demon Doctor realized the Fist Demon was capable of such an expression; he didn't even try to hide his relief. To think this young man had changed these terrifying Demon Lords so much.
You are truly something, Second Young Master.
But it didn't end there. Someone else entered the infirmary and spoke.
"What’s with all these long faces? Did the two of them fight the entire Murim?"
The man who entered reeking of alcohol was the Drunken Demon. Skipping the greetings, he crouched down in front of Mu-geuk. After staring at him in silence for a moment, the Drunken Demon spoke to the other two Demon Lords.
"Once he wakes up, he’ll be bragging about his heroic deeds everywhere. We’ll have to avoid him for a while."
The Blade Demon chimed in. "We’ll be lucky if he doesn't give us a whole lecture."
Then, yet another person entered.
"What are you all doing standing around a sick person?"
The last to arrive was the One Flower Sword Venerable. Her beauty, which seemed to defy her age, was as radiant as ever.
The Demon Doctor was inwardly stunned. He knew Mu-geuk associated with the Demon Lords, but he hadn't expected all of them to show up like this.
The Drunken Demon clicked his tongue as he looked at Mu-geuk. "Little brother, what is this? No pretty women came to see you."
"I’m right here," the One Flower Sword Venerable said.
The Drunken Demon retorted, "Little brother, it’s no good if only old people like us show up instead of pretty young women. Back in my day..."
Just then, Lee An and Cheon So-hui arrived.
Lee An’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of all the Demon Lords gathered in one place. As she hesitated to approach, the Blade Demon gestured for her to come closer. The Demon Lords parted to make a path, and she sat down beside Mu-geuk.
"He’s just sleeping, so don't worry," the Blade Demon said.
At his words, tears began to fall from Lee An’s eyes. The moment she heard he was safe, she simply couldn't hold them back. Seeing him so exhausted that he had fallen into such a deep sleep was more heartbreaking to her than if he had been wounded. Just how tired must he be to remain asleep in a room full of such powerful auras?
She felt so upset and sorry that she hadn't been by his side. If the Demon Lords and the Demon Doctor hadn't been there, she might have screamed it out loud—that she was quitting as the Ghost Shadow Squad Leader and would follow him everywhere from now on. That he had to take her with him.
She wanted to offer her shoulder for him to lean on so he could sleep more comfortably. Of course, she couldn't bring herself to do that with the Demon Lords watching.
Cheon So-hui watched the scene from behind with a worried expression. Since the Fist Demon was there, she stood a little distance away and didn't step forward.
And there was one more person who would mark the end of today’s visits.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the door at once. They knew who it was even before the person entered the room. A person whose presence alone announced their arrival, even without emitting a shred of aura.
The Heavenly Demon, Geom Wu-jin, appeared.
The Demon Lords, Lee An, and Cheon So-hui lined up on either side and bowed respectfully.
"We greet the Cult Leader."
After acknowledging their greeting, Geom Wu-jin first asked about the Smiling Demon. "What is the Smiling Demon’s condition?"
"Fortunately, the dangerous crisis has passed. He is a robust man, so he should return to his usual self before long."
"Spare no medicine."
"You needn't worry about that. The energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng is currently melting into his body. Once he recovers and absorbs it, he will be much stronger than before."
Everyone was shocked to hear the mention of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
The Blade Demon looked back at Mu-geuk and remarked, "It seems that greedy brat even gave up a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng."
Only then did Geom Wu-jin’s gaze turn toward Mu-geuk. His look toward his son was stoic. After staring down at the sleeping Mu-geuk for a moment, Geom Wu-jin said something unexpected.
"Leaving him here will only interfere with your treatment of the other. I will take this boy with me."
Geom Wu-jin strode forward and picked Mu-geuk up in his arms.
Everyone was stunned. The sight of Geom Wu-jin holding someone was something they had never even imagined. Even if he were to pick someone up, they expected him to use telekinesis. But Geom Wu-jin had bent down and personally gathered Mu-geuk into his arms.
To the Demon Lords, the sight was incredibly foreign and shocking. Regardless of their shock, Geom Wu-jin walked out of the room carrying his son.
"Are you still jealous?" the One Flower Sword Venerable asked.
She had expected the Drunken Demon to say, Being held by the Cult Leader? No way! I’d hate that more than anything!
Instead, he replied, "I don't know. I’ve never been held by my father."
The One Flower Sword Venerable looked at him. "Are you drunk?"
The Drunken Demon just chuckled and took a sip of his wine.
The Blade Demon grumbled again. "That brat! He was so stubborn about taking my elixir, yet he gives away a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng?"
The Demon Doctor spoke up in Mu-geuk’s defense. "If he hadn't, that man would be dead."
"Then let him die!"
As the Blade Demon stomped out, the other Demon Lords also bid the doctor farewell and left the infirmary. Lee An and Cheon So-hui followed suit after paying their respects.
Left alone, the Demon Doctor let out a soft sigh. It felt as though a great storm had just passed through. He walked over to the bed where the Smiling Demon lay sleeping. The look in the doctor’s eyes as he gazed down at him was gentle. This was the man who had fought alongside Geom Mu-geuk for the sake of his revenge. How could he ever repay such a debt with words? He would repay it by saving his life.
"I fully intend to save you, so you must find the strength as well. If only for the sake of the man who carried you all that way, you must pull through, mustn't you?"
The Demon Doctor looked out the window. The sky he had seen earlier now seemed to be saying:
Like the clouds drifting leisurely across the sky, live the rest of your life with a light heart.