Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: They Say She's Here to Break the Main Gate Again?
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Excessive circulation of true energy inevitably damages not only the meridians but also the body's internal organs. Just like most cases of qi deviation, Neung Sa-un's meridians were blocked, and his organs were wrecked. That was why I'd judged that recovering his body would have to come first before passing on the Ice White Four Gods' power, and it would take a long time.
"Maybe. There's something in the medical text that Master saved for us, the Returning Origin Scripture. I was thinking the Returning Origin Technique from it might be the way."
"Treating each organ with targeted medicinal energy, then using acupuncture to boost the vital energy, right?"
"Ah, you've read it too, Junior Brother?"
"Yes."
"See, I suddenly got all this stuff, but I didn't really know what I'd gotten. It was like being a kid who struck it rich overnight. So I started digging into the fundamentals of martial arts whenever I had a chance."
"......?"
"Not just that—I asked Protector Ong and the Volcanic Divine Sword here and there too. What I learned was that the inner energy of supreme arts worthy of being called divine skills is more effective at nourishing the body than most spirit medicines."
"...!"
"Especially the divine arts I acquired—they're based on the energies of great nature itself, making them superior to any others."
"Does that mean Eldest Senior Brother is offering to help?"
"Yeah. For starters, how about we set aside ten days? Twice a day, I'll infuse life into your wrecked meridians and organs. It's substituting inner energy for spirit medicines in the Returning Origin Technique."
"Will it work?"
"We'll only know once we try. But isn't it worth a shot? Your body can't get any worse than it is now."
"I see."
"Junior Brother Neung."
"Yes?"
"Let's do it. Of course, we'll need to find a skilled physician to do the acupuncture first. But as soon as we find one, let's start. Even if nothing changes and you're disappointed, we can deal with that later. What do you say?"
"Of course I want to. I'm just worried if you'll have the time, Eldest Senior Brother."
"I'll make time. Besides... I've got plenty. Everything's delegated to the experts, so I just think a lot but don't actually do much."
"Then I'll gratefully accept."
"Good. From today, focus on studying the Heavenly Yin Ice White Divine Art. I'll look for that physician."
"Understood."
Neung Sa-un nodded, and Do Cheon gave him a bright smile.
"The day will come when you can run alongside us again, Junior Brother Neung. Let's keep our eyes forward."
"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother."
"Good. Get some rest."
"Yes."
Do Cheon left Neung Sa-un behind and stepped outside.
'Hmm, where do I find a skilled physician?'
He paused to think it over deeply, but in the end, there was only one way: seek out someone who could help and ask.
"Wonder where Junior Sister Byeon is at this hour?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun was with Little Sparrow at the flower pond.
Unable to sleep, Little Sparrow had suggested they go moon-gazing, so the two were doing just that.
"Eldest Senior Brother! Over here!"
Little Sparrow spotted Do Cheon first and waved. Do Cheon waved back and floated over like a gentle breeze.
"You two having too good a time without me?"
Do Cheon said as he sat down beside them.
"Second Senior Brother Yi Yeol's been a training ghost for ages, and Third Senior Brother Iron Mountain said he's training today too."
"Then you should've invited me."
"You said you were going to Senior Brother Neung earlier."
"Oh, right?"
Do Cheon forced a laugh, vaguely recalling, then turned to look at Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"Wow, Junior Sister looks beautiful even at this hour."
"You came to see Junior Sister Byeon?"
Little Sparrow said in a sulky tone.
"Yeah, that's right."
"Ugh, I'm out."
Little Sparrow jumped to her feet.
"I came to ask something. Where are you going?"
"I thought..."
"You thought what?"
"You came because you missed Junior Sister."
"And that's a problem?"
"It's not, but I'm the only one who..."
"Enough. You're not about to say something weird again, are you? I told you—you're always our cute little youngest, and that'll never change."
"It's not that. It's just... it feels like you came to see Junior Sister today."
"I said I came to ask something."
"Fine. Ask away."
Little Sparrow sat back down. Only then did Do Cheon explain the situation with Neung Sa-un to Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"...So I need a skilled physician. Know any?"
"No. Wouldn't asking Steward Seo or Protector Ong be better?"
"Oh, right. Protector Ong said he has friends with all sorts of skills around."
"He might know someone then."
"Yeah, I need to ask Protector Ong."
Do Cheon stood. Byeon Ryeo-gun looked up at him.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah, Little Sparrow's glaring is too scary to stick around."
"When did I glare?!"
"Right now."
"It's because of what you said, Eldest Senior Brother."
Do Cheon gazed at Little Sparrow's axe-like glare with amusement. Then Byeon Ryeo-gun called out in a serious tone.
"Eldest Senior Brother."
"Yeah?"
"What you said earlier."
"Oh, that. Don't worry about it. It was just a random thought. I'm off."
Before Byeon Ryeo-gun could say more, Do Cheon quickly left. Little Sparrow pouted and asked Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"What did he say earlier?"
"You saw he doesn't want to talk about it."
"Ugh! I'm curious."
"Sorry."
"Already making secrets... At least don't make it obvious."
"Obvious? What was obvious?"
"That you like each other. I'm out."
Little Sparrow jumped up again, unleashing the Flying Swallow Eight Wings she'd been practicing lately, skimming across the pond's surface like a soaring swallow before landing some distance away. She turned back sharply.
"For real, I hope you and Eldest Senior Brother work out. But I don't wanna see him making it so obvious."
With that honest outburst, she vanished swiftly. Byeon Ryeo-gun watched silently until Little Sparrow was gone, then fell into thought.
'Does he like me? Not as a junior sister, but...'
As Byeon Ryeo-gun pondered Do Cheon, he was meeting Ong Jung-seo.
"A skilled physician?"
"Yes."
"Got one. A really good one."
"Introduce me."
"My little brother."
"Pardon?"
"The head of the Stiff Corpse Hall. He used to be a physician. Pretty famous as a miracle worker. But he wanted to hone his skills by studying human anatomy, so he went to the Stiff Corpse Hall, caught the hall leader's eye, and ended up as successor."
"I heard you two don't get along?"
"We don't. But he's got a huge interest in the Wise King. Makes sense—it's a stiff corpse he'd never dream of making."
"So we offer to show him the Wise King in exchange for acupuncture?"
"If you're up for it."
"Why not? We could even ask him to research ways for the Wise King to distinguish friend from foe, or how we might control it."
"Then I'll tell you where the Stiff Corpse Hall is—go see him. He's proud, so the young leader will have to go in person."
"Not coming with?"
"I've got to watch Young Master Yi Yeol train. And teach Young Master Iron Mountain footwork. I'm busy."
"Ah, sorry. You're the busiest these days."
"Not fishing for compliments—I'm genuinely happy to be busy."
"Got it. If you need anything, talk to Master or Steward Seo."
"Will do."
Ong Jung-seo nodded, then turned back to Yi Yeol training diligently. Yi Yeol was sweating buckets, but Ong Jung-seo's enthusiasm in watching seemed even greater. Do Cheon smiled warmly, gave a fist salute to Ong Jung-seo, and withdrew.
Gansu Province, Heavenly Demon Church.
The abode of the one and only supreme Heavenly Demon under heaven.
The seat of the Heavenly Demon Church Lord before the massive Asura statue.
The Heavenly Demon, slouched with one arm draped over the chair, was seething with rage.
"It seems the Protectorate Council and even the Divine Church Protectors are growing restless."
His subordinate's report.
The Heavenly Demon bellowed, shaking the grand hall to its core with fury.
"Are they plotting rebellion to drag me down, claiming I've been defeated?!"
"It's not that, my lord..."
"Then what?!"
"Rumors from the Protectorate Council have spread to the Divine Church Protectors."
"What did those old fools in the Protectorate say?"
"That anyone mastering the Heavenly Demon Ancestor's supreme arts might qualify to succeed the Church Lord..."
"What?!"
"If what we saw that day was truly the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon..."
"Silence!"
The subordinate shut his mouth and prostrated at the Heavenly Demon's roar.
"These bastards...!"
The Heavenly Demon clenched his fists, his beard trembling with rage. He felt the urge to storm the Protectorate and slaughter them all.
But he had to hold back for now.
If the Protectorate and Divine Protectors turned against him, even he, the current Heavenly Demon, couldn't withstand it. Slaughtering them all was no easy task, and even if he did, the problems wouldn't end.
The Heavenly Demon Church had been ruled by the absolute prestige of the Heavenly Demon in name and truth.
'In the end, it's all about power.'
He needed martial force rivaling the Heavenly Demon Ancestor to quell this unrest.
The Heavenly Demon brooded.
He seriously pondered how to maximize his power, turn that Generation's Heavenly Demon with the supreme arts into a bloody pulp, and silence the agitators. Then a thought struck him.
"Hell Demon Scripture!"
The Blood Demon, his sole rival.
The ultimate supreme art of the Blood Demon, former Blood Church Lord who once vied with the Demon Church for dominance over the demonic path.
The Heavenly Demon had found the breakthrough for his current crisis.
"Where is he?"
The subordinate instantly understood the cry of "Hell Demon Scripture."
"In the Bottomless Pit. But..."
"But?"
"He's neither dead nor alive."
"Explain."
"I heard they sliced open his lower abdomen and pulled out all his guts. Yet he still breathes."
"He's mastered the Hell Demon Scripture."
"...?"
"Guide me."
"As you command."
Bottomless Pit.
A pit so deep the bottom can't be seen— a term for the deepest, darkest prisons.
Lighting the pitch-black path with a single torch, they traversed what seemed an endless tunnel until an iron gate appeared, like the edge of hell itself.
Opening it revealed a stench assaulting the nostrils, and against one wall, a young man bound spread-eagled. His abdomen was split open, remnants of spilled innards leaving a gruesomely brutal sight.
The Heavenly Demon stood before the youth and snapped his fingers. Striking the meridian between his eyes, the youth struggled to open them.
"I'll spare you. Recite the Hell Demon Scripture's incantation."
"Find... Blood Heaven for me. Then I'll teach you the Hell Demon Scripture."
"Fine. I'll make Blood Heaven. You can master the Hell Demon Scripture alongside me."
"...?"
"Blood Heaven is literally a sea of blood. A boiling pond of countless vengeful souls—that is Blood Heaven."
"...!"
"The Hell Demon Scripture is a demonic mirror reflecting the hell of blood. It can only be completed within Blood Heaven."
The Heavenly Demon bared his white teeth in a grin. A cruel smile.
Boom!
Nam Myeong flew back and crashed.
Before him stood the majestic Volcanic Divine Sword.
"Pull yourself together!"
"What're you yapping about?! I'll rip that mouth off and tear down Mount Hua too!"
Nam Myeong's blackened eyes flashed as he charged again, murderous intent swirling in his dark hands. As the Volcanic Divine Sword prepared to unleash the Plum Blossom Palm once more, a gray shadow streaked like a gale and struck Nam Myeong.
"What's this now?! Die!"
Crack!
With his murderous shout, a heavy impact rang out, and Nam Myeong tumbled limply into the dirt.
"Where do you get off rampaging like that?!"
Looking down at the fallen Nam Myeong in anger was none other than Do Cheon.
"Looks like the Hell Demon Scripture flared up from his grief over losing his master."
The Volcanic Divine Sword approached with a sigh.
"That's even worse. Who knows when it'll happen again?"
"I'll keep watch."
"Can you seal it?"
"Couldn't."
He could block it, but not seal it.
"I'll take him with me for a while."
"You hate hassle."
"No choice."
The Volcanic Divine Sword had no retort and fell silent.
"Hey, get up."
Do Cheon nudged Nam Myeong. Regaining his senses, Nam Myeong looked around, stood, and bowed to the Volcanic Divine Sword.
"My apologies."
"How could you let your mind wander like that? Pull yourself together."
"My apologies."
"Only by fully making the Hell Demon Scripture yours can you avenge him. Stay sharp."
"Yes."
Nam Myeong bowed his head. Then Do Cheon said offhandedly.
"We're heading to Henan tomorrow, so get ready."
"I'm going to Henan?"
"I've got business there. Follow if you don't want to keep causing trouble while I'm gone."
Finally understanding, Nam Myeong nodded readily.
"Got it."
"You're no help at all."
Do Cheon shook his head when Steward Seo arrived.
"There's a guest outside the main gate."
"Guest?"
"The one who visited before."
"Who?"
"The one you called the White Rakshasa, Young Leader."
"What?!"
Do Cheon's eyes widened, then he scowled and shouted toward the main gate.
"They say she's here to break the main gate again? This time, I'm not holding back!"
As Do Cheon fumed, Nam Myeong was already racing off.