Chapter 429: Senseless (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 429: Senseless (1)
The last time I had seen the Immortal Healer was around the time Wi Seol-Ah had left the Gu Clan.
That was nearly two years ago.
According to the First Elder, he had departed for the Taeryung Clan with the Sword Emperor.
I hadn't heard a single word from him since.
Why is the Immortal Healer here…?
And of all places, in the Tang Clan.
What were the chances that we would both be in Sichuan at the same time?
“What are you standing there for? Sit down.”
“…”
I finally took a seat at the Immortal Healer’s urging.
I had wondered what kind of guest warranted the use of such an exclusive building, but it made perfect sense now. It was the Immortal Healer himself.
While no one could definitively name the strongest martial artist in the world, there was no doubt that the greatest physician in the Central Plains was the Immortal Healer. He was not someone one could meet simply by offering a fortune.
I sat down opposite him, bowed my head respectfully, and spoke carefully.
“…Have you been well since we last met?”
I offered the greeting first. The Immortal Healer responded with a slight frown.
“How could I be well at my age? I’m just passing the days until the end.”
“…”
His words were as acerbic as ever.
“I heard you had also come to Sichuan, so I called for you.”
“Yes. Thank you for summoning me.”
“Your words are polite, but your face is full of weary suspicion, as if you’re asking why I bothered.”
“…”
His perception was as sharp as ever, too.
The Immortal Healer took a sip of tea and fixed me with a piercing stare.
“Rumors about you have been spreading like wildfire lately.”
“…I see.”
“I knew something like this would happen, but it occurred much faster than I anticipated.”
So the Immortal Healer had heard the rumors as well.
It was understandable. It would have been stranger if he hadn't, given the Martial Alliance and the Beggar’s Sect were working in tandem to spread the news.
“Anyway, I’m glad to see you appear to be in good health.”
“…Thank you.”
From behind us, the Poison King listened to our exchange with a visibly shocked expression. He seemed astonished by the relatively warm tone the Immortal Healer was using with me.
The Immortal Healer then addressed the Poison King directly.
“Clan Lord Tang.”
“Yes, Elder?”
“I have a private matter to discuss with this child. Would you grant us a moment?”
“…!”
He had just asked the Lord of the Tang Clan to leave. In some ways, he was truly an awe-inspiring figure. But then, such audacity was possible only for the Immortal Healer.
The Poison King seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then he lowered his head, closed the door behind him, and withdrew.
Once we were alone, the Immortal Healer’s gaze returned to me.
What important matter did he want to discuss?
“You said you called for me.”
“Yes, as I mentioned. I heard you were at the Tang Clan and wished to see you.”
“What brings you to Sichuan, Immortal Healer?”
He thought for a moment after my question, then replied with a sigh that carried a hint of annoyance.
“I hadn’t originally planned to come…”
His sigh was laden with complex emotions.
“It’s not easy to sever ties from the past.”
My eyes widened. Did that mean…?
“Wait… does that mean Elder Wi is here as well?”
The Immortal Healer had gone to the Taeryung Clan because the Sword Emperor was headed there. That implied the two shared some kind of connection. And if the Sword Emperor was now in Sichuan…
Wi Seol-Ah is here.
His granddaughter was in this region, so it wouldn't be strange for the Sword Emperor to have come for her. If he was here… did that mean he intended to take Wi Seol-Ah away? A wave of worry washed over me.
Noticing my expression, the Immortal Healer looked at me with irritation.
“Why are you suddenly bringing up that old man?”
“Huh?”
“He didn’t come.”
“…Then who…?”
“Would you even know him if I told you?”
“…”
He had a point. I awkwardly scratched my head.
“Well… it’s possible I might.”
“Is it someone I know?”
“He’s out handling some business at the moment. Come see him when he returns.”
“Huh? Isn’t that a bit sudden?”
“That old man wanted to see you anyway… so be here.”
“…Ah. Understood.”
I already felt a knot of nervousness in my stomach. Considering that every elder the Immortal Healer associated with was a monster, this person was likely another major figure in the Central Plains.
Then again, how much more shocking could they be? I had met the Sword Emperor shortly after my regression. The Dishonored Venerable had become my master. The Dark King, the sovereign of all assassins, orbited my sphere. I had encountered all the Lords of the Four Noble Clans, and even seen the Sword Queen and her designated successor.
What martial artist could possibly surpass that roster?
As long as it’s not the last of the Three Venerables, I have nothing to fear.
Yes. Unless the Heavenly Venerable himself was in Sichuan, I doubted anything could truly shock me.
“Then I will come when you call for me.”
The Immortal Healer nodded at my response. Just then, I felt a tug on my sleeve. I looked down and saw it was Zhuge Hyuk.
“What is it?”
“…”
Zhuge Hyuk began tracing characters on the table with his finger. It looked like he was writing, ‘It’s been a while, big brother.’
Seeing this, I patted his head.
“Yes, it’s good to see you too. You look like you’ve been eating well; you’ve put on a little weight.”
Zhuge Hyuk broke into a bright smile at my words. The sight gave me pause.
…He’s smiling?
I was genuinely surprised. Not only had he grown bigger, but he also seemed to express emotions more freely now. It seemed he had been living a healthy life.
“I heard the girl named Seol-Ah is also here.”
“…Ah, yes. That’s correct.”
“Is that child doing well?”
He was asking about Wi Seol-Ah. Frankly, it was a difficult question to answer. Was Wi Seol-Ah doing well? I could only hope she was.
“I am doing my best to ensure she has a good life.”
“At least that’s a better answer than the shitty one you gave last time.”
“…”
What had I said in the past to warrant that? I didn't think things had changed that much.
As I was pondering, the Immortal Healer spoke bluntly.
“You’ve changed a great deal.”
“…I’ll take that as a compliment?”
“It’s both.”
He meant I had changed in both good and bad ways.
“You seem to have lost some of the confidence you had back then, and you appear more tense than before.”
I offered a faint smile. He was absolutely right.
“And now…” The Immortal Healer stretched out his wrinkled hand toward me. “Roll up your sleeve and show me your arm.”
“…Immortal Healer?”
“Now.”
His expression was deadly serious. I was accustomed to his examinations by now, so I cautiously began to extend my arm…
…Wait, which arm do I give him?
I froze mid-motion. Both of my arms were in strange conditions. My left arm was wrapped in a bandage that emitted a faint pinkish light, while scales covered my right arm.
I deliberated for about three seconds before deciding to offer my left arm. A strange bandage was probably easier to explain than reptilian scales.
The Immortal Healer’s expression turned peculiar as he looked at my arm.
“Were you injured? Your arm seemed fine when I first saw you.”
“No, it’s nothing like that… I just, somehow, ended up with… um…”
As I struggled for words, the Immortal Healer nodded as if he had understood something.
What was that about?
“Yes, you are at that age, after all.”
“Huh?”
“Bandages, eyepatches… everyone goes through a phase like that when they’re young.”
A massive misunderstanding had occurred. What was he talking about? It was nothing like that!
I hurriedly tried to explain, but the Immortal Healer had already grabbed my arm and begun his examination.
…Damn it.
I knew better than to speak during this. He would just yell at me for breaking his concentration. But did that mean I had to accept being labeled as an embarrassing youth going through a phase, thinking bandages were cool?
That really wasn’t the case… I wanted to protest, but I couldn't utter a word. In the end, I had no choice but to wait in silence for the examination to finish. That period felt exceptionally long and frustrating.
The examination took much longer than usual. Perhaps because he had detected a problem, the Immortal Healer spent a full fifteen minutes on the check-up, whereas it normally took only a few minutes.
Finally, he opened his eyes, signaling the end. Seizing the opportunity, Gu Yangcheon asked his question.
“Is there a problem with my body?”
The prolonged examination was the reason for his concern.
In response, the Immortal Healer looked at him with a grave expression.
“I will ask you one question first.”
Hearing his serious tone, Gu Yangcheon grew tense. The Immortal Healer continued.
“Did you learn Bijuu’s martial art?”
“…!”
Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened in shock. How did he know?
Seeing his reaction, the Immortal Healer calmly explained.
“Only his martial art alters a person’s muscles and blood vessels to this extent.”
“…”
“If you had undergone a true rebirth, it would be one thing, but there is no trace of that in your body. That leaves only one other possibility, am I correct?”
“…You are.”
Gu Yangcheon hadn’t expected to be found out simply from an examination of his musculature. While he was shocked at being discovered, the Immortal Healer’s eyes held a trace of sorrow.
“So that bastard finally found a disciple… And of all people, it’s you.”
“Immortal Healer…?”
“I had hoped no one would fall prey to his obsessive pursuit of that goal, but it seems fate had other plans.”
“…”
It appeared the Immortal Healer was well aware of the inherent flaws of the Heaven Destruction Art. It was a martial art that inflicted terrifying pain on its user, forcibly restructuring their muscles and blood vessels. It was an artificial method of rebirth, a brutal, forced path to achieving the State of Selflessness.
However, as the Dishonored Venerable had often said, no one had ever been able to endure the agony it brought. For a healer like the Immortal Healer, this was undoubtedly unwelcome news.
“Does your father, or that bastard Gu Ryoon, know about this?”
“…The Clan Lord knows. The First Elder does not.”
“Gu Ryoon doesn’t know? You’re in for a world of trouble when you return.”
“…”
Gu Yangcheon had to agree. He was also terrified of the beating he would receive from the First Elder, who had a history of selling him out.
No, I can probably run now.
Having reached the Fusion Realm, escaping the First Elder was at least a possibility. That thought alone provided some comfort.
As Gu Yangcheon mentally mapped out his escape routes, the Immortal Healer spoke again.
“You must have recently been in a situation where you were forced to expend a massive amount of qi.”
“Ah, yes… that’s right.”
A tremendous amount of qi had been used when demonifying Tang Duk and hatching the Red Water Snake. The resulting exhaustion was palpable, and the Immortal Healer had detected it all. He was as impressively perceptive as ever.
“Your body is saturated with exhaustion. I’m sure you feel it yourself.”
“Yes.”
“You need to get proper rest.”
Gu Yangcheon offered a bitter smile. That had been his plan, before he was summoned here. But he didn’t voice this complaint. He knew the immense value of the Immortal Healer’s examination and that it was offered out of genuine concern.
“Also.”
Gu Yangcheon focused intently as the Immortal Healer spoke again. This time, the tone felt different—darker, heavier. At least, that was the impression Gu Yangcheon got.
“Immortal Healer…?”
“Do you remember what I called you back then? A living corpse.”
It had happened a few years ago. About a year after Gu Yangcheon’s regression, when he went to Mount Hua to retrieve Gu Ryunghwa, the Immortal Healer had examined him at the Celestial Plum Blossom’s request.
A walking corpse. That was what he had called him.
“Yes, I remember.”
Back then, the conflicting types of qi within his body meant it wouldn’t have been strange for him to explode at any moment. However, Elder Shin had resolved the issue with the Taoist Qi, and the efficiency of the Demonic Absorption Art, combined with the beast core inside him, had created a precarious balance.
Thanks to that, Gu Yangcheon had even been able to learn the Dishonored Venerable’s Heaven Destruction Art. He had almost forgotten that the problem had ever existed.
So why was the Immortal Healer bringing it up now?
As Gu Yangcheon wondered, the Immortal Healer spoke again, his face grim.
“I could not be certain back then. But listen to me carefully now, and I swear this on my name.”
The Immortal Healer looked directly at Gu Yangcheon, his expression one of deep displeasure.
“If things continue like this, you will die soon.”
Gu Yangcheon’s eyes shot wide open at the Immortal Healer’s icy pronouncement.