Chapter 68: Immortal Healer (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: Immortal Healer (5)
“How are you feeling?”
The Celestial Plum Blossom asked the question as soon as he was finally permitted to enter the small hut. I had slipped in behind him when the commotion inside had died down.
“You shouldn’t have come all this way when you are so busy…”
“I was just passing by, so there’s no need for such formalities.”
“…My Lord.”
The Plum Blossom Sword offered a gentle smile to the Celestial Plum Blossom. The Immortal Healer, meanwhile, continued to glare at him, though he held his tongue.
The Immortal Healer, huh…
I was more than a little astonished to learn the elderly man’s true identity. He was a peerless master of medical arts, a legend who could heal anyone. Yet, due to his wandering nature, even the most powerful clans and prominent sects found it nearly impossible to track him down.
And yet, here he was.
…I must admit, I didn’t expect him to have such a personality.
[Since time immemorial, those who reach the pinnacle of their craft tend to be eccentric in their own ways.]
…Oh, that explains it.
It was a credible statement, especially coming from a prime example of that very trait.
[What! What are you implying!?]
Setting aside the Immortal Healer, the real puzzle here was Zhuge Hyuk. I kept stealing glances at him as he sat quietly, staring into space with his characteristic, emotionless expression.
Zhuge Hyuk is the Immortal Healer’s grandson?
I had heard he traveled with his grandfather, but I never imagined the man would be the legendary healer himself.
What is going on here?
What could have possibly happened to turn him into that monster?
If the boy before me was indeed the Zhuge Hyuk I knew, what cataclysm could have driven him to side with the Heavenly Demon? The background story he had woven for me in my past life was completely at odds with the reality I was now witnessing. I hadn't believed everything he'd told me back then, of course, but I never suspected he was the grandson of a figure as revered as the Immortal Healer.
Does this play a part in his future transformation?
Why does everything keep getting more complicated?
Why was it that nothing in my life could ever be straightforward? My eyes drifted back to Zhuge Hyuk.
…Can I really kill him?
“…ild.”
Or should I even kill him?
And if I do, when would be the right time? What consequences would it—
“Child.”
“…Huh?”
[Wake up.]
I winced, a headache throbbing at the sound of Elder Shin’s voice… When I turned toward the source of the other voice—the one that wasn’t Elder Shin’s—I found the Celestial Plum Blossom looking directly at me.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, I’m fine…”
“Tae! The boy says he’s sick!”
“Shut your mouth!”
The Immortal Healer snapped angrily at the Celestial Plum Blossom before turning his attention back to the medicinal herbs he was carefully boiling. Once the concoction was ready, he handed it to the Plum Blossom Sword.
“Drink this and then rest. The medicine will make you drowsy.”
“…Thank you.”
A nervous expression flitted across Gu Ryunghwa’s face as she watched her master’s thin, frail hands hold the bowl, worried she might drop it.
To an outsider, the Plum Blossom Sword appeared to be a fragile old woman. Yet both the Celestial Plum Blossom and the Immortal Healer addressed her as the Sword Queen. And my sister, Gu Ryunghwa, was her disciple.
Now I understood why Yung Pung had referred to Gu Ryunghwa as his Senior. It also explained why she was treated as a second-generation disciple despite joining the sect after the third-generation students.
How did I not know she was a disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword?
We hadn't spoken much in my previous life, but I’d never even heard rumors about Gu Ryunghwa being the student of Mount Hua’s Sword Queen. That likely meant the information was closely guarded within the sect.
How had Gu Ryunghwa even become her disciple? And what had happened for the student of the Plum Blossom Sword to remain so unknown to the wider world? In my past life, I only knew her as a martial artist from the Mount Hua Sect, nothing more.
The Plum Blossom Sword was a Sword Queen revered by swordswomen across the martial world. If one were to list the top martial artists of Mount Hua, she would stand shoulder to shoulder with the Celestial Plum Blossom. She was a heroine who never hesitated to charge into danger to save those in need. When the true Gate of Demons had opened in Shaanxi, she had not only evacuated the entire population to safety but had also held the line against the demonic hordes until the Celestial Plum Blossom arrived, cementing her legacy.
Yet, her subsequent sudden inactivity and disappearance from the martial world had become a frequent topic of heated discussion.
Was it because of her illness?
She clearly wasn’t well. The fact that she looked older than the Celestial Plum Blossom, despite being his junior, was evidence enough.
As I stared, lost in thought, her eyes suddenly met mine. I flinched in surprise, but the Sword Queen simply gave me a kind smile.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Huh?”
“I had hoped to meet you much sooner, but too much time has slipped away.”
“You… know who I am?”
Did Gu Ryunghwa tell her about me?
I grew tense, naturally assuming my sister hadn’t painted a flattering picture of me for her master. However, her next words took me completely by surprise.
“You look so much like Cheonhee.”
“…!”
Words I never expected to hear—a name I thought I had buried in the deepest recesses of my memory.
How does she know that name?
“You… knew my mother?”
Cheonhee—my mother’s name. I had not only forgotten her name but even the memory of her smiling face and the sound of her voice calling my name had faded.
The Sword Queen simply smiled at my question. “She was my friend… a very dear friend.”
“My mother was your friend…?”
How?
I knew little of my mother’s youth, only that she was said to have lived an ordinary life…
…Then again, I suppose it’s not so strange.
Not when someone like Wi Seol-Ah existed.
The real issue was that I was only now, after my rebirth, learning so many secrets about the people around me.
“…He doesn’t look anything like her.”
The words came from Gu Ryunghwa, who was nestled in the Sword Queen’s embrace. She was glaring at me with fierce intensity.
“Ryunghwa…?”
“That guy looks nothing like… my mother. Mother was gentle like a rabbit, but he… he looks like a mantis wearing human skin…!”
“A mantis…”
[See? I wasn’t just saying you look like a mantis for no reason!]
Why a mantis, of all things?
The world is full of cute or cool animals, so why am I consistently compared to a mantis?
[Have you considered the possibility that you simply don’t look cute or cool?]
…Elder Shin, that’s enough.
How heartbreaking…
The Sword Queen patted Gu Ryunghwa’s head gently. “Ryunghwa, why are you being so rude to someone who came all this way to see you?”
“…That’s… not it…”
“Now, now… Apologize to your brother.”
At the Plum Blossom Sword’s words, Gu Ryunghwa’s lips curled into a sulky pout. She was, after all, still just a child.
“…Sor…ry.”
Her expression screamed that she was cursing me inwardly even as the apology left her lips. Still, she had obeyed the Sword Queen.
Seeing this, the Sword Queen smiled and continued. “Four years ago, when I visited the Gu Clan, I wanted to see you as well… but… you weren’t there at the time.”
Four years ago?
Ah, that period.
It was around the time I began to see the true darkness festering within the Gu Clan. The time when I slowly started to rot from the inside out. It was not a good time for me.
The Sword Queen gazed at me with her kind smile, unaware of that history. “I’m glad I can at least see you now…”
“Me?”
“Of course. I was very disappointed when I couldn’t see you back then.”
Why?
Because I’m the son of her close friend?
Things began to fall into place. The reason Gu Ryunghwa had left for the Mount Hua Sect a year after the Sword Queen’s visit four years ago was likely because of this connection. Furthermore, with an offer coming directly from the Sword Queen herself, it was no wonder my father and the clan elders hadn’t refused. Of course, my own existence had probably made their decision that much easier.
“You look very similar to Cheonhee.”
I smiled inwardly at the Sword Queen’s words. They were words I couldn’t relate to at all.
“I don’t remember my mother having such a sharp face, though…”
“The outer appearance may differ, but your aura is very much like hers.”
[Even now, she doesn’t deny that your face is fierce.]
Do you have to tease me every single time?
Aura? What does that even mean?
It was impossible to understand now, as all my memories of my mother had grown dim. I only vaguely remembered a feeling of warmth and comfort when I was with her. That was all that remained.
As I became lost in my thoughts, I sensed someone beside me holding something out. I turned to see it was Zhuge Hyuk, and I was slightly taken aback.
What now…?
A towel? What does he want me to do with this?
“What is it?”
Even when I asked, the boy just stared at me, his mouth firmly shut. Gu Ryunghwa had already mentioned he was mute.
Yet I found it strange, because I distinctly remembered him speaking perfectly well in my previous life.
Was that also a result of the Heavenly Demon’s power?
Could they even restore speech to someone disabled? Were they even human at that point?
When I didn’t react, the boy simply put the towel back into his pocket and went to sit near the Immortal Healer.
Was he always like this?
The boy who always wore a nasty smile, who commanded thousands with his eloquent words without a hint of hesitation…
Was it really this same kid who orchestrated those massacres in the future?
What in the world happened to turn Zhuge Hyuk into a supporter of the Demonic Cult?
“So…”
The Immortal Healer spoke, his eyes fixed on the Celestial Plum Blossom. “You old bastard… why are you really here?”
“…Tsk, how can you refer to the Lord of Mount Hua as an old bastard…”
“Do you want me to leave?”
“Call me whatever you like… I came to check on my disciple.”
“Stop shitting me. Your face is screaming that you came for something else.”
“Ahem…”
“Did you come for that boy?”
The Immortal Healer’s gaze shifted to me as he spoke.
“Well… you know, since I’m already here, I thought I might as well kill two birds with one stone—”
The Celestial Plum Blossom averted his eyes, caught red-handed. The Immortal Healer looked like he was about to breathe fire.
“Our agreement concerned only the Sword Queen. I’m sure you’re aware of that.”
“…Hmm.”
I was starting to feel intensely uncomfortable. I’d come here without a proper explanation, and now learning that I was the other reason for this visit made me feel even worse.
“Uh… What’s—”
“Come on! Can’t you let it slide? That’s what friends are for!”
“You have no shame! Do you have any idea what it cost me to agree to your last request!?”
“Are you really going to be so petty?”
“Petty, my ass! I’ll drown you in this medicinal broth!”
What kind of absurd conversation is this?
Is this really an exchange between the greatest Taoist of Mount Hua and the legendary Immortal Healer?
The Plum Blossom Sword maintained her gentle smile throughout the bickering, seemingly accustomed to it.
“My answer is still no.”
“Oh, come on…”
“It’s obvious that boy is not in a normal state. If I take him on as well, I won’t be able to focus entirely on the Sword Queen. Are you okay with that?”
“Huh?”
My eyes widened at the Immortal Healer’s words.
Not in a normal condition? Who…?
Me?
I ate, slept, and moved around perfectly fine. I couldn’t understand why he would say that. If it were anyone else, I would have dismissed it as nonsense, but the problem was that it was coming from the Immortal Healer himself.
“Judging by your reaction, it seems you weren’t even aware. And you’re asking me to take on another patient?”
“Hey, I never asked you to fix him… Just to take a look—”
“Cut the crap, Dohwa.”
The Immortal Healer’s voice was laced with pure anger. “That is a healer’s duty. Are you asking me to neglect a patient knowing they are injured?”
“…Tae.”
“Besides, I already have a patient right here who needs my care—”
“What if I offered you a Leaf of the Dragon’s Candle?”
—Silence.
The Immortal Healer froze at the words that slipped from the Celestial Plum Blossom’s mouth. He was so stunned that even his hand, which had been diligently stirring the medicine, stopped moving.
He wasn’t the only one shocked; I was equally stunned.
He has a Leaf of the Dragon’s Candle?
The Dragon’s Candle was a sacred herb, incredibly rare and difficult to acquire even with vast wealth. It was said that a single root of the Dragon’s Candle was a key ingredient in many of the world's most potent medicines.
…And he’s offering it? For me?
It wasn’t surprising that the Mount Hua Sect possessed a Dragon’s Candle. But an item that precious shouldn’t be offered just for a simple examination. And he was offering a leaf, no less…
“Dohwa, are you serious right now?”
“If I’m lying, I’ll bark like a dog in front of you.”
For a sect leader to say that…
It was hardly a dignified statement for someone of his stature, but I had to admit it made his claim more believable—
“…You piece of shit, you said that last time and you barked like it was nothing…!”
Everyone present instantly froze at the Immortal Healer’s outburst.
The Lord of Mount Hua… actually barked like a dog? Surely the Immortal Healer was joking… Right?
I looked at the Celestial Plum Blossom, only to see him standing there with an profoundly awkward expression on his face.
“Hey! There are children present…!”
“You idiot, the trouble you’ve caused already is beyond fixing.”
I pondered for a moment.
…Is Mount Hua Sect really going to be alright with a leader like this?
Elder Shin…
[…Don’t speak to me.]
Are you really okay with Mount Hua being led by someone like this?
[Mount Hua? What’s that? I don’t know any Mount Hua. My memories have been so faint lately… Could it be that I have dementia…?]
This old ghost wasn’t normal either. He was using dementia as an excuse even though he was already dead.
“…I can’t believe that didn’t work.”
“You—”
“Then, if I am lying, I will step down as the Lord of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“My Lord!”
The Sword Queen called out in a voice filled with shock, her face pale. She was horrified that he would wager his position as sect leader.
Then again, he was the same man who had once bet a clan treasure during a drinking game… It was truly hard to place any trust in him.
Hearing the Celestial Plum Blossom’s drastic wager, the Immortal Healer looked at me once more. It seemed betting his leadership was enough to convince him.
“Hmm…”
“Well? How about it?”
The Immortal Healer fell into thought.
Is the Dragon’s Candle really that valuable?
Finally, he let out a long sigh. “…I will examine him. That is all. Even if I find something wrong, I will not treat him.”
After muttering to himself for a while longer, the Immortal Healer finally accepted the Celestial Plum Blossom’s request.
“Oh, yes! That’s all I ask.”
“Uh… Sorry to interrupt, but what about my opinion in this matter?”
“…I am never accepting another request from you again.”
“Then I’ll just have to keep coming to you until you do.”
“Just shut up already!”
With that final retort, the Immortal Healer stretched his hand toward me. “Roll up your sleeve and give me your arm.”
I couldn’t help but hesitate at his command. I knew the primary reason we had come here was because the Celestial Plum Blossom had sensed the Mount Hua Sect Qi swirling within me. But I doubted even the Immortal Healer could fully diagnose its condition. More than that, I feared he might discover my demonic abilities.
[Lend him your arm.]
Elder Shin?
[The longer you hesitate, the more suspicious you become. I will handle what you’re nervous about. Lend him your arm.]
I heeded Elder Shin’s words, rolled up my sleeve, and offered my arm to the Immortal Healer.
[However, you will tell me later what has you so worried, as payment.]
…Fine.
The Immortal Healer took my arm and began checking my pulse. Soon, a faint trace of Qi flowed into my body from his fingertips. It seemed even a master healer possessed a certain level of Qi.
“…Heavens.”
After holding my arm for a short while, the Immortal Healer finally spoke, his tone a mixture of utter astonishment and horror. His words sent my mind reeling into blankness.
“You aren’t just abnormal. You are, for all intents and purposes, a walking corpse.”
…What?