Reconstitution
When a martial artist attained true insight, their body could change into a vessel suited to the practice of martial arts. In the martial world, that was called Reconstitution.
Even among the foremost fighters of the Central Plains, those who had undergone Reconstitution could be counted on one hand, and there were many reasons for that.
Some had risen to lofty heights through internal strength, yet never attained true insight.
Others had gained insight, but lacked the internal power to support it.
And then there were those whose bodies simply had no need to undergo such a transformation.
Needless to say, Seomun Hwi did not fall into any of those categories.
And yet Jeok Hanseong was proposing to use medicine on Seomun Hwi to bring about Reconstitution?
Namgung Cheon frowned slightly and shot Jeok Hanseong a sidelong glance.
"I don't doubt the Divine Doctor's skill, but however I think of it, I can't believe it's possible."
He would thrust that monstrous long needle into the Baihui Point at the crown of the head and, in a single stroke, open the Conception and Governing Vessels.
While that was happening, he and Dang Hyeongeuk would pour in enough internal energy through channel-transference to make Reconstitution possible, and that would be that.
It sounded simple enough, but even he, with no real expertise in medicine, could tell at once that it was impossible.
Leaving aside whether Reconstitution itself could be achieved, if a needle that size were driven into a person, anyone in the Central Plains would die on the spot.
As Dang Hyeongeuk and Seomun Hwi both wore equally unconvinced expressions, Jeok Hanseong let out a thin sigh.
"If you don't trust me, then there's nothing to be done. Just understand that there is no other way."
Dang Hyeongeuk closed his eyes and gave a short, restrained groan.
Was he truly supposed to believe that the long needle would keep the soul from escaping, and that there was no need to fear death?
Still, the decision was no longer his to make.
"I apologize. I was the one who asked you to perform the treatment first, and yet I showed you such a disgraceful sight."
When Seomun Hwi bowed politely, Jeok Hanseong gave a bitter smile.
"No. I understand that feeling all too well."
Then Seomun Hwi also offered respect to the two clan leaders seated beside him.
Even if this was all for the sake of preventing division within the Orthodox factions, how could it be easy to lose the internal power one had spent a lifetime building for the sake of another?
"Clan Leader of the Namgung Clan, and Clan Leader of the Sichuan Tang Clan, I will owe you an unpayable debt."
After taking a breath, Seomun Hwi drew a letter from within his robes and handed it to Dang Hyeongeuk and Namgung Cheon.
When Dang Hyeongeuk looked at him as if asking what it was, Seomun Hwi gave an embarrassed smile and spoke.
"I hope things go smoothly, but they may not. So I arranged things in advance with the senior of the Beggars' Sect..."
"I don't care for this at all."
The letter had been written through a night of barely suppressed sorrow and fear, yet Namgung Cheon tore it apart in front of Seomun Hwi's face as though it were not even worth unfolding.
"If you had enough strength left to write this nonsense, then you should never have needed that child's care in the first place."
Then, ignoring the baffled Seomun Hwi, he turned to Jeok Hanseong with anger burning in his face.
"If you're ready, then we'd better not delay any longer. My patience is beginning to run thin as well."
---
As Seomun Hwi followed behind Dang Hyeongeuk to where Jeok Hanseong waited, Cheongwol, left alone, wandered the inner residence.
Perhaps because they had roughly caught wind of the situation, every maid she passed stole glances at her, carefully reading her expression.
"Miss, I'm sure Young Master will shake off his illness and get right back up as if nothing happened."
There were even some who gathered the courage to offer comfort, and while their kindness was appreciated, it also made her feel a little pressured.
So Cheongwol kept walking until she reached a rather secluded corner, where the smithy she had once been taught in by Yu Baekheon seemed to welcome her back.
"..."
She turned her head slightly and looked around.
Everything seemed old and run-down here and there, but the mixed scent of wet wood and molten metal suggested it had not been completely abandoned.
Well, this was a smithy in the inner residence. Of course it had an owner.
Just as she was about to move on with that thought, someone approached her with a smiling face.
"I was wondering who used this place. So it was you?"
The one speaking so familiarly, with no warning at all, was none other than the man who had entered the inner residence with the Divine Doctor.
She knew it was ridiculous to think this way herself, but his face was so annoyingly pretty it made her brow furrow on its own.
By rights, a man should give off an air that made it difficult to approach, the way Seomun Hwi did.
"I'm a guest of the Tang Clan just like you. I just happened to wander here."
When Cheongwol answered with a bored look, the man let out a faint laugh.
"Want me to guess what you're thinking right now?"
At his sudden remark, Cheongwol clicked her tongue so softly it was barely audible and brushed past him.
"No."
Despite her cold reaction, the man narrowed his eyes and went on.
"You think I'm trying to get close to you because I'm taken with your beauty. Like all the others."
"...What?"
Hearing something she had never expected come out of his mouth, Cheongwol stopped and turned back.
The man grinned and pointed to his own cheek with a finger.
"This time, I'd like to tell you you're mistaken. My face is handsome enough to be called peerless too."
What kind of man praised himself in a way that made even listening embarrassing?
It was infuriating, but she also couldn't think of anything in particular to rebut.
Because, as he had said, he was more beautiful than anyone she had ever seen.
"Good for you. You done talking?"
Still, she only looked at him for a moment longer before frowning again.
"Next time, save that sort of thing for the women who actually like you. Though I don't know whether the courtesans would take you up on it."
As if proving they were blood-related, Cheongwol spoke something very much like Dang Sohye's style and turned away again.
It should have been insulting, but the man merely waved and called after her back.
"Don't worry too much! The Young Clan Leader of the Seomun Clan will pull through!"
Without replying, he watched her receding figure and gave a crooked smile.
When the lover of the Second Alliance Leader first revealed his identity in the Central Plains, both the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions had been stunned.
For his true identity was none other than the clan leader of the Namgung Clan.
He was the head of one of the great orthodox powers, once known in his generation as one of the Five Great Clans.
So even if enough time had passed for them to become almost like strangers, could he really pretend not to see someone in trouble?
The Orthodox bastards really are all sneaky as hell, front and back both.
As the corners of his mouth kept sinking, the man's face changed completely, becoming sharp and cold.
---
Huashan, in Shaanxi, one of the Five Great Peaks and also called the Western Peak.
Its steep cliffs were so perilous that merely looking up at them made one's knees go weak, and in winter the wind that howled through those cracks was like blades cutting into flesh.
Yet when the endless winter finally faltered and spring began to lift its head, the sounds of life stirring could be heard even on Huashan.
At first, when the founding patriarch settled there, there had been no connection to it at all. But now it was the flower that symbolized Huashan.
The sound of plum blossoms defying the cruel cold and unfurling their petals upon the world.
Though now the days were warmer, and the petals had broken apart and scattered, with green fruit taking their place.
And yet, on a tree set upon one of Huashan's peaks, plum blossoms were still in full bloom.
And beneath those blossoms.
A middle-aged man sat in full lotus position, breathing out in slow, even measure, his face calm.
The man still could not forget the expression his master had worn before the elder who had been like a parent closed his eyes for the last time.
- Bring the Sunflower Manual... back... to... Huashan...
What on earth was it that could torment a master so deeply, a man whose cultivation had been so profound he was once called a Semi-Immortal?
Even while barely keeping his breath alive, the master had flailed an arm through the air.
As though trying to grasp something only he could see.
And yet, in the end, he must not have obtained what he wanted.
There had been no peace on the face that lost its breath at death, only a heart full of grievance.
After silently reaching out to close his master's eyes, he had buried that fleeting trace of regret deep in the earth with him.
He had wanted to become a martial artist like his master, but he had not wanted to resemble him in that tragic end.
He had never imagined that regret would cross more than twenty years of time and come searching for him as well.
"Hoo..."
As the man gathered his breath back in, the plum blossoms that had bloomed in the color of sunset began to fade once more.
The petals, drained of strength, drifted softly down, but the moment they touched his feet, they vanished without a trace.
It was an ultimate martial art passed down only to the Huashan Sect's leader.
They had bloomed because of Purple Cloud Divine Art.
After drawing in the final remnants of the Purple Cloud Divine Art's power into his dantian, the man slowly rose to his feet.