Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Demonic Arts
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The later-generation disciples of the Murim Academy had been numerous ever since they reached the third floor.
Yuseong had only checked the first few and soon lost interest, so he didn't know everyone. Even during the physician's explanations, half of them had their backs turned.
Yet one of them recognized him, which came as a shock.
And not as the White-Clothed Physician of the Luoyang Medical Hall, but as the second son of the Baek Family Manor.
The man who recognized Yuseong had sharp eyes and appeared to be in his mid-twenties.
He was someone Yuseong had glimpsed in passing during his time at the Baek Family Manor, but he quickly recalled who it was.
"Could you be a young master of the Jin Family Manor?"
"That's right. Jin Yeongho here. Your name was Baek... What was your name again?"
"Baek Yuseong."
"Right, Baek Yuseong. Your ugly mug hasn't changed a bit."
It was a comment on Yuseong's face, which shone thanks to his careful customization. But it didn't sound like praise at all.
Instead, his eyes clearly showed annoyance, and a sneer played at the corners of his mouth.
As Yuseong wryly smiled and searched for a retort, the one called Paeng-hyeong butted in.
He had thick eyebrows and a square jaw, giving him a quite manly look.
"Jin-hyeong, you know him?"
Jin Yeongho, as if he'd been waiting, began spilling everything about Yuseong without any regard for the subject's feelings.
"Oh, Paeng-hyeong. This guy's the second son of some place called the Baek Family Manor in Honam. Not anymore, though. Word is he got kicked out of his family."
Paeng Jisan, whose mood had soured, found Jin Yeongho's words tantalizing.
Kicked out of the family? How provocative.
If he had done something scandalous and been expelled from the Paeng Family of Northern Hebei, he probably would've wanted to die from the shame.
To him, being cast out of one's family meant that much.
"Hoo, what kind of mess gets you kicked out of your family? I'm curious what grave sin he committed."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the female peers from the Murim Academy.
They had been admiring Yuseong's face nonstop, but now they looked puzzled upon hearing he'd been expelled.
'Hmph, thinks a pretty face puts food on the table.'
Today was the day Paeng Jisan had become a Peak Realm expert.
Now he could count himself among the top later-generation disciples of the orthodox faction.
Of course, he wasn't without rivals.
There had been one who reached Peak Realm a year ahead of him.
The guy who became a Peak Realm master at twenty-two and earned Paeng Jisan's envy had foolishly fallen to an assassin's ambush.
'A once-in-a-century prodigy ending up like that? Now I'm the top among the current generation's later-generation disciples.'
In other words, the world was his from here on out.
Even if his influence waned over time, today at least he deserved to be the star.
Yet on such a day, the female peers were fawning over Yuseong, twisting his mood into knots.
Hearing that Yuseong had been kicked out lightened it a bit.
Jin Yeongho answered Paeng Jisan's question.
"I'm friends with the heir of the Baek Family Manor, and apparently this guy tried to shove his brother aside out of greed to become the successor. He overreached in training and fell into Qi Deviation. Lost all his martial arts and left the family a few years back, from what I heard."
"The Baek Family Manor is an orthodox faction in Honam that I've at least heard of. To fall into Qi Deviation while practicing stable orthodox inner arts—how pathetic is that?"
"Like a titmouse chasing a stork and ripping its crotch."
What a nobody.
Paeng Jisan's mood fully lifted.
Perhaps because of the mention of lost martial arts, he sensed the female peers from the Murim Academy rapidly losing interest.
Paeng Jisan's gaze turned to the girl he had a crush on.
She would surely feel the same.
'No way? Why are you...'
But she was gazing at Yuseong more intensely than anyone.
Unlike the other female peers who had lost interest, this reignited Paeng Jisan's jealousy.
He wanted to make her completely lose interest in that pathetic guy.
A look of contempt would satisfy him even more.
"But I'm curious."
"About what?"
"To fall into Qi Deviation from orthodox inner arts, you'd need to be at least Peak Realm, excluding the rare one-in-a-hundred cases. He didn't get blinded by greed and snag some demonic arts to practice, did he?"
Jin Yeongho hesitated.
'Why bring up demonic arts all of a sudden? I figured it was one of those rare cases.'
Jin Yeongho had pretended not to know his name at first to mock Baek Yuseong.
He didn't know he was a physician, but he was well aware of Baek Yuseong from the Baek Family Manor in Honam.
Why not?
Honam lay south of the Yangtze, treated as a backwater in the murim world.
Unless a supreme master emerged, it drew little attention from central murim, filled with countless small and mid-sized sects vying for power.
Rumors had spread that a stunning martial prodigy had emerged from the minor martial house of the Baek Family Manor in such a place.
The Baek Family Manor lord had shown favoritism to Yuseong, the illegitimate son, over his legitimate heir.
That could be dismissed as parental bias, but Yuseong proved it with results.
In just one year of proper training, the barely noticeable Yuseong had achieved feats.
Jin Yeongho had felt Yuseong's talent firsthand through the laments of Baek Jinseong, his friend and Yuseong's brother.
"That guy's already at the wall of Peak Realm. Who knows how much stronger he'll be in a few years."
He himself, training since childhood, had only just reached first-rate warrior status, while Yuseong hit the Peak Realm wall?
Even if it took five years to break through, Yuseong would still be twenty-one.
He could reach Peak Realm at the same age as the legendary Jang Sambong Immortal.
And with that talent, it probably wouldn't even take five years.
Jin Yeongho couldn't voice that it was good for the Baek Family Manor.
He knew how much Baek Jinseong despised Yuseong.
Jin Yeongho thought someone with such talent had no reason to rashly practice demonic arts, but Paeng Jisan's intent was clear.
He had to give the answer Paeng Jisan wanted.
Wasn't he the rising star among later-generation disciples?
"Well, hearing Paeng-hyeong say it, I can't believe I overlooked demonic arts. Let's see, he's only twenty now, and it's been years since he was kicked out, so he couldn't have been Peak Realm back then. Even Grandmaster Dharma, the first Heavenly Demon, or Jang Sambong Immortal couldn't have done it. Looking at it this way, demonic arts do seem likely. Your insight never fails to amaze me, Paeng-hyeong."
Even if the Murim Alliance struggled to control all black path murim folk, it showed no mercy to those who practiced demonic arts.
Reporting a demonic arts practitioner to the Murim Alliance could even bring out the Demon Subduing Division.
The Murim Alliance's top fighting force, the Demon Subduing Division.
And rumors said its leader, Jeong Rip, might even reach the Transformation Realm!
As Paeng Jisan raised the possibility of demonic arts, and even Jin Yeongho chimed in, most of the Murim Academy later-generation disciples paled.
They began casting suspicious glances at Yuseong.
"Ahem."
By now, the Cha Physician had distanced himself considerably from Yuseong.
It felt like he'd abandon him without hesitation if trouble arose.
Watching them bicker among themselves, Yuseong could only let out a hollow laugh.
'Practicing demonic arts leaves traces. A check would reveal it instantly. I have nothing to fear, but it's annoying hearing strangers spout off like this. The Cha Physician would stick back to me once he knows it was a misunderstanding anyway. So consistent.'
Jin Yeongho's mocking intent annoyed him, but Paeng Jisan's inexplicable hostility bruised his pride too.
A guy who was far his junior in terms of reaching Peak Realm was acting all high and mighty—even if not yet.
'If you're trying to put me in a tough spot, you've succeeded somewhat.'
One wrong move, and he might have to offer his pulse to prove he hadn't practiced demonic arts.
At that moment, Yuseong spotted a man who had come up to the third floor.
He was with a group that included several patients Yuseong knew well—ones he'd treated.
As he approached, the later-generation disciples sensed his presence, turned, and hastily bowed.
Paeng Jisan and Jin Yeongho were no exceptions.
"Gasp, hello, Senior!"
The man merely nodded curtly in response.
As if they weren't even worth noticing.
Striding boldly through the crowd of later-generation disciples, he stopped before Yuseong and threw his arms wide.
"Haha! Running into the White-Clothed Physician at a tavern! I was just thinking I owed you a drink someday—perfect timing! Care for a round with me?"
His large hands seized Yuseong's and shook them vigorously.
Yuseong caught on that the man's over-the-top enthusiasm was meant to help.
By showing they were close, he aimed to deter anyone from messing with Yuseong.
"White Tiger Division Leader, thank you, but the Murim Academy later-generation disciples here said they had business with me. It doesn't seem finished yet..."
"Oh, is that so."
The White Tiger Division Leader turned.
He scanned Paeng Jisan and Jin Yeongho, who stood a step ahead of the group.
They stiffened, startled by his sudden appearance.
"So, you have business with our White-Clothed Physician? Let's hear it."
Paeng Jisan had several brothers, so inheriting the family was unlikely.
His dream was to join the Murim Alliance, and the White Tiger Division Leader could be his future superior.
For such a man to say 'Let's hear it' sounded to Paeng Jisan like 'Spit it out if you dare.'
Paeng Jisan quickly pointed at Jin Yeongho.
The White Tiger Division Leader must have overheard parts of their prior talk on his way up.
He couldn't pretend nothing happened.
"It's nothing. This friend misspoke in relaying a story, so we just considered the possibilities briefly. Right, Jin-hyeong? No way it's demonic arts. There are plenty of other explanations."
"D-Demonic arts? Of course not. We were just reviewing possibilities. I think it's one of those rare cases... Naturally. Anyway, no more business with the Whi... Physician, so enjoy yourselves, White Tiger Division Leader."
"Hm, I see. Got it. White-Clothed Physician, all good now?"
Yuseong found it amusing how Jin Yeongho panicked after getting dumped on by Paeng Jisan, but he didn't show it.
No point making enemies needlessly.
"Fine by me. Let's have that drink."
"Haha, I had a feeling I wanted to come to this tavern today—talk about good luck. Give me a moment to excuse myself from my group, and I'll be right back."
The White Tiger Division Leader got permission from his companions and sent them off.
"Ahem, glad it worked out."
With the situation resolved, Yuseong shot a glance at the Cha Physician, who had sidled right up beside him.
The Cha Physician gave an awkward smile.
The picture of an opportunist.
The Murim Academy later-generation disciples bowed to the White Tiger Division Leader and hurriedly fled the tavern.
Their table held only cooling dishes left behind.