Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Divine Arts
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Common sense dictated that if someone was poisoned with a severe toxin and couldn't be detoxified for a long time, they would either die or become a cripple.
However, that ordinary common sense didn't apply to Yuseong, who wielded the power of a divine physician.
Unlike the healing skill, which grew stronger in stages, the detoxification skill had no higher tiers.
If the detoxification skill didn't work, it wasn't poison. And if it truly was poison, one cast would resolve it completely.
Since the unconscious warrior was clearly poisoned, Yuseong was confident he could detoxify him.
'But there are too many people watching. This is a bit tricky.'
There were far too many eyes on him.
Moreover, these weren't ordinary people who knew nothing.
They were all physicians of some renown in their respective regions.
'I have no medicine on me right now, just needles. Curing him in one shot like this might look suspicious.'
Backing out and saying he couldn't do it wasn't an option he liked.
A glance over showed Jegal Yeongyeong watching him with anxious eyes.
'You can treat him, right, White-Clothed Physician...?'
Having built considerable rapport with the Demon Subduing Division Leader through Yuseong, Jegal Yeongyeong placed immense trust in his abilities.
It wasn't just about the warrior's life—he didn't want to utter words that would bruise his pride.
'There's one way. My first time using detoxification was on that assassin, but if I can finely control its effect like with healing, I can fool them. Let's give it a try.'
Yuseong pulled out a long needle and experimentally infused it with divine power.
To get a feel for the level of detoxification skill he needed to use.
"Hoo..."
He took a deep breath.
"Yang Physician, may I take a look?"
"...Indeed. It's beyond my skills. I leave him to you."
Yang Physician's expression looked a bit forlorn as he made the request, but there was no time to quibble, so Yuseong quickly took position.
"First, I'll suppress the poison, then take him somewhere quiet and fully detoxify him over time."
One of the physicians said.
"Is that even possible? If you can definitely suppress the poison, it'll buy time to find an antidote."
"We'll have to see."
Yuseong carefully inserted the needle near the heart. Careful not to pierce it.
As an organ that pumps blood, it was the most effective spot for detoxification.
'Here, I need to only partially detoxify. If it fully clears in an instant, that'll be trouble. I can do this.'
He channeled divine power through the needle.
[Detoxification]
He activated the skill very cautiously.
His ability to finely control divine power had improved even beyond when he'd handled qi as a Peak Realm expert.
Sss—
The warrior's bulging veins calmed, and the dark pallor of his face gradually faded.
He'd already explained it as suppressing the poison, so everyone would assume that's what was happening.
'Phew, it worked on the first try. I left just a bit, so he won't need my hands anymore.'
The physicians, who had been closely observing the warrior's face, erupted in excitement.
"Ooo! His skin color is returning! The poison must be suppressed!"
"How does a single needle create such harmony! I need to remember that acupoint exactly. How deep was it? What depth should the needle be inserted, White-Clothed Physician?"
Physicians he'd never even exchanged names with showed intense interest in his method.
One even hurriedly prepared writing tools.
'If you guys try this carelessly, you could kill someone who could have been saved...'
He had to prevent the spread of misinformation.
At that moment.
Clap—!
A crisp sound of applause.
"It really is divine arts!"
The shout of someone who had realized something.
"...?"
Turning around, Yuseong saw a middle-aged man in Taoist robes clapping his hands.
"Divine arts? What do you mean, Cheongun Elder?"
When someone beside him asked, the one called Cheongun Elder explained in an excited tone.
"Before joining the Kunlun Sect, I learned a bit of medicine. There was a rumor going around that the physician called White-Clothed Physician could treat even the most critical patients with a single needle. I was puzzled how that was possible with my knowledge, but now I see the secret is divine arts."
"What exactly are divine arts?"
"It's a mystical technique wielded by those born with great spiritual power. I wasn't born with much myself, but I have a slight talent for sensing it, so I could tell the White-Clothed Physician was using spiritual power."
Yuseong had previously confirmed from a Mosan Sect formation elder that divine power was perceived as spiritual power.
Compared to then, his divine power had grown tremendously.
It was understandable for Cheongun Elder, who could sense spiritual power, to mistake it.
Someone among the crowd said.
"By any chance, Mosan Sect?"
"That's right. They say people who use divine arts gather in the Mosan Sect. Are you from the Mosan Sect yourself, White-Clothed Physician?"
At Cheongun Elder's question, Yuseong pondered.
'Someone like Cheongun Elder must have doubts about my treatment method. And now, a perfect excuse has appeared.'
A Murim Alliance elder from the Kunlun Sect.
He'd even studied a bit of medicine in his youth and knew about divine arts.
With his endorsement, it could all slide.
The Mosan Sect had its own things to say anyway.
Having made up his mind, Yuseong faced the crowd's thick curiosity.
"I have personal ties to the Mosan Sect, but these aren't skills I learned there. I combine folk medicine with divine arts I've comprehended on my own, so no other physician can replicate my methods."
"Ah... I see. So the poison suppression just now was...?"
"Yes. Without divine arts, it's dangerous, so please don't try it."
The disappointed physician now turned his interest to divine arts.
"Then, could I learn that divine arts too?"
"Ahem, divine arts can only be mastered by those born with great spiritual power, so abandon any hopes. Isn't that right, White-Clothed Physician?"
"Precisely."
The excited Cheongun Taoist enthusiastically explained spiritual power and divine arts in Yuseong's stead.
Though he didn't know it, he was proving immensely helpful to Yuseong in many ways.
'Now I have even fewer restrictions. I can use divine power more boldly than before without raising suspicions. But I'll need to bolster my personal security.'
If it became widely known as a unique skill only he could use, flies might swarm.
'To prevent that, the safest is protection from the Murim Alliance. It'd be great if I could pass the Medical Pavilion exam.'
With his impressive performance today, he might even get bonus points and pass the Medical Pavilion physician exam regardless of the results.
Jegal Yeongyeong's eyes shone with admiration, making him feel even prouder.
Being acknowledged by a beauty was always a pleasure.
She looked like she had a lot to say but was holding back because of the crowd.
'I'll let her praise me to the skies later.'
They exchanged a secret glance when Yang Physician spoke up.
"So that's the secret. I was a bit disappointed seeing you suppress this man's poison so easily, thinking there was a skill gap. I had no idea you had such a divine arts ability."
"It's hard for others to believe even if told, so I didn't mention it. How could I match the knowledge of Yang Physician and the divine physicians who've dedicated their lives to medicine with pure medical arts alone?"
"No need to be so humble. Didn't you say that special divine arts was something you comprehended yourself? That's your achievement too.
And truly, thank you. Without you, this man might not have survived. He's a regular patient of mine.
If it's alright, may I handle the aftermath? I'd like to do the finishing treatment myself."
"Of course. The poison won't flare up like before, so you'll have time."
It was a warm exchange.
One that might even influence the exam results.
"The true winner today is the White-Clothed Physician, no?"
"Indeed. No need to check the results. Without the White-Clothed Physician, this man wouldn't have made it."
"As expected of the One-Needle Divine Physician! The rumors aren't empty."
"Congratulations, White-Clothed Physician. I'm Heo Jigyeong from Shaanxi."
"Heh heh, just call me Magusang. I'm from Shaanxi like Heo here. And thank you!"
He had no idea what the last one was thanking him for, but his chances of victory seemed to have risen.
That is, if not for the elder with sharp, slanted eyes stepping forward from among the elders.
"Everyone, quiet down. With the situation resolved, shouldn't we confirm the exam results?"
"..."
Yuseong had been inwardly enjoying the momentum from public opinion that could let him beat Yang Physician.
He'd stayed a step back to avoid the stigma of leading the opinion.
But seeing the man suddenly step forward, he cursed him inwardly.
'Slanted eyes—could this be the guy who tormented our Chief Strategist? He looks prickly.'
Jegal Yeongyeong revealed his identity.
"Elder Moyong Rim. Don't the physicians have a point? The exam was to select the best, so shouldn't we consider the White-Clothed Physician's performance?"
As expected, the Moyong Rim Elder he'd only heard of.
The intensity of his inner curses grew.
"Chief Strategist. We are the Murim Alliance, pillar of the righteous sects that must always be fair. If we didn't hold the exam, fine—but we've already done it. Flipping the winner on a whim would make no one trust the Murim Alliance."
Jegal Yeongyeong ground her teeth.
Since she'd stepped out boldly for Yuseong's sake, it was hard to counter when he struck with orthodoxy.
She clung to one hope.
"Of course. But what I'm saying is the grading isn't finished yet, and this happened before results were announced, so couldn't the examiner use discretion to consider it?"
She knew the examiner was close to Moyong Rim Elder, but he might still separate public from private.
Jegal Yeongyeong pulled him in.
"Well, what's the point of us discussing? It's up to the examiner."
As Moyong Rim backed off, the examiner, who'd been gauging the mood, stepped forward.
"This examiner—"
The examiner started to speak but cut off, his eyes briefly losing focus.
Moyong Rim Elder, sleeve raised to cover his mouth.
'No way, is he sending a sound transmission while covering his lips?'
Before Jegal Yeongyeong could object, Moyong Rim cleared his throat a few times and lowered his sleeve.
The evidence vanished in an instant.
The examiner glanced at Moyong Rim Elder, then cleared his throat again.
"Ahem, this examiner will handle it at his discretion. The practical exam grading is already complete, so we'll disregard what just happened and announce the passers based solely on the written exam results."
"..."
Behind them, exam assistants were diligently grading the written tests.
Practicals were evaluated on the spot, so his claim that grading was done wasn't a lie.
Yuseong read Jegal Yeongyeong's apologetic gaze but nodded slightly, knowing she'd tried.
'In the end, the only thing I can rely on is my own skill.'
Soon, the written results were compiled, and the examiner took the score sheet to check.
His expression was subtle.
The examiner subtly beckoned Moyong Rim, who sidled over.
And Yuseong could see Jegal Yeongyeong rushing to the examiner too.
'What's going on?'