Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 63. Request for Help
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South of the Yangtze is a place where the Murim Alliance's influence is weak.
Compared to Guangdong and Guangxi, where black path factions have properly established their bases, it's much better, but other regions also have many black path sects, leading to constant conflicts.
However, Hunan is somewhat less affected.
This is because of the Hengshan Sect, a righteous faction of considerable size.
With the Hengshan Sect as the central pillar, various small and medium sects band together, preventing black path groups from running rampant unchecked.
In this Hunan region, a joyous event occurred at the Baek Family Manor, a small martial clan.
In the presence of the family's warriors and servants, the patriarch of the Baek Family Manor greatly praised his son.
"Well done, Jinseong! To think you've been accepted into the Murim Academy!"
"You've worked hard, my son!"
In response to his father and mother's words, Baek Jinseong declared proudly.
"This is all thanks to Father and Mother. I will definitely join the Murim Alliance and bring honor to our family."
"Yes. I've heard that the rate of Murim Academy cadets joining the Murim Alliance has increased significantly. If you keep training diligently like now, you'll surely make it too."
"Of course. Even there, I'll work hard to spread the name of the Baek Family Manor and definitely join the Alliance to prove it."
He shared his future aspirations with his father.
Just returning after activities in the Murim Alliance would allow one to hold their head high in Hunan.
"By the way, will you really be okay without Mother coming along?"
"Mother, don't worry. I have a close friend at the Murim Academy, so I can rely on him."
"Ah, you mean Jin Yeongho of the Jin Family Manor? Yes, are you still in frequent contact these days?"
"Yes, so please don't worry too much."
Baek Jinseong did not reveal to his parents that he had not heard from Jin Yeongho in a long time.
On the day Jin Yeongho left for the Murim Academy, they had talked about how he would do his best to succeed there, so Baek Jinseong could only assume he was busy.
His father spoke.
"Oh right, you've probably heard the rumors about the One-Needle Divine Physician in the Murim Alliance?"
"Of course. I hear he's young, yet there's no illness he can't cure with a single needle."
Merchants passing through share all sorts of stories.
Someone became a Peak Realm expert, a demonic figure appeared in some region, or which physician is popular these days.
Until recently, people regarded the Divine Physician as the top among physicians.
However, though his name is not widely known, the one called the Divine Physician has ceased his activities lately.
In the meantime, another physician called the One-Needle Divine Physician has risen, also with a name not widely known.
"Yes, we'll prepare a precious gift for him too, so go visit and build a connection. You know well what happened with that guy. Befriending such a remarkable physician will never be a loss."
Baek Jinseong understood his father's words.
Baek Yuseong.
He never imagined that his half-brother, who had monopolized their father's love with his martial talent, would succumb to Qi Deviation and vanish so pathetically.
It was a stroke of fortune for him.
Born as the legitimate heir, he had nearly been pushed aside by a bastard child.
But.
-Wait patiently, and opportunity will surely come. Never give up.
As his mother said, that guy had fallen on his own.
Baek Jinseong vowed never to end up like that fool, trained cautiously, and recently became a first-rate warrior.
Thanks to that, he was able to enter the Murim Academy.
'From the Luoyang Medical Hall, huh? To become the Medical Pavilion Leader of the Murim Alliance at such a young age means he must possess truly exceptional medical skills. Even without Father's words, he's someone I must befriend. With so many cadets getting injured at the Murim Academy lately, being close to him would be a huge help.'
He had only received the acceptance notice for the Murim Academy; there was still much time before officially entering.
The Baek Family Manor and Baek Jinseong began various preparations for success at the Murim Academy.
One of them was liquidating part of the family assets to prepare gifts for building connections.
Competing purely on skill was tough against other promising young talents.
***
The Sword King felt increasing regret the more he sparred with his granddaughter while staying at the Murim Academy.
It was fortunate that she followed martial arts training well, but not so in spars.
"You perform attack forms well when practicing alone, so why can't you do it in spars?"
Even with excellent martial skills, failing to attack makes it hard to subdue an opponent unless there's a vast skill gap.
Not giving one's all can bring great disaster in real combat.
"..."
Nangong Yurin clamped her mouth shut and did not respond.
She had confessed the incident with the maid again yesterday.
What use was telling the truth to her grandfather who didn't believe her?
'I don't want to be like this either...'
When she tried to attack, that day's trauma surfaced, freezing her body.
Her body simply wouldn't move as she willed.
There was no way she could attack in this state.
'I miss the Medical Pavilion Leader...'
She thought of the one person who believed her words.
Reflecting on it, he had always been a reliable presence.
When they first met and she asked for her brother's treatment, he readily promised; when entangled with the annoying Paeng Jisan, he drove him away; and when she confided her and the maid's matters, he promised treatment again.
Thinking of Yuseong, she forgot they were sparring and drifted into other thoughts.
'When should I go return the handkerchief? Once I give it back, I won't have an excuse to meet until the next mission...'
Her thoughts reached that point.
"Don't get distracted!"
Noticing his granddaughter's wandering mind, the Sword King attacked again with his sword.
Chaeng- Chaeng-!
Nangong Yurin calmly blocked the Sword King's attacks with defensive forms as taught.
Her skills had greatly improved under direct guidance from the Sword King, but defense alone made her only half a warrior.
The Sword King finally sheathed his sword.
"This won't do. It seems I must settle things with that maid. In a few days, let's return to the family with Grandfather."
It was for the future of the Nangong Family.
He could not let his granddaughter, with such sword talent, remain a half-hearted warrior any longer.
If she steels her mind, there's nothing she can't overcome.
'I overcame countless crises to reach this realm myself. Yurin can do it too.'
Judging based on his own experience, the Sword King trusted her this time as well.
Though the promise to his granddaughter weighed on him, there were things to discuss.
"That's...! It breaks our promise!"
She had been diligently training to avoid returning, so what was this bolt from the blue?
Facing the jumping Nangong Yurin, the Sword King put on a stern expression.
"You can't attack your opponent—how is that giving your all?"
"..."
"If you overcome it quickly, I'll send you back to the Murim Academy, so no more arguing."
"No. I don't want to go back yet."
"This time, it's no use. I've already decided, so do as I say."
This time, even strong protests were futile.
He had returned to the strict grandfather she knew.
However, that night.
The Sword King received some news and informed Nangong Yurin.
"I have something to attend to briefly. I'll be back soon, so prepare to return in advance."
"What's the matter, Grandfather?"
"I'll tell you when I return."
The Sword King turned to Nangong Yurin, who had come to see him off.
She was looking at him discontentedly.
"Don't hate Grandfather too much. When I return, Grandfather will help, so overcome it quickly and come back."
"..."
***
The evening of the day after the Sword King left.
It was the day Yuseong was on duty at the Medical Pavilion.
Holding Yuseong's cleanly washed handkerchief, Nangong Yurin headed to the Medical Pavilion.
Servants at the Medical Pavilion entrance were blocking the way, talking with serious expressions.
To enter, she had to pass the entrance.
Nangong Yurin made her presence known to them.
One of the servants turned, startled upon seeing her.
It was Jang Chil.
"Ah, Lady Nangong Yurin! Are you here for the Medical Pavilion Leader? He just went to a Murim Alliance meeting."
Did Yuseong have business at a Murim Alliance meeting?
"What's it about?"
"The Qingcheng Sect came looking for the Medical Pavilion Leader. We only heard that much, nothing more."
"I see. Do you know when he'll return?"
"No, we didn't hear that. If he returns, should I tell him you stopped by?"
"No. I'll come back tomorrow."
***
The next day.
A Murim Academy instructor gathered cadets not on missions.
"I'll assign the new missions allocated by the Murim Alliance."
Various missions were listed.
Cadets applied for their preferred ones.
"Next, Medical Pavilion patrol duty!"
Several cadets raised their hands.
Among them were promising youths wanting to befriend Yuseong.
'I want to apply too...'
Nangong Yurin couldn't.
She would soon have to return to the family with her grandfather.
But.
"Next is a long-term mission. Anyone... "
As the instructor trailed off, Nangong Yurin had a strange feeling.
'Long-term mission? He never mentioned long-term missions even during the Shaanxi assignment.'
"There's a mission this afternoon escorting Murim Alliance personnel heading to Sichuan. Any cadets volunteering?"
The cadets buzzed.
"Sichuan? That's too far."
"You volunteering?"
"Are you crazy? Better to do various missions here and build faces with high-ups."
"Right? Time's tight too. Departing today—who'd suddenly want to go to Sichuan?"
Round trip to Sichuan alone takes at least two months.
Even with a special task, three or four months would fly by.
Who would volunteer without knowing who they're escorting?
The instructor asked only because it was assigned, not expecting volunteers.
However.
One cadet shot her hand up.
"Huh? Nangong Yurin, you really volunteering?"
"Yes, Instructor. I'll go."
Nangong Yurin raised her hand impulsively, but she had her reasons.
Half because she didn't want to follow her grandfather back to the family,
Half hoping Yuseong might be in the group.
***
Rewinding time to the evening Nangong Yurin visited Yuseong but missed him.
Yuseong was summoned to a Murim Alliance meeting upon hearing the Qingcheng Sect had come.
An elder dispatched from the Qingcheng Sect said.
"Medical Pavilion Leader, can you come help the Qingcheng Sect? You're the last opinion needed."
It seemed already discussed with the Murim Alliance people.
"May I know what it is?"
"You detoxified the Dao King's poison before, right? Our Sect Leader was ambushed and poisoned by an unknown toxin with symptoms similar to the Dao King's."
"The Sect Leader... how severe is the poisoning?"
"Severe enough he can't move. That's why we couldn't bring him here."
The Qingcheng Sect is an ally of the Murim Alliance, and their Sect Leader, Yucheon Immortal, is a Transformation Realm expert.
That's reason enough to help.
The Qingcheng Sect elder continued.
"The Sichuan Tang Clan sent people but couldn't detoxify. Now, you're our only hope. Please, I beg you."
Sichuan has the Tang Clan too.