Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 72. Free-Spirited
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The Qingcheng Sect Taoist guiding them couldn't meet the green-eyed woman's gaze and spoke with his head turned halfway.
"Miss Tang, these are the people who came from afar at the Murim Alliance's request to detoxify our Sect Leader."
The young woman bore the Tang surname.
Her identity was obvious.
There was a famous Tang family in Sichuan.
Naturally, it was the Sichuan Tang Clan.
They had also obtained information from the Murim Alliance's Sichuan branch that Tang Clan members were treating the Qingcheng Sect Leader.
Figures from the Sichuan Tang Clan were skilled in hidden weapons and poison arts, and green eyes were widely known as evidence of poison cultivation.
Sure enough, the woman introduced herself while holding a medicine bowl.
"You're from the Murim Alliance? This girl is Dang Harin of the Tang Clan. The Sichuan Tang Clan Patriarch is my father."
Confidence overflowed in her voice as she puffed out her chest.
"Ahem, so you're the daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan Patriarch. This Taoist is the Murim Alliance's Cheongun Elder."
"This Taoist is Jeongu. Ahem..."
Yuseong could understand why the two Taoists were clearing their throats.
In fact, anyone present would have thought the same.
Dang Harin's attire was so free-spirited that it was incomparable to that of an ordinary martial artist's daughter.
Her large, pale breasts were half-exposed through her green robes, and her thighs were fully visible through the slits on both sides of her pants.
Having seen all sorts of images from various media in the real world,
and even treating the intimate ailments of courtesans on his days off, Yuseong's gaze naturally drifted there.
She was a stunning beauty, after all, so it was no wonder the Taoists, secluded in the mountains cultivating the Dao, were flustered.
Yuseong managed his gaze with effort and introduced himself without delay.
"I am the Murim Alliance Medical Pavilion Leader, Miss Tang."
"Ah! You're that young Divine Physician?"
Dang Harin's index finger, not holding the medicine bowl, pointed at Yuseong.
It felt a bit rude, but considering her free-spirited demeanor, it might just be her being naive.
"Ahem, yes, Miss Tang. Thank you for your efforts in detoxifying the Sect Leader so far. We'll head in now."
"Wa-wait, hold on!"
At Jeongu Taoist's words, Dang Harin urgently spread her arms to block the entrance to the Sect Leader's quarters.
Her bosom jiggled greatly, leaving everyone unsure where to look.
"You're not trying to steal my patient right now, are you?"
"What do you..."
While Jeongu Taoist looked baffled, Dang Harin's gaze turned to the Qingcheng Sect Taoist who had guided them.
"Didn't you clearly ask me to detoxify the Sect Leader? Why is the Murim Alliance suddenly butting in?"
As Dang Harin pressed him, the Qingcheng Sect Taoist raised both palms to calm her.
"It's a misunderstanding. Jeongu Elder had already left for the Murim Alliance before we asked you, Miss Tang."
"No. The order was you requested help from our Sichuan Tang Clan first, and when our elder said it was a poison even he couldn't identify right away and it would take time, you went to fetch Murim Alliance members. Right?"
"That's true, but..."
"And now I've come from the Tang Clan. I found a clue, didn't I? You said if I researched a bit more, I could detoxify it. What did you say then, Taoist?"
The Taoist wore a troubled expression.
Dang Harin added one more thing.
"You said, 'Thank you so much. Please detoxify our Sect Leader. We trust only you, Miss Tang.' Am I wrong? I've been pouring in my precious time, and now that you're done with me, you're telling me to leave?"
Dang Harin even mimicked the Taoist's voice as she snapped at him.
There was a reason she used the term "stealing the patient."
It had taken quite some time for Jeongu Taoist to bring the Murim Alliance members, and in the meantime, he had said those words to Dang Harin after she found a clue.
Yuseong could understand the Qingcheng Sect Taoist's position, desperate to grasp at straws, and Dang Harin's position as well.
But if there was a faster way to treat the Sect Leader, wouldn't using it be the best course?
Jeongu Taoist stepped forward for the troubled Taoist.
He was a Qingcheng Sect elder and a Peak Realm master.
His words carried more weight than those of the seemingly ordinary cultivator.
"It seems our sect made a slight mistake, Miss Tang. I'll apologize on their behalf. However, the Medical Pavilion Leader has already detoxified the Dao King, who showed similar symptoms. He can surely detoxify the Sect Leader.
If the Medical Pavilion Leader fails, we'll entrust it to you, so please step aside. This Taoist humbly requests it."
At Jeongu Taoist's polite request, Dang Harin muttered with a deflated expression.
"Haa... I really feel like I've almost figured it out..."
Yuseong stayed back and waited quietly.
He could have stepped forward and insisted he could detoxify, but their next destination was the Sichuan Tang Clan.
He didn't want to sour relations with the Patriarch's daughter when he needed to ask for Heavenly Fortune Stone processing.
Her personality didn't seem ordinary either, so he left it to the others.
In the end, Dang Harin stepped away from the entrance.
"Thank you, Miss Tang."
Jeongu Taoist led the way, followed by Cheongun Elder.
As Yuseong moved to follow,
"Um, sorry, but I'm really curious..."
"Yes, please speak freely."
Dang Harin spoke with the most apologetic expression in the world.
"Can I... watch while you detoxify too?"
"Watch?"
They were already heading in with Jeongu Taoist and Cheongun Elder for the detoxification.
It would be fine for her to join.
However, Dang Harin's stance seemed different.
"O-of course, I know it's a secret technique. You're called a Divine Physician, so you must have some amazing method. But I'm just dying to know if my detoxification method is right?"
Before Yuseong could respond, Dang Harin poured out more words.
"Hah... I knew it would be tough. How about this? It might not balance the scales, but... They say there's no absolute in the world, right? If by some chance the Divine Physician fails, I'll share the method I came up with. It's one I figured out on my own without help from the elders, and I haven't reported it as a Tang Clan secret yet. The family won't complain about this much."
Aha.
Given the extremely secretive nature of the Sichuan Tang Clan, which abhorred leaking secrets, she must have thought even observing another's treatment was a grave breach of etiquette.
With Dang Harin humbling herself like this, it was a chance to show goodwill.
Yuseong smiled brightly.
"Of course, Miss Tang. Don't hesitate—watch as much as you like."
"Wow! Really? Thank you! I always keep my promises. Even if the Divine Physician fails, I'll definitely share my method!"
He had no idea what she could gain from observing Divine Power-based detoxification, but Yuseong had already gained something.
Not the visual treat from Dang Harin jumping for joy...
But the goodwill of the Sichuan Tang Clan Patriarch's daughter.
Her first impression had been prickly and fierce, but her passionate thirst for poison knowledge was endearing.
"Hurry, Divine Physician!"
Dang Harin grabbed Yuseong's arm and pulled him along.
"Uh, uh..."
"Ah, I'm already getting excited. The Divine Physician's secret technique!"
He wasn't even revealing the technique—just letting her watch from the side—yet she was this thrilled.
She must be that parched for poison knowledge.
Thinking it truly befitting of the Sichuan Tang Clan, he headed inside.
***
Despite the commotion outside, Yucheon Immortal sat cross-legged in deep meditation in the innermost chamber of the Sect Leader's quarters, circulating his energy.
He embodied the true image of a Taoist, with long white whiskers dangling and eyes closed, giving him a benevolent impression.
However, his cheeks were so sunken that he looked extremely emaciated.
As people gathered in the room, Yucheon Immortal finished his energy circulation.
"It's been a while, Sect Leader. I came with the Divine Physician."
"Pleased to meet you. I am Baek Yuseong, Medical Pavilion Leader of the Murim Alliance."
At Cheongun Elder and Yuseong's words, Yucheon Immortal opened his eyes.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Thank you for coming such a long way. I am the inadequate Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect. Forgive me for putting everyone through this trouble."
"Trouble? We must help, of course. That said, you've grown terribly thin."
"Heh heh, now I finally look like a proper Taoist. I must have eaten too well before. This incident taught me the Dao, you see?"
Even in hardship, Yucheon Immortal didn't lose his cheer.
After exchanging a few words, Cheongun Elder got to the point.
"We should help with the detoxification first. I leave it to you, Medical Pavilion Leader."
"Then I'll take a look."
Yuseong stepped forward and grasped Yucheon Immortal's wrist.
As he sent in Divine Power, he saw the poison had spread much further through the body.
That explained why even a Transformation Realm master was immobilized, able only to focus on energy circulation.
'Definitely poisoned. Symptoms match the Dao King's, so probably the same poison.'
Normally, confirming the poisoning and using Detoxification with a single needle would suffice...
But a woman with sparkling green eyes, determined to observe his secret technique, came into view.
"..."
Yuseong reached for a long needle, then changed his mind and took out all the needles from the case.
'Forgive me, Yucheon Immortal. I'll make it as painless as possible.'