Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Nine Yin Severed Meridians
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Mu-heun told Gam Pa-pa about his future plans.
“I told Pae-seon this as well, but first, I will stop the Poison Blood Demon experiments the Tang Clan is conducting. Then, I will rescue my disciples.”
“The Tang Clan moves in secret. And right now, Dang Baek-ho's word is the law in Sichuan... How do you intend to stop him?”
“...I will wipe the Tang Clan from Sichuan.”
“...”
Gam Pa-pa's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing. Soon, her narrowed eyes took on a sorrowful, melancholic look.
“As you already know, the Emei and Qingcheng Sects are in Sichuan. Even if you've persuaded Kunlun and Kongtong, it will be impossible to annihilate the Tang Clan if those two sects don't turn a blind eye. Their strength may not match the Tang Clan's, but they are by no means a force to be underestimated.”
“I know. That's why I wanted to discuss with you how to persuade the Emei Sect.”
“In the Emei Sect, there is a child named Ha Na-rin, whom the Sect Leader adores. If you approach them under the pretext of treating her and succeed, you can prove you are the disciple of the Divine Doctor of Sichuan, and a meeting with the Sect Leader and the elders will be possible. However...”
“However...?”
“Even when you were Baek Jung-hyeok, you visited periodically but couldn't cure her, could you? There was no improvement back then... Have you truly found the answer?”
“Yes, back then, I couldn't treat that child. As a mere physician, I had no way. But now, I have obtained the Myriad Fragrance, have companions who have mastered ice arts, and have also perfected a formation that can cure the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.”
“...”
“Gam Pa-pa! Do you know who I am? Trust me.”
“Of course. I do trust you. The Divine Doctor is not one to recklessly apply an uncertain method to a patient. As someone who has received countless favors from you, I know that well.”
“Thank you.”
“I understand how you came to join the Demonic Cult and why you intend to strike the Tang Clan. But what comes next?”
“That... is still a long way off. Punishing the Tang Clan is merely a process of settling the past. What we truly need to prepare for are the beings from beyond the heavens.”
“Beings from beyond the heavens...”
“It's not something to discuss right now. First, we must deal with the Tang Clan, and before that, we must sever their ties with Qingcheng and Emei.”
“I will make preparations. A man named Paeng Ri-hyeok, who frequently visits the Tang Clan, will be back soon. And perhaps... the recent commotion involving the Red Demon Pavilion Lord, Hwang Cheol-ung...”
“Heh heh! Yes, that was me. I'll show you.”
Mu-heun immediately used a disguise technique to transform into Hwang Cheol-ung.
“...!”
“I found I'd gained many talents after coming back to life.”
Mu-heun returned to his original form. Gam Pa-pa seemed surprised for a moment, but it was only for an instant before she regained her composure.
“Gam Pa-pa, I will strike the Tang Clan within ten days, so I cannot waste any time. That's why I desperately need your help.”
“Understood.”
Afterward, Mu-heun's companions began to arrive at the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance. The group felt strange walking so confidently into a Martial Alliance branch.
At the same time, a thought occurred to them.
‘Just who in the world is Lord Mu-heun?’
Mu-heun brought the entire group to the office of Gam Pa-pa, the Sichuan branch master.
“These are them.”
“Hohohoho~ Welcome.”
“Ah, greetings.”
“Please, don't be nervous. It's not as if we're at war, and we have no conflicts yet, do we? Besides, I heard the conflict is with the Tang Clan, and you wish to build friendly relations with the other sects. Is that correct?”
“Yes, yes...”
“Then, please wait a moment. The person who will guide you will be here soon.”
And so, Gam Pa-pa introduced Paeng Ri-hyeok to Mu-heun's group, and Paeng Ri-hyeok spoke privately with Mu-heun for a moment.
***
Mu-heun explained to Paeng Ri-hyeok that the Divine Doctor of Sichuan had been betrayed by the Tang Clan and had taken refuge in the Demonic Cult.
The Divine Doctor was later killed by the Golden Fang Poison Claw, who had pursued him, but he, Mu-heun, had inherited his legacy as his disciple.
He added that his master had told him the Sichuan Tang Clan's hidden purpose was to capture orphans and raise them as Poison Blood Demons.
And that he had come down from the Demonic Cult to stop them.
He conveyed his plan to treat the girl from Emei, Ha Na-rin, as requested by the Divine Doctor, and then persuade the Emei Sect.
Paeng Ri-hyeok found Mu-heun extremely peculiar.
He could accept that Mu-heun was a talented genius physician, but what was with that ominous demonic energy, and who were the people following him? Furthermore, was the recent clash between the Demonic Cult and the Sichuan Tang Clan truly unrelated?
Mu-heun knew what was on Paeng Ri-hyeok's mind, but he believed the man wouldn't refuse.
Because...
he was already head over heels for Ha Na-rin.
There were sometimes men like this. Men who would throw everything away for love, rather than for some grand cause or self-interest.
Just as Mu-heun predicted, Paeng Ri-hyeok had his doubts, but he decided not to press the matter.
There was a woman who could use ice arts, a physician who claimed he could cure the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, and the branch master Gam Pa-pa had vouched for them. So, he decided to trust them and see this through.
‘No matter what happens, if Ha Na-rin can live... I would drink poison.’
“I understand your intentions, Physician. Since Gam Pa-pa has vouched for you, I will not doubt you. As for your origins from the Demonic Cult... what could be more important than saving a life?”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Then, let us depart immediately.”
“Yes.”
As they were packing their things to leave for the Emei Sect, Gam Pa-pa sent Mu-heun a telepathic message that only he could hear.
[ That woman, Seol Ha-ryeong... I'm not certain, but she looks familiar. ]
Mu-heun was quite surprised but didn't show it and asked back telepathically.
[ W-what do you mean? ]
[ I'm not certain, but there's a possibility she's a spy for the Martial Alliance. It seems she isn't aware of it herself. Her memories were likely manipulated with Soul-Stealing when she was young, and she was planted in the Demonic Cult. She appears to be the type whose memories return only at a specific time on a specific day to report information, so please be mindful. ]
Mu-heun stopped in his tracks, turned back briefly, and nodded.
‘So that's why... when she was circulating her energy after eating the Kunlun Snow Ginseng, I felt her energy was closer to an orthodox art than a demonic one. A spy who doesn't even know she's a spy...’
As a scholar, Mu-heun had also known of such sorcery and had even helped with research on it.
Soul-Stealing. A technique to sway and control a person's mind.
‘So that's why traces of orthodox arts remained at the core of Seol Ha-ryeong's being... In that case, I... No, Gam Pa-pa's words are trustworthy, but it's too soon to act.’
Mu-heun gave Gam Pa-pa a brief nod and set off.
***
Just before entering the Emei Sect.
If Seol Ha-ryeong was indeed a spy planted by the Martial Alliance, someone from the Emei Sect might recognize her. Therefore, he ordered her to wear a bamboo hat that would cover her face.
Upon arriving at the Emei Sect, Mu-heun's group and Paeng Ri-hyeok were able to enter more smoothly than expected and were guided straight to the room of the bedridden Ha Na-rin.
The nun guiding them spoke to Mu-heun.
“The Sect Leader is currently attending to other guests, so I am guiding you. Ha Na-rin is a pitiful child. Please, do your best for her.”
“Yes, I will do my utmost.”
Introduced as the hidden disciple of the Divine Doctor of Sichuan, Mu-heun smoothly made his way to Ha Na-rin. With Gam Pa-pa's introduction and Paeng Ri-hyeok accompanying him, there was no issue getting in.
Standing before Ha Na-rin, Mu-heun thought.
‘This is going much more smoothly than at Kunlun. Then again, Ha Na-rin isn't as important as the two Cloud Dragons of Kunlun. She's just an orphan the Sect Leader took in... It's not something to be so wary about, even if a physician has come.’
But Mu-heun knew. Ha Na-rin wasn't just a child cherished by the Emei Sect Leader. Her value had faded because they had already given up on her, but she was a being akin to the hope of Emei.
The Tang Clan was situated in Chengdu, the heart of Sichuan, and a little south of there was Mount Emei. The Emei Sect, located at the Northern Tiger Temple on the Golden Summit of Mount Emei, was a Taoist sect comprised of nuns.
It was a sect that developed based on its exquisite sword and palm techniques, but tracing back its origins would lead to the Nine Yin Divine Art. A martial art that utilized powerful yin energy.
However, the lineage of the Emei Sect's Nine Yin Divine Art had already been severed.
This was partly because all who had mastered the Nine Yin Divine Art died during the great war between the Orthodox and Demonic sects in the past, but also because there were no suitable candidates for the yin art. The only ones who likely knew this were the Emei Sect Leader and a few elders.
They knew. Although the Nine Yin Severed Meridians was an almost incurable illness, if it could be overcome, the lost Nine Yin Divine Art of Emei could be revived.
Furthermore, a Nine Yin Divine Art nurtured by the Nine Yin Severed Meridians could elevate the Emei Sect to a level beyond the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Mu-heun felt a profound sense of irony.
The martial art of the Heavenly Demon, who could be called the sky of the Divine Cult—the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon—was based on the Nine Yang Divine Art. It was the polar opposite of the Nine Yin Divine Art, but they could be seen as originating from the same source, so they had many similarities.
‘The severed meridians I couldn't fix before... I can finally cure them now.’
“For the treatment, I must ask everyone else to leave.”
Hearing Mu-heun's words, everyone went outside. Paeng Ri-hyeok approached Mu-heun with a serious expression and said.
“I leave the young lady in your care.”
“Do not worry.”
‘Anyone watching would think they were already engaged. He said he just admires her from afar... I wonder how she'll react when she wakes up...’
Mu-heun sent everyone else out and then examined Ha Na-rin.
The temperature in Ha Na-rin's room was peculiar. To be precise, fires were being stoked relentlessly outside to raise the room's temperature, while the unconscious Ha Na-rin lay there, emitting yin energy. It was a situation where scorching fire and ice met, constantly battling for dominance.
With every breath Ha Na-rin took, an icy chill emanated from her. Her heartbeat was as slow as a frog trapped in ice.
‘Her complexion is pale, and her surging yin energy is being suppressed by various forms of yang energy. But it's all just a temporary measure.’
Mu-heun took out the Kunlun Snow Ginseng he received from Seol Ha-ryeong, along with Houttuynia cordata, motherwort, horny goat weed, cornelian cherry, and a branch from a Zanthoxylum piperitum tree.
“Heavenly Demon Palm.”
He lifted the herbs, then clapped his hands together, which were filled with the Heavenly Demon's energy, grinding them into a powder and igniting a flame.
Afterward, he took out water and honey from his bag and refined the mixture. He mixed them in the correct proportions to form a pill, which gave off a bluish light.
He had to adjust the ratios based on Ha Na-rin's condition, so he had no choice but to make it on the spot.
“Hoo.”
‘Now, all that's left is to absorb her energy so I can feed her the pill.’
Mu-heun placed his hand on Ha Na-rin's dantian.
*Zzzzt.*
I heard several masters from Shaolin who had mastered the Yijin Jing came to suppress her yin energy, but was this the amount of yin energy that so many masters had to hold down...?
‘It's no wonder my past self couldn't cure this.’
He was slightly startled by the immense amount, but he quickly regained his confidence. Because...
“But things are different now!”
Unlike in his past life, he had learned martial arts.
Mu-heun took out his refined needles and inserted them into various acupoints. He stimulated the Yongquan point on the sole of her foot to open her energy pathways. Next, he unblocked the Baihui and Laogong points to allow energy to flow, then summoned the Heavenly Demon's energy.
A menacing black dragon emerged, spewing energy of extreme yang, and began to ferociously absorb the yin energy in Ha Na-rin's dantian.
It was like a living dragon swallowing a snowy, ice-covered mountain.
The yin energy that left Ha Na-rin's body entered Mu-heun's dantian. But the amount was so vast that Mu-heun's dantian, already overflowing with various energies, became saturated.
Mu-heun's dantian couldn't accept all the yin energy, and soon, the unimaginable yin energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians began to explode.
It broke free from the weight of the yang energy that masters had poured in to suppress it and went berserk. The chilling yin energy began to rush toward Mu-heun, who was emitting yang energy.
Facing the powerful yin energy, Mu-heun smiled lightly. The martial art he had used when he first met Cheon Mu-jin, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Now that he had reached the pinnacle of the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon, he used that technique once more.
‘Heaven and Earth Reversal.’