Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Visiting Princess
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The Sect Leader's face was tinged with embarrassment as he greeted the sudden guest.
'Was she the daughter of the Cheonghae Castle Lord?'
His gaze turned toward the Princess.
She was dressed in simple yet elegantly aged robes, sipping her tea with refined etiquette.
Even he, who prided himself on being unmoved by beauty due to his cultivation of the Dao, found his eyes momentarily captivated by her loveliness.
Clink.
The Princess set down her teacup.
The silk fabric, adorned with subtle embroidery here and there, flowed in graceful lines with her movements.
"I desperately need the help of the Mount Hua Sect."
The Princess spoke casually even to the Mount Hua Sect Leader.
And the Sect Leader accepted it.
The title of 'Princess' was bestowed upon daughters of imperial kin close to the Emperor, so no matter how great the Mount Hua Sect Leader was, etiquette demanded he lower his head in respect.
The Sect Leader fell into thought.
'This is difficult. So difficult.'
The purpose of the Princess's visit was far more serious than he had anticipated.
'An alliance with the imperial family.'
His head throbbed.
The martial world and the imperial family had a mutual non-aggression pact.
Yet the Princess before him now sought cooperation with Mount Hua Sect.
"Is the Castle Lord in critical condition?"
"He's fine for now."
Despite her words, she anxiously chewed on her thumbnail.
"But if things continue like this, it's only a matter of time."
She was in a hurry.
Her father, the Cheonghae Castle Lord, was in a gravely serious state.
He handled state affairs as if all was well, but that was merely appearances.
Beneath the ornate dragon robe were withered hands and legs covered in scars.
'He needs treatment as soon as possible.'
They had summoned countless physicians, but none could heal her father.
The last physician had offered words of hope.
That the Divine Physician, inheritor of the essence of the Heavenly Central Medical Sect, might be able to do it.
She moved with haste.
But she couldn't.
The imperial court was now a battlefield.
If word spread that the Cheonghae Castle Lord was gravely ill, the vultures in the court would pounce.
Thus, the path she chose was to move in utmost secrecy, unknown to anyone.
'And yet assassins are already on my trail.'
Her eyes darkened slightly.
She thought she had been careful, but assassins had attacked even before reaching Mount Hua Sect.
The fact that her mission was discovered meant the client was someone close to her.
'The one silver lining is arriving at Mount Hua Sect swiftly...'
That was the only positive note.
Mount Hua Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects.
No matter how many assassins the imperial family sent, they couldn't touch Mount Hua Sect.
"Please protect us."
"...Amitabha."
The Sect Leader softly chanted a Buddhist invocation and closed his eyes gently.
'This is difficult. Whether it will be fortune or calamity.'
The Sect Leader's insides burned.
This was no trivial matter involving the imperial family.
'Lives are at stake.'
But his deliberation was brief.
"...Very well."
The Sect Leader accepted the proposal.
How could he abandon a filial daughter who had braved danger to protect her father?
As a Daoist, he could not.
"What aid do you require?"
"Protect us for now. And publicly, could you say I came to invite a Mount Hua Sect Daoist?"
"You're hiding the Castle Lord's critical condition."
The Sect Leader understood.
"I see."
"Thank you."
The Princess sighed in relief, stroking her chest.
At that moment, the Sect Leader spoke up.
"We can handle other matters, but the Divine Physician is not someone we can command at will."
"I know that."
The Princess said softly.
"Convincing him is my responsibility."
As the Sect Leader nodded in acknowledgment.
"Ah, I said no."
"Just learn it."
Noisy voices came from outside.
"I'm fine."
"It would be good if you learned it..."
The bickering grew louder, and through the window, two figures could be seen heading toward the Purple霞 Pavilion.
It was Cheonhwi and the Divine Physician.
The Sect Leader's eyes widened upon seeing them.
'What happened?'
The usually dignified Divine Physician was clinging to Cheonhwi without a care for his dignity.
"Just teach me, that's all."
"No, I'm fine."
Cheonhwi shook off the persistent Divine Physician.
Worn out by the constant demands to become his disciple, Cheonhwi headed for the Purple霞 Pavilion.
'I should tell the Sect Leader.'
As he walked ignoring the Divine Physician.
"Huh?"
His eyes met those of the Sect Leader and a woman peering through the open window.
'Who is that woman?'
Cheonhwi narrowed his eyes.
At that moment, the woman also spotted Cheonhwi, her eyes flashing with slight surprise as she was about to speak.
『Let's pretend we don't know each other.』
Cheonhwi immediately sent a transmission.
The woman flinched but scanned Cheonhwi before nodding in astonishment.
"Why won't you learn?"
Even then, the Divine Physician kept talking.
"Not interested."
Cheonhwi cut him off bluntly.
'I'm busy enough browsing new martial arts. Why waste time on medicine?'
In the past, he had learned medicine out of boredom after mastering all the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's arts.
But to learn medicine first?
Absurd.
'Instead of that, I'll roam the martial world and check out other arts.'
Without the framework of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, he now had no restrictions on wandering the jianghu.
The Nine Great Sects, Eight Great Clans, the Five Emperors—no, Six Emperor Gates—of the Evil-Black Alliance.
The Central Plains were overflowing with arts he had yet to see.
Seeing Cheonhwi's indifference, the Divine Physician tried to pique his interest.
"If you learn it, it'll be quite useful. One of our sect's ultimate arts involves spirit medicines..."
Suddenly, the Divine Physician's voice cut off.
Thinking he had given up, Cheonhwi turned, only to see the Divine Physician blushing.
"Uh, how long have you been watching?"
His gaze was now fixed on the Sect Leader, who had approached unnoticed.
"I saw nothing."
The Sect Leader averted his eyes slyly.
The Divine Physician covered his face with his palm.
At that moment, the Princess shot to her feet.
"Divine Physician, sir!"
The loud cry made the Divine Physician frown at her, then tilt his head.
"Hm...?"
The face seemed familiar.
But the name wouldn't come, and as he rummaged through his memories.
"It's been a long time."
Her following words jogged his memory.
"You're the daughter of the Cheonghae Castle Lord."
"Yes."
Seeing that he recognized her, the Princess's expression brightened.
"Excuse me."
She briefly excused herself to the Sect Leader and rushed out of the Purple霞 Pavilion toward the Divine Physician.
"I've been searching for you."
"Me?"
The Divine Physician said with displeasure.
The imperial family made his blood boil.
How many vile things had he witnessed during his long stay at the court?
Bloody schemes where kin slew kin for the throne.
And that was not all.
Exterminating three generations to nip threats in the bud—it made his teeth grind.
That was why he avoided the imperial family.
"Sir."
The Princess grasped the Divine Physician's hand.
Discarding her usual icy demeanor, with tears welling in her eyes, she pleaded as she met his gaze.
"My father is gravely ill."
"So what?"
The Divine Physician replied curtly.
Whether the Cheonghae Castle Lord lived or died had nothing to do with him.
"Please help."
"No."
Despite her earnest plea, the Divine Physician was firm.
The Princess's face darkened.
She knew the rift between the Divine Physician and the imperial family would make it difficult, but this seemed hopeless.
Meanwhile, as the two conversed.
"What is going on here?"
The Sect Leader asked Cheonhwi.
"He wants me to become his disciple."
Cheonhwi replied nonchalantly, making the Sect Leader jolt in surprise and furrow his brow.
"How dare he target a Mount Hua Sect disciple..."
"Right?"
Cheonhwi chimed in agreement.
"So please talk him out of it."
The Sect Leader nodded at Cheonhwi's words, pointing at the Divine Physician.
"Understood. I'll speak to him."
As the Sect Leader moved to step forward.
"Huff huff."
Rough breathing came from ahead.
"Medical Hall Leader?"
The Medical Hall Leader, who had rushed over using his movement technique, blocked the Sect Leader's path.
"You've come too?"
"It's a bit different from what Cheonhwi said."
"What do you mean?"
"The Divine Physician said Cheonhwi doesn't need to become his disciple—just receive instruction."
The Sect Leader thought he had misheard.
The Divine Physician was the world's greatest.
It was hard to believe, let alone comprehend.
"Why would he offer such a one-sided favor?"
"The Divine Physician seems enamored with Cheonhwi's talent."
"Ah!"
The Sect Leader nearly nodded unwittingly at the Medical Hall Leader's words.
Cheonhwi's talent.
It was beyond astonishing—it was shocking.
Yet something felt off.
'Cheonhwi's talent lies in martial arts, not medicine.'
As his doubts deepened, the Sect Leader asked the Medical Hall Leader.
"Does Cheonhwi have talent in medicine?"
"You didn't know?"
The Medical Hall Leader said excitedly.
"It's a talent unparalleled in the world."
He hadn't fully grasped the earlier exchange between the Divine Physician and Cheonhwi, but he knew of the medicine he had later demonstrated.
"...He may even surpass me."
The Sect Leader's thoughts stalled at the Medical Hall Leader's confident words, unsure whether to rejoice or not.
'Not just martial arts, but heavenly talent in medicine as well.'
It was astounding.
Mastering either martial arts or medicine took a lifetime.
Yet Cheonhwi, at such a young age, had reached great heights in both.
At that moment.
"No."
The Divine Physician brushed off the earnestly pleading Princess and latched onto Cheonhwi.
"Just try learning it. What's the harm?"
"I said no."
"Sir."
"I'm not going."
The Princess chased the Divine Physician.
The Divine Physician chased Cheonhwi.
The three pursued each other one-sidedly, like a game of tag with desperate pleas.
Then Cheonhwi looked up with a fed-up expression.
"I'm a Mount Hua Sect disciple. I'm already overwhelmed learning the sect's martial arts."
The Sect Leader stifled a laugh inwardly.
'Overwhelmed by martial arts?'
Cheonhwi had not only mastered all of Mount Hua Sect's arts but had even restored and learned the old ones.
At that point, Cheonhwi stared at the Sect Leader.
"Right?"
Faced with the insistent gaze demanding agreement, the Sect Leader smiled awkwardly.
"Heh, hehehe. Indeed."
"Martial arts, my foot."
The Divine Physician snorted.
"This kid was sent from the heavens to learn medicine. If he masters my arts, he'll be called the reincarnated Hua Tuo and go down in history as a legendary physician."
"No, he won't."
This time, the Sect Leader responded immediately.
Reincarnated Hua Tuo?
Cheonhwi was no mere reincarnated Hua Tuo.
"Cheonhwi will be a Daoist immortalized in our sect's history."
"You don't know the extent of this kid's medical talent."
"I may not know his medical talent, but I know his martial talent."
Sparks flew from the glaring eyes of the two.
"Throughout history, his astonishing talent is among the best..."
"Cheonhwi's talent rivals that of Great Master Dharma and Zhang Sanfeng..."
As the Sect Leader and Divine Physician suddenly raved about Cheonhwi's talents, Cheonhwi quietly slipped away from the scene.
"Eh, whatever. They'll figure it out."