Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: A Taste Like Never Before
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"This is the first time I've ever tasted something like this..."
The senior disciple of the Qingcheng Sect, the Swift Sword Chwi Pung, Seo Jin-myeong, walked down the main street of Deokyang, constantly glancing around.
The junior disciple walking beside him, Gong Mun-yak, asked,
"Senior Brother, you're still looking for that man with the face as red as a beet, right?"
Last time they had visited Elder Jo Ja-cheon and the Immortal Spirit Pharmacy, they had searched for him once before. It had been a failure.
This time, having stopped by Deokyang again, they decided to search once more.
"But he's not easy to find."
Deokyang was a massive city in Sichuan Province, alongside the capital city.
There was no way to easily spot him amid the throng of people.
"That mysterious man who tied with you in a spar. All you know about him is his complexion?"
"Yes. Other than carrying a sword on his back and having a sharp demeanor, there's no other information."
Seo Jin-myeong had once traveled alone. About a year ago, he had climbed a mountain to deal with a wicked evildoer.
But the villain was already dead.
Killed by a swordsman with a face as red as a beet.
"So you suddenly sparred with him?"
"It wasn't burning competitive spirit or bloodlust. I just purely wanted to test my martial arts against this man."
- "Allow me to request a lesson in one exchange."
The swordsman had nodded silently, and the two exchanged dozens of bouts.
But it ended in a draw.
Seo Jin-myeong was astonished.
For an unknown opponent to match him, the senior disciple of one of the Nine Great Sects.
- "May I know your esteemed name?"
- "..."
- "Wouldn't you at least tell me your sect?"
- "..."
The man gave no answer, gathered his belongings, and departed.
- "Where are you headed?"
- "Deokyang."
He left only those words behind and vanished. That was why Seo Jin-myeong occasionally stopped by Deokyang to search for the man.
"What will you do if you find him?"
"Spar with him again. I gained much insight from that bout, and it was enjoyable."
"True. Master and the elders always say a worthy rival of goodwill greatly aids martial progress."
Seo Jin-myeong smiled faintly.
"Well, since he's around my age, it wouldn't hurt if we became friends too."
Gong Mun-yak rolled his eyes thoughtfully for a moment before speaking.
"Instead of this, why not commission the Hao Gate or similar? Information networks excel at finding people."
Seo Jin-myeong's expression hardened.
"If Master or the elders found out I dealt with such groups, I'd be in big trouble."
The Qingcheng Sect was a prestigious orthodox sect. They wouldn't associate with the likes of the Hao Gate.
But Gong Mun-yak waved his hand with a playful grin.
"Come on, Senior Brother, why so rigid? And it's not just the Hao Gate. There are plenty of other information networks. We can use one of those."
Seo Jin-myeong's ears perked up. It seemed faster than sifting through the crowds like searching for sand on a beach.
"Then let's do that."
"Yes! I'll look into an information network!"
Gong Mun-yak strode ahead excitedly, while Seo Jin-myeong looked down at his hand.
It was trembling slightly.
'Don't be impatient.'
The spar with the red-faced man had been enjoyable, no doubt.
But it had also stirred impatience and anxiety in Seo Jin-myeong's heart.
The urge to refine himself further.
The aspiration for greater achievements.
Because of that, he had recently overtrained, twisting his qi and blood. He had only been healed after visiting the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand, Physician Yu Ja-geom, with the elder.
'I must regain my composure.'
Seo Jin-myeong clenched his trembling hand tightly.
Training so hastily could lead him into heart demons.
Na Ho-pyeong arrived at Chu Man-seok's lodging with a beaming smile.
"I'll head in."
"Yes, come in."
Upon opening the door, they found Chu Man-seok sprawled on the bed, stretching with his hips thrust out.
"You're diligently doing the movements Jang Physician taught you."
"Of course. These are great for preventing lower back pain."
"Enough of that now. It doesn't make for a pretty sight."
Chu Man-seok got off the bed and asked,
"So, what brings you here?"
Na Ho-pyeong replied with his beaming smile.
"Lately, our daughter Sang-a's martial progress has been remarkable."
"You came to brag?"
"Naturally. Not just Sang-a, but even So Hong-ryeo of the Deokyang So Family is advancing well."
"..."
Chu Man-seok didn't respond much.
Na Ho-pyeong's daughter-bragging was familiar. The best was to just listen quietly.
"By the way, I want to send Sang-a as a lay disciple to the Emei Sect, but it seems difficult."
"Probably."
"Do you have to say it like that?"
Chu Man-seok protested innocently.
"No, I'm agreeing with you, Branch Chief. The Emei Sect is one of the Nine Great Sects, a prestigious orthodox faction, so it's naturally hard."
"True. It'd be great if her martial arts improved greatly..."
Na Ho-pyeong scanned Chu Man-seok up and down before continuing.
"Last time, I saw you receiving acupuncture from Jang Physician and your lightness skill improved. His treatments don't happen to boost martial achievements, do they?"
Chu Man-seok burst into laughter.
"Haha! Where in the jianghu would such ability exist? Sects everywhere would be clamoring to recruit him."
Na Ho-pyeong laughed along heartily.
"Haha! Just joking."
"Hahaha!"
As the two laughed loudly, Seong Chu entered the room.
"If it's a funny story, can't I join in the laughter?"
"It wouldn't be funny if you hadn't heard from the start."
"..."
"What brings you here? Since you've come all this way, you must have a report."
Seong Chu handed over the documents he was holding.
"We got a commission from the Shadow Intelligence Tower."
The Shadow Intelligence Tower was one of Deokyang's information networks. Ultimately, it connected to the Hao Gate.
Na Ho-pyeong took the documents and said,
"A commission through the Shadow Intelligence Tower? Probably from some rigid, conservative righteous faction member."
"Yes. A man named Seo Jin-myeong, senior disciple of the Qingcheng Sect."
Na Ho-pyeong looked at the commission papers and tilted his head.
"Wait, isn't this description of the man the Mad Drunk Guest, Hyeong So?"
Chu Man-seok, reading beside him, nodded.
"Yes. Face as red as a beet, sword on his back, sharp features, man in his mid-thirties. That's Hyeong So."
"Exactly. Minus the complexion, that is. He had so much internal heat causing that color, but Jang Physician's single long needle fixed it right up. I witnessed that astonishing sight firsthand."
The day at the Ten Thousand Winds Inn when Generate Pulse Powder was distributed.
Jang Wol had inserted a long needle into the nape of Hyeong So's neck. Astonishingly, his unique flush returned to normal.
"His complexion normalized, so they can't find Hyeong So and commissioned the Shadow Intelligence Tower."
Seong Chu, who had been listening, asked,
"So what do we do? Tell Seo Jin-myeong Hyeong So's whereabouts?"
"Do you know why Seo Jin-myeong is looking for him?"
"Another informant overheard Seo Jin-myeong and his junior talking. No grudge. He even wants to befriend him."
"Hyeong So is an important figure to Jang Physician too. If that's the reason, no issue. Good. Tell him Hyeong So's location."
"Yes, understood."
Seong Chu left the room, and Na Ho-pyeong turned back to Chu Man-seok.
"So, about our Sang-a, last time her fist technique was just so adorable."
"..."
Seo Jin-myeong and Gong Mun-yak were staying at an inn in Deokyang.
"With the commission to the Shadow Intelligence Tower, we'll find him soon."
As his junior said, early the next morning, an informant from the Shadow Intelligence Tower arrived.
"We've found the man you described. Name's Hyeong So, known as the Mad Drunk Guest."
Gong Mun-yak's eyes widened.
"Mad Drunk Guest? I've heard of him too. A skilled ronin with the sword. So he's the one you were looking for, Senior Brother."
"He was famous after all. Where is this Mad Drunk Guest now?"
"Probably eating at a place called Ten Thousand Winds Inn."
After the informant left, Seo Jin-myeong told Gong Mun-yak,
"Mun-yak, wait here."
Gong Mun-yak nodded obediently. It wasn't malicious intent anyway.
"Yes. I'll stay at the inn."
"Then I'll be off."
Seo Jin-myeong headed alone to the Ten Thousand Winds Inn. Entering, the burly innkeeper guided him.
"Welcome. Let me show you to a seat."
The innkeeper led the glancing Seo Jin-myeong toward the window.
There, Seo Jin-myeong spotted a familiar man sitting near the window and stopped.
The innkeeper noticed and said,
"Ah, you have company. Enjoy your time."
As the innkeeper withdrew, Seo Jin-myeong approached the familiar man.
Astonishingly, though the beet-red complexion had normalized, the rest matched the man he sought perfectly.
"Hyeong So, long time no see."
Hyeong So, who had been eating, looked up at Seo Jin-myeong. But without reaction, he resumed eating.
In that instant, Seo Jin-myeong read Hyeong So's eyes.
'He just greeted me with his eyes, ever so slightly.'
Seo Jin-myeong sat before Hyeong So. Impatience bubbled up again.
'I've trained so hard since then. I thought I'd achieved much, but facing him now, Hyeong So has made dazzling progress too.'
He couldn't guarantee victory even in another spar.
His hand trembled. Seo Jin-myeong looked down at it, then raised his head.
Hyeong So gazed at him with indifferent eyes and spoke.
"Hot."
Seo Jin-myeong was flustered by the sudden remark.
"S-Sichuan's weather is always like this."
Hyeong So stood. And wordlessly stepped away.
Seo Jin-myeong, still bewildered, followed.
"Heh heh, farewell."
Leaving the innkeeper's greeting behind, the two exited the Ten Thousand Winds Inn.
Seo Jin-myeong silently followed Hyeong So.
"Where are you going?"
Moments later, Hyeong So entered the Deokyang Medical District, walked a bit further to an outer clinic.
Seo Jin-myeong read the signboard.
"Clear Seclusion Clinic...?"
Not large, but the exterior was impeccably clean, as if newly built.
Sitting side by side in the waiting room, Seo Jin-myeong said,
"Clear Seclusion Clinic. First I've heard of it, but small as it is, it's remarkably well-kept."
Then, Seo Jin-myeong doubted his eyes.
'Did he just smile faintly?'
But it must have been wrong. Hyeong So wore his usual cold expression.
'Why would a master like Hyeong So come to such an obscure little clinic? He could go to Immortal Spirit Pharmacy.'
As he thought to introduce him to Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand Yu Ja-geom later, a young physician appeared.
Hyeong So stared piercingly at the physician and said,
"Who are you."
"Ah, uh, I am..."
Not a familiar physician? As Seo Jin-myeong wondered, a young man approached, sent the young physician away, and addressed Hyeong So.
This seemed to be the clinic's physician.
"One Generate Pulse Powder?"
"Two."
Generate Pulse Powder? He came all this way for mere herbal decoction?
Seo Jin-myeong grew impatient again. He wanted to skip this nonsense and spar with Hyeong So as soon as possible.
Soon, the young physician brought the Generate Pulse Powder decoction and divided it between Hyeong So and Seo Jin-myeong.
Hyeong So took his and drank. Seo Jin-myeong drank absentmindedly too.
'Hurry and finish so we can leave... here...'
Seo Jin-myeong's eyes widened.
The unpleasant heat and dampness throughout his body vanished in an instant, the rising impatience in his heart subsided temporarily, and his mind and body felt refreshed.
"Haa...!"
Seo Jin-myeong unknowingly closed his eyes, exhaling in bliss, then snapped to.
'W-What is this? This Generate Pulse Powder? This is the first time I've ever tasted something like this...'
His eyes met Hyeong So's beside him. Still indifferent, but somehow saying 'See?'
Then the young physician's voice came.
"The flush rising across your face suggests liver fire or heart fire, while the unfocused gaze and faint bloodshot veins indicate qi and blood depletion from excessive worry and impatience."
Locking eyes with the young physician, Seo Jin-myeong gaped in shock. It was as if the man had seen right through him.
"Care for a pulse diagnosis?"
Like a man possessed, Seo Jin-myeong extended his wrist.
The young physician pulsed briefly, then furrowed his brow.
"Your mind is terribly unsettled. You could fall into heart demons if not careful."
Seo Jin-myeong's pupils shook.
'W-What is this young physician...? Even Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand didn't say this.'
In his shock, Seo Jin-myeong noticed Hyeong So smoothly extending his arm to the young physician, startling him once more.