The Miracle Worker (1)
At the very moment Geomhu was receiving a medical consultation from Physician Seok Mu Wol.
"As the leader of the Murim Alliance, I have no face to show."
"No, no. Who could have predicted that Geomhu would act that way?"
Moyong Sega's deputy head, Moyong San, hurriedly welcomed the Murim Alliance leader.
"Next time, tell him to speak in private. I've already instructed my disciple to be especially careful, so he won't go blabbing carelessly."
"It was like a bolt from a clear sky—who could there be to blame?"
The Murim Alliance leader bore some responsibility for Geomhu's sudden assault. Word had leaked to her about the side effects of Yugiyeon's treatment. That had set her off rampaging, but fortunately, Sword Saint Geomseong had stepped in just right to keep her from going completely berserk.
"Publicly, please frame it as Seol saying she wanted to learn Geomhu's swordsmanship, and Geomseong taking offense that she wanted to learn something other than Moyong Sega's martial arts... something along those lines."
"Ah, sure, I can wrap it up nice and neat like that anytime. So, does that mean Geomhu will be staying at Moyong Sega?"
"Yes. It's sudden, but... when has anything in this world ever been truly out of the blue? If Geomhu sends a messenger pigeon herself to Haedong Geomgak, they won't dare voice any complaints openly, even if they have them."
"Truly... sigh. If things go as you say, Deputy Head, I won't have a single worry left."
The Murim Alliance leader leaned back in his chair with a look of relief.
"Deputy Head."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"Have you ever thought, while still possessing all your memories, what it might be like to return to your youth?"
He didn't name anyone directly, but the leader had a fair guess at why Geomhu had lost it.
"I've lived my life for the sword since childhood, and after coming to the Central Plains, I've cut down countless color demons."
Color demons! A derogatory term for martial artists who committed sex crimes against common folk, up-and-coming female experts, or widows. It wasn't a word much used in this modern age anymore—because Geomhu had spent her active years roaming the Central Plains, executing every last one of them.
"From what I know, Geomhu at Moyong Sega—"
"It's not related to lust."
Moyong San cut off the leader's words, shaking his head firmly.
"It's a difficult matter to mention, but it's not about lust. It's to do with a heart demon."
"Ahh, I see. My mistake."
Moyong San gave a wry smile. Having already apologized once, bowing his head again wouldn't be a big deal, would it?
"Was it a case of qi deviation... hmm."
"......"
What a sly old fox. Trying to fish out the truth from a reaction to his musing. Moyong San barely swallowed the words rising to his throat.
"Geomhu will remain at Moyong Sega. If another Jeolmok Jeong patient shows up or someone pressures Moyong Sega, she'll have to stand alongside Geomseong. And..."
"And?"
"We're planning to expand the Moyong Medical Hall. If Jeolmok Jeong patients start flooding in from across the Central Plains, we'll need multiple facilities to manage them—places for long-term stays, spaces for guardians, and so on."
"Hmm..."
"Will you join us, or go it alone? Moyong Sega will build new structures. To protect Physician Seok, and to help all those women in the martial world with their Jeolmok Jeong."
"We'll proceed together but manage separately with exchanges between. Those wary of grudges with Moyong Sega can stay at Alliance-managed facilities. Hmm..."
"Is it about ratios? Budget concerns...?"
"No."
The Murim Alliance leader paused for a moment.
"You—do you have any thoughts of becoming the Murim Alliance leader?"
"Pardon?"
Moyong San's face stiffened at the sudden question.
"I'm getting old now. If I die, it should be somewhere closer to Kunlun Mountain than the Central Plains, shouldn't it?"
"No, Alliance Leader."
"Even if they cart my coffin from Yodong to Kunlun, it'd rot halfway. At the very least, if I collapse from old age, I want it to be near Kunlun."
"How can you speak such empty words? You're not even vice leader, chief administrator, or strategist. If a Moyong Sega man suddenly became Murim Alliance leader, what would people say? It'd only stir greater chaos in the martial world."
"In my eyes, you could quell that chaos handily."
Alliance Leader Taesangjingun smacked his lips.
"You could handle any turmoil in the martial world. I guarantee it."
"......"
Moyong San recalled it then—the way the leader looked at him was eerily similar to someone else's gaze. It was exactly the look Geomhu had given Physician Seok Mu Wol when they met again just moments ago.
"Ha, haha..."
Moyong San swallowed hard.
"...What terrifying nonsense."
He thought to himself: If, at this very moment, he could return to his youthful body. If so, he was certain the next Murim Alliance leader would be him. Whether he willed it or not, Taesangjingun would shove him into the role.
"Why not undergo rejuvenation yourself and continue as Alliance leader?"
"Heh heh, if I could, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But since that's impossible, here I am saying this."
"You just said it clearly?"
"Hahaha. Even if that happened, the one to lead the new era wouldn't be an old fogey like me—it'd be someone else."
"......"
"......"
The two men stared at each other in silence for a long while, saying nothing.
I don't want to be the martial world's Geomhu anymore. I want to be some woman's woman. To bear a child, to live as someone's mother.
"I understand Geomhu's feelings well."
I get it.
"I can prepare the Extreme Yang Pill for you."
"!!"
"But first, I need answers to a few questions."
I extended my hand to keep Geomhu at a distance, stepping back as I unrolled a sheet of paper and picked up a brush.
"How far does the Extreme Yang Pill reach? Will it work even on a Hyeongyeong expert who's already rejuvenated? Failure's one thing, but if it succeeds, you'll have to adapt to Moyong Sega's situation."
"If it works, what wouldn't I do?"
Geomhu scooted her chair toward me like she was desperate. Wasn't that chair bolted to the floor?
"This is all assuming the Extreme Yang Pill fully rejuvenates you to your twenties... though I'm not certain yet."
"Fine. Speak."
"First, medically speaking, even if you return to your twenties, whether you can bear children is truly unknown."
She flinched. Geomhu's face hardened in an instant.
"Am I infertile? Or is it a side effect?"
"No. It's due to the natural limits of the human body. According to my master Baek Myeon's medical theory, once menstruation ends, a woman's body can no longer bear children."
"!!"
"To be precise, it's the opposite. For peak experts, who knows—but most women by age fifty..."
"It's not certain!"
"Geomhu. I don't have time to explain medicine to you right now. The longer this drags, the less time for making the Extreme Yang Pill."
"Tch...!"
Even at my blatant irritation, Geomhu shut her mouth and pulled back. Who in the world would think Geomhu could be cowed by a threat?
"Just answer honestly."
"...Understood."
"How long since your menstruation stopped?"
"......Forty years ago."
Geomhu hung her head.
"Before or after rejuvenation?"
"Before."
"Any since rejuvenation?"
"None..."
"Hm."
Confirmed.
"We'll check that while you stay at Moyong Sega."
I started with children, since that's what she wanted most. Now for the political and factional issues.
"After the Extreme Yang Pill, at least a month... no, two. You'll need to stay at Moyong Sega while we confirm if menstruation resumes."
"That is..."
"To help suppress a second Geomhu or second Yugiyeon."
"Got it."
Geomhu smiled wryly and nodded.
"I'll handle the ones who barge in demanding treatment, right?"
"Don't chase them out—just make them follow order. The Extreme Yang Pill prescriptions and Jeolmok Jeong treatments... that is, 'patient selection'—discuss that with the deputy head."
From now on, those coming to Moyong Sega would be filtered by Moyong San and Geomhu. Through layers of sieves, I'd treat those who were 'safe to treat' or 'needed treatment to become safe.' The former was Yugiyeon—handleable even if Yugiyeon's faction acted up. The latter was Geomhu. Refuse her, and it'd end in a deathmatch with Geomseong, turning half of Moyong Sega's grounds to rubble.
"So, if the rejuvenation succeeds. Then..."
I rubbed my face.
"I'll prepare a human skin mask."
"Human skin mask?"
"Yes. Or wear one like those martial world's death gods... White Tiger Squad or Azure Dragon Squad."
"Act like a blooming maiden of twenty, you mean. Understood."
"......Yes."
Conclusion: If rejuvenated, stay at Moyong Sega for two months and help out.
"I hope it works, but for tonight, rest well and envision your new life."
"What?"
"I can't make the Extreme Yang Pill alone."
It was nearly quitting time. More precisely, time for Moyong Seol to need me.
"I need Moyong Soje's help, so I'll see you tomorrow morning."
"......"
"While you stay the night, think about where and how you'll live... and maybe a new name."
"That..."
"Oh, right."
I pointed to the blank top of the medical record.
"Your name and age, please?"
"......Geom Jeom-rye."
The moment the Extreme Yang Pill was prescribed, Geom Jeom-rye would be reborn as a maiden with a name fitting today's era.
And the next day.
"Moyong Soje. You don't have to go this far."
"You never know. She might go into Geomhu mode."
In the medical hall's treatment room, Moyong Seol stood beside me in physician's garb similar to mine.
"Don't worry. If Geomhu goes berserk, Father's ready to respond immediately."
Weeeeng.
Behind Moyong Seol floated a sword wreathed in glowing blue sword energy. Flying Sword. Though absent, one of Sword Saint Moyong Cheon's Seven Star Swords guarded her.
Even if Geomhu launched sword energy from the treatment room, it could react as if he were here himself. He was outside the building, after all.
"It's fine. Relax."
Bound tight to the bed—or rather, having bound herself with rope—Geomhu lay with eyes closed, meek.
"Begin."
"If something goes wrong..."
"Geomseong. You can run me through."
Wooong.
One Seven Star Sword hummed in resonance.
"...We'll begin."
I took the true Extreme Yang Pill from the medicine box.
"That's..."
"Yes. Extreme Yang Pill."
Mixed with extras, but stronger than the makeshift one for Yugiyeon. Recipe: secret.
I dried it, powdered it, blended herbs to mask the scent.
"Administering now."
I fed the true Extreme Yang Pill into Geomhu's mouth. She swallowed it whole, closed her eyes, and suppressed herself.
Time until Yugiyeon reacted to the Extreme Yang Pill—
Flash!
White light flickered from Geomhu's eyes, and Moyong Seol yanked me into her embrace, pulling back.
Paasha!
Light burst from Geomhu's body like it was splitting open, soon followed by crackling sounds from her frame.
Passs.
The transformation was swift. As if skipping the long process to deliver only the result, dead skin flaked off Geomhu like scales.
"......"
Crack.
Geomhu snapped the ropes herself and rose. She rubbed her face—smooth, baby-soft skin emerged.
"...Even a woman without Jeolmok Jeong becomes like this."
Through Geomhu, I gained data. Data that sent chills down my spine.
"...Physician Seok."
Geomhu extended a sleeve.
"Can my body bear children now?"
"...Pulse diagnosis isn't certain."
"Still, check."
"Physician."
Moyong Seol clung tight, pointing at Geomhu.
"At least do a pulse check...?"
"Hm."
I got the message. 'Handle her before she causes a scene.' If Geomhu flipped out, that sword would impale the twenty-year-old her.
"As I said, pulse has limits..."
My heart pounded wildly. Reaching for her wrist felt wrong, but with Moyong Seol holding me, I steeled myself.
'Hold on, my heart.'
No matter that she was a pitiful, heart-demon-ridden madwoman.
'She's a mentally ill patient.'
How could a physician abandon a patient?
Thump, thump.
The heart pain eased. I steadied my breath, reached for her wrist, and sought her channels.
"......Huh?"
Why.
"...Why is it... open?"
What should be closed was open. What shouldn't exist... was there.
"????"
Common sense shattered.