Treatment for Jeolmok Jeong (2)
"Welcome. This is your first time at this annex, right?"
"Indeed. I've never set foot here even once."
The place where a star fell. Seongnakwon.
It wasn't like a star actually dropped from the sky. The name came after Sword Saint Moyong Cheon obliterated the training ground that once stood here with his absolute art, the Chilseong Geom, and they built this annex in its place.
"I lived here with my mother until I was seven. Just the three of us—Father, Mother, and me."
Moyong Seol gazed at the small courtyard off to the side, like a modest private academy, lost in memories.
"Once my Jeolmok Jeong started showing in earnest, I moved to the main Moyong family estate. It's not far—just a gak※ on foot—but still..."
※About 30 minutes.
The Moyong family compound was vast. But if it took a gak to walk even within it, that meant Seongnakwon was quite a distance from the main hall.
"......"
Moyong Seol stared for a long time at a tree planted in one corner of Seongnakwon.
Beneath the towering peach tree stood a solitary marble stele, carved as if by a master's hand.
And in front of it, as if placed that very morning, sat a modest bouquet of flowers.
A trace of Moyong Cheon's visit this morning. And the one he had left the flowers for before the banquet even began—
"It's my mother's grave marker."
Moyong Seol's mother. No name was inscribed on it.
A nameless stele, even on the back.
"There's no body. It's just a marker."
The lady of the Moyong family head, wife of the Sword Saint—yet reduced to a being whose name could not be spoken.
"I don't know why Father placed that stone he carved there. But if he sees it as Mother's trace..."
Moyong Seol clasped her hands and bowed her head before the marker.
"Mother. I'm better now. And this is the physician who cured me."
"...Greetings."
I bowed toward the stele.
"I am Physician Seok Mu Wol. Though I never had the honor of meeting you, I will ensure your daughter suffers no more from Jeolmok Jeong."
"'Ensure,' you say?"
Moyong Seol grabbed my hand.
"Not 'take care of'?"
"In polite society, they call ladies like Moyong Sojeo 'miss.'"
"I'd prefer something different from 'miss.'"
Moyong Seol gripped my hand tighter, her nails digging in just a little.
"What will you call me?"
"Well... for now, you're still my patient."
Moyong Seol's expression hardened as she was about to rest her hand on my shoulder.
"Pardon?"
"I'm not joking. The meridians that briefly opened are narrowing again."
"...What?"
Her face paled the moment I mentioned the symptoms returning.
"Then—"
"Of course, another treatment will fix it right away. It's just... to manage Sojeo's Jeolmok Jeong, I need to confirm one crucial piece of information."
"...I'll do anything you say, but information?"
"Yes."
I reached toward her shoulder.
"Was it a one-time miracle, or does that act truly cure your Jeolmok Jeong? The theory holds, but verifying additional symptoms and progress starts now."
"Ah. You mean the 'public justification' Father mentioned."
Public justification. I'd phrased it carefully to keep Moyong Cheon in the dark as much as possible, but Moyong Seol saw right through it.
"What say you? If you want me to report no connection, I will."
"How could I lie when there is a connection?"
She stepped close and nestled into my arms.
"We've already been intimate."
"Sojeo."
"Mmm. I do love it when it's just us and you call me that, but... compared to always 'Sojeo'..."
Moyong Seol looked up at me and giggled.
"We'll worry about that later. Physician, your face is getting stern."
"Can't delay the treatment."
"Got it. Treatment's no problem, but..."
She pointed to the room.
"How will you do it? Whether through Father... or someone else later, don't you have to 'report' it?"
"Fate conspired against us. I'll end up embarrassing you unintentionally."
"If it embarrassed me, I wouldn't have told everyone we slept together."
Hm. Fair point.
"Still, talking about it so bluntly feels off."
"I don't like talking about it either."
Squeeze.
"...But if it's with you, Physician, I'll say it as much as needed. Even in front of men leering at me, and especially in front of women glaring at you."
"That works for me."
I pulled her into an embrace.
"Same here. That's why I was rude to the family head and spilled it."
"Pfft, that last bit?"
"Yes."
"Why say that? He's still my father."
"Telling me to do it outside isn't code for 'don't get her pregnant,' is it?"
"......I'll scold Father later."
Thank goodness she's on my side. With Moyong Seol backing me, even the Sword Saint can't kill me.
"If Father suggests sparring or training, refuse flat out. He'll definitely bring it up."
"A Moyong son-in-law needs the strength to protect his woman?"
"Sweet, but isn't our situation a tad different?"
She sidled up beside me, her arm sliding from my waist downward.
"I'll protect you, Physician. Just protect yourself until I can get to you."
"Hey now. Watch those wandering hands."
"What's wrong? We're engaged."
Even engaged, is it okay for a lady to tease a man like this?
"Put it in the report as is. It's the truth, after all."
"...If we had time, I'd add some variations."
"Variations?"
"Yes. As the Sword Saint suggested—does it work outside too?"
"What if the patient refuses treatment?"
"Hoping for that?"
"You know..."
Moyong Seol pulled me inside as she opened the door.
"I've never heard of doing it outside before."
Rustle.
She pushed me into the room, shut the door in one motion, and pulled a quilt from the wardrobe, spreading it wide.
"Not a bed, but close enough. Recreate it just like that, right?"
"...Ah, yes. We can analyze variations after this treatment and monitor progress. No rush."
"Then..."
Click.
"Just lie there. Hehe."
One thing. Even I, being human, couldn't bring myself to tell the Sword Saint this part.
—I've never done it outside before.
That line could make someone sit up straight thinking, "Even to your father-in-law?!"
I'd snapped a bit, interpreting "outside" as "be thorough with contraception," but still.
"Come on, lie down. You were lying there from start to finish anyway, right?"
"Anyone hearing that would think I chose to lounge around."
The Sword Saint doesn't know.
"I couldn't even get up in the first place."
"Ahaha."
"Not planning to bind me with pressure points again?"
"Hmm... Write it in the report?"
"Maybe."
"Then, start with pressure points. Release them later for comparison. If symptoms ease after releasing..."
"Positions would change too."
How dangerous his daughter truly was.
"Whew."
I lay obediently on the quilt and pointed upward.
"Good thing there's no bed."
"Why?"
"You couldn't tie my hands to the bed with fabric... no."
"We're recreating it~"
Moyong Seol gathered my hands together and raised them above my head.
"Against the physician who snuck in my window at midnight to persuade me... starting with how I forced it on you at first."
I.
Was overpowered by Moyong Seol.
My body had no option for "outside" at all.
* * *
Afternoon. Just one si※ before sunset and evening.
※About two hours.
Murim Alliance Leader Taesangjingun subtly scanned the people in the reception room with him.
Shaolin's Sinseung. Haedong Geomgak's Geomhu. And the veiled warrior—Imperial Inspector Yeocheong.
Including himself, four of the Ten Supremes of the world were gathered here.
Waiting for someone, questions burning in their hearts for another.
This is maddening.
Taesangjingun thought.
I just wanted some medicine for my stomachache after this, but it's turned into a bigger headache than I imagined.
He was the Murim Alliance Leader.
Kunlunpa's head, but Kunlun was so far from the Central Plains that his identity as Alliance Leader was stronger. For Kunlun's safety, he actively resolved Central Plains conflicts.
Even as the lowest of the Ten Supremes, he prided himself on his insight into people's hearts—one of the best in the world.
Thus, he'd long given up on his personal errand—getting "stomachache medicine" from Divine Dragon Seok Mu Wol.
Thud, thud.
Slow footsteps announced the reception room's host had arrived.
"You've come, Sword Saint."
The world's greatest.
An unprecedented supreme no four here—or even all the Alliance elites outside—could defeat.
"Easiest to talk with the Murim Alliance Leader. You're the farthest from Jeolmok Jeong concerns."
He declared he'd speak only with the Leader and sat.
"Shaolin worries the Great Return Pill's prestige is threatened."
"Ahem."
"Geomhu comes as an individual, not Haedong Geomgak. Geomgak is all women, and many ex-members married ordinary men and bore Jeolmok Jeong-stricken daughters."
"......"
"The palace has Jeolmok Jeong issues too, but mainly wants to recruit Physician Seok Mu Wol as imperial physician."
"You know well, Sword Saint."
Taesangjingun nodded at Imperial Inspector Yeocheong's words.
If the Sword Saint were just a bit below him, he'd recommend him as Alliance Commander.
A man with everything—except a healthy daughter.
But now she was healthy.
Health was good, yet the mind games in this room made his stomach churn.
I want to quit.
Anyone want to take over as Alliance Leader? Or tell the Sword Saint to do it and wield dictatorial power?
"Alliance Leader."
"Speak, Sword Saint."
"Moyong Family has no intention of hiding the Jeolmok Jeong treatment method."
"......Truly grateful."
A slight relief washed over the bitterness.
"Namgung, Tang Clan, other sects—all have many Jeolmok Jeong patients. If Moyong monopolized it, I'd be in a bind. So, what is the method?"
"Injecting yang qi through intercourse between man and woman."
"......What."
Sinseung openly showed disgust; Geomhu blushed and coughed lightly.
"Yin-yang union is the real cure?"
"Yes."
"...Sword Saint. If that cured it, patients would be cured left and right by now."
"I see. You've already 'tested' it."
"......Tch."
That casual remark burned the Leader's gut.
"What are you implying?"
"Alliance Leader. When I called this meeting... or if I'd delayed, you'd have acted first. Because it's you."
"Grateful for the high regard, but what did I do?"
"You sent word to a Jeolmok Jeong family here in Yodong Castle. And got a quick reply. Am I wrong?"
"......Correct."
Ah. Just let this man handle the Alliance and military.
"Results?"
"No cure. Same as always—no change."
"I see."
"Thus, we must consider the 'special' case."
The Leader endured the stares and spoke amid his inner turmoil.
"Either Moyong Seol had a special Jeolmok Jeong curable only by her, or Seok Mu Wol's yang qi cures all."
"Absurd."
"If the former, no hope. If the latter, hope for other patients."
On a faint 'what if,' he tearfully voiced what they wanted.
"If Physician Seok Mu Wol can cure all Jeolmok Jeong, will Moyong Family send him across the Central Plains?"
"Alliance Leader. One word."
The Sword Saint steadied his breath, voice grave.
"The one called Divine Dragon. Knowledge of medicine unmatched in the era, non-martial artist yet able to subdue second-rate thugs with acupuncture alone. Diligent in training, respectful to elders, polite, and above all, a man who takes responsibility."
Not one word— The Leader couldn't say.
"Physician Seok Mu Wol. He who cured my daughter..."
He could guess why the long preamble, and the Sword Saint's—Moyong's—intent.
"Is my son-in-law."
Can't say 'son-in-law' to his face, though.
Almost slipped out. The Leader held his tongue.
Instead.
"So what is that son-in-law doing now?"
"......"
Just a light question.
Crack!
The Sword Saint crushed his teacup while reaching for it, grip shattering it.
His protective aura prevented blood, but tea dripped like blood from his hand.
"My son-in-law is...."