Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Thousand-Faced Poppy Flower
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[Strategy 1. Completely cure So Eun-ri and make her fight Song Chun-don properly.]
Bok Yeon-hwa's comment about "matching seniority" was already out there... No matter what, with her personality, she wouldn't take it back.
Instead of letting her lose like that, it was better to give her a real chance to fight.
That meant setting aside her uncertain matchup for now and focusing on winning the other battles.
'First off, Elder Bok Yeon-hwa should have a good shot against that lazy slacker Nam Cheol-hong.'
That was how it went in the original story, after all...
So, they absolutely had to win the disciple showdown.
'How can we win the first match...'
One thing was certain: Yun Bang-mun was no match for Son Bu-yang.
Their martial arts levels were similar, but Son Bu-yang's ruthless nature and heavy hands gave him the edge.
That hadn't changed by now, either.
Then, a flash of insight struck Han Ibi.
'That's right! It's a bit different from the original, but... Jong Ri-hyeok is one of the top three disciples originally. If he competes, there's a chance!'
But the one blocking Jong Ri-hyeok, So Eun-ri, and Bok Yeon-hwa... was himself.
Han Ibi cursed himself inwardly and devised a second strategy.
[Strategy 2. Have Jong Ri-hyeok participate in the first match. (Method ①) Prod him into volunteering. (Method ②) Sway Bok Yeon-hwa to put him in.]
'Or maybe use both methods... Haha. I really am a genius. I'm not the type to just sit around like this...'
Han Ibi grinned to himself as he thought it over.
'Start with Strategy 1... I need to cure her first...'
He felt his smile fading away.
'But... how?'
Han Ibi racked his brains for a good long while.
Then it hit him.
'What if I use one of my skills, like the 'Herb Encyclopedia,' for this?'
That was why.
The reason Han Ibi had bluffed to Bok Yeon-hwa and So Eun-ri...
He turned to Bok Yeon-hwa.
"Didn't you see my herb-gathering skills firsthand?"
Bok Yeon-hwa replied with a sour face.
"That's just preparing ingredients... That's completely different from a physician's work."
Han Ibi shot back without backing down.
"Not at all. They may seem totally different on the surface, but at their core, they're the same—treating the human body. So please let me take Junior Sister So's pulse."
This was a gamble, really.
If the substance lingering in So Eun-ri's body was a pure "poison herb," the 'Herb Encyclopedia' wouldn't react at all.
But... since it wasn't just poison but a "Yin Soul Drug," he was betting on another possibility.
After agonizing for a while, Bok Yeon-hwa finally spoke.
She must not have had any better ideas...
"Fine. You're permitted to check Eun-ri's pulse. But if your suggestion turns out to be nonsense, you'll pay dearly for it."
'Damn... that temper of hers... Could she at least soften her words...'
Still, Han Ibi hid his true feelings, bowed with a "Thank you," and approached So Eun-ri's wrist.
He'd never actually taken a pulse before.
He recalled scenes from historical dramas and positioned his back to hide his awkward touch from Bok Yeon-hwa.
She might get suspicious if she saw him fumbling.
As Han Ibi rolled up So Eun-ri's sleeve, her pale skin came into view.
Even a martial artist of the jianghu... was still a woman, it seemed.
For some reason, Han Ibi's heart was pounding.
'Grabbing it outright feels so awkward...'
So Eun-ri had watched the exchange between Han Ibi and Bok Yeon-hwa in silence...
But this was probably her first time letting an outsider touch her wrist...
He could feel her squeeze her eyes shut.
The faint blush on her cheeks... well... hm... probably just his imagination.
And then, contact.
Ding!
'Aha! Just as I thought. This Thousand-Faced Poppy Flower was originally medicinal.'
'Gah... we're screwed.'
'Yes! There is a way... But Two-Capsule Yew Tree? Even after foraging so many herbs with Master, I've never heard of it.'
That meant it was incredibly rare. Or maybe limited to certain regions...
At that moment, So Eun-ri spoke up, her face even redder.
"Is it... not done yet?"
Han Ibi jolted and pulled his fingers away from her wrist.
"No, it's done. All finished. I know the reason now."
Bok Yeon-hwa twitched her eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yes. What Junior Sister So has is a kind of narcotic drug."
"Narcotic?"
"Yes. It's actually an herb used to ease pain during surgery."
Bok Yeon-hwa burst out.
"So what are you trying to say? Explain it so I can understand."
"It's not poison, but addiction symptoms have set in. It can heal on its own, but it takes a long time."
"Is there an antidote?"
"...Yes, there is. It's a bit hard to obtain... but don't worry. I'll find the herb somehow."
Han Ibi said with a sly smile.
Savoring the glint of admiration in Bok Yeon-hwa's eyes.
'Goddamn it... Easier said than done...'
Yes.
Everything was like that—talk was cheap.
But he had no clue where to find this Two-Capsule Yew Tree or whatever.
He wasn't even sure it grew on Qingcheng Mountain.
The name suggested it was a type of yew tree, and given the mountain's vegetation, it was possible... that was his only hope.
He was a bit disappointed, sure.
But Qingcheng Mountain was vast. And famous for its mystical qualities, too.
'Digging through mountains for herbs' had become his most common activity—half-willing, half-forced—since landing in this damned wuxia world...
Han Ibi resolved to turn the entire mountain upside down.
And so, day by day, he ventured farther into the outskirts, scurrying east and west.
Today, too, he was toiling away in search of the Two-Capsule Yew Tree...
But no luck.
It was exhausting...
Then, one day.
Han Ibi stumbled upon a scene that looked profoundly auspicious.
"Whoa! This view is insane. How is a place like this hidden by a stream?"
Qingcheng Mountain was already blessed with fine scenery, but this spot was on another level.
'How can such breathtaking beauty exist? The Central Plains really is a land of mysteries.'
That was when he spotted it.
Something extraordinary—a gap in the endless vertical cliffs.
A space barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through, bending double at the waist.
With his innate 'Laziness Supreme Skill,' Han Ibi would've ignored it any other time...
'But this place... it feels like I have to go in...'
Any avid wuxia reader knew: spots like this were prime fated encounter territory.
"Ah! It's inconvenient, but no choice."
He bent at the waist, then curled into a ball, barely wriggling inside.
It was pitch dark, like a cave, light blocked out. Unease crept in.
'Damn. Did I just crawl into a dragon's maw by mistake? Should I turn back...'
But his body kept pushing forward diligently.
Fueled by one source of energy...
'Fated encounter! Fated encounter! Fated encounter!'
That sliver of hope.
Suddenly, dazzling sunlight assaulted his eyes.
And the refreshing sound of cascading water.
Of course. This was...
'A waterfall!'
Emerging from the narrow passage and straightening up, Han Ibi's jaw dropped at the sight.
'Perfect! Absolutely perfect!'
A flawless vista.
Sunlight shattered against the massive waterfall, spraying a shy little rainbow like a blushing bride.
The water pooled below into a small, clear pond, ringed by towering cliffs like a natural screen.
'Whoa~. It's like immortals might appear... or a fairy taking a bath...'
That was when it happened.
Something that slammed the brakes on Han Ibi's idle fantasies.
Words carved into the cliff near the waterfall.
Clearly man-made lettering.
Etched from a bit taller than human height down to the base.
Curiosity piqued, Han Ibi drew closer.
'Huh? This is...'
The grooves were astonishing—as if chiseled with advanced swordsmanship.
So...
'Incredible! They used a sword to engrave letters into the rock.'
Han Ibi touched the characters, pondering.
'I've read about this in classic wuxia novels, but seeing it up close is unreal.'
Amazed by the precise texture, he thought.
'Leaving marks on rock with inner power isn't hard with some practice. But engraving letters this slowly and carefully... that's seriously tough.'
Han Ibi figured some legendary figure or master had left this inscription for some profound reason.
'Heh heh heh. In wuxia novels, places like this always hide something. Fated encounters or whatever. Come on, baby! I'm expecting big things! Haha.'
He cracked his knuckles with a satisfying pop.
Then rubbed each character.
'Hmm... nothing. Alright then.'
He took time to tap each letter individually.
'Not this either?'
He stabbed the ground around the cliff with his sword, dug around, even activated the Herb Encyclopedia and paced until his soles sweated.
But the result...
'Damn. Strikeout this time.'
Nothing happened.
Exhausted.
Thoroughly dejected, Han Ibi plopped onto the sandy ground. That's when the characters—hitherto dismissed as mere rock carvings—caught his eye properly.
Neatly arrayed five characters per line, it looked like a poem.
Well, ancient Chinese folk loved their classical poetry.
(To be continued in the next installment)