Chapter 230
Chapter 230
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 230
>Chapter Title: Rehabilitation (5)
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“May I ask what that might be?”
Seo Jae-pil the physician’s eyes sparkled as he asked.
It felt like I’d become some kind of test subject, but since this struck me as a pretty serious issue too, I decided to answer honestly for now.
“Killing people leaves me with no emotion whatsoever. Of course, I haven’t gone around slaughtering the innocent. It was only the fanatical followers of the heretics who ambushed us at the Demonic Path Academy. Or the vile scum tormenting the common folk here in Gansu Province that I put down.”
These weren’t excuses I was spouting to justify my killings.
This era, unlike the modern world, was one where violence wasn’t exactly rare.
It was just...
“Those fanatics were definitely my first kills in this life. Sure, at the time, my own life was on the line, so my head wasn’t in the right place. But that wasn’t the case here. Even knowing they were villains, I never felt any real danger while fighting them. And yet, in the midst of it all, I killed them without a second thought.”
It was because of this inexplicable sense of disconnect I’d been feeling lately.
This disconnect was nagging at me, so I’d been trying hard not to kill anyone who wasn’t truly irredeemable.
That’s why I’d given the Hao Clan a chance, and why I’d gone out of my way not to touch the Beggars’ Sect.
“So that’s why I’m asking you, Physician Seo. Is this true of all demonic arts? Or is it just me that’s unusual?”
That was why I’d opened up so frankly to Physician Seo.
I wanted to know if it was just me, or if everyone who practiced demonic arts felt this way.
At my question, Seo Jae-pil fell into thought, as if reflecting back on everything he’d seen, experienced, and studied over the years.
And after a moment, having gathered his thoughts, Seo Jae-pil spoke.
“First off, no one in our Divine Cult has ever complained of suffering because of killing. That said, it’d be vague to claim that practicing demonic arts simply erases any aversion to killing.”
He rolled his tongue in his mouth for a bit, as if pondering the best way to phrase it, then continued.
“As you know, Young Master, our Divine Cult’s doctrines hold that executing evildoers is only natural. So even if someone did feel a reluctance to kill, they probably wouldn’t have spoken up easily.”
“That makes sense.”
“That was an objective rundown of what I’ve seen, heard, and learned. As for my personal opinion, I suspect you might be the unusual case here, Young Master.”
“…And why do you think that?”
“Because of what happened at the Demonic Path Academy. After the ambush by those heretical fanatics, there was a time when the academy disciples suffered from mental trauma, wasn’t there? That’s when I realized it. They were just pushing through for the sake of doctrine. There were definitely people struggling with it.”
“Hmm. Then maybe it’s the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword that’s unusual.”
“Whether it’s the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword itself or your unique constitution, Young Master, we’d need more study to say for sure... We’d need someone else who’s learned it to compare.”
Seo Jae-pil muttered to himself with an intrigued look, wondering, “I wonder who else has learned the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword...”
“There is one. The Peach Blossom Ridge Lord.”
“Ah!”
Seo Jae-pil exclaimed as if it had just clicked.
“In that case, how about staying with her at Peach Blossom Ridge sometime later? It seems like a prime research opportunity.”
Sorry to say it, but occasional volunteer work there was one thing—living there full-time was a hard pass.
“…Ahem. I’m too busy to stay there for long.”
“Then I’ll examine you in detail first, Young Master. And later, I’ll head over there myself. Haha.”
Heading to a home for dementia patients for research purposes. And not just any—ones who’d reached the Extreme Demon realm or higher.
Seo Jae-pil really was an extraordinary physician, in more ways than one.
* * *
Two days later.
The people we’d been waiting for arrived in Nanju. A few physicians from the main headquarters of the Healing Heart Institute, along with one martial artist.
“Officer Gwan. Long time no see.”
At Il-mok’s greeting, Gwan Mu-yeol bowed his head in respect.
“It’s an honor to see you again, Eighth Young Master.”
He was the warrior who’d briefly guarded Il-mok when he first entered the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and later revealed to have overcome mushroom side effects, leading him to depart for the Healing Heart Institute.
Seeing Il-mok again after over two years, he couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
‘I’d heard the rumors, but I didn’t expect this level.’
At his level, he couldn’t even begin to gauge Il-mok’s cultivation.
No, it wasn’t just Il-mok.
Jin Ha-yeon, who’d clearly been two levels below him back when she was Il-mok’s guard,
Had now reached a realm equal to his own.
Gwan Mu-yeol hadn’t exactly been slacking at the Healing Heart Institute either. After overcoming his mushroom dependency and managing the side effects, he’d thrown himself back into training.
He’d successfully broken through one wall because of it, but Jin Ha-yeon had still caught up to him.
The youngest young master’s growth was beyond common sense from the start, so no one dared compare. But getting overtaken by Jin Ha-yeon, who’d been two levels below, was bitter in more ways than one.
Still, Gwan Mu-yeol soon shook off those stray thoughts.
‘Right. Everyone has their own pace. I just need to walk my path. That’s enough.’
After two and a half years at the Healing Heart Institute, his mind had grown quite resilient.
Resilient enough to overcome the temptations of hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Meanwhile.
After greeting Gwan Mu-yeol, Il-mok exchanged brief hellos with the other Healing Heart Institute physicians.
“Two of you stay here and tend to Nanju’s patients alongside the nurse disciples. The rest, come with me to Pyeongryang County.”
At Il-mok’s orders, the physicians selected who would remain in Nanju.
Watching them, Il-mok turned to Seo Jae-pil and Dam Bin.
“Select a few from the red-light district—pimps or courtesans—to help care for the severe addicts in Pyeongryang County.”
“Should we pick ones who can read and write?”
“No need. Their main job will be basic ‘care,’ not dispensing meds or acupuncture. Oh, but if you tell them you’ll teach them to read and write in their spare time, they might show some interest.”
Naturally, he planned to dump the actual teaching on the physicians.
After sorting his thoughts at Il-mok’s instruction, Dam Bin replied.
“There’s one issue, Young Master. According to Brothel Keeper Jin Hong and a few others, the red-light district is short on hands.”
It was only natural, having pulled so many out for nurse and courtesan roles.
Especially after taking Baek Cheon and the music troupes to Pyeongryang County, leaving Nanju short on hymn performers and requiring extra courtesans.
Il-mok pondered the issue briefly, shrugged, and answered.
“We’ve mostly cleaned up the black path gangs around Gansu Province anyway. Why not scout other counties for anyone willing to come to Nanju and transfer them to the brothels here? That should fill the gaps.”
Truth be told, he’d love to shut the whole red-light district down, but he couldn’t just wipe it out without giving the workers alternative livelihoods. They’d all end up beggars.
Plus, brothels and pleasure houses were commonplace in this era, so erasing them outright from a modern perspective was tricky.
That’s why he planned to phase them out gradually, through education and job creation like now.
If, right up to the end, some insisted on staying in that line of work, Il-mok had no real reason or justification to stop them.
“Oh. And if there are courtesans in other counties who know how to read, recruit them as nurses and bring them here. A few of the nurse disciples who trained under Physician Seo here will head to Pyeongryang County too. Even for caregiving, you’ll need senior hands to manage the new recruits.”
And so, following Il-mok’s orders, they selected new people or prepared the existing ones to head to Pyeongryang County.
The next morning,
A caravan of carriages set off for Pyeongryang County.
A few physicians from the main headquarters and Seo Jae-pil. Gwan Mu-yeol too.
A few nurse disciples from the Maitreya Illuminated Cult’s estate, plus some from the red-light district for caregiving.
Even the carpenter Deok-gwang who’d built the chapel at the Maitreya Illuminated Cult estate, and beggar laborers.
Over fifty souls embarked on the journey to revive Pyeongryang County.
* * *
Two days later.
Several carriages rumbled into Pyeongryang County.
Their first stop was the estate housing the severe addicts.
“Ooooh!”
Stepping down from the carriage, Seo Jae-pil’s eyes lit up at the sight of the critical patients.
Il-mok shook his head.
‘Yeah. I’ve thought it before, but that guy’s the weird one.’
The other physicians weren’t burning with academic fervor like Seo Jae-pil.
“From now on, hold regular consultations and treatments here with Pyeongryang County’s residents. Even the non-severe cases have touched hookweed at some point, so they all have lingering addiction symptoms at minimum.”
After saying that, Il-mok glanced at Gwan Mu-yeol and added.
“Your role will be especially crucial, Officer Gwan. With your similar experiences, talk often with the people who come here and encourage them to break free from their addictions.”
“I will, Eighth... Incarnation of Maitreya.”
Gwan Mu-yeol nearly slipped into his old form of address.
At the sight, Il-mok transmitted a mental message instead of speaking aloud.
- Additionally, since the side effects of the martial art you learned are similar to mine, organize a care system for these severe addicts and draft a proposal. I expect a flawless, airtight plan.
“…….”
Stunned by Il-mok’s words about their similar side effects, Gwan Mu-yeol was at a loss for words.
They were similar, sure. But.
‘I couldn’t overcome mine, so I turned to that crap...?’
Not everyone could whip up a perfect fix like Il-mok.
If he could, he never would’ve succumbed to the side effects and touched the hallucinogenic mushrooms!
‘Ugh. My head’s suddenly...’
After two and a half years of treatment at the Healing Heart Institute, his improved symptoms felt like they might relapse.
While Gwan Mu-yeol suffered from the sudden headache,
“Hahaha. You’ve finally arrived!”
A hearty laugh boomed from behind.
Il-mok turned to see beggars approaching, with the Beggars’ Sect’s rear constable at the center—the one who’d left this place about a month ago.
“Did your trip to the Martial Alliance headquarters and Beggars’ Sect main branch go well?”
At Il-mok’s question, Little So Beggar nodded and replied.
“For now, both the Martial Alliance and Beggars’ Sect have started hunting for traces of that Blood Cult. Based on rumors cropping up across the Central Plains.”
The Central Plains were vast, so all sorts of trivial gossip swirled around everywhere.
In normal times, they ignored anything unconfirmed or without solid circumstantial evidence.
But in the current situation, with the Blood Cult possibly revived, it was different.
“Cross-checking the intel, we found a few places with rumors similar to those from Ghost Valley or Co-op Mountain here. So our Beggars’ Sect beggars and the Martial Alliance’s Hidden Dragon Guards are heading out across the Central Plains to check them first.”
“Most reliable.”
Il-mok grinned broadly.
No need to hold back his smile at news of those Blood Cult trash being hunted.
On top of that.
‘With the Martial Alliance and Beggars’ Sect looking elsewhere, I can move freely for a while.’
He could smile without hiding his inner thoughts.
Seeing that bright smile through the mask, the rear constable laughed heartily too.
“As expected, the Maitreya Illuminated Cult was worried about the suffering masses tormented by the Blood Cult. I figured as much, so I waited here to reassure you. News like this is best delivered in person, right?”
With that, the rear constable rummaged in his clothes as if remembering something. “Ah, right!”
He belatedly pulled out a sheet of paper from inside his garb.
The sight alone screamed sweat and grime, making Il-mok grimace unwittingly.
“And if you spot anyone in Gansu Province who looks like this, catch them for me.”
At Little So Beggar’s words, Il-mok frowned as he examined the sketch.
Whoever it was, they had a ridiculously handsome face.