Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Priceless Treasure (1)
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With the Blood Demon Division fleeing, the threat to the Living Immortal Medical House had finally ended.
Sima Geon and Cheol Woo returned to Dragon Star Escort Agency carrying the unconscious Noe Jeon on their backs.
The people from the Living Immortal Medical House, especially Hwang Yeong whom they were acquainted with, expressed their gratitude for the help and invited them to stay, but Sima Geon politely declined.
If Noe Jeon's condition had been so dire that his life hung in the balance, he would have accepted the invitation for the sake of treatment. But Noe Jeon's state wasn't critical enough to require immediate action, and Sima Geon didn't want to burden the Living Immortal Medical House further after all the hardship they'd already endured because of Noe Jeon.
He did accept Hwang Yeong's kind offer to assist with Noe Jeon's treatment. After all, they needed a physician's help in this situation.
"How is he?"
Sima Geon asked Hwang Yeong as she finished examining Noe Jeon and stepped back.
"I've applied medicine to his external wounds, so they shouldn't get worse. His qi is quite damaged, but thanks to your young master's skillful intervention, he made it through the danger safely."
Hwang Yeong credited Sima Geon, who had poured his own qi into Noe Jeon multiple times to aid his treatment rather than herself. But Sima Geon knew full well that without her exquisite acupuncture, Noe Jeon's condition wouldn't have improved so readily.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, this guy pulled through."
"No, on the contrary, it was thanks to Young Master Sima's help that our house overcame such a great peril."
Hwang Yeong expressed her sincere gratitude once more. Watching her, a wry smile briefly flickered across Sima Geon's lips before vanishing.
Her speech and demeanor felt subtly different from when they'd met in Soheung before.
And she wasn't the only one.
Yu Sa Ha and Gok Ja Yu, who still guarded her side just as they had in Soheung, also showed a clear change in attitude from before. It wasn't outright hostility, but there was a distinct sense of wariness. Sima Geon could easily guess the reason.
'Come to think of it, it's impressive they treated him even after learning he's from the Demon Cult.'
Of course, going beyond treatment to stake the fate of their house on it was something beyond his comprehension.
"But what brings you all the way here? Has something happened to young Lady Sima?"
"No. I set out to gather medicine for my youngest sister's illness and was on my way back to Soheung. When I heard the Living Immortal Medical House was being persecuted by the Heavenly Demon Cult, I couldn't just stand by."
Sima Geon glanced at Noe Jeon, who still hadn't regained consciousness. Though his awareness hadn't returned, his breathing was steady, and his complexion peaceful.
"I never imagined this guy would be the one being chased. I naturally assumed the opposite."
"It seems the internal affairs of the Demon Cult are in quite a mess."
Yu Sa Ha remarked with a sarcastic edge.
Gok Ja Yu nudged his side as if to warn him, but Yu Sa Ha paid it no mind.
As a frown creased Cheol Woo's brow, Sima Geon quietly shook his head and let out a light laugh to brush it off.
"It's been a while since I left, so I don't know the exact details, but something has definitely gone wrong."
Sensing the atmosphere turning awkward, Hwang Yeong deftly changed the subject.
"Did you obtain the medicine you were seeking?"
"Yes, we did."
"I don't know what medicine it is, but as you know, Lady Sima's condition is..."
Worried she might be harboring false hope, Hwang Yeong spoke cautiously, but Cheol Woo cut in.
"Keh heh heh! We got the Great Reversion Pill."
"Pardon?"
Hwang Yeong blinked in confusion.
"We got the Great Reversion Pill, I said."
Hwang Yeong didn't know how to respond.
From Cheol Woo's triumphant expression and Sima Geon's calm demeanor, it seemed they really had obtained it, but doubt lingered. The Shaolin Temple's Great Reversion Pill wasn't something you could just acquire on a whim.
Suddenly, the morning's battle with the Heavenly Demon Cult flashed in her mind.
Sima Geon had overwhelmed with his prowess, effortlessly defeating the Black-Clothed Venerable—one whom even the Thunderclap Demon Emperor Noe Jeon Byok Su and South Heaven High Sword Namgung Gyeong couldn't handle—like twisting a child's arm.
Cheol Woo's martial arts were equally terrifying, sweeping away the Blood Demon Division—each member at the level of a first-rate master—like fallen leaves in the wind.
Recalling their skills naturally led to one assumption.
"Did you... attack the Shaolin Temple and take it by force?"
Hwang Yeong asked in an unintentionally accusatory tone.
"What?"
Cheol Woo's face, beaming with pride, twisted in offense.
"If not, how else could you have gotten the Great Reversion Pill...? I know even Shaolin has almost none left. No matter how urgent, they would never hand it over."
Disappointment filled Hwang Yeong's words.
"To be honest, we did go to Shaolin with that intention. Desperation to save my sister at any cost. But fortunately, there was no major clash."
Sima Geon's explanation didn't dispel her suspicions.
As Hwang Yeong's expression remained stern, Sima Geon's tone cooled slightly.
"The Damo Abbot, taking pity on our circumstances, gave me their last Great Reversion Pill. Ah, but I don't mean we got it for nothing. We agreed to pay an equivalent price."
Sima Geon hinted obliquely at some deal with the Damo Abbot, but it only fueled her distrust.
"The Damo Abbot gave it to you? That's strange. Our house has considerable ties with Shaolin. From what I recall, the disposition of the Great Reversion Pill is decided solely by the Abbot after consulting the elders. And I've never heard of Shaolin selling one for any price."
"If you can't believe it, there's nothing to be done. I have no way to prove it right now. Even if I did, would you believe the word of a Demon Cultist from the Heavenly Demon Cult?"
Hwang Yeong flinched at Sima Geon's self-deprecating words.
It wasn't from any aura or killing intent emanating from him.
Rather, the moment she learned Sima Geon and Cheol Woo were from the Demon Cult, she wondered if she'd unconsciously formed prejudices.
"I thought you'd be relieved we obtained it, regardless of how."
"I..."
"No matter. I understand completely. But shouldn't you be heading back now? You seem to have quite a few injured today. We can take care of this guy just fine."
It wasn't overt, but it was clearly a dismissal.
Hwang Yeong hesitated several times as if to say something, but ultimately held back.
"Thank you again on behalf of our house for what happened today."
"No need. It all stemmed from protecting this guy. I should be the one thanking you."
After an awkward farewell, Hwang Yeong stepped out but suddenly halted. They'd only discussed how they obtained the Great Reversion Pill, not the crucial matter of how to use it to treat Sima Jin.
Hwang Yeong didn't turn back.
She sensed from Sima Geon's cold attitude that he was quite angry. She judged it better to give it some time rather than force a talk now.
Given Noe Jeon's condition, they couldn't leave in a day or two anyway, and discussing Sima Jin's treatment would provide ample chance to make amends for today's mistake.
"That pisses me off more than I thought."
Once Hwang Yeong and her group were completely gone, Cheol Woo vented his irritation.
"What?"
"I knew Demon Cultists aren't welcome, but still. Pretty face gets a pass. Jumping straight to suspicion. We didn't go rob the place or anything..."
As he spoke, realizing something odd, Cheol Woo tilted his head and burst into a smirk.
"Heh heh heh! Come to think of it, not entirely wrong. Things worked out, but it could've been worse than robbery. The old monk read the room right, or it'd have blown up."
"So what now? They won't even believe we succeeded."
"What if we can't even get help from Clear Heart Clinic? The Living Immortal Medical House might pull some strings."
"They harbor resentment toward the Demon Cult, but they won't abandon a patient. This mess happened while they were treating Noe Jeon. Even if, the Clear Heart Clinic head isn't the type."
"Can't be sure... Hey, when did you wake up?"
Cheol Woo's large eyes turned to Noe Jeon lying there.
"Just now. Felt like deep sleep for ages, but thunder crashing everywhere made my head ring and eyes pop open. Wasn't thunder—it was the division leader's voice."
"Crazy bastard. Spouting nonsense right after waking? Looks like you're fine."
"Not the thing to say to a patient."
"Wanna be a proper patient?"
Cheol Woo rolled up his sleeves menacingly, but Noe Jeon ignored it. He even shoved his head forward as if daring him.
Watching their bickering, Sima Geon spoke up.
"What exactly happened? I heard rumors, but honestly, no clue."
Noe Jeon, who had been lying down, propped himself up. Sima Geon gestured it was fine, but he forced himself upright anyway.
"There was a rebellion."
"Rebellion?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Do you remember the Blood Demon Division Leader, Gwan Ung?"
At the name Gwan Ung, Sima Geon's gaze shifted to Cheol Woo, who shrugged as if to say 'knew it.'
"Not well, but I know who. Talked about him with Cheol Woo once. When I dropped the name to the Black-Clothed Venerable earlier, he freaked."
"That's the one who started the rebellion."
"Doesn't seem like the Blood Demon Division alone would pull that off. Who exactly sided with him?"
"Well, the Wind Demon Division and Forward Demon Division..."
"Forward Demon Division? Those bastards betrayed us?"
Shocked, Cheol Woo's eyes widened round.
"Yes. Not certain, but I heard the Forward Demon Division Leader pulled his men in early."
"Ha! Blood Flame Do Cheol. Never liked that guy from the start."
Cheol Woo growled with murderous eyes.
"Not just them. Excluding the Sky Guard Unit that protects the Cult Leader, virtually everyone turned. Even the Military Affairs Department was taken."
"Military Affairs Department too?"
Sima Geon asked in surprise.
The Forward Demon Division—whose loyalty to the Cult Leader was unmatched—turning was unexpected enough, but the Military Affairs Department falling stunned him more.
Sima Geon held Military Officer Gwan Jong's abilities in high regard. To the point he'd considered him the most likely successor to the Heavenly Demon Cult despite his frail health.
"If the Military Affairs Department was already compromised, resistance was impossible."
"Yes. By the time the Military Officer caught on, it was all over."
"What about the elders? Sure, traitors among the rabble, but the Elder Council and Elder Hall aren't pushovers."
Cheol Woo asked, recalling the Black-Clothed Venerable.
"No. From what the Black-Clothed Venerable said, doesn't seem so. He seemed to view Gwan Ung as the true successor to the Heavenly Demon Ancestor. If he did, likely the other elders too."
"Right. Most of them flipped. A few resisted, but they were eliminated beforehand. Oh, right. Division Leader, remember the North Heaven Sword Demon?"
"Of course. Why that old coot?"
Cheol Woo's expression changed at the North Heaven Sword Demon, with whom he had an old grudge.
"He sided with Gwan Ung."
"Recovered, you say? Weird. Got wrecked by the old boss and turned cripple."
"Didn't confirm that far, but probably not. No point dragging a cripple around."
"Perfect. Been wanting to meet him someday."
Cheol Woo cracked his knuckles, brimming with fighting spirit.
"Sensing the crisis, the Military Officer entrusted the Divine Relic to the Divine Demon Division."
Noe Jeon looked around, and Cheol Woo pulled a neatly folded bundle of clothes from the side.
"This what you're after?"
"Yes."
Noe Jeon snatched it and reached into his robe, pulling out an object wrapped tightly in silk. It was what he'd tried to hand Sima Geon before passing out.
"Take it, Division Leader. The Military Officer—no, the Cult Leader—said to deliver this to you."
Noe Jeon held it out reverently with both hands.
Sima Geon stared silently at the pouch before sighing and accepting it.
The silk peeled away, revealing an iron orb about a handspan in size.