Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Patient with Madness
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“By the way…”
To change the subject, Cho Ak-ryang posed a different question.
“Why don’t I see your parents?”
Though his medical skills were exceptional, Dan Ak-seon was still a child. Cho Ak-ryang had been inwardly puzzled that a child was living alone so deep in the mountains.
He just hadn’t had the chance to ask.
But seeing Dan Ak-seon's expression suddenly darken, Cho Ak-ryang immediately regretted it.
“They passed away.”
“Oh dear! How did…”
Cho Ak-ryang hastily swallowed his words.
He felt he had asked the wrong thing. The bright and cheerful boy was now completely lost in sorrow.
That sight alone was enough to fill him with guilt.
An awkward silence fell between them.
After some time had passed, Dan Ak-seon, who had been silently continuing the treatment, stored the needles in their case.
“I’ll be back then.”
Dan Ak-seon stepped out of the hut.
Only after Dan Ak-seon had completely disappeared from sight did Cho Ak-ryang let out a long sigh, chiding himself.
“Not only shameless, but tactless too.”
The Blood Hand Honored One, one of the Five Absolutes Under Heaven, was growing deeply troubled by a single change in a young physician’s expression.
* * *
Dan Ak-seon passed through the marketplace and entered an alley lined with old shops.
At the end of the alley stood a shabby apothecary.
It was the shop he had been frequenting for a long time.
“Hello, mister.”
Dan Ak-seon greeted as he entered.
“Oh? Who do we have here?”
A middle-aged man, who was grinding herbs with a mortar, welcomed Dan Ak-seon with a bright face.
“Welcome, Physician Dan.”
“Have you been well?”
“Haha, thanks to you, I’m doing fine. Have you been well?”
The apothecary owner treated Dan Ak-seon without any reserve.
“So-so.”
Dan Ak-seon took out the herbs he had brought and placed them on the table. The owner nodded with a satisfied look.
“The ones you brought this time are all top quality, as always. As promised, I’ll give you a ten percent bonus starting today.”
“Thank you. I’ll take it in herbs instead of money.”
A troubled look appeared on the apothecary owner’s face as he took the paper Dan Ak-seon handed him.
“Realgar and orpiment, and even musk?”
“Is it difficult?”
“The others are fine, but musk will be hard to find. These days, the price of musk is whatever the seller asks.”
“Is it very expensive?”
“Until a few months ago, it was worth its weight in gold, but now, you can’t even get a whiff for that price.”
The apothecary owner gave a bitter smile.
“How about using bezoar instead of musk? You should be able to get a similar effect with that.”
Dan Ak-seon shook his head.
“It won’t achieve the effect I want. Could you please look into it, even just a little? I’ll find a way to get the money.”
“Is that so? Alright. I’ll ask around. But don’t get your hopes up too high.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s to thank? I should be thanking you. Most of the rare herbs sold at my shop are brought by you…”
The apothecary owner raised his hand and pointed to one side.
“The realgar and orpiment are over there, so go take a look. You’re going to pick them yourself anyway, right?”
“Yes!”
Dan Ak-seon answered cheerfully and approached the drawer where the herbs were stored.
Watching him, the apothecary owner smiled warmly.
“You always seem to love going over there.”
“Yes. It reminds me of my mom and dad.”
Dan Ak-seon began to carefully examine the herbs and gather what he needed.
It was then.
A group of people entered the apothecary.
“Is this the town’s physician’s clinic?”
The apothecary owner flinched.
It was because the man who asked the question, as well as the other two with him, were all carrying swords.
With a cowed expression, he answered.
“It’s not quite a clinic, just a simple apothecary. As you can see, it’s a humble village…”
The man, after glancing around the shop, spoke abruptly.
“Have you seen any outsiders recently?”
“Outsiders?”
“He’s likely to be quite seriously injured.”
“No one like that has come here.”
“Is that so? Then is there a clinic or a physician nearby?”
“A physician…”
The apothecary owner unknowingly glanced at Dan Ak-seon. Naturally, the men’s gazes also turned toward him.
The apothecary owner suddenly bellowed.
“That brat is at it again! Hey, you! Those are for sale! They’re not your toys!”
He had belatedly realized his mistake.
The men’s aura was that unsettling.
Fortunately, his quick thinking seemed to work, as the men’s interest in Dan Ak-seon waned.
He was too young.
In their eyes, he probably looked like nothing more than a local kid looking for something to play with.
The man looked back at the apothecary owner.
“If you see a stranger or hear any related rumors, please contact us at the inn. I will reward you handsomely for it. But if you dare to hide him…”
The man let his words trail off.
Instead, a chillingly sharp energy washed over the apothecary owner, whose face turned pale in an instant.
“Mark my words. The man is a villain without peer in this world, and anyone who helps him will be treated the same.”
“Of… of course. I will do as you say.”
At the man’s threat, the apothecary owner nodded, breaking out in a cold sweat.
A short while later, the martial artists left the apothecary.
Watching their retreating backs, Dan Ak-seon muttered quietly.
“Anyone who messes with ordinary people is a bad guy.”
To so openly threaten someone who hadn't even learned martial arts.
It was a stark contrast to Cho Ak-ryang’s behavior.
As Dan Ak-seon gathered the herbs and stood up, the owner spoke to him.
“You saw that just now, right? The village is on edge these days, so you should be careful for a while.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“No, no. This is hardly anything to be concerned about.”
The apothecary owner walked Dan Ak-seon to the door.
“Be careful, again and again. Don’t get mixed up in anything unnecessary.”
After returning to the Divine Demon Valley, Dan Ak-seon went straight to the hut where Cho Ak-ryang was staying.
After explaining what had happened in the village, Dan Ak-seon asked.
“Did they come looking for you, mister?”
“Most likely.”
Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
“They won’t be able to rest until they’ve confirmed my death.”
“Who are those people?”
“They must be from the Martial Alliance.”
Cho Ak-ryang answered calmly.
“Not long ago, they declared they would hunt down and kill me and a few others.”
It had already been four months since they announced the subjugation of the Ten Great Villains. It was an annual event, so he had thought they would just make up some excuse and wrap it up as usual, but he was wrong.
Who would have thought the Arhat Hall Master, the Tang Family Head, and even a Namgung Family Elder would step forward? He had never imagined the Martial Alliance would deploy all its core masters just to kill him.
“The others probably won’t be safe either.”
If even he, the leader of the Ten Great Villains and one of the Five Absolutes Under Heaven, was in this state, what could be said for the others?
“My mom always said that martial artists never change.”
Cho Ak-ryang cast an apologetic look at the sighing Dan Ak-seon.
“Anyway, it seems I’ve caused you trouble.”
Dan Ak-seon smiled and shook his head.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be hard for them to find this place. There’s a formation at the entrance.”
“Are you saying you’ll continue to take risks for my sake?”
“Your treatment isn’t finished yet. I have to treat you at least until you can move on your own.”
“Is there a reason you must do so?”
“Because if it’s not me, the treatment is impossible.”
“Ah…”
Cho Ak-ryang nodded his head.
That was certainly true. Then, a thought occurred to him, and he looked at Dan Ak-seon.
“Would it be alright if I brought one more person here?”
“Is that person also a patient?”
A complex emotion flickered across Cho Ak-ryang’s face.
“A patient is a patient. If we go by symptoms alone, his are far worse than mine.”
“What are the symptoms?”
“He has a madness that makes him lose his mind at the sight of blood.”
Dan Ak-seon’s eyes sparkled.
“Really? That’s a very interesting case.”
“Why are you so pleased?”
“For one, the symptom itself is unusual. I’d like to see it for myself, if possible.”
“But there’s a problem.”
Cho Ak-ryang wore a troubled expression as he looked at the puzzled Dan Ak-seon.
“He is also one of the Ten Great Villains.”
“Like you, mister?”
“He’s different from me. In many ways…”
Dan Ak-seon replied nonchalantly.
“I don’t mind, so please bring him.”
Cho Ak-ryang’s expression brightened.
“Are you sure? If I bring him, it should solve the problem of medicine costs. His hideout has quite a few valuable items.”
“Killing two birds with one stone. But where do we go to find him?”
Cho Ak-ryang waved his hand.
“I’ll bring him myself.”
“But there are many people looking for you, aren’t there?”
“Still, I have to go. He’s not someone who can be persuaded by others.”
Cho Ak-ryang continued his explanation.
“Besides, I can’t endanger you any further.”
“Will you be alright?”
Cho Ak-ryang felt a tickle in his chest.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back within ten days. But…”
After a moment’s hesitation, Cho Ak-ryang spoke with a difficult expression.
“I should tell you beforehand, besides his madness, he’s a bit peculiar.”
“When it comes to being peculiar, can he really top my parents?”
At those words, Cho Ak-ryang burst out laughing.
“Haha. Come to think of it, you’re right. I was worried for nothing. I’ll be off then.”
As Cho Ak-ryang shot up to his feet as soon as he finished speaking, Dan Ak-seon stopped him.
“Wait just a moment.”
Dan Ak-seon quickly went to his own quarters and came back.
“Take this if you feel dizzy.”
Taking the medicine Dan Ak-seon offered, Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
“Don’t worry. Fortunately, his hideout isn’t far from here, so I’ll be back within ten days.”
With those words, Cho Ak-ryang immediately left the hut.
He couldn't use his internal energy, but just being able to walk on his own two feet was a blessing.
If he hadn’t met Dan Ak-seon, even this would have been impossible.
After walking for a long time and leaving the Divine Demon Valley, Cho Ak-ryang suddenly stopped and looked back.
Far in the distance.
He could see Dan Ak-seon, still waving.
It was a warmth he hadn't felt in a very long time.
Five days after leaving the Divine Demon Valley.
Cho Ak-ryang was wandering deep in the mountains.
It was a valley in Geomdan Mountain, aptly named, as it was filled with sharp rocks that looked like upturned swords. Between them, fierce rapids raged, creating whirlpools everywhere.
One false step, and he would be swept away by the current and torn to shreds.
“Hoo.”
Cho Ak-ryang gasped for breath.
Once his internal energy recovered, something like this would be no problem, but right now, his stamina was worse than a common farmer’s.
Even so, he had no time to rest, because it was only a matter of time before the Martial Alliance found this place. Fortunately, there were no signs of their approach yet, but the eyes and ears of their intelligence unit, the Heavenly Ear Corps, would find this place before long.
Cho Ak-ryang ventured deeper into the valley.
After walking for some time.
The scenery before his eyes changed.
In place of the jagged, sharp rocks, a wide gravel field appeared.
The terrain had been artificially altered by a tremendous force.
‘His temper hasn’t changed a bit.’
Cho Ak-ryang sat down on a flat, half-broken rock. Then he opened the cork of the liquor bottle he had brought. The sharp, pungent scent of alcohol rode the wind and filled the valley.
*Thud!*
Before long, with a heavy impact, a man landed beside the rock.
At the same time, a terrifying sound ripped through the air.
*Swoosh.*
“It’s me.”
*Thwump.*
A huge object that had rushed in in an instant stopped right in front of Cho Ak-ryang’s nose.