Chapter 35
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Martial Alliance's Request
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The next morning.
Pung Jin-seong cautiously tried to wake Dan Ak-seon.
“Lord of the Valley, are you awake?”
He waited for a while, but no answer came from within the room.
“Lord of the Valley?”
Just in case, Pung Jin-seong opened the door. The moment he did, several pairs of eyes shot toward him.
Three people sat cross-legged.
In the center, Dan Ak-seon was placing needles with a look of intense concentration.
*Drip.*
A bead of sweat trickling down Dan Ak-seon’s face formed at the tip of his chin and fell to the floor. Pung Jin-seong then noticed that the floor beneath Dan Ak-seon’s feet was already soaked with sweat.
Pung Jin-seong carefully closed the door, making sure not to make a sound.
He knew how much mental energy such deep focus consumed.
How much time had passed?
“Hahh…”
Having finished the treatment, Dan Ak-seon let out a long sigh. He then noticed Pung Jin-seong and offered a smile.
“You’re here?”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Pung Jin-seong smiled and looked at the three people undergoing treatment.
“May I take a look?”
Dan Ak-seon readily nodded. After confirming the positions of the needles in their bodies, Pung Jin-seong looked at Dan Ak-seon with a startled expression.
“Are you… combining the acupuncture techniques of both masters?”
“I’ve been researching it for a long time, but I’ve only recently started seeing results.”
An unmistakable look of admiration appeared in Pung Jin-seong’s eyes.
“I thought it was only possible in theory…”
Pung Jin-seong, who had been carefully observing the location, depth, and type of needles, soon let out a hollow laugh.
“As I thought, this is an acupuncture technique only possible in theory.”
“What? That can’t be. It’s clearly having the proper effect, isn’t it? There haven’t been any particular side effects yet.”
At Dan Ak-seon’s words, Pung Jin-seong gave a bitter smile.
“Who besides you, my Lord, could even attempt such a thing? That’s why I said it’s only possible in theory. Even I wouldn’t dare.”
Pung Jin-seong pointed to a needle placed in the back of Beom Gye-wi’s neck.
“If this needle went just half a fraction deeper, he’d be paralyzed from the waist down.”
“...!”
Beom Gye-wi’s eyes wavered.
“This one, if it shakes even a little, he’ll go deaf.”
At Pung Jin-seong’s words, pointing to a pressure point somewhere on his body, Cho Ak-ryang’s face turned pale.
Pung Jin-seong didn’t stop there and turned to Han Seol-hwa.
“This is truly dangerous! The slightest mistake would cause blindness… My hands would tremble too much to even attempt it.”
Even Han Seol-hwa, who rarely showed emotion, had a slight twitch at the corner of her eye.
Dan Ak-seon turned and shouted firmly.
“Don’t move!”
At his cry, which carried a strange sense of authority, the three desperately tried to steady their trembling hearts. Once they had regained their composure, Dan Ak-seon looked at Pung Jin-seong and asked.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
Pung Jin-seong took a letter from his robes.
“A message just arrived from the Martial Alliance.”
“The Martial Alliance?”
“Yes.”
Nodding, Pung Jin-seong continued with a worried expression.
“It seems we must hurry.”
“Has the patient’s condition worsened?”
Pung Jin-seong nodded.
“Yes. To the point where the Alliance Leader himself sent a letter.”
* * *
Not long after crossing the border of Shaanxi Province, the group passed through Junxian in Hubei Province.
“Ah, what a shame. I really wanted to see Wudang Mountain.”
Dan Ak-seon kept looking out of the carriage with a wistful expression.
Wudang Mountain, the sacred mountain of Taoism, located south of Junxian.
From its seventy-two peaks and twenty-six rocky crags to its ancient pavilions steeped in history and stories, every part of it was famous.
But what made Wudang Mountain most famous was something else.
It was because the Wudang Sect, one of the pillars supporting the orthodox factions alongside the northern Shaolin Temple, was based there.
However, they had to pass by Wudang Mountain.
They had chosen the fastest route to Wuhan.
After several days of non-stop travel, they finally arrived in Wuhan.
“We arrived sooner than I thought.”
Dan Ak-seon, who had stuck his head out of the carriage to admire the streets, tilted his head in confusion.
Unlike the many cities they had passed through, a strange atmosphere flowed through the streets.
For one, there was no life in people’s eyes.
Instead of the characteristic vibrancy of a large city, a heavy, stifling air seemed to press down on the entire city.
Reading Dan Ak-seon’s expression, Cho Ak-ryang spoke up.
“Wuhan used to be more vibrant than any other city. But things changed when the Martial Alliance put down roots here.”
Wuhan is a strategic point where two great rivers, the Yangtze and the Han, converge.
Connecting Shanghai and Chongqing from east to west, and Beijing and Guangzhou from north to south, it was known since ancient times as the “Thoroughfare of Nine Provinces” for its access to nine different provinces.
This was also why the Martial Alliance established its headquarters in Wuhan.
It was convenient for quickly gathering information and allowed for effective responses to problems arising throughout the central plains through rapid deployment of personnel.
“The first thing those bastards did when they settled in Wuhan was to push out the Yangtze River Waterway Federation.”
Dan Ak-seon recalled a story he had heard long ago.
“The Yangtze River Waterway Federation… you mean the coalition of river pirates?”
Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
“Thanks to them, a significant number of water fortresses, including the Giant Whale Gang, lost their bases and retreated. But after regrouping, they blocked the waterways on both sides. As a result, innocent merchants are the ones dying.”
“Isn’t the current Alliance Leader from the Namgung Family?”
At Beom Gye-wi’s question, Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
“The once noble Azure Sky Namgung has long since degenerated into a viper’s nest. The Alliance Leader is a black-hearted old fox himself.”
“Will we be able to stand the sight of his face?”
The two of them were men who would grind their teeth in their sleep at the mere mention of the Martial Alliance.
“We have to. For Doctor Dan’s sake.”
As they spoke, the carriage began to slow.
“Is Lord Pung of the House of Jinseong traveling with you?”
Pung Jin-seong stepped out of the carriage.
A group of warriors lined up outside the carriage saluted Pung Jin-seong with cupped fists. The middle-aged man in scholar’s attire at the front of the group approached him.
“It has been a while. I’m not sure if you remember, but we met at the Alliance Leader’s birthday celebration. My name is Hwangbo Seung.”
“Ah! Yes, I remember. The Hall Master of Guest Affairs of the Martial Alliance, what brings you all the way out here…?”
“On the Alliance Leader’s special orders, I have been waiting here for you for the past three days.”
Just as he said, the middle-aged man who introduced himself as Hwangbo Seung looked extremely haggard and exhausted.
“Time is short, so we will escort you directly.”
Without even a moment to introduce the rest of the party, warriors from the Hall of Guest Affairs surrounded the carriage. They were able to enter the Martial Alliance headquarters without any delay, as people quickly made way for the carriage escorted by the Alliance’s warriors.
“To think that we, of all people, would be welcomed onto the grounds of the Martial Alliance.”
Cho Ak-ryang let out a smirk, finding the situation absurd himself.
“The Alliance Leader is waiting in the Hall of Manifesting Righteousness.”
At the voice of the Hall Master coming from outside the carriage, Dan Ak-seon spoke to Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.
“Uncles, you really have to behave yourselves.”
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi forced a smile and nodded.
Soon, the party disembarked from the carriage.
Looking around, Cho Ak-ryang gritted his teeth so hard they might shatter. Beom Gye-wi, too, had a twitching eye as he struggled to maintain the forced smile on his face.
This bastard, that bastard.
Everywhere he looked, the place was teeming with people he wanted to kill.
That was how deep-rooted their hostility towards the Martial Alliance was.
* * *
“What a load of crap.”
Following the Hall Master of Guest Affairs, Hwangbo Seung, into the Hall of Manifesting Righteousness, Cho Ak-ryang couldn’t help but curse under his breath.
In the center of the hall.
It was because of the words ‘Shatter Evil and Reveal Righteousness,’ written in magnificent calligraphy.
“Welcome.”
A middle-aged man sitting in a grand chair rose to greet the party. The moment they saw his face, Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi had to draw upon their innate energy just to suppress the boiling killing intent.
He was the leader of the Martial Alliance, Namgung Baek.
He was the very man who had united the Five Great Families during the chaotic period of the Great War between Justice and Evil, which had nearly ended in mutual destruction, and established the current Martial Alliance.
Namgung Baek slowly rose from his seat and approached the group.
“This junior from the Namgung family pays his respects to the Grand Immortal Fairy.”
He then bowed respectfully to Han Seol-hwa.
A letter from Huashan had informed him that she was traveling with Pung Jin-seong. Although he feigned composure, a hint of bewilderment was visible on his face as he straightened up.
Fortunately, Han Seol-hwa did not seem bothered by the title and simply nodded.
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi looked at Han Seol-hwa with peculiar expressions.
How many people in the world today could receive such a courteous greeting from the leader of the Martial Alliance?
“What?”
The two hastily averted their gazes, feigning nonchalance.
“I will greet the Grand Immortal Fairy again in a moment.”
Namgung Baek immediately grasped Pung Jin-seong’s hands.
“Thank you for coming all this way despite the distance, in response to the request of this inadequate man. Before being the leader of the Alliance, I am also a father. I cannot tell you how much your visit means to me.”
“Not at all. As a physician, it is my duty to come. I only regret not being able to arrive sooner.”
Pung Jin-seong turned his head to introduce Dan Ak-seon, who was standing behind him.
“Ah, this is…”
“I know. The young man who inherited the legacy of the Divine Physician, I presume?”
Namgung Baek bowed respectfully and said.
“Welcome to Wuhan.”
It was a polite greeting, but it did not escape Cho Ak-ryang’s experienced eyes. For a fleeting moment, he had caught a flicker of disappointment in Namgung Baek’s gaze.
Namgung Baek took Pung Jin-seong by the hand and led him out of the hall.
“First, please examine my child’s condition.”
Watching Namgung Baek, Dan Ak-seon thought he was different from the rumors. He had expected an extremely cold and authoritarian figure, but his current demeanor seemed very unassuming.
Following Namgung Baek’s lead, the group moved to a separate building.
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi deliberately kept their distance, trailing far behind. Their actions made it painfully obvious how much they loathed being near Namgung Baek.
“I’m a bit of a face reader, and guys like him always cause big trouble. Like the leader of those demons who disappeared from the Qilian Mountains.”
At Cho Ak-ryang’s words, Beom Gye-wi tilted his head.
“You mean the Heavenly Demon?”
“Yes. The Heavenly Demon, Jong Yeo-ui. He looked just like that bastard.”
Cho Ak-ryang glared at Namgung Baek, who was walking ahead.
“That’s why that bastard struts around like he owns the world.”
Beom Gye-wi, who had been deep in thought, suddenly spoke.
“Come to think of it, for some reason, faces like that don’t seem to get along with me.”
“Faces like that?”
Just as Cho Ak-ryang was wondering if Beom Gye-wi was interested in face reading.
“They’re handsome.”
Cho Ak-ryang snorted.
“If that’s the reason, who would get along with you?”
“Still, I get along quite well with you, Brother Cho.”
“Me?”
Thinking about it, Cho Ak-ryang’s mood suddenly soured.
“Are you saying I’m ugly?”
Beom Gye-wi neither confirmed nor denied it.
That only irritated Cho Ak-ryang more. Just as he was about to retort, he felt a frosty gaze silently fall upon them.
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi shut their mouths.
Han Seol-hwa, who had been walking ahead, had turned to look at them.
“…”
“…”
The group eventually arrived at a detached house in the backyard of the Martial Alliance headquarters.
As Dan Ak-seon stepped inside the house, his expression grew heavy.
She couldn’t have been more than fifteen or sixteen.
The complexion of the woman lying on the bed, enduring her pain, was as pale as a sheet of paper. A distinct bluish tint stood out between her furrowed brows, and the skin under her eyes was so dark it was almost blackish-red. Her arm, peeking out from under the blanket, was so thin it looked like a dry twig.
Furthermore, her entire body was covered in a reddish rash, and despite being under several layers of blankets, she was curled up and trembling as if chilled to the bone.
Two physicians were already by her bedside, but they seemed completely helpless.
“What in the world is going on?”
At Namgung Baek’s words, the physicians answered with trembling voices.
“Her condition took a sudden turn for the worse just a moment ago. We have tried every possible method, but there is no improvement…”
Meeting the blazing blue fire that erupted from Namgung Baek’s eyes, the physicians’ faces turned deathly pale.
Suddenly, Dan Ak-seon stepped forward and abruptly threw off the blankets.
“What are you doing?!”
The physicians, startled, tried to stop Dan Ak-seon.