Chapter 1254
A few days later, Yu Un-ryong returned to Bu Eun-seol with astonishing information.
"The Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove didn't originate as a group of physicians."
The Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove was a healing collective that had emerged among vagrants during an era of endless war and plague.
Unable to obtain proper medical texts or receive instruction from trained physicians,
they had begun treating the vagrants in their own way by any means necessary.
"But their flawed knowledge ended up killing countless people instead... So eventually, they started testing various treatments on animals first, or so it's said."
They cut open the bellies of cows and horses to remove tumors, even extracting and washing internal organs while the animals were still alive before stitching them back up.
In the process, they developed medicinal and acupuncture techniques to suppress pain and infection.
"Through this, they accumulated miraculous medical knowledge, and gradually, they became known as a place where physicians who worked miracles could be found."
—The wandering physicians of the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove cured illnesses other doctors had given up on and saved those who should have died.
As such stories spread,
the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove grew from a vagrant collective into a respected institution within the Medical Community.
Occasionally, some would criticize them, saying those who had once treated dogs and cows were now posing as real physicians.
Their medical arts lacked refinement, and their origins were far from noble.
"But the sheer number of patients they cured was overwhelming, and in the end, results silenced the criticism."
Yu Un-ryong summarized the entire story.
"Afterward, the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove quietly erased all these records and their past. They deceived people into believing they had always been a prestigious medical family."
"So they distorted history and wiped out all remaining records, just like the Three Realms."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
"That's probably when their connection to the Three Realms began."
"Correct."
Yu Un-ryong stroked his chin.
"It would've been impossible for an ordinary medical institution to thoroughly erase all traces of the truth and eliminate everyone who knew about it over such a long period... They would've needed outside help."
The Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove may have begun as part of the Medical Community, but it had clearly merged with the Infinite Realm,
completely erasing its own roots.
"But even if we've traced their origins, that's all we have."
Yu Un-ryong shook his head.
"There's been no word of the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove resurfacing, and we've found no trace of them."
"No."
At that, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"We've found a lead."
"What?"
"Find the one who treats animals."
Having discerned the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's intended meaning, Bu Eun-seol spoke decisively.
"Just as the early Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove once did."
His gaze fixed on Yu Un-ryong, Bu Eun-seol declared firmly,
"That person must be the Mad Doctor."
—Investigate renowned apothecaries in each city of Chengdu and identify those with exceptional medical skills or unusual practices.
Upon receiving Bu Eun-seol's orders, Yu Un-ryong immediately mobilized the Death Soul Squad to begin the investigation.
—If any of them treat animals, report it at once.
Not long after the command was issued, the Death Soul Squad swiftly pinpointed a specific individual.
—There's a physician who doesn't treat people well but miraculously heals injured beasts.
—Beasts?
—Yes. His methods are highly unorthodox—he slices open livestock's bellies or sutures them back together.
The unit member who discovered him explained in detail.
—However, his procedures are so brutal they're nearly impossible to watch... Aside from those seeking treatment for their animals, almost no one visits him.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed.
He could sense it.
That man was the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Grove incarnate—the very Mad Doctor the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had spoken of.
Bu Eun-seol unleashed his Movement Technique
and arrived in an instant at a village surrounded by treacherous mountains, three hundred li away from Chengdu.
As he crossed the mountain path, a shabby hamlet unfolded before his eyes.
Proper houses were few and far between, with most being thatched-roof huts scattered along the dirt road.
At the village entrance, beneath an ancient tree, two old men with flowing white beards sat across from each other, a chessboard between them.
"I have a question."
As Bu Eun-seol approached, the old men scrutinized him from head to toe.
Any village would be wary of outsiders.
Especially elders who had lived long enough to witness all manner of things—their wariness ran deep.
"I heard there's someone here who miraculously heals sick animals. Do you know where he is?"
Truthfully, Bu Eun-seol already had a rough idea of the man's whereabouts.
But he was making inquiries in case there might be rumors about the man or perhaps some new information.
Tsk tsk.
The old men exchanged glances and shook their heads.
They were likely wary upon realizing he was a martial artist.
"Very well."
Bu Eun-seol turned his steps toward the narrow alley at the back of the village.
Inside the alley was a small medicinal herb shop.
As he stepped beneath the worn wooden signboard, the pungent mingled scents of various herbs assaulted his nose.
The dim interior of the shop was lined with drawers densely packed along the walls, each labeled in brushstrokes with names like danggwi (angelica root), cheongung (lovage root), and baekjakyak (white peony root).
Dried bundles of herbs hung from the rafters, and in the corner sat a large mortar and pestle.
Behind the counter, a fifteen-year-old shop assistant was dozing off, his face pockmarked with acne and dressed in shabby clothes.
Swish.
Bu Eun-seol retrieved a silver coin worth about five taels from his sleeve and placed it on his palm.
"W-what's this?"
The assistant gulped as he stared at the silver. This was a small fortune—enough to cover a year's wages.
"I hear there's someone around here who miraculously treats animal ailments. Do you know of him?"
"O-of course, sir!"
"Where is he?"
"Why do you ask—"
Bu Eun-seol gestured to the silver, and the assistant licked his lips before speaking.
"If you head west about twenty ri, you'll reach Cheongsong Forest. Cross through the woods and follow the valley another ten ri uphill—there's a lone thatched hut. No fence, just looks like a big stable..."
Confirmed.
"What kind of man is he?"
"Just a madman who only treats animals. Buys expensive herbs too, no less."
The reason he had stopped in the village to gather information, despite already knowing the location, was simple—
He feared this man might have some connection to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
But from what he heard,
The man had been here for quite some time, and it was clear he truly only treated animals.
"Understood."
Clink.
Setting down the silver, Bu Eun-seol immediately unfolded his Movement Technique.
Cheongsong Forest lived up to its name—a dense expanse of towering blue pines.
Sunlight filtered through the branches in golden spears, and the rustling of pine needles underfoot whispered with each step.
His Lightness Art carried him about ten jang in a single leap, so refined it didn't disturb a single fallen leaf.
Beyond the forest lay a valley.
Jagged rocks jutted from the valley's edges, with a narrow mountain path winding between them.
Most likely an apprentice refining the Mad Doctor's medical arts.
After all, hadn't the Mad Doctor himself preferred cutting and stitching over mere herbs or acupuncture?
Back when Bu Eun-seol was the Ten Demonic Heir,
He had witnessed the man suture multiple severed muscles in a single motion.
Whoosh.
Another ten ri uphill, and the view opened to a wide clearing.
There it is.
What stood there was less a house and more a massive stable-like structure.
The roof was thatched with reeds, the walls crudely woven from logs. No fence enclosed it, leaving it fully exposed to the wind.
The scale was considerable—at least twenty jang wide and fifteen jang deep.
The pillars supporting the roof were thick, unfinished logs, still bearing their rough bark.
Inside, the space was divided into multiple stalls resembling animal pens.
A closer look revealed beasts lying or standing in each—
Oxen, horses, pigs, dogs... even wild animals like deer and roe deer.
Near the entrance, one side held a stacked pile of firewood, while the other displayed an array of tools.
Saws, chisels, hammers—and lined up beside them, blades of varying sizes.
Each tool was meticulously maintained, exuding a cold gleam under the sunlight.
Scrape.
As Bu Eun-seol approached, the sound of something being sliced came from within.
At the center of the stable, atop a wide workbench, a middle-aged man was lancing a boil from an old dog.
The man appeared to be in his fifties.
Standing over six cheok tall, he had broad shoulders and thick forearms.
His salt-and-pepper hair was carelessly tied back, and his rolled-up sleeves were smeared with bloodstains and animal fur.
In his hand was a blade just over a ja long, its edge curved like a crescent moon.
Scritch, scritch.
The man's handiwork was astonishing.
With each movement of the blade, it precisely traced the boundary of the abscess, slicing through flesh and excising the necrotic tissue.
The dog, likely anesthetized, didn't so much as twitch, and the blood flowed down into a split bamboo trough beside the worktable.
As expected.
Bu Eun-seol inwardly let out a sigh of admiration.
His skill was as sharp and refined as that of a master swordsman, as if he had repeated this very task for decades.
Swish.
The blade spun midair before neatly landing in its designated spot among the tools.
At the same time, the man's other hand pressed a hemostatic pad to stop the bleeding, then sprinkled medicinal powder over the wound.
The entire sequence flowed as naturally as water.
"Your skill is remarkable."
Having witnessed the completion of the procedure, Bu Eun-seol deliberately made his presence known and spoke.
The man didn't pause his hands, only turning his head to look at Bu Eun-seol.
His gaze was sharp and cold—
more like a swordsman who had long danced on the boundary between life and death than a mere veterinarian.
"I don't treat humans."
The man's voice was low and rough, as if his vocal cords had rusted from disuse.
"Do I look like a sick man to you?"
"If so, leave. Even the healthy fall ill if they linger near me."
"I don't mind."
Bu Eun-seol was currently in his true appearance.
Though not clad in opulent robes, even a stranger could sense his dragon-like presence.
To facilitate conversation, he let a trace of authority seep into his gaze, along with the faint pulse of his internal energy.
"I do mind."
Yet the middle-aged man merely waved his bloodstained hand dismissively, as if shooing away a neighborhood youth.
"Go. No one here cares if someone drops dead."
This won't be easy.
Even after seeing and sensing Bu Eun-seol's demeanor and energy, the man remained indifferent.
His stubbornness was formidable—
and it wasn't hard to guess that he was the type who would never yield to coercion.
"This stable is spacious enough that one more person standing here shouldn't be an issue."
"I won't allow it."
The man continued suturing the dog's wound.
The fine silk suture threaded in and out of the needle's path—
like the unfolding of an intricate art.
"I have an excellent memory and many uses. Keeping me around wouldn't be a loss."
When Bu Eun-seol stood his ground, the middle-aged man wordlessly moved to another patient.
This time, it was a bull with a broken horn, bleeding profusely.
After swiftly treating it, the man then tended to a horse with a nail embedded in its hoof.
The injury looked severe enough to require amputation, yet the man handled it effortlessly.
Third, fourth... There were far more injured animals inside than expected.
Dogs, cats, pigs, sheep—even a wounded hawk brought in by a hunter.
The man worked in silence, and Bu Eun-seol watched.
Days passed like this.
Scritch, sliiide.
From dawn, the man was already treating another batch of wounded animals.
This stable-like place was well-known, and its fees were dirt cheap, so—
not just locals but people from all over the Bu Estate kept bringing in injured creatures.
The animals' conditions were always critical, forcing the man to work without rest.
And Bu Eun-seol, as if entranced—
remained silent, observing the man's every move.
Thud. Groan.
But then, a strange noise came from the opposite pen.
The influx of patients had grown beyond what one man could handle.
"Hmm."
Unable to ignore it, Bu Eun-seol approached and found a dog whimpering from an infected wound.
A fist-sized abscess festered on its back, oozing pus—untreated for days.
"No choice, then."
Spare blades lay beside the worktable.
Rolling up his sleeves, Bu Eun-seol picked one up.
Testing its weight and balance, he noted it was forged from decent steel.
"Good."
Recalling the techniques he'd glimpsed over the man's shoulder, Bu Eun-seol took a steadying breath.
Then, stepping toward the dog—
he gripped the hilt between thumb and forefinger, applying no excess force but ensuring the blade wouldn't slip.
Scritch.
The tip pierced the skin surrounding the abscess.
The dog snarled, and only then did Bu Eun-seol realize—
he'd forgotten to use anesthetic powder.
He quickly retrieved the vial of anesthetic and held it up to the dog's nose.
Once the dog's breathing steadied, he—
—identified the boundary between healthy and necrotic tissue, then tilted the blade slightly to make a shallow incision along that line.
The depth, just like the middle-aged man had done, did not exceed two fen.
Squelch.
Pus and blood burst forth.
Bu Eun-seol swiftly wiped it away with a nearby cloth, then used the tip of the blade to completely excise the abscess sac.
Having stitched up countless corpses, Bu Eun-seol's suturing skills were no less refined than the man's.
The spacing of each stitch was precise, leaving no gaps—each one even and flawless.
"Hmm."
At some point, the middle-aged man had returned, watching Bu Eun-seol work.
The blue robe was already stained with blood and pus.
His hands were sticky, and the stench of decay clung to his clothes, but Bu Eun-seol paid it no mind as he continued suturing the wound.
"Not bad."
The man turned away as he spoke.
"At that level, you could stay here and treat the animals' wounds without issue."
By the time the sun hung low over the western mountains, the last of the animals had finally been treated.
The stable floor was slick with blood and water, and in the corner, a pile of excised rotten flesh and abscesses had accumulated.
The foul stench stabbed at his nostrils, but Bu Eun-seol didn't so much as wrinkle his nose.
Splash.
The middle-aged man went to a large water basin and washed his hands.
His movements were silent and methodical as he scooped water with a gourd dipper, scrubbing away the grime.
Bu Eun-seol, too, rinsed the blood and filth from his hands with clean water.
A long silence stretched between them.
"Were you a physician?"
The middle-aged man finally asked, as though unable to suppress his curiosity.
"Your suturing is skilled, and even butchers would recoil at that stench."
"An undertaker."
Bu Eun-seol answered flatly.
"I can stitch and suture wounds far better than any executioner."
"So it seems."
The cold edge in his voice had softened slightly.
"Follow me."
At one side of the stable was a small kitchen.
The man lit a fire in the earthen stove and placed an iron kettle over the flames.
Soon, steam curled upward in wisps.
He retrieved two roughly made ceramic teacups, set them on the table, and poured hot water from the kettle.
Inside the cups, a few dried chrysanthemum blossoms floated to the surface.
"Drink."
The two sat facing each other.
With the teacups between them, neither spoke for a long while.
Outside, the evening wind rustled through the thatched roof, whispering against the reeds.
"What do you want?"
At the man's question, Bu Eun-seol lifted his cup and took a sip.
"I'm looking for the Mad Doctor."
"The Mad Doctor?"
"Yes."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with utmost sincerity.
"I need to save someone whose skin and organs are rotting away."
"Why save them?"
Bu Eun-seol hesitated briefly before answering.
"Once, I had comrades who trained with me. Afterward, we had to fight to the death just to survive."
It was a story he had buried deep within himself, never shared with anyone.
"And I realized too late—those who survived that hell were the only ones in this world who truly... understood me."
Setting down his cup, Bu Eun-seol spoke with quiet embarrassment.
"They were my rivals... and my friends."
"Rivals... and friends."
The middle-aged man's eyes narrowed imperceptibly.
It was as if he were contemplating something—or perhaps remembering the past.
"Very well."
After a long silence, the man nodded.
"You seem capable of solving it."
"Solving what?"
"Two challenges."
The man's voice was low.
"Solve them, and I'll tell you where the Mad Doctor is."
"Name them."
"First—bring me the Fantasy Egg held by the Poison Lightning Daoist."
Bu Eun-seol frowned.
Poison Lightning Daoist... and Fantasy Egg.
Those two words carried an absurd tale.
The Poison Lightning Daoist was once one of the Ten Great Poison Masters, the most skilled poison users in the martial world.
Then, for reasons unknown, he became a madman who believed he was hatching an egg that didn't exist.
He crouched in his Poison Valley day and night, guarding it as if incubating something.
Concerned acquaintances tried to retrieve him, but the Poison Lightning Daoist would rage, screaming, "They're trying to steal my egg!"—and each time, he would melt the surrounding ten li into a wasteland of poison.
Eventually, everyone gave up on him.
And so, the Poison Lightning Daoist remained in his valley, still "hatching" his egg.
As for the Fantasy Egg—
It was the mocking name martial artists gave to the nonexistent egg the madman guarded.