Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: The Boy's Determination
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The Pavilion Master came charging at me, huffing and puffing, and started berating me.
"You bastard! Are you truly insane?! I clearly told you not to set foot anywhere near the special care ward!"
"Pardon?"
"If you hadn't gone there, San would still be here...!"
"T-Teacher did nothing wrong... G-Grandpa...!"
A small boy wriggled forward to block me. Knowing his name, I hesitantly asked,
"San. Do you know the Pavilion Master?"
"H-He's my grandpa...!"
The child who had joined us not long ago.
I knew nothing about him except his name was San...
"Mo Yong-san?"
Who could have guessed.
That such a frail child was from the Mo Yong family.
Mo Yong-hwi clutched the back of his neck.
"S-San... That sweet child... daring to defy me like this...?!"
"T-Teacher did nothing wrong! I-I begged him to help me get healthy, and he just taught me how to overcome it!"
"S-San! What you need is rest! No training! It'll only make your body worse...!"
"B-But still..."
Mo Yong-san said, his voice choking with tears.
"I-I hate being locked in that room even more... I hate it..."
"You...!"
Mo Yong-hwi strode forward.
"You don't understand! Come back! Right now!"
"N-No..."
"He said no...!"
Su-a, who had been swinging her wooden sword vigorously, barged in. She squeezed between them, grunting as she pushed Mo Yong-hwi away.
"He said no! S-Stop it!"
"Out of my way! Move this instant!"
"N-No...! I'm not moving!"
Na-rin and Gwang-yang whispered to each other.
"Look at that stubbornness. Against the Pavilion Master himself... She's really not his biological daughter?"
"Don't you think so too, sis?"
"......"
I shot a glance at the two cracking jokes in this situation, then placed a hand on the Pavilion Master's body.
"Pavilion Master. The children are watching."
"Don't try to stop...!"
"Pavilion Master. Retract your energy."
".......?!"
As if realizing he had unconsciously released his aura, Mo Yong-hwi hurriedly reined it in.
Mo Yong-san, who had been trembling violently, let out a sharp cry.
"I-I hate Grandpa!"
"Wha-what?!"
"I really hate you!"
Mo Yong-san bolted away. Su-a hurriedly chased after him.
I signaled to Na-rin and Gwang-yang.
"Take care of Su-a."
"Kids, come on!"
"Don't go too far! Miss!"
I forcibly lifted the despairing Pavilion Master and sat him down beside me before fetching some water.
I quietly addressed the students sneaking glances.
"Finish what you were doing."
"Y-Yes!"
As training resumed, I asked the Pavilion Master, whose shoulders slumped.
"What in the world is going on?"
"......."
The Pavilion Master took a sip of water and sighed. With a face aged ten years, he muttered,
"...Did you really not call San over?"
"He started hovering around hesitantly one day, so I taught him what I could. Nothing excessive, so no need to worry."
Mo Yong-san.
The moment I touched the boy's body, I realized.
The state he was in, right on the verge of breaking down.
"Wouldn't it be strange to push a child born with Nine Yin Severed Meridians too hard?"
"How do you know about that?!"
"There was something off with his body. A simple pulse check revealed it. His channels are severed, causing parts of his body to stiffen... It's obvious."
Severed Meridians.
Where the channels are cut, leading to abnormalities in the body.
Something I had read about in a book studied with the First Demon. First time seeing it in person, though.
From his hunched back to his emaciated frame from poor eating. Mo Yong-san's internals were indescribably wretched, with no muscle attaching to his body, making him stagger constantly.
His condition was so dire it was a miracle he was alive.
Without the mysterious yang energy protecting his twisted frame, he probably couldn't even walk.
Normally, I shouldn't have let him train at all. But Mo Yong-san's eyes were so desperate I couldn't help it.
I saw how much he wanted to fit in with the others...
So I taught him ways to move without strain.
"D-Do you know much about Severed Meridian Syndrome...? Do you know a way to cure it?!"
"I'm no physician, Pavilion Master."
"...I suppose not..."
The Pavilion Master covered his face.
"...Pretend you didn't see my behavior just now. I... I got too worked up. Sorry. Who would've thought San would sneak out of the special care ward on his own. I even expanded the interior to prevent stuffiness... But space wasn't the issue. It was the people."
"......"
"Sorry, Red Cloud. I'll make sure this doesn't happen again... But if San sneaks out again, could you give me a heads-up?"
"You're not going to stop him?"
"Didn't you see how much he craves company? Forcing him won't solve anything. Just teach him light imitation training. Nothing strenuous."
The Pavilion Master stood.
"...I'll repay you separately. I leave it to you."
"Pavilion Master. Those with Severed Meridian Syndrome have very short lifespans."
"I know."
"Moreover, San's condition is poor. At this rate..."
"It's fine. There's a way to supplement it. The Murim Alliance Leader periodically brings me spirit pills with yang energy to counter the massive yin of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians."
The Pavilion Master placed a hand on my shoulder.
"...Actually..."
He muttered,
"The Murim Alliance Leader ordered me to monitor you. But... I can't surveil the teacher of my only grandson. I'll write a moderate report. Take it easy and recuperate. I'll note that there's no issue."
"......"
"I misjudged you. I don't know your motives, but your heart is full of goodwill. Opening this secret classroom without reward proves it. Keep it up, just as you have."
The Pavilion Master walked away. I stared at his retreating steps before speaking.
It wasn't certain. But if done right...
It might be possible.
Because I have a being of pure yin energy by my side since birth.
"Pavilion Master."
"More to say?"
"I might be able to cure that child."
"...What?"
"However..."
I placed my hand on the Ghost Sword Baek-ya.
"You'll have to trust me completely."
"......!"
...
"San."
Su-a panted as she followed the boy ahead.
His legs were slow. After just a short sprint, he was gasping heavily, as if his health was poor.
"He'll die at this rate, sis."
"Let's watch for now."
Su-a scurried up and stood beside Mo Yong-san, supporting his arm.
He was small. Smaller and frailer than her. And his body was strangely cold.
"You okay?"
"...L-Let... go..."
Su-a gently released his arm. Mo Yong-san collapsed and tears dripped down.
"G-Grandpa... why..."
Su-a recalled.
The grandfather's back she had seen moments ago.
It was trembling faintly. From the shoulders, as if drained of strength, on the verge of collapse.
Su-a pulled a cloth from her bosom and gently wiped the beads of sweat on Mo Yong-san's forehead.
She asked again.
"You okay? Wanna go back?"
"...No. If I go back... I'll have to be with Grandpa again."
"You hate Grandpa?"
"N-No... not exactly..."
Mo Yong-san stared blankly at the ground.
"Being with Grandpa feels suffocating. He won't let me do anything. I just... want to walk... see lots of places... but he always says no..."
"For real? He's a bad grandpa."
"R-Right?! You think so too?"
"Yeah. A really bad grandpa. Keeping you from going anywhere or doing anything would make me mad too."
Su-a sat beside him.
"I couldn't stand it even a day. You're amazing, San. You've endured that for so long?"
"N-Not really..."
"But he's not always bad, right?"
"......"
Mo Yong-san fell silent. He nodded faintly.
"H-He always buys me what I want to eat. Holds my hand tight on walks..."
"My dad does that too. Always holds my hand. Buys me whatever I want right away."
Ah.
I miss Dad.
Su-a gently placed her hand over Mo Yong-san's.
She stroked it slowly, enough to calm his excitement. Just as her dad did for her, she stayed quietly by his side.
"Dad loves me. A lot. Maybe San's grandpa does too?"
"......"
"It's not your fault. But... talking to Grandpa might change things."
"...He won't listen. Grandpa doesn't get it. Thinks he's always right."
"If once doesn't work, try twice, three times. Eventually, he'll agree. For sure."
"B-But... if he still says no..."
"It's okay."
Su-a beamed.
Just like her dad.
Because she wanted to help.
"Then I'll go with you and keep asking. Until he says yes."
"......!"
Mo Yong-san widened his eyes. Looking at the hand on his, he whispered softly.
"Wh-What's... your name?"
"Su-a."
"S-Su-a... You'll really go with me...?"
"Yeah. I'll go with you. Promise."
"...Okay."
Whispers came from behind.
"I told you Master is lying. She must be his real daughter."
"The kid... she looks just like him. Even the way she charms people..."
Su-a dusted off her bottom and stood. She helped Mo Yong-san up, then spun around.
"Brother. Sis. Let's head back."
"Shall we?"
"Y-Young Master Mo Yong? Come here. I'll escort you."
"I-I can walk myself... I c-can walk..."
"Very well then."
Su-a and Mo Yong-san turned back the way they came.
The Pavilion Master and Red Cloud were still there. Su-a whispered to Mo Yong-san.
"You got this."
"...Yeah!"
Mo Yong-san stepped forward and looked up at his grandfather. Matching his gaze with all his strength, he declared firmly.
His slightly trembling but resolute voice carried a hint of power at the end.
"G-Grandpa. I... I w-want to stay here. C-Can't you let me...?"
"......"
"I-I'll take good care of my body. I won't collapse. So please, just a little..."
"...You wanted to go out and play that badly?"
"I d-don't hate you, Grandpa. But... it's suffocating."
Mo Yong-san stammered,
"I-I want to... hang out with the other kids too... N-No more staying in my room... alone..."
"......"
"C-Can't you let me...?"
Mo Yong-hwi rubbed his face. Su-a stepped forward boldly.
"I'll watch over him, Grandpa."
"...You..."
"San's my friend. Please let him. Even just a little each day... I'd love for San to stay here."
"...Heh heh."
Mo Yong-hwi burst into laughter. He turned to Red Cloud.
A heavy nod. Mo Yong-hwi took Mo Yong-san's hand in his.
"San."
"...Yes, Grandpa."
"Do you know why I've kept you from going anywhere? Your body is extremely frail. Normal people get stronger with movement... but you weaken instead. The more you move, the less you'll even be able to walk later."
"......."
"Wanting to come here and play is no different from saying you'll shorten your own lifespan. Even so... do you still want to play? Here? With the other children?"
"...Grandpa. When I'm alone in my room, all I hear is my breathing. I try to listen for other sounds, but there's nothing."
Mo Yong-san shook his head.
"Even if it shortens my life, I don't want that anymore. I want to play with the other kids. Even if it kills me."
"......."
Mo Yong-hwi stood and patted Mo Yong-san's head firmly.
"I understand your will, San. Leave the rest to this old grandpa. Red Cloud. No falsehoods in what you said earlier?"
"Of course not, Pavilion Master. Trust me."
Red Cloud stepped forward and placed a hand on Mo Yong-san's shoulder.
"San. You have two choices."
"Huh?"
"One is to live as you have. The other is extremely dangerous... but might bring you a new life. The first lets you continue your current life, but the second could kill you."
"......."
"The choice is yours. Your grandfather has already consented."
"...If I choose the second... can I play like the other kids?"
"Yes. But it's just as dangerous..."
"Then I'll take the second."
Mo Yong-san straightened his shoulders.
"Better than being trapped in my room. I'll accept whatever happens."
"...San."
Mo Yong-hwi called sadly. Red Cloud nodded.
"I understand. Then let's try it. See if I can treat your Severed Meridian Syndrome."
...
I laid Mo Yong-san on the ground and cleared the area before simply checking his qi.
Severed. Definitely. And yin energy rippled visibly throughout his body.
"......."
An uncontrollable force was devouring the child's body. Severed Meridians aside, this innate yin was worsening his condition to the extreme.
So this is Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
The Pavilion Master, who remained alone by my side, asked,
"What do you plan to do?"
"Connect the severed channels first."
"How?"
"Didn't you say to trust and leave it to me? Can't explain it in words."
"Hmph..."
"Severed" was completely different from "blocked."
Born severed, it required full restoration. A divine act of breaking flesh and regrowing new.
I'm no physician. Nor a divine healer.
But...
I do have something else.
Heavenly Tribulation, tamed unlike before, obedient like a well-trained beast, aiding new flesh growth.
A method neither Heavenly Demon nor First Demon taught. But if used right, it might work.
Treating another's body with Heavenly Tribulation.
The key was how well Mo Yong-san endured its agony.
Of course, I'd control the amount meticulously. Just a fingernail's worth infused inside would minimize pain and loss. It'd take time, but possible.
But even that tiny amount would be maddening agony for a normal person. I stroked Mo Yong-san's head.
"It might hurt from now on. A lot. You have to endure. Or... everything returns to nothing."
"...I'll endure."
"Good."
I added nothing more. Just told the Pavilion Master,
"No matter what, don't look in or interfere from now on."
"......"
"External interference could break my focus. You know that, Pavilion Master. If my technique fails and collapses... it endangers not just me, but this child's life too. Even if screams come, endure. Block anyone from entering this area."
"...One question. Why go this far to help?"
"The kid's suffering, and I can fix it..."
I placed the Ghost Sword Baek-ya beside Mo Yong-san.
"Wouldn't it be stranger not to?"
"......!"