Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Merciless Killing Physician (3)
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The Heavenly Demon had come to meet Yu Cheon-baek, the Merciless Killing Physician of legend.
Before arriving at this thatched house, the Heavenly Demon recalled Sogang's words explaining everything about the Merciless Killing Physician.
-Heavenly Demon.
The Merciless Killing Physician, Yu Cheon-baek, is not just a doctor but an extraordinary master who has reached the Super Peak realm.
That's why ordinary martial artists couldn't force him to treat them through violence.
Even on the rare occasions when Transcendent masters stronger than him stepped forward, they all backed off in frustration for some reason.
That story revealed that the Merciless Killing Physician was a rare martial artist, a physician, and someone who excelled in both civil and martial arts.
And one more thing.
-It's no use arguing that you'll offer your life in exchange for treating the patient first.
He only heads to critically ill patients after taking the life first.
The shrewd Sogang seemed to peer into the Heavenly Demon's intentions of using the Merciless Killing Physician and offered several helpful pieces of advice.
Of course, the Heavenly Demon let the advice go in one ear and out the other.
-He's still not fully obedient.
Things will change once I step in, right?
The Heavenly Demon stepped forward confidently, and surprisingly, the moment he arrived at the Merciless Killing Physician's hidden thatched house, the assault began.
"Kraaaargh!"
Rushing in blindly like a monster, spewing hot breaths in excitement, the Merciless Killing Physician looked less like a cool-headed doctor and more like a mad butcher crazed with slaughter.
Who could look at this man and think of a noble physician saving lives?
"......!!"
As the Merciless Killing Physician suddenly charged in a frenzy, Sogang panicked immensely.
"Good thing."
The Heavenly Demon, far from panicking, seemed almost welcoming.
"I was wondering how to persuade you... I'm grateful you're attacking first like this."
With those words, the Heavenly Demon shot forward like a spring releasing.
Kwaaaang!
Neither the Heavenly Demon nor the Merciless Killing Physician were the type to step back, and with both blinded by rage, neither yielded an inch.
As a result, grabbing the wildly excited Yu Cheon-baek's hands, it turned into a contest of strength like two mighty generals arm-wrestling.
Kugugung!
Their power and internal energy were so ferocious that the cramped, shabby thatched house shook and began to collapse around them.
Even the roof was on the verge of flying off, making Sogang even more flustered.
"My goodness!"
Sogang wondered what scene he was witnessing with his own eyes.
He had come to ask the fearsome physician to save a patient, never dreaming in his wildest dreams that the man would charge at them outright.
What was even more bewildering was,
"Oh? This old man's got some strength."
the Heavenly Demon's face, grinning with delight while arm-wrestling the Merciless Killing Physician Yu Cheon-baek.
Noticing Sogang's gaze as he enjoyed himself, the Heavenly Demon cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Hey, let's stop this and hear my request..."
Reminded that treating Yang Hui-gun came first, he tried speaking to Yu Cheon-baek, but the man was rampaging uncontrollably.
"Kraaaargh!"
Yu Cheon-baek kept charging even as he was clearly losing the contest, his grip bending, his fingers on the verge of snapping.
He resembled a wild boar pierced by a harpoon, ignorant of fear or the situation.
"This is..."
Only then did the Heavenly Demon sense that Yu Cheon-baek was not acting of his own will but being manipulated by something else.
And right at that moment!
-All-Capable Eternal Life Heart Method!
Yu Cheon-baek invoked the source that tormented him relentlessly while granting immense internal energy and superhuman strength.
Using that bizarre internal art, Yu Cheon-baek recovered his energy as if he had never been pushed back and began rising again with renewed vigor.
'This?!'
The Heavenly Demon wasn't startled by Yu Cheon-baek's counterattack but by recognizing the internal art he was using, nearly getting pushed back in shock.
Of course, he wasn't one to be pushed and defeated.
Strength against strength, internal energy against internal energy.
And heart method against heart method—that was the Heavenly Demon's way.
-Heavenly Demon Divine Art!
When the opponent countered with an unknown internal heart method, the Heavenly Demon unleashed the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, unrivaled as the strongest among all martial arts and internal energies in this Central Plains land.
That alone was enough.
Kwaaaaang!
After the initial clash of raw power, now the battle of internal energies began.
To be precise, it was a clash of heart methods against heart method.
In truth, the Merciless Killing Physician Yu Cheon-baek had never once lost a contest of internal energy or heart methods after mastering and using the All-Capable Eternal Life Heart Method.
Not even against opponents in the Transcendent realm superior to his own Super Peak.
But this time was different.
"Kek!!"
Yu Cheon-baek's instincts, expecting to subdue and crush the opponent with the All-Capable Eternal Life Heart Method, whimpered like a beast pushed back in a battle of auras.
For some reason, all his energy was being repelled and shattered.
His body trembled violently!
Having suffered his first complete defeat in an internal energy and heart method clash, Yu Cheon-baek shook like a predator facing its natural enemy, tail tucked.
This was undoubtedly the most humiliating defeat he had ever experienced.
"Merciless Killing Physician, you..."
Having accurately grasped Yu Cheon-baek's current state, the Heavenly Demon claimed victory and slammed him to the ground.
Kwaaaang!
Only after the thatched house floor collapsed in an explosion did the frenzied Yu Cheon-baek finally halt his rampage.
The Heavenly Demon's skill was remarkable; even against a superior and excited opponent, he ended it at a level where neither attacker nor defender suffered serious injury.
"Huff, huff."
After the massive impact, Yu Cheon-baek finally regained his senses, panting heavily several times.
As his breathing stabilized, calm returned, and his eyes finally faced reality.
"What in the world is going on?"
"Back to your senses now?"
The Heavenly Demon stretched refreshingly, smiling with a face full of satisfaction.
"Who are you people..."
Tormented by immense impulses and hallucinations, Yu Cheon-baek had even forgotten that the Heavenly Demon and Sogang had come to visit.
"Ah, yes. Physician Yu Cheon-baek. We've come because we want to save someone precious to us."
Sogang was far better at persuasion than the Heavenly Demon.
Worried the Heavenly Demon might offend him, Sogang stepped forward cautiously.
As a masterful storyteller, Sogang was confident he could persuade him, but the opponent was formidable.
"Go away. I'm no longer a physician. Thus, I have no right to treat anyone."
"...?!"
Thinking conversation was possible now that Yu Cheon-baek was sane, Sogang panicked again at the new barrier.
"Please, at least hear our story."
Sogang pleaded persistently without giving up, but
"Hmph, you must know about the Merciless Killing Physician. So, which of you two will offer your life?"
Yu Cheon-baek responded with cold cynicism, as if annoyed.
As Sogang's persuasion failed, the Heavenly Demon pushed him back and stepped forward.
"We never planned to offer our lives from the start."
"What?"
Yu Cheon-baek was dumbfounded by the young man, who looked like his grandson, speaking casually and spouting nonsense.
"Just follow me, treat the patient, and go back."
That had been the plan from the beginning.
'Whether it's the Merciless Killing Physician or whatever, as long as Yang Hui-gun can be saved, I don't care.'
To save Yang Hui-gun, he was willing to knock out the Merciless Killing Physician or even kill someone else in his place if that's what he wanted.
"Puhahaha!"
At the Heavenly Demon's bold words, Yu Cheon-baek snorted derisively.
"You seem to have impressive martial arts since you suppressed me... but I have no desire to treat anyone. So kill me or do whatever you want."
In truth, it wasn't the first time a stronger expert had threatened Yu Cheon-baek.
Not only Transcendent masters but even superhumans who had reached the Divine Ascendant realm had appeared.
They tried to force submission through martial prowess, but all failed.
The reason was, naturally, the effect of the All-Capable Eternal Life Heart Method, which couldn't be killed physically.
'Those superhuman experts charged at me full of confidence, beat me thoroughly, then returned in shock.'
An immortal body that wouldn't die even by suicide—how could it die by another's hand?
They all failed, and many fled in terror at Yu Cheon-baek's endless regeneration.
"Physician Yu. Please hear our conditions."
Unlike the hardline Heavenly Demon, Sogang offered the conditions he had prepared, just in case.
In other words, with the Heavenly Demon's support, abundant gold, treasures, and various herbs and elixirs that would naturally catch any physician's eye.
"No matter the case, I have no intention of treating anyone."
Yet Yu Cheon-baek remained firm.
"Well, there is one way."
Looking at the Heavenly Demon and Sogang with a somewhat cynical gaze, Yu Cheon-baek smirked coldly.
"What is it?"
Sogang showed intense interest.
"If you can free me from the curse of the damned demonic art I've cultivated, the All-Capable Eternal Life Heart Method. Kekeke, what do you think? First time hearing it?"
Yu Cheon-baek's face showed no expectation.
Until now, even Transcendent masters and Divine Ascendant experts had stuck out their tongues, not knowing what the All-Capable Eternal Life Heart Method even was, let alone solving the curse.
"Such..."
Not expecting such a condition, Sogang panicked and broke into a cold sweat.
"Of course, kids like you couldn't possibly. So get lost."
Yu Cheon-baek thought that was it and considered vanishing elsewhere when,
"Sure."
the Heavenly Demon replied indifferently.
"What?"
Stunned by the casual agreement,
"I'll do it."
"Do what?"
"Fix the All-Capable Eternal Life Heart Method."
"Have you ever seen such a madman? You don't even know what kind of demonic art this is..."
Yu Cheon-baek thought the Heavenly Demon was bluffing or belittling the art and began to speak in exasperation when,
"All-Capable Eternal Life Heart Method. Its origin is the Eternal Life Heart Method from the Ming Cult era before the Demonic Cult, clumsily tampered with by some quack who hadn't even reached Divine Ascendant, seeking infinite regeneration. That's how the side effect was born—the unbearable craving for others' blood and life if not sated."
How could he not know?
The origin was none other than the Ming Cult's—no, the Demonic Cult's martial art, so the First Heavenly Demon knew it well.
His body shuddered!
As if the words pierced his plight perfectly, Yu Cheon-baek trembled and asked.
No Transcendent master, Divine Ascendant expert, renowned physician, or divine healer who claimed they could fix this cursed demonic art knew what it was, yet this young man he saw for the first time was different.
"Then! Can you... fix it?"
With the clearest mind in nearly a decade, Yu Cheon-baek asked.
"Of course. If you promise to heal my precious person, I'll gladly do it."