Chapter 37
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: An Old Debt
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Renowned sects possess their own secret elixirs.
The most famous is the Shaolin Sect's Great Rejuvenation Pill, followed by the Wudang Sect's Great Void Pill, and the Huashan Sect's Purple Cloud Pill is no less renowned.
'Of course, this isn't the Divine Purple Cloud Pill, just a regular Purple Cloud Pill.'
There were two types of Purple Cloud Pills.
The Divine Purple Cloud Pill, comparable to the Great Rejuvenation Pill.
Even within the Huashan Sect, only the Sect Leader or his direct disciples could ever hope to see one.
The regular Purple Cloud Pill is a tier below, known to be similar to Shaolin's Minor Rejuvenation Pill.
It was an elixir bestowed upon those selected as Plum Blossom Swordsmen, the pride of Huashan.
Please, accept it. Considering the grace Fellow Daoist Wi Ji-cheon has shown the Huashan Sect, a Purple Cloud Pill is not too much to offer.
If not for Wi Ji-cheon, all the Huashan disciples at the Seo Manor that day, including Cheong Song, who was expected to lead the sect's next generation, would have been annihilated.
That was not all.
They had nearly been manipulated by the Blood Cult's schemes, almost executing an innocent person as the culprit.
They were on the verge of suffering the humiliation of being played by the Blood Cult, but thanks to Wi Ji-cheon, they were able to preserve their honor.
'Even so, gifting such an elixir couldn't have been an easy decision.'
A single Purple Cloud Pill was said to grant half a cycle's worth of internal energy.
As it was, Wi Ji-cheon's greatest weakness was his internal energy, so this would be a tremendous help.
'I owe Daoist Master Cheong Song for this.'
Cheong Song's influence must have played a large part in Huashan's decision.
It was thanks to his high appraisal of Wi Ji-cheon.
Thank you. In return, as I feel I've received too generous a gift, I will make a promise to the Huashan Sect.
A promise?
One day, I will surely repay the grace I have received from Huashan today.
Haha. Thank you. I shall look forward to it.
However, Cheong Song did not know.
The true meaning behind Wi Ji-cheon's promise.
It was not some vague promise to be helpful in the future.
It meant that if the Huashan Sect ever faced true trouble, he would help, regardless of how great that trouble might be. For a promise from the Fiend Demon, Wi Ji-cheon, carried that much weight.
Great Hero Jang Sam, I thank you as well. You have made me reconsider my views on those of the unorthodox path.
...Is that all?
Pardon?
...No.
??
'I worked hard too, and you're just going to wipe your mouth clean with me? Are you discriminating against people, you damn long-nosed bastards?'
Watching Jang Sam, Wi Ji-cheon chuckled inwardly.
He had planned to take care of Jang Sam anyway.
After all, even a slave must be given a carrot once in a while to make them work harder.
Great Hero Jang Sam, let's head back to the Seo Manor now.
Great Hero? Please, just call me Jang Woof-woof. They say you toss leftover scraps of bone even to a dog you raise, but I guess I'm worse than a dog, grumble grumble.
Hic, I apologize! This Jang fellow has lost his mind again!!
No matter how he looked at it, it was certain.
Jang Sam seemed to have grown a bit more comfortable around Wi Ji-cheon.
'Well, he worked hard, so I'll let it slide.'
I was planning to give you a gift too, but it seems you don't need one.
...What kind of gift?
Money.
...You mean, money?
Yes. We're going to get money from the Seo Manor, right? I'll share it with you. Enough to pay off your debt and then some.
Jang Sam felt a surge of emotion.
'The debt I owe... I only incurred it because I helped your Medical Immortal House buy its manor!'
You'll have plenty left over. I plan to squeeze them for as much as I can. You can look forward to it.
Hehe, if that's the case... Young Master Wi Ji-cheon, you truly are the best!
His mood lifted, Jang Sam grinned foolishly.
They returned to the Seo Manor in high spirits.
The atmosphere at the Seo Manor was naturally grim, given the incident that had occurred.
For reference, the second son, Seo Eun, was said to have taken his own life after being dragged to the Martial Alliance's prison.
It was unclear whether it was a genuine suicide or if he was eliminated by the Blood Cult to tie up loose ends.
The eldest son, Seo Geum, had hastily succeeded the position of Manor Lord.
Where is Manor Lord Seo Geum?
Ah, benefactor. He is in his quarters.
The steward hesitated before speaking.
Benefactor, may I ask a favor of you? Could you possibly treat Manor Lord Seo Geum?
Treat him?
Well... you'll understand when you see him. I beg of you.
Wi Ji-cheon tilted his head in confusion and headed for the room where Seo Geum was.
The moment he stepped inside, he immediately understood the steward's request.
Seo Geum was trying to hang himself from a rope suspended from the ceiling!
Mister Jang Sam!
Hup!!
Jang Sam urgently flew over and stopped Seo Geum's suicide attempt.
Seo Geum, with a dazed expression, began to scream.
Whywhy are you stopping me?! My father and my brother are both dead because of me! What's the point of a wretch like me staying alive?! Waaah!!
Seo Geum seemed to believe that both his father Seo Ho's and his younger brother Seo Eun's deaths were his fault.
It was not an entirely incorrect assumption.
Had Seo Geum not lived like a scoundrel, the tragedy of the Seo Manor might never have happened.
As the room suddenly turned into a sea of tears, Jang Sam looked at Wi Ji-cheon with a flustered expression.
He expected Wi Ji-cheon to handle the situation and console Seo Geum. After all, though Wi Ji-cheon was a demon on the inside, he acted detestably kind on the outside.
And yet.
You're not wrong. A degenerate like you doesn't have much reason to live.
!!
Jang Sam stared at Wi Ji-cheon in shock.
He was not just saying it.
Wi Ji-cheon's gaze was utterly cold.
Wha-what?
Why? Did you expect me to comfort you? Why would I? Here, there's a sword. If you want to die, then die. Sorry for interrupting.
'No, why is that demon acting like this?'
Jang Sam found it strange.
Wi Ji-cheon was a demon, yes, but his current attitude was bizarre.
The Wi Ji-cheon he knew would have tried to console Seo Geum first, if only to fleece the Seo Manor of its wealth.
'It's as if... he's angry?'
Wi Ji-cheon continued to push Seo Geum.
What are you doing? I told you to die. I won't stop you. If you can't do it, should I do it for you? Poison, strangulation, stabbingtake your pick. Oh, but before you die, you have to write a will donating your entire fortune to the Medical Immortal House, alright?
Y-you... you bastard!! How could you say such things? Waaah!! You bastard!! You fiend! Are you even human?! I was so good to you when we were young!
C-calm down. That one was never human to begin with.
Waaah. Great Hero Jang Sam. You're right. He's not even a person!
That's right. He's a demon.
Demon spawn!
Demon!!
Seo Geum ended up wailing loudly, and Jang Sam, the unorthodox path follower with a cold exterior but a warm heart, found himself consoling him with a few awkward words.
It seemed he had subtly insulted Wi Ji-cheon in the process, but we can let that slide as a cute little slip-up.
Wi Ji-cheon closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
'Calm down. I got too worked up.'
Wi Ji-cheon knew that his recent behavior had been unlike him.
It was because Seo Geum's suicide attempt had reminded him of a past wound.
-I... I have to die. My family... because of me. A guy like me doesn't deserve to live.
After everyone in the Medical Immortal House was annihilated, Wi Ji-cheon had also attempted suicide.
He had been unable to overcome his guilt for having been played by the White Immortal Medical House's schemes and providing the crucial clue that led to the Medical Immortal House's downfall.
Mister Jang Sam, move aside.
I can't! Even for you, Young Master, to say such harsh things is.
Jang, I said move.
Yes, understood.
Jang Sam, the man with a cold exterior but a warm heart, was also a perfect unorthodox path follower equipped with the wisdom to submit to the strong, so he promptly stepped aside.
Do you think the former Manor Lord Seo Ho would be happy if you died? Or your younger brother Seo Eun? Wouldn't they rather you survive and make the Seo Manor prosper?
I-I know that! But I can't do it! What can a degenerate like me possibly do?! A talented guy like you could die and come back to life and still never know how I feel!
I do.
What?
I said, I know.
How could he not?
It was the exact same feeling Wi Ji-cheon had when he tried to take his own life in the past.
-How could someone like me possibly get revenge?
That was what Wi Ji-cheon had thought at the time.
Compared to the worthless Wi Ji-cheon, the White Immortal Medical House was far too immense an enemy.
'If I hadn't had a fateful encounter and met my 'master' back then, I would have ended up the same way.'
In truth, he wasn't sure if the term 'master' was fitting.
It had been a brief connection, a chance passing.
-You fool, you're an eyesore.
'He' likely never considered Wi Ji-cheon his disciple, but Wi Ji-cheon regarded him as his master.
'We never met again after we parted. I wonder if I'll have a chance to meet him in this life?'
In any case.
I'll help you.
...What?
I said I'll help you make the Seo Manor prosper.
Why... why would you?
Seo Geum asked, unable to comprehend.
Saving his life a while ago could be explained as a way to extort the Seo Manor's wealth, but this?
Well
Wi Ji-cheon trailed off.
Making the Seo Manor prosper was an incomparably more troublesome task than simply saving Seo Geum's life.
So why was he willing to help?
Because he was reminded of his past self?
That was part of it, but the biggest reason was something else entirely.
'You don't need a reason to help a brother.'
His earlier claim that the two of them had been close was not an empty boast.
Long ago.
Back when Wi Ji-cheon was just a little kid.
Before Seo Ho had betrayed the Medical Immortal House.
When Seo Geum, then a young boy, was also a member of the Medical Immortal House.
Seo Eun was not. He was a child born after Seo Ho left the Medical Immortal House.
At the time, Seo Geum was not the scoundrel he was now; he was on good terms with his brothers in the Medical Immortal House.
He had taken particularly good care of Wi Ji-cheon.
-You brat! Did you wet yourself again?! I told you not to pee on my back!
Usually, one barely remembers things from that young an age, but the image of Seo Geum carrying him on his back remained in his memory like a painting.
Of course, Wi Ji-cheon did not speak of these inner thoughts.
Because it's more profitable for the Medical Immortal House to make the Seo Manor grow before we suck it dry.