Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: A Plague of Locusts
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Byeok Taesan slowly opened his eyes. A familiar ceiling came into view.
He frowned and sat up.
"It's been a while since I've dreamed."
It was the first dream he'd had since being reborn in this body.
No, in fact, it had been so long since he'd dreamed even in his days as the Heavenly Demon that he couldn't even calculate how many years it had been.
"Tsk."
He clicked his tongue softly. It seemed yesterday's report from the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, which made him think of those Martial Alliance people, was the cause.
That must be why he'd dreamed of them.
Last night's dream was a sliver of a long-forgotten memory.
He had dreamed of his last meeting with the Martial Alliance.
Everyone he had recalled while meeting the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion yesterday had been there.
They hadn't displeased him. That was the only reason they had returned alive.
It wasn't a negotiation, nor a place for someone to submit.
It was just a gathering for drinks.
Of course, it might have held a different meaning for them, but for him, that's all it was.
As he drank and listened to them talk, he found them more amusing than he'd expected.
At the time, they had brought the main force of the Martial Alliance. Had his mood soured, they all would have died.
The only person from the Heavenly Demonic Cult present was he, the Heavenly Demon, himself.
He had gone there alone, wanting to move freely just in case.
Confident he could crush any trap, he had no hesitation.
The drinking party was held in a small pavilion, which was surrounded by over a thousand warriors.
All of them from the Martial Alliance, of course.
He had been standing in the pavilion, looking them all over, when he awoke.
The dream was too vivid. It seemed the memory wouldn't fade easily for a while.
Byeok Taesan slowly got out of bed.
Just then, Soso's voice came from outside the door.
"Young Master, I will prepare your washing water."
Byeok Taesan nodded, and the door opened on its own.
Soso and Danyeong entered carrying a large tub. It was filled with clean, warm water.
Having learned martial arts and grown stronger, the two of them could now handle such tasks.
Byeok Taesan familiarly allowed the two to attend to his bath, washing himself clean.
After the two left with the tub, other maids came in and set food before Byeok Taesan.
Attended by the maids, Byeok Taesan finished his breakfast.
When he went outside after his meal, a group of maids rushed in and began to clean his room.
Byeok Taesan first headed to his personal training ground.
There, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon were diligently practicing the new martial arts they had learned.
He gave them a few pointers before leaving for the group training ground.
While assessing the progress of those practicing the Limitless Steps, he saw Yeon Harin and nodded.
'Tenacious.'
Not just tenacious, but fiercely so. It seemed he would soon have to give Yeon Harin a suitable martial art.
'A decent martial art that can properly harness that ferocity...'
With that thought, Byeok Taesan left the training ground.
After leaving the training ground, Byeok Taesan's next destination was Byeok Taesu's office.
Thinking it over last night, he realized that while he had taken care of the general manager, he had neglected his own family, Byeok Taesu.
He felt he wouldn't be satisfied unless he gave Byeok Taesu something better than the Essence-Absorbing Arts he had given the manager.
So, he had already prepared a suitable martial art.
Considering Byeok Taesu's busy schedule, he had modified a rather useful demonic art to yield great results for the time invested and compiled it into a manual.
Its original name is the Blood-Seeking Demonic Art. It's a bizarre art practiced by drinking blood, but he modified it to be practiced by drinking a decoction of appropriate medicinal herbs.
Thus, a considerable effort had gone into creating it.
When practicing the original Blood-Seeking Demonic Art, one would typically hunt beasts or livestock and drink their blood, so while it was troublesome, it didn't cost much money.
However, the modified version required consuming decocted medicinal ingredients, making it quite expensive to practice.
It was a martial art that only someone as wealthy as the master of the Golden Jade Trading Company could learn with ease.
Lost in thought about the martial art, he arrived at Byeok Taesu's office before he knew it.
Just then, Cho Seoran was coming out of the office. It seemed she had come to greet Byeok Taesu.
Cho Seoran's eyes widened when she spotted Byeok Taesan. She quickly hurried over.
"Have you come to see the Lord? By the way, how could you not visit me even once? We even drank together."
Byeok Taesan walked right past Cho Seoran without a word.
Cho Seoran stared at his back in disbelief.
Before he could enter Byeok Taesu's office, she quickly called out.
"I'm helping those two make medicine! So, could you maybe come by later to offer some encouragement?"
Byeok Taesan didn't answer and slipped inside.
But Cho Seoran just smiled brightly and headed toward where the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric were.
***
After giving the Blood-Seeking Demonic Art to Byeok Taesu, Byeok Taesan headed for the place where the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric were.
The garden where they originally made medicine had become too cramped, so they had moved to a larger space.
It was a place far from the pavilion where Byeok Taesan resided.
Although it was a bit inconvenient to get to, the space was massive, several times the size of the previous garden.
Since only the ground had been leveled to create a training ground, it was perfect for use as a medicine-making area.
Arriving at the open lot, he saw the busy physicians of the Heavenly Medicine Hall.
These were physicians handpicked from the Heavenly Medicine Hall, and their tasks were all time-consuming chores like trimming and drying herbs, stirring cauldrons with ladles, and forming compounded ingredients into pills.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric, who used to do that work, were now sitting comfortably across from Cho Seoran, discussing a new medicine.
In truth, the discussion was just an excuse; they were basically just taking a break.
Just as they were relaxing, Byeok Taesan appeared.
The Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric shot up from their seats the moment they saw him.
"Well, now, we've rested enough. Shall we get back to work?"
Muttering to himself quite loudly, as if for someone to hear, the Divine Doctor went to a nearby pile of herbs and began chopping them.
Naturally, the One-Needle Eccentric moved in perfect sync, as if he and the Divine Doctor were one body, and also began to chop herbs.
Cho Seoran, who was with them, was greatly flustered by their sudden actions.
It made her look like she was the only one lazing around doing nothing.
"I knew you'd come."
Cho Seoran quickly approached Byeok Taesan, her eyes crinkling into a slight smile as she spoke.
"I didn't come to see you."
Byeok Taesan said this and walked toward the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric.
However, Cho Seoran paid him no mind, drawing close to his side with a gentle smile on her face.
"Still, my being here is at least a little helpful, isn't it?"
Since Cho Seoran's arrival, the speed of medicine production had increased significantly. So, it was true that she was being helpful.
Moreover, Cho Seoran had joined the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric in their research, generously sharing her knowledge.
Of course, the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric also shared much of their own knowledge in response to her attitude.
As a result, the efficacy of the medicine they were currently making was steadily improving.
The Divine Pill of the Ages alone was already about three times more effective than when the Divine Doctor had first created it.
And there was still room for further improvement.
The current goal was a tenfold increase, and if they achieved that, it would be a medicine on par with most elixirs.
No, it would be even more incredible. The Divine Pill of the Ages had no resistance buildup, making it possible to take it for a long time.
Cho Seoran continued speaking, regardless of whether Byeok Taesan responded.
"So please, just once."
Byeok Taesan stopped walking and looked at Cho Seoran.
Cho Seoran smiled brightly and continued.
"I heard you said it before. That if you were to have your pulse taken, they'd have to bring someone on the level of the Queen of Medicine. So, here I am."
Cho Seoran said, spreading her arms wide.
Hearing this, Byeok Taesan stroked his chin.
"Well... I did say something like that."
Cho Seoran's expression brightened.
"Does that mean you'll allow me to take your pulse?"
"I refuse."
"What? Why?"
"I've changed my mind."
Cho Seoran stared blankly at Byeok Taesan. How could he say such a thing without batting an eye?
She snapped back to her senses and looked at the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric, who were nearby chopping herbs without even glancing in her direction.
She glared at them so intensely that they eventually stole a glance at her.
Cho Seoran gestured frantically at the two of them. It was a clear sign for them to keep their promise.
The Divine Doctor let out a deep sigh. He cleared his throat and spoke to Byeok Taesan.
"I also think it's about time I properly examined the Young Master's pulse... How about you let us?"
As he said this, the Divine Doctor nudged the One-Needle Eccentric, who was sitting next to him, with his elbow.
"Ahem. Well... I think so too. To be honest, I was truly surprised when I checked the Young Master's condition before. It seems to have improved a lot, but it's not an easy ailment to deal with, is it? So how about we make sure this time?"
Byeok Taesan looked at the two of them with a peculiar expression.
His gaze seemed to ask both 'Why are these fools acting this way?' and 'I know exactly what you're up to,' which made them feel extremely anxious and ominous.
Unable to bear the anxiety, the Divine Doctor finally blurted out.
"I mean, it's not like you'll wear out from having it done once, right? You just need to offer your wrist for a moment."
Byeok Taesan chuckled and gestured toward Cho Seoran with his chin.
"Does Harin know that woman is here?"
The Divine Doctor suddenly clamped his mouth shut. Of course, she didn't know yet. Yeon Harin was currently shutting out the world for her training.
He suddenly recalled the situation when they had talked about the Queen of Medicine before.
He had lost several nights of sleep because of Yeon Harin, who had pursued and questioned him relentlessly with eyes that looked like they were about to spill tears.
Remembering that incident, the Divine Doctor shuddered.
The One-Needle Eccentric just snickered.
Cho Seoran looked back and forth between the three of them, completely bewildered.
Byeok Taesan looked at the bewildered Cho Seoran and said.
"Is there a reason the Heavenly Medicine Hall must join hands with the Martial Alliance?"
"Pardon?"
Completely caught off guard by the unexpected question, Cho Seoran's eyes went wide as she stared at him.
Byeok Taesan smirked.
"Never mind. Just remember that the Martial Alliance isn't the only path."
Cho Seoran stared blankly at Byeok Taesan. Just then, a hand was thrust before her face.
Startled, she flinched back, and Byeok Taesan spoke nonchalantly.
"If you don't want to, forget it."
It was Byeok Taesan's hand.
Cho Seoran looked back and forth between his hand and his face before carefully taking his wrist.
Then she gently closed her eyes and focused on his pulse.
Through his pulse, a picture of Byeok Taesan's physical condition slowly formed in her mind.
She wasn't just checking for illnesses, but meticulously examining the flow of his energy channels, his physique, and his constitution.
After one examination, she tilted her head in confusion and started over. She ended up taking his pulse a total of three times.
Her reason for doing so was simple.
'It's too... ordinary.'
Byeok Taesan's body was just too ordinary.
Cho Seoran couldn't understand.
How could it be so utterly normal?
She had heard stories about what Byeok Taesan had done in the Hubei Martial Alliance.
But there was no way the body she was examining now could have accomplished such incredible feats.
Either someone exceptionally skilled had helped him, or the rumors were exaggerated. It had to be one of the two.
At least, that was the only conclusion within the bounds of her common sense.
"Are you done yet?"
At Byeok Taesan's question, Cho Seoran snapped to her senses and released his hand.
"No. I'm finished."
"So, what's your impression?"
Cho Seoran answered with a composed expression.
"There are no illnesses at all. I heard you had severed meridians, but there's no trace of it."
Saying this, Cho Seoran looked at the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric with a hint of admiration.
"I can certainly see how incredible your skills are. Honestly, even if severed meridians are completely cured, traces usually remain. The fact that there are none is, frankly, quite surprising."
However, upon hearing this, the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric couldn't hide their astonishment and just stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.
To be honest, they hadn't done anything.
Byeok Taesan had healed his severed meridians all by himself, reviving a body that had been no better than a corpse.
"Y-Young Master. I, I would like to take your pulse as well."
"I would like to, as well."
As the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric stepped forward with bewitched expressions, Byeok Taesan grinned and held out his hand.
The two of them took his pulse with serious expressions, but soon they were just shaking their heads.
"Young Master, you truly are... an enigma."
The Divine Doctor nodded vigorously, as if in agreement with the One-Needle Eccentric's words.
Byeok Taesan's body had changed so completely it was as if he were a different person from when he had severed meridians.
While the three physicians were staring at Byeok Taesan with very complicated expressions, Hwaok entered with urgent steps.
"Young Master!"
Her voice was as urgent as her steps, making everyone turn to see what was wrong.
Hwaok came before Byeok Taesan and said.
"The patrol leader of the Hubei Martial Alliance has come to see you."
The patrol leader of the Hubei Martial Alliance was Seo Mundeok. He had come to Wuhan to establish the Hubei Martial Alliance's Wuhan branch and had been proceeding without any particular trouble until now.
But seeing Hwaok's urgent expression, it seemed that wasn't the main reason for his visit.
"What is it?"
Hwaok answered Byeok Taesan's question.
"She said that a horde of Half-Jiangshi has poured out of Uichang, causing chaos."
Hearing this, a glint appeared in Byeok Taesan's eyes.
"A plague of locusts."
After saying that, Byeok Taesan glanced at Cho Seoran.
It seemed this matter would have to be postponed for a little while.