Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Stop Playing Games
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The first thing I saw upon entering the training grounds was Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon, standing slightly apart, their swords aimed at each other.
Both of them were drenched in blood.
Seeing this, Byeok Taesan nodded.
“At least they didn't mess around.”
In truth, he hadn't been sure if Cheon Gyeongwan would be able to bring himself to strike Yu Seoyeon.
How could a man cut the woman he liked with a sword?
But from the looks of it, neither had any hesitation in striking the other.
If there hadn't been any sword marks on Yu Seoyeon's body, he would have reconsidered keeping Cheon Gyeongwan around.
“Looks like I won't have to.”
As Byeok Taesan watched, the two charged at each other.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Sword met sword, sending out a shower of sparks.
Cheon Gyeongwan's sword pierced Yu Seoyeon's thigh.
*Clang!*
Yu Seoyeon deflected it and used the momentum to aim for Cheon Gyeongwan's neck.
*Swish!*
He twisted his neck to dodge, but the blade grazed his skin.
Blood spurted out.
Cheon Gyeongwan paid his wound no mind and rushed at Yu Seoyeon.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Cheon Gyeongwan was clearly superior in both strength and internal energy. As he pressed his advantage, Yu Seoyeon was quickly pushed back.
Yu Seoyeon fluidly deflected Cheon Gyeongwan's attacks.
Had she not, she would have already been defeated.
Cheon Gyeongwan's assault was that fierce and powerful.
Yu Seoyeon's eyes flashed as she calmly blocked and deflected his blows.
The impacts continued to accumulate in her body, but she endured and waited.
A moment would surely come when his strength waned.
Soon, that moment arrived. Yu Seoyeon twisted her body and darted into Cheon Gyeongwan's guard.
At the same time, she thrust her sword.
It was as if the sword shot out from her side.
*Stab!*
*Thwack!*
Yu Seoyeon's sword pierced Cheon Gyeongwan's side.
And at the same instant, Cheon Gyeongwan's palm struck Yu Seoyeon's shoulder.
Yu Seoyeon was sent flying sideways.
Blood pouring from his side, Cheon Gyeongwan closed the distance on the airborne Yu Seoyeon.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The two exchanged a flurry of sword strikes.
Wounds mounted one by one, and their movements grew sluggish.
Soon, the fight was over, and both lay sprawled on the training grounds.
The four physicians under the Divine Doctor of the Ages, who had been waiting, rushed over and began treating the two.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages watched leisurely, only stepping in when his personal touch was needed.
Once the treatment was done, the Divine Doctor of the Ages grinned and took out a wound salve from his robes.
“Now, it's time to apply the salve.”
At his words, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon flinched.
“It might hurt a little, but it's better than getting scars, isn't it? Besides, this is very expensive medicine. And I'm using so much of it.”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages scooped up a handful of the salve.
Seeing this, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon's faces turned pale.
“I'm providing it so generously, without holding back. So you should be grateful to me. Yes, indeed.”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages' expression looked somewhat gleeful as he slowly approached the two.
“You look like you're having fun.”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages stopped in his tracks, shuddering as if struck by lightning at the voice that suddenly came from beside him.
He slowly turned to look to his side.
Byeok Taesan was right there. He hadn't noticed his approach at all.
It seemed to be the same for Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon, as they too were staring at Byeok Taesan with surprised expressions.
“Y-Young Master, you're here?”
Byeok Taesan glanced at the wound salve in the Divine Doctor of the Ages' hand.
It was in a rather large container, filled to the brim, and he could tell what it was just by the smell.
“W-What brings you here? I heard you wouldn't be coming out for a while...”
The corner of Byeok Taesan's mouth lifted slightly.
“Why? Are you upset to see me so soon?”
“O-Of course not! I've been eagerly awaiting your return, Young Master.”
“I know, so just get on with the treatment. Weren't you about to apply that?”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages broke out in a cold sweat under a gaze that seemed to pierce right through him.
“Ah, yes, sir.”
With trembling hands, the Divine Doctor of the Ages approached Cheon Gyeongwan first and dabbed the salve onto his wounds, almost tossing it on.
“Grrrk!”
Each time the salve touched a wound, Cheon Gyeongwan's whole body shuddered, and he gritted his teeth.
Watching from the side, Yu Seoyeon's eyes trembled uncontrollably.
Improving her skills and gaining real combat experience was great, but she could never get used to the treatment sessions that followed each duel.
Because of this, she'd recently started flinching at the mere sight of anything resembling a wound salve.
Byeok Taesan stood by, watching the entire scene unfold.
Soon, the task of thickly applying the salve to all of Cheon Gyeongwan's wounds was complete.
Next was Yu Seoyeon's turn.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages would generously apply the salve to her wounds, and she would have to spread it herself.
This made it even more painful.
Byeok Taesan simply watched quietly until the treatment was finished.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages was inwardly relieved.
“Good salve.”
“Ah, this salve, you mean? If you're asking about this salve, it's a medicine I invested a whole ten years into creating. It's a bit painful, but its effects are truly incredible. Those wounds will be completely healed before tonight.”
“You made it?”
A hint of amusement laced Byeok Taesan's tone.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages furtively glanced at Byeok Taesan's expression as he replied.
“Y-Yes? It's the salve that contains my ten years of effort, after all.”
“Amazing that you could create such a wonder drug in just ten years. Usually, one just improves upon the medicine their master created.”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages was startled.
“H-How did you...! No, that's not it. I made it. Who else but me could possibly create such a thing?”
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
“Well, let's just say you did. It's not important anyway.”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages was about to protest his innocence but shut his mouth after seeing the look in Byeok Taesan's eyes.
It was chilling. No, it was icy.
“With medicine like this, the combination of ingredients is crucial, isn't it?”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages' eyes lit up. He was always one to talk at length when a familiar topic came up.
“Of course. Even with the same ingredients, you can produce various effects depending on the combination. It's not just the ratio that's important; the order is also critical. Getting one step out of order can result in a completely different medicine.”
Seeing that he was about to go on, Byeok Taesan subtly raised his hand.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages fell silent. A strange feeling washed over him, and he furtively studied Byeok Taesan's expression.
Byeok Taesan didn't even glance at the Divine Doctor, his eyes fixed on Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon.
“It's good medicine, so bear the pain. You'll be fine soon enough.”
“We'll be fine?”
Yu Seoyeon asked, her eyes wide.
“It's not just a medicine that heals wounds; it fundamentally strengthens and toughens your skin, muscles, and bones.”
The two looked back and forth between Byeok Taesan and the Divine Doctor of the Ages with surprised eyes.
They hadn't realized it was such a potent medicine.
And they weren't the only ones who were surprised. A look of astonishment was also in the Divine Doctor of the Ages' eyes.
“That's right. That's why it requires so many expensive ingredients. How on earth did you know?”
“It just smelled that way.”
“What? The smell?”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages stared at Byeok Taesan in disbelief. Then he looked at Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon as if to say, 'Does that even make sense?'
‘What, they actually believe that?’
It seemed Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon believed Byeok Taesan's words without a shred of doubt.
He found it absurd but decided to let it go.
Dragging the conversation on would do him no good.
Cheon Gyeongwan's eyes flashed as he shot up from his spot and clasped his fist in his hand.
“I truly had no idea it was such a precious medicine. I've cursed you many times in my head, Divine Doctor. I apologize. And thank you.”
Yu Seoyeon also stood up, clasped her fist, and expressed her gratitude.
“I'm grateful as well. From now on, I'll apply it with a thankful heart.”
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
“Aren't you thanking the wrong person? That medicine was made with my money, wasn't it?”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages furtively glanced around before quickly chiming in.
“Th-That's right. You two should thank the Young Master from now on.”
Byeok Taesan patted Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon on the shoulders.
“You really should be grateful.”
After saying that, he gestured to the Divine Doctor of the Ages with his chin.
“You, come with me.”
“What? Me? Why me...?”
When Byeok Taesan glared at him with killing intent, the startled Divine Doctor of the Ages quickly followed.
His body trembled with anxiety.
For some reason, his retreating back looked like a cow being led to a slaughterhouse.
* * *
The Divine Doctor of the Ages looked at Byeok Taesan, his expression tense.
Byeok Taesan simply stared back at him with a relaxed expression.
As the Divine Doctor fidgeted, unsure of what to do, Byeok Taesan spoke abruptly.
“Stop playing games. A fortnight is enough.”
“What? Pl-Playing games? W-What do you mean...?”
Byeok Taesan glared at him with cold eyes.
“If you make them more sensitive to pain instead of accustomed to it, do you think they'll be able to fight properly later on?”
“Th-Then are you telling me not to use the salve...?”
“Change the formula. I'm telling you not to inflict pain on them just to amuse yourself.”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages' eyes widened as far as they could go.
“H-How did you...!”
“Don't tell me you've been up to any other foolishness besides this for the past fortnight.”
“N-Never! I haven't done anything else besides this!”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages answered loudly, trembling.
He was dying to know what this man's true identity was. Yet, at the same time, he didn't want to know.
He had a feeling that if he dug any deeper, he would fall into a mire from which he could never escape.
“I'll trust you just this once. Consider this your last chance.”
“I-I'll keep that in mind.”
Byeok Taesan asked the thoroughly frozen Divine Doctor of the Ages.
“What about the task I gave you?”
“I-I'm on it. I'm gathering all information in the vicinity, focusing on the Golden Jade Trading Company. I've ordered them not to miss even the smallest detail, so I expect we'll have results soon.”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages said that much and then hesitated.
“But, Young Master. Your body... are you feeling alright?”
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
His tone was full of concern, but his true intentions were obviously different.
In times like this, the best course of action was to show him directly so he wouldn't get any funny ideas. Byeok Taesan abruptly held out his hand.
“Go on.”
“Pardon?”
“Check my pulse.”
“Th-Then... please excuse me for a moment.”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages swallowed dryly, carefully took his wrist, and began to check his pulse.
His serious expression began to twitch, then twisted into one of utter shock.
“Gotten quite a bit better, haven't I?”
The Divine Doctor of the Ages stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.
“How... how did you do this? To be able to reconnect your severed energy channels this much in just a fortnight...”
“Do I seem a bit more like a living person now?”
Just a fortnight ago, it was hard to tell if he was a person or a half-jiangshi. But now, he could say for certain.
He was still in a precarious state, but he was definitely alive.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages asked without thinking.
“How on earth did you manage to recover so much?”
Hearing that question, Byeok Taesan suddenly grew curious himself.
“I wonder.”
How did I come back to life? My soul was torn to shreds, and I was definitely dead.