Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Let's Get Along
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A brief silence hung in the air.
The One-Needle Eccentric couldn't comprehend Byeok Taesan's intentions.
Why on earth did he make a bet he was bound to lose?
If the subject of the bet had been anything else, he wouldn't have given it a second thought.
But this was a one-on-one duel against him.
‘And I’ve even checked his pulse.’
The physical condition of Byeok Taesan, as diagnosed by the One-Needle Eccentric, was far from normal.
He could fully understand why the Master of the Golden Jade Trading Company had been so desperately seeking out renowned physicians.
And why they had sought him out, even with a doctor like the Divine Doctor of the Ages on hand.
Byeok Taesan's condition was just that dire.
‘And that’s probably after the Divine Doctor of the Ages has already treated him to some extent.’
Perhaps many of his major meridians had been severed. It was highly likely that the Divine Doctor had barely managed to reconnect them.
Frankly and coldly, if what the Divine Doctor had said earlier was true, he had to admit that the man’s medical skills were a cut above his own.
In any case, this man with a tattered wreck of a body had proposed a one-on-one duel with him.
‘Is he planning to die fighting?’
It seemed he had done a fair bit of research on him.
If so, he must know that there was a very high chance he wouldn't bother to help with treatment even if he got injured during the fight.
Yet, he was willing to take such a risk. It was incomprehensible.
“You, are you trying to die?”
The One-Needle Eccentric had no choice but to ask.
Byeok Taesan looked at the Divine Doctor of the Ages and posed a question in return.
“Are all physicians this talkative?”
“But of course. As I’ve said, forming a smooth relationship with patients is a great help in treatment. Sometimes, a conversation can bring out details that a pulse diagnosis might miss. It suddenly reminds me of a time when I was passing near Mount Heng. There's a small village at the foot of Mount Heng…”
Byeok Taesan raised a hand to stop the Divine Doctor’s words.
If he let this go on, there was no telling how long he would ramble. Many had already fallen victim to that flood of words.
“So, are you in or not?”
Byeok Taesan looked at the One-Needle Eccentric, pressing for an answer.
And the One-Needle Eccentric couldn't find a single reason to refuse. That made him all the more suspicious and uneasy.
The reason the One-Needle Eccentric had won so many bets was that he only made bets he could win.
Even so, he had lost a few. That was why he had to thoroughly vet and confirm every bet before proceeding.
Because once the result was out, there was no turning back.
“The location?”
“There’s a training ground right next door. If you want, we can do it somewhere else.”
The One-Needle Eccentric stared at Byeok Taesan.
“What do you think are your chances of winning this bet?”
“I’ll win for sure. So stop wasting time and let’s get started.”
Not a single person who had spoken like that had ever achieved a proper result in a bet.
The One-Needle Eccentric tapped the final stepping stone.
“Let me check your pulse one more time.”
Byeok Taesan shot him a dumbfounded look before turning his gaze to the Divine Doctor of the Ages.
“Are physicians always this cautious?”
“But of course. Treating a human body is a matter of…”
Byeok Taesan listened only that far before raising his hand to cut him off.
The One-Needle Eccentric’s eyes gleamed as he watched.
‘He definitely… cut off his speech. Then was that not a coincidence earlier?’
The One-Needle Eccentric's thoughts were cut short. Byeok Taesan’s hand was already in front of him.
He held the wrist and carefully checked the pulse.
And he got the exact same result as before.
“Alright. Let’s go. Let’s have a fight. Don’t blame me if you die.”
The One-Needle Eccentric said as he shot to his feet.
Byeok Taesan watched him, shaking his head.
“It’s a real pain in the ass to get one fight started. You’re so different from the rumors. I heard you couldn’t get enough of betting.”
At that, the Divine Doctor of the Ages, who was standing nearby, offered his opinion.
“It is far too suspicious. I would have done the same. No, if it were me, I would have refused. He must have fallen for it this far because he likes betting.”
“He fell for it, anyway.”
The Divine Doctor's expression hardened slightly at Byeok Taesan’s words.
“But, Young Master. Will you really be alright? The One-Needle Eccentric is on a different level from the opponents you have faced so far.”
“I can see that for myself. You don’t think I’d fail to gauge his level, do you?”
Despite this, the Divine Doctor felt a sense of unease.
The One-Needle Eccentric had meticulously checked Byeok Taesan's physical condition. He was sure to use that to his advantage.
‘That will put the Young Master at a disadvantage…’
In any case, the die was cast. All that remained was to see how far it would fly and what ripples it would create.
* * *
“This training ground is quite nice.”
It was indeed a considerably large and well-maintained training ground.
And there were people already there, training.
It was Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon.
They weren't sparring since the Divine Doctor of the Ages wasn't present, but they were diligently swinging their swords.
The two wore puzzled expressions upon seeing the sudden appearance of the One-Needle Eccentric.
This was Byeok Taesan's personal training ground. It wasn't a place just anyone could enter.
Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon were only training here because they had Byeok Taesan's permission; otherwise, they would have gone to another training ground some distance away.
As the two stood there looking puzzled, Byeok Taesan entered the training ground.
Upon arriving, Byeok Taesan immediately checked on Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon.
Seeing their expressions, Byeok Taesan nodded.
“Looks like they’re not at that level yet.”
It seemed they hadn't even realized that he had learned martial arts.
The One-Needle Eccentric was quite skilled at concealing his power. That's why even for Byeok Taesan, there was a huge difference between his first glance and a closer look.
When Byeok Taesan appeared, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon also realized the One-Needle Eccentric's identity.
They already knew that he would be visiting soon.
Once they knew who he was, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon observed the One-Needle Eccentric with even greater focus.
Things that were invisible when they were unaware began to reveal themselves, little by little.
Noticing the change in their expressions, Byeok Taesan nodded.
“It was a good idea to come here.”
Today’s event would likely be a good experience for them as well.
It wasn't every day one could meet a martial artist who could conceal their energy so well.
In Byeok Taesan's view, the One-Needle Eccentric's skill in concealing his power was quite remarkable for his level of martial arts.
“How dare you divert your attention with me standing right before you!”
The One-Needle Eccentric stood in the middle of the training ground and bellowed at Byeok Taesan.
Ignoring him, Byeok Taesan leisurely walked up and stood before him.
“When shall we start? Should I attack first?”
The One-Needle Eccentric shook his head firmly.
“That won't do. We must be at least ten paces apart. And I will give the starting signal.”
Byeok Taesan smirked.
“Another coward here.”
As he said this, Byeok Taesan flicked his gaze toward Cheon Gyeongwan.
He could clearly see Cheon Gyeongwan’s eyes change slightly the moment he heard the word ‘coward.’
Though, of course, his expression and complexion remained the same.
But the One-Needle Eccentric's gaze didn't waver in the slightest.
“Better to be a coward than to lose a bet.”
With those words, he strode to a suitable distance and stood there, gesturing for Byeok Taesan to step back.
Byeok Taesan obediently stepped back.
He could clearly see what the One-Needle Eccentric was thinking.
The man was planning to fight a battle of attrition.
The calculation was that by using footwork that consumed internal energy to maintain a proper distance while constantly harassing him, Byeok Taesan, with his poor physical condition, would eventually collapse.
And this was precisely the situation the Divine Doctor of the Ages had been worried about.
Everyone present was a martial artist of considerable skill.
So they immediately understood what plan the One-Needle Eccentric had devised. Their expressions all hardened.
But Byeok Taesan remained calm.
“When are we starting?”
The One-Needle Eccentric said, raising his internal energy.
“Now.”
Byeok Taesan stood perfectly still, not moving.
Expecting Byeok Taesan to charge right at him, the One-Needle Eccentric began to move slowly when he saw him remain still.
He first moved sideways while maintaining his distance. Then he shot out a gust of wind from his fingertips.
*Shuk!*
The gust of wind grazed past Byeok Taesan's ear by a hair's breadth.
Byeok Taesan didn't move an inch.
The One-Needle Eccentric's footwork quickened. He circled Byeok Taesan in a wide arc, launching a series of finger winds.
*Shushushushuk!*
Amazingly, all of the finger winds grazed past Byeok Taesan just as narrowly.
Not a single one hit its mark.
The spectators couldn't tell if the One-Needle Eccentric was doing it on purpose or if he was making mistakes.
Byeok Taesan stood still and spoke to the One-Needle Eccentric.
“It was a plausible plan.”
In that instant, Byeok Taesan's form vanished.
“But this is the conclusion.”
Byeok Taesan appeared right in front of the One-Needle Eccentric.
The One-Needle Eccentric was in the midst of pulling a needle from his robes.
His eyes widened like saucers.
Byeok Taesan tapped the One-Needle Eccentric's arm, as if pressing down on it.
“Gah!”
As he was trying to pull out the needle, his arm was pushed aside, and it ended up plunging deep into his own chest.
The One-Needle Eccentric urgently tried to evade.
The needle wasn't poisoned, so all he had to do was endure the pain.
But he couldn't.
Byeok Taesan had already blocked his intended path of movement, sliding a foot out and lightly pushing his shoulder.
*Crash!*
He tumbled to the ground in a most undignified manner. Excruciating pain, as if his entire body would shatter, washed over him.
The One-Needle Eccentric lay on the ground, staring at Byeok Taesan with eyes full of disbelief.
Something truly unbelievable had just happened.
“You can… use internal energy? How on earth?”
Byeok Taesan didn't answer. The power he had just used wasn't internal energy, but the power of souls gathered through the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
Explaining that would only complicate the situation.
It was best to just let him imagine whatever he wanted.
“Have you given up?”
Byeok Taesan asked, looking down at the One-Needle Eccentric with a placid gaze.
That alone was immense pressure on the One-Needle Eccentric.
“Ugh.”
The One-Needle Eccentric got to his feet. He pulled the needle from his chest.
He now understood with certainty. Using needles against this man was pointless.
“I can't do that. How could I lose a bet with my very soul on the line?”
The One-Needle Eccentric steeled himself and glared at Byeok Taesan.
“It seems you won't admit defeat until you're unconscious or dead.”
With those words, Byeok Taesan vanished again.
The One-Needle Eccentric was going mad. It was the same as before. He had been watching with his eyes wide open, yet he had lost track of his movement again.
He had even poured internal energy into his eyes, determined not to miss it this time, but he still missed it.
*Crack!*
A sharp pain erupted from the back of his head. The world swayed and then turned black.
* * *
The One-Needle Eccentric blinked his eyes open. A clear blue sky came into view.
He was still lying on the floor of the training ground.
And right beside him sat the Divine Doctor of the Ages.
“Your head was shaken a bit, so you lost consciousness for a moment. You have no injuries.”
The Divine Doctor's words barely registered in his ears.
‘I lost? Me? To that brat?’
No, could that man even be called a brat? This was the first time he had lost a bet so absurdly.
He had a feeling he was being led on from the start, and this was the result.
“By the way, will you keep your promise?”
The One-Needle Eccentric's mind grew complicated at the Divine Doctor’s question.
He had wagered his body and soul. But he had no idea how he was supposed to hand them over.
To be honest, he had never even considered the possibility of losing the bet.
“I don't know. What am I supposed to do?”
“I've placed a few restrictive seals on you, just in case.”
The One-Needle Eccentric's expression twisted.
“What do you take me for! Do you think I would break my promise and run away!”
“That's why I said ‘just in case.’ Just in case, you know. Honestly, we just met today, how would I know what kind of person you are? Better to be safe than sorry, wouldn't you agree? We are doctors, after all.”
The One-Needle Eccentric stared blankly at the Divine Doctor of the Ages.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages grinned and said.
“Let's get along well from now on.”
For some reason, he felt a creeping sense of irritation, as if that man was looking down on him.