Chapter 94
Tian Ailang's tears suddenly welled up the moment he heard that voice he had missed so desperately and longed to hear again.
"B-Brother... why are you crying...?"
Song Sogeol panicked at Tian Ailang's tears and tried to sit up, only to sway unsteadily right away.
"Whoa."
"Sogeol! Are you alright?!"
Tian Ailang startled and hurried to support him. At that moment, the two divine physicians who had stepped back approached with admiration.
"He's been lying still for months, so it's only natural."
"Indeed. Best not to move too forcefully."
"I had hoped deep down that we could heal him, but seeing the actual result... I have no words."
"Heh heh, tell me about it. To think he actually pulled off a real cure."
Song Sogeol, sitting up on the bed with Tian Ailang's help, spotted the two physicians.
"Huh? Divine Physician?"
"The fact that you recognize me right away means there's no major issue with your head."
The divine physician smiled.
"What is this? Where am I?"
Song Sogeol looked around in bewilderment. Tian Ailang knelt to meet his eye level and spoke warmly.
"This is the Medical Pavilion. Everyone here went through tremendous hardship to treat you."
Song Sogeol met Tian Ailang's gaze.
"Treat me? You mean me?"
Song Sogeol quickly checked his own condition. An immense inner energy surged within him. It was incomparably purer, vaster, and smoother than before. He felt like he could do anything.
Sensing the disconnect from his previous body, Song Sogeol suddenly noticed his appearance.
"Huh?"
The chest plate that had covered his chest was gone. And the breasts he had hidden with transformation arts all this time were now visibly swelling.
In his panic, Song Sogeol touched his face.
"Huh?!"
It wasn't the face he'd crafted with transformation arts; it was Song Sohee's fair skin.
Song Sogeol looked around at everyone in flustered confusion. Tian Ailang smiled warmly at the sight.
"Sogeol, no need to panic. We all know you're a woman—and the daughter of the Hao Clan Lord."
Song Sogeol's eyes shook violently at Tian Ailang's words.
"B-Brother? How did you...?"
"We'll talk details slowly. You wouldn't know, but you awoke after months on the brink of life and death. First things first: recover your body."
"Right. Let us examine you."
Ma Chung and the divine physician approached at Tian Ailang's glance.
"Patriarch, I'll fetch some fresh clothes for the young lady."
Hwa Ran spoke and hurried out of the building.
"Patriarch?"
Song Sogeol, who had been quietly observing, looked at Tian Ailang with puzzled eyes.
Tian Ailang gestured toward Ma Chung.
"This is the head of the Medical Pavilion—and now family to me. The Hwa Ran who just left is his granddaughter."
Song Sogeol furrowed his brow slightly—a habit when processing and sorting new information.
"Wait. Ma Chung... Ma Chung... Physician Ma Chung... Gasp! You're the Divine Physician Ma?!"
Everyone—even Tian Ailang and the two physicians—turned astonished eyes toward Song Sogeol at his shock.
"Heh heh. I never dreamed someone would remember this old man, let alone a young one like Ailang here."
"They say the Hao Clan's intelligence network is unparalleled, and indeed, the daughter proves it."
At the two physicians' admiration, Song Sogeol verified the truth and let out a quiet gasp.
"To think two legendary divine physicians, near impossible to meet in a lifetime, are here together..."
Tian Ailang smiled at Song Sogeol's unchanged sharpness.
"Your mind's spinning at full speed—looks like the divine physician was right; no major problems."
The divine physician followed up.
"Fortunate indeed. Using innate essence explosively usually damages the brain, but your treatment was masterful."
Ma Chung cut in, approaching Song Sogeol.
"Talk later. First, let's check your body."
Ma Chung examined Song Sogeol first. Though the situation wasn't fully clear, Song Sogeol trusted Tian Ailang and stayed still for the pulse diagnosis. After a long check, Ma Chung's eyes widened as he looked from Tian Ailang to the divine physician.
"Divine Physician Jin, you check too."
"Understood."
The divine physician followed, diagnosing Song Sogeol's condition. They then cross-verified opinions. Once done, they turned to Tian Ailang.
"In conclusion."
"She's perfectly cured."
Tian Ailang let out a deep sigh of relief at the two physicians' words. All his pent-up worries melted away.
The divine physician added,
"But it's not just cured—her condition is over perfect."
Tian Ailang asked worriedly,
"Is there a problem?"
Ma Chung replied,
"Hardly. Ailang, when you treated her, she had the Three Flowers Gather at the Summit. Remember?"
Tian Ailang shook his head. He'd been focused on observing and healing her internals, oblivious to external events.
"Whatever the reason, her state is impeccable. I don't know her prior realm, but it may have advanced."
"So, no more issues—Sogeol is fully healed?"
Tian Ailang cared more about her health than any realm talk.
Ma Chung nodded.
"The recovery was so perfect in such short time that Divine Physician Jin and I conferred."
The divine physician chimed in,
"Indeed. In my view, it's a complete cure. Look at her complexion—flawless. Any aftereffects? None, per my judgment."
"Same as Divine Physician Jin."
Tian Ailang nodded vigorously.
"That's all that matters. As long as Sogeol's no longer in pain and healed."
He bowed deeply to the two physicians.
"Thank you."
"Ailang, no need for formalities. We're family, aren't we?"
Ma Chung patted Tian Ailang's shoulder with a pleased smile.
The divine physician, accepting the bow with his usual frown, grumbled,
"It was grueling work, no easy feat. But seeing a patient who collapsed before me rise is a relief. And the insights I gained aren't trivial, so no need to fuss."
Tian Ailang smiled at him.
He turned to Hwa Ran.
"I say it every time, but thank you."
"As I say every time, it was just my duty. And congratulations on the successful treatment."
Song Sogeol quietly observed the exchanges.
"Hmmm~."
Tian Ailang turned at the hum. Song Sogeol had arms crossed, eyes narrowed in a sly grin.
"Heh heh heh. Brother, did you get a new sister-in-law while I was out?"
No one in the room needed long to grasp Song Sogeol's meaning.
"What?"
Tian Ailang flustered; Hwa Ran quietly blushed.
"Heh heh heh."
Ma Chung just chuckled; the divine physician packed his things like it was none of his business.
"Making jokes already? Makes my lingering worries seem unfounded. I'll head out to rest."
The divine physician shuffled out.
Tian Ailang quickly told Ma Chung and Hwa Ran,
"You two rest too."
As they tried to say they were fine, Tian Ailang waved them off.
"You barely slept through all this hardship. Rest, then we'll talk. Looks like Sogeol needs circulation meditation right away—her mind and body must be off-balance."
Ma Chung gave the room, Tian Ailang, Song Sogeol, and Hwa Ran a final once-over, then nodded.
"You're right, Ailang. What about you?"
"I'll circulate and rest while she checks herself."
Ma Chung agreed easily.
"Very well."
"Call if you need anything."
Hwa Ran said worriedly. Tian Ailang nodded and saw them out. Now, only Tian Ailang and Song Sogeol remained.
"Brother."
Tian Ailang sensed the new heaviness in Song Sogeol's voice.
"Need something?"
Song Sogeol shook his head, asking gravely instead,
"Where's Brother Chanho?"
Tian Ailang's expression hardened coldly in an instant.
"What you need now is circulation meditation. Once your mind and body's balance stabilizes, I'll explain calmly."
He wanted to avoid the Chanho topic. Plenty of time after she fully recovered.
"Could it be... Brother Chanho's tied to the Demonic Cult?"
Tian Ailang's face twitched. He shook his head firmly, chiding,
"...Recover first. We can talk after."
Song Sogeol smiled bitterly.
"As expected, Brother Ailang can't lie."
"..."
Tian Ailang clicked his tongue and scratched his head.
"Scratching your head when troubled—still the same habit."
Song Sogeol rubbed his dry face.
"I had a dream."
Tian Ailang listened silently.
"There, you and Brother Chanho faced off like you wanted to kill each other. I was collapsed in your arms, seemingly dead."
Tian Ailang's form flinched. Song Sogeol nodded at the reaction.
"Guess it wasn't just a dream. In it, Brother Chanho exuded demonic energy I'd never seen—enough to manifest as an Asura's form."
Tian Ailang's eyes widened briefly, then he sighed.
"You're right, Sogeol. The Demonic Cult harmed you, and Chanho was their Young Lord. He deceived us all this time."
"No way... There must be some misunderstanding."
Tian Ailang shook his head coldly.
"As you know, the Demonic Cult and Heavenly Demon wiped out my clan. Hundreds who claimed to love me died vainly to their greed. Even Grandfather, who cared for me till the end, passed from wounds they inflicted."
Song Sogeol saw the heartrending longing, sorrow, and thick killing intent in Tian Ailang's eyes.
"And the Demonic Cult tried to kill my precious you, while their Young Lord mocked brotherly bonds."
"B-But... maybe Brother Chanho had some story...?"
Tian Ailang shook his head resolutely.
"I told you before: good individuals exist, but never good groups."
"That's..."
"The Demonic Cult is my blood-sworn enemy; they can't live under the same sky. No matter their tales, I have no reason or heart to care. Same for that guy."
Song Sogeol bowed his head, speechless.
"Because of those Demonic Cult bastards, you nearly died—dantian shattered, innate essence exploding. With much help, we halted the worsening, made the antidote, and miraculously cured you."
Tian Ailang softened his cold expression. He ruffled Song Sogeol's dejected hair.
"Ah!"
Startled by the sudden gesture, Song Sogeol looked up at Tian Ailang. He smiled down at her.
"In short, today is the joyous day my precious little sister miraculously returned to life. Save the complicated, gloomy talk for later."
Song Sogeol burst into a soft laugh at Tian Ailang's smile.
"Got it, Brother."
"Good. I'll be outside, so meditate calmly. Change if needed."
"Yes."
Song Sogeol watched Tian Ailang's back as he left, a pang in her heart. Then she clapped vigorously.
"Whew. Alright, pull yourself together! I'm Brother's right hand, aren't I? Without me, naive Brother Ailang's lost—I've gotta snap to and help."
Outside, Tian Ailang heard Song Sogeol's self-pep talk and let out a hollow chuckle. It felt like a precious something that had vanished had returned to its place.