Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: World's Greatest Physician
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Three days later, the prodigies destined to carry on the Sima Clan's legacy gathered at the Ascension Pavilion.
Their ages ranged from the late teens up to thirty at most. Anyone older would see diminished effects from the procedure, while the young ones might not endure it.
Dang Mujin asked Sima Yugong,
"How many people are receiving the procedure exactly?"
"Fourteen."
The Sima Clan categorized its members by talent into top, middle, and low tiers. The five he'd previously granted the severed meridian condition to were middling at best.
They could handle one person's worth in the future for the Sima Clan, but not enough to vie for key positions or the clan head's seat.
If even those middling ones with dull wits and sluggish movements had been given the condition, there'd be no point. Every clan needed leaders up top and followers below.
In any case, these fourteen were the most crucial of the next generation. They were the true prodigies who would lead the Sima Clan's future.
If even ten of them survived to break through to the peak realm, the Sima Clan's standing would soar dramatically.
No, even seven or eight crossing that wall would be outstanding.
Adding that many peak experts would give the Sima Clan, including the previous generation, over a dozen in total. That number would rival or surpass even Shaolin Temple or the Beggars' Sect in peak experts.
And that was just the short term. Across generations, the Sima Clan's masters would multiply. Once they exceeded twenty peak experts, then thirty?
But that wasn't the end.
If these youngsters who reached the peak at a young age devoted themselves purely to martial arts instead of wasting time on internal arts, producing transcendent experts wouldn't be a dream.
Far from it—they could even boast two, or with great luck, three transcendent masters.
'If more than half of the next generation's six venerables hail from the Sima Clan...'
At that point, established sects like Shaolin or the Beggars' Sect would pose no threat. Just as the Sima Clan now bowed before Shaolin, Shaolin would have to bow to them.
The Sima Clan's dominance over Luoyang and the Central Plains' prime territories was a foregone conclusion.
Seizing the Myriad Gold Vault wouldn't be hard either. At that stage, it wouldn't be mere hegemony over the Central Plains martial world.
Sima Yugong felt dazed. The vision lacked realism, yet rationally, it seemed highly probable.
Unable to suppress his grin, Sima Yugong cleared his throat needlessly and shouted,
"Who will go first?"
All fourteen prodigies raised their hands. They hadn't decided the order among themselves.
They all gazed at Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong with shining eyes.
Sima Yugong pretended to ponder for a moment before calling out,
"Ho Yeon. Step forward."
Sima Hoyeon was a man nearing thirty.
He was the oldest here, and unfortunately, the least talented. One more year, and he wouldn't have qualified.
But Sima Yugong chose him first for a simple reason: Sima Hoyeon was his son.
The other Sima Clan prodigies showed no major discontent, as if they'd half-expected it.
Some even seemed relieved. Choosing his own son first signaled strong confidence in the procedure.
"The rest of you, leave. We'll select the second subject five days after the first procedure ends."
*
For the five days after completing Sima Hoyeon's procedure, Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong closely monitored his condition.
Aside from minor health dips from yin-yang imbalance and slight qi depletion, no issues arose.
"It seems to have wrapped up well."
Dang Mujin nodded, and Sima Yugong flashed a smile identical to his son's. After enduring another half-year or year, he'd gain enviable internal energy.
The Sima Clan's next-generation prodigies then arrived one by one for their procedures.
They started at one every five days but soon shifted to one every three as Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong sped up while proving stability.
Of the fourteen, only one failed. One more lunatic joined the brain prison, but that was far better than expected.
"Excellent."
Both Sima Yugong and Sima Jeung were greatly satisfied.
*
Two days after all procedures ended.
Dang Mujin's friends sent word via the guest hall maids that they were leaving the Sima Clan.
To Sima Jeung and Sima Yugong, the timing felt perfect. Departing after completing everything and catching their breath.
Dang Mujin and Sima Clan members gathered to see off Namgung Myeong, Hong Geolgae, and Hyeon-gong.
But his friends' expressions were complicated.
"Dang Mujin. You're really staying with the Sima Clan?"
"Yeah. Now that the procedures are done, I need to finish with treatments. Probably another half-year at least."
"Is that the real reason?"
Hyeon-gong asked in a subdued tone. It sounded innocuous, but everyone present grasped its implication.
Sima Rin was clinging tightly to Dang Mujin's arm.
Namgung Myeong chimed in.
"What should I tell Dan Seol-yeong?"
"Not yet. Wait for me."
The three friends glanced between Dang Mujin and Sima Rin, then sighed deeply.
"Take care. See you later."
That was their farewell. Namgung Myeong, Hong Geolgae, and Hyeon-gong left the Sima Clan.
They departed early, reaching a secluded mountain path outside Luoyang by deep night.
No human presence, not even beast cries or insect chirps.
Ordinary folk might've shuddered and turned back, but the three pressed on silently.
When they found a suitable open spot, they encountered over a dozen black-clad warriors.
Clad head to toe in black robes and masks, their identities were obvious: Sima Clan warriors.
Namgung Myeong scratched his chin, thinking,
'Six peak experts and five first-rate. The first-rates must be for grabbing ankles.'
Even with Namgung Myeong and Hyeon-gong's skills ranking high among peak warriors, the sheer numbers overwhelmed.
Hyeon-gong stepped forward in their stead, asking in an oddly relaxed voice,
"Uh, Sima Clan folks. What's the occasion?"
"Our farewell seemed too modest, so we came to see you off properly."
The bold reply came in Sima Jeung's voice. No intent to hide from the start. Hyeon-gong sighed.
"Isn't this send-off a bit too lavish?"
"You're headed far. A meager one would be disappointing."
Sima Jeung drew his sword and advanced.
Snow around his feet melted away. A phenomenon from his advanced Blazing Yang Skill.
Sima Jeung unleashed a flashy sword strike at Hyeon-gong.
Hyeon-gong parried steadily with his own sword, but Sima Jeung's internal energy surged through his arm.
Hyeon-gong countered with his own energy, but his palm burned like it'd been thrust into flames. The signature trait of the Sima Clan's Crimson Flame Divine Skill.
Hyeon-gong grumbled,
"Couldn't you at least pretend to hide who you are?"
"I prefer no pretense."
As Sima Jeung swung again, a sword flew in, embedding between them.
All heads turned toward the source.
Unexpectedly, Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong stood there.
'Sima Yugong? Why bring the Divine Dragon here?'
Sima Jeung furrowed his brow. Showing Dang Mujin this scene gained nothing.
As Sima Jeung halted, Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong approached steadily. Sima Yugong's steps lacked vigor, his sheath empty. He'd thrown the sword.
At eight paces away, Dang Mujin spoke.
"Why so surprised? Did you think I wouldn't know you had no intention of letting my friends go unharmed?"
"Hah!"
It wasn't hard to predict, as Dang Mujin said. That's why Sima Jeung left Sima Yugong and Sima Rin with him—to keep him from leaving.
'The issue is why Sima Yugong came with him.'
Questioning that could wait.
"So. Here to rescue your friends?"
"Something like that."
"Too bad. No matter what you say, I can't let them go easily."
"Is that so."
Dang Mujin replied indifferently, then struck an insolent pose. He shifted weight off one leg, leaning casually, and draped an arm over Sima Yugong's shoulder.
It looked like treating a friend or junior, not an elder. The Sima Clan warriors openly scowled.
But they noticed something more crucial: Sima Yugong stood blankly, showing no displeasure.
Sima Jeung felt an eerie foreboding.
"Sima Yugong. What's going on?"
Neither replied. Instead, Dang Mujin snapped his fingers, releasing a faint floral scent everywhere.
The Sima warriors, thinking poison, covered their noses with sleeves. But no toxin came—only sweet flowers.
Sima Yugong's reaction differed. He stood dazed, then suddenly vomited blood.
No, calling it vomiting was odd. It was more like squeezing blood out deliberately.
Blood spewed from his mouth, streamed from his other orifices. Beads seeped from pores, staining clothes red; snow around him turned crimson.
Before this sight—like something sucking blood—no one dared move rashly.
Sima Jeung bellowed, trying to seize control.
"What have you done!"
"What else? The result of slowly poisoning Sima Yugong over months."
"Nonsense! A man like Sima Yugong wouldn't notice being poisoned?"
"Not all poisons start as poison. Innocuous things can accumulate into one. Until he smelled the White Cloud Cotton's floral scent just now, what gathered in his body wasn't poison."
Sima Jeung closed his eyes briefly, then approached Dang Mujin instead of Hyeon-gong.
"Glory under the Sima Clan's name was assured. Why court death? No forgiveness even if you beg now."
Dang Mujin scoffed.
"Forgiveness? No. I'm not here to be forgiven. With Sima Yugong dead, whose hands hold the Sima Clan's next generation's fate?"
Sima Jeung halted. Only two physicians in the world could treat severed meridians: Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong. The latter just died.
Sima Jeung glared.
"You're not the only one who can treat severed meridians. Your master, the Eccentric Physician Yi Chung. You may not know, but the Eccentric Physician and I have long been acquainted."
Dang Mujin sneered.
"I know of your friendship. But that won't revive my master, dead for years, for treatment."
Sima Jeung studied Dang Mujin's face for lies.
But his eyes held wistful longing, not brazenness or fear. Sima Jeung felt faint dizziness.
He couldn't show fluster now.
"Then seek the Demon Physician of Tianshan. A bridge or two, and contacting him is easy."
Dang Mujin burst into laughter, as if hearing the world's funniest tale.
"You're behind on the news."
"What?"
Dang Mujin drew his sword, using it like a staff, and said,
"No Divine Immortal Physician, no Demon Physician, no Eccentric Physician. The era of the Three Great Physicians is over. Now it's the era of the World's Greatest Physician."
Mad words. But the implication mattered more than the arrogance.
Sima Jeung's breathing quickened.
The Demon Physician dead too? When? Why? How does this kid know? Are the Eccentric and Demon Physicians really dead? His mind reeled.
Before such a Sima Jeung, Dang Mujin smirked.
"How about a simple wager?"
"What wager?"
"The wager itself doesn't matter. The stakes do."
Dang Mujin advanced, sword drawn.
"I'll stake the Sima Clan's future. Crimson Blaze Army's elder Sima Jeung—what will you wager?"