Chapter 98
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Even Better
“Isn't it just unknowable? After asking you to save Ji-yu, requesting you to also treat my son-in-law would make us far too shameless...”
Gong Son Mu-oe replied with a darkened expression.
“It would indeed be too brazen.”
Gong Son Hwa-gyeong quickly agreed. Asking those who had saved her daughter's life to also treat her husband's illness...
It was no different from pulling a drowning man from the water only to demand his bundle.
“Even just saving that young child's life is a tremendous grace for us.”
Gong Son Mu-oe's gaze turned toward Gong So-yu, who lay asleep on the bed.
She was barely fifteen now.
Those with Meridian Blockage Disease rarely lived past eighteen. The longest record was twenty.
Gong So-yu was receiving the best care in Healing Valley, so she would surely survive longer than that.
Yet it was undeniable that she was living on borrowed time, destined to end her young life far too soon.
Just being able to give that child a new lease on life was an unparalleled grace and debt to Gong Son Mu-oe and Gong Son Hwa-gyeong.
“You stay here. It seems I must visit the Myriad Things Alliance myself.”
In time, Gong Son Mu-oe spoke as if he had made up his mind.
At his words, Gong Son Hwa-gyeong's eyes widened round.
“Father, that would be...”
Gong Son Mu-oe was the lord of Healing Valley. For him to personally visit another sect was no small matter.
Countless sects hoped he would grace them with a visit.
In fact, sects near Wuchang had sent him nonstop invitations during this trip.
Please stop by, even briefly, while you're in the area.
Yet he had refrained, because forming ties with Healing Valley carried great significance.
The Central Plains' premier school of medicine.
A visit from its lord was an event that bolstered any sect's prestige immensely.
Moreover, for Gong Son Mu-oe to visit the Myriad Things Alliance, another of the New Eight Great Sects, could well irk the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans.
Thus, he had held back despite his son-in-law being the Alliance Leader.
For the same reason, the Myriad Things Alliance Leader had never visited Healing Valley.
The two had met only once: at the wedding when the Alliance Leader, then vice-leader, married Gong Son Hwa-gyeong. That was their first and last encounter.
“I know. What that signifies. But after coming here and meeting the great one, I realized those concerns are meaningless. Family comes first. If I lacked the skill, it would be different, but how could I not at least check my weakening son-in-law's pulse?”
Gong Son Hwa-gyeong could only bow her head at her father's resolute words.
“Then, for treating Meridian Blockage Disease...”
“You and Bi-yeon will suffice. Leave records, and we'll study them together. It's not as good as seeing it myself, but my son-in-law's life takes precedence. What's the point of saving Ji-yu if her father passes first? That would be great sorrow for the child too.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Gong Son Hwa-gyeong spoke through streaming tears.
Ha Mu-baek closed his eyes and channeled a tiny amount of internal energy.
He then carefully circulated it along the path of the Infinite Free Heart Method.
It was truly the barest thread of energy.
With it, he cautiously pierced the blocked meridians from within, strengthening them.
The acupuncture needles caught the energy trying to scatter outward after breaching the meridians, pressing it into the meridian walls to reinforce them.
How much effort had Wi Ji-gun poured into discovering this method?
It was the fruit of desperate toil.
A method made possible only by the Infinite Free Heart Method.
Other circulation techniques failed to open blocked meridians and even damaged them further.
“Mm...”
Gong So-yu let out a faint groan, still feeling pain.
Unlike before, however, she was fully conscious now.
At her request, this was the first treatment without sedatives.
Ha Mu-baek proceeded with an impassive expression, ignoring her reactions.
If her pain shook his focus and disrupted his energy flow, it would spell disaster.
Maintaining composure, he circulated his energy steadily.
How much time passed like that?
Gong So-yu's body was drenched in sweat.
Ha Mu-baek withdrew his energy, carefully removed the needles densely embedded in her bare skin, covered her with a thin blanket, and left the room with Wi Ji-gun.
“You're growing ever more adept at handling the energy flow. Well done.”
Wi Ji-gun said with a smile.
“It's thanks to Master's guidance.”
Wi Ji-gun chuckled at Ha Mu-baek's words.
“You rascal, such honeyed words.”
Yet he seemed quite pleased.
About fifteen minutes later,
the door opened, and Gong Son Hwa-gyeong, Gong Son Bi-yeon, and Gong So-yu emerged.
“How's the body feeling?”
At Wi Ji-gun's question, Gong So-yu smiled faintly.
“It's so light, almost too light.”
Her face was flushed with color—a healthy glow, nothing like her former pallor.
Even her arms had plumped slightly, her body now properly absorbing nutrients from her meals.
“Excellent.”
Wi Ji-gun nodded.
“The Valley Lord would be overjoyed to see her like this.”
Ha Mu-baek said with a hint of regret.
“We're so sorry. We sought the great one's aid, only for Father to be absent...”
Gong Son Hwa-gyeong bowed her head in apology.
“Ah, no, I didn't mean it that way. My apologies.”
Ha Mu-baek flailed his hands in flustered denial.
“I hear the Myriad Things Alliance Leader's health is poor too.”
Gong Son Mu-oe had explained the situation to Ha Mu-baek and Wi Ji-gun before departing.
They hadn't pressed for details then, given Gong So-yu's condition.
But now, with her color returned and able to endure treatment awake, they had the leisure to inquire.
“Yes. He was always frail, but lately his condition worsened suddenly. Father went to examine him. With my meager skills, I couldn't even identify the cause...”
As Gong Son Hwa-gyeong spoke, not only she but Gong So-yu looked somber.
“The current Alliance Leader... the one who improved the Ten Thousand Blood Thunder during the last war?”
“Yes. My husband refined it during his time as vice-leader. Now he's developed entirely new hidden weapons.”
Ha Mu-baek nodded slightly.
Ten Thousand Blood Thunder.
Every Hocheon Corps member carried one.
For desperate reversals in critical moments.
While the Tang Clan's hidden weapons relied mainly on poison and needles, the Myriad Things Alliance's used explosives.
Thus, against groups of foes, the Ten Thousand Blood Thunder far outshone Tang weapons.
But there was a flaw.
Explosives meant misfires and accidental detonations.
Especially when carried, they had harmed allies more than once.
The current Alliance Leader had revolutionized that weakness.
His improvements virtually eliminated misfires and accidents.
Afterward, even Hocheon Corps adopted them as emergency tools, benefiting greatly in pinch.
“We received no small aid from the Ten Thousand Blood Thunder in the last war.”
Ha Mu-baek said calmly.
“There were operations that might have failed without it. If even the Valley Lord can't find the cause, would it be too much trouble for me to take a look? Of course, I'm unlikely to find a solution myself.”
Gong Son Hwa-gyeong's eyes widened round.
She hadn't expected Ha Mu-baek to offer first.
Not even a blue sky listens to the unjustly accused.
“Truly, thank you so much.”
Gong Son Hwa-gyeong bowed deeply, Gong So-yu with her.
“No need. What could I possibly achieve by looking? Neither Master nor I are physicians, just warriors. We can only treat blocked meridians.”
Ha Mu-baek grew flustered again.
Overwhelmed by the mother and daughter's excessive courtesy.
Ha Mu-baek, cold as ice to his own disciples, his own clan, Haomen, or Yeon Clan, had other reasons for aiding Healing Valley and Myriad Things Alliance so readily.
He owed them from the last war.
War was truly brutal.
Any edge to raise survival odds in that hell...
Was a great debt.
So Ha Mu-baek thought.
He himself might not have benefited, but his subordinates had from Healing Valley's medicine and Myriad Things Alliance's hidden weapons.
And thus, one more returned alive.
That was why Ha Mu-baek, icy to Peng Clan, Haomen, and Yeon Clan, couldn't be so to Healing Valley and Myriad Things Alliance.
“The young lady's case is unique. With the Valley Lord as the Central Plains' greatest physician, I doubt you'll need my help.”
Ha Mu-baek smiled faintly.
“Let me check her condition briefly.”
Then Wi Ji-gun took Gong So-yu's wrist and checked her pulse.
“Hmm. Even better.”
At Wi Ji-gun's words after finishing, the Healing Valley folk brightened.
“At this rate, after four days—two more treatments—you can start the medicine.”
Currently, her meridians were too frail, so they treated every other day with a recovery day in between.
Yet medicine already?
Recovery was faster than expected.
“Already?”
Gong Son Hwa-gyeong asked in a trembling voice.
“I didn't anticipate this either. Given it's Nine Yin Blocked Meridians, I thought it would take longer... I hadn't considered that the faster deterioration compared to Seven Yin would mean faster recovery too. Even compared to the child with Seven Yin we're treating now, it's markedly quicker.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
Gong Son Hwa-gyeong bowed deeply, offering thanks repeatedly.
Whenever Master and disciple Wi Ji-gun and Ha Mu-baek visited for treatment, Gong Son Hwa-gyeong and Gong Son Bi-yeon's backs never straightened.
“Um... Grandfather...”
Gong So-yu cautiously addressed Wi Ji-gun. He had told her to call him that.
“Could I meet that child? She's younger than me, and I heard she hasn't received proper treatment...”
No one had specifically mentioned Dan Mok Un-hye, yet she knew this much.
Ha Mu-baek wondered briefly before realizing the source.
One person who would relay such tales.
Wall Force Dog, who had gone to Healing Valley for herbs and brought them here.
He already knew of Wall Force Dog's ties to them.
Old friends with the previous Healing Valley Lord.
That connection was enough for such stories.
“Moreover, that child's grandfather was close friends with my great-grandfather...”
About Dan Mok Clan, Healing Valley, and Wall Force Dog—Gong So-yu had heard from him during treatments.
Along with deep gratitude.
“I see. By blood, Hye-a would be your grandaunt.”
Strictly by generations, yes.
Gong So-yu just smiled faintly at Wi Ji-gun's words.
“Yes. Once both are healthier, let's arrange a meeting.”
And so Ha Mu-baek and Wi Ji-gun departed.
Three days passed.
At Wuchang's gates.
Gong Son Mu-oe sat in a carriage with his son-in-law, gazing at the city walls.
He hadn't anticipated things turning out this way.