The Healing Waters of the Immortal
"Allow me to join you in your pursuit of the Bokma-jeon."
Yeong-myeong’s request was not merely about cleaning up the mess caused by the scholar; it was about what would come next. Under normal circumstances, Seong-jin could not take on an assistant due to the strict prohibition against leaking heavenly secrets, but this situation was different. It was the scholar who had leaked the secrets to Yeong-myeong, not Seong-jin. Repeating facts that one had already deduced or learned on one’s own did not constitute a leak of heavenly secrets. This was the same reason Seong-jin could freely tell Byeok-ha Nang-rang that she had been poisoned by yogi when he arrived to treat her.
The conditions for leaking heavenly secrets were complex and possessed a certain degree of flexibility. If simply mentioning the existence of immortals or demons resulted in divine punishment, then every time someone told a child, "The bogeyman will come and snatch you away if you don't listen," the entire world would have been struck by lightning. Simple jokes or coincidental truths spoken aloud did not count as leaking secrets. Similarly, telling Yeong-myeong—who was already aware of the existence of demons and sorcery—that there were other types of demons out there did not violate the rules. In short, Yeong-myeong was in a position to help Seong-jin while already being privy to the truth.
Honestly, Seong-jin had no reason to refuse. They couldn't wander this vast world as a duo forever.
"Very well. However, as this is not a matter I can decide alone, let us postpone the detailed discussion. For now, please focus on the aftermath of the scholar's actions."
"Understood."
Though they had thwarted the scholar’s conspiracy, the demon rats he had created in league with Baek-geomja were likely still out there. To root them out, they would have to search not only Hubei but also the sect's main mountain in Shaanxi. Byeok-ha Nang-rang was planning to return to the main mountain as soon as the situation was settled. That would leave the task of hunting down the remaining demon rats in Hubei to Yeong-myeong and Seong-jin.
The next morning, after finishing their meal, the two sat down to put their heads together.
"It is impossible to interrogate the scholar to find their location. He believes he has fulfilled his purpose and is ready to die; he will not open his mouth."
"You can call down lightning from a clear sky, can't you use some kind of mind-reading technique?"
"Calling down lightning is purely a matter of martial arts. I cannot use Taoist arts."
"Then what do we do? Do we really have to walk across Hubei on foot to find them?"
"That is why I need the Hwasan Sword Dragon to interrogate your senior brother."
Even if the scholar wouldn't talk, his accomplice, Baek-geomja, remained. Baek-geomja had repented at the final moment and even performed Gyeok-che-jeon-ryeok (transfer of internal energy) for Yeong-myeong. If Yeong-myeong asked, he would surely cooperate with the investigation.
"But my senior brother is still unconscious from the backlash of the energy transfer."
Because Baek-geomja had reached such a high realm, the side effects of losing his internal energy were severe. Not only had his remaining lifespan been drastically reduced, but there was no telling if his mind would be intact even if he woke up.
"I will treat him."
"You mean you can heal the side effects of Gyeok-che-jeon-ryeok?"
"Of course, he cannot return to his state before the transfer. That would not be healing, but something closer to rejuvenation."
"As expected, even Taoist arts cannot achieve that..."
"No, Taoist arts could achieve rejuvenation, but using such arts on humans is forbidden."
If that were allowed, he wouldn't have needed to rent a carriage to come to Hubei; he could have just stuffed everyone into a gourd and ridden a horse alone.
"However, without resorting to Taoist arts, it is possible through the realm of medicine to ensure he lives out the rest of his life as a normal person."
"Is that really okay? I, uh, it’s not my place to say, but wasn't my senior brother trying to commit evil deeds in league with demons?"
Yeong-myeong was trying to gauge Seong-jin’s stance, but Seong-jin’s conclusion was simple.
"A demon hunter catches demons. I have no concern for the affairs of men."
Was Baek-geomja a demon? No. Did he use sorcery? No. Did he leak heavenly secrets? No. Therefore, his betrayal of the Hwasan Sect and his actions were merely a matter between people. Seong-jin was not performing his duties based on a distinction between good and evil; he was fulfilling his mission to eradicate demons. Baek-geomja was a person irrelevant to his work.
"Please secure a bathhouse."
"A bathhouse?"
"I will perform the treatment via Tang-chi (healing through bathing). Since your bodies have been damaged by the yogi, I must secure a large bath so that Byeok-ha Nang-rang can join as well."
"H-together? Even if my senior brother is unconscious, wouldn't it be better to take turns purifying yourselves?"
"The medicinal effect will fade if we do that. I only have enough for one session, so everyone must enter together."
"Ahem, then I have no choice. I shall stand guard."
"What are you talking about?"
Seong-jin looked at Yeong-myeong as if he were saying something strange.
"The recipient of the energy transfer also has internal injuries from the sudden surge of energy, so you must enter as well. Of course, I will be entering too. I’m at my limit, having summoned lightning with my Nine-Yin Severed Pulse and then being exposed to yogi."
Seong-jin first encountered Tang-chi right after he had been battered in a fight against a Chang-gwi (a ghost of a victim killed by a tiger). Yeo Dong-bin, who had defeated the ghost, took the exhausted Seong-jin and the siblings—who had used up even their primordial energy—to a lake on Mount Bongnae. The lake, where giant lotuses floated, was where Seong-jin usually drew water. Yeo Dong-bin descended onto a lotus flower using Eo-geom-bi-haeng (sword flight).
Inside the lotus, hidden by closed petals, was a magnificent palace. As soon as Yeo Dong-bin landed, a beautiful Yeo-seon (female immortal) rushed out in her socks.
"Goodness, what happened?"
As the immortal of peerless beauty picked up the children, Yeo Dong-bin said as if everything was fine, "She will take care of the rest." He then departed via sword flight. The immortal didn't even ask what happened; she just started tending to the children.
"Please, tend to these children before me."
"You are but a child yourself, what are you saying? The Baek-ryeon-tang (White Lotus Bath) can care for everyone at once, so don't worry."
"Baek-ryeon-tang...?"
To his questioning voice, she replied with a bright smile. "I am Ha-seon-go, and my Tang-chi-sul (bathing therapy) is famous even in the immortal realm."
Tang-chi was a therapy for healing illnesses through hot spring baths, a term often used when wealthy people went on trips under the guise of recuperation. However, an immortal's Tang-chi could not possibly be the same as those in the outside world. Following Ha-seon-go, they found a spring filled with milky medicinal water. She entered the bath holding the siblings and encouraged Seong-jin to soak his body as well.
"You may enter with your clothes on. If you soak in the Baek-ryeon-tang, even your straw sandals will return to being brand new."
Just as she said, as Seong-jin dipped his feet, the pain vanished. As he dipped his legs, his sensation returned. When he dipped up to his neck, the Qi that had been boiling due to Ju-hwa-ip-ma (deviation) returned to its proper state.
"You are fine now."
Finally, Ha-seon-go’s benevolent voice calmed Seong-jin’s startled heart.
"Thank you. I do not know how to repay this kindness."
"Do not make me into someone who saves children for a price. Saving these children was entirely your merit for persuading Sunyang-jin-in."
"Were you watching?"
"The wind told me. Sunyang-jin-in’s sword always carries a sword-wind with it."
In other words, Yeo Dong-bin had given her a heads-up on the way.
"What will happen to the children?"
"They will be returned after treatment. The Chang-gwi will be made to repent for its sins on Mount Bongnae before it can achieve enlightenment. Now, let us talk about you."
Ha-seon-go said as she laid the sleeping children in a pavilion next to the hot spring. "Your father left you here and went to find a cure, but there is no cure for the Nine-Yin Severed Pulse in this world."
"..."
"And your father left you with us because he knew that."
"Did my father say that?"
"He went to another world to find a method that does not exist in this one. Your father leaving you here wasn't just about buying time to find a cure."
Ha-seon-go’s words were as follows: "Perhaps he believed that if you caught the eyes of the immortals and became their disciple, you too could become an immortal and transcend your fate."
"But isn't it forbidden to teach Taoist arts to those of the lower realm according to the Bong-sin-gyu-yak (Seal of the Gods Covenant)?"
"That is true. But the covenant does not prevent a being of the lower realm from awakening to the Tao on their own and becoming an immortal."
If Seong-jin watched the immortals here and gained enlightenment on his own, that enlightenment would be entirely his own. "In fact, what you gained from the sword flight just now is not insignificant."
Seong-jin nodded at those words. Yeo Dong-bin’s sword art. Through that method of traversing space and manipulating objects from afar, Seong-jin had awakened to a completely different way of Qi cultivation. 'Even if I cannot store internal energy in my lower dantian, I can substitute it with the spirituality of my upper dantian.'
He had already used the principles of Chuk-ji (shortening distance) that Lee Cheol-goi had shown him when facing the Ho-gwi (tiger demon); there was no reason he couldn't use the principles of sword art as well.
"With your talent, you might be able to awaken to the Tao and become an immortal before your lifespan ends."
"How could I dare to covet the realm of an immortal?"
"Few reach U-hwa-deung-seon (ascension) even after a lifetime of cultivating the Tao. It will be even harder for you, with so little time left."
Ha-seon-go affirmed the possibility. "Still, the possibility exists."
"But how could I..."
"Is it hard to believe? Then tell me your thoughts on soaking in the Baek-ryeon-tang."
"The moment I dipped into the bath, it didn't feel like my body was being healed, but rather returning to its original state. If that function of Won-hyeong-hoe-gwi (return to original form) holds true, it seems a panacea is truly possible."
A function close to a miracle that restores what is soaked in the bath to its original state. However, even with such a function, his Nine-Yin Severed Pulse, which he was born with, could not be fixed. Because Seong-jin’s body was 'originally like that.'
"Indeed. You have pierced through it exactly."
Seong-jin’s talent was real. Yeo Dong-bin and Lee Cheol-goi had recognized that potential and wanted to teach him martial arts. However, that talent was not limited to martial arts. "You, would you like to learn medicine from me?"
Ha-seon-go taught Seong-jin medicine.
The medicine taught by the immortal shone brightly in Hubei, and the four of them eventually enjoyed the Il-ryeon-tang (Single Lotus Bath) together. Unlike the Baek-ryeon-tang, which dissolved a hundred lotus flowers into the bathwater, the Il-ryeon-tang, made with only one, had only 1/100th of the effect. However, the bathwater of an immortal exerted miraculous efficacy even with that much.
Baek-geomja opened his eyes. "Umm, where is this..."
Warmth. In the bathhouse, which exuded mystery due to the steam, Baek-geomja was greeted by Byeok-ha Nang-rang, who had been holding him to ensure he didn't drown.
"Gasp!"
For Baek-geomja, who had adored Byeok-ha Nang-rang his entire life, the sight was too stimulating.
"Senior brother..."
In the end, as soon as Baek-geomja opened his eyes, he gasped and fainted again. Yeong-myeong, watching the scene, couldn't bear to lift his head and submerged himself underwater. For the record, they were all wearing clothes. Since the bathwater touched the skin even through clothes, there was no need to be naked. Thanks to this, Yeong-myeong, who had made a fuss about mixed bathing, had already been embarrassed once and had anticipated Baek-geomja’s reaction. He just hadn't expected him to faint at the mere sight of wet clothes.
"You are a sinful woman, indeed."
At Seong-jin’s joke, Byeok-ha Nang-rang also sank beneath the water.