Flawless Immortal Physician (4)
Palgap's words prompted me to step outside, where four men dressed in sky-blue robes awaited.
Embroidered on their sleeves was the character for Hyeongmun (荆門).
It was the Hyeongmun Sect.
The Hyeongmun Sect was a Daoist sect closer to the lay world.
But it wasn't prestigious enough to rank among the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Clans.
Their swordsmanship wasn't some peerless technique, nor did they possess exceptional inner cultivation methods.
Yet they had one outstanding trait no one could rival: their sword formation.
The Hyeongmun Sect's sword formation, mimicking the opening and closing of gates amid their rugged mountain terrain, had even earned the respect of the Nangong family.
As I emerged, they tilted their heads curiously at the sight of me, then approached with warm smiles.
"Might you be the renowned Seonhyeopmirang?"
That overly flattering title made me want to sigh—it felt like they were gilding my face with gold.
I couldn't very well confirm it myself...
Palgap quickly stepped forward.
"Yes, this is none other than Seonhyeopmirang himself."
"Oh! Just as we thought!"
"A pleasure to meet you."
Clack!
They performed a crisp salute with clasped fists.
"We are disciples of the Hyeongmun Sect."
"I'm Eun Seo-ho, branch manager of the Eunhae Merchant Group in Hyeonpung Province."
"Truth be told, we came here seeking the Flawless Immortal Physician."
"Why are you looking for the Flawless Immortal Physician?"
"Well..."
The eldest-looking among them replied.
"Our sect is suffering from a contagious illness."
Huh?
What was this about?
A plague in their sect?
From what I knew, once one's martial realm reached a certain level, ordinary contagions posed no threat.
That's why my two guard warriors and I remained unscathed.
Palgap... well, he's a bear, after all.
Some of the staff who'd entered the village with me had caught it.
They'd recovered swiftly thanks to the medicine I'd procured from the snow lotus herbs.
Was it because those infected had lower realms?
I asked them.
"If it's not too rude, could you tell me the realms of those afflicted?"
"It's hard to say in detail, but this plague seems unaffected by one's realm, high or low."
What did that mean?
In any case, arranging a meeting with the Flawless Immortal Physician came first.
"Follow me."
A short while later.
Having finished treating a patient, the Flawless Immortal Physician conversed with the Hyeongmun Sect disciples.
The discussion centered on the patients' symptoms.
"How peculiar."
"What is it?"
"The symptoms match the plague circulating in this village..."
"It troubles you that even experts are falling ill."
"Yes, exactly."
After a moment's thought, the Flawless Immortal Physician made his decision.
"I suppose I'll have to go see for myself."
He glanced at me and chuckled.
"Your face says you want to tag along."
"Ah, caught me."
I replied shamelessly, and he said,
"Fine, come with me. But just you."
"Me alone?"
"The others risk infection."
Palgap objected.
"Then isn't our young master in danger too?"
"Your young master will be fine."
"Pardon?"
"There's a reason for that, so stop pestering me."
"..."
And so, the Flawless Immortal Physician and I set off for the Hyeongmun Sect on Mount Hyeongmun.
.
.
.
I glanced back.
A sheer cliff dropped away behind us.
I was traversing a cliffside plank path. In other words, porters had to carry supplies on their backs.
Ah, this is exhausting.
"Tired?"
"N-no, sir."
I couldn't admit it after the Flawless Immortal Physician asked.
He was trudging the same path, burdened with a mountain of gear.
"You've got stamina. I'm about to keel over."
"..."
"Youth really is a blessing. Haha!"
I should've just said I was tired.
Half the Hyeongmun disciples led ahead, the other half trailed behind us.
With some distance between us, now was my chance to ask what I wanted.
"Elder, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Why did you say I'd be fine?"
He glanced back at me before answering.
"Black dragons are naturally resistant to illness."
"...!"
He'd skirted it, but the meaning was clear.
The Flawless Immortal Physician had discerned my Black Dragon Physique.
"But the warriors with me in the village—and Palgap—didn't catch it either."
"That's thanks to that fellow in your sleeve."
"Golden Spirit?"
"Its aura wards off such afflictions, I'd wager."
"Then couldn't they have come along?"
"I don't speculate without certainty."
His words revealed he'd allowed only me out of concern for Palgap and the guards.
No complaints from me—he'd done it for my people.
If anything, I was grateful.
"By the way, how does it feel?"
"What?"
"Being called Seonhyeopmirang. I've been singing your praises everywhere I go."
So you were behind the Seonhyeopmirang moniker, Elder?
"Fame is a hassle, but useful in its way. It opens doors money can't."
True enough.
A title like that meant my reputation had soared.
In my past life, I'd learned how foolish it was to think "money solves everything."
Some problems money couldn't touch.
Reputation bridged those gaps.
That's why I endured the embarrassment without protest.
It might prove handy someday.
The Hyeongmun Sect, though...
I'd said their sword formation was "impressive"—in past tense.
In my previous life, the sect had vanished without a trace.
Afterward, bandits from the area grew bold, extorting tolls from travelers.
The Eunhae Merchant Group had suffered losses too.
Even a locally renowned sect like theirs—its disappearance remained a mystery.
After half a day's trek, a disciple announced,
"We've arrived."
"Arrived... already?"
"Yes. See that rock ahead?"
A massive boulder loomed like a gate, with stairs winding up between its flanks.
"Past that rock, and we're there."
Hope surged as I quickened my pace.
Passing the boulder revealed buildings right beside us.
"Impressive, truly."
I turned to see one disciple addressing me.
"Me?"
"Yes."
He nodded.
"The path from the village is treacherous and long. No one's made it in half a day before."
"Haha, is that so?"
"It usually takes a full day."
"..."
I looked at the Flawless Immortal Physician. I'd hurried because he had.
He met my gaze with a "What?" expression.
I smiled back.
"I couldn't dawdle, thinking of those suffering from illness in your sect."
"Oh! As expected of Seonhyeopmirang."
"Truly grateful."
They gazed at me with moved expressions.
And so we arrived at the Hyeongmun Sect.
But.
"Ugh... S-senior brother, you're here?"
"Senior brother..."
"I'll... report inside."
The Hyeongmun disciples looked half-dead. I turned to the one who'd come with us.
"It must've worsened while we descended the mountain."
We headed for the sect leader.
Not just him, but the protectors and gate guardians lay bedridden, they'd said.
Soon we entered the sect leader's quarters.
"Sect Leader, we've brought the Flawless Immortal Physician and Seonhyeopmirang Eun Seo-ho."
"Th-thank you... for coming."
"You look quite ill."
The sect leader gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry to show such a sight."
"Not at all."
The Flawless Immortal Physician, who'd been observing, spoke up.
"Then, if I may examine your pulse."
"Please do."
He inspected the sect leader thoroughly, then checked his wrist.
He nodded.
"It's the plague, indeed. A few days of medicine and rest, and you'll recover."
"Thank you."
Stepping back from the sect leader, the Flawless Immortal Physician began examining everyone.
Meanwhile, I had my own task: preparing porridge for their meals.
Thank goodness the Hyeongmun Sect wasn't a Buddhist one. Otherwise, I'd have needed alternatives for nutrition.
As I bustled about, the Flawless Immortal Physician approached.
"Smells delicious."
"Shall I fix you a bowl?"
"Can't even look at porridge now."
"I thought you might want some."
"Just the smell."
With a sigh, he sat on a stack of firewood nearby.
His expression was grave.
"What's wrong?"
"There's a problem here."
"Pardon?"
"I thought it was the village plague from the symptoms. Fortunate or not, I was wrong."
Was that why he was saying this?
"It's not the plague?"
"No."
Not the plague—what did that mean?
"But you told the sect leader it was."
"I did. But I said it was the plague, not the village plague."
"..."
"Anyway, this is serious. A plague striking only martial artists..."
"Pardon?"
"Only the novices—those yet to formally train—are unaffected. They're the weakest physically, yet spared. What does that imply?"
"Then...?"
"It's afflicting only those who've cultivated inner arts."
"Is that possible?"
I'd never heard of such a thing.
Not even in my past life.
Two possibilities: it hadn't existed before, or I simply didn't know.
Come to think of it...
In my past life, the Flawless Immortal Physician had vanished too.
I'd scoured for physicians to cure my Black Dragon Physique ailment.
But no trace of him.
And the timing... it overlapped strangely with the Hyeongmun Sect's disappearance.
Did something happen in my past life that I never learned about?
The Flawless Immortal Physician shook his head.
"First time for me too. Regardless, we must contain this plague here. If it spreads..."
"The martial world would erupt in chaos."
"Exactly. I need to find a cure quickly."
Two days passed like that.
The Flawless Immortal Physician busied himself with herbs and acupuncture.
"Um, hey."
"Hm?"
I looked at the young disciple scrubbing dishes beside me.
Seven years old, was it?
His small hands scrubbed vigorously.
"Our senior brothers... they'll get better, right?"
"Worried about the others?"
"Yeah."
"No need. The Flawless Immortal Physician is an exceptional healer. That's why they call him an immortal physician."
"Right?"
"We haven't properly introduced ourselves, have we? I'm Eun Seo-ho. What's your name?"
"I'm Hong-jun."
"Hong-jun? Nice name."
"I was an orphan, actually. The second gate guardian took me as his disciple."
The Hyeongmun Sect had a unique role: gate guardians.
As the name implied, they guarded the gates.
But unlike protectors, who defended the sect, gate guardians secured its future.
They recruited talented disciples and trained them.
Disciples were the sect's future—I agreed wholeheartedly.
"He said once I start formal training, he'll give me a new name."
"Exciting, huh?"
"I already know."
"You do?"
"It's a secret, but my senior brother told me."
"Oh?"
"Gusi."
Gusi?
Pigeon shit?
Who names their own disciple "pigeon shit"?
"That's not it."
"Huh?"
"Gusi means pigeon droppings. Your senior was pranking you."
"R-really...?"
"Look forward to it. You'll get something much better. If not, I'll name you myself."
The boy's sullen face brightened with a grin.
That senior brother—couldn't resist a cruel joke like that...
Then it hit me: I had heard the name Gusi before.