Chapter 66: Immortal Healer (3)
Slowly, I began to explain my situation to the Celestial Plum Blossom, but I couldn’t reveal everything. So, I decided to speak only the necessary truths without a single lie, while omitting some details.
“…First, I left the clan while still possessing the treasure.”
I didn’t mention anything about my demonic powers; I simply explained that after finishing my training, I fell asleep at night and when I woke up, I felt my energy increase.
Honestly, other than that, there wasn’t much more to say. That was genuinely what happened that night.
I debated whether or not to mention Elder Shin but decided against it for now. I thought it would be better to bring it up after discussing it with Elder Shin first.
It didn’t take long for me to explain my circumstances. After I finished, the Celestial Plum Blossom stroked his beard thoughtfully.
Would he really believe me? To be honest, it was hard for me to believe myself.
As expected, with a troubled expression, the Celestial Plum Blossom spoke up.
“That’s not an easy story to believe…”
—Pour
In the midst of the brief silence, the sound of him pouring tea rang out unexpectedly loudly.
“The claim that you absorbed the essence of the treasure is hard to swallow, especially since an outsider shouldn’t possess this energy, and honestly, it’s unbelievable that you have it at all.”
“Yes, I understand.”
A completely different type of energy. Not to mention, their essential natures were outright opposites.
Not just the destructive flame arts but all flame arts fundamentally differed from the Taoists’ energy.
One embodies a natural flow, while the other leans toward destruction.
That I had somehow broken through the fourth stage of my flame arts with this nonsensical combination was astonishing. Yet, the fact that I hadn’t gone into a Qi overflow state was even stranger.
Whether this was due to my demonic powers, I couldn’t be sure.
Beyond that, I had no reasonable explanation. If it weren’t for this blasted ability that clung to me even after my regression, there was no way I would be dealing with this ridiculous situation.
…Sigh.
The Celestial Plum Blossom continued to fix his gaze on me.
“I sense the power of the plum blossoms within you, a strength only a few of my disciples possess.”
The energy hidden within me. After Elder Shin had concealed it, I hadn’t been aware of it myself, yet the Celestial Plum Blossom sensed it instantly.
Regardless of whether I had intentionally created this situation or not, it posed a significant problem.
From another angle, if someone from the Mount Hua Sect had mastered the destructive flame arts and, moreover, had substantial skill, it would be a matter of such gravity that the clan leader himself would need to intervene.
“I don’t believe you are lying, but as the sect leader, I must verify it myself. While it’s hard to swallow, I still have to be sure.”
“Yes…”
“Fortunately, it seems the treasure hasn’t caused any significant issues…”
No issues?
When did he check that after tossing it away like that?
Moreover, he wants to confirm it himself?
What kind of method does he plan to use?
I figured it wouldn’t involve anything harmful to my body.
Especially since I was merely returning the treasure, which he lost in a drinking bet. Moreover, being part of the Orthodox Factions, I was confident he wouldn’t resort to any ridiculous violence.
Besides, I had faith in my Mount Hua Sect comrades.
After thinking for a bit, the Celestial Plum Blossom clapped his hands as if he’d found a resolution.
“Alright, this is a good turn of events.”
“Huh?”
The Celestial Plum Blossom drained the rest of his tea and abruptly rose from his seat.
“My Lord…?”
“I heard you came to Mount Hua for your little sister, is that right?”
“Yes… That’s correct.”
Suddenly bringing her up, huh?
The Celestial Plum Blossom nodded at my response.
“Good timing; follow me.”
He instructed me to follow him without much explanation.
I couldn’t help but ask, bewildered.
“Where are we going?”
He responded with a casual smile.
“You came to Mount Hua, so you should visit your younger sibling.”
“…Huh?”
I couldn’t help but zone out for a moment at his words.
…Now, of all times?
The sound of a watermill echoed through the forest.
Birdsong filled the silence occasionally, and sunlight trickled down through the tree branches.
At the end of a well-trodden path in this beautiful landscape, a small hut stood.
It was located a bit from Huayin.
The hut, built by the 10th generation leader of the Mount Hua Sect after retirement, served now as a sanctuary of sorts.
“It’s completely ruined.”
An elderly man with white hair spoke from within the hut.
His hoarse voice was rather unpleasant, yet no one inside seemed to mind.
Given the weight of the title held by this old man.
The Immortal Healer.
That was what the world called him.
He couldn’t revive the dead, but as long as one still breathed, he was capable of healing anyone—a divine gift bestowed upon him.
Due to his wandering lifestyle, he remained elusive; yet here he was, presently within his hut.
“Your blood is in disarray, and your energy flow is all messed up. How on earth did you endure the pain while your body is decomposing like this?”
“It wasn’t that painful…”
The woman replied, casting a glance at her disciple.
However, this only resulted in the Immortal Healer frowning further.
“Is that so? You are still acting this way despite your condition? The child will need to know about your situation eventually.”
“…Immortal Healer…”
“Don’t call me that.”
At his harsh rebuke, the disciple flinched beside her teacher.
With tear-filled eyes, she looked up to him.
“Master…”
Tsk-!
The Immortal Healer clicked his tongue.
Having performed a checkup after a long time, beads of sweat had formed on his forehead.
At that moment, the boy silently sitting next to him pulled out a cloth to wipe the sweat away.
Gently, the Immortal Healer set aside the arm of the sick woman.
The pulse check was mostly done, but his expression didn’t improve.
The woman’s body was gradually rotting.
From the outside, she seemed like an ordinary old lady, but for her age, she was visibly aged.
Thinking of the realm of non-action she had previously reached, this decay was unacceptable.
The Plum Blossom Sword.
The woman who had played a significant role in the martial world and was the leader of the Mount Hua Sect was now deteriorating.
The Immortal Healer considered that she could still move and breathe only because of the level of Qi she possessed.
But if that dwindles…
The life-sustaining Qi was slowly diminishing as well.
And the most considerable issue here was,
“…This is a disease I’ve never seen before.”
A sound of someone swallowing back a breath was heard in response to the Immortal Healer’s words.
These words came from someone who was reputed as the most skilled healer across the lands—someone who couldn’t be equaled by anyone else.
“Lord Swordmaster.”
“Yes…”
“How long has it been since this started?”
The Plum Blossom Sword glanced at her disciple before replying.
“About… four years.”
“What happened?”
“…That is…”
Suddenly, as she spoke, the Plum Blossom Sword clenched her trembling hands tightly.
Unable to continue, blood began to trickle from the edge of her quivering lips.
“Master!”
The disciple rushed to assist her.
At the same time, the boy next to the Immortal Healer provided a cloth to the Plum Blossom Sword, similar to what he had done earlier for the Immortal Healer.
“…Thank you.”
nod.
The boy nodded at her gratitude.
Watching the Plum Blossom Sword wipe the blood from her lips, the Immortal Healer stroked his beard.
“…A taboo, huh.”
An unidentifiable disease alongside a forbidden spell.
It was incredibly peculiar that merely speaking of it brought about consequences.
He’d never encountered something like this in all his years.
If it were a forbidden spell, I should have sensed it during the pulse check.
A forbidden spell affecting martial artists must leave a trace somewhere on their bodies.
Particularly those related to specific actions would invariably show pronounced signs.
Yet, the Immortal Healer found no indications whatsoever on the Plum Blossom Sword’s body.
All he discerned was her body continuing to rot away.
A sensation overwhelmed him as if his eight decades of knowledge were crumbling.
How unsettling…
The discomfort of the unknown gnawed at him.
Moreover, the dread of being unable to save a life due to uncertainty swirled in his mind.
He had become a healer because he couldn’t cope with loss.
Dohwa, you damned fool…
Had it not been for a divine calling, the Immortal Healer would not have gone to Anhui.
And had he not been in Anhui, he certainly wouldn’t have responded to the Celestial Plum Blossom’s summons.
The absurd ways martial artists handle matters.
“Lord Immortal Healer…”
“I told you not to call me that.”
“I apologize… Elder.”
“Right.”
“May I inquire how much time I have left?”
The Immortal Healer sighed at the Plum Blossom Sword’s question.
He knew this better than anyone else.
And it was a conversation he most loathed having.
“You may have as little as two months, but if luck is on your side, you might last until winter.”
But even so, you probably won’t see the new year.
That was a statement he dared not say aloud, and he swallowed it instead.
After all, the young girl was already crying for her master beside her.
He hated it.
He hated witnessing such scenes.
And, unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it.
Life still disgusts me.
No matter how much knowledge was acquired, there would always be someone he couldn’t save.
This was the singular reason he despised being called the Immortal Healer.
The boy by the Immortal Healer slowly approached and tugged at his sleeve.
He concealed the turmoil in his heart and gently patted the boy’s head.
“Given Dohwa’s favor and our acquaintance, I will do my utmost.”
But do not hold high expectations.
Upon hearing this, the Plum Blossom Sword slowly nodded.
The Immortal Healer then turned to the children, wiping his face.
“Grandfather needs to have a talk with the patient, so you all go play outside. You too.”
The boy nodded in understanding.
However, the disciple clung to her teacher’s embrace, clearly unwilling to leave.
“I-I want to stay with my ma-”
“Ryunghwa.”
The Plum Blossom Sword’s voice was resolute.
Her disciple shivered slightly at the tone.
With tearful eyes, she gazed up at her master, but the answer stayed firm.
“Go outside.”
“…Yes.”
The boy had already stepped outside, and the disciple reluctantly followed, disappointment evident in her eyes.
*
Once outside the hut, a refreshing breeze inconsistently flowed through the summer air.
Gu Ryunghwa scrubbed her watery eyes with the back of her hand as she closed the hut’s door.
She really shouldn’t have cried.
Enduring the loss of someone was still quite challenging for her.
‘…Master.’
Every time she thought of her master, she felt a wave of tears threatening to overflow again.
But at that moment, someone handed her a towel from beside her.
It was the boy sitting next to the Immortal Healer.
She’d heard he was the grandchild of the Immortal Healer…
Feeling his presence, chills ran down Gu Ryunghwa’s spine.
Even though he was around her age, a boy was still a boy.
And Gu Ryunghwa had an aversion to boys.
This extended to young boys as well.
Especially when they were of similar age.
Despite her desire to slap away the hand reaching toward her, the boy was the grandson of their healer.
So, she couldn’t treat him rudely.
She had no choice but to suppress her discomfort and firmly but politely decline.
“I don’t need—”
Not even completing her sentence, the boy seemed to comprehend her intent and retreated to sit near the hut in silence.
She exhaled a sigh…
‘…Master.’
In moments like these, she dearly missed her teacher’s face laid low in the hut.
Every time she remembered that he might not survive until the new year, her tears would fall once more.
‘What should I do… what can I do?’
They said the Immortal Healer was the greatest healer in the lands.
If he couldn’t find a solution, then it seemed there was nothing left for her to do.
Thus, there was no way she, as a disciple, could help her master.
“Why are you sitting there looking so forlorn?”
Startled by the sudden voice that cut through her tears, Gu Ryunghwa raised her head in surprise.
“Ryunghwa, what are you doing out here?”
It was the Celestial Plum Blossom, the lord of the Mount Hua Sect, standing right before her.
She hastily wiped her eyes dry and straightened herself up.
“Gr-Greetings, Lord.”
While still bowing her head, she halted upon noticing the boy standing beside the Celestial Plum Blossom.
His fierce gaze, sharp features, and the red uniform representing the Gu Clan were unmistakable.
He was the pure-blooded descendant of the Gu Clan, unlike her, merely considered half-blood.
And he just so happened to be the person Gu Ryunghwa despised the most.
Sparks of rage ignited within her at the sight of him.
Why is that guy here?
Why is he here when he should be causing chaos in the clan instead?
Gu Ryunghwa found it hard to contain her emotions as the one she loathed most stood right in front of her, invading her only safe space.
“Why are you…?”
“You.”
Gu Yangcheon interrupted her sentence abruptly.
Then he slowly approached her.
Gu Ryunghwa’s breathing quickened with his every step closer.
What was his intention?
She was different now.
She believed she could easily overpower this lazy brother of hers, who did nothing but indulge without a care.
Though she didn’t have her wooden sword on hand, she felt confident she could handle any threat he posed.
She prepared herself mentally, convinced she was ready for anything.
But Gu Yangcheon merely brushed past Gu Ryunghwa, not sparing her a glance.
“Huh…?”
Dumbfounded by his lack of acknowledgment, she turned around, only to see him standing before the Immortal Healer’s grandson.
“…?”
The boy looked up, locking eyes with Gu Yangcheon.
“Why are you here?”
Gu Ryunghwa’s eyes widened.
A menacing aura…
She could sense a dense wave of malice emanating from Gu Yangcheon’s voice as he spoke to the boy.
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