89 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 89 "Of course, I know." Cheonhui nodded. The person referred to as Seongsu Shindan was considered a reincarnation of the legendary doctor Hua Tuo and was currently hailed as the unparalleled healer of this era. "So, this Seongsu Shindan wants to meet me?" "Indeed." "Why?" "I have no idea." Jang Moon-in gave a wry smile. He had asked the divine healer multiple times why he wanted to meet Cheonhui, but never received an answer. The reply was always the same one sentence: He simply wanted to meet him. "He just said he wanted to meet you." "Hmm. Is that so?" Cheonhui scratched his head as he spoke. "But was it really necessary to make such a fuss just because a healer wants to meet me?" He recalled the letter he had received. A letter so formal it bore the seal of the head of Hwasan, as if there was an urgent matter concerning the sect. "You could've just told him to come back later." "He was adamant about not leaving until he met you." "Then you could have just let him wait." "How could I keep someone like Seongsu Shindan waiting indefinitely?" Jang Moon-in let out a bitter laugh. Seongsu Shindan's reputation stretched beyond the martial arts world, overshadowing even the royal family. Those he had healed were not ordinary individuals, and even as the head of the Hwasan sect, Jang Moon-in couldn't ignore the divine healer's mood. "He’s at the medicine hall, so go see him." "Alright." Cheonhui replied cheerfully. ‘It’d be convenient to have a doctor at Hwasan.’ Doctors were rare individuals. Especially those deeply involved in the martial arts world were scarce, so having one come directly was a fortunate thing. ‘And he’s a divine healer?’ * * * "It's just a cold. Rest for a full day and brew these leaves; you'll be better." The first thing Cheonhui heard as he entered the medicine hall was an unfamiliar voice. "What kind of medicine is it?" An all-too-familiar voice followed. The voice of the head of the medicine hall, meaning the earlier voice belonged to... His steps hastened slightly. Soon, he reached the main hall of the medicine hall. Usually empty and quiet, it was now bustling with people for some reason. The martial artists who experienced the divine healer's remarkable skills spread the word, causing more people to gather. At that moment, another conversation was heard. "How is it?" "It's just a lack of stamina. Some rest and breath regulation should suffice." Cheonhui's gaze shifted. In the center of the commotion were the old practitioners and two figures. ‘Is that the place?’ Cheonhui's eyes focused on the head of the medicine hall holding a case of acupuncture needles and an elderly man examining patients next to him. Could he be the divine healer? He observed the old man inserting long needles. An elderly man with a beard that had a slight gray tint and was busy checking the pulse of the patients with a furrowed brow. "Leave martial arts training aside and rest for a few days." "No breath regulation either?" "I told you to rest." "Understood." The practitioner scratched his head awkwardly and got up with a clap of gratitude. "May Buddha bless you. Thank you." "No need for thanks." The divine healer straightened his back. ‘Taking a lot of effort.’ Since he decided to reside at Hwasan, he added some minor treatments. Was it because his skills were exceptional? People kept coming without pause. ‘It backfired.’ The divine healer shook his head. There was no going back now. He had demonstrated his skills to Jang Moon-in and requested to be called as soon as possible. "Now then, the next... Oh?" The head of the medicine hall, who had been following the divine healer, noticed Cheonhui. "Cheonhui!" The divine healer's thick eyebrows twitched. "Cheonhui?" He turned his gaze to the distance, and upon seeing Cheonhui, his eyes widened. "So you are Cheonhui!" He shouted, waving his hand. "Today's treatments are over!" The sudden announcement left the martial artists bewildered, gasping in surprise. "Wh, what?" "All of a sudden?" Just as complaints were about to arise, the divine healer frowned and began ushering the bewildered practitioners out. "Out, all of you!" Shortly after, only Cheonhui, the divine healer, and the head of the medicine hall sat inside. "You mentioned you were looking for me?" The divine healer's gaze fixed on Cheonhui. His eyes were filled with curiosity and disbelief. ‘This young one accomplished that?’ Too young, indeed. ‘I thought he’d at least be in his thirties...’ As more thoughts crowded his mind, the divine healer shook his head vigorously. "Do you know Dan Mokrin?" Asked the divine healer with a serious expression. He had rushed over after checking Dan Mokrin’s pulse and hearing his circumstances. Cheonhui smirked. ‘So that's why he came looking for me.’ Finally, the mystery was resolved. ‘He did say he was going to see the divine healer after we parted?’ He nodded. "I know him." The divine healer leaned closer. "Is it true you told him about his constitution?" "His constitution? You mean the Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution?" The divine healer shifted with vigor. "Yes, that's the one." Unable to hide his excitement, he took deep breaths and asked again. "What exactly is the Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution?" His gaze was intense, almost burdensome. ‘That’s the look I see when assessing martial skills.’ Cheonhui thought, noticing it was a similar look. "I’ve never heard of something like the Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution in my life." Cheonhui nodded. ‘Of course, he wouldn’t have.’ The Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution was only documented in the world's greatest medical tome written by the mysterious Master of Life and Death, and it had been long forgotten. As such, knowing about the Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution made Cheonhui a unique figure in this world. The divine healer's gaze hardened. "Where did you learn about it?" "From a book called the 'World’s Greatest Medical Tome.'" "The 'World’s Greatest Medical Tome?'" The divine healer's brow furrowed. It was a title he had never heard before. This ostentatious-sounding medical text. "Can I see it?" "No." Cheonhui replied firmly. ‘How could I show him something kept within the Heavenly Demon Cult?’ Yet, he couldn't say that out loud. The divine healer, undeterred by the refusal, asked cautiously, "...Do you have to be a disciple of the Hwasan Sect to read it?" Cheonhui shook his head at the question that seemed determined to get an answer. "It's been burned and lost." "Bu-burned?" The divine healer's eyes widened. "Such a valuable medical text, burnt..." Cheonhui watched the healer accept the explanation with understanding, a faint smile briefly appearing on his face before disappearing. At that moment, the divine healer asked quietly, "Then, I suppose the treatment method for the Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution was also written there?" That wasn't the case. While the book mentioned the Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution, it didn’t provide a treatment method. ‘No need to clarify that.’ There was no point in correcting the misunderstanding. It seemed easier to let the healer believe that. Meanwhile, the divine healer's expression turned serious. He came to find out where Cheonhui had learned about the Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution. And now… ‘The World’s Greatest Medical Tome…’ His curiosity was piqued. But since it was already burned... "Can you tell me what kind of medical text it was?" "It's just a medical text." It was straightforward. Nothing more needed to be said. However, the divine healer seemed to doubt this simple explanation, his face full of suspicion. "...Understood." The divine healer spoke with skepticism but eventually released his grip on Cheonhui's shoulder and continued, "Could you tell me how you treated the Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution?" "That's easy." Cheonhui nodded. "The Taiji." "Taiji?" The divine healer tilted his head, and then, realizing something, his expression turned to shock. "You mean balancing the yin and yang?" Witnessing the divine healer instantly understand, Cheonhui nodded involuntarily. ‘He’s truly a divine healer, comprehending instantly shows he’s deeply knowledgeable in medicine.’ "Exactly." "But how did you...?” "I directly guided it." "Impossible." The divine healer gulped. After diagnosing Dan Mokrin's pulse, he was stunned for days. ‘To think you could guide that energy…’ Dan Mokrin's body condition was peculiar. The energy flowing from her entire body was overwhelming, dangerously so. It was hard to believe how she managed to function with such intense energy in her frail body. Yet, that wasn’t the only surprising thing. The energy was balanced and coexisting within her body. Very naturally. As if she was born with it, it harmonized with her mind and spirit. In fact, it was protecting her. "For such an energy to be sustained in that child's body would be excessive." Cheonhui nodded. Indeed, the yin energy accumulated inside was so intense it was threatening, enough to risk her life if mishandled. "So I guided it in a natural flow to avoid shocking the body." "In a natural flow?" The divine healer furrowed his brows. "Guiding postnatal qi in a natural flow? But to do that, you’d need to know all the meridians… and have a detailed control of internal energy, along with the observational skills." Mulling over the process, the divine healer murmured, and Cheonhui waited silently. Meanwhile, the head of the medicine hall, listening to them with a perplexed expression, shook his head, unable to grasp the depth of the conversation about Taiji, natural flow, and postnatal qi. ‘What on earth are they talking about?’ As he watched with unfocused eyes, "Huff!" The divine healer gasped, standing up suddenly. "You… you understood the original state of energy and harmonized it?" Cheonhui’s eyes widened slightly. ‘Impressive how quickly he figured it out.’ The method to treat Dan Mokrin’s Taiyin Qi-Storage Constitution wasn’t just about medicine; it required expertise in martial arts as well. "That's right." "Instead of dispelling the accumulated energy, you infused more so it permeates the entire body and naturally blends in." The divine healer let out a soft exclamation. ‘To think of such a method.’ An extraordinary method indeed. Unless it was one's innate energy, other energies couldn’t resonate with the original state of energy. Since ancient times, the primal and postnatal energies were meant to be separated. ‘But blending the boundaries between primal and postnatal energy…’ It was a method that could drive one insane if mishandled, but with the balanced Taiji, it was achievable. Yet here was Cheonhui, dismissing the conventional approach. Not merely speaking, but having successfully implemented it. Through Dan Mokrin’s body. ‘An unprecedented method indeed.’ However... "It’s hard to believe just by words." "Then don't believe it." Cheonhui retorted casually. The divine healer was taken aback. When had anyone ever dismissed or ignored his words like this? "No, I mean, without medical skills, such treatment wouldn’t be possible. I want to know if you’ve mastered that level of medical skills." "This is annoying." Just as Cheonhui was about to express his annoyance, "Disciple." The head of the medicine hall, who had been watching in a daze, hastily approached and whispered to him. "I don't get what you're discussing, but please listen to Master Healer." "Why?" "The Master Healer has been a tremendous help to our sect." Cheonhui observed the head of the medicine hall. 'Help?’ He recalled the people he saw at the medicine hall. Those suffering from muscle aches who walked out looking relieved after a few acupuncture needles. “I suppose there’s no choice.” Cheonhui met the divine healer’s gaze directly. "What would you like me to show you?" "Show me what you are confident in." "Something I’m confident in." Cheonhui grabbed the divine healer's hand. The divine healer, caught off guard but concealing his surprise, asked, "Are you trying to check my pulse?" "It's somewhat similar, but a bit different." As he explained, Cheonhui released his sensory energy. "Hmm?" The divine healer’s eyes widened as he felt the warm energy emanating from Cheonhui's hand. "…Are you checking my meridians?" "Just checking for irregularities." Cheonhui retracted his energy and swiftly moved his index finger to press specific points on the divine healer’s meridians. “There’s some coldness.” In a flash, he touched eight points. "Whoa!" The divine healer exclaimed. Though no needles were inserted, he felt something pressing against his meridians. "You’re balancing body temperature with acupuncture." "You’re knowledgeable?" "Such things, of course, I know." "Great, then no need for further explanation." Cheonhui flicked his hand lightly, finishing the demonstration. At that moment, the warmth from the pressure on the meridians faded, leaving the divine healer feeling satisfied. "Well done." "Are we finished now?" Just as Cheonhui attempted to withdraw his hand, Clasp! The divine healer gripped Cheonhui's wrist tightly, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Do you have more to say?" "Indeed." The divine healer spoke with determination. "Would you consider becoming my disciple?" Disciple? What nonsense is this? "No, I wouldn't." Cheonhui replied with a tone of disbelief. The divine healer, never expecting to be refused, looked flustered. "Why, why not?" "I'm a disciple of the Hwasan Sect." The divine healer was at a loss for words. He had been so dazzled by Cheonhui's talent that he momentarily forgot he was a Hwasan disciple. "If you learnt the medical arts of my school, even Hua Tuo would pale in comparison. Why refuse such teaching?" "I don’t need it." Cheonhui refused plainly. ‘What medical arts?’ He had no interest in medicine; his attention was focused solely on martial arts. He had only read medical texts in the past because there were no more martial arts manuals to read. ‘There are so many martial arts techniques I've yet to see in the world.’ Given his recent intrigue with the martial arts of Zhongnan Sword Saint, learning medical arts was a luxury he couldn't afford. However, the divine healer misunderstood, thinking Cheonhui refused due to his allegiance to Hwasan, and hastily added, "Then at least let me teach you. The medical arts of my school are surpassingly divine, akin to miraculous skills, and mastering them would be akin to becoming a sage…" It was a stunning offer. But for Cheonhui, "No." It wasn't. "Then I’ll just teach you freely." Watching the persistent divine healer, Cheonhui stood up. "I said I’m not learning." "Learning will surely benefit you." "I don't want to." While they were having their exchange, Hee-iing— An elegant carriage arrived at Hwasan's gate, clearly belonging to someone of significance. ‘Who might that be?’ As Jeokgeom, who was guarding the gate, scrutinized the carriage, the door opened, and three individuals stepped out one by one. A striking beauty with a cold demeanor. A young man who could be called a noble gentleman. A girl with a naturally cheerful demeanor. They were the group attacked by assassins just a few days earlier. "May Buddha bless you." Jeokgeom greeted them with a polite tone. "What brings you to visit?" "We seek the head of the sect." "And who should I say is asking to meet him?" Jeokgeom inquired, maintaining a courteous tone. Their direct request to see the head of the sect indicated they weren’t ordinary visitors. And that assumption was correct. "Inform the head that the Laughing Monarch has come to visit."