773 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Upon hearing that the palace physician would be visiting, the suggestion was made that it might be best for Qing to continue lying down on the bed from the morning. This was a subtle hint given by the attendant, Lady Cho. Of course, it was likely a hint coming from Her Majesty the Empress herself, conveyed through Lady Cho. Because of this, Qing felt a bit worried. Hmm, if it's a physician, would feigning illness work? After all, if the physician was from the Forbidden City, he would likely be a highly renowned medical professional. The eunuch, being a martial artist rather than a medical expert, had been easy to deceive by filling his dantian with yin qi. But could the same trick work on a proper physician, especially one of such stature from the Forbidden City? Amid such slight anxiety, the physician entered the main chamber of the Hanbok Palace. The long, thin curtain draped over the bed was assumed to be a mosquito net (which it was), but it was really to shield a high-born lady's view from any random male. Even during the pulse examination, the arm only extended through the curtain. "Hmmm." "What do you think?" "You are quite healthy, but..." As expected, the physician's diagnosis was as such. The heart was beating strongly, the breath steady without any tremors, and aside from unusually cold hands, there were no other abnormalities. He was indeed an exceptionally skilled physician. "Originally, the hand is not an indicator directly connected to the health of the entire body, including the internal organs, right? But because there's so much cold in my dantian, it's difficult to subdue, resulting in cold hands, isn't that so?" Qing attempted to rationalize. According to medical books, the hands are connected to the whole body, and massaging or stimulating them can promote overall health. Qing had read and memorized these medical texts, though admittedly, they were difficult to understand. When emphasizing clapping or hand massages, they'd argue the hand is the panacea of bodily energy channels, and when emphasizing walking or foot massages, they would argue the foot is the panacea of bodily energy channels. And naturally, are the hands not supposed to be connected to all the energy pathways of the body? If they're not connected, then it's simply a severed hand, isn't it? Of course, aside from nails and hair, all parts of the body are connected so that blood can reach them. However, this wasn't the time to satisfy curiosity about medicine. Qing decided to claim that his hands being so cold was due to the dantian being frozen by the lesser demon witch's venomous art, and that's why they're cold. "Hmm, may I check the meridians as well?" "Oh, yes." Ah, it seemed this person knew how to handle meridians. Qing invoked the extreme yin qi of the Ice-White Divine Arts to seal around the dantian, while gently releasing the yang energy from the Nine Yang Heart Purification Sutra, making it appear as if the dantian was surrounded by extreme cold, while the meridians were filled with yang energy. As a result. "Huh, your meridians are so robust. In my sixty-year career, I've never encountered such healthy meridians before. Hmm, but it seems there might be a large intestinal parasite in the gallbladder. Perhaps you should blow cigarette smoke in there later." The suggestion of intestinal parasites and blowing cigarette smoke through the anus was an ancient and primitive method of treating parasites in Zhongyuan. Incidentally, no changes were noted in the state of the salamander with stripes, which Qing knew only by tactile inspection rather than color. The salamander in question was a type of parasitic newt with two lines on its body, and Qing had no way of knowing if those lines turned into three or what color they might be. In any case, Qing was half amazed, half concerned. Wow, he can even detect the salamander through pulse reading. Is this doctor vying for the title of the greatest imperial physician of the Forbidden City possible? Indeed, professionals can't be deceived. "Oh, is it the Soul-Reviving Pill? Maybe its medicinal properties are circulating, causing such symptoms. Yeah, maybe that's it. My dantian is in a mess, but if the physician prescribes something upon inspection, it would help. I'm barely managing to hold it down myself." "Indeed, the dantian is full of cold qi, making it challenging to assess the life-essence meridian. However, it doesn't seem harmful..." Then what? Naturally, persuasion is the way. "I know my body best. You may not be familiar with the terrifying technique of the lesser demon witch's venomous art, but it freezes the entire body's meridians, shattering them after freezing, and it even threatens one's original strength—a truly fearsome infiltration technique. They say it's the nightmare of all martial artists." I know my own body best! And what would a physician know, anyway? It's natural for the owner of something to know it better than an outsider does. Isn't a patient's condition best understood by the patient themselves? Moreover, do you know about the martial world or martial arts? "Ahem, I am not well-versed in the martial world, but Your Majesty. It doesn't seem to be fierce or swirling around?" "The energy is tamed through the medicinal properties, making the outside of the cold qi milder." "Hmm, that doesn't sound plausible. It shouldn't be..." The physician trailed off in his speech. Qing added another comment in response. "Although it's a bit embarrassing to mention, I've learned some medicine, so I might know how to take care of my body, hence my good prognosis." With that, a deep crease formed between the physician's brows. They say she became a renowned master at a very young age. Claiming to have learned medicine while pursuing martial arts could understandably be off-putting. Physicians were naturally quite sensitive to such matters. Quacks are known to cause harm. Those who didn't learn medicine properly were the sources of malpractice, disgracing the honor of physicians. "You say you have learned medicine? May I ask what medical texts you have read?" What have you read to claim you've learned medicine? If Qing had seen the physician's expression, she would have thought, "Hmm, I might have upset him," but given the curtain and mosquito netting, all that was visible was the form of the physician. Thus, Qing answered honestly. "Well, I've read the Compilations of the Emperor's Inner Canon, the True Scripture of Longevity's original text, the Herbal Lists of Ancient Times's pharmacology section, and, oh, also the Essentials of Medicine and others..." The renowned physician who could recite medical texts that the court mandated memorization for was visiting, so it seemed advisable for Qing to remain lying in bed from the morning. This was a hint subtly conveyed by Attendant Lady Cho. Of course, the hint from Lady Cho was likely a direct message from Her Majesty the Empress. Thus, Qing felt a little nervous. Hmm. If it was a physician, would they see through a feigned illness? After all, if the physician was from the Forbidden City, he was probably a highly reputable and skilled doctor. The eunuch who was fooled was not a medical expert but a martial artist, and Qing had managed to deceive him by filling her dantian with yin cold qi. But would such a trick work on a proper physician, especially one who served in the Forbidden City? In slight apprehension, the physician entered the main chamber of the Hanbok Palace. The long, flowing curtain around the bed seemed like a mosquito net (which it was), but it was there to obscure the view of noble ladies from any random male gaze. Even for taking the pulse, only the arm would extend beyond the curtain. "Hmmm." "How is it?" "You are quite healthy, but..." As expected, the physician's pulse diagnosis confirmed this. The heartbeat was strong, the breathing steady without any tremors, and aside from unusually cold hands, there were no abnormalities. A truly remarkable and unparalleled physician. "Isn't it because, originally, the hands are indicators of health connected to all the body's meridians and the internal organs? With a dantian filled with cold, it's hard to suppress, which might result in cold hands, don't you think?" Qing ventured to argue. According to medical texts, the hands are connected to the entire body, and massaging or stimulating them can promote overall health. Qing had read and memorized these texts, though they remained incomprehensible in reality. When emphasizing activities like clapping or hand massages, hands were argued to be the panacea, the collection of all the body's energy channels. Similarly, when emphasizing walking or foot massages, feet were claimed to be the embodiment of health. And naturally, shouldn't the hands be connected to the body's entire network of channels? If not, they would simply be severed hands, right? All body parts, except nails and hair, are connected so that blood reaches them. However, this was not the time to explore medical curiosities. Qing decided to argue that the extreme coldness of her hands was normal because her dantian was frozen by the lesser demon witch's venomous arts, leading to her current freezing state. "Hmm, may I check your meridians?" "Oh, yes." Ah, he knew how to handle meridians. Qing gathered the extreme yin qi of the Ice-White Divine Arts to block the area around the dantian and simultaneously loosened the yang energy from the Nine Yang Heart Purification Sutra. This made it seem as though the dantian was swirling with extreme cold while the meridians appeared filled with yang energy. And the result was. "Wow, your meridians are so robust. In my sixty-year career, I've never encountered such healthy meridians. Hmm, but it seems there's a large parasite in the gallbladder. Perhaps later, you should blow some cigarette smoke in there." The parasite referred to intestinal parasites, and the prescription to blow cigarette smoke through the anus was an ancient and primitive Zhongyuan treatment method. Incidentally, there was no change in the state of the parasitic newt, with stripes discernible through tactile examination alone. The newt, an amphibious creature with two lines, would be recognized by Qing whether it had two or three lines, but its color could not be verified through touch alone. In any case, Qing was part amazement, part alarm. Wow, he can even detect the newt through pulse reading. This physician might have otherworldly talents, perhaps achieving the position of top physician in the Forbidden City through merit. Indeed, professionals cannot be deceived. "Oh, is that it? The Soul-Reviving Pill? The medicinal properties might be circulating, causing such symptoms. Yes, perhaps that's it. That area around my dantian is a complete mess, so if you could examine it and prescribe something, it would be helpful. I can barely manage to control it myself." "Indeed, the coldness makes it difficult to assess the dantian and life-essence meridian, but it doesn't seem harmful..." So what now? How to proceed—and the answer is boldness. "I know my body well. The physician might not be aware of how terrifying the lesser demon witch's venomous art is. It ferociously swirls, freezes the body's entire meridian network, shatters it thereafter, and even threatens one's original strength. It's truly a nightmare for every martial artist." I know my body best! And what does a physician know anyway? Naturally, an owner knows their possession better than anyone, so shouldn't a patient know their condition best? Moreover, do you understand the martial world, or martial arts? "Ahem, I am not familiar with the martial world, but Your Majesty. It doesn't seem violent or turbulent, does it?" "When borrowing the energy of a potent medicine to neutralize it, wouldn't the exterior cold also appear subdued?" "Hmm, does that make sense? I don't think so..." The physician trailed off. Then Qing added another comment. "And although it's a bit embarrassing to mention, I've learned a bit of medicine. So maybe my good prognosis is because I know how to take care of my body." This caused a crease to form between the physician's eyebrows. Hadn't word spread that she was an acclaimed master at such a young age? Saying she also learned medicine on top of mastering martial arts was understandably irksome. Physicians were naturally sensitive to such claims. Quacks are known to cause harm. Those who didn't learn medicine properly were the ones who caused harm and tarnished the reputation of healers. "You say you've learned medicine? May I inquire which medical texts you've read?" What have you read to claim you've learned medicine? Had Qing seen the physician's expression, she might have thought, "Oh, it seems I've upset him," but with both the curtain and mosquito net obscuring the physician's appearance, only his form was visible. Thus, Qing answered straightforwardly. "I've read the compiled version of the Emperor's Inner Canon, the original edition of the True Scripture of Longevity by Zhuo Taison, I memorized the pharmacology section of the Complete Collection of the Medicinal Properties, and also the Essence of Medicine... and..." Qing began listing the medical texts that the court had forced him to memorize. Of course, the court only tested his reading shortly after telling him to peruse a few medical texts. Seeing Qing genuinely memorize them, they just piled on more books. Physician Kang Rong was impressed with the list. Initially thinking she’d just skimmed through a few medical texts, the selection now seemed as though a proper mentor had carefully chosen them as part of a structured curriculum. With growing admiration, Kang perceived that if one wanted to rapidly educate an aspiring physician, this was the pathway—a reaction synonymous with awe and approval. "Oh. Do you have a mentor?" "Not quite a mentor. I did, however, receive some guidance from Master Langjung? But I was told I could pass as a decent physician." "Oh, you were tutored by Master Langjung? I see, it's no wonder you're so healthy even while ill. All illness originates from habits, so those who study medicine tend to live long." Connections are a universal remedy for the Zhongyuan people. The word "jeongabo(傳家寶刀)" signifies a legendary sword passed down through generations, symbolizing a universal solution and absolute power. In other words, nothing works like relationships among the Zhongyuan people. And who is Master Langjung? He was one of the most respected physicians. Known for his exceptional skills in medicine, he humbly referred to himself as "Langjung (quack)," known for treating disadvantaged patients in remote, dangerous locations. He famously did not charge for pulse readings, claiming to be a quack. Being acknowledged by someone like Master Langjung? Regardless of one's skill—the mentality alone signified a physician dedicated to compassionately caring for less fortunate patients. Would such a physician fake an illness? Suddenly, Qing’s trust surged. Her claims about a life-threatening condition must truly be dire if she's likening it to having little time left. "Your Grace, since the Sun Reviving Pill seems to have helped, I will go ahead and prescribe it." Qing's eyes widened. Feigning illness led to this outcome? Additionally, a strange comfort and latitude arose, like a vast ocean opening between respect and bold benevolence. Well then? A small smile tugged at the corner of Qing's mouth. "Do such medicines come from the palace treasury? Would it be alright for a humble maiden like me to draw upon such resources for personal health?" "Your consideration for the nation's treasury is commendable, Your Grace. But are you not the young hero whom the sovereign himself wishes to praise? Moreover, your body shall become more precious, a noble vessel. Focus only on recovery." Qing's eyes sparkled. Ah, potent medicines are good. Much needed indeed. Qing typically had no greed for such medicines. Even now, internal energy was overflowing. But will that persist? Given the current state of the dantian, Qing might lack the internal energy required to match a martial artist in the Profound Realm. Who is she but the Transcendent Realm's Heavenly Sword Flower(天華劍)? To bear such disgrace as standing on par with a mere Profound Realm practitioner would be intolerable. Thus. "Having already taken a Sun Reviving Pill, I've barely managed stability. To show significant improvement, I believe a stronger dose is necessary—perhaps three pills...?" "Indeed. Repeated intake may dull its efficacy, hence, that amount should bring observable improvement. Should there be an alternative potent medicine to the Sun Reviving Pill, I will prescribe it as a substitute." Medicine-stealing adept and elixir-appropriating. And not just from anyone—the Forbidden City's vast resources. If Cheon Yu-hak knew, he would likely find an enormous grinning face of satisfaction lighting up the sky. How many dared to be a thief in the Forbidden City? Truly a divine thief! An impeccable thief I've encountered. And beyond the elixirs. "I should offer some decoction to fortify my body. But I've never dealt with this venom's details. What herbs would help?" Hmm, I don't necessarily need decoctions. They have unpleasant tastes and won't improve health much here. Hmm, these should go to Her Majesty the Empress. She was probably already significantly weakened from her collapse. Let's see, what decoction is good for congestion... ---- The health of the young hero, Ximen Qing, is in a grave state! The aftermath of injuries from the duel with the Lesser Demon Witch! Examined by the palace's physician! The second-best physician in the world, they say! The Imperial physician, unfettered by the Forbidden City's politics, held no need to conceal the pulse diagnosis. Moreover, those stewing the decoctions were the palace ladies—masters of both spreading and hearing rumors. "Putting all these precious herbs in. How long do they mean to live, brewing it so rich? Ah, they do say she's to become an Empress." "Hey, don't you know?" "Know what?" "Shh. Just telling you, but the Heavenly Sword Flower might not live long. The palace physician said so. That’s why they're steeping such valuable concoctions. But don't tell anyone I told you." "Oh sure. My lips are sealed." Thus, information flowed, resulting in a decoction steeped with all manner of fine ingredients, evolving into a rare tonic instead of just a simple brew. The Empress was pleased to receive it. "Ah, this is wonderful. Though the Crown Prince is grown, he never thinks to care for his mother. How sweet that my daughter does something so lovely." "Hehe..." Qing chuckled awkwardly. If this small gesture pleases her so, Alas, I am not your daughter and will not be in the future, should I say... But for the Empress, the worth of a tonic is not measured by its rarity. After collapsing, the Empress's health remained a concern, and the thoughtfulness of someone who considered her mother even when she was struggling to deceive the palace physicians was endearing and sweet. Thus, the bitter decoction went down as smoothly as sweet water for the Empress. As a result, more alarming rumors swirled within the palace. The Empress is stealing Heavenly Sword Flower's decoction! Not only does she summon the terminally ill woman every night to punish her, but now she even snatches away her medicine! “Your Majesty, mind your dignity. What in heavens is this bizarre situation? The entire palace is whispering that you’re a terrible mother-in-law already, and they are talking about this before the wedding!” The Emperor's tone was almost pleading. However, the Empress scoffed. “Mother-in-law? Mother-in-law? Your Majesty, please think carefully. When there is no future marriage planned, why do you speak of such things?” “Oh, please. I also worry for the Crown Prince, but listen, my dear Empress. I swear by the heavens and all the gods, I will ensure the Crown Prince never lays a finger on that vagabond of the martial world. I’ll ensure he doesn’t even cast a glance at her, locking her away in a corner!” The Empress's ears perked up. That idea was somewhat tempting. To confine her to an isolated palace within the Forbidden City for life? Then I can keep her close till I die. A princess is destined to marry far away, as is her duty, her reason for being. But if she doesn't have to leave, if she can stay by my side, there's no absurdity, and I can nurture her, feed her well, clothe her well for life. Sensing the Empress's wavering resolve, the Emperor hastily elaborated on his intention. It’s merely in name; the true intention is to keep the martial world's Divine Dragon out of circulation. Even the lawless martial emperor was only at the pinnacle at that age; can you fathom the state of that promiscuous woman now? She’s said to be at the Harmony Realm, with rumors swirling among the martial artists that she might be the future supreme in all martial arts! The Harmony Realm is a realm so high that it almost startled Protector Chang to reveal his presence. “What! You intend to bring such a dangerous woman into the palace? As a Crown Princess? Your Majesty! What are you talking about!?” But the Empress shrieked. My daughter, my precious daughter who was lost and finally found. While I hope to hold her close all my life, it can’t possibly be for your sake. It’s nothing more than my greed. “Empress, please.” The Emperor thumped his chest in frustration. Isn't she the Emperor's first consort and, politically, his greatest ally? Until now, whatever the Emperor intended, she lent her strength, never opposing him so firmly. “Your Majesty, I won't stand by and watch as you pair that woman with the Crown Prince, not even if the ground covers my eyes.” With that, the Empress withdrew sharply. The Emperor rubbed his forehead in frustration. Then, suddenly from the wall, a figure emerged. The Emperor’s secret guard, the office of the Silent Sentinel, Protector Chang. “Your Majesty, given the Empress's strong opposition, might it be prudent to consider another approach? If you wish to remove future troubles, simply give the word, and I will take care of it.” The Emperor grinned, baring his teeth. “No, no. This outcome is better. Rather than locking up Heavenly Sword Flower, seeing her endure all sorts of humiliation and a wretched life should teach the martial world a lesson. Even a Divine Dragon, if provoked, can meet such a pathetic fate. Indeed, the Empress's disdain makes it all the better.” The Emperor ground his teeth with a fierce glint in his eyes. “Go, inform Marquis Jang to gather the ministers. I may not have been able to convey my true intentions for the sake of dignity, but with things as they are, I need to convey the truth and seek understanding. They will understand that I do not wish to make Heavenly Sword Flower part of the imperial faction.”