NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12
As a physician, I’ve encountered numerous ailing patients.
And one realization stands out.
Whether they’re martial artists, government officials, or ordinary folks, once someone becomes a ‘patient’, they all stand equal before death.
While there are differences in how they accept it, everyone typically shows the same reaction.
Nobody wants to die.
Especially those who have lived long; it’s the young ones who are even more averse to the idea of death.
So, if there’s a way to escape death, they’ll do anything to find it.
Just like how Qin Shi Huang searched far and wide for the elixir of immortality.
Many martial masters wish to extend their lifespan a little further through techniques like Extreme Yang Reversal and Reversal of Aging.
Just like Taoists transcend the mundane by soaring to the heavens, hoping to maintain ‘continuity of existence’.
Physicians can treat patients, allowing them to return to normal life and continue living.
If the treatment costs a fortune, those wanting to save a life will gather a fortune.
Since it’s said that elixirs or mystical items are effective in alleviating the suffering of Absolute Meridians, resources for elixirs have become plentiful all over.
Yet, even those merely alleviate pain; strictly speaking, they do not cure.
They could ease the suffering and symptoms, but the illness still tightens its grip.
Thus, it’s not surprising that upon hearing there’s a treatment for the incurable disease of Absolute Meridians, they rush to the physician’s home.
It’s just that…
“I’ll trade a night with my daughter, Physician Seok!!”
…I didn’t expect them to be this desperate.
“Purple Sword Gate’s Leader.”
“What do you want?! This kidnapper kneels and begs!”
“Uh, no.”
A middle-aged man who looks to be over 40, carrying a fully grown woman on his back, trying to kneel in front of me—it’s not an unfamiliar sight for a physician.
But seeing it right at the front gate of the Mo Yong Family is not the usual place.
“Calm down.”
“Physician Seok, please! My daughter…!”
“Interrupt me from now on, and there will be no treatment.”
“*Gasp!*”
At my declaration, the Purple Sword Gate Leader shuts his mouth tightly.
As a peak master, someone like me can chop him down with a single strike, but such martial artists obediently nod their heads heavily.
‘Thank goodness.’
Just then, people began to gather.
Even at midnight, many were out to watch.
Half of them were residents of this city, Yodong.
The other half were vagrants or loose rogues from information-gathering organizations.
And a very small number were warriors from the Gu File Room, elite families who remained even though the banquet had ended.
Those watching with keen eyes from the direction of the inn were warriors from the Sichuan Tang family, who had a patient suffering from Absolute Meridians.
‘They came out of curiosity, to gather information, and out of desperation.’
However, while the first two were expected, the last should feel the same as the kidnapper, awkwardly kneeling in front of me.
So,
“Great Hero Yu. I will treat her, but first I want to clear up a misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding—”
“Spending a night together, does that truly constitute treatment?”
“…No?”
Confusion flickered in the kidnapper’s eyes.
“Are you saying sleeping won’t help the treatment?”
“It seems the Leader hasn’t heard what was declared.”
“Uh, that is….”
“The treatment does not involve sleeping.”
From his reaction, I felt a strange sensation bubbling up, but I continued speaking as a physician.
“Success in making an elixir is what’s required, and consuming it is the key.”
“Oh, oh…! Is that so?!”
“Yes. Coincidentally, there’s only enough for one left. Making more will take some time.”
In fact, if I tried to extract it right now, I could produce as much as I wanted.
But then, the entire Martial World would clearly be after my life to extract my bodily fluids, so I kept the truth hidden and the Martial World Alliance Leader also deceived the world.
“Please come this way.”
“Ah, ah…!”
“And to all the observers from across the Martial World, I announce that there’s a patient suffering from Absolute Meridians here.”
I stepped aside and pointed towards the inner Mo Yong Family.
Gazing at the crowd behind the kidnapper, I proclaimed,
“…Normal treatment can be conducted, so please don’t assume that the method involves sleeping together.”
First. The treatment does not involve sleeping with me.
“And.”
Second.
“Sharing intimacy with Mo Yongseol is not a necessary part of the treatment for Absolute Meridians.”
This is something those present may have been misled about or desperately wished to believe.
“I make it clear that it’s only after establishing love that the treatment was initiated.”
I need to cut down the lecherous gazes of the men towards Mo Yongseol as well as the scheming eyes of the women directed at me.
I declare to the world.
I am Mo Yongseol’s man.
And Mo Yongseol is mine.
* * *
A moment later.
I returned to the [Medical Hall] on the eastern side of the Mo Yong estate, where I used to reside.
Although it’s not as isolated from people as the [Holy Paradise] on the north side, this Medical Hall was originally a three-story building remodeled to welcome guests.
The first floor is a consultation room.
The second floor contains the pharmacy and patient rooms.
And the third floor is reserved for me and my master.
In other words, I spent a night with Mo Yongseol at this Medical Hall.
She entered through the open window into the Medical Hall and approached me while I was sleeping in bed.
Originally, I would have gone down from the third floor to the second, treating her in the patient room—
“What were you thinking so deeply, Physician?”
While lost in thought for a moment, a patient dressed in traditional garb called out to me.
“I was pondering how to proceed with the treatment, Yu Soje.”
Before me stood a woman.
Her hair, predominantly black, bore strands dyed in blue and white, one of the over 108 patients displaying symptoms of the Absolute Meridians.
“Before treatment, the Martial World Alliance Leader requested something of me.”
“The Leader…?”
“Yes. He asked me to keep detailed records regarding treatment for future patients suffering from Absolute Meridians.”
I took out a token.
“That is…!”
“It’s the Jade Token of the Martial World Alliance Leader, Grand Master Taesangjin.”
A jade badge.
Engraved inside is the phrase ‘Martial World Alliance Seal’.
“I may lack knowledge about martial arts, but you’re the daughter of the Purple Sword Gate; I’m sure you know what the carvings on the back signify.”
“This is the sword mark of the Cloud Dragon Thirteen Swords…!”
There are even distinctive sword cuts on the back, making it undeniable that this was given by the Martial World Alliance Leader.
Thus.
“Think of me as a physician from the Mo Yong family and a part of the special medical team authorized by the Martial World Alliance.”
In terms of status, I am no ordinary physician.
If I cause chaos or don’t cooperate?
The Purple Sword Gate would definitely be expelled from the Martial World Alliance, and they’d be thrown out of the Mo Yong Family without proper treatment.
“First, your name?”
“…Yu Giyeon.”
The kidnapper’s daughter, Yu Giyeon. Confirmed.
“And what’s your age?”
“The age of a woman….”
“That part is important.”
Yu Giyeon shot a vicious glare my way, but I persistently continued writing.
“As you know, women suffering from Absolute Meridians start to succumb from the age of twenty. In the most severe cases, like with Mo Yongseol, it’s commonly said, ‘they die on their twenty-first birthday’.”
Actually, seven women have died under such circumstances.
Dying on their birthday, dying the day after; or barely hanging on but eventually passing within two days.
“The differences in Absolute Meridians may vary per person, but reaching adulthood and not lasting more than a few days is what defines the phase. That’s the Nine Yin Absolute Meridians.”
Nine.
It also signifies the symptom where nine of the meridians are blocked, but it also represents the stages of the Absolute Meridians.
“How old are you, Yu Soje?”
“This year… I’m twenty-four.”
Twenty-four years old.
“Do you know how many of your meridians are blocked?”
“When the physician examined me before, he said it was the Seven Yin Absolute Meridians.”
Seven Yin Absolute Meridians. Seven of her meridians are blocked.
Statistically, she’s set to die at 25, so she has approximately one year left.
“Let’s check directly.”
I took hold of Yu Giyeon’s wrist and felt her pulse.
Thump. Thump.
A very slow pulse.
Nowhere near that of a normal person, but considerably faster than Mo Yongseol’s.
“Uhm, Physician.”
“Yes, Yu Soje.”
“Well….”
“Feel free to speak. I can maintain conversation while checking your pulse.”
“Is your relationship with Mo Yong Soje real?”
“Yes.”
I thought she hesitated to ask something.
‘At least the Seven Absolute Meridians is confirmed.’
The seven blocked meridians were suppressing her energy, but the force of suppression wasn’t strong enough for her to be dying right now.
However.
“If the Mo Yong Family told you to say that…”
“Yu Soje, I heard you had an intimate encounter with a man before coming here.”
“Ugh…!”
There’s something I need to confirm.
So I deliberately brought this woman here.
“Did the act with him alleviate any pain?”
“I….!”
Yu Giyeon clearly showed her displeasure, but I subtly pointed to the Martial World Leader’s token with my eyes.
“…There was no relief.”
Yu Giyeon spoke the truth.
“In fact, it only hurt more.”
“Was it your first time?”
“It was….”
“That’s an essential detail for the examination and record. Extreme Yang Reversal worked for Mo Yong Soje but may not have any effect on you.”
“What does that even mean?”
Yu Giyeon raised her voice momentarily.
“Are you saying there’s a pill that won’t work unless someone is a virgin?!”
“It’s about the process of understanding.”
“Then… then.”
Yu Giyeon hesitated for a moment.
As if testing me.
“Do we have to sleep together?”
“Yes?”
“You just said, ‘yes’, right?!”
“…….”
Oh.
This is a problem.
“So, what I meant was, if you want to see the effect of the medicine, you need to sleep with me, right? Yes?”
“That’s not—”
This woman.
Is she ignoring my words?
Or is she just pretending to be stupid while plotting something else?
“If you’re being coerced by the Mo Yong Family, I’ll become the physician’s woman instead…!”
Perhaps.
‘Is it not Absolute Meridians but rather a mental illness?’
Has she lost her mind?
Speaking in whispers, does she even remember where she is?
“Physician! Please save the girl—”
[Slap!]
The sound of a slap echoed.
“You’re crazy. A girl who came to treat a terminal illness doesn’t know her place.”
Mo Yongseol lightly waved her hand and coldly glared at Yu Giyeon.
‘When did she come in?’
There wasn’t even a sound when she entered.
Yu Giyeon, having her face slapped hard enough to tilt her torso sideways, gripped onto her face while placing a lookout toward Mo Yongseol.
“This girl is clearly insane, should I throw her out? She seems out of her mind.”
“This…!”
Yu Giyeon held her face and glared at Mo Yongseol.
“You filthy, foul-mouthed lunatic…!”
“You.”
Mo Yongseol’s expression hardened.
“What did you just say?”
That expression was similar to that of a Sword Saint.
“Are you out of your mind? Do you wish to die?”
“How dare you speak before me.”
“Sister.”
As I called out to Mo Yongseol, her expression turned to one of realization as she turned her face away from me.
“That, Physician. Um…”
“Well said.”
I stood up from my seat.
“Since the patient is uncooperative, let’s put this on hold for now.”
I immediately took Mo Yongseol’s hand and walked outside.
“…….”
Outside the consultation room.
The kidnapper of the Purple Sword Gate, who had been sitting on a chair for guardians, had a flushed face, bowing deeply.
“Dear Physician, I’m…!”
“You’re not in immediate danger of death, so I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. It’s late.”
“……I apologize. It’s my oversight.”
The kidnapper rose from his seat and bent at a 90-degree angle, while Yu Giyeon inside the consultation room also turned pale when witnessing this.
“I, this kidnapper, sincerely apologize.”
“Let’s continue this conversation tomorrow.”
Without looking back at the kidnapper still bowing deeply,
I walked away, holding Mo Yongseol’s hand.
“Um, that…”
“Mo Yong Soje.”
I tightly pulled Mo Yongseol into my embrace behind the Medical Hall.
“You know that face you just had? That cold and composed expression.”
“Please don’t say that. I mean, it’s just that I…”
“That face, I wanted to see it melt into pleasure before me.”
“……!!”
Mo Yongseol trembled in my embrace.
Her astonished gaze briefly looked downward, then sharply bit her lower lip.
“…Physician.”
She looked up at me with the coldest, most composed face in the White Path Martial World.
“Can you tell me it will all melt into love?”
In an instant, her eyes narrowed into crescents as she stood on tiptoe toward me.