NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18
At that moment, the Sword Mistress was receiving a medical consultation from Physician Seok Muwol.
“As the Martial World Alliance Leader, I feel ashamed.”
“No, it’s not your fault. Who could have predicted that the Sword Mistress would act like that?”
Mo Yongsan, the deputy head of the Mo Yong Family, hurriedly welcomed the Martial World Alliance Leader.
“I’ll tell you to speak in private next time. I’ve instructed my disciple to be especially cautious, so there won’t be any careless chatter.”
“It’s a sudden calamity from the clear sky; how could anyone be blamed?”
The Martial World Alliance Leader bore some responsibility regarding the Sword Mistress’s sudden outburst.
The news of the side effects from Yu Giyeon’s treatment had leaked to the Sword Mistress.
As a result, she went berserk, but thankfully, the Sword Saint managed to suppress her rage.
“Publicly, Seol-yi expressed a desire to learn the Sword from the Sword Mistress, and the Sword Saint was displeased that Seol-yi was practicing a martial art other than that of the Mo Yong Family… Please frame it that way.”
“Ah, if that’s the case, I can easily wrap it up. So, will the Sword Mistress remain in the Mo Yong Family?”
“Yes. Although it’s a sudden situation… This isn’t something that just came up out of nowhere, is it? If the Haedong Sword Sect were to receive a direct letter from the Sword Mistress, they wouldn’t dare express dissatisfaction, even if they have grievances.”
“Really… Sigh. If it proceeds as the deputy head suggests, there won’t be a thing to worry about.”
The Martial World Alliance Leader leaned back in his chair with a relieved look.
“Deputy head.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“Have you ever thought about wanting to become young again while retaining your memories?”
Although he didn’t directly mention anyone, the Alliance Leader had a fair idea about the background of the Sword Mistress’s outburst.
“I’ve lived solely for the sword since I was young, and when I came to the Central Plains, I took down numerous lecherous devils.”
Lecherous devils!
A derogatory term referring to martial artists who commit sexual crimes against commoners, innocent young women, or widows.
Such words aren’t commonly used in this era, as the Sword Mistress had eliminated such devils all across the Central Plains from her days as a hero to now.
“As far as I know, the Sword Mistress has—”
“It has nothing to do with lechery.”
Mo Yongsan interrupted the Alliance Leader decisively.
“It’s an issue that’s hard to mention, but it isn’t about that. It’s related to inner demons.”
“Ah, I see. That was a thoughtless remark of mine.”
Mo Yongsan smiled bitterly.
Since he had already apologized once, it seemed like bowing again wouldn’t be too problematic.
“Was it an issue of being ensnared by one’s heart… hmm.”
“…….”
That slithering old man.
Attempting to find the right answer just from the remarks he made.
Mo Yongsan barely swallowed the words that rose up to his chin.
“The Sword Mistress will continue to stay in the Mo Yong Family. If any other patients suffering from the Sickness of Absolute Meridians come by or if someone pressures the Mo Yong Family, then together with the Sword Saint, the Sword Mistress will have to face them head-on. And…”
“And?”
“We plan to expand the Medical Hall of the Mo Yong Family. If patients with the Sickness of Absolute Meridians want to come to the Central Plains, we’ll need multiple facilities to accommodate them. Facilities for long-term stays or for the guardians of the patients to stay in.”
“Hmm….”
“Would you like to participate together, or proceed separately? The Mo Yong Family will be constructing a new building. To protect Physician Seok and assist the various women of the Martial World in treating the Sickness of Absolute Meridians.”
“Let’s proceed together, while also keeping independent exchanges. Those who wish to avoid indebtedness to the Mo Yong Family may stay in facilities managed by the Alliance. Hmm….”
“Is it a matter of proportion? If it’s about the budget….”
“No.”
The Martial World Alliance Leader briefly paused.
“Do you, by any chance, have thoughts of becoming the Martial World Alliance Leader yourself?”
“Excuse me?”
Mo Yongsan’s expression stiffened at the sudden question.
“I’m getting old now, and I should die close to Kunlun Mountain rather than in the Central Plains.”
“No, Alliance Leader.”
“Even if I transport my coffin from Liaodong to Kunlun, it will rot along the way. I at least want to collapse near Kunlun when I faint due to old age.”
“How can you say such pointless things? You are neither a deputy leader nor a commander; if someone from the Mo Yong Family suddenly becomes the Martial World Alliance Leader, what will people say? It would only create greater chaos in the Martial World.”
“In my view, I believe you have the capability to quell that chaos.”
The Alliance Leader, Grand Master Taesangjin, began to relish the thought.
“I think you would be able to handle any chaos that arises in the Martial World. I can vouch for that.”
“…….”
Mo Yongsan recalled.
That the gaze of the Alliance Leader, looking at him, was quite reminiscent of someone else’s.
It was definitely the same gaze he had seen when the Sword Mistress met with Physician Seok Muwol just moments earlier.
“Hah, hahah….”
Mo Yongsan swallowed hard.
“…What a dreadful thing to say.”
He thought,
If he could return to the body of his youth at this point in time.
In that case, he had no doubt that he would become the next Martial World Alliance Leader.
Regardless of his own will, Grand Master Taesangjin would suddenly declare him the Martial World Alliance Leader.
“Why don’t you, instead, undergo the Reversal of Aging and continue as the Martial World Alliance Leader?”
“Hahaha, if I could do that, I would do so gladly. But since that is impossible, I’m saying this now, am I not?”
“You just clearly said it, didn’t you?”
“Hahaha. Even if that were to happen, the one who would lead the new era wouldn’t be this old geezer, but someone else.”
“…….”
“…….”
The two looked at each other for quite a while without speaking a word.
* * *
I want to be someone’s woman, not a Sword Mistress of the Martial World.
I want to give birth to a child and live life as someone’s mother.
“I understand the Sword Mistress’s feelings well.”
I understand.
“I can prepare the Extreme Yang Reversal.”
“!!”
“However, I need to ask a few questions first.”
I extended my hand to keep the Sword Mistress away, then stepped back and opened a piece of paper to take notes.
“How far does the Extreme Yang Reversal work? Will it also work for someone who has already undergone the Reversal of Aging? If it fails, then it fails, but if it works, you need to act according to the situation of the Mo Yong Family.”
“If it succeeds, what can’t I do?”
The Sword Mistress moved her chair closer as if in a frenzy.
That chair was probably fixed to the floor.
“This is solely for the Extreme Yang Reversal. If you undergo the Reversal of Aging… I still can’t be too certain, but I’m assuming it will be as if you returned to the age of twenty, and that’s only after the full effect of the medicine takes place.”
“Alright, let’s hear it.”
“First, medically speaking, even if you return to the age of twenty, whether you can still bear children is truly uncertain.”
She flinched.
The Sword Mistress’s expression hardened instantly.
“Are you saying that I’m infertile? Or that it’s because of side effects?”
“No. It’s due to the purely physiological condition of a human body. According to my teacher Baek Myeon-seon’s medical theory, once a woman’s menstrual cycle ends, she can no longer conceive.”
“!!”
“To be precise, it’s the opposite. I don’t know about the highly skilled, but most women, once they reach about fifty….”
“That’s… That’s uncertain!”
“Sword Mistress, there’s no time to explain medicine to you right now. If this drags on, we won’t even have time to prepare the Extreme Yang Reversal.”
“Ugh…!”
Despite my blatant annoyance, the Sword Mistress kept her mouth shut and withdrew.
Who would have thought that the Sword Mistress would retreat due to threats?
“Just answer the questions honestly.”
“Understood… Yes.”
“When was your menstrual cycle last interrupted?”
“……Forty years ago.”
The Sword Mistress lowered her head deeply.
“Was it before or after the Reversal of Aging?”
“It was before.”
“Did you have a menstrual cycle after the Reversal of Aging?”
“I did not.”
“Hmm.”
Confirmation.
“I understand. We’ll follow up on this while staying in the Mo Yong Family.”
Since she desired a child the most, I started this conversation.
Now, it was time to discuss political issues and influence matters.
“After the prescription of the Extreme Yang Reversal, you will need to stay at least one month… No, two months. You must confirm whether your menstrual cycle returns during your stay in the Mo Yong Family.”
“That means….”
“I’m hoping to prevent a second Sword Mistress or a second Yu Giyeon.”
“I understand.”
The Sword Mistress smiled bitterly and nodded.
“So you mean to say I can handle all those who come barging in demanding treatment?”
“Just don’t chase them away; ask them to keep the order. Issues like the prescription for the Extreme Yang Reversal and treatment for the Sickness of Absolute Meridians… that should be discussed with the Deputy Head.”
Those visiting the Mo Yong Family in the future would be filtered by Mo Yongsan and the Sword Mistress.
I would treat those with the Sickness of Absolute Meridians who were either ‘safe to treat’ or ‘needed treatment to be safe.’
The former was Yu Giyeon.
No matter if the Purple Sword Gate causes trouble, I’d be able to manage that without issue.
The latter is the Sword Mistress.
If treatment is not given, then the lives of both the Sword Saint and Sword Mistress would be put at risk—resulting in over half of the Mo Yong Family’s estate being reduced to ashes.
“So if the Reversal of Aging succeeds, then….”
I brushed my hand across my face.
“I will prepare the Inscripters’ Veil.”
“Inscripters’ Veil?”
“Yes. Or you could wear a mask like those from the Martial World’s White Tiger Squad or Blue Dragon Squad.”
“You want me to pretend I’m a blooming twenty-year-old maiden, huh? Got it.”
“……Yes.”
Conclusion.
If she becomes young again, she’ll need to stay at the Mo Yong Family for about two months to assist them.
“I hope there will be effective results, but for tonight, please sleep soundly and envision your new life.”
“What?!”
“In order to create the Extreme Yang Reversal, I can’t do it alone.”
Slowly, the end of the workday was approaching.
To be precise, ‘the time when Mo Yongseol needs me’ was drawing near.
“I’ll need the assistance of Mo Yongseol, so I’ll see you again in the morning.”
“…….”
“During your night stay, think about how you will live and consider a new name as well.”
“That….”
“Oh, right.”
I pointed to the top portion of the medical record, the empty space.
“Could you please provide your name and age?”
“……Geum Jeomri.”
The moment the prescription for the Extreme Yang Reversal is made, Geum Jeomri will be reborn with a name similar to those of today’s generation.
* * *
And the next day.
“Mo Yongseol. You really didn’t have to go this far.”
“What if something happens? After all, you’re the Sword Mistress.”
In the Medical Hall, in the hospital room, Mo Yongseol stood next to me dressed similarly to a physician.
“Rest assured. If the Sword Mistress goes rampant, my father will respond immediately.”
Whirring.
Behind Mo Yongseol, a blue sword was floating in mid-air, shimmering with energy.
The First Star Sword.
Although it wasn’t present in this place, one of the Seven Star Swords of Sword Saint Mo Yongcheon was guarding Mo Yongseol.
If the Sword Mistress suddenly unleashed her energy in the ‘treatment room,’ she would be able to move as if she were responding herself.
Though, it was outside the building.
“Everything’s alright, so just relax.”
Bound tightly to the bed, more accurately, the Sword Mistress had tightly bound herself with ropes and calmly closed her eyes.
“Let’s begin.”
“If anything goes wrong….”
“Sword Saint. Feel free to stab me to death if you wish.”
Vroom.
The Seven Star Sword resonated.
“…I will begin.”
I pulled the Extreme Yang Reversal from my pouch.
“That is….”
“Yes. The Extreme Yang Reversal.”
I mixed different ingredients, resulting in an Extreme Yang Reversal stronger than what I had administered to Yu Giyeon.
The production method is a secret.
Dried, ground, mixed with herbal scents.
“Now, I will administer it.”
I administered the True Extreme Yang Reversal into the Sword Mistress’s mouth.
She swallowed it whole and closed her eyes, suppressing herself.
The time it took for Yu Giyeon to respond to the Extreme Yang Reversal was—
Flash!
White light flickered in the Sword Mistress’s eyes, and Mo Yongseol pulled me back.
Fwoosh!!
Light exploded from the Sword Mistress’s entire body, and soon her body began to crack with a sound.
Crack.
The time for change was brief.
As if skipping a long process and bringing just the results, her skin started to slough off like a skin shedding.
“…….”
Crack.
The Sword Mistress severed the ropes binding her and rose.
After running her hand across her face, baby-soft, smooth skin was revealed.
“…Is this what happens to a woman who has not fallen ill with the Sickness of Absolute Meridians?”
From the Sword Mistress, I gained information.
I had acquired information, but it sent chills down my spine.
“…Physician Seok.”
The Sword Mistress extended one sleeve.
“Am I capable of bearing a child?”
“…Checking through the pulse is uncertain.”
“Still, you should check for me.”
“Physician.”
Mo Yongseol tightly grasped my arm, pointing at the Sword Mistress.
“At least you should do a pulse check…?”
“Um.”
I understood the implication.
‘Let’s respond before she starts causing a ruckus.’
If the Sword Mistress goes berserk, then that sword will be stabbed towards the young Sword Mistress.
“Let me reiterate, there are limitations to checking through the pulse so….”
My heart started racing violently.
It felt quite wrong to reach to her wrist, but since Mo Yongseol was gripping my arm tightly, I steeled myself.
‘Hold on, my heart.’
No matter if I was facing the insane Sword Mistress who had gone mad with inner demons.
‘She is a patient in mental distress.’
How could a physician abandon their patient?
Thump, thump.
The pounding of my heart gradually subsided.
I took a breath to steady myself and reached my hand toward her wrist to find her pulse.
“……Huh?”
Why.
“…Why is it, open?”
Things that should be closed were open, and things that shouldn’t exist were suddenly felt.
“?????”
Common sense shattered.