NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9
Only Physician Seok Muwol isn’t the only one who can treat it.
I had a feeling that might be the case, but to confirm it, I suppose verification through actual patients is necessary.
“Leader. It’s the White Tiger Leader. May I enter?”
“Oh, has the investigation concluded already? Sword Saint, may we allow the White Tiger Leader in?”
“Have him enter.”
“Thank you. Please, let the White Tiger Leader in.”
Just as that verification was about to take place, someone arrived with news.
“Excuse me.”
A figure dressed in a white martial robe, wearing a mask reminiscent of a ‘white tiger,’ entered.
Though clad in white, her voice and the slender lines of her body clearly indicated that the White Tiger Leader was female.
“The White Tiger Leader would like to greet the seniors of the Martial World and provide a report.”
The White Tiger Leader took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her jacket and unfurled it.
“I’ve persuaded two of the Absolute Meridians patients from Yodong Province to undergo treatment.”
“And how did it go?”
“Both showed no signs of improvement.”
“…….”
The Leader closed his eyes for a moment.
“It wouldn’t be because different conditions were at play, would it?”
“I’m not sure if the fact they were born on the exact same day is a condition, but at least it’s clear that ‘sleeping heals them’ is not the case.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
The Leader struck his mouth with his hand.
If only ‘sleeping heals them’ were a condition, he would have joyfully proclaimed great fortune for the Martial World, but the current situation was teetering on the edge of absolute worst.
“The head of the Purple Sword Gate, having set out for verification, is now throwing a fit about bringing his daughter here.”
“What do you mean, White Tiger Leader? Didn’t the family of the head of the Purple Sword Gate have a marriage alliance with Jinju?”
“That marriage candidate has failed in treatment….”
Before the White Tiger Leader could finish, he snapped to attention.
“Are you implying they plan to depend on my son-in-law for treatment?!”
Although the White Tiger Leader could not speak, the high-quality paper he was holding let everyone see the words clearly from behind.
“The head of the Purple Sword Gate has put his life on the line, wagering a night with Physician Seok Muwol against Sword Saint. He said if he wins, he wants to have his daughter sleep with Physician Seok Muwol.”
“Just… that alone seems a bit excessive; isn’t he at the pinnacle?”
“It’s a father’s will to save his daughter. He would gamble his life just to secure treatment.”
“… It seems this is just the beginning, out of a hundred and eight.”
Silence descended upon the reception room.
“…For now, I understand. If there are others who wish to verify this elsewhere, let it be up to the patient’s will.”
“Leader.”
“Sword Saint. It seems we need to organize the treatment methods of Physician Seok Muwol.”
“That is….”
“Brother, quick!”
A man rushed into the room, panting.
“What is it, little brother?”
“Th-the niece! She, she wants to come with her husband!”
“Steady down.”
“…Phew.”
Mo Yongcheon’s younger brother, Mo Yongsan, caught his breath and slowly opened his mouth.
“Physician Seok Muwol wishes to come here with Seol to report on the completion of her treatment… in person.”
* * *
[Before the half-study.]
They say if you apply a balm, you’ll heal.
I’ve never had that experience, but among the captured orphans, some claimed their mother’s touch eased their pain, saying ‘Mom’s hands are healing hands.’
As a physician, if one were to ask whether there was actual therapeutic effect, I’d say it’s half true and half false.
The brain deceives the pain.
When a physician tricks the patient with a placebo, sometimes the patient responds, “I feel better.”
It’s a kind of ‘white lie,’ and no one truly heals just from applying balm.
However.
“…Hah.”
Mo Yongseol tilted her head back.
She licked her shining lips, then played with the redness of her lips while looking at me.
“How is it?”
“…It’s been confirmed.”
I grasped Mo Yongseol’s wrist to focus on the pulse and checked its efficacy.
“It seems what flows in my body acts as a remedy for the Absolute Meridians.”
“Saliva, blood, and ㅈ-”
“Let’s call it Yang Qi.”
Even I couldn’t make Mo Yongseol say such things.
And it was the same elsewhere.
“Thanks to you, the purity shall not be frivolously sullied.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Concerning the other women afflicted by Absolute Meridians—”
“Are you saying you will treat them…?”
Siiii—
A chill emanates from Mo Yongseol’s body.
Not a chill caused by the Absolute Meridians, but a freezing aura of her martial energy pricked my skin like needles.
“As someone who shares a bond with you, I wouldn’t want to do this, but as a member of the Mo Yong family, I must make choices for the family’s welfare.”
I reached out toward Mo Yongseol.
“If not, the Mo Yong family will be deemed a public enemy of the Martial World.”
“…….”
“If even one treasure map left by a past absolute master were to surface, it would shake the Martial World; imagine how significant a treatment method for the Absolute Meridians would be.”
I can assert this.
“Were it not for the Sword Saint, the people of the Martial World would have already flooded this estate.”
Had Mo Yongcheon been a lower-level martial artist, not a Sword Saint, he wouldn’t have evaded pressure from the New Ascendants and others.
“Moreover, as you know….”
“That’s not an important issue.”
Mo Yongseol placed her finger on my lips.
“You don’t intend to let them see you that way, do you?”
Mo Yongseol knew my worst weakness.
As someone who cannot be tolerated in the White Path Martial World.
“Regardless of what others say, you are still a physician. I, Mo Yong, will repay you as a lifesaver, and my family will hold you in gratitude.”
“Soeo.”
“So, just… yield a little.”
Mo Yongseol let out a deep sigh, almost in lament.
“If it were up to my heart, I would prevent any contact, but if I did that, a more complicated situation could arise.”
Mo Yongseol also recognized it.
That one small mistake could lead to upheaval in the Martial World.
“…If it weren’t for being martial artists, I’d never even think of my loved one reaching out to another woman.”
Ultimately, it’s something that can only happen because they’re martial artists.
“The reality is bitter; however, I hope you understand my feelings.”
Mo Yongseol once more held my face.
“I have no intention of sharing you with anyone.”
“I feel the same, Soeo.”
“You must keep that promise. Otherwise….”
Mo Yongseol’s thumb lightly brushed beneath my eye.
“Even if I become a public enemy and am called a vile woman throughout the world, I will make you look only at me.”
* * *
Moments later.
I headed to the reception room in the main hall of the Mo Yong family alongside Mo Yongseol.
“Why have you come in person?”
The Sword Saint looked at me and Mo Yongseol with a bitter expression.
It wasn’t just that I was holding Mo Yongseol’s hand.
“You could have just written the treatment method down.”
As the Sword Saint said, the original intention was to relay the ‘treatment for the Absolute Meridians’ to the Leader and martial artists on paper.
“I determined that it would be better to show it directly than just write it down.”
“…What?”
The Sword Saint’s hands twitched.
“Haha.”
Not only the Sword Saint but also the Leader, New Ascendant, Sword Mistress, and likely even someone from the Imperial Palace displayed discomfort.
“Haha, Physician Seok, do you wish to display your sentiments with Mo Yong so openly?”
The Leader spoke as if playfully chastising the youthful exuberances of young people.
In his heart, he must be thinking, ‘Choose your timing and place wisely, you young ones.’
“It’s fine. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Haha. How amusing.”
“There’s nothing here that can’t be seen by the elders of the martial world.”
Speaking calmly, I laid the groundwork.
Those without prejudice would think, “What on earth are they trying to say?” In fact, the Sword Saint was looking at Mo Yongseol with a hint of confusion.
Nodding.
As Mo Yongseol nodded at the Sword Saint, the Sword Saint subtly twitched his eyes but nodded briefly.
‘It wasn’t a consensus with the Sword Saint, but he’d play along reasonably.’
If I guide the situation well.
“Listen, youths.”
The New Ascendant stood up from his seat.
“Regardless, the relationship between men and women in a proper order—”
“Let me clear up one misunderstanding before I speak.”
Before the New Ascendant could scold, I intervened.
“Hah.”
The New Ascendant shot me a glance of ‘How dare you,’ but I tightly held Mo Yongseol’s hand and continued.
“I was confused too. To think sleeping with someone would yield a cure.”
“How could you—”
“Physician, please continue speaking.”
The lady who had been quietly sitting, Sword Mistress, spoke in a low voice.
“New Ascendant, please sit.”
“…….”
On the surface, it might seem like a woman in her early twenties was ruthlessly speaking to a man in his sixties, but the Sword Mistress was actually eight—
“Physician Seok Muwol.”
“Yes, Sword Mistress?”
“Get to the main point.”
“…Before I do that, may I ask you one thing?”
My answer hinges upon this single response.
“Since word got out that Mo Yong Soeo has recovered, someone must have undoubtedly attempted a ‘try.’ Am I wrong, Leader?”
I aimed my inquiry toward the Leader.
“What became of their treatment?”
“To put it simply, there was no progress.”
“There was no progress.”
Now, it’s certain.
“Were there only one case like that?”
“If only a day or two has passed, I could uncover at least three more, but I doubt anyone else can cure the Absolute Meridians.”
“Thank you. This helps confirm my suspicions even more.”
I bowed to the Leader.
“The treatment method is… this.”
Then I immediately turned to Mo Yongseol, who stood on her tiptoes and kissed me.
Lick.
“!!”
Our lips met.
Everyone around us was taken aback, but I slowly parted my lips while entrusting my body to Mo Yongseol.
Smooch, smooch, lick, slurp.
“Hah, haha—”
The reactions varied among those in the reception room, but they gradually began to change.
“!!”
“Yang Qi…?”
“Hmm….”
“Whoa.”
Mo Yongseol pulled back.
A string of light stretched between us and shimmered, while Mo Yongseol lightly bit her lip as she detached herself.
Slurp.
The light string that extended between us snapped as I wiped my lips with my hand and bowed my head.
“As a physician and the one who experienced it firsthand, I can tell you that those among the top martial artists in this room can see with their own eyes. The Yang Qi resides in Mo Yong Soeo’s body, suppressing the Yin Qi of the Absolute Meridians.”
“……Are you saying a kiss is the answer?”
“Yes.”
In fact, it’s a multiple answer.
“Spending a night with Mo Yong Soeo and kissing her seemed to be the crucial trigger.”
It’s a multiple answer, but for them and for the entire Martial World, there’s only one right answer to disclose.
“How is it possible that such a thing…?”
“It seems the medicinal herbs we consumed while researching treatment with my master had some effect on my body.”
“Unbelievable!!”
The New Ascendant jolted up.
“Are you telling me that your saliva is a panacea?!”
“It won’t cure all diseases, but it’s certain it proves effective for the Absolute Meridians. The question remains whether it will work for others.”
“…Is that so.”
The New Ascendant resumed his seat, though I noticed veins popping on his forehead.
‘They sure are sensitive about medicine in Shaolin.’
It’s astonishing how many sect leaders are donating to Shaolin just to obtain that elixir.
If my saliva were a universal remedy, they’d probably try to mix it into the Great Elixir.
Or perhaps they’d bind me up at the peak of Shaolin and extract my bodily fluids daily.
“Th-”
“Ugh.”
Just as I was about to continue explaining, I heard the Sword Mistress let out a sigh of relief.
“I thought I was going to have to witness the young people’s love with my own eyes.”
“Even I wouldn’t want to show the figure of the woman I love to others.”
“That’s right.”
The Sword Mistress turned her head aside.
“Sword Saint?”
“…….”
The Sword Saint kept his mouth tightly shut.
That’s strange.
Previously, he should have reacted wildly to me kissing Mo Yongseol.
‘Could it be.’
Is it possible that such thoughts caused him to be lost in them?
“Thank goodness your daughter does not resemble her father’s temperament. Hoho.”
“Shut it, Sword Mistress.”
“……?”
Whatever it is, the Sword Mistress was smiling.
The Sword Saint was glaring openly.
“Now, now.”
The Leader clapped his hands and stood up.
“Since it’s become clear, let me ask Physician Seok something.”
“Please do.”
“Are you willing to share your ‘medicinal liquid’ that might help with the Absolute Meridians?”
“That could certainly be unpleasant for some, but isn’t healing not always about sleep? Hahaha!”
At least it didn’t get revealed that the liquid was blood or something else.
“If the method of combining Yin and Yang and infusing Yang Qi is indeed the treatment for the Absolute Meridians, then those one hundred eight patients will have to spend a night alternately with Physician Seok Muwol until they’re cured! Hahaha!”
…It’s not exposed, right?
“Then we must come up with a measure to protect Physician Seok from those wicked Demon Cultists.”
“……!”
Martial World Leader, could it be.
Does he know my true identity—
“Leader. Physician Seok is—”
“With just the daughters of the Heavenly Demon, they also have Absolute Meridians.”
“……?”
?
“Oh. You didn’t know. That’s only secret knowledge known in Kunlun.”
The Martial World Leader extended three fingers.
“The eldest to the youngest daughters of the Heavenly Demon, all of them have Absolute Meridians.”