NOVEL NEXT Chapter 195: Putting One’s Affairs In Order (1)
The fact that he nearly killed the successors.
The Sword Emperor, having regained his consciousness, slowly recalled those memories.
How must it feel to realize one was slowly going insane? Moreover, the fact that this aftermath endangered the disciples of his sect.
The pain was understandable even without saying.
Because the expression on the deeply meditating Sword Emperor’s face looked excruciatingly painful.
It was as if he had chewed and swallowed a raw, spiky thorn bush.
Perhaps because of that, the Sword Emperor readily followed the orders of the Golden Needle Phantom.
“It might hurt a bit. Is that alright?”
“It’s fine.”
The Sword Emperor endured the pain with just a shallow moan.
In contrast to the title of one of the Ten Grandmasters, his bare back looked frail.
The Golden Needle Phantom tapped on the Sword Emperor’s left elbow.
“Do you feel this?”
Nod.
“How about this side, do you feel your right elbow?”
Nod.
After confirming the sensations in both feet, the Golden Needle Phantom began to write something down.
Yi-gang quietly observed the entire process.
Go Yo-ja had left to try making an elixir.
The only ones present here were Golden Needle Phantom, Yi-gang, and Dam Hyun.
“Senior Uncle, here is the towel and hot water.”
“Well done.”
Unlike Dam Hyun, who was busily assisting, Yi-gang’s only task was to sit quietly.
Nevertheless, his presence was allowed at the behest of the Sword Emperor.
The Sword Emperor had wanted Yi-gang to join. He didn’t specify a reason, and despite Yi-gang being there, he didn’t ask anything or give him any tasks.
「The Taoist continues to investigate you, young priest.」
‘It seems so.’
Of course, that was only outwardly.
The Sword Emperor was observing Yi-gang. Not that he was assessing Yi-gang’s Qi and internal strength through intangible Qi, but Yi-gang felt that way.
Cheongho sat next to Yi-gang and yawned lengthily.
From the perspective of a still young fox, sitting still here must be somewhat boring.
Dam Hyun quickly sat next to Yi-gang and reached out to pet Cheongho’s head.
“How cute. Hehe.”
However, Cheongho stretched her body and escaped from Dam Hyun’s hand.
It was usually the same routine every day.
“Hehehe…”
Despite being rejected like that, something still seemed to please him.
Yi-gang looked at Dam Hyun with a pitiful gaze.
Dam Hyun murmured with a contented expression, “That’s enough.”
“What do you mean, ‘that’s enough’?”
“You know, the thing I kept talking about.”
His eyes were shining with enthusiasm.
“…head technique.”
“What head technique, oh, the craniotomy?”
It was another talk about craniotomy. Yi-gang made a weary face. It was an obsession that seemed never to end.
“Not all craniotomy is bad. If Taoist sorcery and demonic knowledge are combined, it could essentially eliminate impurities.”
“How can you just open and close someone’s head at will?”
“If they take hemp lung soup, they won’t feel any pain at all. Just cover the skull with clean sword energy and crack it open. Then stitch it with gold thread.”
“Are you trying to be Hua Tuo, Senior Brother?”
Even Hua Tuo, a legendary doctor, died trying to open Cao Cao’s head.
From Yi-gang’s perspective, Dam Hyun’s insistence on brain surgery here, which was far from a modern operating room, seemed bizarre.
“Why do you insist when even Senior Uncle Do Gyeon has said it’s not possible? The person involved doesn’t want it either.”
“It seems we’re not getting through at all…”
Yi-gang was left gaping.
He hadn’t expected to hear such a thing from none other than Dam Hyun.
Dam Hyun was the very person who had been advocating for craniotomy yesterday and got struck by the Golden Needle Phantom.
With a cautious look as if he had been generous, Dam Hyun whispered, “I got permission.”
“From Senior Uncle?”
“No, from the Sword Emperor. Yesterday.”
The information was even more puzzling.
“When I pestered him, he said he understood and gave his permission.”
“If it was yesterday…”
Yi-gang’s expression changed. Yesterday was the day the Sword Emperor’s mind had reverted to that of an eight-year-old child.
The Sword Emperor of that time was unlike now, being very timid and gentle.
“This is nonsense…”
“…But the person involved is the Sword Emperor himself. Since he said it’s okay, doesn’t that mean it’s settled?”
As Yi-gang continued to glare, Dam Hyun’s voice grew fainter.
“…Yes, was it a bit strange?”
Since there were many eyes watching, Yi-gang limited himself to glaring at his senior brother.
Noticing the attention, Dam Hyun subtly moved away.
It seemed that the Sword Emperor, having reverted to his childhood state, became as naive as an ordinary child.
The Golden Needle Phantom, who had been observing the Sword Emperor, furrowed his brows.
“Um, hmm…”
Then, he asked the Sword Emperor, “Do you know how long these wounds have been here?”
The Sword Emperor’s body had several injuries.
There was a scratch on his thigh, and something resembling bedsores on his lower back.
“I don’t remember.”
“It seems these are wounds from when you lost consciousness. But… hmm.”
The physician, the Golden Needle Phantom, seemed to see things ordinary people couldn’t.
“Could you open your mouth?”
He examined the inside of the Sword Emperor’s mouth.
“There are wounds inside the mouth too… I see now.”
The Sword Emperor didn’t even know when the wounds inside his mouth had occurred.
Considering there was usually nothing that could harm the Sword Emperor, it was a peculiar situation.
Today’s examination and treatment were completed shortly.
As the Golden Needle Phantom packed his equipment, the Sword Emperor quietly asked, “How does it… what does it seem like?”
He didn’t directly ask if it was treatable.
The Golden Needle Phantom replied softly, “It doesn’t appear to be dementia caused by old age.”
“…!”
“Even so, I can’t be sure that it can be treated. I’m still looking for a method.”
Indeed, the Golden Needle Phantom was one of the Four Great Divine Physicians.
The famous physicians summoned by the Wudang Sect had only shaken their heads or suggested expensive elixirs.
“…Then, about the special request I made?”
“Are you referring to controlling the timing of regaining complete consciousness?”
“That’s right.”
The Sword Emperor had made a special request to both the Golden Needle Phantom and Go Yo-ja.
It involved methods of awakening the mind through medication or acupuncture, to ensure he could be lucid at desired times.
“Go Yo-ja and I are preparing it.”
“Prioritize that over the treatment.”
“…It will only be a temporary solution.”
“Please do this favor.”
The Sword Emperor asked earnestly and firmly.
The Golden Needle Phantom tilted his head but agreed.
What could be so urgent that he would plead like this?
“Understood.”
Then, about a fortnight later, Yi-gang’s group and the Wudang Sect discovered what the Sword Emperor wanted.
Inside a freshly repaired thatched cottage, the venerable elders of the Wudang Sect had gathered in full force.
From the current sect leader, Myung Won, to the former sect leader and current grand elder, Sage Jang Hyun. The head responsible for Wudang’s external affairs, Grand Purity Palace Master Myung Ryun, and even the True Martial Hall Head Myung Cho were present.
It was the Sword Emperor, the owner of the thatched cottage, who had summoned them here.
However, when the elders arrived, the Sword Emperor was sound asleep as if dead.
The sect leader looked at the Golden Needle Phantom with a demanding expression for an explanation.
“Although we have explored treatments for the Sword Emperor for over a fortnight, we have yet to find a definite cure. What we have tried so far is…”
From the Golden Needle Phantom’s mouth came all sorts of methods. While not craniotomy, they were almost at that level of intensity.
“Then.”
“…I will finish the explanation first.”
The ‘phantom’ in the Golden Needle Phantom’s nickname was not without reason.
His stern look as a physician seemed to say, do not interrupt the explanation, and even Grand Purity Palace Master did not dare interject further.
The Golden Needle Phantom explained for a while.
“…We have discovered quite a bit, but it’s still not easy to find a clear treatment method.”
“Have you figured out the cause of the symptoms?”
“I can’t reveal that yet.”
“Why, what does that matter…”
“Unfounded prejudices can prevent curable diseases from being treated.”
“…If you say so.”
Eventually, even the True Martial Hall Head closed his mouth.
“However, thanks to Go Yo-ja’s help, we’ve discovered a temporary measure.”
Go Yo-ja entered the thatched cottage from the courtyard.
He was carrying an incense burner, from which a pungent, violet smoke was steadily streaming.
A long chain was attached to the small incense burner.
Go Yo-ja, holding the chain, draped the incense burner next to the Sword Emperor’s head.
The violet smoke flowed down and was inhaled through the Sword Emperor’s nose.
Then, the Golden Needle Phantom made his move.
Pa-ba-ba-ba-bak—
The acupuncture was so swift it was hard to follow with the eye.
He seemed to drive the needles into the vital points all over the body, then quickly retrieved them in reverse order.
“Uhm…!”
The Sword Emperor’s eyes, which had been closed, snapped open.
He sat up with a slightly tired face.
The Grand Elder and the sect leader looked at him with tense expressions.
“Senior Brother? Are you conscious?”
“…Sword Emperor.”
After coughing a few times, the Sword Emperor nodded.
“You’ve all gathered. My mind is fine.”
“Ah… that’s a relief, a relief indeed!”
The Golden Needle Phantom and Go Yo-ja had expertly awakened the Sword Emperor’s consciousness.
The Golden Needle Phantom added, “It is not a permanent treatment. It’s just a temporary measure to improve the quality of life.”
“How did you do it! Truly, the Golden Needle Phantom is a divine physician!”
“Go Yo-ja put in a lot of effort. By smelling the incense and awakening the mind through acupuncture while asleep, clear-mindedness can be maintained for a while.”
There was a reason it was a temporary solution.
“We recommend maintaining clarity for up to three hours after waking. Beyond that, it would be too taxing on the body.”
“That should be enough!”
Myung Won seemed very pleased. Just being able to control the periods of lucidity was a significant change.
“I, I have something to say, which is why I called you all,” said the Sword Emperor.
Only then did they become curious about the reason the Sword Emperor had summoned them.
“I’ll speak straightforwardly. Now that my mind is somewhat intact, it seems right to put my affairs in order.”
What it meant for an old man to “put his affairs in order” was clear.
Normally, they would have joked about his still being in good health, but now it was hard to say anything.
Myung Won was particularly tense.
It seemed likely that the conversation would turn to Zhang Sanfeng’s divine art. There were several outsiders from the Wudang Sect present.
“Firstly…”
Fortunately, the Sword Emperor did not immediately bring up that topic.
“Cheong Hye and Cheong Su. I intend to teach them swordsmanship and martial arts.”
Cheong Hye and Cheong Su, who had been quiet, suddenly perked up.
Their faces showed disbelief at what they heard.
“Do you wish to pass on your understanding!”
“No, not to that extent. I merely intend to teach them the Taiji Wisdom Sword and Two Extremes Limitless Divine Art, along with a few hand and foot techniques.”
That essentially meant they would be no different from disciples.
Even the most talented in the Wudang Sect had not become disciples of the Sword Emperor, so this was a rare opportunity for Cheong Su and Cheong Hye.
“I do not wish to disrupt the sect’s laws by taking on new disciples at my age, please understand.”
“We will do as you say. What are you waiting for, hurry up and bow!”
Cheong Su and Cheong Hye quickly bowed to the Sword Emperor.
Though they did not perform the formal rite of nine bows, one day they would be called his true disciples.
Up to this point, it was a happy occasion, so Myung Won could also smile.
However, the next words shattered Myung Won’s expression.
“As you all might know, I have discovered the secret cave of Founder Zhang Sanfeng.”
“…!”
The atmosphere in the room cooled as if doused with cold water.
Panic was evident on everyone’s faces. The people of Wudang were shocked that this was being discussed openly, and Yi-gang’s group was ordinarily surprised.
Yi-gang saw the face of Myung Won, the sect leader of the Wudang Sect.
From the way his mouth gaped open, it seemed this was not a topic that had been discussed beforehand.
“As I mentioned before at the Violet Heaven Hall, Founder Zhang’s secret cave contained his divine art. However, it did not originate from Wudang nor does it need to return to Wudang.”
The Sword Emperor’s voice was low but carried a certain strength.
“It should return only to those who are worthy. I was not qualified to fully acquire it.”
If the Sword Emperor wasn’t qualified, then who would be?
Those who had seen his unparalleled martial arts skills could hardly believe his words.
“Senior Uncle… How can you say such a thing?”
“There is no falsehood in my words. I intend to select someone who is qualified to inherit Founder Zhang’s divine art.”
What then constitutes this qualification? Who will inherit Zhang Sanfeng’s divine art?
“I would like to select from all the martial artists in Jianghu if I could…”
But that would not be right. It would lead to bloodshed.
“So, it cannot be thus, but for the disciples of Wudang…”
Here, Myung Won’s expression brightened slightly.
“And I wish to give this opportunity to the successors gathered here because of me.”
Here, it darkened again.
He gritted his teeth, but soon resigned himself as if there were no other choice.
The fact that they’ve reached this point was already a significant concession from the Sword Emperor.
There are more than just one or two disciples in Wudang; surely, they wouldn’t let the divine art of Founder Zhang be taken by an outsider.
The issue was deciding who would judge the qualifications.
Perhaps, deep down, the Sword Emperor also hoped that a disciple of Wudang would receive the enlightenment.
But that expectation was soon proven wrong.
The Sword Emperor looked directly at Yi-gang and said, “Your name is Baek Yi-gang, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Yi-gang responded politely.
The Sword Emperor urged in a gruff voice, “You should also participate.”
All eyes turned to Yi-gang.
The Sword Emperor had personally singled out Yi-gang.
“It’s too early to speak of qualifications, but it seems there’s no one closer to being qualified than you.”
The Grand Elder exhaled a strange sound of lament.
Myung Won looked as if he was about to collapse.
Zhang Sanfeng was practically a god in Wudang.
How could any martial artist not feel their heart race upon hearing that story?
Nobody, not even the Sword Emperor, expected Yi-gang to react in such a way.
“Do you understand?”
“…No, I am fine.”
“Well, if one is qualified, even an outsider…”
The Sword Emperor was nodding, but then he stiffened.
“What did you say?”
Thinking he might have misheard, he asked again, but Yi-gang’s answer was the same.
“I am fine not participating.”
“…What?”
The eyes of Golden Needle Phantom standing behind bulged as if they might pop out.
His expression was as if he wanted to smack Yi-gang on the back of the head right then and there.
Yi-gang, realizing the atmosphere had turned strange, made an excuse.
“I haven’t even mastered the martial arts I currently possess; how could I be greedy for more?”
It was a statement that no one could readily believe.
An icy silence followed, and only Zhang Sanfeng muttered discontentedly, 「If you knew my divine art, you wouldn’t say that…」
‘Yes, yes, of course.’
「No, really. Should I teach you Heavens’ Ladder or Telekinetic Swordsmanship?」
The divine art of Zhang Sanfeng was likely just written in texts or depicted in drawings.
For Yi-gang, who could communicate directly with Zhang Sanfeng, there was no reason to covet it.