The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Observation and eyesight were different issues.

No matter how sensitive one’s senses were or how good one’s eyes were, if one did not focus, even the beam right before their eyes could be missed.

The reason Yi-gang keenly understood his surroundings was clearly due to his outstanding observational skills.

It’s not just about being content with natural abilities; it’s about his personality that never stopped observing and focusing.

Additionally, he possessed knowledge.

The medical skills he explored to cure his own meridian blockage disease.

He learned about herbs, various spells, Taoist practices, and alchemy as a disciple of the Taoist sect.

And the insights gained while accompanying the Golden Needle Phantom, a figure revered among the Four Great Divine Physicians.

He didn’t realize the oddity of King Gye-yeong at first glance.

It’s common for those in power to be obese. Growing up eating well and leaving hard work to the servants naturally lead to weight gain.

Especially since he had heard stories of King Gye-yeong being lazy and immoral, he thought it was only natural.

He noticed the anomaly when he saw his hands.

Given his mountain-like belly and moon-round face, his hands should also have been plump.

However, King Gye-yeong’s hands, appropriate to his royal status, were smooth but no different from ordinary people’s hands.

It went unnoticed due to the robe covering his body, but his arms and legs seemed not too thick either.

“…What does gluttony and gaining weight have to do with virtue? In that regard, do I even lack the dignity befitting royalty?”

While King Gye-yeong was mumbling, Yi-gang stared at his chin fat.

No matter how one looked at it, it was unnatural. Compared to his arms and legs, the face and torso were peculiarly fat, a condition called ‘central obesity.’

“…It must be due to indolence and lack of virtue that a ruling royalty is obese.”

He waved his hand as he spoke.

Then, King Gye-yeong’s belly fat briefly became visible.

There were red stretch marks. These were characteristic of rapid weight gain.

Even blue bruises could be seen on his wrists and ankles.

At that moment, Yi-gang recognized suspicious symptoms in King Gye-yeong.

‘It’s not ordinary obesity. It’s sudden…’

There could be several possibilities, but one in particular came to mind.

The Golden Needle Phantom had once explained such symptoms as ‘Spleen Dampness.’

Syndromes arising from kidney issues could cause exactly these symptoms.

‘It’s mostly a symptom seen in women, which makes it strange for King Gye-yeong.’

Yi-gang vaguely responded to King Gye-yeong’s question and observed again.

The roots of his nails were tinged purple, and the color of his lips was also murky.

The whites of his eyes had a yellowish tint, indicative of liver issues. A characteristic of the sick or poisoned.

It seemed he knew it himself.

Then…

“Your Majesty, if your weight gain is due to an illness, how can we speak of laziness and lack of virtue?”

Yi-gang deduced as such.

Queen Yuye chuckled, proving Yi-gang’s guess was correct.

Soon, King Gye-yeong also burst into laughter, following his wife.

“Hahaha. That’s embarrassing. How did you know, huh?”

It was a test to see Yi-gang’s reaction, but they did not expect him to pinpoint King Gye-yeong’s physical condition accurately.

Yi-gang casually mentioned the observations he had made.

Initially, King Gye-yeong seemed pleased, but later, his face turned slightly embarrassed.

“Then…”

“Such symptoms appear from an overdose of licorice. Licorice has detoxifying and neutralizing properties…”

Yi-gang cut himself off there.

Asking if the royalty had ever been poisoned was not an easy question. If someone had the power to poison royalty, they would at least have to be as powerful as royalty themselves.

“You’re like a ghost, truly ghostly. Is it because you are a Taoist? Are all Taoists from Azure Forest like this?”

“It was just a small trick.”

“Is that so… hmm.”

King Gye-yeong himself did not expect that his previous poisoning would be discovered. At this point, even he seemed embarrassed enough to be sick of it.

Queen Yuye reassured King Gye-yeong, “Your Majesty, it must be good news.”

“Hm? Uh… yes, the queen’s words are right.”

Queen Yuye gave Yi-gang a gentle smile.

It was a smile that seemed to brighten the room.

“Thanks to your medical skills and profound knowledge, it’s not bad.”

While pondering what wasn’t bad, King Gye-yeong issued a seemingly abstract command, “Let all the courtiers leave. The same goes for the guards outside!”

“Y-Your Majesty.”

“I said leave.”

The guards hesitated to counter King Gye-yeong’s decision but left the building as if they had no choice.

“You said you were a master of Qigong, and learned Taoist arts in the Azure Forest. Can you use the Taoists’ spell techniques as well?”

“Of course.”

“Can you show me?”

Yi-gang performed a basic spell that he rarely used.

He chanted the incantation and spread his hands.

With a flash, sparks of electricity crackled from his hands.

Summoning lightning was one of the most difficult spells, but it became easier after he acquired the power of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.

“Impressive.”

“Oh my…”

Queen Yuye exclaimed in admiration and clapped her hands.

King Gye-yeong leaned towards Yi-gang and asked, “So, you must also have knowledge about the Taoists’ spell techniques and strange diseases.”

“My master or senior brothers are more knowledgeable, but I know a fair amount too.”

“…What I’m about to discuss must be kept confidential. Do you understand?” King Gye-yeong said, setting the tone.

Yi-gang felt the seriousness and nodded.

“It’s been three years since His Majesty the Emperor entered the Huangtian Palace and seldom came out, did you know?”

“I learned about it after coming to Beijing. He hasn’t been seen in public…”

“It’s almost been a year since he completely stopped going out.”

The Emperor was indulging in a life of decadence at Huangtian Palace.

“And the ones beguiling His Majesty the Emperor and manipulating the state affairs are seven Taoists.”

“Taoists?”

“Yes, they call themselves the Seven Great Immortals.”

It was an audacious naming, mimicking the Eight Immortals of Taoism.

“The eunuchs brought in people from somewhere. Those people deceived His Imperial Majesty with their Taoist intercourse practice and alchemy, claiming they needed to extend their life.”

Yi-gang listened quietly.

Indeed, to those familiar with history, this was not surprising.

How many emperors had been engrossed in mystic arts and neglected state affairs?

Even if the Emperor was a tyrant, the world found a way to keep turning.

“A few months ago, I finally had the chance to enter Huangtian Palace. I saw His Imperial Majesty’s face for the first time in a long while. But here’s the thing…” King Gye-yeong spoke very secretly, as if he feared someone might hear, “On His Imperial Majesty’s temples… there were horns.”

Yi-gang’s mouth fell open.

“Horns?”

“I thought his dark complexion was due to lust. I assumed the increased body hair and the thickening of the fuzz on his neck were also due to that. But… it was definitely a horn.”

It was unbelievable that horns had grown on the Emperor’s body.

King Gye-yeong vividly described everything he had seen.

The skin on the neck was hard like psoriasis.

The bluish aura around the eyes, the small black horns the size of fingernails.

His voice had grown hoarse.

“I asked cautiously, but he got angry and asked what I was talking about. It wasn’t his normal appearance. It was like…”

…it was something other than His Imperial Majesty.

Those last words couldn’t even escape King Gye-yeong’s lips.

“I couldn’t just stand by any longer. I informed a trustworthy physician about His Imperial Majesty’s condition, but he had no clue either.”

He looked at Yi-gang with a hint of expectation.

“It might not be a common illness. Or it might not even be a disease at all… Do you have any guesses?”

Yi-gang pondered.

Though it looked like horns, it could have been some kind of wart. While it was rare for people to grow actual horns, most cases were more likely some type of skin condition.

But this was different.

If word got out that horns were growing on the Emperor’s head, it wouldn’t be taken well.

Moreover, the problem was that from the symptoms alone, Yi-gang couldn’t be sure of anything.

If it were a kind of disease, the Golden Needle Phantom would have known; if it were the effect of a dark sorcery, Dam Hyun might have known.

But since Yi-gang was neither the Golden Needle Phantom nor Dam Hyun, he couldn’t answer with certainty.

“I…”

It was the moment when it seemed inevitable that he would disappoint King Gye-yeong—

Zhang Sanfeng muttered.

「Could it really be…」

‘Do you recognize it?’

「Perhaps. It might be Demon’s Horn Disease…」

Demon’s Horn Disease.

It’s an ominous name. Perhaps the name of a special skin disease.

He was curious how Zhang Sanfeng could immediately deduce that.

‘What kind of disease is that?’

「It’s not a disease.」

Then it must be the result of sorcery or demonic arts.

He was not sure how deep Zhang Sanfeng’s knowledge was, but his expression was serious.

「It’s a symptom that appears in those exposed to demonic Qi… surely the minions of the Heavenly Demon have…」

He hadn’t expected the name of the Heavenly Demon to come up.

Even Yi-gang, who rarely showed his emotions, was wide-eyed.

King Gye-yeong did not miss that.

“You seem to know something!”

“Ah…”

Zhang Sanfeng urgently said, 「Don’t speak rashly! Phrase it carefully…!」

Yi-gang did just that.

“I’ve heard that such things can happen when one is exposed to demonic Qi through dark sorcery… but I cannot say for certain without seeing His Majesty myself.”

“Yes, that makes sense, indeed it does…”

King Gye-yeong cursed the Seven Great Immortals in anger.

“Those sorcerers are relentless!”

King Gye-yeong then turned to Yi-gang and spoke softly, “One day, you might have an audience with His Imperial Majesty.”

“…”

“Keep that in mind.”

“I understand.”

It was a moment when the reason for Yi-gang’s presence here was somewhat clarified.

Yi-gang was dismissed.

He bowed once more in respect to the royal family and withdrew.

Queen Yuye then stopped him again.

“Warrior Baek.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Please take good care of the children.”

“I will protect them with my life.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Queen Yuye looked at Yi-gang with appreciation.

“You are the son of Hyeran, aren’t you?”

“…Yes.”

Seong Hyeran. Now a stranger’s name, Yi-gang hesitated before answering.

“Then you are my relative, and practically a relative to my children as well. You could be their brother or uncle.”

“How can that be, with the different statuses of royalty and commoners…”

“I should have taught my children better as their mother, but I failed to instill good manners.”

“…”

“If the children make a mistake, please discipline them strictly.”

“How can I…”

Frankly speaking, Yi-gang did not want to do that.

Who would bear the consequences of rebuking royalty? Though Queen Yuye said this now, she too would be upset if her children were to cry and beg.

“How could it be the queen’s lack of virtue? It is largely my responsibility. I have spoiled them too much.”

Then King Gye-yeong stepped in.

Yi-gang felt like running away.

“They probably don’t even know that you are like a cousin to them.”

“Yes…”

“If you are related by royal blood, that is sufficient to be their teacher. While you are here, please be the teacher to the Crown Prince and the County Princess.”

“To be a teacher, that is too much honor for me. Please retract your offer!”

Becoming a teacher to the children of the royal family seemed like an appropriate role.

Already, the Crown Prince and the Honorable County Princess likely had several teachers for literacy and etiquette.

Yet, Yi-gang worried that this position would become an irksome shackle.

Born with the Great Yin Meridian Blockage, Yi-gang tended to trust his own instincts.

However, his refusal seemed to have been taken as humility by King Gye-yeong and Queen Yuye.

“To refuse the position of a prince’s master! At a young age full of vigor, being humble and without desire truly shows genuine character!”

“His Majesty’s words are correct.”

“I will bestow upon you official salary and rank, so do not refuse any further.”

Yi-gang tightly closed his eyes.

Zhang Sanfeng quietly added a word, 「The Way is not found elsewhere. Hahaha. There is also a Way in teaching others. Consider it a form of self-cultivation.」

His tone seemed somewhat amused.

Yi-gang sighed softly and prostrated himself.

“I will serve with all my loyalty.”

“Hahahaha!”

Eventually, Yi-gang ended up staying at Yongzhao Palace, bearing the unique status of both guardian and teacher.

Still, he planned to not get more involved with the royal siblings than necessary.

Especially, he resolved never to scold them under the guise of discipline.

That was his intention, but…

Within just a few days, Yi-gang found himself having to break that resolution.