Chapter 168: A Good Deed Is Repaid Tenfold (3)

Thud!

Jong Ri-yeon carefully inserted the final silver needle. The one she was treating was none other than Dam Ho.

Dam Ho was so ravaged that it was difficult to look upon him. In his chest, a hole the size of a child's fist gaped open. His side also bore a large wound, so deep that his organs were clearly visible.

Beyond that, there were multiple wounds that would have been fatal for an ordinary person. That he was alive at all felt like a miracle.

For Dam Ho, Jong Ri-yeon employed a secret needle technique known as the Soul-Returning Vital Needle Grand Art.

The Soul-Returning Vital Needle Grand Art was one of her secret techniques, consuming an enormous amount of mental energy, and was therefore rarely used. But Dam Ho's condition was so dire that she risked employing it.

'I have done all that I can. Now I can only watch.'

Even after performing the Soul-Returning Vital Needle Grand Art, she could not guarantee Dam Ho's recovery. Though she had walked the path of medicine since childhood, she had never once seen a patient covered in wounds as lethal as Dam Ho's.

'It will not be easy.'

Jong Ri-yeon sat beside Dam Ho and watched him for a long time.

At first, there was no change whatsoever. And just as she was about to give up—

Whirr!

Dam Ho's entire body flushed a deep crimson, as though he had been thrust into a furnace. Sweat rose as steam from his body.

"What is this?"

It was a sight she had never seen before, and Jong Ri-yeon's eyes widened.

The steam emanating from Dam Ho's body was filled with a foul stench that made one's head ache.

As an exceptional physician, Jong Ri-yeon understood Dam Ho's condition.

'The toxins and impurities accumulated in his body are being expelled.'

The problem was that the Soul-Returning Vital Needle Grand Art did not produce such a phenomenon. At best, it was merely an emergency measure—adding a drop of oil to a dying ember.

The heat radiating from Dam Ho's body grew more intense with each passing moment. Jong Ri-yeon had to move away from him.

Drip drip!

Waste matter seeped through Dam Ho's pores, and from his gaping wounds, pus and necrotic blood flowed.

The recuperative power was something she could not believe even seeing it with her own eyes.

'Did the Soul-Returning Vital Needle Grand Art possess this unknown function? No—the Soul-Returning Vital Needle Grand Art merely added a drop of oil to a dying ember. That man's strength… the cultivation method he has mastered is healing him.'

Within Dam Ho's body, the Dark Soul Heart Method was at work.

Based on the Mount Hua Sect's Heavy Heaven Heart Method with the addition of a Demonic Cult cultivation method, the Dark Soul Heart Method stimulated Dam Ho's innate life force.

Innate life force was the original vitality that a person possessed from the moment of birth. Those born with strong innate life force grew healthy and rarely fell ill, while those born with weak innate life force suffered from frail constitutions and various ailments, often dying young.

Fortunately, Dam Ho's innate life force was exceptionally strong. The Dark Soul Heart Method stimulated this innate life force with tremendous power.

It was as though it was striking the innate life force into activation through brute force. The innate life force, harmonizing with the Dark Soul Heart Method, was slowly restoring Dam Ho's ravaged body.

Watching this, Jong Ri-yeon shook her head in disbelief.

Though she had spent her entire life as a physician, she had never heard of or seen such a powerful self-healing ability.

"So the Singular Path style was it? Truly an absurd lineage has been born. Such extraordinary martial power, and now this recuperative ability…"

Jong Ri-yeon sighed and stepped outside.

There was nothing more she could do.

"Sage, truly, thank you. Thank you."

The moment she emerged, Gwak San bowed his head repeatedly.

Even in the face of mortal peril, Jong Ri-yeon had not wavered and had successfully completed the third Life-and-Death Soul-Hanging Needle. Thanks to that, Gwak Yeon's life had been saved.

He understood better than anyone how dire the situation had been. For that reason, he felt a gratitude toward Jong Ri-yeon that could not be expressed in words.

"I have removed the root of the illness, but she has not yet fully recovered. You must decoct and administer the herbs exactly as I have prescribed. For at least three months."

"Do not worry, young mistress. The herbs you have prescribed are ones I can procure in sufficient quantity."

"And leave this place immediately. If the Namgung Family learns of the bloodshed here, they will not stand idly by."

"What about you, young mistress?"

"I must stay a while longer to watch over that man."

Jong Ri-yeon glanced at Dam Ho inside the hut. He was still deep in meditation, and it was unclear when he would emerge.

"Then we will stay as well, young mistress."

"There is no need."

"But…"

"I am a physician. A physician cannot abandon a patient and flee. Do not worry about me—take Yeon and go quickly. You must not lose the life you worked so hard to save."

"I understand."

In the end, Gwak San answered with difficulty.

For years, he had endured hell itself to save Gwak Yeon. That waiting had finally ended—he could not put Gwak Yeon in danger again.

In the end, Gwak San left with Gwak Yeon. Jong Ri-yeon watched the father and daughter recede into the distance and smiled.

But it was only for a moment. Soon she sighed and walked forward. She headed for the clearing behind the hut.

There stood a freshly made grave. It was Hwa-no's grave.

"Hwa-no."

Jong Ri-yeon reached out and touched the grave's mound.

"Now that I think of it, I never even learned Hwa-no's real name. If I had known this would happen, I would have pressed him to tell me long ago."

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Her bond with Hwa-no dated back three years.

At that time, she had been at the very start of her reputation as a physician. On her way home from treating a patient, she had found Hwa-no collapsed by a nameless lake.

Hwa-no had been gravely wounded, his vital signs fading. Jong Ri-yeon had brought him to her home and treated him.

Having barely survived, Hwa-no had thereafter appointed himself as her protector and accompanied her. He was casual and unguarded with Jong Ri-yeon, but about his past, he kept his lips sealed tight and would reveal nothing.

The only thing he had shared was the name Hwa-no. But even that was likely not his real name.

She had always meant to find out eventually, but had put it off. Now the chance to learn his true name seemed to have vanished forever.

"Thank you for everything."

Jong Ri-yeon sat with her back against the grave mound and closed her eyes.

***

Dam Ho's body trembled violently.

It was proof that his meditation had reached its peak. Sweat poured ceaselessly from his entire body.

Though there was no outward sign, within Dam Ho's body, a fierce battle raged.

The Dark Soul Heart Method was erupting.

The Dark Soul Heart Method, which had until now been under Dam Ho's control, combined with his innate life force and ran rampant like a wild horse with its reins broken.

Dam Ho abandoned his attempt to control the Dark Soul Heart Method and observed it. The more he tried to force control, the more fiercely the Dark Soul Heart Method raged.

"Ugh!"

Instead, he clenched his teeth.

Enduring pain was what he did best. He could endure this level of pain.

Dam Ho endured, and endured again.

How much time passed? The Dark Soul Heart Method's internal energy, which had been running wild like a mad thing, gradually subsided.

The innate life force that had been heightened to its peak likewise returned to its original calm and settled back into place.

"Phew!"

Dam Ho let out a breath and opened his eyes.

The first person he saw was Jong Ri-yeon.

"Ah! You're awake."

Her large eyes reflected Dam Ho's image. Dam Ho, not understanding the situation, blinked.

His memories before entering meditation returned.

When he had killed every member of the Sword King Unit, Dam Ho had been on the verge of death. He could have died at any moment. Had Jong Ri-yeon not performed the Soul-Returning Vital Needle Grand Art in time, his life would truly have been in peril.

"How many days have I been in meditation?"

"Today makes three days."

At Jong Ri-yeon's answer, Dam Ho furrowed his brow.

Three days was enough time for the Namgung Family to sense something amiss and dispatch an investigation team.

Dam Ho rose to his feet.

His joints, stiffened from three days of meditation, screamed in protest.

"You must not move yet! Your internal injuries have stabilized somewhat, but your external wounds have not yet healed."

At Jong Ri-yeon's protest, Dam Ho glanced at his wounds.

As she said, his external wounds had not fully healed. Scabs had only just formed to stanch the bleeding. The slightest exertion would reopen them and cause blood to flow freely.

But Dam Ho paid no heed and rose to his feet. Excruciating pain shot up his spine, but he did not show it in the slightest.

"You stubborn mule."

Watching him, Jong Ri-yeon shook her head.

She had known Dam Ho was no ordinary person, but she had not expected his stubbornness to be this extreme.

"Fine. Put these on. They are the least damaged of Uncle Gwak's clothes."

Jong Ri-yeon handed Dam Ho a neatly folded set of clothes.

The clothes Dam Ho was wearing were so torn and tattered they barely covered his modesty. He was practically naked.

Jong Ri-yeon, having handed him the clothes, blushed and turned to step outside. After waiting a moment, Dam Ho emerged in clean clothes.

The scene outside, where the battle had taken place, was truly grim. The corpses had been roughly cleared away by Gwak San, but bloodstains remained everywhere, and flies swarmed.

"Let us leave this place."

Jong Ri-yeon urged hastily.

She had been forced to stay here because of Dam Ho. She wished to leave as soon as possible.

Dam Ho nodded and whistled. Jong Ri-yeon watched him with a suspicious expression.

But her疑惑 was quickly resolved. A moment later, a pitch-black horse came galloping toward them at extraordinary speed.

The black horse was Heuk-gui. It arrived in an instant and nuzzled Dam Ho's face affectionately.

Dam Ho lightly patted Heuk-gui's cheek.

Once Heuk-gui had calmed, Dam Ho spoke to Jong Ri-yeon.

"Mount."

"You want me to ride the horse together?"

"If you refuse, you can walk down alone."

"Hmph!"

Jong Ri-yeon sighed and climbed onto Heuk-gui. Dam Ho sat behind her.

"Let's go!"

Heuk-gui charged madly across the earth, racing down the mountain.

"Aah!"

The fierce wind pressure against her entire body drew an involuntary cry from Jong Ri-yeon.

The harsh wind against her face made it difficult even to open her eyes. But once she grew accustomed to it, the surrounding scenery, receding at great speed, came into view.

But she had no leisure to admire the view. It was due to the powerful masculine scent emanating from the man behind her.

As a physician, she had met countless people, many of them men, but none had ever possessed such an intense presence as Dam Ho.

The powerful scent stimulating her nostrils left Jong Ri-yeon unable to compose herself. Her face flushed red and her heart raced.

Jong Ri-yeon was grateful that Dam Ho could not see her face.

***

Shortly after Dam Ho departed, someone appeared at the location of the hut. It was a refined-looking elderly man who appeared to be in his mid-to-late fifties.

His face, normally brimming with composure, was as rigid as though encased in iron.

Before him was a freshly made grave mound.

Namgung Cheon waved his hand lightly toward the grave. The earth of the mound was pushed aside by an invisible force.

In the pit beneath the mound, twenty corpses were piled together in a tangle.

"So the Sword King Unit has been annihilated."

The old man's name was Namgung Cheon. He was the Head of the great Namgung Family.

He had grown impatient waiting for the Sword King Unit to return and had come in person.

On the way here, he had personally verified the corpses of Su-cheon and other Sword King Unit members. And now he had confirmed that the remaining ones were all dead too.

"Heh. Unbelievable. That the Sword King Unit would be annihilated by a single person."

A sense of desolation pervaded his voice.

The Namgung Family's greatest military force had vanished without a trace. And by a single person.

No matter how great the Namgung Family was, rebuilding the Sword King Unit would take decades. During that long span, the Namgung Family would suffer an enormous void in its military power. It was a devastating blow.

Moreover, the condition of the Young Master, Namgung Mu-jin, had deteriorated further. Now even the Great Immortal Physician could not save him.

"You. I will kill you."

The Sword King, Namgung Cheon, was enraged.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong was sitting cross-legged when she suddenly bowed her head forward and pressed her hands to the ground.

Retch.

Fresh blood spurted from her mouth.

The Guangtou Brothers panicked, not knowing what to do.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong raised her hand to indicate she was fine and muttered bitterly.

“The Tang family’s poison is truly vicious. I won’t be able to move properly for quite some time.”

Not only the poison, but her severed right arm also needed treatment. Even though she had applied pressure points, applied external medicine, and wrapped it with silk bandages, blood continued to drip. Because it was a wound cut by sword energy, it wouldn’t heal easily.

One of the Guangtou Brothers climbed up a tree to check behind them.

The Zhuge family’s pursuers were continuing to follow them.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong pondered briefly before speaking.

“Let’s return to Sichuan.”

The Guangtou Brothers showed worried expressions. They couldn’t help but worry whether going there now would be safe.

“Right now, that’s the best option.”

In her current physical condition, going all the way to Shandong would be too much. She would have to pass through regions where the Martial Arts Alliance was keeping a sharp watch. Shaanxi, Huguang, Henan… all places teeming with high-level sects. No matter which route she chose, the path back to Shandong wouldn’t be easy.

Rather, it would be best to endure in Sichuan until her body healed.

That was Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s judgment.

The Guangtou Brothers nodded. The two quickly cut bamboo from the surroundings, peeled the bamboo bark to use as rope, and wove the stalks together.

They made a makeshift palanquin and placed Dan Ryeong-gyeong on it. The Guangtou Brothers lifted the palanquin from front and back.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s complexion was pale, but she pressed her lips tightly together and didn’t show it.

“Let’s go.”

The Guangtou Brothers began running with all their might using lightness skills.

* * *

The time Woon-jeong had told him was two days later.

But the distance Jin Ja-gang had walked from the manor was more than four days. The time to return to the manor was definitely tight.

Jin Ja-gang staggered while forcing himself to run.

He had lost energy from resisting Woon-jeong’s sonic technique, and there was also the effect of shooting out Parting Hand Arrow Shot with that body.

However, despite his qi and blood being somewhat injured, his body was overflowing with vitality. It was strange. Even if he fell, he had the strength to get up again.

‘Is it because of that snake called Clear Blood Gland Snake?’

The words that it was a poison creature treasured by the Tang family weren’t empty talk. The poison energy that he usually had to continuously chew and absorb from poisonous plants could be filled instantly with that one snake.

No wonder he had been able to escape from the bonds of the Demon-Kneeling Beheading Ceremonial Bell Resonance with the explosive power of poison energy.

The Clear Blood Gland Snake’s poison currently settled in his dantian amounted to almost five drops.

‘But why did she let me go?’

He couldn’t understand the reason for letting Jin Ja-gang go so readily. No matter how many spiritual beasts and poison creatures the Tang family possessed, each one couldn’t be worthless.

Especially that last look she had shown before letting Jin Ja-gang go was very strange. It was as if she had been surprised by something.

Jin Ja-gang stopped briefly and took long breaths to calm himself.

This too might perhaps be something happening due to those complex political calculations.

Then what should he do?

Jin Ja-gang began to think.

Of course, right now there was insufficient information to easily guess.

But he had to keep practicing.

Whether he knew or didn’t know, whether he understood or didn’t understand, he had to continuously develop the habit of thinking. He had to develop the habit of thinking like a reflex to discover his opponent’s purpose and the reasons for their actions.

Just as he had observed opponents to find their weaknesses and exploited those weaknesses to achieve revenge.

Just as he had survived until now.

This time too, Jin Ja-gang would overcome it.

Jin Ja-gang gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and ran.

* * *

Tang Ha-ran quietly looked at Woon-jeong.

Woon-jeong was restless because Jin Ja-gang had escaped.

She was finding it amusing to watch him, but Woon-jeong wasn’t getting angry but rather blushing and unable to meet her eyes directly.

Woon-jeong was barely fifteen or sixteen years old.

Having just come down from Qingcheng Mountain, he didn’t know much about worldly affairs. Not knowing about worldly affairs included women. Having lived seeing only stubborn male Taoists on the mountain, he couldn’t help but be flustered when facing a woman.

“Your cultivation is lacking.”

At Tang Ha-ran’s words, Woon-jeong’s face became even redder.

“Um… Young Lady, if it’s alright, this poor Taoist should be going now…”

“You may go.”

“What? Really?”

“But I’d like you to leave Poison Dragon alone until he returns to the manor.”

Only then did Woon-jeong frown slightly.

“That’s not something Young Lady can order me to do. I must follow my master’s words above all. And if that fellow returns to the manor, great…”

“So what?”

Tang Ha-ran turned her head sideways and stared at Woon-jeong. Woon-jeong protested with his face red.

“Many people will die!”

“Let them die. Qingcheng Sect isn’t even part of the Martial Arts Alliance anyway.”

“But those who will attack the manor are also Sichuan sects. As fellow Sichuan comrades…”

“Taoist Woon-jeong.”

Tang Ha-ran smiled slightly and was about to say something to Woon-jeong.

But at that moment, Jin Ja-gang’s eyes suddenly came to mind. Unlike the flustered Woon-jeong, Jin Ja-gang’s eyes that had looked directly at her as if challenging her.

Eyes that held blood-stained madness deep within the pupils, blazing like a beast.

It was the first time she had faced such eyes. No, to be honest, it wasn’t the first time.

That fellow Mang Ryo had also shown similar eyes when they first met.

However, if Mang Ryo’s eyes contained only vicious anger and madness, Jin Ja-gang’s eyes burned with a more passionate fervor.

The fighting spirit of a wounded beast.

Like a wolf that had been bitten by a tiger, the king of the mountains, but still wouldn’t give up and bared its teeth… untamed, raw eyes.

Thump… Tang Ha-ran’s heart grew hot.

Recalling how she had been momentarily overwhelmed then made her mood suddenly turn bad.

Tang Ha-ran suddenly drew up her internal energy and stomped her foot.

Bang!

Dirt exploded upward as high as a person.

Whoosh!

The surprised Woon-jeong and Tang Li-sim dodged backward.

As the dirt settled, a round pit could be seen dug under Tang Ha-ran’s foot.

Tang Ha-ran ground her teeth with an audible sound.

Woon-jeong blinked. Tang Ha-ran’s internal energy was no ordinary thing. While he could fight if he had to, it was scary enough that he didn’t want to fight.

‘Master said women are scary so I should be careful no matter what…’

It seemed his master’s words weren’t false.

Come to think of it, his master’s words to be careful of women seemed to contain many meanings. Being careful meant not fighting, and not fighting could mean he shouldn’t go against a woman’s words.

While Woon-jeong was pondering, Tang Ha-ran didn’t say another word and just turned around and left. Tang Li-sim also looked at Woon-jeong as if there was nothing to be done, gave a formal cupped-fist salute, and followed Tang Ha-ran.

“Huh?”

Left alone, Woon-jeong didn’t know what to do.

“Y-Young Lady Tang! You should finish our conversation before leaving…”

But Tang Ha-ran had already leaped up with lightness skills and disappeared.

She had said he could go, so should he just go?

Or should he follow Jin Ja-gang again and monitor him?

“Ah, this is driving me crazy. Master’s orders are never easy. Primordial Heavenly Venerable.”

Woon-jeong followed Jin Ja-gang with a complicated heart.

* * *

Jin Ja-gang ran and ran again to save time.

Even if Woon-jeong was following, there was no time to work on shaking off pursuit.

Limp, limp.

Since only one side of his qi and blood channels were open, if he wasn’t conscious of it, there would naturally be a difference in speed between his two sides, so Jin Ja-gang naturally limped.

Woon-jeong watched this from afar.

His feelings were strange.

“Why is that fellow pushing himself so hard and running like that…”

At least he wasn’t running because he was excited about killing people.

Jin Ja-gang didn’t even take meals. When hungry, he would peel and chew tree bark while running or drink water from streams. And he kept running. He ran without rest.

Since he couldn’t use lightness skills and was running like ordinary people, it looked even more pitiful.

His running speed was somewhat faster than ordinary people and he didn’t tire easily, but that was all.

At that point, even a fool couldn’t help but know.

That he was running to arrive in time before the manor was attacked.

Jin Ja-gang ran for a full day without sleeping.

But no matter how good Jin Ja-gang’s stamina was, there were limits. He couldn’t use internal energy because it would damage his qi and blood. Of course, he hadn’t yet learned lightness skills either.

“Huff! Huff!”

Jin Ja-gang collapsed after running for a day. His entire body was drenched in sweat and his chest was already soaked with blood that had seeped from his wounds. Blood drops fell with every step he took.

Jin Ja-gang lay spread-eagle and looked up at the sky. He was completely exhausted.

Swoosh.

A person’s shadow covered Jin Ja-gang.

It was Woon-jeong.

Jin Ja-gang said while gasping for breath.

“Huff huff… you caught up quickly… cough cough. You caught up.”

However, even in the midst of this, Jin Ja-gang pointed his finger at Woon-jeong. In case he had to use Parting Hand Arrow Shot and fight.

Woon-jeong showed through his expression that he had no intention of attacking at all.

With a very complex expression, Woon-jeong asked.

“I absolutely cannot help but ask. What makes you run so desperately?”

Jin Ja-gang answered while gasping for breath.

“Didn’t I tell you? That there are people I must save. Whew, whew.”

“At this pace, you won’t be able to arrive in time anyway.”

Jin Ja-gang laughed helplessly.

“I suppose so. I ran as hard as I could, but it still won’t be enough to make it in time.”

“Then will you give up?”

“No. Not yet.”

Woon-jeong’s face contorted.

“What? No, there isn’t enough time. Time.”

Woon-jeong shook his head.

“I don’t understand either. If you were simply a murderer, there would be no reason to whip yourself so harshly and run like this.”

“I feel the same way. I, whew… came out after digging through underground rock walls for eight years to get revenge. But… I’m going like this knowing I might die without finishing my revenge.”

“Then why? As you told me, is it to save people? But in your current condition, it would be useless, wouldn’t it? With a body that hasn’t slept or eaten properly.”

“…”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t answer and thought for a moment.

At first, very complex thoughts arose. Why such things had happened, why the Tang family and Qingcheng Sect were fighting over him, why the Martial Arts Alliance had suddenly decided to attack the manor where he had been staying. What role the suddenly appeared Mang Ryo was playing in all this.

The tangled situation became more complex the more he thought about it, making Jin Ja-gang’s head feel ready to burst. However, while continuing to run, Jin Ja-gang’s complex thoughts gradually emptied and became white. The complex thoughts flew away and only one question remained.

Why am I running?

He had raised the same question that Woon-jeong was curious about. Even running like this, he couldn’t arrive in time, and even if he arrived, there was no guarantee he could save them.

Then why, when he first heard from Woon-jeong that the manor would be attacked, did he first think he absolutely had to go?

Even though it might be completely useless… literally a waste of time.

No matter how much he thought about it, this was definitely not behavior befitting Jin Ja-gang until now. He had acted emotionally, fighting with the Qingcheng Sect Taoist without calm preparation.

Why on earth had he thought he absolutely had to run there?

Jin Ja-gang had run for a full day but still hadn’t found the answer.

But instead of an answer, he had reached a conclusion.

So he could answer Woon-jeong.

Looking at Woon-jeong, who still had a curious expression, Jin Ja-gang said.

“I think I won’t know until I go and see for myself. So I have to go. If I don’t find out now, I feel like I’ll never know until I die.”