Chapter 467 – Peerless Grand Battle (2)

Jeong Yeon-shin was inwardly startled.

This was because his mental intent had flowed outside his body.

He hadn’t parted his lips while rushing to the Mu Family Estate, and naturally, he hadn’t voiced the words “a true physician” aloud.

He had merely thought it sincerely. A learned person’s mouth was supposed to be measured.

‘Is this the aftereffect of Radiant Taiji?’

The spirituality within his body was in an uncontrolled state. It was the same principle as when other peerless masters recite technique names mentally while executing Transcendent Martial Art.

It had been happening since he activated “Enter the Path and Transcend Together.” The backlash after pouring all his energy into martial arts was indeed correct.

Transcendent Martial Art was a life-saving ultimate technique that could perhaps be used once in a single battle.

His body was overheated from divine skill. It was a state where spirituality overflowed from his entire body’s acupoints, though it was gradually settling down as time passed.

It was fortunate that his mental intent had only resonated faintly.

‘In any case.’

This was not the perfect bodily state he usually maintained.

In a way, it was natural. After all, he had just crossed swords with the Unorthodox Path’s Finest Sword.

Jeong Yeon-shin engraved what had just happened in his mind. He had only just stepped into the realm called transcendent in the world.

There were countless things to learn, to adapt to, and paths to advance on. “Enter the Path and Transcend Together” was literally just the entrance to Transcendent Martial Art that Jeong Yeon-shin would build.

It was then.

“Who might you be?”

It was the voice of the Divine Physician who had been sharply criticizing the martial artists earlier. For a moment, his gaze met with Jeong Yeon-shin’s.

The Divine Physician, who had the appearance of an extremely youthful noble Ming clansman, had eyes as blue as the sky.

“I see. Though I could have guessed from rumors… to think that little piece of flesh would grow to this…”

[TL Note- Seems like it’s the same person who diagnosed JYS’ condition in first chapter.]

A self-mutter tinged with strange dizziness.

Soon after, the Divine Physician’s picturesque eyes curved slightly.

“I’ve never seen a gentleman of the martial world with such evenly developed muscles. It’s also strange that you walk around exposing a body covered in sword wounds. Ah… I should mention that I’m actually quite advanced in years. Don’t be uncomfortable if I speak informally.”

“Gentleman is correct, but…”

“Did your mouth not move just now…?”

“I have business with the Divine Physician.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had spoken in a low voice, lightly jumped down from the wall.

The martial artists in the courtyard all silently widened the distance around him as his foot touched the ground with a thud. Each showed clear signs of bewilderment.

It had been a long time since his protective energy formation was disrupted.

This was not his usual state of concealing energy waves. He was fully revealing the achievement of his internal martial arts that had been refined until they reached purple.

It was the aftermath of the battle with the Unorthodox Path’s Finest Sword, and even the precious learning he had acquired from Blood Demon Extreme Jin Myeong-jo lost its luster in the face of the aftereffects of the intense battle.

‘Senior Jin maintained his dignity even after exchanging 519 moves with the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader… ‘

It was while Jeong Yeon-shin was keenly feeling his own inadequacy.

The corner of the Divine Physician’s mouth rose slightly.

“Tell me why you climbed over the wall instead of using the perfectly good door.”

He spoke calmly despite facing Jeong Yeon-shin with a severed arm slung over his shoulder.

Was his character truly as the world assessed? It was said that the Divine Physician was extremely stingy toward those who wielded swords.

“I would be grateful if you would bestow your skill.”

Jeong Yeon-shin made his request respectfully, while also exchanging eye greetings with Zhuge Qing-ya and Gong Min.

At this moment, not only Gong Min who was younger than Jeong Yeon-shin, but even Zhuge Qing-ya, who rarely displayed emotions, had eyes widened as if they might tear.

Their faces showed shock at both Jeong Yeon-shin’s survival and his appearance. They seemed at a loss, mixed with relief and bewilderment.

“Great Leader, Great Leader…”

“Could it be that the marketplace rumors were true…? Then does that mean the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader was also defeated…!”

“Sword Star will recover. Don’t worry.”

Jeong Yeon-shin comforted Zhuge Qing-ya with a brief reply and then made eye contact with the Divine Physician.

The old elf clansman with a youthful appearance was already interestedly examining the area around Jeong Yeon-shin’s left arm.

“Let me see. The Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian and Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner Meridian are completely severed at the acupoint level, and the Yangming Meridian has only the end part dangling in the shoulder. Yes, the Three Yang Meridians necessary for reattaching an arm are cleanly cut. The muscles and blood vessels are still twitching despite this state…”

The Divine Physician’s expression became strange as he muttered. It was a face of extreme astonishment.

“Neither the cutter nor the one who was cut is human. It would be difficult to achieve such a clean cut even if one tried deliberately to make it easy to reattach.”

“I understand that many desperately seek your medical skills. As a latecomer, I am prepared to wait my turn.”

“You’re saying you won’t bully the patients who have flocked here from all over the world? Not just moderately, but for a very long time?”

The Divine Physician said with a faint smile.

The masked men who had been slowly backing away flinched at those words. They had completely abandoned their fighting spirit since Jeong Yeon-shin had descended from the wall.

“Yes.”

Puhuk!

Jeong Yeon-shin flicked his finger to strike the acupoints of the masked men with a wind strike, while simultaneously sensing something more than just elf clan nobility in the Divine Physician’s eyes. It was subtly different from the noble clans he had encountered in the martial world.

Not an aura like green leaves or a refreshing breeze, but something more fundamental. There was a strange and divine quality like rough tree bark.

He didn’t even give the impression of having learned martial arts.

“Tree…”

It was Jeong Yeon-shin’s self-mutter.

The shoulders of the Divine Physician, who had maintained a smile throughout, twitched slightly. He soon turned his back on Jeong Yeon-shin, putting his hands behind his back.

His manner was more open than when dealing with the masked men, but it wasn’t exactly a warm atmosphere.

“With your internal energy, that arm should remain perfectly fine for three or four days. Don’t think I’ll be favorable just because you’re from Desolate Fortress. Though I don’t deny your role and sacrifices, I fundamentally have a tremendous aversion to blades. The same applies to those who make killing their profession.”

“You’re saying I should carry this for days and nights…?”

“What did you just say?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Since it’s not immediately life-threatening, I’ll consider your treatment. As I said earlier, there are not just one or two commoners with indigestion throughout Hangzhou. Moreover, there’s someone else who registered first on the list. A beggar calling himself Divine Beggar…”

It was then.

Suddenly, with a “boom” sound, the ground caved in widely. The ground that had instantly sunk in a hemispherical shape was where the masked men had been.

“Elder.”

A low voice resonated from within the faint smoke.

A skinny figure walked out of the smoke. Instead of martial clothes, he wore a common yellow robe, with an old travel pack slung over one shoulder.

Colorless eye light flickered in both eyes. He was a man wrapped in reserved energy flow.

“Please keep your promise.”

Annihilation Team Leader Shin Hwang said.

Desolate Fortress’s Annihilation Team Leader.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes rarely showed such great joy. Conversely, the Divine Physician, who had been turning to leave, lifted his eyelids in a displeased manner.

“So when you mentioned a patient who would have difficulty revealing their identity, you meant this youth from the Jeong family?”

“Yes.”

“…A promise is a promise.”

The Divine Physician shook his head and glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin.

“I’ll move you to the second position for the examination. Since this is my personal consultation, come to the inner garden when day breaks.”

***
Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

It was a very long night.

Jeong Yeon-shin did not sleep. He needed to continue the unfinished conversation with the Annihilation Team Leader. Though his seclusion with the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword had been brief, the world had been moving during that time.

Divine Monk Beomheo, Lady Lu Xian, and Yue Shou-lin had separated from Jeong Yeon-shin after discovering Dark Heaven Emperor’s hiding place and attempting to stop the completion of the Dragon Summoning Ritual Formation.

The martial world seniors had seemed displeased about sending Jeong Yeon-shin alone, but nevertheless, the Dragon Manifestation was an issue of a different dimension.

It might require all the peerless masters who had traveled to Hangzhou to pour out all their skills. He had heard that even the Qingcheng Sect Leader was scheduled to join.

Three beings who had achieved Transcendent Martial Art.

Including the Seventh Apostle and Dark Heaven Emperor, there were five.

What was immediately important to Jeong Yeon-shin was recuperation and recovery. Divine Monk Beomheo and Lady Lu Xian had greatly commended him as they departed.

Just expelling the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader from Hangzhou had more than fulfilled his role.

And there was the Mu Family Estate.

Jeong Yeon-shin and Shin Hwang sat facing each other across a small tea table.

“You anticipated my survival. It’s hard to catch up to the insight of the Annihilation Team Leader.”

“I have no more special insight than you do.”

“Pardon?”

“I simply believe in the purple.”

“……”

“More importantly, though your examination with the Divine Physician has been moved up to second place, there’s a problem.”

“Please tell me.”

“According to information received from the Desolate Fortress branch in Hangzhou, the Divine Physician has rarely bestowed his medical skills on martial artists. His martial prowess is also unknown.”

“I’ve heard that his movement technique is so extraordinary that he has never been captured by martial artists.”

“Yes, it was the same when the Desolate Ma Family line was cut off. The Desolate Fortress’s letter requesting a pulse diagnosis was ignored. Even when the previous Divine Sword Group Leader pursued him, the Divine Physician couldn’t be caught. Medical skills of a thousand years… not something that can be obtained through coercion.”

“The Divine Physician mentioned the Beggar Sect Leader earlier.”

“Presumptuously, that person was faster. He had over forty stitches in his abdomen, sword wounds that no human should be able to endure. According to Desolate Fortress information, despite being the swiftest in the world and equally quick-tempered… he withdrew without making a commotion despite the Divine Physician’s roundabout refusal.”

“Where has he gone now?”

“Since Hangzhou is Taimo Mountain Castle’s territory, we couldn’t track his destination. I understand he left a message saying he would return.”

Including the Beggar Sect Leader, that made six.

This was a battlefield that had not yet erupted. If Jeong Yeon-shin completed his recuperation in time and joined, there would be seven.

Though there had been a brief lull after the confrontation with the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader, the momentum of the peerless masters was silently covering Hangzhou like a distant winter cold front.

Moreover, with several prestigious great sects forming alliances that could even restrain transcendent martial artists, the situation was extremely urgent. The air in Hangzhou was unlike the tranquil evening.

“I’m glad that Senior Shin is safe.”

“It was thanks to the Taoist High Sword. He asked me to take care of Master Jeong…”

“What…?”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had suddenly raised his head, asked again. The events that had unfolded were summarized in low conversation, and some facts were giving birth to another storm in this evening.

Saaaa―

Through the slightly open window.

The night sky raced darkly toward morning.

* * *

There is a saying: extraordinary person, extraordinary skill.

It refers to someone with either strange character or remarkable talent.

The Eternal Candle Divine Physician was known for having both. He was famous for asking several questions before examining those known to be martial artists or others with significant flaws.

“You stole? Why?”

“My children were starving… I’ve already been beaten with a rod at the government office…”

“Get out of here.”

Hwaaaak―!

Suddenly, a rough storm swept the ground, and the man who had been receiving the examination in the inner garden of the Mu Family Estate vanished without a trace. He had been blown all the way to the main gate of the outer garden.

“Next.”

At the Divine Physician’s call, another patient hesitantly walked forward.

The examinations continued like this. If an answer displeased him, he would drive them away; if not, he would apply acupuncture on the spot.

Occasionally, for those in serious condition, he would restore health with martial sorcery techniques accompanied by brilliant light. It was literally a place where immortals dwelled.

All kinds of martial sects frequently visited, seeking the Divine Physician’s favor. This was because the main gate was open by his order.

It was the same now.

After several covert attempts, those who had learned that their martial arts were ineffective against the Divine Physician. Groups of martial artists with brightly gleaming weapons were positioned throughout the Mu Family Estate.

They watched the Divine Physician’s examinations to prevent him from being taken by martial artists from other regions, and to receive proper acupoint diagnoses to enhance their internal martial arts achievements. Their number reached over a hundred.

But no one readily opened their mouth.

This was because of an old man currently crouching against the wall.

“……”

Nine knots hung at his waist. They were very worn knots, but large and thick unlike the small stature of the old man.

In contrast, the straw sandals loosely attached to the old man’s feet perfectly matched the size of his soles. Though the material should have been tight and uncomfortable against his skin, the old man’s demeanor was peaceful.

He was the Dragon Head Sect Leader.

A peerless master said to be the first to receive news directly connected to the world situation, like the head of a dragon. Transcendent in both position and martial arts.

When the master of the Beggar Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects and One Unorthodox Faction, was comfortably sitting in a corner, martial artists closer to mere local lords could only remain silent.

Moreover, it wasn’t just the Beggar Sect Leader.

Despite Taimo Mountain Castle and Heaven Conquering Sect openly ruling Hangzhou, figures like stars shining in broad daylight had stepped in one by one.

A handsome man in blue Desolate Fortress robes with a hero’s bandana tied on his forehead, a young girl also dressed in blue, even Mount Hua’s young Plum Blossom Sword Prodigy who had set foot in the inner garden with a leisurely impression, and Poison King who had reportedly defeated Heaven Conquering Sect’s Net Blade Venerable in a distant village, holding a silver hammer in his short legs.

It was unknown what messages had passed between them.

In any case, Mount Hua, the Tang Family, and the Beggar Sect inevitably had acquaintances among each other. After they briefly exchanged greetings, a suffocating silence flowed.

The martial artists of local sects who had been acting as powers in Hangzhou were sweating but did not retreat.

Perhaps the Divine Physician disliked that atmosphere.

“Why are you just standing there like a stone pillar?”

The Divine Physician, who had just sent away a cripple he had raised up, casually asked. The Beggar Sect Leader didn’t even meet his eyes as he moved his wrinkled lips.

“I’m mentally tying rhetorical phrases like knots.”

“What?”

“I can’t figure out what words might satisfy the Divine Physician. The sword wound I received from the unorthodox path’s swordsman is getting increasingly serious.”

“Why not just attack me with martial arts? Who knows, I might raise both hands and feet in surrender to your dog-beating staff technique.”

The Divine Physician smiled and provoked. At those words, the Beggar Sect Leader only gave a faint smile while remaining seated.

“A righteous path beggar doesn’t use a staff to beg for food from people.”

“Yet you’ll end up in a sorry state as a martial leader of the martial world. With you, the first in line, keeping your mouth shut, these sword-carriers are just sitting heavy. If you plan to continue like this, give the opportunity to the next in line.”

“I don’t mind. As long as I can interject at any time.”

“Is that so. You must have heard that? Let’s have a conversation.”

No sooner had the Divine Physician’s words fallen than.

A one-armed man suddenly appeared and sat down opposite the strange-powered immortal of medicine who had been sitting on the platform.

His movement technique crossed moments as if he possessed earth-shrinking technique. Instantly, the sound of people gasping for air echoed from various places.

“……”

Sunlight passing through the bare branches in the yard flowed along the dreamlike facial lines.

A young man with his own arm slung over one shoulder like a travel pack. He naturally straightened his back in a place where numerous martial artists had tasted bitter cups.

In that moment, a strange sentiment briefly bloomed in the Divine Physician’s eyes before disappearing.

“Yes… young Jeong.”

“Please ask.”

“I dislike blades. I also greatly abhor fighting.”

“I’ve heard and know.”

“I think great power inevitably calls forth another challenge. The sight of a blade cutting human skin, or a figure who blocks that and instead splits open the head of the sword-wielder—both are equally repulsive to me. This is a revulsion born inherently, apart from logic and reason. Because I am a physician.”

“……”

“Since being born as a great man on this land, I’ve lived my life according to my will. I’ve never steadfastly endured something that made me nauseous. What does it matter if the martial world’s rabble call me eccentric? This old man simply traveled around bestowing medical skills because he liked living, moving people.”

The Divine Physician shrugged and continued.

“Desolate Fortress is no different. If I were to stitch together your blood vessels, muscles, all the fine vessels and twelve meridians throughout your body one by one, the blood scent on your hands would only burrow into my nostrils. I would rather smell the freshness of a newborn at a third-rate martial family that has never killed a person—a hundred, no, a thousand times better. My nose is more dog-like than even that old beggar’s over there, so I can detect the smell of blood accumulated by martial artists with uncanny accuracy.”

“I understand what you mean.”

The Divine Physician smiled at Jeong Yeon-shin’s words.

“You seem quite reasonable. Because my senses are so peculiar, those martial brutes with dull energy sense would get angry even when told the truth.”

“However.”

“Hmm?”

“You must reattach my arm.”

“…I retract my statement about you being reasonable.”

Deep wrinkles were etched on the Divine Physician’s brow.

“Are you trying to force me?”

The air in the courtyard froze coldly.

Those who had been whispering, recognizing Jeong Yeon-shin’s features, closed their mouths, and the faces of those who had connections with him became seriously hardened.

No one with a physical body could calmly withstand the anger of a living elf clan immortal.

Moreover, this was a major matter with a Desolate Fortress purple rank’s arm at stake. Yet even amidst this, the Divine Physician’s scolding continued.

“I deliberately spoke at length so you would understand clearly, yet why should this old man endure the disgust rising to his throat to treat your arm, to treat someone like you? Go ahead, give me a reason! For what purpose should I do this?”

“The world.”

The Acting Divine Sword Group Leader answered calmly.

“……”

The Divine Physician’s words stopped.

A dead silence spread through the courtyard. The single reply was like an ice cube thrown into boiling water.

In that greatly expanded silence, the Divine Physician stared at Jeong Yeon-shin for a while without speaking, with eyes glowing bluish like other elf clan members.

Meanwhile, dazzling sunlight flowed like waves across the ground.

After just one alternation of day and night, Jeong Yeon-shin covered his face with both hands against the morning sunlight pouring down on his face… It was an extraordinarily bright day.

Both of his arms were whole.