Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1731

“I’ll change it for you.”

With utmost care, Tang Soso unwound the bandages from Baek Cheon’s arm. As Baek Cheon’s gaunt limb was slowly revealed, Tang Soso’s eyes grew somber.

She said calmly,

“The recovery is fast. The external wounds have almost healed.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Now, it depends on how hard you work at it, Uncle Master.”

“Then, do you think I will get better?”

“Of course. You will definitely get better.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened slightly at Tang Soso’s firm reply. Then, he smiled bitterly.

“…The Dang Family Head said it would be difficult.”

“He’s not very good at medicine.”

“Huh?”

Tang Soso added resolutely,

“I’m telling you, he’s not very good at medicine. He only knows how to handle poison, so he doesn’t know medicine well.”

Baek Cheon stared blankly at her, then burst out laughing. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had laughed so heartily.

Tang Soso frowned.

“You’re taking it as a joke? My father is the Poison King, not a medical immortal. You don’t have to believe everything he says.”

Hearing her say that, Baek Cheon was even more surprised. But Tang Soso faced him confidently, as if she hadn’t said anything wrong.

“…Alright. That could be true.”

“Yes. So, keep trying hard. If you keep at it, you’ll regain sensation in your fingertips.”

Firmly.

In the meantime, the new bandage was quickly wrapped.

Everyone knew the bandage was just for show. Baek Cheon’s arm was already healed on the outside. But Tang Soso wrapped it very carefully. She did not miss any detail.

Because what she was asking of Baek Cheon now wouldn’t be any different from this.

“It’s done.”

Baek Cheon, who had been silently watching Tang Soso pack up the old bandages, nodded.

“I’ve caused you trouble.”

“Pardon? You’re saying strange things. It’s only natural.”

She quickly laid out the things she had brought.

“Now, look. Take these pills with every meal, and you have to drink all the medicinal soup that comes in. That’s how you’ll recover quickly.”

“Alright.”

Baek Cheon replied calmly, but Tang Soso didn’t back down and stared intently into his eyes.

Feeling puzzled, Baek Cheon was about to ask why she was looking at him like that, but she opened her mouth with an unusually serious expression.

“Uncle Master.”

“…Hmm?”

“What do you think a doctor would say to a patient who believes they can no longer be cured?”

“Well…”

Baek Cheon couldn’t answer right away.

What should he say? What should a doctor who can’t cure a disease say to a patient?

“I’m sorry…?”

“No.”

Tang Soso shook her head firmly.

“That’s just an escape. It’s something a doctor shouldn’t say.”

“…Then?”

“Uncle Master, what would you do if there was an enemy you couldn’t defeat?”

“…I have to try.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s how I can defeat them. Someday.”

“That’s right.”

Tang Soso nodded her head emphatically.

“It’s difficult now, but I’ll somehow improve my skills and cure you. I definitely will.”

“……”

“So, until then, never give up. So that my efforts won’t be in vain. Got it?”

Only then did Baek Cheon understand her intentions, and he smiled gently. He couldn’t help but smile.

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Yes, then I’ll go out now.”

Tang Soso gathered her tools and stood up from her seat.

“If you need anything, please call me anytime.”

“I will.”

Tang Soso wanted to stay with Baek Cheon longer. But she knew she shouldn’t. She thought being around anyone might be hard for him right now.

Tang Soso left the room resolutely without looking back.

However, her confident steps gradually slowed. Then, the moment she closed the door and faced the darkened sky, she hurriedly covered her mouth.

Her body swayed as if it were about to collapse.

‘No.’

She mustn’t show weakness. She mustn’t show Baek Cheon a wavering or sorrowful face.

A doctor’s face shows the patient what to feel. If she looks hopeless, the patient will feel hopeless too. A doctor must not lose hope.

The afterimage wouldn’t disappear, as if it were etched into her eyes.

The gaunt arm, the finely trembling shoulders, and even the deep shadows visible on the face that feigned composure.

Is it possible? As she had assured, would she ever be able to heal Baek Cheon’s arm?

Tears welled up in Tang Soso’s large eyes.

If she hadn’t even set foot on the path of a doctor, her heart wouldn’t ache like this.

Even if it were possible, countless hours would be needed, and Baek Cheon would have to live with deep despair for that long time.

How could it be so cruel?

She swallowed her tears while looking up at the sky and tried to soothe her heart with a deep sigh. Then, she headed to her lodgings.

After walking for a while, she finally reached the vicinity of her room, which the Wudang Sect had provided. A familiar voice pierced her ears.

“Is it true?”

“Y-yes, I’m telling you!”

“Wait a minute! Tell me again properly! You can cure Uncle Master?”

Tang Soso’s head turned sharply.

There was no need to think about it. Tang Soso roughly threw open the door in front of her.

“Huh?”

“So, Soso?”

The bewildered gazes of the familiar people in the room poured out. Even Baek Sang, who was being grabbed by the collar by Jo Gul, stared blankly at her.

Tang Soso asked with a bewitched expression.

“What are you talking about?”

Everyone’s expression stiffened.

“…A divine medicine that can heal Uncle Master’s body.”

Yoon Jong murmured as if groaning. He never thought such a thing would actually exist. And so close by.

“Those Jongnam people! If you had something like that, you should have given it to us sooner!”

Jo Gul slammed the floor as if his resentment was bursting. Yoon Jong calmly stopped him.

“Isn’t it said to be a precious treasure of Jongnam?”

“Even so, is an object more important than a person?”

Yoon Jong sighed deeply.

Now is not the time to have such arguments. The important thing was the truth of the news he had heard from Baek Sang.

“Soso.”

“…Yes, Senior Brother.”

“What do you think? Does it sound like a plausible story to you?”

Tang Soso frowned as if lost in thought and remained silent for a long time. Then, she nodded heavily.

“…It might be possible.”

“Really?”

Jo Gul asked excitedly, and Tang Soso nodded again.

“If everything the Jongnam Sect Leader said is true… there’s a good chance.”

“Wow, really? Even the Dang Family Head, who is supposed to be the best doctor, said it was impossible…”

“Medicine was more advanced in the past than it is now.”

Hae Yeon looked at Tang Soso questioningly, as if wanting further explanation.

“Well, of course, I’m not saying that medicine has gotten worse. Naturally, the medicine passed down among the common people is better than before. But…”

“Those who are called the best are different, is that it?”

“Yes, Senior Brother. That’s it.”

“Is that possible?”

Jo Gul tilted his head, still unsure. Yoon Jong shrugged.

“When you think about it, there’s nothing strange about it. Even here in Wudang, no one has reached the level of the first master who started our sect, right?”

“Ah… That’s true. The same goes for Shaolin.”

“It’s embarrassing, but it’s true.”

Hearing that made it easier to understand.

“So, that… the Holy Hand place is in that kind of position in the medical world?”

“Yes. The medical skills of the Holy Hand Manor are still legendary in the medical world. And if it’s the Great Rosy Holy Water, the secret medicine of the Holy Hand Manor…”

Everyone couldn’t take their eyes off Tang Soso’s mouth.

“It might be able to heal Uncle Master’s body.”

A long silence fell between them.

He can be healed. Baek Cheon’s body.

Those words alone were ringing in their heads like thunder.

Suddenly, Jo Gul jumped up from his seat. Yoon Jong was taken aback.

“What are you doing, Geol! Where are you going?”

“What’s the point of us talking amongst ourselves here? We have to go and meet them!”

“Who?”

“Who else would it be? The Jongnam Sect Leader, of course!”

“Sit down, you idiot! Don’t be rash!”

“Rash? Rash, you say? We found a way to heal Uncle Master! Heal him! So, are we just going to sit here? No! We have to get it! Beg them, fight them, steal it – whatever it takes!”

“Stop it, you bastard!”

Yoon Jong eventually chased after him roughly and grabbed his sleeve. Jo Gul didn’t back down and glared at Yoon Jong.

Yoon Jong shouted.

“We overheard the words that were conveyed to the Supreme Elder! If we act recklessly in this situation…”

“Then what are you suggesting we do? Just sit around and wait?”

“That’s not what I mean! What I’m saying is…”

“I know! I know! But, damn it! What will be resolved if we just leave it alone!”

Jo Gul’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Didn’t you hear the conditions those people set?”

Yoon Jong momentarily shut his mouth.

Because even after hearing the good news, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything because of those conditions.

“Become a disciple of Jongnam, what kind of dogshit is that?”

Flames ignited in Jo Gul’s eyes.

“No human being should act like that! Look at how much we’ve done for Jongnam!”

“It’s not something we can’t understand.”

“Huh?”

“This medicine is special and very important to Jongnam. They can’t just give it away to people who are not part of their group. Of course, only their own students can use it.”

“……”

“If the ancestors decreed it so, then the Jongnam Sect Leader has no other choice, right?”

“Then they should have just kept their mouths shut! What are they trying to achieve by setting such ridiculous conditions?”

“Isn’t it better than not knowing at all?”

At Yoon Jong’s sighing words, Jo Gul’s eyes turned as cold as ice in an instant.

“Senior Brother. What are you thinking right now?”

“…What do you mean, what am I thinking?”

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of… having Uncle Master return to Jongnam?”

“What nonsense are you spouting! How can Uncle Master go to Jongnam?”

“Then why are you so calm? Tell me. Those people are toying with us with a way to heal Uncle Master, we should break into Jongnam and smash their heads to get it!”

“Then say something realistic!”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong clashed fiercely.

Even while watching this fierce argument, the others couldn’t bring themselves to stop them or add to the conversation.

The fact that a way to save Baek Cheon had emerged was truly a great blessing. Even if the possibility wasn’t perfect.

But weren’t the conditions attached to it too harsh?

“No, if we can just get that medicine, the aftermath can be dealt with somehow! Right? So, first…”

“Didn’t you hear?”

Baek Sang, who had been silent since delivering the news, opened his mouth.

“Senior Brother refused.”

“……”

“Even if we steal that medicine from Jongnam, do you think Uncle Master will obediently take it! That stubborn old man! He’ll just turn his back to the wall!”

“Even if we force him…”

Jo Gul, who had been muttering as if not wanting to give in, soon trailed off and shook his head. He knew very well how meaningless the words he was about to say were.

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t be here with you! I don’t know the method.”

Jo Gul repeatedly rubbed his face roughly with his dry hands, filled with frustration. They found a way, but he felt like his insides were burning even more.

“Isn’t there any way to get it? Like offering something else in return.”

“It won’t work. If the sect’s rules are like that, then even the Sect Leader won’t be able to find a way. This isn’t a matter of value. It’s about their rules.”

It was just then, as Jo Gul was about to let out another sigh that seemed to make the ground sink.

“…Can’t he just go?”

“Huh?”

“…What?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to one place.

Tang Soso looked straight at them and said once more.

“Wouldn’t it be solved if Uncle Master becomes a member of Jongnam?”

“……”

“Then Uncle Master can be healed…”

“You!”

At that moment, a loud shout erupted from Jo Gul’s mouth. His face twisted violently.

“You… what did you just say?”