Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 352

352. There Is No Cure, But…

Yunhyun and his group were sitting in a hall of the Mount Hua Sect.

A gentle fragrance of tea rose from the teacups on the table, but the shock of the horrific scene in the Repentance Cave did not easily disappear.

“In the beginning, it wasn’t such a terrible sight,” So-yoja, a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect, said quietly.

As the person in charge of investigating the Gihondan incident, he was injured and unable to use one of his arms properly.

“But a few days after being detained, they suddenly had seizures and their condition rapidly deteriorated. Eventually, they turned into the appearance of the Soul-Lost People…”

Tae-eul Jin-in, sitting next to him, quietly chanted a Taoist invocation [a prayer or blessing].

So-yoja continued with difficulty.

“The other addicts are showing similar symptoms. We urgently prescribed medicine, but it was only temporary and couldn’t stop the seizures. At this rate, all the addicts will soon be in the same state.”

“How many people are addicted?” Yunhyun asked, and So-yoja looked at Tae-eul Jin-in.

Tae-eul Jin-in said, “Twenty-five among the third-generation disciples and below, and eleven among the second-generation disciples. And one of the first-generation disciples was caught taking Gihondan.”

The group’s expressions hardened.

It was astonishing that nearly forty people in one sect were addicted, but the fact that it included first-generation and second-generation disciples, who could be considered the pillars of the sect, spoke to the seriousness of the situation.

Younghojun also bit his lip in dismay.

“Is there a possibility that there are still undiscovered addicts?”

At Yunhyun’s words, So-yoja shook his head.

“Gihondan has a unique scent. Moreover, if you don’t take it for three days, you will experience withdrawal symptoms, though there may be some differences.”

So-yoja thoroughly investigated all the disciples.

All disciples except the elders, and even Taoists of the rank of registered disciples who had received their Taoist names, had to be detained for three days to prove their innocence.

So-yoja was no exception, and he was the first to detain himself.

“There may be those who have not yet experienced withdrawal symptoms, but that would not be considered addiction. There probably aren’t many who are hiding Gihondan now.”

They searched all the disciples’ belongings and lodgings, but Mount Hua was vast and rugged.

If they had buried it somewhere in the valley, there was no way to find it.

Then, suddenly, Gekoong asked, “What did you do with the confiscated Gihondan?”

“We have collected them separately and are managing them strictly,” So-yoja replied politely.

So-yoja, who was a fresh-faced young man during the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, had not seen Dokseon directly.

However, he had heard so much about the horror of Dokseon that he couldn’t even imagine that the Gekoong before his eyes was Dokseon.

“I wanted to burn it right away, but…”

“That’s fortunate.”

So-yoja looked puzzled at Gekoong’s words.

Gekoong, holding a teacup, slowly continued, “Judging from the state of the Soul-Lost People, Gihondan is highly addictive and fundamentally changes and destroys the organizational structure of a person. There is no cure for this type of addiction.”

So-yoja was taken aback by Gekoong’s words.

The Taoists of Mount Hua, who were skilled in medicine, had not yet accurately grasped the cause of Gihondan or its withdrawal symptoms.

But Gekoong was making such a definitive statement after only seeing the Soul-Lost People once.

It was inevitable that So-yoja would be suspicious of Gekoong’s words.

However, Tae-eul Jin-in sighed deeply.

“Oh dear, is that so…”

“But it’s not as if there’s no way at all.”

So-yoja and Tae-eul Jin-in’s eyes lit up.

Tae-eul Jin-in immediately rose from his seat.

Clatter.

He clasped his Buddhist prayer beads and bowed respectfully to Gekoong.

“I implore you, please tell us the solution, Gekoong-nim [an honorific suffix].”

So-yoja was startled.

Tae-eul Jin-in was an elder of Mount Hua.

He, who received precedence even over the sect leader of Mount Hua, was bowing and pleading to a strange old man named Gekoong.

Rustle.

Yunhyun also rose from his seat.

“I would also like to ask for your help,” Yunhyun said, bowing his head.

No, he was about to bow.

Swish.

Gekoong’s hand stopped Yunhyun from bowing.

“You don’t need to bow your head.”

Gekoong’s eyes looked somewhat uncomfortable.

“As I said before, Shinseung calling you not the successor of the Sword Saint but his junior brother means that you are on the same level as us. Moreover, you have proven yourself to me.”

With a firm look, Gekoong said to Yunhyun.

“If you speak, I will only consider whether it is reasonable. So you don’t need to bow to me or try to please me.”

Yunhyun smiled.

“Yes. I want Gekoong to help.”

“I understand.”

Gekoong said in a calm voice and looked at Tae-eul Jin-in.

“It’s nothing much, so I’ll tell you. You sit down too.”

“Thank you.”

Tae-eul Jin-in expressed his gratitude and sat down.

So-yoja was even more bewildered.

Gekoong had just called Tae-eul Jin-in ‘you’.

But there was no displeasure on Tae-eul Jin-in’s face at all.

Just who was Gekoong that Tae-eul Jin-in took the informal address for granted?

And why was Yunhyun, of course, he knew that he was the Azure Dragon Sword Lord, Shinseung’s junior brother, and the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance, but why was he so recognized by Gekoong?

Even more than the elder of Mount Hua.

So-yoja sat down awkwardly.

“As I said before, there is no cure for Gihondan,” Gekoong said in a calm voice.

“So, if withdrawal symptoms appear, immediately administer Gihondan.”

“Yes?” So-yoja said with a surprised expression.

Give Gihondan to the addicts?

But Gekoong’s words were not over yet.

“Of course, it must be limited to the minimum amount. Prevent withdrawal symptoms, but do not deepen dependence.”

Younghojun, who was listening, realized Gekoong’s intention.

“Ah, so you mean to maintain the current state of the addicted people.”

“That’s right.”

So-yoja, who was listening, could see why Gekoong had said it was fortunate earlier.

If they had burned all the Gihondan, they would not have been able to use this method.

“What should we do after that?” Younghojun asked, and Gekoong said,

“The rest is up to you Taoists.”

Younghojun, So-yoja, and Tae-eul Jin-in were puzzled, and Gekoong continued.

“What was the reason they became dependent on Gihondan? It was because Gihondan was the only escape.”

So-yoja bit his lip.

The disciples who were found to be addicted to Gihondan cried and screamed in front of So-yoja, or burst into anger with bloodshot eyes.

The situations were different, but one thing was clear.

They were being driven into a psychological corner. As a result, they had chosen Gihondan.

Gekoong’s words were hitting the nail on the head more accurately than So-yoja himself, who was in charge of the investigation.

“So you have to give it to them. That they are valuable and respectable beings, even if they don’t rely on things like Gihondan, and that they can be willingly accepted.”

So-yoja swallowed without realizing it.

Could they really do as Gekoong said?

Moreover, when you think about it, the addicts are criminals who have violated the rules of the sect.

Will Mount Hua willingly put in the effort for such people, even those who have no cure?

It was only natural that So-yoja looked back at Tae-eul Jin-in.

“If we do that,” Tae-eul Jin-in asked quietly.

“Can the disciples addicted to Gihondan return to normal?”

“As I said before, there is no cure,” Gekoong’s voice was firm.

“They will suffer from withdrawal symptoms for the rest of their lives. But once they realize that they no longer need to rely on Gihondan, they will quickly break free from addiction.”

Gekoong said in a quiet voice.

“People are extremely weak, but also surprisingly strong.”

Tae-eul Jin-in quietly chanted a Taoist invocation.

But the silence did not last long.

“I understand,” Tae-eul Jin-in replied to Gekoong.

“This is also Mount Hua’s karma, so we must take responsibility. We will do as you say.”

So-yoja’s eyes widened.

Younghojun also couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Master. If the elders’ council opposes…”

“I have already been delegated all authority on this matter,” Tae-eul Jin-in said with a bitter smile.

“And even if there are people who oppose it, shouldn’t we do it anyway?”

Younghojun was speechless.

As Tae-eul Jin-in said, this was not a matter of choice.

“…It’s not an easy task. Can you really do it?” Gekoong said.

Tae-eul Jin-in once again chanted a Taoist invocation and quietly replied.

“Originally, it is natural for a Taoist to help the difficulties of ordinary people, so how can we not help our fellow disciples?”

Those words greatly moved the hearts of the group.

So-yoja closed his eyes and chanted Taoist invocations repeatedly, and Younghojun’s eyes also became moist.

“Thank you,” Yunhyun said to Tae-eul Jin-in.

“I am truly proud that Mount Hua is a member of the Azure Dragon Alliance.”

Tae-eul Jin-in shook his head.

“Everything is caused by Mount Hua’s fault, so I cannot bear the words of the Alliance Leader.”

“No,” Yunhyun said to Tae-eul Jin-in.

“Because even that proper thing is not easy in this world.”

The look in Yunhyun’s eyes as he spoke was warm and gentle.

Yunhyun asked So-yoja, “How much of the collected Gihondan is there?”

“Um, it’s quite a lot, but…” So-yoja’s complexion darkened.

When he was going to burn it, it seemed like a lot, but now that he was going to use it as medicine for nearly forty addicts, it felt too insufficient.

“Ah!” Younghojun suddenly exclaimed.

“Perhaps we can find out the medicinal ingredients used in Gihondan!”

“What are you talking about?” So-yoja asked, and Younghojun said to Gekoong,

“There is a list of medicinal ingredients that Moonwang collected through the merchant guilds. If those were used in the manufacture of Gihondan…”

Younghojun had a list of medicinal ingredients that Moonwang had purchased through the Hoam Merchant Guild.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Gekoong nodded.

“We may not be able to know the recipe with just the medicinal ingredients, but we can make a rough estimate.”

Younghojun’s face brightened.

Tahm Sohye, who was listening, blurted out, “Oh, but can we trust that list?”

That list was received from Lee Soyeon, who betrayed Yunhyun.

Would she have given them something proper?

“We have to use that for now. For now,” Younghojun said firmly.

Judging by the way his eyes were shining, it seemed like he was thinking of something else as well.

“I’ll say it again, this is by no means a short-term task,” Gekoong said to Tae-eul Jin-in.

“Even if they break free from addiction, they will have to fight withdrawal symptoms for the rest of their lives. Can you help them until the end?”

“Everyone has to fight their weaknesses for the rest of their lives anyway,” Tae-eul Jin-in gave a bitter smile.

“And no one can stand alone in the first place, can they?”

Tae-eul Jin-in, who was chanting a Taoist invocation, bowed to Gekoong.

“Thank you. Gekoong has saved Mount Hua today.”

It was the greatest gratitude and praise that the elder of the Mount Hua Sect could offer.

But Gekoong was indifferent.

“Hmm.”

Even to the polite bow of the Mount Hua Sect’s elder, Gekoong only slightly nodded his head.

“Where are the rest of the addicts?”

“They are detained separately in the annex,” So-yoja replied with a dark expression.

They were criminals who had violated the rules of the sect.

Originally, they should have been imprisoned in the Disciplinary Hall, but there were too many of them, so they were housed separately, so they were unlikely to be treated well.

“Let’s go. I’ll examine the situation and tell you how much medication and measures are needed.”

“Yes!” So-yoja quickly rose from his seat.

Gekoong also stood up and said to Yunhyun, “You come too.”

“Yes,” Yunhyun replied without hesitation and stood up.

He seemed to know why Gekoong was asking him to accompany him.

The group followed So-yoja out with hardened expressions.