Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 361

361. Good News

Un-hyun and Gaek-ong exited Taecheong Hall with Cheongsong Jin-in.

The Elders Council had permitted Un-hyun and Gaek-ong to examine the disciples addicted to the Gi-hon Dan [a type of medicinal pill].

Considering the pride of the Wudang Sect, it seemed impossible. However, when Cheongsong Jin-in showed a firm resolve, even staking his position as an Elder, the other Elders couldn’t bring themselves to object.

The fact that Yeongcheon-ja and Jeokpung Jin-in, who usually showed the most unyielding attitudes, had softened their stance also played a significant role.

“Are you sure you’re alright with this?”

Un-hyun asked Cheongsong Jin-in.

If anything were to happen or any problems were to arise from this, Cheongsong Jin-in would have to step down from his position as an Elder and retire into seclusion.

He was, quite literally, staking his entire remaining life on this.

“It’s alright.”

Cheongsong Jin-in said with a gentle smile.

“Isn’t the position given to us to do work anyway? To correct mistakes, encourage good deeds, and willingly lend a hand to those in need.”

There was not a hint of regret or anxiety in Cheongsong Jin-in’s eyes.

“If I can’t even do this, I should step down from being an Elder. In the end, whether I do this or not, it’s a position I’ll eventually have to leave, so why should I cling to it? Hehehe.”

It was easy to say, but difficult to do in practice.

How honorable and proud must the position of Elder be to Cheongsong Jin-in, who had lived his life as a Taoist of Wudang?

Perhaps it was something Cheongsong Jin-in had achieved through a lifetime of dedication.

And Cheongsong Jin-in was willing to give it up.

“Your intentions are truly noble.”

Un-hyun said sincerely.

However, Cheongsong Jin-in shook his head.

“It’s nothing compared to the Divine Monk.”

Cheongsong Jin-in gently closed his eyes and softly recited a Dohodo [a Taoist prayer or mantra].

Un-hyun felt a lump forming in his throat once again.

Just then, Gaek-ong spoke up.

“What about the other children?”

“I’ll send someone to call them.”

Cheongsong Jin-in replied.

Then, he cautiously asked Gaek-ong.

“Now that I think about it, you were staring at Yeongcheon-ja earlier. Was there a particular reason?”

“I can’t remember.”

Gaek-ong answered nonchalantly.

“Pardon?”

Not only Cheongsong Jin-in but also Un-hyun looked at Gaek-ong.

Gaek-ong replied in a listless voice.

“I definitely saw him before, but I can’t remember. That’s why I was staring.”

Un-hyun gave a wry smile.

He wondered if there was some special reason, given that Gaek-ong had a connection with the Yakdang [the Wudang Sect’s pharmacy] in the past, but it was just that he couldn’t remember.

“I see. I thought perhaps……”

Cheongsong Jin-in was saying when the door to the Taecheong Hall opened, and an Elder came out.

It was none other than Yeongcheon-ja, whom Cheongsong Jin-in had just been talking about.

Yeongcheon-ja walked straight towards Un-hyun and Gaek-ong.

His expression was quite stern.

Step.

Stopping in front of Gaek-ong, Yeongcheon-ja slowly bowed.

“It’s been a long time indeed.”

In Yeongcheon-ja’s eyes, as he raised his head, there was a hint of regret.

However, Gaek-ong frowned.

“Who are you?”

Yeongcheon-ja gave a bitter smile.

“Don’t you recognize me? I’m the pharmacist who clung to the furnace back then, screaming that he’d rather die.”

“Hmm.”

Gaek-ong stared blankly at Yeongcheon-ja.

Then, he said as if dismissing the matter.

“You’ve aged.”

Yeongcheon-ja gave a bitter smile.

“Time has passed, after all. Master of Poison, or rather, Gaek-ong, you haven’t changed at all.”

Gaek-ong didn’t say anything.

Yeongcheon-ja sighed and said.

“If you’re going to see those addicted to the Gi-hon Dan, I’d like to join……”

That’s when it happened.

Another person came out of the Taecheong Hall.

“Please wait a moment!”

The person running towards Un-hyun’s group was none other than Jeokpung Jin-in, who was from the Sulsa [Wudang Sect’s information and intelligence division].

He said to Un-hyun’s group with a bright expression.

“You’re all still here.”

Jeokpung Jin-in’s attitude was quite friendly.

Cheongsong Jin-in, knowing that he had been against it until now, wore a puzzled expression but pretended not to notice and asked.

“Is there something going on in the Elders Council?”

“No, there isn’t.”

Jeokpung Jin-in shook his head.

“The Elders Council has decided to temporarily adjourn. The discussion is already known to everyone, so there’s no need to belabor the point……”

After glancing at Yeongcheon-ja, Jeokpung Jin-in said.

“Anyway, the general trend seems to have been decided.”

With Yeongcheon-ja and Jeokpung Jin-in, who had been opposing, seemingly stepping back, the flow of the Elders Council was now as good as decided.

Cheongsong Jin-in staking his position as an Elder also had a significant impact.

“Ahem.”

Yeongcheon-ja cleared his throat.

His opposition was partly intended to put a brake on the Sword Sect-centered atmosphere of the Elders Council, but it was also largely to uphold the pride of the Yakdang.

Yeongcheon-ja was confident that the Yakdang alone could take care of the disciples with just what the Mount Hua Sect had provided.

Therefore, there was no need to ask for help from the Leader of the Changryong Alliance [a martial arts alliance], who was an outsider.

However, if Dokseon [Un-hyun’s alias] was behind it, there was no point in asserting the Yakdang’s pride.

No matter what the Yakdang did, it would be undeniable that it was thanks to Dokseon’s help.

When Yeongcheon-ja avoided his gaze, Jeokpung Jin-in asked Cheongsong Jin-in.

“Are you going to see those addicted to the Gi-hon Dan?”

Cheongsong Jin-in looked at Yeongcheon-ja instead of answering.

Yeongcheon-ja nodded.

Cheongsong Jin-in turned back to Gaek-ong and Un-hyun.

Gaek-ong was still indifferent, but Un-hyun wore a gentle smile.

“Then, how about we all go together?”

“Oh, let’s do that.”

Jeokpung Jin-in was overjoyed.

His attitude towards Un-hyun was quite friendly.

Cheongsong Jin-in looked at him with a puzzled expression, but Jeokpung Jin-in, unconcerned, said to Un-hyun.

“This way, Great Warrior Un. Follow me.”

Jeokpung Jin-in strode ahead.

Wondering what was going on, Cheongsong Jin-in looked at Yeongcheon-ja, but Yeongcheon-ja also shook his head.

He had no idea why Jeokpung Jin-in was acting like this either.

In any case, Un-hyun and Gaek-ong moved their feet together with Cheongsong Jin-in, Yeongcheon-ja, and Jeokpung Jin-in.

Meanwhile, in the Taecheong Hall, the Sword Sect Elders were working hard to persuade the other Elders.

***

The Wudang Sect disciples addicted to the Gi-hon Dan were housed in a rather remote hermitage.

While going there, Yeongcheon-ja stayed by Gaek-ong’s side.

Yeongcheon-ja was telling Gaek-ong in detail how the addicts were discovered and what symptoms they showed.

There was a lot of professional content as it was examined from the perspective of a pharmacist, but Gaek-ong was listening with an indifferent expression.

Occasionally, Gaek-ong would ask Yeongcheon-ja about symptoms that he had not seen in the Mount Hua Sect.

On the other hand, Jeokpung Jin-in was sticking close to Un-hyun.

“What is Great Warrior’s sect? I heard that becoming the Divine Monk’s disciple was a later event, but did you perhaps have a connection with a Taoist sect?”

Jeokpung Jin-in spoke freely like a friendly neighborhood grandfather.

His manner was so natural and his eloquence so outstanding that even a stranger could quickly become his friend.

“You are very good at speaking, Jin-in.”

At Un-hyun’s words, Jeokpung Jin-in smiled.

“Haha, originally, half of a Taoist’s job is talking. Even when performing the same technique, depending on how you speak, the other person can gain comfort or be filled with anxiety.”

Jeokpung Jin-in chuckled and said to Un-hyun.

“Ah, but I don’t lie. How can you move people’s hearts and destinies without sincerity?”

Jeokpung Jin-in sighed as he spoke.

“Of course, I’m worried because there are more Taoists who aren’t like that.”

Un-hyun nodded.

Jeokpung Jin-in’s appearance was like that of a quintessential Wudang Sect Taoist.

Meanwhile, the group arrived at the pavilion where the addicts were housed.

The location was remote, and the building was very old.

Step, step.

The group entered the old pavilion.

The Wudang Sect disciples guarding the pavilion bowed to Cheongsong Jin-in, Yeongcheon-ja, and Jeokpung Jin-in.

“The letter sent from Mount Hua Sect was of great help.”

Yeongcheon-ja said to Gaek-ong with a serious expression.

The inside of the pavilion housing the addicts was quiet.

The atmosphere was also quite calm, which was in stark contrast to the case of Mount Hua Sect.

“If it hadn’t been for that, the situation would have been out of control.”

Even with the Yakdang’s medical skills, they couldn’t cope with the Gi-hon Dan.

If the reclusive pharmacists came forward, it might be different, but even the Elders had difficulty meeting them, as they were secluded in deep valleys and caves.

If it hadn’t been for the letter sent from Mount Hua Sect, the chaos and damage would have been extreme.

Yeongcheon-ja picked up a thick book that was placed on a desk next to the entrance.

“This is a book recording the patients’ symptoms and their progress. Would you like to see it?”

Gaek-ong’s eyes lit up.

As Dokseon, or rather, Yakseon [Gaek-ong’s identity as a master pharmacist], Gaek-ong, there was no way he wouldn’t be interested.

Flip, flip.

While Gaek-ong was examining the records, Un-hyun said to Yeongcheon-ja.

“I would like to see the patients. Is that alright?”

Yeongcheon-ja readily nodded.

“It’s alright. However, please be careful as they sometimes have sudden seizures.”

Un-hyun nodded and headed to a nearby room.

Jeokpung Jin-in quickly followed behind Un-hyun.

“The letter from Mount Hua Sect said that the symptoms greatly improved after Great Warrior examined the addicts. Did you perhaps learn medicine?”

Jeokpung Jin-in asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

“No, I didn’t.”

Un-hyun answered as he opened the door.

Creak.

Inside the makeshift room, a Wudang Sect disciple was sitting in a lotus position.

He opened his eyes wide at the sound of the door.

“Wh, what’s going on?”

His eyes were filled with unconcealable anxiety and unease.

Un-hyun smiled gently.

“I’ve come to deliver good news.”

Jeokpung Jin-in gave a wry smile.

It seemed that Un-hyun was using in his own way what he had said earlier, that depending on how you speak, you can bring comfort or anxiety.

But that was too abrupt, and the intention was too obvious.

Suddenly, Jeokpung Jin-in realized that the addicted disciple was looking back and forth between Un-hyun and himself with anxious eyes.

“Ahem.”

Jeokpung Jin-in smiled.

“It’s really good news.”

However, the disciple’s wavering eyes did not calm down in the slightest.

***

After Yeongho-jun, Damso-ha, and Jo-gwan joined, Un-hyun began treatment together with Gaek-ong.

The Yakdang had already prepared herbal medicine, but Gaek-ong glanced at it and didn’t say anything in particular.

The flow of eerie energy that he had seen in the Mount Hua Sect disciples was also the same.

Rather, the Wudang Sect disciples were in better condition thanks to the appropriate measures that had been taken.

“Hoo.”

Un-hyun slowly took a breath.

Then, he raised the sword finger and brought it to the chest area of the lying patient.

The patient, who had taken the herbal medicine, was fast asleep, oblivious to the world.

In that instant, a sharp chill shot out from Un-hyun’s fingertips, which had been gently closing his eyes.

‘Gasp!’

Jeokpung Jin-in was startled.

The chill disappeared in the blink of an eye, but Jeokpung Jin-in’s surprise did not.

What surprised him was not the chill.

“Gr, Great Warrior. Just now……”

Just as Jeokpung Jin-in was about to say something.

“Umm.”

The sleeping patient groaned softly.

Gaek-ong immediately examined the patient.

“……It’s alright.”

At those words, Un-hyun’s expression became much lighter.

Yeongcheon-ja, who was watching from the side, also couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Well, how did you do it? Is it acupuncture? What kind of therapy did you use? If it’s alright, please teach me……”

Yeongcheon-ja did not hesitate to take a humble stance even towards Un-hyun, who was much younger than him.

Yeongcheon-ja’s passion for medicine, having lived his life as a pharmacist, was immense.

“Only Hyun can do it.”

Gaek-ong said softly.

“So just think it’s fortunate and don’t have any regrets.”

Yeongcheon-ja couldn’t hide his disappointed expression.

But if Gaek-ong said so, then it was so.

“Heo.”

Yeongcheon-ja looked at Un-hyun, sighing with regret.

Despite Gaek-ong’s words, he couldn’t let go of his lingering feelings.

“Th, there……”

There was another person who couldn’t let go of his lingering feelings.

The elderly Jeokpung Jin-in said to Un-hyun with an excited expression.

“……Would it be alright to examine Great Warrior in more detail?”

“Pardon?”

Un-hyun asked back, surprised by the sudden words.

Jeokpung Jin-in’s eyes were shining like a child’s.