Chapter 96: The Demon Physician
The chaotic first day had passed, and morning came.
Saweol was still meditating before the Wall of Martial Soul. Well, martial artists were known to immerse themselves so deeply that they would often meditate for days without food or rest.
I wasn’t a true martial artist, so even sitting cross-legged felt awkward.
Despite all the chaos yesterday, the top-grade Wall-Seclusion Pills were thankfully intact. I filled my stomach with them, then washed up in the clear stream that flowed by my quarters.
“Clan Head! Clan Head!”
Tak Horak came running again, flustered as ever. Knowing his patterns, this level of panic usually meant something fairly serious.
“What’s the fuss this early in the morning?”
“There was an incident last night.”
“Incident?”
Tak Horak nodded.
“Yes. There was a fire at the Jin Clan’s quarters.”
I lost interest.
They weren’t ordinary folks. For residences filled with martial experts, a fire wasn’t that big of a deal.
But Tak Horak’s eyes held meaning.
“Did something happen because of the fire?”
“It’s said that Jin Yeongryeong and all the Jin Clan members were found seriously injured.”
“...Lead the way.”
Following Tak Horak, we arrived at the Jin Clan’s quarters. Several people were already there.
“You heavy-footed bastard. What took you so long?”
Cheol Muguk grumbled as he greeted me.
“What happened here?”
“Look for yourself. Those charred lumps—they say they’re the Jin Clan folks.”
Three blackened, scorched lumps lay on the ground. It was gruesome to look at.
But then—
“That person over there…?”
“Can’t you tell? That’s the Demon Physician.”
In front of the three lumps crouched a middle-aged man in white, with a stern face. His sharp eyes were visible behind his spectacles.
“They didn’t die since they’re all martial masters who’ve cultivated Jin Clan techniques, but their injuries are severe. That’s why we called in the Demon Physician.”
Just my luck.
Cheol Muguk had previously mentioned that the Demon Physician had taken an interest in me. I’d been trying to avoid crossing paths with him.
As the physician examined the remains, he stood and spoke to Gwak Riyeon, who stood nearby.
“They won’t die. However...Jin Yeongryeong’s cultivation has dropped. She’s no longer at the Transcendent Peak level.”
“Is that true?”
“Do you doubt my diagnosis?”
“Of course not. But such a thing is… unprecedented.”
“Seems like a kind of deviation. Perhaps she went mad and started the fire herself.”
At those words, Skybreaker spoke to me.
[It seems your guess was right.]
Exactly.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art—the emperor of all demonic arts. Not just a king—a tyrant.
Its energy rejects all others and forcibly claims its territory.
When it entered Jin Yeongryeong's body through Blood Shadows Shake the Heavens, it likely drove out all other energies.
Much like when Sado Gwang had foolishly tried to absorb it and nearly destroyed himself.
But unlike Sado Gwang, Jin Yeongryeong only received a minute trace of the energy—through my blood. That’s the only reason it didn’t go further.
In other words—
What kind of martial art is the Heavenly Demon Divine Art…?
In Return of the Murim, Heavenly Demon Divine Art was never used to this extent.
Mujin just used it to fortify his body and recover from injuries faster. That was it.
[We’ll probably need to find the Martial Soul when we return to Martial World. There might be more clues there about the Heavenly Saint as well.]
I gave a small nod to Skybreaker’s suggestion.
“Still, Jin Clan’s martial arts are quite unusual. She might be able to regain her cultivation.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But if left as is, she’ll die. Her skin and muscles are so burned I can’t even insert acupuncture needles.”
“Then?”
“Nothing beats blood for healing. Preferably young and healthy blood…Oh!”
The Demon Physician, glancing around, locked eyes with me and brightened.
“Isn’t that the Sado Clan Head!”
“Greetings, Demon Physician.”
As I offered a respectful bow, Cheol Muguk muttered grumpily,
“Why doesn’t he treat me that way? We’re the same age.”
I ignored him.
“Excellent. If it’s Sado Clan Head’s blood, these ones might recover.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Not a good idea?”
His already sharp gaze grew sharper.
“Are you disputing my diagnosis? Saying I’m wrong?”
“That’s not what I mean, Demon Physician.”
Gwak Riyeon, alarmed, quickly explained the events of yesterday.
After hearing him out, the Demon Physician widened his eyes.
“Hmm…If that’s true, then you’re right—it might not work. That blood may be too vital. Instead of medicine, it could act as poison.”
“In that case, how about you over there? Yes, you. The one beside the Clan Head.”
Tak Horak, confused, stammered,
“Eh? Me?”
I gave him a nudge.
“Go on.”
“Me??”
“I don’t like repeating myself. If you keep stalling, I might stick a needle in a very strange pressure point.”
“!”
Tak Horak turned pale and stiffly walked over like a puppet.
“Hmm…let’s see.”
The physician brought his face close to Tak Horak, prodding his side, flipping his eyelids, and performing a full check-up.
“Your solar point is slightly swollen—probably early-stage Peak rank. No anemia under the lids, and no illness like diabetes or insomnia?”
“None.”
“You don’t look particularly smart either. That’s a good sign.
Illness tends to strike those who think too much.”
“Huh??”
“It means you’re healthy.”
“Hahaha! What an honor! When else will I get examined by the Demon Physician!”
“Very good. Come here, now.”
I resisted the urge to slap my own forehead. I wanted to take back what I said yesterday about Tak Horak being my “left arm.”
The Demon Physician took a small blade and sliced Tak Horak’s palm, then held it to Jin Yeongryeong’s lips.
As a few drops of blood fell—
Her utterly mangled body began to regenerate.
Then—
“?!”
Jin Yeongryeong's eyes snapped open.
“No! Blood! I don’t want it! Nooo!”
She shook her head violently, refusing it.
“What’s this? One sip of blood and she’ll recover.”
“No! Kyaaaaah!”
Jin Yeongryeong shrieked hysterically.
She had tasted the power of Heavenly Demon Divine Art through that blood—and now had developed a fear of blood itself.
[A practitioner of Blood Shadows Shake the Heavens... afraid of blood? Serves her right.]
Skybreaker sounded angrier than me. Well, she had threatened his body directly, and he was rather vain about it.
“Patients cannot refuse treatment. This is medicine, understand? Medicine!”
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Hold her down.”
Unfazed, the Demon Physician restrained her and forced the blood into her mouth.
Her burned hair began to grow back, her warped facial skin began to regenerate.
Only after restoring her up to the neck did the physician finally stop the treatment.
Tak Horak asked nervously:
“Umm... sir? I feel dizzy. Is this okay?”
“You’ll be fine. Now that I see you clearly, you’re quite the handsome lad.”
“Haha, thank you.”
“Alright, on to the next patient.”
Unlike Jin Yeongryeong, the Jin Clan’s young lord and guardian were eager for blood. But the Demon Physician cut them off sternly.
He continued “treating” them until Tak Horak turned ghostly pale.
“Uuh… I feel like I drank too much...”
“You’re fine. Just lost a little blood.”
“Isn’t this dangerous…?”
“Let’s see. You won’t die. Off you go.”
Skybreaker spoke sharply.
[I don’t care how dumb Tak Horak is—he’s my subordinate. You’re just going to sit there while his blood is used to save the person who tried to kill you?]
Hold on.
Even without the Demon Physician, this was within anyone’s diagnostic ability. I couldn’t let Tak Horak be the only one to lose out here.
So I crossed my arms, frowned, and pretended to be angry.
The Demon Physician flinched and cleared his throat.
“Ahem, hmm...You there. What’s your name?”
“Tak Horak, sir.”
He called out to Tak Horak, who was shambling back like a zombie.
“Come here and open your mouth.”
When Tak Horak did, the physician placed a small pill inside.
“This is a Blood Restoration Pill. It’ll help your blood circulate again.”
“It’s really bitter.”
“All good medicine is. This one’s packed with premium ingredients. If you absorb it all, you’ll gain one to two years’ worth of internal energy.”
“Thank you!”
Should’ve done that earlier, you old vampire.
Still, getting 1–2 years of inner energy for a single bloodletting? Not bad for Tak Horak.
“The emergency treatment is complete. They should be mobile soon.”
“So Clan Head Jin won’t be attending the summit.”
“Clan Head Gwak, if you want to bury a corpse, be my guest.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Ugh, I’m too old for this. Traveling all the way out here has left me exhausted. I could really use a cup of tea.”
He subtly looked toward me as he said it. But I had no desire to entertain him.
“I’ll return to my quarters. My subordinate isn’t doing well.”
“Oh, right!”
The Demon Physician’s eyes sparkled.
“Was it Takgoo? Since he lost so much blood, I should take care of him myself.”
“But Clan Head Jin’s condition seems more urgent.”
“She’ll be fine now that she’s had blood.”
He was adamant.
I sighed.
Rejecting him too firmly would seem suspicious. Most people would kill for a chance to get close to the Demon Physician.
“Let’s head back to my quarters.”
“Ha! Wonderful. Clan Head Gwak, have the others moved.”
“Do I look like your errand boy?”
“Remember when you wet yourself as a kid…”
“Fine! Fine! Go already, you wicked old man!”
“I’ll help out.”
Cheol Muguk, reading the room, offered to assist Gwak Riyeon. It was better for someone to keep him company.
Back at the quarters, Saweol was waiting.
When she saw the staggering Tak Horak leaning on me, her eyebrows shot up.
Even as she greeted the Demon Physician, she asked me,
“What happened?”
“We’ll talk later. For now, bring tea.”
I roughly laid Tak Horak down. Back in familiar surroundings, he immediately fell asleep and started snoring.
“As you can see, my quarters are a bit small.”
“Compared to other places, this is practically a palace.”
Saweol brought the tea.
As I took the cup she poured, the Demon Physician spoke far too casually:
“So...tell me, Sado Clan Head—how did you heal your Severed Meridians?”