Chapter 307: Medical Contest (4) |
He decided—he would confront the Demon Physician directly and ask him.
Once the decision was made, he had to act immediately. Thought could be long, but action must be swift.
...It was absolutely not because he wanted to avoid being caught dawdling by Seol Lihyang later.
With Tang Sowol’s help, they began tracking the Demon Physician.
Since the man had injured his hand during the duel by punching into his blade, the poison applied to the sword would’ve naturally made its way into his system.
It wasn’t a poison that caused harm, so it was hard to detect. But for someone well-versed in poisons, there were a few methods to track it.
A thought struck him, and he called out to Tang Sowol, who was running ahead with light footwork.
“Now that I think about it, don’t I have something similar on me? Some kind of 'Seokcheok' poison or something?”
“It’s called Twin-Headed Seokcheok poison.”
He remembered now—it was said to come from a lizard with a second head where its tail should be. As it grew, the two halves eventually split into separate creatures, but to reproduce as full adults, one had to consume the other. So they would coat themselves in a unique poison that allowed them to recognize each other no matter how far apart they were.
It had proven quite useful. The poison required advanced poison arts to apply, so he couldn't track Tang Sowol easily, but she could always find him.
Which was why she still bit his fingers regularly.
However, when he brought this up, Tang Sowol shook her head firmly.
“That poison only works when applied directly. Even if you were carrying it, I’d only be able to track the location of your sword.”
“I see. So it’s a poison that only works for me.”
Imagining Tang Sowol biting someone else annoyed him, even though it hadn't actually happened.
Was this how she felt whenever she saw him with Seol Lihyang or Seo Mun-Hwarin?
When he glanced at her, Tang Sowol giggled.
“Come now. At least be generous enough to allow Sister Hwarin and Lihyang, yes?”
“Well, if you're fine with it.”
She responded like she could see right through his thoughts, so he gave her a big smile packed with affection. As he did, Seo Mun-Hwarin crept in.
“I don’t know what this conversation’s about, but if you’re offering, I shall accept it gladly. But I must ask—how exactly are the two poisons different?”
“Range, accuracy, and duration,” Tang Sowol explained.
“Huh?”
“The poison on Brother Cheon only gives me a general direction, but I can sense it no matter where he is in the Central Plains.”
“Wasn’t it originally not that powerful?”
“Poison arts grow with proficiency. As my skills improved, so did the range.”
She shrugged and continued. She could even distinguish between poisons she applied versus others’, and it could last for half a year.
“If Brother Cheon had waited a bit longer, I’d have had to put in some extra footwork.”
“So I made it just in time.”
He felt relieved, having worried that his hesitation might’ve cost them too much time.
“Though I have one question.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Didn’t you say earlier that the poison lasts for nearly six months? But I distinctly remember you reapplying it at least once a month.”
Tang Sowol froze momentarily, then carefully opened her mouth.
“Y-Yes, it used to be about a month before…”
“So not anymore.”
“That’s…!”
“So you were biting my fingers every month for no reason—just to reapply a poison that didn’t need it. Be honest. You just wanted to leave your mark on me, didn’t you?”
“Eep—!”
She flinched instead of answering. That was a clearer reply than words.
“You’re shameless.”
“You don’t have to make excuses anymore. Just tell me outright next time.”
“Eh??”
“It’s fine. But those who bite others should be ready to be bitten in return. So don’t complain if I retaliate now and then.”
“!”
Her eyes sparkled as she swallowed hard. Watching her, Seo Mun-Hwarin puffed out her cheeks.
“I didn’t even get anything out of this…”
Tang Sowol’s eyes sharpened slightly at that.
Looks like the first person she’s going to bite next—with the Twin-Headed Seokcheok poison—is going to be Seo Mun-Hwarin.
They continued sprinting across the land with light steps.
***
The early evening gloom had turned into the dead of night, and with the moon dark, the stars were especially bright.
On a plain faintly lit by starlight, a man stood quietly, gazing up at the sky.
His hair was streaked with white, his frame balanced like a martial artist reborn through transformation, and his aura was a strange mix of viciousness and serenity—pure demonic energy.
Slowly, the Demon Physician lowered his head and looked their way.
“You’re late. I was waiting.”
“You knew we’d come?”
“Of course. You coated your blade with a poison that reeks to high heaven. Clearly, you had something to say—whether with words or swords, I wasn’t sure.”
The Demon Physician shrugged.
It seemed Tang Sowol’s poison had long since been discovered. She looked surprised, and he gently patted her shoulder.
“He was once called the Divine Physician. Don’t be too surprised.”
“Y-Yes…”
Though she nodded, her expression was still stiff.
He stepped forward in her stead and spoke.
“Don’t worry. I intend to settle this through words first.”
“That’s good to hear. I honestly wasn’t confident I could beat you. It’s shocking enough you’ve reached the Flowering Stage at such a young age—and to best even other masters of the same level… By the way, when did you start speaking so formally?”
“Since after our duel.”
“Ah, that’s right. Must be my age, but I felt a little offended even while thinking you’d earned it. Had some change of heart?”
“You could say that.”
Of course he had.
Before the duel, he had considered the Demon Physician someone he’d one day have to defeat.
But the duel had revealed no madness or vengeance in the man’s heart.
He’d hesitated, wondering if he could really cut down the current Demon Physician.
He now saw him not as a man who needed to be killed, but perhaps as someone who had broken free from the shackles of hatred.
He had just revealed that part of himself outwardly.
He slowly organized his thoughts—ones he had been mulling over for days—and turned them into words.
“I know you failed in your revenge and fled.”
“I also know that, as a member of the Demonic Cult, you occasionally lent them aid.”
“And I, as someone who stands opposed to the Heavenly Demon—the current Cult Leader—cannot coexist with the Demonic Cult.”
The Demon Physician nodded gravely.
“I see. That explains your initial hostility.”
“Honestly, I’m still ready to strike if needed.”
“Terrifying, really.”
The Demon Physician laughed aloud, speaking calmly despite the talk of killing.
“Seems like you already know quite a lot. What else are you curious about?”
“Are you still involved with the Demonic Cult?”
“Not anymore. Though I was until recently.”
“Could you elaborate?”
“The Heavenly Demon visited me personally. When I told him I no longer wished to serve the cult, he accepted that—and simply told me to head to the Beast Palace.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes. No further instructions. He may have anticipated your arrival and sent me ahead… But to me, it just seemed like he wanted me to treat the Palace Lord.”
That explained it.
If the Demon Physician had truly reached the Flowering Stage and let go of his obsession, there would be no need for zombie arts.
Which would mean his interest in rare patients would’ve faded. So it had seemed strange that he followed Meng Gyeom so readily.
But if it was a condition for leaving the cult—it made sense.
“Second question, then. Have you left traces of the incomplete zombie arts in the bodies of your past patients?”
The Demon Physician widened his eyes, his mouth falling open.
It wasn’t the reaction of someone caught red-handed—it was pure shock.
“I didn’t expect you to know that much. To answer… yes. I am still connected to the things I left in those patients’ bodies.”
“What for?”
“No purpose. Or rather, I no longer have one. I simply can’t sever the link, so I continue to carry the weight.”
They were deeply bound—but if he wanted, he could drive them all into madness.
He knew nothing about the original zombie arts, or even the version the Demon Physician recreated, so he kept silent briefly.
Perhaps misinterpreting his silence, the Demon Physician quickly added,
“I had no choice. Medical arts alone weren’t enough to recreate zombie techniques. I had to borrow the Demonic Cult’s dark arts… but I don’t know enough about them to undo the connection. I’d need the cult’s help.”
“But you’ve severed ties with them.”
“Indeed. Hard to believe, I know—but it’s the truth.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you. Just one more question. Unrelated to the main topic.”
“I’ve nothing to hide. Go on.”
“The Spirit Blood Pill. You know it, don’t you? Are you involved with it?”
The Spirit Blood Pill—an elixir made by grinding up humans. The Ghost Shadow Thief had once spied on its creation and fled in horror.
Its inferior version, the High Blood Pill, had been spread through Hebei to drive a wedge between the Peng and Eon clans.
Even for the Demonic Cult, it had seemed an impossible feat of dark alchemy.
He had even thought perhaps the Heavenly Demon had perfected it through countless regressions.
But if the Demon Physician had combined medical arts and dark sorcery—
It all made sense.
After a long silence, the Demon Physician nodded.
“Yes. I was deeply involved in the creation of both the Spirit Blood and High Blood Pills. Though I only used volunteers or voiceless beasts… it was still a horrific sight.”
“Then it’s hard to believe you were let go so easily. Didn’t you have a deep grudge?”
“I did. Had things gone on, I would’ve kept calling for endless revenge against someone who no longer existed. But it was you who ended it.”
“...Me?”
He blinked, not expecting his own name to come up.
The Demon Physician’s expression softened.
“The change in the Seo Mun clan head, once known as the White-Haired Rakshasa. The daughters of the Peng and Eon clans, now cherishing one another. The fact that their clans could change…”
He looked straight at him.
Clear eyes, without a trace of cloudiness.
“Your actions showed me that people can change.”
This time, he was the one who was left speechless.
The Demon Physician—he had changed because of him.