Chapter 239 - Did the Two of Them Fight All of Murim?

The Demon Physician was gazing out the window.

There were unusually few patients today. Some days were like that. Days that seemed to say, Like the clouds drifting peacefully through that sky, take a day to rest yourself.

But apparently, today was not to be one of them.

The infirmary door swung wide open, and someone entered.

It was Geom Mugeuk, drenched in sweat, with the Wicked Laughing Demon on his back. An enormous wave of heat rolled off him.

"... Please save him!"

With those words, Geom Mugeuk collapsed.

Startled, the Demon Physician first gathered the Wicked Laughing Demon into his arms and laid him on a bed.

As he returned to put Geom Mugeuk on a bed as well, Geom Mugeuk came to and spoke.

"I'm all right... Please treat the Laughing Demon."

"You are not all right."

The Demon Physician could tell that he was utterly exhausted. Even now, sheer willpower alone was allowing him to speak and move.

"The Laughing Demon first."

Since the Wicked Laughing Demon's condition was more urgent, the Demon Physician hurried to examine his pulse. He realized that some immense energy was holding the turmoil in his blood vessels in check.

"What is this energy?"

"Ten-thousand-year snow ginseng."

Geom Mugeuk rose and approached the bed. His legs shook so badly that he could barely walk, but his worry for the Wicked Laughing Demon would not let him stay still.

The Demon Physician spoke as he removed the patient's upper garments.

"Without that ginseng, he would already be dead."

The Wicked Laughing Demon's condition remained precarious.

The Demon Physician hurriedly opened his acupuncture case. Needles of every size were packed into the leather case.

He began inserting them with practiced hands. Every single needle embodied the pinnacle of medical skill, beyond anything another physician could imitate.

After placing the needles, he began performing moxibustion over the Wicked Laughing Demon's dantian with an unfamiliar herb. A distinctive medicinal fragrance filled the infirmary.

"Uuugh..."

The Wicked Laughing Demon let out a pained groan.

This time, the Demon Physician took out a long red needle and inserted it. He pushed it in so deeply that one had to wonder whether a needle that long could safely go so far.

The Wicked Laughing Demon's expression seemed to ease, only for him to begin convulsing.

The Demon Physician swiftly withdrew the needles and began placing them at new pressure points. His hands were quick and precise.

The convulsions stopped.

Until now, the energy of the ten-thousand-year snow ginseng had kept the Wicked Laughing Demon alive. Now it posed the greatest danger, obstructing his treatment. Somehow, the physician had to gather it into one place before completing the treatment.

Crisis followed crisis, and the Demon Physician navigated each with practiced skill, proving why he was a physician of godlike ability. Anyone else would not even have been able to attempt treatment in this condition. The process took a tremendous toll on his mental strength, and sweat poured like rain from his forehead and body.

Geom Mugeuk watched the treatment tensely. He felt as though he would die of exhaustion. He truly had run like a madman to get here. Without the slightest exaggeration, it had been harder than fighting Yelü Han.

Yet he could not look away for even a moment.

At last, the treatment, which had been like a war, ended, and the Wicked Laughing Demon's condition stabilized.

"We've made it past the first hurdle. It's too early to relax, but he's an extraordinarily tenacious man. I believe he'll pull through."

"Please, save him!"

The reason Geom Mugeuk had run that long distance without resting was that the Demon Physician awaited him here. He had believed that even if no one else could save his companion, this man could.

The Demon Physician nodded.

"I'll do everything I can."

"Thank you."

Only then did the tension leave Geom Mugeuk, and he sank to the floor.

The Demon Physician checked Geom Mugeuk's pulse to assess his condition. He, too, was completely exhausted.

"How in the world did you get here in this state?"

The physician was astonished. In such a condition, even moving his own body should have been difficult, let alone running with someone on his back.

"Here, take this first."

He handed Geom Mugeuk a medicinal pill to replenish his strength after exhaustion.

"I'm all right."

"Well, I'm not. Take it at once."

"Thank you."

Geom Mugeuk swallowed the medicine.

The Demon Physician also applied wound salve to Geom Mugeuk's injuries. Judging by his wounds and those of the Wicked Laughing Demon, they had clearly fought a tremendous battle.

Just then, a martial artist entered and delivered a dispatch.

After reading it, the startled physician asked Geom Mugeuk,

"Where exactly did you run here from?"

The dispatch told him to prepare in advance, as Geom Mugeuk had set out with the injured Wicked Laughing Demon. Astonishingly, Geom Mugeuk had arrived faster than the message.

'Is that even possible?'

And with the Wicked Laughing Demon on his back, no less.

With anyone else, he would naturally have assumed there had been a mistake. But seeing Geom Mugeuk's condition, he thought that perhaps the young man really had outrun the dispatch.

There was, in fact, something the Demon Physician wanted to ask.

Geom Mugeuk had left to kill Yelü Han. He wanted to know how it had gone.

But he felt he knew the outcome without asking. They had returned so badly injured.

He felt guilty toward them both. He had known that this vengeance would not be easily achieved, yet he had asked for too much.

'I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry.'

As the Demon Physician turned to check on the Wicked Laughing Demon, Geom Mugeuk spoke behind him.

"I delivered your message to Yelü Han."

"!"

He turned in astonishment to find Geom Mugeuk seated against the wall, looking up at him.

"I looked straight into his eyes as he died and told him clearly. That this was your will."

The Demon Physician was too stunned to speak, his eyes wide. Only after a long while did he ask,

"You killed Yelü Han?"

"Yes. I killed him."

"You truly... killed him?"

His voice trembled, and soon his whole body was shaking.

"Yes. I killed him."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

The Demon Physician sat facing Geom Mugeuk and clasped his hands.

"Live the rest of your life in peace now. Your family would want that, too."

At those words, a surge of emotion caught in the physician's throat. Still holding Geom Mugeuk's hands, he bowed down before him. Feelings beyond words welled up inside him. How desperately had he longed for this moment? He had imagined it thousands, tens of thousands of times.

Suddenly, he remembered his son.

["Father, you're busy for our sake, aren't you? When you're not busy, you'll play with me, right?"]

Tears ran from the Demon Physician's eyes. Had his son lived, he would have been middle-aged by now... Yet to the physician, he was still a child.

'I'm sorry I didn't play with you more. I'm sorry I didn't tell you more often how much I loved you.'

In his heart, his son was smiling brightly.

The tears poured down harder.

'Yes. When we meet again, I'll play with you as much as you like.'

It was the moment the Demon Physician laid down the heavy stone he had carried in his heart all his life.

When the Demon Physician finally raised his head after weeping at the memory of his son, Geom Mugeuk had fallen asleep against the wall. With the relief of knowing everything was over, all his accumulated fatigue had swept over him. His sleep was so deep that he would not have noticed if someone carried him away.

'Thank you, Second Young Master. I will never forget this kindness.'

Just then, another visitor arrived.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon entered, his face full of concern. Upon hearing that Geom Mugeuk had arrived and gone straight to the infirmary, he had rushed over immediately.

He first caught sight of the Wicked Laughing Demon lying on the bed receiving treatment, but his first concern was Geom Mugeuk.

"Is he all right?"

"He ran here without stopping, carrying that man on his back. How could he be all right?"

But the Demon Physician's expression was relaxed. It was clear that Geom Mugeuk was safe.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon grew needlessly peevish.

"What's so precious about that damned mask-wearer?"

He crouched in front of Geom Mugeuk. Through his open collar, he could see the Ghost-Guard Robe he had given him. It was covered in blood.

"Giving me grief in my old age."

He picked up the blood-soaked supreme-grade heavenly silkworm silk that had fallen beside the bed and wound it around the Black Demon Sword's hilt. Then he propped the sword beside Geom Mugeuk.

"Is grief really what he's giving you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look at your face in that bronze mirror."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon raised his head to look.

"What am I supposed to be seeing?"

The Demon Physician merely gave an inscrutable smile. He could plainly sense how the Blood Heaven Saber Demon had changed lately. And he knew where that change had begun.

Then the Fist Demon arrived.

"What happened?"

As his massive frame entered, he seemed to fill the infirmary.

After greeting the two men, he first asked after the Wicked Laughing Demon on the bed.

"Is the Laughing Demon all right?"

"We must watch him a little longer, but he seems to be past the worst."

He made it seem as though he had come to check on the Laughing Demon, but the Demon Physician knew better. He had come out of concern for his disciple.

"Your disciple is merely exhausted. A few days of thorough rest will put him right."

Relief crossed the Fist Demon's fearsome face. For the first time, the Demon Physician discovered that the man even had facial expressions. He also now understood how deeply he cared for Geom Mugeuk, enough to let that relief show rather than hide it. To think the young man had changed these terrifying Demon Supremes so profoundly.

'Second Young Master, you are remarkable.'

But that was not the end. Someone else entered the infirmary, saying,

"What's with this sorry state? Did the two of them fight all of Murim?"

It was the Drunken Demon, reeking of alcohol.

Skipping even a greeting, he crouched in front of Geom Mugeuk. After studying him silently for a moment, he addressed the other two Demon Supremes.

"Once he wakes, he'll be making the rounds to boast about his exploits. We'll have to avoid him for a while."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon chimed in.

"We'll be lucky if he doesn't launch into a long speech."

Another person entered then.

"What are you all doing beside a sick man?"

The latest arrival was the Single Flower Sword Supreme. Her beauty remained untouched by age.

The Demon Physician was inwardly surprised. He already knew that Geom Mugeuk associated with the Demon Supremes, but he had never expected them all to come visit.

The Drunken Demon clicked his tongue as he looked at Geom Mugeuk.

"Little brother, what's this? Not a single pretty woman has come."

"One is right here."

At the Single Flower Sword Supreme's remark, the Drunken Demon tried again.

"Little brother, no pretty young women, just all these old people. Is that any way to live? Now, when I was young..."

Just then, Yi An and Cheon Sohui arrived.

Yi An's eyes widened in surprise at the gathering of Demon Supremes. She dared not approach until the Blood Heaven Saber Demon beckoned her closer.

They made way for her, and she sat in front of Geom Mugeuk.

"He's only asleep. Don't worry."

At the Blood Heaven Saber Demon's words, Yi An began to cry. The moment she heard that Geom Mugeuk was safe, the tears simply spilled out.

Seeing him asleep from sheer exhaustion was more heartbreaking than seeing him collapse from injury. How tired must he be not to wake even amid all this?

She was terribly upset and sorry that she had not been at his side. Had the Demon Supremes and the Demon Physician not been there, she might have shouted that she was quitting her position as commander of the Ghost Shadow Squad and following him from now on. That he should take her with him.

She wanted to offer him her shoulder to lean on so he could sleep comfortably. Of course, she could not bring herself to do so with the Demon Supremes watching.

Cheon Sohui watched worriedly from behind her as well. Since the Fist Demon was present, she remained a little way off without stepping forward.

But someone else would bring the day's visits to a close.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the door at once. They knew who had arrived before he even entered. A man whose arrival was announced by his very presence, without his needing to emit any qi presence.

The Heavenly Demon, Geom Ujin, had come.

The Demon Supremes, Yi An, and Cheon Sohui lined up on either side and paid their respects.

"We greet you, Cult Leader."

After receiving their greetings, Geom Ujin first asked after the Wicked Laughing Demon.

"How is the Laughing Demon?"

"Fortunately, he is past the critical stage. He is exceptionally hardy, so he should be back to his old self before long."

"Spare no medicine."

"I don't believe you need worry about that. The energy of ten-thousand-year snow ginseng remains unassimilated in his body. Once he recovers and absorbs it, he will become far stronger."

Everyone was astonished at the mention of ten-thousand-year snow ginseng.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon looked back at Geom Mugeuk.

"That greedy brat must have given up even ten-thousand-year snow ginseng for him."

Only then did Geom Ujin turn his gaze toward Geom Mugeuk.

His eyes were impassive as he regarded his son. After looking down at the sleeping young man for a moment, he said something unexpected.

"Leaving him here will only interfere with your treatment. I'll take the boy with me."

Geom Ujin strode over and lifted Geom Mugeuk into his arms.

Everyone was stunned. Not once had they ever imagined seeing Geom Ujin carry anyone in his arms.

Even if he did, they would have expected him to use object manipulation through the air to lift the person first. But he bent down and picked up Geom Mugeuk himself.

To the Demon Supremes, the sight was utterly unfamiliar, and shocking.

Paying no mind to their astonishment, Geom Ujin walked out with his son in his arms.

"Still jealous?"

The Drunken Demon answered the Single Flower Sword Supreme's question. She had naturally expected something like, "Being carried by the Cult Leader? No! Nothing in the world would be worse!"

"I don't know. My father never held me."

The Single Flower Sword Supreme turned toward him.

"Are you drunk?"

The Drunken Demon drank with a loose grin.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon grew needlessly peevish again.

"Impudent brat! He clung so fiercely to my elixir, yet gave up ten-thousand-year snow ginseng?"

The Demon Physician took Geom Mugeuk's side.

"If he hadn't, that man would be dead."

"Let him die!"

After the Blood Heaven Saber Demon left, the other Demon Supremes said farewell to the Demon Physician and departed as well. Yi An and Cheon Sohui also took their leave after paying their respects.

Alone again, the Demon Physician let out a small sigh. It felt as though a storm had swept through and passed.

He walked to the bed where the Wicked Laughing Demon slept.

His eyes softened as he looked down at him. This man had fought alongside Geom Mugeuk to avenge him. How could words ever repay such kindness? He would repay it by saving his life.

"I intend to save you, whatever it takes, so you must stay strong as well. If only for the man who carried you on his back all that way, shouldn't you keep fighting?"

The Demon Physician looked out the window. The sky he had seen earlier now seemed to tell him something else.

Like the clouds drifting peacefully through that sky, live the rest of your life with a heart at peace.