Chapter 9: Treatment of varicose veins (4)

It can’t be that only Physician Seok Muwol can cure it.

I had anticipated this, but confirming it requires testing with other patients.

“Alliance Leader, this is White Tiger Captain. May I enter?”
“Oh, the investigation’s already done? Sword Saint, may the White Tiger Captain enter?”
“Let her in.”
“Thank you. White Tiger Captain, come in.”

Someone arrives with news to verify that very hypothesis.

“Pardon my intrusion.”

A figure in white martial robes, wearing a mask resembling a white tiger, enters.
Though clad in white, her voice and slender frame clearly indicate that the White Tiger Captain is a woman.

“White Tiger Captain pays respects to the senior masters of the martial world and presents her report.”

She unfolds a neatly folded paper from her robes.

“We persuaded two syndrome patients in Liaodong City to undergo treatment.”
“What was the result?”
“Neither showed any improvement.”
“…”

The Alliance Leader briefly closes his eyes tightly.

“Was it due to different conditions?”
“I’m unsure if the condition is tied to their coming-of-age day, but it’s clear that ‘sleeping together’ doesn’t cure it.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”

The Alliance Leader slaps his mouth.
If ‘sleeping together’ were the condition, he’d have rejoiced at the martial world’s fortune, but this situation is teetering on the edge of the worst outcome.

“For verification, the leader of the Purple Sword Sect is causing a ruckus, saying he’ll bring his daughter here.”
“What does that mean, White Tiger Captain? Isn’t the Purple Sword Sect leader’s family engaged to the Jinju Clan?”
“Since the betrothed failed to cure her…”

Before the White Tiger Captain can finish, she freezes in a rigid stance.

At the Sword Saint’s words, she remains silent, but the high-quality paper she holds reveals its contents through the back.

“The Purple Sword Sect leader demands a life-or-death duel with the Sword Saint, wagering a night with Physician Seok Muwol. If he wins, he wants his daughter to share a bed with the physician.”
“Just… though it’s not much, isn’t he only at the peak level?”
“It’s a father’s resolve to save his daughter, even at the cost of his life.”
“…This is just the beginning. Of the 108 patients.”

Silence falls over the reception room.

“…Understood. If others wish to verify, let it be the patient’s choice.”
“Alliance Leader.”
“Sword Saint, it seems we’ll need a formalized treatment method from Physician Seok Muwol.”
“That is…”
“Brother!”

A man bursts into the room, panting.

“What’s the matter, brother?”
“Your niece! She’s coming with her… fiancé!”
“Calmly.”
“…Hoo.”

Moyong Cheon’s brother, Moyong San, steadies his breath and speaks slowly.

“Physician Seok Muwol wishes to come here with Seol to report the treatment method in person… directly.”

[Half an hour earlier.]

They say a mother’s touch can heal.

I’ve never experienced it, but among the captured orphans, some claimed their pain eased under their mother’s care, calling it a ‘healing hand.’

As a physician, if asked whether it has real healing effects, I’d say half-true, half-false.

The mind tricks the pain.

Like when a physician deceives a patient with a placebo, claiming it’s real medicine, and the patient says, “I feel better.”

It’s a kind of ‘white lie.’ Saliva doesn’t heal people.

But.

“…Haa.”

Moyong Seol tilts her head back.
Licking her glistening lips, she touches her flushed lips and looks at me.

“How is it?”
“…It’s confirmed.”

I grasp her wrist, focusing on her pulse, and verify the effect.

“It seems the substances flowing in my body are the cure for the syndrome.”
“Saliva, blood, and s—”
“Let’s call it yang energy.”

Even I couldn’t let such words come from Moyong Seol’s mouth.

And the same applies elsewhere.

“Thanks to you, Miss, my virtue won’t be carelessly toyed with.”
“What do you mean?”
“Regarding other women with the syndrome—”
“You’re going to treat them…?”

Ssshh—
A chill emanates from Moyong Seol’s body.
Not from the syndrome, but from the inner energy she generates, stinging my skin like a blade.

“As a man bound to you, I naturally don’t want to, but as a member of the Moyong Clan, I must make choices for the clan’s sake.”

I reach out to her.

“Otherwise, the Moyong Clan will become the martial world’s enemy.”
“…”

“A single treasure map from a supreme master can spark bloodshed in the martial world. Imagine what a cure for the syndrome would do.”

I can say with certainty.

“If it weren’t for the Sword Saint, the martial world would’ve stormed this estate by now.”

If Moyong Cheon weren’t the Sword Saint but a lesser martial artist, he wouldn’t be free from the pressure of the Divine Monk or others.

“And as you know…”
“That’s not the real issue.”

Moyong Seol places her index finger on my lips.

“You didn’t choose this because you wanted it.”

She knows.
My worst weakness.
That I’m someone the orthodox martial world would never accept.

“No matter what others say, you’re you, Physician. I, and the Moyong Clan, will repay you as our savior and benefactor.”
“Miss.”
“So… I’ll compromise a little.”

Moyong Seol sighs deeply, as if lamenting.

“I’d love to keep anyone from even touching you, but that could lead to a situation where everyone suffers.”

She knows.
If this situation goes even slightly awry, it could unleash a storm of blood in the martial world.

“…If I weren’t a martial artist, I wouldn’t even consider my beloved reaching out to another woman.”

It’s inevitable because we’re in the martial world.

“It’s a bitter reality, but I want you to know my heart clearly.”

Moyong Seol holds my face again.

“I have no intention of sharing you with anyone.”
“I feel the same, Miss.”
“You’d better keep that promise. Otherwise…”

Her thumb briefly brushes under my eyes.

“Even if I become the martial world’s enemy and am called the worst woman under heaven, I’ll make you see only me.”

Shortly after.

I head with Moyong Seol to the reception room in the Moyong Clan’s main hall.

“Why come in person?”

The Sword Saint looks at us with a sour expression.
Not just because I’m holding Moyong Seol’s hand.

“You could’ve sent the treatment method in writing.”

As he says, the plan was for the Sword Saint to share the ‘cure’ with the Alliance Leader and other masters via a written report.

“I judged it better to show it directly than to send words.”
“…What?”

The Sword Saint’s hand twitches.

“Hah, haha.”

Not just him—the Alliance Leader, Divine Monk, Sword Empress, and even the presumed imperial representative show discomfort.

“Haha, Physician Seok. Are you so eager to display your love for Miss Moyong?”

The Alliance Leader speaks as if gently scolding youthful impulsiveness, likely thinking, ‘Mind the time and place, you youngsters.’

“It’s fine. There’s no shame in it.”
“Haha, really now.”
“It’s not something the elders of the martial world can’t see.”

I speak as calmly as possible, laying the groundwork.
Those without prejudice might wonder, ‘What’s he about to say?’ Indeed, the Sword Saint looks at Moyong Seol with slight curiosity.

Nod.
Moyong Seol nods to him, and though his eyes twitch slightly, he returns a brief nod.

‘It’s not agreed with the Sword Saint, but he’ll play along if I guide it well.’

If I steer the situation correctly.

“Youngsters.”

The Divine Monk rises.

“No matter how much, such intimate matters between man and woman—”
“I’d like to clear up one misunderstanding and explain.”

I cut in before he can thunder.

“Hmph.”

He shoots a ‘How dare you’ glare, but I hold Moyong Seol’s hand tightly and continue.

“I was confused too. That a night together could cure it.”
“You—”
“Let the physician continue.”

The Sword Empress, sitting quietly, speaks in a low voice.

“Divine Monk, please sit.”
“…”

She looks like a woman in her early twenties speaking brashly to a sixty-year-old, but the Sword Empress is—

“Physician Seok Muwol.”
“Yes, Sword Empress.”
“Get to the point.”
“…Before that, one question.”

The answer to this will shape my response.

“Since the news of Miss Moyong’s cure spread, someone must have ‘tried’ it. Am I wrong, Alliance Leader?”

I turn the arrow to the Alliance Leader.

“What was the result of their treatment?”
“To answer, there was no improvement.”
“No improvement.”

Now, it’s certain.

“Was it just one case?”
“Even a day or two later, we could confirm at least three more cases, but I doubt treating elsewhere will cure the syndrome.”
“Thank you. This gives me more certainty.”

I clasp my hands in respect to the Alliance Leader.

“The treatment method… is this.”

I turn to Moyong Seol, and she rises on her toes, kissing me.

Lick.

“!!”

Our lips meet.
As others react with shock, I let Moyong Seol take the lead, slowly opening my mouth.

Smooch, suck, lick, slurp.

“Hah, haha—”

The room’s occupants show varied reactions, but they gradually shift.

“!!”
“Yang energy…?”
“Hmm…”
“Phew.”

Moyong Seol pulls back.
A glistening thread stretches between us, and she bites her lip lightly as she steps away.

Slurp.
The thread snaps back to her lips, and I wipe mine lightly, bowing.

“As a physician and the one directly involved, I felt it, but the martial world’s finest here can see it with your eyes. Yang energy has entered Miss Moyong’s body, suppressing the yin energy of the syndrome.”
“…A kiss is the answer?”
“Yes.”

In truth, it’s multiple answers.

“Spending a night with Miss Moyong and kissing her seems to have been the decisive factor.”

Multiple answers, but only one will be shared with them and the martial world.

“How could that be possible…?”
“Perhaps the herbs I consumed while researching the syndrome with my master caused some reaction in my body.”
“No way!!”

The Divine Monk leaps up.

“Is your saliva some universal cure?!”
“Not for all diseases, but it’s effective for the syndrome. Though whether it works for others is uncertain.”
“…Is that so.”

The Divine Monk sits with a conflicted expression, veins bulging on his forehead.

‘Shaolin’s sensitive about medicines.’

The Great Restoration Pill.
How many merchants donate to Shaolin just to get one?

If my saliva were a universal cure, they’d probably mix it into the pill.
Or tie me to Shaolin’s peak, forcibly extracting my bodily fluids daily.

“Well—”
“Hoo.”

As I try to continue, I hear the Sword Empress sigh in relief.

“I thought we’d have to witness young love firsthand.”
“No matter how much, I wouldn’t show my beloved’s bare form to others.”
“I see.”

The Sword Empress turns her head.

“Sword Saint?”
“…”

The Sword Saint’s lips are sealed tight.

Strange.
He should’ve reacted as if spitting blood at me kissing Moyong Seol.

Could it be?

Is he on the verge of qi deviation from imagining such things?

“Your daughter’s fortunate not to take after that side of you. Haha.”
“Silence, Sword Empress.”
“…?”

I don’t know what’s happening, but the Sword Empress is laughing.
The Sword Saint openly scowls.

“Now, now.”

The Alliance Leader claps, standing.

“Since something’s been clarified… I have one question for Physician Seok.”
“Ask away.”
“Are you willing to share your saliva with other women…”
“Alliance Leader?”
“Ahem, my words came out wrong.”

I saw it.
His gaze briefly darted to the Sword Saint.

“As the Martial Alliance Leader, I formally request the Moyong Clan to share the ‘medicinal fluid’ that may cure the syndrome. Is that… possible?”

Thank goodness.

“Some may find it distasteful, but it’s better than having to sleep together for treatment! Haha!”

At least they didn’t realize the fluid could be blood or something else.

“If yin-yang union and yang energy infusion are the cure, the 108 syndrome patients would have to take turns spending nights with Physician Seok Muwol until cured! Haha!”

…It didn’t get found out, right?

“Then we must devise a way to protect Physician Seok Muwol from the vile hands of the Demonic Cult.”
“…!”

Alliance Leader, could he know?
My true identity—

“Alliance Leader, Physician Seok is—”
“Even the Heavenly Demon’s daughters have the syndrome.”
“…?”

?

“You didn’t know. Of course. It’s top-secret information known only to Kunlun.”

The Alliance Leader holds up three fingers.

“From the Heavenly Demon’s eldest daughter to the youngest, all have the syndrome.”