"Developed, you say?"

The Blind Woman pointed to her own nose.

"My sense of smell."

She gave a faint smile.

A moment ago she had seemed nothing more than a rude beggar, yet in that instant an indescribable dignity flowed from her.

"I lost my sight at a very young age. Perhaps because of that—or in spite of it—my other senses became greatly heightened. Especially my sense of smell. I lost one thing, but gained another in return."

Seolhwa recalled her training on Mount Song.

The flow of qi she could only perceive when blindfolded.

The keenness of the senses that arose when vision was cut off.

So that was what she meant.

"I read the world through scent. That is why I can distinguish herbs even without sight."

"So that’s why, in the Medicine Hall...."

That must have been why Chor Yeon had avoided bringing incense earlier.

She knew it was behind her.

"When Myeong asked me to help you, truthfully, I was not inclined to agree. I dislike martial artists."

"Why do you dislike them?"

"Because saving them is meaningless."

"Meaningless...?"

Did she mean there was no meaning in saving them? Why?

"When martial artists beg for my help, almost without fail they are either terminally ill or already at death’s door. The treatments are usually complex and troublesome. Yet when I finally manage to keep them alive, do you know what they do?"

"I do not."

"They rush straight off to find another deathtrap. All because of that accursed sense of chivalry."

It wasn’t an unfair point. In truth, it was inevitable.

Unlike ordinary folk ignorant of martial arts, martial artists constantly faced battles where their lives hung in the balance.

From a physician’s perspective, to save a patient only for them to dash off again into mortal peril—of course it would be infuriating.

"They drag me into endless troublesome entanglements. Even if I save them, they go charging to their deaths again. A most vexing breed."

The Blind Woman waved her hand as though tired of the thought.

"That is why I had to see with my own eyes—whether the one I saved was bound to die again, or truly fated to live."

Seolhwa suddenly realized.

If that was the criterion she used to choose her patients, then what she had said earlier about Seop Mugwang....

"And your conclusion...?"

"A hundred times over, he’s a man who will go off to die again."

"...."

"What sort of lunatic hands over a spiritual beast’s inner core to a stranger? Do you think an inner core is like something you can get from slaughtering a wild boar in the back mountain?"

Seolhwa’s attempt to speak favorably of Seop Mugwang seemed instead to ignite her ire, her voice rising in indignation.

"He values other people’s lives more than his own? Why in the world would he do such a thing? No doubt he lost the use of his inner force because he was saving others as well. Am I wrong?"

"...It’s about right."

He had gone alone to face Hwaoru in order to rescue his subordinates.

"And if I save such a man, what then? Wouldn’t he just go running off to throw his life away again?"

"That is...."

There was no refuting it.

Even Seolhwa had to admit, if Seop Mugwang regained his inner force, he would likely hurl himself into danger once more.

But if she failed to change the Blind Woman’s mind now, the chance to restore his inner force would be lost forever.

Seolhwa hastily added,

"That is not certain. I will entreat my master to value his life. I will tell him from now on to put his own survival first. So please...."

The Blind Woman raised her hand, cutting her off.

"Listen until the end."

"...Yes?"

"I will treat him."

"!?"

She leisurely picked up a sweet and «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» chewed.

Only after finishing the cooled tea in her cup did she speak again.

"I will treat him."

"Why...?"

Had she not said she disliked treating those who were fated to die?

"Because, though I dislike martial artists, I am fond of madmen."

Seolhwa’s lips parted slightly.

She could not fathom this woman’s mind.

"Do you know what else vexes me about martial artists?"

"...I do not."

"That among them, there are so very many madmen."

The Blind Woman snorted softly, then popped another sweet into her mouth.

As Seolhwa poured her a fresh cup of tea, she thought,

So this is why she is close friends with Jegal Myeong....

After all, don’t they say friends resemble one another?

By her own judgment, this woman was no less formidable....

Sliding the filled teacup toward her, Seolhwa asked,

"Then it truly is possible to heal him?"

"I was called here to treat, was I not? Then I shall treat."

Her reply held not a shred of hesitation.

That unwavering certainty filled Seolhwa’s heart with relief.

As though she were saying that what no one else could mend in Seop Mugwang’s dantian was, in truth, nothing much at all.

"Tomorrow I should meet Namgoong Clan’s Lord. Let us also have your master examined. If the Medicine Hall Lord is present, that would be best."

Seolhwa quickly nodded, face brightening.

"Understood. I will inform them at once. Do you require anything else?"

"I will speak of that when we are all gathered tomorrow."

"Yes, understood."

The Blind Woman picked up another sweet.

Seolhwa resolved that she must prepare a mountain of delicacies to please her.

Unaware of such thoughts, the Blind Woman chewed and muttered,

"Let us see if we can save this madman."

****

Seolhwa went straightaway to inform Namgoong Mucheon.

That thanks to the Jegal Clan’s help she had found the Blind Woman, and that the woman was now staying at the estate as her guest.

Namgoong Mucheon wished to meet her immediately.

The next morning.

As requested, Namgoong Mucheon, Seolhwa, the Blind Woman, and Chor Yeon gathered together.

While awaiting the arrival of Seop Mugwang, Namgoong Mucheon spoke.

"I have long heard of your illustrious name, Seonsaeng. Our clan made every effort to locate you, but your whereabouts were impossible to trace."

"I am used to hiding. As long as I avoid the Beggars’ Union and Hao Sect, it is not so difficult."

"Indeed, I underestimated you. We are grateful for so rare and precious a visit. The Namgoong Clan will never forget this debt."

Just then, a knock sounded on the audience hall’s door.

Seop Mugwang had arrived.

"Why summon me so early in the morning...."

He stepped into the hall, then froze at the sight of those assembled.

His gaze fell upon the blind woman whom Seolhwa had introduced as her guest yesterday.

Sensing something ominous, his expression hardened slightly.

"Please sit, Master."

Seolhwa pulled out a chair beside Chor Yeon.

As Seop Mugwang sat, he glanced at Chor Yeon.

But she only smiled faintly, giving nothing away.

"What now? Don’t tell me this is about fixing my dantian, or some supposed method you’ve found?"

"It is."

Seop Mugwang’s face tightened further.

This was not the first time such words had been thrown at him. Far from rejoicing, he looked displeased.

"And this one is...."

Seolhwa was about to introduce the Blind Woman when—

"You there."

Seop Mugwang spoke first, addressing her.

"I don’t know what you hope to gain from using my body as leverage, but whatever you expect, you won’t get it. Don’t waste your time. Leave."

Flustered, Seolhwa glanced between him and the Blind Woman.

Namgoong Mucheon let out a long sigh, and Chor Yeon pressed her hand to her forehead.

"Master, this person is—"

"You, too, stop this nonsense. You know why I left the clan. And still you drag me into such foolishness?"

"It isn’t that—"

"So, what did they promise you? Money? Secret manuals? The Namgoong Clan’s prestige?"

While listening silently, the corners of the Blind Woman’s mouth curled into a smile.

She gestured for Seolhwa to calm herself and then spoke.

"Before mending your dantian, it is your temperament that needs mending."

"What?!"

"A debt has its greatest value when it remains unpaid. Only then can it yield money, manuals, the prestige of the Namgoong Clan—whatever is needed, when the time is right."

"You slippery old snake!"

Seop Mugwang slammed the table and rose to his feet.

Namgoong Mucheon folded his arms and closed his eyes, while Chor Yeon’s head drooped lower and lower.

"Old? What poor eyes you have. You are a patient with much to be cured."

"Cured? You think I’m insane enough to entrust my body to your hands...!"

And then Seop Mugwang’s words abruptly broke off.

He turned stiffly to Seolhwa.

"...What did you just say?"

Seolhwa hurriedly transmitted her voice in secret.

— She is the Blind Woman...! She is the famed Hundred Medicines Master!

"Baekyak... Seonsaeng...?"

"Why are you calling me?"

"This... old hag?"

"Hehh, truly eyes not worth having."

"...."

"...."

Seolhwa squeezed her eyes shut.

Somehow, she had the feeling this treatment would not be smooth.

****

"Aaaarghhh—!!"

From that day forth, anguished screams echoed through the Medicine Hall.

To a stranger, they sounded like the cries of someone having their limbs twisted apart. Yet those passing through the hall remained utterly calm.

[Before we can expel the venom that scatters his inner force, we must first purge the turbid qi built up in his body. Since he cannot circulate his qi on his own, I will administer medicine to force it out.]

Once the turbid qi was fully expelled, she said, Namgoong Mucheon’s True Energy Guidance and the venom-purging treatment could proceed simultaneously.

[It may hurt a little, though?]

At those words, Seop Mugwang scoffed that no matter how painful, how bad could it really be?

The result—

"Aaaaagh! It hurts! It hurts, are you trying to kill me?! You lunatic physician!!"

Cheongun, who had been channeling qi into Soyak, opened his eyes with a grave expression and asked,

"Is this truly all right?"

Seolhwa nodded.

"They say it’s inevitable, since the turbid qi must be forcibly expelled."

Honestly, if Seop Mugwang had been a little more tactful in the audience hall earlier, things might have gone easier for him now.

But that was something only the Blind Woman would know.

"Still, it is fortunate that Lord of the Flying Phoenix Unit will be able to recover his inner force. Father will surely be overjoyed."

He had been willing to give even the White Tiger’s inner core for Seop Mugwang’s sake—surely he would rejoice most of all in the Blind Woman’s treatment.

"But Father," Seolhwa asked,

"Hm?"

"Do you know who that physician was—the one who demanded the White Tiger’s core back then?"