Two days later.

The signs of a grand seizure appeared as a bluish hue spread across Jin Soyak’s face. At dawn, he began frothing blood from his mouth and was on the verge of death.

Namgoong Mugang, who had kept vigil at his side since the day before, immediately fed him the White Tiger’s inner core and commenced the Great Rectification Technique.

Fwooosh—

“Ghhkk... Aaaaghhh!!”

The agony of straightening meridians that had been utterly twisted was beyond imagination.

In preparation for any emergency, not only Chor Yeon but also the Blind Woman stood guard, while the entire clan held its breath, waiting for the outcome.

“Gaaahhhk! Aaaahhh!”

“Brother... hhic... Soyak... what will we dooo....”

Hwarin sobbed without pause throughout the procedure.

Yugang kept patting her trembling back.

“It’s all right. He’ll overcome it. Soyak is strong, he’ll make it through.”

Seolhwa also waited with them outside the Medicine Hall for the Great Rectification Technique to end.

Though she had long anticipated Soyak’s grand seizure, the fact that there was nothing she herself could do at this moment left her frustrated.

This treatment of Soyak was something that had never happened in her previous life. For that reason, Seolhwa could not guarantee the outcome.

She clenched her fist.

Endure, Jin Soyak.

Don’t die here.

In the past four years, Maeng Deungho had become the Chief Hall Lord of Surochae.

Under his leadership, Guiyeongchae had expanded its domain, beginning with the subjugation of Hyeolsaechae. Out of the eighteen river halls, he had forced eleven into submission, and thus Maeng Deungho had risen proudly to the seat of Chief Hall Lord.

In her past life, he was called nothing but a dog of the Six Blood Lords. Yet now that very man had become the head of Surochae, once a faction under their power.

Your father kept his promise.

The man who once lived as someone else’s dog for the sake of his son, in this life became the head for his son’s sake.

So you must keep your promise too.

The promise to live.

The promise to survive, to return healthy, and to spend every birthday together with his father.

The sun had already passed midday.

Fwoooosh—

Seolhwa and Yugang turned at the same time toward the Medicine Hall.

Two energies surged and clashed.

One was Namgoong Mugang’s qi. The other was foreign—surely the qi of the inner core.

Rumble—

The two forces raged as though trying to devour each other.

But in truth, guided by Namgoong Mugang, the inner core’s power was flowing steadily into Jin Soyak.

“Sister.”

“Yes. It’s nearly over.”

At some point, Soyak’s screams had faded.

The ritual had reached its final stage.

“Is... it done?”

Seolhwa brushed the tears from Hwarin’s swollen eyes and nodded.

“The worst is past. It will still take time to finish circulating the qi, but you needn’t worry now.”

“Ahhh—what a relief....”

Hwarin collapsed into Seolhwa’s embrace with a sigh [N O V E L I G H T] of relief.

Seolhwa turned to the Medicine Hall.

You finally made it through.

A great hurdle had been overcome.

Soyak’s suffering was at an end. From now on, he would live a life wholly different from before—

A life where he no longer craved blood. A life where he would no longer be called a bloodthirsty fiend.

Now he will be able to study martial arts as he wishes.

He could go see his father freely.

He could spend every birthday with him and would no longer need to entrust his father to others.

Soyak, too, had kept his promise at last.

Now the only thing left....

Sensing a presence, Seolhwa lifted her gaze.

The Blind Woman was emerging from the Medicine Hall.

****

“That so-called Divine Doctor is nothing but a lunatic. Isn’t she? Between killing a man outright and tormenting him until he wishes he were dead, it’s the latter that’s truly mad.”

While the Blind Woman was away gathering herbs needed for Seop Mugwang’s treatment, Seolhwa dined with the elders of the clan for the first time in a long while.

Seated around her were Namgoong Mucheon, Seop Mugwang, and Chief Steward Namgoong Mun.

Chor Yeon and Cheongun remained by Jin Soyak’s side and could not attend.

Knowing Cheongun was already at Soyak’s side, Namgoong Mucheon had summoned Seolhwa, which was why she now sat between the three elders.

“Be honest. Are you certain she really is the Divine Doctor? She’s not some quack? Hm?”

Though the treatment to expel his turbid qi had been grueling, Seop Mugwang’s expression belied his grumbling tone—it was bright.

Seolhwa answered with a playful smile.

“How was it, then?”

“What?”

“You were the one who received her treatment. Did she seem like a quack?”

“That...!”

Impossible.

He had never seen such a method—using herbs alone, she forced the turbid qi from his body.

She merely tapped several points with casual precision, released the fragrance of medicine, and the turbid qi flowed out in torrents.

What kind of treatment like that existed in the world?

“Ugh....”

Faced with undeniable skill, Seop Mugwang could only grumble, unable to refute it.

Seeing him so, the Chief Steward let out a booming laugh.

“I hear screams erupt from the Medicine Hall nearly every day. And the great Lord of the Flying Phoenix Unit could not endure even that much?”

“Try it yourself! My whole body—my whole body—! Felt like it was being torn apart...!”

The memory made Seop Mugwang shiver.

“For treatment, torn apart? Impossible. Tsk, tsk. You’re not a child.”

Needling him further, the Chief Steward laughed again as Seop Mugwang shouted in protest.

Between their bickering, Namgoong Mucheon sipped his wine with a quiet smile.

Those two could never meet without arguing, but it had been so long since he’d seen them quarrel with such liveliness.

Ever since Seop Mugwang lost his inner force, he had quietly withdrawn, and so this noisy, spirited atmosphere felt oddly nostalgic.

Thus, what the Divine Doctor restored was not merely Seop Mugwang’s inner force.

Setting down his cup, Mucheon turned to Seolhwa, who was nibbling at a piece of braised pork belly.

“How did you come to know the Divine Doctor? As I said before, she was not one easily found.”

The two quarrelers also paused, curiosity written on their faces, and looked to her.

Seolhwa swallowed her food and replied.

“It was when I went to the Jegal Clan.”

At once, the three elders stiffened.

Oblivious, Seolhwa continued casually.

“I met a man named Jegal Myeong, the uncle of Young Lord Jegal. He said he had ties with the Divine Doctor, so I asked him for help.”

“...I see.”

“Yes.”

“...”

“...”

Seop Mugwang and the Chief Steward exchanged a quick glance.

“...?”

Noticing the sudden strangeness, Seolhwa tilted her head.

Seop Mugwang twitched his brow, sending a silent signal to the Chief Steward.

At first, Namgoong Mun shook his head, but then he let out a low sigh and spoke heavily.

“Y-young miss...?”

“Yes?”

“May I ask... what you think of Young Lord Jegal...?”

“Young Lord Jegal?”

Why ask about him now, while speaking of the Divine Doctor?

Perplexed, Seolhwa answered.

“I think he’s an unusual person. The more I get to know him, the more peculiar he seems.”

“The more... you get to know him....”

The Chief Steward’s mouth hung slightly open.

How long had it even been since they met? And already she spoke of the more I get to know him?

Staggered, he fell silent, and Seop Mugwang suddenly pressed,

“So. Do you intend to keep knowing him?”

“If there’s an opportunity?”

Once the Martial Alliance was founded, wouldn’t she see him often?

“You want to keep getting to know that fellow?”

“Mm....”

Want to get to know him? That wasn’t exactly it.

She hesitated on how to answer, when Namgoong Mucheon, who had been sitting silently with arms crossed, asked,

“Do you like him?”

Seolhwa looked at her grandfather.

From him seeped an aura he could not conceal.

“The Jegal Clan is clever in mind alone. Most of them are feeble, barely able to care for themselves. Unreadable, slippery, always with a jest on their tongues. And yet you say you like him?”

“No, that’s not it.... Grandfather, are you angry?”

“I am not.”

Not?

The air itself trembled under the qi he was releasing.

Even she, oblivious as she could be, could tell what all three elders feared.

“Ahaha!”

Realizing the absurd reason behind it, Seolhwa burst into laughter before she could stop herself.

The three elders stared, dumbfounded, at her laughter.

Shaking her head, she said,

“I’ve no such interest. I’m simply building friendly ties with Young Lord Jegal.”

Namgoong Mucheon’s harsh expression instantly softened.

“Whatever gave you that idea, you needn’t worry. I’ve no time for such things. In fact....”

Her laughter suddenly faded.

Why was it—

Why did Yugang’s face suddenly surface in her mind?

The fact that she had thought of him startled her, and she faltered.

Sensing something amiss, Namgoong Mucheon asked,

“Why did you stop speaking?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. I was only saying I have no time for such things. More importantly....”

She hurried to change the subject.

“I’ll go to Surochae myself. We need to tell them the news—that Soyak’s severed meridians have been healed.”

“Why should you go? A hall lord could be sent instead.”

“It was I who first suggested four years ago that Soyak be brought to the clan for treatment. I want to be the one to deliver the good news of his recovery.”

After Seop Mugwang, the Chief Steward also tried to dissuade her.

“I agree with Lord of the Flying Phoenix. It would not be good for the Namgoong Clan’s young lady to be seen going to Surochae.”

“That risk applies to any Namgoong warrior. I can make the trip unnoticed.”

Seolhwa looked to Namgoong Mucheon.

Ultimately, the decision was his.

“May I go, Grandfather?”

Their gazes locked for a moment. Then Namgoong Mucheon gave a slow nod.

“Go, then.”

“Brother, aren’t you letting your granddaughter roam too freely? Weren’t you the one who wanted to keep her safe in your arms?”

“How could I restrain her from what she wishes to do?”

Namgoong Mucheon turned to his granddaughter.

“Go, but do not forget to be cautious. And before you leave, see your master’s recovery with your own eyes.”

“Yes, of course.”

More than anyone, she had longed for Seop Mugwang to regain his inner force.

The message to Surochae could wait until after his recovery.

“Hmph. How very kind of you.”

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

Ignoring Seop Mugwang’s grumbling, Seolhwa bowed her head in gratitude.

Namgoong Mucheon pushed a dish before her with a warm smile.

“Eat plenty.”