Episode 375: Return of the Demon Sect Master
“Please, come this way.”
Dan Lijeong guided an elderly man with graying hair through the grand halls.
The old man couldn’t help but marvel at his surroundings, his eyes wide with admiration.
“This is truly impressive. I never imagined the academy would be this vast.”
“Well, the Master still seems unsatisfied with it,” Dan Lijeong replied with a chuckle.
The old man let out a soft laugh. “Knowing his personality, that doesn’t surprise me.”
“How have you been?” Dan Lijeong asked.
“My life is as peaceful as ever. But you, you seem more formidable than before.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to Master Sabigang,” Dan Lijeong said, scratching the back of his head with a modest smile.
The old man glanced toward the hill where the Master’s residence stood, lost in thought. “Now that I think about it… I would like to see his face again.”
As they walked, they passed through a wide courtyard. Suddenly, a group of people rushed in through another gate, carrying stretchers with urgency.
The people wore distinctive black and white patterned hats, marking them as medical practitioners. The person on the stretcher was writhing in pain, letting out agonized cries.
The old man watched the procession of injured individuals, his mouth agape. “What happened to them?”
“They were injured during training,” Dan Lijeong replied nonchalantly.
The old man turned to him, bewildered. “What kind of training causes such severe injuries?”
“It’s a form of sparring… quite intense.”
“And they allow it to go this far?”
“It’s under the Master’s orders.”
The old man shook his head, clicking his tongue in disapproval. Just then, a piercing scream echoed from one of the stretchers.
A middle-aged man came running, shouting, “What’s going on? Calm him down first!”
It was Jeong Hanjung, the deputy head of the medical division. The practitioners responded with urgency, “His meridians are all twisted; we can’t even apply acupuncture.”
“This is too much, even for sparring. Are they trying to kill them?” Jeong Hanjung exclaimed, his face hardening at the mention of the Master’s approval.
Suddenly, the injured man on the stretcher convulsed violently, causing the practitioners to stumble and fall.
“Watch out!” they cried as the man foamed at the mouth, his body shaking uncontrollably.
Jeong Hanjung shouted, “What are you doing? Calm him down!”
As the practitioners rushed to restrain the man, a sudden burst of energy erupted from his body, sending them flying.
The old man gasped, and Dan Lijeong quickly drew his bow, nocking four arrows.
“Excuse me,” he said, releasing the arrows with precision.
The arrows flew like streaks of light, pinning the man’s clothing to the ground without harming him, immobilizing him completely.
The man’s convulsions continued, his screams echoing through the courtyard. The practitioners hesitated, wary of another unexpected explosion.
The old man pushed through the crowd, approaching the injured man. “He’s in the early stages of qi deviation,” he muttered, his brow furrowed.
Dan Lijeong and the practitioners looked at the old man in surprise. The injured man’s eyes rolled back as he continued to scream.
The old man stepped forward, pulling a needle from his sleeve and flicking it with precision.
The needle struck the man’s crown, and he fell silent, his body going limp.
As the practitioners moved to lift him onto the stretcher, the old man stopped them. “Don’t touch him.”
The practitioners stepped back, startled by the weight of his words.
“He’s only unconscious. His twisted meridians are still swirling with chaotic energy. Touching him could be dangerous.”
Dan Lijeong approached, asking, “Can you help him?”
“I can’t just walk away,” the old man sighed, kneeling beside the injured man to examine him closely.
He pulled back the man’s clothing, revealing a muscular physique marred by bruises.
“This isn’t from an injury,” the old man observed.
“Then what is it?” Dan Lijeong asked.
“He’s practicing a forbidden technique, likely from the dark sects. It seems he’s learned a skill that explosively releases energy.”
“Could he have lost control of his own power?”
“That’s likely. He probably pushed his energy too far without mastering the technique, leading to this state.”
The old man nodded. “Chaotic energy is difficult to manage. It builds slowly and then explodes all at once. If not controlled, it can twist the meridians and lead to qi deviation.”
“This is more serious than I thought. It’s worse than a physical injury,” Dan Lijeong remarked.
“That’s the risk with forbidden techniques. They can be incredibly powerful if mastered, but dangerous if not. Let’s see…”
The old man examined the man’s body, noting the bruises and discoloration.
“His meridians are under severe pressure, causing poor energy circulation. We need to release the pressure.”
He unrolled a cloth filled with various needles, selecting a few and swiftly applying them.
“Insert the needle three-tenths of an inch into the Zhongfu point, and four-tenths into the Tianfu point,” he instructed, demonstrating as he spoke.
As he worked, the bruises began to fade, and the man’s breathing steadied.
The practitioners watched in awe, murmuring their admiration.
The old man continued, “The red discoloration indicates extreme yang energy. We need to balance it with yin energy.”
He inserted needles into specific points, explaining each step as the man’s condition stabilized.
Finally, he addressed the yellowed areas, indicating internal explosions of energy. “We need to release this energy.”
He inserted a unique needle with a hollow shaft, allowing the chaotic energy to escape.
Gradually, the man’s convulsions ceased, and his breathing became even.
The practitioners applauded, impressed by the old man’s skill.
“You can move him now,” the old man said, standing up.
“Yes, sir!” The practitioners carefully lifted the man onto the stretcher, ready to transport him for further care.
Amidst the group of medical students observing the procedure, Assistant Director Jeong Hanjung stepped forward, clasping his hands in a respectful gesture. “I owe you my deepest gratitude. Thanks to you, we were able to avert a crisis. If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask for your name?”
“I’m Jinbaek,” he replied with a humble smile. “I’m not anyone special.”
Just then, a familiar voice rang out from behind them. “He’s also the one who will be taking over as the head of the Chohwan Hall starting today.”
All eyes turned to see Sabigang standing alongside Maeseollan. Jeong Hanjung and the other medical students bowed in greeting. “Welcome, Director.”
“Please, don’t mind me. Continue with your work.”
“Understood.” With that, Jeong Hanjung and the students resumed their tasks.
Meanwhile, Jinbaek gazed warmly at Sabigang. “It’s been a while.”
“I’ve missed you, Deputy Director,” Sabigang replied with a broad smile.
Watching this exchange, Maeseollan and Danrijung shared a thought. ‘I didn’t know he could smile like that.’
“This is impressive. Such facilities… they might even surpass those of the Medical Pavilion,” Jinbaek remarked candidly as he toured the Chohwan Hall.
Sabigang chuckled. “It should be even better. This place is destined to become the heart of the central plains. But it seems you’ve visited the Medical Pavilion before, Director Jin.”
For a brief moment, Jinbaek’s expression shifted, a change not lost on Sabigang. Jinbaek quickly masked it, speaking nonchalantly. “Just a guess. The Pavilion is renowned for its grandeur, after all.”
“Is that so?” Sabigang asked with a knowing smile, prompting Jinbaek to change the subject.
“Why me, though?”
“Because you’re the only one who can accomplish this task.”
“This task…?”
“Please, have a seat first.”
Sabigang gestured towards a chair in the Chohwan Hall’s director’s office. Once Jinbaek was seated, a maid served tea. After taking a sip, Jinbaek inquired, “What task are you referring to?”
With a decisive thud, Sabigang placed something on the table. It was a transparent bottle containing a radiant red liquid. Then, another bottle joined it, this one filled with a shimmering blue substance. They were healing and mana potions.