Episode 91: Heartache
When they returned to the Tang family clinic and explained the situation, Tang Jeseon accepted it with a resigned nod.
But Dan Seol-young was different.
“What? We have to wait again? What kind of help are you supposed to be giving?”
Dan Seol-young quickly grasped the nature of the person they were dealing with. She had a fitting comparison in mind: the revered monks of Shaolin.
Someone with authority comparable to those monks had requested Tang Mujin’s help, making it hard to refuse.
Yet understanding something logically and feeling dissatisfied emotionally are two entirely different matters.
Though Dan Seol-young was generally easygoing and laid-back, she couldn’t easily hide her disappointment.
“We’ve already been waiting for months since we first arrived in Chengdu, and after you got trapped underground with the Emei sect, it was another month. And now, more waiting?”
“Well… that’s how it is.”
“This is… No, let’s hear the whole story first. What exactly are you going to do?”
“It’s probably related to medicine. They want me to continue the work the old man was doing.”
Dan Seol-young became a bit cautious, knowing that the subject of medicine was a sensitive one for Tang Mujin.
“Who’s sick?”
“I didn’t hear the specifics. But it’s unlikely to be just a few people with minor ailments. It’s probably a large group or someone with a serious illness. Maybe both.”
“And where is this?”
“Most likely in Chongqing.”
Dan Seol-young fell silent, trying to gauge how long it might take for Tang Mujin to finish his task and return.
Tang Mujin gently suggested, “It won’t be over in a day or two. How about visiting the Dujiangyan waterwheels while you wait?”
When they left Songshan, Dan Seol-young had mentioned wanting to see the waterwheels in Sichuan.
As far as Tang Mujin knew, she hadn’t had the chance to visit Dujiangyan yet.
Instead of nodding, Dan Seol-young glared at him.
“Do you really think I came all the way to Sichuan just to see some waterwheels? I used it as an excuse because it’s your hometown!”
Tang Jeseon, listening nearby, chuckled in satisfaction, while Namgung Myung let out a small whistle.
But Tang Mujin and Dan Seol-young continued their conversation, unfazed.
“I figured as much… but you are interested in the waterwheels, right?”
“Sure, I’m interested. But I don’t feel like going right now.”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
“I’ll go to Chongqing with you.”
As long as they could be together, it didn’t matter to Dan Seol-young whether it was Chengdu or Chongqing.
Tang Mujin hesitated for a moment but soon nodded. He wanted to be with her just as much.
“Shall we?”
But a dissenting voice came from beside them. It was Namgung Myung.
“No. I think it’s better if you don’t come this time.”
Dan Seol-young asked with a pout, “Why not?”
“Because Tang Mujin isn’t in a normal state yet. Even if I keep an eye on him, I can’t watch him every second. What if something happens in that brief moment?”
The thought made Tang Mujin anxious. What if he lost control and accidentally harmed Dan Seol-young? He didn’t even want to imagine it. But Dan Seol-young wasn’t easily swayed.
“Isn’t that going to be the case from now on? Are you saying I should stay away from Mujin forever?”
“No. Once this task is done, Tang Mujin’s condition might improve.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“Yes.”
As Dan Seol-young hesitated, Tang Jeseon chimed in.
“Daughter-in-law, it’s not because you’re uncomfortable here, is it?”
Tang Jeseon wasn’t too concerned about Tang Mujin traveling, but he seemed worried about Dan Seol-young.
In the end, Dan Seol-young decided to stay in Chengdu.
Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung set off for Chongqing.
Though it had only been a few months since they returned to Sichuan after wandering all over the central plains, it felt like ages since they last left the province.
They arrived in Chongqing earlier than expected and headed straight for Dengxian Pavilion without hesitation.
The owner of Dengxian Pavilion greeted Tang Mujin with a tense expression, unlike before.
“It’s been a while. You look well. What brings you here?”
“Please contact Master Ha-ryeong.”
Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung headed to a private room on the third floor of the pavilion.
Given Ha-ryeong’s involvement, it was certain that the owner would prepare the best room, so there was no need to be discreet.
They dined at Dengxian Pavilion while waiting for Ha-ryeong, who arrived just as they finished their meal.
This time, she came alone, without Hongmyeon Nogae or Jang Sang-chaeju.
“You came sooner than I expected. I thought it would take a few more days.”
“If it’s something that needs doing, it’s better to finish it quickly. So, what do you need me to do?”
“Take care of some patients.”
It was exactly what he had anticipated. Tang Mujin nodded.
“Understood. Where should I go?”
When they last met in Chongqing, Ha-ryeong had mentioned leading the Hao Mun to care for the impoverished.
So, the patients she wanted him to tend to were likely in Chongqing’s Hao Mun. A small room or an inn would suffice.
But Ha-ryeong’s next words were unexpected.
“Go to Mount Lao Jun.”
“Pardon?”
“Head northeast from here, cross into Hubei Province, and you’ll find a place called Mount Lao Jun.”
Namgung Myung seemed unfamiliar with the name, but Tang Mujin recognized it. He was just surprised by the unexpected location.
Among physicians and herbalists, Mount Lao Jun was a renowned place.
Physicians revered the legendary Shennong, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, who was said to have tasted all the herbs and poisons in the world and documented their effects.
Mount Lao Jun was where Shennong was believed to have practiced his medicine.
As a result, the mountain was famous for its abundant and high-quality herbs.
While common herbs might fetch thirty coins a bundle, those from Mount Lao Jun could easily sell for eighty.
One might think herbalists would lie about the origin of their herbs, but such deceit was rare. The difference in efficacy was too significant, despite similar appearances.
Any physician who fell for such lies wasn’t worthy of the title.
Yet, despite knowing the value of Mount Lao Jun’s herbs, herbalists rarely ventured there.
The mountain’s terrain was treacherous, and the soil unsuitable for farming, leaving no proper villages nearby.
Even if one braved the journey to Mount Lao Jun, they would have to scale dangerous cliffs to gather herbs.
And to sell those herbs, they would have to carry heavy loads for three to five days to leave the area. It was more profitable to gather common herbs from nearby mountains.
“Are there people living on Mount Lao Jun who need treatment?”
“Yes. Though it’s a remote place, it’s not entirely uninhabited. There’s a village unknown to outsiders. Go there and treat the people.”
“I assumed you’d ask me to care for patients in Chongqing.”
“Chongqing isn’t a small city. There are many patients, but just as many physicians. Mount Lao Jun is different. Without sending someone, no physician would ever reach it.”
While it was a rewarding task, there was something he was curious about.
“Why Mount Lao Jun specifically? There must be other villages in need of a physician’s help.”
“That’s not for you to know. But there’s something I must ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t mention my name there.”
“Then whose name should I use? Can I say Hongmyeon Nogae sent me?”
Ha-ryeong shook her head.
“No, definitely not. It’s best not to mention anyone sent you. Just say you happened to pass by and decided to stop in. If you must mention someone, you can say Lee Chung.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll write down the exact location and give it to you. Rest for a day or two before you leave. I’ll provide ample travel expenses, so you won’t need to worry about money.”
Ha-ryeong stood up and gave Tang Mujin a long look, a faint smile on her lips.
In that moment, she seemed less like a fiery martial artist and more like an ordinary young woman.
Tang Mujin spent time in Chongqing gathering high-quality herbs.
Even though Mount Lao Jun was known for its excellent herbs, he couldn’t rely solely on what he found there to treat people. Preparing the herbs would also take considerable time.
On the morning of their third day in Chongqing, Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung set out for Mount Lao Jun. Since the situation wasn’t urgent, they traveled at a leisurely pace.
After three days of travel, they arrived at a sizable village. It seemed to have at least a thousand residents.
But the expressions of the villagers were far from cheerful. It was a strange place.
The two checked into an inn, dropped off their belongings, and idled about.
Amidst their idle chatter, Namgung Myung brought up the topic of Tang Mujin’s inner demons.
“Physicians don’t know how to cure inner demons, do they?”
“That’s right. I learned enough from the old man to manage martial artists’ ailments, but he never taught me about inner demons.”
“Really?”
Namgung Myung pondered for a while before sharing his thoughts.
“When we were at the Emei sect, and they explained about inner demons, something struck me.”
“What was it?”
“Being on the frontier, Sichuan often gets caught up in conflicts, whether it’s wars between nations or battles between martial artists, like the righteous and demonic sects.”
It was the kind of story that might have rubbed any native of Sichuan the wrong way. They had a particular distaste for terms like “outskirts,” “fringe,” or “country bumpkin.”
But Tang Mujin simply nodded, unfazed. His travels through the central plains had broadened his perspective.
Besides, he thought, better to be a peaceful country bumpkin than a city dweller caught in the chaos of war.
“That makes sense.”
“But it’s different in the Huadong or Huazhong regions where I grew up,” Namgung Myung continued, organizing his thoughts. “Whenever there’s a war or a rebellion, those areas always seem to get tangled up in it.”
He explained slowly, “When such events occur, many people end up wielding swords, and inevitably, some show symptoms like yours. Our family elders used to say those people had a ‘heart sickness.’ I had it once, too.”
Tang Mujin looked at Namgung Myung intently.
As far as Tang Mujin knew, the most recent conflict wasn’t a war between nations but a civil war. That had been over fifteen years ago. At the time, both he and Namgung Myung were barely five or six years old.
“You’re not saying you were involved in a civil war at five, are you?”
“Of course not. You don’t have to be in a war to get heart sickness. I was about seven when it happened to me.”
Namgung Myung recalled, “That’s around the time I first started learning swordplay. I practiced diligently with a toy sword and often watched the family warriors spar whenever I had the chance. It was fascinating. But one day, during a sparring match, a sword blade broke and flew straight at me. I still remember that moment.”
He lifted the hair above his left ear, revealing a faint but long scar.
“The blade was headed right for my eye. If my uncle hadn’t saved me, I would’ve lost it at such a young age. Or worse, I might have died, considering it was a piece of a sword imbued with inner power.”
Tang Mujin asked, “So what happened then?”
“I didn’t die, but I got heart sickness. I used to love playing with swords, but suddenly, just looking at one made me dizzy and nauseous. I even fainted once while forcing myself to watch a sparring session.”
“But you’re fine now, right?”
“I’m completely recovered.”
“Really? What medicine did you take?”
“Heart sickness isn’t cured with medicine. It’s treated through actions and experiences.”
Tang Mujin looked at Namgung Myung with keen interest.
For someone like Tang Mujin, who believed illnesses were cured with medicine, this was a completely new concept.
“Actions and experiences? How does that work?”
“There are two stages to treating heart sickness. You get halfway better in the first stage, and in the second stage, you improve by another half.”
“So you never fully recover?”
“Right. In some cases, it’s a blessing not to fully recover. Some people actually get worse after attempting treatment.”
“Hmm.”
It reminded Tang Mujin of a condition called ‘xu lao bing,’ where the same symptoms and treatments work for some but not for others, and can even worsen the condition.
Namgung Myung stood up, arms crossed, speaking seriously.
“I didn’t rush to treat my heart sickness because I was worried it might get worse.”
“And now?”
“I’m explaining this to give you a choice.”
If Tang Mujin nodded here, Namgung Myung would start the treatment immediately.
But Tang Mujin felt curiosity, not fear.
As a healer, he was used to treating others, not being treated himself. Especially for something as peculiar as this.
Moreover, Tang Mujin was young and brimming with confidence.
“I don’t mind. Just tell me how it’s done.”
“It could go wrong, you know. Are you sure?”
“If it does, I’ll just hide away in the underground of Mount Emei and practice my martial arts. Besides, I’ve already passed on my medical texts to my father, so the lineage won’t be broken.”
”…Shall we start then?”
“Yes.”
Satisfied with Tang Mujin’s resolve, Namgung Myung rummaged through his bag.
For some reason, his bag contained a mask and night clothes.
“My father made me watch sparring matches all day when I had heart sickness.”
Dressed in the night clothes and mask, Namgung Myung looked at Tang Mujin.
“The first step in treating heart sickness is getting used to it.”
Tang Mujin looked at Namgung Myung with a mix of reluctance and intrigue.
And almost instinctively, he extended his senses, filled with a palpable tension.