Martial Arts Masochist - Chapter 173-2: Who Do You Think This Is? (3)

“Boil the medicine and have him take it morning and evening every day, and feed him soft foods to help him regain his strength. Make sure he drinks plenty of water at all times. It’s not too late, so he should recover fully. He’s not that old, and the illness hasn’t reached an irreversible stage.”

“Yes…! Yes!!”

Gayeong-i bowed her head, tears streaming down her face.

It was the moment her long-held wish came true.

She had cried a lot earlier, but the tears wouldn’t stop now either.

Even I felt my nose sting for no reason.

“Sir! I’ll repay this debt somehow! Thank you so much, truly!”

“You don’t need to repay it. It was a request from my close friend, so he’ll repay me. If you really want to repay it, just take good care of your husband from now on.”

Gayeong-i looked at me with tear-filled eyes.

She nodded and replied.

“Yes, I will, without fail.”

…Acting, right? I’m glad you’re grateful, but I’m not your husband?

Don’t go making trouble where I’ll get stabbed by Jang Cheolgu for nothing.

In any case, knowing the uncle could regain his health put my mind at ease too.

“You there, go tend to your father quickly. As for Young Master Seojin…”

“Yes.”

Gayeong-i hurried over to the uncle, and I followed the Divine Physician to another place.

My mind was troubled as I walked.

If it went through the Hao Gate… then they must have heard something.

The question was how much they’d heard.

I wondered just how the Hao Gate was treating me.

After leaving the sickroom and walking a bit, we arrived at a modest wooden house.

It was certainly better than my place, but it seemed woefully inadequate for someone called the Divine Physician.

I followed him inside and closed the door.

“Sit.”

I sat in the chair he offered.

“I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Seo Hyo-il, a physician.”

“I greet the Divine Physician.”

“No need for such words. I’m called the Divine Physician because I’ve seen so many patients. Countless have come drawn by that empty reputation. And accordingly, many have died under my hands—patients who surely would have lived had they seen another physician. When I think of it that way, I don’t like the title Divine Physician.”

“But isn’t it also true that countless people have been saved by the Divine Physician’s hands? I’ve received grace from you this time as well. Thank you truly.”

Flattery first.

It’s a basic rule of social life.

Above all, I really was grateful.

Seo Hyo-il appeared calm on the outside, but my words seemed to please him, as a subtle look of satisfaction crossed his face.

“…I’m grateful you say that. Every night, the souls of those who’ve passed haunt my dreams and weigh on me, but your words let me sleep easy tonight. As expected of a physician who handles heart demons?”

“…Urk.”

My stomach suddenly twisted, and a burp escaped.

I couldn’t say a word.

The Divine Physician was unhurried.

“Don’t be too surprised. I already know well that you wish to live in hiding, so I’ve no intention of spreading it anywhere. In a way, it might be the right choice. With that level of skill, contacts come from all directions. I’m living proof.”

“…Th—that heart demon treatment thing is a bit of an exaggeration…”

“Is it? I heard from my friend that both Cheongwol of the Emei Sect and Dang Soran of the Tang Clan of Sichuan had heart demons, but overcame them after meeting you. He’s not one to lie, especially when making a request.”

How much did he say?

Brother Wi-chan wouldn’t have…

“Th—then, who might this friend you speak of be…?”

“Who else but Hao Gate Leader Wei Xingxuan?”

“…”

Cold sweat began pouring out in an instant.

Just how deeply am I entangled?

If I actually had heart demon treatment skills, that’d be one thing…!

…I just did a bit of SM play?

Even the Hao Gate Leader knows me?

If word gets out I have no skills, won’t they just say I fooled them and wipe me out?

“Sir, I truly have no skill in heart demon treatment.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll take your word for it.”

“I really don’t?”

“I said I understand, so why fuss?”

He didn’t believe me at all.

It was the look one gives a humble man desperately trying to hide his abilities.

The Divine Physician nodded and spoke.

“Joking ends here.”

“No, it’s not a joke…”

“…Young Master Seojin. You owe me nothing, and anyway, that Wei Xingxuan will handle it. Still, I’d like one small promise from you as well. As I’ve grown older, I’ve gained many friends, some of whom I truly cherish.”

Teacher, why bring up such heavy talk? You’re making me feel more burdened.

“Sometimes, foolish friends pass first, leaving their fine children lost. I can handle external wounds, but I can’t touch inner scars. So I ask you: if someday a patient appears beyond my reach, could you help me?”

Having saved the dumpling shop uncle, I couldn’t just say no outright.

A person has to have some shame.

“C—could I just repay it with money…?”

“I held back earlier out of concern for the girl’s worry, but the herbal costs for the next month alone will fill a box of silver taels. Without my friend’s request, I’d have flatly said there was no hope for the patient. That’s why I don’t welcome the title Divine Physician. I’m a man far from romance. I always face reality. I must charge fair prices to procure more herbs, and only then can I save another life. Young Master Seojin, are you prepared to provide a box of silver taels?”

“…”

I could somehow earn a box of silver taels, but that was all earmarked for Namgung Yeon.

I saw it earlier—her ragged appearance, slurping cheap noodles after selling everything for money.

She’s the protagonist, and the Namgung Clan Leader is like that—how could I not be shocked?

Even if I can earn money quickly, I’m always short.

I had zero preparation for a box of silver taels.

“Young master, I’m not saying you must solve it whenever I need help. Even I, called the Divine Physician, can’t save everyone. Still, in the grasping-at-straws frame of mind, couldn’t you take a look just once? Is even that too difficult?”

“…Is there someone specific you have in mind?”

“No, just the promise is enough.”

“You’re sly. Helping me and making it impossible to refuse…”

“You’re the sly one. I helped, but you plan to wipe your mouth clean.”

“…Y—yeah, you’re right.”

Thinking about it, the Hao Gate had agreed to handle it, but I was always skimming the benefits.

“…Haa.”

I let out a long sigh.

Yeah, when the time comes, I can just say I can’t.

Strictly speaking, going around saying I absolutely can’t might not be wise either.

They won’t believe I lack the skill, and constant refusals might make me seem arrogant.

Maybe it’s better to pretend a bit, act like a heart demon physician a few times, and milk the reputation for my gain as needed.

Or examine and refuse saying there’s no hope.

For now, this misconception as a heart demon physician saved the dumpling shop uncle, right?

What’s a little more lying?

I’m confident in small lies—why not big ones?

If I endured Cheongwol, what can’t I endure?

In the end, I nodded.

Otherwise, the Divine Physician didn’t seem inclined to let me go.

“Yes, alright then.”

****

After Han Seojin left, a man who had been hiding in the darkness of the same house spoke from behind the Divine Physician.

“It worked out well.”

“You rascal. Just keep your promise.”

The Divine Physician grumbled back at the Hao Gate Leader.

“Of course. I’ll compensate you generously. Buying more herbs?”

“…What else? I’m only interested in saving lives.”

“And yet you deny being the Divine Physician. Personally, I respect you greatly.”

“Then show that sincerity with money. Words alone don’t save lives.”

“Yes. This promise alone is a huge gain for me anyway.”

Hao Gate Leader Wei Xingxuan, just past his forties, still looked youthful as ever.

He stood and said.

“Then… who should I sell this information to for the most profit…?”

Finally, Han Seojin had promised to treat one heart demon patient.

The scent of money was intensely wafting.

****

Evening, as the sunset began.

“Cheongwol.”

Dang Soran approached Cheongwol, who was meditating.

Few could casually speak to her, seated primly before the Buddha statue.

Cheongwol herself was like a painting, and a Buddhist before the statue exuded an aura hard to approach, making it feel rude to disturb.

Even Dang Soran hesitated briefly, but she couldn’t back down now.

“Cheongwol. It’s mealtime. The monks are sharing their meal—why not join?”

At her greeting, Cheongwol asked.

“…You arrived today?”

“Yeah. I entered Song Mountain today. You?”

“The same for me.”

With that, the conversation halted.

It was hard to force it further.

The two had always been awkward with each other.

There had only been silent rivalry, never any warmth.

Only when Han Seojin was around would they open up and exchange a few words.

But once he was gone, they reverted to their old dynamic.

Moreover, their rivalry had sharpened because of that Seojin.

Did Cheongwol know?

That she had no intention of losing at this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.

No matter how it played out, Cheongwol was an opponent she’d meet, so Dang Soran burned with zeal.

“…”

Yet no such fervor came from Cheongwol.

That was strange.

Unable to pry into her heart, Dang Soran got straight to the point.

“…By the way, do you know where Young Master Seojin is staying?”

“…”

Cheongwol, who had been still, twitched her shoulder slightly.

…Did she just scoff?

If so, it wasn’t her usual mocking sneer.

It was a self-deprecating, almost poignant laugh.

“He should be… at the Taeil Inn now. Near the village entrance. Go see for yourself.”

It was unexpected.

For Cheongwol to so readily reveal Han Seojin’s whereabouts.

But there was no need to question it.

Seeing him came first.

Dang Soran swallowed unconsciously again.

“Thanks, I’ll go.”

“Yes.”

As she left, Dang Soran felt another faint scoff behind her back.

****

“I’ll really, really pay you back.”

“How many times now? I get it, so stop.”

“For real, Seojin. For real.”

I dragged Gayeong-i outside.

Time to eat again.

Earlier, Cheongwol’s absence nagged at me, so I waited a bit, but she didn’t show.

I couldn’t starve waiting, so it was time to fill our bellies.

I kept brushing off Gayeong-i’s thanks.

Today, I should find Jang Cheolgu too.

Eating together would ease my mind; otherwise…

Gayeong-i wiped tears from her eye corners and quietly asked.

“…But Seojin. Why did you really help us? Was it all just to repay a debt? Coming all this way with us, introducing the Divine Physician, even getting treated like a married man in the village—is it really just because of those few dumplings we shared?”

“Hey, it might be nothing to you, but it was big for me.”

“Even so.”

“…”

I scratched my nose and brought up a reason I hadn’t mentioned.

“…And first off, I wanted distance from murim folk.”

“What?”

“You know I’ve been getting close to Dang Soran and Cheongwol lately. I have no such thoughts, but people keep misunderstanding, so I hated it. Even Clan Leader Dang told me he can’t give me his daughter…”

“R-really? The Tang Clan Leader? You’re not lying? He said that to you directly?”

“Yeah. So how could I not do this?”

“W-wait, the Clan Leader himself… Wow, Seojin, what the hell are you? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked.”

“I don’t even know anymore. Let’s find Jang Cheolgu and eat…”

Then, someone entered my view.

“Young Master Seojin—!”

Waving her hand broadly, Dang Soran showed no intent to hide our connection anymore.

****

Dang Soran approached Han Seojin full of playful intent.

She knew this would trouble him.

He who wished to hide anywhere.

But it was time to fix that personality of his.

Who knew? In the distant future… thanks to her wish, he might become the center of attention.

He couldn’t complain about burdensome gazes then.

Dang Soran stood before Han Seojin.

Perhaps from seeing him after so long, her whole body tingled.

Memories of their last encounter replayed.

Dang Soran looked at Han Seojin’s mouth.

…I swallowed what came from there, like a filthy slut.

Strangely, her core grew hot.

He wouldn’t know how tense she was.

“Young master, your hair’s gotten messy again. Beard too. You need to take care of yourself. You said you hate living like a beggar, yet you always look like this.”

“You arrived today?”

“Yes, today. Did you miss me, young master?”

“…Why would I?”

“I didn’t miss you either, young master.”

Dang Soran smiled deliberately to hide her tension.

Only then did she notice the plump woman beside him.

…What’s this, a fat woman?

Dang Soran thought to herself.

Pat, plain-looking, shabby clothes. Low self-esteem, hunched shoulders, glancing her way furtively.

Unknowingly, Dang Soran felt superior about her own beauty.

But… why was she next to Han Seojin?

Ah, she remembered.

An acquaintance of Han Seojin’s from Amisan Village.

She came all the way here.

Dang Soran said to her.

“Here for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly? Came together?”

“Huh? Ah… I, I came for my father’s treatment… I heard many physicians gather because of the assembly.”

A filial daughter. She seemed kind-hearted.

“Such a filial daughter. Your name…?”

“It’s Gayeong.”

“Miss Gayeong. Sorry, but I’ll borrow Young Master Seojin for a bit.”

Dang Soran smiled and grabbed Han Seojin’s wrist.

“Young master, eaten yet? I found a good place—let’s eat together. We can catch up on what’s happened. Do you know how hard I trained because of you?”

“Ah, no.”

Then Gayeong-i interjected.

“My husband has to eat with me…”

“…? Then eat, why…”

Gayeong-i snatched Han Seojin from Dang Soran’s grasp.

-Snap!

“So no.”

“…”

Dang Soran nearly burst into incredulous laughter.

It had been ages since something was taken from her.

By an ordinary person, no less.

Dang Soran tried to persuade Gayeong-i gently, but…

“…Huh?”

Realization slowly dawned on her.

Dang Soran looked at Gayeong-i, who grabbed Han Seojin’s arm and hid behind him.

The sight… looked like they’d long guarded a peaceful space just for them, intimately close.

“…”

Dang Soran’s gaze wandered lost between Han Seojin and Gayeong-i.

“That’s… uh? So…”

Han Seojin, who wanted nothing to do with murim, dreamed of marrying, having kids, and living cozily.

That dream and their appearance matched uncomfortably well.

Han Seojin scratched his head, smiled awkwardly, and said.

“Haha… Late introduction? My childhood friend… and soon-to-be wife. I’m getting married, Miss Dang.”

Dang Soran’s strength drained from her body.

“………………Who did you say?”

Those words barely squeezed out.