AR Chapter 166

The beating wings of the venomous insect in the Insect Doctor’s hand heightened the sense of danger.

Though the insect seemed ready to fly over and bite at any moment, I calmly met her gaze and spoke:

“I have a subordinate I cherish like my heart. She was abandoned by her parents when young. Yet she grew up bright and strong despite that.”

The Insect Doctor’s fingers tensed, making the insect’s wings beat faster.

“She too must have had a turning point. Had she taken a different path then, she might have lived an unhappy life full of resentment and revenge against her parents.”

“Why tell me this story?”

“Because you serve as a signpost at such turning points.”

“!”

The Insect Doctor was shocked.

“You knew?”

“Yes, I know about the help you secretly provide.”

I knew why she was so focused on money.

She was supporting countless abandoned children. Providing them food, sending them to cults and martial academies. Thus preparing paths for them to enter society. Though called the derogatory “Money Bug,” she was actually the great mother of orphans who had lived her whole life for children.

This fact would only be revealed after her death. My offer of fifty thousand taels was meant as a donation for those children, after deducting treatment costs.

The Insect Doctor who had been staring at me squatted down, tore off the insect’s wings, then plucked off its legs one by one and ate them.

“I’ve built immunity to poison, so normal medicine can’t treat my poisoning. I barely manage through fighting poison with poison.”

She massaged her shoulders, arms and legs, seemingly in great pain.

“How did you know about my work?”

I sat down beside her.

“I am the second son of the Heaven Demon Cult Leader.”

There are benefits to being Father’s son. When you’re at the level of Heaven Demon Cult successor, people accept that you might know certain secrets.

“Then why give extra money?”

She showed no surprise at my revealed identity, nor tried to curry favor. This character allowed her to steadfastly dedicate herself to children while enduring abuse her whole life.

“I wanted to add my heart to your good deeds. To me, you’re not the Insect Doctor but the Great Divine Doctor.”

Her pupils trembled slightly at the title “Great Divine Doctor.” It was the highest praise that could be given to a physician.

“I hid my work to avoid receiving such recognition.”

The Insect Doctor chewed and swallowed the insect’s body whole. She grimaced at the bitterness but forced it down.

Though she claimed not to want praise, I think her heart feels differently.

Wouldn’t she hope for someone to recognize her good deeds just once? Wouldn’t she want to receive such sincere respect and praise just once? Just one time.

I learned something in my life before regression. Sometimes a single word can unravel deep wounds and emotions accumulated over many long years.

If only someone would say that one word, if only they’d say it just once. We rarely get to hear that one word.

Thank you, you worked hard, I’m sorry, it’s thanks to you… Just one word would do.

Hearts grow sick from not hearing that word that seems about to come but doesn’t. We live our whole lives carrying wounds that could be healed with just one word.

I hope my words just now can serve that role for her. That they become the one word that unravels her difficult life. Your life was admirable.

The Insect Doctor turned to look at me sitting beside her.

I stared back at her before suddenly saying:

“You’re holding my wrist.”

She had grabbed my wrist without my noticing. Of course I could have avoided it, but I didn’t.

“Ah, sorry. It’s become a habit to check pulses when I see people.”

Though she said that, she was examining me. She wanted to know if my words were true. Rather than my words, she wanted to judge through my body’s reactions. Through tiny changes in my body, she could tell through pulse whether someone spoke truth or lies.

Warriors don’t casually let others check their pulse. Not stopping her from checking mine now was no different from saying “I sincerely trust you.”

As she examined my body, the Insect Doctor suddenly asked in shock:

“Could it be? Have you achieved mastery of the Thousand Meridians Reinforcing Technique?”

She truly was a divine doctor. In this brief moment of pulse-checking, she detected that I had mastered the Thousand Meridians Reinforcing Technique. I had achieved mastery thanks to the Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s subordinate Sword Ghosts.

“Yes.”

For the first time since meeting, I saw her eyes genuinely trembling. I know what caused her shock.

***

Seo Daeryong had a dream.

Forget the finals – he dreamed of being stabbed to death in the top four match.

Looking down at his fatally wounded, dying self, Geum Yeon said:

“I spent fifty thousand taels for you to die so meaninglessly? That’s too much.”

The cold response made Daeryong feel hurt.

“You’re the one being too much, Pavilion Master. I’m dying. I’m dying!”

“Everyone dies. Though not usually right after getting fifty thousand tael treatment.”

Feeling bitter, Daeryong shouted:

“That’s why I said I didn’t want to!”

He woke up shouting. He startled at the sight before him. Just like in the dream, Geum Yeon was looking down at him.

“I told you not to do it too.”

Unlike the dream, Geum Yeon’s gentle gaze made Daeryong sigh in relief.

“I dreamed I died in the top four.”

“Dreams mean the opposite, so you’ll be fine.”

“You looked at me dying and said the fifty thousand taels were wasted!”

“Then maybe that’s not the opposite? You might lose in the top four.”

“Please stop saying such unlucky things.”

Daeryong tried to get up but couldn’t move.

“Huh? My body won’t move!”

Daeryong lifted his head to look at his body. He was shocked. His whole body was densely covered in acupuncture needles.

“Did they paralyze me with wrong needle placement? I can’t move at all!”

“Important needles, the Insect Doctor said she’s suppressing meridian points.”

Daeryong finally relaxed.

“I’m sorry. Getting injured and making you spend so much money.”

“Hey, Inspector Seo. This is how you should say it: ‘No, Pavilion Master. Making me enter the tournament and get injured like this? How could you? Even five hundred thousand taels wouldn’t be enough to heal me!'”

“Ugh, please don’t make me feel worse and just leave.”

As Geum Yeon turned to leave, Daeryong spoke from behind:

“Honestly, I wanted the treatment. Though I said it was too much money and refused, in my heart I hoped I could get treated and return to the arena. So I pretended I couldn’t resist the treatment. If it were my money, would I have gotten treated?”

“You would have.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because someone who wouldn’t spend their own money but would spend others’ wouldn’t even have such worries in the first place.”

“Could be a front? Pretending to be nice till the end.”

“What’s the point of pretending to be nice to me? Give me one reason.”

“…”

“See, there isn’t one.”

“Guess you’re right.”

I stepped outside leaving him behind.

The Insect Doctor sat basking in sunlight below the window of the room I’d just left. I sat down beside her. Perhaps having heard our conversation in the room, she asked me:

“Then why are you pretending to be nice to me? Does the Demon Cult’s successor actually care about orphans in the Central Plains?”

While asking, she took my pulse again.

At this moment that would become another turning point in my life, I revealed my honest feelings:

“As you said, being the Demon Cult’s successor means walking a path where I could die anytime. So isn’t it natural to want to get on the good side of someone whose medical arts can even revive the dead?”

“Is that all?”

“What else could there be?”

She released my wrist.

After staring at me for a moment, she suddenly held something out. It was the venomous insect she’d eaten earlier.

“Want to try? It’s delicious.”

“I’ll eat it if it won’t kill me.”

“Want me to make sure it doesn’t?”

I could tell this moment was another turning point in my life.

“As a doctor, there’s something I’ve wanted to achieve my whole life. But it can’t even be attempted without someone with strong meridians like you. Though it could be dangerous, if successful it would greatly benefit you.”

After brief consideration, I nodded.

“I’ll try it.”

“Why don’t you ask what kind of test?”

Because I know what test it is, and I already know the result.

I’d wondered if this destined connection would reach me when bringing Seo Daeryong. It wasn’t something that could be forced. So I’d resolved to accept it if it came and let it pass if not, but now that connection was reaching me. In that sense, Daeryong led me to this destiny.

“If it’s a test from someone who’s lived their whole life for orphans, I trust it won’t harm me at least.”

“Are you stupid? It could be a plot to kill the Demon Cult’s successor.”

“That’s fine. There are others in line for the position. Quite a line behind them too.”

The Insect Doctor chewed another venomous insect and patted her shoulder.

“Hurts like hell. Give me a massage.”

I massaged her shoulders.

“You seem busy, why not take a disciple? Have them massage you too.”

“What young person nowadays would like venomous insects? They all run away after a month or two.”

It seems there really were disciples who ran away like that.

“Should I become your disciple?”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“And you’re alright with it?”

“With what?”

“If the test succeeds, won’t it make a future Demon Cult successor stronger?”

“I’ve lived my whole life being cursed at anyway, what’s there to worry about? Harder. To the side. Ah, that feels good.”

****

When Daeryong woke again, all the needles in his body had been removed. He felt refreshed as if after a good night’s sleep.

Rising up, Daeryong moved his arm and felt no pain. It was as if he’d never been injured. No, his body felt better than before the injury.

How is this possible?

When Daeryong came outside, the Insect Doctor sat in the courtyard massaging her arms and legs.

He walked over awkwardly and sat far from her.

“Not going to thank me for treating you?”

“You got fifty thousand taels.”

“Cheeky brat. Money means you don’t need to say thanks?”

“I’ll say it in a bit.”

“Such a sweet face but why so spiteful?”

“You said I looked like a crybaby.”

“Crybaby, spiteful, and narrow-minded too?”

While speaking she massaged her arms and legs.

“How did you get injured?”

“Catching insects.”

“Why didn’t you treat yourself?”

“This is the treatment.”

“What kind of insects were you catching to get hurt like this?”

“Stop muttering and come massage my shoulders.”

“You got fifty thousand taels, why do you need a massage too?”

Though he grumbled, Daeryong went and massaged her shoulders.

“Ah! That feels good. You’re better than your master.”

“I’ve been told since young I’m good with my hands. Used to massage my grandmother’s shoulders a lot.”

“How’s your shoulder?”

“How did you heal that injury so completely? You’re amazing.”

“Your internal energy should have increased too.”

“What?”

Shocked, Daeryong checked his internal energy. It had increased significantly. Compared to other semi-finalists, internal energy had been his biggest weakness. But now he had energy matching theirs, and his greatest weakness was gone.

Moved, Daeryong prostrated himself.

“You’re my benefactor!”

“Not a quack?”

“How could you be? You’re a divine doctor!”

“Thank your master who paid the money.”

“Speaking of money, could you reduce the price?”

“Worried your master will go broke?”

“Our master has plenty of money, no worries there.”

“Then?”

“It’s too much for me to pay back.”

“You’re planning to pay it all back?”

“Of course.”

A slight smile crossed the Insect Doctor’s lips as she looked at Daeryong.

“If you massage well, I might take off ten thousand.”

“Yes, Divine Doctor! I’ll massage your arms too!”

Daeryong eagerly massaged her shoulders and arms again.

“By the way, where’s Pavilion Master?”

“In that vat over there.”

Daeryong startled. She pointed to a vat in the middle of the courtyard filled with strange liquid. He’d been barely enduring the smell from it since coming out.

“You don’t look worried?”

“Who’s worrying about who? Everyone else might need worrying about, but not our Pavilion Master. I’d just look strange worrying needlessly. He must have gone in because it was manageable.”

“So that’s why he was willing to spend fifty thousand taels on you.”

Being praise of himself, Daeryong felt pleased.

“Go bring that purple vat over there.”

“Yes.”

Daeryong brought the vat while frowning. It too was filled with terribly smelling liquid.

“Boy, how dare you plug your nose at something so precious?”

“What is all this?”

“This body’s become a rag catching those things.”

The Insect Doctor took it and poured it into the vat where Geum Yeon was submerged. As the liquids mixed, bubbles formed.

“How can he breathe in there?”

“If you’re so worried, go in instead.”

“I’ll pass.”

Daeryong backed away several steps.

“By the way, what experiment is this?”

“Studying venomous insects my whole life, I had one wish I wanted to achieve. Your master willingly became the test subject for that research. He’ll either come out dead or transformed.”

Daeryong couldn’t conceive of Geum Yeon’s death.

“Transform into what?”

Then an amazing phrase came from the Insect Doctor’s mouth:

“A body impervious to all poisons.”