Chapter 166: Just One Word Is All It Takes

TL: FoodieMonster007

The poisonous insect in the Insect Physician's hand flapped its wings, heightening the sense of crisis.

The insect looked like it would fly over and bite me at any moment, but I calmly met her gaze and spoke.

"I have a subordinate whom I cherish like my own heart. Her parents abandoned her when she was young. Despite that, she grew up to be very bright and brave."

The Insect Physician's fingers tensed, and the poisonous insect's wings beat even faster.

"She probably had a turning point in her life, too. If she had walked a different path then, she might have lived an unhappy life, filled with resentment and a desire for revenge against her parents."

"Why are you telling me this story?"

"Because you, Physician, are serving as a signpost at that turning point."

"!"

The Insect Physician was startled.

"You knew?"

"Yes, I know about the good deeds you perform in secret, Physician."

I knew why she was so obsessed with money.

She sponsored countless abandoned children. She fed them, sent them to schools, and enrolled them in martial arts academies. She prepared a way for them to live before sending them out into the world. Even while people called her the derogatory name 'Money-grubber', she was the godmother of orphans and had lived her entire life for children.

This fact is revealed after her death. When I offered five hundred thousand taels, it was to donate the amount left after the treatment fee to those children.

She stared at me, then squatted down. She tore off the poisonous insect's wings, plucked off its legs one by one, TOK TOK, and ate them.

"I've developed a resistance to poison, so ordinary medicine can't control my own poisoning. I'm barely holding on by using poison to fight poison."

The resulting pain seemed severe. She massaged her shoulders, arms, and legs.

"How did you find out about my affairs?"

I sat down next to her.

"I am the son of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Cult Leader's second brother."

There are advantages to being Father's son. When you're a successor of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, people just assume you know most secrets.

"Then what was the reason for giving me more money?"

Even though I revealed my identity, she wasn't surprised, nor did she try to curry favor with me. This disposition likely allowed her to steadfastly dedicate her life to the children while enduring insults.

"Yes, I also added my heart to your good deeds, Elder. To me, Elder, you are not the Insect Physician, but a Great Divine Physician."

At the words 'Great Divine Physician', the Insect Physician's eyes trembled slightly. It was the highest praise a physician could receive.

"I hid it precisely to avoid receiving such words of thanks."

The Insect Physician chewed and swallowed the whole torso of the poisonous insect. She frowned as if it was too bitter but forced it down.

She doesn't desire praise, but I think her inner feelings are different.

Wouldn't she hope, just once, for someone to recognize her good deeds? 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 that have piled up for a very long time.

All it takes is for someone to say that one word, just one time. We don't get to hear that one word easily.

Thank you, you've worked hard, I'm sorry, it's thanks to you… just one word is all it takes.

Unable to hear that one word that seems like it should come but never does, a sickness of the heart develops. People live their whole lives with wounds that a single word could heal.

I hope the words I just said to her will play that role. That they will be the one phrase that soothes her arduous life. Your life is admirable.

The Insect Physician, sitting beside me, turned to look at me.

I was staring at her intently when I suddenly spoke.

"You're holding my wrist right now."

At some point, she had grabbed my wrist. I could have avoided it, but I didn't.

"Ah, my apologies. It's become a habit to take a person's pulse whenever I see one."

She said that, but she was examining me. She wanted to know if my words were true. She intended to judge not by my words, but by my body's reaction. Through the small changes in my body, by taking my pulse, she could tell whether a person was telling the truth or a lie.

A martial artist never carelessly allows their pulse to be taken. Not stopping her was no different from saying, 'I sincerely trust you'.

Just then, the Insect Physician asked in surprise as she examined my body.

"No way? Have you achieved the complete mastery of the Meridians Strengthening Art?"

A divine physician was truly a divine physician. With just a brief pulse reading, she had realized I had achieved complete mastery of the Meridians Strengthening Art. In the past, the Sword Fiends, subordinates of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, helped me achieve it.

"That's right."

For the first time since we met, her gaze trembled with sincerity. I know. I know the source of her surprise.

Seo Daeryong was dreaming.

He dreamed he was stabbed by a sword and died in the semi-final duel, never even making it to the finals.

Geom Mugeuk looked down at his fatally wounded, dying self and spoke.

"We spent five hundred thousand taels, and you die so pointlessly? Isn't that too much?"

At the cold reaction, disappointment welled up in Seo Daeryong.

"You're the one who's being too much, Director. I'm dying. I'm telling you, I'm dying."

"Everyone dies, but not many people die right after a five-hundred-thousand-nyang treatment."

Feeling resentful, Seo Daeryong shouted.

"That's why I said I wouldn't do it!"

Shouting, Seo Daeryong woke from his sleep. He flinched in surprise at the sight before him. Just like in his dream, Geom Mugeuk was looking down at him.

"I told you not to do it, too."

Unlike in the dream, Geom Mugeuk's gaze was gentle. Seo Daeryong sighed in relief.

"I dreamed I died in the semi-finals."

"Dreams are the opposite of reality, so it's fine."

"You looked at me dying and said the five hundred thousand taels was a waste, Director!"

"Then it's not the opposite, is it? Looks like you're going to lose in the semi-finals."

"Please don't say such unlucky things."

Seo Daeryong tried to get up, but his body wouldn't move.

"Huh? My body won't move."

Seo Daeryong lifted his head to look at his body and was shocked. His entire body was densely covered in needles.

"I think my body's paralyzed because the needles were placed wrong. I can't move at all!"

"Those are important needles. The Insect Physician has suppressed the paralysis acupoint."

Only then did Seo Daeryong feel relieved.

"I'm sorry. For getting hurt for no reason, and making you spend so much money."

"Hey, Detective Seo. This is what you're supposed to say in times like these. 'No, Director. You're the one who made me get hurt like this by telling me to enter the duel tournament. You're too much. Please heal me even if it costs five million taels, not just five hundred thousand!'"

"Aish, don't make me feel even more sorry. Just get out."

As Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, Seo Daeryong spoke from behind him.

"Honestly, I wanted the treatment. I said I couldn't because it was too much money, but in my heart, I was thinking it would be great if I could get treated and compete. That's why I pretended to give in and received the treatment. If it had been my own money, would I have gotten treated?"

"You would have."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because someone who would spend another's money but not their own wouldn't even have such worries in the first place."

"It could be a camouflage tactic, right? Trying to act nice until the end."

"What would you gain by acting nice to me? Give me one reason."

"……"

"See? You can't."

"I guess you're right."

I left him and went outside.

The Insect Physician sat under the window of the room I had just left, basking in the sunlight. I sat down next to her. As if she had heard the conversation, the Insect Physician asked me.

"Then why are you acting nice to me? Is a successor of the Demonic Cult actually worried about the orphans of the Central Plains?"

As she asked, the Insect Physician took my pulse again.

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

"As you said, being a successor of the Demonic Cult, I walk a path where I could die at any moment. So isn't it natural to want to get on the good side of someone whose medical skills can supposedly bring back the dead?"

"Is that all?"

"What else could there be?"

She let go of my wrist.

After looking at me for a moment, she suddenly held something out. It was the same kind of poisonous insect she had eaten earlier.

"Want to try one? It's delicious."

"I'll eat it, as long as I don't die from it."

"Should I make it so you won't die?"

At this moment, I knew I stood before another turning point in my life.

"As a physician, there's one thing I've wanted to accomplish my entire life, but it's something that can't even be attempted without someone with strong meridians like you. It could be dangerous, but if it succeeds, it will be a test that will be of great help to you."

I thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I'll give it a try."

"Why don't you ask what kind of test it is?"

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

When I brought Seo Daeryong here, I wondered if this miraculous encounter would truly reach me. It was a miraculous encounter that couldn't be obtained by force. I had decided that if I got it, I got it, and if not, I would just let it pass, but that miraculous encounter was now reaching me. In that sense, Seo Daeryong led me to this miraculous encounter.

"Because I believe that if it's a test given by someone who has lived their entire life for orphans, it won't be a test that will harm me, at the very least."

"Are you a fool? It could be a plot to kill the successor of the Demonic Cult."

"It's fine. There are others besides me who can inherit the position. There's a whole line of them."

The Insect Physician chewed on the poisonous insect she was holding and tapped her shoulder.

"It hurts like hell. Give it a massage."

I massaged the Insect Physician's shoulder.

"It seems you have a lot of work. Why not take on a disciple? You could have them massage your shoulders, too."

"What young person these days would like poisonous insects? They all endure for a month or two and then run away."

It seemed there really had been disciples who had run away like that.

"Shall I become your disciple?"

"Don't say things you don't mean."

"Are you alright with it, Divine Physician?"

"With what?"

"If the test succeeds, won't the person who will become the successor of the Demonic Cult become even stronger?"

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

When Seo Daeryong woke up again, all the needles had been removed from his body. He felt as refreshed as if he had woken from a good night's sleep.

Seo Daeryong sat up and moved his arm. It didn't hurt at all. It felt as if he hadn't been injured in the first place. No, his body felt in even better condition than before he was hurt.

How can this be?

When Seo Daeryong went outside, the Insect Physician was in the yard, massaging her arms and legs.

He walked over hesitantly and sat down at a distance from her.

"Aren't you going to say thank you for the treatment?"

"You received five hundred thousand taels."

"You insolent brat. If you pay money, you don't have to say thanks?"

"I'll do it in a little bit."

"You look like a nice kid, why are you so grumpy?"

"You said I looked like a whiner."

"A whiner, grumpy, and narrow-minded too? What use are you?"

As she said that, she massaged her arms and legs.

"Why are you injured?"

"I got hurt catching bugs."

"Why haven't you treated yourself?"

"This is me being treated."

"What kind of bugs were you catching to get hurt like this?"

"Stop grumbling and come massage my shoulders."

"We paid five hundred thousand taels, and now you want a shoulder massage too?"

He grumbled, but Seo Daeryong went over and massaged her shoulders.

"Ah! That feels good. You're better than that master of yours."

"I've been told since I was young that my hands have a good sting to them. I used to massage my grandmother's shoulders a lot, too."

"Is your shoulder okay?"

"Really, how did the wound heal so perfectly? You're amazing."

"Your inner arts should have improved a bit, too."

"What?"

Startled, Seo Daeryong checked his inner arts. They had increased considerably. His inner arts had been relatively lacking compared to other prodigies, but now they were on par with them. His biggest weakness had disappeared.

Overcome with emotion, Seo Daeryong prostrated himself flat on the ground.

"You are my benefactor!"

"Not a quack?"

"Of course not! You are a divine physician!"

"Save your thanks for your master who paid the money."

"Speaking of money, could you give us a discount?"

"Are you worried your master will become a beggar?"

"My master has a lot of money, so I'm not worried."

"Then?"

"It's because it's too much money for me to pay it all back."

"You're going to pay all this money back?"

"I have to."

A faint smile appeared on the Insect Physician's lips as she looked at Seo Daeryong.

"If you massage my shoulders well, I might knock off ten thousand taels."

"Yes, Divine Physician! I'll massage your arms, too."

Once again, Seo Daeryong diligently massaged her shoulders and arms.

"By the way, where is the Director?"

"He's in that vat over there."

Seo Daeryong flinched in surprise. She pointed to a vat in the middle of the yard filled with a strange liquid. He had been barely enduring the nauseating smell coming from it since he first came out.

"You don't look worried?"

"Who's worried about whom? You can worry about everyone else in the world, but you don't need to worry about my Director. If I worry for no reason, I'll just look like a weirdo. He must have gone in because it was worth going into."

"So there was a reason he was willing to spend five hundred thousand taels on you."

Since it was a compliment, Seo Daeryong felt good.

"Go over there and bring that purple vat."

"……"

Seo Daeryong frowned as he brought the vat over. It was also filled with a liquid that gave off a terrible stench.

"You brat, do you know how precious that is? Why are you holding your nose?"

"What is all this?"

"My body became a wreck catching those things."

The Insect Physician took the vat and poured it into the one where Geom Mugeuk was submerged. As the liquids mixed, it bubbled furiously.

"How is he breathing in there?"

"If you're so worried, you can go in instead."

"I'll pass."

Seo Daeryong took a few steps back.

"By the way, what kind of experiment is it?"

"While researching poisonous insects my whole life, there was a wish I desperately wanted to achieve. Your master willingly became the test subject for that research. He'll either come out dead, or he'll come out transformed."

For Seo Daeryong, Geom Mugeuk's death was not even a possibility.

"What will he transform into?"

Then, an unexpectedly astonishing phrase flowed from the Insect Physician's lips.

"Myriad Poison Immunity Constitution."