Chapter 195: Chapter 195

THWACK, THWACK, THWACK, THWACK.

Yaryul Geuk felt a strange sensation.

He was clearly being beaten, yet he no longer felt pain.

Had his wounds festered and festered until even the nerves that could feel sensation had vanished?

Or did he now think even feeling pain was a luxury?

On the other hand, his body could not endure even half the time he usually withstood, and he fell backward.

He wanted to endure longer, but no more strength would enter his legs.

“Then I’ll see you again tomorrow…….”

Between his eyes, which were closing on their own, he saw Ak Ju-pyeong’s vile face.

Strangely, he did not even feel the desire he had wanted so desperately until now, the desire to ‘hit him just once.’

‘Ah……. I have to get up.’

The sound of footsteps moving away.

The area was quiet now, with nothing else to be heard.

Even the sound of the wind tickling his ears slowly faded away.

Within the perfect silence, he gradually grew numb even to the surrounding air that had felt somewhat cold.

‘I have to go home…… If I go home, Eldest Brother will be disappointed, won’t he?’

Why had he survived?

Would it not have been better if he had died instead and his second eldest brother had entered the Academy?

If his third eldest brother had not been injured, could his third eldest brother have completed the martial art?

Those futile thoughts tangled and tangled inside his head.

He felt a sensation as if he were sinking into the depths of a sea whose bottom he could not know.

‘I want to rest…….’

If he got up and returned to the dormitory, he could wash off the filth on his body, and though it would be for a short time, he could recover as well.

Then he would be able to counterattack Ak Ju-pyeong’s group at least a little.

But what use was any of that?

The next day, he would only be beaten again.

No strength entered his body.

No, his heart did not move.

He simply did not want to do anything like this.

‘Maybe…… this is fine too.’

Yaryul Geuk, whose Mental Strength had been broken, lost even all will to move any longer.

A quiet darkness covered his body.

***

“Huff, huff, huff, huff.”

Lee Ja-gon, who had been chasing Jin So-un after receiving the emergency summons, panted for breath.

‘What kind of Movement Art is that…….’

Moreover, Jin So-un had stopped by the dormitory and bent both of Ak Ju-pyeong’s feet in directions they should not have bent.

The Instructors and Teaching Masters joined forces to create an encirclement, but Jin So-un leisurely pierced through it as if he did not care in the slightest and went off somewhere.

‘Is that really the same Jin So-un?’

When he had taken the Appraisal Envoy test, Jin So-un’s prowess had clearly been at the level of an outstanding Later-Generation Talent.

Yet in such a short period of time, he had achieved this degree of growth.

That fact was not easy to believe.

However, no one was feeling a sense of alarm at that level.

The ignorant merely rushed to express fragmentary anger.

“They say he went to Yangsan Peak.”

“We must not simply sit by and watch this matter.”

“To think he dared commit violence within the Academy!”

Lee Ja-gon smiled bitterly.

Since when had violence within the Academy been such a major subject of punishment?

Was it not the atmosphere within the Academy to instead blame the victim for neglecting training?

‘The circumstances of adults, is it?’

When he looked over the faces of the Instructors shouting at the tops of their lungs, they all had some slight connection to the Orthodox Path Association.

Since Ak Ju-pyeong had suffered this under their management, they would not be able to face the Orthodox Path Association in the future.

‘Moreover, the opponent is bad.’

Until now, Jin So-un had continued a lonely fight.

Lee Ja-gon had thought he had endured fairly well, but the matter had happened in this sort of place of all things.

‘Did they say Ak Ju-pyeong’s uncle works at the Inspection Pavilion?’

The Murim Academy already had enough parental pressure as it was, and if a position in the Murim Alliance were added on top of that, the situation would grow uncontrollably large.

For Jin So-un’s sake as well, stabilizing the situation quickly was the highest priority.

At that moment,

A signal rang out that the target had been found.

The Instructors who reached a clearing on Yangsan Peak had discovered Jin So-un kneeling there.

“Jin So-un! You bastard! How dare you commit violence within the Academy! Come here at once!”

One Teaching Master spoke solemnly, but Jin So-un did not move in the slightest.

Just as the Instructors were about to approach Jin So-un in order to drag him away by force,

Lee Ja-gon noticed something strange and stopped them.

“Please wait a moment.”

“Hm? Teaching Master Lee, that bastard must be punished at once…….”

“No, that is not it.”

There was a child lying in front of Jin So-un.

When Lee Ja-gon slowly approached, the child’s face became visible.

An Academy student he had seen from time to time in class.

Was it the Flowing Ring Sect? Lee Ja-gon remembered him as a disciple of a sect so little known that even its name confused him.

‘Yaryul…… Geuk! But was that child close with Jin So-un?’

Jin So-un was one of the primary subjects of observation within the Academy as well.

The Teaching Masters had already grasped in advance whom he was close to, whom he might clash with, and so on.

‘I’m certain he was a child with no friendship with Jin So-un…….’

Around the time Lee Ja-gon thought that, one Teaching Master, unable to endure any longer, finally stepped forward.

“I will escort him for now. There is a risk of flight. Get up, Jin So-un.”

The Teaching Master grabbed Jin So-un by the shoulder and forcibly pulled him up.

CRACK.

“Aaagh!”

However, Jin So-un instead grabbed and twisted the Teaching Master’s hand, then threw him to the other side.

It was a strange method whose means were impossible to understand.

At Jin So-un’s single move, the Teaching Masters and Instructors took combat stances.

Some had even drawn their swords.

“Jin So-un! What is this bizarre conduct?! How dare you attack a Teaching Master! Is this a challenge against the Academy?”

Still seated with his back turned, Jin So-un said,

“……Why did you people come here?”

Jin So-un’s voice sank low.

“Is running a little within the school grounds something serious enough to make such a fuss and use a word like ‘escort’?”

“Jin So-un! You harmed another Academy student within the Academy!”

“Is that bastard dead?”

Was it only Lee Ja-gon’s imagination that the low voice sounded ominous?

At the voice, cold as if it held a blade, his throat felt dry.

“……This brat was beaten by those bastards over the course of months, until he was on the verge of death.”

Jin So-un turned his head and gazed one by one at the faces of those surrounding him.

“Among the Teaching Masters and Instructors here, there are probably some who know this brat’s face, aren’t there?”

“…….”

The sound of people gulping could be heard here and there.

“If you want to punish me, punish Ak Ju-pyeong and his group first. Until then, you people have no right to discipline anyone.”

CRACK.

To one side, the Teaching Master who had been sent flying with his arm twisted rose from his spot and set his dislocated arm back in place.

“Guhk! What are you all doing?! This is a challenge against the authority of the teachers!”

The Instructors, who had been hesitating, steadied their stances again at the Teaching Master’s words.

Jin So-un slowly rose from his spot and looked at the Teaching Master who had given the order.

“When I see this sort of mess, there’s no way I can look at you favorably even if I try.”

“What the hell are you babbling…….”

SLIP—

Jin So-un’s figure, which had come to a stop, slowly vanished like smoke.

THWACK.

And from a little distance away, a heavy impact burst out.

‘When did he……!’

Jin So-un had already left only an illusion behind and smashed the Teaching Master in the jaw.

He had struck him so hard that three white fragments flew out of the man’s mouth.

With that as the start, the other Teaching Masters and Instructors must have thought this could not go on, and tried to rush Jin So-un.

At that moment, Lee Ja-gon discovered something and shouted thunderously.

“St-stop!!”

At the same time as Yangsan Peak rang resoundingly, everyone looked at Lee Ja-gon.

Lee Ja-gon slowly approached Yaryul Geuk and examined the child’s condition.

Not only were there bruises on his face, but dark blood bruises filled his entire body.

At this level, it was only natural for him to look as if a person had died.

‘But!’

Lee Ja-gon had clearly seen it.

Yaryul Geuk’s chest had moved, however faintly.

‘He’s breathing!’

It was so faint that it was barely perceptible, but he was breathing.

When Lee Ja-gon checked his pulse, it was irregular and weak, but it was beating, however faintly.

“H-he’s still alive!”

“He’s alive?”

At some point, Jin So-un had appeared beside Lee Ja-gon.

“W-we must hurry to the Medicine Hall.”

Before Lee Ja-gon could reach out his hands, Jin So-un picked up Yaryul Geuk first.

And without leaving any words one way or another, he vanished like the wind.

Whoooosh──

Watching Jin So-un leave, Lee Ja-gon could not shake off his anxious heart.

For some reason, it did not seem as if this matter would end simply.

The expression Jin So-un had worn as he disappeared could not easily be forgotten.

***

After arriving at the Medicine Hall, Jin So-un ignored the Medicine Women telling him to register for treatment and went inside, laying Yaryul Geuk on a bed.

Then he immediately checked his pulse.

‘He’s al, alive!’

Before he even had time to rejoice, uninvited guests interrupted.

“You cannot come in here so carelessly!”

The Medicine Women’s voices were sharp.

However, Jin So-un looked around.

“Where are the medicinal ingredients here?”

“What are you…… You cannot go in there as you please…….”

“Where are the medicinal ingredients?!”

At Jin So-un’s unrestrained actions, the hesitating Medicine Woman eventually pointed in one direction.

Without delay, Jin So-un entered the medicinal ingredient storage and began placing medicinal ingredients one by one into a container with familiarity, as if he already knew them.

At that moment, a man entered the interior.

“What on earth is going on?”

“P-physician! A man suddenly…….”

Medicine Hall Master Sima Jeong alternated his gaze between the new patient lying on the bed and Jin So-un, who had entered the medicinal ingredient storage, then spoke to the Medicine Women.

“I will handle this place, so everyone, see to your work.”

“Yes? But…….”

“From the look of it, that young friend seems to roughly know the treatment method. At times like this, it is better to simply watch.”

“…….”

Perhaps because he was someone from the Murim Alliance’s Physicians Pavilion, the Medicine Woman, thinking that he was different from the previous Hall Masters, ultimately left her spot.

“Hmm……?”

Sima Jeong approached Yaryul Geuk and checked his pulse.

‘His Essence has been damaged, and his entire body is full of stagnant blood……. What on earth did he do to end up in this state?’

It was a precarious situation where his breath seemed ready to stop at any moment.

In such a situation, the fact that someone was not looking for a Physician but making medicine himself aroused Sima Jeong’s curiosity.

When he rose from his spot and looked inside the medicinal ingredient storage, Jin So-un was already preparing the medicinal ingredients one by one.

He powdered some and cut others into large pieces.

After wrapping the processed medicinal ingredients in broadcloth, he cupped them with both hands.

‘Hm?’

Then, after a short while, white steam rose from within his hands, and black medicine began dripping down.

‘He’s making medicine like that?’

It was a method Sima Jeong had seen for the first time in his life.

He worried that the medicinal effect might disappear if it was done that way, but for that to be the case, Jin So-un’s expression looked far too certain.

After filling one bowl like that, Jin So-un unwrapped the broadcloth, selected several of the medicinal ingredients, and powdered them again.

Then he mixed the powders together with honey and made three Pills.

“…….”

After preparing all the medicine, Jin So-un looked at Sima Jeong, who was standing in front of the door and blocking it.

Sima Jeong suddenly came to his senses and stepped aside.

“Ah, forgive me. It was fascinating, so I was watching. Go on.”

Then Jin So-un passed by without answering and headed toward Yaryul Geuk.

Jin So-un opened his mouth and slowly fed him the medicine.

“Do you know how to place needles?”

“……Please do it.”

“I am glad I have something to do.”

While Sima Jeong placed the needles, Jin So-un crushed the Pill he had made again, mixed it with the decoction, and fed it to Yaryul Geuk.

Sima Jeong checked Yaryul Geuk’s pulse from time to time between needling.

Strangely, was Yaryul Geuk’s pulse not reviving vigorously in real time?

‘What on earth is this…….’

Originally, it was difficult for a decoction to produce an immediate effect.

Yet the medicine Jin So-un had made through that peculiar method was causing a reaction that could be called immediate.

As if Jin So-un knew that as well, he next crushed the second Pill and fed it to Yaryul Geuk.

Then the pulse once again grew even stronger.

“May I…… ask one question?”

“…….”

Sima Jeong knew how dangerous it was to offend a martial artist’s nerves when the atmosphere was grave, but as a Physician, he too could not endure without satisfying his curiosity right now.

Then, realizing he had not even exchanged names, he hurriedly added,

“Ah! I am Sima Jeong.”

“Sima Jeong? The Heavenly Mysteries……”

Jin So-un stopped halfway through speaking.

“Heavenly Mysteries? What is that?”

“It is nothing. Are you affiliated with the Medicine Hall?”

“No. I was originally at the Alliance’s Physicians Pavilion.”

For some reason, Sima Jeong felt as if Jin So-un’s eyes had flashed for an instant, but he continued his question.

“May I ask a few questions? In any case, it seems there will be time before you feed him the next Pill.”

Jin So-un looked at Yaryul Geuk for a moment, then nodded.

“Please ask.”

“I know that it is difficult to produce this sort of effect in such a short time with decoctions and Pills. How on earth did you do it?”

“……You know, do you not?”

A thought flashed through Sima Jeong’s mind like lightning as he searched for the meaning behind those words.

“Could it be that you used poison?”

“Yes. The poison of the Nine Yin Serpent has the side effect of traveling quickly through the blood and paralyzing the body, does it not?”

“Ha! You truly used poison?”

Jin So-un shrugged as if it was nothing special.

“Instead, I also added Yangyang Herb, which will follow the Nine Yin Serpent’s poison slowly and neutralize it.”

“Indeed. You used the Nine Yin Serpent’s poison to spread the medicinal effect, then slowly neutralized it with Yangyang Herb.”

When Jin So-un nodded, Sima Jeong marveled inwardly.

It was a method even he, a Physician, had only established as a hypothesis in his head.

Yet this young man, who seemed to have only just passed his coming of age, had used poison so skillfully.

Sima Jeong became intensely curious about the young man’s identity.

Then, perhaps because the time had come, Jin So-un fed him the third Pill.

The pulse that had been pounding vigorously gradually began to find stability.

“Ha……. You truly saved him.”

Blood gradually began to return to Yaryul Geuk’s pale face.

His eyelids, which had been closed as if he were dead, trembled and slowly opened.

Yaryul Geuk, who opened his eyes blearily, looked around, discovered Jin So-un, and crumpled his face.

“Jin So-un, you……. I’m sure I clearly warned you that I’d never forgive you if you appeared before my eyes…….”

Listening from the side, Sima Jeong was flustered.

This was a life that would have died if not for this young man.

Yet the words he spoke to his life-saving benefactor as soon as he awoke were curses.

Unable to grasp even the slightest idea of what this meant, Sima Jeong looked at Jin So-un with a tense expression.

But contrary to his expectations, a slight smile hung at Jin So-un’s lips, though his face had been rigid until now.

“Haah, you mannerless bastard…….”

A strange relief lingered on Jin So-un’s dumbfounded face.