By Zephyria Eyes Covered (3)
“……It will be dangerous.”
Baek Ryeo-il’s voice sank low. Although his expression was hidden, Young master could feel that he was just as nervous.
“We have no choice.”
The severed meridians disease was a pure contradiction.
It was similar to an antibody, where the innate energy didn’t match the constitution and attacked the body itself. As a result, the more inner force was used, the worse the condition became. But paradoxically, the only way to treat this disease was to cultivate or consume spirit pills to open the acupoints. That’s why it was called a contradiction.
Seong Mu-yeon was fine when he was young, even if he circulated qi to build up inner force and learn mental cultivation techniques. However, over time, the rate at which impure energy accumulated became faster than the rate of removal, and eventually, it worsened to the point where even circulating qi became a threat.
If he made even a small mistake, he might have to pay a price worse than Qi deviation.
“That’s why Dojang must help me.”
Baek Ryeo-il hesitated for a moment, but soon realized that there was no other way and followed his lead.
Baek Ryeo-il sat behind Seong Mu-yeon, who took a seat on the bed and sat in a lotus position. He placed both palms on Seong Mu-yeon’s shoulder blades.
“Slowly.”
Seong Mu-yeon nodded, calmed his mind, and took a deep breath. Then, he drew out the inner force hidden deep within his dantian. Pure inner force, untainted by Demonic Energy, began to flow along the meridians.
Baek Ryeo-il breathed with him, guiding the flow of inner force.
One cycle. The energy circled the meridians and returned to the dantian.
The second, third, and successive cycles gradually stabilized the twisted qi and blood.
Sweat began to form on Seong Mu-yeon’s forehead. So far, it was going smoothly.
However, around the time the eighth cycle began, the speed at which the inner force rotated suddenly slowed down, and Seong Mu-yeon’s body stiffened under his palms.
‘Seong Mu-yeon……!’
Baek Ryeo-il’s eyes widened. The extent of the damage to Seong Mu-yeon’s meridians and acupoints was clearly transmitted to him, who was guiding the qi. It was like driving on a well-paved road with a bumpy weight instead of smooth wheels. It deeply scratched and left wounds wherever it passed.
The fact that he was in the best condition because they had mingled bodies just before was this much.
This was the severed meridians…….
Baek Ryeo-il was anxious, but he couldn’t open his mouth during the qi circulation, so he just burned inside.
Eventually, Seong Mu-yeon’s body began to tremble.
Nine times, ten times.
Just a little more…….
“Cough!”
Red blood flowed from the corner of Seong Mu-yeon’s mouth. Baek Ryeo-il gritted his teeth at the thick scent of blood spreading in the air. When Seong Mu-yeon, who couldn’t bear it any longer, failed to guide the inner force, Baek Ryeo-il took over and led him instead.
‘Just hold on a little longer!’
Finally, after twelve cycles, the Small Heavenly Circulation was completed, and as soon as Baek Ryeo-il took his hands off, Seong Mu-yeon’s body slumped to the side. Baek Ryeo-il quickly wrapped his arms around his shoulders.
“Seong Mu-yeon, are you okay?”
Seong Mu-yeon’s closed eyelashes fluttered. Soon, cloudy eyes were revealed. He rolled his eyes around. Then, he slightly raised the corners of his mouth, which were stained with blood.
“It’s working.”
It was blurry, but he could distinguish between light and darkness. His eyesight was starting to return.
“What’s so funny when you’ve spat out a bucket of blood!”
When Baek Ryeo-il snapped at him, he laughed out loud this time. The laughter grew louder.
“Haha, hahahaha…….”
Baek Ryeo-il furrowed his brow. He must have gone a little crazy after Qi deviation.
Seong Mu-yeon, who had been laughing like that, suddenly stopped laughing, pushed Baek Ryeo-il away, and got up. He roughly wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth with his sleeve.
‘Was it this difficult to complete one Small Heavenly Circulation?’
The laughter just now was half self-deprecating. Once, he, too, was a promising Young master, just like his other Senior Brothers. How did he end up like this…….
But the other half was pure joy.
There were ups and downs, but he somehow overcame another crisis.
He lived.
That was enough.
“Hahahaha.”
His eyesight slowly returned. By the next morning, he could see blurry afterimages, and a day later, he could see things nearby reasonably well.
Still, Seong Mu-yeon had to stay in his room for several days. That night, when Seong Mu-yeon started laughing while holding his stomach, Baek Ryeo-il made a disgusted expression and turned around and went back to his room. After that, it was hard to see his face because he was busy running around for several days. He was searching for the whereabouts of the escaped Poisonous Ghoul, but it seemed that he didn’t have much success.
Rather, Ma Jin-cheon got up faster than Seong Mu-yeon.
Seong Mu-yeon, who was in the yard squinting his dim eyes and basking in the sunlight, thought that the white and black figure approaching from afar was Baek Ryeo-il. But the one who came closer was Ma Jin-cheon.
“Are you sure you should be up already?”
Surprised, Seong Mu-yeon jumped off the platform.
“Haha! I’m fine. Look!”
Ma Jin-cheon moved his body around. He really was fine…….
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, he grabbed his side and bent over. It was the spot where he had been hit by the Poisonous Ghoul’s sword. Seong Mu-yeon screamed in horror.
“Don’t overdo it!”
“I’m, I’m fine……. Haa. It’s because I moved after a long time.”
“Seriously…….”
Ma Jin-cheon was a martial artist after all. He, too, had a tendency to overestimate his physical abilities.
“I want to return to Mount Hua as soon as possible.”
“Yes, me too.”
Seong Mu-yeon made a wistful expression. At some point, Mount Hua had begun to feel like home.
But Ma Jin-cheon’s expression suddenly changed strangely as he looked at Seong Mu-yeon.
“Why, why are you looking at me like that?”
Did the thief feel guilty?
Seong Mu-yeon, who had many unsavory secrets, slyly avoided his gaze. When Ma Jin-cheon’s blatant gaze was fixed on him, he felt as if his sins were being stripped bare.
“Young master, look into my eyes.”
“Yes, yes?”
“……It’s strange. It seems like my focus isn’t right. Are your eyes uncomfortable?”
He’s a psychic.
“Y-yes? I, I don’t know what you’re talking about? I can see fine? It’s because the morning sun is dazzling.”
Seong Mu-yeon did his best to pretend to be fine. He didn’t want to be caught by Ma Jin-cheon at least.
To explain why his eyesight had deteriorated, he would naturally have to explain why it had happened, and if that happened, there was a risk that the secret and moist secret between him and Baek Ryeo-il would be revealed.
‘I can never tell him!’
He couldn’t even imagine how shocked he would be if he found out that he had not only done such a thing with his only Disciple Baek Ryeo-il, but had even brought his beloved Grandson Gang Woong to spy on him.
He couldn’t possibly do such a thing to Ma Jin-cheon, who didn’t know anything and even treated him as his benefactor.
“Then that’s a relief.”
Fortunately, he trusted Seong Mu-yeon, his benefactor, so he lightly dismissed his doubts.
Poor Ma Jin-cheon…….
Ma Jin-cheon had also recovered his health, and his eyesight had returned to some extent, so they prepared to return to Mount Hua.
As they had been here for more than half a month, they had quite a bit of luggage. They had to buy new clothes to change into, and they had purchased miscellaneous daily necessities whenever they needed them. Seong Mu-yeon, who had come empty-handed, was like that, but Ma Jin-cheon was even more so. While he was in the sickbed, everyone who came to visit him brought something, so he had to pack all of that and take it with him.
“Oh my, Senior Brother! That heavy thing……! Give it to me!”
When Ma Jin-cheon appeared with a large bundle on his back, Heo Saeng made a fuss, snatched his luggage, and carried it instead.
Baek Ryeo-il’s eyebrows twitched at the sight.
“What’s wrong with them?”
He thought that not only Seong Mu-yeon but also his eyes were failing. They were like that when they were nursing him, and the Senior Uncles, who had always ignored Ma Jin-cheon, were taking care of him more diligently than his own parents after he collapsed.
It was then that Baek Ryeo-il was about to approach them.
“Eek!”
With a small scream, Seong Mu-yeon staggered greatly. He didn’t see the tree root that popped out while walking and tripped. Baek Ryeo-il clicked his tongue, but grabbed his arm and steadied him.
“Be careful.”
“……Yes.”
Seong Mu-yeon held his startled heart. His heart, which had shrunk due to the loss of his eyesight, had not yet returned. Even if his physical condition changed slightly, his heart would drop.
Until he found a proper cure, he would have to be careful, very careful…….
It didn’t take a day to get from Luoyang to Mount Hua.
The higher they climbed the mountain, the cooler and fresher the air became. Seong Mu-yeon filled his lungs with the refreshing air. A familiar comfort naturally brought a smile to his face.
‘I should stay cooped up in my room for at least a month!’
He was going to regain his quiet and peaceful daily life.
Thinking so, Seong Mu-yeon entered the mountain gate and was slightly surprised by the sight that unfolded before his eyes. Many people were waiting for them. It seemed that almost all the Disciples had come out to greet them.
The person at the very front was unexpectedly the Sect leader.
“You’ve worked hard, kids.”
He had his usual benevolent smile on his face.
The leader of a Sect personally coming out to welcome the return of his Disciples. It was a sight that was unimaginable in the Demonic Cult.
“Greetings, Sect leader.”
When Ma Jin-cheon stepped forward and greeted him, the Sect leader nodded in response. Only then did the rest of the Disciples approach the group.
“Senior Brother, how is your injury?”
“We were worried about you, Senior Uncle…….”
A heartwarming scene unfolded as warm greetings were exchanged.
Mount Hua was like a real family.
Seong Mu-yeon watched them for a while with a warm heart, then turned around to slip away. He thought that it wasn’t his place to be there.
“And Young master Seong Mu-yeon.”
“Yes, yep?!”
The Sect leader called out to him.
“I heard that Young master sacrificed himself to save Jin-cheon. Thank you.”
The next moment, the Sect leader bowed his head. Then, the Disciples standing behind him all bowed their heads and paid their respects.