Chapter 114
114
“You didn’t know? Your master personally fed Poisonous Judgment to his beloved. It was a very merciful act.”
I was speechless at the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor’s sarcasm.
Why would Grandpa do that…?
Blinking blankly, I bit my lip as a thought suddenly struck me.
If Grandpa really used Poisonous Judgment, I had an idea why.
Either he fed a poison with properties opposite to the poison someone was already poisoned with, in order to neutralize the toxicity.
Or, since there was no hope, he fed a paralyzing poison to at least reduce the pain.
If someone suffered injuries so severe that they couldn't be helped, each breath would be nothing but despair and pain.
If my guess was right… Grandpa must have done it to alleviate Jung-in’s suffering, even just a little.
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor, who had been staring into space, soon muttered weakly.
“If only… If only this person had held on until I arrived that day… Things would have been different…”
His voice was filled with self-reproach.
…Ah. This person is also stuck in the past.
I swallowed a sigh and lowered my eyes.
Now I understood.
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor was haunted by the regret that he could have saved Ok-hwan if he had been just a little faster.
Even though he knew it wasn't Dang Jung’s fault, he had to resent Dang Jung in order to cope.
Reliving the moment that would never return… Cherishing the warmest memory alone…
Realizing why he had placed a spell on the Secret Place, I felt a little sad.
No matter how old, no matter how strong a Martial Artist was, losing someone precious left scars on their heart all the same.
What was the meaning of being one of the Ten Supreme Warriors of the Murim, or the best doctor in the Central Plains?
The person he truly wanted to save was in a place he could never reach.
My stomach churned with pity. I barely managed to squeeze out a voice.
“…I did too.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I also fed poison to my brother. I knew it was dangerous if the poison spread, and that my brother would suffer, but I had no choice. I would rather use a deadly poison to end his pain than watch him suffer for the rest of his life.”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor, who had been listening with a frown as if I was talking nonsense, turned red and then pale.
“No choice? So you’re saying I should understand your master? Are you mocking me right now?”
“Ah, no! How could I dare? I just… I just meant that I understand how you feel. You know, Grandpa wouldn’t have wanted to do that either.”
“He could at least say his last goodbyes! But I…!”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor, who had been glaring at me in anger, wore a look of dismay.
“Ha, what’s with that expression? Are you pitying me right now? This is absurd.”
“N-No, it’s not like that…”
“Enough. To be pitied by a little whelp like you at this age… It’s so ridiculous that I don’t even feel like getting angry.”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor let out a hollow laugh and slowly withdrew his Qi. I quickly composed myself as well.
After a long silence, the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor opened his mouth.
“I hate your master.”
“Th-That… I see…”
“But I acknowledge that he has silently accepted this person’s resentment for decades without ever making excuses.”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor muttered, then frowned in annoyance.
“So tell your master this. Living in chastity all his life is enough, so he should stop with the nonsense of holing himself up in the Tang Clan Pagoda and withering away.”
“……”
“No, forget it. Pretend you didn’t hear that. I must really be getting old. What am I saying to a little whelp like you…”
He clutched his forehead as if he had a headache, then picked up the teapot and put it down, causing the cooled tea to bubble and steam to rise.
Only then could I properly see the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor’s face.
His smooth, wrinkle-free skin was that of a young woman, but his jet-black eyes were so deep and dark that it was difficult to fathom their depths.
His eyes held the weight of accumulated years.
Judging by the lack of signs of aging, he seemed to have achieved Reverting to Childhood as well.
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor, who had poured warmly heated tea into my teacup, spoke awkwardly.
“You really do resemble Hwa-yeon a lot.”
“I’ve heard that.”
“Even your headstrong nature of fearlessly throwing yourself into things for your brother’s sake is similar. I see you’re acquainted with the Fierce Tiger Saber Demon as well. Where did you meet him?”
“I saw him once at the Tang Clan.”
“It seems the clans still gather and act important as ever. Has your master ever mentioned me?”
“When you came to Sichuan, he tried to take me to greet you.”
“Greetings, my foot. As if I would have met him.”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor snorted and looked at me as if to ask if that was all. I quickly added.
“Also, when he gave me the sable.”
“Ah, that beast. I gave it to him because he was looking for a spiritual creature to give as a gift to his disciple. He brought a man with him, so I thought he had picked up a sturdy worker and put him aside, but is he one of your party?”
…A sturdy worker? Is he talking about Yeon-ryang?
As I widened my eyes, the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor spat out as if to tell me not to worry.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t kill him. He was looking for his sister. He doesn’t look like he has Tang Clan blood, but is he really your brother?”
“Yes. He’s my brother.”
They weren’t family connected by blood, but I already considered him my family. I didn’t know what Yeon-ryang thought, but that’s how I felt.
At my answer, the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor blinked in surprise.
“You seem to trust and rely on him quite a bit. Unlike your master. Your master was someone who didn’t give his heart even to his own flesh and blood.”
Then he muttered to himself.
“Well, he was different in the distant past, though.”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor’s expression turned sour again. He tapped the table for a long time, then hesitated and asked.
“Have you… ever heard the story of Ok-hwan?”
“He told me just once. That she was kind, considerate, and beautiful…”
“He said that?”
“Yes. He also said that she was such a good person that he would never be able to meet someone like her again.”
A faint smile appeared on the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor’s lips as he fiddled with his teacup.
“I didn’t know that old monster still had some redeeming qualities left.”
“I understand why he said that. You’re a good person.”
“I’m glad you feel that way too. Everyone who met Ok-hwan says the same thing. That she was a good person.”
His expression became even warmer. To the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor, Ok-hwan seemed to be someone who made him feel good just by thinking about her.
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor, who had been resting his chin on his hand and looking at me, asked again.
“By the way, if you weren’t sent by the Poison King, how did you find my Secret Place? Even the Poison King only has a guess, and wouldn’t know the exact location of this place.”
“Ahaha, well, that’s, by chance…”
He would believe me even less if I said I read it in a book…
As I was wondering if I should say that rumors about a pit had spread in the village, the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor waved his hand.
“Never mind. It must be information leaked by the Poison King, so I’ll ask him directly. That old man is always holed up in the Tang Clan Pagoda anyway.”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor didn’t seem to know at all that Grandpa had gone into seclusion.
I watched his reaction and cautiously asked.
“Um, when did you receive Grandpa’s letter?”
“Was it last winter…? It’s been so long that I can’t remember. I burned it right away without reading it, so I don’t know what it said.”
“……Ah.”
He burned the news of the seclusion to ashes. Then he couldn’t possibly know.
“I think he probably sent news in the letter… But he won’t be at the Tang Clan even if you go. He went into seclusion last winter.”
“Seclusion? I didn’t expect that.”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor grumbled with a displeased look.
“He could have just gone into his coffin, why seclusion.”
I pretended not to hear and looked at the ceiling.
This person really hates Grandpa.
“Anyway, the fact that you found my Secret Place means there’s something you need. What were you trying to steal?”
At the question that pricked my conscience, I avoided his gaze and tried to come up with an excuse.
“That’s… Um, well… I’m sorry. I needed an Elixir to save my brother.”
“Who are you trying to save? The brother you stashed in the corner seems fine, just filled with Demonic Energy, and your half-brothers only want to kill you, right?”
A chill ran down my spine at his sharp remark.
He saw through Yeon-ryang’s Demonic Energy in an instant. You can’t deceive the eyes of a Supreme Master.
I tried not to show my surprise and replied.
“I’m talking about our second brother. Brother Woon.”
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor nodded as if he had remembered.
“……Ah. The one with Severed Meridians? I remember hearing the name. The Poison King came to me several times asking me to take a look at him.”
Then he muttered with a displeased look.
“He must look just like that old man, making me feel unpleasant. The Tang Clan blood is not going anywhere.”
He looked like he would have punched Grandpa if he were in front of him, so I couldn’t make a sound and just rolled my eyes.
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor let out a deflated sound as if my appearance was amusing.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not so petty as to vent my anger on a little whelp like you. I’ll overlook today’s events because I admire your concern for your brother. I’ll even give you a useful Elixir, so take it.”
“Really? Thank you, Godly Doctor! Thank you.”
I exclaimed and grabbed the Ghost Hands Godly Doctor’s hand, shaking it up and down.
The Ghost Hands Godly Doctor flinched as if surprised by my actions, then chuckled.
“You’re quite adorable. I can see why the Poison King cherishes you so much.”
He lightly patted my head, then suddenly contorted his face.
“That damn old man. I thought he was holed up in his residence and withering away, but he was having fun raising a disciple all by himself? I should take on a disciple too…”
I felt relieved at his attitude, which was much more relaxed than before.
I swallowed hard and pursed my lips.
“Then…!”
“What is it?”
“If it’s not too much trouble, could you please bring the Elixir to my brother?”
