Chapter 204
204
"Tsk. How fierce. I was just trying to look at your eyes."
I came to my senses at the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor's dumbfounded voice.
Before I could even make a judgment, my body moved. I had unknowingly retaliated.
To suddenly attack a strongman like the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, it was an act that would have been justified even if my neck had been snapped on the spot, and my heart sank.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Divine Doctor..."
I hurriedly apologized, then shut my mouth. The hoarse voice, like scraping iron, was unfamiliar, as if it wasn't my own.
Fortunately, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor didn't seem to be in a bad mood.
"Can't you speak? I'll give you some medicinal tea."
"I'm really sor..."
"It's not your fault, so don't worry about it. This is a mess. The puppy the old man used to coddle has become a wild dog."
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor muttered, then sighed and helped me up.
There was no pain, as he had controlled his strength to subdue me without hurting me.
He propped me up against the backrest and frowned.
"I can't just leave you in this state. Haa, the Tang Clan people are all so much trouble."
Was it my imagination, or did I see warmth in his dark eyes?
I swallowed hard as I watched the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor prepare the medicinal tea.
Where did Grandfather go?
As if he noticed the question on my face, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor spoke first.
"Your teacher has left for a while. Until he returns, I will be by your side, so tell me if you need anything."
His tone was softer than the last time we met.
I nodded slowly. The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor's uncharacteristically affectionate attitude was unfamiliar, but that was all; my head was blank.
I couldn't even hear the voice speaking to me.
All I could do was hold the teacup he handed me and feel its warmth.
"If you've finished drinking, give it to me. Wouldn't it be better to rest more?"
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor took the teacup, noticing that I didn't look well. I shook my head.
"No... I want to walk."
"Alright. Moving around a little will speed up your recovery. But don't walk for too long."
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor replied as if to say, "Do as you please," and whistled softly.
Then, I heard the sound of small footsteps running from afar.
"Kiee!"
Ju-ryeong, shouting at the top of her lungs, jumped onto my lap.
Dambi, showing her belly and rolling around on my lap as if asking why I had just woken up, made me chuckle.
"Ju-ryeong... have you been well?"
"Kkuluk! Kkuluruluk!"
"Yes, yes."
"Kkyuk! Kkyuuuk! Kkuluk, Kkulureureuk...!"
As Ju-ryeong chattered excitedly, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor became annoyed.
"How noisy. Don't be so distracting and stay by your master's side."
"Kit."
Ju-ryeong, who had been rolling around with her belly exposed, calmly went down from the bed as if nothing had happened.
I took the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor's support and slowly left the room.
Outside was a brilliant summer.
I could hear the chirping of birds riding on the cool breeze, and the lush greenery was painting everything green.
Dizzy from the dazzling sunlight, I staggered, and the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, who naturally followed and embraced me, said,
"It's still too much for you to walk alone. Let's sit down and enjoy the sun."
"Yes."
He sat me down on the stone step and brought a thin cushion to cover my knees.
"Thank you, Divine Doctor."
When I smiled and looked up at the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, he frowned.
"Why does the way you look up at me look exactly like your grandfather? Don't resemble that."
"......"
"You must always be careful. There must be more than one or two people who grind their teeth when they see your teacher in you."
Wi Ji-gok, who was running around with a fishing rod at his words, came to mind, and I chuckled. The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor snorted and stood next to me with his arms crossed.
I hugged my knees and looked at the scenery beyond the fence.
The scenery before me, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor who was showing me kindness, and the silence without familiar presence were all unfamiliar.
Everything was dreamlike, hazy, and strange.
When did summer come?
My memory was cut off at the beginning of winter.
I slowly went back through my memories.
Around the winter solstice, I came down from Wudang Mountain and went to Yueyang. I met Jang Mi-ryeo and tried to ask her for something...
And... my impersonator...
At that moment, my breathing quickened and my vision spun. I couldn't breathe as the memories flooded in.
'...I'm sorry.'
Yeon-ryang's sad voice came to mind, and my whole body froze.
"Huk, hueok...!"
As I coughed and fell forward, scratching the floor, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor came over and forced me to breathe by opening my mouth.
"Oh dear. It seems you've remembered. I thought it would be better if you didn't remember."
I gasped for breath and tried to put strength into my legs.
How much time has passed?
I have to go.
I have to go to Yeon-ryang.
As I struggled to get up, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, who had touched my Blood Point before I could resist, said firmly.
"Don't think nonsense and stay still. What are you going to do with that body?"
"I have to go. I have to go right now...!"
"No. You cannot leave my sight until your teacher comes. I promised to take care of you, so I have to keep my word."
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor clicked his tongue and picked me up again.
"No! Please let me go, Divine Doctor! I have to bring him back!"
"Don't talk nonsense and go to sleep."
"I have to go right now...!"
"I didn't know that sending that damned old hag to the Secret cave would be the right choice. It's fortunate that the old man didn't see this."
With those gruff words, my vision turned black. I was limp like a doll and moved back into the room.
\ \ \
The next day, and the day after that, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor did not release my Blood Point.
The longer I lay helplessly, the more my insides burned.
Two seasons had passed while I was unconscious. It was enough time for all the Tracking Incense applied to Yeon-ryang's body to wear off.
Did he return to the Demonic Sect's main base?
Or the prison where he was trapped with Hyeopje, where Namgung Hwi from the original story first encountered him?
The Demonic Cultists were constantly talking about sacrifices, so they wouldn't leave him alone. I had to find him and save him as soon as possible.
As I trembled and thought about how to find Yeon-ryang, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor opened the door and came in.
In his hand was a small bowl of medicinal soup and a spoon.
I looked up at the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor and pleaded.
"Divine Doctor. Please. Let me out."
"I'm going crazy. You can't even walk properly, yet you keep saying you're going somewhere?"
"I'll just go around for a while. It'll only be a moment, really."
"Open your mouth. Before I touch your Mute Blood Point."
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor snapped, then sat on the bed and brought the spoon to my lips.
I reluctantly opened my mouth, fearing that he would force it in if I didn't comply.
He poured the medicinal soup between my lips and said with pity,
"Not all relationships last for every moment of life. Forget that man now. You know he's someone you can't have, don't you?"
"He's my brother. How can I forget when my brother was dragged away before my eyes?"
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor glared at my protest.
"Forget it. Do you still not know what you are to the Master of Poisons? If the Master of Poisons knew that the reason his most beloved disciple, whom he would give his liver and gallbladder to, was in this state was because he was protecting a Demon, do you think that old man would be in his right mind?"
"Th, that's... I..."
I was at a loss for words at the sharp criticism. When I couldn't answer, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor scolded me harshly.
"If you don't want to put the old man, who barely finished his closed-door training, into a Qi Deviation and put him in a coffin, then stay quiet. If your teacher goes crazy, no one in the Central Plains will be able to stop him. Not even me."
"......"
"Do you know how long you've been lying down? Do you know what kind of face that old Master of Poisons made when he begged me?"
I bit my lip and avoided his gaze, and the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor smiled bitterly.
"You should know what the Master of Poisons gave up to save you. If you still want to go, I won't stop you. If you don't mind tearing your teacher's heart to shreds, I'll let you go."
I closed my eyes tightly at the cold rebuke. The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor was right.
Even if I went to save Yeon-ryang, I shouldn't run out like this without thinking about Grandfather.
But...
But Yeon-ryang will be alone.
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, who had been staring at me silently, asked again.
"I'll ask again. Are you going to go out?"
"......No."
"Then eat your medicinal soup quietly."
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, as if he knew it, tapped the bowl of medicinal soup and held the spoon out to me with a sullen face.
"......Yes."
I answered hesitantly and slowly opened my mouth.
\ \ \
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, worried that I might sneak out, watched me for two more days before releasing my Blood Point.
"Don't think nonsense. I'm not as soft as your teacher. Half a year of your teacher suffering because of you is enough, don't you think?"
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor's eyes gleamed eerily as he warned in a stern voice.
...Maybe killing people is just a habit, and the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor secretly cares about Grandfather.
"Yes."
"It would be good to go wash up now. The Tang Clan child has prepared bathwater. Can you wash alone? If it's too hard, I'll help you."
"I'll wash alone."
"Alright."
The Ghost Hand Divine Doctor nodded and helped me up. But when I stepped on the ground, my legs trembled slightly.
"Putting on airs with that pathetic body."
He grumbled, but lightly placed my hand on his palm. It seemed he meant for me to hold on and walk.
I held the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor's hand and slowly moved my feet.
As I struggled to get out of the room, I saw Uncle Geun-myeong pacing around the yard with an anxious face.
