Chapter 84
I enlisted the help of a few Tang family martial artists and several disciples from Cheonhwa Mountain Villa to move the seriously injured to the infirmary.
Along the way, we were attacked by the Heukdo, but thanks to Choyo, we managed to be alright.
“Move only the urgent ones! Only the critical cases!”
“Ah, Sister Jeong-yeon!”
“Sister’s arm… her arm!”
For the disciples of Cheonhwa Mountain Villa, this was their first experience with such a bloody scene.
I’ve seen it before…
Well, technically I hadn’t experienced it in this life, so I should say it’s my first time too.
Still, having seen something like it before, I wasn’t completely flustered.
Still, I’m not thanking you, Dang Pae-jin.
I carried the injured deeper into Cheonhwa Mountain Villa and began assessing their wounds.
Meanwhile, others had run outside to finish off the Heukdo intruders.
But…
These wounds are critical.
This wasn’t something simple first aid could handle.
Some disciples had their arms completely severed, and others bled endlessly from abdominal wounds.
Because of the nature of the weapons used by the Nokrim and Heukdo, called Gichido, the cuts were jagged and messy—if left untreated, infection would be inevitable.
“Where’s the villa’s doctor?”
“There isn’t a designated one in the main hall…”
Yoo Ja-heon tied the arm of Sister Jeong-yeon while speaking.
“There’s an elder who treats simple wounds, but he’s currently fighting outside…”
No dedicated doctor?
Yet the disciples’ conditions were serious enough to require professional care.
Of course, both my father and I have some medical knowledge, so we could handle basic treatments.
But we need more hands!
We simply didn’t have enough.
I quickly thought of doctors we could summon immediately.
“Is there no infirmary in Akju?”
“There’s the Sanseong Infirmary, below here. It’s run by Elder San.”
“Then we should fetch the infirmary head as soon as the battle ends. These wounds are severe!”
And indeed, we needed a doctor.
Could we bring doctors from the Tang family?
I considered it briefly.
We couldn’t call my uncle or other Tang family doctors—they’d arrive too late, and some of the disciples might die by then.
There’s the Tang Pavilion in Anhui.
Tang Pavilions exist throughout the central lands, and the nearest one is in Anhui.
Akju is at the end of Hubei, and the Tang Pavilion is also at the edge of Anhui. If we could get someone quickly…
No, maybe it’s better to request help from the shamans.
The shamans would also have doctors.
I applied the medicinal gold leaf to the torn abdomens, deep in thought.
The priority wasn’t winning the fight against the Heukdo.
It was whether the injured disciples could have their wounds treated and stand again.
If the disciples could safely recover, we could minimize the damage Cheonhwa Mountain Villa had suffered.
Ugh… what should I do…
We needed a skilled doctor.
I paused, then suddenly stood up.
“Lord Tang?”
“While you hesitate, someone has to go.”
“Where?”
“To the infirmary!”
“But the battle isn’t over yet…”
“If we wait for the battle to end, it’ll be too late! The patients won’t wait!”
As I scrambled to rise, Jo Yeopyeong, who had been guarding the door, approached, pale-faced.
“Miss, you really intend to go yourself?”
“I’m small, so I can disappear without being noticed.”
“Still, it’s dangerous! I’ll go!”
“I need someone to accurately report the patients’ conditions to the head of the Sanseong Infirmary. That way, they can bring the right medicines and treat them in time!”
And the only ones who could do this now were me and my father.
Jo Yeopyeong hesitated.
“If you write it down…”
“There’s no time to write! Young Viscount, tighten those wounds more!”
“Yes, yes!”
Some Cheonhwa Mountain disciples looked at me in wonder.
They were amazed that an eight-year-old spoke with such composure.
It’s understandable.
I had been trained reasonably well in medicine.
“But you must protect me, Choyo and Grand Master Jo. The rest should help my father clean up here. We can’t let anyone escape—we need to catch them all!”
So it would save the most time if I went.
“I’m wearing the Yongling armor, so I’ll be fine.”
Jo Yeopyeong thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Then get on my back, Miss. I’ll get you downstairs quickly.”
“Yes! Choyo, follow me!”
After a quick check of the critically injured patients, I didn’t hesitate to climb onto Jo Yeopyeong’s back.
He cut down a few Heukdo members’ limbs while performing Qinggong (lightness skill).
Glancing back, the battle seemed mostly resolved anyway.
It was natural—my father was there.
Now, the real priority is the patients.
I held onto Jo Yeopyeong tightly to avoid falling.
I could feel the wind brushing past my ears as we sped along.
“Do you think you can escape?”
Yoo Daeseung swung his sword with terrifying force.
The sword wind swept everything around like a storm.
Cheonhwa Hundred-Flow Sword Technique, Third Move
The Cheonhwa Bed technique swept at Daechun Gui’s feet.
Daechun Gui dodged swiftly with his body techniques, but…
“Argh!”
Some of his toes were severed; he couldn’t avoid that.
Daechun Gui limped toward the pond.
No blood bubbles are rising.
That meant Dokgak Hwamang wasn’t here.
The Death Corpse Water must have done its job.
Thus, Dokgak Hwamang was likely already reduced to just bones and skin.
His Nae-dan and Dokgak were in the hands of the Death Corpse Water.
Then…
He didn’t need to face Yoo Daeseung directly.
Daechun Gui knew he would surely lose against Yoo Daeseung.
Yoo Daeseung was just too agitated, and the cave’s terrain prevented him from killing in a single strike.
Let’s escape.
Daechun Gui was a river-born man, skilled at swimming.
Splash!
Without hesitation, he jumped into the pond.
By the time Yoo Daeseung approached, Daechun Gui had already vanished into the darkness.
“This bastard…”
Yoo Daeseung glared at the blood-red pond.
Somewhere in it, Dokgak Hwamang lay. That meant Daechun Gui had jumped into what was essentially a death trap.
However…
If Cheonyeong’s wounds are severe…
If the pond was that bloodied, Cheonyeong’s chances of survival after fighting Daechun Gui were slim.
That was likely why Yoo Daeseung didn’t intervene in their fight.
Concern shadowed Yoo Daeseung’s face. He turned abruptly, carrying a fallen disciple’s body and exiting.
Dokgak Hwamang Cheonyeong’s safety was critical.
But Yoo Daeseung was the master of Cheonhwa Mountain Villa. He had disciples to protect.
Tracking Daechun Gui to kill him could wait.
If Cheonyeong died…
That enemy would be thoroughly avenged!
Yoo Daeseung held the lifeless young disciple tightly, cold determination in his heart.
I rode on Jo Yeopyeong’s back and looked back.
“Huh? They’re following!”
“Miss, hold on tight.”
From Jo Yeopyeong’s hands, throwing needles were released.
Dozens of needles flew, hitting the foreheads of the pursuing Heukdo precisely.
They fell, bleeding, one by one.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Jo Yeopyeong was a formidable fighter. The Heukdo weren’t even worthy opponents.
Then it’s not dangerous.
There weren’t many Heukdo left chasing us anyway. They probably realized the Death Corpse Water couldn’t match my father and ran early.
That was the nature of the Heukdo.
Unlike the Baekdo, who gather for a shared purpose, Heukdo disband easily if a few leaders fall.
That was their essence, so the Heukdo’s assault on Cheonhwa Mountain Villa was likely ending well.
But…
“Sir, those Heukdo… didn’t they seem strong?”
“The ones near the Death Corpse Water were indeed strong.”
“Why stronger? Did they eat something?”
“I don’t know.”
I kept looking back from Jo Yeopyeong’s back.
Some were fleeing clumsily; others were still pursuing.
But the important thing was…
None of them must escape.
Not a single one.
Then…
“Sir, just one blade of grass!”
“Huh?”
“Just break one for me!”
Jo Yeopyeong, running with Qinggong, stopped briefly.
He broke a single blade of grass and handed it to me.
