"Yes, you said you hadn’t actually fainted?""You remember. It’s hard to explain, but it felt like I was trapped in a cloud. The surroundings went pure white, and as if the feeling under the soles of my feet vanished, my body seemed to float up. It was an experience where my sense of reality drifted far, far away. At first I wondered if someone had slipped some mild drug into the food, but even after interrogating the cook we found nothing. I’ve felt the same symptoms during a fast as well, so it shouldn’t be any drug. Perhaps it’s a problem that arose in my mind.""It’s not something we can declare outright. Even if the mind has a problem, we still don’t know whether an illness arose in the head itself or whether some other organ’s issue is affecting it."The Divine Physician pressed here and there across Namgung An’s body, then narrowed his brow slightly."At times it is a matter of the heart, but Clan Head, you indeed had a problem with your body. Yet seeing that you are fine now, it may be I missed something, so I must observe you for a few more days.""For the Divine Physician of Yeonjuda to watch over my body for several days—there’s no reason for me to refuse.""Are you taking the medicine well?""Of course. Though it isn’t Yeonjuhwan, I was thinking my body has improved thanks to the prescription you gave.""No. I merely combined medicinal materials that supplement the body’s vigor.""Exactly. When I heard it wasn’t different from what our Medical Division Head used to give me, I was so surprised.""Then as it is late today, I will come again at this time tomorrow.""Do so. Munseon, see the Divine Physician out.""Yes, Clan Head.""No, how could I accept Elder Namgung’s escort? I’m fine.""Saying that pricks my conscience. Truth is, that fellow pestered me all day to give him a chance to exchange words with you, so I called him here. He’s not one to say anything strange, so on your way back, spare a short talk."With him saying so, there was no way to refuse. The Divine Physician smiled and nodded."Then I will ask it of you."The Divine Physician left the pavilion with Namgung Munseon. His face looked calm, but unease churned in his heart.Because of the symptoms Namgung An had described."Your mood comes apart and you feel as if trapped in a cloud…"Even the loss of memory resembled the effect of a medicinal he had recently learned of."They said the symptoms of Oseoksan are like that."Young Lady Sohwa, having returned from the Hubei Branch, had brought Oseoksan to the Medical Division. Saying she had confirmed the symptoms of those addicted to Oseoksan, she organized them and informed the Divine Physician and the Medical Division Head.Thus the three of them had lately been secretly researching this Oseoksan.The Divine Physician had heard of Oseoksan before.Oseoksan had once been used as a medicinal within the Daoist lineage. That drifting of the mind was taken as becoming one with nature. But as the compounding method of Oseoksan had long since vanished, this was his first time confirming its effects.The Divine Physician believed there would be more symptoms to Oseoksan.If mere pleasure were the aim, one could use Mihonsan instead of Oseoksan. Not only in efficacy, but the price would be incomparably cheaper.Even so, the fact they had taken pains to prepare so much of that lost Oseoksan might mean Oseoksan has some other function."What on earth is the other symptom?"He wondered if it might be a poison that, with a few months’ use, could affect even someone as robust as the Namgung Clan Head; but seeing the body recover in only a few days, that didn’t seem to be it either."I meant to confirm with caution, but my head has its limits."The Divine Physician had not yet shared this fact with Sohwa and the Medical Division Head. He had intended to speak once he was more certain, but it seemed he should tell them now. They might know what he hadn’t seen.As he calmly arranged his thoughts, Namgung Munseon spoke."Thank you for examining the Clan Head.""No. I am merely doing my duty."When the Divine Physician smiled, Namgung Munseon lowered his voice."…About last time, I am truly sorry."At the sudden apology, the Divine Physician turned his head. The middle-aged warrior, his lips working with a troubled look, let out a sigh."It was a time I was greatly confused, so my judgment was clouded. Back then, everyone looked like remnants of the Blood Cult to me. So I made a grave mistake."Only then did the Divine Physician understand what he was apologizing for.This man was one of the Namgung warriors who had come to Mount Emei three years ago.That day, the Namgung warriors had tried to take him and Jeom-chil to Anhui as remnants of the Blood Cult. Fortunately, thanks to Tang Sohwa’s proposal, the two were able to remain in the Tang Clan.The Divine Physician remembered his patients who had been dragged to Anhui that day. Upon the news that they lost their lives during interrogation, he could not compose himself for quite some time. Namgung had said they died because their bodies were already greatly ruined, but even that felt like his own fault.Ordinarily, the Divine Physician was one to accept apologies easily, but now his tongue would not move.It was because of Jeom-chil. Though they now say Jeom-chil is being raised preciously at Wudang, if that day the child had fallen into their hands, who knows what the future would have been. No, before even gauging a future, they might have become a cold corpse.At the Divine Physician’s silence, Namgung Munseon’s face darkened.Watching for his mood, he carefully opened his mouth."Shameless as it is, I would ask that you also convey my apology to Young Lady Tang Sohwa."Namgung Munseon added in a bitter voice."I heard you went with Young Lady Tang to the Shaanxi Branch. And I also heard the rumor that Young Lady Tang went alone as far as the Hubei Branch. She must have been frightened and uneasy, yet to muster such courage is truly remarkable.""Yes, her courage is remarkable."When the Divine Physician answered, unwillingly, Namgung Munseon hesitated and continued."In truth, I resented Young Lady Tang Sohwa.""A man without a conscience."The Divine Physician swallowed the words inwardly."From that incident three years ago, the Namgung suffered all manner of great losses. Not merely losing wealth; with the Little Clan Head absent, various problems arose within.""To think such a matter a great loss—how selfish."A bad impression of Namgung Munseon piled up in the Divine Physician’s heart."Since it was like that, with my insides burning, I deliberately avoided matters concerning the Tang Clan.""Narrow-minded, too."Unlike himself, the Divine Physician kept passing negative judgments on another."But after hearing of the young lady this time, I had many thoughts."Namgung Munseon spoke with a voice tinged with remorse."Though it has been three years since we discovered the Blood Cult, we have learned nothing about those bastards. They use martial arts unseen in the Central Plains, and as if mocking us, they blindfold our eyes. I have come to admit the Blood Cult is not something easily uprooted."Gradually, instead of remorse, fear seeped into the warrior’s voice."And so, perhaps we nearly endangered the Central Plains. Perhaps meeting the young lady that day was heaven’s fortune for the Central Plains.""…""She stopped our mistake, so we should have been grateful, yet small-minded as I was, I resented a young lady for a long time. Moreover, I even believed myself righteous. If I had not realized it, so be it, but now each day is torment from shame."Namgung Munseon lifted his head again. On his face, dyed with the dark, lay a shadow of anxiety."At least like this, I wanted to apologize to and thank you and the young lady for that day."Perhaps because his expression and voice carried feeling, his sincerity reached him.The Divine Physician parted the lips he had kept firmly closed."…Do not torment yourself. Torment of the heart soon becomes illness of the body."In the end, he accepted Namgung Munseon’s apology."Your intent that day was not wrong. It was the good you believed in, Elder, and what you thought was the way to protect Namgung and the Central Plains. Therefore, there is no need for you to be tormented.""Though I thank you for saying so… no. Knowing I did wrong and letting it pass is something my pride cannot permit."The Divine Physician gave a small laugh and nodded."If you say so, then yes, I understand. I will be meeting Young Lady Tang Sohwa tomorrow, so I will duly convey your heart to her.""Thank you."Though it was a night so dark even moonlight did not fall, it felt as if a shaft of light descended along the roadside. With hearts eased, Namgung Munseon and the Divine Physician quickened their steps again. Then, suddenly, Namgung Munseon stopped."Elder?"When the Divine Physician asked in puzzlement, Namgung Munseon quietly turned his head to the west. Fixing his gaze on the small grove used as a training ground, he spoke again."I’m sorry, but you may have to go on ahead."Where Namgung Munseon’s gaze was directed was where the cleared mechanism-formation devices had been gathered. The Divine Physician did not know what the Namgung warrior had sensed, but if an accident had occurred there, it was clear someone would be grievously hurt."No. If you are heading to the western grove, let us go together."The Divine Physician let out a sigh and spoke."If an Elder of the Namgung Clan goes alone to where the Tang Clan’s weapons are gathered, you may invite needless suspicion. If I go with you, it will weigh less on you as well."That was true also, so Namgung Munseon could not refuse."Then I will ask it of you.""Yes, let us go."It seemed the matter had occurred not far away.They had not walked much when voices reached them."What do we do? Isn’t he dead?""No. He’s breathing.""But the blood—why is there so much blood? Are you sure he’s really okay?""Dammit, I’m no physician, how would I know? Where did Brother Gangchang go?""I don’t know! Have you ever seen that man clean up after anything?"They kept their voices down, but as it was so quiet, the voices carried loudly.Namgung Munseon, unable to believe the sight before his eyes, parted his lips for a moment.Between the piled mechanism-formation devices, he saw the familiar faces of youths. Namgung warriors. Three warriors were at a loss over a man they had laid on the ground.Though drenched in blood, there was no way Namgung Munseon could fail to recognize the fallen youth."You brats!"With a cry of shock, Namgung Munseon let out a thunderous shout, and the three warriors froze where they stood.

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