LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 3
Morning.
At the top floor of the nine-story tower, a little distance from the Mo Yong Family.
“…Finally, the day has come.”
The old Daoist with a long white beard, the Martial World Alliance Leader and Kunlun Sect Master, Grand Master Taesangjin, sighed deeply as he gazed at the morning sun.
“The day Mo Yongseol becomes an adult. The exact day she turns twenty.”
He looked down from the tower.
“…For those afflicted by the Sickness of Absolute Meridians, death begins to loom.”
The area in front of the Mo Yong Family was bustling with people since morning.
“Everyone is wearing masks on their faces.”
“Master, how can you say it’s a mask?”
Behind Taesangjin, a graceful woman with black hair stood beside her master and inquired.
“Jinhyeon, my disciple.”
“Yes, Master.”
“On the day you die, can you ask everyone to cheerfully celebrate your death?”
“…….”
The woman, Jinhyeon, shook her head silently.
“Right. It’s not easy. It will be the same for Mo Yongseol. The heavens seem to know this too; the clear sky shows not even a hint of dark clouds.”
“Are you lamenting?”
“Of course. Death is always a lamentable matter. What about you?”
“Is that a lament from the Kunlun Sect Master, or from the Martial World Alliance Leader?”
“…….”
At Jinhyeon’s question, Taesangjin quietly closed his eyes.
“It’s truly difficult. The skills I learned from mediating conflicts among officials and senior Daoists have now positioned me to encompass the general state of the entire Martial World.”
“The direct line of the Mo Yong Family is dying. Many from the collateral line will vie for the position of the head.”
“Indeed. That’s why they are able to smile, at least superficially. The parties involved have asked to smile instead of cry.”
Grand Master Taesangjin placed one hand over his heart.
“I too must wear such a mask in front of them. I must hide my sorrow and celebrate their death with a smile. That is politics, and the position of the leader.”
“…….”
“And so, my disciple, for this moment, I want to express my condolences as a mere human mourning a life, and as a father who has already lost a daughter, to the Sword Saint and his daughter.”
Taesangjin clasped his hands together, as if in prayer.
“May you forget all the pain of the afterlife.”
Tears streamed down Taesangjin’s face.
“May you live a long life in the next life… Ha. The great star of the Martial World is failing to bloom.”
Today is the day Mo Yongseol dies.
“…The daughter of the world’s strongest, who defeated the Heavenly Demon without spilling a drop of blood.”
“In martial terms, isn’t it fortunate that she gets to die?”
“That’s true.”
Martial World Alliance Leader Taesangjin slowly opened his eyes.
“If she were alive, countless men would engage in bloodshed to obtain that flower.”
* * *
There exists the fastest method of suicide in the world.
It’s a form of suicide, but if you fear dying by your own hand, there is a faster way to get killed.
Speaking strange words about his daughter in front of the Sword Saint.
“Oh my, how can she live long with the Sickness of Absolute Meridians?”
Such statements are fine.
No matter what his true intentions might be, the Sword Saint Mo Yongcheon is a person of character, an embodiment of the White Path’s martial world.
“Please give me your daughter.”
That kind of statement is dangerous.
“Before she dies, I will have an unforgettable night with Mo Yongseol…”
Swish.
One of the later members of the Demonic Sect had his head severed and killed just like that.
Thanks to this, I thought a full-scale war would break out between the Demonic Sect and the Mo Yong Family, but fortunately, it was smoothly resolved as a personal misstep of a disciple from the Demonic Sect.
After all, if she’s going to die anyway, let’s do it with Mo Yongseol.
Saying such words in front of Mo Yongcheon would mean getting killed on the spot is common sense in the martial world.
I acted.
Since I’m going to die anyway, I spent a night with Mo Yongseol.
Although it was not what I desired, but rather what Mo Yongseol herself wanted, I obliged her proposal.
I was prepared to die.
After Mo Yongseol’s birthday passed and she died, I would already be dead.
—”I let Mo Yongseol die just like that. The cause is the Sickness of Absolute Meridians. I cannot forgive that.”
By the mad Heavenly Demon.
If I wanted to survive, I needed to violate Mo Yongseol and assassinate her, then deliver a mental shock to Mo Yongcheon by saying, “The Demon Cult’s assassin killed Mo Yongseol.”
But I didn’t do that.
Whether I succeeded or failed, I would die anyway, so I thought about causing a so-called ‘disruption’ to the Demon Cult that had kidnapped me and thrust me into solitude.
“Keep taking this medicine, disciple. If you do, it will suppress the activities of solitude and curb your blind loyalty to the Demon Cult.”
I had help from my master.
The witch doctor developed a medicine that suppressed my brainwashing in the Mo Yong Family.
Now he is gone.
The Demon Cult’s scoundrels came to the Mo Yong Family and killed my master.
There is no place to escape.
Even if I went to Haedong, I would die.
Then, let’s just die by the Sword Saint’s hand.
Isn’t the Sword Saint’s sword fast and accurate enough that the dead might not know they were cut down?
So, I prepared to die at the hands of the Sword Saint.
And as a man, I decided to share an illicit escape with the woman I cherished at least once on the last day of Mo Yongseol’s life.
If it becomes known, I will die.
If I wake up, I will die.
After being dragged to a place where Mo Yongseol can’t see, I will be killed right there.
Or I might be killed right after Mo Yongseol dies.
I imagined such a dreadful morning.
However, what I previously thought was dreadful was mild.
“Physician Seok Muwol.”
“Yes, Master.”
Physician Seok Muwol.
That is my name, and physician is the title by which I am addressed.
And the one I call Master is none other than the head of the Mo Yong Family—the Sword Saint Mo Yongcheon.
“How is my daughter’s condition?”
He is speaking from behind me.
I am sitting in a chair, and he is quietly standing behind me, asking.
In a position where he could kill me any moment.
But he doesn’t, because I’m sitting right next to “Mo Yongseol’s bed.”
“Ah… Ahem, Father.”
The woman whose wrist I am holding and checking her pulse is none other than his daughter, Mo Yongseol.
“Thanks to you, Physician, she survived. Why are you scolding the physician?”
“Scolding? Seol-ah. That’s not it.”
The world-renowned Sword Saint is at a loss for words at his daughter’s remark.
Having spent three years here, I can clearly see that the Sword Saint is very confused right now.
Since he is not killing me.
“Master, as you already know, her body temperature has surpassed the normal level.”
“Go on.”
“Her heart rate is increasing, color is returning to her face, and warmth is being conveyed to her hands.”
“Isn’t that because she’s holding hands with the physician?”
Mo Yongseol giggled.
That smile made my heart skip a beat, but it soon stopped as I felt the pressure coming from behind.
This is no joke.
The Sword Saint is subtly radiating his killing intent only towards me.
“With my insights, it seems the Sickness of Absolute Meridians… has been alleviated. Theoretically, the Sickness of Absolute Meridians occurs due to excessive Yin energy repressing the blood vessels.”
“So, in short…”
Thud.
“Are you saying that because you took my daughter’s virginity, her blood vessels have normalized?”
The Sword Saint’s right hand was now on my shoulder.
“Consequently, that seems to be the case.”
“…What a pity, that your master, the Witch Doctor, is no longer around.”
Crack!
“If she had been alive, I could have entrusted her with the examination.”
It hurts.
Really.
“Yeah. I slept with my daughter.”
On the surface, it looks like he just placed his hand there, but it feels as though his qi has sprouted pincers that have penetrated my shoulder.
“Even from midnight until dawn.”
It wouldn’t be intentional, though.
“Just the two of us, naked.”
If it were intentional, my shoulder would have already been crushed.
“Ah, no. Father.”
Mo Yongseol pushed the Sword Saint’s hand aside.
“Seol-ah?”
“Please don’t do this.”
“Ahem, right. I’m being not like myself…”
“That place I scratched yesterday, it’s wounded, you know?”
“…….”
Could this woman be planning to kill me?
Now that she’s healed, is she trying to get her father to kill me because I’ve become useless?
“My physician’s ‘treatment’ was painful at first, but after that, heat started to rise in my body… Hehe.”
At least from the way she is smiling brightly while holding my hands tightly, it seems there’s no such intention.
“Thanks to you, I didn’t vomit blood this morning.”
“…….”
“So, Father. Physician Seok is… my lifesaver.”
Mo Yongseol pulls my hand.
“So please don’t get so angry anymore. I know why you are angry, but I asked for it.”
“Seol-ah.”
“If you’re going to report me to the authorities, please do so yourself.”
Mo Yongseol brought her hands together as if to bind me up and offered them to her father.
“I was the one who violated Physician Seok.”
“Seol-ah!”
“Should I be more direct? I forcibly pushed Physician Seok onto the bed, when he clearly said no…”
“Mo Yongseol.”
I held Mo Yongseol’s hand.
“Why do you wish to become a criminal?”
“Physician. But…”
“Since the man and woman had feelings for each other and became intimate, it was not an act of coercion by anyone.”
And that’s the truth.
If I had resisted to the end, Mo Yongseol would have quietly returned to her room.
“If I bear any blame, it’s that I shouldn’t have gotten caught up in the moment.”
“Physician…”
Honestly, I hadn’t intended to go this far, but my shoulder was intensely painful.
“I don’t believe it was a momentary improvement. As a physician, and as a man, I hope the lady continues to thrive.”
“In that case, it seems further examinations are necessary.”
Crack!
“You will continue to examine me, right?”
Mo Yongseol tightly clutched my hand.
“You’ll keep ‘treating’ me, right?”
Never letting go.
“Of course, my lady. Until the day my life ends, I will stay by your side.”
I don’t know what expression he’s making behind me.
I don’t want to know.
“…Physician.”
The Sword Saint stood next to me, his voice sounding like he was holding something back.
“Thank you. Truly.”
“?!”
The Sword Saint bent down to thank me.
“I thought today would be my daughter’s last day, but you’ve allowed me to see her smile for the first time in her life.”
“That…”
His words were delicate.
As if he didn’t mean that she was fully healed yet.
“Of course. As you said, it merits watching closely.”
“Father.”
“Seol-ah. I don’t want to think that way either. But… it is the Sickness of Absolute Meridians.”
I understand what the Sword Saint is thinking.
“It is an incurable disease. Just because she seems fine now doesn’t mean she won’t vomit blood and collapse again.”
As a father, he surely wants to believe that her illness has been treated, but ‘the ultimate master of martial arts’ common sense is bringing uncertainty.
The phrase ‘returning light’ echoes in my mind.
Is this vitality merely a fleeting spark before death?
Did the Sickness of Absolute Meridians yield a final day for Mo Yongseol?
Such worries began to surface in my own mind, making it impossible for me to say anything thoughtlessly.
“Let’s keep watching. For now… the banquet must go on. A celebration for your birthday.”
The Sword Saint turned his gaze out the window.
“During the day, when Yang energy is abundant, the coming-of-age ceremony—”
Clack.
“…You’ve already undergone your coming-of-age ceremony personally, so even if it’s not official, the day of your birth will be celebrated privately.”
The Sword Saint laughed while tightly biting his teeth.
“My daughter. Do you wish for anything? I’ll have someone bring it at once, or I’ll go directly myself to fetch it.”
“Then.”
Mo Yongseol, with no malice whatsoever, beamed a bright smile and gathered her hair.
“For my coming-of-age ceremony and birthday gift, I’d like you to buy me a hairpin.”
“…….”
A hairpin.
For a woman to stick a hairpin in her hair was akin to expressing her status through adornments in the past.
Married.
A symbol of being someone’s woman.
“…….”
Drip.
Did I just bite my tongue, or perhaps pressed my lips too tightly?
“…I understand.”
As the Sword Saint turned away, a drop of blood trickled from his mouth.