Chapter 96: Orthopedic Treatment (1)
A fierce wind swept through the windowless underground chamber.
Yu Jeong-shin exclaimed in alarm, Cover the Heavenly God Candlestick! The wind is strong.
Yes.
Dam Hyun, blocking the front of the Heavenly God Candlestick, raised his hand and swung it upwards.
Hup, Wind Aid Extension!
Paaang!
The rough wind scattered right in front of Dam Hyun. His hair fluttered wildly.
Fortunately, the candle of the Heavenly God Candlestick did not go out.
Dam Hyuns efforts did not stop there. He took out a jade bottle from his bosom and sprinkled its contents in front of him.
The thing that sparkled in the candlelight was salt.
The salt scattered on the floor, drawing a strange pattern as it fell.
Ive protected us from the intrusion of evil spirits, just in case.
Well done!
Yu Jeong-shin laughed heartily from across the room.
Despite being confined in the Repentance Cave for several years, Dam Hyuns skills had not rusted.
Considering he was under restriction on his internal energy, his skills seemed to have improved instead.
He efficiently completed everything that was directed and even took the initiative to supplement tasks that were not assigned.
It was due to his inborn insight and quick judgment that could only be described as natural talent.
Had Dam Hyun not been there, success would have been doubtful.
The enlightenment of the soul itself was not a difficult task, but preserving the spiritual energy and transferring it to Yi-gang was an exceedingly tough job.
Golden Needle Phantom, who was relatively more at ease than Yu Jeong-shin or Dam Hyun, shouted, It has begun!
Then, everyone except Yi-gang, who had lost consciousness, looked towards the center of the chamber.
The figure of the Immortal Divine Sword floating in mid-air started to blur.
Amazing To really attain Nirvana Golden Needle Phantom Do-hyu muttered as if overwhelmed.
Being a martial artist of the Taoist sect Azure Forest did not always mean being close to something surreal.
Rather, except for the Taoist flower disciples and honor flower disciples, they were not familiar with supernatural beings like yokai or spirits. The majority of martial flower disciples in the Azure Forest were similar to ordinary martial artists.
In this respect, it was also Golden Needle Phantoms first time seeing a soul.
As a doctor, he had treated numerous people but also witnessed many deaths up close.
Over a hundred patients had taken their last breath in his blood-stained hands. Yet, he had never seen the soul of a deceased patient.
I feel strangely emotional.
However, watching the Immortal Divine Sword gradually achieving enlightenment, he felt comforted about his own life.
If only the patients who died in his care could have attained peace and enlightenment as well.
Yu Jeong-shin and Dam Hyun slumped down.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
Phew.
Their task was now finished. Once the Immortal Divine Sword fully attained enlightenment and Yi-gang absorbed the spiritual energy, the remaining role was that of Golden Needle Phantom.
Golden Needle Phantom quietly observed the enlightenment of the Immortal Divine Sword. The sword, once radiating a golden light and boasting a vibrant presence, now seemed truly ephemeral.
Twitch
Yi-gangs body, lying down, twitched slightly.
Golden Needle Phantom calmly examined Yi-gangs body.
From the tips of his right hand to the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head, and down to the Qihai acupoint in the lower dantian, there were densely placed gold needles.
If the spiritual energy left by the Immortal Divine Sword was properly absorbed, he could connect the first major meridian.
Worried about any anomalies in the body, he checked Yi-gangs pulse and opened his eyelids.
His unfocused eyes were moist with tears. Whether it was due to external stimuli or another reason was unknown.
Is he sending him off properly?
Perhaps, Yi-gang was currently meeting with the Immortal Divine Sword that was on the verge of enlightenment.
Golden Needle Phantom smiled faintly and withdrew his hand. Yi-gangs condition was stable.
But soon, his expression turned serious.
The reason was the eerie murmuring he heard.
What a waste
Golden Needle Phantom slowly turned his head to look toward the source of the voice.
There sat Dam Hyun, sweating profusely. He appeared exhausted from the series of processes, hugging his knees and leaning against the wall.
All this effort, and it only extends life by three years. To go through all this and hoard such an enormous amount of spiritual energy
Dam Hyun was muttering to himself. Although his words were an unguarded expression of his inner thoughts, they were not nonsense.
The spiritual energy the Immortal Divine Sword would leave on earth was indeed immense. It was the kind of spiritual energy that only an absolute master, who had unified the upper, middle, and lower dantians, could handle. It was enough to elevate a human to the status of an immortal.
If a plant had contained such an amount of spiritual energy, it would have become an elixir more potent than the Ten Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. Had an animal acquired it, it would have become a spiritual being.
Yet, even with such immense spiritual energy, it was not enough to completely cure Yi-gangs meridian blockage disease.
It would only connect the major meridian from the right hand to the lower dantian and extend Yi-gangs lifespan by three years.
So wasteful its disgusting.
Golden Needle Phantom felt a sense of dissonance at Dam Hyuns murmuring.
It wasnt the content of the words that caused it.
It was because Dam Hyun, at some point, had taken out a doll and placed it in his hand, speaking to it as if it were a person.
He whispered to the doll, If you had it, you could use it better. You might even get your real body back.
Golden Needle Phantom realized that there really was something residing within that doll.
I didnt cry.
Your eyes are a bit red. When I cry, my eyes get red like that.
I didnt cry.
Dam Hyun nodded at Yi-gangs firm denial.
It seems that the soul has attained enlightenment.
Yes, I sent him off well.
Right, thanks to my hard work outside.
Thank you.
Yi-gang expressed his gratitude sincerely. Dam Hyun smiled, seemingly surprised.
Good to hear youre thankful; now I dont need to feel sorry.
Why would you feel sorry?
Its just a waste to use such a level of spiritual energy to heal your body. I do like you, though.
Yi-gang listened to Dam Hyuns words with a calm expression.
Dam Hyun, liking Yi-gang even more for this, explained everything with a sense of regret.
He had come here, risking ruining everything, with the idea of gifting the spiritual energy to the yokai residing in the fox doll.
He told Yi-gang that resistance was futile and to stay calm. He was going to take the spiritual energy.
Dont hate me too much for it, he added, as if the decision was already made.
Yi-gang listened patiently to the end.
And thought to himself.
What a lunatic.
He was grateful for the help with the ritual, but the idea of Dam Hyun intercepting the spiritual energy left by the Immortal Divine Sword for Yi-gang was utter nonsense.
With a thought that Dam Hyun must be carrying a bag of nonsense on his body, Yi-gang looked him up and down.
Dam Hyun seemed to interpret his gaze differently.
Dont even think about running away. This is inside the mental world. Here, the restrictions on my internal energy dont mean anything.
Saying this, Dam Hyun loosened up his body, moving much more freely than outside.
Subduing Junior Brother will be easy.
As he said this, he slowly approached Yi-gang.
Yi-gang remained still.
The will of the Immortal Divine Sword - of course, the sword was already a ghost, but Yi-gang took the words it left before enlightenment as its will - was there.
Your senior brother, his face looks just like a weasel.
Recalling that will, Yi-gang shared it.
My grandfather used to say that. Senior Brother looks just like a weasel.
Thanks for the compliment, Dam Hyun replied.
Dam Hyun took the remark about looking like a weasel as a sincere compliment.
Dont mention it. What happens here wont be known outside, right?
Of course. Why, are you feeling a bit more at ease?
Yi-gang didnt respond.
It was because he remembered another will left by the Immortal Divine Sword.
So what if hes your senior brother. In a place where no one can see, beat him until he wets himself. Thats the only way to tame a beast like him.
Yi-gang muttered, Grandfather
Im not your grandfather.
Dam Hyuns words were ignored.
Theres no greater filial piety than following a will well.
There truly is wisdom in the elderly.
With those words, Yi-gang clenched his fist tightly.
Dam Hyun smiled wryly and reached out his hand towards Yi-gang, his movement quick and agile like a snake.
Yi-gang countered with a punch of his own.
Dam Hyun, scoffing, spread his thumb out wide.
Too slow.
Dam Hyuns plan was to pierce the Qiyu acupoint in Yi-gangs fist to immobilize him.
When he first met Yi-gang, he tried something similar but ended up getting countered.
However, things were different now.
In this mental world, the restrictions on Dam Hyuns body didnt work. He could easily subdue a weakened Yi-gang. His ample internal energy strengthened Dam Hyuns physical strength.
But then, the golden spiritual energy pooling at their feet surged up Yi-gangs body.
And Dam Hyuns finger, which had pierced the back of Yi-gangs hand, snapped off.
Crack
It was as if he had stabbed into a piece of iron.
What?
Dam Hyun looked at his broken finger in dumbfounded shock.
Yi-gangs fist hit squarely on his brothers stunned face.
Crash
The sound of front teeth breaking resounded loudly.
It was the sound of filial piety.
