Chapter 204

“Tch. What a vicious little thing. I was only trying to look at your eyes.”

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician’s incredulous voice brought me back to my senses.

My body had moved before I could even make a judgment. I had counterattacked without thinking.

Launching myself at someone as powerful as the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician without warning was the sort of thing that could have gotten my neck snapped on the spot, and I would have had no one to blame but myself.

My heart dropped.

“I-I’m sorry, Divine Physician...”

I hurriedly apologized, then closed my mouth.

The hoarse rasp scraping out of my throat sounded so unfamiliar that it barely seemed like my own voice.

Fortunately, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician did not appear offended.

“Can’t get your voice out properly? I’ll make you some medicinal tea.”

“I’m truly sorry...”

“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, so stop worrying about it. What a disaster. The little pup that old man used to fuss over has turned into a stray dog.”

Muttering under her breath, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician sighed and helped me sit up.

She must have subdued me while carefully controlling her strength, because nothing hurt.

She settled me against the backrest and furrowed her brow.

“I can’t exactly leave you like this, either. Haah. Every last member of the Tang family is such a handful.”

Was I imagining it, or was there warmth in those pitch-black eyes?

I swallowed and watched as the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician prepared the medicinal tea.

Where had Grandfather gone?

Perhaps the question showed on my face, because she spoke first.

“Your master stepped out for a while. I’ll stay with you until he returns, so if you need anything, tell me.”

Her tone was gentler than the last time we had met.

I slowly nodded.

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician being this considerate felt strange, but that was all. My mind was too foggy to dwell on it.

Even when she said something else, the words barely registered.

All I could do was hold the cup she gave me and quietly feel its warmth seep into my hands.

“If you’ve finished, give it here. Wouldn’t it be better for you to rest some more?”

Perhaps I looked worse than I realized, because the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician took the cup from me as she spoke.

I shook my head.

“No... I want to walk.”

“Fine. A little movement will help your recovery. Just don’t walk for long.”

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician answered as though telling me to do as I pleased, then gave a soft whistle.

A moment later, the rapid patter of tiny feet came racing from somewhere in the distance.

“Kii!”

Cane cried at the top of its lungs and sprang straight onto my lap.

The black sable rolled around on its back across my knees as if demanding to know why I had taken so long to wake up.

A weak laugh escaped me.

“Cane... have you been well?”

“Grruk! Gurururuk!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Kyuk! Kyuuk! Grruk, gurururu...!”

Cane kept chattering excitedly until the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician snapped at it in irritation.

“You’re noisy. Stop making a racket and stay beside your master.”

“Kit.”

Cane answered obediently, then climbed calmly down from the bed as though it had not been rolling around belly-up a moment earlier.

With the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician supporting me, I slowly left the room.

Outside, summer was in full splendor.

Birdsong drifted on the cool breeze, and lush vegetation painted everything in shades of green.

The brilliant sunlight made me dizzy. When I staggered, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician naturally stepped in and lifted me into her arms.

“You’re not ready to walk on your own yet. Sit down and enjoy the sun instead.”

“Okaaay.”

She seated me on the stone step, then brought over a thin quilt and spread it across my knees.

“Thank you, Divine Physician.”

I smiled up at her.

She frowned.

“Even the way you look up at people is exactly like your grandfather. Don’t copy that part of him.”

“...”

“You’ll have to be careful all your life. There must be plenty of people who see your master in you and grind their teeth.”

Her words reminded me of Wiji Gok rampaging around with a fishing rod, and I gave a small laugh.

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician snorted, folded her arms, and stood beside me.

I hugged my knees and looked beyond the wall.

The scenery before me felt unfamiliar.

So did the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician treating me kindly.

So did the silence, devoid of familiar presences.

Everything felt hazy and strange, like a dream.

When did summer arrive?

My memories ended at the beginning of winter.

Slowly, I traced them backward.

Around the Lower Yuan Festival, I had descended Mount Wudang and gone to Yueyang.

I had meant to ask Jang Miryeo for something...

And then...

My impostor...

My breath suddenly quickened.

The world spun.

Memories came pouring back all at once, and I could no longer breathe.

...I’m sorry.

Yeon Ryang’s sorrowful voice surfaced in my mind, and my entire body went cold.

“Hah... h-haah...!”

I doubled over, choking for air and clawing at the ground.

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician rushed over and forced my mouth open so I could breathe.

“Oh dear. Looks like you remembered. I thought it might actually be better if you never did.”

Gasping harshly, I tried to force strength into my legs.

How much time had passed?

I had to go.

I had to get to Yeon Ryang.

The moment I struggled to stand, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician struck an immobilizing vital point before I could resist.

“Enough nonsense. Stay still. What exactly do you plan to do in that condition?”

“I have to go. I have to go right now...!”

“No. Until your master returns, you are not leaving my sight. I agreed to watch you, and I keep my promises.”

Clicking her tongue, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician picked me up again.

“No! Please let me go, Divine Physician! I have to bring him back!”

“Stop talking nonsense and sleep.”

“I have to go right—!”

“Sending that damned old monster into the secluded cave may actually have been the right choice. Good thing he isn’t here to see you like this.”

Her brusque voice was the last thing I heard before my vision went black.

My body went limp like a puppet as she carried me back inside.

******

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician did not release my vital point the next day.

Or the day after that.

The longer I lay there helplessly, the more my insides seemed to char with anxiety.

Two whole seasons had passed while I was unconscious.

That was more than enough time for all the tracking incense I had smeared on Yeon Ryang to dissipate.

Had they taken him back to the Demonic Sect’s headquarters?

Or perhaps to the prison where the original Namgung Hwi had first encountered him, the one where he had been imprisoned together with the Chivalrous Emperor?

The members of the Demonic Sect had gone on endlessly about an offering.

They would not simply leave him alone.

I had to find him and rescue him as quickly as possible.

My lips trembled as I desperately tried to think of some way to trace Yeon Ryang’s whereabouts.

Then the door opened, and the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician entered.

She carried a small bowl of medicinal decoction and a spoon.

I looked up at her pleadingly.

“Divine Physician. Please. Let me leave.”

“This is driving me insane. You can barely walk, yet you keep insisting you need to go somewhere?”

“I’ll only look around nearby. Just for a little while. I promise.”

“Open your mouth before I strike your speech point too.”

She snapped at me and sat down on the edge of the bed, bringing the spoon to my lips.

She looked entirely prepared to force the medicine down my throat if I refused.

Reluctantly, I opened my mouth.

She poured the medicinal decoction between my lips and spoke with a hint of pity.

“Not every bond lasts through every moment of a person’s life. Forget that man now. You know he is someone you cannot keep beside you.”

“He’s my brother. How am I supposed to forget him when he was dragged away right in front of me?”

At my protest, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician’s eyes sharpened.

“Forget him. Do you still not understand what you mean to the Poison King? He adores you enough to tear out his own liver and gallbladder for you. What do you think will happen if he learns that the reason his beloved disciple ended up like this was because she protected a demonic practitioner?”

“I... that’s... I...”

Her words struck too close to the truth, leaving me speechless.

When I failed to answer, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician barked at me.

“Unless your goal is to drive that old man straight into qi deviation the moment he comes out of seclusion and put him in a coffin, keep quiet. If your master loses his mind and goes on a rampage, there is no one in the Central Plains who could stop him. That includes me.”

“...”

“Do you even know how long you were lying there? Do you know what the Poison King looked like when he begged me to save you?”

I bit my lip and looked away.

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician gave me a thin, bitter smile.

“You ought to know what the Poison King cast aside to keep you alive. If you still want to go after hearing that, I won’t stop you. If you don’t care about tearing your master’s heart to pieces, I’ll let you walk right out.”

I squeezed my eyes shut at her cold rebuke.

She was right.

Even if I intended to save Yeon Ryang, I could not simply run off like this without sparing a thought for Grandfather.

But...

Yeon Ryang would be alone.

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician watched me silently for a long moment before asking again.

“I’ll ask one more time. Are you leaving?”

“...No.”

“Then behave yourself and drink your medicine.”

As though she had expected that answer all along, she tapped the side of the bowl and held another spoonful out to me with a sullen expression.

“...Yes.”

I mumbled around the word and slowly opened my mouth.

******

Perhaps worried that I might secretly run away, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician watched me for another two days before finally releasing the vital point.

“Don’t get any foolish ideas. I’m not as soft as your master. Haven’t you made him suffer enough over you for half a year?”

Her eyes gleamed ominously as she warned me in a stern voice.

...Maybe all that talk about killing people was just something she said.

Perhaps the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician actually cared about Grandfather deep down.

“Yes.”

“You should go wash now. One of the Tang Clan children prepared bathwater for you. Can you bathe by yourself? If it seems too difficult, I’ll help.”

“I’ll wash by myself.”

“Fine.”

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician nodded and helped me stand.

But the moment my feet touched the ground, my legs began to tremble faintly.

“Putting on airs with that pathetic body of yours.”

She grumbled, yet lightly placed my hand over her palm.

Apparently, she meant for me to hold on while I walked.

I took her hand and slowly moved forward.

After struggling my way out of the room, I saw Uncle pacing anxiously around the courtyard.