A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 68
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 68
“One of them was a beggar with white whiskers sprouting wildly, a gourd flask hanging from his waist, and clothes patched everywhere without a single intact spot. The other one was…”
At that moment, Bing Yu Hua, who had been drowning in sorrow, lifted her head.
“A small elderly man carrying a staff taller than his own height.”
Suddenly, Bing Yu Hua interjected into the conversation.
“Did flowers perhaps bloom on that staff?”
“Pardon? Yes… In truth, leaves and flowers bloomed upon the withered staff in such a peculiar manner that I came to report it.”
Upon hearing those words, Bing Yu Hua sprang from her seat.
“Master…!”
Her face was illuminated with the light of hope.
* * *
“Master!”
Bing Yu Hua rushed barefoot to the entrance of Chang Cheon Pavilion.
Former Family Head Nam Goong Ho and Nam Goong On, along with Baek, Heuk, and Jeok, had heard the news and came together to greet the guest.
“Family Head Nam Goong On of the Nam Goong Family respectfully greets the esteemed Wan Li Yi Xian!”
Beginning with the Family Head, the direct bloodline of the Nam Goong Family offered their respects one by one.
The elderly man holding the staff with blooming flowers stroked his beard, which extended to his chest, and spoke.
Each time he stroked his beard, a fragrant aroma of medicinal herbs wafted from his body.
“To call me the immortal physician who wanders ten thousand leagues is far too grand a title for this old man. I am merely the physician Bang So Bong.”
Jeok, having witnessed this, whispered quietly to Heuk.
“Those flowers and leaves on that staff are real, aren’t they, brother?”
“So it seems.”
“But how can flowers bloom on an old, cut wooden staff?”
“That’s precisely why he’s an immortal! Because he can make flowers and leaves sprout from a withered staff, he can even save those who are on the brink of death!”
“Wow…!”
Indeed, the martial realm still held many wonders. At Heuk’s explanation, Jeok’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
Then, Bing Yu Hua prostrated herself on the stone floor.
“Your unworthy disciple Bing Yu Hua greets her master!”
Wan Li Yi Xian, stroking his beard, stopped her.
“Hehe, rise quickly now. The floor is cold. I have always told you that your constitution requires you to keep your body warm throughout your life.”
“Yes.”
Rising from her seat, Bing Yu Hua appeared deeply anxious.
She rubbed her palms together and bit her nails before taking a resolute breath and speaking.
“Your humble disciple should properly escort you to a comfortable place…”
Wan Li Yi Xian, true to his nature as her master, had already seen through her heart.
One could tell from the way he gently patted Bing Yu Hua’s back.
“Hehe, I know. There is a child whose life hangs by a thread, yes? I shall see at once. Lead the way.”
“This way, please.”
Bing Yu Hua quickly led him to Hong Seol’s quarters.
“The rest of you wait outside. Commotion will interfere with the treatment.”
At Wan Li Yi Xian’s words, the others found themselves suddenly left behind.
“Hmm….”
“Ahem….”
This included Nam Goong Ho, the patriarch of the Nam Goong Family, and Tian Tong Gai, the leader of the Beggar Sect—two who got along about as well as dogs and cats.
Nam Goong On forced a smile and took control of the atmosphere.
“Father, why don’t we invite Elder Tian Tong Gai to the Tea Room for some tea?”
Nam Goong Ho’s lips twitched with displeasure.
“…What would a beggar know of tea?”
Tian Tong Gai didn’t back down.
“Still the same stubborn nature—won’t even chew before spitting out such harsh words….”
Nam Goong On pressed his throbbing forehead and made another appeal.
“Father, regardless of what anyone says, Elder Tian Tong Gai came here to help Hong Seol. Surely she deserves to be treated accordingly.”
“Ahem!”
“Enough. I have pressing matters waiting at my Beggar Sect anyway.”
As Tian Tong Gai turned to leave, Nam Goong On caught him at the doorway.
“Elder, thank you.”
“Thank me for what?”
“For summoning Wan Li Yi Xian to help Hong Seol. This isn’t work of a day or two, so surely you mobilized the entire Beggar Sect from the moment we visited you.”
Silence fell.
“The wager was merely an excuse, wasn’t it? You had already decided to find Wan Li Yi Xian for us. I don’t know how to repay such a debt.”
At those words, Tian Tong Gai met Nam Goong On’s gaze.
In the aged beggar’s clouded eyes, Nam Goong On found something peculiar—a hint of guilt.
“There’s nothing to thank me for. If the child can recover and stand again, that’s enough.”
With those final words, Tian Tong Gai quickened his pace and disappeared.
* * *
I entered my Quarters, which lay dark and silent.
Only the occasional anguished moans that escaped indicated my breath still clung to life.
“Ahhh….”
At the sound, Bing Yu Hua’s forehead creased with pain.
Upon seeing my condition, Wan Li Yi Xian spoke with evident sympathy.
“Yin-yang meridian severance.”
“But you haven’t even examined the meridians—how could you tell?”
“The blanket covers up to the neck, yet the pillow bears dried sweat stains. The eyes are red and the lips pale—two forces within the body are clashing fiercely.”
“As expected of Master.”
“Moreover, the forehead is darkened and the fingernails are pallid, which unmistakably indicates internal energy was forcefully expended.”
Bing Yu Hua’s face brightened.
Her master’s skill remained at the highest pinnacle.
‘If Master is here, she will surely save the child!’
“Yet something is strange. Normally in such cases, the breath should have already ceased….”
Bing Yu Hua quickly interjected.
It is a physician’s fundamental duty to clearly understand a patient’s medical history.
“This child has fortified her body by consuming Polygonum multiflorum for years.”
“Excellent!”
Wan Li Yi Xian’s eyes gleamed with light.
“I suspected the meridians were holding up better than expected. I shall personally prepare the Qi-Blood Settling Decoction. With that, we can overcome this crisis.”
Bing Yu Hua’s brightened expression darkened once more.
That her master would personally prepare such a precious Qi-Blood Settling Decoction for Hong Seol was beyond gratitude.
Yet it required not merely medicinal herbs, but also a special medicinal water that could purify the body’s vital essence.
“Is there a way to obtain it?”
“Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult. But since we are in Hefei, there is a way.”
“Pardon?”
“Is there not a place nearby that your father-in-law, the Sword King Nam Goong Ho, and his friend are known to frequent?”
Bing Yu Hua searched her memory. She could not understand why her master suddenly mentioned Nam Goong Ho’s friend.
“If it is one of Father’s friends…”
“I speak of that snake from the Sa Cheon Dang Family. There should certainly be a small pond nearby where that fellow used to visit.”
“Ah!”
Bing Yu Hua’s eyes widened in recognition.
Her master was referring to Nam Goong Ho’s close friend, the Poison King Dang Yi Mu.
In his youth, he had become famous for traveling the world on his Ten-Thousand Poisons Wandering Journey.
Poison and medicine differ by but a hair’s breadth. He had sought to discover every poison and remedy in existence.
Thus, even now, wherever there existed any medicinal water or spiritual elixir, traces of Dang Yi Mu’s passage remained.
Such as marks from boiling medicinal ingredients or mechanical mechanisms.
“If I recall correctly, it was a pond inside an underground chamber… but where was it?”
Moments later.
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol, a leather pouch fastened at his side, leaped over the Nam Goong Family Estate’s wall like the wind.
* * *
The door to the Chang Cheon Pavilion’s reception hall burst open.
All those who saw Bing Yu Hua and Wan Li Yi Xian rose from their seats simultaneously.
“The child is well.”
“Phew!”
“Sigh.”
At Wan Li Yi Xian’s words, the entire group exhaled in relief.
Nam Goong Ui Gyeol turned away, tears streaming down his face.
“Thanks to timely administration of the Qi-Blood Settling Decoction, the meridians are recovering rapidly. After resting for a few more days, she will be able to live as before. Though martial training will be impossible for some time.”
“How can we ever repay such a debt of gratitude…”
“It is not yet finished. You did not seek me out knowing the child’s qi and blood would surge beforehand.”
Everyone fell silent.
His words were correct.
They had sought out Wan Li Yi Xian through the Beggar Sect to cure Hong Seol’s Yin-Yang Severed Meridian condition.
“To determine whether that illness can be healed, the child’s body must first return to complete normalcy.”
“What do you mean by that…!”
Bing Yu Hua broke into a bright smile for the first time in a while.
“Master will be staying at the Guest Reception Hall for the time being.”
“I’m truly grateful, Wan Li Yi Xian! While you’re with us, the Nam Goong Family will treat you with the utmost sincerity.”
At the words of Nam Goong Ho, the family patriarch, Wan Li Yi Xian quietly bowed his head.
“Ah, and one more thing. It concerns the child’s health, so I hope you’ll listen carefully.”
At his grave expression, everyone in the room tensed.
“W-what is it?”
“Please stop giving the child so much candy.”
At those words, every adult in the Tea Room felt a pang of guilt.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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