“I have heard that you are a brilliant physician. Is there, perhaps, a medical method that can stabilize one’s disposition?”

“You’re not talking about something like brainwashing, are you?”

“Of course not. Not soul-capturing or brainwashing arts, but is there something that can simply calm the mind… and return her to a state of normal cognition?”

If something like that existed, I’d have used it myself.

He surely wasn’t talking about a method like the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique, which forcibly maintained rationality by accelerating and simultaneously processing multiple thoughts.

“Going to a temple to cultivate one’s mind and body would be the most fitting solution.”

“Keuk… You think I don’t know that? At least perform a pulse diagnosis. If this is the effect of her poison arts, perhaps she might change once those arts have stabilized.”

The father had not yet given up on his daughter. However, Jin Cheonhee’s thoughts were different.

If she’s in the Transformation Realm, her arts should have already stabilized and then some…

At this point, wasn’t this just Tang Ah’s personality? A father’s heart might want to believe that his daughter was acting this way because a wicked inner demon had taken root due to her poison arts. But couldn’t it be possible that this was just who she was?

However, since he continued to ask, Jin Cheonhee could not refuse, if only for the sake of his relationship with the Tang Clan.

“I understand. I will try… to have a conversation with Tang Ah. In addition, would it be alright if I performed a pulse diagnosis on others who practice poison arts? To see if there is anything different.”

Ordinarily, one would hesitate at such a request. The clan head couldn’t possibly be unaware that this was not a normal check-up, but a diagnosis meant to examine the methods of internal energy circulation and operation.

“…I ask this of you.”

Ah, he’s serious.

He had thought the man would refuse if he pushed this far. But since he accepted it so readily, a sigh escaped him.

The clan head continued, “However, please keep this a secret from the others. Only you and your master, the Divine Doctor White Dragon, need to know. Also.”

“Yes?”

“I am already aware of the Tang Clan’s martial arts methods from the time your master was the Blood Scaled Crazed Killer. He performed a pulse diagnosis on me several times.”

“Ah… so my master must have treated you?”

“Mm. He treated me five times after three life-and-death duels and two torture sessions. We were quite young back then. Hahahaha.”

What on earth was my master doing all the way out here in the Tang Clan’s territory? Jin Cheonhee felt a sense of vertigo.

***

This is difficult. Even if I can’t cure this, I’ll have to at least pretend to try.

No matter how Jin Cheonhee looked at it, at this point, it was her personality. From his research into the structure of the Transformation Realm, reaching that state broadened one’s cognition and perspective; it didn’t cause a 180-degree personality change. Therefore, based on his analysis of past hypotheses, it was highly probable that Tang Ah’s current personality was the one she desired for herself.

Right. It’s more fun to live as a chuunibyou than to become an adult. She has power and talent, so is there really a need to live while catering to others?

Of course, this was all just speculation in his head. He hadn’t actually investigated it, so it was hard to say for sure. But if his hypothesis was correct and this was just Tang Ah’s personality, then…

…Her father will have to prepare himself to accept it.

Puberty is something most people grow out of, but there are adults who continue to live the same way even after turning thirty, forty, and fifty. Even if their hormones have returned to normal, if they like living that way, they’ll just keep doing it.

Alright. Let’s at least try to do what I can.

And so, the next day, Sama Hyeon went around meeting with the people in charge of the Sichuan Tang Clan’s finances. It seemed he was going to open up some trade deals.

Jin Cheonhee, on the other hand, went to meet with the Senior Physicians from the White Dragon Medical Pavilion who had come with him, as well as the physicians of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Besides poison arts and detoxification, one of the specialties of the Sichuan Tang Clan that he was interested in was… dewormers.

The Dadu Kingdom incident was one example, but the parasite problem of this era was on a different level from the modern world. One could say they lived a life alongside parasites, but sometimes, they caused diseases. Despite this, there were virtually no proper dewormers available. The Sichuan Tang Clan’s dewormers were known to be effective, but the reason for it was actually quite simple. It was because they used poison.

The Tang Clan’s method was to have a person ingest a dose of poison that was enough to kill the parasites but not the person. Of course, poison was still poison, so the person wouldn’t be completely fine. Usually, after taking it, one would have to suffer from an upset stomach for a few days, or in severe cases, even come down with a fever.

Professor Jin had come here with his eyes on this parasite medicine from the very beginning. He wanted to check the accumulated data, verify the medicinal effects, and discuss points for improvement.

Thinking about the principles of representative modern parasite medicine… the basic principle is usually to prevent the parasite from absorbing nutrients, thereby starving it to death.

There was a time when a rumor spread that a dewormer primarily used for animals had anti-cancer effects, leading many cancer patients to seek it out. But it shouldn’t be taken recklessly before research was complete, and if it damaged the liver, it could make even the ongoing anti-cancer treatments difficult, so it was a painful situation all around.

And in this world, there are even strange parasites like Gu Poison.

There were parasites that lived inside the body and would kill the host if they didn’t periodically ingest a specific medicine. It wasn’t just the Blood Sect; the Unorthodox Faction and the Demonic Cult also controlled people that way. If it were possible to remove these parasites, it would not only be a matter of curing a disease but would also allow patients to assert their will against the threats of other factions.

Of course, the Sichuan Tang Clan didn’t just give.

“I heard you have a new concept of life. That a Microcosm of beings come together to form the human body.”

Calling cells that makes them sound really cool.

At first glance, it sounded like a Buddhist or Daoist philosophy. After Jin Cheonhee had joined the White Dragon Medical Pavilion, medical knowledge had advanced at a tremendous pace. He had created a primitive microscope, established the concepts of cells and bacteria, and sent them out in medical reports. He created a systematic curriculum, and physicians from the branches would come to the main pavilion, complete their education, and return to the field, repeating the cycle.

During this time, physicians from other medical pavilions and clinics had no knowledge of even the basic concepts of bacteria and cells. Some reacted to the medical reports by saying they were difficult to understand, or that they were too absurd to be believed. This was because humans were made of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements and lived through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, not through cells.

Mmm… I’m glad I brought the primitive microscope.

The Sichuan Tang Clan wanted to learn about the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s medical arts and was eager to accept them.

If that’s the case, there’s no reason to refuse.

The tree Jin Cheonhee wanted to build needed many people.

And so, he exchanged knowledge with the Tang Clan physicians. And in his spare time, he performed pulse diagnoses on martial artists who practiced poison arts, accumulating data. Time passed like that.

***

“Hoo! Another productive day!”

He was able to learn the Tang Clan’s secret detoxification techniques. He was also able to learn a method of paralyzing Gu Poison by injecting poison into the tip of a needle. Of course, he had only learned the theory; practical application was still a distant prospect.

No, but does it make sense that you need at least one gapja² of internal energy to paralyze just the Gu Poison without the patient dying?

Even in the Sichuan Tang Clan, there were only a few physicians who could use this method. To make it possible, one needed a deep knowledge of both poison arts and the human body, and on top of that, a high level of internal energy.

It’s certainly complicated. If you poke it wrong, the Gu Poison’s stomach will burst and melt the patient’s internal organs. But if you stick the needle in the wrong place, you won’t get the Gu Poison, and the patient’s body will be injected with poison instead.

…The medical arts of the martial world were already highly dependent on the practitioner, but this was on another level.

Even if I adapt it for the White Dragon Medical Pavilion, how many branches would be able to use it?

It was a good thing that most Gu Poison tended to stay put once it settled in the host’s body. If it were the type that moved around inside the body, it would be impossible to cure. Fortunately, such Gu Poison was quite rare.

Jin Cheonhee stretched his shoulders with a crackling sound and entered the guesthouse annex. Just then, Sama Hyeon was also coming in.

“Good work today, brother.”

“You too, Hyeon-ah. Any progress?”

“Of course~ I’ve already closed twelve contracts. We’ve also decided to open another one of our inns near the Tang Clan’s estate~”

“That’s amazing.”

Putting other things aside, opening an additional inn was quite novel. Given Sichuan’s nature, they didn’t often sell land to outsiders.

“How about you, brother?”

“I got a lot of what I wanted. There’s just one problem.”

Sama Hyeon instantly knew what that problem was. “Aah… right. I guess Blood Whip Queen is…”

Just then, he sensed someone rapidly approaching the annex using a lightness skill. Seeing as there was no move from the Tang Clan’s martial artists to stop them, it must be an insider. And sure enough.

A woman in pitch-black clothes stood on the roof, arms crossed, looking down at Jin Cheonhee. “Did you rest well! My fated adversary. Kehehe, the sight of you indulging in luxury and pleasure is quite amusing!”

[He was indulging in academics and cooking, though, brother,] Sama Hyeon said via telepathy. It was amazing how his expression didn’t change as he maintained his social grace even in this situation.

Jin Cheonhee said, “Miss Tang. I was just about to go and perform a pulse diagnosis, so this is good timing.”

“You dare say you will perform a pulse diagnosis on this seat? Are you prepared to offer up your life?”

“My life?”

“A Life. And. Death. Duel! The darkness is always fair. Here, you who have eaten of our flesh and blood shall pay the price!”

[Translation: She’s just saying that since you’ve eaten and slept well as a guest of the Tang Clan, it’s time for a duel, brother~]

[I swear, Hyeon-ah, you could survive even if you were dropped in the middle of the desert.]

Actually, there was a way to escape.

‘If I just say my stomach hurts right now and I can’t fight, she’ll probably back down. She’s a good kid at heart.’

The chaotic Tang Ah, who pursues the true darkness of dark, wouldn’t enjoy winning against a weak Jin Cheonhee and would just go back. And then she’d probably come back the next day or the day after to ask if his stomach was better. Judging by the pattern so far, she’d probably even bring something as a get-well gift. Because she was a good kid.

‘However. A duel is what I want, too.’

If this ended with just a pulse diagnosis and no results, the Tang Clan’s head would think Jin Cheonhee had just slacked off. If he thought he had been perfunctory after he had asked so earnestly, he might even misunderstand it as a loss of face.

‘Strangely… they think you’ve done your best if you cross swords with them.’

Of course, it was a life-and-death duel, so it was true that he was putting his life on the line. And that was, of course, giving it his all in another sense. But what use was that for a physician diagnosing an illness?

‘Alright. Let’s have one hot round. And then do the diagnosis. And… if I don’t know, I’ll just honestly say I don’t know. What other doctor in the world would have a life-and-death duel with Tang Ah as a form of medical examination?!’