The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Dam Hyun seemed to have regarded Cheongho as a sibling in his heart. Given his slightly odd mental state, it was plausible for him to consider a doll as a sibling.

His discomfort with humans, or rather his rejection of them, made him feel more at ease with animals or yokai.

Among them, he had opened his heart the most to Cheongho.

Unable to converse, his delusions only intensified. In his mind, Cheongho became a noble, great yokai.

How delighted he was after reading about the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.

Someday, Cheongho would surely regain its power as a great yokai and vanquish the evil of the world. That’s what he believed.

However, such fantasies were shattered by Cheongho’s own words.

She confessed everything. She wasn’t a yokai, but a human, a ghost.

But how could this ghost take the form of a fox and summon blue lightning?

Golden Needle Phantom remembered her reply and chuckled.

“A yokai’s hybrid. So, it’s actually possible, Yi-gang.”

“I don’t disbelieve it. After all, this world is full of wonders beyond that.”

It meant that her grandfather was a yokai.

She, the granddaughter, especially seemed to have inherited many yokai traits. She really was a hybrid of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox. Hard to believe, but he had no choice but to trust it. Because the Forest Lord guaranteed it.

“Dam Hyun’s insight wasn’t entirely misplaced. Ahem, this acupuncture will be quite painful.”

“Anyway, one-fourth of her is a yokai, isn’t it? That’s what Senior Brother says… Ugh.”

“That means the other three-fourths is human. Dam Hyun should have been more wary of people. What he cherished and carried around was a doll, and moreover, a tall and pretty woman. That must have been shocking.”

“How do you know she was pretty?”

“Ahem, her voice was like that.”

Golden Needle Phantom coughed. It was a slightly guilty statement for a Taoist priest.

“But, she died at a young age, so should we say she’s young? She was born before me.”

If Cheongho’s true identity had been just an ordinary human, maybe Dam Hyun wouldn’t have been so repulsed.

“The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon, Cheong Seo-ho. It was her.”

Her real name was surprisingly similar to Cheongho. However, her nickname, “Blue-Eyed Mad Demon,” was more famous than her real name.

“There was a time of bloodshed. Both the Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Union designated her as a top public enemy of the martial world.”

A public enemy of Murim was designated for extremely heinous criminals or demons. And very rarely, both the Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Union jointly designated an enemy.

In such cases, there would be nowhere to hide in this vast Central Plains.

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon stirred the entire martial world for two months in such a situation. She escaped from Shaanxi Province, where the Baek Clan was located, to the east, passing almost the Qinghai region to the entrance of the Kunlun Mountains.

But it was said that she was surrounded and killed by dozens of martial masters guarding the last passage.

It was said that all the martial masters from the Orthodox-Unorthodox coalition waiting to kill her died, except for one.

“Her martial arts must have been very strong.”

“They were. Inexplicably so for her age. She was twenty-nine at the time, but she might have been close to being one of the Ten Grandmasters.”

That level was indeed extraordinary. If she hadn’t become a public enemy of Murim at that time, she might have had the talent to aim for the title of “Strongest in the World” someday.

“Was she called a demon?”

“There was a huge incident about a decade before that bloodbath. A great purge in the Demon Cult, and many demons were pushed into the Central Plains.”

“I heard that the Forest Lord was active in Jianghu at that time.”

“Yes, the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon was known to have been expelled from the Demon Cult then.”

“I see.”

Being from the Demon Cult was enough to be designated as a public enemy of Murim. The fear of the Demon Cult was more realistic than the already extinct Evil Cult.

While administering acupuncture and examining Yi-gang’s body, Golden Needle Phantom absentmindedly marveled.

“Truly wondrously opened.”

“The major meridian?”

“Yes. Though it only extends from the right hand to below the navel at the Qihai point. Such an ideal meridian path is a first for me.”

Golden Needle Phantom, having felt Yi-gang’s pulse, infused vital energy to examine his meridians.

What was previously broken strand by strand was now smooth. Elastic and broad, as if he had undergone a transformation.

“If the major meridians of the whole body can be connected… perhaps you could become a great martial master.”

The term “great martial master” seemed an understatement, almost too modest.

Golden Needle Phantom couldn’t even imagine the limits if that really happened.

Yi-gang muttered hesitantly, “…I’m not sure if that’s possible.”

“Ah, right, of course.”

The absolute master, the Immortal Divine Sword, had transferred all his immense spiritual energy to connect one major meridian.

It was incredibly lucky, to say the least. Such an opportunity would not be easy to come by again.

In the awkward silence, Yi-gang spoke up, “Someday I’ll find a way. I have no intention of giving up.”

Yi-gang’s will to live had not diminished.

Golden Needle Phantom smiled faintly and nodded.

“That’s the spirit. I’ll continue to help you.”

“Yes, then I’ll be on my way. It’ll take a while to climb White Cloud Peak.”

Four days after being healed, the Forest Lord called Yi-gang to White Cloud Peak.

As Golden Needle Phantom saw Yi-gang off, he suddenly asked, “Just one question. About Dam Hyun’s madness getting better.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Dam Hyun’s madness improved significantly thanks to Yi-gang’s beating. It was due to the dark energy that flowed out during the beating.

Of course, he didn’t mention that part.

“I was just standing there when black energy started flowing out of his nose.”

“Re… really?”

Feeling guilty, Yi-gang stammered.

“It’s just, no matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem likely. We even considered the skull-breaking head-opening technique before. It would require a tremendous physical shock.”

“Ah…”

“You wouldn’t have just randomly hit Dam Hyun on the head. Anyway, how did it happen… oh, are you going?”

“Yes, I really have to rush. Thank you, Martial Uncle.”

Yi-gang disappeared quickly as if using light footwork.

Golden Needle Phantom was left to ruefully click his tongue.

Yi-gang arrived at the top of White Cloud Peak.

It hadn’t taken long to get there from the Medical Hall where Golden Needle Phantom was. He had hurried off due to the unpleasant situation, but even considering that, his speed was impressive.

His body had improved significantly. Not just the connection of the major meridians, but his physical strength as well.

Yi-gang straightened his clothes and stood in front of the temple.

“This is disciple Yi-gang.”

“Come in.”

The Forest Lord’s gentle voice was heard.

Yi-gang entered the building with quiet steps.

The solemn temple was a bit chilly despite it being spring. However, perhaps due to the boiled tea water, a warm tea aroma wafted through the air.

The Forest Lord was sitting in front of an old landscape painting.

“Your face looks well.”

“It’s thanks to you, Forest Lord.”

The Forest Lord invited Yi-gang to take a seat.

Next to the prepared seat was Dam Hyun, sitting awkwardly and looking tense.

Yi-gang brought his hands together for a formal bow.

“Eek!”

“…Senior Brother.”

But Dam Hyun covered his face with both hands.

“Ahem.”

Yi-gang performed the formal bow and quickly took his seat. The Forest Lord looked puzzled, but Yi-gang pretended not to notice.

“Hmm, yes. Now that Yi-gang is here, we can talk about it.”

Yi-gang did not know why the Forest Lord had called him.

The Forest Lord quietly offered something.

Recognizing it, Dam Hyun flinched. It was a fox doll.

“As the child mentioned last time, what was dwelling in this doll was not a yokai, as you, Dam Hyun, thought.”

“…Yes.”

“It must have been a shock.”

“Yes, it was.”

Dam Hyun looked dejected. In fact, he couldn’t even look directly at the fox doll.

“You must resent me for not telling you earlier.”

“…”

“But there is something you need to know. Hiding her identity was Seo-ho’s wish.”

“What?”

“Nobody but me knew Seo-ho’s identity. She had said she would hide it forever. But she revealed her identity to you. Do you understand what that means?”

Dam Hyun couldn’t respond.

“It must mean she held you in high regard, to share her hidden past with you.”

“Is that… so?”

“Yes. You must acknowledge that you received a lot of comfort from Seo-ho.”

“…Yes, Forest Lord.”

Dam Hyun wore a bitter expression.

“Forget the fox you’ve kept in your heart.”

How easy could that be? But Dam Hyun hesitated and then nodded.

The Forest Lord then pressed on the back of the old fox doll. A peg that held part of the doll in place popped out.

With a soft sound, the old wooden doll came apart.

What once moved as if alive was now nothing more than ordinary pieces of wood.

Inside it, surprisingly, was a blue gem.

“Do you no longer wish to keep it by your side?”

“Yes. I can manage on my own now.”

“When you leave the Repentance Cave, start learning again from the bottom.”

“I will.”

Dam Hyun was now beginning to stand on his own. He planned to stop carrying the doll around anymore.

“Shouldn’t you say a final goodbye?”

At that moment, the gem in Forest Lord’s hand shone.

It was clear that Forest Lord had done something. He too was a master at handling spiritual energy.

“…Ah.”

Dam Hyun let out a sigh.

In front of him appeared a blue fox.

It was exactly like Cheongho, the fox he cherished.

“…”

Dam Hyun was silent for a long time.

Eventually, he stood up and said a single word.

“Thank you.”

Then he deeply bowed to the Forest Lord and turned away. The Forest Lord did not stop him as he left.

The blue fox quietly watched Dam Hyun, then dispersed like mist.

After Dam Hyun had left, there was a moment of silence.

The Forest Lord spoke to Yi-gang, who was quietly drinking tea.

“Don’t think too harshly of your senior brother. He must have felt betrayed.”

“I understand.”

In fact, Yi-gang wasn’t particularly interested.

“Do you see it?”

He slightly lifted his gaze.

Where the form of the blue fox had vanished, it was clearly there.

“Yes, I see it.”

“Well, you are the one who saw even the Immortal Divine Sword.”

“Can’t you see it, Forest Lord?”

“I know of its existence but cannot see it. The fox’s form was made using the child’s spiritual energy, so it’s visible.”

Yi-gang could clearly see it.

The figure of a young woman sitting with one knee raised.

Her hair, black with a hint of blue sheen, was long and glossy.

Despite being a woman of the martial world, her clothing and posture were excessively disheveled.

Contrary to being called with blue eyes, her irises were black. Her eyes were a bit fierce, but her features were beautiful.

On her red lips, there was a confident smile, and when her mouth slightly opened, exceptionally sharp canines were visible.

「He should live well on his own now. Right? He’s old enough.」

This was said to Yi-gang. He nodded in response.

‘Indeed.’

「Even seeing me doesn’t bother you. Last time, Dam Hyun and I nearly killed you.」

Yi-gang did not bother responding to unfavorable remarks.

「Forget the past. Thanks to you, that poor child regained his sanity. A bit of a beating isn’t too bad a price to pay.」

Moreover, she seemed to have a refreshingly straightforward personality.

Forest Lord intervened with a faint smile.

“Are you having a conversation?”

“Ah, I apologize.”

The Forest Lord probably hadn’t heard the conversation.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. Communicating with spirits without using the Soul Echo Board is your talent, Yi-gang.”

Like the Immortal Divine Sword, there were other spirits lingering on earth. Yi-gang suddenly realized this fact.

“This is the first time I’ve met such a spirit, aside from my ancestor.”

“As I have explained, for a spirit to remain on earth, several conditions must be met.”

Unfulfilled wishes, or very strong attachments.

Strong mental and spiritual energy to maintain oneself as a spirit. Or assistance from places like the Azure Forest.

“I have been protecting it for a long time.”

Yi-gang asked cautiously, “Isn’t this person a demon? I heard she was a public enemy of Murim.”

Cheong Seo-ho was a public enemy known as the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon.

Yi-gang couldn’t imagine the Azure Forest, which could be considered a major pillar of the orthodox faction, protecting such a demon.

The Forest Lord wore a troubled expression.

“It was a long time ago. As far as I know, Seo-ho did not commit a crime that would warrant being labeled a public enemy.”

Such a statement from someone else might have been criticized for disrespecting the authority of the Murim Alliance.

「Those scumbags!」

At that moment, Cheong Seo-ho shouted in anger.

「Those damn bastards deliberately killed me.」

Yi-gang then realized why her nickname included “Blue-Eyed.”

The irises of the enraged Blue-Eyed Mad Demon were shining bright blue.

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