Red Light District's Martial God Chapter 125

But in the next mont, an utterly unexpected figure erged from the thatched cottage.

'That woman...?'

A beautiful woman stepped out from the thatched cottage.

She was a stunning beauty, appearing to be in her mid-twenties.

Her long black hair tumbled down, her skin was alabaster, and her eyes were strikingly sharp.

"Doctor! Please, save my child!"

"My father has been coughing up blood since yesterday! Sobbing...!"

As they saw the appearing woman, the patients bowed and pleaded desperately.

The woman, her expression cold and indifferent, scrutinized the patients, and then chose the most critical cases first, calling them inside.

[I was expecting to et the Eternal Divine Physician, but... it's just a pretty female doctor. Not that she's prettier than , of course....]

[But Hall Lord, that woman's aura is definitely unusual. To run a clinic alone in such a mountain valley...]

Listening to Han Soweol and Gu Janghu's telepathy, Jaseong also fell into brief thought.

'A young female doctor encountered while searching for the Eternal Divine Physician... Could she be connected to the Eternal Divine Physician?'

At that mont, the woman approached Jaseong's group.

"If you want to see the doctor, get in line. This clinic treats the most urgent patients in order."

With cold eyes, she looked over Jaseong's party as she spoke.

Jaseong asked, "We've co looking for the Eternal Divine Physician. Does the Eternal Divine Physician reside here by any chance?"

"Eternal Divine Physician? I don't know why you're searching for such a grandiose na here, but this is just an ordinary clinic. A place for patients who are poor and destitute."

The reply was disheartening. If this was not the clinic of the Eternal Divine Physician, then the group had co in vain.

'But... this woman, sothing's suspicious about her.'

"What are you waiting for? Either get in line for a consultation or just leave."

The woman spoke again. After a mont's hesitation, Jaseong lined up behind the patients.

He intended to question her once more about her connection to the Eternal Divine Physician after receiving a consultation.

However—

No matter how long they waited, the line barely moved.

Unable to endure any longer, Lee Rin asked an old man standing next to them.

"Excuse , sir, how long have you been waiting?"

"How long have you youngsters waited?"

"We just got here."

"Then you have quite a wait ahead of you. I've been waiting for my turn for three days."

"Three days?"

"This doctor treats the most serious cases first, then sees the rest in the order they arrived. So you never know how much longer you'll have to wait."

Hearing this, Lee Rin frowned and sent a telepathic ssage to Jaseong.

[Great Hero, we can't afford to waste three whole days here. If this isn't actually the Eternal Divine Physician's retreat, we'll have wasted ti for nothing.]

Nursemaid Han Soweol also sent a telepathic ssage to Jaseong.

[Hall Lord, there's no one in the world who dislikes money.]

[What do you an by that?]

[Slip that young lady doctor a gold bar and get ahead in line. If she has nothing to do with the Eternal Divine Physician, you'd only be wasting ti otherwise.]

Han Soweol's suggestion seed reasonable.

But Jaseong shook his head.

He heard such pleas near his ear:

"Doctor! My grandson ate a poisonous mushroom, please save him!"

"My mother is vomiting blood! Sobbing...!"

There were patients around in even more critical condition than himself.

'It wouldn't be right to jump the queue ahead of these patients with a gold bar.'

Instead, Jaseong thought of another solution.

"Huh? Great Hero, where are you going?"

Jaseong left the line and stood in front of the thatched cottage's entrance.

Then he addressed the young female doctor treating patients inside.

"Doctor, is there anything I can do to help?"

At his question, the woman looked at him with icy eyes.

"To help... It looks like your martial arts skills are considerable, but have you ever gathered herbs?"

"When I was a junior guard, I used to follow herbalists around and gather herbs."

"A junior guard... That's an unusual past."

"......."

"In that case, take this book and gather the herbs marked in it from Zhongnan Mountain."

The woman took out a book from her robes containing illustrations and descriptions of herbs, and handed it to him.

Jaseong nodded, accepted the book, and led his companions into the forest, where they began gathering the herbs the woman had requested.

"Great Hero! There's so Asparagus Cochinchinensis here!"

Lee Rin had found a dicinal plant in the crevice of a cliff.

"Hall Lord, are these orchids over here the right kind?"

Gu Janghu, with his sharp eyes, also gathered rare herbs.

Just like that, a day passed.

Jaseong's group returned with every herb requested by the female doctor; in addition, they helped transfer patients and fetch water among many other necessary tasks.

Thanks to this, the line of patients encamped in front of the clinic quickly grew shorter.

It was only because Jaseong's group assisted with what the doctor had been doing alone.

"Thank you, doctor!"

"We'll never forget this kindness!"

Patients' words of gratitude were unending.

Once the patients had departed, the female doctor, still cold but with a trace more warmth in her voice, spoke to Jaseong.

"Your turn has finally co. What brings you here for treatnt?"

Jaseong answered without circumlocution.

"I have co to see the Eternal Divine Physician."

"Hm. I believe I've already told you about that."

The woman's brow furrowed.

"I have heard much about the Eternal Divine Physician's Prestige, but I am in no way connected to him."

But Jaseong would not give up and pressed on.

"I possess the Eternal Divine Physician's brass token."

Jaseong produced a brass token from his robe and presented it.

[藥無涯 — Limitless dicine]

He had previously received it from the Murim Alliance Leader, Namgung Cheon-rui.

Any possessor of this token was guaranteed treatnt by the Eternal Divine Physician's pledge.

But why?

The mont the woman saw the token, her expression stiffened.

Then, after a few seconds of silence, an astonishing scene unfolded.

Tuduk! Tuduk!

Tuduk! Tuduk!

The young female doctor's face and body started contorting grotesquely.

Her bones thickened, her skin hardened, and her gaze deepened.

When the transformation stopped, the person before their eyes was an old man with white hair twisted into a knot atop his head.

It was, unmistakably, the Eternal Divine Physician whom they had seen just yesterday on the streets of Xi'an.

"D— disguise art (易術)...?!"

Lee Rin exclaid in shock.

She'd heard there were a few experts in the Central Plains who could change their faces through disguise techniques, but never imagined such an art could turn a white-haired old man into a stunning beauty in her twenties.

The Eternal Divine Physician spoke in a chilling voice.

"That token—you received it from the Murim Alliance Leader, didn't you?"

"That's correct. I was told anyone holding this token would be treated by the Eternal Divine Physician himself."

The Eternal Divine Physician took the token and examined it.

"Yes. Whoever possesses my token must be treated by my dicinal arts. However..."

"?"

"You've brought the wrong token."

"What do you an, the wrong token? What are you saying?"

Suddenly, the Eternal Divine Physician released a murderous intent.

"Namgung Cheon-rui told , if you ca here looking for , I was to be sure to kill you—for the sake of the righteous martial world. He said you would be a threat to the world one day."

"......!"

The brass token he'd thought was a reward from the Murim Alliance in the past

had in truth been a trap set by Namgung Cheon-rui.

Jaseong and his comrades were left speechless.

'No matter how much the alliance leader is a hypocrite, surely he wouldn't go so far as to ask for my death... This is absurd.'

Lee Rin imdiately stepped forward.

"Eternal Divine Physician! Great Hero Jaseong is not soone who would cause chaos in the world!"

Gu Janghu silently reached for the twin swords at his waist.

'If he tries to harm the hall lord, even if it's the Eternal Divine Physician, I'll risk my life to stop him.'

Then, at that mont, the Eternal Divine Physician's murderous intent exploded.

Kwaaaa!

True to his reputation as one of the Ten Great Experts of the orthodox faction, his murderous aura was overwhelming.

Lee Rin, Gu Janghu, and the protector monks from the North Sea could barely breathe.

Jaseong, too, felt cold sweat run down his back.

'Even if I managed to open all ten levels of the Celestial Gate Opening Art, facing the Eternal Divine Physician is practically impossible. All the more so in my current state, drained of ki...'

But then, the Eternal Divine Physician suddenly withdrew his murderous intent.

And in the next instant, he said sothing completely unexpected.

"However, no matter what Namgung Cheon-rui has requested, I cannot harm soone holding my token."

"......?"

"You were supposed to be a dead man, but I will spare your life—think of that as the value of the token. Now, get out of my sight."

With a cold tone, the Eternal Divine Physician turned his back.

Lee Rin let out a sigh of relief at his words.

[Great Hero, let's go quickly. Before that old man changes his mind....]

Gu Janghu and the North Sea guardians had much the sa reaction.

But for so reason,

Jaseong did not get up from his seat.

"Why haven't you left?"

"I ca to receive treatnt from the Eternal Divine Physician."

"What?"

"Whatever the Murim Alliance Leader said, I have brought your token. Didn't you publicly announce to all of the martial world that anyone who brought your token, orthodox or unorthodox, would receive priority treatnt?"

"......."

"So please, treat . I cannot return until you do."

Jaseong spoke with eyes full of stubborn determination.

He thought inwardly:

'... I must recover my depleted life force to truly master the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula and form my middle dantian. Then I will be stronger than ever before. And perhaps, at last, achieve my vengeance. I absolutely cannot back down now.'

The Eternal Divine Physician silently watched Jaseong for a while.

"After three or four years of rest and recuperation, your depleted life force will naturally recover."

"I don't have that kind of ti."

"You're terribly stubborn. Do I seem like the type to be swayed by polite words?"

Goooo!

The Eternal Divine Physician once again released a fierce murderous aura.

'Urgh! I can't breathe!'

'Hall Lord...! Why go this far...!'

Jaseong's companions were sweating cold bullets.

But Jaseong sat steadfast, not batting an eye.

Seeing those eyes full of resolve, the Eternal Divine Physician couldn't help but have many thoughts.

'Just as Namgung Cheon-rui said, this kid does have a nature prone to the unorthodox... But the more I watch him, the more intriguing he is.'

The Eternal Divine Physician recalled what he'd seen in Xi'an:

Jaseong blocking Five Ghosts of Chongqing, putting his sick body in the way to save civilians.

How he'd gathered herbs all day and helped with patients here.

'Thinking on those things, he's not simply an evil person...'

Suddenly, the Eternal Divine Physician grew curious about Jaseong's origins.

He shot out a hand in a blur, grasped Jaseong's wrist, and checked his pulse.

"?!"

Then, feeling a type of energy he'd never sensed before, his eyes twitched.

"Who is your master?"

Sensing the celestial ki of the Heaven Evading Way, the Eternal Divine Physician's eyes narrowed.

Jaseong replied as he always did, lying with perfect composure.

"It was a hidden hermit who taught martial arts, but he has passed away."

"A hidden hermit? Did you ever learn his nickna?"

"He never told his title or na."

The Eternal Divine Physician fell silent for a long ti at Jaseong's response.

"Hm..."

His mind was tangled in a web of speculation.

'He's definitely hiding sothing... but I can't figure out what it is...'

Just then, Lee Rin quickly interjected.

"Eternal Divine Physician, I am Lee Rin, young Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace."

"... North Sea Ice Palace?"

"Yes. Your Prestige is renowned across the Central Plains, all the way to the far North Sea."

Suddenly, Lee Rin was showering him with flattery.

She did so only because she knew Jaseong would never back down.

"The North Sea Ice Palace never forgets its debts. If you ever have reason to visit the North Sea, I promise you'll be honored as a Heavenly Ice Guest."

"......."

"And if you need any herbs in the future, I'll go up to the mountains myself and gather them. Just yesterday, wasn't it much easier to care for patients because we were there to help? Please, don't turn us away."

The Eternal Divine Physician's nacing gaze moved from Jaseong to Lee Rin.

Lee Rin could hardly bear his overwhelming presence, but endured it for Jaseong's sake.

'This young lady isn't ordinary, either.'

Many thoughts raced through the Eternal Divine Physician's mind.

Then, after a mont, sothing entirely unexpected slipped from his lips.

"To be honest, even I, called a Divine Physician, am not certain if I can restore your shattered life force."

"At least try."

"Very well. I will."

Jaseong's eyes sparkled.

"Really?"

"On one condition."

"?"

"Beco my disciples. Both of you."

What...?