Red Light District's Martial God Chapter 126

When the Eternal Divine Physician made the unexpected proposal, Jaseong's eyes widened.

Even more shocked were Lee Rin and Gu Janghu, standing behind him. As far as they knew, Jaseong had never had any formal master.

Yet now, the Eternal Divine Physician, one of the Ten Great Experts of the orthodox factions and hailed as the greatest physician in the history of the martial world, had offered to take Jaseong as a disciple.

It was an offer that defied belief.

'Why would he suddenly make such a proposal?'

Jaseong found it hard to fathom the Eternal Divine Physician's true intentions.

However, he did know at least this much: this offer was an enormous opportunity.

'The Eternal Divine Physician has never built his own following. He's never had an official disciple either... But if I succeed his legacy as his disciple, I would wield trendous influence in the orthodox faction as well.'

Currently, Jaseong held sway over the Dark Path throughout the Central Plains by controlling the Tianxia Association, and with the Scarlet Fla Sword—the Evil Path Association Leader's Seal—he was poised to exert influence over the unorthodox sects, too.

But if he accepted the Eternal Divine Physician's offer now, he would gain significant influence even within the orthodox factions.

'... That would allow to approach the enemies from the orthodox faction even more easily.'

Zhongnan, Hebei Peng Clan, Murong Clan. If he beca the Eternal Divine Physician's disciple, he would be able to approach them without arousing suspicion.

"I have one question."

"What is it?"

"I am the lord of Scarlet Lotus Hall, one of the thirteen hall lords of the Hao Sect. Even so, am I qualified to be your disciple?"

At Jaseong's inquiry, the Eternal Divine Physician's eyes twitched. Jaseong's identity was becoming more and more unexpected.

"... It does not matter. My art of healing cares not for orthodox or unorthodox... What I wish to pass down to you transcends such duality."

After hearing the Eternal Divine Physician's answer, Jaseong turned his gaze to Lee Rin.

She, too, had been invited to beco a disciple.

Was it possible for the little palace mistress of the North Sea Ice Palace to beco the disciple of a Central Plains outsider?

Despite Jaseong's worry, Lee Rin nodded without hesitation.

"We will both beco your disciples, honored one. Thank you for giving us this opportunity."

Behind her, her nursemaid Han Soweol wore a montarily disturbed expression, but Lee Rin paid her no mind.

With their intentions aligned, Jaseong and Lee Rin exchanged a glance and rose from their seats.

Then, as per martial world custom, they knelt before the Eternal Divine Physician and perford the nine-prostration ritual.

For the first ti, a faint smile brushed the face of the always-expressionless Eternal Divine Physician.

"Very well. From today, you are my disciples."

Upon hearing these words, the rest of their party looked as if they were dreaming.

'... To think that the great hero who seized control of the Tianxia Association—wielding power over all the Dark Path in the Central Plains, and who obtained the Wicked Fla Sword, the Evil Path Association Leader's Seal, granting influence over the unorthodox sects—has now gained a foothold to influence even the orthodox factions...'

'For milady to beco the disciple of one of the Ten Great Experts?! What on earth is happening...?!'

* * *

While all around him were imrsed in shock and confusion, the Eternal Divine Physician fell into quiet contemplation.

'Why did I decide to accept these young ones as disciples...?'

The Eternal Divine Physician reflected on his long life.

He had treated countless martial artists throughout his years: sect leaders from the orthodox, demon lords from the unorthodox, even disciples of the Demonic Cult.

But wandering the Central Plains in this way, he had never t a single person truly qualified to be his disciple.

Those talented in martial arts and controlling their ki often lacked the benevolence necessary for a healer, while those with the right spirit often lacked the martial talent.

But Jaseong was different.

First, the look in Jaseong's eyes as he threw himself into danger to save innocents in the streets of Xi'an.

It was no hypocrisy—it was genuine.

Second, the sage's energy flowing through Jaseong's body.

To an absolute expert like the Eternal Divine Physician, it was a most fascinating presence.

Third, despite his youth, Jaseong had single-handedly faced the elders of great sects, demonstrating remarkable martial talent.

Finally—

'If even that hypocrite Namgung Cheon-rui wanted him dead, this young man will surely beco a force to shake the world. If so... Raising him as a physician who might set the world to rights by passing on my art would not be a bad thing.'

This was the reason he accepted Jaseong as a disciple.

In contrast, the reason he accepted Lee Rin as a disciple was quite simple.

'Just by looking at this girl's eyes and brow, I can see her nature is innately good and pure. She's perfect to cultivate as a healer. More importantly, she's likely to be a wonderful check on that boy's unorthodox tendencies...'

His mind made up, the Eternal Divine Physician turned to Jaseong and spoke slowly.

"Now, as promised, let us begin the treatnt."

* * *

At that very mont, in a gloomy inn sowhere in Shaanxi Province, great figures of the unorthodox sects were gathering.

The first to enter were five white-haired elders—the five elders of Biweol Gate, Five Ghosts of Chongqing—who had been defeated and fled from Jaseong and the Eternal Divine Physician only recently.

Their robes were torn, and fatigue was etched deeply into their faces.

Next appeared an old woman wielding a massive blood-red blade.

"The mighty Five Ghosts of Chongqing, and look at the state you're in. The Eternal Divine Physician lives up to his na. Keh keh."

She cackled with a rasping voice. Five Ghosts of Chongqing scowled but did not retort, well aware of the old woman's formidable might.

She was nicknad the Mad Blood Blade.

Her savage moniker ill-suited a woman's body, but she was one of the top supre experts among the Evil Path Association's Hundred Great Villains.

Her eyes, under a crimson robe, were like a beast starving for blood.

Behind her, a giant carrying an iron mace appeared.

"It's been a while, Mountain-Breaking Iron Mace."

The iron-mace giant rely nodded in reply.

Of few words, his body was a wall of solid muscle, and the mace itself easily weighed a hundred pounds, radiating a palpable murderous intent.

Other figures followed—a poisonous palm elder, a man who brandished the teor Hamr, and so on.

A full twelve in all. Each one a supre or higher-rank expert of formidable might.

Just one could dominate an entire province. With twelve such experts gathered, it was formidable indeed.

With such strength, even a mid-sized orthodox sect could be annihilated within an hour or two.

And why had such power co to Shaanxi Province? The reason was simple: to avenge the death of the Evil Path Association Leader.

But that was only the stated reason. In truth, the evil path experts had their own ambitions.

'If I kill the Eternal Divine Physician, my na will echo throughout the world. To defeat one of the Ten Great Experts... ah, just the thought excites !'

'To slay an elder of the orthodox and beco a hero among the unorthodox! There could be no greater glory!'

For most, their drive was not vengeance, but the pursuit of Prestige.

Martial artists were beings who lived for Prestige.

If they defeated the Eternal Divine Physician, they would beco giants in the history of the unorthodox factions.

How could they pass up such an opportunity?

Just then—

Slish—

Suddenly, a figure erged from the darkness of the inn.

Appearing like a shadow, without a sound, the unorthodox experts frowned.

"... The master of Killing Valley always makes such dramatic entrances."

From the gloom, a masked figure stepped out. He was Jin Yong, the master of Central Plains' greatest assassin guild, Killing Valley, known as the Shadowed Assassin.

Though not quite on par with the Ten Great Experts, his mysterious assassination techniques had made him a terror in the martial world.

The Mad Blood Blade shouldered her crimson weapon and addressed him.

"I heard rumors even you seek the Eternal Divine Physician. But you, master of Killing Valley, aren't driven by Prestige, are you... Was it a contract that brought you to assassinate the Eternal Divine Physician?"

"The identity of my client is strictly confidential. That's always been our law at Killing Valley."

The master of Killing Valley's answer was chillingly cold.

"As expected? But is it true, then?"

"?"

"I an the information that the Eternal Divine Physician is in Zhongnan."

"It's true."

At that, they all frowned.

"Of all places, the Eternal Divine Physician is hiding in Zhongnan...?"

"That's the ho turf of the Zhongnan sect. If a battle breaks out there, there's no way they wouldn't know."

But the master of Killing Valley answered with composure.

"Don't worry. The Zhongnan sect won't interfere."

"... What? Even if the Eternal Divine Physician is beset by all of us, they won't step in? What do you an?"

"You'll all understand in ti. More importantly...."

"?"

"Our target is not just any expert, but one of the Ten Great Experts and a hero of the Great Heavenly Demon War."

"......!"

At these words, excitent and anxiety warred on their faces. Though they had survived decades in the martial world, never before had they faced such formidable prey.

"So we must give this hunt our all. I, as valley lord, will go first."

"Quite confident, aren't you? Do you have any tricks up your sleeve?"

The master of Killing Valley responded with an inscrutable smile.

"I may not be able to kill the Eternal Divine Physician, but I should be able to take one of his arms."

"... One of the Eternal Divine Physician's arms?"

"When I create the opening, attack together. Whoever claims his head, the glory will be shared by all."

At those words, a wicked killing intent glimred in the unorthodox experts' eyes.

That intent was aid at the towering Zhongnan mountains visible beyond the inn's window.

* * *

At that very hour,

The Eternal Divine Physician was leading Jaseong's party deep into the Zhongnan mountains for his promised treatnt.

After a long trek up the mountain path, they arrived at an unfrequented canyon.

From between the cliffs, a gigantic cave revealed itself.

"This is..."

Gu Janghu stared wide-eyed, murmuring.

Inside the cave, a hot spring gushed vigorously. The air was filled with the subtle scent of dicinal herbs.

Even more astonishing was the spiritual ki that wrapped around the entire cave.

Just inhaling deeply seed to flush the impurities from one's body.

"This energy... this is no ordinary cave. For such a place to exist in the Zhongnan mountains."

As Jaseong muttered inwardly, the Eternal Divine Physician pointed toward the innermost part of the cave.

"We'll conduct the treatnt here."

In the cave's depths, there was a flat stone between the gushing hot springs. Around it grew herbs at least decades old.

Jaseong silently sat on the flat stone.

At that mont, the Eternal Divine Physician issued a chilling warning.

"Many martial artists have co to depleted of their vitality. But not one has ever succeeded in being cured."

"Not one?"

"That's right. Healing depleted vitality is like bringing the dead back to life. Naturally, it's nearly impossible. But above all, the problem is most cannot endure the pain of the treatnt."

".......!"

"This is a treatnt of pain so sharp, it is as if your bones are being shaved away. Still, will you attempt it?"

The Eternal Divine Physician stared straight into Jaseong's eyes.

The words were severe, but Jaseong nodded without a trace of hesitation. His eyes blazed with resolve—'I will recover my body, master the Heaven Evading Celestial Formula, and beco stronger.'

As he looked at Jaseong, the Eternal Divine Physician recalled mories of the past.

'Those who first ca for this treatnt always had that sa look in their eyes. But they soon scread in agony and regretted their decision... How much can this youngster endure, I wonder?'

Taking out a box he'd prepared, the Eternal Divine Physician produced several unidentified purple herbs.

Unusually, they squird as if alive, much like earthworms.