It Wasn’t a Martial Arts World, but the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 93: The Renowned Physician (1)

I was still doing my best to restore my meridians.

The process involved regulating the qi flowing from my dantian and directing it into the damaged acupoints to heal them.

I opened my eyes.

In about a week, the Dokbi Acupoint would be completely healed.

I didn’t know when the other meridians would fully recover, but it had already been three days since I started this.

Soon, I would need to contact my younger brothers.

However, the problem was that I had no means to contact them.

I didn’t have a messenger, nor could Lü Bu go in my place, making the situation quite frustrating.

At some point, I would have to hire a courier to handle this.

*Creaaaak—*

Lost in thought, I heard the door open.

Lü Bu, wearing a ragged cloth, had returned, carrying a large bundle on her shoulder, likely filled with groceries from the market.

“You’re back?”

“Yeah.”

At first, I wasn’t sure how this living arrangement would work, but I was slowly getting used to this cohabitation.

Those groceries were bought with the reward money from subduing the bandits last time.

Of course, the authorities had probably asked Lü Bu to identify herself, but I had told her to make up a story about having burn scars on her face.

I would stick to that story as well.

Though there was little chance of meeting anyone out here, it was best to be thorough in case something happened.

People would have a hard time recognizing me, so blending in with them was not the best course of action, especially when I needed to focus on training.

“Hoo.”

Lü Bu plopped down and unpacked the bundle.

“Why did you buy so much?”

“Those guys from Green Forest, they were quite lucrative. I hadn’t heard of their organization before, but they recently popped up around here. They seem to be a real headache for the locals.”

“Green Forest…”

Green Forest was a very familiar name to me.

After all, they were the bandit group that frequently appeared in martial arts novels.

They were often used as cannon fodder to showcase the protagonist’s strength to the readers.

Despite just being a bunch of thieves, they often made a big deal of themselves, even calling themselves the Seventy-Two Strongholds of Green Forest as if trying to sound impressive.

“Well, not our problem anyway. But aren’t you hungry?”

Lü Bu stood up, and I also got up, leaning on my cane.

This cane was something Lü Bu had crafted for me from wood.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected such kindness from her.

She had casually tossed it at me, saying, “What kind of man looks so pathetic?”

The cane was sharp and finely crafted, like something a reclusive master might carry.

“Let me help.”

“Just sit down and stay still, alright? Remember last time you couldn’t even control your body and made a mess?”

“…I can’t argue with that.”

Feeling embarrassed, I scratched the back of my head.

Lü Bu sighed, looking at me as if she were exasperated, and then skillfully began preparing the ingredients.

She had spent her life wielding a blade, so it seemed she was quite good at cooking too.

To be honest, this was unexpected. I thought Lü Bu would just hunt and eat raw meat.

After a while, a steaming pot of soup and fried meat dishes appeared.

“You’d make a good wife someday, Yeo.”

“I told you to stop saying disgusting things while we’re eating!”

I laughed heartily and picked up my spoon.

As expected, her cooking was excellent.

The soup was well-seasoned, and the meat was juicy.

Honestly, it was the best meal I’d had since ending up in this place.

“So, have you made any progress?”

Lü Bu asked.

“It’s going well enough.”

I replied while eating the soup.

“How long do you think it’ll take?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.”

“Phew…”

Lü Bu sighed.

Anyone would get frustrated with a vague answer in this kind of situation.

She likely wanted to get out of this mountain sooner rather than later.

I felt a bit guilty and was about to apologize.

“…Well, take your time. There’s no need to rush.”

But Lü Bu said that with a sincere look in her eyes.

“Huh?”

I was genuinely surprised.

“You’re not angry?”

“Is there a reason to be?”

Lü Bu grabbed her bowl of soup and drank it down in one go.

Then she slammed it down with a clatter.

“Just don’t slack off. Otherwise, I won’t sit idly by.”

“Got it…”

Well, it worked out well for me.

Though I didn’t know why, I reasoned that this was like office workers taking a break on vacation.

That was how I rationalized it.

“It’s fortunate, though, that we settled down near the village. We rarely have to deal with people. Now, I can send letters to my younger brothers and freely train in martial arts.”

“Is that so?”

Lü Bu’s tone was unexpectedly gentle.

I wondered if she had changed in the past few days.

Anyway.

As I had mentioned, settling in this secluded place was nothing short of a blessing.

“If I just heal my internal injuries and achieve a complete transformation, all that’s left is to return. Haha! Who would’ve thought things would go this smoothly!”

Not everything had to end in misfortune, after all.

With those thoughts, Lü Bu and I continued our meal.

***

In a remote village on the outskirts of Donghae, the villagers toiled under the bright sun.

The marketplace was bustling, filled with people gambling or hawking their wares.

Among them was a middle-aged woman and her daughter, selling their produce.

“So, you’re telling me someone is living in the mountains? In that dangerous place?”

“Yes, Mother. I’m serious. And both of them were incredibly brave—they took down four of those Green Forest bandits in an instant!”

“Oh my, oh my, thank the heavens you’re safe, Ryon! Should I pack some food and take it to them?”

The middle-aged woman, hands raised, spoke with a look of gratitude.

Not only had they saved her daughter, but they hadn’t asked for any reward.

They were truly her daughter’s saviors.

Her daughter, Hyeryeon, nodded enthusiastically, agreeing with her mother.

As they chatted happily, the sound of a child crying suddenly echoed.

Along with it came the mournful cries of a woman.

Hyeryeon and her mother stepped away from their stall and approached the woman.

“Is something wrong with your child?”

Hyeryeon asked.

The woman, patting the boy slung on her back, replied.

“He’s been burning up since yesterday… I thought he’d get better soon, but…”

The woman struggled even to hold a conversation.

Hyeryeon gently placed her palm on the boy’s forehead.

“Oh my!”

He was burning up like a fire.

It wouldn’t be surprising if something went terribly wrong soon.

“Sniff… I’ve tried feeding him ground herbs, but nothing’s working… What do I do? My poor child…”

There were no doctors in the area, and receiving treatment cost a lot of money.

Judging by the woman’s appearance, she couldn’t possibly afford it.

But it wasn’t right to ignore a dying child either…

Just then, the events of a few days ago flashed through Hyeryeon’s mind.

“…Maybe, that person could help.”

“T-That person?!”

The woman, desperate, grabbed Hyeryeon’s skirt and prostrated herself.

Hyeryeon, startled, knelt down and patted the woman’s back.

“There are some distinguished people living in the nearby mountains. I don’t know who they are, but one of them, who has trouble walking, healed my injured ankle in no time… His skills were nothing short of those of a renowned physician.”

“W-Where is he?! Please… I’ll pay any price if he can just save my child!”

“…”

Hyeryeon hesitated.

It wouldn’t be right to bother those distinguished individuals.

However, considering the woman’s situation, Hyeryeon couldn’t help but feel torn.

In the end, Hyeryeon nodded, her face set with determination.

“Follow me. I’ll show you the way.”

The two of them ascended the mountain path.

They waited until the child was deeply asleep before embarking, just in case they encountered Green Forest bandits.

As she walked, Hyeryeon thought to herself.

She didn’t have much money either.

Fortunately, she was well-known in the market, and many elders were willing to help if she asked.

If she pooled her resources and offered what she could, maybe the physician would treat the child.

After walking for some time, they arrived at a modest thatched house.

Hyeryeon gulped.

“Just a moment.”

She carefully approached and was about to knock on the door.

But before she could, the door swung open violently.

– Bang!

“Kyaa!”

The door hit Hyeryeon in the face.

Rubbing her forehead, she slowly looked up.

“What’s this?”

A rough voice.

The woman’s face was obscured by a ragged cloth, but it was unmistakably the same person who had slaughtered the bandits with her massive weapon.

Hyeryeon spoke, her voice trembling.

“G-Greetings. I am grateful for your kindness the other day…”

“Get to the point. Answer. Be brief, okay? Don’t babble uselessly.”

“…I-I’d like to meet with the physician…”

“The physician?”

Lü Bu folded her arms, looking at the woman as if she was spouting nonsense.

“What physician? There’s no such person here.”

“But… didn’t that person heal my ankle just the other day…?”

Ah, that person.

Lü Bu immediately understood who the woman was referring to.

“Sigh… Hey, scram. Don’t make noise.”

“…B-But!”

“I said get lost. Are your ears clogged? That guy’s busy right now, so don’t bother him with your personal problems.”

It was then.

The boy woke up.

As the boy began to cry, Lü Bu turned her gaze to the child on the woman’s back.

And at that moment—

– Tap. Tap. Tap.

The rhythmic tapping of footsteps echoed.

It was Unryong, limping on his cane, wearing the same ragged cloth as Lü Bu.

“What’s going on, Yeo?”

That voice—it was unmistakably the same person who had healed her ankle.

Hyeryeon immediately bowed deeply.

“D-Doctor…!”

“Huh?”

Unryong was bewildered.

Hearing the child’s cries, he had come outside, only to find a woman bowing before him.

“M-My child’s life… His life is in danger, so I had no choice but to seek your help…!”

“…?”

Unryong looked at the crying child.

“Why are you up and about?”

“Hold on, Yeo.”

Unryong raised his hand, stopping the growling Lü Bu.

He approached the kneeling woman and spoke.

“Raise your head.”

“…”

The woman slowly lifted her head.

Between her shadowed lips, he saw a faint smile.

“What, did you commit some crime?”

Unryong then leaned on his cane and approached the child.

“I see, impure qi has accumulated near the Fengchi Acupoint.”

With that, Unryong placed his hand on the boy’s upper back.

Slowly, Unryong assessed the boy’s meridians.

He infused qi, driving out the impure qi.

Blood pooled in Unryong’s mouth, but he quickly dispelled the impure qi that was tormenting the boy.

“It’s done.”

“…W-What?”

The child’s mother touched her son’s forehead, just as Unryong had done.

“How… How could this be…”

Unryong didn’t add anything further. He simply smiled.

“Well, it’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Thank you! I don’t know how to repay you! I am truly grateful!”

“Don’t be so loud. My ears are going to fall off.”

Hyeryeon watched Unryong.

He slowly stood and leaned on his cane.

“And by the way, I’m not a physician. But if the child experiences the same symptoms again, I can take another look.”

With that, Unryong disappeared behind the door.

Lü Bu clicked her tongue loudly and slammed the door shut.

Hyeryeon, still on her knees, stared blankly at the closed door.

He seemed frail.

He didn’t use the rough tone of the woman.

But somehow, chills ran through her entire body.

The heavy pressure weighed down on her shoulders even more than that of the rough-speaking woman beside him.

In the end, Hyeryeon couldn’t leave that spot for quite a while.