Chapter 152

“Is it going to sting a bit?”

“What if it’s like the best physician or a divine one? Won’t they just jab the needle without knowing? Like sticking a needle in a chicken and letting it run around?”

“Acupuncture? Wow, you know about that too? But if you don’t even know you’re getting pricked, that’s not okay. What kind of assassin are you?”

And then—a little prick on the shoulder. Ouchie. Ouch-ouch.

“Is this working? It hurts a bit longer, though.”

“Wait, why isn’t the needle going in?”

Even the strongest body on earth doesn’t allow a needle to pierce through.

Tang Nan-ah pressed the needle down with a flustered look.

“What kind of muscles are these? Why isn’t it going in?”

“Hey, that hurts. Ouch. It really hurts!”

“Just hang in there. Ouch.”

When it comes to acupuncture, you’re supposed to hold the needle with your thumb and middle finger, gently press, rotate, and poke to the right depth. Sometimes, when there’s a knot, you tap it lightly with your index finger.

But since it’s just bouncing off the skin without penetrating, Tang Nan-ah finally adjusted her grip on the long needle.

She wrapped her fist around the needle, with the tip pointed downward, blocking the end with her thumb.

If someone saw, they’d think she was holding a dagger or an ice pick instead of a needle.

“Hey, are you not taking out the nerve? What kind of acupuncture are you doing while wrapping around like a defense device?”

“Uh, wait, I didn’t mean to! Okay, now it’s done!”

With quite a bit of pain, it was a jab!

It felt like the needle was digging into her shoulder.

“Ah.”

That was the physician’s startled voice.

Whether it was a medical procedure or a surgery, such sounds were a terrible nightmare for the patient.

“…I think I just heard a sound that absolutely must not be heard by the physician.”

“No, no. It’s not what you think.”

“Did I mishear? Oh, wow, it’s surprising. The pain seems to have decreased significantly?”

“Huh? Really? That can’t be true?”

“…Excuse me? Physician?”

“No, it’s just that I pressed in deep. Can you try moving your fingers?”

“Uh? Hmm, they don’t move? Is that normal?”

“In the morning, you will. Probably. But since you’re totally paralyzed, the needle should go in well. Now, a little prick.”

Squeeze, squeeze,

With a strong sensation like something pressing down, Tang Nan-ah let out a frustrated voice.

“Darn it, it’s not going in…”

Qing silently thought to herself.

She really should’ve received a scientific Western medicine treatment instead of this quack traditional medicine.

The lack of Western doctors was truly a great loss.

However, there was one more fact that Qing was unaware of.

In this era, Western medicine was more focused on fundamental treatments than on resolving individual symptoms.

Where does the source of pain come from?

It’s the brain! Let’s just slice the brain off!

Where does the source of the illness come from?

It’s the rectum! Let’s slice off the rectum! Let’s see those shoulder blades!

It may sound absurd.

But look.

Westerners were in much pain from toothaches. Hence, the personal physicians of noble nobles would extract all teeth before they hurt, practicing preventive medicine—even on the revered royalty!

What? Disinfecting? Washing tools and hands?

Isn’t that just something that obsessive cleanliness freaks do?

Wait, what? Mental illness? Remove the brain!

For reference, the development of Western medicine in this era went like this.

Doctors would compare visions they saw in dreams and choose the one that was the loudest to document as knowledge.

The concept itself was different from the outset.

Traditional medicine treated the aching part, and a physician who failed would have to prepare for stones being thrown.

But Western medicine was just a desperate attempt to save someone who was likely to die anyway.

If they succeeded, great! If they failed, since the patient was already dying, the doctor didn’t carry the blame.

If a patient ends up living, that just adds another brutal tool to their list of new treatment methods discovered.

So, Qing had to be grateful to Tang Nan-ah, but…

“Ah.”

“What now?”

“Never mind, don’t worry. Maybe by tomorrow lunch, I’ll be able to move my arm… maybe?”

Qing thought once more.

That being a traditional doctor was the only advantage she had.

Now, it seemed like there was no advantage left.

—-

The breakfast of the people of Central Plain is quite simple.

If it must be so, Qing would gladly forego being a person from Central Plain.

“That’s, uh, soaked well. Yum.”

Qing opened her mouth like a baby bird to take the dumpling that Gyeon Pohee offered.

Stir-fried vegetables quickly mixed with the dumpling would taste spicy and sour, really delightful.

But what to do if her arm isn’t moving?

To be precise, it wasn’t so much the injury but more the clumsy acupuncture that relied on Tang Nan-ah’s strength.

From Tang Nan-ah’s perspective, if the needle wasn’t going in, what could she do?

But Qing could use her left hand to use chopsticks.

Yet in a leisurely meal with no competition, there was no reason to go that far.

In fact, it was more competitive on the feeding side.

As soon as Qing swallowed, this time, Tang Nan-ah stuck in a significantly larger portion.

“Wait, pass me the eggplant.”

“What? You don’t eat eggplant? It’s not good to be picky.”

“I only like fried ones! And I’m grown up enough, so what do I need to eat evenly for? Hey, you! Stop looking around!”

“Wait, since you say I’m big…”

Suddenly, Je-gal Lee-hyun was watching them like he was enchanted.

His gaze was different from Tang Nan-ah’s, so Qing’s reaction changed.

“What? Je-gal, have you never seen someone eat a lot? Am I fascinating? I’ve barely touched half of it!”

“If you ask, yeah, it is remarkable. But might I ask, Lady, your arm seems uncomfortable. How did that happen?”

“Uh? No, I just got the needle wrong in the middle of the night, and now I’m paralyzed.”

Answering in the subjective form was a bit uncomfortable; Qing couldn’t admit that she’d messed up on purpose to tease his little sister.

Regardless, she didn’t lie.

“Ugh. So, I’m being fed because of that. Wait, what are you doing? I was just thinking about you…!”

“That’s much appreciated! Uh, should I get pricked again?”

“I’ve gotten a bit used to it now…”

Such was an unsatisfactory response.

But like Tang Nan-ah said, she was being helpful, and even though she was paralyzed, the effect was still there.

They decided it’d be best to reach the next city of Hyo-gam by tonight, so right after breakfast, they set off from the Je-gal Family’s place.

Though Je-gal Hyang’s clingy hold on her leg led to a brief consideration to stay another day,

“Sister, when are you coming back? Will you come pick me up?”

Qing chuckled.

After all, little kids easily get attached and just as easily forget.

Even if they think they’re cute, it’s all just an illusion.

When they grow up, boys will seem disgusting, and girls will look petty; in truth, getting close to them is hardly worthwhile.

As Qing absentmindedly answered, she ruffled her hair.

“Sure. I’ll come pick you up if you grow pretty.”

“Hehe, I’ll be waiting, Sister.”

The little one who barely got one walk with an adult would forget about it in a few days and later ask, “Who are you?”

—-

The ride on the Je-gal Family’s carriage was as comfortable as can be.

While it didn’t match the black ebony carriage of the demonic sect, it was an invention from the Je-gal Family’s experts, providing a comparable ride.

Plus, there were no pointless disputes along the way.

No, instead, people miraculously opened the road in front of their Je-gal Family carriage.

So comfortably, they continued traveling north until finally entering Henan Province and reaching the city of Shinyang.

Shinyang was a city nestled with a large lake to the left, and this lake was called Namyangho.

But the name Namyang belonged to a neighboring town to the west.

“Do you know why the lake in Shinyang is called Namyangho? That’s a story that starts from the time of the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States, back in the time of the Shin Kingdom…”

Je-gal Lee-hyun suddenly began his automatic explanation without anyone asking, which was quite a peculiar sight indeed.

“…That’s how they ended up being divided into Namyang and Shinyang. Ah, speaking of Namyang, it’s where our ancestor, Je-gal Liang, spent his childhood. It really brings up special feelings for me. Plus, in the past, Yu Hyeon-deok visited Je-gal Liang three times as the county magistrate, so the tale of ‘three visits for a straw hut’ is right from Namyang…”

As the subject naturally shifted to Namyang, it seemed he wanted to talk about Je-gal Liang.

Who could resist bragging about the most prominent ancestor of the family?

But again, Namyang is the next town over; this here is Shinyang!

Shortly after the Je-gal Family’s carriage entered the city, a series of warriors rushed toward them.

It was commendable competition among nearby Zhengpai warriors eager to welcome them.

Qing spotted a familiar face among them.

“Ah. So this is where it is?”

Suddenly, something familiar caught her eye.

“Isn’t that Wang Son-seok from the Great Justice Gate?”

It was Wang Son-seok, the heir to the Great Justice Gate.

Wang Son-seok recognized Qing as well.

Since Qing’s face was covered, he recognized her by the distinctive physical features that made her more identifiable.

Had she shown her face, he likely wouldn’t have recognized her.

“Oh! Young Lady Seomun! How have you been?”

“I’ve been well…”

Usually, Qing was about to answer when she hesitated.

Picking up the Magic Flute here and going back for that harsh winter afterward was quite the ordeal.

And then those demonic sect creeps—just a bunch of damn dogs.

Thinking back on it, it put her in a foul mood; later, she’d have to summon the Heavenly Demon and smash something to feel better.

“Young Lady?”

“I’ve been doing okay. Not that I could say I was great at all….”

Wang Son-seok started sweating.

That was tough to answer, so he figured he’d just change the subject.

“Uh, oh! So, you’re on your way to the Martial World Tournament? Oh, our little righteous heroes are quite reputable.”

Wang Son-seok’s words abruptly halted.

Of all things, he halted at “righteous heroes,” which might as well be the end of the conversation.

All of this was thanks to Tang Nan-ah.

Though Qing was being treated poorly, Tang Nan-ah was an official member of the Martial World’s Yao Association, Heavenly Flower!

The committee members from the Je-gal Family were simply there to continue the beautiful exercise of complimenting the remarkable presence of beauty.

“Huh? Young Ah, is that familiar to you?”

“I borrowed a favor back then… or was it that the Great Justice Gate owed me a favor? What do you think?”

“Uh, indeed. The Great Justice Gate owes a major favor to Young Lady Seomun. But this truly beautiful lady…”

That was a somewhat rude comment, but honestly, Wang Son-seok had no clue what Qing was even saying.

After all, a shining beauty stood right in front of him.

“Oh, that’s Tang Nan-ah.”

“Heavenly Flower!”

Watching their reaction, Qing thought to herself.

At this rate, maybe I should get a nickname too.

Just saying my name would trigger gasps of admiration.

In truth, Qing does have a nickname.

However, it’s just not widely known.

She has the grand title of the ‘Divine Sword of the Moon.’

In fact, it was granted by the esteemed Sect Leader Yuha of the Hwasan Sect!

Not just a Moon Sword, but a Moon ‘Divine’ Sword.

To an upcoming twenty-year-old girl, being called ‘divine sword’ is quite a stretch.

Everyone would laugh, thinking it’s a grand title.

And for that very reason, it never gained traction.

The title was so grand that it seemed implausible.

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