Chapter 7

Changcheon Wushen Chapter 7 (7/730)

"Master, are you really, truly alright?"

Jincheonsang looked at Nangong He with worried eyes.

Nangong He sighed.

"Of course I'm fine. How many times do you have to ask?"

"The elixir must always be taken with the medicine prescribed by the head of the pharmacy to neutralize it."

"I'm fine."

"Still, let me check your pulse."

"Is that guy, the head of the pharmacy, even good at taking pulses?"

"Of course! He is one of the top three doctors in Anhui Province."

"Only?"

"Only? He is one of the top hundred doctors in the Central Plains."

"Is that so?"

After a moment's thought, Nangong He nodded.

'Well, he must have some skill if he's kept me alive this long.'

Even though he had called him a blockhead, the head of the pharmacy had done his best.

No one else in the world could treat this Gouyin Meridian except for himself.

"Master, my life depends on your health..."

"Did you only learn to lie with your tongue? You were fine when my leg was broken."

"Hem, hem. I was just too busy at the time."

Jincheonsang subtly lowered his gaze.

"Hey, eat quickly. I've filled the table with all your favorite dishes today."

"Alright."

Nangong He looked at the table. It was filled with rich and fragrant dishes.

Today, he didn't bring any decoctions, fearing they might cause problems if eaten with the elixir.

Nangong He picked up his chopsticks.

'Good!'

They were made of wood, light and comfortable.

And because a little of his blood had started to flow, he felt his movements were slightly lighter.

Nangong He picked up a braised meat dish from the small tray Jincheonsang had brought.

Steam rose from it, and the oily broth dripped, making his mouth water.

Munch!

Nangong He chewed the meat.

As the taste hit him, his eyes widened.

'Delicious!'

The meat juice and various seasonings added a rich flavor.

Nangong He's chopsticks moved faster.

Munch! Munch! Slurp!

The various dishes on the table stimulated his appetite.

The taste that tingled his tongue sent shivers up to the top of his head.

"Wow."

Nangong He bit into a dumpling, involuntarily exclaiming.

"How long has it been?"

"But you had dumplings yesterday, Master."

"It's different from yesterday."

It was different, and significantly so.

'Yeah, it's different.'

When he was on the brink of death, the dumplings tasted like sand, but now they were completely different.

This was the first proper meal he had since returning from the brink of death.

Even the same dumplings would taste different.

Now, anything he ate would taste rich and sweet.

Of course, the food served today was also of the highest quality.

Nangong He was rediscovering the joy of eating after a long time.

'Eating is a pleasure.'

A luxurious life is also reflected in the food.

Throughout his life, he rarely had such well-prepared meals.

In his youth, he fought wars with the demon sect, and when he went into seclusion, he even fasted to prepare for ascension.

'It was a bit strict.'

Nangong He tore a duck leg offered by Jincheonsang and ate it, looking satisfied.

'Why did I stop this?'

After all, he had attempted to ascend six times, regardless of what he ate.

Given that the immortals only criticized his energy and achievements, food and ascension were clearly unrelated.

"Damn."

"…Pardon? Is there something uncomfortable?"

"It's delicious. Do you have any snacks?"

"Ah, yes! But not many."

"Do you have Bingtanghao?"

"Yes. If you want it, I can ask the chef to make it."

"Ah, good, good. Just ask and it will come."

It took a while, but he managed to get the elixir as well.

Is this the wealth of the Nangong family?

'The Sword King has something to boast about.'

The Sword King often subtly boasted about the family's wealth.

No, in fact, he boasted about the family whenever he got the chance.

A thousand years of history, the high-level experts the family has produced...

Nangong He's lips curled into a smile.

'Should I use this prestigious family once?'

If he's going to use it, he'll do it properly.

Nangong He grinned and quickly unwrapped the bandages around his leg.

Jincheonsang, who was clearing the table, was startled.

"Master! What are you doing! What will you do if you take them off? Wrap them up again, quickly!"

Nangong He ignored him and admired his leg, which he hadn't seen in a while.

"Good."

"It's not good."

"But I say it's good, why not?"

"There's no way a broken leg could heal so quickly! Ah, the head of the pharmacy will have to come again. If the family head finds out, he'll be furious."

Jincheonsang hurriedly wrapped Nangong He's leg again.

"Stay still. Stay still... Wait, why is it healing?"

Tap.

He lightly tapped his foot, and a clear sound echoed.

It was perfectly healed, as if it had never been broken.

Clearly, it was broken just a few days ago...

'How is this possible?'

No matter how many times he checked, it was the same.

His ankle, which should have been swollen and wobbly, was perfectly fine.

Jincheonsang looked at Nangong He's face and leg with a dazed expression.

Nangong He shook his foot and got off the bed.

"Guide me."

"Where to?"

"Where to?"

Nangong He smiled. Jincheonsang suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough.

"Changtian Wuguo."

The short, abrupt answer made Jincheonsang jump.

"Changtian Wuguo? Why?"

"Yes, I need to go there."

"Why are you going to Changtian Wuguo!"

"I'm not going there to cause trouble. I'm going to look at the secret manuals."

Jincheonsang leaped up at Nangong He's words.

"That's impossible! You need to rest now!"

"Did I commit a crime? Why are you making such a fuss?"

"Absolutely not, Changtian Wuguo! It's impossible with your condition."

Nangong He looked at Jincheonsang with a disapproving eye.

"So? Will you guide me or not?"

Jincheonsang shook his head vigorously.

"No. Absolutely not. Even if a knife is at my throat... Hey, where are you going?"

Nangong He snorted and brushed past Jincheonsang.

"Find the way yourself. If you won't come, stay."

"But it's useless, I tell you?"

"You'll see when you get there."

Nangong He stubbornly walked out.

Jincheonsang urgently said,

"It really is useless. You won't accomplish anything. I clearly told you, didn't I?"

"Alright, alright. Just clean the teacups."

Nangong He said this and left.

* * *

Nangong He arrived at his destination and opened his eyes wide.

'Is this Changtian Wuguo?'

A majestic four-story hall stood tall.

The blue roof and high walls were on a scale that could overshadow any mansion.

Jincheonsang, who seemed ready to chase after him, strangely let Nangong He go.

Thanks to this, the now free Nangong He easily found Changtian Wuguo.

It was exactly as the Sword King had boasted.

'There's nothing small about it.'

The Sword King's boasting wasn't for nothing.

– I will explain the long history of our family...

– If you say it again, I'll die.

– ...Did you explain about Changtian Wuguo?

– Changtian Wuguo?

– Yes. The long history... Ahem, everything started with Changtian Wuguo. With a thousand years of history, I often say Changtian Wuguo is the heart of our family.

'Changtian Wuguo.'

Changtian Wuguo (蒼天武庫) was a repository of martial arts that the Nangong family's bloodline could use.

A smile played on Nangong He's lips.

'Sword King, I'll use it well.'

If it's good enough for the Sword King to boast about, it must be of a high level. After all, he was a decent martial artist.

If he could get a few decent orthodox martial arts, he could combine them with his own insights to create new martial arts in no time.

Nangong He headed towards Changtian Wuguo.

The security at Changtian Wuguo was tight.

The guards seemed to be of a considerable level.

Enough to have a bit of authority in the martial world?

Nangong He smiled and approached the guards.

Boldly.

"Can I take a look at the repository?"

"Whoa! Master Nangong!"

The guards were startled and panicked upon seeing Nangong He.

"You shouldn't be here."

"Why?"

"It will harm your health! Go back to your room! Quickly."

"I just want to take a quick look at the repository."

"No, absolutely not! The family head has strictly forbidden entry!"

The guard stubbornly blocked Nangong He's path.

His tone was worried, but it was clearly overprotective.

However, Nangong He had come here with a certain mindset.

Nangong He smiled and said,

"It's fine, I'm fine. Look."

Nangong He lifted his right foot and wiggled it to show he was fine.

"Fine? Then go ahead."

Just as he was about to brush past the guard and enter,

"I'm sorry."

"That's right. There's no need to apologize. Step aside..."

"It's the family head's order, Master Nangong!"

The guard, who had been standing there awkwardly, seemed to have made up his mind and lunged at Nangong He.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing?"

To be ambushed like this?

I'm Master Nangong!

As he was stunned, the guard suddenly picked Nangong He up and slung him over his shoulder.

"Huh?"

Nangong He, who felt as light as a feather on the guard's shoulder, was momentarily stunned.

He was so surprised he didn't know how to react.

He was just speechless.

Tap, tap, tap, tap!

The guard ran.

Nangong He's head bobbed up and down with each step.

'...Wow.'

To be carried over someone's shoulder like this.

I, Nangong He?

Nangong He looked at the receding Changtian Wuguo with a bewildered expression.

'...What is this?'

A mix of frustration and bewilderment was evident on his face.

Thud.

"..."

Nangong He sat on the bed, which he had returned to, and looked at the door.

The guard's back quickly disappeared.

A moment of silence followed.

Nangong He rubbed his face with his palm.

"...I was carried back."

It was a fresh experience.

So fresh he couldn't even speak.

Meanwhile, Jincheonsang was calmly placing teacups on one side of the room, as if he had expected this to happen.

Nangong He let out a hollow laugh and muttered,

"I didn't expect you to stop me."

Climbing over the wall was one thing, but for the Nangong family's Master to be stopped from entering the repository was another.

It was like a merchant's son being stopped from learning to haggle or a scholar's son being stopped from studying.

To be so thoroughly controlled?

This couldn't be left as it was.

He needed to show them who he was.

The best way to break free from overprotection was to show his strength.

"I'll break it all open."

He would subdue the guards and enter the repository boldly.

What could they do once he was inside?

Even if he was dragged out, he could at least take one secret manual.

Nangong He went outside again and headed towards Changtian Wuguo.

He saw the face of the guard who had carried him.

"Hey!"

"Whoa! Master Nangong! Why are you here again!"

The guard looked at Nangong He with a perplexed expression.

Nangong He walked forward confidently.

He stood in front of the guard boldly.

Just as he was about to circulate his Qingming Xianxin Gong and suppress the guard,

Guards from Changtian Wuguo rushed out and surrounded Nangong He.

"...Are you attacking me together?"

Nangong He was taken aback by this unexpected situation.

He hadn't anticipated this.

'Isn't this too much for a patient?'

The chivalry of the martial world has fallen.

Damn orthodox bastards, pushing with numbers as always!

Nangong He frowned and looked at the guards.

The guards, looking awkward, stretched out their hands, unsure of what to do.

They seemed as tense as if handling expensive porcelain.

"Oh, Master!"

"Master, we'll be in trouble if you stay here!"

"What are you doing! Move quickly!"

"Be careful not to hurt him!"

The guards rushed over.

They quickly and precisely grabbed Nangong He's limbs.

Nangong He's mouth opened wide at their well-coordinated movements.

"Wh...?"

This isn't right?

The guards, who had lifted his limbs, started running forward with force.

A cloud of dust followed them.

Nangong He, lifted high by the guards' arms, looked up at the sky with a bewildered expression.

This time, it was the real sky, not the ceiling.

White clouds drifted across the clear blue sky at a rapid pace.

Before he knew it, he was back at his quarters.

Thud!

Nangong He, back on the bed, was speechless.

The guards bowed deeply.

"We're sorry, Master."

"Then we'll be on our way!"

"We've reported to the family head, so don't worry!"

...What will he do when he hears this?

Nangong He looked at the guards leaving with a dazed expression.

"...I'm doomed."

If Nangong Zhangtian finds out, it will be troublesome.

"That's why I told you not to go."

Jincheonsang, bringing in tea, clicked his tongue, causing Nangong He's brows to furrow.

"Didn't you know you'd be turned away at the door?"

"Thanks, for telling me now."

"I thought you already knew."

"If you thought I knew, you should have said it again. It