Chapter 52. The Liberated Woman, The Resurrected Man

The hurried footsteps of the maids gradually subsided, and the steady sound of Murong Bai grinding herbs could be heard.

I sat cross-legged on the bed.

The snoring of Hong Xin and the occasional deep breaths of Jin Hai could also be heard.

Despite the various sounds, the emotion I felt in the Murong residence was one of tranquility.

'Good.'

After regressing, I learned that the Poison Demon Murong Bai used to laugh like that sometimes in his youth.

Just like me, there are people who laugh even when they are insane.

And there are those who never laugh as they go mad.

They have cut off the emotion of laughter from their hearts.

Because of this, the young physician Murong Bai seemed much happier to me than when he was the Poison Demon Murong Bai.

I also smiled faintly and began my meditation. The energy from the seven roots of Baiyancao had already been absorbed into the Dantian.

I converted the energy of the Dantian into internal power as usual.

There was no need to rush.

Having experienced the madness of cultivation several times, I know my body well.

Some people fall into madness due to impatience and anxiety, so I approach martial arts as slowly and thoroughly as a tortoise wandering the world.

Because of this, I didn't meditate all night.

I concentrated for about an hour, then lay down and looked at the ceiling.

Even though I was lying down, I was half-asleep, paying attention to the sounds around me like a guardian of the Murong residence.

In the blurry boundary between memory and dream, I was looking at a staircase.

* * *

A thin man in yellow robes carried a corpse in his hands and slowly climbed the stairs.

At the top of the stairs, a tall man with a large rosary around his neck looked down with a stern expression, along with other monks.

The faces of the monks at the top were filled with sorrow, but the tall man's face showed no emotion.

After examining the state of the corpse, the man briefly bid farewell to the other monks and slowly descended the stairs alone.

As he descended, his expression changed constantly.

His calm expression disappeared first, he shed all formalities, declared his own breaking of the precepts, and his expression changed like that of a statue of Fudo Myoo.

The monks at the top of the stairs called out for him to return, but the man who declared his own breaking of the precepts stepped off the last step with an unmoving expression.

Dreams are not stories that fit together.

The tall man who descended the stairs walked through the darkness. As soon as I saw his unusual attire in the dream, I sighed.

'Why are you looking at me again?'

The tall man with a thick rosary around his neck was a martial monk of the Zabu Esoteric School, a branch of the Western Esoteric School.

Commonly known as the Great Master of Zabu.

He waved his hand to clear the darkness, looked at me, and smiled strangely.

"Disciple, it's been a long time."

I opened my eyes involuntarily, and the sleep was gone.

'Ah, damn it...'

So, in summary, this is a nightmare.

Because I took Baiyancao, it triggered this dream through association.

I was dragged around by this crazy monk and eventually took Baiyancao. The hardships I endured then are indescribable.

In my previous life, this man was the previous generation's Mad Demon.

The Great Master of Zabu was my master.

But because of his background, attire, and demeanor, he was called the Mad Monk by enemies.

There are a few men in the martial world who are considered natural disasters that one should avoid at all costs, and the Mad Monk is one of them.

Whenever I think of my brief relationship with my master, I feel nauseous.

Just to taste Baiyancao, I was dragged from Central Plains to Western Esoteric.

I wondered what kind of fish lived in the sea off Zhejiang, so we went from Western Esoteric to Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, and Anhui, and finally to Zhejiang. All the black and white path figures we encountered on this journey were killed by the Mad Monk.

Even though I was dragged around, I never called him master.

But he always called me disciple.

Looking back after becoming a Mad Demon, he was indeed my master.

I made a silent vow.

This time, I will never be his disciple.

Being dragged around and almost giving up on life happened more than once.

Being the previous generation's Mad Demon, he was naturally a madman.

If he hadn't returned to Western Esoteric with enlightenment, half of the Central Plains' experts would have died at his hands.

* * *

Murong Bai, who had been moving around early in the morning without making a sound, discovered that I was already awake.

"Lord Sect Leader, you're already up?"

I nodded, and Murong Bai said,

"I'll bring the soup soon."

As soon as I saw Murong Bai's face, I realized he had been up all night. Murong Bai quickly brought a bowl of soup.

The black medicine given by the Poison Demon...

Even though I thought he wasn't the Poison Demon yet, my legs tingled slightly.

With innocent eyes, Murong Bai offered me the tasteless medicine that looked like poison.

"Lord Sect Leader, please take it."

Doctor, what did you make this with?

Suppressing the urge to ask, I drank the bowl. It seemed to be non-toxic as it smoothly went down my throat.

"How is it?"

"Nothing much, just a slight feeling of coolness in my chest."

"An empty... feeling? May I check your pulse?"

I extended my wrist, and Murong Bai checked my pulse, then tilted his head slightly.

"Have you had any difficulty cultivating your internal power recently?"

"Not really."

Suddenly, Murong Bai looked surprised and quickly withdrew his hand.

"There was a pulling force..."

"Pulling my internal power?"

"Yes."

Murong Bai touched the finger he used to check my pulse and described the feeling.

"It feels like it's being burned and absorbed."

"Probably so."

"Jin Hai's kidneys seem to have been affected by this as well."

I smiled and looked at Murong Bai. The man in front of me seemed to have grasped the situation.

"Does losing internal power mean that Jin Hai's internal power entered your Dantian?"

"Yes."

"Did you perhaps obtain an ancient martial art or a fortuitous event?"

"Probably a fortuitous event."

"Then it's best to avoid absorbing others' internal power until you fully master this phenomenon."

"I was planning to avoid it anyway."

"Where do you usually stay?"

"Somewhere in the Black Cat Hall or Yiyang County..."

"Even if you're busy, please visit often."

I openly revealed my movements.

"After dealing with the major temple, I'll come back with a lighter heart."

Dealing with the major temple means taking control of most of the black path in Nanhua, including Yiyang County. Once this is achieved, Murong Bai won't suddenly be in trouble.

After treating Hong Xin and Jin Hai in the morning and saying our goodbyes, I got into the carriage and looked at Murong Bai one last time.

"Doctor Murong, have a good rest. Thank you for your help these past few days."

Murong Bai smiled and replied,

"Lord Sect Leader, I wish you success. If you have any problems, please come see me."

I also left a warning.

"Doctor, be careful of the martial world. If anything happens, I'll come myself."

"Nothing will happen to the physician. Thank you for your concern."

As soon as the carriage started, I sighed slightly.

'I'm in a war to prevent anything from happening to you, you bastard...'

* * *

Jin Hai's complexion was better than yesterday.

However, Hong Xin, who had recovered from diarrhea, was beside him, and I was in front.

Jin Hai, who was extremely cautious about being slapped, spoke to me carefully.

"Senior Green, can I go home now?"

I nodded.

"Home is good."

"Thank you."

"No."

"..."

This time, Hong Xin put her hands together and smiled kindly.

"Senior, will you give me the antidote?"

"I already did."

"When?"

"Zahedu is a laxative. Murong Doctor must have treated your diarrhea."

I looked at Hong Xin's bewildered expression and said,

"Little sister, you need to manage your expressions?"

Hong Xin smiled widely. But to me, it looked like flames were burning in her eyes.

"Hong Little Sister, Jin Junior."

"Yes."

"Do you find it funny that I suddenly call you little sister and junior, even though we've never met?"

"No."

"It's not funny."

"What about your real master? In life, nothing is as precious as fate. If the two of you stand with the major temple against me, I'll stop the carriage. Since your poison has been cured and your internal injuries treated, you can go your separate ways."

"Hmm."

"I won't get off."

"I don't have much affection for you two yet, so I can kill you like strangers if you stand with the major temple. Live as you please, like me."

Hong Xin and Jin Hai looked at me intently.

I added,

"You're not my slaves. You're not the major temple's slaves either, so it's fine."

Jin Hai spoke up.

"Senior, if I betray the major temple, my family might be wiped out. Can you tell me how skilled you are and how much influence you have? It's not just about my life."

I suddenly thought of what Murong Bai said.

The disciple who once was one of the Twelve Guardians and lived a normal life after the major temple's fall might be Jin Hai.

Originally, this guy was a rich man's son, so it's entirely possible.

If so, he was treated by the person who killed him in his previous life.

I smiled.

'Life is really...'

"Are you a merchant? You want to compare forces and do a detailed calculation?"

Jin Hai bowed his head slightly.

"Sorry, but it's not just about my life..."

In the martial world, there's no more futile calculation than force comparison. Battles don't end with such calculations.

I explained in my own way.

"Think of it this way. Imagine I lose. The major temple still has many of my disciples, so it's natural that I'm at a disadvantage. But let's assume that the reason for my disadvantage is because Hong Xin and Jin Hai, you two, left. You two rejoined the major temple, and I narrowly lost. Would you be satisfied with your lives in that case?"

The two were silent for a moment.

"Keep stealing. Bring more money. I saw that the maids in the Murong residence are beautiful. If you catch the major temple's eye, Murong Bai might have to offer a maid to the major temple. You'll be slaves until the major temple falls."

I shook my head.

"Force comparison isn't important. Even if I'm weak, will you continue to live as slaves? Or will you not live as slaves? That's what matters."

After a while, the carriage stopped, and the driver said,

"We've arrived at the Black Cat Hall."

I said to Jin Hai, who had followed me this far,

"Jin Hai, you were born into a wealthy family and grew up without lacking anything. You must have pride in your family, but look at your situation now. Is that money really yours? Your family is the major temple's treasury. If you're truly rich, isn't it more important to think about how to spend your money rather than how to accumulate it?"

Jin Hai, avoiding a direct answer, replied,

"Senior, can I have one more meal?"

I asked Hong Xin,

"What about you?"

Hong Xin, looking puzzled, asked,

"What about me? A meal? I'm hungry, but..."

Jin Hai nudged Hong Xin with his elbow.

"He's asking if you'll stand with the major temple."

Unlike Jin Hai, Hong Xin was simple and straightforward.

"I'm definitely on Senior's side."

Jin Hai asked,

"Why?"

Hong Xin answered,

"You took me to the bathroom and to the doctor. I even ate pork ribs. Even though you gave me poison, it was a laxative. If the major temple's master had given me poison, I would have died. I would have defecated in the bushes. Just thinking about it is terrifying, so I'll stay with Senior."

I captured a lady's heart with a laxative again.

"Let's go eat."

We got out of the carriage and entered the Black Cat Hall with the driver. As we entered through the open main gate, I saw my subordinates training.

I appeared without my mask, and Xiaojunping bowed and said,

"Greetings, Hall Master."

The subordinates, maintaining their painful training stances, greeted me.

"Greetings, Hall Master!"

I nodded, flanked by Hong Xin on the left and Jin Hai on the right, and entered the inner courtyard.

Jin Hai, who didn't understand why the Black Cat Hall's subordinates called me Hall Master, looked around and stopped.

"Senior Green is Senior Miao? H, Han is Senior Miao? Senior Green is? The Sect Leader was a servant?"

I turned and looked at Jin Hai.

"Hey, look. Here comes the madness again. Hong Little Sister."

"Yes."

Hong Xin, who understood immediately, slapped the confused Jin Hai's cheeks.

"Snap out of it?"

Jin Hai, holding his cheeks, returned from the gates of hell. How many times had he been slapped in the past two days?

I clicked my tongue and said,

"Oh, you rich man's son, you're so weak."

I said to those who were freed from diarrhea and revived from being slapped,

"Let's go eat."

Surviving in the martial world is not easy.