Chapter 42

Shenma's Selection (42)

Danae stood by the bed and smiled at Namgung Hyang, who was lying on it, after completing all the preparations.

"You've been very brave until now."

Namgung Hyang asked with a slightly worried look in her eyes.

"Will I really get better?"

"Don't worry. You'll be able to return to your normal life. But in exchange, can you make one promise?"

"A promise...?"

"Keep the treatment method a secret. And no matter what happens during the treatment, don't be surprised or flustered. The success of this treatment largely depends on the patient's trust."

Namgung Hyang, who had been thinking deeply, nodded faintly with a smile.

"Does that mean the more secrets I have to keep, the higher my chances of survival?"

Namgung Hyang looked into Danae's eyes and said.

"I trust you."

"Then let's begin."

* * *

It was late at night, just before midnight.

The martial arts experts of the Wu Lin Alliance surrounded the annex, maintaining a strict guard. Meanwhile, Namgung Baek stood motionless on a high pavilion from which the annex was clearly visible.

He had been guarding this spot for three hours.

In fact, the longer time passed, the more his heart burned black with anxiety.

Especially because he couldn't know what was happening in the annex.

Suddenly, a peculiar aura emanating from the distant annex caught Namgung Baek's attention.

"Hmm?"

The aura was a mix of the rough and tyrannical energy of extreme yang and the delicate but chilling energy of extreme yin, in such a great amount that even Namgung Baek felt a shiver.

'To be able to extract this much medicinal power!'

Namgung Baek couldn't help but marvel.

There was a reason why the secret technique of the Poison Sect was so confident. The spirit medicines he had offered until now were not in vain.

If someone unfamiliar with the situation saw it, they might easily mistake it for a life-or-death internal energy duel between two experts.

At that moment, the yin and yang energies, which had been gradually intensifying as if to check each other, seemed to merge into one, then transformed into a completely different kind of energy.

A mist of pure and warm true qi, so pure that it was hard to measure. Just feeling it made one's heart naturally ease.

"Ah!"

Namgung Baek's voice betrayed his bewilderment.

He had only just realized that he had moved closer to the pavilion's railing without noticing.

"If I can feel this much from this distance..."

Namgung Baek quickly sent a mental message to Changtian, who was commanding the guards.

—Pull yourself together!

Changtian, who was startled, realized he had been moving closer to the annex.

The problem was not just that.

A considerable number of the martial artists he had placed around the annex to guard it were moving toward the annex as if they were under a spell.

—Pull your subordinates back immediately.

Following Namgung Baek's instructions, the martial artists guarding the annex withdrew like the tide.

A moment later, Yang Bulwei, who had climbed the pavilion, prostrated himself with a flushed face.

"Please forgive my subordinates' disgraceful behavior."

Namgung Baek didn't particularly scold Yang Bulwei.

The aura surrounding the annex had a powerful pull.

The higher one's martial arts level, the stronger the temptation. However, one thing was certain: it was not a sinister technique of the Poison Sect.

The traditional internal energy cultivation method of the Namgung family, the Changgong Dalian Divine Skill, inherently had the nature of dispelling evil energy. Yet, he felt no repulsion or resistance.

This meant the energy was not corrupt but pure.

"Even so, to show this level of internal energy... What kind of treatment is this?"

Namgung Baek stared intently at the annex.

His heart was still pounding, but somehow his mind felt much more at ease.

* * *

As the treatment entered its fourth hour.

"You've done well. Now comes the final hurdle."

"Yes, I can do it."

Namgung Hyang responded to Danae's words with a tired voice.

Her body was drenched in sweat, and dozens of needles were inserted into her.

But her eyes did not waver at all.

Feeling her unwavering will in her eyes, Danae nodded.

"From now on, I will remove the needles one by one to allow the energy to flow to you. Very slowly."

As she finished speaking, Danae began to carefully remove the needle between Namgung Hyang's neck and shoulder.

"From now on, you must not speak. Focus on maintaining your breathing. Even if you feel pain, don't be surprised."

Namgung Hyang blinked to acknowledge.

When all the needles were finally removed, Namgung Hyang flinched. As the true qi began to flow through her meridians, a tingling and tickling sensation, a strange stimulation, came over her.

"It's okay. This is a normal reaction. It's proof that your senses are returning."

With those words, Danae continued to remove the needles. She then reached for the needles placed between her navel and pubic bone, at the Zhongji and Guanyuan points.

At that moment.

Given the sensitivity of the area, Namgung Hyang's eyes wavered slightly.

The subtle difference had a significant impact.

The brief emotional disturbance led to the collapse of the breathing she had been maintaining with great effort. The true qi that had been flowing through the main meridians into the collateral meridians lost its balance and began to surge wildly.

As intense cold and immense heat hit her simultaneously, Namgung Hyang's vision blurred, and she momentarily lost consciousness.

At that moment, a large needle in Danae's hand pierced below Namgung Hyang's sternum.

"Haah..."

A white breath escaped from Namgung Hyang's mouth, which had just regained its breath.

Splat.

The breath, filled with intense cold, turned into white frost upon touching the ceiling and spread out.

At the same time, a strong heat rose from her entire body.

The heat was so intense that even Danae was forced to step back.

In an instant, Namgung Hyang's clothes turned to ashes and scattered.

"......!"

As Namgung Hyang, now naked, was enveloped in bewilderment, a firm voice held her attention.

"Pull yourself together!"

Namgung Hyang's wavering eyes refocused, and Danae looked at Hansol and Bangeui.

They were already beyond their limits.

Sweat poured down their faces like rain, and their fingertips trembled slightly.

"Hang in there! We're almost there!"

With a voice filled with concern, Hansol and Bangeui clenched their teeth.

"Now!"

Following Danae's signal, they once again focused all their will and spirit on channeling their true qi with all their might.

* * *

Creak.

The door of the annex opened, and Danae walked out.

Behind her, Hansol and Bangeui appeared in turn.

Seeing this, Namgung Baek immediately dashed forward. He landed in front of the annex, cutting through the air like a giant vulture.

"How did it go?"

Namgung Baek's voice, filled with anxiety, made Danae, who was exhausted and swaying, collapse on the spot.

Only then did Namgung Baek get a good look at Danae.

Her face was as white as a sheet of paper.

The sweat trails on her face were clearly visible.

The sweat had evaporated, leaving only a dry, salty residue.

Moreover, her lips were cracked like a parched field.

Hansol and Bangeui, the doctors, also showed clear signs of exhaustion.

'What could have happened?'

Namgung Baek felt a creeping sense of foreboding.

Even a high-level expert like Hansol rarely showed such a haggard appearance.

"Is Hyang safe?"

Under Namgung Baek's pressing, Hansol and Bangeui only looked at Danae without answering.

Danae was the same.

She hung limply like a wet towel, unable to speak. Unable to hold back any longer, Namgung Baek rushed into the annex.

Click.

At that moment, someone grabbed his wrist.

It was Danae.

Lifting her head with great effort, Danae met Namgung Baek's gaze and shook her head.

"......!"

Namgung Baek's heart sank.

"Hyang!"

Namgung Baek shot toward the annex like an arrow released from a bow.

Just then, Feng Zhencheng hurriedly blocked Namgung Baek.

"What are you doing?"

Feng Zhencheng was startled.

Namgung Baek's eyes were pouring out terrifying killing intent.

Namgung Baek growled low.

"If anything happens to that child..."

"What do you mean? What could have gone wrong?"

"......?"

While Namgung Baek was taken aback by Feng Zhencheng's words, a voice came from behind.

"The treatment was successful."

It was Danae.

"Then why just now...?"

Namgung Baek, looking at her in surprise, heard Danae sigh.

"I was about to tell you to postpone the visit for a while to ensure her stability, but you rushed in."

"Then Hyang will survive?"

"Yes. If nothing unusual happens, she should live a full life."

"Unusual things...?"

"An impatient guardian disrupting the patient's rest."

"......!"

Namgung Baek hurriedly stepped back from the annex. A moment later, Chao Eulryang walked out.

He had been guarding the annex until the end.

"The patient has regained consciousness."

Hearing this, Feng Zhencheng went back into the annex.

Chao Eulryang approached the group with a sympathetic look.

"You all have worked hard."

Hansol and Bangeui nodded silently. Danae, with a weak smile, looked at Chao Eulryang.

"Thank you, Uncle."

"What did I do? You, Doctor Dan, worked the hardest."

That was true.

If Danae hadn't handled the multiple crises during the treatment calmly, it would have certainly led to a terrible outcome.

Though she was a doctor, Danae was still a child.

Yet, she poured her physical and mental strength to the limit to save the patient, which gave Chao Eulryang a strange sense of emotion.

The harsh world of martial arts, where one must kill to survive.

This experience made him realize that a different world existed.

"It's nothing. It's my duty."

Danae's response was typical of her.

At that moment.

"Hyang!"

Namgung Baek's startled voice drew the group's attention to the entrance of the annex. Namgung Hyang, supported by Feng Zhencheng, was walking out.

Her complexion was still pale, and her body was thin, but her eyes were full of vitality.

Seeing this, Namgung Baek's face revealed his tumultuous emotions. This was the first time he had seen his daughter walk on her own since she fell ill.

Namgung Baek approached her and gently held her hand.

The warmth transmitted through her hand quietly melted the ice in his heart.

Her face, which had always been distorted by pain, now bore a smile of utmost comfort.

Namgung Baek bowed to Danae.

"Thank you. Truly, thank you..."

"Let's save the thanks for later. They need to rest, don't they?"

"Understood."

Namgung Baek nodded at Chao Eulryang's words. He then said to Namgung Hyang with a reluctant heart.

"I'll come back."

Namgung Hyang responded with a bright smile.

"I'm sorry. I caused you a lot of trouble, didn't I?"

"No, it's fine now."

Parents everywhere endure hardships for their children. But no pain can compare to the agony of losing a child.

Although the Namgung family's resources were depleted in saving Namgung Hyang, at this moment, there was no regret.

That was Namgung Baek's honest feeling.