Chapter 20 Treatment

Chapter 20 Treatment

Why did the Yang brothers try to stop Namgung-woo? It wasn’t because they held any grudge against the Peng Clan.

On the contrary, they were fundamentally driven by goodwill, much like Peng Mu-ho had asked Namgung-woo why he was helping them.

“Young Hero, aren’t you attempting Qi Healing Circulation? If so, that’s dangerous.”

“That’s right. The Thunder Qi we cultivate is tyrannical. It’s powerful, but it also clashes significantly with other True Qi. Moreover, Thunder Qi can paralyze the human body if misused.”

“If you’re thinking of its special ability to exorcise evil, you must be cautious. It might not only tear apart the Aura of Evil but also her entire network of acupoints.”

“From the start, Thunder Qi is too dangerous for the human body. It’s not suitable for healing. Unless, of course, you cultivate the same Thunder Qi.”

Namgung-woo found the brothers’ words hard to understand.

Their argument was that Thunder Qi was unsuitable for bodily recovery. And it seemed to be common knowledge, as even the Peng Clan Martial Artists couldn’t refute it.

But that made no sense.

There’s nothing better for recovery than electricity.

In modern physical therapy, where Namgung-woo once lived, electrical stimulation is a crucial treatment method. The recovery effects achievable through electricity are considered the absolute core of physical therapy.

Perhaps the only thing that could offer better recovery than electricity or Thunder Qi would be Wood Qi, which is akin to life force itself.

In Chullok Murim, Thunder Qi was hailed as the most overpowered among all attributes, not just for its formidable offensive power but also for its healing capabilities.

The important thing is whether I can control the power output suitable for that treatment.

Putting that aside, if he left her as she was, death was almost certain. Even if she miraculously survived, she’d be a one-armed cripple.

In that case, shouldn’t he prioritize treatment, even if it meant being scorched by Thunder Qi?

Transmission of Internal Energy was a technique where a mistake by one party would result in severe harm to both. Thus, while the Yang brothers felt sorry for Peng Ha-ryeong, they prioritized their benefactor, Namgung-woo, and tried to dissuade him.

It was natural that the Peng Clan’s gazes towards the brothers turned unfriendly. However, even under the fierce glares of four Peak Masters, the Yang brothers, though they flinched, did not retreat, refusing to give up on convincing Namgung-woo.

But to Namgung-woo, the confrontation between the Yang brothers and the Peng Clan Martial Artists seemed like a mere play.

I appreciate their concern for me, but…

Namgung-woo was human. He felt gratitude and consideration for those who genuinely worried about him, even if he didn’t fully agree with their concerns.

Considering the Yang brothers’ dignity and the dwindling time for Peng Ha-ryeong, Namgung-woo curtly stated,

“This is about saving a life.”

So, stop wasting time and move aside.

Roughly translated, that was the meaning, but those who heard it seemed to interpret it differently.

“Young Hero…”

“He’s not a Young Hero. He’s a Great Hero…”

Murmuring voices filled the air, mixed with those of the Peng Clan Martial Artists.

As Namgung-woo bypassed the Yang brothers and approached Peng Ha-ryeong, the Peng Clan Martial Artists moved aside, clearing a path for him.

After a long process, he finally reached Peng Ha-ryeong’s side. Coming closer, he understood more clearly.

Her breathing is unstable. She’s definitely going to die.

Cutting off her arm wouldn’t be enough.

The Aura of Evil had reached her lungs. Her body was unable to circulate Qi, forcing her to rely on someone else. If Peng Mu-ho had been unharmed, it might have been different, but he too had sustained Internal Injury. The other Peng Clan Martial Artists, being of similar skill, would likely suffer Internal Injuries themselves if they attempted Transmission of Internal Energy together.

There was only one option from the start.

It was right for him to step forward.

Namgung-woo began to draw upon his Internal Energy in earnest.

First, I’ll burn away the Aura of Evil with Heavenly Thunder Qi, then accelerate her recovery with electricity. After that, I’ll restore her broken homeostasis with Azure Sky Qi to boost her self-healing ability.

Having laid out the broad plan, Namgung-woo immediately put it into action.

“I ask for your protection.”

“Will a radius of three meters suffice?”

Peng Mu-ho’s words had become even more respectful.

Namgung-woo nodded at Peng Mu-ho’s offer to prevent any interference within a three-meter radius.

“That’s enough.”

“Yes. Including myself, four of us will guard the four directions.”

“We will help too.”

The Yang brothers expressed their intention to assist, now that things had come to this.

“Good.”

Under Peng Mu-ho’s command, six Martial Artists took their respective positions.

Even if the Yang brothers were slightly weaker, four Peak Masters and two Top-tier Martial Artists were more than enough for the outskirts of Wu’an County.

Namgung-woo entrusted the outside matters entirely to them and grasped Peng Ha-ryeong’s wrist.

For Transmission of Internal Energy alone, the Mingmen Acupoint on her back would be ideal, but since I need to save her right arm, I’ll start from her wrist.

Namgung-woo’s palm enveloped Peng Ha-ryeong’s radial artery. Her faint pulse was transmitted through Namgung-woo’s hand.

Enter.

Shhhk.

Namgung-woo’s Heavenly Thunder Qi flowed into Peng Ha-ryeong’s body through the Laogong Acupoint in his palm.

Namgung-woo’s Heavenly Thunder Qi and the Form-Stealing Fiend’s Aura of Evil.

The two energies clashed within Peng Ha-ryeong’s body.

Feeling the Aura fluctuations behind them, Peng Wi couldn’t endure the anxiety and spoke to Peng Mu-ho.

“Deputy Commander, are we truly going to leave it like this…?”

“Trust him.”

“Ugh… If anything happens to Young Lady, all of us…”

“Do we have any other option besides that young man?”

“No, but…”

“Then look ahead. They’re coming.”

The Martial Artists of the Lee Clan Manor, along with others who had participated in this battle, were approaching.

Peng Wi wiped his sweaty palms on his clothes and gripped the hilt of his blade.

It’s not difficult. Her body is so pure, there are no blockages.

Throughout life, waste naturally accumulates in the body. The same goes for Meridians. However, Peng Ha-ryeong’s Meridians had almost none of that.

This was the power of a renowned martial family.

From a young age, they would lay the foundation of their Meridians through Meridian Forging, live in a clean environment, eat clean food, maintain a clean lifestyle, and cultivate excellent Internal Energy Cultivation Methods from childhood to maximize efficiency.

Their starting point was different from that of ordinary people.

Coupled with being a direct bloodline descendant, she must have consumed spiritual elixirs. So, even if she lacked talent, reaching the Peak Transcendence Cultivation Realm would have merely been a matter of time.

Of course, to become a seasoned Peak Master at such a young age like Peng Ha-ryeong, talent would also need to back it up.

The situation was perfect, allowing Namgung-woo to briefly indulge in other thoughts.

What power could the Form-Stealing Fiend’s Aura of Evil possibly have against the Heavenly Thunder Qi, imbued with the power to exorcise evil?

Perhaps it might have been different if it were the Thunder Qi of the Yang brothers, whose Internal Energy Cultivation Level was still shallow.

A fierce battle between the Aura of Evil and Thunder Qi? There was no such thing. What was happening within Peng Ha-ryeong’s body was not a bloody struggle that tore apart even her Meridians, but merely a chase.

No, even calling it a chase was too generous. It was a hunt. That was more accurate.

During the smooth process of expelling the Aura of Evil, Namgung-woo suddenly observed a phenomenon and arrived at an idea.

The Aura of Evil is feeding on the Turbid Qi in her body, swelling in size… If I can just use this well?

No matter how well one was cared for, unless one lived in a pure environment isolated from the secular world like Mount Song or Hengshan, subsisting solely on Sustenance Pills, Turbid Qi would accumulate little by little.

Even in Peng Ha-ryeong’s Meridians, there was a faint amount of Turbid Qi. Her Twelve Main Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians were smoothly cleared, but here and there in the Minor Meridians spread throughout her body, there were still blockages of Turbid Qi.

Should I try it?

Namgung-woo changed the flow of his Heavenly Thunder Qi.

Instead of catching up and burning away the Aura of Evil, he maintained a delicate distance, guiding the Aura of Evil in the desired direction.

Doing this clumsily would be a mad act, as the untrained, weaker Minor Meridians could easily be damaged by the Aura of Evil, leading to Internal Injuries. However, Namgung-woo’s Azure Serenity Eyes clearly perceived the size of the energy and the limits of the Minor Meridians down to the most minute level.

The insight of Azure Serenity Eyes and his near-absolute control over Internal Energy.

Instead of individually searching for and removing Turbid Qi, the Aura of Evil would gather it on its own, and then he would burn that Aura of Evil, optimizing efficiency.

These three elements combined exquisitely, producing an effect akin to marrow cleansing and hair washing.

Now, if I just burn all of that in the major Qi and blood points belonging to the Conception Meridian, it’ll be over.

The Aura of Evil, avoiding the Thunder Qi, fled to a place suitable for itself. It was towards the Yinjiao Acupoint.

Literally, it was the point where Yin Meridians intersect, with the Conception Meridian, Lesser Yin Kidney Meridian, and Chong Meridian all passing through the Yinjiao Acupoint. A little further down was the Lower Dantian’s Qihai Acupoint, making it an ideal spot for the Aura of Evil to feed on Peng Ha-ryeong’s Yin Qi and weakened Internal Energy, swelling its size.

At the same time, it was the very spot Namgung-woo had chosen as the Aura of Evil’s grave, where he had already laid a trap.

It’s over now…

However, there was something Namgung-woo had not anticipated.

Oh, could it be… that day?

The natural law that women must face once a month: menstruation.

Peng Ha-ryeong’s helpless defeat was also due to her weakened physical state from this.

This fiend, it noticed the Thunder Qi hidden in the Yinjiao Acupoint and is heading towards the Zhongji Acupoint.

If she was menstruating, it naturally meant there was an injury to her uterus.

Contact with the Aura of Evil would lead to fatal consequences.

Then, I just need to eliminate it before it reaches there.

Namgung-woo placed his other hand, not the one holding her wrist, on Peng Ha-ryeong’s solar plexus.

Namgung-woo divided his consciousness into two. His highly concentrated consciousness allowed him to simultaneously wield two types of True Qi.

Two types of Namgung-woo’s Internal Force simultaneously flowed into Peng Ha-ryeong’s body.

Through her wrist, Azure Sky Qi rebalanced her disrupted internal equilibrium, maximizing the recovery stimulated by electrical impulses. Through her solar plexus, Heavenly Thunder Qi flowed, eliminating the Aura of Evil making its final struggle.

The balance of Cultivation Power was paramount.

Currently, no less than four energies coexisted within Peng Ha-ryeong’s body: Peng Ha-ryeong’s inherent Internal Energy, Namgung-woo’s Azure Sky Qi and Heavenly Thunder Qi, and finally, the Aura of Evil that was eroding her body.

Even the usually composed Namgung-woo was now utterly serious. The finishing touch was always the most crucial part of any endeavor. A mistake here would render all his previous efforts futile.

The passage of time, and all external sounds, were forgotten.

Namgung-woo’s consciousness focused solely on the phenomena occurring within Peng Ha-ryeong’s body. His sharply honed intent began to control the four energies.

And his efforts yielded a fitting result.

Done.

The Aura of Evil had completely vanished.

Her tattered Meridians were also being healed by the electrical stimulation from the Heavenly Thunder Qi, followed by the Qi Healing Circulation of the Azure Sky Qi. She would need to focus on recovery for a while, but there would be no need to amputate her arm.

Nor would her recovery period be long. The Turbid Qi and waste products accumulated in her body had been burned away by the Heavenly Thunder Qi, and energy now flowed unimpeded through all Minor Meridians of the Body, from her four limbs to her hundred bones, where the Azure Sky Qi had passed.

While it wasn’t quite a Rejuvenation, it was certainly an auspicious encounter.

Now, all that remained was for Namgung-woo to retrieve the Internal Energy he had sent, and everything would be complete.

However, Namgung-woo did not retrieve all the Internal Energy he had sent.

Though the treatment was finished, she was not fully recovered, so Namgung-woo left a portion of his Heavenly Thunder Qi. Since it wasn’t her own cultivated Internal Energy, it would naturally dissipate over time.

During that time, the Heavenly Thunder Qi would assist in her healing and prevent any lingering after-effects of the Aura of Evil.

Retrieving the rest of his True Qi back into his body, Namgung-woo slowly withdrew his hand from Peng Ha-ryeong.

As the tension subsided, a belated sense of exhaustion washed over him.

“Huu…”

Amidst the fatigue, Namgung-woo observed his own body. The Heavenly Thunder Qi in his Lower Dantian was finally running low.

No matter how good his Internal Energy Control was, inefficiency was unavoidable.

In contrast, the Azure Sky Qi in his Middle Dantian was still abundant. Namgung-woo quickly circulated his Internal Energy through a Small Heavenly Cycle, following the oral traditions of the Azure Sky Great Evolution Divine Art, alleviating his fatigue.

“Is it… over?”

The question came from Peng Mu-ho.

Yet, even as he asked, Peng Mu-ho already knew it had ended successfully.

Peng Ha-ryeong’s pale complexion had regained its healthy glow, and her furrowed brow had relaxed into a peaceful expression, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep. The ominous energy that had emanated from her right arm was no longer felt.

Nevertheless, seeing Peng Mu-ho still watching him with unwavering tension, Namgung-woo nodded.

“Yes. It’s over.”