Hong Weiwen stood up abruptly without even realizing it. "How did that guy...?!" Seo Ryang, who was playfully shaking a bottle of alcohol, looked cheerful. His gaze, fixed on So Yeon-sim, was unusually clear for someone of his demeanor.
So Yeon-sim unconsciously let out a sigh. "Third Young Master...?!"
Seo Ryang smiled. "I had to search around since you weren’t at your residence. I wondered where you were, and here you are, enjoying the scenery." His attitude was so casual, as if he were entering his own home, that the guards at the door instinctively stepped back.
"What are you all doing?" The guards turned their eyes to Hong Weiwen. His face had turned cold and stiff.
"This is a gathering for esteemed guests. I explicitly said no one was to be let in. Why didn’t you stop him?" The flustered guards instinctively gripped their sword hilts. But given who they were dealing with, they couldn’t do anything.
Seo Ryang flicked his finger. "Ah, was that so? You should’ve said so earlier." He took a couple of steps back, entering the room and then exiting again.
After taking a deep breath, he shouted in a booming voice, "If the first round is over, let’s have a second round with me!" Then he grinned. "How about it?"
Hong Weiwen’s eyelids twitched. Even So Yeon-sim, who had seen it all, was left speechless by Seo Ryang’s flamboyant entrance and unconventional behavior. No one within the Divine Sect had ever acted like this in front of the higher-ups.
So Yeon-sim, who had been staring at him blankly, quickly regained her composure and stood up to bow. "The Divine Sect is undefeated, and all demons bow to it. The Joyful Garden Master greets the Third Young Master." At the same time, the guards also knelt.
Although they had received orders from Hong Weiwen, the person before them was also a disciple of the Sect Leader. Even if their official ranks were the same, there was a difference in seniority and the time they had joined the sect. Naturally, they had to show respect.
Seo Ryang chuckled. "You don’t need to be so formal. I’m not a fan of it."
So Yeon-sim’s eyes sparkled. He doesn’t like formalities? To So Yeon-sim, who remembered the Third Young Master from before, those words felt incredibly awkward.
"By the way, what will you do? Will you continue enjoying this gathering? Or will you have a drink with me?"
"That is..." Just as So Yeon-sim was about to answer, Hong Weiwen interrupted.
"What is the meaning of this, Third Brother?" Third Brother... What a warm term of address. Hearing it now, it felt like a sudden surge of affection. Yes, if only he hadn’t been scheming behind the scenes.
"Master So is in the middle of a meeting with me. Interrupting and disrupting the gathering like this—isn’t that too rude?"
Seo Ryang turned his gaze to Hong Weiwen. It was the first time their eyes met since he arrived. The two men’s gazes clashed, sparks flying. But it was only for a moment.
Seo Ryang chuckled and turned his head back to So Yeon-sim, speaking leisurely. "I’m not a fan of uncomfortable gatherings. I’d appreciate it if you could give me an answer soon." It was a rather blatant disregard.
Hong Weiwen’s cheek twitched as anger surged within him. "Listen here, Third Brother!"
At that moment, So Yeon-sim stepped forward. "I apologize, Third Young Master."
"Huh?"
"Regardless, I was invited and have accepted. Until this gathering is over..."
"That’s why I’m saying. After this gathering, why don’t you have a drink with me?"
"The discussion isn’t finished yet..."
"Ah, is it because of the Blue Sky Leaf Grass?"
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
Seo Ryang scratched his head. "There are generally two reasons one would need Blue Sky Leaf Grass. Either to rapidly lower the concentration of Yin energy due to excessive depletion of Yang energy, or if one has been struck by the Nine Yin Meridian Severance."
"......!"
"But for those two cases, there are many herbs that can substitute for Blue Sky Leaf Grass. Someone of Master So’s caliber wouldn’t be unaware of that, so the fact that there’s no substitute for the Blue Sky Leaf Grass means..."
Scritch scratch While scratching the little fox’s chin, Seo Ryang continued, "Could it be that someone you know has fallen into Qi Deviation while practicing Yin arts?"
So Yeon-sim’s eyes widened. "H-how did you know...?"
"Blue Sky Leaf Grass, when dried, roasted, and ground into powder, is effective in correcting reversed meridians. It also helps control the surging Yin energy and temporarily protects the Original Essence, allowing treatment even in a weakened state."
"......"
"Am I right?"
So Yeon-sim’s mouth opened and closed. He had accurately pinpointed the reason she needed the Blue Sky Leaf Grass.
Seo Ryang shook his head. "I don’t know the patient’s condition, but if they’re not on the verge of death, Blue Sky Leaf Grass isn’t absolutely necessary. In fact, it might even be dangerous. It could mess up not just the Yin energy but the Yang energy as well."
"......!"
"I understand your urgency out of concern for the patient, but there’s no need to push yourself too hard."
So Yeon-sim’s expression changed rapidly.
At that moment, Hong Weiwen stepped forward. "It seems you’ve developed quite a nasty habit in the time we haven’t seen each other."
"Huh?"
"Eavesdropping on others’ conversations—is that behavior befitting the Third Young Master of the Divine Sect?"
"Ah, was that a bit much?"
"If you understand, then leave immediately..."
"How about this, then?"
"What?"
Seo Ryang sneered. "What about the actions of a bastard who tried to kill his brothers, both openly and secretly, to seize the next leadership position?"
"......!"
"What do you think? I think it’s the despicable behavior of a talentless fool. Don’t you?"
Hong Weiwen’s face hardened. "What are you implying?"
"If you’re too stupid to understand, why bother carrying that head around? Wasn’t it just a moment ago that you tried to use Blue Sky Leaf Grass to manipulate my maid under the guise of a deal?"
"Listen here, Third Brother!"
"Hey, even if you could do that to me..."
Seo Ryang shrugged. The little fox climbed onto his head to avoid falling off.
"Did you want to lay a hand on our youngest brother too?"
"......!!"
So Yeon-sim looked at Hong Weiwen in shock.
A murderous aura swirled in Hong Weiwen’s eyes. "Even if you’re the Third Brother, I can’t tolerate any more insults."
"Even if it’s hard to tolerate, try to endure it, man. People have come back from the brink of death, and you can’t handle a little teasing?"
"Third Brother!"
"Anyway, there’s no evidence, so babbling about it is meaningless. Regardless..."
He turned to So Yeon-sim and asked, "What will you do? Will you cling to that meaningless deal like the teasing just now?"
So Yeon-sim’s gaze, fixed on Hong Weiwen, grew increasingly sharp. "Third Young Master."
"Speak."
"Is there a way to immediately improve the condition of the person who has fallen into Qi Deviation? The Blood Soul Pavilion said we need to observe the progression."
Seo Ryang smirked. "Have you forgotten that I fell into Qi Deviation and was revived?"
"......!"
"How do you think I came back to life when everyone said I would die or become a cripple? Even while some fool was trying to sabotage me with decoctions and needles."
So Yeon-sim coldly pushed the money pouch on the table toward Hong Weiwen. "Thank you for the invitation. I’ll pay for what I’ve consumed."
"...Master So."
"Then, I’ll take my leave."
So Yeon-sim turned sharply, her movement swift. If it’s the same business, there’s no need to deal with someone unpleasant. Though not extreme, she had sufficiently wounded Hong Weiwen, and So Yeon-sim found it hard to harbor any goodwill toward him, even in pretense.
Drip, drip.
Blood dripped from Hong Weiwen’s clenched fist. His rigid face was filled with anger and humiliation.
Seo Ryang, who had glanced at him, also turned his head. If he had said something, it might have been less infuriating. The thorough disregard from both of them only fueled Hong Weiwen’s murderous intent.
"It’s cheap white alcohol. Is that alright?"
"Of course. As long as the cup is clean."
"I scrubbed it until it squeaked. Let’s drink it down in one go."
"It’s an honor. Oh, what about that fox?"
"It’s my pet."
"It’s really cute."
"...It’s a demon, so don’t touch it carelessly. It’ll bite your finger."
As they chatted and walked away, Hong Weiwen glared at their retreating figures, his suppressed voice escaping his lips.
"...Seo Ryang."
Though it couldn’t compare to the Heavenly Pavilion, the front yard of the Joyful Garden Master’s private residence was quite beautiful.
So Yeon-sim, sitting on the bench, glanced to the side. "Who is that?"
Ma Dong-pil slightly bowed his head. But he offered no further greeting.
Seo Ryang handed her a cup and said, "This is Ma Dong-pil from the Guardian Hall. He’s a friend who saved my life several times in the Ancient Bamboo Forest."
So Yeon-sim’s eyes sparkled with interest, while Ma Dong-pil’s face showed embarrassment.
"That’s an overstatement, Young Master."
"As you can see, he’s not very flexible."
Ma Dong-pil bowed even deeper, unsure of what expression to make.
Seeing this, Seo Ryang chuckled. The little fox on his shoulder struggled to keep from falling.
A smile spread across So Yeon-sim’s face. 'How harmonious.'
Was it because of his near-death experience? Or was this his original personality? The Third Young Master she remembered and the one before her now were vastly different. It was as if they were two different people.
Yet, it didn’t seem like an act. Such an atmosphere couldn’t be artificially created.
The anger she had felt toward the Divine Sect’s inhuman demeanor was slowly calming down.
"Here, would you like a drink?"
"It’s an honor."
The strong aroma of the white alcohol was intense.
"Let me pour for you, Young Master."
"The honor is mine."
The two clinked their filled cups.
"Ugh, it’s quite strong. Are you alright?"
"Alcohol can taste sweet or bitter depending on who you drink with."
Seo Ryang smiled. "How is it now?"
"Just the right amount of bitterness and sweetness."
Though burdened by the title of Third Young Master, at least for now, it was a good impression. The start wasn’t bad.
Just as So Yeon-sim was about to speak again, Seo Ryang said, "I know your heart is heavy. There’s no need to beat around the bush. It’s only right to give you the answer you seek first."
By addressing her concerns upfront, he eased her burden. So Yeon-sim felt a bit more at ease.
"How old is the patient who fell into Qi Deviation?"
"...Twenty-five."
"Were they exceptionally talented in martial arts?"
She didn’t understand why he was asking, but So Yeon-sim answered without hesitation. "They were called a prodigy. They were so smart that if you taught them one thing, they’d grasp two or three."
"Then the treatment should be relatively quick."
Seo Ryang looked around. "Bring me some writing materials."
This time, she couldn’t help but ask. "What for?"
"To write down the口诀 (mnemonic口诀). Of course, you can memorize it if you prefer."
"......!"
"I’ll only give you the healing口诀, not the core martial口诀, so don’t worry."
"Ah, no..."
"That said, it’s not easy to understand. It’ll probably take at least three days to comprehend and attempt it."
"Young Master."
"You won’t see immediate changes. I can’t guarantee anything without knowing the condition, but if you persist, they should be able to move within half a year."
So Yeon-sim’s eyes widened at the mention of half a year. "You mean they’ll be able to move within half a year?"
"As I said, it depends on their talent and effort. Based on what you’ve said about their talent and assuming it’s not too severe, I estimate they’ll be able to move without discomfort within half a year."
For someone who had fallen into Qi Deviation and couldn’t even walk, being able to move within half a year was hard to believe, especially considering the Blood Soul Pavilion’s physicians had expressed difficulty.
So Yeon-sim, who had been staring blankly at Seo Ryang, suddenly had a spark in her eyes. "Since you’ve said so, Young Master, I’ll set aside whether I believe it or not and speak frankly."
"Please do."
"What do you want from me?"
Seo Ryang smiled and replied.