novelraw Chapter 18
Chapter 18
General Manager Ximen examined Bai Renguang and the Young Sect Master.
"Ugh..."
Bai Renguang did not move at all, but the Young Sect Master's eyelids were trembling as if he were about to open his eyes.
'The Young Sect Master might know about the secret vault too.'
General Manager Ximen, with inner anticipation, called out to the Young Sect Master.
"Young Sect Master! Please open your eyes."
Then, as if by magic, the Young Sect Master opened his eyes. However, his gaze was vacant, without focus.
'As expected, he's not in his right mind.'
Still, just opening his eyes was an improvement.
"Young Sect Master. We need more money to procure medicinal herbs. Do you happen to know of a secret vault where funds are hidden?"
"Ugh..."
The Young Sect Master only let out a groan.
General Manager Ximen asked a few more times, but it was no use.
'What do I do now? Zhang Ming will want to see the Sect Master in person.'
General Manager Ximen pondered.
He had said that the Sect Master had entered seclusion to treat the Young Sect Master, but it would be difficult if he was unconscious like this.
'I can just say it was to overcome the sect's calamity. But the problem is True Man Changshan.'
True Man Changshan was a renowned medicine Taoist, also known as the Divine Physician or the Medicine Immortal.
If True Man Changshan were to treat Bai Renguang, his plans would also come to nothing.
General Manager Ximen pondered for a long time, but he couldn't think of a good solution.
'Should I just run away with what I've secured so far?'
But when he thought of all that money, he couldn't do it.
'I've heard that no one has survived being hit by the Blood Hand Grand Seal. Even True Man Changshan won't be able to do anything.'
General Manager Ximen thought in a way that suited him and sighed.
"The Sect Master must wake up soon. Sect Master. This loyal Ximen Suo is waiting. You must regain your strength soon."
After flattering Bai Renguang in his ear, he left the stone chamber.
"How is the Sect Master's condition?"
General Manager Ximen let out a deep sigh and said, "I will be honest with you alone. In fact, the Sect Master is unconscious after being hit by the Blood Hand Grand Seal. That is why I am using these precious medicinal herbs to prolong his life."
At General Manager Ximen's words, Yu Mungwang nodded.
"I see."
When Yu Mungwang didn't seem very surprised, General Manager Ximen became suspicious.
'This brat has already looked into the stone chamber.'
But he didn't show it and said, "Fortunately, the Young Sect Master is showing signs of waking up. It's not clear yet, but since he has opened his eyes, it seems he will regain his senses within a few days."
"Ah, this is all thanks to you, General Manager."
Yu Mungwang's loyalty to the Bai family was extraordinary.
"The White Mountain Sect can only exist if the Sect Master is here. If you and I protect him with loyalty, the Sect Master will surely wake up."
General Manager Ximen patted Yu Mungwang's shoulder and returned to his own quarters.
"How difficult, how difficult. But how can one gain profit without taking risks?"
General Manager Ximen steeled his heart and went to bed.
* * *
Baekji did not wake up even when morning came.
Yang Soryeong was worried and sent Ajok to ask for True Man Changshan.
"Hmm. Is he your partner?"
True Man Changshan's eyes were clear, but his mind seemed muddled.
He had asked yesterday, and he asked again upon seeing Yang Soryeong.
"No. I told you he's my disciple."
"Ah, that's right. This old Taoist is getting old and keeps forgetting. Your age is a good time."
"Baekji won't wake up."
True Man Changshan examined him and said, "He's just sleeping."
"Isn't it strange that he's still sleeping?"
"Children sleep a lot when they're young."
"Baekji is not a baby."
"He is a baby. Why do you say he's not? The cute thing."
True Man Changshan pinched Baekji's cheek.
'Sigh. Has he gone senile?'
Yang Soryeong looked at True Man Changshan with distrustful eyes.
Just then, there was a presence outside, and a voice was heard.
"Grand Martial Uncle. My master is looking for you."
It was Zhen Hui's voice.
"Huh? Alright, I'm coming."
Zhang Ming had gone to the quarters where the fake True Man Changshan had stayed early in the morning with General Manager Ximen and had searched thoroughly.
But no clues were found. There were only scraps of old clothes.
So, he insisted on seeing the Sect Master, and General Manager Ximen had no choice but to tell the truth and take him to the stone chamber.
Zhang Ming saw the condition of the Sect Master and the Young Sect Master and ordered Zhen Hui to bring True Man Changshan, and Zhen Hui had gone to True Man Changshan's quarters and then to the Songhua Hall.
"Let him sleep soundly."
True Man Changshan said and then went outside to follow Zhen Hui.
Yang Soryeong had no interest in the affairs of the White Mountain Sect.
She was just worried about Baekji.
"Grandmaster, don't worry. The master is strong, so he'll wake up soon."
Ajok and the others comforted Yang Soryeong.
Baekji continued to sleep.
Yang Soryeong, Ajok, and the others watched over Baekji the whole time.
But even the next day and the day after, Baekji did not wake up.
"How can he sleep like that without eating?"
Jang Sam was worried. It had already been three days.
"In this situation, eating is important."
"Even Senior Oh knows how much the master loves to eat."
"Should we force his mouth open and feed him?"
Ajok came up with a brilliant idea.
"Let's do that. He might starve to death at this rate."
Jang Sam said and went to the kitchen to get some porridge, but Ajok came out of the Songhua Hall and gestured.
"Jang Sam, hurry up and bring it. The master has woken up."
Jang Sam ran with the porridge.
Baekji was sitting blankly.
Next to him, Yang Soryeong was sniffling.
"I thought you were going to die."
'Who is this girl?'
Baekji was puzzled, seeing the crying Yang Soryeong.
'Why is she crying?'
"Baekji. Say something. Are you okay?"
Even though Yang Soryeong asked, Baekji just stared blankly.
'Am I Baekji? I don't think so. Huh?'
Baekji shook his head from side to side.
'Who am I?'
"Master, are you okay?"
"Master. I brought porridge."
'What are these foolish things again?'
When Ajok, Senior Oh, and Jang Sam surrounded him, Baekji became annoyed.
Something was swirling in his mind, on the verge of being remembered.
"He must be dazed from sleeping too much."
Ajok said to Yang Soryeong.
"Go and bring True Man Changshan."
Ajok ran off.
"Ah!"
Baekji's forehead felt like it was splitting apart again.
"He must be in pain again."
Baekji couldn't stand it and hit his own head.
Thwack!
Then, his mind snapped back.
And the past few months of living as Baekji came back to him vividly.
'I lost my memory and lived as Baekji.'
Baekji said to Yang Soryeong, "How many days did I sleep?"
"Three days?"
"Strange. I feel very strange. It feels like I had a very long dream."
"Yes. You're very strange right now. But don't worry. True Man Changshan will be here soon."
"True Man Changshan? Ah. That old man?"
"Oh my. You shouldn't say that. True Man Changshan is so respected. He's called the Medicine Immortal."
Baekji didn't say anything, but the Taoist name 'Changshan' was somehow unpleasant.
Something was on the verge of being remembered.
'Wait, let's try regulating my breath.'
Baekji sat cross-legged and regulated his breath.
'What? Why is it so loose?'
His dantian felt empty.
Baekji only opened his eyes after regulating his breath for an hour.
'That's a little better.'
He filled his dantian and stood up.
'My body is stiff too.'
To others, he looked fine, but he himself felt that he was not in his best condition.
When Baekji loosened his body, Yang Soryeong was relieved.
"He seems to be fine now."
Just then, True Man Changshan was entering with Ajok.
"He's awake."
Baekji glared at True Man Changshan.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Should I give you a dumpling?"
True Man Changshan took out a dumpling wrapped in pine needles from his bosom.
"What is that? That dirty dumpling."
At Baekji's words, Yang Soryeong, Jang Sam, and the others were surprised.
"Baekji. What rudeness to the Medicine Immortal."
Jang Sam was surprised for a different reason.
"Master, for you to refuse food. That's really strange."
True Man Changshan smiled with sparkling eyes and said, "Egu, the cute thing. This old Taoist grandfather made this himself. It's very delicious."
True Man Changshan held out the dumpling, but Baekji frowned and avoided it as if it were something dirty.
"Get it away."
Grumble.
A sound came from Baekji's stomach.
"Master, eat some porridge."
Jang Sam quickly held out the bowl of porridge.
Baekji frowned.
"Bring me something proper, not porridge. I want to eat meatball soup and Dongpo pork. Bring some fruit punch too..."
"Huh?"
"And braised bear paw."
"There's no way that's here."
"There isn't? How pathetic."
Jang Sam nodded with a 'that's more like it' look in his eyes.
"That's our master, his gluttony hasn't decreased."
"He must have become a gourmet. The level of his gluttony has risen."
At Jang Sam's words, Senior Oh nodded.
"It's a desirable change. I, for one, think it's better to eat one proper thing than to just stuff yourself. I support the master's change."
Senior Oh, who had become much more serious after learning martial arts.
True Man Changshan looked at them with a pleased expression.
"Egu, the cute things."
To his eyes, they were all cute things.
Listening to them talk, Yang Soryeong's head became confused, and her forehead naturally grew hot.
True Man Changshan said, "He's fine, so that's good. I'll be going now. It's time for the Young Sect Master to wake up."
At the words that the Young Sect Master was waking up, Yang Soryeong was startled.
"The Young Sect Master is waking up?"
"That one really suffered from cultivation insanity. It seems he'll wake up soon, but it looks like he'll become a blank slate."
Yang Soryeong's face fell. If the Young Sect Master woke up, the White Mountain Sect would want to hold the wedding.
To think she had to marry a blank slate.
"Can he move?"
"His body is quite damaged, but he'll get better gradually. Why do you ask?"
"He's my fiancé."
"Huh? Wasn't this one your partner?"
"How many times do I have to tell you? He's my disciple."
"Ah, that's right."
True Man Changshan blinked his sparkling eyes and hit his own forehead.
"I'm getting old and keep forgetting."
When True Man Changshan left, Jang Sam ran to the kitchen again.
A moment later, he came back with a pile of food, but Baekji just poked at it a few times and then frowned.
"Who is the cook in this kitchen? To make such food and still call himself a cook. I'll kill him right now."
Baekji shot up.
"Gasp! Master!"
"Baekji! What are you saying?"
Yang Soryeong, Ajok, and the others shouted in surprise.
For some reason, Baekji had become very rough.
'Is it a side effect of the amnesia?'
Yang Soryeong was secretly worried.
Although Baekji was clearly strange, True Man Changshan, who had just left, seemed like a quack.
Yang Soryeong gently chided him.
"Baekji. You shouldn't say such things."
"..."
"To kill someone. That's not like you."
"..."
Baekji did not answer.
The past few months of living as Baekji had all come back to him completely.
He had lived very kindly.
'I don't think I'm that kind of person.'
Although he didn't know who he was, Baekji was not his true self.
Baekji looked at Yang Soryeong and thought, 'She's kind. That must be why Baekji was kind too.'
Looking at Ajok and the others, he thought again, 'These fools aren't bad people either. So I shouldn't kill them.'
Baekji at least had the sense not to kill his own people.
Anyway, he was still hungry.
When he was hungry, he got angry and his killing intent rose.
At this rate, it seemed he would kill everyone, whether they were kind or not.
'Let's eat first.'
Baekji ate the food again. It was tasteless, but it couldn't be helped.
After eating, Baekji burped and said to Ajok, "You go to the village and bring back the best cook."
"Huh? A cook?"
"Then are you telling me to eat this kind of garbage every day?"
"A skilled cook will be expensive. Will General Manager Ximen pay for it?"
"Just give them the money. Tell them we'll give them the best treatment."
Baekji even remembered the gold and silver jewels hidden under Yang Soryeong's bed.
Then his thoughts turned to the money that General Manager Ximen had embezzled.
'That one, I have to kill him.'
Baekji decided to kill General Manager Ximen and take the money, and then rose from his seat.
"Where are you going?"
"Yes. There's someone I have to kill."
Yang Soryeong was horrified and said, "Please don't say such things. Who are you going to kill?"
"General Manager Ximen."
Baekji disappeared in a flash.
"Gasp!"
"Did you see that?"
"I saw it too. No, I didn't."
Ajok and the others didn't even see how Baekji had disappeared.
Yang Soryeong put her hand to her forehead.
"What on earth is wrong with him?"
Yang Soryeong didn't believe that he would really go to kill General Manager Ximen.
'Because Baekji is kind.'
(End of Chapter)