novelraw Chapter 119 : Reversal of Loyalty and Righteousness (4)
Chapter 119 : Reversal of Loyalty and Righteousness (4)
Chapter 119: Reversal of Loyalty and Righteousness (4)
Inside the cave, the torch burned faintly.
Gugwi laid down his spear and sat on the ground. Sasaha’s arrival had been unexpected, but there was sincerity in her eyes. Though the situation wasn’t exactly comfortable.
“There won’t be any more trouble tonight, right? I’d really like to get some rest.”
“Haha! I know, right.”
At Gugwi’s words, Jang Unhyeok nodded in agreement.
Sasaha was about to sit down but stood back up again.
“What is this? Why are there so many injured people here? Not a single one’s unscathed. And they’re all seriously wounded too.”
“We got beaten badly while fighting Ma Ungyeol.”
Jang Unhyeok raised his tone, clearly finding Sasaha intimidating.
Sasaha accepted his respectful tone as if it were only natural.
“Alright. Then shall I give it a try treating them?”
Ssut!
She raised her right hand. A black energy rose from her fingertips like mist.
Seuuuuh!
Baek Hyeokgang appeared.
A tall man’s figure stepped out of the darkness, and black wind swirled around him.
The black wind brushed past the cave.
But this time, it wasn’t a sharp attack. The wind turned into a gentle energy and enveloped Jang Unhyeok’s wound. The poison embedded in his shoulder melted away in the breeze, turning into black smoke.
“This method… I discovered it by accident. Spirit Union martial artists often use martial forms in their attacks. I wondered what would happen if I applied that to wounds, and it turned out to be effective for treatment.”
Sasaha explained calmly.
“It stimulates the acupoints with wind to extract the poison.”
Jang Unhyeok let out a sigh of relief as the pain faded.
The burning sensation in his shoulder disappeared, and a refreshing energy permeated the area.
“Thank you. But we actually have a skilled physician with us…”
“A physician? Who?”
She looked at Gugwi and Yeon Sohye.
Gugwi half-raised his hand as if to say it was him.
“Namgung Hoyoung!”
At the call, a blue light materialized in the air. A man in neat robes… holding a slender silver needle in his hand. So transparent it was almost invisible.
Sasaha’s eyes widened.
“You’ve got a physician in a Spirit Union too?”
A hint of surprise laced her voice.
“Wow! He’s a level above me. It never occurred to us to make a physician part of a Spirit Union. There are so many Soul-Summoners in the land… how did no one think of this?”
Namgung Hoyoung knelt in front of Jang Unhyeok and placed his hands on him.
He pressed on the acupoints, searching for weaknesses. Which point would be most effective in this state?
At last, he began inserting the needles. The silver needles sparkled as they reflected the torchlight. His precise hand movements and dazzling speed were remarkable… and soon, Jang Unhyeok’s shoulder was covered in needles.
Tatata-tak.
A faint sound echoed as the needles pierced the skin.
“Amazing. The bleeding’s stopping immediately. The energy used by spirits is spiritual energy… So is this a spiritual energy acupuncture? It’s working! No—this is far better than regular needlework.”
Sasaha was full of admiration.
Gugwi checked Yeon Sohye’s arm wound. Then he pulled out a case and took out needles. Since they’d started using more needles, he had specially acquired real silver needles. He personally inserted the needles into the acupoints around the wound.
Puk! Tarararak!
As the needle pierced, a small vibration spread from the point. The vibrations met with another, creating an even stronger wave. It was the same effect occurring in Jang Unhyeok’s treatment.
Sasaha was once again surprised.
“One Spirit Union physician, and two treating with medical skills.”
She murmured.
“Amazing.”
Namgung Hoyoung’s acupuncture and Gugwi’s direct treatment progressed simultaneously.
Subtle vibrations from the silver needles stimulated the blood vessels around the wound. The black poison drained along the needles, dissipating into smoke. It was a much greater amount than what Sasaha had drawn out using Baek Hyeokgang.
“I guess I’ve got nothing to do now. Should I just kick back and relax?”
But soon, she began treating Jin Geonmu.
“Isn’t it a bit awkward for a member of the Nang-a Ten Captains to be mixed in here?”
“I asked the same favor of Gugwi that I asked when I turned to the Heavenly Sound Cult. He’s more likely to fulfill it than they are.”
“Did you say your wife became a Wandering Spirit?”
“How did you know that?!”
“Pft! The Nang-a Ten Captains are always bloodthirsty wolves. They lose their minds at the sight of blood. But… there was one who didn’t. So I looked into it. Sorry if that offends you.”
“Hmph.”
Jin Geonmu only let out a quiet hum.
“If it’s Gugwi, he’ll definitely help her ascend. You chose well.”
Sasaha gave a firm pat to Jin Geonmu’s shoulder, as if done.
“Ugh!”
Jin Geonmu winced as sharp pain shot through his shoulder.
Thanks to the dedicated treatment by Gugwi and Sasaha, the injuries of the three showed clear improvement.
The bleeding from Jin Geonmu’s wound stopped, the poisoned dart mark on Yeon Sohye’s arm began to heal, and the swelling in Jang Unhyeok’s shoulder subsided, returning to its natural color.
The next morning, the fog of Cheonsalgok lifted. Sunlight seeped into the valley, making the dewdrops glisten.
The group left the cave and moved to the streamside.
The sound of clear water refreshed their ears.
Sasaha summoned Gang Sojin.
The figure of a slender woman appeared, surrounded by a rising mist of green poison. However, the poison transformed into a gentle mist and enveloped Yeon Sohye’s arm wound.
“Like I said yesterday, all spiritual energy of spirits—when used in martial forms—can detoxify poison. Gang Sojin’s mist contains poison, but if used right, it can be used for healing too.”
Sasaha explained.
“You’re using the spirits’ energy in reverse.”
Yeon Sohye felt her skin regenerating. The stinging wound cooled down, and new flesh began to grow.
“Try applying this to your Silver Spirit Technique. Then you’ll be able to heal yourself. Bet you didn’t know that?”
Sasaha offered her advice.
“I didn’t. Thank you.”
“Also try mixing poison into the Silver Spirit Technique. Then your mist will be lethal.”
“That’s true.”
While some rested, others began martial arts instruction.
Everything Sasaha had experienced as a Lord of the Twelve True Armies became excellent teaching material.
Warm sunlight streamed through the rocks where the group sat. The sound of the flowing stream added to the peaceful atmosphere. The weather was incredibly mild.
Sasaha began explaining how to handle spirits.
“Spirits aren’t tools.”
Everyone knew this. There wasn’t a single Soul-Summoner who hadn’t heard these words. It was the very first thing taught, and repeated until it became second nature.
And yet Sasaha said it again. Was she worried someone here hadn’t heard it? No—her voice was sincere.
“Before using a spirit, resonance is key. It doesn’t help with the Soul-Summoning Arts at all… but when summoning a Spirit Union martial artist, try feeling their grudge. Aren’t they martial artists with such deep regret that they couldn’t ascend?”
Ttaang!
Everyone felt as if they’d been struck on the back of the head with a hammer.
They knew that Spirit Union martial artists were wrathful souls wandering the Realm of the Threshold. They had often wondered what kind of grudge they carried. But since they couldn’t speak to them, they didn’t know.
As time passed, things naturally became a system of using and being used.
Of course, they had to appear when summoned and return when the battle ended. That was the extent of it.
If someone asked Yeon Sohye what kind of grudge Soryeonghwa carried… she wouldn’t be able to answer.
That was exactly what Sasaha was pointing out. Never forget the grudge.
Sseuuuuh!
Sasaha summoned Wi Unseo.
The figure of a subtle woman appeared, and a silvery mist spread. The mist moved like waves, enveloping the surroundings.
“Try it with me.”
Sasaha gestured to Yeon Sohye.
Yeon Sohye summoned Soryeonghwa. The silvery mist grew thicker. Its concentration increased, and it spread wider than before.
“Good. Now, the second spirit.”
Sasaha spoke as she summoned Jin Mukgyeol.
Naturally, Yeon Sohye summoned the Gale Spirit Guest.
“Erase your presence using the Silver Spirit Technique, and give commands to the Gale Spirit Guest at the same time. Enhance your speed with wind.”
Sasaha’s two spirits mixed together as if they had become one.
Yeon Sohye tried the same method. Then the silvery mist and blue wind blended together, creating a movement that looked like an illusion. Her body flickered against the cave wall, disappearing and reappearing.
She thought her movement arts would become sharper… but they transformed into something more mysterious.
“Draw out the spirits’ energy and channel it through your blood vessels.”
Sasaha took it a step deeper.
“I don’t know how…”
“Unification! I told you to feel the spirit. Make contact while sensing the spirit’s grudge. Then the spirit will respond. From the top, again!”
Sasaha raised her voice as she explained.
“All spiritual energy has a frequency. Without that frequency, it can’t manifest. So, you could say frequency is everything in Soul-Summoning Arts. Try matching the spiritual frequencies of the two spirits. Don’t let Soryeonghwa’s cold energy clash with the dynamic energy of the Gale Spirit Guest.”
Yeon Sohye closed her eyes and focused.
She felt the energy of both spirits mixing in the dantian in her chest. She hadn’t done anything. The two spirits sensed her thoughts and moved on their own.
She didn’t know the grudge of Soryeonghwa or the Gale Spirit Guest. Why they remained in the Realm of the Threshold. But the very act of focusing on their grudge had brought about this response.
Jang Unhyeok also received Sasaha’s guidance.
Jin Mukgyeol appeared and moved his fingers in the dark. He demonstrated how to use black energy to stimulate the bloodstream.
“This is the Bloodstream Manipulation Technique.”
Sasaha explained.
“Try mixing it into your Fire-Wind Wall.”
Jang Unhyeok summoned Fire Spirit Warrior and Wind Blade Wolf.
Red flame and blue wind met in the air, forming a whirlwind. When Sasaha’s Earth Technique stimulated the bloodstream, the whirlwind spun faster and melted nearby rocks.
“Channel the spirits’ energy through your acupoints.”
Sasaha gave more detailed instruction.
Now, Jang Unhyeok knew how to follow her words. He had seen Yeon Sohye do it.
Chseuuuuh!
The energies of the two Spirit Union martial artists flowed through his acupoints.
“The heat of the Fire Spirit Warrior begins in the heart, and the wind of the Wind Blade Wolf starts in the lungs. Let the two energies meet and merge in the dantian.”
Jang Unhyeok’s twin swords glowed with a reddish hue. Heat rose from the blades, and wind swirled around them. Sweat poured from his body like rain. Yet he smiled.
“Now I can finally feel it properly.”
Several days passed.
The group spent peaceful days in Cheonsalgok refining their martial arts. In the morning, they washed in the stream, trained during the day, and shared conversations around the campfire in the evening.
Sasaha made medicine using Gang Sojin’s poison to relieve fatigue.
She reversed the green poison energy and transformed it into medicine that relaxed the muscles and improved circulation.
“Spirits can be used for healing too.”
She explained as she distributed the medicine to everyone.
Evening conversations continued by the campfire.
The flames crackled, giving off a warm light.
During that time, Sasaha never once brought up the Heavenly Sound Cult or the Manifest Demon Emperor. If Gugwi asked something out of curiosity, she only answered within the scope of the question.
“Thanks to you, I’ve improved leaps and bounds. Thank you.”
Yeon Sohye expressed her gratitude to Sasaha.
“‘Sunbae’? I like that. Then I’ll call you that too… Sunbae, thank you.”
Jang Unhyeok formally expressed his thanks to Sasaha.
Over the past few days, Jang Unhyeok had made significant progress. With Sasaha’s help, he had reached a new level.
Not only did his flame seem to burn like blood vessels, but it now disrupted the opponent’s qi flow. It was a high-level technique that disturbed inner energy during attacks.
Yeon Sohye’s Silver Spirit Illusion became even more stealthy, evolving into a perfect concealment technique.
The silvery mist now blocked not just sight but also presence entirely. It had reached the point of nullifying the enemy’s senses.
Thanks to Sasaha’s teachings, everyone’s ability to handle spirits had deepened greatly.
“Resonance is key.”
She emphasized.
“Forcing it will lead to a rampage.”
Trust among the group steadily grew. At first, they had been wary of Sasaha, but now she had become a true companion.
During this period of rest, they fully healed their wounds and greatly advanced their martial arts.