Chapter 62: Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Our Baby?!

The Divine Physician came.

He appeared as soon as I sent the message, surprising me.

I asked while guiding him to the inner hall.

Luoyang and Chang'an had well-maintained roads. With the Divine Physician's lightness technique, it was quick.

"Chang'an. Isn't it unsettled these days?"

Seems there was some commotion in Chang'an.

"Well, more than that... You obtained Wind Essence?"

"Somehow? Hehe, you truly surprise me. Is Wind Essence something that can be obtained like that?"

Can only call it luck.

Had no idea Wind Essence was there.

"Hero, I brought tea."

Jeongi, whom I'd saved from Master Dongpae's estate, brought two cups of tea.

Though I didn't give her separate work, she helped . Even her respectful manner before guests was proper.

After taking a sip of tea, the Divine Physician watched Jeongi disappear quickly—chongchong.

Would think too young to be a maid.

"I saved father and daughter from Black Path, and hired the father as gardener."

The Divine Physician closed his eyes briefly while smelling the tea's fragrance.

Then opening his eyes, he said quietly:

"That you obtained Wind Essence can only be called virtue. Such treasures don't easily come to hand."

I also took a sip of tea.

I wanted to be free, but on that path saved many people. Was that virtue?

So reached Wind Essence.

"I'll think of it that way."

Let me keep following my heart's path going forward.

If my heart doesn't bend, the path won't bend either.

The Divine Physician nodded contentedly.

"Do so. Wind Essence absorption will go well too. Ever heard the method?"

Once finding it, planned to immediately treat Taebok.

Already learned the method beforehand.

"I know to place Wind Essence on the thigh's Qimen acupoint and absorb."

Qimen acupoint is an acupoint on the path from knee to groin.

Not nose, not palm center, but thigh.

When first learning, I was skeptical.

"You know well. How do you know this?"

Already thought up words to cover.

"I heard a bit about spiritual medicines and treasures from Master."

"Your Master was knowledgeable about spiritual medicines too."

Actually had no interest at all.

Never heard Master speak about spiritual medicines or treasures. No interest?

Why no interest? They say consuming spiritual medicine raises martial arts achievement.

Haven't lost even now. Why bother?

Tell those who need such things to eat them.

Had no need, so no interest.

This inadequate disciple needs spiritual medicines and treasures greatly.

"My concern is whether injecting Wind Essence's true qi into Taebok who's only been born fifteen days is okay."

"About that, tell me more about your martial arts."

Attempts to understand nature existed since humanity's beginning.

Dividing nature into eight things—heaven, swamp, fire, lightning, wind, water, mountain, earth—expressing each as trigrams is the Eight Trigrams.

The Eight Trigrams were first created by legendary Fu Xi, afterward King Wen of Zhou refined the order, and various sects including Taoists adopted them.

Eight Trigram Unity Technique divided nature into eight while intending to unite through that circulation.

Those who learn trigram techniques become vessels containing natural energy, advancing through accumulation, resonance, circulation, and unity.

"Mm. I see. Martial arts inseparable from natural energy."

"Without natural energy, establishment itself is impossible."

The Divine Physician emptied remaining tea falling into thought.

Then gave the answer I'd so wanted.

"Indeed. Trust me. Rather—"

"Let's omit what can't be guaranteed. Now focus on treatment."

Words the Divine Physician swallowed weren't important.

What I wanted was only Taebok's treatment.

If that's possible, nothing else needed.

While we immediately discussed true qi channeling—presence approaching the inner hall was felt.

"I greet you. Junior of jianghu, Iron Bead Yeom Jayeong meets the Divine Physician."

"Oh my, don't bow too much. After childbirth, must be careful."

The Divine Physician stopped her.

"Still, seems recovery is fast as a martial artist."

"Yes. My husband obtained good things for my body, so recovering quickly."

"Mm. Mm. Should be so."

The Divine Physician looked at me with contented smile—asking with eyes.

'Told her about Severed Meridian?' 'Didn't.' 'Then what do we do?' 'Could you cover for me? I'll tell her later.'

Urgent gazes passed between us.

Still hadn't told Jayeong.

Yet the Divine Physician treats Taebok?

Would be tremendously surprised.

"The Ink Sword Hero obtained Wind Essence, so I came. I've also been curious about that spiritual medicine. Seems like imposing on you, Iron Bead, when your body isn't fully recovered."

Thank you, Divine Physician sir. Right, Wind Essence is curious. Truly an excellent reason.

"Not at all. I've always admired the Divine Physician's reputation. It's an honor meeting you."

"Hehehehe, what honor?"

The Divine Physician gave Jayeong some advice about postpartum care then signaled me with eyes.

I immediately opened my mouth.

"Jayeong, seems I need to discuss Wind Essence with the Divine Physician again."

"Ah, right? I took too much time. I'll be inside."

"How long will you keep it secret?"

"I'm watching for opportunity, but my heart always weakens. Seems like that person will be sad."

"Haah. That's true but."

"I plan to tell after finishing this true qi channeling. Wouldn't it be slightly more reassuring if there's progress in treatment?"

"That's better. Meeting your wife, she's intelligent and keen—not someone who can be fooled long."

Rather fortunate I'd been busy.

If spent much time home, would have been discovered quickly.

"Could you... wait a bit?"

"To absorb Wind Essence then immediately do true qi channeling, shouldn't I bring Taebok?"

To maintain secrecy, must secretly take Taebok without Jayeong knowing.

I sent the Divine Physician to the training room and waited for Jayeong to nap.

She woke every one to one and half shichen at night feeding Taebok breast milk. During day too, attention always on the child.

Her body inevitably called for sleep.

Hearing Jayeong's sleeping sounds—carefully moved Taebok into the baby basket.

Would Jayeong wake? Would Taebok wake?

Was tremendously nervous in different sense.

"Look here... are you okay?"

"Heeek, heeek, heeek. I'm fine."

Arrived at the training hall.

The Divine Physician came first checking Wind Essence.

I set down the basket containing sleeping Taebok beside. Taebok didn't wake often when sleeping, fortunately sleeping deeply.

What a filial Taebok.

Inside the box with lid open—Wind Essence exists. The source of this content ɪs novel⟡fire.net

Without leaving a fist-sized circle, wind rotates inside.

As if surrounded by transparent membrane, but actually nothing there.

Kept anxious it might burst and disappear.

Slowly reached out hand.

Fire Essence or Ice Essence don't lose form from touching. But Wind Essence is different. Might disappear carelessly.

Very slowly—feel wind's natural energy through Eight Sensations.

Tremendous energy accumulated inside Wind Essence.

Already consumed the pill received from Oga Pharmacy.

The pill will help absorb this tremendous energy without remainder.

Brought palm center close, gently releasing inner power.

Wrapped Wind Essence with inner power—moved to cross-legged thigh's Qimen acupoint.

Then with both hands gathered inside qi center, focused mind on Qimen acupoint.

Like breathing through nose, absorb Wind Essence through Qimen acupoint.

Fierce from the start.

Like if strong wind enters nose feels burdensome,

Wind Essence's mighty energy expanded all acupoints starting from Qimen.

As if gale rushing through whole body's blood vessels.

'Get a grip, father.'

Must breathe even in gale.

With one strand of calm breathing, must make Wind Essence's energy follow.

One single gentle breeze amid gale.

This breeze far from being swept by gale, rather embraces the gale.

The rough fierce energy gradually settles.

Blood vessels that seemed to tear also gradually find their places.

Finally all energy enters qi center.

Tui Trigram Technique mastered first handles swamp's natural energy, increasing total natural energy the qi center can contain.

Relied on Tui Trigram Technique capturing Wind Essence's energy without losing.

The Divine Physician lifted sleeping Taebok onto his shoulder.

Since rolled up clothes, Taebok's back was exposed as is.

Small back size of my palm.

Before regression, I wished to definitely obtain Wind Essence meeting this moment.

'Father is scared. Because you're too young, very scared.'

True qi channeling to a baby not yet fifteen days old.

'But if not father, who will do it?'

Though so scared, can't postpone to anyone.

The Divine Physician's voice was heard.

Voice minutely adjusted not to scatter concentration.

"Don't worry. It's your child with similar body type and constitution. Will know by instinct, so trust yourself and baby doing true qi channeling."

The person who knows Taebok's blood vessels best is precisely me.

I started releasing true qi through palm center.

Before coming to Luoyang.

Before even knowing Jayeong.

For what reason was it?

I'd conversed with a martial artist who had several children.

Children? Take much care. Beast offspring stand, walk, run not long after birth. Human children take long to become so.

Who knows? Maybe to become better than beasts?

The martial artist laughed—pik. I also could only laugh back.

That dawn, we were on ambush receiving Alliance mission.

Heard unorthodox masters would raid an estate.

They probably didn't take longer than beasts to stand, walk, run either.

Yet they came to kill people like beasts.

Especially from right after birth to one hundred days, utterly powerless. Spend most of day sleeping, remaining time eating and excreting... Ayu, don't even mention.

Of course. They say babies don't even know they were born into the world yet. Think they're still in mother's belly.

Really? Really like that?

Who knows? Would need to ask baby, but the baby has no means to answer, so can only guess. Keuhahaha.

The martial artist's laughter scattered gently into night air.

That day, unorthodox attacked with stronger forces than Alliance expected.

The martial artist with several children died.

Looking at his blood-soaked face then raised head.

Night hadn't fully passed yet, countless stars spread across sky.

Suddenly wondered what feeling the world was for a baby.

I assimilated with Taebok.

Felt what Taebok felt.

Taebok can't accurately perceive 'me.'

Self and outside aren't distinguished.

Things outside also felt like myself.

Myself also felt not as one clear existence but scattered multiple existences.

Can't know how those existences connect.

Taebok and world, Taebok and parents, Taebok and everything mixed together.

The primordial universe before everything differentiated.

Yin-yang, three powers, four symbols, five elements, six harmonies, eight trigrams... the primordial before divided by any classification viewing the world.

Primordial Chaos existed inside the newborn.

No matter how fast martial arts training, it's after consciousness awakens. Consciousness awakening also means distinguishing the world.

Understanding world with consciousness, then from there forgetting world again with consciousness—the realm barely viewable is Primordial Chaos.

'But people possessed it from the beginning. Not an unknown realm but returning to a known realm.'

The moment realizing this, felt one point of the universe.

Instinctively could know that point's identity.

Felt as one hot point inside my body.

Simultaneously felt like some star far away.

Inside while simultaneously outside.

Leading Wind Essence's energy going there.

Placing awareness on inner power—entered into Primordial Chaos carrying true qi.

Swimming inside endless Primordial Chaos.

Among scattered stars—true qi flows following me.

True qi started awakening stars.

Stars were soon acupoints.

My true qi channeling awakened acupoints... no, created them.

Now pioneering acupoints destined to be blocked.

So they won't close, sturdily, containing father's affection—creating paths for wind's natural true qi to flow.

I was creating Taebok's universe.

"Uuuuuuuuuuungaeaeae!"

Taebok responded with vigorous crying.

"Did I do it? Did I do it?"

The Divine Physician approached checking Taebok's pulse.

Soon joy rose on his face.

"Right! You did it! You created one path for natural energy to flow for the baby!"

See Taebok bursting into vigorous crying. Eyes slightly hazy.

It's okay. Still see so well.

Our Taebok finally—finally.

"Honey? What are you doing?"

Blood heated from excitement cooled instantly.

"Honey? Divine Physician? Why is Taebok?"

"Ah, ah, no. That's not it."

I turned around clumsily—ttukttakttuktttak.

Jayeong stood opening the training hall door.

"Weren't you sleeping?"

"Heard Taebok's crying."

Quite a distance and thick training hall door too.

"Heard clearly though."

Kkulkkeok—I swallowed before her.

Right, now the time has come.

"Um, so. Must talk now."

Will you help, Divine Physician sir?

The Divine Physician slipped back to a training hall corner.

When eyes met, he shook his head.

Firm expression not to drag him in.

Before I could open mouth, Jayeong shouted.

"What are you doing with Taebok!"

"No, it's not like that. I did something good."

"Good? If you don't explain properly—"

But Jayeong's voice cut off mid-way.

Even sat down in place—teolsseok.

What she looked at wasn't me.

I also turned surprised.

Hearing that sound, the Divine Physician definitely saw too.

All three of us couldn't understand the scene before eyes.

The sight of Taebok floating in midair.