He then asks me with a serious expression, as if speaking for me.
"Brat, what have you been eating all this time?"
"What do you mean…?"
"Your body is filled with so many different energies, yet you're still walking around like this."
It was a statement that made me flinch without realizing it.
Given how much I've consumed recently, I could vaguely understand what he meant.
He must be referring to the dark energy from the martial arts, the fortuitous energy from Sichuan, and the volcanic energy from the ghostly creature.
"Is it that big of a problem?"
"A martial artist shouldn't be unaware… I find it more astonishing that you can still be alive in this state."
Is it that serious?
I knew that the energies from the Dao and the Gou didn't mix well, but I thought I was managing it somehow.
'Is it because the Shin Noya inside me is raging?'
[It's not just that. Who in their right mind would willingly take two different energies into their body?]
'But I didn't do it on purpose…'
[That's why it's so astonishing.]
The part that I had been worrying and questioning was exactly this.
The fact that completely opposite energies coexist within my body.
In other words, they are constantly clashing.
Since they don't mix, they will endlessly clash, and the shocks from these clashes will be borne by my body.
This will become a hindrance as my martial arts skills improve.
If it were a normal body, it would have already fallen into madness and become a cripple.
'Maybe I took it too lightly.'
I had brushed it off as if it were nothing.
So, when Shin Noya says he's suppressing these energies…
[That's not it.]
'Not it?'
[Yes, based on what this doctor said, it's rather that he's keeping you alive.]
'What do you mean?'
[He's watching over the energies that are constantly trying to burst out, and the one that's always on the verge of exploding is him.]
It was hard to fully understand what Shin Noya was saying.
…What exactly is happening inside my body?
I asked Shin urgently.
"Then what should I do?"
"What can you do? Either extract all the energies or pray that your body doesn't burst."
"Really…?"
What…?
"Your body is in a state where it could burst at any moment. I wouldn't even dare to touch it."
If it's so serious that even Shin is hesitant to touch it?
"Is a mountain of corpses really a mountain of corpses? You could die suddenly while eating or bathing. That's exactly your current state."
A state where you could die at any moment.
If the seemingly calm energies start to rage uncontrollably, you'll be gone.
'…I'm carrying a bomb inside my body.'
Was thinking it was fine to consume all that the root of the problem?
…No, honestly, I didn't do it on purpose, so it feels unfair to me.
"This is a bigger issue than I thought."
In response to Mei Hua Xian's words, Shin asked in disbelief.
"Didn't you tell me to look at it?"
"How was I supposed to know…"
"Isn't it strange that someone with a nickname like Mei Hua Xian doesn't know this?"
"I could see it roughly, but I couldn't see it in detail, so I brought him to you."
While the two old men were arguing, my mind was still a mess.
What should I do?
It's not the time to worry about Zhe Ge He or any future events.
I didn't realize that I could die at any moment.
'…What should I do?'
Right now, I'm surviving thanks to something, but even that thing starts to rage when I use a certain amount of energy. It's not exactly well-behaved.
If Shin Noya is suppressing it…
'This is a real mess, more than I thought.'
It's like a war is constantly raging inside my body.
Unwanted fortuitous events have gathered, leading to this state.
If I had chosen to consume them, I wouldn't feel so wronged.
While I was deep in thought, Shin's voice rang out.
"There is a way to survive."
"Really?"
"No, you're already alive, but there is a way to continue living."
"Can you tell me what it is?"
I was grasping at straws.
Shin replied with a indifferent look.
"If you're worried about the energies bursting, you can seal your dantian."
"…!"
"Whether it's madness or your body exploding like fireworks, the problem lies in the flow of energy from the dantian to the meridians. If you seal it now, you can maintain your life."
Shin's words made sense.
If you destroy the dantian, the energy will dissipate, solving the problem. That way, you can survive.
However, as a martial artist, you would be dead.
'That's not an option.'
It's not because I'm attached to the inner strength and skills I've built up.
If the dantian is sealed, you will inevitably die eventually.
By the Heavenly Demon or the Martial Arts Alliance.
'…Damn.'
Why can't there be an easy way out? Can't it be safer?
[You don't want to give up, do you? After all, the dantian is what martial artists value more than their lives.]
It might seem foolish, but that's how most martial artists live.
Shin looked at my expression and clicked his tongue.
"From the look of your face, you can't bear to give up your dantian."
"..."
"If that's the case, I don't have any other solutions. You can only hope that your body holds up as it has been."
"You said you wouldn't do anything, but you've already thought of a treatment, you old fox!"
"…You damn brat, just get lost quickly!"
My head is really hurting…
Shin pointed towards the door, as if telling me to leave after hearing everything.
"This is a place for patients. Get lost quickly."
"You're still as heartless…"
"Especially you, Dohwa, get lost quickly."
Mei Hua Xian gave a friendly smile and naturally stood up.
When the Sword Empress tried to stand and bow, Mei Hua Xian stopped her with a hand.
"Rest well. I'll visit often."
"Yes… Sect Leader."
"Stop coming if you're so energetic…"
"I'll come next time, Doctor."
"Get lost."
Mei Hua Xian left the room, and I was about to follow.
"Wait, wait."
I turned around to see that the voice belonged to Gulinghua.
Gulinghua was looking at me with eyes that were trembling intensely.
"Why?"
"…D-die…?"
"What?"
"Are you going to die…!"
After asking a few times, Gulinghua suddenly shouted.
What is she talking about?
It was a bit difficult to know how to respond after not seeing her for so long.
Is she hoping I'll die? Did we have that bad of a relationship…
-Get out of my sight, you're disgusting just to look at.
…Could it be?
I sighed deeply, remembering the words I had clearly said.
I looked at Gulinghua and said,
"It seems so."
"…Why, why…"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you so calm…?"
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm not going to die yet."
"But you might die tomorrow…!"
"But you're alive now, aren't you?"
My words made Gulinghua's expression change strangely.
Is this such a strange thing to say? Why did Gulinghua become more serious because of it?
There's no way she still has any affection for me.
[It's a strange thing to say. A young person who hasn't experienced the boundary between life and death shouldn't be able to say it so casually.]
'Hmm.'
[You seemed like a wise old man, but you're a bit excessive. I hope this is something you'll tell me later.]
'How can you be so sure whether it's in the story or not?'
[Whatever.]
'...'
Ha.
The conversation became heavy, making me even more tired.
I shook off the heaviness with a deep sigh and said to Gulinghua,
"I'll be returning to the family estate in a few days. You need to come too."
"I… won't go."
"You won't go?"
"Why would I want to go back to that place…!"
"Alright, then don't."
My casual acceptance of her not going made Gulinghua's expression even stranger.
I could already see that she didn't want to go.
"Are you really not going to bring me?"
"You said you don't want to go."
"Oh…"
"What do you think Father will say if I tell him you're throwing a tantrum and won't come?"
"..."
"You're right, he probably won't say anything."
He would likely end it with a single, cold "I see."
The Taixian Pill… Ah, the Taixian Pill is the problem.
'Frankly, if I take it now, it might make things worse.'
My body is already like a fireworks show; adding more might be toxic.
There might be issues with that.
Looking at the Sword Empress and Gulinghua in her arms, I wondered if it was necessary to go.
Gulinghua would definitely be more comfortable here than at the Gou family estate.
[Is it about brotherly feelings, or something like that?]
'Don't say such creepy things.'
It's a matter of life and death, but blood is just blood…
Just like in my previous life, I decided not to care.
[You always say the opposite of what you feel.]
I ignored Shin Noya's words and bowed to Shin and the Sword Empress.
I met Zhe Ge He's eyes but only briefly.
For now.
When I closed the door and stepped outside…
Mei Hua Xian was already gone.
Did he leave already…?
I also needed to return before nightfall, so I wrapped my feet in energy and was about to leap.
"Hold on, I don't know the way…?"
…Huh?
******************
"Strange."
After Gou Yang Qian left, this was what Shin said in the hut.
Strange.
It was truly strange.
The fact that such energies were gathered in the body of a boy who was far from being a young adult.
The fact that these energies, despite being hostile, were not bursting his body.
And even the boy's attitude while listening to his words.
'Those eyes, I've seen them somewhere.'
The eyes that remained calm even when told of his impending death.
They should have been trembling with fear at the possibility of death, but they were calm.
Those eyes were ones Shin had definitely seen somewhere.
But perhaps due to his old age, he couldn't remember clearly.
Shin asked Gulinghua,
"Kid, what did your brother do?"
"…What?"
Gulinghua was taken aback by Shin's sudden question.
What did Gou Yang Qian do…
An older brother by a year.
Initially, he was a kind and proud person, but he changed dramatically at some point.
And.
He was the one who witnessed their mother's last moments.
Though she was too young to remember clearly, Gulinghua knew Gou Yang Qian was there.
With her father, Gou Tie Yun.
"..."
"Linghua…?"
Gulinghua tightly held the Sword Empress's hand, looking anxious.
"Ahem…"
Shin turned his head, realizing there was something he shouldn't ask.