Heavenly Martial God - Chapter 3
“It’s a fracture.”
The old physician with a wrinkled face spoke calmly.
“Both of your ankles are fractured in three places. Here, here, and here.”
With his wrinkled hands, he tapped on the areas around the ankles.
Hahuyeong stared blankly at the bandages wrapped around his ankles.
Looking at the tightly wrapped bandages, like a cocoon, a sense of absurdity surged through him.
“…They’re broken?”
“Yes, three fractures, to be exact.”
“Wait, how could I break my legs just from falling from there?”
And in three places, no less?
The physician nodded.
“Yes. But you should consider yourself extremely lucky. You fell so perfectly that only three places were cleanly broken.”
What is this old man talking about?
How is it ‘lucky’ when someone’s legs are broken?
“Are you telling me that a human body breaks that easily? That doesn’t even make sense!”
“I did warn you, didn’t I, Young Master? Your body is much weaker than you think.”
“Weak or not, this is ridiculous!”
This is beyond frustrating.
It’s not like the old man is joking around with me.
“A human body isn’t made of porcelain!”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“…What?”
“You remember correctly. I did mention before that your body is like porcelain.”
“What, like what body?”
“A porcelain body.”
“…”
“Hmph, but no need to worry. If you take the medicine I prepared, your bones will heal quickly.”
“Unbelievable…”
He was at a loss for words.
Comparing a human body to porcelain?
As if I’m some fragile piece that shatters at a touch?
‘I used to have a body that could withstand even the harshest blows without so much as a sprain!’
Since earning the nickname “Dokpae” (the Lone Tyrant) and until I ascended the peaks, I never once broke a bone, not even a dislocated finger.
But now I’m stuck in a body that breaks at the slightest touch? It’s beyond absurd.
‘…Did I wake up in this kind of weak body?’
Whoosh, whoosh.
The old physician waved his hand in front of Hahuyeong as if trying to grab his attention.
“Hmm, it seems you may also have a mild concussion. Again, consider yourself very fortunate. I’ll brew another medicinal decoction for you. Given your fragile constitution, you must be extremely careful from now on.”
Hahuyeong chuckled in disbelief.
“This is ridiculous…”
“Anger isn’t good for you either. Try to think positive, cheerful thoughts…”
The physician continued to rattle off a list of warnings, but Hahuyeong wasn’t listening anymore.
His gaze shifted to the empty air.
‘What the hell did you do to me, you damn immortals!’
What sin did I commit to deserve being stuck in a body like this?
You twisted bastards! What kind of minds would come up with such cruel nonsense?
A deep rage rose up as he took in the absurd reality.
‘Damn it… does this mean I’m stuck here until my body heals?’
Wow… just wow.
As a sigh escaped him, Hahuyeong suddenly laughed.
A hollow laugh echoed quietly.
“Heh heh.”
The physician flinched at the eerie atmosphere.
“…Young Master?”
“Heh heh heh heh heh…”
I’ve been set up by those damn immortals, forced into this absurd game.
Me, the almighty Lone Tyrant of the world.
“Heh heh heh heh heh heh…”
To think the once most feared man in the world now has to live in this fragile, pathetic body.
His face twisted into a grimace, and soon his laughter faded into silence.
Geum Cheomsang, who was beside him, glanced at the physician in confusion.
“Physician, what’s wrong with him…?”
The physician, having no clue, stammered in embarrassment.
“Well, uh… it’s probably the shock… Hmm, I’ll get the medicine ready right away.”
“Ah, yes, please.”
“I’ll be back every day at this time to check on you!”
The physician hurriedly left the room.
Hahuyeong stared blankly at the old man’s retreating figure.
Suddenly, a surge of anger welled up again.
Since waking up in this body, he’d been feeling angry all the time.
A growling sound came from his throat.
“Those damn immortal bastards… Ugh!”
As he gritted his teeth, his jaw throbbed painfully, making him let out a groan.
The sharp pain in his jaw quickly drained him of energy.
The fact that even something as simple as gritting his teeth was beyond his control left him feeling utterly helpless.
Frustration gave way to a deep sigh, and he was once again at a loss for words.
“Young Master, the medicine is being prepared, so please wait a little longer.”
Hahuyeong quietly nodded.
‘…In this condition, I can’t do anything. Absolutely nothing.’
If I try to climb Mount Cheonsan in this state, I’ll surely die before I get there.
No, even falling off a wall could kill me at this rate.
In the end, Hahuyeong had no choice but to reconsider his approach.
‘…First, I need to check if I still have any internal energy left, then work on strengthening this body.’
His past experiences and insights were still clearly engraved in his mind. Among that vast knowledge, he remembered methods for training the body.
Even if this body is as fragile as porcelain, it can still be strengthened through training.
Hahuyeong calmed his mind.
After all, there was a reason he had been given six chances to ascend to immortality in ten years.
Controlling his emotions was not a difficult task.
Reaching Mount Cheonsan could wait.
This body may be much weaker compared to the past, but I’ll just have to reshape and train it.
The one advantage of this new body was that I still had plenty of time.
Grumble.
As his mind settled, he suddenly felt hunger.
“Hungry too? This is absurd.”
It dawned on him just how different things were now. In his past life, he never even felt hunger, yet now his stomach growled fiercely.
“Well, I’d better eat something.”
Hahuyeong pushed aside his frustration and waited for Geum Cheomsang.
Since this guy was responsible for attending to Namgoong Hyuk, he would likely bring him food, too.
After some time had passed.
Creak!
“Young Master, I’m back.”
“Oh!”
Hahuyeong exclaimed in admiration.
Geum Cheomsang walked in carrying a tray the size of a child’s torso.
A row of servants entered, each carrying a tray of a similar size.
The large table was quickly filled with trays.
Looking at the covered trays, Hahoe-young smiled in satisfaction.
“Seems like you’ve been taking care of me for a long time. You came right when I needed it.”
“More than just a year or two.”
“Let’s start with the medicine.”
“Why the sudden enthusiasm? Let’s have this first.”
Geum Cheomsang lifted the lid from the tray he was holding.
Five bowls of steaming medicinal soup were neatly arranged on the tray.
Hahoe-young’s eyes wavered.
“…I have to drink all this just because my legs are broken?”
“This is the one for that. Just one bowl.”
“And the others?”
“They’re your usual tonics.”
“Five bowls of tonic? Even if I’m weak…”
“Excuse me? What are you talking about?”
Geum Cheomsang placed a straw into one of the bowls and pointed at the table.
“There’s more over there.”
“What?”
“Ten kinds of tonics to protect the mind and body, ten to balance your energy, and five prescribed for your chronic ailments. That’s a total of twenty-five bowls.”
Hahoe-young’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening.
All of this is medicine?
‘…Does this guy fill his stomach with medicine?’
He couldn’t even drink water like this.
As Hahoe-young stared blankly, Geum Cheomsang placed the straw in his mouth.
Sluuurp.
Like he was under a spell, Hahoe-young instinctively started sucking down the medicine.
There was a reason he could easily find and drink through a straw even back when he had first awakened and could barely see.
“That’s it, you’re doing great. Drink it all. Drink!”
“DAMN.”
“Stop swearing. Positive thoughts, positive mind. That’s how the medicine works better.”
One by one, the bowls were emptied. As expected, the medicine was disgustingly bitter.
But oddly, he felt healthier.
Gulp gulp!
He set aside the straw and started drinking directly from the bowls.
Hahoe-young emptied the bowls, feeling a deep sense of confusion.
‘How can this body be like this while drinking this much medicine every day?’
Soon enough, all twenty-five bowls were inside Hahoe-young’s stomach.
“GRAAAAH!”
He felt a burning sensation rising from his throat.
His insides felt packed with medicine.
He wiped his mouth roughly, grimacing.
“Bring pills next time!”
“We have pills here too.”
“…”
Crunch crunch!
As Hahoe-young chewed the pill Geum Cheomsang handed him, his eyes widened.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
“It’s a Geumryeongdan, made by the medical chief himself.”
“You eat this every day?”
“Three pills a day.”
“Huh!”
Hahoe-young let out an honest exclamation of admiration.
The Geumryeongdan was quite something.
Just one pill, and he felt warmth spreading through his body, making it easier to breathe.
It seemed to be excellent for replenishing energy.
As he took a deep breath, he felt his head clear as well.
This was definitely top-grade medicine.
To think that he took three of these every day.
The wealth of the Namgoong clan was really sinking in now.
‘Those tonics weren’t normal either. Not miraculous, but close.’
Hahoe-young stroked his chin.
‘Since things have turned out like this, should I stick around here for a while and just keep getting fed?’
Now that he thought about it, there was no reason to refuse when everything was being handed to him.
His inner energy and body needed refining anyway.
In that case, the best course of action was to receive as much as possible and expand his capabilities.
Then, when he headed to Mt. Cheon, his ascent would be much easier!
‘Yes, that would be the most advantageous. If I’m already delayed, rushing might just ruin everything.’
His gaze swept over Namgoong-hyeok’s luxurious room.
‘No one’s going to complain if I play the part of Namgoong-hyeok for a while.’
For now, Hahoe-young—no, Namgoong-hyeok—made up his mind.
As he organized his thoughts, a group of servants rushed into the room.
They were each carrying another tray, and Namgoong-hyeok glanced at Geum Cheomsang with a sullen expression.
“And what’s that?”
Geum Cheomsang commanded the servants loudly.
“Now it’s time for lunch.”
“…I’m already full.”
“You still have to eat.”
Looking at the mountain of luxurious dishes stacking up on the table, Namgoong-hyeok wore a dazed expression.
“All of it?”
“Is it not enough?”
“…Hand me the spoon.”
“Here.”
Geum Cheomsang handed him a golden spoon.
Geum Cheomsang had also set up a small personal table with specially selected dishes just for Namgoong-hyeok.
“Heh, gold spoons, huh.”
“Shall I change it to silver?”
“That’s enough.”
Holding the spoon, Namgoong-hyeok hesitated.
The weight of the spoon was heavier than expected, requiring strength with every bite.
Even just lifting the food to his mouth was a challenge.
‘Has eating always been such a delicate task?’
This was a different kind of difficulty from scaling walls.
Was this body even capable of daily life?
Shiver.
Incredibly, halfway through the bowl, his hand started shaking.
When Namgoong-hyeok glanced ahead, Geum Cheomsang was staring at him intently.
“…What?”
“Shall I feed you?”
“You think I’m a child?”
Even a three-year-old could feed themselves. There was no way he would allow it.
“Try the wild ginseng salad over there.”
“…What salad?”
“Wild ginseng salad.”
“…You serve wild ginseng as a side dish?”
Who in their right mind makes a salad out of wild ginseng?
“…Guess they do.”
Namgoong-hyeok quietly picked up the wild ginseng salad and took a bite.
‘Heh, what luxury is this?’
He had eaten more wild ginseng in this one meal than he had in his entire life.
The golden utensils and extravagant surroundings screamed opulence.
It was a lifestyle one could get used to—if the body were in good condition, that is.
‘Yes, if only my body was in better shape.’
Namgoong-hyeok decided he needed to properly assess his current physical state.
Only by understanding his body could he determine what to get from the Namgoong clan and how to maintain it.
If he just kept accepting whatever food and medicine they handed him, he might end up stuck here forever.
“We’ll clear this away.”
Geum Cheomsang and the servants swiftly cleared the table.
Namgoong-hyeok called out to Geum Cheomsang as he headed out.
“Hey, I want to be alone for a while, so don’t come in today.”
“Excuse me? That’s not allowed.”
“No, it is. Don’t come.”
“I really can’t. I’ll get in trouble with the head of the clan!”
“Then stand outside and wait. Now get out.”
“But, but! Sir, this is really not—”
“Get out unless you want trouble.”
At Namgoong-hyeok’s threat, Geum Cheomsang backed away with a grimace.
Namgoong-hyeok stared at the door for a moment before turning his head.
With that nuisance out of the way, it was time to get to work.
Namgoong-hyeok adjusted his breathing.
“Alright, let’s start by checking my energy flow.”