The Return of the Sw Chapter 22 : At the Seo Family Estate. -02

Chapter 22: At the Seo Family Estate. -02

Once the decision was made, there was no need to dawdle.

The sooner the treatment was carried out, the more the aftereffects could be minimized, so Ban Hojin raised his body.

“Understood. I will guide you.”

“Ah, it will be difficult to treat him immediately. I do have the Inner Core of the White Toad of a Hundred Years, but it would be better if there were additional medicinal ingredients to assist it. I assume the Estate Head already knows this.”

“Most things are already prepared. We were only storing them because we lacked the core containing Extreme Yin Energy, which is the key. If there is anything else you need, please tell me. I will obtain it as quickly as possible.”

“Beyond that, the Third Young Lord’s physical strength must be able to support it to a certain degree. Mental fortitude alone has its limits. A strong mind comes from a healthy body.”

Seo I-gyeong nodded.

Every word was correct.

And if one rushed too much simply because it was urgent, even things that could succeed might fail.

Thus, the more urgent it was, the more thoroughly one had to prepare.

“Ah, hello. My name is Seo Joun. I apologize for greeting you while lying down like this.”

Although he tried to remain calm, Seo I-gyeong could not help being anxious, and he quickly guided Ban Hojin to his youngest son’s room.

Soon, Seo Joun, whose face looked far more youthful than when Ban Hojin had met him in his previous life, greeted him while sweating profusely with cold sweat.

He tried to get up somehow, but because the Extreme Yang Energy rampaging freely within his body would not obey him, Seo Joun ultimately could not raise himself.

“That’s fine. I am not so lacking in common sense as to demand etiquette from a patient.”

“Hahaha. Being called a patient—this is the first time I’ve heard that.”

“You are in pain, so you are indeed a patient. First, I will tell you what I already told the Estate Head.”

After a brief greeting, Ban Hojin relayed to Seo Joun exactly what he had told Seo I-gyeong.

Seo Joun’s eyes widened in shock.

He could not believe it even after hearing it.

But when Ban Hojin placed the Inner Core of the White Toad of a Hundred Years into his hand, he had no choice but to believe it.

“Uh…?”

Just by holding it in his hand, the Extreme Yang Energy that had tormented Seo Joun his entire life subsided.

The pain was still there, but its intensity was clearly reduced, and Seo Joun looked down at the Inner Core with eyes full of wonder.

“It works, doesn’t it?”

“Yes! It’s completely amazing. No matter how potent the medicine, the Extreme Yang Energy never settled down before……”

“However, this is literally only a temporary measure for now. If it is not treated properly, this pain will last your entire life.”

Because he had seen Seo Joun’s future in his previous life, Ban Hojin could say this with certainty.

At nearly twenty years of age, Seo Joun had narrowly escaped death after luckily meeting a reclusive master who had mastered the Fiery Yang Art and learning martial arts from him.

However, although he avoided death, he could not escape the pain.

Because the Nine Yang Severed Meridians were not perfectly treated, he lived his entire life enduring excruciating pain.

The Fiery Yang Art passed down by the reclusive master was certainly a martial art of considerable level, but unfortunately, it was not enough to fully control the Extreme Yang Energy of the Nine Yang Severed Meridians.

He could only suppress it and use about half of it, and thus Seo Joun of that past life could not escape from the horrific pain.

‘But now it’s different.’

Despite it being only a half-measure treatment, Seo Joun in his previous life had reigned as a grim reaper over the warriors of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

Even the ice arts of the Northern Sea Ice Palace were useless against the Extreme Yang Energy he unleashed.

Moreover, Seo Joun’s Extreme Yang Energy was also effective when dealing with the poison masters of the Nine Heavens Gate.

“I will accept Young Hero Ban’s proposal.”

“It is a period of twenty years. You do not have to decide immediately, so you may think it over more carefully.”

“There is no need to deliberate. If I do not accept it, I will die within three years. Not just me—anyone would naturally choose the latter if asked to choose between three years and twenty years. And when combined with the Blazing Deity Divine Art, I should rather be the one feeling apologetic.”

Seo Joun spoke with an expression in which his pain had eased considerably.

He spoke while looking at Ban Hojin with clear, deep eyes.

Even though he had effectively mortgaged twenty years of his life, Seo Joun instead showed gratitude all over his face.

“Understood. Then I will begin treatment as soon as your condition improves.”

“Are we not writing a contract?”

“It’s not as though I came here without learning about the Seo Family Estate.”

“Hehehe.”

Seo I-gyeong, who had been quietly listening to the two, burst into laughter.

He did not dislike the feeling of being acknowledged.

Moreover, Ban Hojin was no ordinary martial artist—he was an Unregistered Disciple of Damhyeon, the Abbot of Shaolin and one of the Murim Ten Kings.

Because of that, Seo I-gyeong smiled brightly for the first time in a very long while.

“I will repay that trust. And thank you for saving my life.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“You may speak more casually now. You are older than me, after all.”

Seo Joun said with a smile on his gaunt, emaciated face.

At a glance, it looked like a sorrowful smile, but his eyes were different.

They were burning fiercely with the will to live.

“All right. First, focus on raising your stamina as much as possible. If your body cannot endure during the treatment, it will all be for nothing. When the Extreme Yang Energy and Extreme Yin Energy clash, you must stay conscious and endure no matter what. To do that, stamina is essential. I will help you, but I cannot guarantee how long it will take.”

“I will do my best.”

Seo Joun was not flustered even when Ban Hojin immediately dropped formal speech.

Through their conversation, he had already grasped that this was his nature.

And for Seo Joun, this was actually more comfortable.

At the same time, he made a vow in his heart.

‘I will use the life you saved for the Central Plains and for you, brother.’

Because he was intelligent, Seo Joun knew this.

Unless it was at the level of the Five Great Families or the Ten Great Families, it was impossible for the Seo Family Estate’s capabilities to treat him.

Even so, the reason he had not given up on life and continued taking medicine was for the sake of his parents.

Seeing his parents and siblings doing everything they could to save him, he could not bring himself to say that he wanted to die.

Thus, he had lived a life of enduring and enduring.

And then, truly like a miracle, fortune came to him.

‘I will keep my promise and fulfill my filial duty.’

After making that promise in his heart toward Ban Hojin, Seo Joun looked at his father, who had grown even thinner over the past few years.

He was a father who had devoted every effort solely to saving him.

Therefore, once he was completely cured, Seo Joun intended to repay him one by one with all the filial acts he had been unable to do until now.

Perhaps because of his determination to be completely cured, Seo Joun’s treatment was not particularly difficult.

Despite the tremendous pain caused by the battle between the Extreme Yang Energy gushing out from the nine major acupoints and the Extreme Yin Energy suppressing it, Seo Joun did not let out a single groan.

As if this level of pain was something he could easily endure, he calmly circulated the Blazing Deity Divine Art and slowly gained the upper hand.

The moment he felt that, Ban Hojin removed the two hands he had overlapped on Seo Joun’s vital acupoint.

“Hoo!”

“I-is it finished?”

When Ban Hojin removed his hands and exhaled, Seo I-gyeong, who had been waiting restlessly in one corner of the room, cautiously approached and asked.

He spoke in as small a voice as possible, worried that asking might disturb Seo Joun.

“Not yet, but the dangerous stage has passed. From now on, it is the recovery stage, so you do not need to worry.”

“Ah!”

“It will probably be over soon.”

“Thank you! Truly, thank you!”

Drip.

Tears streamed down from Seo I-gyeong’s eyes.

Because his youngest son, who had nearly died, had survived, tears flowed from Seo I-gyeong without him realizing it.

At the same time, all the hardships he had endured until now flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

“I already received more than enough thanks last time. So please stop. And wouldn’t a smiling face be better than a crying one?”

“Th, that’s true.”

Seo I-gyeong, who had been sniffling in a way unbecoming of his age, hurriedly wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

However, he did not let go of Ban Hojin’s hand.

Because Seo Joun’s recovery was entirely thanks to Ban Hojin, Seo I-gyeong intended to repay this debt of gratitude until the day he died.

Yet, unlike the rejoicing Seo I-gyeong, Ban Hojin’s gaze was somewhat heavy.

‘This was unexpected.’

Looking at Seo Joun’s face, which was growing more and more relaxed, Ban Hojin muttered inwardly.

The complete cure had succeeded safely, but another problem had arisen.

Fortunately, there was no need to worry about aftereffects, but the issue was Seo Joun’s physical body.

Because he had spent most of his time lying in bed due to the pain caused by the Extreme Yang Energy, Seo Joun’s body had not been trained at all.

No, far from being trained, he barely had the minimum amount of flesh and muscle on him.

Thus, even though he had been completely cured, physical training would be out of the question for quite some time.

‘This is my mistake. I should have anticipated this.’

Ban Hojin let out a low sigh.

Though flustered by the unforeseen variable, Ban Hojin soon organized his thoughts.

Thinking it over carefully, it was merely a variable, not a major problem.

It would simply extend the schedule a bit.

‘At least we’ve come this far.’

There had been unexpected encounters along the way, but overall, everything had proceeded smoothly up to now.

So Ban Hojin chose to think positively.

He decided to take this opportunity to review the plan once again.

Since things in the world never went exactly as intended, getting overly elated or dejected would only tire oneself out.

“Um, is there some problem?”

“No. There’s just something I need to think about personally. It has nothing to do with Joun.”

“Is that so.”

“He looks like he’s about to get up.”

Sensing something unusual in Ban Hojin’s expression, Seo I-gyeong turned his head.

Then, for the first time in his life, he saw Seo Joun’s face looking clean and clear.

Although his body still felt like it had only skin clinging to bone, his eyes and movements were brimming with strength.

In particular, seeing the lively aura with no sign of suffering at all made Seo I-gyeong’s throat tighten once more.

“Father!”

“You’ve suffered. You truly suffered.”

“Father, you suffered even more. From now on, I’ll live repaying you. So please, from now on, think only about Father and Mother.”

“Khk!”

Seeing Seo Joun, who was only seventeen yet acting like a fully grown adult, Seo I-gyeong’s eyes grew moist.

It had always been like this.

Even when he should have complained and cried because he was sick, Seo Joun never did.

He endured it alone and instead worried about his father, his mother, and his brothers.

“From now on, I’ll make you happy.”

“I don’t want that.”

“I know. But I want to do it for you. And I should also thank my elder brother.”

“Ah, right.”

Seo I-gyeong hurriedly stepped back.

All of this was thanks to Ban Hojin.

Thus, Seo I-gyeong smiled gently and opened the way.

“Thank you, brother! I will repay this kindness for my entire life!”

“There’s no need for an entire lifetime—just repay it for exactly twenty years. That will be enough for me.”

“No. You saved my life, yet only twenty years? The value of my life is not that small. Even just the Blazing Deity Divine Art alone is a martial art whose value cannot be measured, isn’t it?”

“But it’s a half-baked martial art. A martial art that no one can even enter unless they are born with Extreme Yang Energy. That’s why it could be copied from the sect without much trouble.”

Ban Hojin shrugged.

The Blazing Deity Divine Art was certainly a martial art worthy of bearing the name ‘Divine Art’.

However, without Extreme Yang Energy, it could not be learned at all, and if one forced it, it would become a demonic art, so in a way, it was a conditional Divine Art.

In other words, it was a martial art special precisely because it was Seo Joun.

“Even so, gratitude is still gratitude. So please just give the order. Even if you command me to jump into a pit of fire, I will follow without hesitation.”

“But you wouldn’t die even if you jumped into a pit of fire.”

“Hahaha.”

“For now, let’s build up your body first. You need to build muscle before anything else, even more than stamina training.”

“Understood!”

Seo Joun replied playfully.

But his eyes were different.

They were more serious and deeper than ever before.