BAG 7

Chapter 7

Mugang almost let the thought “What does she expect me to say?” slip through his mind—then quickly erased it.
To have such irreverent thoughts toward a woman who might one day rise as the Sun of the Divine Cult would have been blasphemous.

“Physician Mu, is there something you desire? …Ah, I’m not talking about the treatment fee. I simply wish to repay your kindness in some way. Within the limits of my authority, I can grant almost anything.”

“In that case, may I request an elixir to strengthen my internal energy?”

Seol Danah tilted her head.
She hadn’t expected Mugang to answer so quickly—or so humbly.

If he had asked to enter the Moon Physician Pavilion of the Cult, or requested her patronage, she would have agreed without hesitation.
She had even decided to continue supporting him afterward—as long as he didn’t make any grave mistakes.

Yet, all he asked for was an elixir to increase internal energy.
So far from what she anticipated, curiosity bloomed in her eyes.

“May I ask why you need such an elixir?”

Mugang hesitated briefly, then spoke slowly.

“I live as a physician whose duty is to heal and save others. But my innate martial talent is poor—my internal energy barely reaches the level of a second-rate martial artist.
Each time I treat a patient, I feel the limits of my strength keenly.
So, if my internal energy increased, I might be able to save even more lives.”

“……!”

Seol Danah drew in a sharp breath at his sincere gaze.
Her own arrogance and narrow-mindedness suddenly felt shameful.

‘Perhaps… my descent into the heart demon began with this very arrogance.’

At that realization, her mind cleared—as if the storm clouds had parted, revealing a bright, cloudless sky.
The towering wall that had always loomed before her now seemed lower.
She could faintly glimpse the world beyond it.

“Indeed…!”

With a small enlightenment, emotion welled within her, and she murmured softly to herself.
Mugang, meanwhile, grew uneasy.

‘Was asking for the elixir too much?’

Elsewhere — The Sun of the Divine Cult

A clear bell chime echoed.

A man wearing a black robe embroidered with a blazing golden sun on his back stood motionless.
Without turning, he flicked a finger—the heavy door opened on its own, and Seol Dana entered.

“Sun and Moon illuminate the world, all things flow in harmony. Eternal glory to the Celestial Sun and Moon!”

Kneeling, Seol Danah pressed her hands together and bowed deeply.

The man—the Cult Leader—gave no response.
Only after a full minute did he turn around, his eyes glinting like twin suns.

With a single glance, he saw through Seol Danah’s body and smiled faintly.

“I heard you fell into heart demon deviation. Yet you stand here unharmed. Why?”

“I encountered a providential chance in Punghyang.”

Punghyang—also known as Punghyang Village.
The very village where Mugang lived.

“A providential chance, you say? Speak in detail.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Seol Danah recounted everything honestly—without exaggeration or deceit.
To someone like the Cult Leader, her personal feelings meant nothing.

When she finished, he was silent for a moment, then lazily gestured.

“Baekcheon, enter.”

“Hehehe! I was wondering when you’d summon me, my lord.”

A middle-aged man entered the hall with a sly laugh.
Though Seol Danah didn’t lift her head, she recognized the voice.

Baekcheon, the Demon Physician — fifth in rank within the Divine Cult, and master of the Moon Physician Pavilion.

“Hehehe. May I examine the young mistress’s pulse?”

“Proceed.”

Baekcheon immediately grasped Seol Danah’s wrist and channeled internal energy through her meridians.
No traces of the heart demon remained—her inner injuries had completely vanished.

‘Incredible…’

Even he, who had treated dozens of heart demon victims, was astonished.
He and the Cult Leader had both expected Seol Danah to return half-crippled.
Instead, she was perfectly fine.

Either her heart demon had been shallow—
or the physician who treated her possessed unfathomable skill.

Baekcheon leaned toward the former.
If it were the latter, the Cult’s Hidden Moon Pavilion would have already detected such a talent.
And if they hadn’t—every officer in that pavilion would soon lose their heads.

‘Still, this wasn’t ordinary medicine…’

Even mild cases of heart demon deviation were almost impossible to cure.
For such a healer to live quietly in a small village like Punghyang—
Baekcheon’s curiosity flared.

He wanted to meet the man immediately.
But now was not the time.

“Hehehe… It’s true. The young mistress’s heart demon has been completely cured.”

“Is that so?”

“Hehehe, truly astonishing.”

He admitted frankly that even he would have struggled with a case like hers.

“Oh? The great Demon Physician admitting defeat—rare indeed.”

“Hehehe… Heart demons are unlike anything else, my lord. I’d rather treat Qi Deviation a hundred times over.
So, I propose this—why not send them to this physician? See if he can cure them.”

The Cult Leader’s eyes gleamed. He immediately understood Baekcheon’s intent.

“You mean those people whom even you have given up on?”

“Hehehe. Exactly.”

“Seventh daughter, what is your opinion?”

“If it’s Physician Mu… he will cure them.”

The Cult Leader stroked his beard, amused, then gave his command.

“Seventh Daughter, escort those people to Punghyang and deliver them to Mu’s Clinic.”

“As you command.”

“Hehehe… This should be entertaining.”

Baekcheon’s grin widened, eager to see the results.

Back in Punghyang Village

After Seol Danah’s departure, Mugang’s days continued as usual.
He went to the clinic every morning and treated patients.

He had never cared for change.
After a lifetime of hardship, he only wished for a quiet, ordinary life.

“But a needle hidden in a pocket always pokes through eventually.”

“That’s random—what do you mean by that?”

Mugang frowned at Physician Geum.

“Hehe. I just meant that your fame, Master Mugang—the physician I respect most in the world—has now spread to neighboring villages!”

“I’m aware.”

“As expected of my most respected master! But have you heard? The rumors say that in those other villages…”

Eventually, Mugang stopped replying.
Physician Geum’s chatter was endless—and mostly nonsense.

It wasn’t strange that rumors had spread.
After all, the patients he’d treated were not ordinary.
One had been on the verge of death with his organs spilling out, and the other—officially—was said to have suffered Qi Deviation (though in truth, it had been Seol Danah’s heart demon).

‘As long as they don’t cause trouble, I don’t care.’

Mugang never refused a patient—no matter who they were.
That had always been his belief, both in his past and present lives.

Later that morning, after finishing his rounds, he returned to his office and checked his status window.
He was only a few points away from level 10.
Faster than expected—thanks to curing Seol Danah.

Not only had his experience risen, but she had also left a chest containing hundreds of silver coins as a treatment fee.
He already knew how to use them.

His clinic was growing crowded; expansion was necessary.
He planned to purchase the surrounding land and hire additional physicians and workers.

‘I’ll ask Joo-geon for help with that.’

Joo-geon was the most well-connected man in the village—he’d handle it quickly.

As for the elixir, Mugang had worried whether his request had been too bold.
But, true to her future title as the Sun of the Cult, Seol Danah had readily agreed.

She had left ten days ago—so the elixir should be arriving any day now.

While reading a book on acupuncture techniques, Mugang was interrupted by loud footsteps and shouting.

“Physician Mu! Physician Mu-u-u!”

He closed the book and stepped out.
A sudden sense of déjà vu washed over him.
He’d experienced this kind of commotion before—
and each time, it had been the Cult’s warriors coming to visit.

“Physician Jo, have the Divine Cult’s people come again?”

“H-how did you know that?!”

Jo looked back, startled—just in time to see Mugang already striding out the door.

The Divine Cult’s Arrival

This was the third time the Cult’s warriors had come to his clinic.
Though he was getting used to it, Mugang’s attitude remained humble as ever.

Today, he was even dressed neatly—after all, he expected to greet honored guests bearing an elixir.

“Sun and Moon illuminate the world, all things flow in harmony…!”

Mugang bowed deeply, his movements precise as if measured by a ruler.
The Cult’s warriors blinked in surprise at such deference and stepped aside to make way.

From between them, Seol Danah emerged.

“Physician Mu.”

“Yes!”

“You may rise.”

Mugang sprang to his feet using the power of his bent knees—a movement so fluid it bordered on the supernatural.
Hidden behind a pillar, Physician Geum nearly gasped aloud in admiration.

Had the Cult not been present, he would have run out squealing, wagging his metaphorical tail in praise.

“Captain, bring them in.”

“Understood.”

‘Them?’

Did she mean multiple elixirs?
His heart fluttered with anticipation—until three prison wagons rolled into the clinic yard.

Inside each, men knelt with blindfolds and bound hands.

“These are martial artists who have fallen into heart demon deviation.”

Mugang’s shoulders slumped slightly.

‘So… patients, after all.’

With a quiet sigh, he approached the wagons.
The captain stepped in front of him, waiting for Seol Danah’s signal.

She nodded.

“Be cautious.”

“Understood.”

Mugang examined the first cart and spoke.

“May I have their blindfolds and gags removed, briefly, to assess their condition?”

“Captain, remove their restraints.”

“Yes.”

The captain gestured, and three guards approached.
One rested a hand on his weapon, watching closely, while the other two entered the wagon to unfasten the bindings.

The moment the gag was removed—

“Woof! Woof! Grrr! Arf! Arf!”

The patient bared his teeth and howled like a rabid beast, frothing at the mouth.

“The heart demons… run deeper than expected.”