The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

The Demonic Medical Hall.

As its name suggests, it was a medical hall located in the main headquarters.

However, it was naturally not on a level to be compared with a medical hall that could be found in any rural village.

The Demonic Medical Hall was a place that took care of not only the patients in the main headquarters but also the leader's illness, so its medical skills could be said to be within the top three in the entire martial world.

'That means that the medicine to take care of illnesses is also well-equipped.'

For simple things, they might be able to buy the medicine itself, but in order to treat complex illnesses, they had to manufacture the medicine themselves there.

And the most necessary ingredient to manufacture medicine is medicinal herbs.

Although Cheon Myeong had never been to the Demonic Medical Hall himself, since he had heard its reputation well, he thought that he would be able to get the medicinal herbs he needed if he went there.

'Ah, come to think of it, I have been there.'

He had been hospitalized in the Demonic Medical Hall for a long time as a patient.

When he was on the verge of life and death due to Qi Deviation.

Of course, since he had been unconscious for most of the time, he did not properly remember what was there or what the inside looked like.

'The Demonic Medical Hall must have had a hard time then.'

Since they had forcibly saved a body that was on the verge of death due to Qi Deviation, he could guess how great their efforts were.

Although the person who had caused the trouble at that time was not him, since he was the one in this place now, he could not be completely indifferent.

That's why, perhaps, Cheon Myeong arrived at the main gate of the Demonic Medical Hall with a slight feeling of apology.

'It looks busy.'

Looking at the scene that could be vaguely seen beyond the open main gate, he could see people in medical uniforms busily moving around inside.

Unlike other places, the main gate of the Demonic Medical Hall was always open, and the reason for that was that it was unknown when and where patients would urgently visit the Demonic Medical Hall.

Since there were also patients who were fighting for their lives, they were trying to save even the time it took to open the door.

Perhaps because that door was always open, Cheon Myeong might have been able to survive in the past.

"For what business have you come?"

As Cheon Myeong approached the main gate, the gatekeeper who was guarding the main gate spoke to Cheon Myeong.

Of course, if Cheon Myeong had been a patient who looked urgent, he would not have asked such a question.

But since Cheon Myeong looked fine on the outside, he had asked the question as per the policy.

"I'd like to talk to the head of the Demonic Medical Hall."

After all, the gatekeepers standing in front of the main gate were warriors dispatched from the Gate Guard Hall.

So even if he said that he had come to get medicinal herbs, it would be of no use.

Talking directly with the head of the Demonic Medical Hall would be the fastest way to proceed with the work.

"May I ask for your name...?"

As soon as he heard that he had come to see the head, the gatekeeper's tone towards Cheon Myeong became cautious.

"Cheon Myeong."

"Ah...!"

As he revealed his name, the gatekeeper seemed to have recognized who Cheon Myeong was.

And he immediately bowed his head and said to Cheon Myeong.

"Please wait a moment."

Saying that, the gatekeeper hurriedly ran inside.

Cheon Myeong watched him and waited for the gatekeeper to return outside the main gate.

And a moment later, the gatekeeper who had run inside earlier returned to where Cheon Myeong was.

"What happened?"

As soon as the gatekeeper returned, Cheon Myeong asked.

Then, as if he were in some trouble, the gatekeeper cautiously opened his mouth.

"Well... I told the head that Young Master Cheon Myeong had come."

"..."

"He said that he has a patient to take care of urgently right now, so he can't see you right away."

Is this how it's going to be, after all?

He had expected this to some extent before coming here.

Although Cheon Myeong was now being treated as a distinguished guest at the Finance Hall, that didn't mean that the treatment of Cheon Myeong had improved in other places.

Now, he was just a young master with an empty shell of a name. Since Cheon Myeong was also aware of that fact, those words did not sound so unpleasant.

"Really? Then when did he say he would have time?"

"He said it would take at least two hours."

"Two hours..."

Although it was long, it was not to the extent that he could not wait.

Since he had waited that long when he had first visited the Finance Hall.

No, since it was one hour at that time, would he have to wait twice as long now?

'It's the Demonic Medical Hall.'

Since it was a place that was always crowded with patients, wouldn't it take that much more time?

Moreover, the head of the Demonic Medical Hall, Jong Seojun, was a person who was at the peak of medical skills, to the point where he even had the nickname 'Healing Hand, Curing Words'.

So there would be especially more patients who needed Jong Seojun.

Since he had heard from rumors that Jong Seojun was a person who always treated patients himself despite being in the high position of head, Cheon Myeong could not get angry about that.

'Yes, let's wait.'

In the past, he had also received help from Jong Seojun's hands.

And Cheon Myeong did not particularly dislike people who were faithful to their work.

Since the situation itself was that this side had come to ask Jong Seojun for a favor without any notice, Cheon Myeong thought that it was right for him to wait.

"Where should I wait?"

Cheon Myeong asked the gatekeeper.

Then, the gatekeeper looked at Cheon Myeong with a somewhat flustered expression and asked back.

"What?"

"I will wait until the work is over. I am asking where I should wait in the meantime."

"...I'm sorry, but I haven't heard anything about that."

"...What?"

Hearing those words from the gatekeeper, even Cheon Myeong was at a loss for words for a moment.

'W-well, he must have been busy and forgotten.'

Wasn't it that he had not been able to pay attention to that part because he was taking care of patients?

Cheon Myeong thought so and said with a smile.

"Then will you ask?"

"I understand. Please wait a moment."

If he had forgotten, he could just ask again.

As Cheon Myeong spoke gently, the gatekeeper went inside once more.

And a moment later, after a similar amount of time as before had passed, the gatekeeper returned to where Cheon Myeong was.

"..."

This time too, the gatekeeper was making a somewhat troubled expression.

As soon as he discovered that expression, Cheon Myeong had an ominous feeling.

"Well... as you said, I asked where you should wait, Young Master..."

Even at this moment, the gatekeeper was hesitating to speak.

An appearance as if he were deliberating on whether to say this to Cheon Myeong or not.

Although he didn't know what he had been told, Cheon Myeong decided to help the gatekeeper speak more comfortably.

"It's okay, just say it."

"...Then I will speak."

As Cheon Myeong said that, the gatekeeper began to open his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

"He said that there is no suitable space inside the hall."

"...What?"

"He said that he can't empty a space now because of the patients, so if you want to wait, you'll have to wait outside..."

"..."

This... he's openly saying he doesn't want to meet me, right?

Since there was also the favor he had received in the past, no matter how nicely he tried to think about it, he had no choice but to think so.

'What is it... did I do something wrong to the head of the Demonic Medical Hall?'

No matter how shabby his position was now, he would generally meet him...

Even Hong Yeorin had waited for an hour, but hadn't she given him a reception room and met him?

Cheon Myeong thought that there might be some circumstances he didn't know about.

"Peep-!"

At that moment, Baekjo, who was sitting on Cheon Myeong's shoulder, cried out as if it were angry.

It seemed that it understood the situation that Cheon Myeong was now being treated as an unwelcome guest and was angry.

At that sound, the gatekeeper was startled and looked at Baekjo.

Swish-.

However, as Cheon Myeong immediately stroked its head with his finger as if to calm it down, Baekjo soon stopped crying.

And looking at the gatekeeper again, Cheon Myeong said.

"Go and tell the head of the Demonic Medical Hall."

As Cheon Myeong said that to him, the gatekeeper couldn't help but be nervous.

Even he, who had delivered this message, thought that this situation was the same as Jong Seojun picking a fight with Cheon Myeong.

Was it called a shrimp's back breaking in a whale fight?

Since he was the same as the shrimp caught in the middle now, his back could break if he made a wrong move.

Gulp-.

The gatekeeper swallowed his dry saliva and waited for Cheon Myeong's words.

"Tell him that I will be waiting outside. Tell him to let me know when all his business is over."

Cheon Myeong said with a gentle expression.

Moreover, since the content of the message to be delivered was not so harsh, the gatekeeper was rather puzzled.

"...Is that all I have to convey?"

"Yes."

"I understand..."

The gatekeeper answered and went back inside the Demonic Medical Hall.

And Cheon Myeong, who was watching him silently.

Soon, the smile on Cheon Myeong's face disappeared.

'Two hours... it's not that I can't wait.'

Although he didn't know the reason, Jong Seojun was extremely refusing to meet Cheon Myeong.

At first, he had been half in doubt, but now, that part had become certain. So Cheon Myeong decided to wait.

If he waited outside the main gate like this, no matter what, Jong Seojun would have no choice but to meet Cheon Myeong.

Since there would also be eyes watching from the outside, he would have no choice but to do so even if he didn't want to.

And Cheon Myeong had aimed for that point and had told the gatekeeper to deliver the message.

Thump-.

He had to wait for two hours from now.

So Cheon Myeong took a seat in front of the main gate early and sat on the floor.

"..."

Seeing this, another gatekeeper looked at Cheon Myeong with surprised eyes, but Cheon Myeong was sitting and looking at the Demonic Medical Hall as if it were nothing.

One fact that Jong Seojun did not know.

The current Cheon Myeong was no longer the Cheon Myeong that Jong Seojun had known in the past.

Jong Seojun did not know that Cheon Myeong had become more determined than he had thought.

* * *

An old man was holding the wrist of a patient lying in front of him.

At a glance, it looked as if he were just holding the wrist, but what the old man was doing now was taking the pulse. That old man was the head of the Demonic Medical Hall, Jong Seojun.

"..."

His graying eyebrows and white hair seemed to make one guess Jong Seojun's age just by that.

In fact, his age was approaching sixty, but when he stood in front of a patient, he was no less than any other young person.

Rather, he was taking care of more patients than young people on a regular basis.

Even now, Jong Seojun's gaze was showing a tremendous concentration towards the patient.

"Head."

At that moment, a man approached where Jong Seojun was and said.

However, Jong Seojun, who was still taking the patient's pulse without even giving him a glance.

And while maintaining that state, he opened his mouth.

"Did he go back?"

Although he had omitted the subject, the man knew who Jong Seojun was talking about.

That's why he answered Jong Seojun's question with a somewhat troubled expression.

"Well... he said he will continue to wait outside."

"..."

"What should I do? But to keep the Young Master waiting outside..."

"Leave him be."

"Will that be okay?"

"I answered that he would have to wait for more than two hours. But if he still says he will wait outside, that would be his own choice."

But at least he could have let Cheon Myeong wait inside.

Although he had said that there was no space inside with the excuse of patients, would there not be a single reception room in the Demonic Medical Hall to entertain guests?

The man wanted to at least let Cheon Myeong into the Demonic Medical Hall, but looking at that face, it seemed that Jong Seojun had no intention of doing so.

"...I understand."

The person who makes the decision is the head of the Demonic Medical Hall, Jong Seojun.

That's why the man just answered and retreated.

Swish-.

As the man retreated, Jong Seojun lowered the patient's wrist he was holding.

Although he looked fine on the outside, since he had heard that story just now, he had been mentally shaken and had stopped taking the pulse in the middle.

"Cheon Myeong..."

Why had that guy come to see him?

And although he had already expressed his refusal, to say that he would continue to wait outside... he couldn't understand.

'He will get tired of it and go back.'

He would have just said that he would wait.

In fact, after two hours, he would have disappeared from the main gate.

Thinking so, Jong Seojun was able to regain his composure.

Swish-.

Jong Seojun held the patient's wrist again.

Although he could not completely erase the thoughts from his head, as he started taking the pulse again, Jong Seojun's eyes were now looking only at the patient.