Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Porcelain Body
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"It's a fracture."
The wizened face of the Medical Hall Master spoke with a calm gaze.
"Precisely, three fractures in both ankles. Here, here, and here."
His wrinkled hand poked at the ankles.
Ha Hu-yeong stared blankly at the bandages wrapped around his ankles.
Seeing them bound up tight like a silkworm cocoon, a wave of absurdity washed over him.
"...Broken?"
"Yes, exactly three places."
"No, you fall from there and your legs break?"
Three places, at that?
The Medical Hall Master nodded.
"Yes. But it's a blessing in disguise. You fell so perfectly that only three spots snapped clean."
What the hell is this old man saying?
A person's legs are broken, and he calls it fortunate!
"Does a human body shatter that easily? Make some sense!"
"Didn't I tell you, Young Master? Your body is weaker than you think."
"Even if it's weak!"
This is frustrating enough to kill me.
This old guy's not messing with me.
"A human body isn't made of porcelain!"
"Precisely."
"...What?"
"You remember exactly what I said before. Your body is literally made of porcelain, Young Master."
"What kind of body?"
"Porcelain body."
"...."
"Ahem, but if you take the medicinal broth I prescribed, your bones will heal quickly."
"This..."
He was at a loss for words.
Comparing a human body to porcelain?
Porcelain that shatters at a tap, for flesh and blood?
'I had a body that could chew through indestructible diamond!'
From the time he was first called the Poison Lord until his ascension, not even a finger had ever been sprained, let alone a bone broken.
But a body that snaps at a touch? It was utterly alien.
'...I woke up in this kind of body? This weakling?'
Swish swish.
Oblivious to Ha Hu-yeong's turmoil, the old physician's hand waved back and forth in front of him.
"Hmm, looks like there's mild concussion symptoms too. A blessing again. I'll brew another broth for you, so drink that as well. Your body is inherently frail, so you must be careful—extra careful—from now on."
Ha ha, Ha Hu-yeong nearly let out a hollow laugh.
"This damned..."
"Anger isn't good either. Try to think bright and positive thoughts..."
The Medical Hall Master droned on with precautions for a while, but none of it reached Ha Hu-yeong's ears.
His gaze drifted into empty space.
'What the hell did you do to me! You fucking immortal bastards!'
What crime did I commit to get tossed into this shit body!
You perverts! What the fuck's in your heads to pull off something this horrific!
Deep rage mingled with the stark reality before his eyes.
'Fuck... look at me... So I have to stay put here until this body heals.'
Damn... wow...
Ha Hu-yeong, who had been sighing, suddenly laughed.
A hollow chuckle rumbled low.
"Heh."
The physician flinched at the eerie atmosphere.
"...Young Master?"
"Heh heh heh, heh heh heh heh."
Stuck sitting here on the stage these immortal fuckers laid out for him.
He, the Poison Lord of the world.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh."
To think the man hailed as the world's greatest ended up in this pathetic flesh.
His face twisted, and soon the laughter sank into a low growl.
Geum Cheomsang, watching from the side, glanced at the physician.
"Medical Hall Master, why is he...?"
The Medical Hall Master, clueless as to the reason, panicked.
"W-Well... probably shock... Ahem! First, prepare the broth I prescribed."
"Y-Yes, sir."
"I'll come pulse-check at this time every day!"
The Medical Hall Master hurried out.
Ha Hu-yeong stared blankly at his retreating back.
Then, suddenly, anger surged.
Ever since waking in this body, fury boiled up at random.
A phlegmy growl rose in his throat.
"You fucking immortal bastards... Ugh!"
He gritted his teeth on instinct, and pain shot through his jaw, drawing a groan.
The agony, like his jaw might dislocate, sapped his strength again.
Even this body couldn't handle it properly—now he couldn't even muster anger.
Just sighs and blocked words.
"Young Master, the broth is brewing, so please wait a moment."
Ha Hu-yeong nodded silently.
'...With this body right now, I can't do a damn thing. Nothing.'
Ascension or whatever, trying to head to Heavenly Mountain in this state would be suicidal.
Hell, botch jumping a low wall and he'd be done for.
In the end, Ha Hu-yeong had no choice but to shift his thinking.
'...First, check if I have any internal energy, and temper this flesh.'
His past experiences and insights were vividly etched in his mind. Amid that vast knowledge were ways to train this current body.
Even if it's porcelain, train it hard and make it sturdy—that's all.
Ha Hu-yeong calmed his heart.
It wasn't for nothing he'd seized ascension chances six times over a decade.
Mastering his mind was child's play.
Heading to Heavenly Mountain was just delayed a bit.
His flesh was incomparably weaker than before, but he could refine and strengthen it anew.
The one upside of this new body was the abundance of time left.
Gurgle gurgle.
As his mind settled, hunger struck.
"Hungry too, and absurd."
Reality hit him anew. His old body had never known hunger; now his stomach growled fiercely.
"Guess I need to eat something first."
Ha Hu-yeong shook off the emptiness and absurdity, waiting for Geum Cheomsang.
The guy who tended Nangong Hyeok would surely bring food.
How much time passed?
Slide!
"Young Master, I'm here."
"Oh!"
Ha Hu-yeong exclaimed in admiration.
Geum Cheomsang entered carrying a tray the size of a child's torso.
Maids followed, each with similar massive trays.
The large table filled instantly with trays.
Seeing the covered trays, Ha Hu-yeong smiled warmly.
"You must've tended this body for years. You knew just what I needed."
"Not just one or two years."
"First, the broth—quick."
"What's with the enthusiasm? Here, start with this."
Geum Cheomsang lifted the lid on his tray.
Five bowls of steaming medicinal broth sat neatly arranged.
Ha Hu-yeong's eyes shook.
"...Legs a bit broken, and I drink all this?"
"That's it. One bowl here."
"What about the rest?"
"What you usually take?"
"Five bowls of tonics? Even for a weak body..."
"Pardon? What are you saying?"
Geum Cheomsang placed a straw in one bowl and pointed at the table.
"There's more over there."
"What?"
"Ten broths for mind and body, ten tonics for energy, and five for your chronic conditions. Twenty-five bowls total."
Ha Hu-yeong's mouth gaped, eyes bulging.
All those on the table are tonics?
'...I drink this every day?'
Does this guy fill his belly with medicine?
Couldn't chug that much water.
While Ha Hu-yeong spaced out, Geum Cheomsang popped the straw in his mouth.
Slurp slurp slurp.
As if entranced, Ha Hu-yeong sucked down the broth automatically.
Even right after waking, when his vision was blurry, he'd found the straw flawlessly for a reason.
"Good, good. Keep slurping. Slurp away!"
"Damn it."
"No cursing. Positive thoughts. Positive mind. That's how the medicine works best."
Bowls emptied one by one. Bitter as hell, true to top tonics.
Yet somehow, he felt healthier.
Gulp gulp!
He ditched the straw, downing bowls whole.
As Ha Hu-yeong emptied them, deep doubt stirred.
'How does this body eat this crap daily and stay like this?'
Soon, all twenty-five bowls were in Ha Hu-yeong's gut.
"Urgh!"
A bitter burn rose in his throat.
Felt like his guts were packed with broth.
He wiped his mouth roughly, scowling.
"Next time, bring pills!"
"We have pills too."
"...."
Crunch crunch!
Ha Hu-yeong chewed the pill Geum Cheomsang offered, eyes widening.
"Huh? What's this?"
"Golden Spirit Pills, made by the Medical Hall Master."
"Eat these daily?"
"Three a day."
"Whoa!"
Ha Hu-yeong exclaimed in genuine awe.
The Golden Spirit Pills were high-grade.
One swallow warmed him, easing his breath.
Excellent for restoring vitality.
Deep breaths cleared even his head.
Definitely top-shelf tonic.
Three a day, no less.
Nangong Clan's wealth hit home.
'The broths weren't ordinary either. Near spirit medicine level.'
Ha Hu-yeong rubbed his chin.
'Since it's come to this, maybe hole up here awhile and mooch the meds?'
Why refuse when they spoon-feed him like this?
He needed to rebuild internal energy and body anyway.
Best to gorge and expand capacity.
Then Heavenly Mountain would be easier for ascension!
'That's the smart play. No point rushing and screwing up now.'
His gaze swept Nangong Hyeok's opulent room.
'I'm Nangong Hyeok anyway—no one gripes if I play the part.'
Luxuriating awhile didn't sound bad.
'While here, might as well be Nangong Hyeok.'
Ha Hu-yeong—no, Nangong Hyeok—resolved thus.
As he sorted his thoughts, maids poured into the room.
Seeing trays in their hands again, Nangong Hyeok eyed Geum Cheomsang dubiously.
"What's that...?"
Geum Cheomsang directed the maids loudly.
"Time for lunch now."
"...I'm full."
"You have to eat it all."
Mountainous piles of lavish dishes stacked on the table; Nangong Hyeok blanked.
"All of it?"
"Not enough?"
"...Get a spoon."
"Here."
Geum Cheomsang handed over a gold spoon.
Geum Cheomsang picked rice and sides onto a small tray before Nangong Hyeok.
"Whoa, gold utensils."
"Silver instead?"
"Nah."
Nangong Hyeok took the spoon, then paused.
Heavier than expected—each scoop strained his grip.
Scooping rice to mouth was torture.
'Scooping rice this delicate?'
Unlike scaling walls, everyday life felt impossible.
Tremble tremble.
Incredibly, hands shook after half a bowl.
Nangong Hyeok glanced up; Geum Cheomsang stared fixedly.
"...What."
"Shall I feed you?"
"Rice? You think I'm a baby?"
Even a three-year-old spoons his own—no way.
"Try the seasoned wild ginseng too."
"What ginseng?"
"Seasoned wild ginseng."
"...Wild ginseng as a side?"
Who the hell slathers wild ginseng in sauce like that?
"...There it is."
Nangong Hyeok quietly picked up and chewed the dish Geum Cheomsang offered.
'Damn, luxury.'
More wild ginseng here than he'd chewed in life.
Rice bowls, utensils—everything screamed insane wealth.
If only the body were hale, he'd enjoy this plenty.
'Yeah, if the body were hale.'
Nangong Hyeok decided to properly assess his condition first.
Know the state, then gauge what to extract from Nangong Clan and how to manage.
Just mooching meds and meals blindly? He'd vegetate forever.
"Clearing away."
Geum Cheomsang and maids whisked the trays off.
Nangong Hyeok called to Geum Cheomsang heading out.
"Hey, I wanna be alone—don't come in today."
"Pardon? Can't do that."
"No, it's fine. Stay out."
"Absolutely not. The Family Head will scold me!"
"Then wait outside. Out."
"Ah, no! Young Master, really, I can't..."
"Out. Unless you want trouble."
Geum Cheomsang retreated, face crumpled, at Nangong Hyeok's threat.
Nangong Hyeok stared at the door a moment, then turned.
Annoying guy's gone—time for business.
Nangong Hyeok regulated his breathing.
"Alright, first, let's check the qi and blood."
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