Otherworldly Medicine King

Chapter 9: Quiet Growth, Shattered Dawn

Nolan King sensed it almost immediately.

Something was off.

Ravena had not absorbed all the medicinal energy.

Not even close.

A large portion of it still drifted within the little creature, moving slowly through its body like fading sparks that refused to disappear. At best, that leftover power would last until the next day before finally breaking apart and vanishing on its own.

Ravena, however, looked more energetic than ever.

The small plant-like being seemed stuffed to the brim, its body practically glowing with vitality. Thin leaves swayed back and forth, trembling with excitement as if it were urging Nolan to continue training. It almost looked impatient.

Nolan did not even look at it.

He sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, back straight, breath calm and measured. Between his fingers, a set of golden needles rotated smoothly, guided by muscle memory refined through countless repetitions. As the needles moved, faint streams of inner energy were drawn from deep within his body, slowly untangling the stubborn blockages that had long clogged his inner pathways.

Within his body existed eight major energy channels.

Three of them were already completely open.

Today, he focused on two more.

With the help of the Nine Turn Golden Needles, Nolan could have forced every channel open within a single day if he truly wanted to.

But his body could not handle it.

Not yet.

Although his body had been rebuilt by powerful medicinal treatments, it was still far from the hardened physique forged by years of natural training and gradual growth. Strength forced too quickly would only destroy him.

If he rushed things now, the surge of inner energy would tear through his body like a flood breaking through a dam. His channels would rupture. His spiritual core would crack. His foundation would collapse beyond recovery.

Crippled.

Permanently.

That was not a risk Nolan was willing to take.

So he slowed down.

One step at a time.

Steady progress allowed his body to adapt. His inner channels strengthened little by little, his core stabilized, and his flesh learned to endure the rising flow of energy instead of being overwhelmed by it. And time, at least, was something Nolan had plenty of.

He released a long, quiet breath.

The golden needles shimmered faintly before sinking into his skin. Their glow pulsed gently with his breathing, brightening as he inhaled, dimming as he exhaled. Warmth spread through his limbs, slow and even, like water flowing through carefully carved stone channels.

Outside, beneath the courtyard roof, Luna sat quietly before a thick wooden stump.

A block of wood rested atop it, already half shaped by careful hands. The rough outer layers had been carved away, revealing the beginnings of a figure hidden inside.

Her right wrist trembled slightly as the carving knife moved. The blade flashed in clean, controlled motions, neither hurried nor hesitant. Each cut was precise. Thin curls of wood drifted down to the ground, light as falling feathers.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The rhythm echoed softly through the courtyard, steady and soothing. It was the kind of sound that pulled people in without them realizing it.

Even experienced craftsmen would have stopped to admire her work.

Luna had no talent for inner energy cultivation. Her pathways were blocked from birth, her potential shallow. But when it came to carving, her skill was frightening.

For years, worry had weighed heavily on her heart. Nolan’s illness had haunted her days and nights, leaving little room for peace or focus. Sleepless nights, constant fear, and quiet despair had pulled her away from the craft she loved most.

Now, things were different.

Nolan was recovering. Her daily burdens were gone. And for the first time in years, she could sit down and carve without her thoughts drifting toward fear.

Her lips were gently pressed together. Her dark eyes followed every movement of the blade. Her breathing was slow and even, as if the world had narrowed down to nothing but wood, steel, and her hands.

The setting sun bathed her in warm light. Her face glowed softly, calm and gentle, quietly beautiful.

As the rhythm continued, a thought crossed her mind.

She had not heard her uncle cultivating for quite some time.

Usually, even when he trained quietly, there were signs. Changes in breathing. Faint ripples in the air.

But today, there was nothing.

Curious, she looked up.

And froze.

The faint blush on her cheeks deepened instantly.

Why was her uncle removing his clothes?

And why were there needles?

Right there in the courtyard?

Her thoughts tangled.

“Ouch!”

The sudden cry snapped her back to reality.

Pain shot through her left index finger.

She looked down sharply and gasped. Blood flowed freely from a deep cut, dripping onto the wooden stump below.

“What happened?”

Nolan was already moving.

He rose in one smooth motion. With a flick of his hands, nine golden needles appeared between his fingers. Within seconds, he was beside her.

He gently took her hand, examining the wound without waiting for her to speak.

“You cut yourself,” he said calmly. “It’s fine. I can handle it.”

“I… I…”

Her voice faltered.

His bare upper body was right in front of her. The warmth of his skin. That clean, familiar scent.

Her face burned.

Her heart began to race for reasons she did not want to acknowledge.

She tried to pull her hand back, but his grip was firm yet careful.

Though married in name, Luna had barely ever been touched by a man before.

And this man was her uncle.

Her mind went blank.

Nolan noticed her reaction and smiled faintly.

With a casual motion, most of the needles vanished into his storage space, leaving only a single slender needle glowing softly with green light.

Before she could react, the needle pierced the base of her finger.

Luna inhaled sharply.

But there was no pain.

Only numbness.

Then warmth.

As Nolan gently twisted the needle, it felt as though her finger had been dipped into warm water. Comfort spread outward, washing away the pain completely. The bleeding stopped almost instantly.

A moment later, he withdrew the needle.

“All done,” he said. “It’ll heal in a few days.”

With his newfound control over natural life energy, his medical techniques had improved dramatically. Treating a wound like this would have been far more difficult in the past.

“Mmm.”

Luna nodded instinctively, then suddenly realized herself.

“Uncle… did I interrupt your training?”

Nolan chuckled softly. “No. I had already finished.”

“I advanced another level today.”

“So fast?” Her eyes widened with genuine surprise.

Then she noticed his chest again.

Her blush returned full force.

“I’ll go make dinner,” she said quickly. “It’s getting late.”

“Just don’t get that finger wet.”

She fled.

Nolan watched her go, shaking his head with a quiet laugh.

Then his gaze fell upon the carving.

He crouched beside it.

And froze.

The figure depicted an old man.

Even unfinished, the presence was unmistakable. A legendary figure from history. Someone who once stood at the peak of power.

Nolan had seen this face before.

Sharp eyes. Proud posture. Arrogance carved into every line.

The carving radiated pressure, as if the figure were still looking down upon the world.

Only then did Nolan realize how badly he had underestimated Luna.

Carving, like cultivation, required talent. Without it, even the strongest expert could never produce something like this.

Who would have guessed she possessed such a gift?

Night fell quietly over the city.

Inside the bedroom, candlelight flickered softly. Nolan sat upright on the bed, arms crossed.

“Ravena,” he said, “your energy is overflowing. Using the phantom body technique should not be difficult. Why insist on resting for twelve hours?”

Ravena protested loudly from within him.

Nolan snorted. He understood the reason.

Skipping the rest period would disrupt Ravena’s growth. As it evolved, the recovery time would naturally shorten.

Perhaps one day, the phantom cauldron could be summoned at will.

“One minute left,” Ravena declared smugly.

“Good.”

Nolan opened the prepared medicinal packets.

Then the calm shattered.

The courtyard gate burst open with a violent crash.

Four figures stormed inside.

Leo. Er Lin. San Mu.

And behind them stood a young man dressed in white, pale and handsome, his smile cold.

At the bedroom door, Leo struck without hesitation.

The door shook violently.

“They’re here.”

Nolan rose calmly and began dressing, completely unhurried.

Leo and the others froze.

No panic.

No fear.

Their intimidation meant nothing.

Fully dressed, Nolan adjusted his belt and smiled.

“You three,” he said lightly, “does it still hurt?”

Their faces flushed.

A moment later, the man in white stepped forward.

His gaze was cold, filled with restrained fury.

“So you finally show yourself,” Nolan said casually.

“You advanced again during seclusion?”

Silence answered him.

That was enough.

“Take it out,” Leo said sharply.

“The rejuvenation elixir.”

Nolan hesitated. “Do I really have to?”

“Yes. Take it out.”

Nolan slowly straightened.

A jade bottle appeared in his hand.

“It’s right here.”

Leo laughed and opened it.

The fragrance spread.

His laughter stopped instantly.

The courtyard fell into dead silence.