Chapter 22

Chapter 22 – I Don’t Like This Kind Of Thing

“Oh... oh...!! Are you controlling the flow of Nereus by suppressing the flow of wisdom...?! Hyperborea seems to have a far more advanced view of the human body than modern medicine!”

...Actually, you laid the groundwork for all of this.

Even if I said that, he wouldn’t understand.

As I was about to transport the emergency patient back to the Colosseum, Asclepius stopped me.

While eating breakfast with Asclepius, who brought my portion as well, possibly informed by Chiron, I explained the basics of martial arts’ point-pressing techniques and the 108 meridians as promised.

Asclepius understood everything as it was being said and cheered.

“Here, as promised, I’ve written down the basic knowledge about point-pressing and meridians. Read it slowly and ask if you have any questions.”

“Ohhh!! Th-thank you!”

Like an eagle snatching its prey, Asclepius swiftly grabbed the scroll from my hand and, leaving only a word to find him if anything happened, slipped into his lab.

“...Why is he so happy?”

Well, since good things are good, I let Asclepius cheer and review as he pleased, and I turned my attention to our prospective crazy girl.

For a moment, I worried that I might have hurt her head by applying too much force reflexively, but after placing my hand on her forehead and examining her, it seemed she was merely knocked out from the shock without any brain or nerve damage.

“Ha, the young one is already showing such spoiled sprouts...”

If she hadn’t known what kind of part it was, there might have been some room for leniency.

To knowingly aim such a vicious strike at a vital point connected to a person’s life

was something that could not be condoned, whether as a martial artist or as a warrior.

I wasn’t raised as a professional assassin from a young age.

Even in the Demonic Sect, when teaching about human vital points and acupoints...

They teach to avoid attacking these critical points unless in real combat, ambush, or life-and-death situations.

It’s to prevent exposing vulnerabilities by simplifying attacks focused on these vital points, rather than out of respect for life or honor.

“But this so-called hero of mythology forgets these basics and goes wild like that... Tsk, tsk, foolish indeed.”

Starting with the hundred nerves meeting points on the crown of her head, I felt the points that govern blood flow and energy circulation: the top of the head, the Blossom Cover, the throat point near the neck and clavicle, and the center of the chest.

Temporary hyperemia had caused her lungs and chest muscles to stiffen, obstructing breathing, and the burning sensation hadn’t subsided before fainting, causing the blood flow to surge wildly.

“Um...”

Moreover, both her legs had swollen muscles and blood vessels from excessive movement. At least it’s fortunate that her bones weren’t damaged.

Her arm had been dislocated due to overexertion at the last moment, which Asclepius himself had set back in place.

After roughly stimulating a few blocked blood vessels to restore blood flow and relax her muscles, Atalanta’s groaning face finally eased into comfort.

“...Tsk, your face is indeed beautiful, but it’s a flower tree in the wilderness.”

A flower tree should naturally grow in a dense and sunny forest, surrounded by other flower trees like itself.

But this flower tree had taken root in a rough and barren wasteland.

It was impressive that it had taken root and spread its branches so far.

“No, was she destined to live because she found connections and bonds in that wasteland?”

Even if the tree managed to bloom in the mismatched soil, its insides would be twisted, and it would try to die alone.

“Huh? What did you say?”

...Oh no, it’s happening again.

As I mumbled to myself, Asclepius poked his head through the laboratory door.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Hmm, is that so? Chiron said you should watch over that hedgehog until she comes to her senses. Please take care of her~”

Fortunately, Asclepius seemed too engrossed in the acupuncture and pressure point basics I transcribed to hear me say anything.

And so, I was left alone again with the unconscious, beautiful girl who had targeted my vital points.

“Damn... Hey!! At...!”

Just as I was about to call out to At in my desperation, something strange happened in my own body.

The mysterious qi that subtly made its presence known whenever I practiced qi cultivation started to flow through my entire body. Then the strange qi, which seemed both divine and demonic, suddenly surged toward Atalanta’s right hand, which she was gripping tightly, and then began to burrow into Atalanta’s body.

“Wh-what?!”

Setting aside why this qi is acting up all of a sudden, she’s already in a heart demon state accompanied by stress attacks, with her meridians and qi flow in turmoil, and now external energy is entering?

Today, a young hero and the future Running Man Deathmatch champion are on the verge of becoming a corpse.

“Hey, hey! Stop it!”

The things that didn’t act like this before suddenly went out of control and started rampaging.

Even if it meant I would suffer internal injuries, I tried to forcefully sever the connection and remove my hand, but it felt as if it was glued; Atalanta’s hand, which was gripping mine, showed no sign of letting go.

It wasn’t that it had attached, but rather, as if they had truly become one mass, the qi channels and meridians of Atalanta started to feel vividly like my own.

“...What?”

The strange qi, like natural qi within the bloodstream, or rather like oxygen contained in the blood, began to flow through Atalanta’s qi channels and blood vessels without any conflict.

Even for me, who had thoroughly studied the various legends and unofficial histories of martial arts for thousands of years, as well as the visions of past masters, it was my first time seeing such a phenomenon.

How could the qi that an outsider possessed flow together with another’s qi without any conflict?

“...Could it be?”

The qi began to flow stably throughout Atalanta’s entire body.

With a curious heart, I decided to utilize Martial Spirit Cultivation Arts .

“Oh...”

Fortunately, the qi began to flow calmly, following the qi paths, circulating between Atalanta and my body.

It was like using a ventilator to help an unconscious patient breathe; the qi flowed as per the incantation and started to calm Atalanta’s twisted muscles and blood vessels.

“......”

It was a strange feeling.

Even if I put aside the guilt of having examined every corner of a woman’s body after a life-or-death fight.

Having my qi flow through another’s body, especially a woman’s body, and breathing and circulating qi as one through that medium... It was a feeling hard to describe.

“Ugh... focus, focus.”

No matter how youthful my body might seem like, wasn’t the content inside different?

I was long past the age of getting excited just by holding a woman’s hand like a teenage boy in puberty.

As I muttered that to myself and focused on circulating the qi.

Gradually, the qi that had completed a full cycle in Atalanta’s body returned to me.

“...?!”

A nameless child riding on the back of a giant bear, wandering through the forest.

Atalanta, who was led by Chiron to become a proud huntress.

And.

A frustrated young hero, angered by the insults of vile soldiers.

It was undoubtedly Atalanta’s memories, invoked by her dream, and the heart demon.

I don’t know how this is possible, but through the memories carried by the qi, her wounds and sorrows were vividly conveyed to me.

The despair of having her once high pride and honor—everything she elevated and loved—denied.

The ugly insults that never left her ears, and the vile eyes and tongues that appear when she closes her eyes continue to torment her.

Even though those ugly soldiers were completely consumed by the lightning fire, leaving no trace of their souls, which were also torn apart by the moonlight, the wounds in her young heart still tormented Atalanta.

“...I don’t like such things.”