When not a single one of the ten long needles managed to touch him, the Soaring Sword clicked his tongue. His intention, it seemed, was to flee, having at least created a distraction. In that very instant, Jin Cheon-hee’s form reappeared directly in front of him. Simultaneously, a single palm strike struck the man’s temple.

Thud!

There was no need for the Ten Paces Divine Spear. It was just a light strike. That single blow rattled the man’s skull.

‘You only need to shake the cochlea a little to make a man stagger.’ He had simply imbued his palm with a bit of Wind Qi and driven it into his ear.

The instant the man swayed, Jin Cheon-hee—as if he had been waiting—grabbed his arm and twisted it back.

Crack—

“Kkeuaaaak!”

He hadn’t broken it; he had simply seized the arm and dislocated it from its socket. Just having a bone separated from its joint was enough to cause a human immense pain.

“Don’t move. If you put any weight on it, you’ll have permanent complications.”

“…”

The Soaring Sword hesitated. So Jin Cheon-hee grabbed his other arm and popped it out of its socket.

Crack crack—

“Aaaargh! Stop, stop!”

The Beggar’s Sect disciples, watching this sudden turn of events, screamed silently in their minds. Getting injured in a fight was common. It was routine to be cut by a sword or have a bone broken by a club. But the Little White Dragon was… strange. He was calmly, methodically, just pulling both the man’s arms out of their sockets.

“You’ll stay still now, won’t you?”

“…”

“Good boy. You’re a man who understands etiquette.”

As the Soaring Sword became polite, Jin Cheon-hee gave him an innocent smile. Perhaps the man had become even more polite because Jin Cheon-hee was now grabbing his ankle, preparing to twist.

“What should I do with this person?”

The Beggar’s Sect disciples replied, “He tried to take the Little White Dragon’s life, so you may do as you wish.”

“Meaning, I can kill him?”

“It’s all up to you, Little White Dragon.”

At those words, Jin Cheon-hee was struck anew by the terror of the Gangho.

The Soaring Sword pleaded, “Young Master! If you just let me live, I’ll do anything!”

“Well, I am a physician, so I don’t plan on killing you. But I can’t just let this slide…” Jin Cheon-hee fell into thought, then said, “I’m going to seal your acupoints and block your danjeon for a while. You can do some boat work for me, can’t you?”

“Boat… work?”

“I need an oarsman to cross the Yangtze, don’t I?”

Jin Cheon-hee smiled radiantly. “You’re in good shape, so you can just keep rowing until I say you’re good to go.”

If one were to name the most difficult jobs, “miner” and “oarsman” would always be at the top. The work was so grueling that there were no volunteers; it was a job filled by those sold off for their debts. Even a man in peak physical condition would have his back broken after just one month as an oarsman. It was that harsh. And he was being told to row without his internal energy.

Jin Cheon-hee said, “It’s fine! Even if you collapse, I can heal you!”

Healthy body, healthy mind. He thought, ‘Right. He’s a young man with a perfectly good body. This way, we can fix his rotten attitude and build his muscles. Two birds with one stone.’

He didn’t know how the man had fallen onto such a bad path, but he was still young. The only problem was that Jin Cheon-hee’s standard for “fixing one’s attitude” was a little different from an ordinary person’s.

Hoo, right. Isn’t this what the ‘grace’ of the Gangho is all about? I’m already starting to bestow favors. That’s just like me, just like me. A path befitting the disciple of the White Qilin Divine Physician. It’s not like a few petty criminals like this could even touch the tip of my sword anyway. If I just put every guy I meet to work as an oarsman, wouldn’t that be a productive use of my time?

Jin Cheon-hee thought, bright and positive.

“An… oarsman…”

The Beggar’s Sect disciples looked at the Soaring Sword with pity.

‘If I remember correctly, the place the Little White Dragon wants to go has a section where you have to row against the current of the Yangtze tributary…?’ And at this time of year, the winds were all wrong, making it hell for the oarsmen.

And just like that, Jin Cheon-hee’s Rower-Slave Number One was assigned.

***

Jin Cheon-hee gave the injured beggars some simple treatment and then headed for the Spiritual Dog Inn. The entire way, his skin prickled. It was different from the killing intent the Soaring Sword had emitted, but it was a much… stickier… feeling.

It feels like someone is watching me.

He thought it might just be true.

Arriving at the inn, he handed the Soaring Sword over to the disciples.

“I’ve sealed his acupoints with Sin-gong. No one besides my master and I will be able to undo it.”

He calmly explained the man’s current condition. “If you go to another physician and try to force it open, you’ll probably never function as a proper human again. I’m a physician, so I have no intention of torturing or killing you. Just show me that you’ve repented for your past misdeeds, and I’ll release you then. Until that day, you will be an oarsman.”

The Soaring Sword nodded. As long as he rowed well, he’d be released; for him, there was no better offer. The only oddity was why the Beggar’s Sect disciples kept looking at him with such pity.

“Have this person row at the front.” This was the spot that directly broke the current and steered the boat. It meant the most difficult position.

“The front… Understood. We will assign him to the very front row.”

The looks of pity on the beggars’ faces deepened.

The Soaring Sword, oblivious, asked, “I’ve never rowed a boat before. How do I…?”

“Uh… don’t you worry about that. We’ll teach you real good. The other spots are bad enough, but the front row… You’ll… you’ll really have to learn fast.”

“….?”

The beggars grabbed the back of the confused man’s head and dragged him away. They had received Jin Cheon-hee’s treatment; they had no intention of handling this task carelessly.

Good. I’ve done my good deed for the day.

Jin Cheon-hee entered the Spiritual Dog Inn.

Inside, it was bustling with people. There were those who looked like people of Gangho, with swords at their waists, and scholars in high-quality robes. Servers hurried back and forth taking orders, and the heat of the kitchen could be felt even from here.

Just then, a man and a woman he had never seen before approached him. Both bowed with clasped fists, and the man spoke first.

Hm? Who are they?

It was obvious at a glance that both of them were masters of a high level of martial arts. Not only that, their clothing was luxurious, and the swords at their waists looked like famed blades. They were clearly martial artists, and from their bearing and gait, they seemed to be from a prestigious, great sect.

Jin Cheon-hee also clasped his fists and bowed. “I am indeed Jin Cheon-hee of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion. But… who might you two be?”

“It is an honor to meet the disciple of the Divine Physician, whose great name is renowned throughout the world. I am Namgung Woon of the Namgung Clan. My friends in the Gangho call me the ‘Azure Dragon Sword’.”

‘Azure Dragon Sword, Namgung Woon? Aha. The man who will later be called the ‘Imperial Sword’ and one of the Three Swords Under the Heavens?’

Jin Cheon-hee looked at Namgung Woon with a slightly startled expression. In that pause, the woman spoke. “I-I am Namgung Yeon of the Namgung Clan.”

‘Namgung Woon’s sister, Namgung Yeon!’

The woman, Namgung Yeon, who had stuttered slightly, had a small frame and delicate, compact features that resembled a cat. Namgung Woon, on the other hand, had a large build, kind, drooping eyes, and clear, refreshing features, like a large dog.

Looking at the two of them, Jin Cheon-hee was surprised for an entirely different reason. He knew the significance of both those names.

First, the Imperial Sword, Namgung Woon. The Namgung Clan, who reigned as the hegemon of Anhui Province, had always been a renowned family of the sword. They were famous for their mastery of both the “Fast Sword” and the “Heavy Sword.” They were one of the pillars of the Murim, always mentioned when critics debated the “Greatest Sword Under Heaven,” and had produced generations of outstanding swordsmen.

Among them, Namgung Woon was the prodigy who had mastered every secret art of the family. He would, in his youth, become one of the three great masters under heaven and a pillar of the Righteous Faction. In the future, he would also be the leader of the Martial Righteous Alliance.

He was famous for doting on his sister, Namgung Yeon. And she, who had stuttered since childhood, followed him closely. The book never mentioned the reason for her stutter, but it was speculated to be psychological.

And for good reason. After Namgung Woon’s death, Namgung Yeon blamed herself, and after a month, she changed as if she were a different person. The girl who had been teased for her stutter was gone. All that remained was a taciturn and ruthless swordsman.

She had reunited the Namgung Clan through the sword and moved to avenge her brother. And that enemy? Naturally, it was the protagonist: The Heavenly Demon, Yeo Haryoon.

He and Namgung Woon had fought a life-or-death battle, and in the end, Yeo Haryoon had killed him. It was described as a fierce fight, one where even Yeo Haryoon had prepared for death. He was, by all accounts, one of the strongest opponents in the story.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. But you seem to have come looking for me. I’m curious as to what this is about.” Jin Cheon-hee replied calmly, his inner thoughts a stark contrast. To hear these names, which he had only ever seen in the novel, spoken in person… it was a strange feeling. In his past life as a modern Korean, when had he ever had a conversation like this? Even after arriving in this wuxia world, he had spent all his time within the pavilion. This was his first time experiencing something he had only ever read about.

“If you are offering, I would be grateful. By the way, please speak comfortably. I am younger, so it’s a bit uncomfortable if you speak so formally.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Of course not.”

“Hahaha! Little Brother So is truly refreshing!”

He really has the laugh of a great hero, Jin Cheon-hee thought.

Following their lead, he entered a small private room. Namgung Woon ordered several dishes and said, “Brother Jin. The xiaolongbao here are truly exquisite; you must try them. Also, the chef is confident in all his pork dishes, be it the Dongpo pork or the twice-cooked pork. If there’s anything else you’d like, just order it. Or is there something else you’d like? Sister Yeon, what will you have?”

At his words, Namgung Yeon blushed and said, “I-I’m fine with any… anything with noodles…”

“You greeted him so well, and now you’re being shy again. You can just do as we practiced.”

Instead of answering, Namgung Yeon pinched Namgung Woon’s side, hard.

“Argh, ack! You’re killing your dear brother! My sister here may be a little slow with her words, but her hands are the fastest in the world, I tell you! Her specialty is pinching. Arghhh!”

Laughter bubbled up at the sight of them. They were another, different version of the close-knit siblings he had seen in Mu Hwa and Mu Wol.