Jin Cheonhee took Gongsun Hyeon’s wrist to check her pulse and thought.

Indeed, there’s no serious illness. It’s due to her constitution.

Though not a cursed meridian or such heavenly affliction, Gongsun Hyeon herself didn’t have a good constitution.

Her body was always cold, easily fell ill, and tired quickly.

Perhaps that’s why she so admired Gongsun Yeong with her sun-like constitution.

Jin Cheonhee lightly applied acupuncture.

“Since it’s not a serious illness, I’ll apply needles just to relieve fatigue and reduce fever. I’ll call later about the medicinal decoction ingredients.”

Gongsun Hyeon finally sighed.

Surrender.

Seeing their sister like this, Gongsun Yeong and Wang Gak-yeon celebrated their victory.

Watching them enviously, Seol Gyeon spoke:

“Actually, there’s a reason I came like this.”

“What reason?”

Gongsun Hyeon asked with a pale complexion.

“…Well… I wanted to ask if you’ve heard from the Clan Head about the real reason this year’s Dragon Phoenix Gathering is being held.”

At those words, Gongsun Hyeon’s face slightly stiffened. She ordered her friend and cousin sisters:

“You two step out for a moment.”

Since this was Young Clan Head business, they left without a word.

Screech, thud-

Only after the door completely closed did Gongsun Hyeon sigh.

“Seeing your reaction, you’ve already heard.”

“It’s such an absurd story that I’m still half in doubt. However, since father spoke so firmly after returning from the meeting, I think it must be true.”

“Indeed. That the one who fought Fist Emperor to a draw and set fire to the Wudang sect wasn’t from the Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic sects. If it were last year’s me, I would have laughed at such madness.”

“……”

Gongsun Hyeon didn’t answer.

In the deep silence, Seol Gyeon spoke:

“Trust no one.”

“Are you saying there are spies?”

“Since we haven’t caught solid evidence, I can only speak such vague words. But… they are certainly here. Kukuk… does it sound crazy?”

“……”

Gongsun Hyeon didn’t answer. Her black pupils looked at the floor once, then the ceiling once, then Jin Cheonhee once, before finally circling back to Seol Gyeon.

“…I’ll inform the Clan Head to have our Gongsun Clan forfeit this Dragon Phoenix Gathering.”

“Kukuk. Your thoughts have jumped that far. Indeed the Black Ice Poison Dragon.”

If misfortune strikes the Martial Righteous Alliance, it will surely be in the heart of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

At that time, even knowing beforehand, how easy would it be to find one’s family in such a vast place?

Even if such things don’t happen…

“We must be careful of those we meet, and especially those we cross swords with…”

“Still bold. Excessively bold. Well, that’s why you’re the Black Ice Poison Dragon.”

Gongsun Hyeon nodded.

“I’m merely doing my duty as Young Clan Head.”

“Frightening. Many families were informed of this fact, but only the Gongsun Clan’s Young Head made such a decision on the spot.”

“……”

Perhaps because she had to hear unpleasant words and calculate unpleasant variables.

With an even paler face, Gongsun Hyeon could only nod.

After finishing the acupuncture, writing down medicinal decoction ingredients for Gongsun Hyeon, he came outside.

Seol Gyeon and Gongsun Hyeon seemed they would remain to share private talks. Staying longer would only involve him in troublesome matters.

The burden he already carried was sufficient.

A physician should only do a physician’s work. Having provided treatment, that duty was complete.

Coming outside, Wang Gak-yeon was leaning against a pillar.

“Finished?”

“My work is done.”

At Jin Cheonhee’s words, Wang Gak-yeon grinned. Like Jin Cheonhee had grown, Wang Gak-yeon had grown too.

The bow on his back was more worn than before. At his waist hung an empty quiver.

When he no longer needs to carry this quiver, it will be proof he’s moved to the next level.

Wang Gak-yeon said:

“You’re competing in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering?”

“Yeah. That’s how it turned out. You?”

“I can’t participate. Sister Gongsun Hyeon told me not to participate this year. And simultaneously told me not to disarm.”

Jin Cheonhee was slightly surprised at those words.

Wasn’t the Blood Immortal Sect discussion just now?

Jin Cheonhee asked:

“When did she say that?”

“Hmm… since before we departed?”

At those words, Jin Cheonhee’s deductions branched in two directions.

First, though Gongsun Hyeon said she heard from the Clan Head, she had actually already secured her own evidence and recognized the danger before that.

The other was that the channel definitely wasn’t through the Beggar’s Sect.

Not the Golden Blood Chamber either.

If the Golden Blood Chamber had recognized this fact, Sama Hyeon wouldn’t be participating like this.

Jin Cheonhee couldn’t help looking back.

Behind that door would be Gongsun Hyeon.

She would be talking with Seol Gyeon as if knowing nothing.

How far has the Black Ice Poison Dragon seen through?

When her sister died, she burned herself to eliminate the Demonic Cult. And when her sister returned alive, she now moved to protect her family as Clan Head.

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

When Wang Gak-yeon asked this, Jin Cheonhee burst out laughing.

“No, that’s not it.”

Being childhood friends, Wang Gak-yeon and Jin Cheonhee would naturally have such information leak between them.

Nevertheless, not ordering silence meant such variables were within calculation.

Though different from Master’s style, Gongsun Hyeon is also a frightening strategist.

Easy to underestimate due to her pale complexion and sickly thin body, but she’s a far more frightening opponent than Gongsun Yeong who has a sun-like constitution and won the previous Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

Thank goodness I’m not on bad terms with Sister Gongsun Hyeon.

Far from bad terms, he was her beloved sister’s benefactor, but Jin Cheonhee still clutched his chest in relief.

Wang Gak-yeon asked:

“Is something happening?”

“Who knows. But if your sister says so, there must be a reason.”

He kept it as vague as possible.

There must be a reason Gongsun Hyeon didn’t speak specifically.

In a state without evidence, there’s no way to resolve things by just increasing anxiety.

“Really? Alright. Oh, oh! Watch my archery!”

“What? I can evaluate it?”

“Why not? Turns out you’ve seen and advised on sister Young’s martial arts too! Watch mine too!”

“No… even so, I’m an outsider…”

“You broke that with dad too! And dad broke through his wall thanks to you, right?”

At Wang Gak-yeon’s pestering, Jin Cheonhee finally sighed.

“Fine. I’ll look, but don’t expect much.”

“Okay!”

***

He watched Wang Gak-yeon’s archery and offered various advice.

The current Wang Gak-yeon was in a state before hitting a wall. It was impossible to overcome a major martial arts wall with just one word right now.

He needed to keep practicing repeatedly in his current state.

Then he would hit a wall, and at that time, one or two pieces of advice would be needed.

“Where did you learn your footwork?”

“Rather than learning it separately, it just developed while repelling approaching enemies.”

“It would be good to delve deeper into footwork…”

Having divine techniques is good. However, sometimes basic martial arts available in the market can be more useful than divine techniques.

Like the Flying Descent Dragon Art[1].

Since Jin Cheonhee himself was a physician rather than a martial artist, he didn’t have much pride in martial arts themselves. Rather, he focused on practical aspects.

“Heaven Earth Infinite Steps[2] would be good.”

One of the common martial arts.

A martial arts manual sold by someone’s son who inherited a now-defunct sect.

As martial arts, it was low-grade, without any particularly outstanding advantages.

It still circulates everywhere.

“Isn’t it walking techniques?”

“It includes footwork too.”

“Usually then, don’t they call it miscellaneous techniques?”

At those words, Jin Cheonhee laughed.

“That’s right. People say what kind of martial art is this miscellaneous. It’s both walking and footwork techniques, and even if mastered, it won’t show profound martial learning.”

People say it’s martial arts destined to fail.

They also say it’s martial arts worth just one silver coin.

Jin Cheonhee answered:

“It will save your life many times.”

“?”

Habits when drawing the bowstring, changes in center of gravity and dynamic vision.

Principles of action when entering combat.

Having learned from Elder Phantom Archer, these techniques would probably suit her.

However, she had already learned the Profound Buddha Step[3]. For martial artists, martial arts are their pride itself.

Jin Cheonhee knew that pride too.

There was no reason for someone like her to learn such marketplace miscellaneous techniques. So…

“Well, the choice is yours.”

Jin Cheonhee dusted off his bottom and stood up.

He had made all the diagnoses he could, so what came next was up to the individual.

And reaching forty, he found life didn’t always flow according to one’s predictions.

There was no guarantee that what he saw would definitely be right.

This alone didn’t matter whether it turned out well or poorly.

Wang Gak-yeon furrowed one eyebrow.

“Somehow you’ve become more detached than before?”

“Have I?”

“It’s strange but you also seem more caring.”

“Hahaha. Just as you’ve been through many things, so have I.”

Smiling at his friend, Jin Cheonhee bid farewell like that.

“Stay healthy.”

“Yeah.”

“Will you see your father?”

Phantom Archer was here.

Wang Gak-yeon shook his head.

“Dad and I are both on missions. So this is enough.”

Wang Gak-yeon’s eyes shone.

For martial artists, well-being meant achievement, health, and connection.

Only these three needed to be confirmed.

Jin Cheonhee realized his young friend had grown into a martial artist through countless battlefields. So with lingering attachment, finally.

“Will you learn the walking techniques I mentioned?”

“Of course I’ll learn them. They’re advice from a friend. That’s how we survived on Snow Mountain too.”

At those words, he burst out laughing.

“It was strange advice.”

“Right. It was strange advice. Telling me to just run when enemies were coming like that.”

The two children had run through the snow-covered mountain like that, protecting the Beggar’s Sect Leader, Hwanggu, and their own lives.

“I’ll never forget that time.”

“Absolutely unforgettable. You, and Hwanggu with his injured leg…”

Woof!

Hwanggu wagged his tail as if answering.

A friend who repaid with deep trust even for advice that could be ignored. To this friend, Jin Cheonhee made a deep martial salute.

“I wish you martial fortune, Great Warrior Wang.”

“Great Warrior Jin, stay healthy too.”

Reluctant to part ways, they playfully exchanged one more word.