Kugugugu-

Just one step.

Peng Cheon-sik resisted the pressure created by the Heavenly Demon Sovereign Steps.

“Kuaaaagh!”

Seeing this, Jin Cheonhee nodded.

Fortunately, Yeo Ha-ryoon is still incomplete. Still imperfect for using transformation realm power.

The Heavenly-Killing Star grants power from beyond the next barrier.

It allows instinctive use of martial arts from that realm.

Later, he’ll use complete transformation realm power at transcendent level, and when the Heavenly-Killing Star reaches the profound realm, he’ll wield power from the harmony realm or semi-immortal realm beyond that… It’s such an insanely broken ability. For now… it’s incomplete because it hasn’t fully awakened.

This was how Yeo Ha-ryoon could defeat the final boss despite paying a tremendous price.

It was a constitution different from the Extreme Yang Constitution that accumulated yang qi like breathing, or the Heavenly Martial Constitution that could learn any martial art regardless of constitution.

But now that power wasn’t complete.

While the Heavenly Demon Sovereign Steps properly required transformation realm, looking at it now showed imperfections.

Incomplete transformation realm power. This meant the Heavenly-Killing Star’s awakening was also incomplete.

Subduing without bloodshed… must be hard to endure.

Even now, the urge to slaughter must be barely held back by reason. If he caught the scent of blood, it would become even harder to resist.

What’s the Heavenly Demon thinking, sending someone like this as an envoy?

Even in the novel, the previous Heavenly Demon was portrayed as someone whose thoughts were hard to fathom.

Truly worthy of being called demonic.

Jin Cheonhee shook his head.

No point thinking deeply about it now anyway.

Meaningless to ponder without seeing the full picture of the board.

“Kuaaaagh!”

Peng Cheon-sik drew up all his body’s energy at once to break the Heavenly Demon Sovereign Steps.

Then he began counterattacking fiercely with the Five Tiger Single Gate Saber.

“Tsk.”

Far from being flustered, Yeo Ha-ryoon clicked his tongue and tilted his head sideways, dodging the blade tip by a paper’s width.

“Die, demonic cult bastard!”

“…It’s Sun Moon Divine Cult.”

Black demonic energy could be seen gathering in Yeo Ha-ryoon’s lightly clenched fist.

Jin Cheonhee was shocked for a different reason.

Look at him correcting the terminology to ‘divine cult’ as an envoy when he called it ‘demonic cult’ in front of Brother!

Yeo Ha-ryoon Style Modified Move.

Heavenly Demon Strike Heaven Fist–!

The launched fist collided with the Five Tiger Single Gate Saber.

A smile spread across Peng Cheon-sik’s lips. The Five Tiger Single Gate Saber would tear through flesh and split bone!

But the fist continued without a scratch.

Breaking the blade like porcelain, it struck Peng Cheon-sik’s abdomen directly, barely avoiding vital points.

Pueok!

Peng Cheon-sik’s body flew unrealistically.

Amid the shock, Yeo Ha-ryoon lightly dusted off his hands. Though his attitude of treating it like something dirty grated on many martial artists’ nerves.

“…”

This time, no one dared curse at Yeo Ha-ryoon.

Tyrannical way[1].

What everyone saw was like seeing those two characters molded into human form.

“V-victor, Sun Moon Divine Cult Friendship Envoy…!”

The referee called out with trembling voice.

No one could cheer as Yeo Ha-ryoon descended.

Yeo Ha-ryoon glanced once at Jin Cheonhee before immediately turning and heading outside.

[Don’t come, Brother. No good will come from showing we’re close.]

Was he still bothered by our brief conversation before?

Perhaps worried his demonic cult status would harm his brother’s reputation.

Yeo Ha-ryoon deliberately left the arena coldly.

***

Watching the Dragon Phoenix Gathering main tournament matches was truly worthwhile.

It also showed how much stronger his brothers had become.

Whether Cheon Woo ate the Great Azure Divine Pill or was still saving it was unclear, but he’d definitely become a transcendent expert.

Sama Hyeon had also clearly reached the transcendent expert realm.

Wow, unorthodox sects really do grow fast.

Sama Hyeon had said unorthodox sect martial arts were different from orthodox sects, starting to suffer around thirty.

Would Sama Hyeon himself suffer when he turned thirty?

Or had he prepared countermeasures?

Either way, one thing was certain.

Being a transcendent expert at Dragon Phoenix Gathering age means they’ll enter transformation realm without issue when they’re older.

Truly a proof of talent.

Having three sworn brothers among the eight survivors of the round of 16 showed just how strong these guys were.

Yeo Ha-ryoon and Sama Hyeon being the protagonist and villain makes sense, but Cheon Woo is really unexpected.

Never appearing even in one line. No, never even being named.

Just an extra meant to die and disappear.

Cheon Woo didn’t even qualify as an extra, without a single line or character written about him.

Because he was such an existence. Saving such an existence and watching him grow.

As a physician, it was natural to feel indescribable emotions.

Hehehe… good. Cheon Woo. This brother is so happy.

An involuntary foolish smile spread across his face.

Knowing the original novel was Jin Cheonhee’s secret alone, so he couldn’t tell anyone about this.

Though momentary loneliness struck, the joy remained.

Because he knew he had achieved his own form of chivalry.

Now I’ll have to fight each of them.

Professor Jin cast a forbidden spell in the martial world.

To prove he wasn’t a pushover anymore, he’d settle things with those three… no, at least two of them.

The price of that spell(?) would be paid by Jin Cheonhee himself.

I’ll take them down one by one.

From now on, even Jin Cheonhee would face spine-chilling fights.

Just winning isn’t enough. Must end without major injuries.

Please spare me from having to treat injuries I inflicted myself.

Today’s match winners all quickly returned to their lodgings.

Even Sama Hyeon went in this time.

Self-control was essential to fight in peak condition from tomorrow.

However, unlike the others, instead of resting, Jin Cheonhee headed to the Martial Righteous Alliance ER branch where the physicians were.

“Hee-ya, we don’t need your hands too. Didn’t we already say? Don’t you know just reducing patients is already a huge help?”

And there Master was holding the fort.

The Acupuncture Hall Master also said:

“Thanks to Minor Pavilion Master and those who claim to be his sworn brothers, we’re already swamped. We need Minor Pavilion Master safe to stay safe ourselves!”

“Let me help a bit first!”

“Absolutely not!”

“I said I’ll help then go!”

“Absolutely not!”

Master said:

“What are you all doing? Send our Hee to his lodgings at once!”

You people, stop it!

***

In the end, Jin Cheonhee helped with Medical Pavilion work according to his nature.

Of course, the Medical Pavilion members drove out the Surgery Hall Master according to their nature.

It meant Jin Cheonhee only did half the work.

“You worked non-stop for five days without sleep, why are you crawling in here?!”

“Why are you wearing yourself out here when we barely have patients thanks to Minor Pavilion Master?!”

“Hahaha. Hee-ya, I’m not using rough methods only because it might affect your match tomorrow. If you keep this up, I’ll have to take measures.”

Medical instruments from the Treatment Pavilion floated ominously behind Master.

To float all that with void absorption without even looking! As expected of Master!

He wanted to clap three times but the anger was genuine, so he had to finish binding the bandage he was working on and leave.

And as he did, he thought:

The patients really have decreased.

The time required to treat severe versus minor injuries was on completely different levels.

Just the reduction in severe injuries had brightened the Medical Pavilion members’ expressions.

They even pushed Jin Cheonhee out with greed for victory in their eyes.

It was quite remarkable.

Forced to rest like this, he blankly stared at the sky.

Normal martial artists would probably treat their wounds and review their battles after matches…?

He had no injuries and his body wasn’t strained either.

As for reviewing the recent battle, the difference in levels was so great that he doubted he’d gain any insights.

Hmm… should I try that crab sweet and sour pork I missed last time…?

Grateful for stopping the fight at the inn last time, the owner had come out saying he’d make it again anytime if Jin Cheonhee mentioned his name.

Right. It was such a waste. Seriously.

He got up and headed out.

He considered calling Yeo Ha-ryoon for a meal… but appearing friendly with the demonic cult publicly would probably cause trouble for the Medical Pavilion.

Cheon Woo seemed incredibly busy being called everywhere for Dragon Phoenix Gathering and Wudang reconstruction matters.

Sama Hyeon… this guy would definitely stick around if called.

But he had lots of work and was only putting it off because of his brother, so it was better to let him work this time.

In the end, eating alone was the answer.

I was used to eating alone in my previous life too.

Though he ate with other doctors and interns sometimes, that was only when there was no work during meal times.

If an emergency call came, that meal was considered done.

Usually ended up making do with energy bars, cup ramyeon, or triangle kimbap.

Washed down with high-caffeine drinks instead of water.

This is luxury now, luxury.

Heading to that inn from before, the waiter recognized Jin Cheonhee’s face and greeted him warmly with “Hero, welcome!”

He ordered crab sweet and sour pork and this time took a seat at the most secluded spot, a second-floor window table.

“Coming right up!”

Clouds drifted outside the window as passersby leisurely enjoyed the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

Many non-martial artists were visible too—seems the Gathering was truly an event for everyone.

Then someone sat in the seat across from Jin Cheonhee.

“Sorry, but may I join you?”

“Ah, yes. That’s fine.”

“Thank you.”

Why?

For some reason, he sensed qi in the voice.

Looking at his companion, he saw a woman whose age was impossible to guess.

Her long hair flowed loose and unbound, and her eyes were sharp as a hawk’s.

Her refined features and aura were strangely familiar.

Her impression is oddly similar to Yeo Ha-ryoon…?

Though it was hard to pin down exactly what was similar, why did she seem to resemble Yeo Ha-ryoon?

She wore plain martial clothes with no sect emblems visible.

Must be a martial artist here to watch the Dragon Phoenix Gathering… huh?

As he thought this, suddenly a chill ran down his spine.

Wait… a person? In front of me?

His sight and hearing clearly told him someone was there. But his other senses didn’t.

Qi sense.

Cheonhee couldn’t perceive the person before him at all.

Like seeing a ghost, that kind of sensation!