This is… strange.

Jin Cheonhee was meditating inside a tent.

My body’s recovery speed has increased enormously? It wasn’t this dramatic even when I first reached the Transformation Realm.

What could be the reason?

After pondering for a while, his aptitude provided an answer.

Is it a synergistic effect between the Condor Dragon’s jade, the Taiji Wisdom Sword, and the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts? With the Five-Elemental Divine Technique as the foundation.

Jin Cheonhee calmly observed his inner self.

The jade doesn’t just help me write papers faster. As my body grows accustomed to it, it’s creating an overall harmony in my internal energy. In this state… even if I deplete my stamina and internal energy to the point of collapse, I’d recover in half an hour.

…This is insane.

I thought this might be some special ability from this imperial body?

He’d spent considerable time examining whether this body, being of imperial lineage, might possess special abilities.

However, he hadn’t detected any such signs. He’d heard some imperial family members either lacked special abilities or had ones too weak to notice, so perhaps that was the case.

The synergistic effect between the Dragon’s jade, the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts, the Taiji Wisdom Sword, and the Five-Elemental Divine Technique is substantial.

In particular, the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts’s depth was gradually increasing, if only slightly.

It seemed to grow on its own with each battle, almost as if it were alive.

Though it doesn’t disobey my will.

Like watching a loyal hound.

Jin Cheonhee finished his contemplation and rose refreshed.

Well… just half an hour to recover both stamina and internal energy. This is excellent. Condor Dragon, thank you. This has been tremendously helpful. As expected of someone from the founding myth—you’re truly magnanimous.

It’s been an enormous help.

Now then, with my spare time… should I devise martial arts to pass on to Medical Pavilion martial artists? I know quite a lot about martial arts theory now.

More than just “knowing quite a lot,” he had essentially torn the entire Imperial Archives out and placed it in his head, but Jin Cheonhee simply summarized it as knowing “quite a lot.”

His expression, previously full of mischief, suddenly became serious.

So. What’s most important for Medical Pavilion martial artists?

This wasn’t for children raised with the best education in prestigious clans.

It was about helping thirty-year-old martial artists who hadn’t been properly trained to pull their weight and save lives.

Stamina. And total internal energy capacity.

This wasn’t the situation to discuss profound martial enlightenment.

They lacked immediate stamina and internal energy.

Should I create a new internal energy cultivation method that builds energy quickly and stably while also benefiting stamina? But that would create problems…

Everyone already has their own internal energy cultivation methods.

They need those to perform even basic martial arts.

In automotive terms, everyone already has their own engine installed.

The problem is that their engines might be severely outdated, structurally flawed in ways that hinder the car’s performance, or present safety issues that could cause them to break down at any moment.

Ugh… this is why clans raise children from a young age…

People aren’t machines—once an engine is installed, you can’t just remove it.

Typically, martial artists serving as guards are taught lower-quality martial arts compared to the clan’s main arts.

But even those simplified versions are far superior and more stable than what’s taught at local martial academies.

We’re in a situation where we have martial artists who’ve picked up all sorts of strange techniques.

Jin Cheonhee clenched his fist and pondered, then suddenly came up with an answer.

What if I just think about it in reverse?

Blue light flashed in Jin Cheonhee’s eyes.

I could create something that works even when mixed with various things.

Primal Oneness Energy Technique.

Internal energy that mixes everything together and stabilizes it. However, this has the drawback of reducing the total amount of internal energy, and it requires such high intelligence that only those from the Zhuge clan who have mastered the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique could learn it.

What if I created a simplified version called Mixed Unity Energy[1]?

It might sound crazy, but as a modern person, he was more confident in downgrading than upgrading.

Simplify it. Make it easier to learn. Make it easier to cultivate.

If I mix in the Five Elements’ mutual generation and mutual overcoming principles for accumulating internal energy… and add security measures so it can only be learned with a specific formation pattern…

Jin Cheonhee’s fingers twitched rapidly.

In his mind, he created, scattered, pieced together, and verified verbal formulas.

His aptitude, enhanced by the jade, met with the Zhuge clan’s heir and began finding solutions even faster.

Jin Cheonhee started assembling martial arts in a near-meditative state.

After some time had passed,

The young man spoke:

“Hmm. Got it.”

Mixed Five Elements Returning to Origin Energy[2].

As Mixed Unity and Five Elements ultimately return to one, this was the return of all streams.

“The difficulty would be… intermediate level?”

With this level, if we put them in a room with the Five Elements Formation deployed, fed them only steamed buns, and made them memorize, they might somehow manage. Somehow.

Normally, people would learn immediately, but Jin Cheonhee had an occupational habit.

I’ll show this to Master for detailed verification and practical review, then pass it on.

Crack.

He stretched his stiffened body and gauged the light filtering through the tent.

Is it already time for rounds?

When he stepped outside, Master was already giving instructions to the physicians.

“Are you awake?”

“Yes.”

Master and Jin Cheonhee immediately began making rounds together.

As they moved between tents, the two conversed through voice transmission.

[Tomorrow, the leaders of the three forces will conduct their duel.]

[That’s sooner than expected?]

[There’s no particular benefit to delaying, after all.]

[Who will participate?]

[The Martial Righteous Alliance Leader, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, and a Demonic Cult Minor Cult Leader.]

As expected.

[But with three people, the numbers don’t work out?]

Typically, such important duels are one-on-one.

If three people fought simultaneously, two could team up to defeat one, then the remaining two could either fight each other calmly or make a deal.

[That’s why they’ll draw lots, it seems.]

Jin Cheonhee’s eyes widened.

[Really?]

[Really.]

[The fate of the martial world depends on a drawing of lots?]

[That’s about right. Ironically, leaving decisive matters to luck is often the fairest approach.]

True enough. No amount of discussion would reach a conclusion.

It’s not like anyone would willingly give up the secret manual.

[The administrator of the drawing will be important. Who’s handling it?]

If some shell game trickster from the Flower Darkness Sect came and manipulated the drawing, chaos would ensue.

[Who else? Your master will do it.]

[Oh, Master?]

[Yes. Because I’m in the most neutral position. I’m not weak enough to be pressured, have nothing to gain from tricks, and won’t tolerate such behavior.]

[I see.]

[Today, all righteous and demonic factions will likely remain quiet as they prepare for tomorrow. Let’s focus on our own work.]

“Quiet” only meant no major conflicts, not that there would be no patients.

No, in fact, patients were overflowing.

[Why are we flooded with patients when the Dark Palace Medical Pavilion and Hwaju Medical Pavilion are around? This is maddening.]

Amused by his disciple’s sulky expression, Master smiled.

[Hwaju’s trauma treatment falls short of ours. If these were illnesses requiring long-term recuperation, it might be different. But this blood storm isn’t the domain of medicinal cuisine. As for Dark Palace… since Bloodborne Elder Eccentric doesn’t care much about patients’ quality of life… there’s significant risk.]

Master was subtly referring to the statistical possibility of ending up with six fingers or three nostrils.

Certainly, there would be martial arts gains. People say you become stronger.

But the problem is losing something more precious for that one gain.

[Of course, that’s only if you attract Bloodborne Elder Eccentric’s attention. Statistically, it’s extremely rare.]

The problem is gambling with your own life on those odds.

No matter how low the probability, there’s always the chance of “Oops, my hand slipped!” and your life being shattered in an instant.

[Still, Dark Palace is cheaper than our Medical Pavilion, right?]

[Yes… but it’s also true that those with money prefer to entrust themselves to our Medical Pavilion.]

Jin Cheonhee furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought.

[Ugh… even so. There are too many patients. This many is troublesome.]

[Isn’t that just how it is?]

Master laughed carefreely with a transcendent expression.

Passing martial artists and physicians all blushed at his world-class handsome smile.

[Good things attract trouble. If there are good things, there will inevitably be such annoying matters.]

Master stroked his disciple’s head once, then entered the tent housing serious patients.

Jin Cheonhee checked on the patients’ conditions alongside his master.

***

After finishing rounds, there was finally time for breakfast.

A Central Plains-style French toast: wheat bread dipped in egg wash, generously sprinkled with sugar, topped with duck meat and lettuce.

With no time to prepare rice, side dishes, and soup—let alone clean up afterward—he ate this toast with a cup of bitter tea.

“Everyone’s pleased to be eating according to Minor Pavilion Master’s recipe. They say it feels like a special treat!”

“That’s good to hear.”

Jin Cheonhee rubbed his chest in relief. Fortunately, they’re enjoying it now. Yes, the flavor is decent.

But this will only last a day or two. After about four days, someone will inevitably start craving proper rice.

As he was taking small bites from the corner of his toast, a middle-ranked physician came running.

“Minor Pavilion Master! Someone is here to see you.”

“If it’s a patient…”

“No, sir. Someone claiming to be your sworn brother.”

Cheon Woo? Sama Hyeon?

When Jin Cheonhee went outside the dining tent, still chewing his Central Plains toast, a beautiful young lady was waving at him.

“Darling!”

“Hyeon… stop that. Brother has been working all night and doing rounds since dawn. He’s tired.”

“Tsk. Not working today~”

Sama Hyeon reverted to his original face.

Passing middle-ranked and senior physicians were startled by this transformation.

His face-changing skill has improved since last time.

In the past, traces of his original face remained, but now he looked completely different.

Sama Hyeon and Jin Cheonhee headed toward the storage tent.

Jin Cheonhee quickly cleared items from a table.

“Pull up a chair and sit.”

“Wow, it’s really chaotic here at the White Dragon Medical Pavilion too.”

“Yeah. We originally prepared tents for patients’ families and visitors, but they’ve all become wards now. Even with decent field preparations, it’s like this.”

“Can’t be helped. Everyone’s going crazy over the Conquering Heaven Peerless Divine Arts. I’m sorry I couldn’t prevent the Unorthodox Alliance’s actions beforehand, brother.”

The attacks by bandits and the Seven Warriors Group.

That must be what he was referring to.

Jin Cheonhee smiled wryly at those words.

“Why are you apologizing? You’re from the Golden Blood Chamber. The unorthodox faction isn’t well-organized like the Martial Righteous Alliance. Actually, even the Martial Righteous Alliance is a mess.”

“The Golden Blood Chamber opposed that operation. We have many business ventures intertwined with the White Dragon Medical Pavilion. But the other unorthodox sects in the Unorthodox Alliance desperately wanted the Conquering Heaven Peerless Divine Arts. They were willing to do anything for it. Even though it won’t make them money~”

Tap-tap-

Sama Hyeon’s finger joints made a mechanical sound.

“Still, I’ve taken care of the aftermath thoroughly, so don’t worry too much, brother~”