“We’ve always been hiring,” Zhuge Rin said. “With the pavilion’s expansion, needing more hands is natural. But showing you this report has another purpose. What do you think it is?”

Another test as Minor Pavilion Master. Jin Cheonhee calculated the pavilion’s operational flow and discerned Master’s intent. It wasn’t so hard anymore.

“Hmm… we need to recruit a key executive,” he said.

Master smiled warmly. Correct.

“Exactly. Until now, we hired for specific roles or skills. Now, we need someone for overall management.”

So, at least a director or CEO-level hire, Jin Cheonhee thought, modern terms framing it. Reading the report, the weight of responsibility made his head spin.

Who do we even pick…

This was beyond mere hiring practice—it was a strategic move. Keep it simple. The ideal candidate: someone who understood the martial world’s workings, with sharp judgment and administrative prowess.

But where’s such a person? They’re usually already sect leaders, strategists, or top executives.

The Zhuge Clan’s Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique enhanced cognitive ability, and their martial arts were once elite. But Jin Cheonhee had never heard of other sects with mind-boosting techniques. Even in other clans, those with martial strength, judgment, and administrative skill were rare. Sect leaders and clan heads prioritized martial prowess over politics or management.

Take Wudang’s leader, True Man Jeong-hyeong. The strongest of the Jeong generation, but politically adept? Hardly. That was the issue. In the Gangho world, an unspoken rule held: A sect leader must be the strongest warrior.

No wonder martial sects rise and fall so often…

No glory lasts forever.

Even a genius warrior founding a sect struggled to sustain it past three generations. The Nine Great Orthodox Sects and Eight Great Clans were exceptional for enduring so long. It took astronomical odds for a martial and administrative prodigy to lead. Without one, sects declined. Wudang nearly faced that fate.

Why would such a rare talent send a résumé to the White Dragon Medical Pavilion?

But hiring carelessly wasn’t an option. “No standout candidates,” Jin Cheonhee sighed.

“A tough problem,” Zhuge Rin said. “That’s why major sects have training programs to cultivate such mid-level executives.”

So, True Man Jeong-hyeong went through that and still ran Wudang like that? Oof… a case study in bad training.

Sorry, True Man, but you nearly tanked Wudang.

“Well, unless they pop out of nowhere, we’ll have to train them,” Jin Cheonhee said.

“Heh heh heh, colorful phrasing,” Zhuge Rin chuckled.

The pavilion lacks such a program. Not because Master’s incapable—his past terminal illness left no future to plan for. Now, it’s too late to start.

Scanning the report, Jin Cheonhee’s eyes caught a familiar name. “Wait, this person can come to us?”

“A curious situation,” Zhuge Rin said. “The Hao Sect wants to send talent as a sign of alliance, making it possible.”

“Won’t they be suspected as a spy?”

Of course, this person wouldn’t betray Jin Cheonhee for Hao Sect power. Bound by a life-saving debt, they’d risked their life for him, walking a tightrope multiple times.

Master laughed. “Heh heh heh. An exposed spy isn’t a spy. They can be used for double agent strategies or as a liaison. Besides, we won’t give them idle time to play spy.”

Closing his eyes briefly, Zhuge Rin continued, “Hmm… and having risked their life for you countless times, they’re unlikely to spy. The Hao Sect classifies them as Pro-White-Robed Divine Dragon Faction[1].”

Jin Cheonhee’s eyes widened. “There’s a Pro-White-Robed Divine Dragon Faction?”

“Your sworn brother Sama Hyeon, Golden Blood Chamber Leader Myo I-ryeong, the Mu-wol and Mu-hwa siblings, and many you’ve treated support you. Of course, you have just as many foes.”

“Haha.”

“But since you’ve never taken a Hao Sect member’s life, settling debts of gratitude and vengeance is tricky. This is unprecedented in martial history.”

Have pride, Master whispered, turning away, likely with mixed feelings. A feat unseen in martial history, but could a warrior live forever without taking a life?

Master must’ve questioned it countless times. Jin Cheonhee pretended not to notice, protecting his own psyche. He hadn’t aimed to be a saint—just to survive with a modern mind’s fragility. He knew the path was tough and had steeled himself to one day stain his hands with blood. But he wanted to delay that as long as possible.

“Haha… it’s kinda embarrassing. I didn’t aim for this…”

Master gazed at his disciple with a complex expression, then covered his eyes with a large hand. “You look tired. How about a nap?”

“I am, but let’s meet this person first. I’ll gauge their intent in person.”

“Seems you’ve already decided,” Master noted.

“Haha,” Jin Cheonhee laughed softly.

Master felt his disciple’s eyes flicker under his hand. How many calculations ran through that small head? Taking on too much worried him.

Among scattered papers, one had two characters scribbled: Mu-wol. His sister, Mu-hwa, had secured a branch leader role in the Hao Sect. With stability, Mu-wol now moved to bridge the pavilion and Hao Sect.

Not a bad choice for Jin Cheonhee. But I’ll meet him first.

Was past gratitude returning?

***

While Jin Cheonhee trained his sworn brothers, Zhuge Rin occasionally helped. With Jin Cheonhee swamped, Master took on a temporary instructor role—and was harsher than hyung.

Hyung offered snacks: “Finish this, and we’ll eat!” or “One more!” Carrot and stick. Here, only the stick.

“Don’t like it? Quit. Why waste my time on unmotivated brats?” Zhuge Rin sneered.

Cheon Woo learned a person could look at another with such contempt. ‘Why was hyung with that guy? Incomprehensible.’

“Only one hasn’t reached Transformation Realm. Hmm… low intelligence? Well, the Fist Emperor always said even dimwits could reach the Dao with good conduct,” Zhuge Rin mused aloud, for their ears.

Same with Sama Hyeon. 

“Quick wits, slow body. What’s the use? Leisurely and sluggish are worlds apart. Tsk, my disciple trained you, yet that pathetic body’s beyond help.”

Zhuge Rin, a different beast from Jin Cheonhee’s side. No trace of warmth. It was understandable. Everyone knew he was here to keep his disciple’s brothers from overworking, not out of care.

But his demeanor… his demeanor…

Zhuge Rin asked, “Can’t use Sword Control Technique[2], can’t solo one of the Ten Heavenly Commanders, not yet reached Diamond Indestructible state, can’t cleave mountains with a sword. So, why are you dimwits breathing in my pavilion?”

The bar was too high. Even Jin Cheonhee couldn’t do those!

Sighing softly, Zhuge Rin said with pity, “Too dumb for medicine. Shame.”

“…”

Grit—

Crack—

Veins bulged in Sama Hyeon and Cheon Woo’s necks. They hadn’t felt blood rush to their heads in ages.

Wow, hyung~ Hao Sect intel downplayed this guy, Cheon Woo thought. Especially for him, the only one not at Transformation Realm, the humiliation was unbearable.

Haha, hyung’s Master, the White Dragon’s no human. Provoking without cursing the sect is a talent.

So enraged, he could only laugh.

Footsteps approached. “Hee-ya, you’re here?” Zhuge Rin’s tone softened, almost a different person.

Unaware of Master’s true face, Jin Cheonhee asked, “Oh, am I interrupting the training?”

Carrying a basket, he’d brought fried chicken. Glancing over, he saw Sama Hyeon and Cheon Woo training with feral roars, not cognitive exercises, but basic forms, swinging wooden swords like they’d shatter puppets.

“They’re extra intense today. Not that they ever slacked,” Jin Cheonhee noted, eyes wide.

“Only training fixes inferior minds and feeble bodies,” Zhuge Rin said.

“Huh?”

Crunch—

Master ate a piece of breast meat. Sparks flew from the brothers’ eyes.

Transformation Realm was just the start. They’d split that White Dragon’s face in half.

In this moment, the brothers were united.

***

While the brothers’ training zeal was “naturally” stoked, a candidate arrived for the pavilion’s external affairs steward interview.