Jin Cheonhee observed the situation inside the room from outside.

For a master like him, such actions had become as natural as breathing.

After confirming Gong Yubing’s improving health, Jin Cheonhee stepped back.

There was no need to intrude on the two as they sorted through their emotions.

“Wow! What a rewarding day!”

Yeo Ha-ryoon was in another room, training his internal energy with the Blood Poisonous Pearl.

Having achieved his goal, Yeo Ha-ryoon would soon return with the orb.

“Then I should rest a bit too… Hmm?”

Just as he was about to head to the room where Yeo Ha-ryoon was training, Jin Cheonhee sensed an unexpected presence and stopped.

A very familiar energy.

Someone was approaching, their qi overflowing without restraint. They were deliberately letting their energy leak to announce their arrival.

But why was this person here?

“Greetings, Minor Pavilion Master. Wang Chae-baek, Vice Leader of the Martial Force Hall, has just arrived.”

Wang Chae-baek, the Phantom Archer.

He now served as the Vice Leader of the Martial Force Hall in the White Dragon Medical Pavilion.

The Leader of the Martial Force Hall, Dokgo Junghu, begged daily to retire, but Zhuge Rin refused to grant it.

However, the Phantom Archer seemed uninterested in the position of Leader.

He spent his time teaching the martial arts devised by Jin Cheonhee to the warriors of the Martial Force Hall or training them for group combat.

Of course, that wasn’t all.

Occasionally, he ventured out to deal with bandits or pirates who unknowingly targeted the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s goods, or those foolish enough to attempt fraud against the pavilion.

Thanks to him, the White Dragon Medical Pavilion could maintain close cooperation with the Gongsun Clan, as his daughter, Wang Gak-yeon, worked there.

“Uh… What brings you here? I didn’t request your presence, Vice Leader Wang.”

“The Pavilion Master sent me.”

Master? He told me to keep my identity secret, but now he’s doing this? The whole neighborhood will know…

“Here. A letter from the Pavilion Master.”

Wang Chae-baek respectfully handed over the letter, and Jin Cheonhee unfolded it.

“Hee-ya, you’ve caused quite a stir again. This master nearly had a heart attack hearing you challenged the Great Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Formation with a bug. Rumors of you treating Thieving Phantom’s granddaughter will spread soon, so I’m sending troops for protection. Expect a scolding when you return.”

Hmm… Well, with such a big fight, it’d be stranger if rumors didn’t spread. Some thought there was an earthquake… Sigh… Ha-ryoon, why did you have to use that technique for the first time there?

It couldn’t be helped.

If the protagonist used the technique at that moment, it was meant to be.

Jin Cheonhee organized his thoughts and looked at Wang Chae-baek.

“Master is right. If word gets out that Thieving Phantom, one of the Ten Great Masters, is recuperating here, everyone will come running.”

“I heard about the Namgoong Clan’s stance on my way here. They won’t take sides or help either way.”

“Well… We’re not allies, and there’s bad blood between Thieving Phantom and the Namgoong Clan. It’s already a relief they’re staying out of it.”

Moreover, Yeo Ha-ryoon was a wild card.

They might mistake him for a Profound Realm master, at least on the level of the Three Venerables.

No one sane would want to make an enemy of someone like that.

The Heavenly Demon in the distant Hundred Thousand Mountains might not scare them, but a mysterious Profound Realm master staying in their guest room was another story.

Jin Cheonhee sighed softly at the thought.

Seeing this, Wang Chae-baek spoke.

“You’ve overexerted yourself.”

“I did stick my nose where it didn’t belong.”

“Yes. It would be best if you refrained from doing so in the future.”

“But…”

“I know. If you weren’t the kind of person to do that, our Gak-yeon would be dead by now.”

Wang Chae-baek gazed at Jin Cheonhee with a complicated expression.

“…”

Silence fell between them.

Finally, Jin Cheonhee broke it.

“Uncle Wang, you’ve become too stiff. Is it because Gak-yeon left home, or what…”

“You say the strangest things. I’m merely repaying my debt to you, benefactor.”

“Sigh… Alright. By the way, how many did you bring?”

Jin Cheonhee changed the subject.

“Four battalions of the Twelve Martial Force Battalions are here.”

The Twelve Martial Force Battalions of the Martial Force Hall!

Originally, the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s martial force consisted of three battalions under the Martial Force Hall, simply called Battalion One, Battalion Two, and so on.

But now, there were twelve sub-organizations under the Martial Force Hall, hence the name Twelve Martial Force Battalions.

Hmm, did I teach too many martial arts?

Based on the Zhuge Clan’s Profound Cultivation Art[1], Jin Cheonhee had restructured and simplified the techniques from the imperial library, creating the Mixed Five Elements Returning to Origin Energy. This allowed more warriors to strengthen their martial prowess.

Moreover, rumors spread that the martial arts taught by the White Dragon Medical Pavilion didn’t require exceptional talent or physique, attracting even more warriors to join.

As a result, the total number reached 2,400.

Each battalion had 200 members, with the strongest being the upper battalions, especially Battalion One.

“Four battalions?!”

Even Jin Cheonhee, who rarely showed surprise, was taken aback.

Four battalions meant 800 warriors!

Enough to wipe out a small to medium-sized sect overnight, and even large sects would struggle against such numbers.

“The Pavilion Master deemed it necessary.”

“Master really… That’s enough to take down an entire sect. What did the Namgoong Clan say?”

“They said after vacating the estate, they’re washing their hands of it. The defense and safety of the estate are now entirely the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s responsibility.”

“That’s actually better. I’ll tweak the estate’s formations a bit. Please ensure the defenses are solid while the patient recovers.”

“Leave it to me.”

Wang Chae-baek bowed with a fist salute and left.

Jin Cheonhee sighed as he watched him go.

“Rumors are bound to spread. I wonder how this will turn out…”

He shook his head.

***

When Jin Cheonhee began treating Thieving Phantom at the Namgoong Clan’s merchant estate, Zhuge Rin, after strategic calculations, immediately sent Wang Chae-baek along with four of the Twelve Martial Force Battalions.

From Battalion One to Battalion Four—all the top fighters of the Martial Force Hall were now gathered here.

Each battalion leader was at least a Transcendent Realm master, and in Battalion One, both the leader and vice-leader were Transcendent Realm experts.

The remaining 198 members were all Peak Realm masters—a terrifying force.

To understand how formidable this was, one only needed to look at the structure of small to medium-sized sects in the martial world.

Small sects could have as few as ten members, while larger ones had up to 500.

However, sects with over 500 members were rare, so on average, most small to medium sects had around 200 members.

And their skill levels?

Typically, the sect leader was a Transcendent Realm master or a Peak Realm master close to breaking through.

They could use sword qi or fist qi sparingly, barely scratching the surface of sword intent.

Of course, that was for relatively successful sects. Many smaller sects were filled with riffraff, with leaders who weren’t even first-rate warriors.

Thus, having four battalions of the Twelve Martial Force Battalions guarding the estate was an extraordinary measure, and the wise minds of the martial world knew it well.

“So, the Namgoong Clan says they’ll turn a blind eye to what happens in Wuhu Port and won’t interfere?”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

Dokgo Seon, the Chief Strategist of the Martial Righteous Alliance, had come to report this to the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

The Alliance Leader, the Spear King, wore a grave expression as he read the report.

“The Divine Thief stole the Demonic Cult’s Blood Poisonous Pearl and is now being treated and protected by the Blue-Eyed Mad Doctor in Wuhu Port? And the top four battalions of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s elite Twelve Martial Force Battalions have been deployed? Chief Strategist, when did this happen?”

“It’s an urgent report via the Thousand-Li Hawk. This was written two days ago when the Martial Force Hall departed, so by now, they’ve likely arrived in Wuhu and made contact with the Blue-Eyed Mad Doctor.”

Dokgo Seon paused there.

The Alliance Leader spoke first.

“Thieving Phantom… Many hold grudges against her, but those targeting her are likely after the rare treasures she possesses, using grudges as an excuse. How fast are the rumors spreading?”

“Both the Hao Sect and the Beggars’ Sect are selling the information, and other intelligence sects are involved too. By today, at least the sects in the regions around Anhui—Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Zhejiang—will all know.”

“Haha, and in three more days, the rest of the regions will know, and by the tenth day, even the outer regions will have heard.”

He let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha, everyone’s busy.”

Beasts on land are slower than birds in the sky.

This applies even to martial artists.

No matter how skilled in lightness skills, they can’t outpace birds.

That’s why, from ancient times to now, messenger birds have been crucial for communication.

Moreover, with techniques like sorcery or beast-taming martial arts, even hawks like the Thousand-Li Hawk are bred.

The Thousand-Li Hawk, said to fly a thousand li in a day, can cross the Hua Empire from end to end in about ten days.

“So, what’s the best course of action?”

“We should do nothing.”

“Nothing?”

He nodded.

“Yes. The White Dragon Medical Pavilion is not our ally, and any weakening of their power benefits us. Besides, they’re close with the Hao Sect of the Unorthodox Alliance, so it’s best to leave it be.”

“No intervention… Is that sufficient?”

“Yes, Alliance Leader. Those blinded by greed will act on their own, using grudges as a pretext. We have no justification to get involved.”