It wasn’t the crab meat in sweet and sour sauce that Jin Cheon-hee had initially desired, yet the alternative—crisp sweet and sour pork paired with meat dumplings—proved explicitly delicious.

The chef of this establishment was a veritable magician of juices. Under his touch, even the gamier cuts of meat were transformed into pepper-scented, broth-filled dumplings and succulent fried dishes.

“I don’t know how he achieved this level,” Cheon-hee mused, savoring a dumpling. “There must be countless enlightenments involved.”

Cheon Woo, sitting across from him, asked with genuine curiosity, “Brother, does cooking also possess the principles of martial arts?”

“Rather than martial principles, call it the Dao of Cooking, Cheon Woo. All things under the heavens hold their own enlightenment. Even Buddhism teaches that all paths lead to the ultimate truth. In the end, there is no high or low in any craft. Reaching the apex makes everything sublime.”

“…”

Cheon Woo fell into deep contemplation.

This was a world governed by a rigid, pyramidal hierarchy. Even Confucianism carved the relationships of social life into stone: ruler and subject, teacher and disciple, father and son. While a king who failed to act like a king might eventually be replaced, the pyramid itself never disappeared.

Humans, after all, were a species that sought reasons for superiority the moment they had the strength to lift a spoon.

In the Gangho, the martial artist sat at the apex. Among them, the successors of the Nine Great Sects and One Faction—the core of the Orthodox Faction—were akin to the Brahmins of a caste system. To tell Cheon Woo, a disciple learning from the Fist Emperor of the Wudang Sect, that martial arts and cooking were equals was a sentiment that would not resonate easily. Surprisingly, the Orthodox found this harder to accept than the Unorthodox.

‘And the Wudang Sect is rooted in Daoism,’ Cheon-hee thought. ‘Their worldly teachings are even scarcer than in the clans. Since Daoist meditation requires excluding human desires, this disconnect is inevitable.’

It was a strange contradiction. The Dao existed for the people, yet to cultivate the Dao, one had to separate from the people and enter the mountains.

‘Isn’t that right, Cheon Woo?’

However, Cheon-hee did not intend to voice this thought. Unless one realized it for themselves, such words were merely nagging.

Sama Hyeon broke the silence.

“So, money is just as important as martial arts~ Making money isn’t much different from honing one’s skills~ Preparing a meal decent enough to sell at an inn requires practice every morning too, right?”

As expected, the Unorthodox grasped the concept quickly.

No, it wasn’t simply an Unorthodox trait. This man was Sama Hyeon. He was unique enough to memorize and utilize the foreign slang Cheon-hee occasionally let slip. He was too chaotic to be used as a standard comparison group.

Sama Hye thought for a moment before adding her voice. “Benefactor. Ultimately, it aligns with the saying that there is no high or low in professions.”

Right. Sama Hye understood quickly as well. To become the youngest Branch Leader and a Senior Physician at the White Qilin Medical Pavilion, her intellect had to be extraordinary.

Amidst the Sama siblings’ chorus of “Yep, yep. Got it, got it~”, only Cheon Woo wore a strangely sorrowful expression. He looked like a bear crouching nervously in a den of foxes.

“…”

“Uh… Cheon Woo. Just think of it as an old man’s nagging and forget what I just said.”

“…No, Brother.”

“Sorry, Cheon Woo.”

“…It’s okay, Brother.”

Who had put a bear in a fox den?

‘I did,’ Cheon-hee acknowledged with a silent sigh.

***

On the way back from the meal, a warrior from the Martial Righteous Alliance approached them. He left a message stating that the Alliance Leader was looking for the Young Divine Physician personally.

“I’ll be back.”

“Have a safe trip~ My Lord~”

“Go quickly~ Benefactor~”

And then, it happened.

Sama Hyeon, perhaps seized by a sudden burst of excitement, had donned a female disguise. He clung tightly to Jin Cheon-hee’s left arm, while Sama Hye, playing along with her brother’s prank, linked arms on his right.

To any observer, the appearance was unmistakable.

“The rumor about Brother’s complicated relationships with women… could it be…?!” Cheon Woo gasped.

“Women? What women! You know how I live, Cheon Woo!”

No, had such a rumor spread without him knowing?

Cheon Woo’s face was grave. “There was a scandal that your woman changes every time we visit a city, but I didn’t believe it. Brother.”

“Who else would it be but these two!”

“My Lord~ This girl will come with a different face next time~” Sama Hyeon cooed in a falsetto.

Cheon Woo continued, his voice trembling with horror. “…Even the scandal about two-timing with a woman on each arm…?”

“Benefactooor~ Do you dislike us~?”

‘Damn Sama siblings!’

It was no wonder bullshit rumors about One Light’s lechery were circulating. Sama Hyeon was smashing his reputation to pieces, and Sama Hye was confirming the kill.

Looking around, Cheon-hee saw martial artists whispering behind their hands, eyeing the two “beauties” clinging to him. Cold sweat trickled down his back.

‘If this happens at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, I’m finished.’

What were these damn Sama siblings thinking? And while Sama Hyeon could simply change his face, was Hye okay with this? Since the Hangzhou Branch Leader intended to live freely, perhaps it didn’t matter unless she planned to marry into a major clan.

Even if genders were separate, romance happened. Many Gangho people lived wildly in their youth before settling down. Since Hye was a physician who also learned martial arts, perhaps a free-spirited reputation wouldn’t harm her.

‘Right. I’m One Light… why care about reputation? When did I ever?’

Leaving a desperate plea to Cheon Woo to handle the aftermath, Jin Cheon-hee escaped the clutches of the two Simas and trudged toward the Martial Righteous Alliance headquarters.

***

Martial artists guided Jin Cheon-hee to the Alliance Leader’s private study. As soon as the heavy door opened, the scent of tea washed over him.

‘I smell a faint medicinal scent, too?’

It was a familiar odor. Not the herbal blend for fatigue recovery or nourishment, but the specific, sharp scent used when heavy painkillers were involved. Cheon-hee was accustomed to it, having smelled it countless times from Yeo Ha-ryoon’s pipe.

Did the Alliance Leader have a serious illness? Or had a patient visited recently?

It was hard to guess. Unless the man entrusted his pulse to Cheon-hee directly, it would remain a mystery.

Dokgo Seon stood behind the Alliance Leader, both men wearing expressions as still and unreadable as stone statues.

“Greetings are done. Did you come with full authority delegated by the White Qilin Medical Pavilion?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

Ak-jin’s eye sockets were deeply sunken. He looked like a man who hadn’t slept properly in weeks. Eventually, he spoke.

“You seem to get stronger every time I see you. Now, it is becoming difficult to estimate your realm.”

“You flatter me.”

“No. Just as the moon waxes and wanes, so do people. But for some reason, I feel like you, Young Divine Physician, are still not at your full moon.”

He fell into thought, then spoke again, a wry smile touching his lips. “To be jealous of a talented young man… it is out of character. Anyway, sit.”

Slide.

As Cheon-hee sat, martial artists served fresh tea. Soon, at a gesture from Alliance Leader Ak-jin, everyone withdrew quietly. Only a deep silence hovered in the study.

Ak-jin gathered his thoughts before speaking frankly.

“First, my mental energy is at its limit. Know that I have neither the energy to speak in riddles nor the desire to do so.”

“Understood.”

“War may break out.”

“…”

At those words, the Spear King saw Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes instantly dyed blue.

‘Scary.’

How many Gangho warriors wouldn’t fear the prowess of the Zhuge Clan’s Profound Primordial Complete Foundation Divine Art? Especially when those blue eyes were staring directly at them.

“Didn’t you hate war? From what I observed before, you tried to prevent conflict by any means necessary.”

“Yes. Because I am a physician.”

Of course, Cheon-hee’s methods often far exceeded the category of a simple physician, but he answered nonchalantly. If he had been picky about means and methods, he wouldn’t be called One Light.

“Is that why you called me? To ask that?”

“Correct. To know your true intentions. Before that, I will explain the situation. Military Advisor.”

Dokgo Seon, standing behind the desk, snapped his fan shut.

“To speak bluntly, the probability of war breaking out is over eighty percent. This is because this war isn’t desired only by the Orthodox side.”

“I see.”

“The dwindling Unorthodox Alliance wants to lash out; the Demonic Cult is scheming; the Imperial Family is plotting, hoping for the mutual destruction of Gangho forces; and even the greed of sects belonging to the Martial Righteous Alliance is at play. All these factors have combined.”

‘The Golden and Silver Princes are involved?’ Cheon-hee thought.

It made sense. With their personalities, the “bastards of the Gangho” were all lawless outlaws with swords. Their growing power did no good for the Imperial Family.

The Unorthodox and the Demonic Cult didn’t even pay taxes. Unlike the Golden Blood Chamber, which played a game of rubber band between legal, illegal, and evasive, truly illegal groups like the Sea Sand Gang or the Green Forest Bandits were the main culprits of tax evasion—parasites sucking the people’s blood. There was no reason for the Imperial Court to like them.

‘No, but isn’t it too radical… No, they are originally like that.’

In the original timeline, following the Supreme Heavenly Demon, His Highness Eun died, and His Highness Geum struggled alone, leaving little time to care about the Gangho. Originally, by now, His Highness should have been fighting the Suksin Tribe, running the administration, finding the Blood Immortal Cult, and checking the Demonic Cult.

Literally playing the drum, the hourglass drum, spinning the hat ribbon, and blowing the flute all alone—a one-man circus.

But now? The Suksin Tribe was defeated. His Highness Eun was alive. Wangya Ju was healthy. Even Han Yi-jeong, who should have died, was alive and reliable.

‘Right. It’s time for a Gangho purge.’

But they weren’t the type to step up directly, shouting, ‘Imperial Order! Die, Gangho warriors!’ That would provoke a fight shaking the very foundation of the Hua Empire. Why do something with no profit and only bloodshed?

They would simply prune the branches quietly by dealing with a few key figures, just as they did in the Imperial Palace.

“…Whether it’s a Great Orthodox and Unorthodox War or a Great Orthodox-Demonic War, something will happen.”

“Yes. It is highly likely not to be at the level of a mere Blood Event.”

‘Wow,’ Cheon-hee thought. ‘This is a promised Hell Gate.’

Still, since this was a wuxia world, a wuxia-style war would likely occur. Meaning, unlike fighting the Suksin Tribe, there would be no catapults, no throwing thunderbolts from afar, and no beating of massive war drums.

“Since each sect has its base, it will be individual battles and alliances.”

It was presumptuous to say, but from the perspective of a modern soul, it might be… slightly similar to the gangster wars of the 80s and 90s. Those who remembered that era would understand the scale.

‘Wow… crazy.’

Dokgo Seon continued.

“Since the White Qilin Medical Pavilion is not a sect belonging to the Martial Righteous Alliance… at a glance, it seems you can escape this war. But because of that, I think you might be attacked first.”

“So you called me separately. To ask my intention on what to do.”

“Yes. You know immediately.”

Dokgo Seon feared the Zhuge Clan as a fellow strategist. This meeting was intended to sound out Jin Cheon-hee. But coming to his senses, the Strategist realized he had already provided the necessary information, and with that information, Jin Cheon-hee had begun to see through Dokgo Seon’s intentions first.

On the surface, it might seem trivial. However, Dokgo Seon felt a flicker of fear.

The Zhuge Clan was always quick-thinking. They were especially skilled in fast chess.