The merchant turned away after speaking. His words were cold, yet undeniably true. For a martial artist, to cut off a leg was no different than ending their life. This same scenario was unfolding in other places as well.

In the conference room of a medium-sized sect, the Chief Steward and the Sect Leader were in the middle of a discussion.

“Sect Leader, what are your thoughts on switching to the White Qilin Medical Pavilion?”

“This is about Her Imperial Highness’ Prince Consort, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

The ability to heal a leg that would otherwise be lost—for a martial artist, this held profound significance. For the sect leaders who had long-standing deals with the Hwaju Medical Pavilion, this new reality presented a growing dilemma.

“It certainly has its merits, but haven’t we commissioned our sect’s internal elixirs from the Hwaju Medical Pavilion all this time? A large sect might have its own medical hall to prepare their own medicines, but we’ve come to rely on the Hwaju Medical Pavilion for so much. Changing that overnight will be difficult.”

“Sect Leader.”

“But… that’s just the thinking of old men like me. The future of this sect will be led by young martial artists like you. Let’s gather everyone and discuss this together.”

A small ripple had begun to build into a great wave.

***

While powerful figures across the land were stirred by these events, it was the Hao Sect who felt the most immediate fire. The Hao Sect branch that Her Imperial Highness’ Prince Consort had once taken refuge in was already nothing but ash, yet Wangya Ju’s fury showed no signs of cooling; it only seemed to grow.

The Hao Sect’s internal situation was just as dire. With the branches burned, their leaders and their forces had perished alongside them. A significant power vacuum had been created, and the question of who would fill those empty seats became a pressing issue. The conflict was escalating, both from without and within.

Lying in his warm ondol room, Zhuge Rin was reading a letter containing information about the Hao Sect. He turned his head to the side and spoke to Jin Cheon-hee.

“Hee-ya, are you aware of the rule that the government and the Murim are not to interfere with one another?”

It was a fundamental concept mentioned in every martial arts story.

Jin Cheon-hee nodded. “Yes, I know of it.”

“Yes. But as is the way of the world, things are never so easily separated. Why, Wangya Ju herself just visited us, a medical pavilion of the Gangho. In the same way, places like escort agencies and information brokers are used by both the government and the Murim.”

“That sounds like a complicated problem.”

“It is. That’s human affairs for you. A medical pavilion like ours is, in a way, a neutral zone. We must always think carefully about our path,” his master said, his eyes curving gently.

Jin Cheon-hee shook his head. “It sounds so difficult.”

“In a way, it’s simple. You just have to set a standard.”

“A standard?”

“You must establish a standard that both the government and the Murim can accept, and then act according to it. The Hao Sect failed to adhere to such standards and allowed greed to guide them, which is why they are facing this disaster.”

Suddenly, Jin Cheon-hee realized what his master was trying to teach him.

He’s talking about what happens after he’s gone. He’s saying this so it will help me when I take over as the Pavilion Master.

Jin Cheon-hee shook his head, forcing a laugh. “Hehehe, Master. I don’t really get it.”

“Hee-ya…”

“Mmm. I don’t understand any of this grown-up talk! I’m not going to listen! You have to tell me this stuff later, when I’m older~”

You have to still be here until then.

That was what Jin Cheon-hee truly wanted to say. The unspoken words rose in his throat.

Zhuge Rin watched his disciple in silence. “…”

Jin Cheon-hee quickly changed the subject. “What do you think will happen next, Master? They say the Hao Sect will never disappear as long as there’s alcohol and criminals in the world.”

He had never seen a martial arts novel without the Hao Sect. It was the same principle as crime never disappearing from human history.

“Their power will still be weakened,” Zhuge Rin replied. “And it will likely be resolved at the right time, in the right way. It cannot continue like this for long. It seems a new opportunity has arisen for those Mu siblings who were treated for syphilis. A chance to aim for a branch leader position, or perhaps even higher.”

Sensing his disciple’s feelings, Zhuge Rin didn’t press the matter of the pavilion’s future.

Jin Cheon-hee asked, “When do you think it will be resolved?”

“Hmm, it will probably be settled within the next week.”

The following week, the Emperor himself issued an imperial decree to placate Wangya Ju. The reason was that if Her Imperial Highness were to mobilize her residence’s troops and handle matters unilaterally without the cooperation of the local magistrate, the very foundation of the law would be shaken. From Wangya Ju’s perspective, she couldn’t tolerate the situation, believing the local officials were likely bribed by the Hao Sect, but there was a limit to how much the Emperor could overlook.

The Emperor pacified her by bestowing the title of Marquis Yu-rang upon the prince consort, Cheon Yu-rang, officially granting him the status befitting his position, and had him adopted into a meritorious family to change his family register. Furthermore, he allowed Wangya Ju’s line to continue by having her adopt an imperial descendant as her daughter.

After being placated to this extent, even the fiery-tempered Wangya Ju could not express any more anger.

On top of that, a letter arrived from Mu Hwa. It said they would be able to send good news soon. While not detailed, Cheon-hee had heard stories that the siblings’ position within the Hao Sect was rising.

It was exactly as his master, with his keen insight, had predicted.

On a day when the mountains and rivers around the White Qilin Medical Pavilion were bursting with deep green, Jin Cheon-hee sat across from his master for a private meeting. He sat in his master’s room, gazing blankly through the glass window at the mountain scenery.

The exchange with the Dark Palace Medical Pavilion was proceeding sequentially and secretly. The Bloodborne Elder Eccentric had also agreed to visit from time to time to teach Jin Cheon-hee martial arts, leaving behind a few basic secret manuals to get him started.

However, he had no intention of learning them just yet.

It’s best to learn only after firmly solidifying the basics. Otherwise, I’ll end up mediocre in both.

With that thought, Jin Cheon-hee watched the fresh, green life budding outside. His thoughts were interrupted by his master’s voice.

“You look like someone seeing summer for the first time.”

Jin Cheon-hee gave a small smile, as the statement was half-right and half-wrong. “The mountain summer is so refreshing, Master.”

“Still, the night air is chilly, so you mustn’t let your guard down.” Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

Yoo Ho passed between them. “It’s apple tea. Made from this summer’s green apples.”

The unique, sweet-and-sour fragrance of green apples filled the room. It was the scent of the early summer sun. His master took a sip of the tea, closing his eyes in satisfaction. After a moment, he spoke.

“By the way, you said you had something serious to discuss. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded. He was the one who had requested this meeting.

It had been several months since he had joined the pavilion. He had treated Wang Gak-yeon and earned the approval of the four great department heads, establishing the new Surgical Arts Department. Since then, he had been taught the Five-Elemental Divine Art, created a book of surgical knowledge to systematically pass on his skills, and had personally performed surgeries to teach. He had even created the antibiotic, penicillin.

“Until now, I’ve been passing on the medical knowledge I have, but… to be honest, it’s been rather haphazard.”

“You call that systematic knowledge ‘haphazard’…”

“That’s why I felt I need to share my medical knowledge in a more detailed and organized way. I requested this meeting with you, Master, to that end.”

There was still a great deal of knowledge Cheon-hee hadn’t shared with Zhuge Rin, judging it to be premature. The concept of “cells,” for example. After all, even the true efficacy of the penicillin (which they had named White Qilin Divine Elixir and White Qilin Sacred Liquid) was not properly understood by the other physicians, including White Qilin Divine Physician.

Hee-ya. You are my disciple, but I also think of you as a fellow physician. You don’t need to tell me everything, but please, teach me the medical arts you know. I, too, will teach you everything I know.

This was not the typical master-disciple relationship of the Gangho. But they were physicians, not martial artists, and this was something that had to be done to save lives.

Where should I even begin?

He had agonized over this day for a long time. In the end, there was only one answer.

Whether Master understands it or not, I’ll tell him everything.

Calculations were meaningless in the face of life. He believed that if their knowledge was combined, they could save many more martial artists.

“First, the knowledge I have is heavily focused on surgery. I also believe many parts of it are fundamentally different from existing pharmacology.”

His master nodded, a calm light entering his gaze.

Jin Cheon-hee realized he was using the true qi from his Five-Elemental True Qi to operate the Zhuge Clan’s secret art, the Profound Primordial Complete Foundation Divine Art, awakening his brain.

With this, there’s no need for notes or recorders. He’s just using the ultimate weapon humans possess: the brain.

Jin Cheon-hee continued, pulling out one topic after another. He didn’t hesitate to draw diagrams when necessary to explain. When his master had a question, he asked Jin Cheon-hee immediately.

Their essence was not that of martial artists, so pride was not a concern. The space between them was filled only with a passion for learning and the sheer joy of discovering the unknown.

But this was not a conversation that could end in a single day. When the sun had set, Zhuge Rin finally spoke.

“This is… astonishing. To think such knowledge exists…”

“And what I’ve explained so far is just a rough concept. To teach it in detail… it would take at least a few years.”

“I see. Amazing. Truly amazing.”

His master, Zhuge Rin, nodded slowly.

“Cells… is that it? Small things gathering to create a single life.”

His master’s eyes half-opened. A brilliant, five-colored aura began to scatter from his body like mist, rotating slowly in the air.

“Don’t tell me…”

Jin Cheon-hee tensed. He felt a surge of anticipation, wondering if the classic trope from martial arts novels—the same phenomenon that had happened to Phantom Archer—was now happening to his master.

But just as it had appeared, the mist rising from Zhuge Rin’s body was sucked back in, disappearing. His master’s eyes shone with a new light.

“Master. Are you alright?”

“I am fine, Yoo Ho. Hahaha. To think I would gain enlightenment at my age… If not for my constitution, I might have achieved a great accomplishment. What a pity…”

“Master…” “Still, just this has made my heart feel much lighter. I feel much better.”

“Is that true?” “Of course.”

Ah… what a shame…

Jin Cheon-hee let out a deep sigh at the sight. If his master had undergone a Metamorphosis from this, he might have escaped his Heavenly Punishment. But it seemed things wouldn’t be that easy.