Jin Cheon-hee watched the two siblings bicker with a warm expression. Namgung Woon said, “By the way. You have a very strange look in your eyes. The way you look at me is… peculiar.”

“What kind of look is it?”

“Like a grandfather looking at his grandson.”

He’s sharp.

Jin Cheon-hee quickly changed his expression. “I don’t have any memories of my family. I suppose I must have felt envious.”

“…Well, we’ll go with that.” It seemed he had decided to let it go.

A server began to place the food down, one dish at a time. The fragrant aroma made Jin Cheon-hee smile automatically.

“Would you care for a cup of Shaoxing Wine?”

For Namgung Woon, who was in his early twenties, it was fine. But in this era, someone with Jin Cheon-hee’s appearance would likely be married already, so it wasn’t particularly strange for him to drink.

But Jin Cheon-hee waved his hand. “I have a long way to go, so I’ll abstain from alcohol.”

Seeing his refusal, Namgung Woon smacked his lips in disappointment. “I’ll have to drink alone, then. Server! A bottle of Shaoxing Wine!”

On the surface, he looked every bit the dashing, free-spirited young master. From his embroidered silk sleeves to the jade ornament fastening his hair, every item looked as if it had been crafted by a renowned artisan. Coupled with his kind, friendly eyes, he looked as if he had never encountered a day of rough or difficult work in his entire life.

Even the scabbard at his waist was intricately carved.

The outfit was better suited to a name like “Wind-Chasing Young Master” or “Elegant Young Master” than the moniker “Azure Dragon Sword” of the Namgung Clan.

He looks even more like a playboy than I read about in the novel.

It was hard to believe this man would become one of the “Three Swords Under the Heavens.” Or that, given just a little more time, he would have become the “Greatest Sword Under Heaven.”

He received the Shaoxing Wine and poured it with a jororok sound.

“I truly didn’t expect to run into you while I was out traveling. You’ve become quite famous lately.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You created a medicine that cures syphilis, did you not? And I’ve heard that it’s curing not just syphilis, but other incurable diseases as well.”

The most famous application of penicillin was for syphilis. But that was only a fraction of what it could do. It was also highly effective against sepsis and scarlet fever, and they were currently testing it on numerous other diseases, like meningitis.

It was also effective for tetanus, but due to the risks, verification was still ongoing. However, the prevailing opinion within the pavilion was that it was “better than cutting off an arm.” And by personally healing Marquis Yu-rang, Jin Cheon-hee had proven it was effective for treating open fractures.

At his words, Jin Cheon-hee just gave a faint smile. “They say there are no secrets in the Gangho…”

“When you’re from a family like mine, it’s only natural to come by such information. Do you think an accomplishment like that can be hidden just because you want it to be? I am, however, curious why you haven’t officially announced it yet. Why is that?”

The playful, roguish air in Namgung Woon’s eyes vanished.

So this is it. This is what makes him worthy of being one of the Three Swords Under the Heavens.

“A medicine must be thoroughly verified. It’s true that it’s effective against many intractable diseases like syphilis, but we don’t know what kind of side effects it might have. We plan to make an official announcement after all verification is complete.”

“Hoh… Incredibly cautious, aren’t you?”

“It’s medicine. People’s lives are on the line.”

At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, Namgung Woon nodded, while Namgung Yeon just stared at him. Her gaze was unnerving, but he didn’t look away.

“I see… The rumors were not false. And that might be why this whole incident has occurred.”

“This incident?”

“The Hao Sect affair.”

Namgung Woon poured himself another cup. “When I heard the stories about the Hao Sect, I thought, ‘they really live complicated lives.’ They don’t have any real intention of killing you.”

He drank his alcohol, and Jin Cheon-hee drank his tea.

“That’s a rather… disconcerting… thing to hear, from my perspective.”

“If they really wanted you dead, they would have offered five thousand gold nyang, not one thousand. Of course, a thousand nyang isn’t a small sum. But is it enough to incur the wrath of both the Beggar’s Sect and the White Qilin Medical Pavilion? …I’m not so sure. At the very least, it’s not enough money to make the big fish move.”

“…”

“You don’t look surprised.”

“That’s because I’ve already dealt with one of the ‘small fry’ on my way here.”

“Hahahaha! I knew it. For the small fry, it’s a huge sum, enough to make them bother you. In other words, for the Hao Sect, it’s just enough money to save face.” He drained his cup in one go. “Kyah… This is good liquor. So, you don’t look injured at all. You must be pretty skilled, eh? Or did the Beggar’s Sect help you?”

“Both.”

“Hmm… Your aura feels humble. Well, whatever the case, it doesn’t seem like you’re in any great danger.”

“I have something I’m curious about as well…”

“What is it?”

“We may have met by chance, but is there a reason you’ve gone out of your way to share a meal and talk with me? Are you, perhaps, trying to protect me?”

Namgung Woon’s eyes went wide. Namgung Yeon was still staring, sipping her tea just as he was.

“Hahahaha! Well, well! You’re not a clueless friend, are you? You’re right. I was planning to protect you. I heard there aren’t many Beggar’s Sect disciples in this area. I thought, what a great chance to put the White Qilin Medical Pavilion in my debt! And… well, I also took a liking to you.”

He lifted the wine bottle. He smiled gently and went to pour a drink for Jin Cheon-hee, but his face fell when Cheon-hee pulled his cup away.

“My goodness, are you really going to make me drink alone?”

“No matter what you say, I’m not interested.”

“You have no taste for the finer things.”

“This is something I must do.”

“Still, I’ve already arranged a boat for you. You could at least drink one cup.”

“A boat?”

“I’ve procured the fastest boat in the area. It’s not a regular ferry, but a private boat from my family. I’ve filled it with trustworthy men, so you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

This was more than just “arranging a boat.”

“This seems to be more than just ‘putting the White Qilin Medical Pavilion in your debt.'”

Namgung Woon said, “You saved some Hao Sect members a while back, didn’t you? The very incident that’s causing the Hao Sect to post this half-hearted bounty. The one you saved, Mu Hwa, is an old friend of mine.”

At the word “friend,” Jin Cheon-hee stared, and Namgung Woon shook his head. “Haha. It’s not… that kind of relationship, as Brother Jin seems to be thinking. She’s just someone who helped me when I was going through a hard time as a kid.”

The Namgung Clan’s training was famously harsh. On top of that, the pressure Namgung Woon must have felt, having shown martial genius at an early age, was beyond imagination. The eldest son of the main family. A genius, at that. It seemed that even he was human and had gone through hard times as a child.

“I suppose it’s only natural you don’t believe me.”

At that, Jin Cheon-hee shook his head seriously. “I believe you.”

“Hmm? You don’t sound like you’re just being polite. You really mean it.”

“Well, let’s just ‘go with that.'”

Jin Cheon-hee threw the exact words Namgung Woon had said back at him.

“Hahahaha! You got me.”

He did believe him. Knowing Namgung Woon’s personality from the book, if she had been his lover, he would have said so. The fact that he was drawing a clear line at “friend” meant that’s all she was.

Just then, Namgung Yeon spoke with great effort. “L-Little… Young Hero, where are you going by boat?”

Just saying that much must have taken all her courage.

“I’m going to Tangshan, next to Nanjing.”

“Th-that’s… a long way…”

Had she already calculated the distance? Namgung Woon said, “My, Sister Yeon, you’re talking so much. You must have really taken a liking to… Ouch! Ack! Yeon-ah! I told you to stop pinching!”

Namgung Yeon, her face bright red, had pinched her brother’s side again. Namgung Woon laughed, teasing her even as he was being pinched.

Jin Cheon-hee picked up a xiaolongbao with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.

This is really good.

The twice-cooked pork was the same. I can see why he offered me a drink. These were dishes that went better with alcohol than a meal. He lifted his teacup.

“Please pour me a cup here.”

“Liquor?”

“No, tea. In exchange, since this is a fateful meeting, I’ll check your pulse.”

“Do you really have to go that far just to avoid a drink?”

Jin Cheon-hee just grinned in response.

Namgung Woon looked at his face and replied, “You are a truly peculiar person.”

“I agree.”

“In that case, please check my sister’s pulse first.”

Jin Cheon-hee took Namgung Yeon’s wrist and began his diagnosis. His true qi seeped into her, relaying various pieces of information.

Hmm, no major health issues. Her pulse is fast, but that seems to be from nervousness. As expected of the Namgung Clan, her constitution is a formidable martial one. Her qi meridians are well-developed, and she clearly doesn’t neglect her daily training.

He finished the diagnosis and said, “You’re perfectly healthy. Other than being a little nervous, you’re fine.”

“My Sister Yeon always gets nervous. Ouch, Yeon-ah!”

This time, it was Namgung Woon’s turn.

Jin Cheon-hee checked his pulse for a long time, then tilted his head. “Just a moment.”

He stood up, pressed his hand to Namgung Woon’s lower abdomen, and emitted his true qi again. Namgung Woon was startled by the sudden action.

At last, Jin Cheon-hee opened his eyes and asked, “Have you ever felt a sharp, stabbing pain in your lower back when you bend over?”

“Not often, but… very occasionally, I’ll feel something…?”

“It’s a kidney stone.”

It was the diagnosis of the Imperial Sword, Namgung Woon. Stunned, he asked, “A kidney stone? What is that?”

“Um…” Jin Cheon-hee paused. This was an era of information imbalance. In modern society, kidney stones were well-known, but in this world, it was natural that no one but a physician would know.

“Do you know what a bladder is?”

“You mean the ‘urine pouch’?”

“Correct. To put it simply, a stone has formed in it, or in one of the paths nearby.”

“A… stone?” Namgung Woon looked bewildered.

“Urine is how the body’s waste products are expelled as liquid. But sometimes, those waste products gather and harden into a stone, which then grows. Right now, it’s near your bladder, but if it starts to pass with your urine…”

“It…?”

“You will feel a pain like your living flesh is being torn apart. It’s not immediately life-threatening, but it will be… excruciating. Well, if it gets too severe, it can kill you.”

In the ancient past, a kidney stone was a fatal disease. A disease that killed you after agonizing pain. And since they didn’t know the cause, it was even more terrifying.

Namgung Woon’s face went pale. “Th-then… how is it treated…?”

“It’s not an emergency, so please visit the pavilion at a later date.”

“So you won’t treat it now?”

“Because it’s not an emergency. Judging by the size, the pain isn’t likely to start right away. If it doesn’t pass on its own… I’d say you’ll start to feel that agonizing pain in about a month or two. So please come to the pavilion by then. And you must come to the main branch, not a local office. Besides me, only my master would be able to treat this.”

Jin Cheon-hee’s reply was firm.