"Is it because of his constitution, or perhaps a mental illness? He said he can no longer taste anything."
"Now even snacks..."
"Yes, he enjoys snacks, saying they're delicious. It's because of the young master. However, if the young master isn't around, he'll return to his original state."
Yoo Ho's voice carried a sense of pain.
"I don't care how I die. I just thought that if my master lived long, my duty as a loyal servant would be fulfilled. But... now I'm not sure."
"Are you saying you'll save him?"
"Let's just say I'll keep an eye on him."
Yoo Ho turned his back after saying that.
"Do you know what it's called when you feel resentment, gratitude, joy, and a murderous intent all at once?"
Dry bamboo leaves obscured the view.
And after they passed, Yoo Ho was already gone.
His movements were so swift that even ghosts would be surprised.
Jin Cheon-hee realized that he was at a higher level than he had thought.
Also, he understood that his master was not just as he appeared in the novel.
Facing an empty space, Jin Cheon-hee muttered softly.
"…It's called vexation."
Then he sat down and slowly began to regulate his breathing.
Until the realization of the Heavenly Ghost was complete.
His realization ended three hours later.
During that time, Jin Cheon-hee practiced the Five Elements Heart Method.
He was quite surprised at how much purer the energy he gathered was compared to usual.
It was because the wind of Pasa (Breaking Evil) continued to gather while he was immersed in the state of Bu Gong Sammae.
Pasa (Breaking Evil).
Literally translated, it means 'breaking the wicked,' a form of argument used in Buddhism.
By breaking and breaking, one eventually reaches the truth (emptiness).
Pasa Divine Art is the same.
To reach enlightenment, one must continuously empty and break the wickedness within oneself.
'That's the interesting part about martial arts.'
In Buddhism, killing is forbidden, yet as a martial artist, one becomes outstanding and ends up shedding much blood to save the common people in numerous righteous wars.
The same goes for Taoism.
One cannot kill to become an immortal.
Instead, like Buddhism, one must avoid killing.
Yet, that martial art is also profound, and eventually, one draws the sword entangled in grudges and favors.
'Even though they emphasize the preciousness of life, both sides, in the end, it doesn't work out that way.
That's human nature.'
Jin Cheon-hee liked this contradiction.
Many who mastered the teachings of Buddhism and Taoism often pondered over this issue.
He also liked the scenes where they were provoked into drawing their swords by exploiting this contradiction.
- Infinite life, oh, what a pity.
Because of you, I will break my vow of non-killing today and stain my hands with blood!
It's a line that appears at least once when reading martial arts novels.
I really like it.
'It's human to worry, and because there's no right answer, martial arts are interesting.'
He really liked the Heavenly Ghost, who had to become a villain despite mastering the teachings of Buddhism.
He liked his agony.
He liked his anger.
The end of a persistent, persistent ill-fated relationship.
He even liked his miserable end.
'Old man, I enjoyed reading it.
I think I've paid enough for the book.'
The wind gradually calmed down.
Jin Cheon-hee felt that his Five Elements Heart Method had reached the third level.
Water energy, metal energy, and wood energy were trained while healing trees and people.
But earth energy and fire energy were more difficult than expected.
Wind energy was originally an energy to be dealt with from the third level of the Five Elements Heart Method.
The Five Elements are water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.
Among them, there is no wind.
Wind energy is the next attribute created by combining fire energy, wood energy, and water energy according to the formula.
Originally, it would have been impossible for Jin Cheon-hee to accumulate wind energy.
'This is what they call a low-level player getting a ride from a high-level player.'
Jin Cheon-hee gathered his energy.
'Thanks to you, I got a good ride, old man.'
If his master saw this, he would be very surprised.
And he would be as happy as if he had the whole world.
Jin Cheon-hee thought so as he slowly opened his eyes.
The body of the Heavenly Ghost, which had been floating in the sky, slowly descended to the ground.
His hair, which had turned white with age, shone with its original color.
Not only that, but his aged skin also regained its elasticity.
'Old man Heavenly Ghost, you've become younger.'
He originally had the looks of a handsome middle-aged man, but after gaining enlightenment, he now possessed the vitality and mature beauty of someone in their late twenties to early thirties.
'His innate energy has been replenished, and even his true essence energy has returned.
It's beyond imagination.
Truly a weed villain!'
Not only was everything replenished, but he also ascended to a higher level than his original state.
Even after descending to the ground, he closed his eyes and organized what he had realized.
After gathering all his senses, he slowly opened his eyes.
They were deep and profound eyes.
Jin Cheon-hee clasped his hands in respect.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks to the young hero, this old man has reached the realm of transformation."
Transformation!
Jin Cheon-hee's eyes widened.
It was a realm that all martial artists desperately desired, but it was said that less than thirty martial artists in the entire Central Plains had reached it.
'Already at the realm of transformation? I thought it would be a blessing just to heal the damage from the innate energy...!'
At that moment, the Heavenly Ghost knelt on one knee before Jin Cheon-hee.
"I remember that only the young hero reached out to me in my most difficult moment. I received a grace that is hard to repay even with my daughter's life, and I have reached the realm I have longed for all my life. I know I cannot repay this grace with anything."
Jin Cheon-hee swallowed hard.
'It's here!'
His fingertips tingled.
It was the feeling of a fisherman preparing for the final catch.
There was only one thing to say at a time like this.
However, the opponent was the Heavenly Ghost, who had been through everything in the martial world.
He couldn't be careless.
'Humility? No. The reaction in this situation is...'
Jin Cheon-hee grabbed the Heavenly Ghost's arm.
"Uncle, please get up. I don't know why you're doing this."
'It's confusion.'
The Heavenly Ghost spoke.
"Grace, if there is anything you desire, please let me know. I will repay it even if it takes a lifetime."
The title changed from young hero to grace.
For the Heavenly Ghost, this was a significant change.
Jin Cheon-hee shook his head.
"The medical fee has already been received through my master. I just wanted to see your martial arts..."
"No. Grace, please let me know what you desire."
Jin Cheon-hee said.
"Even if you say that, I..."
Jin Cheon-hee's shoulders trembled.
It was the appearance of a flustered child.
Seeing this, the Heavenly Ghost's heart wavered.
'He saved my daughter with incredible skill and even brought me to the realm of enlightenment, but he's still a child.
I was foolish.'
In Jin Cheon-hee's appearance, he saw his daughter, Gak-yeon.
His decision was quick and heavy.
He spoke.
"Though lacking, I wish to serve you with loyalty by your side for life, to repay even a fraction of your grace. Will you allow it?"
Jin Cheon-hee's face turned innocently red.
"Uh, um... Actually, I was going to recommend you to my master's medical pavilion. If you're in the medical pavilion, the martial arts problem will be solved, and since it's about delivering medicine and medical communication, it's safer than other jobs. Oh! And the pay is good too."
The Heavenly Ghost would also be the one to transport patients entangled in the martial world's grudges, but Jin Cheon-hee left that part out.
The Heavenly Ghost spoke.
"Ah, so you wanted to see my martial arts for that reason."
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
"Yes."
At that sight, the corners of the Heavenly Ghost's eyes trembled.
'I didn't expect him to be such a pure and deep-hearted person.'
The Heavenly Ghost spoke.
"I wish to serve you with sincerity. It's not just to repay the grace. I am deeply moved by your benevolence."
Jin Cheon-hee smiled shyly.
"If you say so, I understand. Though I'm lacking, please take care of me."
"Loyalty!"
"Hahaha, that's embarrassing, so please leave that out."
Jin Cheon-hee laughed innocently and thought to himself.
'Master, I've recruited the Heavenly Ghost, who has been reformed into the realm of transformation, to the medical pavilion.
His daughter, Wang Gak-yeon, has also returned with all her meridians opened, so it's a one-plus-one deal.
Master.'
Jin Cheon-hee suggested to the Heavenly Ghost that they return together.
And he thought to himself.
'The Pasa Divine Art is a bane to demonic arts.
It's not called Pasa (Breaking Evil) for nothing.'
There's a reason the Heavenly Ghost gave the Heavenly Demon a hard time.
The essence of the Pasa Divine Art lies in destroying the wicked.
'In the upcoming war of the Demonic Sect's young leaders, we must protect our medical pavilion safely.'
Soon, Little Heavenly Demon Yeoharyun will ascend as a young leader, and the Heavenly Blood Path of killing and being killed among the young leaders will begin.
How many righteous sects, demonic sects, and medical pavilions will be swept away in that?
'I will protect my people.'
Preparations are steadily underway.
After returning to the medical pavilion, the Heavenly Ghost had a long private conversation with the master.
During that time, Jin Cheon-hee returned to his room and slowly made the wind energy he had just obtained his own by circulating it.
At the original pace, it would have taken half a year to reach the third level of the Five Elements Heart Method.
Since he had raised it all at once, side effects were inevitable.
To fully make it his own, he had to be even more careful and put in the necessary effort.
Jin Cheon-hee continued to circulate his energy while recalling the formula for wind energy that he had learned in advance.
'The Five Elements Heart Method is certainly good for the brain.
In the past, I would have forgotten the formula after hearing it once, but now I can recall it as clearly as if I heard it yesterday.
Moreover, I can have other thoughts while circulating my energy like this.'
The power of the Zhuge family is terrifying.
On the other hand, he became curious about the beast that wiped out the Zhuge family in one fell swoop.
'In the novel, it only said they took revenge.'
Although the master is said to be great, he is a supporting character who disappears early due to illness.
He doesn't have as much presence as characters like the Heavenly Ghost or Gongsun Hyun, who consistently trouble the Heavenly Demon.
'And Yu Ho, who is a supporting character of a supporting character, has even less presence.'
Life is truly interesting.
In the novel, he may be a supporting character who highlights the protagonist, but in reality, he is also a person with a life.
It's just that his presence is mercilessly deleted depending on how much he is entangled with the protagonist.
'Master once mentioned in passing that Yu Ho couldn't learn the Five Elements Heart Method.'
He said this during a meeting before surgery.
'Is he learning another martial art?'
One that can handle human blood and bodily fluids.
It's not something the righteous sects would use, and it's usually demonic arts.
The interesting thing about these demonic arts is that the more you learn them, the more your mind becomes clouded, and murderous intent rises.
The Little Heavenly Demon, with the power of the Heavenly Killing Star, creates an even more intense blood path, and only when he ascends to the position of the Demonic Sect's leader can he fully control his murderous intent.