Jin Cheon-hee remained silent.
He simply picked up the fallen piece of lotus root and quietly placed it in his mouth.
As he chewed, the savory sauce seeped out, and the sweet, salty, and crunchy texture was delicious.
After a moment of thought, Jin Cheon-hee finally spoke.
"If I go there, can I become the greatest physician in the world and cure my master?"
It was a question similar to the one he had asked the Lord King.
At his words, Hyeolsaeng Nogoe's brow furrowed.
"Back then, Baek Rin was allowed to diagnose, even if he couldn't treat. After examining him, even I concluded that a cure was impossible. It's a miracle he's still alive."
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
Hyeolsaeng Nogoe sighed in admiration.
"Even when offered all the darkness in the world, you still think of your master first... How enviable, Baek Rin."
Baek Rin looked at Jin Cheon-hee with a pleased expression.
"He is my everything, my disciple. I am endlessly grateful."
Jin Cheon-hee thought to himself.
'So far, things are going according to plan...'
In the martial world, the stronger one becomes, the less they care for money and power.
Even when the Lord King made his offer, if one were to accept it too readily, they would inwardly feel disappointed.
'So you too are drawn to my martial prowess, power, and wealth.
Sigh, that's just how the world is.'
It was akin to the sentiment of a 90s drama tycoon.
The important thing here was not to give in.
Whether a mother-in-law throws money in your face or a tycoon asks how much you want—never! Give in! Of course, this mindset changed somewhat by the 2000s, but back then, it was like that.
Hyeolsaeng Nogoe seemed to grow fonder of Jin Cheon-hee, her regret evident.
"Even if you won't be my disciple, what about another way?"
"Another way...?"
Hyeolsaeng Nogoe grew visibly impatient.
As a master of rejuvenation, she had lived far longer than ordinary martial artists.
In the martial world, the title of "Nogoe" (Old Monster) wasn't given to just anyone.
These were beings who, despite all the chaos between the orthodox and unorthodox sects, remained consistently strong and bizarre.
When people gave up trying to understand them with human logic, they were given the title "Nogoe," a mix of fear, disgust, and awe.
It took fifty years for her title to change from Hyeolsaeng Gwe to Hyeolsaeng Nogoe.
After achieving rejuvenation, she continued to live on.
In all that time, Jin Cheon-hee was the only talent she had encountered.
Moreover, he was the only one who could understand her obsession with curing illnesses by opening up the human body.
"Listen, child. I have always believed that among all medical arts, surgery is the greatest. If the body is in pain, naturally, one must open it to cure the illness."
There was no need for the patient's consent.
If she decided to treat someone, they would be treated.
The lines between good and evil were muddled in her.
She was a true "Gwe" (Monster).
Jin Cheon-hee swallowed a sip of bamboo leaf tea instead of responding.
Hyeolsaeng Nogoe continued.
"You are the child who will prove this. In a martial world where even the descendants of Hua Tuo have abandoned surgery, you have already begun to demonstrate its value. That's why I cannot let you go."
She let out a small sigh.
Her chestnut-colored hair swayed with her breath.
"I will grant you the privilege to access the secret records of the Black Heaven Medical Hall."
At this, Baek Rin's eyes widened.
Jin Cheon-hee's heart nearly skipped a beat.
'Secret records? She's offering to show me patient charts?'
In any medical hall, allowing an outsider to view the secret records was the greatest taboo.
In the martial world, medical texts were treated like secret martial arts manuals.
But beyond that, the treatment records—patient charts—were also kept in the secret records.
They contained details of symptoms, prescribed medicines, treatments, and outcomes.
Just knowing these could reveal almost everything about a medical hall.
Moreover, by carefully examining a patient's past injuries, one could deduce their martial arts characteristics.
Even within the same sword technique, left-handed and right-handed martial artists would sustain different injuries.
If one practiced demonic arts, internal injuries would reveal themselves.
And thus, their weaknesses could be uncovered.
It was an unprecedented offer.
Jin Cheon-hee fell deep in thought.
"What must I offer in return?"
"When the time comes, learn my medical arts."
Jin Cheon-hee shook his head.
"I am already learning my master's medical arts."
Though he knew Hyeolsaeng Nogoe's surgical skills were extraordinary, his own were rooted in 21st-century modern medicine.
He wasn't particularly tempted.
"Then what about martial arts? Martial arts!"
Jin Cheon-hee glanced at his master and replied.
"I am already learning the greatest martial arts in the world. Learning another would be meaningless."
His master, pleased, burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, what can I do, Hyeolsaeng? My disciple has already mastered the greatest martial arts in the world. What can I say? Hahaha!"
Listening to Baek Rin's hearty laughter, Hyeolsaeng Nogoe felt her chest tighten.
Jin Cheon-hee then proposed.
"How about this? Whenever I use surgery, I will share the treatment records with you."
"What?"
In the United States, hospitals had begun sharing patients' medical data.
This was to avoid the hassle of repeating tests whenever a patient switched hospitals and to ensure that doctors could treat patients without missing critical information, especially in emergencies where knowing a patient's medical history and allergies could mean the difference between life and death.
Jin Cheon-hee found this aspect increasingly frustrating as he learned more about medical halls.
During the recent Lord King incident, he couldn't help but think that if the Fire Lord Medical Hall had known the patient's medical history, they might have identified the poison sooner.
No matter how closed-off the martial world was, its secrecy was undeniably killing patients.
He knew it was a long-established atmosphere that couldn't be easily changed.
But he wanted to save as many martial artists as possible within his means.
"So you're saying I should learn from you instead? Hahaha."
"Since you're offering to show me the secret records, I will also learn much from the Black Heaven Medical Hall."
It was a form of medical exchange, stepping outside the traditional master-disciple relationship.
Jin Cheon-hee added.
"And if it's alright, I'd like to receive some medicinal ingredients."
"Medicinal ingredients?"
"The orthodox sects have limited access to certain ingredients. And if needed, I can also send ingredients that the Black Heaven Medical Hall lacks."
It was a kind of alliance.
The two medical hall leaders were astonished by Jin Cheon-hee's proposal.
It was a groundbreaking idea, something no one had dared to think of before.
Baek Rin spoke.
"Cheon-hee, you're thinking big."
Jin Cheon-hee shook his head.
"I'm not sure if it's big or small. I just think that if I can save even one more person, that's enough."
"Hahahaha!"
Hyeolsaeng Nogoe laughed heartily at Jin Cheon-hee's response.
"I was only coveting one disciple, but you're coveting the entire world."
Jin Cheon-hee waved his hands in panic.
"No, I'm just..."
"Just? No need to feign humility. The advancement of medical arts is the fastest way to change the world... We medical hall leaders all know this, but the martial world has yet to realize it."
She laughed for a long time.
"Baek Rin, I truly envy you."
Her laughter gradually subsided.
"Then let's do this. Learn the things Baek Rin's medical hall doesn't teach you. Things like the Bone Compression Technique or the Dark Arts should be fine, right?"
Jin Cheon-hee looked at Baek Rin.
Baek Rin said.
"Hyeolsaeng Nogoe's Bone Compression Technique and Dark Arts are unparalleled in the world. This is a good opportunity. Learn them, Cheon-hee."
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
"Since my master permits it, I will learn."
"The more I hear, the more envious I become. Baek Rin, how did you manage to get such a disciple?"
"Perhaps our ancestors are watching over us from heaven."
Hyeolsaeng Nogoe sighed.
"For people like us, the greatest fortune is to meet a disciple. Baek Rin has achieved that. Even I, who have not achieved rejuvenation... Sigh, child. That man will never achieve rejuvenation due to his body. As a master, I am far superior."
Her longing for Jin Cheon-hee was palpable.
Hyeolsaeng Nogoe desired Jin Cheon-hee that much.
"I will cure my master."
"Hmm?"
"Once my master regains his health, he will smoothly achieve rejuvenation. Given his martial talent and our sect's martial arts, he might even surpass that."
It was a bold response.
Instead of attacking the weak, sickly master who hadn't achieved rejuvenation, Jin Cheon-hee countered that curing his master would allow him to reach Hyeolsaeng Nogoe's level, or even surpass it.
It wasn't the kind of answer a child would give.
No, in the entire martial world, no one would dare give such an answer to her.
After all, she was Hyeolsaeng Nogoe of the Black Heaven Medical Hall, someone no one dared to provoke.
Meanwhile, Baek Rin, moved, gazed at Jin Cheon-hee for a long time.
In the remaining years of his life, he never thought he would meet someone who would support him so wholeheartedly.
"Cheon-hee, even if my life ends now, I have no regrets. Truly, I have no regrets."
Baek Rin patted his disciple's head.
His disciple was his everything.
"Your words alone are enough. Enough."
Jin Cheon-hee grumbled, telling him not to say such things.
But Baek Rin had made up his mind about something he had been pondering for a long time.
009. The Edge of Time
Jin Cheon-hee successfully completed the second surgery on the Lord King's son-in-law.
Thanks to the patient's quick recovery and Jin Cheon-hee's skill, the surgery went smoothly without any major incidents.
Now, all that remained was for the patient to visit Baek Rin's medical hall periodically for check-ups.
The Lord King was overjoyed.
Soon after, the promised massive donation arrived at Baek Rin's medical hall.
At the same time, the Hao Sect and the Fire Lord Medical Hall were shocked.
The Fire Lord Medical Hall not only suffered financial losses but also faced the disgrace of being deemed inferior in medical skill to Baek Rin's medical hall.
Merchants close to the Lord King's estate began to shift their allegiance.
Somewhere.
At a location where the Fire Lord Medical Hall's regional branch was situated.
"It's just a difference in specialization! In terms of medicine, the Fire Lord Medical Hall is still the best in the world. Yet, you're leaving us so coldly!"
A physician from the Fire Lord Medical Hall grabbed the pants of a merchant.
"After all we've been through, can't you stay?"
"Hmm..."
Some merchants stayed, but many immediately left.
Especially the large trading companies.
"Given the nature of our business, many of our martial artists suffer external injuries. If it were a wound like the Lord King's son-in-law, the Fire Lord Medical Hall would have amputated the leg. We can't betray the martial artists who risk their lives to protect our goods. I'm sorry."