The merchant turned around after saying those words.
He was cold, but he wasn’t wrong.
Cutting off a martial artist’s leg was akin to cutting off their life.
And this kind of thing was happening in other places as well.
In the meeting room of a mid-sized sect, the sect leader and the chief steward were in the middle of a discussion.
"Sect Leader, what do you think about moving to the White Phosphorus Hall?"
"You’re saying this because of the incident with the son-in-law of the Lord of Zhou, aren’t you?"
"Yes."
Saving a leg that was about to be cut off held great significance for a martial artist.
The sect leaders who had been dealing with the Fire Lord Hall were growing increasingly troubled.
"There are certainly advantages, but until now, our sect’s internal elixirs have been commissioned from the Fire Lord Hall. Large sects have their own alchemy facilities and can prepare their own elixirs, but we’ve relied too much on the Fire Lord Hall for too many things. It won’t be easy to change that overnight."
"Sect Leader."
"However, that’s just the thinking of old men like us. The future of our sect will be led by young martial artists like you. Let’s gather and discuss this together."
A small ripple was beginning to create a big wave.
While the entire martial world was in turmoil, the most affected was the Hao Sect.
The branch of the Hao Sect that the son-in-law had relied on in the past had already been burned to ashes.
Yet, the Lord of Zhou’s anger showed no signs of cooling and only grew fiercer.
The Hao Sect itself was also in trouble.
The branches had been burned, and the branch leaders and their forces had perished.
Now, the question of who would take over the vacant positions was a major issue.
The conflict was growing both inside and outside.
Zhuge Lin lay in his heated room, reading a letter.
The letter contained information about the Hao Sect.
Zhuge Lin turned his head to the side and spoke to Jin Cheon-hee.
"Cheon-hee, do you know about the rule that the government and the martial world are supposed to stay out of each other’s affairs?"
It was a basic story that was mentioned at least once in any martial arts novel.
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
"Yes, I know."
"Good. But as with all things in the world, it’s not so easily separated. The Lord of Zhou himself visited our medical hall, after all. Similarly, places like escort agencies and information brokers are used by both the government and the martial world."
"It’s a difficult problem."
"Yes, that’s human affairs for you. Our medical hall, in a way, is a neutral zone, so we must always think carefully about our actions."
The corners of the master’s eyes crinkled.
Jin Cheon-hee shook her head.
"It’s a difficult topic."
"In a way, it’s simple. You just need to set a standard."
"A standard?"
"Set a standard that both the government and the martial world can agree on and act accordingly. The Hao Sect didn’t adhere to the standard and acted out of greed, which is why they’re suffering now."
Suddenly, Jin Cheon-hee realized what her master was trying to teach her.
He was speaking with the assumption that he would no longer be around.
He was preparing her to take over as the head of the hall.
Jin Cheon-hee shook her head.
"Hehehe, Master. I don’t really understand."
"Cheon-hee……."
"Hmm. I don’t understand adult talk at all. I don’t want to hear it! You should tell me these things when I’m older~"
By then, you should still be alive.
That was what Jin Cheon-hee truly wanted to say.
The unspoken words rose to her throat.
Zhuge Lin silently looked at his disciple.
"……."
Jin Cheon-hee forcibly changed the subject.
"What do you think will happen next, Master? As long as there’s alcohol and crime in this world, the Hao Sect will never disappear, right?"
In martial arts novels, there’s never been a world without the Hao Sect.
It’s the same as how there’s never been a time in human history without crime.
"Still, their power will weaken. And perhaps, at the right time, they’ll be dealt with in the right way. It can’t last forever. It seems like the Mu siblings, who came for syphilis treatment last time, have gotten a new opportunity. The branch leader, or perhaps even higher, might have a chance now."
Perhaps sensing his disciple’s feelings, Zhuge Lin stopped talking about the medical hall.
Jin Cheon-hee asked, "When do you think it will be resolved?"
"Hmm, probably within the next week."
The next week, the emperor issued an edict to personally console the Lord of Zhou.
Originally, if the Lord of Zhou had acted unilaterally without the cooperation of the local government, it would have shaken the foundation of the law.
From her perspective, it was likely that the local government had been bribed by the Hao Sect, but even the emperor’s patience had its limits.
The emperor bestowed the title of Marquis of Youlang to the son-in-law, Tian Youlang, formally granting him the status befitting a son-in-law.
He also had him adopted into a meritorious family and changed his household registration.
Furthermore, he allowed the Lord of Zhou to adopt a royal descendant as her daughter to continue the lineage of the Zhou household.
With all this appeasement, even the fiery-tempered Lord of Zhou couldn’t stay angry.
A letter also arrived from Mu Hua.
It said that they would soon be able to send good news.
Although it wasn’t detailed, they had heard that the siblings’ position within the Hao Sect was rising.
Just as the master’s foresight had predicted.
One day, when the mountains and rivers around the White Phosphorus Hall were lush with greenery, Jin Cheon-hee had a private meeting with her master.
Jin Cheon-hee sat in her master’s room, gazing blankly at the mountain scenery through the window.
The exchange with the Black Lightning Hall was being carried out step by step, and in secret.
Additionally, the Blood Saint Old Monster occasionally visited to teach Jin Cheon-hee martial arts.
He left behind a few basic secret manuals for that purpose.
However, she wasn’t ready to learn yet.
It was better to solidify the basics first before moving on.
Otherwise, she might end up being neither here nor there.
Jin Cheon-hee thought this as she gazed at the fresh green life blooming outside.
Suddenly, she snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of her master calling her.
"You look like someone seeing summer for the first time."
Half wrong, half right, Jin Cheon-hee smiled faintly.
"The summer in the mountains is so fresh, Master."
"But the night air is still cold, so don’t let your guard down."
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
Yuho passed between the two of them.
"It’s apple tea. Made from summer green apples."
The unique sweet and sour scent of green apples filled the room.
It smelled like early summer sunlight.
The master took a sip of the tea and closed 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.
This meeting was at her request.
It had been a few months since she joined the medical hall.
She had treated Wang Gak-yeon, gained recognition from the four great hall leaders, and established the Fracture Hall.
After that, she received the Five Elements Divine Technique and systematically compiled her knowledge of surgical medicine into books.
She also occasionally performed surgeries to pass on her surgical knowledge and even created penicillin, an antibiotic.
"Up until now, I’ve been passing on my medical knowledge, but it’s been quite haphazard."
"To call such systematic knowledge haphazard……."
"So, I thought I should share my medical knowledge more thoroughly and systematically. That’s why I requested this conversation with you, Master."
There was still much knowledge that Zhuge Lin hadn’t been informed of, as it was too early.
For example, the concept of cells.
Even the true efficacy of penicillin (named White Phosphorus Stone Oil and White Phosphorus Divine Pill) wasn’t fully understood by the doctors, including those at the White Phosphorus Hall.
"Cheon-hee, you’re my disciple, but I also consider you a doctor. You don’t need to tell me everything, but teach me what you know about medicine. I will also teach you everything I know."
In the martial world, the typical master-disciple relationship wasn’t like this.
But they weren’t martial artists; they were doctors.
And saving lives was something that had to be done.
'Where should I start?'
She had thought a lot about this day.
In the end, the answer was one.
Whether the master understood or not, she would tell him everything.
In the face of life, calculations were meaningless.
If their knowledge combined, they could save many martial artists.
"First, the knowledge I have is heavily focused on fractures. Also, it’s quite different from traditional pharmacology in many ways."
The master nodded.
A calm light began to shine in his eyes.
Jin Cheon-hee realized that he was using the True Qi of the Five Elements to awaken his brain with the Xianyuan Divine Technique, a secret technique of the Zhuge family.
In this state, there was no need for writing or recording.
The brain, a natural weapon of humans, could handle it.
Jin Cheon-hee continued to share what she knew, one by one.
If necessary, she didn’t hesitate to draw diagrams to explain.
The master asked questions whenever something piqued his curiosity.
Since their essence wasn’t that of martial artists, they didn’t care about pride.
Only the enthusiasm for learning and the joy of understanding filled the space between them.
But this wasn’t a story that could be finished in a short time.
So, when the sun set, the master, Zhuge Lin, spoke.
"This is incredible. Such knowledge……."
"What I’ve explained so far is just the general concept. To teach it in detail…… it would take at least a few years."
"I see. Amazing. Truly amazing."
The master, Zhuge Lin, shook his head.
"Cells… is that it? Tiny things coming together to form life."
The master’s eyes half-opened.
A colorful mist began to disperse from his body like fog.
And it slowly began to rotate.
"Could it be……."
Jin Cheon-hee was nervous.
A common occurrence in martial arts novels.
She was a bit excited, wondering if the phenomenon that happened to the palace ghosts was happening to her master.
But the mist that had emerged from Zhuge Lin’s body was sucked back in and disappeared.
The master’s eyes sparkled.
"Master, are you alright?"
"I’m fine, Yuho. Hahaha. To gain enlightenment at this age… If only my constitution were different, I might have achieved something great. What a pity……."
"Master……."
"But even this much makes me feel lighter. I feel much better."
"Really?"
"Of course."
'Ah… what a pity…….'
Jin Cheon-hee sighed deeply at her master’s appearance.
If this had led to a transformation, he might have escaped his heavenly punishment.
But it seems it’s not that easy.