"Hey, Jin Cheon-hee. Thank you so much."
"Don’t mention it, Master. I’m just glad to see you achieve something great."
"Your words mean a lot to me. Anyway… let’s continue our earlier discussion. What do you think we should do next?"
"First, we need to organize the basics. Then, we’ll need to conduct research and focus on education."
"It’s going to get busy."
"Well, what can we do? We have to push through."
"True. You’ve already memorized the entire Mancho Dogam in less than a month, so I doubt there’ll be any major issues. In that case… perhaps it’s time for you to start learning something new."
"Learning? Wait, you don’t mean…"
Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes widened in surprise.
Today, they had gathered to discuss medical knowledge and future plans, but the conversation had taken an unexpected turn.
"That’s right. I’ll formally pass down the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singong to you."
Jin Cheon-hee’s expression turned to one of shock.
"Take good care of it from now on."
This was a significant step forward for both master and disciple.
Time passed as the master and disciple continued to learn from each other.
Jin Cheon-hee threw himself into his studies with relentless determination.
He was able to dedicate even more time to his studies than before.
Thanks to the antibiotics production now being fully established.
And also because Yuho had created enough tools to support their work.
While he poured his time into mastering the medical arts of the Central Plains, he also passed on his medical knowledge to his master, Zhuge Lin.
Of course, studying alone wasn’t enough.
A physician in the martial world also needed to cultivate martial arts.
Because of this, Jin Cheon-hee’s days remained as busy as ever.
Martial arts training, medical studies, and teaching medical knowledge.
If it weren’t for the power of the Five Elements Divine Art and the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singong, he would’ve collapsed long ago from the grueling schedule.
While his physical stamina was sustained by his internal energy, his mental fortitude was bolstered by the hardships he had endured back in Korea.
It was the resilience of someone who had overcome the college entrance exams, graduated from medical school, and become a doctor after completing his residency.
But that wasn’t all.
Simply relying on what was written in books wasn’t enough.
He took herbs from the storage and familiarized himself with their scents and textures.
He even cut small pieces of dried leaves and roots to taste them.
"Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?"
Little King Wang Ga-yeon, seeing Jin Cheon-hee like this, couldn’t help but comment.
Worried that he might collapse, she suggested he take a break, even recommending a good spot for swimming in the mountains.
But Jin Cheon-hee just smiled at her.
Wang Ga-yeon had the luxury of following the steps her father, Wang Chae-baek, had laid out for her.
By diligently training in the proper order, she would naturally reach a high level by the time she became an adult.
She had talent and a naturally diligent personality, so there was no need to rush.
But Jin Cheon-hee had a time limit.
He didn’t want to do something as foolish as shouting, "Master! I’ve finally memorized the Emperor’s Medical Records!" after his master had already passed away.
Jin Cheon-hee absorbed the medical arts of the Central Plains faster than anyone else.
Recently, in front of his master, Zhuge Lin, he successfully combined and brewed a medicinal decoction as part of a test.
Normally, one would rely on the labels attached to the herb boxes, but during Jin Cheon-hee’s test, all the labels had been removed.
It was something his master had Yuho do.
As the head disciple, he was held to a stricter standard, but Jin Cheon-hee managed to combine the decoction in half the allotted time.
Everyone from the medical hall who had come to watch was left speechless.
"Unbelievable… he’s memorized what would take a year in just a short time."
"A year? Normally, people would still rely on the labels at the bottom of the herb boxes. But he’s perfectly linked the characteristics, names, and combinations of the herbs in his memory…"
At those words, everyone nodded in agreement.
"No wonder the palace nobles were so impressed they offered to serve him. He’s truly a once-in-a-generation talent."
As the successor to Zhuge Lin’s legacy, Jin Cheon-hee also possessed mysterious medical techniques of unknown origin.
His young age and limitless potential also played a part, and many had witnessed his miraculous skills.
That day, his master brought out precious Yeongji Mushroom Wine and shared it with everyone in the medical hall.
He couldn’t contain his pride.
And, of course, he took the opportunity to brag about his disciple.
The next task was the Manjakjeonseo.
A book that dealt with medicinal ingredients other than herbs, such as animal bones, livers, organs, and minerals.
Like the Mancho Dogam, it didn’t cover over a thousand items.
But the problem was what came next.
"If I combine these, it’ll easily exceed ten thousand combinations."
Jin Cheon-hee didn’t hesitate.
He threw himself into memorizing it.
This time, he practiced his footwork while carrying a water jug on his head.
The sequence of the footwork was now firmly ingrained in his mind, so he used his internal energy to maintain a steady posture.
To do this, he needed Earth Qi.
Unlike Wood Qi, which aided regeneration, or Metal Qi, which hardened parts of the body, Earth Qi allowed the body to endure for long periods.
But like all training methods in this era, if done incorrectly, it could ruin one’s spine.
And no one would take responsibility for that.
Such was the martial world.
Jin Cheon-hee thought that the probability of becoming crippled while training was higher than dying in a fight.
And since he was trying to do everything at once, his methods were more extreme than others.
Hyeonwon Jeondan Singong.
One of the secret martial arts of the Zhuge family, it stimulated the brain and dramatically enhanced memory.
"If I taught this to modern students, I’d make a fortune."
Jin Cheon-hee practiced his footwork, used Earth Qi to maintain his posture, and activated the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singong to awaken his brain.
It was truly a maddening routine.
Under the gray sky, Jin Cheon-hee continued his training in the practice yard.
"I’ve never seen someone as stubborn as you, young master."
"Is that so?"
Yuho, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, watched Jin Cheon-hee.
Time had passed, but Jin Cheon-hee hadn’t missed a single day of training.
"And in the midst of all this, you still spend nights alone with the master?"
"I have to teach him the basics of modern medicine."
Just as Jin Cheon-hee’s learning wasn’t something that could be completed in a day or two, the same went for his master.
Moreover, his master was an ideal student.
When Jin Cheon-hee explained the concept of cells, his master said:
"If that’s the case, then cells might change according to the flow of Qi."
This was something Jin Cheon-hee had never considered.
"This world is truly different from Earth. Very different."
In a world where Qi existed, such things were possible.
His master often brought up topics Jin Cheon-hee hadn’t thought of.
Not only was his understanding quick, but he also offered perspectives Jin Cheon-hee hadn’t considered.
"If I were a professor, I’d have grabbed his hand and sent him straight to graduate school. We’d have worked together until he became the pitiful dew of the lab."
Jin Cheon-hee casually entertained such cruel thoughts.
At that moment, something cold touched his shoulder.
It was a raindrop.
Yuho, with his usual expressionless face, spoke.
"It’s a cold rain. Thanks to you, young master, the master has been able to enjoy this season comfortably. For that, I’m grateful."
"You don’t look very grateful."
"Expressions aren’t important."
"You’re quite the talker…"
"Judging by the thickness of the rain, it’s going to pour. Aren’t you going inside?"
Jin Cheon-hee let out a small sigh.
"It’s fine to get a little wet. Time is short. I need to prepare as much as I can."
"Is that so… Then I’ll take my leave. I’ve got a lot of work to do, thanks to someone."
Jin Cheon-hee was also spending time to train Yuho.
Yuho asked, "Young master, are you even human?"
"Why? Do I not seem like it?"
At Jin Cheon-hee’s question, Yuho nodded.
"Yes. Sometimes."
"Feeling like killing me again?"
To that, Yuho replied, "I don’t have a hobby of toppling towers I’ve helped build."
He meant he would watch until the tower was complete.
Having witnessed Jin Cheon-hee treat patients of the palace nobles and cure incurable diseases, Yuho had fully committed himself.
Jin Cheon-hee chuckled.
"Good boy."
The tone was something one would use with a pet, which annoyed Yuho.
But there was nothing he could do.
After all, it was Jin Cheon-hee who was building the tower, not him.
"Sometimes, I really wonder what your liver looks like."
"Of course, it’s a healthy red. I don’t drink, smoke, or eat greasy food. So, my friend, what complications can arise after a liver resection?"
"Liver failure, ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, intra-abdominal infections… Why do you keep doing this?"
Yuho grumbled as he answered.
Jin Cheon-hee laughed devilishly and continued practicing the Samjae Bobeop footwork.
The training had to continue.
This world was maintained by the balance of Yin and Yang.
Just as the summers were long and hot, the winters were naturally long and cold.
This year’s winter was like that.
And so, this year’s summer followed suit.
During such summers, Master Zhuge Lin’s condition improved.
The summer heat suppressed the Nine Yin Pulse.
And until such summers arrived, Zhuge Lin had relied on his internal energy and a heating device to endure.
But this winter, he had been relatively healthy.
Although he had collapsed once from overusing his internal energy to treat a patient, he had otherwise been fine.
He had also gained small insights during Jin Cheon-hee’s medical teachings, which helped.
But that didn’t mean he could let his guard down.
Because Master Zhuge Lin’s condition still showed no signs of improving.
This was something Jin Cheon-hee, who frequently checked his master’s pulse with his internal energy, knew best.
Today was no different.
In Master Zhuge Lin’s warm, well-lit room.
Finally, Jin Cheon-hee removed his hand from his master’s wrist.
The pulse reading was complete.
He closed his eyes and organized what he had felt.
"Using internal energy to check the pulse is definitely useful. It can somewhat replace modern imaging."
It was almost cheating.
He recalled what he had just sensed in his master’s body.
"How are you even alive, Master? Does this make any biological sense?"
When he first checked his master’s pulse, it had felt like a noisy ultrasound.
Now, thanks to the Zhuge Pulse Secret Technique, he could feel it more clearly and accurately.
"What kind of body is this? Does this even make sense?"
Thinking about it, his reincarnation into this novel-like world and the existence of Qi were already far beyond common sense.
Master Zhuge Lin watched as his disciple’s brow furrowed deeply.
After a while, Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
"Nothing’s changed, Master. Your body is still producing cold energy, just like before."
It was as if his body was trying to freeze itself to death, the cold energy within it stealing away his warmth.