Out of the ten hidden needles, not a single one managed to touch Jin Cheon-hee.
The flying sword clicked its tongue in frustration.
It seemed like the enemy had tried to distract him with their gaze, hoping to make an escape.
But in that very moment, Jin Cheon-hee's figure reappeared right in front of the enemy.
At the same time, a single palm strike landed on the enemy's temple.
Crack!
There was no need to even use the Ten-Step Divine Spear.
It was just a light, casual strike.
Yet, that one blow caused the enemy's skull to reverberate.
"Even a slight disturbance to the cochlea can make a person stagger," Jin Cheon-hee thought.
He had simply infused a bit of wind energy into his palm and directed it into the enemy's ear.
As soon as the enemy staggered, Jin Cheon-hee, as if he had been waiting for this moment, grabbed the enemy's arm and twisted it behind their back.
Snap!
"Kyaaah!"
He didn't break the arm.
He merely dislocated it.
Even just separating the bone from the joint was enough to cause immense pain to a human.
"Don't move. If you put any weight on it, you'll suffer long-term effects."
"......"
As the enemy hesitated, Jin Cheon-hee pulled out the other arm.
Snap!
"Uwaaah! Stop, stop!"
The onlookers from the Beggar Sect silently screamed in their hearts.
Injuries during battles were common.
Being cut by a sword or having bones broken by a club happened all the time.
But the White Dragon was different.
He calmly grabbed both arms and dislocated them with ease.
"Will you stay still now?"
"......"
"Good. You seem to know your manners."
As the enemy became more submissive, Jin Cheon-hee smiled innocently.
Perhaps the enemy became even more polite because Jin Cheon-hee was preparing to twist their ankle next.
"What should we do with this person?" Jin Cheon-hee asked.
The Beggar Sect members replied, "Since he tried to take the White Dragon's life, you can do as you please."
"Are you saying I can kill him?"
"It's up to the White Dragon."
Hearing this, Jin Cheon-hee realized the ruthlessness of the martial world.
The enemy pleaded, "Young master, if you spare my life, I'll do anything."
"Well, I am a doctor, so I don't have any intention of killing you. But I can't just let you go either......"
Jin Cheon-hee pondered for a moment before saying, "I'll seal your meridians for a while, blocking your dantian. How about you do some rowing for me?"
"Rowing?"
"We need a rower to cross the Yangtze River."
Jin Cheon-hee smiled brightly.
"You have good stamina, so you can keep rowing until I say it's enough."
If you were to list the most grueling jobs, miners and rowers would definitely be at the top.
It was so bad that people who couldn't pay their debts were sold into these jobs.
Even someone with a strong physique would have their back ruined after just a month of rowing.
It was that harsh.
And now, Jin Cheon-hee was asking someone without any internal energy to row.
"It's fine. Even if you collapse, I can heal you!" Jin Cheon-hee said.
A healthy body houses a healthy mind.
Jin Cheon-hee thought, 'That's right.
He's a young man with all his limbs intact.
This will not only fix his character but also build his muscles.
Two birds with one stone.'
He didn't know how this young man had fallen into such a bad path, but he was still young.
However, Jin Cheon-hee's idea of "fixing character" was a bit different from the average person's.
'Sigh, this must be the grace of the martial world.
I'm already starting to show mercy.
As expected of me, the worthy disciple of the White Lotus Sect.'
No matter how many petty criminals came at him, they couldn't even touch the tip of his sword.
If he turned every one of them into rowers, wouldn't that be a productive use of their lives?
Jin Cheon-hee thought optimistically.
"Rower......"
The Beggar Sect members looked at the enemy with pity.
'I remember the place the White Dragon is heading to requires going upstream through a tributary of the Yangtze River......'
And during this season, the wind direction was unfavorable, making it even more hellish for rowers.
And so, Jin Cheon-hee's first rower slave was assigned.
Jin Cheon-hee briefly treated the injured Beggar Sect members and then headed to the Yingjian Inn.
As he walked, he felt a strange tingling sensation on his skin.
It was different from the killing intent the enemy had exuded earlier, but it felt stickier.
'It feels like someone is watching me.'
Perhaps it was true.
Upon arriving at the Yingjian Inn, Jin Cheon-hee handed the enemy over to the Beggar Sect members.
With his meridians sealed, the enemy wouldn't be able to use any martial arts for a while.
"I used divine energy to seal his meridians, so only my master or I can undo it. If he tries to force it open by seeking another doctor, he might end up crippled for life."
Jin Cheon-hee calmly explained the situation to the enemy.
"I'm a doctor, so I have no intention of torturing or killing you. Just show me that you've reflected on your past mistakes, and I'll release you then. Until then, you'll be rowing."
The enemy nodded.
As long as he rowed well, he would be released.
For him, there was no better offer.
Except for the fact that the Beggar Sect members kept looking at him with pity.
"Have him row at the front."
The front was where the water current was strongest and where the direction was set.
It was the most exhausting position.
"Front...... understood. We'll assign him to the front row."
The Beggar Sect members' expressions of pity grew even more pronounced.
Unaware of this, the enemy asked, "I've never rowed before. How do you do it?"
"Uh... we'll teach you properly, so don't worry. Other positions are tough, but the front row... you'll really... really have to learn quickly."
"......?"
The Beggar Sect members dragged the confused enemy away by the back of his head.
They were the ones who had received Jin Cheon-hee's treatment.
They had no intention of slacking off.
'Good.
Another good deed done today.'
Jin Cheon-hee entered the Yingjian Inn.
Inside, he saw quite a few people.
Some were clearly martial artists with swords at their waists, while others were scholars dressed in fine robes.
Waiters hurriedly took orders, and the heat from the kitchen could be felt even here.
At that moment, a man and woman he had never seen before approached him.
"Nice to meet you. Are you perhaps the White Dragon of the White Lotus Sect, Jin Cheon-hee?"
Both of them bowed with their fists clasped, and the man spoke first.
'Huh? Who are they?'
At a glance, both of them seemed to have mastered a considerable level of martial arts.
Not only that, but their clothes were luxurious, and the swords at their waists looked like famous blades.
It was natural to assume they were from the martial world, and their demeanor and gait suggested they were from a prestigious sect.
Jin Cheon-hee also bowed with his fists clasped.
"I am indeed Jin Cheon-hee of the White Lotus Sect. But who might you two be?"
"It's an honor to meet the renowned disciple of the Divine Doctor. I am Namgung Un of the Namgung Clan. My friends in the martial world call me the Dragon Sword."
'Dragon Sword Namgung Un? Ah.
The one who later becomes known as the Emperor Sword and is counted among the Three Great Swords of the World?'
Jin Cheon-hee looked at Namgung Un with a slightly surprised expression.
Meanwhile, the woman spoke up.
"I-I am Namgung Yeon of the Namgung Clan."
'Namgung Yeon, Namgung Un's younger sister!'
The slightly stuttering woman, Namgung Yeon, had a petite frame with delicate features resembling a cat, while Namgung Un had a large build with droopy eyes and bold features resembling a large dog.
Looking at the two, Jin Cheon-hee was surprised for a different reason.
Because he knew the significance of their names.
First, Emperor Sword Namgung Un.
The Namgung Clan, which reigned as the ruler of Anhui Province, had always been a renowned sword family, famous for both swift and heavy swords.
They were a constant presence in discussions of the world's greatest swordsmen, having produced outstanding swordsmen for generations.
Among them, Namgung Un was the prodigy who had mastered all the secret techniques of the Namgung Clan.
At a young age, he became one of the Three Great Masters of the World and stood as a pillar of the orthodox martial world.
He would later become the leader of the Martial Alliance.
He was also known for doting on his younger sister, Namgung Yeon, who had stuttered since childhood and had always followed Namgung Un closely.
The reason for her stutter wasn't mentioned in the books, but it was speculated to be a psychological issue.
After all, after Namgung Un's death, Namgung Yeon blamed herself heavily for a month.
She transformed into a completely different person.
The stuttering Namgung Yeon, who had been teased since childhood, was no more.
Only a silent and ruthless swordsman remained.
She moved to reunite the Namgung Clan and avenge her brother.
So, who was the enemy?
Of course, it was none other than the protagonist, Yeo Ha-ryun.
After a life-and-death duel with Namgung Un, Yeo Ha-ryun killed him.
It was described as a fierce battle where even Yeo Ha-ryun had prepared for death.
Namgung Un was one of the strongest opponents in the story.
"Nice to meet you. But it seems you knew about me. May I ask what brings you here?"
Jin Cheon-hee replied calmly, though his thoughts were different.
Why had these two come looking for him?
"We were passing through on a journey when we heard some interesting news. And since the subject of that news is right in front of us, we thought we'd have a chat. How about it? If it's alright, we'd like to treat you to a meal......"
'It feels strange to hear something I've only read about in novels......'
Jin Cheon-hee felt a sense of unfamiliarity as he listened to Namgung Un's words.
Back when he was a modern Earthling, had he ever had such a conversation? Even after arriving in the martial world of Hua Empire, he had mostly stayed within the White Lotus Sect, so this was his first experience of something he had only heard about.
"If you're offering to treat me, I'd be grateful. But let's drop the formalities. I'm younger, so it's a bit uncomfortable if you use honorifics."
"Is that alright?"
"Of course."
"Hahaha. Little brother, you're quite straightforward."
Jin Cheon-hee thought Namgung Un laughed in a heroic manner.
Jin Cheon-hee followed the two into a small private room.
He ordered a few dishes and said, "Brother Jin. The small dragon buns here are excellent. You should try them. And the pork dishes, whether it's Dongpo pork or Huiguo pork, are all specialties of the chef. Order whatever you like. Or is there something else you'd like to eat? Yeon, what will you choose?"
At this, Namgung Yeon blushed and said, "I-I'll have anything with noodles......"
"You did well with the greeting, but now you're being shy again. Just do as we practiced."
Instead of answering, Namgung Yeon pinched Namgung Un's side tightly.
"Ouch, ouch. Big brother is dying. My sister may be slow with words, but her hands are the fastest in the world. Her specialty is pinching. Ouch, ouch, ouch!"
Their antics made Jin Cheon-hee laugh.
They were a different kind of close sibling pair compared to the Moo Hwa and Moo Wol siblings he had met before.