Chapter 102: Chapter 102
Early dawn, before the break of day.
Waking up from his sleep as usual, Cheon-hwi washed his body simply with cold water, and just as he was about to open the door of his hut and step outside.
“Huh?”
His footsteps stopped mid-stride.
“Ah…….”
It was because there were uninvited guests waiting for him in front of the door.
“What is the matter?”
Hyeon-ryeo stood with Danmok Rin beside her.
“I came to introduce my newly accepted disciple.”
Cheon-hwi tilted his head.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t take a direct disciple?”
As he asked while recalling the words he had heard a very long time ago, Hyeon-ryeo smiled softly.
“I changed my mind.”
Looking down at Cheon-hwi, her gaze, which fully contained him in her two eyes, became warm.
The reason she had not taken a direct disciple was because there was no one other than herself capable of managing the finances of the Mount Hua Sect.
However, it was different now.
Thanks to Cheon-hwi, she had some leeway.
So, just as she was contemplating whether to take a direct disciple, Danmok Rin came to find her.
She, who was similar to herself, having severed all ties for the sake of just a single person.
‘She shook my heart.’
If it were her usual self, she would absolutely not have stepped into such a complexly intertwined matter, but she stepped forward thinking it was destiny.
Danmok Rin was similar to her, but also different.
Unlike her, she was overflowing with talent.
An outstanding talent comparable to the Sword Empress.
‘Unlike me, if it’s this child, she will be able to become Cheon-hwi’s pillar of support in the future.’
The corners of Hyeon-ryeo’s lips loosened.
“She mentioned that she knows you.”
“We do know each other.”
“Then it turned out well. Could you spend time with Rin while I handle the sect’s affairs?”
“It is bothersome.”
“I beg you. Right now, there is no one but you I can trust.”
Cheon-hwi let out a sigh.
He was fully aware from past experiences that if she showed such an attitude, she would absolutely not back down.
“I understand.”
“Thank you. I will go on ahead.”
After a short while, Hyeon-ryeo left, and soon only the two of them were left in the hut.
“Benefactor.”
Danmok Rin approached with a bright smile.
Then, suddenly twisting her body bashfully, she spoke to Cheon-hwi.
“Ah! From now on, I should call you Senior Martial Brother, right?”
Cheon-hwi looked at the bashful Danmok Rin with an unpleased gaze.
‘She did something useless and made herself worthless.’
What was the reason he had made a deal with her?
It was for the power of the Danmok Clan.
However, Danmok Rin had severed ties with the Danmok Clan, and the forces he could request help from in a pinch had drastically decreased at once.
Right now, in front of him, was Danmok Rin, a single person. No.
Including the Iron Sword Qi Hero, there were only two of them.
‘At least it’s better if it’s the Iron Sword Qi Hero.’
The Iron Sword Qi Hero was a master of the Limitless Realm and was therefore useful, but she was not.
Of course, if it were in the past, it would have been different.
Since she too would have been a master.
But what good was that?
Now, by overcoming the Extreme Yin Foundation Physique, her gathered internal energy had dispersed, rendering her comparable to a mere third-rate martial artist.
‘At least the fortunate thing is that her talent is outstanding, so she will become a master again.’
That was the only point he could trust.
Her innate comprehension was already to the point of being counted among the top in the world since birth.
Moreover, hadn’t her body also become perfect now that she had overcome the Extreme Yin Foundation Physique?
No matter what she learned, she would certainly acquire it quickly and build up achievements.
‘But that is an affair of the far future.’
Swish…
Cheon-hwi ignored her, who had lowered her head in embarrassment, and moved his steps.
“……Senior Martial Brother!”
Danmok Rin, belatedly coming to her senses, followed after the leading Cheon-hwi, and after a short while, the two arrived at a rock on a steep cliff.
“It is a beautiful scenery!”
Just as Danmok Rin was marveling at the breathtaking view of the Mount Hua Sect spread out below.
Thud…
Cheon-hwi sat down on the ground.
For a moment, she was flustered, but seeing Cheon-hwi’s subsequent actions, her eyes widened into circles.
“Qi circulation……?”
Qi circulation was a training that disconnected the mind and body, and one entered it in a defenseless state.
But to perform qi circulation in front of her.
It was an action he would absolutely never do unless he trusted Danmok Rin.
She clasped her two hands together and was deeply moved.
“He is trusting me.”
With those words, she stood guard.
When Danmok Rin put strength into her two eyes and stood vigilant in order to repay the trust Cheon-hwi had shown.
“You were here.”
The Iron Sword Qi Hero came up the hill.
“Uncle!”
Danmok Rin, who was about to gladly welcome him, tried to move but stood up straight again.
“What is the matter?”
As Danmok Rin, who would normally have run over in delight, remained still, he was slightly taken aback.
“I am standing guard.”
The Iron Sword Qi Hero belatedly discovered Cheon-hwi, who had been hidden behind her back, and smiled.
“Hahaha, to entrust you with standing guard, it seems the two of you have grown much closer.”
“Yes!”
Danmok Rin spoke confidently.
It was because she thought that entrusting her with standing guard meant he trusted her.
And the Iron Sword Qi Hero thought so too.
However, there was something the two had overlooked.
The fact that Cheon-hwi could not only grasp the situation while doing qi circulation but could also immediately react.
That was why Cheon-hwi was listening very well to their conversation.
‘What standing guard.’
Snorting, Cheon-hwi focused on his qi circulation again.
‘First, I should finish my qi circulation, and then I will have to think about what comes next.’
Meanwhile, looking at Danmok Rin watching Cheon-hwi with loving eyes, the Iron Sword Qi Hero smiled like a plum blossom blooming on Mount Hua.
‘It is truly wonderful to see.’
Just the fact that her previous dark appearance, which seemed detached from the world, had disappeared made him feel good every time he saw Danmok Rin.
How desperately had he prayed to see this sight?
‘Since this is all thanks to young hero Cheon-hwi.’
Naturally, his gaze as he looked at Cheon-hwi was colored with indescribable emotions.
‘Now all I can further wish for is that Rin works out well with young hero Cheon-hwi…….’
Then, suddenly recalling the events of yesterday, he asked Danmok Rin.
“Is your master a decent person?”
“She is a very good person.”
Danmok Rin smiled brightly.
True to her words, Hyeon-ryeo was a good person.
Both her character and personality.
Was that all?
‘On top of that, she said she would help after hearing the story with young hero Cheon-hwi.’
Recalling that she had confessed to Hyeon-ryeo the reason she came to enter the Mount Hua Sect last night, her cheeks turned red.
Since Hyeon-ryeo had said she would give her full support. Danmok Rin tightly clenched her fists.
“Huh?”
At the voice suddenly heard, the two simultaneously turned their heads and froze stiff upon seeing the old man’s face.
“Grandfather Divine Physician?”
“……Elder Divine Physician?”
The Divine Physician, who had come up from the hill, tilted his head as he looked at the two.
“Why have you come here?”
“It has been a while.”
The Iron Sword Qi Hero quickly cupped his fists, but the Divine Physician scowled fiercely.
“Forget about that, why are you two here? I recall you clearly saying before that you were returning to the Danmok Clan.”
“This time, we visited because Rin said she wanted to enter the Mount Hua Sect.”
“What? Enter the sect? Have my ears gone bad?”
The Divine Physician dug into his ear with a dumbfounded expression, then stared at Danmok Rin.
“Did you say you are entering the Mount Hua Sect?”
“Yes.”
Looking at her answering with flawlessly pure eyes, the Divine Physician turned his gaze away.
“What nonsense is that child spouting?”
The Divine Physician said to the Iron Sword Qi Hero as if it was absurd.
“It is the truth.”
The answer that returned was a preposterous one.
“Are you saying such a crazy act is possible?”
“……She severed ties with the clan.”
“What, severed ties?”
The Divine Physician’s eyes widened.
Whoever would sever ties in order to enter an opposing sect?
“I thought there was no one in the world more reckless than me, but here she was.”
The Divine Physician, shaking his head side to side, looked at the Iron Sword Qi Hero and brought up the subject.
“Then did you also sever ties?”
“No. I only came to escort her.”
“Then are you going to leave that child alone on Mount Hua?”
“That is correct.”
“For a fiercely protective guy, that is unexpected.”
“Rather, my absence is safer for Rin right now. Without me, Rin’s whereabouts will not become known.”
“Tsk, you also suffer a lot.”
“Haha, is it even worth calling it suffering?”
“Still, those guys’…… huh?!”
At that moment, the Divine Physician hurriedly cut his words off, and swish, he threw his body somewhere.
“Are you finished now?”
Cheon-hwi, who had finished his qi circulation, asked with a thoroughly bothered expression as the Divine Physician clung to him while he was standing up.
“Why did you come today?”
“Why else. Didn’t you say you would learn medicine if you had time to spare?”
“I don’t really have much time.”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, the Divine Physician became urgent.
He had to draw his interest somehow.
“Don’t be like that and look at this. With this, even your eyes will widen in surprise.”
“What is it?”
“With our sect’s acupuncture…….”
Meanwhile, Danmok Rin and the Iron Sword Qi Hero, who were watching the two, rubbed their eyes and opened them with flustered faces.
“How did this happen?”
“To think the Elder Divine Physician would cling like that…….”
Who was the Divine Physician?
He was a figure who feared nothing in the world. Yet, he was at a loss.
And that, to bestow teachings.
“Wait a moment.”
The Divine Physician, who was speaking, looked around and upon spotting the two, gestured to them.
“You guys, come here for a second.”
The two were flustered by the Divine Physician’s words and gesture suddenly calling them.
“Pardon? Ah, understood.”
“Yes, yes.”
Soon, as the two drew close, the Divine Physician immediately looked at Cheon-hwi and asked.
“You are aware that this child’s condition has changed, right?”
At the question asked while pointing at Danmok Rin, Cheon-hwi looked her up and down.
“Nothing in particular has changed.”
“What do you mean nothing changed! Look here. Has she not grown in various ways?”
The Divine Physician spoke while pointing here and there at Danmok Rin, and Cheon-hwi’s gaze followed.
She had indeed grown.
The appearance of a young girl still remained, but nevertheless, she now did look like a sixteen-year-old woman.
Danmok Rin’s face turned red at the gazes of the two suddenly sweeping over her body.
“Um, Elder Divine Physician…….”
She spoke with embarrassment.
“It was excellent that you made this child overcome the heavenly punishment of her body. However!”
The Divine Physician did not care in the slightest.
Rather, he was busy explaining.
“Her blood vessels were so tightly blocked that originally, it would have been difficult to grow to this extent.”
“Hmm, that is true.”
Cheon-hwi partially agreed.
Even though she had completely cured the Extreme Yin Foundation Physique, Danmok Rin’s condition at that time had been severe.
At that time, the Divine Physician spoke to Danmok Rin.
“Has your body gotten better?”
“Yes.”
“Are there no other places that hurt?”
“There are times when my stomach gets a little cold…….”
“What about the medicine I brewed for you?”
“That is, I ate it all, so…….”
“Tsk, I will make it for you again.”
The Divine Physician kneaded Danmok Rin’s shoulders and head, and in an instant, inserted needles.
“Calmly close your eyes.”
As Danmok Rin closed her eyes.
“Phew.”
The Divine Physician concentrated his mind.
At that moment, Yin energy gathered at the ends of the needles, and freezing frost began to form.
Huh? Qigong……?
Cheon-hwi observed the Divine Physician closely.
The astonishing qigong arts contained within his dazzling hand movements flowed out from the needles embedded in Danmok Rin’s body, stimulating her blood vessels and internal organs to move actively.
Like that, some time passed.
Sshk!
The Divine Physician pulled out the needles.
The frost-covered needles emitted cold steam, boasting a pure white appearance.
It was the Yin energy that still remained in her body.
The Divine Physician flicked the frozen needles, deeply furrowing his brows.
“Tsk! You haven’t managed it properly for the past few days!”
Danmok Rin, regaining her senses, felt awkward.
“I have been busy lately…….”
“Enough! I have driven out the stagnant Yin energy for now, so you just need to take care of your body. Still, this is not enough, so come find me later and make sure to receive acupuncture from time to time.”
“I-Is that okay?”
“Since I’ve treated it once anyway, my mind will be at ease only if I treat it properly.”
Danmok Rin’s expression brightened.
Receiving treatment from the Divine Physician was on the level of plucking a star from the sky.
But to say he would do it from time to time!
“Thank you.”
Danmok Rin bowed her head, deeply moved.
“There is no need to make a fuss over such a trivial matter.”
The Divine Physician spoke indifferently, but perhaps it was actually quite tiring, as he wiped the beads of sweat forming on his forehead with his sleeve.
After that, he spoke with a confident expression towards Cheon-hwi, who was watching from a distance.
“Now, how is it? Do you not want to learn?”
A combination of qigong and medicine.
‘It is interesting.’
But that was all.
Cheon-hwi, who had already displayed even greater things, was entirely uninspired.
“No. I am busy today.”
Hearing the exact same answer as before, the Divine Physician’s face distorted.
“Did you not say you would learn!”
“I said I would learn if I had time left over.”
“So right now…….”
“I have to go to the Seven Plum Blossom Gates.”
“What? The Seven Plum Blossom Gates…… you say?”
In an instant, the Divine Physician’s face turned bright red.
“Didn’t you say that last time as well!”
“Then was then, and now is now.”
“……This rascal! Again!”
Cheon-hwi left the Divine Physician, who eventually couldn’t hold back and exploded, behind and kicked off the ground in a single breath.
Looking at Cheon-hwi growing smaller in the distance, the Divine Physician stamped his feet and shouted.
“You reckless bare-skinned rascal! Stop right there!”
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