Chapter 276. Where Does Conflict Come From? (1)
Thud!
The sound of the Gwangryongbu slamming into the ground was as intimidating as ever. Even without any intent to threaten, the sheer presence of the weapon itself was overwhelming.
Ga Yeok-so flinched involuntarily.
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.
"The Divine Physicians' Society?"
"Yes."
"Some kind of physicians' alliance?"
"It seems you've heard of it."
"Of course I have."
Yeon Hojeong didn't beat around the bush.
"I heard there's a group controlling medicine distribution to keep herbs from the Western Divine Maiden. They call themselves a physicians' alliance or whatever, but that's the Divine Physicians' Society?"
Ga Yeok-so's eyes deepened.
"So you knew."
"Not the name."
"That's right. The Divine Physicians' Society is spread across the Central Plains, providing extensive support to those who inherit the orthodox medical lineage of the Central Plains."
Ga Yeok-so breathed heavily.
Hummm.
A subtle wave of energy emanated from Yeon Hojeong's body. The blunt training with the Gwangryongbu had consumed not only his physical strength but also a significant amount of his internal energy. The perfectly controlled true energy leaked out unwittingly, turning into a fierce, flame-like aura that shook Ga Yeok-so's mind with its pressure.
"To explain about the Divine Physicians' Society..."
"Before that."
"Pardon?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"Even as a physician, you seem well-versed in Central Plains affairs, and with your experience, you've probably encountered plenty of martial artists."
"...?"
"You must know that secretly spying on a martial artist's training is a grave discourtesy."
"Ah! My apologies. I sincerely beg your forgiveness for that."
"Your apology's a bit late."
"I didn't speak up first because I didn't want to interrupt. I swear I turned away, so please quell your anger, General."
Yeon Hojeong chuckled softly.
"Fine, let's let that slide. Truth be told, I couldn't care less about the Divine Physicians' Society or whatever. The real question is why someone whose name I don't even know has come to see me, right?"
Ga Yeok-so replied calmly.
"I was about to get to that, but I thought easing your guard should come first. My oversight—please forgive me."
He was taking quite a humble stance. But Yeon Hojeong didn't waver.
He shouldn't prejudge, but he already knew what the Divine Physicians' Society had been up to. It was hard to feel any goodwill toward them.
"Skip the explanations. So, what do you want from me?"
Ga Yeok-so smacked his lips.
'They said the Wall Mountain Tiger General has a fiery temper, and the rumors of the strong world aren't wrong.'
Fiery didn't just mean hot-blooded. He was straightforward and direct. He hated beating around the bush and wanted to get to the point quickly. That was Yeon Hojeong.
Ga Yeok-so had a rough sense of the man's personality.
"I'll be direct. Could you step down from escorting the Western Divine Maiden, just for a while?"
Yeon Hojeong snorted.
"Get out."
"General Yeon."
"I thought you'd bring some miracle elixir since you're from a physicians' alliance. Go on, leave."
Ga Yeok-so pressed on quickly.
"It's for the Central Plains."
"Hm?"
"For the Central Plains, she must disappear. More precisely, she can't be allowed to rise to prominence in the Martial Alliance."
"Why?"
"The healing arts she practices are utterly nefarious. In terms of martial arts, they're no different from the demonic arts of the unorthodox sects."
"What, does the Western Divine Maiden turn people into jiangshi or poison patients with drugs?"
Ga Yeok-so sighed.
"That's not what I mean."
"Then what, you're just dying to get rid of her?"
"Her healing arts are causing massive chaos in the Central Plains' medical lineage. We've suppressed her presence so far, but if she gains great fame in the Martial Alliance, it would be truly disastrous..."
"Causing chaos in the Central Plains' medical lineage? Just because she has some unique healing arts?"
"General Yeon. Hear me out. Her arts are of the evil path. I don't know what the righteous heroes of the martial world might think, but rashly cutting into a patient's body causes severe aftereffects."
"Aftereffects? You scrape boils with a knife too, and that's supposed to have huge aftereffects?"
"That's not what cutting means."
"Thoracotomy?"
Surprise flashed across Ga Yeok-so's face.
"You know about thoracotomy?"
"Heard about it once. When a patient's condition worsens beyond what medicine or acupuncture can handle, they perform a thoracotomy to remove the malignant growth causing the illness."
"Impressive. I can't help but admire General Yeon's knowledge and insight."
"Spare me the flattery."
"Yes, the Western Divine Maiden is a master of thoracotomy. And as embarrassing as it is to say, thoracotomy is a healing art accompanied by extreme aftereffects, strictly forbidden in the Central Plains' medical lineage."
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
"Listen, Physician Ga."
"Yes."
"Thoracotomies, Central Plains medical lineage—skip that. I'm no expert in medicine, so I wouldn't understand anyway, and this doesn't seem like the time for lectures."
"General Yeon."
"Let me be clear. Our mission is to escort the Western Divine Maiden safely to the Martial Alliance. That mission must be fulfilled no matter what."
"..."
"Abandon her escort? You think that's something to say to my face?"
Ga Yeok-so's face hardened.
"I understand your anger, General Yeon. But if you won't hear me out further, it's hard to clarify."
"I'm angry, but I won't take it out on you."
It was a chilling statement. If the world's greatest latecomer genius unleashed his wrath, anyone would bleed profusely.
"Even in urgency, you were overly rude. If you wanted that, you should've gone to the Martial Alliance, not me."
"..."
"But you have your own position, so let's end this conversation here. Go. I won't say more."
Ga Yeok-so shook his head.
"I can't do that."
"Then stand there forever. I'm leaving."
"General Yeon."
Yeon Hojeong slung the Gwangryongbu over his shoulder and strode leisurely toward his quarters. His intent not to deal with Ga Yeok-so anymore was palpable.
Ga Yeok-so, watching his back silently, spoke up.
"We must impose sanctions on that witch."
Yeon Hojeong didn't stop walking.
Ga Yeok-so continued.
"We can't leave such a dangerous being alone. And we have no desire to oppose General Yeon, let alone the Martial Alliance."
Clack.
Yeon Hojeong halted.
He stood still, looking up at the sky with a sigh.
"Damn, I try to let it slide nicely, but you just..."
"...?"
Yeon Hojeong lowered the Gwangryongbu.
Boom!
The axe blade sank a full foot into the ground. Ga Yeok-so flinched again.
Yeon Hojeong spoke.
"Muk Bi."
Swish.
Muk Bi appeared beside Yeon Hojeong before he knew it. And not just her—all his resting companions emerged one by one from the darkness.
Ga Yeok-so was startled. He couldn't tell when they'd been standing there, even seeing it with his own eyes.
Yeon Hojeong's voice was ice-cold.
"You know where the Beggar Sect branch is?"
"Yes."
"Go tell the branch head. As of this moment, not only those targeting the Western Divine Maiden's life, but the masterminds behind all oppression against her are the Divine Physicians' Society."
Ga Yeok-so was shocked.
"General Yeon!"
"And relay this too. The Divine Physicians' Society is an organization that can strike the Martial Alliance at any time. Tell them to scour every scrap of information on the Society in preparation for the worst."
Ga Yeok-so's face paled.
"General Yeon! What do you mean by that?"
Yeon Hojeong turned.
Swish.
Muk Bi vanished simultaneously. Off to the Beggar Sect branch.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes cooled to a chill.
"Listen, Physician Ga."
"..."
"Telling me to drop the escort? To sanction the Western Divine Maiden? That sounds like you want her dead."
"...!"
"Isn't saving lives your job? Did you learn acupuncture and pharmacology to kill people?"
Ga Yeok-so bit his lip.
"This has nothing to do with my calling. This is purely for the Central Plains...!"
"For the Central Plains, or for the legitimacy of the Central Plains' medical lineage?"
"...!!"
"If it's the former, explain properly. If she spreads a deadly plague or practices utterly evil demonic arts, I'll investigate thoroughly. But if it's the latter..."
Grrrrumble.
The embedded Gwangryongbu carved a long furrow in the ground.
Killing intent flickered in Yeon Hojeong's eyes as he aimed it at Ga Yeok-so.
"From this moment, the Divine Physicians' Society will be enemies of the Martial Alliance."
Ga Yeok-so swallowed hard.
"General Yeon. There must be a misunderstanding. The Divine Physicians' Society would never target the Martial Alliance..."
"I saw a man approach an escort carrying out the Martial Alliance's orders, calling his charge a witch who must die, spinning sweet lies."
"General Yeon!"
"If it'd ended there, I could've dismissed it as a dog's bark. But what? No desire to oppose the Martial Alliance?"
Yeon Hojeong's lip curled.
"I thought you lived in a different world, but the Divine Physicians' Society is a martial group? Then I can't stand by. If you're trying to take an innocent woman's life, as the Myeol Sa Army General, incarnation of righteousness and chivalry under the Martial Alliance, I can't just let it pass."
"...!!"
Yeon Hojeong stared coldly at Ga Yeok-so, then turned to Moyong Woo.
"General Moyong. What should we do with this one? Blow his head off right here?"
Moyong Woo's face was grimly set.
"Hold back, General Yeon."
"Should I? You heard it all. If he's telling the truth, he's not just a murderer—his whole group is a band of killers."
"General Yeon. Hold for now."
Yeon Hojeong glared at Ga Yeok-so again. The man's face was now ashen white. Biting his lip and clenching his fists amid it all, his guts were at least commendable.
Moyong Woo spoke.
"Physician Ga, was it?"
"..."
"Your words held no persuasiveness. No logic, just rudeness."
"..."
"I'll say it clearly. As General Yeon said, from this moment, any harm to the Western Divine Maiden will be traced back to the Divine Physicians' Society."
"That's!"
"If it were just the Myeol Sa Army General, maybe not. But with the Tangma Army General joining in, even the Alliance's peak experts will move without question. The Society would have quite the headache then."
Moyong Woo smiled chillingly.
"Protect the Western Divine Maiden until we arrive. Grant her every wish. Controlling medicine distribution? If you don't supply her herbs within two days, we'll take it as a provocation against the main Alliance."
"...!!"
"What are you waiting for? You think you have time?"