It's My Land
The Jecheon Palace Lord was no slouch as a cultivator. Her Gucheon Harmony Art alone was worth more than two Inner Pills.
"Got it. I'll give it my best shot."
Choi Heejeong nodded gravely, as if determined not to let me down. She headed straight back to her quarters, probably to start poring over the Gucheon Palace text.
Left alone, Zhuque spoke up in my mind.
-Hmmm. So the master sensed it too.
"Sensed what?"
-No use playing dumb, master. That woman reeks of an aura just like the Jecheon Palace Lord's, doesn't she?
"Who knows. Probably just my imagination."
Zhuque had hit the nail on the head, but I just shrugged it off. Before, I wouldn't have noticed, but after walking the path of cultivation and clashing directly with the Jecheon Palace Lord, I could vaguely sense it now. Choi Heejeong had talent. Real talent for the Gucheon Harmony Art.
But talent doesn't do the work on its own. Polishing it is entirely up to the individual.
"I just figured it'd be better to have someone learn it than let it rot away in that mirror."
-Keh heh heh. Understood, master.
I set off.
Since I was at the company anyway, I checked out the current office vibe. I found Section Chief Lee Jun-yeol, who gave me a quick rundown.
"Right now, Planning & Finance is tackling the 17th floor, and Media & Publishing is tagging along."
"Media & Publishing?"
"Yes. They've got nine artifacts left to deliver to you, so they're probably whining to Planning & Finance to join in."
That meant I could just sit back and collect the rice cakes without lifting a finger.
"Perfect."
"Media & Publishing will have to bust their asses for artifacts they might not even snag."
"Karma, I guess."
Section Chief Lee Jun-yeol nodded firmly.
"Exactly. We need to show what happens when you mess with Safety Planning. Make sure they never try it again."
Section Chief Lee Jun-yeol spent most of his time in the Operations Control Room when not on censorship duty, advising Manager Cherubim on the best spots for surveillance cameras.
Something occurred to me, so I asked.
"Anything on the Jecheon Tower cameras?"
"Because of the 18th branch?"
"Yeah."
"Unfortunately, resources are tight, so not many cameras there."
"Hmm."
I scratched my head. Had I been churning out too many artifacts lately? No regrets, though. They were all necessities. We'd planned for 100 Hunter suits initially, but conquering stages meant we needed staff posted there permanently. Leave a conquered zone empty too long, and you lose ownership.
"Got it. Keep up the good work."
"Yes, sir."
I finished chatting and sank into the Operations Control Room sofa, forming hand seals. I softly chanted a spell while circulating the Thunder Cloud Heart Knot.
Crackle!
Concentrating my mind, a bolt of lightning flashed in my head. Soon, sounds from elsewhere filtered in.
-Hey, intern. Where you going?
-Ah, yes. To grab some food, supervisor.
-Food?
-Yes.
-Didn't I say no food till you hit your quota?
-B-but you said we could eat...
-Ah, damn. Why's my ear itching like this? Someone badmouthing me?
ZZZzt!
A tearing noise ripped through my ear, and I cut off the tracking spell. My proficiency was still too low—the target felt the unease. But they didn't notice unless I activated it. Just be careful when casting or activating.
Time to go hunting for an opportunity.
Arriving at Health & Welfare, Chief Stella greeted me warmly.
"Section Chief Kim Jeongha. Welcome."
"Long time no see, Chief Stella."
"How've you been? Haven't seen you around much."
"I've been holed up studying medicine lately."
Chief Stella's eyebrows shot up.
"Medicine? What kind?"
"Want a look? I could actually use some help."
"Of course. What's stumping you?"
I pulled a book from my pocket. A medical text from Jecheon Palace: the Compendium of Orthodox Acupoint Studies. It cataloged over 360 acupoints in the human body.
Chief Stella took it, skimmed through, and frowned.
"Hmm... Looks like it describes acupoints, but I don't think I can help."
Figured. It was packed with unreadable script to her.
That's why I'd brought it. I feigned disappointment.
"Really? If even you can't, who can I turn to? Tsk tsk."
"There must be a way. Don't look so down."
Trust with Chief Stella was solid. Just needed to tug at her heartstrings.
"My parents were always sickly growing up, so I vowed to master medicine. Guess I'll have to give up. Sigh. What now."
"Section Chief... I had no idea you had such a sad past..."
Her eyes were already reddening. She clenched her fist.
"Alright. The director might know something. I'll set up a meeting."
I suppressed a grin and nodded.
"Really? Thank you, Chief Stella."
I could've used my Military Factory manager badge, but I wanted her favor. If the director trusted her, it'd lower their guard a bit.
"Yes, yes. Director."
She picked up the extension and chattered away. Soon, she hung up and nodded at me. He'd made time.
"He'll see you. But he wants you to artifact-ify his ceremonial robes."
"No problem."
With Chief Stella's guidance, I ascended to the Health & Welfare director's office. Stepping in, I saw her at her desk.
She looked up, meeting my eyes.
"You're here. Sit."
Her voice was soft enough to put anyone at ease. Long ponytail pinned with a hairpin, beauty mark under her left eye. Her cool, aloof vibe was captivating.
I bowed slightly in greeting.
"Gonggeum Hwata Jo Kyung. Pleased to meet you."
Hwata means "master," so no extra honorifics. And from "Gonggeum"—tribute gold—she was quite materialistic. And even more deeply family-oriented...
From my position targeting Jo In-ho, Jo Kyung was a tricky obstacle.
Jo Kyung nodded lightly.
"So you're the infamous Section Chief Kim Jeongha."
"You flatter me."
"Chief Stella, finish your report elsewhere."
"Yes, Director."
Jo Kyung dismissed Chief Stella, then turned back to me.
"So, you want to learn medicine?"
"Specifically, some parts of this book are confusing."
"Show me."
"Yes."
She looked about my age, but her casual speech felt natural.
"One thing first. If you're after medicine for impure reasons, you won't escape unscathed."
No wonder she was director-level. If she sniffed out my ulterior motive, I'd be frozen solid on the spot!
"Here it is."
"Compendium of Orthodox Acupoint Studies. Where'd you get it?"
"From a stage."
"What's confusing?"
I opened to my marked page and pointed with my index finger.
"Here, it says damage to these nine points causes mental disorders. I get that it's a meridian from the chest to the right fingertip, but why the head issues?"
"Hm."
Jo Kyung read the page carefully.
"Simple. Because of the New Acupoints."
"Pardon? No 'New Acupoints' in this book. It covers every acupoint."
"Naturally."
She smirked and closed the book.
"...That's it?"
"Want more? Pay up. Prepayment."
Already demanding payment?
"I helped clear Floor 15..."
"You took all the rewards."
"And artifact-ifying..."
"You just paid that."
"Urk...!"
Her calculations were razor-sharp.
"How about a gold bar?"
"You know money means nothing here."
I prodded a few more times, but same result. Jo Kyung's lips curled slyly, like she was about to cackle "Fu fu fu."
But I didn't panic. My real target was Jo In-ho. Jo Kyung was just a stepping stone. The medicine excuse was merely to get close.
I clicked my tongue, pocketed the book, and stood.
"Tsk. Can't be helped. Farewell."
"Take my robes first."
"Ah, right."
I took the sky-blue cheongsam she handed over. Imagining her in it—hips on full display—made my head spin. Whatever, not my clothes.
Turning the doorknob, I muttered.
"Wanted to try making a Nine Yang Severed Meridian Body. Shame."
I flung the door open to leave.
"Wait."
I barely kept my grin in check and turned.
"Yes?"
"What did you just say?"
"That it's a shame."
"Before that!"
"Uh... that I wanted to make a Nine Yang Severed Meridian Body..."
"Do you even know what that means?"
"Yes. A congenital disorder where yang energy surges too strong because the meridians are severed. That's what the book says."
Nine Yang Severed Meridians weren't nine yang meridians severed. It was Nine Yang One Yin—overwhelming yang dominance.
How did I, with no medical knowledge, know this? Simple.
"Do you know my little brother is dying from that disease?"
I do.
"...Really?"
"Yes!"
Jo Kyung shouted, agitated. No surprise. Her obsessive love for her brother. A rare disease untreatable even by the company infirmary.
Intentionally creating such a disease? Her fury was justified.
I raised my palms to calm her.
"I had no idea your brother had it. With the company infirmary and all... I just thought, with my limited knowledge, creating Nine Yang Severed Meridians and then curing it might unlock genius potential."
"You think that makes sense?"
"Doesn't it? The book says it's fatal but tends to produce genius from nothing. Worth a shot if we have the cure."
"And you have the cure?!"
"I know it. Don't have it yet, though."
To her, those words would sound sweeter than honey.
Beep— Beep— Beep—
The infirmary walls emitted healing waves at regular intervals.
'Always fascinating.'
The infirmary could revive anyone clinging to life. That's why Gonggeum Hwata Jo Kyung was called the "Walking Infirmary" here.
Jo Kyung recalled her reputation and smiled bitterly.
"Revive the dying, my ass. What good is it? Who..."
She caressed her little brother's cheek tenderly.
"In-ho."
"Ugh..."
"You okay?"
"..."
He spent at least 18 of 24 hours wracked in pain. The infirmary only delayed his death. Fine for what it was, but as a sister, how could she settle?
He was a miracle for surviving to adulthood. He looked frozen at 15.
And Jo In-ho's wasn't simple Nine Yang Severed Meridians.
Solar Nine Absolute Meridians!
Yang so intense it burned fever-hot, turning his hair ashen. Mere Nine Yang might've been curable here.
If she could cure him, she'd trade her life in a heartbeat.
Suddenly, she recalled earlier.
'What is it? The cure!'
'Ice River Carp, Millennium Frost Ginseng.'
'...'
Not what she'd hoped. Legendary spirit beast and herb—she'd hunted them endlessly. She needed something obtainable now. Jo In-ho's time was short.
'Don't have it yet.'
Words she'd glossed over in urgency.
"'Yet'..."
Implying he'd get it someday? It carried an odd conviction, like it was inevitable.
'No. Impossible.'
Who could confidently claim such legends? Yet it lingered in her mind.
I dropped off Jo Kyung's requested robes at the Military Factory. It let me play the generous hero and score another meeting when delivering.
"Sasha."
"You called, Manager?"
"If we upgrade Health & Welfare's functions, can it cure congenital diseases?"
"Too broad a question, Manager."
"Like Nine Yin Severed Meridians, Solar Nine Absolute Meridians."
"Calculating."
Sasha closed her eyes, then spoke.
"Standard Nine Yin Severed Meridians fully curable. Solar Nine Absolute Meridians can halt progression."
"Really?"
"Yes, Manager."
"Then don't tell a soul."
"Understood, Manager."
Jo In-ho had to die. His Solar Nine Absolute Meridians weren't congenital. Not even that—just Demon King fodder.
Leaving the factory, I pictured him. The Demon King who froze Japan, strolled across the sea to Korea. Landed in Busan, razed Seoul, sank half the continent.
"Frost King."
Later, he'd strike a deal with that thing. Cure his "Solar Nine Absolute Meridians" with its yin energy—for maximum evil. Clueless that it was just ultra-compressed yin unable to disperse. No real cure, obviously.
As memories of frozen past-life Seoul surfaced—
-Section Chief Kim!!
Manager Cherubim radioed me.
"Yes?"
-Guys from the 18th branch are swarming our turf!!
Showtime.
"On it."
I headed straight for Jecheon Palace, pulling out the Gold Silk Pill from my pocket.
Come on, ripen already.