If It's Free, That's a Different Story
As the blinding light finally faded, Jeonghyeon scanned his surroundings. Nothing had changed dramatically. He and the Cheongseong Sect disciples remained exactly where they had collapsed, and his martial uncle was still kneeling before Elena.
Yes. Elena. That impossibly strange woman.
She’d been an eyesore from the very first moment I saw her.
It wasn’t just the ridiculous misunderstanding about the North Sea Ice Palace. Elena looked far too beautiful, too exceptional. Silver hair so pale it bordered on white. Features that seemed to carry the innocence and divinity of a young girl. Most people would have welcomed such beauty, but not Jeonghyeon. He had worried that her very existence might become the seed of chaos.
If she hadn’t sworn she could cure my martial uncle, I would have demanded she leave immediately.
Yet the Elena he had brought along on faith in that claim had displayed abilities that defied common sense. She had released an auspicious energy, forced the rampaging Songpung-jinnin to his knees, and radiated light like the sun itself. Seeing it made him want to believe. That she truly could heal his martial uncle.
Jeonghyeon watched the pair with bated breath. No—not just him. Every single member of the Cheongseong Sect was holding their breath, eyes fixed on the scene.
“It was twenty years ago.”
A voice rang out in the heavy silence.
“The Orthodox-Demonic War broke out then. My martial brother—the previous sect leader and Jeonghyeon’s master—lost his life in that conflict.”
It was Songpung-jinnin’s voice. The same mouth that had been shrieking for food now spoke with clear, resolute intent.
“My brother was the pillar of the Cheongseong Sect. The entire sect fell into shock. I was no different. I wanted to wail until my throat tore, but I could not.”
“...”
“Because at that time, only Jeonghyeon kept his senses. Even though his teacher—who had been like a father to him—had died, that child could not show it. No, he was not allowed to. After all, he was his brother’s disciple and the one destined to inherit the position of sect leader.”
Before the silent Elena, Songpung-jinnin confessed the past as though admitting his own sins.
“After watching that child shoulder the duties of sect leader before his teacher’s funeral could even be completed, I made a vow. That I had to do something. As his martial uncle, I had to contribute in any way I could.”
“...”
“But the only thing I knew was martial arts. From that day forward, I pushed myself relentlessly to elevate my skills.”
Quasi-Transcendental master. The realm that surpassed ordinary Peak-realm experts had been obtained precisely for that reason.
Thanks to that power, Songpung-jinnin had protected Mount Cheongseong and raised the honor of the Cheongseong Sect. However—
“There is no power without a price. The backlash I had long expected finally arrived. Qi Deviation devoured my mind.”
This was the true reason Songpung-jinnin had fallen into Qi Deviation.
So that’s why… Martial Uncle?!
Having learned the full truth, Jeonghyeon screamed inside his heart. Was that the reason? The reason he had trained with such frightening intensity for the past twenty years? It had all been for his sake!
“All this time, my mind wandered lost in delusion. After drifting through endless fog, I suddenly saw a light. When I approached that light seeking help, you were there.”
Songpung-jinnin, who had been explaining to Elena, looked up at her with eyes wet with tears.
“You saved me. O Immortal!!”
Everyone, pay your respects! An immortal has descended upon our Cheongseong!
The sudden declaration sent the entire Cheongseong Sect into an uproar.
“An—an immortal?”
“Did our martial uncle just call that woman an immortal?!”
Every disciple present was stunned. Even Jeonghyeon approached Songpung-jinnin in confusion.
“M-Martial Uncle. Have you regained your senses?”
“Yes. My mind has returned. I am sorry for everything until now, Hyun-ah.”
“It doesn’t matter now that you’ve come back to yourself!”
Jeonghyeon steadied his trembling heart and asked, “But Martial Uncle, why do you address Elena as an immortal?”
“Did you not feel the power she used?”
“The technique that healed your mind was certainly mysterious, but to call her an immortal based on that alone…”
“No.” Songpung-jinnin shook his head. “She did not merely heal my mind. All the Turbid Qi that had accumulated while I was lost has been purged.”
“What?”
“You all must have been exposed to her power as well. Check your own bodies.”
It was an order from the sect’s most revered elder. Not only Jeonghyeon—everyone began examining themselves. Soon, cries of disbelief erupted.
“The Turbid Qi is gone!”
“My internal energy feels far purer!”
The waste and impurities that had built up in their bodies, the contaminants within their internal energy—everything that hindered martial cultivation had vanished.
Wide-Area Perfect Cure
All impurities and status ailments have been completely purified.
“Th-this is impossible!” Jeonghyeon lost his composure completely. “Just by standing in place and releasing energy, she removed the Turbid Qi from hundreds of people?!”
“Why are you so surprised? This is the work of an immortal.”
“But even so, calling her an immortal…”
“Do not deny it any longer. You too must have felt what kind of power she used.”
With a benevolent laugh, Songpung-jinnin bowed deeply. He kowtowed without hesitation toward the silent Elena and declared, “Everyone, show your reverence! An immortal has descended upon our Cheongseong!”
————————————————————
The busiest day the Cheongseong Sect had seen since the previous sect leader’s death twenty years ago had arrived.
“Everyone, prepare yourselves!”
“We welcome the immortal who has descended upon Cheongseong!”
A massive banquet table was set up in the front courtyard. Splendid dishes were laid out in rows as the Cheongseong disciples lined up in formation.
“Everyone, bow to the immortal.”
“…Listen to our martial uncle’s words!”
When Songpung-jinnin spoke with solemn dignity, Jeonghyeon could only respond awkwardly. Every disciple bowed. Jeonghyeon and Songpung-jinnin did the same. Songpung-jinnin in particular bowed with utmost sincerity before slowly raising his head.
“O Immortal, does our humble offering please you?”
The person he addressed was Elena, sitting alone at the head of the table.
What the hell is this? What the actual hell is going on?
The person actually sitting at the head seat was far from pleased. The entire situation unfolding around her made zero sense.
Why the hell are they calling me an immortal? What is Turbid Qi? What the hell is the Orthodox-Demonic War?
She had cast the skill and was nervously watching for results when this old man suddenly started rambling about his tragic past. She had been so dumbfounded that she missed her chance to interrupt.
And now he’s calling me an immortal and causing a whole damn scene!
Elena spoke in a slightly dazed voice.
“There seems to be some misunderstanding. I am not an immortal.”
“Then are you saying a mere human instantly cured Qi Deviation and purified the Turbid Qi of several hundred people?”
“In my homeland, there are many people who can do at least this much.”
“Haha, then that place must be the celestial realm!”
Even when she tried to clear up the misunderstanding, the conversation refused to connect.
…Whatever. Just let them believe it. There are already so many other misunderstandings anyway.
While she was giving up, Songpung-jinnin spoke again.
“O Immortal. May I ask why you have visited Sichuan?”
Songpung-jinnin was genuinely curious. He had never heard of anyone as conspicuous as Elena before. A person who literally seemed like an immortal—why had she suddenly appeared in Sichuan?
“I came here after getting into trouble with the Sadoryeon.”
There was no reason to hide it, so Elena explained simply.
“On my first day here, I happened to rescue someone who was being chased by the Sadoryeon. Because I became a target as well, I brought people in similar situations with me to avoid them.”
“The madmen of the Sadoryeon dared to chase an immortal?”
Songpung-jinnin’s expression twisted.
“The Sadoryeon Lord has caused trouble again. That filthy bastard seems to have forgotten his place.”
After openly showing his rage toward the Sadoryeon Lord, he spoke with concern.
“It was wise to come to Sichuan to avoid their pointless provocations. However, the Sadoryeon Lord’s temperament is so bizarre that I cannot be certain. He may even dare to send experts after an immortal.”
“That’s why I’m trying to build up my reputation. I heard that if I make a name for myself in Sichuan, even the Sadoryeon won’t be able to touch me easily…?”
As she spoke, Elena subtly glanced at them. Can’t you people help me out a little?
Songpung-jinnin narrowed his eyes.
“Since you have cured my Qi Deviation, that alone has already secured you a seat among Sichuan’s most renowned figures. Besides, aren’t you an immortal, Lady Elena?”
The immortal thing is complete nonsense, and even if he had dementia, how does curing that make me a famous person?
Elena, who still thought of Qi Deviation as nothing more than dementia, could only take his words with suspicion.
“Isn’t there another way?”
“Well…”
After thinking for a moment, Songpung-jinnin spoke carefully.
“What if you used your divine medical arts to treat the people?”
“I’m already treating people.”
“You should establish a proper medical center and treat a much larger number of patients. If you do that, everyone in Sichuan will come to know and revere the immortal’s power.”
Songpung-jinnin’s suggestion was certainly effective. Helping many people would raise her fame, and healing was the one thing Elena was best at.
But I’m not a doctor, damn it.
She could heal, but she wasn’t a physician. Besides, how was she supposed to build a medical center?
I have money, but to get the right building, hire staff, and buy medicinal herbs, I’d need connections as well as cash. Attracting patients is no small task either.
There were many problems, so she hesitated. But then—
“We of the Cheongseong Sect will prepare all necessary supplies, personnel, and medicinal ingredients. To repay our debt of gratitude, we will stake the honor of Cheongseong on spreading the immortal’s fame!”
“…Thank you very much!”
When Songpung-jinnin offered to pay for everything and handle the preparations, Elena accepted without hesitation. After all, if it was free, that changed everything.