"I Became the Protagonist Who Monopolizes Fortuitous Encounters in a Martial Arts Novel" 29 - Save the Henan Yun Family! (1)
And so, Meng Yuon, the Little Affectionate Swordsman, joined our group. Right from that day, I melted down one stalk of Moon Spirit Grass and brewed it into a medicinal broth, which I fed to him.
But that was just the beginning.
"You're the one putting restrictions on yourself. Explode that inner rage, but channel every bit of that emotion into the tip of your sword."
Having read the original story multiple times and even contributed to shaping its world and settings, I knew better than anyone. Pure potential-wise, Meng Yuon was among the top three talents in the entire world. So I focused on nurturing that gift of his.
With Meng Yuon traveling alongside me and Peng Jincheon, the thugs led by Namgung Cheol didn't dare lay a hand on him. And after the close call from the previous incident, no one even thought of messing with him anymore.
Flash!
Thanks to practicing the Cloud-Step Thousand-Li Heart Method in tandem, Meng Yuon could now unleash at least some of his true power in real combat, even if he wasn't exploding with his full potential yet. Compared to his old self—who was too scared to even draw his sword properly—it was a massive leap forward.
Still, there's work left to do.
From a few tests I'd run, whenever Meng Yuon tried to push his power to the limit, he got overly excited and slipped into his demonic tendencies far too often. The Cloud-Step Thousand-Li Heart Method and Moon Spirit Grass prevented him from completely losing his reason like before, but to fully unleash his original potential, he needed a complete cure.
Did that mean there was no way? Hardly.
The world's top physician—or rather, the one who becomes the top physician and later heals my crippled leg—Chiwoo Goeui's Yun Yeop. I need to find him.
In the second year of Emperor Jincheon's reign, just around the corner, a massive calamity would strike Yun Yeop, head of the Henan Yun Family—a renowned physician clan in Henan Province.
That summer of Jincheon 2, a plague ravaged the entire Central Plains. Yun Yeop, far from the eccentric he later became, was as pure-hearted as they come back then. He abandoned everything, wandering far and wide to save countless poor commoners. But in the end, he lost his only son, Yun Gwang.
After that, Yun Yeop refused to treat ordinary folk. Instead of saving lives, he'd chop off an arm from the patient—showing extreme eccentricity that earned him the moniker Chiwoo Goeui.
Chiwoo Goeui literally meant "foolishly foolish and grotesquely eccentric physician," a bizarre nickname born from "chiwoo" (foolish stupidity) plus "goeui" (eccentric physician).
It was all the tragedy of a father driven mad by the loss of his sole heir, Yun Gwang.
So my goal was...
During the upper-class summer break, head to the Henan Yun Family with Peng Jincheon and Meng Yuon to save Yun Yeop's only son, Yun Gwang.
There was a lot of backstory to Yun Gwang's death too—I'll get into that later.
"So, what plans does everyone have for the summer?"
As usual that day, I gathered Meng Yuon and Peng Jincheon to lay out the plan.
"I'm heading back home."
"I'm going to the Fighting Sword Sect to help out however I can."
No surprise there. When nothing else came up, I explained the whole situation.
There was this amazing physician clan in Henan Province called the Henan Yun Family—let's go there and get some help.
"I've heard of the Henan Yun Family."
"But isn't their head super busy?"
They were so famous that both guys tilted their heads, clearly familiar with the name.
"We go there, wait it out, and make our request. Something's bound to work out, right?"
Meng Yuon felt guilty about me going to such lengths for him, but Peng Jincheon was all for it.
And so, we agreed to head to the Henan Yun Family during the upcoming summer break.
"With Cheonmu Academy's summer break here, many students will be heading home... But with the plague raging across the Central Plains right now, please take extra care to stay healthy!"
Sure enough, my memory was spot on. As the break began, Vice Headmaster Dan Ri-cheong, the Soft Wind Silver Sword, gave a speech urging everyone to maintain their health.
Once the ceremonies wrapped up and break officially started...
"You guys sure this is okay?"
In the midst of the plague-ridden chaos, as we set off for Henan Province, Meng Yuon looked back at us two with a guilty expression.
"Of course. It's way better than wasting time doing nothing. Visiting the Henan Yun Family is worthwhile."
Peng Jincheon was such a good-natured guy that I never worried about him.
As we traveled to Henan Province, I recalled the original story.
The reason the notoriously wicked and eccentric Chiwoo Goeui Yun Yeop treated me—a nobody with no connections or possessions—was simple.
No one else would touch me, so he found it intriguing and gladly fixed my leg. Of course, it wasn't your standard treatment.
It was a method with an eighty percent mortality rate. Survive, and not only did your leg heal perfectly, but your body got remade like you'd shed your mortal bones—total transformation.
In the original, protagonist Cheon Myeong gladly took the gamble with his life. He fixed his leg, made a stylish comeback, and from the late-game onward, rocketed toward becoming the world's strongest.
Cold to others, but Chiwoo Goeui Yun Yeop was good to the destitute Cheon Myeong.
He didn't take a single coin or reward. Seeing Cheon Myeong as a symbol of human triumph, he kept marveling in admiration.
He even said this to Cheon Myeong once:
"You remind me of my poor only son who died too young. You don't look a thing like him, but if he'd lived, he'd have endured just like you and achieved greatness."
I couldn't forget that passage describing his lonely expression.
Reading that episode, I thought: if Yun Yeop's only son Yun Gwang had survived, maybe this character Yun Yeop could have found happiness and changed.
And if I save Yun Gwang, the world's top physician skills could be mine to borrow or ally with.
A win-win for both sides.
The Henan Yun Family, symbol of elite medicine with its ancient prestige, vanished from the martial world after Yun Yeop's death, its line severed. I hated to see that go to waste, so I wanted to help keep it going under my wing if possible.
To make that happen, I need to hurry.
After wandering the Central Plains treating the plague, Yun Yeop returns to the Henan Yun Family in late summer.
After unimaginable hardships, he comes home—only to scream in despair...
For some reason, the entire Henan Yun Family estate is in flames. Retainers dead, his only son Yun Gwang a cold corpse. Yun Yeop sheds bloody tears, regretting every life he'd saved.
I have to stop that suffocating tragedy.
I resolved myself. I'd save Yun Gwang for sure—and cure Meng Yuon's demonic affliction too!
* * *
"Eh? From Cheonmu Academy?"
"Why would students from there come to our humble family...?"
We arrived at the Henan Yun Family full of excitement, but this was the expected reaction. Unaware of the future unfolding, they were surprised and curious we'd come, but puzzled why.
"Ah, this friend here has some... discomfort."
I improvised on the spot, saying Meng Yuon had an ailment.
"Oh, really? Then let me take a look."
Contrary to expectations, the Henan Yun Family folks rolled up their sleeves and offered to treat him.
Thinking about it, they were all skilled physicians themselves, so it made sense.
Caught off guard, I pressed on.
"Well... I'd really prefer if Head Yun Yeop himself could examine and treat him."
Stubborn as I was, the kind-hearted Henan Yun Family took us in as guests, letting us stay inside.
Of course, nothing in this world is free.
"In exchange, until Head Yun Yeop returns, you'll help with the family's work and lend your martial prowess where needed."
Like any guests, we agreed to assist with chores and protection in return for lodging.
We had to save this family anyway, so staying inside and bolstering patrols was the best move.
"Haha, if you insist. But there aren't really any around here who envy or resent our Henan Yun Family, so you might not have much to do."
Vice Head Yun Ja-so smiled warmly as he spoke.
Unfortunately, his words proved exactly the opposite.
The martial world seems endlessly warm with camaraderie at times, but it's brutally cold and ruthless beyond words.
The black market thugs ruling Henan Province's back alleys will covet the Henan Yun Family's herbs and medicines, storm in, and plunder them.
With the plague causing herb and medicine prices to skyrocket across the Central Plains, these black faction forces target the militarily weak Henan Yun Family despite its vast stores.
As a result, the ancient, storied Henan Yun Family burns to the ground, its line ends, and it faces total annihilation—which explained why Head Yun Yeop went mad.
A lifetime healing others, only to have those same 'others' strip away everything precious. How could he not lose his mind?
Seven Falls, Eight Rises: The Invincible Fist King had surprisingly heavy, serious episodes like the Demon Ghost Meng Yuon arc and this plague one—which was why it never sold well.
"In the martial world, certainty is the enemy. According to intel I've gathered, the back-alley ruffians ruling Henan Province are rising up, stirring more chaos... We'll help however we can."
I exchanged glances with Peng Jincheon and Meng Yuon as I said it.
I also pulled them aside and hinted subtly.
"Before we came, I checked through the Hao Clan network. Black faction goons are eyeing the Henan Yun Family. Not certain, but..."
They were shocked, eyes wide as they locked gazes.
"For real?"
"No way—people targeting this good-hearted Henan Yun Family?"
Especially the innocent Meng Yuon—he could barely process it. How could anyone target a group spreading goodwill through medicine? It didn't make sense to him.
"You don't know black faction types. They dominate back alleys and black markets, extending their influence. Among the unorthodox sects, they're the most vicious."
Black faction wasn't a specific sect. It lumped together the shadiest, most ruthless groups in the unorthodox world.
"Yeah, my father mentioned them. Famous for breaking any taboo if there's profit in it."
Peng Jincheon chimed in. As he said, with herb prices booming, black faction scum targeting the Henan Yun Family was something they'd do laughing, without a shred of conscience.
"Our goal is protecting the Henan Yun Family from those black faction bastards. Then, as reward, get Head Yun Yeop to treat Meng Yuon."
I laid out the full plan, and from that day, we took turns on night watch.
The plague and misfortune episode in the original was so intense, I remembered it in detail.
On watch rotations, I gave the two clear orders.
"Keep an eye on the rear warehouse where the herbs are stored."
It looked safest at a glance, but according to the story, that's where disaster struck.
And one more thing.
"Patrol the rear warehouse discreetly—no one can know. Not even the Henan Yun Family folks!"
Peng Jincheon and Meng Yuon were puzzled but trusted my insight, so they followed through faithfully.
Even I, having read Seven Falls, Eight Rises: The Invincible Fist King in detail, didn't know the exact date. So we haunted the warehouse area, checking constantly.
About three days later!
Swish!
It was my watch when I heard movement from the rear warehouse.
Finally—the black faction scum of Henan Province had come to test the waters.