The Doctor of Life and Death
After helping Yi So-ryong absorb the medicinal energy of the spiritual herb, Cheonhwa spent the following day assisting Yi Jin-hwa in absorbing the herb’s power and opening her Conception Vessel.
Cheonhwa had already cleared the Conception Vessels for both of them and laid the foundation so they could open their Governing Vessels through training. From now on, whether they rose to the ranks of true experts by opening not only their Governing Vessels but all Eight Extraordinary Meridians, or remained nothing more than average martial artists, would depend entirely on how hard the two of them worked.
Cheonhwa rose early the next morning.
He was preparing to travel to Chongqing with Yi Cheon-sang to meet the Doctor of Life and Death.
“You must be careful.”
“Don’t worry. Baek Do-san will be coming with us.”
At first, Cheonhwa had planned to go alone with Cheon-sang. But after thinking it over, he realized neither of them knew anything about the Doctor of Life and Death. So he decided to bring along the Sword Crazy, Baek Do-san, who was acquainted with the man.
“Please take good care of the children while we’re gone.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll look after them well and return safely.”
Cheonhwa shot Baek Do-san a look that said let’s get going already. With a few simple farewells, the three of them left the Haedong Merchant Group.
Cheonhwa sent a sound transmission to Hyeok Cheon-gwang.
After entrusting Hyeok Cheon-gwang with everything that needed to be done until his return, Cheonhwa left the Haedong Merchant Group together with Baek Do-san and Yi Cheon-sang.
The three decided to travel by water rather than by land, heading first to Zhenjiang, where they could take the Yangtze River route to Nanjing in Chongqing.
Zhenjiang was the first port where the Yangtze waterway began. It was also the point where the freshwater of the Yangtze met the seawater of the East Sea.
The road from Suzhou through Wuxi, Changzhou, and Danyang to Zhenjiang was exceptionally well maintained.
The three walked along one side of the busy thoroughfare, making way for merchants hurrying past in carriages and cargo carts.
“By the way, Cheonhwa.”
“Yeah?”
“I feel perfectly fine. Do we really have to meet this Doctor of Life and Death?”
Yi Cheon-sang asked because, while practicing martial arts or moving too much tired him out, he otherwise felt no major discomfort.
“You never know. So-ryong and Jin-hwa are fine, but you’re the only one struggling. I’m worried there might be some illness we don’t know about.”
“I really am okay, though.”
“We know. But if there’s even the slightest chance we can find out why you can’t move for long periods, wouldn’t that be good?”
“That’s true. But traveling all the way to Chongqing will cost a lot of money. With that much silver, we could contribute more to the household.”
“Just think of it as spending money because you’re sick. Then the amount we’re using now is nothing. Besides, I won a bit of money gambling last night, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“Alright.”
A faint smile appeared on Baek Do-san’s lips as he listened to the two boys’ conversation.
“Grandpa.”
Yi Cheon-sang called out to Baek Do-san.
“What is it?”
“Is the Doctor of Life and Death’s medical skill really the best in the world? I heard rumors he can even bring dead people back to life.”
“Haha, that must be an exaggeration. How could anyone bring back the dead? But they say he possesses miraculous medical arts capable of saving those on the brink of death.”
“He sounds like an incredible person.”
“There are many anecdotes about the Doctor of Life and Death.”
“Do you know any of them?”
“Shall I tell you?”
“Yes!”
When both Cheonhwa and Cheon-sang answered together, Baek Do-san began sharing the stories he knew about the Doctor of Life and Death.
“No one knows exactly where the Doctor of Life and Death comes from, but many people speculate he may be from the Sincere Heart Medical Family.”
“The Sincere Heart Medical Family?”
“There are several distinguished medical clans in the Central Plains. Among them, the three most renowned are the Sincere Heart Medical Family, the Orchid Life Family, and the Benevolent Righteousness Medical Family.”
Baek Do-san first explained about the medical families.
“These three clans have gathered the finest physicians of the Central Plains to create the Medical Forest, where they work together to advance the art of healing.”
“I see. So which of the three families has the best medical skills?”
“That cannot be determined. Each pursues a different path of medicine. The Sincere Heart Medical Family specializes in internal injuries, the Benevolent Righteousness Medical Family in external wounds, and the Orchid Life Family focuses on treating women.”
“There’s even a medical family that only treats women? Do they not treat men there?”
“Not exactly. In unavoidable situations they will treat men as well, but the Orchid Life Family primarily cares for the wives and daughters of high officials, members of the royal and imperial families, and women from prestigious clans.”
After giving them a general overview of the Medical Forest, he moved on to stories about the Doctor of Life and Death.
“When the Doctor of Life and Death first made his name known to the world, it was at the Tang Clan—one of the Ten Great Martial Families…”
Cheonhwa and Cheon-sang listened to the tales with fascinated expressions. Watching the children enjoy themselves, Baek Do-san occasionally chuckled. He looked exactly like a grandfather spending time with his grandsons.
Passersby would smile faintly at the heartwarming sight of grandfather and grandsons chatting happily, only to quickly hide their smiles upon noticing the swords at Baek Do-san and Cheonhwa’s waists.
They had no way of knowing how their smiling faces might appear to the trio. Everyone in the Central Plains knew it was wise to be cautious around armed men or martial artists—unnecessary quarrels could easily lead to trouble.
“He’s saved as many people as he’s killed.”
“That is the nature of medicine. Through the mouths of those he saved, word of his skill spreads. It reaches other physicians, allowing even more people suffering from the same illnesses to be saved.”
“He’s not a quack, but he somehow feels like one. After hearing all this about the Doctor of Life and Death, I’m not sure I can fully trust him.”
“Haha, but in the last dozen years or so, I haven’t heard of him killing anyone.”
“If he’s already killed that many, isn’t it about time he stopped?”
Though Cheonhwa’s logic was a bit strange, it wasn’t entirely wrong, leaving Baek Do-san flustered every time he heard it.
“Yes, that’s right. It is time he stopped killing. But I can guarantee there is no physician in the Central Plains superior to the Doctor of Life and Death. Dok-ui is also an outstanding healer, but he still falls short.”
Since both Baek Do-san and Mu-yeong had called him the greatest when it came to medicine, it seemed best to entrust Cheon-sang’s examination to him.
If only Father and Mother had studied medicine a little more, I might have learned something about it too.
Cheonhwa had absorbed his parents’ vast knowledge in scholarship, martial arts, mechanisms, and formations, but he had not learned nearly as much about medicine.
He had been taught basic emergency treatment—stopping bleeding through acupoint pressure or inducing vomiting to relieve internal pressure and buy a few moments of life—but that could hardly be called learning medicine. It was a bit of a shame.
He briefly considered learning a bit of medicine while he had the chance, but he had far too many things to do. He decided he would learn it in his next life.
“There really are so many interesting things in the world.”
“Isn’t there?”
“If it weren’t for Father, I would never have known such an interesting world existed. I would have lived a boring, leisurely life on the island.”
“Really?”
“Mother always hugged me tightly and refused to let me go outside.”
“I see.”
“But now that I’ve come out into the martial world, if I ever get bored again, they might just give me a little sibling.”
Cheonhwa spoke casually, but it was entirely possible that one day a younger brother or sister might suddenly appear before him.
Chatting about all sorts of things, they soon arrived at Wuxi County.
“It will be time for dinner soon. Let’s find an inn, rest for a while, eat, and then continue on our way.”
“Alright.”
The three found a busy inn in Wuxi County and took their seats.
“Welcome, honored guests!”
The waiter approached with a friendly greeting and took their order.
“Are you traveling with your grandfather and grandson? What a heartwarming sight.”
“Does it look that way?”
“It does. You must be hungry after walking so long. Shall I take your order?”
“Bring us some noodles, dumplings, dried meat, and stir-fried garlic chives.”
“Understood. Please wait just a moment.”
After the waiter left with their order, Baek Do-san smiled at Cheonhwa and Cheon-sang.
“It seems he thinks I’m your real grandfather.”
“What does it matter? You are a grandfather. Just treat us like your grandsons.”
When Yi Cheon-sang said this, Cheonhwa looked slightly surprised. The Cheon-sang he knew was somewhat introverted and shy around strangers, rarely speaking comfortably with people he wasn’t familiar with. Seeing him speak so casually to Baek Do-san felt a little strange.
Of course, Yi Cheon-sang had his own motives for treating the Sword Crazy so warmly.
Baek Do-san was one of the Hundred Great Experts of the Central Plains, a supreme master whose martial prowess surpassed even the most elite. Cheon-sang knew that if such a man helped the Haedong Merchant Group, it would be an enormous benefit. So he was acting friendly in hopes that Baek Do-san would stay with them longer as a guest elder.
“That works too. Grandfather.”
When Cheonhwa also called him grandfather in a friendly tone, Baek Do-san burst into hearty laughter, clearly pleased.
As the hour of the horse—dinner time—arrived, customers began entering the inn in twos and threes.
Among them were merchants, scholars, ordinary people, and occasionally martial artists carrying swords.
Out of habit, Cheonhwa secretly spread his internal energy to eavesdrop on the conversations inside the inn.
Most of it was meaningless chatter, but every now and then he picked up useful information.
The Five Dragons Merchant Group? I heard they’re one of the Ten Great Merchant Groups.
Cheonhwa paid closer attention to the merchants’ conversation.
The man who appeared to be the leader of the merchants sighed as he spoke.
Cheonhwa found himself agreeing with the man.
Living in the same world, yet living in different worlds.
Cheonhwa pondered the man’s words carefully.
Cheonhwa nodded to himself as if he understood.
Once the smaller merchant groups collapse, the Five Dragons Merchant Group will monopolize the market. Then they can raise prices as much as they want, and people will have no choice but to buy. In the end, it’s not a loss at all.
Once again, Cheonhwa realized how powerful life experience truly was.
“Sorry for the wait. Here is your order.”
The waiter brought the food and set it on the table.
“You must be hungry. Let’s eat quickly.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Yi Cheon-sang answered energetically and picked up a dumpling, placing it on his own plate.
“Grandfather?”
Cheonhwa called out to Baek Do-san.
“What is it?”
“The idea that even though we live under the same sky, we live in different worlds—does that apply to every place where people live?”
At the sudden question, Baek Do-san tilted his head.
“Well… the differences would vary from place to place, wouldn’t they?”
Baek Do-san answered as if he already understood exactly what Cheonhwa meant without needing further explanation.
“I don’t know about other places, but in the martial world, those differences are especially stark.”