Chapter 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: My Constitution?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I learned medicine because of my mother.
No matter how many physicians we visited, there was no improvement, only money wasted.
Trusting in my sharp mind, I decided to study medicine myself.
The Murim Alliance was a den of fierce beasts, but for a scholar like me, it was no different from a treasure trove.
Not only did it house ferocious warriors, but it was also filled with all sorts of rare books—volumes I'd always wanted to read but could never obtain.
The reason I continued working in the Inspection Unit despite all the pressure was because I could freely access the public and secret archives.
Back then, in my search to treat my mother, I scoured every related book in those archives and discovered the existence of the Spirit Mountain Flower.
I found a lead on it. But to pursue that lead, I realized I needed a meticulous plan.
The clue lay in unorthodox territory.
A place teeming with beasts even fiercer than those in the Murim Alliance.
The Murim Alliance had plenty of physicians—over a dozen resident ones, in fact.
I built rapport with them and learned medicine from their teachings.
The place I spent the most time in at the Alliance, aside from the Inspection Unit, was the Medical Hall.
I never imagined that the studies I began to cure my mother's illness would surpass even seasoned physicians.
After learning acupuncture from the Medical Hall's doctors, along with herbology, meridians, and pulse diagnosis, I exceeded the level of any local practitioner.
Through that, I realized one thing.
I wasn't just exceptional in scholarship—I excelled in every field.
To confirm it, I learned the large flute from a musician friend at the Alliance, only to show such talent in music that they forced me to take up the qin as well.
Later, when my playing surpassed even the Alliance's qin masters, I backed off before it drew too much attention.
"Scholar Cheon! You're a genius sent from heaven. Won't you explore the arts with me?"
They clung so persistently that I avoided the Alliance's music hall for a while.
"What if... I have talent in martial arts too?"
That was the final question lingering in my mind.
In the end, to resolve my doubts, I dipped my toes into martial arts.
The Murim Alliance offered basic martial arts open to new scholars—carefully selected techniques from great sects.
I read the manuals and comprehended them immediately.
I realized this was the enlightenment that warriors ultimately called the essence.
I had the ability to reach the essence just by reading the manual.
'But isn't that obvious? I've already mastered Daoist and Buddhist scriptures, delved into astronomy, divination, medicine, music, poetry, books, and painting. Martial manuals are as easy to grasp as the Thousand Character Classic.'
Hearing warriors boast about pondering for years or decades made me wonder if I was the odd one or if they were blockheads.
'How do they even cultivate martial arts with heads like that?'
The manuals were so straightforward. Seeing them mull over a single line for years was incomprehensible.
And these were the so-called geniuses from prestigious families.
Once, I passed by one in the library clutching his head in frustration and glanced at the title and manual.
24 Plum Blossom Sword Techniques
To me, the manual for the 24 Plum Blossom Sword Techniques was filled with metaphors, similes, symbols, and implications.
All the advanced manuals in the Alliance's secret library followed that format.
It was their safeguard— even if leaked, no one could interpret them.
They were packed with allusions only those versed in Mount Hua Sect symbolism could grasp.
Trying to interpret them literally meant missing the creator's intent entirely.
'But that one's so advanced, only a jinshi-level scholar could make sense of it even a little. Why write it so obscurely?'
For warriors with no scholarly foundation, the manuals were impossibly difficult.
No amount of agonizing would reveal their meaning without academic attainment.
Some were even structured like poems—how could warriors who never memorized one comprehend them?
That's when I realized it.
The creators of these arts long ago possessed the erudition of true scholars.
As eras passed and warriors focused solely on martial arts, neglecting scholarship, comprehending supreme techniques became harder.
"As time flows, the number of absolute masters dwindles. Is talent not what it used to be?"
I once heard a master lament that. In hindsight, their approach was fundamentally wrong.
They didn't realize fewer warriors attained supreme arts because they'd drifted from scholarship.
That led to a question about myself.
"Why does everything come so easily to me?"
I first attributed it to genius, but after mastering martial arts effortlessly, I delved into the constitutions warriors spoke of.
Then I found something matching mine.
"No way... Is this really me?!"
While reading a book on warrior constitutions in the Alliance library, I dropped it.
It listed something unbelievable.
Heavenly Martial Sacred Body.
A body where hearing once leads to comprehending tenfold, and practicing once yields tenfold mastery.
The most perfect physique for martial arts, akin to complete marrow transformation—I dropped the book upon reading that.
Marrow transformation was the ultimate goal of all warriors.
Most special constitutions had the fatal flaw of shortened lifespan, and the Heavenly Martial Sacred Body's was particularly dire.
The Heavenly Martial Sacred Body bears the fate of the Alcor Star, requiring the absorption of qi from six individuals with Big Dipper fates to sustain life. Otherwise, upon surpassing thirty, the star erupts, sexual desire maximizes, turning one into a madman or a peerless lecher.
"Is this my constitution?"
Yet all my manifested talents and traits pointed to the Heavenly Martial Sacred Body.
Endless stamina without cultivating martial arts, exceptional five senses.
This allowed heightened concentration after thirty, making scholarship effortless.
Even before thirty, my memory was superb, but after the body awakened, a single read etched things indelibly, and learning new things became trivially easy.
Still doubtful, what convinced me of my constitution was my mother.
According to the book, one parent of a Heavenly Martial Sacred Body bearer must possess the rare Alcor Supreme Star Body.
That's why no herbs or acupuncture worked on her.
There was only one remedy for her condition—an herb whose existence was uncertain.
"Scholar Cheon!"
As I inserted needles into a patient for the first time in a while, old memories flashed by like a panorama.
I was now at a teahouse by the Nangong Family's north gate, administering acupuncture.
Over the past few days, chatting casually with the servants at Nangong Mubaek's residence and subtly mentioning my medical prowess had won their favor.
Families always had someone ill, and given their status, they'd likely never received proper care.
I seized that opening.
"In three days, gather at the Qingxin Teahouse by the Nangong Family's rear gate. I can't see you all individually, so I'll check everyone at once."
The six servants at Nangong Mubaek's place—two maids, two retainers, two guards—meant five patients that day, mostly their parents and siblings.
After taking all five pulses and detailing their symptoms one by one, admirers appeared.
Pinpointing their ailments won over the simple folk, treating me like a famed physician.
I even wrote prescriptions by hand.
Normally, obtaining such a prescription required paying physicians handsomely.
"Please take this, Scholar."
An elderly woman timidly offered three eggs from home.
She was the mother of Eunbi, the maid who'd broken a bowl during my talk with Nangong Mubaek.
"No, please take them back. Some herbs in this prescription are expensive."
Though I'd written the prescriptions, they lacked money for medicine.
I sent someone with funds to have all five prepared as prescribed.
"Oh dear, Scholar. We'll be too ashamed."
"It's fine. We're all one family, aren't we? We must help each other while serving Young Master Nangong. I came into some money, so don't worry about the cost."
While the medicines were prepared, I needled the three who required acupuncture.
Then the teahouse owner approached.
I was slightly surprised to see she was a young beauty—most teahouse owners were middle-aged, man or woman.
Truly, the Nangong Family's commercial district; even teahouses had such beauties as owners.
The Murim Alliance's markets had plenty of attractive shopkeeps too.
With warriors always bustling and bringing wealth, young beauties were hired or ran shops themselves.
"Scholar, this place is uncomfortable. Please use the private room inside for treatments."
"I didn't want to impose."
"Seeing you offer medicine to the needy, can't I provide that much? If I fall ill, may I request your services too?"
"Hahaha. Madam Owner, my skills are only for emergency care among acquaintances. For real illness, see a proper physician."
"From what I've seen, your acupuncture and prescriptions surpass local clinics."
"You're too kind. Treating too many without a license could cause trouble, so I limit it to friends."
Treating acquaintances informally was fine, but charging strangers invited issues.
"What's the problem if you're not charging?"
She blinked cutely, and I chuckled.
"Does the world always flow with goodwill and reason? Good intentions often turn sour these days. Better to be cautious."
Nangong Mubaek could make an issue of it alone.
Only officially registered physicians could practice medicine.
That's why I stuck to his household.
This was the perfect scale of benevolence to earn goodwill.
Having handed out hefty medicine pouches despite their meager means, I returned to the residence.
The maids and families bowed deeply in thanks.
"Scholar, thank you. To receive such treatment in our lives... truly grateful."
The medicine costs alone were substantial, bringing some to tears.
In truth, it was a calculated act to gain the upper hand over Nangong Mubaek, but they appreciated it nonetheless.
Intent aside, if it brought happiness, I was content.
The wind doesn't scatter dandelion seeds solely to bloom beautiful flowers, after all.
As the scholar left the teahouse, the Third Protector playing owner tilted her head.
"Definitely an interesting one. No wonder the Little Palace Lord is intrigued. Treating his close aides for free matches the reports of his good character."
Soon, another woman approached.
The owner bowed to her.
The Little Palace Lord asked,
"Have you investigated?"
"Yes, Little Palace Lord."
"Tell me."
"Name: Cheon Taesan, born in Wuhan, Hubei. About three years past thirty. Family: Cheon Manor in Wuhan, Hubei—a minor power that declined after his father died and mother fell ill. A fallen scholarly house."
Slurp!
The woman dubbed Little Palace Lord sipped her tea before continuing.
"...Passed the provincial exam, preparing for the metropolitan when his family collapsed, leading him to enter Murim Alliance service."
As the Little Palace Lord stared, she added,
"They say he might have topped the palace exam if he'd taken it—a true talent."
"Hm. A man of broad learning."
"Yes. Reputed for unblemished character. But he has many enemies."
"Why? If his character is good."
"While in the Inspection Unit, he exposed numerous corruptions and punishments. From unit leaders to branch heads, division heads, and village heads—no one was spared. Naturally, many resent him."
"Yet the powerful ones left him alone."
"No. He risked his life digging into an Alliance elder's corruption, forcing the elder from office."
Seeing intrigue and favor flicker in the Little Palace Lord's eyes, she poured negatives next.
"Reports say, perhaps from his Inspection Unit days, he's un-scholarly—cusses well, oozes venom. Sometimes fouler-mouthed than thugs, ghost-like viciousness earned him 'Ghostly Scholar'."
But the Little Palace Lord ignored it.
"So capable, why send him to the Nangong Family instead of keeping him at the Alliance?"
"The Murim Alliance dislikes those who know martial families' secrets. They see it as shame. Plus, toppling an elder bred fear—who's next? He was investigating elders' corruption when reassigned. The Alliance likely felt burdened."
"That's why Alliance higher-ups are called hypocrites of the orthodox path. Fearless, though? A mere scholar exposing elders and veterans' rot—what even the Alliance Lord couldn't do."
The Little Palace Lord continued.
"Anything special?"
So far, he seemed an exceptional scholar—plenty like Scholar Cheon in the imperial court.
"Found a few oddities investigating, but unconfirmed..."
She'd ordered a thorough probe—usually stripping subjects bare—yet today she seemed half-hearted.
"Speak."
"Rumors say Scholar Cheon Taesan knows martial arts."
"Martial arts?"
"Yes. From Alliance sources, credible."
"Details."
Noticing her curt tone—anger or intense curiosity—the owner tensed.
"Beat a second-rate Alliance junior in a spar. Not mere wooden swordplay."
"Ho. Sparred a near-first-rate junior? Who was the opponent?"
Her brevity signaled nerves on edge.
"Pang Soun, son of Alliance Elder Pang Gyocheol. Rumors of similar incidents suggest he hides his skills. But he's never admitted cultivating martial arts."
"I see. And?"
"Exceptionally skilled in medicine—many benefited from him at the Alliance."
"His acupuncture exceeded local physicians."
As a physician herself, the Little Palace Lord knew best.
"His prescriptions shocked me. Even I struggle with such precision."
Her tone had shifted to commanding a subordinate, but the owner paid no mind.
The Little Palace Lord's speech adapted to her mood.
"More?"
"Hard-won info: Officially demoted to Nangong Family rotation due to politics, but... he volunteered."
"Volunteered? Why? With that scoundrel Nangong Mubaek rivaling Pang Soun, why there? If bullied by Pang Soun, he'd pick quiet sects like Mount Hua or Wudang."
"Reason unknown. And an unverified rumor..."
Seeing the Third Protector hesitate, the Little Palace Lord chided.
"Third Protector, if debating eating, don't. If debating doing, do. If debating going, go. If debating speaking, speak."