Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: What is Most Important? (2)
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“Jin-ah.”
At Sima Geon’s call, Sima Jin—who had been comforting Baek Muheun alongside Dokgo Ryong—turned her head.
Sima Geon picked up a small tree branch and beckoned with a smile.
When Sima Jin hesitated, tilting her head in confusion, Baek Muheun caught on to Sima Geon’s intention and lightly pushed her on the back.
“It seems your elder brother wants to see your skills.”
“Pardon?”
“My reputation as your master is on the line, so you must do your best.”
With an awkward smile, Sima Jin stepped forward.
“I just want to see how skilled you are, so don’t feel pressured.”
“Maknae, show no mercy. Go at him with your full strength!”
Cheol Woo shouted encouragement loud enough to shake the surroundings.
Nodding, Sima Jin slowly raised her sword.
She didn’t need encouragement. She had long suspected it, but after learning martial arts from her master, she had come to realize that Sima Geon possessed skills several times greater than she had imagined.
Her awkward expression and smile vanished, replaced by a fierce aura that surged from her entire body.
“Come.”
Before Sima Geon even finished speaking, Sima Jin attacked.
Faster than lightning, her blade—laden with sharp killing intent—shot toward Sima Geon.
“Dangerous!”
A cry like a scream burst from Dokgo Ryong’s lips.
In his judgment, Sima Jin’s sudden attack was far too fast, and Sima Geon appeared completely defenseless. In a life-and-death battle, perhaps—but in a simple spar, such a surprise attack could easily lead to a horrific outcome.
“Quiet.”
Baek Muheun’s fist struck Dokgo Ryong on the head.
“With eyes like that, what martial arts do you think you’re learning?”
“That’s not it—it’s just too dangerous…”
Rubbing his head with an aggrieved expression, Dokgo Ryong suddenly fell silent.
The sword that had seemed so dangerous was effortlessly blocked by a mere dry branch and bounced away weakly.
That was only the beginning.
Sima Jin unleashed all the martial arts she had learned, while Sima Geon calmly received her attacks, guiding her so she could properly display her abilities. Occasionally, he launched sharp counterattacks, pointing out flaws in her techniques.
“Heh heh! So it’s a teaching spar.”
Baek Muheun let out a hearty laugh.
“It’s as if he knows our martial arts. He misses not a single flaw.”
Dokgo Ryong’s eyes widened in shock as time passed.
“Indeed. He seems to exploit weaknesses even better than I do as her master. I have nothing to say, nothing at all. Hahaha!”
As Baek Muheun’s laughter subsided, the spar between Sima Geon and Sima Jin came to an end.
“You’ve done well. You’re far more skilled than I expected.”
Sima Geon praised her while gently patting her head. Breathless, Sima Jin simply nodded in response.
Sima Geon felt deeply pleased with her progress.
When Sima Jin had come to the Living Immortal Medical House to study medicine, he hadn’t been particularly pleased to hear she was learning martial arts.
However, Baek Muheun’s words—that letting heaven-given talent go to waste was a sin—had merit. Given the enemies who coveted her talent, it wasn’t a bad idea for her to learn enough martial arts to protect herself. In that case, rather than learning demonic arts that would earn scorn, it seemed better for her to have a respected master in the martial world.
Sima Geon walked toward Baek Muheun and expressed his sincere gratitude.
“Jin-ah has truly grown wonderfully. Thank you for teaching her.”
“No, no. I should be the one thanking you. Search the world over—where would you find a child like her? Taking her as my disciple is a blessing heaven bestowed upon me.”
Baek Muheun’s eyes were filled with indescribable affection as he looked at Sima Jin.
“Thank you.”
A deep smile formed on Sima Geon’s lips.
You’ve truly found a good master.
He was deeply moved by the way Baek Muheun looked at her.
“Hey, friend. Dokgo Ryong, was it?”
Cheol Woo nudged Dokgo Ryong’s side.
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
“Time for a spar?”
Cheol Woo asked in a suggestive tone.
“A spar…?”
Dokgo Ryong glanced at Sima Jin, who was smiling shyly between Baek Muheun and Sima Geon, then nodded firmly.
“Of course. Please teach me a move.”
Sima Jin’s warning had long vanished from his mind.
“It’s been a while, Young Master Sima.”
Upon hearing of Sima Geon’s arrival, Hwang Jeong and Hwang Yeong hurried to the inn where he was staying and greeted him warmly.
“Yes. Have you been well, Physician?”
Hwang Jeong had left behind the Clear Heart Clinic he had built over a lifetime to accompany Sima Jin to the Living Immortal Medical House so she could properly study medicine. Sima Geon treated him with utmost respect.
“I’ve been well. And you, Young Master Sima? I heard a bit from Jin-ah. It seems you’ve all been through quite an ordeal.”
“Leaving home always brings hardship. But we managed.”
After brushing it off lightly, Sima Geon greeted Hwang Yeong as well.
“And have you been well, Miss Hwang?”
“Yes.”
“Yeong-ah has been the greatest help in Jin-ah’s studies. A master in name only, I ran out of things to teach her quickly. Hahaha!”
Hwang Jeong laughed and subtly credited Hwang Yeong.
“Ah, I see. Thank you very much.”
“Oh no. My brother is exaggerating. Jin-ah learns quickly and is exceptionally talented. The elders of our house dote on her.”
“I don’t know how to express my thanks.”
Sima Geon couldn’t hide his smile at the praise.
“There’s no need. More than anyone, our house coveted her talent. She’s already doing well, but if she continues like this, our house’s reputation will rise thanks to her.”
Sima Geon watched Sima Jin, who was at a loss amid the repeated praise, with satisfaction.
“You honor her too highly.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Still, I was quite surprised to see Jin-ah learning martial arts.”
“Haha! It’s understandable. I was surprised as well. The Soaring Dragon Sword Emperor suddenly insisted on taking her as a disciple and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Sima Geon’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Insisted? He never mentioned that.”
“With her, he pleaded gently and earnestly. Everyone admired his sincerity. But with our house, he even resorted to threats. Of course, we knew he meant no harm, so it wasn’t a real issue.”
“Our elders were worried that if she formally entered martial arts, her medical studies might suffer. It wasn’t just light training for health.”
Sima Geon nodded.
“That’s understandable.”
“But once my brother permitted it, the matter ended. If her master allows it, others have no grounds to object.”
Sima Geon sensed that Hwang Jeong must have been in a difficult position.
“Why did you permit it?”
Hwang Jeong answered as if it were obvious.
“I saw firsthand the situation she was placed in because of her talent. Of course, she has dependable elder brothers, but who knows what may happen? I thought it wouldn’t hurt for her to learn martial arts to protect herself, like Yeong here. In fact, I had considered recommending our house’s martial arts later, as they are closely tied to medicine. But then the Soaring Dragon Sword Emperor discovered her talent. There was no reason to refuse.”
“And my brother’s decision proved correct. Her medical skills didn’t decline at all—in fact, they improved even faster, perhaps because she became healthier.”
“I see. This is all thanks to your consideration and that of the Living Immortal Medical House.”
Sima Geon bowed again.
Hwang Yeong continued explaining Sima Jin’s life and studies in detail.
Each time she spoke, Sima Geon expressed heartfelt joy and gratitude.
Hwang Yeong felt relieved at his reaction.
Although Sima Geon had saved the Living Immortal Medical House from the Heavenly Demon Cult’s threat, her prejudice against his demonic origins had led her to make a serious mistake. That had weighed on her heart, but through Sima Jin’s matter, she felt that mistake had been somewhat eased.
“…You should have seen the patient’s expression then.”
“What was it like?”
“Her eyes were hazy, as if she had descended from heaven…”
Hwang Yeong trailed off mid-sentence as the door suddenly opened and a group entered.
“Elder, you’ve arrived?”
Recognizing Baek Muheun, Hwang Jeong quickly greeted him. Hwang Yeong followed suit respectfully.
“I heard you were here. Hm, judging by your startled expressions, you were tattling about the mischief I caused at the Living Immortal Medical House to take that child as my disciple.”
At Baek Muheun’s joke, Hwang Jeong laughed.
“Indeed. I was just explaining in detail how stubborn you were.”
“To obtain such a treasure, that much stubbornness is nothing. Don’t you agree?”
Embarrassed, Sima Jin grabbed his arm.
“Enough nonsense. Please sit. Ah, this is—”
Before she could introduce Neung Sohwa, the woman smiled gently and spoke first.
“My name is Neung Sohwa.”
Baek Muheun added quietly.
“The Sword Empress.”
At the title, Hwang Jeong and Hwang Yeong bowed respectfully.
“I am Hwang Jeong of the Living Immortal Medical House.”
“And I’m Hwang Yeong.”
“I’ve heard much about you from Young Master Sima. You’ve taken great care of Sister Jin.”
“It was only natural.”
Unlike Hwang Jeong, who waved it off, Hwang Yeong’s expression stiffened slightly at the sight of Neung Sohwa and Sima Geon smiling at one another so familiarly.
“Have you two finished speaking?”
Sima Geon asked Baek Muheun, handing him a cup of wine.
“For the most part. I may have said a few unnecessary things.”
“I see. Then, Miss Neung, what do you intend to do?”
At Sima Geon’s question, Neung Sohwa’s eyes shone.
“Did you already know what Senior was going to ask me?”
“Of course not.”
Despite his words, Sima Geon had roughly guessed from the moment Baek Muheun had asked to speak with her privately.
“Given the current state of the martial world, I simply assumed it concerned that.”
“Correct. The situation is dire. The Heavenly Demon Cult, the North Sea Ice Palace, even the Blood Cult stirring… There has never been such chaos. A bloodstorm could erupt at any moment.”
After emptying his cup, Baek Muheun continued.
“So I made a request. A shameless and perhaps rude one.”
“Please don’t say that. I too have been deeply pondering whether I should continue the Sword Empress’s Path while the martial world teeters on the brink.”
“I may be mistaken, but I believe the Sword Empress’s Path is not merely to display your strength, but to gain experience against masters across the world and perfect your martial arts. From that perspective, your skill has already been sufficiently proven.”
“That is praise I can scarcely bear.”
Blushing, Neung Sohwa soon grew serious.
“While I cannot fully agree that it has been sufficiently proven, Senior’s rebuke about what truly matters awakened me.”
“S-Surely not?”
Baek Muheun’s eyes trembled.
“Yes. I will stop the Sword Empress’s Path.”
The bombshell declaration drew gasps from those present.
Yet Neung Sohwa’s calm gaze remained utterly steady.