Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: Grand Plan (3)
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"It's Shaoxing!"
At Thunderclap's shout, everyone's faces lit up with joy.
The group had traveled by waterway from Nanking to Hangzhou, stayed overnight there, and set off early in the morning. They arrived in Shaoxing just as the sun began to set.
"Anyone would think it was your hometown."
At Cheol Woo's teasing remark, Thunderclap raised his voice as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Do you have to be born somewhere for it to be your hometown? If your heart draws you there and you feel attached, that's your home. A hometown you can't even remember is meaningless anyway. To me, Shaoxing might as well be my hometown."
"Who said anything? I was just joking, no need to get so serious."
Caught off guard by Thunderclap's reaction, Cheol Woo grumbled awkwardly and turned his head away.
"Anyway, we're here. Su-rin was carried off on Black Wolf, so it's been almost two years already?"
At Sima Geon's words, Manchu nodded.
"Yes. Exactly one year and eight months have passed."
"You kept track of the days? How do you even remember that?"
When Cheol Woo asked in surprise, Manchu chuckled and replied.
"That's basic. After meeting the Poison Specter elder in the Ha Hu Clan, then chasing after Yoksan of the Sa Blood Forest, the Flying Heaven Chamber, and the Lord of the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate all the way to Tongcheon Lake. I remember exactly when everything happened."
When Manchu mentioned Yoksan, the base of the Sa Blood Forest, Gwa Yu flinched noticeably. So Su-rin's reaction to hearing the Ten Thousand Poisons Gate was similar.
"You've been busy, haven't you? Even after returning to the Central Plains, the incidents never stopped."
Cheol Woo recalled the clash with the Demon Buddha Temple in the Tang Clan and the fierce ongoing battles with the Blood Slaughter Cult that followed, letting out a long sigh. It wasn't comparable to the frequency of battles during the Heavenly Demon Cult's unification, but fighting the Demon Buddha Temple—especially the Blood Slaughter Cult—had been grueling and perilous every moment, where one's life hung in the balance.
"Anyway, let's hurry. We can't stay long, but for now, let's forget everything and rest well."
Sima Geon strode forward briskly.
The thought of reuniting with his long-separated siblings melted away all the accumulated fatigue without a trace. The others felt the same.
The first place Sima Geon's group headed upon arriving in Shaoxing was the Clear Heart Clinic.
They hadn't originally planned to go there, but on the way to Wu Family Village, they heard the Clear Heart Clinic's master had returned and changed course.
When Sima Geon had gone to the Living Immortal Medical House to meet Sima Jin, Hwang Jeong had mentioned he would soon return to the Clear Heart Clinic. The physician Hwang Jo, who had been managing it in his stead, needed to return to the Living Immortal Medical House due to his grandfather's illness.
"I didn't expect him to come back this quickly, though."
Sima Geon murmured as they reached the Clear Heart Clinic's main gate, and Cheol Woo chimed in.
"If they've been saying he's been back for a while, it seems like he left right after we did."
"He didn't show it, but life at the Living Immortal Medical House didn't seem particularly comfortable for him."
Sima Geon nodded at Thunderclap's words.
"Yeah, it did seem that way. Made me feel even more sorry for him."
Sima Geon always felt grateful and indebted to Hwang Jeong, knowing full well that the man, who had built a solid reputation in Shaoxing, had returned to the Living Immortal Medical House solely to look after his disciple, Sima Jin.
Entering the Clear Heart Clinic, Sima Geon politely requested an audience with its master. However, moments later, it wasn't Hwang Jeong who came to greet them.
"Big Brother!"
The one who appeared in snow-white robes was none other than Sima Jin.
"J-Jin-ah. How are you..."
Sima Geon stared at Sima Jin with wide, dazed eyes.
"Hahaha! Little one!"
Cheol Woo enveloped Sima Jin in his massive arms.
Sima Jin wheezed and struggled for a good while before escaping his embrace, then exchanged warm greetings with the others.
"What on earth happened?"
Sima Geon, calming his pounding heart, asked while unable to hide his delight.
"I came with Master."
"He never mentioned that."
"We didn't plan it at first. There was still so much to learn. But as his departure day approached, my heart wouldn't let me stay. After seeing you, Big Brother, I missed our other brothers too."
"So you followed Master?"
"Yes."
"What did the Living Immortal Medical House say?"
Sima Geon asked with a hint of worry.
"Most of the ones who taught me tried to dissuade me. But still..."
Sima Geon didn't miss the shadow that flickered across Sima Jin's eyes. But he chose not to pry.
"There's nothing we could say."
Everyone turned at the voice from behind.
Hwang Jeong, his clothes stained with blood from treating a critical patient, approached with a bright smile.
"Good to see you again, Young Master Sima."
"Yes. You mentioned returning to the Clear Heart Clinic, but I didn't expect to see you so soon."
"Haha! Once I made up my mind, there was no reason to delay, so I left immediately."
"I figured as much. But what did you mean by what you just said?"
Even amid the greetings, Sima Geon didn't forget Hwang Jeong's earlier words.
"I mean, we couldn't hold her back even if we wanted to."
When Sima Geon looked puzzled, Hwang Jeong gave a wry smile.
"You know how exceptional Jin-ah is, Young Master Sima."
"Yes, of course."
Everyone knew the abilities Sima Jin had demonstrated after treating illnesses, so Sima Geon didn't feign modesty.
"From the day I took her as my disciple and began teaching her medicine, there wasn't a single day I wasn't amazed. In fact, I was the one who actively encouraged her to go to the Living Immortal Medical House to learn more."
"She told me."
"There was no other reason. I simply couldn't keep up with her. Haha!"
At Hwang Jeong's frank confession, Sima Jin bowed her head in embarrassment, but everyone nodded understandingly.
"The same thing happened back home. After arriving at the Living Immortal Medical House, several physicians taught her. She provided great help in the process."
Hwang Jeong subtly highlighted Hwang Yeong's contributions, but Sima Geon showed no particular reaction.
"The problem was that no physician lasted more than a month with her."
"Is that even possible? I'm no expert, but medicine isn't something you master just by reading books, right? You need acupuncture skills, prescriptions tailored to illnesses—all that comes from accumulated experience."
Hwang Jeong let out a hollow laugh at Cheol Woo's question.
"Yes, exactly. That's common sense, and a process every physician goes through. But not for that child. She displayed abilities far beyond our imaginations. The saying 'hear one, know ten' doesn't even do her justice. It got to the point where among the physicians, phrases like 'hear one, know a hundred' or 'hear one, know a thousand' spread like wildfire."
It was praise fit for gold plating. Yet no one dismissed it as a master's excessive affection for his disciple. Having witnessed it firsthand, they knew Sima Jin truly possessed such talent.
"It was less than two years, but I can confidently say she mastered at least ninety percent of the Living Immortal Medical House's secret arts. The issue is that to learn beyond that, she would have to fully become one of them."
"Isn't she already, as your disciple learning their medicine?"
Thunderclap asked incredulously.
"No, it's different. Simply being a disciple learning their arts versus fully becoming one of the Living Immortal Medical House—there's a far greater gap than you might think."
"I think I understand. Like the difference between direct disciples and lay disciples in Shaolin or Mount Hua?"
Hwang Jeong nodded vigorously at Manchu's words.
"Exactly. But to be precise, the difference is even greater than that."
"I get it now."
Sima Geon looked at Sima Jin with warm eyes.
"You didn't want to fully become one of them?"
"I'm not sure. I do want to learn more medicine, but something just didn't pull me in."
"There was..."
As Hwang Jeong opened his mouth with an angry expression, Sima Jin quickly signaled him to stop. Once again, Sima Geon didn't ask. He figured there must be a good reason she wasn't saying.
"I wouldn't know about anything else, but good job anyway. You should follow your heart so you don't regret it later. Heh heh heh! Our little one's all grown up."
Cheol Woo ruffled Sima Jin's hair wildly while laughing, then asked as if something just occurred to him.
"By the way, does that mean the old man came too?"
"Who? Oh, Master?"
"Yeah."
"Master came with us. You'll be shocked when you see him."
Sima Jin gave a meaningful smile.
And she was right.
Baek Mu Heun's appearance wasn't just surprising—it shocked everyone deeply.
"What are you doing?"
Cheol Woo asked with a dumbfounded look.
Baek Mu Heun, who had been diligently sharpening his knife, pointed at the pig hanging from the pillar.
"Can't you see? The blood's drained, so now it's time to butcher it. Hyeon-ah."
"Yes, Elder."
Sima Hyeon, who had been chatting amiably with Ha Hu Yeon nearby, greeted the newcomers warmly and responded promptly.
"Watch closely."
Baek Mu Heun moved his knife.
It was astonishingly fast and precise, no matter who looked.
After a brief demonstration, Baek Mu Heun handed the knife to Sima Hyeon.
"You try."
"Yes."
Sima Hyeon took the knife without hesitation and began butchering. Everyone was stunned by his fluid movements, like a dance. Though he had learned slaughtering from Sima Geon and Cheol Woo in the past, his knife work was now incomparably refined and effortless.
"Did you run a butcher shop before?"
At Cheol Woo's question, Baek Mu Heun shook his head.
"No. In my youth, I trained relentlessly to grow stronger in every way possible. Butchering was just part of that training; I never did it for business."
"Your skill is impressive."
At Sima Geon's compliment, Baek Mu Heun laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! Coming from you, that's an honor. I did work hard at it."
"By the way, I heard there was an incident right after you arrived here."
"From Jin-ah?"
"Yes. We came from the Clear Heart Clinic. Thank you for your help."
Sima Geon bowed his head in gratitude.
"Help? Don't mention it. They say some masters just let threats to their disciples slide."
"If you hadn't arrived just in time..."
Sima Geon trailed off, unwilling to imagine the worst.
"Don't worry about it. Those cowards were despicable, targeting family of all things."
"Yes. I had my suspicions, but I didn't expect them to be so blatant."
Sima Geon's expression darkened, perhaps thinking his siblings might always be in danger because of him.
"I'll be staying here for a while, so don't fret too much. You heard from the clinic, right? About Jin-ah leaving the Living Immortal Medical House."
"Yes."
"Those so-called physicians are a joke. When they meet a genius like Jin-ah, they should thank the heavens and teach her with all they've got. How dare they scheme."
Clearly displeased with the Living Immortal Medical House's behavior, Baek Mu Heun's voice sharpened.
"You're right. It was honestly bewildering."
Sima Geon hadn't known the details but nodded along subtly.
"Bewildering? Of course it was. Those secret arts—what's so great about them that they'd bring up marriage? I held back because I owed them and Jin-ah stopped me, but otherwise, I would've turned the place upside down."
Baek Mu Heun breathed heavily, still fuming at the memory.
'Marriage? So that's it.'
Sima Geon realized what Hwang Jeong had tried to say—and what Sima Jin had hastily stopped. His eyes turned cold. He also understood the true meaning of fully becoming one of the Living Immortal Medical House.
'Now I see why the physician said the difference is even greater than between direct and lay disciples.'
Noticing Sima Geon's reaction, Baek Mu Heun realized he hadn't known the full story.
"You didn't know."
"No. I only heard she didn't feel like it. She stopped the Clear Heart Clinic master from telling me."
"I see. Good kid. Probably didn't want to worry you. Or maybe she was concerned about the Living Immortal Medical House."
Sima Geon gave a wry smile at Baek Mu Heun's words.
"Anyway, don't worry too much. Jin-ah's talent is heaven-sent. The Living Immortal Medical House's secret arts? Hah! Ridiculous. She's already learned all she needs. With time and experience, even their boasted secrets will seem trivial."
Baek Mu Heun's faith in Sima Jin was absolute.
"Same with martial arts. Soon, my teachings will run dry for her. Internal energy's an issue, but if needed, I can pass mine on before I go."
"Pardon?"
As Sima Geon started in surprise, Baek Mu Heun continued nonchalantly.
"Why so shocked? Am I supposed to take it to the grave? It's useless after death anyway. Better to give it to a disciple early. I was going to give it to that one, but eh."
Baek Mu Heun pointed at Dokgo Ryong, who was strolling toward the butcher shop while chatting with Ha Hu Yeon from afar.
"Give it to him, and he'll just reach my level at best. Smart kid, but not genius enough to shake the world. But Jin-ah's different."
Baek Mu Heun's eyes sparkled.
"With my arts as a foundation, she can aim for the top of the world. I guarantee she'll surpass the Sword Queen. Isn't that magnificent?!"
Imagining Sima Jin rivaling the Sword Queen, Baek Mu Heun clenched his fist tightly.