Chapter 65
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Spreading Ripples
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A secluded mountain path, far from the world's clamor.
A lone rider was galloping up the mountain path.
The man urged his horse on, his face etched with worry.
It was Pung Jin-seong.
Not long ago, a carrier pigeon sent by Neung So-mil had arrived at Jinseong Clinic.
But the message was too small to convey the full situation, so he had set out on horseback immediately. Besides, the recent rumors surrounding Dan Ak-seon had already put him on edge.
He wanted to push his horse faster, but the animal was already utterly exhausted.
Fortunately, the entrance to Divine Demon Valley came into view in the distance.
All sorts of worries and concerns troubled Pung Jin-seong’s mind.
But upon entering Divine Demon Valley, he realized his fears had been baseless.
No formations were active, and the atmosphere was much the same as always. Relieved, Pung Jin-seong dismounted and headed deeper into the valley.
Then, he came across an unexpected sight.
In the distance, he spotted Dan Ak-seon moving about, drenched in sweat.
He seemed to be practicing his footwork, diligently running along lines and markings drawn on the ground.
Beside him, Cho Ak-ryang watched with a sharp gaze.
From time to time, he would speak, correcting Dan Ak-seon's posture and movements.
“Don't think about your next move before you take a step. Entrust your body to your senses.”
His voice was strict and sharp, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
“Hardness precedes the opponent's force; softness follows it! You must strike hard and preemptively before your opponent's power is fully formed. Conversely, when receiving their force, you must flow with it softly.”
Cho Ak-ryang was imparting the most basic yet crucial teachings of footwork in the form of a mnemonic chant.
The explanation was so profound that to Pung Jin-seong, who had never learned martial arts, it sounded like a language from another world.
Pung Jin-seong found a spot to the side and sat down to watch Dan Ak-seon train.
Fortunately, the results of the training seemed satisfactory, as Cho Ak-ryang's corrections became less frequent over time.
Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. In contrast, Han Seol-hwa, watching Dan Ak-seon's training from behind, could only offer a look of pity.
Then, in an instant.
“Oh! Goodness!”
Pung Jin-seong shot to his feet without realizing it.
Dan Ak-seon, who had been moving erratically, seemed to have tangled his footwork and went tumbling violently, unable to control his momentum.
Despite this, Cho Ak-ryang didn't even bat an eye.
Neither did Dan Ak-seon.
He must have been in considerable pain after such a rough fall, but he simply spat on his scraped knee and threw himself back into practicing his footwork.
Watching this, Pung Jin-seong frowned involuntarily.
Just then, someone approached and greeted him.
“You're here.”
It was Neung So-mil.
Pung Jin-seong's face lit up as he walked over to Neung So-mil.
“I received the letter you sent. There are a few things I'd like to ask about it.”
“I was just thinking the explanation was insufficient and was about to send another message.”
Neung So-mil explained in detail what had happened.
Pung Jin-seong listened intently, at times surprised, at others groaning in dismay.
“How can these so-called martial artists be so shameless...”
When Neung So-mil finished, Pung Jin-seong was genuinely furious, but worry soon took over.
Those who sought to harm Dan Ak-seon surely weren't limited to just them.
He was deep in thought, pondering countermeasures, when...
“Mister!”
Seeing Dan Ak-seon running toward him, waving, Pung Jin-seong smiled back and offered him a handkerchief.
“Is your training over?”
“No. I'm going to continue after a short break.”
Pung Jin-seong noticed a large bruise on Dan Ak-seon's forehead and frowned. Looking closer, he saw it wasn't just his forehead.
His entire body was covered in scrapes and scratches.
Reading the look in Pung Jin-seong's eyes, Dan Ak-seon gave a bashful smile.
“There's nothing to worry about. They're not serious injuries, and I'm treating them as they happen.”
“Like spitting on a scraped knee, I suppose.”
“You saw that?”
Pung Jin-seong sighed at Dan Ak-seon's sheepish grin.
“I know the shoemaker's children go barefoot, but you're still a physician...”
“Hehe, I'm sorry.”
Pung Jin-seong, who had been staring blankly at Dan Ak-seon, nodded.
“Still, it's a relief to see you looking so bright.”
Having known Pung Jin-seong for a long time, Dan Ak-seon immediately understood what he wanted to say.
“I'm trying to face the world in a different way than my parents did.”
“A wise decision. I'm sure your parents wouldn't have wanted you to live a life cut off from the world.”
In truth, Pung Jin-seong was the one who had most sincerely wished for Dan Ak-seon to step out into the world.
It was then that Dan Ak-seon hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully.
“I lied to you before, Mister.”
“...?”
“Remember when I said I'd be happy living here my whole life, just like my parents?”
Pung Jin-seong looked puzzled.
He vaguely recalled hearing something like that once. But Dan Ak-seon's next words made him burst out laughing.
“Actually, even back then, I was always curious about the outside world. I just didn't want you to worry...”
“Haha. No need to apologize. I knew.”
Pung Jin-seong offered Dan Ak-seon a pleased smile of encouragement.
“Stay strong. I'm sure you will do well, both here and out there.”
At those sincere words, Dan Ak-seon beamed and turned away. He then went back toward Cho Ak-ryang to continue his training.
Watching his retreating back, Pung Jin-seong felt a pang in his heart.
‘He's grown so much in the short time I haven't seen him.’
Staring intently at Dan Ak-seon, Pung Jin-seong began to unpack the luggage he had brought. Since he had come all this way, he wanted to help Dan Ak-seon in any way he could.
He was in the middle of carrying the luggage to the pavilion when...
“Let me help.”
Cho Ak-ryang, who had appeared without him noticing, effortlessly lifted the heavy bundles.
“Thank you.”
At Pung Jin-seong's thanks, Cho Ak-ryang shook his head with an indifferent expression.
“Medicinal herbs?”
“Yes. They're for the Clear Ascension Pill.”
“Clear Ascension Pill?”
“It's my own improved version of the manufacturing method for Master's secret formula, the Sacred Hand Divine Pill.”
Cho Ak-ryang was startled.
The word 'improved' meant to correct flaws and make something better.
“Are you saying your Clear Ascension Pill is superior to the Sacred Hand Divine Pill?”
Pung Jin-seong smiled and shook his head.
“Of course not.”
“Then why did you call it an improvement?”
“Because I addressed the greatest drawback of the Sacred Hand Divine Pill.”
“A drawback?”
Cho Ak-ryang tilted his head, but after hearing Pung Jin-seong's explanation, he nodded in strong agreement.
“The cost of the medicinal herbs required to make a single Sacred Hand Divine Pill is truly wicked.”
Furthermore, the quantity that could be produced was extremely limited.
That's why he had come up with the Clear Ascension Pill.
While it couldn't compare to the Sacred Hand Divine Pill, its advantage was that it could produce a similar effect using common herbs. Although it lacked the power to revive the dead or enhance internal energy, it was more than effective enough for fatigue recovery and treating internal injuries.
“You can think of it as having about one-tenth the effect of the Sacred Hand Divine Pill. But the production cost is only one-hundredth.”
“So that's why you called it an improvement.”
Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
He had sacrificed some of the medicinal efficacy for a stable supply, thereby compensating for the drawback of the production cost.
“Should I think of it as something like Shaolin's Minor Restoration Pill?”
Pung Jin-seong shook his head with a troubled expression.
“How could it possibly compare to one of Shaolin's secret divine pills? The Sacred Hand Divine Pill, perhaps, but...”
“It's just us here, no need for false modesty. I'm well aware of your skills.”
Feeling awkward, Pung Jin-seong turned his head to look at Dan Ak-seon.
Dan Ak-seon was engrossed in his training, his face serious.
The way he immediately got up and corrected his stance after falling and tumbling time and again showed not just determination, but a venomous intensity.
Cho Ak-ryang, who was observing him closely, frowned slightly.
“He's overdoing it.”
“Should I stop him?”
Han Seol-hwa, who had approached them at some point, suddenly spoke up.
“It's been a while.”
Han Seol-hwa responded to Pung Jin-seong's greeting with a slight nod, then looked at Cho Ak-ryang expectantly.
While Cho Ak-ryang hesitated, Pung Jin-seong shook his head.
“It'll be no use.”
Pung Jin-seong gave a bitter smile to the two puzzled faces.
“Because you can't stop him when he has that look in his eyes.”
“What do you mean by that?”
At Cho Ak-ryang's question, Pung Jin-seong recalled an old memory.
“When the Valley Lord was five, he first learned how to decoct medicine.”
He remembered how the boy, determined to close the gap between his own decoctions and Pung Jin-seong's, had forgotten sleep to tend the furnace.
“His concentration and tenacity at the time were frightening. It was so intense that his two masters tried to stop him.”
The Divine Physician and the Demonic Physician were so stubborn they would be offended to be called second-best in the world.
Yet even they had to yield to Dan Ak-seon.
Despite all their coaxing and threats, they couldn't break Dan Ak-seon's will. In the end, Dan Ak-seon collapsed from exhaustion.
Pung Jin-seong suddenly smiled bitterly.
The memory of being caught between the two masters as they argued over the unconscious Dan Ak-seon, each blaming the other for the boy's stubbornness, was still vivid in his mind.
“He had that same look in his eyes back then.”
In the end, Dan Ak-seon learned to decoct medicine perfectly in just one month.
It was a result that far surpassed the predictions of the Divine and Demonic Physicians, who had asserted it would take at least half a year.
“Now I understand how he possesses such medical skill at his age.”
Han Seol-hwa nodded in agreement with Cho Ak-ryang's words.
As if suddenly remembering something, Pung Jin-seong looked around.
“By the way, where has the other gentleman gone?”
Beom Gye-wi, who never left Dan Ak-seon's side, was nowhere to be seen.
“He had some business to attend to.”
Cho Ak-ryang continued nonchalantly.
“The bastards who tried to touch Physician Dan need to be rooted out completely.”
Thinking of Beom Gye-wi, Pung Jin-seong felt a sense of unease. Reading the expression on Pung Jin-seong's face, Cho Ak-ryang smiled quietly.
“Don't worry. It's just like he went for a rather long walk.”
* * *
Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, was an ancient city with two thousand years of history.
Though times had changed and it was now considered a border region of the Central Plains, its remarkably developed commerce meant it still played a major role in the central economy.
This was also why numerous martial sects vied for power and profit there.
However, the intense rivalry between them made it difficult for any single large faction to establish itself.
The Changluo Gang had once held dominion over the area, but after their leader was killed in an all-out war with the Beggar's Sect, one of the Nine Sects One Union, they began a path of decline.
‘No flower blooms for ten days, as they say...’
Yeopdan-yeong, leisurely sipping his tea, smiled quietly as he recalled those times.
It was around that time that the martial artists of the region, who had been holding their breath under the Changluo Gang's might, began to scatter and regroup.
For him, who had been demoted to the frontier after losing an internal power struggle, it was a heaven-sent opportunity.
He was able to overcome bitter despair and rise again as a key figure in his organization precisely because he had accurately assessed and exploited the situation.
A great chaos that was despair for some, but an opportunity for others.
Yeopdan-yeong was one of the latter.
From a teahouse with a distant view of the Yongzuo Temple, also known as the Twin Pagoda Temple.
To be able to start his day enjoying tea at his leisure, having rented out the entire top floor, was a testament to his success.
“This is nice.”
The feeling of looking down at the bustling people below was also special.
But the good mood didn't last long.
Yeopdan-yeong frowned at the sound of urgent footsteps climbing the stairs.
This was his favorite time of day, and his subordinates knew not to disturb him for trivial matters.
With a look of regret, Yeopdan-yeong set down his teacup.
“What is it?”
A subordinate dressed as a waiter prostrated himself before him.
“We've lost contact with the men who were secretly tailing the Changluo Gang.”
“For how long?”
“Since three days ago.”
Yeopdan-yeong tilted his head.
Given the nature of intelligence agents who act independently in crisis situations, losing contact was always a possibility. However, his subordinate's next words made his face harden involuntarily.
“Just in case, we sent in a search party and a liaison, but they've vanished as well.”
“Vanished?”
The nuance of the word felt strange, so he asked again, but the answer that came back was shocking.
“Yes. Like a pebble thrown into a lake, they left no trace whatsoever.”
“How is that possible?”
The answer came from an unexpected place.
“Want me to tell you where they are?”