Peace had finally come to the Medical Pavilion.
Peace had finally come to the Medical Pavilion.
Over the past month and more, not only the healers stationed within the formation but also the regular residents of the pavilion had been in a state of extreme tension. Fearing any mishap with the formation, the residents moved with utmost caution in every action. They took turns day after day, diligently checking the ritual stones that powered it.
Then, through Ma Chung, who had emerged from the formation, along with Jin Singui and Hwaran, the pavilion's healers learned of Song Sogeol's recovery. The news prompted cheers of joy from everyone, united in celebration. Ma Chung gathered all his disciples and delivered a lecture on the treatment process, hoping his insights would impart knowledge and inspiration to help them grow further.
The lecture was titled General Treatise on Treating Those Whose Dantian is Shattered and Innate Qi is Lost. Jin Singui joined them, adding his own enlightenment to the discussion. Everyone present was a physician with vast knowledge and experience in treating internal and external injuries. But treating dantian and innate qi damage was entirely new to them all, so they listened intently to Ma Chung's lecture and Jin Singui's insights, their eyes gleaming with interest.
In this era, it was common knowledge among physicians and all martial artists alike that even the slightest damage to the dantian turned one into a cripple, with no known cure. Yet now, right before their eyes, was a living example that shattered worldly wisdom and achieved successful treatment. Everyone buzzed with quiet excitement.
After the lecture ended, they didn't disband but continued into a lively discussion. They imagined what might happen if martial artists' treatment capabilities for internal injuries and dantian damage advanced beyond the current level. In a virtuous cycle, heroes forced into tragic retirement by injuries could seize new opportunities to benefit the world. But in a vicious one, if demonic outsiders twisted this knowledge in their research, it could birth grotesque monstrosities of evil.
Externally, every martial sect would offer a fortune to secure a physician capable of such treatments. For martial artists, the dantian was the root of everything—and their greatest weakness.
While the Medical Pavilion bustled with new frontiers in medicine and exchanges, Tian Ailang and Song Sogeol remained inside the formation. There, Tian Ailang was checking Song Sogeol's physical condition.
It had been so long since Song Sogeol last moved his body that every motion felt awkward. Drawing from his own experience training muscles and physical abilities, Tian Ailang guided the checkup.
"Brother, it feels pretty good moving around now. Can't we call it quits?" Song Sogeol said, trembling as he held the horse stance.
"No."
Tian Ailang's response was firm. He mirrored Song Sogeol in the horse stance without internal energy—but balanced on one leg.
"Might as well get your body back to peak condition while we're at it. I don't want you getting hurt out there anymore."
Sweat poured from Song Sogeol as he saw Tian Ailang's dead-serious expression.
"Brother, like I said, I'd been suppressing my internal energy to perform the Reverse Yin Technique. I'm not some pushover who goes around getting beaten up."
But Tian Ailang shook his head resolutely.
"You're weak. Even Draku shows up, and you're in danger."
"Pardon? Why bring up Draku all of a sudden? And a Hwa Realm master at that?"
Song Sogeol shot to his feet in bewilderment.
"Hey! Back to stance!"
At Tian Ailang's shout, Song Sogeol dropped back into position. His sneaky attempt to slack off had failed.
Still baffled, Song Sogeol pressed on. "Brother, be real—how often do we even run into those kinds of masters?"
Any other martial artist would have nodded vigorously in agreement. Most went their whole lives without encountering even one transcendent expert. For the lowliest, a Peak Realm master might be the greatest they'd ever meet.
"More than you'd think," Tian Ailang said, recalling his encounters.
"Sure, you've crossed paths with plenty of masters, brother, but Hwa Realm ones? Draku, the imperial eunuch elder... Lord Zhu, and Elder Go, right? Wow, saying it out loud, that's a lot."
Song Sogeol's eyes widened in fresh surprise as he spoke.
Tian Ailang added calmly, "The Shaolin Abbot and Sacheon Dang Family Lord were Hwa Realm too. So were the Southern Forest Beast King, the North Sea Ice Palace Lord and Princess, that Uho Beop from the Demonic Cult, and the Black Wind Troop Leader."
Song Sogeol's jaw dropped. Each name commanded the world. Hearing them roll off Tian Ailang's tongue so casually filled him with wonder.
"You don't mean you've met all of them... right?"
Song Sogeol half-doubted it. But Tian Ailang's matter-of-fact reply made his eyes bulge.
"Met them and more."
Confusion swirled in Song Sogeol's mind, scattering his thoughts. Just then, Tian Ailang stood up. He signaled Song Sogeol—who was sneaking glances—to rise as well. Seizing the chance, Song Sogeol sprang up.
"Urgh."
He winced from muscle pain. Lying abed so long had weakened him, but Tian Ailang's training was the real culprit. It targeted long-dormant muscles, leaving them screaming at the slightest effort.
"The world is vast," Tian Ailang said.
Song Sogeol shrugged at the out-of-the-blue remark. "Isn't that obvious?"
"Which means there are that many experts out there."
Song Sogeol, about to grumble or crack a joke, recalled the names Tian Ailang had listed and fell silent. Instead, he nodded along earnestly.
"Yeah, looks that way."
He had no idea how or why Tian Ailang had met such formidable figures, since he hadn't shared the stories. He just furrowed his brow in habitual speculation.
"The path I must walk might have more of those experts than I think."
"...Probably."
Song Sogeol knew Tian Ailang meant his revenge against the Demonic Cult, so he nodded readily. The Haomen suspected the cult's revealed forces were just the tip of the iceberg—a view heavily influenced by Haomen Lord Song Kang, who had looted their secret archives.
"I'll surely make many enemies and enmities along that path," Tian Ailang said.
"No doubt."
Song Sogeol bobbed his head in agreement.
"And the bloody blades those enemies and grudges bring won't just target me—they'll reach those who follow me, those I hold dear."
Song Sogeol understood. Tian Ailang wanted to shoulder every responsibility. But humans weren't gods; no one could control or protect against everything. Noble as it was, Song Sogeol saw it as unrealistic—and a touch soft for a martial artist.
"Brother, people die. Even non-martial folk. Especially us martial artists—we court death by choice. We can't account for every single one."
Tian Ailang nodded gravely. "I know. We can't handle every death. But for my people, I'll do everything in my power to protect them. That includes you."
Song Sogeol smiled at the unchanging Tian Ailang. Confirming it wasn't some unrealistic perfectionism eased his heart a bit.
"Classic brother. That's why you risked death amid thousands of soldiers to save those bandit brothers you barely knew, and why you chewed out Lord Zhu. I get it."
Song Sogeol grinned warmly. It felt so good to have someone worry about him this much.
He vowed to follow Tian Ailang's training without complaint from now on. But the next words made him put that vow on hold.
"Good, thanks for understanding. That's why I'll train you to beat even Hwa Realm masters."
"Wh-what? Hold on! Not just survive or escape—you mean win? Heh, brother must be joking now, right?"
Tian Ailang's serious face didn't crack at Song Sogeol's frantic waving. Gulping, Song Sogeol pressed, "Brother... you really think I can surpass the Hwa Realm?"
"Of course. Just looking at your internal energy reserves, you've already exceeded it. In sheer volume, you're almost a match for me."
Of course, this was pure quantity. Tian Ailang could replenish his energy on the fly, so his usable amount vastly outstripped Song Sogeol's. And factoring in martial art potency and efficiency made comparisons even trickier.
"Whoa..."
Song Sogeol let out a low exclamation. After waking, he'd circulated his energy and sensed the massive increase. But the Hwa Realm had seemed a distant goal for his later years.
"Whoaaa..."
Tian Ailang smiled faintly at Song Sogeol's repeated gasps. He truly believed Song Sogeol could reach that realm.
Heart, Qi, Body. The three pillars of martial perfection.
Heart was enlightenment—the knowledge and profound mysteries required for each realm, culminating in the ultimate pinnacle of one's art. Like the dish one aimed to create.
Qi was internal energy, the dantian reserves amassed through accumulation—the ingredients for crafting that enlightened dish.
Body was the muscles, meridians, and such suited to executing martial arts—the tools for properly wielding those ingredients.
Shoddy ingredients couldn't yield a gourmet feast, no matter the intent. Piles of premium ingredients with only instant noodles as the skill? That was pearls before swine. Delicate sashimi with a mallet as the tool? Impossible. Even perfect recipes and ingredients were useless without decent cookware.
In short, balance was key. Only harmonious growth across all three yielded true advancement.
In Tian Ailang's eyes, Song Sogeol already had prime ingredients and decent tools. He just lacked tools and recipes worthy of those ingredients. With his grown Qi at Hwa Realm levels, bolstering Body and Heart would propel him there.
Body growth through training was the most straightforward. Heart's enlightenment was subtler, needing time. Tian Ailang was confident his guidance could fill those gaps.
"Just trust and follow me. You'll surpass the Hwa Realm for sure. Then this big brother can relax a little."
"H-ha..."
Song Sogeol felt a swirl of bewilderment, gratitude, and excitement at Tian Ailang's iron resolve. Long-forgotten passion for martial arts stirred anew.
Then the formation rippled faintly—someone had entered.
The two, sensitive to energy, noticed instantly and turned toward the entrance.
A Medical Pavilion healer, Ha Chun, hurried in. He approached Tian Ailang directly.
"Family Head. The Haomen Lord has come to visit."