Chapter 272: Chapter 272

Celestial Realm

When I regained consciousness, I found myself staring up at the ceiling of a dim room. I checked my body’s condition, and my limbs were intact, with barely any loss of internal energy. All my nerves were still connected, but for that reason, just moving my fingers brought a wave of intense pain crashing over me.

‘To alleviate this pain, I need to select a breathing technique.’

Among the traditional medical arts of the Hua Clan, there was a specific breathing method to relieve agony when it became extreme. Specifically, it required connecting the heart meridians with one’s breath, necessitating considerable internal energy, but the undeniable fact was that using this technique could reduce pain by more than tenfold compared to usual.

As I concentrated, the pain that had once engulfed my body began to fade, leaving only a distant numbness in my limbs, as if I were moving a large shell. There was a downside in that the sensory perception in my limbs became quite dulled, but there was no better breathing technique for pain relief than this. The only drawbacks were that it required focus and was not useful in combat, but is there anything better than pain relief in self-emergency treatment?

I sat up and gathered the clean clothes next to me. As I stepped out of the room, I heard a voice.

“You must be in pain all over since your insides are in chaos, yet you’re already moving? What a remarkable hero.”

Looking across the corridor, I spotted an elderly man sitting in a chair, engrossed in a book. Although I had never seen him before, it was immediately apparent that he was a person of substantial internal energy. As I gazed at him blankly, the old man spoke.

“I treated you. Had your natural healing powers not been strong, I wouldn’t have been able to save you either.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Hwangbo Yun, an old man currently working for the Han Clan.”

The old man gave an ambiguous introduction, but I was taken aback when I heard his name.

“The Medicine King of the Five Great Physicians!”

“Ah, I was called that at one time. I can’t use that title anymore, though.”

The Medicine King, Hwangbo Yun, responded in a nonchalant manner. But I understood that his name was not to be taken lightly.

He ranked as one of the Five Great Physicians and was known to be the most outstanding regarding medicinal knowledge. However, I had heard that he was not particularly adept in other branches of medicine, making him somewhat lacking compared to the rest of the Five Great Physicians because he was notably a master from the Hwangbo Clan.

Hwangbo Yun closed the book and looked at me, saying,

“Your belongings have been stored in the annex. I haven’t touched a thing, so do not worry.”

“Where is the annex?”

“I’ll guide you.”

I followed Hwangbo Yun to the annex. There lay my cloak and the booklet “Cheonam Biseo.” The boiling items were placed in my cloak, so I couldn’t see them. Suspicious of whether someone had rummaged through my cloak or seen Cheonam Biseo, I sensed Hwangbo Yun’s awareness as he reprimanded me.

“That martial arts manual was the Young Master’s mishap. The Hwangbo Clan isn’t so despicable as to rummage through an injured person’s belongings.”

It seemed their pride prevented them from probing.

I tucked the cloak and Cheonam Biseo inside my garments and said,

“Thank you. Well then, I should be going now.”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“It feels awkward after our first meeting, so I must find another way.”

In response to my answer, Hwangbo Yun coolly retorted.

“That would be rude. Even if the Young Master made a mistake, leaving without any discussion is unacceptable. You must speak with the Young Master before departing.”

“… Why are you relying on the Han Clan?”

“It’s not a trivial matter to disclose to someone I’ve just met.”

Hwangbo Yun abruptly cut off the conversation with a firm tone. Unlike the other Five Great Physicians I had met, he appeared somewhat indifferent and cold. He then calmly stated,

“Hold on. We need to check your physical condition.”

Hwangbo Yun began with my neck, gradually assessing my health before saying,

“Your condition is stable. But aren’t you in pain? You should be unable to move due to the injury.”

“I’m managing the pain with a breathing technique.”

“Really? There’s such a technique?”

“There is.”

With a look of curiosity, Hwangbo Yun stared at me. It appeared that even the Medicine King of the Five Great Physicians was unfamiliar with the Hua Clan’s secret techniques, including the intricacies of the Huatuo’s Five Animals Play.

After a moment of consideration, I addressed Hwangbo Yun.

“Do you know that the strange disease affecting the sub-leader of the White Lotus Sect is due to a curse from an existence beyond human comprehension? The Celestial Monster Dongbang Mu-gyeol is at the core of the problem.”

He flinched!!

Hwangbo Yun momentarily lost his composure, looking at me with trembling eyes.

“What are you rambling on about?”

I replied flatly,

“I possess more information about this matter than anyone in the world. And as gratitude for saving my life, I can share this lead with you. However, if you want to know more, you must tell me how you came to rely on the Han Clan.”

“……”

After a brief moment of shock, Hwangbo Yun spoke.

“You want to exchange your life debt for information?”

“You didn’t save me because you wanted to, right? There’s also the matter of following the Young Master’s orders.”

“You’re quite the peculiar fellow. You speak like a seasoned vagabond of the Jianghu.”

Hwangbo Yun growled.

“Fine, I’ll share my circumstances, but you must tell me what happened.”

“Deal.”

I thought things were going according to plan. From the perspective of the Medicine King Hwangbo Yun, he could never miss the information regarding the strange disease that had changed his fate, caused by the sub-leader of the White Lotus Sect. Even if my offer seemed somewhat unreasonable, he had no choice but to agree to my proposal.

“It all began when the White Lotus Sect slandered us, causing the reputation of the Five Great Physicians to plummet, leading the martial artists to start shunning us.”

“I’m aware of the general situation and that you sought ways to survive.”

“If you’re aware up to that point, it’ll be easy to explain.”

Hwangbo Yun continued.

“I resolved to rely on the Han Clan, who was my main client in the Hwangbo Clan. I also requested the Young Master to ensure the Hwangbo Clan would be protected by the influence of the Han Clan. Therefore, while martial artists knew of our relationship, they feared taking action against the Hwangbo Clan.”

“And the price for that was you working as the chief physician for the Han Clan.”

“I have nothing more to add beyond this. Now, it’s your turn.”

Hwangbo Yun urged, as if no longer wanting to share anything regarding himself. However, I sensed he was concealing something, prompting me to think carefully about what it could be. I then decided to throw out a sharp question.

“The Hwang Clan is a member of the Five Great Clans. Does this imply that the Han Clan possesses enough influence to pressure the entirety of the Five Great Clans?”

At that, Hwangbo Yun frowned.

“Why are you asking that?”

“Are you not willing to answer? Then I too…”

As I took a subtle step, Hwangbo Yun hastily exclaimed,

“No, you’re right. The Han Clan holds that level of influence. Including the powerful Namgung Clan, the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Hwangbo Clan, the Moyong Clan, and the Hebei Peng Clan—all of them cannot defy the Han Clan. Even the heads of the Five Great Clans cannot lift their faces before the Young Master.”

“……!!”

“In reality, the Five Great Clans have surrendered to the Young Master.”

I gasped quietly.

‘Han Baek-ryeong has already taken firm control of the Jianghu.’

The Five Great Clans!

Referring to the Namgung Clan, Sichuan Tang Clan, Hwangbo Clan, Moyong Clan, and Hebei Peng Clan as the Five Great Clans was fitting. Among the myriad of minor sects and clans in the Jianghu, only those five could make a name for themselves across the entire Central Plains.

The power and fame of the Five Great Clans could match the Nine Great Doctrines, and by leveraging their unique cohesion and financial strength, they ruled against the regional chieftains. Moreover, the heads of the Five Great Clans were rumored to have reached extraordinary heights in their skills. Hence, there was no doubt that the Five Great Clans constituted a massive force claiming at least a third of the sect’s shares.

Yet, even the heads of the Five Great Clans dared not to confront Han Baek-ryeong!

Considering that Han Baek-ryeong was not only a protector of the White Lotus Sect but also the leader of the Hua Clan, it appeared that the White Lotus Sect’s conquest of the Central Plains was already underway. If Han Baek-ryeong maneuvered the Five Great Clans, it would be a trivial task to keep the Nine Great Doctrines in check.

“What caused this? How did the Five Great Clans succumb to the power of the Han Clan?”

“That’s one reason, but the tremendous financial power of the Han Clan also supports the Five Great Clans.”

“What do you mean by that?”

With a sigh, Hwangbo Yun explained,

“The Young Master provides extensive aid to the martial forces within the Han Clan. This support has been ongoing for nearly twenty years, and it’s solely due to this financial strength that the Five Great Clans managed to maintain dominance among the regional sects. It’s not just within the realm of martial power; the very fear of losing this support suppresses the Five Great Clans from opposing the Han Clan.”

“……”

“I believe that should suffice for your answer.”

I let out a quiet sound.

I never imagined the Han Clan’s power would extend this far! In that case, Han Baek-ryeong could be considered the leader of the Five Great Clans. I felt a sense of regret, having almost become part of Han Baek-ryeong’s group in my past life.

“I understand. Then I will share what I know.”

I revealed that the strange disease affecting the sub-leader of the White Lotus Sect was, in fact, a curse from an evil being known as the [Ancient Ruler], and that the Celestial Monster Dongbang Mu-gyeol was dispatched to the southern region to find a cure under the orders of the White Lotus Sect’s leader. Hearing this information, Hwangbo Yun pinched his head and slumped down into his chair.

“Uh… this is a serious matter. Is there any evidence to back your words?”

“I can assure it with my life. If it’s the Young Master, he’ll know my words to be true.”

“Are you mad… can you really vouch for it to that degree?”

“Of course.”

Hwangbo Yun seemed to consider my words to be true as he stared blankly at the ceiling. After a moment, he spoke,

“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear anything. I heard nothing.”

“Just as it should be.”

Hwangbo Yun seemed overwhelmed by the truth I had divulged. Rightly so, if what I said was true, it meant that Hwangbo Yun could be executed by Han Baek-ryeong just for knowing the fact. I anticipated that he would react this way, so I shrugged. Just then, Hwangbo Yun sent me a message.

[The medicine I wrote for you is the Monster Blood Pill. It seems that your body is being invaded by extreme yin energy, so I injected extreme yang elixir to enhance your healing capabilities. I’ll guide you through the energy flow, and if you proceed according to this flow, you will more quickly absorb the Monster Blood Pill and increase your internal energy.]

Hwangbo Yun then slowly walked away, explaining how to channel the energy flow. I used my Thunder Heart to enhance my memorization and calmly committed his words to memory.

‘Indeed, I’ve consumed Thousand-Year Ginseng and Black and White Lotus, but the yin energy was undeniably stronger.’

To this day, I had been maintaining a balance between the yin and yang energies while consuming elixirs, but it was true that the energy of the Thousand-Year Ginseng had been stronger. That was why my internal energy had subtly reflected that dark quality. However, with the infusion of the yang energy from the Monster Blood Pill, it felt as though achieving that balance was becoming easier. I moved as I walked, and eventually, I felt the energy harmonizing and becoming stronger.

My internal energy had increased!

At this unexpected fortuity, a smile crept onto my face. Until now, due to excessively consuming Thousand-Year Ginseng and Black and White Lotus, my internal energy growth had been slow, but after taking the Monster Blood Pill, I felt a significant increase. Hwangbo Yun seemed to be leading me without even making eye contact.

Soon enough, I entered the room where Han Baek-ryeong awaited. Perhaps due to the broken window, she had retreated to her quarters.

“Young Master, I’ve brought Baek Woong.”

Hwangbo Yun announced formally as he bowed respectfully. Han Baek-ryeong lounged, with her long pipe dangling, looking more beautiful than alluring. This was undoubtedly due to her doll-like beauty. Beside her, Han Jin-seong sat cross-legged, patiently waiting.

Han Baek-ryeong gazed at Hwangbo Yun with her clear eyes and said,

“You’ve done well.”

“Yes.”

“Since you’ve worked hard this time, I promise greater support for your clan.”

At that, Hwangbo Yun trembled with excitement.

“I am immensely grateful!”

“Step back.”

“Yes, understood.”

With that, Hwangbo Yun cautiously exited. No one in the Jianghu could have possibly imagined that Hwangbo Yun, a grand elder of the Hwangbo Clan, an absolute master, and a member of the Five Great Physicians, would lower himself like that!

Han Baek-ryeong’s gaze sparkled with intrigue.

“To be able to move in less than half a day, you’ve got considerable resilience.”

“It’s thanks to your kindness at the end.”

“That was my mistake. I apologize for unintentionally inflicting such a grave injury upon you.”

Han Baek-ryeong genuinely appeared to apologize to me. For one in her position, it was likely not easy to do so, but she seemed to know what was right. I nodded and replied,

“Certainly. It’s all in the past.”

“Right. You should focus on your recovery for a while.”

“After that, would you mentor me in swordplay?”

“I was going to, but…”

Han Baek-ryeong pulled the pipe slightly away and remarked,

“I don’t think I can resolve your issues.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I noticed that your sword flow is tangled and unable to unify. Overcoming that requires mastering a mentality strong enough to control various styles. However, solving that problem is exceedingly difficult.”

She shifted slightly before continuing.

“I now understand why Dokgo Seong sent you here. To address that issue, enduring brutal training is the only way forward.”

“Brutal training…”

“However, that training won’t be a simple hellish trial. It demands unimaginable experiences and rigorous training to break oneself down. I wouldn’t dare put you through that kind of ordeal.”

Han Baek-ryeong’s words were resolute. At that moment, I felt a wave of despair wash over me.

‘So, it’s impossible to advance from my current state?’

As the protector of the White Lotus Sect, the only ones stronger than her were the leader of the White Lotus Sect or Dokgo Jun. If someone of Han Baek-ryeong’s caliber, a master of swordplay, couldn’t help solve my issues, what on earth was I supposed to do? I realized that the struggles of the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong in my past life weren’t without merit.

As I contemplated this, Han Baek-ryeong interjected,

“I could teach you the martial arts of the Hua Clan, but… it would likely just complicate your problem further. You must first rectify the chaos in your style.”

“How should I proceed?”

Han Baek-ryeong shook her head.

“I can’t say. If it were the Great Immortal, perhaps it would be different… In any case, you’re still young, so take your time to think.”

At that moment.

“……!!”

Great Immortal!

I felt a solution in that single word. I blankly lingered before saying,

“Thank you!”

“……?!”

Han Baek-ryeong wore a look of disbelief. Naturally, the term Great Immortal implied impossibility. Yet, I was in a position to feel the existence of the Celestial Realm and interact with the Great Immortal directly, so that term could very well point towards a solution.

‘Yeodongbin!’

The Sword Immortal Yeodongbin’s Celestial Sword Technique!

If I could master the sword techniques of someone who had transcended humanity and seek the assistance of Yeodongbin, I would surely be able to break through my current predicaments.

I had heard this story once from Lee Kwang, but I hadn’t thought about it deeply enough back then. With two eminent figures in martial arts discussing the same thing, I felt my conviction build anew. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

I opened my mouth.

“May I ask you one thing?”

“…? Go ahead.”

I cautiously brought up my most curious inquiry.

“Do you know why the Thunder God Lineage was purged?”

Both Han Baek-ryeong and Han Jin-seong’s expressions hardened.

After a moment of silence, Han Baek-ryeong spoke,

“Could it be that Dokgo Seong doesn’t know the reason?”

“Yes. My Master received a warning from Dokgo Jun. He has been away for some time now and wishes to know the reason.”

“… Hmm. I see.”

After pondering for a moment, Han Baek-ryeong replied.

“I know one thing. It was said that Lee Cheong-un, the protector of the Thunder God Lineage, had a conflict with the Leader during their discussion, leading to a battle.”

“I’m aware of that part. Do you truly have nothing else to speculate?”

“I don’t.”

Then she seemingly recalled something.

“Dokgo Jun of the Su Shin Clan would know. He was present at that time.”

“……”

I learned that one more person who knew the truth existed.

‘What is this? So those of the Su Shin Clan targeted only the Thunder God Lineage for purging?’

If the Leader had invited Lee Cheong-un to a discussion, then perhaps they sought to eliminate him from the outset. However, considering the Leader’s stature, that would be a strange move. It seemed illogical for a being known for invincibility to fear just Lee Cheong-un enough to conspire against him.

There must be something more to this.

The only path to uncover this secret lay through probing the Su Shin Clan.

While I was lost in these thoughts, Han Baek-ryeong said,

“If there’s nothing else to discuss, I’ll take my leave…”

Just then, a middle-aged warrior suddenly burst in from outside. Judging by his demeanor and movement, he appeared to be a master of the Hua Clan. Bowing before Han Baek-ryeong, he uttered,

“Young Master! Please forgive my rudeness. I come with urgent news…”

“What is it?”

The middle-aged warrior spoke with a quivering gaze,

“The leader of the Wind Spirit Lineage, Yong Bi-cheon, has arrived.”