Even after Mo Yonggun left, Je Gal Munho remained sunk in thought for a long time.

As he stared at the overturned liquor bottle, his eyes looked deeper than ever before, and at the same time more unsettled.

Then suddenly, Je Gal Munho let out a sigh.

“So the reason is plain...”

Mo Yonggun had not been wrong.

No, it went beyond merely not being wrong. What he had said was so obvious it should have been self-evident.

True, Mo Yonggun’s anger had come from the status of the Martial Alliance as he saw it, and from his brother.

But the words that had come out of his mouth had contained unmistakable righteousness.

What was righteousness?

Was it merely protecting the weak and punishing the wicked?

No.

The natural rights of a group, and the natural principles by which it acted, also belonged to righteousness.

They were martial artists. They wielded overwhelming power that ordinary men could never attain even in dreams, and for that very reason they had to be all the more careful about where that power was directed.

Those who aimed it rightly were called the Orthodox Path, the righteous sects.

Those who aimed it however they pleased were called the Dark Path, the heretical factions.

But whether Orthodox Path or Dark Path, they were ultimately still martial artists.

And martial artists, by the nature of their world, were people who pathologically despised being looked down on.

Of course, it was even more important to control that humiliation and anger and preserve cooperation to the end.

But the Martial Alliance could not be allowed to be looked down on.

That was not a matter of Orthodox or heretical. Any organization that possessed power should naturally carry itself that way.

It was the same principle as saying one’s nation must not be looked down on by foreign enemies. Respecting the other side was fine, but one had to carry the intimidating weight of making them understand that if they crossed the line, they would be made to pay.

That was power.

And the Martial Alliance had to be capable of embracing not only the common people, but martial artists as well.

“Yes, he was right.”

Je Gal Munho sighed.

“No matter how vicious a man he is, if I know his words are right, then I have to walk that road.”

The fact that Je Gal Munho had checked and distrusted Mo Yonggun more than necessary—

In truth, that had not been Je Gal Munho’s fault, but Mo Yonggun’s. In the name of pursuing his dream, Mo Yonggun had committed far too many sins.

But Je Gal Munho was a strategist.

Even if the other man were the most vicious criminal under heaven, he should first have tried to see through him, not begun from distrust.

After sitting in thought a while longer, Je Gal Munho finally called toward the door.

“Is anyone there?”

“Yes, Strategist.”

“Go bring Advisor Ga Deoksang. Tell him I must see him at once.”

“At your command.”

Je Gal Munho exhaled.

“...The Medical God Association.”

His eyes flashed.

Quite apart from what Clan Lord Mo Yong said, I had no idea such an organization even existed.

A few people gathering in private to form some small society, or at most building a large medical office in one particular region.

That was all Je Gal Munho had imagined. In truth, that was what should have been normal.

I too was trapped by common sense. To think physicians had formed that kind of shadow organization and were secretly wielding power in the dark... it never even occurred to me.

This, too, could not really be called Je Gal Munho’s fault. If this was his fault, then not knowing of the Three Fanatic Creeds would have to be called his fault as well.

There was no helping what one did not know. What mattered was how one handled things once one learned of them.

Men who deal with human life itself, blinded by money and power, excluding others and throwing around bribes.

A sharp Killing Intent flashed in Je Gal Munho’s eyes.

Truly pitiful men.

A short while later, the door opened and Ga Deoksang entered.

“You called for me, Strategist?”

“Come, sit.”

The moment he stepped inside, Ga Deoksang sensed that the atmosphere in the room was anything but ordinary. Je Gal Munho’s expression alone was enough, but the liquor bottle and cups rolling across the floor made him tense as well.

“What happened?”

“Have you ever heard of an organization called the Medical God Association?”

“The Medical God Association? Hm...”

Frowning as he searched his memory, Ga Deoksang suddenly snapped his fingers.

“Ah! I have heard of it. As far as I know, it is something like a society formed by a number of fairly famous physicians.”

Ga Deoksang’s mind truly was extraordinary. Judging by the look of it, he had completely forgotten it, yet hearing the name alone had been enough to drag the memory back out. That was not something an ordinary person could do.

“This Medical God Association seems to be no ordinary thing.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?” 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Je Gal Munho told him everything he had heard from Mo Yonggun.

Ga Deoksang’s mouth fell open.

“Th-that’s true?”

“I am treating it as true. To be certain, we would need a deeper investigation, but for now I am taking it as reliable information.”

“...Damn, now even physicians who are supposed to fix people’s bodies have gone insane? What kind of bastard dogs are these?”

Ga Deoksang was genuinely furious too.

Looking at Ga Deoksang’s flushed face, Je Gal Munho thought that perhaps Mo Yonggun had been right after all—perhaps he truly was the sort of timid man who wore prudence as a mask.

That was right. This reaction from Ga Deoksang, this fierce anger, was the honest and natural one. Someone who truly understood justice and righteousness ought to respond like this.

“Has there been any separate message from the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions’ side?”

“No. But about an hour ago, a report came in that the commanders of Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting entered Jiangxi Province. By now, I would expect they’ve made contact with the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions and begun heading north.”

“I see.”

Je Gal Munho spoke in a cold voice.

“Hu Gae.”

Not Information Advisor, but Hu Gae.

Ga Deoksang’s eyes deepened.

“Give your orders, Clan Lord.”

“You know Hagok, I assume? The famous physician in Henan.”

“Of course.”

“Can you have the Beggars’ Union bring Hagok here under escort, along with every physician connected to him?”

Ga Deoksang’s eyes flashed.

Escort was what he had said, but what Je Gal Munho wanted was forced transport. Ga Deoksang understood immediately.

“Will that be all right?”

“It will. We have more than enough justification.”

“If you say so, Clan Lord... then understood. I’ll send the boys out at once.”

“How long do you expect it will take?”

“If they haven’t hidden themselves in rat holes, I can have every last one of them brought in within four days.”

“That is fast indeed. Do it.”

“Understood.”

“And Advisor Ga.”

The form of address changed again. This time, it meant he wanted the matter handled officially.

“Yes, Strategist.”

“Find out where the Heaven-Piercing Divine Physician is at present.”

The reason Mo Yonggun had gone out of his way to mention the Heaven-Piercing Divine Physician was obvious. He had been telling him to use that man.

And Je Gal Munho did not pretend not to understand the help Mo Yonggun had quietly offered.

“Understood. I’ll move immediately.”

“I’m counting on you.”

*****

“Here?”

“That’s right.”

“Good. Let’s go in.”

The group entered a fairly large tavern.

Strangely, even though it was the busiest time of day, there was not a single customer inside. It was not as if the place looked filthy or poorly maintained, either.

This tavern was one the Beggars’ Union operated in secret. The Beggars’ Union, too, was actively helping with the escort of the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions.

“My respects. I am the Divine-Eyed Beggar, Lee Geol.”

A young beggar who looked to be in his mid-twenties stepped forward to greet them.

Oh?

Gangryang’s eyes lit up.

He’s good.

The man looked to be in his mid-twenties, but even so, he was only a third-knot disciple of the Beggars’ Union. Yet the martial strength he possessed did not seem lacking even compared to Gangryang’s own.

Gangryang’s gaze fixed directly on Lee Geol, startled by the unexpected depth of his martial arts.

Lee Geol felt the stare, but did not turn toward him.

“You would be Great Heroes Mo Yong-woo, Commander of the Demon-Sweeping Corps, and Yeon Hojeong, Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps, correct?”

“The title of Great Hero is too much for us. Just call us Commander Mo Yong and Commander Yeon.”

“Understood.”

Lee Geol bowed his head.

“We have emptied the entire tavern for you. A cook will remain on constant duty for the next three days, and five workers will attend to your needs. No one will dare covet this place, so please put your minds at ease and rest as fully as you wish before you continue.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all. The honor is ours, being able to help.”

Lee Geol stepped back a few paces.

“If you need anything, please let us know at once. Then I will take my leave.”

SHHK.

Like a ghost, he slipped out of the tavern’s first floor.

His movement technique was so subtle that even having watched it with their own eyes, they could not tell where or how he had disappeared. Gangryang clicked his tongue.

“I had heard the Beggars’ Union’s martial arts were all bluffs and misdirection, but now that I’ve seen them, they’re mysterious beyond words.”

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“That talk about bluffs and misdirection is little more than mockery from shallow onlookers who only skim the surface. The Beggars’ Union’s true martial arts are more than worthy of standing for the Orthodox Path as a whole.”

“So the world really is full of strong people and beautiful martial arts.”

“It is.”

Yeon Hojeong turned to the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions.

“You have suffered many injuries, and you must also be exhausted. Returning to the Martial Alliance is urgent, but I think forcing the pace in your condition would be a bad move. Rest here for a few days and tend to your body first.”

“Ah... y-yes! Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Yeon Hojeong turned to Gangryang.

“I’m going to wash up and tend to myself a bit. You must be tired too, but I’d like you to stand guard outside the divine physician’s room for the next two hours.”

Gangryang smacked his lips.

“I didn’t exactly do anything useful, so of course I should be the one doing it. Don’t worry about anything and treat your injuries first. I’ll stand guard until tomorrow morning.”

“Good. Thanks.”

With that, the group dispersed to their respective quarters.

“Ugh.”

The moment he entered his room, Yeon Hojeong leaned his back against the bed.

“Damn it. Been a long time since I’ve taken a beating that thorough.”

CLANK! CLANK!

He stripped off his shoulder guards, arm guards, greaves, and breastplate, then pulled off his upper garments.

He had kept repairing his body with True Qi the whole time they were on the move, but the impact had been so severe that the wounds had still not properly closed.

“I should wash first.”

Unless the situation was truly urgent, wrapping ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ oneself in bandages the moment one was injured was not a particularly wise thing to do. He knew that from experience.

Fifteen minutes later, Yeon Hojeong came back from washing, sat down on the floor, and picked up a length of white bandage.

At that moment, he sensed someone outside the door.

“Young Master Yeon. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Mookbi stepped inside.

Her eyes trembled.

“You really were hurt badly.”

Yeon Hojeong gave a bitter smile.

“So it seems. Good timing, actually. My shoulder’s injured too, so wrapping this myself is a pain. Come help me.”

“All right.”

A little while later, Mookbi began sprinkling wound medicine over various parts of Yeon Hojeong’s body.

The medicine foamed white the moment it touched the wounds.

Just looking at it made the sting seem palpable. But Yeon Hojeong’s expression did not change in the slightest.

Mookbi silently wrapped the bandages around him.

Yeon Hojeong, too, said nothing and kept his gaze fixed ahead.

How much time passed like that?

“Young Master Yeon.”

“Mm.”

“Is something bothering you?”

“...”

“Ever since you met the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions—Divine Physician Gi—you’ve seemed strange. Commander Mo Yong and Gangryang don’t seem to have noticed.”

“Mookbi.”

“Yes. Go on.”

“You trust me, don’t you?”

This was not something he could brush off with a joke.

Mookbi answered in a calm voice.

“Young Master Yeon is one of the two people I trust most in this world.”

“...Thank you.”

“But why are you suddenly saying that?”

“It doesn’t feel right, asking this of someone who trusts me. But even so, I have no choice except to ask you.”

“...?”

“In the event that it comes to that. It absolutely must not, but still.”

“Yes?”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned cold.

“If I give the signal, shoot Gi Uhui.”