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“Hey, it’s back to you, Mangnyang!”

Upon returning to Mangnyang, he called General Hwang Yeon to confirm the rescue of his kin. As soon as General Hwang Yeon heard the news, he was overjoyed.

“We kept our promise, so I hope you take your promise seriously, General!”

“Hmmm… Of course! But there’s a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“Even if I directly tell the Emperor about this injustice, there are hardly any allies to help. We need political power beyond just military might.”

Then Mangnyang replied, “We’re thinking of bringing Elder Deung Gwak to our side.”

“Deung Gwak? Is that even possible?”

“Our purposes align. Especially since there are witnesses and evidence of the victims from Great Thunder Valley, it’s quite plausible.”

“Hmm… then I won’t hold back.” After their conversation, Mangnyang went to speak to the rescued individuals again. When Mangnyang returned, I had to ask.

“I tried to persuade Deung Gwak once and failed. Did you not mention that? What’s the plan?”

Deung Gwak, who was the head of the Clear Stream Faction and a highly regarded official, was someone with significant political clout that could go head-to-head against any schemes from Duke of Guanzhong or Golden Eagle Guards. However, last time, he had failed to sway Deung Gwak when the Bancheon Alliance and Thunder God Lineage collaborated in a past life. I hadn’t been there for the persuasion, but even with an acquaintance like Lee Kwang on their side, they still flopped.

As I recounted my experience, Mangnyang waved the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line.

“According to you, Deung Gwak was actually Lee Kwang’s sworn brother and based on that connection, Lee Kwang failed to convince him. And while you didn’t hear the details, it seems like there’s a complicated backstory involved instead of just political self-preservation, right?”

“That’s right. From what I remember, Lee Kwang did his best but ended up regretting it.”

“Then we should start by finding out what Deung Gwak’s situation is. This time, we have plenty of time to investigate, unlike before. If our tracks haven’t been revealed, there are many opportunities to try.”

Mangnyang said, “Baek Woong, can you give me the Twin Broadswords?”

The Twin Broadswords were the beloved weapons of the hero Liu Bei from Shu Han, specifically crafted by the treasured Green Jade Sword. I had snagged them from a fight with the monster at Great Thunder Valley.

“Of course! But what do you need them for?”

“I’ll explain my plan all at once.” Mangnyang settled down in the Great Hall and continued.

“Our fundamental direction is to [give the hegemony to the White Lotus Sect]. Therefore, the first step must naturally be to convince the Han Clan in Luoyang. By persuading Han Baek-ryeong, the clan leader and Dharma Guardian of the Fire Spirit Techniques, we’ll find our foothold.”

“……!!”

“I aim to prove the ease of toppling the royal family while demonstrating our value, thus establishing credit through her relationship with the leader of the White Lotus Sect. Once the White Lotus Sect’s restrictions are lifted, they will fully support us. The Twin Broadswords will serve as a tribute to persuade Han Baek-ryeong.”

I said to Mangnyang, “Then I will accompany you so I can help. Her Formless Qi is beyond what any ordinary martial artist can withstand.”

Mangnyang shook his head. “No, you can’t. Avoid exposing your face or martial arts as much as possible in this life.”

“What do you mean?”

“If your appearance is revealed, it means you’re in a very unfavorable situation. If the enemy identifies your name, face, techniques, and abilities, your operational range will drastically diminish. I intend to use you, Baek Woong, as my last resort.”

“Hmmm.”

“Moreover, you must not let the White Lotus Sect know about you. Remember this.”

I didn’t quite understand. Why shouldn’t we expose ourselves to the Imperial Palace, the White Lotus Sect, and all eyes around? There seemed to be another reason, but I had to let it pass just because he called me a last resort.

Mangnyang continued, “Of course, I don’t plan on convincing Han Baek-ryeong right away. I plan to gather martial arts and techniques over the next 2-3 years to prepare. Do focus solely on tracking down the actions of the Water Element Divine Sword.”

“Do I really have to go to the northern edge of the world?”

“It may sound absurd, but right now is the quickest route. Without the strength of the Seven Luminaries, anything that might happen remains unpredictable. I’ll handle everything in the Central Plains while you go search for the Water Element Divine Sword.”

“Understood.”

Off to the northern edge of the world I go.

As I was pondering this, Mangnyang added, “And find a place to practice the techniques.”

“Got it.”

“Until now, you’ve focused solely on martial arts, but I believe you’ll need sorcery for the battles ahead. Right now, you’re at the low level of a sorcerer, so raise your standards.”

“……”

That wasn’t an easy task. Raising the level of sorcery was even more challenging than martial arts. For Mangnyang, who had grasped basic sorcery principles while developing his discretion later on, it might have been easy, but not for me.

I distanced myself from Mangnyang and set out of Jinrang Valley. Mangnyang had an eager look, wanting me to head north immediately to gather clues. As I left, Miho appeared next to me.

“If you say the northern edge, you probably mean above the Great Prairie.”

The Great Prairie was the vast lands above the Great Wall, inhabited by nomadic tribes. It was home to the warlike nomadic clans that had formed the foundation of the Yuan dynasty, and their numbers had drastically reduced due to the Great Ming Empire’s extermination campaign.

I asked Miho, “Have you ever been to the Great Prairie or further north?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure, but I think I’ve passed through once. I traveled north beyond Liaodong, but I’ve never been to the northern edge of the world.”

“I’ve been to the North Sea Ice Palace. I have to use that as a starting point.”

“Isn’t the North Sea Ice Palace one of the Twelve Joules?”

“That’s right.” I recalled how I had traveled all over to challenge leaders of the Twelve Joules in the past. Most factions were situated around Liaodong, but the North Sea Ice Palace was something peculiar, located in the frozen north. It was in a tiny city known for sea cucumbers.

Of course, the land around the North Sea Ice Palace was extremely cold. Even with my immense internal power and close-to-peak martial prowess, I had to bundle up in heavy furs when I visited. Despite reaching a certain level, it was evident that continuous exposure to such frigid temperatures leaked my internal power.

Miho suggested, “In that case, why not seek help from the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace? He likely knows a lot about the northern continent.”

“Is that a good idea…”

Miho had a point. The Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace wasn’t just a leader of the Twelve Joules but also the Overlord of the northern region. He certainly possessed vast knowledge about local history, geography, and culture. Miho continued, “Ah, but there is something to consider.”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t Mangnyang say to avoid exposing your looks or actions? The same clearly applies to the Twelve Joules. You’ll need a way to hide your identity.”

“Hmm.”

After hearing Miho’s words, I pondered for a moment. I then said, “I suppose I should stop by Goryeo for a bit.”

Whoosh!

A while later, Miho and I arrived in Goryeo using the Golden Lamp Technique. Specifically, I visited Physician Hwa Seong-myeong, an esteemed guest of the Jeong Clan. When we unexpectedly popped into the medical hall, Hwa Seong-myeong, who was tidying up herbal medicine, was visibly surprised.

“W-Wait, aren’t you Baek Woong from the branch family?”

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

As I greeted him humbly, Hwa Seong-myeong regained his composure and chuckled. “Haha… of course, that gold bar you gave me was used well. I’ve already requested my clan from Huabei to come to Goryeo. You are the hero of our Hwa Clan.”

“Have you mentioned my affairs to anyone else?”

“No, not at all. Your existence is a top secret known only to me and Clan Leader Jeong.”

Thankfully, it seemed that both Hwa Seong-myeong and Jeong Clan Leader had kept my existence under wraps. I sighed with relief inwardly.

Hwa Seong-myeong glanced at Miho. “And who is that…”

Before I could say anything, Miho cheerfully replied, “I am Miho, the wife of Baek Woong!”

“Oh! Nice to meet you!”

I looked at Miho with disbelief; she seemed totally unfazed. With no alternative, I straightened my posture and got to the point.

“The reason I came here today is to discuss Surgical Techniques.”

“Surgical Techniques?”

“Yes. I have some basic knowledge, but I want to gain clearer understanding from the esteemed Physician Hwa Seong-myeong.”

“Hmm…” Hwa Seong-myeong put on a serious expression. He then brought over a practice mannequin and laid it down.

“Explain to me what you know about Surgical Techniques.”

“Surgical Techniques are part of medicine and fall under the category of surgery. It involves more than just the knife, as acupuncture and herbal medicine also play key roles. It requires a delicate understanding of human muscles and skeletal anatomy.”

“That should suffice for an overview. Now explain the specific methods you know.”

“First, with the secret needle, I capture these two key points…” I gathered my scattered memories and detailed about a bikill or so of Surgical Techniques. Then Hwa Seong-myeong stroked his chin.

“You seem to have learned this from somewhere, but you’re mistaken. A lot of your knowledge on Surgical Techniques is missing, and it seems you’ve never implemented it in practice.”

I nodded embarrassment. “That’s true.”

I had studied medicine for decades and attended classes on Surgical Techniques under Hwa Seong-myeong, but it’s a tough skill that I never managed to master completely. Plus, there were few patients needing surgery, so I hardly had opportunities to practice. Time had taken its toll, and much of my knowledge had faded away.

Hwa Seong-myeong said, “You can distort your appearance temporarily like this, but in the long run, it will put immense pressure on your facial structures and tissues, leading to monstrous forms. I’ll pass on the proper Surgical Techniques to you.”

“Can I actually perform this on myself?”

“To be blunt, the Surgical Techniques you know involve fixing a virtual facial form using acupuncture, and stabilizing the body’s Qi with herbal medicine. It’s a low-tier method. Mastering proper Surgical Techniques would take decades, but if you reach that level, self-surgery shouldn’t be an issue.”

“That’s a relief.” Hwa Seong-myeong asked curiously, “Is there a reason you need to change your face?”

“Yes, there is.”

“Then I must repay your kindness. I will directly perform Surgical Techniques on you.”

“……!!”

“Of course, my techniques are special, so you needn’t worry about returning to your original appearance afterwards. A few stimulations of the secret channels, and you’ll revert to your original state in no time.”

Glorious Divine Doctor Hwa Seong-myeong performing surgical techniques! That meant it would undoubtedly be far superior to anything I could do. Hwa Seong-myeong glanced slyly at Miho, who was a stunning beauty, and whispered to me, “Your original looks would lean toward the ugly side of the spectrum, but I’ll make you uniquely handsome. Your wife will love it too.”

“……”

Miho likely heard everything. But she pretended not to. Then she shot me a cheeky grin.

[Baek Woong, get the surgery! If you don’t, I won’t let you off the hook.]

[Hey, what’s with the threats?!]

[Hehehe.]

Miho giggled and added, [Being good-looking is the best!]

[……]

So, starting the next day, I began my surgical transformation under Glorious Divine Doctor Hwa Seong-myeong. In between, I also sought to improve my Surgical Techniques and medical knowledge. It was an attempt to reawaken my fading memories and elevate my skills to a level where I could manage on my own.

The entire process of my surgery took about seven nights and days. After seven days, as the bandages around my face were unwrapped, Hwa Seong-myeong wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “All done.”

“Thank you!”

“Your wife might faint when she sees you. Haha.”

As I stepped outside, Miho was playing soccer solo and looked my way. Instantly, her expression morphed into shock.

“W-Who are you?”

“It’s me, Miho.”

“Huh?!”

Miho couldn’t contain her astonishment. Then she darted over and hugged me tight.

“Oh my lord! I didn’t recognize you!”

“Ugh… let go…”

“Kya ha ha ha! How can you be this pretty?”

With Miho delighting so much, a sense of unease began to creep over me. Then, Hwa Seong-myeong held up a mirror.

“……!!”

What in the world is this?!

The mirror reflected not my usual crooked, dark, and ugly self, but a breathtakingly beautiful young man that could well be mistaken for a charming girl! Just a bit of grooming, and I could probably pass off as a pretty girl!

Hwa Seong-myeong had claimed that his magical surgical techniques would carry the effects into my future growth, so if I continued to grow like this, it would be more appropriate to call me “adorable” rather than just handsome!

As I stood there aghast, Hwa Seong-myeong cleared his throat.

“Ahem… your wife specifically requested your new looks.”

That must have considerably mixed in Miho’s tastes.

“……”

What on earth is going on here? The thought of living with a face that could make me look like an utterly charming male courtesan struck me with a wave of gloom.

 

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