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“This room is darker than my ex’s heart.”

When I finally came to my senses, I was staring at the ceiling of some gloomy room. I checked my body and found all my limbs intact, and my internal power barely diminished. My nerves were all connected, but even moving my fingers sent waves of pain crashing over me.

“To ease this pain, I need to use my breathing technique.”

Among the traditional medical practices of the Hua Clan, there was a special breathing technique that alleviates extreme pain. It required significant internal power because it connected your heart and breathing, but it was a guaranteed way to make suffering feel ten times lighter.

As the discomfort gradually faded, I felt as if I was moving a thick shell, my limbs somewhat numb but feeling better overall. Sure, my senses were dulled, but could there be a better breathing method for reducing pain? It needed concentration and wasn’t suitable for fights, but for self-emergency treatment, it was top-notch.

I got up from the floor, grabbed some clothes lying nearby, and stepped out of the room when I heard a voice.

“You must be in agony, moving around with your body all messed up, huh? Quite the remarkable fellow.”

Across the hallway sat an old man, casually reading a book. I’d never seen him before, but it was immediately obvious he was quite the expert. When I stared at him, he spoke up.

“I’ve treated you. Without your natural healing powers, I couldn’t have saved you.”

“Who are you?”

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

He spoke casually, but I was stunned when I heard his name.

“The Medicine King of the Five Great Physicians!”

“Yeah, I used to be called that. Can’t really go by that name anymore.”

The Medicine King Hwangbo Yun seemed pretty indifferent. But I knew that name wasn’t something you could brush off lightly. He held a place among the Five Great Physicians and was reputed to be the best when it came to medicine. However, as I heard from Hwa Seong-myeong, he wasn’t that great in other medicinal fields, and he was more of a martial artist from the Hwangbo Clan, so he didn’t dig too deep into medicine.

Hwangbo Yun closed his book, looked at me, and said, “Your belongings are stored in a separate room. I didn’t touch anything, so don’t worry.”

“Where’s the separate room?”

“Follow me.”

I followed Hwangbo Yun into the room, where I found my wooden armor and the Heavenly Secret. The Golden Lamp was tucked into the armor, so it wasn’t visible. I wondered if anyone had rummaged through my stuff, especially my armor, and Hwangbo Yun seemed to read my mind as he snapped at me.

“The sparring match was the master’s fault. The Han Clan isn’t that cowardly to go through an injured person’s belongings.”

So it seemed they didn’t touch it out of pride.

I tucked the armor and the Heavenly Secret into my clothes and said, “Thank you. Well, I should get going now.”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I don’t want it to be awkward between us after what happened, so I need to find another way.”

Hwangbo Yun replied nonchalantly, “That’s rude. Even if it was the master’s mistake, leaving without a word is not acceptable. You must talk to the master before leaving.”

“…Why are you in the Han Clan?”

“That’s not something I can casually share with a stranger like you.”

Hwangbo Yun cut me off firmly. Unlike others I’d met from the Five Great Physicians, he came off as a bit cold and indifferent. He then calmly added, “Stay put. I need to check your condition.”

He began palpating me from my neck and said, “Your condition is alright. But aren’t you in pain? You shouldn’t be able to move at all!”

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

“Hmm, is there such a breathing technique?”

“There is.”

Hwangbo Yun looked at me with intrigue. Even he, the Medicine King among the Five Great Physicians, didn’t seem to know the secret tradition of the Hua Clan, including the Huatuo’s Five Animals Play.

After a moment of thought, I asked him, “Are you aware that the plague affecting the White Lotus Sect’s young master stems from sorcery by an existence beyond this realm? And that Dongbang Mu-gyeol from the Heavenly Doctor is closest to solving this issue?”

His face paled!

“What are you talking about?” he stammered.

I replied flatly, “I possess more information on this matter than anyone in the world. And out of gratitude for saving my life, I can share that clue. But if you want to know more, you’ll have to tell me why you’ve allied with the Han Clan.”

“……”

Hwangbo Yun looked stunned for a moment before replying, “So you’re proposing to trade favors?”

“You didn’t save me out of pure kindness, did you? You must have done it because of the master’s orders.”

“You’re quite the peculiar fellow, reminding me of someone who has been rolling in Jianghu for decades.”

Hwangbo Yun grumbled before saying, “Fine, I will tell you my story. You share what happened.”

“Sounds good.”

I felt everything was falling into place. From Hwangbo Yun’s perspective, he couldn’t afford to miss out on information that could reshape his destiny regarding the plague infecting the young master of the White Lotus Sect. From his viewpoint, even if my proposition seemed overreaching, he had no choice but to comply.

“It all started when the White Lotus Sect conspired to tarnish the reputation of the Five Great Physicians, causing the martial artists in Jianghu to ostracize us.”

“I know some of that already. I’m aware that you were all looking to find your own paths to survival.”

“Well, if you know that much, sharing more should be easier.” Hwangbo Yun continued, “I decided to rely on the Han Clan, who were my main business partners. I asked the master for help in providing protection from the Han Clan. That way, martial artists secretly knew Hwangbo Clan had ties to the Han Clan but couldn’t dare to touch us.”

“And the price for this was your work as the Han Clan’s chief physician?”

“I don’t have any more behind-the-scenes stuff. Now, it’s your turn.”

Hwangbo Yun seemed eager to end his monologue. But I could sense he was hiding something, so I racked my brain trying to figure out what it could be. I decided to ask a pointed question.

“The Hwangbo Clan is part of the Five Great Families. Does that imply the Han Clan holds enough influence to pressure the entire Five Great Families?”

Hwangbo Yun frowned at me, “Why are you asking that?”

“Are you unwilling to answer? Then I’ll…”

As I took a step forward, Hwangbo Yun quickly replied, “No. You’re right. The Han Clan possesses such influence. Including the Namgung Clan, the Four Talents Sect, the Hwangbo Clan, and the Mo Yong Clan, none dare to go against the Han Clan. Even the heads of the Five Great Families cannot show their faces to the master.”

“……!!”

“In reality, the Five Great Families have submitted to the Han Clan.”

I couldn’t help but gasp. “Han Baek-ryeong has effectively taken control of Jianghu!”

The term “Five Great Families” referred to the Namgung Clan, the Four Talents Sect, the Hwangbo Clan, the Mo Yong Clan, and the Hebei Penguin Clan. There were countless minor sects and families in Jianghu, but only five could boast widespread recognition throughout Zhōngyuán.

The power and fame of the Five Great Families were enough to stand toe-to-toe with the Nine Great Sects, and their unique cohesion and financial strength allowed them to reign as overlords in specific areas. Moreover, it was known that the heads of the Five Great Families had reached unprecedented levels of mastery. Therefore, it was undeniable that the Five Great Families constituted a massive force, holding at least over thirty percent of the orthodox sect’s market share.

If the heads of the Five Great Families couldn’t even dare to oppose Han Baek-ryeong, then!

Considering that Han Baek-ryeong was the Dharma Guardian of the White Lotus Sect and the leader of the Fire Spirit Techniques, it meant that the White Lotus Sect had already conquered a significant portion of Jianghu by this point. If Han Baek-ryeong mobilized the Five Great Families, controlling the Nine Great Sects would be a walk in the park.

“How did this happen? How did the Five Great Families submit to the Han Clan’s might?”

“That’s part of it, but the Han Clan’s immense financial power supports the Five Great Families as well.”

“What do you mean?”

Hwangbo Yun sighed and explained, “The master provides full support to the martial forces under the Han Clan. This assistance has been covertly ongoing for the past twenty years, enabling the Five Great Families to assert dominance amid the various Jianghu clans without yielding to anyone. It’s not just strength they fear; they are also scared that the support will cease.”

“……”

“That should be enough clarification for you.”

I felt my mind spinning. I never imagined that the Han Clan’s influence extended this far! It means Han Baek-ryeong is the real head of the Five Great Families. Since I had almost joined the Fire Spirit Techniques in my past life, I felt a tinge of regret.

“Understood. Then, I’ll share what I know.”

I revealed that the affliction affecting the young master of the White Lotus Sect was indeed a curse from the evil entity known as the Old Ruler and that Dongbang Mu-gyeol, from the Heavenly Doctor, was currently searching for a cure in the Southern Barbarians under the orders of the White Lotus Sect.

After hearing my information, Hwangbo Yun pressed his temples, almost collapsing onto the chair.

“Uh… that’s serious business. But where’s the proof for your claims?”

“I can stake my life that it’s true. If the master is wise, he must recognize the truth in my words.”

“Crazy… are you really willing to gamble your life?”

“Of course.”

Hwangbo Yun seemed to believe me. He stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment and then said, “Let’s pretend I didn’t hear anything. I’ve heard nothing at all.”

“That works for me.”

It was clear that Hwangbo Yun was struggling to keep my truth a secret. It’s understandable; if what I said was true, then just knowing it could put him on Han Baek-ryeong’s hit list. I anticipated that he would react this way, so I shrugged, and Hwangbo Yun sent me a secret transmission.

[The medicine I gave you is the Strange Blood Pill. Your body seems to be overwhelmed with extreme Yin energy, so I injected Extreme Yang medicine to enhance your healing ability. I will teach you the flow of meridians; if you proceed along this path, you will absorb the Strange Blood Pill more quickly, thereby elevating your internal power.]

Hwangbo Yun slowly walked me through the meridian flow. I boosted my memorization with the Thunder Spirit Classic, calmly retaining his instructions.

‘Indeed, I did ingest Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and Black and White Lotus together, but it’s true that the Yin energy is stronger.’

Until now, I harmonized the Yin and Yang while consuming spiritual pills, but the Yin energy from the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng was more potent. Hence, my internal power carried a subtle Yin presence. However, as the Yang energy from the Strange Blood Pill was injected, it seemed to facilitate a more natural balance between the two energies. I moved my Qi while walking, and soon, I felt the energy blending and growing even stronger.

My internal power increased!

Unexpectedly blessed, a smile crept onto my lips. Until now, due to excessive intake of the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and Black and White Lotus, my power upgrades had been sluggish, but having consumed the Strange Blood Pill provided a much larger leap.

Hwangbo Yun avoided making eye contact with me as he led me to the room where Han Baek-ryeong was waiting. Perhaps because the manor was demolished, she had retreated to her quarters.

“Mistress, I’ve brought Baek Woong.”

Hwangbo Yun bowed respectfully. Han Baek-ryeong half-sat on a sofa, her long pipe dangling leisurely, looking not so much alluring but simply beautiful. She radiated a doll-like beauty. Seated beside her was Han Jin-seong, waiting in a formal stance.

Han Baek-ryeong gazed at Hwangbo Yun with her crystalline eyes and said, “You’ve worked hard.”

“Yes.”

“For your efforts, I will promise greater support for your clan.”

Hwangbo Yun trembled with gratitude, “I’m deeply honored!”

“You may leave.”

“Yes, understood.”

With that, Hwangbo Yun carefully exited. No one in the martial world would believe that someone of his status—the Elder of the Hwangbo Clan, a peak expert, and the Medicine King among the Five Great Physicians—could bow so low like a servant.

Han Baek-ryeong’s expression lit up. “You can already move around so soon; you must be quite resilient.”

“It’s all thanks to your last-minute care.”

“That was my blunder. I apologize for grievously injuring you.”

Han Baek-ryeong seemed genuinely remorseful. It couldn’t be easy for her to apologize given her standing, yet it appeared she understood her responsibilities. I nodded and replied, “No, it’s all in the past.”

“Right. You should take it easy for a few days.”

“Will you be able to teach me swordplay afterward?”

“I was planning on it…”

Han Baek-ryeong exhaled as she dragged out her pipe. “But I can’t resolve your issues.”

“What…?”

“I can tell that your sword family hasn’t integrated properly and is all knotted up. To resolve that would require a mastery so potent it could control even the rogue techniques. But addressing it for you would be too challenging.”

She shifted slightly and continued, “I think I understand why Dokgo Seong sent you to me. There’s no way to fix that without painfully extreme training.”

“Extreme training…”

“However, it won’t be something as simple as hell training. You’ll need experiences and trials so immense they’ll carve you down to the bone. I can’t promise I can put you through that level of training.”

Huang Bo-yun’s words were resolute. I felt a wave of despair wash over me.

‘So moving beyond my current level is impossible?’

As a Dharma Guardian of the White Lotus Sect, Han Baek-ryeong was only surpassed by the Sect Leader or Dokgo Jun. If someone as skilled as her couldn’t easily tackle my problem, what was I supposed to do? It wasn’t for nothing that the Sword Demon or Dokgo Seong had to struggle in their past lives either.

As I pondered, Han Baek-ryeong added, “I could teach you the Fire Spirit Techniques martial arts, but it might only magnify your existing issues. You need to stabilize the chaos of your sword family.”

“What should I do?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. Perhaps someone like the Great Immortal can provide insight…? Regardless, you’re still young, so take your time to think it through.”

Suddenly, it hit me.

“……!!”

Great Immortal!

I felt a glimmer of a solution in that word. I blankly responded, “Thank you!”

“……?!”

Han Baek-ryeong looked utterly baffled. It wasn’t surprising; the term “Great Immortal” usually suggested something impossible. But I was directly experiencing the Heavenly Realm, and since I was meeting it head-on, this notion had potential.

‘Yeodong-bin!’

The Heavenly Escape Sword Technique of the Sword Master Yeodong-bin!

If I learned the sword techniques transcending humanity and got his help, I could break through my current predicament.

I’d heard this before from Lee Kwang, but it had never struck me as profoundly as now. Two masters who reached the highest realms of martial prowess spoke of similar truths, pushing me to press on with newfound determination.

I opened my mouth to speak.

“May I ask one last question?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I cautiously broached the question that had been nagging at me:

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

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

A long pause of silence followed before Han Baek-ryeong finally responded, “What? You mean Dokgo Seong doesn’t know the reason?”

“No. My Master received a warning from Dokgo Jun. He’s been away, so he’s curious about the reason.”

“…Hmm, is that so?”

After a moment of contemplation, Han Baek-ryeong said, “What I know is this: the Dharma Guardian of the Thunder God lineage, Lee Cheong-un, had a conversation with the Sect Leader that went awry, leading to a conflict.”

“That much I’m aware of. But do you have any real clues?”

“None.”

Then she suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke. “You might want to check with the Dharma Guardian of the Su Shin Clan, Dokgo Jun. He was present at that meeting.”

“……”

I realized there was another person who knew the truth.

‘What does this mean? So, the experts from the Su Shin Clan intentionally targeted just the Thunder God Lineage for purging?’

If the Sect Leader had invited Dokgo Jun to the conversation with Lee Cheong-un, perhaps it was all part of a plan from the very start. However, considering the Sect Leader’s status, that seemed a bit far-fetched. It would be odd for someone with that level of power to feel intimidated by a single individual like Lee Cheong-un and plot such a scheme.

Something was amiss.

If I wanted to uncover the truth, I had no choice but to investigate the Su Shin Clan first.

As I contemplated, Han Baek-ryeong said, “If you have no other words, I have to take my leave…”

At that moment, a middle-aged warrior rushed in. He looked like a skilled member of the Fire Spirit Techniques, with hints of their martial style evident in his movements. He knelt in front of Han Baek-ryeong and said, “Mistress! Please forgive my rudeness. I have urgent news…”

“What is it?”

The middle-aged warrior spoke with a trembling gaze. “The leader of the Wind Spirit Sect, Cheon Woo-jin, has arrived!”

 

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