Chapter 45
Chapter 45
As Hyeon-gang continued to look at him with a stiff expression, Youngho gave a faint smile.
“Do you not believe it?”
“Yes.”
It was an answer spoken as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
But Youngho understood why Hyeon-gang spoke that way. Even he himself would not have believed it.
Hyeon-gang opened his mouth again.
“Young Hero, I do not know anything about martial arts.”
“I suppose not.”
“…….”
“What is it?”
‘No, just now it felt like he was looking down on me?’
Judging by Youngho’s expression, it did not seem that he had intended it that way. Hyeon-gang cleared his throat once and continued.
“However, even if I know nothing about martial arts, I can tell that your Martial Might does not remain at the level of a mere Junior Disciple.”
“These days even Junior Disciples are all at least Master Level, aren’t they?”
Hyeon-gang was left speechless. The expression “any dog or cow” might have been a bit crude, but it was not entirely wrong.
The current generation of Junior Disciples in Jianghu was incomparably stronger than the previous one.
Namgung Cheon, one of the candidates expected to take responsibility for the future of the Orthodox Sect, was extremely famous.
In the Demonic Cult, there was Cheon Muback, the Young Cult Leader. And in the Unorthodox Faction…
‘The one in front of my eyes is the one drawing attention.’
If he had not suffered an internal injury in his sparring match against Cheon Muback, it was said he would have been at least on par with Namgung Cheon.
It seemed the rumors were not wrong. The being before him was different from ordinary Junior Disciples.
Namgung Cheon, Cheon Muback, and Youngho—these three were called the Three Dragons. And Youngho was more than worthy of being called the foremost among the Three Dragons.
There was also the fact that during their journey, he had subdued a Master Level expert at an inn in a single move, and at times he would vanish as though being swallowed into the shadows—there were many mysterious aspects about him.
But this was merely the evaluation of Hyeon-gang, who had no deep understanding of martial arts.
If Hyeon-gang himself had at least reached Master Level, he would have realized just how absurd the martial arts Youngho casually displayed in daily life truly were.
“A-Anyway, I cannot believe it. It has not even been three years since the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance accepted a new disciple.”
“That’s true.”
“And yet you could be this strong… Huh?”
Now that he thought about it, it really had not even been three years. And yet there were rumors that he was on par with Namgung Cheon?
If that were true, he was truly a monstrous fellow.
In truth, perhaps Hyeon-gang knew it already but simply did not want to admit it.
Youngho. That was the name of the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance’s fifth disciple. And the one standing before him now was also Youngho.
And above all, the Martial Might befitting the name Youngho was what impressed him the most.
The Youngho he had seen so far was strong.
…Excessively so.
By the time he finished his thoughts, Hyeon-gang’s gaze had already changed.
“Do you finally believe me?”
When Youngho asked with a mischievous expression, Hyeon-gang let out a hollow laugh.
“……You are a monster.”
“I hear that often. So, speaking of which, have you ever considered joining the Unorthodox Alliance?”
“……What?”
For a moment, Hyeon-gang thought he had misheard. But Youngho’s follow-up confirmation made the blood drain from his face.
“I asked whether you have any intention of joining the Unorthodox Alliance.”
“Is that something one normally says in a situation like this? We haven’t even known each other for that long.”
Hyeon-gang spoke with a trembling voice, genuinely flustered.
“And I belong to the Orthodox Sect.”
“You were expelled from the Tang Clan, were you not?”
“…….”
At Youngho’s sharp words, which struck directly at a painful spot, Hyeon-gang glared at him…
“Haah…….”
But soon, he despised himself instead.
No matter how much discrimination he had suffered, he had once been a member of the Tang Clan. And yet, as soon as his means of earning a living grew uncertain, he found himself wavering at the suggestion of joining the Unorthodox Alliance…
“If you were expelled for committing wrongdoing in the first place, then even if you joined the Unorthodox Alliance—”
“I have never committed any wrongdoing!”
Hyeon-gang shouted, unable to endure those words. Realizing what he had done, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand.
“Hmm… It seems there are circumstances. If it was something that could get you unfairly expelled… Did you fall out of favor with someone in power? No. That alone would not break the Tang Clan’s sense of solidarity. Were you perhaps falsely accused?”
Hyeon-gang’s body trembled violently for an instant.
“It appears I am right.”
“Ahem….”
Even though Hyeon-gang glared at him in displeasure, Youngho continued speaking with a bright smile.
“Do you not wish to take revenge?”
“What nonsense!”
“I was not about to say something as trite as helping you with revenge if you join the Unorthodox Alliance.”
“Then…?”
“Pure curiosity.”
“I….”
As he spoke, Hyeon-gang felt his sense of identity gradually wavering. Did he desire revenge? If he had possessed strength, would he have suffered so helplessly?
Various assumptions unfolded in his mind, countless thoughts shaking his heart.
And then one remark from Youngho overturned his heart completely.
“Is there someone precious to you there?”
Thud.
Hyeon-gang’s body froze. It was as if even his breathing had stopped.
‘Was there?’
Was there someone precious to him? Even his master had only taught him knowledge, yet constantly discriminated against him.
‘He always took care of Tang Cheon-ju, that bastard….’
Though he knew Hyeon-gang was being bullied, he had left him alone. Even at the moment of expulsion, he had not taken his side.
Was that master truly someone precious to him? No—no matter how he thought about it, he was not.
He was merely someone who had taught him how to save lives. As a master, he had been utterly lacking.
Then was there anyone else precious to him?
‘Not a single one.’
There was no one who had ever taken his side even once, no one who had helped him even a little.
As he realized that reality, the emotion of vengeance naturally began to arise in Hyeon-gang’s heart, and his teeth started grinding audibly.
Seeing Hyeon-gang visibly shaken, Youngho smiled inwardly.
‘He’s wavering.’
The reason Hyeon-gang had resisted joining the Unorthodox Alliance was because he still retained a faint sense of belonging as a member of the Sichuan Tang Family.
‘But the Sichuan Tang Family abandoned Hyeon-gang. If I force him to face that reality?’
The current situation was precisely what resulted. Though they were of the Orthodox Sect, they had ruined a man’s life.
Of course, Hyeon-gang somehow managed to survive and was later called by various titles such as Mad Physician and Divine Physician. But just how arduous must the process have been for him to attain such a level of medical skill?
“If you have no one precious to you there, it would make things easier for you to come over to this side. You can roughly falsify your identity.”
There was no mention of helping him take revenge. Youngho merely revealed his intention to recruit a skilled physician as his own person.
That was precisely why Hyeon-gang was able to steel his resolve even further.
“I will go to the Unorthodox Alliance.”
“A wise choice. You may treat others there if you wish, but fundamentally, your role will be my personal physician.”
“I understand. And please, speak to me more casually.”
“Is that acceptable?”
“My lord is now you.”
Watching matters proceed more smoothly than expected, Youngho grinned.
“Then I’ll do so. First, you’ll need money… here.”
Youngho casually handed something gleaming to Hyeon-gang.
“Th-Thank you…!”
Hyeon-gang gasped in shock as he looked at the one nyang of gold placed in his hand. It was the first time in his life he had ever touched gold.
Even though he had once belonged to the Tang Clan, Hyeon-gang had never been in circumstances where he could even see gold.
As Hyeon-gang accepted the gold coin with trembling hands, Youngho smirked.
“Buy medicinal herbs and medical tools… no, if there’s anything you need, I’ll give you more money, so purchase whatever’s necessary.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Hyeon-gang tightly clutched the gold with a joyful expression.
“Ah. And just in case, can you make Spirit Pills?”
“I have basic knowledge and have done it a few times.”
“Have you ever made the Thousand Poison Pill?”
“That level is….”
Even within the Tang Clan, the Thousand Poison Pill was a Spirit Pill that only appeared two or three times over several years. Hyeon-gang did not yet have the confidence to craft something of that caliber.
But Youngho nodded as if that was sufficient.
“Good. That’s decent enough. If there’s anything you want to experiment with, tell me anytime. I’ll permit anything except human experimentation.”
“As if I would ever conduct human experimentation.”
When Hyeon-gang looked at his new lord in horror, Youngho briefly adopted a serious expression and spoke.
“There’s nothing more frightening than a human consumed by the desire to pursue knowledge.”
“Even so, I would never consider human experimentation.”
“Not you—but others do. For example… the Demonic Cult.”
When Hyeon-gang flinched in shock, Youngho looked at him as if asking what was so surprising.
“They’re mad.”
Of course, it was not official. If such atrocities had come to light, no matter how monstrous the Heavenly Demon was, the Orthodox Sect would not have remained still.
‘And they would have all been dealt with by the Heavenly Demon.’
“Anyway, you should go now. I am still my master’s disciple, so I cannot stay with you.”
It was only natural. How could a mere personal physician share a room with the disciple of the Alliance Lord? Hyeon-gang nodded.
“Yes, understood.”
“Hurry and leave. We have a guest.”
“Yes.”
Hyeon-gang rose from his seat and left the room. Youngho stood to brew tea and said,
“Come in.”
At those words, the door opened.
“What brings you here? It’s quite far, isn’t it?”
“I came for work. And I arrived long before you did, so please be quiet.”
“How cold. You used to call me Fifth Young Master.”
“I said be quiet.”
Yeo Jeonghye, the Branch Hall Master of the Gold-Blood Hall and Youngho’s source of funds, looked at him with an irritated expression.
As she pressed her fingers firmly against her temple, seemingly struck with a headache just from looking at him, Youngho chuckled.
“What’s wrong? It’s been a while since we met. Shouldn’t you smile a little?”
“Ugh.”
Yeo Jeonghye owed Youngho a debt. It was fortunate that it was money. If it had been a martial debt, she would have had to continue helping him until the day she died.
‘…Though it’s not much different now.’
Only the degree differed.
Still unable to read what lay behind Youngho’s smile, Yeo Jeonghye spoke in an irritated tone.
“Since you have already provided the funds to prevent the Orthodox–Demonic War, I believe there is no longer any reason for you to remain in the Gold-Blood Hall.”
“Come now, that wouldn’t be proper etiquette. Shouldn’t I at least pay my respects to the Hall Master before leaving? This is the main hall of the Gold-Blood Hall, after all.”
“Then why not go pay your respects now instead of tomorrow?”
“I’m tired right now.”
“You do not look tired at all.”
“I truly am.”
“Then I suppose I should grind wheat.”
“As long as you understand.”
Yeo Jeonghye pressed her temple even harder as if her headache had worsened from speaking with him.
“How long do you intend to keep this up?”
“Keep what up?”
“How long do you intend to hide your true strength?”
“I’ve never hidden it.”
“Then why did you place second at the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering? No—why did you pretend to suffer an internal injury in the first place?”
“What are you talking about? I truly did suffer an internal injury.”
“And yet that same person killed the master of the Yangtze?”
It was a probing remark. Nothing had been confirmed yet. The only information Yeo Jeonghye had heard was that Taemyeong, the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Yangtze, had been taken to the Unorthodox Alliance, and that all the Water Bandits in his Waterway Stronghold had been killed.
Sensing that Yeo Jeonghye was merely speculating, Youngho answered nonchalantly.
“How could someone of my strength kill the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze Waterways? I would struggle even against an ordinary Stronghold Leader.”
Yeo Jeonghye let out a groan and suppressed the headache rising once more.
“Even the Hao Sect does not seem to know the truth about you, Young Master. What scheme exactly have you been orchestrating?”
“What would I have done?”
Youngho put on an aggrieved expression, but Yeo Jeonghye did not believe him in the slightest.
She had not observed him for many days, but she had never seen Youngho reveal any emotion other than a smile.
Certain that this was unquestionably a lie, Yeo Jeonghye continued pressing him for some time.
In the end, however, she was unable to uncover anything.
Because in truth, he had done nothing at all.