Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Youngho stared down at Hyeon-gang, who was kneeling in prostration, and spoke.
“Since when did I become your lord?”
At Youngho’s question, Hyeon-gang answered immediately, as though he had been waiting for it.
“I have been thinking about it for quite some time. Seeing you today merely solidified that thought, Young Master.”
“Why do you want to make me your lord?”
Hyeon-gang hesitated for a moment. Countless thoughts tangled within that fleeting instant, but he soon decided to speak the truth.
“Because you are strong.”
“There are plenty of people stronger than me.”
“How mischievous of you.”
“What is?”
“Those present here are not serving you as their lord without reason. I am certain that one day you will become the strongest under heaven.”
“That’s rather calculating.”
“It would be more accurate to call it realistic.”
“That’s true.”
Hyeon-gang was certain. A monstrous talent that had reached the level of a Transcendent Peak Master before even reaching the Coming-of-Age. And above all, a character that put those around him at ease.
When choosing whom to serve, martial prowess and wisdom were important—but before all else, one had to examine a person’s character.
No matter how outstanding one’s martial strength and intellect were, if one’s character was lacking, that person would never rise to the highest position.
Because such a person would fail to earn the trust and admiration of those around him. It was an absolute principle, but more than that, it was something Hyeon-gang had learned through experience within the Tang Clan.
Conversely, even if someone lacked in martial prowess and wisdom, if their character was good, serving such a person as lord would be a far happier and safer path.
Then what if there existed a person who possessed martial strength, wisdom, and character all in perfect measure? Would it be advantageous to seize such a person—or not?
‘There’s no need to even ask. You seize him!’
Though his status lay within the Unorthodox Faction, Youngho’s character was far superior to most junior disciples of the Orthodox Sect.
In fact, compared to the hypocrites of the Tang Clan who wore the mask of righteousness, Youngho was by far the better man.
Someone might say that Youngho was merely hiding his true nature and acting in order to win public favor. But Hyeon-gang did not harbor even the slightest suspicion of that.
‘There’s no way it’s an act.’
He had killed the Poison Demon. The Poison Demon who had become nearly a public enemy of the Jianghu because of his countless atrocities. And the reason for killing him had been wholly righteous.
The Poison Demon had been preparing to commit evil deeds by creating Poison Jiangshi, and Youngho had killed him to stop that.
He had risked his life against the Poison Demon, a figure said to be more terrifying than most experts of the Transformation Realm.
In truth, it had only taken time because Muyeon had needed to dismantle the Formation and activate the Mechanism. The act of killing the Poison Demon itself had not been particularly difficult for Youngho.
However, since he had not witnessed it personally, Hyeon-gang believed that Youngho must have risked his life.
That was why he was certain. Youngho was someone he absolutely had to follow.
All that remained was whether Youngho would grant permission.
And Youngho’s answer was……
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“I said no.”
It was an answer he had not anticipated.
“I am extremely capable. My medical skills are not something anyone would call lacking. If we judge purely by ability, I would rank among the top ten in the world.”
“I know.”
“Pardon? You know, and yet you reject me?”
“I’m saying no for now. Instead, I’ll give you a condition.”
At Youngho’s words, Hyeon-gang’s expression—which had looked as though the world had just ended—brightened instantly.
“When you become a Master Level expert, I’ll accept you.”
“Pardon? Me?”
“Yes.”
“……I’m a physician.”
“The Hall Master of the Medical Hall of our Unorthodox Alliance is a Master Level expert. If you want to become the Hall Master of the Medical Hall, you should at least reach that much.”
At the words “Master Level,” Hyeon-gang’s expression, which had darkened again, brightened once more. Watching the astonishing range of emotions playing across his face, Horyeung chuckled heartily.
The reason Hyeon-gang’s expression brightened was simple. Youngho had said he would make Hyeon-gang the Hall Master of the Medical Hall of the Unorthodox Alliance.
Of course, that would only be after Youngho became the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance.
Even so, those words meant that Youngho had high expectations for Hyeon-gang. It meant he was prepared to accept him at any time, but had deliberately postponed the timing.
However, there was one very serious problem……
Hyeon-gang looked at Kang Hosan with an uncertain expression and asked,
“Hosan. How many years would I need to reach Master Level?”
“Does the timeframe matter?”
“It matters! What if my lord only accepts me thirty years later!”
“Pardon?”
“Thirty years later!”
“No, that’s not what I mean, Brother.”
Kang Hosan tilted his head, seemingly unable to understand.
“Four years should be enough for you to reach Master Level, Brother.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes.”
Hyeon-gang spoke in an excited voice, unable to steady his trembling pupils.
“Are you saying I had talent in martial arts as well?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“What?”
“You’ve seen how I train, right?”
“Uh…… yes?”
“I’m only traveling the Jianghu right now. Once I return to the Unorthodox Alliance, I’ll probably have to train about three times harder than this.”
This time, Hyeon-gang’s pupils began to tremble in alarm.
“What do you mean……?”
“Brother! Don’t worry. If you’re going to become Young Master’s man, you’ll have to train anyway, right?”
“Uh…… I suppose?”
“But if you receive Young Master’s training, you’ll grow stronger even if you don’t want to.”
“And if I don’t grow stronger?”
“Then wouldn’t you die during training before that happens?”
Cold sweat was already streaming down Hyeon-gang’s back. A droplet that trickled from his temple revealed just how flustered he was.
‘He’s serious!’
Kang Hosan’s words were true. He meant every one of them.
—Grow stronger or die. Choose whichever you like.
Though the words had not been spoken, Kang Hosan’s voice echoed clearly in his mind. Hyeon-gang gave a hollow laugh and looked at Youngho.
“H-Haha…… Perhaps serving you as my lord is not…….”
“No.”
Youngho lightly cut off Hyeon-gang’s words as he spoke.
“Stay strong, Hall Master of the Medical Hall.”
With that, Youngho immediately signaled with his finger for the group to follow.
Hyeon-gang felt his vision go dark as he thought,
‘I’m screwed.’
After climbing the mountain a little further, an indescribable aura brushed past Youngho and his party.
‘Is it Immortal Arts?’
It most likely was. It was very similar to the aura that had flowed from the White Tiger. Since none of them except Youngho had ever encountered Immortal Arts, the others maintained a moderate state of tension.
‘Their judgment isn’t bad. I’ll just leave it as it is.’
Waaong.
In an instant, the cry of a beast sounded directly in front of Youngho. Just as the others reacted to the sound and moved to draw their swords, Youngho raised his hand to stop them.
Youngho stared straight ahead. Then he let out a faint chuckle and spoke toward the small beast.
“There is no need to be so wary. I came at your mother’s request.”
As the small beast’s body, previously hidden in the mist, gradually became visible, the party slowly relaxed.
“……A cub White Tiger?”
As if responding to those words, the young White Tiger perked up its ears and stared intently at Kang Chowon.
“Do you like Chowon? Well, even if you’re a cub, you’re still a Spirit Creature. You must have seen her pure heart.”
Whether it understood Youngho’s words or not, the young White Tiger stared at Kang Chowon for a moment before turning its head and meeting Youngho’s gaze directly.
“……Your mother has departed for the Immortal Realm.”
Soon, tears streamed from the young White Tiger’s eyes.
The others were flustered by the strange situation, but Youngho looked at the young White Tiger without the slightest tremor in his eyes.
“That doesn’t mean she abandoned you. My name is Youngho. From now on, I will take care of you. If you wish to follow me, you may. If you do not wish to come, then you don’t have to.”
The young White Tiger’s tear-filled eyes widened, clearly not expecting such words.
“I can accept you at any time. If you wish to live here, I will even buy the surrounding land and shelter you.”
The young White Tiger could understand Youngho’s words. However, the concept of buying land was still difficult for it to grasp. Precisely because of that, it was able to make up its mind even more quickly.
The young White Tiger approached Youngho and rubbed its cheek against his leg. Youngho stroked its body and asked,
“Will you follow me?”
The young White Tiger nodded, and a faint smile appeared on Youngho’s lips.
“Do you have a name?”
Shake shake.
Youngho nodded.
“Very well. From now on, your name is Seonpung. Become a good wind and guide yourself.”
In the dreamlike yet mysterious atmosphere, Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon watched Youngho and Seonpung without even remembering to breathe.
Horyeung and Hyeon-gang, unaccustomed to Youngho’s warm and gentle tone, simply watched the two in silence.
Soon, Youngho rose from his seat and spoke.
“Alright, Seonpung. Your mother must have left me a gift. Can you tell me where it is?”
Seonpung nodded lightly and stepped forward as if beckoning them to follow.
What had happened for the White Tiger to ascend to the Immortal Realm, and what exactly had Youngho heard from her?
Even Horyeung, the oldest among them, could not begin to guess.
After walking for about a Quarter-Hour, Seonpung stopped.
“Is it here?”
Seonpung nodded, and Youngho looked around.
Soon, having discovered something, Youngho said,
“None of you move. If anyone moves, you’ll truly die.”
They had heard Youngho speak in such a brutal tone countless times before, but instinctively, the party realized that this time he meant it.
Youngho slowly walked forward and stopped at a certain spot, beginning to dig into the ground. The Bare-Handed Technique wrapped around his hands lightly scooped up the earth.
He dug for a long time. After digging nearly two zhang deep, something responded within his grasp.
‘There’s an empty space.’
It did not feel artificially created. It had been formed naturally.
‘Still, this thing was hidden in a truly hard-to-find place.’
Without Youngho’s exceptional senses, no one would have discovered it, and it would have remained hidden forever.
Soon, after excavating the empty space, Youngho grinned.
“Found it.”
Three drops at most? Youngho placed several small but pure drops of water into an empty water flask. Then he climbed out of the pit and said,
“Horyeung. I’m going to circulate my qi here now, so guard me well. And no matter what happens, do not touch my body.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Judging that something unusual was about to occur, Horyeung stood guard as Youngho’s protector with a hardened expression.
“Hosan, Chowon, and Hyeon-gang. The same goes for you. Guard the surroundings well. Changes will occur in my body starting now.”
“What do you mean…… Are you undergoing Bone-Marrow Reforging?”
“Yes.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll explain the rest later. Just stand watch.”
As if there were nothing more to say, Youngho drank a drop of Clear Sky Stone Milk from the flask and spoke.
“Guard me well. And absolutely do not touch my body.”
“U-Understood!”
At the same time, Youngho assumed the Cross-Legged Meditation Posture and began circulating his qi.
In order to fully absorb the effects of the Clear Sky Stone Milk, a substance worthy of being called the embodiment of nature itself.