Chapter 103
Cheon Woojin ran with Cheol Jiak on his back. He was merely taking light steps, yet the surrounding scenery changed rapidly with each one.
He operated his ki to protect Cheol Jiak from the wind pressure.
Cheon Woojin's head ached the entire time he ran. It wasn't because he was rapidly performing his movement technique. It was because two voices were filling his mind.
- Woojin, why are you personally taking that weakling all the way to the Black Plaque Star when you could just let him die? Do you really need to owe that Ha Yulcheon fellow a favor?
Ha Yulcheon was the name of the Black Plaque Star Lord.
There was only one person who would call the Black Plaque Star Lord—the first in the history of the Central Plains to unite the entire Unorthodox Path and claim a spot among the Three Lords of the World—by that name.
- Black Master, he is a righteous warrior whose life is in danger after trying to protect his subordinates. Furthermore, he is the superior that Woojin serves, so how can we pretend not to know?
- Who pushed that bear-like guy onto the battlefield? If he didn't want to die, he should have been stronger.
- You crazy bastard. Try to think a little.
His masters had been fighting in his head from the moment he left the Sichuan Tang family until now. This had been happening frequently lately.
Of course, it was an auditory hallucination he had created. Was it because he missed his masters, who were like his only family? Or perhaps it was because the boundary between good and evil had become blurred after experiencing the incident with Tang Bicheon.
Cheon Woojin gently closed his eyes due to the headache. Even though he was running with his eyes closed, his feet landed only on the correct spots.
How long had he run like that?
Before long, he landed in front of the Sichuan branch of the Black Plaque Star.
The two gatekeepers guarding the main gate looked bewildered at the young man who had fallen from the sky. It was indeed a strange picture, especially since he was carrying a bear-like man on his back.
As Cheon Woojin approached, the gatekeepers asked.
"Where are you from?"
"I'm from the Martial Alliance."
At the truly honest answer, the gatekeepers' expressions hardened in an instant. Cheon Woojin was confident. It was because Ha Inseong, the Young Star Lord of the Black Plaque Star, had told him to stop by anytime.
Whether they knew Cheon Woojin's thoughts or not, the gatekeepers subtly raised their ki and asked again.
"Why are you here?"
Their tone had changed. It was only natural, as the Black Plaque Star and the Martial Alliance were officially hostile.
Cheon Woojin answered calmly.
"I came to see the Divine Doctor."
"Do you know where you are?"
The gatekeeper was wary, but his hostility was not severe. The bear on his back seemed to be in a situation where every second counted. He wouldn't have come to fight while carrying such a person.
"This is the Sichuan branch of the Black Plaque Star, isn't it? I was invited by the Young Star Lord once before."
When Cheon Woojin said that, the gatekeepers were startled and exchanged glances. The Young Star Lord they knew was more than capable of doing such a thing. He was someone who paid no mind to common sense or conventions.
"I'll check first. No matter what, I can't let a Martial Alliance member into the Black Plaque Star without following procedure."
It was the greatest courtesy the gatekeeper could show. Even if he was an enemy, he couldn't coldly turn away someone who had run here carrying a person on the verge of death.
Above all, he had to verify the truth of the claim that he had been invited by the Young Star Lord.
Cheon Woojin's brow narrowed slightly. The Young Star Lord would be at the main headquarters. In that case, verification would take quite some time...
"Can't I just go in first?"
The gatekeepers flinched for a moment.
Although Cheon Woojin spoke in a gentle tone, the gatekeepers had also read a certain conviction contained within it.
He had the air of someone who would charge in immediately if they refused.
The gatekeepers raised their ki in response.
"It's not possible. Even if you are a friend of the Young Star Lord, that is just your claim. Verification comes first."
"I'm not his friend."
"...Then all the more reason."
It was the correct procedure.
Soon, one of the gatekeepers went inside the Black Plaque Star.
The remaining one looked at Cheon Woojin with a tense face. Cheon Woojin's gaze was directed towards the inside of the Black Plaque Star through the open gate. The gatekeeper subtly moved his steps to block that gaze.
"Don't get any funny ideas. I warned you clearly. We of the Black Plaque Star do not fear the Martial Alliance."
Cheon Woojin let out a sigh. The two masters, who had been arguing until he arrived at the Black Plaque Star, now showed completely opposite attitudes.
- It's not the Star Lord, but a mere gatekeeper dares to block the way? Let's smash his head in and charge in right now!
- If you don't follow the procedure, Woojin, you'll be no different from the Black Master. The physician said there's still time, so let's wait a little.
At that moment, Cheon Woojin realized. These voices were not simple auditory hallucinations. They were the beliefs and values of his two masters engraved within him.
Cheon Woojin was a man who embraced both black and white.
The personality influenced by the Black Master told him to charge in, smash everything, and then intimidate the Divine Doctor, while the personality influenced by the White Master told him to respect even his enemies.
Cheon Woojin stared blankly at the gatekeeper. He, too, must have felt something, as he unconsciously took a step back.
It was right at that moment. A man with a physique as massive as Cheol Jiak's came running out from inside, out of breath.
"Alliance Member Cheon!"
He was none other than Ma Yongseok. The Young Star Lord's direct guard and a man whose daughter's life had been saved by Cheon Woojin while he was temporarily a fugitive.
During his time as a fugitive, he had worked as a butcher, so he was now also known by the nickname Ma the Butcher.
"Ma Butch—!"
The gatekeeper was about to call him by that nickname without realizing it, but he gasped and sucked in his breath. It was just a nickname they used among themselves; he couldn't dare say it to his face.
Although he was just a guard, Ma Yongseok's position was on par with the leaders of the Black Plaque Star. It was only natural, as he had the infinite trust of Ha Inseong, who would one day become the master of the Black Plaque Star.
"Ah, Sir Ma the Butcher."
Cheon Woojin called him that openly.
The gatekeeper cursed at him with his eyes, asking if he was crazy, but neither Cheon Woojin nor Ma Yongseok seemed to care in the slightest.
Ma Yongseok's gaze turned to Cheol Jiak on Cheon Woojin's back.
"Is this the Black Tortoise Unit Commander?"
"Yes, I heard the Divine Doctor is inside the Black Plaque Star, so I came."
Ma Yongseok, with his rugged face, gave an unfittingly bright smile. He had wanted so much to repay the grace of having his daughter's life saved, and now such an opportunity had come.
In the first place, it was Ma Yongseok who had used his personal connection to call the Divine Doctor to the Sichuan branch of the Black Plaque Star.
* * *
A white-haired old man was meticulously examining Cheol Jiak, who was laid on a bed.
Cheon Woojin was surprised when he first saw the Divine Doctor. Hearing only his fame, he had expected him to have a similar atmosphere to the White Master, but it was the opposite. Wasn't he rather similar to the Black Master?
Well, he was a Divine Doctor who treated any patient regardless of the Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic factions...
Similarly, the Black Master was someone who smashed heads without regard for ideology.
Suddenly, the Divine Doctor, who was examining Cheol Jiak, clicked his tongue.
"They said the Tang family head had gone senile, and now the Tang family is finished. Why didn't they take proper measures while the patient was getting like this? It's already too late."
Cheon Woojin let out a small sigh, and Ma Yongseok's expression next to him also darkened. In truth, he didn't care whether the Martial Alliance's commander lived or died, but since he was someone Cheon Woojin had brought, he wanted to help.
Ma Yongseok asked cautiously.
"Elder, is the situation that serious?"
"His life is not in danger at all. Because he came to me before it was too late. But, as a martial artist, he is finished."
"...!"
Ma Yongseok was startled. While the Divine Doctor was checking his pulse, he had also been observing Cheol Jiak with his eyes. The calloused fists, the muscles of his forearms, the thick neck, and the jar-like calves.
Although their organizations and ideologies were different, he felt respect for him as a martial artist. Ma Yongseok knew better than anyone in the world what kind of effort and how much of it was needed to have fists like that.
It was because the two were not only similar in physique and atmosphere but also in the martial arts they used.
"Is there really no way?"
"His ki meridians are already severed strand by strand. Of course, there is a way. But can you guys do it?"
"Please tell us first."
Ma Yongseok asked politely.
The Divine Doctor stared intently at Ma Yongseok and Cheon Woojin next to him, then said as if throwing it out.
"There are five ways."
Cheon Woojin looked at him as if surprised. He had spoken as if it were impossible, but weren't there surprisingly many ways? However, only after the Divine Doctor's words continued could he understand the meaning.
"The Great Rebirth Pill of Shaolin, the Purple Mist Pill of Mount Hua, the Grand Purity Pill of Wudang, the Divine Demon Pill of the Demonic Cult, and the Spirit Deer Pill of the Green Forest. These are all the miraculous medicines in the world that can reconnect severed ki meridians. Now, which one will you bring?"
"..."
Ma Yongseok closed his mouth. There was not a single one that could be easily obtained. No, it was practically impossible.
"Alliance Member Cheon, I think..."
Ma Yongseok swallowed the rest of his words. It was because Cheon Woojin's expression was already serious, even without him having to say it.
However, Ma Yongseok did not know. That Cheon Woojin's expression was originally like this.
"Isn't it something that his life was prolonged? Looking at his physical condition, it wouldn't be strange if he had died several times already. It's already a miracle."
Soon, Cheon Woojin, who had been contemplating, suddenly said.
"I suppose Shaolin, Wudang, and Mount Hua are too far. The Demonic Cult and the Green Forest of Guizhou seem to be at a similar distance."
"...What did you say?"
The Divine Doctor asked back as if bewildered. The five places he had just mentioned were all factions with immense influence in the martial world.
But, as if such things were not even in his consideration, he was just listing them in order, considering only the distance.
"Who did you say your master was? I was distracted earlier and didn't hear properly."
"He is the White Flower Sword Immortal."
"...Oh dear."
The Divine Doctor's brow furrowed slightly. He had a slight acquaintance with the White Flower Sword Immortal. He had gone to watch because there was a crazy guy who had charged into the Demonic Cult single-handedly, shouting about the theory of righteous warriors, and they had become friends.
The saying 'like master, like disciple' was a perfect fit. Seeing that guy contemplating so intently, he had the air of someone who would charge straight into the Demonic Cult if he were told it was the closest.
"Stop it. Your master is the White Flower Sword Immortal, but you are not the White Flower Sword Immortal, are you?"
The Divine Doctor, who said so, looked at Cheon Woojin intently.
Perhaps the persuasion had worked, as this young and reckless man was nodding his head. However, the words that followed were the complete opposite of the Divine Doctor's expectations.
"As expected, the Green Forest of Guizhou would be the closest."
"Right, you also think the Demonic Cult is a bit much, don't you? But, the Green Forest guys are no pushovers either. Do you know that the nickname of the current Green Forest Grand Chieftain is the Green King?"
The fact that he openly attached the character for 'King' to his nickname meant that he was also a master of the Transcendent Realm. If not, masters like the Sword King, Poison King, or Slaughter King would not have let him live.
"Yes, I remember hearing about it from my master once."
"The White Flower Sword Immortal did? What did he say?"
"He said that those who are called Green Kings are a group that is easy to talk to for being heretics."
"..."
The Divine Doctor sighed heavily. Of course, they would be easy to talk to. The White Flower Sword Immortal was one of the top masters among the Transcendent Realm masters of his time. If he had been active until now, he would have been called the First Immortal of the World, not one of the Three Lords of the World.
He must have charged into the Green Forest with that fan that was no different from a sword. There probably wasn't a particular reason. A clueless mountain bandit must have just thrust an axe at the White Flower Sword Immortal, who looked like a frail scholar.
The White Flower Sword Immortal who charged in would have first smashed everything and then, in the wreckage, sat the Green King down in front of him and lectured him on the theory of righteous warriors. And the Green King would have listened intently to that teaching as if possessed by a scholar from the Hanlin Academy. To live.
A subtle worry was revealed in the Divine Doctor's sigh. In any case, the White Master was a righteous warrior whom the Divine Doctor also respected. How could he be indifferent when his disciple was about to go on such a reckless path?
Cheon Woojin, who had noticed that emotion, spoke as if to tell him not to worry.
"It will be fine. I will try to persuade him well through dialogue."
"Persuade whom? The Green King?"
"Yes."
The Divine Doctor was just bewildered. How could he talk about going to the Green King to get the Spirit Deer Pill, the treasure of the Green Forest, as if he were going to a neighborhood tavern to haggle over the price of alcohol?
Regardless, Cheon Woojin turned around.
The dark iron staff on his back was visible.
The Divine Doctor's eyes widened.
"Th-that...!"
Suddenly, an old memory came to mind. There was a time when a patient who was in a race against time had been taken by the guys from the Black Society, who were the rulers of the Hunan Unorthodox Path at the time.
At that time, the Divine Doctor had asked the Hao Faction, with whom he had an acquaintance, to retrieve the precious patient, and the Hao Faction had sent a man to the Black Society, saying he was the most skilled person they knew in dialogue and persuasion.
Surprisingly, that man brought the patient back safely in half a day. The innocent Divine Doctor at the time had thought that he was truly a master of dialogue and persuasion, but the next day, he heard that the Black Society had been annihilated overnight.
'I was really surprised when I found out that guy was the Black Master.'
Why on earth did the disciple of the White Flower Sword Immortal have a similar back view to him? The Divine Doctor could not understand the reason at all.
(End of Chapter)