Chapter 48

Chapter 48, Unexpected News

Other people might not have reacted so strongly, but for these two men, the statement was shocking.

The fact that Martial Alliance Leader Jo Ryang possessed the Medical Righteous Sect's spiritual medicine might seem unimportant at first glance.

However, to Jaha and Goeui, it carried enormous meaning.

Goeui interpreted it as evidence that Jo Ryang, Leader of the Martial Alliance, might have been connected to the destruction of the Medical Righteous Sect, which had once been considered a sacred place for physicians.

Jaha interpreted it in exactly the same way.

From one perspective, it could mean nothing at all.

From another, it was an extremely shocking revelation.

It could mean that Jo Ryang, the man known as Ten-Perfect Martial, was shameless and deeply calculating.

Seeing Goeui and Jaha react so strongly, So Rihyang looked confused.

She had not expected the information to shock them this much.

Jaha quickly regained his calm.

"Then where is the spiritual medicine?"

Jaha asked directly without worrying about appearances.

In truth, Goeui had wanted to ask that question for quite some time.

However, he had held himself back because he worried So Rihyang might misunderstand.

When Jaha asked so casually, Goeui glanced at So Rihyang.

So Rihyang studied Jaha.

When she saw no greed in his eyes, she smiled.

"May I ask about Young Hero's background?"

Jaha smiled at So Rihyang, who still had some doubts.

"I am a disciple of the Azure Cloud Martial School in Yeongje County."

"A martial school?"

So Rihyang had never heard the name before.

She was also surprised that someone this outstanding came from such an obscure countryside martial school.

Cough!

So Rihyang coughed in surprise.

Since she was lying down, she had accidentally choked slightly.

To be honest, because Goeui praised Jaha so highly, she had assumed he was the descendant of some great martial family.

"Forgive me. Your background was far more unexpected than I imagined."

"I understand."

Seeing Jaha's calm expression, So Rihyang inwardly admired him.

He isn't ashamed of his background at all. He's a proper young man.

Someone with an unimpressive background would normally shrink when meeting powerful experts or people of high status.

Jaha showed none of that.

If anything, he displayed a strange dignity.

That was why So Rihyang had misunderstood his background.

"The spiritual medicine..."

To hide her embarrassment, So Rihyang quickly changed the subject.

"I hid it somewhere else. I planned to use it when Ha Yeon's dantian became strong enough to safely endure it. The place is..."

Before So Rihyang could continue, Goeui stopped her.

"Don't tell us. There's a saying that seeing something creates desire. It's better if we don't know. We have no interest in the spiritual medicine. Give it to your disciple later."

Jaha nodded along.

Inside, however, he cursed.

This old bastard. The person who needs spiritual medicine more than anyone is me. I was planning to steal it if I heard where it was.

To hide his thoughts, Jaha continued nodding.

After fighting the Western Gorge Sect experts, he had become painfully aware of his lack of internal power.

He desperately needed more internal energy.

If he accumulated power through normal qi circulation like Byeok Ho, he would probably be around sixty before reaching sixty years of internal energy.

Byeok Ho currently possessed only about twenty years of power.

Even that had been gained through diligent training.

A disciple from a poor martial school could spend his entire life without even smelling a spiritual medicine.

That was normal.

When Jaha had been in the Demon Cult, he had consumed countless spiritual medicines from childhood.

By the time he became Cult Leader, he had already accumulated around one hundred and twenty years of power.

Yet even that had not been enough to match the Seven Heavenly Demons.

The realm known as Absolute Supreme was generally considered to require around one hundred and eighty years of internal power.

The Seven Heavenly Demons were believed to possess energy close to that amount.

Hwancheonma, however, had not yet reached that level.

That was why he had long obsessed over increasing his internal power.

Thinking about it, Jaha could understand why Hwancheonma had chased this spiritual medicine so desperately.

After a brief silence, Goeui spoke.

"However, there has long been a rumor that the Medical Righteous Sect's spiritual medicine was fake. A considerable amount of it supposedly leaked out when the sect was destroyed, but I've never heard of anyone increasing their internal power after consuming it."

So Rihyang answered,

"We heard that rumor too. But this is definitely medicine made from Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root. Its fragrance and color cannot lie."

"Then why has no one increased their internal energy after taking the Medical Righteous Sect's spiritual medicine?"

"I thought perhaps someone spread that rumor intentionally to hide the fact that their internal power had increased. Because the medicine we have is genuine."

Goeui nodded.

"That may be true."

Listening to them, Jaha laughed inwardly.

I know why that rumor started because Grandfather Demon Physician told me. I know why the Medical Righteous Sect's medicine became famous as fake medicine. It looks like neither Senior Goeui nor the Divine Thief knows the truth.

Jaha desired the spiritual medicine.

He was the only person here who knew its secret.

Without knowing the secret, that medicine is nothing more than a very healthy supplement.

If he consumed the Medical Righteous Sect's spiritual medicine and gained sixty years of internal power, he could finally take another step toward revenge.

With Byeok Ho's current twenty years of energy, revenge was still far too distant.

Perhaps he would find another opportunity by going to Mount Lu, where the Demon Physician was said to be.

But there was no guarantee.

While Jaha was lost in thought, someone called Goeui from outside.

"Senior, are you inside?"

The only person who should have known Goeui was here was the brothel manager.

However, that was not the manager's voice.

Goeui looked toward Jaha.

Both men knew the voice well.

"Why is Magae here?"

Magae knew that Goeui occasionally visited this brothel to treat the courtesans.

Since he had come despite knowing they were hiding from Hwancheonma, something important must have happened.

Goeui and Jaha went outside.

Magae greeted them with cupped fists.

"Did you come looking for me?"

Goeui asked.

"No. I came looking for Young Hero Byeok."

"Why?"

Goeui asked.

"It's difficult to speak here. Let's go somewhere quiet."

Goeui guided them into a quiet room.

Jaha found it strange that Magae kept glancing at him.

Something happened.

The moment they entered the room, Jaha asked,

"What did you come to tell me?"

He did not even sit down.

A sense of unease made him remain standing.

Magae looked between Jaha and Goeui before speaking.

"Don't be shocked."

"Stop dragging it out and speak."

When Magae kept hesitating, Goeui snapped at him.

"Young Hero Byeok's master and fellow disciples have been taken hostage by Hwancheonma."

"What?!"

"Huh?"

Goeui and Jaha shouted in shock.

"What are you talking about?!"

"Explain exactly what happened."

As both men leaned toward him, Magae sat down and tried to calm them.

"I'll explain everything, so sit down."

Goeui regained his composure and pushed Jaha into a chair.

"Fine. Tell us everything."

Magae began explaining the information he had received.

After hearing the entire story, Jaha sighed.

"Ah. So that's what happened."

Goeui spoke.

"So Go Deung was searching everywhere for us and accidentally discovered Byeok Ho's master?"

"That's right. More precisely, Hwancheonma wasn't originally searching for Young Hero Byeok's master. He saw Go Deung searching for someone and followed him. That's how he found them."

Goeui slammed his hand on the table.

"This old man made a mistake. Even with Ma Gi's request, I should've killed Go Deung back then."

After becoming angry for a moment, Goeui calmed himself and asked,

"Did those bastards say what they want?"

Magae hesitated, then answered.

"They said they'll release the hostages if you bring them the spiritual medicine."

"Where are they?"

"We don't know. They informed me through Beggar Sect members. They said if we have the spiritual medicine, we should raise a red flag at the Beggar Sect branch. Then they'll send the meeting location."

"Mm."

Goeui looked seriously at Jaha.

He felt relieved that Jaha did not appear as shocked as he expected.

What extraordinary mental strength. He can remain calm even after hearing his master and fellow disciples were captured by Hwancheonma.

Jaha seemed to think deeply before asking,

"How much time did they give us?"

Magae nodded with an impressed expression.

"Exactly two days from now. They said if the flag isn't raised at the Beggar Sect branch by then, they'll kill your master and fellow disciples and throw their bodies into the marketplace."

Hwancheonma was fully capable of doing exactly that.

It was not an empty threat.

After thinking deeply, Jaha said,

"First, we must prevent this information from leaking. If rumors spread that a spiritual medicine exists, martial artists will flood this area. Then our situation will become even worse. Please."

Magae answered,

"I understand that much. I already ordered the person who delivered the letter to remain silent. Also, I'm the only one who read the letter. No one else knows about this."

Goeui added a warning just in case.

"If this rumor leaks, I'll assume you were responsible, and I won't forgive you."

Magae looked offended.

"Senior, I may not look like it, but I know how to keep my mouth shut. That's why I'm a branch leader."

After Magae left, Jaha and Goeui remained silent for a long time.

They were both thinking about how to overcome this crisis.

Eventually, Jaha stood up.

"What are you planning?"

Goeui asked when he saw Jaha's resolved expression.

"This isn't something we can solve by sitting here thinking. First, we should tell Miss Ha's master and ask for help."

Even Goeui agreed there was no other choice.

Since So Rihyang possessed the spiritual medicine, they needed to know her decision first.

"Fine. I'll explain the situation."

After hearing Goeui's explanation, So Rihyang closed her eyes and fell into thought.

She understood that this was a moment requiring an important decision.

After around a quarter of an hour, she opened her eyes.

"The spiritual medicine is precious, but not so precious that I would ignore the crisis of the people who saved us. More importantly, Young Hero's honored master became a hostage because of us. Of course I'll help."

Jaha lowered his head.

"Thank you for understanding."

Jaha realized he was slowly becoming an increasingly polite young man.

In the past, he would have considered this natural.

He would not have bowed his head or thanked anyone.

"However..."

Jaha raised his head.

So Rihyang looked at him deeply.

"Please speak."

"If something happens to me, please take care of Ha Yeon."

Goeui clicked his tongue.

"Didn't I already tell you? You're not dying. Given enough time, I, Goeui, guarantee you'll become even healthier than before."

"I know. Still, I think I'll feel more at ease if I hear Young Hero's answer."

"I'll watch over Miss Ha until she grows up and meets a suitable partner. But that promise only matters if something truly happens to Senior."

"Thank you."

So Rihyang thought that someone as steady and pure as Jaha could be trusted with Ha Yeon.

She felt he would care for her like an older brother.

Once the matter involving Ha Yeon was settled, So Rihyang explained her thoughts.

"Hwancheonma giving you two whole days probably means he also wants time to prepare something. So you should immediately let him know that you'll hand over the spiritual medicine. Don't give him time to think of another trick."

Jaha inwardly thought that old ginger really was stronger in flavor.

He had not considered that possibility.

He had simply thought they had gained two days.

She's right. Why would someone like Hwancheonma casually give us two days? He must be buying time to prepare something. Just as she said, once we retrieve the spiritual medicine, we should raise the flag immediately and deny them preparation time.

After thinking, Jaha asked So Rihyang,

"Please tell me where the spiritual medicine is. I'll retrieve it myself."

So Rihyang smiled.

"Why do you assume the spiritual medicine is somewhere else? It might be hidden inside my clothes."

Jaha found it amusing that So Rihyang was still lightly testing him even in this situation.

"Of course that's possible. But from my limited experience, foolish people keep their most precious things close to their bodies, while wise people place them far away. Wise people use truth and deception together to protect what matters."

So Rihyang laughed aloud.

"Hahaha. Young Hero certainly knows how to say things that make people feel good."

Goeui immediately agreed.

"That's true. When it comes to that tongue of his, even those so-called Twelve Dragons of the Martial World wouldn't be able to beat him."

For the first time in a while, So Rihyang laughed openly.

Jaha, however, could not laugh.

He was worried about Ha Seonbaek, Han Seol, and Jo Unryong.

Then Jaha suddenly realized he could no longer tell whether he himself was worried about them, or whether it was Byeok Ho's White Spirit that was worried.