Chapter 58, This Can't Be Happening
Among girls his own age, Jo Unryong had never seen anyone as pretty as Ha Yeon.
Naturally, his eyes kept drifting toward her.
There were girls in Yeongje County, of course.
But none had skin as white as jade, such a small face, and such neat, delicate features.
So for a while, Jo Unryong simply stared at her in a daze.
Ha Seonbaek noticed and spoke.
"Let's eat before the food becomes cold."
Once Ha Seonbaek began eating, Han Seol and Jo Unryong followed.
It had been a long time since either of them had eaten food this luxurious, so they enjoyed it greatly.
Jaha was also mentally and physically exhausted from fighting Hwancheonma.
He focused entirely on eating.
At first, the atmosphere was slightly awkward because So Rihyang and Ha Yeon were present.
However, Goeui deliberately started conversations, and the meal slowly became more comfortable.
In the middle of eating, Jaha suddenly stopped and looked at all the people sharing the meal with him.
It was the first time in his life he had eaten together with so many people.
Since coming here, I've experienced many things for the first time.
When Jaha had been young, he ate with his father.
As he grew older, however, he had almost always eaten alone.
A large family-like meal like this was completely new to him.
The sound of chopsticks and spoons coming from all around did not feel unpleasant.
Jaha normally hated noisy, complicated surroundings.
Yet strangely, this kind of noise made him feel calm.
Han Seol noticed Jaha suddenly smiling while eating.
"Senior Brother, why are you smiling while eating?"
"Huh? Oh. The food tastes good. And I like eating like this with Master and all of you."
Perhaps those words stirred his emotions.
Jo Unryong, with his mouth full of food, suddenly looked ready to cry.
Thinking about everything that had happened made the moment feel special.
Jaha noticed the mood becoming heavy and quickly spoke.
"Let's eat."
Jaha lowered his head again and focused on his food.
Ha Seonbaek watched him with a warm smile.
Even drinking tea after the meal made Jaha feel strangely nostalgic.
Maybe it's because I finally ate high-quality food again after so long.
Since living in Byeok Ho's body, Jaha had rarely eaten the kind of luxurious dishes that had once been normal inside the Demon Cult.
He assumed that was why he felt emotional.
Then a voice broke through his thoughts.
"Ho, shouldn't we decide what to do with the spiritual medicine now?"
Jaha was startled when Ha Seonbaek suddenly brought up the medicine.
Wait. Who are you to decide that?
Jaha thought inwardly before answering.
"Yes, Master. We should settle it now."
After Jaha replied, Goeui briefly explained the truth about the medicine to So Rihyang.
When he revealed that the real medicine was not the pill, but the silver sheets wrapped around it, So Rihyang looked genuinely shocked.
"My goodness. Even I didn't know that."
"It turns out the Demon Physician who taught Ho was a successor of the Medical Righteous Sect. That's how Ho knew."
"So that's what happened. Still, I'm surprised Young Hero Byeok is connected to the Demon Physician."
Jaha quickly explained.
"During my days working as an escort, I learned several martial arts from him, but he never accepted me as his disciple. Calling me his successor would be too much."
So Rihyang nodded.
"I understand. The fact that he did not formally accept you may have carried deeper meaning. If he took you as a disciple, then Young Hero Byeok would also be considered part of the Demon Cult. Perhaps that was why he chose not to."
So Rihyang interpreted the situation in a favorable way.
That made things convenient for Jaha.
"But Young Hero Byeok received teachings from both the Demon Physician and Goeui, and now also inherited the ultimate arts of the Ghost Shadow Sect. At this point, calling him a shared successor wouldn't be wrong."
In truth, So Rihyang was saying this because she wanted Ha Seonbaek to understand that Jaha now also had ties to her.
She could not call him her formal disciple.
However, she had still passed down her ultimate art.
In her mind, that meant she also had some connection to Byeok Ho's future.
Jaha immediately understood her intention and changed the subject.
"What should we do with the spiritual medicine?"
Naturally, Jaha asked Ha Seonbaek, Byeok Ho's master.
"That medicine originally belonged to the old madam. She only gave it up because of us. Naturally, we should return it to her."
Jaha screamed inwardly.
What are you talking about? Why are we returning it? I need to eat that and increase my internal power. Byeok Ho, don't you dare let us give this away. Understand?
Jaha firmly warned Byeok Ho's White Spirit in his mind.
"Understood, Master."
However, Byeok Ho completely ignored Jaha's warning.
"Good. We must never desire what belongs to another."
"I was planning to return it as well."
What kind of nonsense is this? Byeok Ho, no! Damn it! You stubborn idiots!
Jaha felt his heart turning black from frustration as he listened to them.
So Rihyang watched Jaha and Ha Seonbaek with admiration.
It has been a long time since I've seen genuine righteous people. They don't waver even before such a spiritual medicine. They may come from a countryside martial school, but their righteousness is greater than that of many famous heroes. As expected, my judgment of people is still excellent.
Looking at Ha Seonbaek and Jaha, So Rihyang made a decision.
"I can no longer call the medicine mine. I actually gave it away as part of an agreement with Young Hero Byeok."
Ha Seonbaek looked toward her.
So Rihyang understood his silent request for an explanation.
"At the time, I was seriously ill and my disciple was still young. We had no one trustworthy to rely on. But when I saw Young Hero Byeok, I believed in him. I gave him the spiritual medicine and entrusted both myself and my disciple to him. Young Hero Byeok accepted my request. Master Ha, do you believe your disciple should break a promise?"
Ha Seonbaek immediately answered firmly,
"Once a promise leaves your mouth, you must protect it even at the cost of your life."
So Rihyang smiled.
People this stubbornly upright were sometimes easier to handle than expected.
"Then it's settled. I gave the spiritual medicine to Young Hero Byeok. I cannot take it back."
Ha Seonbaek looked troubled by So Rihyang's unexpected statement.
Jaha laughed inwardly.
Good. Then I'll say I'm consuming it. The old madam already said it belongs to me, so no one can complain if I eat it.
Jaha picked up the silver sheets.
"Then let's do this. Will everyone follow what I say?"
So Rihyang nodded.
"This old woman will follow Young Hero Byeok's decision."
Ha Seonbaek replied,
"I will also respect the old madam's wishes and follow Ho's decision."
Ha Seonbaek trusted his disciple to make a wise choice.
Jaha waited until he had everyone's promise.
He was just about to announce that he would personally consume the spiritual medicine.
Then suddenly, a strange electric sensation passed through his body.
His mouth began moving against his own will.
"Then there are four sheets of silver medicine here. I'll give one to the old madam, who willingly gave us this medicine."
Jaha's hand trembled violently as he extended one sheet toward So Rihyang.
So Rihyang blinked in emotion and accepted it.
No! Byeok Ho! I need to eat this. Who are you to act generous with my medicine? Please, stop!
Jaha desperately shouted inside.
It was useless.
Byeok Ho's White Spirit had temporarily locked down Jaha's consciousness.
Jaha then tore the remaining silver sheets apart like paper and handed a piece to Ha Seonbaek.
"This part is Master's. This one is Junior Sister Han's. This one is Junior Brother Jo's."
Then Jaha held out another piece toward Goeui.
"And this is Senior Goeui's. The remaining part is mine."
Once he distributed the medicine evenly, everyone's attention naturally focused on Jaha.
Then they noticed tears flowing down his face.
Those tears came from Jaha's outrage.
You bastard! Byeok Ho! How can you betray me like this?!
No matter how much he screamed inside, Byeok Ho continued speaking calmly.
"If you consume the portion I gave you and circulate your qi, you should gain at least ten years of internal power. That alone will make you much stronger than you are now."
Ha Seonbaek frowned.
"In this master's opinion, if we divide the medicine, each person may gain around ten years of power. But if a single person consumes it all, they could gain sixty years. I believe concentrating the medicine on one person would be far more valuable."
Jaha's tears became even larger.
He thought Ha Seonbaek had finally understood what he wanted.
Tears as large as beans rolled down Jaha's cheeks.
Then his mouth opened.
"If Master and my fellow disciples had been stronger, would you have become hostages so easily? Even if one person becomes powerful, that alone cannot solve every crisis. Everyone needs to become stronger so we can deal with future attacks from Hwancheonma or the Western Gorge Sect. This is my sincere request, Master. Please consume the spiritual medicine."
Byeok Ho's White Spirit spoke with complete sincerity.
Ha Seonbaek seemed to realize something.
So Ho suffered because we were weak.
If we remain this weak, we'll continue becoming a burden to him.
Thinking that way, Ha Seonbaek began to understand Jaha's argument.
Meanwhile, Jaha was screaming inside.
No! Don't accept Byeok Ho's request! Keep insisting your disciple should eat it all!
No matter how much Jaha struggled, Byeok Ho did not yield.
Never before had Byeok Ho's White Spirit controlled Jaha this strongly.
Even when it resisted him before, it had never lasted this long.
It seems Byeok Ho is using every remaining bit of spiritual power to stop me.
Otherwise, there was no way Jaha could be controlled this completely by a soul that existed only as a White Spirit.
After thinking for a while, Ha Seonbaek nodded.
"Ho is right. If we hadn't been so weak, if we were just a little stronger, Hwancheonma's subordinates would not have captured us so easily. Understood. We'll consume this medicine and become stronger."
The moment Ha Seonbaek agreed, tears streamed down Jaha's face again.
They were tears of pure frustration.
"Seeing you this happy makes this master happy too."
Ha Seonbaek thought Jaha was crying because everyone had agreed to consume the medicine.
Goeui and So Rihyang misunderstood the tears in the same way.
As expected, Byeok Ho truly has the nature of a great righteous hero.
So Rihyang was deeply impressed.
Ha Seonbaek spoke to her.
"My disciple's promise is also this master's promise. No matter what happens, we will protect the old madam and Miss Ha until the end."
Hearing Ha Seonbaek's words filled So Rihyang with warmth.
These people were not great experts.
Still, their words somehow felt more trustworthy than promises from peak masters.
She finally felt she could safely entrust Ha Yeon to them.
Goeui stood up.
"Since it's decided, you should consume the medicine immediately. Master Ha and the disciples should take theirs first. This old man and Byeok Ho will stand guard. Since we're doing this anyway, the old madam should also consume her portion and circulate her qi. It will greatly help your internal injuries."
So Rihyang nodded.
At that moment, Jaha let out a huge sigh.
Byeok Ho's White Spirit finally released him.
The sigh he had been screaming inside escaped through his mouth.
"Why are you sighing?"
Jaha gave a bitter smile.
"I'm relieved that everything ended well."
"Hahaha! Of course."
Now that the medicine had already been distributed, there was no way Jaha could take it back.
He finally gave up.
It looks like this medicine simply wasn't entirely mine. Fine. I'll be satisfied with gaining ten years of internal power.
Once he accepted that, he actually felt better.
"If you peel the silver sheet slightly, you'll find the medicine inside."
Jo Unryong peeled back the silver layer.
Beneath it was a thin, flattened piece of dried Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root.
Its fragrance was mysterious enough to make all worries disappear for a moment.
So Rihyang divided half of her portion and handed it to Ha Yeon.
"In the past, your dantian was not developed enough for you to consume the full medicine. But with this smaller amount, you should be able to refine it. Let's take it together and circulate our qi."
And so, five people suddenly ended up consuming spiritual medicine and meditating in the same room.
Goeui and Jaha went outside to stand guard.
Jaha felt completely empty inside.
He had nearly died several times to obtain that medicine.
Even consuming the entire thing alone would not have felt enough.
Yet now he had divided it among all these people.
Still, Jaha was not foolish enough to suffer endlessly over something already finished.
Holding onto regrets for too long simply did not match his personality.
While Jaha sat in the main hall, Goeui approached and held out the silver medicine Jaha had given him.
"Take this too."
Jaha stared at it.
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"This old man won't become much stronger from another ten years of internal power. I already possess more than one hundred and twenty years. Ten more years doesn't mean much to me. But for you, it will make an enormous difference."
"With that much, you'll be able to use the Revolving Joint Formula whenever you truly need it. If you combine your portion with mine, you may gain twenty years, perhaps even thirty if you're lucky. Then you'll finally enter the true ranks of outstanding younger-generation experts. You won't embarrass that nickname Heavenly Demon Defying Sword."
Goeui had understood Jaha's condition perfectly.
He knew Jaha only fought evenly with Hwancheonma because of his schemes, the Command of All Living Things, and the Ghost Spirit Traceless Steps.
"To properly imitate all those ultimate techniques you've learned, you need at least thirty years of internal power. That's why you need this more than I do."
Goeui genuinely gave up his portion for Jaha.
There was no chance Jaha would refuse such a gift.
"If Senior says so, then I'll gratefully accept."
If Byeok Ho's White Spirit still possessed the same strength as before, it might have forced him to refuse.
However, it seemed to have exhausted nearly all its spiritual power inside the room.
Or perhaps it simply felt sorry for Jaha and decided to leave him alone.
If I refine this properly, I can gain up to thirty years of internal power. That will put me above thirty years total. It still won't reach sixty years, but at least I'll escape this weak body that barely has any strength.
And in an emergency, I can always use the Acupoint-Draining Claw Method to borrow someone else's internal power.
Jaha felt genuinely grateful to Goeui for giving him the medicine.
"Senior, would you like me to massage your shoulders?"
For once, Jaha offered a favor he normally would never offer.
"Why? Because you're grateful? Fine, give these shoulders a proper massage."
Goeui smiled and allowed Jaha to knead his shoulders.
"Ah, that's nice."
Then Goeui suddenly realized this was the first time he had ever allowed another person to touch his shoulders so casually.
He had never trusted anyone enough before.
The thought made him laugh at himself.
