Chapter 213 |
Sama Hyeon spoke.
“While you were sleeping, no one was seriously injured. Well, that’s because the martial arts competition is coming up. There were a few people who wanted to meet you, so I told them to come when you wake up. I said I didn’t know when that would be.”
“What about Master?”
“If you mean Divine Doctor White Dragon, it was quite a hassle getting in touch since his whereabouts were uncertain. I told them you’re sleeping here. I said I had to force you to rest since you refused to.”
He didn’t mention using drugs, I see.
Though he conveniently omitted some crucial details, at least he hadn’t lied.
“Master was in quite an unusual place?”
It made sense. Zhuge Rin and Jin Cheonhee had made a promise.
In the coming tribulations, Jin Cheonhee would save people, and Zhuge Rin would save such a disciple.
“……”
“Seeing how you’re not surprised, I guess you already know roughly what’s going on. Whatever you two are plotting isn’t important right now. Anyway, get more rest. You haven’t slept for five days.”
“Five days? I worked for five days?”
“You even lost track of time while treating people. Even with your three-gapja internal energy, you’ll die from overwork living like that.”
“How do you even know about my internal energy… No, never mind. Forget it.”
He was starting to get used to Sama Hyeon’s style.
Though he clearly helped with good intentions, there was something slightly eerie about his way of doing things.
In reality, he was being quite helpful.
“Brother. Here.”
The ledger Sama Hyeon put down contained lists of supplies and materials used in various medical pavilions. Surprisingly, it included a large quantity of feather needles that were difficult to obtain.
How did he manage to get these?
Even though Jin Cheonhee had connections with Tang Ah, and Tang Ah herself was a “kind child who didn’t worry much about consequences,” the quantity of feather needles Sama Hyeon had procured was far too much to have come from an individual from the Tang Clan.
“A friend of a friend helped me get them.”
Was “friend of a friend” in the demonic cult like some kind of magic wand?
Sama Hyeon continued.
“I figured we’d need more once the main competition starts, so I took care of it. Also, I’ve tracked down some merchants with food stalls who’ll send breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“I’m already getting support from the Martial Righteous Alliance for that.”
“I know. But you have to go to the dining hall for those meals. What I’m sending is boxed meals and snacks, so you can eat right there. Better than skipping meals.”
He might be crazy, but he was thorough.
“Grateful?”
He was good at taking credit too.
“Thank you.”
“Hehehe. Of course, what kind of brother would I be otherwise?”
Jin Cheonhee replied, omitting the words ‘temporary’ or ‘provisional number 2’.
“Yes. Thanks to you, many of my concerns have been resolved. Thank you.”
“Then sleep a little more. Just one more hour, brother.”
“……”
Instead of answering, Jin Cheonhee lay back down on the bed.
Sama Hyeon continued handling the remaining tasks while listening to his brother’s breathing become regular.
***
“You could have at least said something. Even if you needed rest, still.”
Jin Cheonhee changed into his martial arts uniform with a sullen expression.
Sama Hyeon rested his chin on his hand, watching his brother.
“Say what? That you should sleep now? That people die working like that? Would you have listened? You’d probably run right back to the ER if something came up. You called it ‘ER’, right? Not sure what it means though.”
I see. He learned that too.
After tightening the belt of his martial arts uniform, he looked in the mirror.
Today marked the start of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. Not the main tournament, but the preliminaries.
“I should pay my respects to the Wudang Sect members, the Gongsun Clan, and the Beggar’s Sect…”
“They’ll understand if they know how you’ve been living. People need sleep, brother. And food.”
Sama Hyeon whistled when he saw his brother in martial arts attire.
“Brother, it suits you well. Dressed like this, you look like a martial artist rather than a physician.”
“Sure.”
“I mean it. Anyway, those greetings can wait until after the preliminaries~”
That was true enough.
The Dragon Phoenix Gathering was the martial arts world’s biggest event.
To prevent bloodshed from grown adults fighting each other, they had young successors compete against each other instead.
These successors were the future of their sects, and this naturally allowed sects to gauge their rivals’ future potential.
In a way, the Dragon Phoenix Gathering was like a miniature version of what the martial arts world would be in ten years – nothing could be more important.
This time, for whatever reason, they decided to hold a gathering that included both orthodox and demonic cults.
The Alliance Leader must be trying to gain the demonic cult’s power too.
Not only Jin Cheonhee but any senior martial artist could easily figure out these intentions.
The Nine Orthodox Sects and Eight Great Families were the foundation of the Martial Righteous Alliance.
It would be utterly shameful if any of them were eliminated in the first round.
Interestingly, this would also affect the merchant groups and checkpoint offices dealing with those sects and families, as well as the officials connected to those regions.
Of course, no one openly mocked them, and nothing changed immediately.
However, they wouldn’t maintain long-term ties with a sect that might fade like flowers lasting just ten days.
Usually, it started with sending gifts to sects with promising successors.
Whether on Earth or here, no one was more sensitive to power than those who possessed it.
In martial families, power came from martial arts, which determined all income and honor.
That’s why Sama Hyeon, who chose money from the start, is truly unusual.
Jin Cheonhee said, “Whether it’s the Alliance Leader’s intention or the staff’s, they clearly dislike change.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“A physician should stick to physician’s work. I have no intention of meddling in other matters.”
Indeed. Jin Cheonhee intended to do a physician’s work.
That meant turning ‘future patients’ into ‘future healthy unconscious people.’
Rather than worrying about whether a severed limb could be reattached while suturing it somewhere, how to treat current bleeding and inflammation, or whether organ damage from a recent strike could be excised while maintaining normal daily function, he’d pursue a much more substantial and ‘physically’ healthy future!
Professor Jin, who endured five days in the martial world’s emergency room, had burned out from overwork.
From now on, he would pursue physical peace.
Prevention is important in everything. Yes. The overwork of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion staff rests on my shoulders.
“By the way… even counting all the Nine Orthodox Sects and Eight Great Families, that’s only eighteen. Were the remaining spots in the 32 divisions filled randomly?”
“No~ They separated special people like you separately.”
“Like me?”
“People who aren’t part of the Nine Orthodox Sects or Eight Great Families but cooperate with the orthodox sects? That’s why the demonic cults are participating in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering this time. They mixed those people up to fight appropriately.”
“…And the demonic cults just accept that?”
“Of course the demonic cults are handling it their way. Who knows? Maybe some Eight Great Families’ young masters will suddenly develop strange rashes and feel weak after breakfast.”
“…What a mess.”
What came to mind was the sad thought that Since the Medicinal Hall Master isn’t here, the Acupuncture Hall Master must be handling that too.
Sama Hyeon said solemnly, “This is the martial arts world of Mountain Sword Forest, where schemes and plots prevail. The weak cannot survive here~”
“Well, it’s fortunate if it ends with just an upset stomach.”
“They won’t use real poison outside the arena. The aftermath wouldn’t be worth it.”
So just as the orthodox sects played with the tournament brackets, the demonic cults also played their games moderately.
When only orthodox sects participated in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, it was a miniature of the orthodox sects’ future.
Now with demonic cults included, it became a miniature of the entire martial world’s future.
“Right, I’ll do my best. Hyeon, your brother will work hard to maintain peace!”
Jin Cheonhee grabbed Sama Hyeon’s shoulders and steeled his resolve.
“What are you thinking, brother? Your eyes look crazy!”
Jin Cheonhee couldn’t understand what kind of look he was referring to.
Acupuncture Hall Master, Chiropractic Hall Master! Upper and middle-rank staff of the Surgery Hall! Please give me strength…!
With this Child’s Magic Staff, I’ll definitely make it to the end and reduce even one patient!