Book 24 Chapter 5

Yunmi vs. Medical Incompetence

—Are you not feeling well?

The scene from that time vividly reappeared before Yunmi’s eyes, and a chilling shiver ran through her entire body. The intense disgust she felt then, like a thick scent of blood, clung to her, unerasable. To think that she had to face such people herself… Just standing in opposition to them made her stomach churn and her insides feel unsettled. It felt as if their surgical knife had already split her abdomen open, and with a white-gloved hand, clean as if untouched by dust, was being thrust into the gap and rummaged around.

Ugh, Yunmi forced herself to suppress the sudden urge to vomit. Then, she tried to think more positively. Back then, it was three against three, with three people attacking at once, but now it was one-on-one. Although the match format could have been changed by mutual agreement, their differing opinions naturally led to no agreement, and it ultimately came down to a lottery, which adopted a best-of-three system. While she might be able to avoid the same tragedy as last time since three people wouldn't be attacking simultaneously, she couldn’t expect help from Yeonbi or Nayerin either. In focusing on that, she had forgotten that tens of thousands of eyes were relentlessly fixated on her.

“Miss Yun… are you alright?”

Naylin quickly changed what she was about to say to ‘Young Master’ and asked.

“Of course, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Yeonbi replied with a smile. The two of them were currently sitting in the waiting areas to the left and right of the arena, watching the center of the fighting stage. The waiting areas were built slightly below ground level, inside the walls, allowing a clear view of the arena even from a seated position.

“But… your opponent isn’t good.”

Yunmi, perhaps because of that, was honest if you looked at it positively, and inflexible if you looked at it negatively. Her timid personality, which made her easily nervous, was the cause.

“Miss Yunmi might be timid, but she’s aware of that fact herself. She’s also been working to overcome it. Even though they are unusually and annoyingly bizarre, they are not strong enough to defeat someone like her.”

“Do you believe in her, Miss Yun?”

Naylin seemed a little surprised.

“Of course. Is that so strange?”

Despite Yun Junho’s significant growth behind the scenes, very few people believed in his abilities. In fact, his timid and unconfident demeanor lacked the qualities to earn the trust of others. Therefore, Yeonbi’s immediate and unwavering answer of belief, despite only recently joining the Cheonmu Academy, surprised her. Naylin looked at Yeonbi with a gaze filled with bewilderment.

“Actually, it is strange. For Yeonbi, who doesn’t know Miss Yun well, to so easily say she believes in her. Yeonbi didn't seem like someone who trusted others easily.”

Yeonbi was startled by that remark. Naylin was right. Neither Biryu Yeon nor Yeonbi easily trusted people. They made their decision on whether to trust someone only after a verification process according to their own standards. And those standards were quite stringent. Yet, without realizing it, she had spoken the words of trust too easily.

‘I need to be more careful about this.’

As time passed, her vigilance weakened, and her mind became lax.

“Ah, no. I don’t know her that well. I’ve only looked into her a little. Still, since we’re participating in the tournament together, it’s not right not to investigate at all, is it? We need to know our allies as well as our enemies, don’t we?”

“That’s true.”

Yeonbi’s words didn’t completely dispel Naylin’s suspicion. However, Yeonbi couldn’t reveal her true feelings to Naylin.

‘But I can’t step in in this condition, Rin. So, I just have to believe in him and in you.’

In his current physical state, recklessly circulating internal energy would be extremely dangerous. He was barely holding back the surging water, as if a dam’s gate were being forced shut. If even the slightest anomaly occurred, the water that had risen precariously would undoubtedly overflow immediately, and once it overflowed, it would turn into an uncontrollable torrent. In that case, his life would be at stake. Therefore, he had to conserve his strength as much as possible until the finals. Stepping into a match that wasn’t the final was dangerous, even if the opponent was weak.

All he could do now was trust the two of them, take a step back, and wait.

‘Why did it have to be that person…’

Yunmi wasn’t facing just one misfortune.

The opponent standing before Yunmi was none other than Yiho Housu, the very person who had split open the Changlangjo’s belly. Yunmi had been matched against the strongest of the three. It could by no means be considered good fortune.

“Miss, are you not feeling unwell?”

Yiho Housu asked in a serious tone. She hadn’t noticed from afar, but up close, his eyes were filled with a passion for the patient’s well-being.

“Uh, no! I’m not. I absolutely am not!”

Yunmi shook her head vigorously and shouted. The mere thought of what might happen if she said she was unwell sent shivers down her spine.

“Hmm, that’s a shame.”

She was too scared to even ask why it was a shame.

“Are you really not unwell?”

Being so suspicious, Housu asked again. Yunmi, trembling in fear of treatment, had no reason to change her answer.

“Uh, no. Never. I swear.”

She didn’t know why she had to swear about not being unwell, but Yunmi swore nonetheless.

“Hmm, if that’s the case, your complexion is pale.”

In fact, Yunmi’s face wasn’t in good color due to her extreme panic.

“Well, this won’t do. I think you should have your pulse taken.”

“Uh, I really don’t need it. I’m healthy.”

However, Yiho Housu shook his head.

“Surprisingly, people live without knowing how bad their condition actually is. They don’t realize how it exacerbates their illness. But you are fortunate, Miss. An opportunity to have your health examined by a professional physician like myself does not come often.”

Yunmi’s honest wish was that such an opportunity would never come.

Clang!

In her panic, Yunmi unconsciously drew her sword.

Seeing that, Yeonbi clicked her tongue. Getting caught up in the opponent’s flow was never good. Yunmi needed to maintain her own rhythm. For now, all she could do was hope to return to her original flow quickly.

“I really don’t need a pulse diagnosis, because I’m healthy. If you come any closer, I won’t stand still.”

“Patients always claim they are fine. But a true physician does not listen to such patients. Because most patients are liars.”

Housu said with an assured tone. He truly seemed to believe it.

“Haa? Do you really think so?”

“Of course. Don’t worry, I will uproot the cause of your illness. You won’t feel any pain. It will be over in an instant. Your task is simple.”

“What is it?”

By then, a brightly sharpened surgical knife was in his hand. His eyes, holding the knife, gleamed strangely. As she met that gaze, Yunmi felt a chilling cold. It felt as if he were looking straight through to her internal organs.

“It’s to stay still until the treatment is over. Now, I shall begin the examination.”

Before he could finish speaking, Yiho Housu lunged like a tiger.

Although Yiho Housu’s surgical knife was sharp and fast, Yunmi’s reaction was surprisingly agile. Yunmi blocked the path of the surgical knife with the tip of her sword and retreated. Considering the level of their acupuncture and pressure point techniques, close combat was not a good choice. She had to maintain the distance of her sword.

Yun Junho’s Chilmae Sword, while based on the Hwasan Sect’s famous Meihua 24 Forms, was a more condensed sword path. It was a sword technique created by a genius who condensed the sword paths of the 24 Meihua Forms. After long refinement, it was a masterpiece created by removing unnecessary movements and skipping over breaths within the flow. If a sword is swung at the same speed, the tip of the sword that travels a shorter distance will arrive faster. It was a simple principle, but embodying it physically was by no means easy. It was a path of countless hardships.

Recently, Yun Junho had begun to realize the true value of the Chilmae Sword he had learned. Through countless experiences that ordinary people couldn’t have, a subtle gap had formed between him and other Hwasan Sect disciples without them realizing it. He just hadn't recognized it himself.

How many people would find themselves in a position where they had to stand in the center of an arena in disguise, fighting against monsters who clearly exuded madness? Perhaps, among the disciples of the Hwasan Sect, no, even among the young disciples of the martial world, there would be almost no one who could have this experience. Whether this experience would be beneficial or detrimental to his learning was still unknown, but it was undeniably something that was hard to come by. He still needed more confidence. He was still too shy to meet his own eyes.

“It would be nice if you could relax a little more…”

Naylin said with a regretful tone. From afar, Yunmi’s stiff body was clearly visible.

“If I could, I would have become a Nine Dragons by now.”

Unlike the slightly anxious Naylin, Yeonbi’s tone was nonchalant. However, the content was by no means ordinary.

“Yeonbi, do you believe he has that much potential within him?”

That was meant as a request to reconsider, as it might be an overestimation.

“First of all, he’s excessively diligent. The time he’s accumulated diligently doesn’t lie. Especially for those with talent.”

“Can that power manifest right now?”

Yeonbi smiled slightly at Naylin’s question.

“That depends on Miss Yunmi.”

It was a rather irresponsible answer.

Since receiving the secret manual from the Grand Master, also known as the Hwasan Sword Saint, he had never slacked in his training. And through numerous experiences, he had gradually gained confidence. Surviving all those experiences so far was enough to be confident. And confidence seemed to be contagious; perhaps some of the overflowing confidence had rubbed off on him from being next to Biryu Yeon, who possessed a level of confidence that surpassed arrogance, reaching the point of ‘heaven and earth alone are honored.’ And the most terrifying thing was not losing this match. The most terrifying thing for Yunmi was revealing her identity to the world by accidentally getting her clothes torn. The shocking rumor that a man who enjoyed cross-dressing was a disciple of the Great Hwasan Sect, Yun Momo, who was thought to be a woman, could not be thrown into the martial world. He couldn’t bring shame to the sect’s reputation. If that fact became known, he would be as good as dead. Rumors spread faster than wind and reach in all directions. If that fact reached Hwasan, his fellow disciples, who were already tormenting him, would not stand idly by. If such a situation occurred, how could he face his Grand Master?

However, these maddeningly obsessive people in white clothes with white gloves seemed more interested in cutting open his insides than defeating him. His insides churned and ached as if twisting. If they cut open his abdomen, his clothes would naturally be cut. Unless they had learned some strange psychic surgery that didn’t involve tearing clothes or flesh, it was unavoidable. In that case, his identity would be revealed, one hundred percent. That situation had to be prevented at all costs. For that, there was only one method.

“That’s right! Win, Miss Yunmi. That’s the only way to avoid revealing your identity!”

Yeonbi muttered to herself with a grin.

“What are you talking about?”

“It was just that it was really easy to read, our Miss Yunmi!”

“Ah, that’s what you meant. Indeed, as Yeonbi says. He’s truly naive. Spotlessly so.”

Even with the opponent in front of her, Yunmi was preoccupied with her own worries, her thoughts racing. Her flustered appearance was visible even from the waiting area, making it all too easy to read what she was thinking.

“That’s the core of his charm, something Nana and Rin can’t show the audience. Having a woman of this type adds to the popularity. Three people of the same type would be a bit bland.”

“You don’t mean to say you planned that…”

“Who knows?”

Yeonbi merely smiled without answering yes or no. Suddenly, Naylin felt an unbearable frustration at not being able to read Yeonbi’s thoughts.

‘In this aspect, she’s so much like that person.’

Even if they were siblings, one could believe it. Naylin still had a vague sense of Yeonbi’s true identity but was unable to face it squarely, as if it were in her blind spot.

‘Grand Master! Give me strength!’

For the honor of Hwasan! For my own honor! And to avoid becoming a pervert!

Yunmi swung her sword with all her might.

One, two, three plum blossoms bloomed in the air, and a subtle plum blossom fragrance began to pervade. And in the next moment, the plum blossoms began to dance, swirling in the wind.

Finally, the true form of the Chilmae Sword was revealed to the world through Yunmi’s sword. The sword technique, which could only be described as beautiful, held the blood and sweat Yunmi had poured into it.

The dancing petals parted. Then, Yiho Housu’s figure was revealed. He was slumped on the ground, his face bruised and red in various places. Foam was around his mouth, and his eyes were unfocused.

“Why is he like that, Master Mubak?”

“I don’t know? It’s strange. He doesn’t look like he was cut by a sword. That looks like… hmm, I see. He looks like someone who’s fallen ill.”

“Now that you mention it, it really does. Did he have a pre-existing condition?”

“Well, he seemed like someone who would pay great attention to his health… If so, it would mean he couldn’t even cure his own illness.”

Housu was mumbling something with his mouth hanging open, drooling.

“Ugh! No… No… When I smell flowers…”

It seemed he lost all his strength not only from the scent of plum blossoms but from all flower scents. Moreover, the severity of his condition was no less than Yun Junho’s. He muttered, looking at Housu writhing in pain.

“Huh? I won?”

Contrary to her fear, the match ended with Yunmi’s victory, having successfully improved her constitution.

The second person to step forward was Yeonbi. Yeonbi’s opponent was Ho Won, the only female member of the Medical Incompetence team. Her surname was ‘Gan.’ Perhaps due to losing a round after the second-ranked person of the Saban Department lost, Ho Won’s demeanor was tense and ominous. Her will to win was palpable. Her icy demeanor from the match against Changlangjo was nowhere to be seen.

The two stood facing each other. The declaration of the match’s start echoed. As Ho Won drew three long needles and lunged, Yeonbi was faster. Yeonbi immediately raised her hand and shouted.

“I forfeit!”

Ho Won, who was about to lunge, froze like a stone. In contrast, Yeonbi’s face was composed. Thinking her task was complete, Yeonbi turned around and walked towards the waiting area where Naylin was waiting, without any hesitation.

“Wait, stop!”

There was no need to listen to that, but it wouldn’t hurt to do her a favor.

“What is it?”

Yeonbi asked, turning around.

“What are you doing? Are you playing games?”

Ho Won’s face turned red, gasping as if she had a bad heart condition. Yeonbi replied with a look of incomprehension.

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? I said I forfeit. Or can you not treat your own deafness? What a strange person.”

“I’m not deaf! Why, why are you forfeiting without even fighting? Are you scared of me?”

*Chuckle*

Yeonbi chuckled. The meaning of that laugh was clear.

“That was a funny joke. But unfortunately, it’s wrong.”

“Then why?”

Yeonbi replied nonchalantly.

“Because it’s not necessary.”

Ho Won didn’t understand.

“Why? Why isn’t it necessary?”

“Because we’ve already won. There’s no need to expend energy by brawling.”

That was, to a significant extent, the truth.

“……”

Ho Won was speechless and couldn’t retort properly.

“So, are your doubts cleared? Well, whether they are or not, it doesn’t concern me. I’m busy, so I’ll be going now.”

Ho Won remained frozen like a stone statue until Yeonbi returned to the waiting area and received a ‘good job for doing so little’ from Naylin.

It was a very, very unpleasant and unsettling victory.

Finally, the main match began.

The captain of the Misojyeo Troupe was, of course, Naylin. True to her nickname, Bingbaekbong, she was calm. There was almost no visible emotional tremor. She walked to the center of the arena with a cold, graceful stride. Her eyes were as calm and serene as a lake on a clear winter day. Silence enveloped her beautiful form. Bated breaths escaped from the audience.

The last remaining person from the Medical Incompetence Troupe was Mun Jin Chae Isu. His gaze couldn’t tear itself away from Naylin’s face as she approached, and a certain desire flickered within his eyes.

‘I want to cut her open!’

As if enchanted by the mere thought, his eyes glazed over. He stared at Naylin with a dazed, spellbound look. Naylin had seen this familiar look many times before.

‘This person is a doctor, yet she’s like this… there’s no helping it.’

It seemed her affliction couldn’t be cured by a doctor. If so, there was nothing more to do. She wanted to finish quickly and leave.

However, while she remained still, there was one person who kept changing expressions and fidgeting. The person beside her, who made them anxious, was not very young. His hair and beard were as white as snow, yet there was no sign of the wisdom gained through years of experience in any of his movements. Nor was he of a low status. He was none other than the leader of the Hundred Paths Martial Alliance.

“Tsk tsk. Why are you acting like this, making such a fuss? You’re the Alliance Leader, act your age, act your age. It’s embarrassing for this old man next to you. Cheong Ah, does this kid always act like this?”

Elder Hyeok-jung clicked his tongue and asked Ye-cheong. Unlike her husband, who doted on her, she seemed to maintain her composure.

“She’s holding back a lot right now. She hasn’t rushed out yet.”

Ye-cheong’s answer was remarkable. Come to think of it, she also seemed strangely unsettled. Her usual cold demeanor, known as ‘Ice Moon,’ was nowhere to be found. The current Moon was slightly feverish.

“Why? Cheong Ah, do you also want to rush out?”

Hyeok-jung asked in a suspicious voice. Then, Ye-cheong replied with a slight, bitter smile.

“Because I’m a mother.”

It was a clear and concise answer.

She had never seen her daughter, Naylin, fight properly before. She had heard rumors, but it had never felt real. She didn’t know how strong her daughter was. Therefore, she was anxious as well. She just endured it longer and didn’t show it. She knew that if she also showed her anxiety, she wouldn’t be able to control her husband. Fortunately, her heart was already racing, but her body wasn’t about to rush out.

“But why aren’t you rushing out?”

Ye-cheong answered another question with the same words.

“Because I’m a mother.”

Although both answers were the same, their meanings were different. As a mother, she wanted to rush out and protect her, but as a mother, there were times when she had to silently watch her child stand alone. These were both things a mother had to do.

“Is that so?”

“It is so.”

Elder Hyeok-jung laughed heartily.

“You, who were so rambunctious, are now a parent. Back then, I thought the day you’d grow up would never come. Hahaha.”

The elder seemed deeply moved.

“Of course. Unlike you, Grandpa, I’m human.”

“Haha, you make it sound like someone’s a monster?”

“Oh, weren’t you?”

Ye-cheong feigned surprise, as if she had just realized it after tens of years.

“Hmph. Now you even tease elders.”

Elder Hyeok-jung chided playfully. This level of affection was well within his capacity to handle. With a sharp gaze, Elder Hyeok-jung sternly said to Na Baekcheon.

“You, with a lifespan twice as long, are far less mature. You, too, should learn from your wife and endure. Just watching silently is also a parent’s role. It’s not being a good parent to be flustered like a doting fool, unable to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate times. You cherish her so much, it’s unimaginable what would have happened if that child had grown up next to you. Entrusting her to ‘Okseop’ of Geomgak was the best decision in a million years.”

Na Baekcheon had a very dissatisfied expression.

“A father’s feelings and a mother’s feelings are different, you know. You wouldn’t know, Daehyung.”

Seeing his unrepentant attitude, Elder Hyeok-jung sighed and said.

“You are lucky. If you weren’t the Alliance Leader, I would have hit you!”

“I want to finish this quickly and go back. Standing here is uncomfortable.”

The reason was the greedy gazes of countless people pouring onto her. This was a consequence of not wearing a veil due to a promise. She had absolutely no desire to stand in such an uncomfortable place for long.

“I’ll finish it within three breaths. So, don’t resent me too much.”

Naylin, her heart slightly rushed, drew her sword.

“I will cut open your abdomen…”

However, Chae Isu’s words did not finish.

*Swish!*

A cold flash flew in a semicircle.

Surprised by the sword that closed the distance in an instant, Chae Isu stepped back with his footwork. But that was a mistake. Naylin’s swordsmanship did not give an opponent who was once on the offensive any opening to counterattack. She pressed forward, closing the distance again by the same amount she had retreated. Especially Naylin, who was light and swift like a water bird.

Chae Isu swung his surgical knife, sending out sword energy. The sword energy, sharper than one would expect from a small blade, flew towards Naylin. However, it did not match Housu’s sharpness. His specialty was actually acupuncture, joint manipulation, and massage. But he lacked much in facing peak-level swordsmanship.

The second sword was swung.

It was a move from the Geomgak Bi Hong Sword. It was a sword move inspired by the movement of a wild goose flying over water.

The wild goose with wings spread cut through the sword wind. The movements were so elegant and smooth that they shook the viewers’ souls.

*Flutter!*

The white mask Chae Isu was wearing was cut in half and fell. Naylin’s sword tip had already stopped at the tip of Chae Isu’s nose.

“I… I lost.”

The coldness transmitted from the sword tip brought Chae Isu’s dazed eyes back to normal. He felt as if he had been doused with ice water from head to toe. Naylin could sense what Chae Isu was thinking even without him voicing it. It was natural for Naylin to feel displeased. Chae Isu, jolted back to his senses by Naylin’s cold anger, readily admitted his defeat.

“Rumors tend to be exaggerated, but this is actually an understatement. Miss Na is the victor. As expected, Geomgak’s swordsmanship is as renowned as ever.”

“Thank you for your kind words. Then, I will be going now.”

Still uncomfortable with the audience’s gaze, Naylin fled the scene.

The Misojyeo Troupe won the quarterfinals and easily advanced to the semifinals. However, only Yunmi could not agree with the word ‘easily.’

Never.

Contrary to the worries of Na Baekcheon and Ye-cheong, the match ended surprisingly simply.

“When did that child become so strong?”

Ye-cheong’s eyes, watching the match, were a mixture of infinite pride, bubbling joy, and deep regret.

“Children grow up without their parents knowing. No matter how much you deny it.”

Elder Hyeok-jung remarked. Somewhere beyond their parents’ sight, the child had grown up considerably. No longer a small, fragile child who needed protection, but an adult who could stand confidently on her own two feet in the world.

“Haha, if this goes on, she might be stronger than you.”

Na Baekcheon burst into laughter mixed with admiration.

“Hmm, but that’s okay. You can’t defeat me anyway.”

In fact, even if Na Baekcheon’s martial arts were ten times stronger, there was a slim chance he could defeat his wife. This was not a matter of skill level.

“My lady, I have never dared to harbor such a frightening thought. But I think I might lose to Yerim, too. Hahaha.”

“That’s just like you.”

Na Baekcheon cast aside Ye-cheong’s resigned sigh and once again glanced towards the waiting area where Naylin was. A woman in black clothes entered his sight.

“It’s all over, so why do you still have such a displeased expression?”

Elder Hyeok-jung asked, noticing his unusual gaze. There was probably only one person in the entire martial world who could treat the leader of the Great Martial Alliance like a child.

“It’s because of that child named Yeonbi.”

“Why that child? Isn’t she sitting there in the waiting area?”

“Yes, she’s sitting comfortably. I can see her well. While Yerim is fighting in such danger, she has only guarded her spot without fighting once, hasn’t she?”

“She participated in the second match, didn’t she?”

He said that, knowing full well what his complaint was.

“Just going out and forfeiting isn’t considered fighting.”

Na Baekcheon seemed displeased. He didn’t like that only his daughter was in danger. In his view, that girl Yeonbi was the prime culprit who had coaxed his naive daughter.

“I’m only holding back because she’s a girl. If she were a boy, I wouldn’t have held back.”

“Hmm, you wouldn’t have held back if she were a boy?”

Elder Hyeok-jung asked, as if confirming.

“Of course. I would have instantly run and broken the legs of such a loafer.”

“You still have a long way to go to grow up. You’re still a doting fool.”

“You don’t have a daughter, so you don’t understand this feeling. The heart of a father with a daughter.”

His words carried a subtle sense of pride and boastfulness. Hyeok-jung was displeased by that.

“Well, I only had rough sons. So, are you boasting to me now? You can only say the same thing once or twice. It’s practically stuck in your mouth.”

“Of course. Aren’t you envious?”

Elder Hyeok-jung let out a helpless laugh, dumbfounded.

“Seeing you like this, I can’t tell if I’m envious or pathetic.”

He couldn’t tell if it was fortunate or unfortunate that he didn’t have a daughter. Even someone praised as a divine demon throughout the martial world couldn’t know what he hadn’t experienced. He could only guess by thinking of a few girls he had cherished and doted on in the past, like Ye-cheong or her older sister.

“But it’s not something to get so angry about.”

“I heard that child Yeonbi was injured while fighting with Cheong Ah? Hearing that she coughed up blood suggests she suffered internal injuries. We don’t know how much she has recovered. It would be better to accumulate strength in a minor match like this and perform well in a major match.”

“What major match are you referring to?”

There was only one important match for the old man right now.

“Naturally, that fellow… no, the match against Chilshangheun.”