DR Chapter 232

But is it possible to learn both at once?

No one in martial arts history has ever tried such madness, so this remains unknown.

“What kind of divine weapon is it?”

“Heavenly Silkworm. It’s an upper garment made of Heavenly Silkworm Silk. Though thin enough to wear as underwear, thanks to the silk’s unique properties, it can negate sword energy.”

“Ooh.”

Perfect timing, since he also received some Heavenly Silkworm Silk from Sama Hyeon for gloves, it looks quite promising?

Master continued.

“If you infuse energy into this garment, it creates a protective field that can block even strong energy to some extent. It’s from a martial manual of an extinct sect, and how it creates such protective energy hasn’t been figured out yet.”

“Hmm… So it’s like wearing an incredible defensive garment.”

“Indeed. And since you’ve learned external martial arts too, you’ll have double protection.”

The deliberation wasn’t long.

“Then I’ll take that!”

“Hahaha, I knew you would.”

Saying so, Master inserted another needle.

Puk!

“Ugh…!”

“If you want to attend tomorrow’s award ceremony, endure it.”

***

The next morning.

As soon as word spread that Jin Cheonhee had recovered, the award ceremony began immediately.

Considering the scale of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, the ceremony is surprisingly modest.

While people attend the finals to witness martial prowess, the award ceremony is like watching someone else’s feast.

Though many martial artists gather to show respect, it’s not on the scale of the finals.

However, this time exceptionally many gathered because.

The martial prowess shown by Jin Cheonhee, the martial world’s rising star, was beyond common sense.

The evil cult’s envoy being strong was also unexpected.

Many martial artists don’t even know exactly what Realm of the Mind Martials are.

However, the real deal stands out.

The final strike shown by Jin Cheonhee and Yeo Ha-ryoon was enough to ignite the hearts of all martial artists gathered at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

However…

“Ah… There are still things we must do for the martial world. First…”

This reminds me of a principal’s lecture.

Who knew the Spear King would give such a long speech.

“Of course, that’s not all. To prevent upcoming threats, we martial artists must…”

Some people are even dozing off.

“…This concludes my address.”

Finally, the closing ceremony’s lecture ended.

“Winner to the platform!”

Dung dung!

As the drums sounded, sleeping martial artists began waking up one by one with yawns.

Jin Cheonhee climbed onto the platform and showed respect.

As Jin Cheonhee knelt on one knee and performed the martial salute.

The question everyone was waiting for fell from the Spear King’s lips.

“Secret manual, divine weapon, or spiritual medicine. Which do you desire?”

All martial artists finally straightened their postures and watched breathlessly.

Jin Cheonhee gave his prepared answer.

“I desire the divine weapon.”

“Bring forth the divine weapon!”

At those words, Military Advisor Dokgo Seon brought down a white wooden chest.

The chest bore the Martial Righteous Alliance’s symbol, with congratulatory calligraphy written in gold for the winner.

The contents being secret is exactly like the novel.

In the Mountain Blade Forest’s martial world, they don’t reveal which secret manual or divine weapon was given.

Even the winning recipient doesn’t speak of what they received.

If desired, they could open it now to show everyone, but in this place where lives hang in the balance, the fewer cards shown the better.

Of course, it all becomes rumors later anyway.

When you carry it around outside, eventually there are witnesses, and rumors spread.

That much is unavoidable.

Jin Cheonhee received the chest but didn’t open it, instead raising it high.

“Thank you!”

Waaaaaaaaah—!

The martial artists erupted in cheers all at once.

As everyone celebrated the birth of a new martial world star.

In the front row, Master clapped with a happy expression.

Seeing color return to his pale cheeks, one might worry he’d ascend to immortality from too much happiness.

Now Jin Cheonhee had become a golden calf recognized by all.

Even the sect leaders who hadn’t quite believed Master’s boasting despite his constant talk had seen it clearly.

That Master’s golden calf was the real deal!

Rejoice, Master! You can brag about this for the next ten, no, thirty years!

This simultaneously became a disaster for the disciples of Master’s friends.

***

After the Dragon Phoenix Gathering’s closing ceremony, a banquet was held.

Yeo Ha-ryoon, Jin Cheon Woo, Sama Hyeon.

It was natural that these three wanted to see Jin Cheonhee.

The moment he saw the three, Jin Cheonhee quickly said.

“First, no fighting on this good day. Understood?”

Having shown his martial prowess as their brother, Jin Cheonhee spoke solemnly with his chest puffed out.

Yeo Ha-ryoon was the first to answer.

“…Won’t fight.”

“What?”

Yeo Ha-ryoon, the protagonist and evil cult member, looked at Jin Cheonhee with his pitch-black eyes.

“You don’t know what happened while you were collapsed, Brother.”

Sama Hyeon of the unorthodox path said.

“Either way, we saw well what happens to Brother when we fight among ourselves~”

Jin Cheon Woo of the righteous path added.

“Fortunately, my mediation in between proved useful, Brother.”

Subtly scoring points like this.

Jin Cheonhee looked at the three with an expression like he’d been hit by a hammer.

No… These guys aren’t impressed by my martial prowess as their brother… they only remember me coughing blood and collapsing.

Power-wise too, Brother is the strongest! Brother’s authority! Ah, Brother is truly amazing!

Brother! As sworn brothers, we’ll only follow you!

He had secretly hoped for such reactions… but what’s with all three giving such worried looks so openly.

I did… did protect the peace of the martial world…

Something feels sad.

Sama Hyeon added.

“Not that we’re going to build brotherly bonds now… but seems we’ve reached the level of tolerating each other~”

Yeo Ha-ryoon said.

“Just remember never to use that technique again until you reach Transformation Realm, Brother. Unless you want to see everyone dead.”

Yeo Ha-ryoon’s pitch-black hair swayed ominously.

Cheon Woo said.

“Brother. We weren’t in our right minds while you were collapsed.”

Right. He had meant to teach his brothers a lesson, but not this kind of lesson.

Jin Cheonhee felt sad. Just then, people called for him.

Jin Cheonhee said.

“Let’s talk more after this is over. I have something to give to Yeo Ha-ryoon and Sama Hyeon. I already gave to Cheon Woo.”

“?”

Cheon Woo seemed to catch on right away.

About time to give them the spiritual pills.

Though the reaction was different from what he expected, all roads lead to Rome.

They promised to meet again after the banquet.

***

Whew, this is tough… These events are surprisingly intense. By the way, where’s Master…?

Glancing around, he saw Master heading somewhere with the Alliance Leader.

Probably backroom talk that others shouldn’t hear.

Afterward, Jin Cheonhee greeted many people he knew.

The unexpected thing was that the Gongsun clan didn’t attend.

The Beggars’ Sect Leader’s words made Gongsun clan forfeit appropriately.

The Gongsun clan martial artist participating in this Dragon Phoenix Gathering wasn’t much of a hopeful anyway.

Having shown skill enough to advance to the main tournament, forfeiting at an appropriate point doesn’t matter much. However, now that the Dragon Phoenix Gathering has ended.

No signs of great calamity were visible. Martial artists injured or tired from the Dragon Phoenix Gathering were just resting in their lodgings.

Hmm, maybe the sect leader’s warning was just needless worry. Or perhaps… she was wary of the Gongsun clan’s martial prowess spreading through the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

That would certainly be worth being wary about.

Isn’t that why Sama Hyeon chose to hide his true ability rather than aim for victory?

Even I’m not sure about this. Wang Gak-yeon gave up participating in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering at Gongsun Hyeon’s request, but I doubt she resents it… no, she’s not that kind of person.

Isn’t she someone who prioritizes gaining insight through meeting friends over gaining honor at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering?

A truly upright martial artist.

Someone like her would probably be training now without much thought.

After thinking that far, he continued meeting people and sharing drinks.

Though he didn’t particularly like alcohol, in situations like this, celebratory drinks happen.

Unless you’re a peerless martial artist of the martial world, a physician is someone who must receive and give help to many.

As the winner, Jin Cheonhee conversed with many people.

“Minor Pavilion Master! I knew you’d become Minor Pavilion Master!”

“Young Pavilion Maaaaaster! We love youuuuu!”

“White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s heroooo!”

The White Dragon Medical Pavilion physicians raised their cups, quite drunk.

Now that the emergency room work is done, everyone’s free!

Plus, this time everyone survived until the end without collapsing from overwork.

“The Medical Pavilion’s great fortune!”

Even the usually rigid Acupuncture Hall Lord was swaying his cup, thoroughly drunk.

This Dragon Phoenix Gathering was one that released the pent-up frustrations of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion physicians.

The frustrations that had built up layer by layer, watching countless martial artists get treated only to go out and get injured again or create new patients.

Who knew those accumulated frustrations would be released like this!

“Hahaha! Minor Pavilion Master. Have a drink.”

Even the Chiropractic Hall Master wrapped an arm around Jin Cheonhee’s shoulder and shook a wine bottle.

She’s famous for having the highest alcohol tolerance in the White Dragon Medical Pavilion.

If even she’s drunk, everyone must be quite intoxicated.

Golgolgol-

Before he could answer, his cup was filled with alcohol.

Can’t be helped.

“A toast to White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s victory!”

Jjang!

Everyone clinked their cups together.

In the sky, the full moon as round as a wine cup beamed down with a broad smile.

***

When it started feeling like closing time, he was finally able to get away.

Haa, banquets are too exhausting.

After using Five Elements Mutual Conquest^[1] to neutralize the poison of alcohol, he lay down absent-mindedly in a small pavilion attached to his lodging’s backyard.

A quite decent lodging with a pavilion despite being a separate building.

The White Dragon Medical Pavilion has been working hard, and Master might rush out like last time if things go wrong.

Signs of effort not to offend his temperament are visible.

The moon visible from the pavilion was exceptionally beautiful.

Jin Cheonhee gazed at it absent-mindedly.

It’s been a while since I’ve zoned out doing nothing.

His days were always spent fighting or calculating, whether against people or diseases.

As he lay there, a martial artist from the Martial Force Hall approached Jin Cheonhee.

“Minor Pavilion Master, you have a visitor. They say they must see you…”

“Who is it?”

“They say they are Three Seasons Tiger.”

At those words, Jin Cheonhee sat up straight.

“Tell that person to come in.”

The martial artist showed respect to Jin Cheonhee and left the back garden.

After some time, someone’s footsteps were felt.

From the contradictory footsteps that were both heavy yet light, Jin Cheonhee immediately recognized their owner.

“It’s been a while. Young Master Jin, or should I call you White Dragon Divine Physician?”

“That’s embarrassing. Please just call me Brother Jin. Hahaha.”

After laughing like that, he asked again.

“You didn’t come just to congratulate my victory, did you?”

“…Of course that’s part of it. But how about we talk inside where it’s still cold out?”

Must be talk that shouldn’t leak outside.

If Three Seasons Tiger has something to discuss secretly, there’s only one thing.

She’s tracking her sibling in the Blood Immortal Sect. That must be what this is about.

Jin Cheonhee nodded without another word and walked with her.