The Martial God with Psychic Powers

No Sobaek and Yeon Woo Jin arrived at the Hall of Tianzhu.
They hurried inside.
And there he was—Yeon Cheon Baek.

Blood was pouring down his arm.
“Huh?! L-Lord of Tianzhu!”
Just as No Sobaek rushed forward in alarm to assess the wound—

“Grandfather!”
Yeon Woo Jin’s voice rang out, urgent.
Wait—what?

Grandfather?
Who?
Yeon Cheon Baek, too, was looking at Yeon Woo Jin with a shocked expression.

“Y-You—what are you doing here?”
“I’m on field training. More importantly, what happened here!”
“Hahaha! Just made a little mistake while training.”

“What kind of training turns your arm into this!”
“I was developing a new martial art using Nature Sword…”
“You should have been more careful!”

There existed someone who dared to raise his voice at the Martial God of Mushincheon.
“My apologies.”
Yeon Cheon Baek scratched his head and actually offered an explanation—and even apologized.
The Martial God of Mushincheon, apologizing.

No Sobaek stood with his mouth hanging open, completely unable to grasp the situation.
Then, a mysterious energy flowed from Yeon Woo Jin’s hands and, in an instant, closed Yeon Cheon Baek’s wound.
Yeon Cheon Baek’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Haha! No matter how many times I see it, our Woo Jin’s abilities never cease to amaze.”
Woosh—
Having finished the treatment, Yeon Woo Jin threw his arms around Yeon Cheon Baek and embraced him tightly.

“Woo Jin?”
“You have to be more careful! You’re all I have—if anything happened to you, how could I go on living?”
Feeling the trembling warmth of Yeon Woo Jin’s voice, Yeon Cheon Baek smiled gently.
He patted Woo Jin’s back and said,

“All right, all right. I’ll be more careful.”
“Why do you push yourself like this?”
“You fool. If I don’t push myself, how else am I supposed to keep up with you?”

“If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have revealed my true strength to you.”
“If I’d found out later, this old man would’ve been terribly hurt, you know?”
“Still…”

“It’s fine, you rascal. This old man is still a martial artist. A wound like this? That fellow over there healed it in a flash. Isn’t that right?”
He gestured toward No Sobaek, who finally snapped out of his stupor and responded quickly.
“Y-Yes! That’s right!”

“But what are you doing with my grandson?”
“G-Grandson?”
“You didn’t know? This boy is my one and only grandson.”

He hadn’t known.
Hadn’t even remotely suspected it.
Wait.

“Y-Yeom Woo Jin… is actually Yeon Woo Jin?”
“That’s right. The boy’s been hiding his identity, saying he wants to earn the title of Martial God on his own merits.”
“Excuse me?”

Yet again, No Sobaek was stunned.
“Our Woo Jin’s martial arts are exceptional. I was actually trying to catch up to him with my own training when I ended up like this. Hahaha!”
Yeon Cheon Baek’s face lit up with pride as he spoke of Yeon Woo Jin.

Right now, he looked for all the world like a doting grandfather boasting about his grandson.
Meanwhile, No Sobaek looked like he might faint from sheer shock.
Wait… Stronger than the Martial God of Mushincheon?

No way. That had to be a grandfather’s exaggeration.
…Or so he thought—until he remembered that Yeon Cheon Baek wasn’t the type to say things he didn’t mean.
And the fact that he’d pushed himself so far he got seriously injured while training…

‘Wait… is it true?’
“When are you planning to answer me?”
“Pardon?”

“I asked why you’re with my grandson.”
“Ah! T-That’s…”
How was he supposed to tell him he’d taken the Martial God’s grandson as his disciple?

That’s when Yeon Woo Jin stepped forward.
“He’s my master.”
“Hmm?”

No Sobaek immediately began waving his hands in a panic to say it was a mistake on his part.
“Hahaha! I see. So you’re Woo Jin’s master. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
“N-No, sir. I acted rashly and was disrespectful to your noble descendant.”

Yeon Woo Jin stepped closer to the now-pale No Sobaek.
“What are you saying? I chose to call you Master. No matter what anyone says, you are my master.”
“Y-Young Lord… I have nothing I can teach you.”

“What are you talking about? If not for you, I wouldn’t have grasped the principles of acupuncture today. The only reason I was able to comprehend it was because you showed me the correct path. You did teach me.”
“Young Lord…”
“I look forward to your guidance from now on, Master.”

No Sobaek was overwhelmed with emotion.
The bloodline of Heaven itself was calling him Master—showing him genuine respect.
What greater joy could there be?

“I’ll entrust my grandson to you.”
“W-With my life, I shall serve!”
“Hahaha! Then I must give my grandson’s teacher a proper welcome today. Attend me! Bring out the wine!”

 
****
The news that Yeon Woo Jin had become the disciple of No Sobaek—the Medicine King and Lord of the Hall of the Medicine King—spread throughout the entire hall.

Naturally, it reached the ears of the other students doing their field training.
Currently, the biggest topic among them was Yeon Woo Jin and the Sacred Water Heavenly Root.
There were even rumors that it had been Yeon Woo Jin who discovered the root, and that his merit in doing so was what led the Medicine King to take him as a disciple.

So at first, they thought he’d just been granted the title of disciple as a token gesture—but when they saw him personally accompanying the Medicine King on medical rounds, they realized he was being genuinely trained.
And when that became clear, the murmuring began.
“This can’t be real. Taking someone with no medical background as a disciple?”

“There are so many talented students in our Medicinal Arts High Division. And he goes and picks someone from the General High Division instead?”
“Sure, finding the Sacred Water Heavenly Root was impressive—but still, making someone who knows nothing of medicine your disciple? That’s ridiculous.”
Voices of dissatisfaction were rising.

They said a lucky bastard could fall flat on his back and still land in a field of gold.
Most of them believed Yeon Woo Jin had just gotten lucky.
Except for one person.

Only Jin Unhui stood up for Yeon Woo Jin.
“What are you all talking about? He’s a smart, passionate man. I know him.”
Everyone turned their eyes on Jin Unhui.

“You know him?”
“Of course. We’re friends.”
“You’ve got a friend from the General High Division? Since when?”

“Since coming here. We met here.”
“Pfft. Then you’re not really friends.”
“Probably just exchanged a few words or something.”

“No! We’re really friends, I’m telling you.”
“Yeah, sure. He’s becoming famous, and now you want to ride his coattails. Nice try.”
Jin Unhui was frustrated.

He was telling the truth, but no one was willing to listen.
Just then—
“Unhui!”

Yeon Woo Jin waved at Jin Unhui from across the way.
Jin Unhui smiled brightly and waved back.
“Woo Jin!”

“Let’s have lunch together later!”
“Sure!”
“See you then!”

“Yeah!”
Jin Unhui was deeply grateful to Yeon Woo Jin for calling out to him at just the right moment.
“What? Are you serious? You two are really friends?”

“How many times do I have to say it? Yes.”
“How’d you even meet? Come on, tell us in detail.”
“Weren’t you the one saying you didn’t believe me just a second ago?”

“Hey, can’t we eat lunch together too? There’s so much I want to ask.”
“Yeah, us too! We want in!”
“I’ll ask Woo Jin about it later. Let’s go boil the medicinal herbs.”

“Ugh, what the hell! Some people get to follow the Division Lord around and learn acupuncture, and others get stuck boiling medicine!”
Grumbling, the students made their way to the herb-boiling station.
 

****
A new rumor had begun to spread through Mushincheon.
A figure who could cure any illness with a single needle.

The Divine Physician with Sacred Hands .
That was what people were calling him.
No one knew who he was.

No one knew where he came from—there was no information at all.
Whenever he treated someone, he always wore a mask.
But whether he wore a mask or not didn’t matter to the sick.

As long as they could be healed.
In just one month, the number of people who had recovered from incurable diseases after receiving treatment from him had already surpassed a hundred.
One thing was certain: he was connected to the Hall of the Medicine King.

In fact, more than a few had seen the Medicine King himself treat this figure with the utmost reverence.
Who was he?
People were curious.

But because the Hall of the Medicine King maintained strict secrecy, no one had managed to uncover his identity.
All anyone knew was that if you wanted to receive treatment from the Divine Physician, you had to go through the Division Lord of the Hall of the Medicine King.
The rumors about the Divine Physician with Sacred Hands even reached the Central Plains—and the ears of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans.

The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans.
They had once basked in the glory of the Central Plains as dominant forces of an older era.
Now, they endured the humiliation of being pushed aside by sects under Mushincheon’s command—but their latent power remained, and they could reclaim dominance over Murim at any time.

The head of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Cheon, had also heard the rumors about the Divine Physician.
“Clan Lord, you mustn’t do this.”
“Why not? It’s not like Mushincheon is part of the Demonic Cult or some evil sect. They’re righteous, just like us.”

“They are righteous, yes—but surely you understand what kind of disgrace our Five Great Clans have suffered because of Mushincheon. And now you want to go there asking for help? If the Murim Alliance hears about this, they’ll cast us out.”
“Then are you saying you’re fine with my wife dying?!”
Namgung Cheon roared.

His beloved wife, Hong Seolhwa, was dying—and there was nothing he could do to save her.
He had summoned the most renowned physicians in the Central Plains, pleaded with them to treat her, but each one had shaken their head and left in defeat.
All he could do was watch her suffer and wait for death to come.

That was when he heard the rumors about the Divine Physician with Sacred Hands.
That he could cure even the most hopeless conditions.
Rumors always became exaggerated as they spread.

But for the desperate, that didn’t matter.
They would cling to even the faintest glimmer of hope.
“Then I’ll take her myself, in secret. That should be enough.”

“Clan Lord!”
“Say no more! I’ve made my decision! I’m taking my wife to Mushincheon!”
The moment Namgung Cheon made his declaration, everyone around him ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) fell into uneasy silence.

From the look in his eyes, it was clear he was ready to cut down anyone who stood in his way—no one dared to stop him.
Of course, Namgung Cheon knew what was in his retainers’ hearts.
He spoke.

“We leave in the dead of night. While I’m gone, all clan affairs are to be handled in consultation with the Young Lord, Namgung Myeong.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Myeong.”

“Yes, Father.”
“While I’m away, you must guide the clan well.”
“I’ll do my utmost. So please… Mother…”

“I understand. I will find the Divine Physician and bring her back healed.”
“I will wait here with all my trust in you, Father.”
 

****
“My lady, I’ve heard that in Mushincheon there is a physician of incredible ability—someone called the Divine Physician with Sacred Hands.”
The woman, her face pale and drained of color.

She was the matron of the Namgung Clan—Hong Seolhwa.
Her breathing was ragged, her voice strained as she forced a smile.
“T-That name… huff… it’s the first time I’ve heard it… huff…”

“They say he’s in Mushincheon right now.”
“M-Mushincheon… huff… You’re not seriously thinking of going there, are you?”
“I am. I will bring you to Mushincheon.”

“No… huff… You mustn’t. If the Nine Sects or the Five Great Clans find out… huff… they’ll cast us out…”
“If they really exile us over this… then the Namgung Clan will become part of Mushincheon that very day.”
“My lord… huff…”

“So please… stay strong. I cannot live without you.”
“My lord… huff! huff!”
“I’ve spoken too long. I’m sorry.”

Namgung Cheon quickly infused internal energy into her body.
Her rough breathing slowly began to calm.
“We leave tonight. When you wake, we’ll already be there. So rest without worry.”

“My… lord…”
As Hong Seolhwa’s eyelids slowly fell shut, Namgung Cheon clenched his fists so tightly they trembled.
“I will meet the Divine Physician… no matter what.”

 
****
He had run through the night with Hong Seolhwa on his back.

Now, the morning sun shone upon the towering gates of Mushincheon.
“Huff! Huff!”
Having run without rest, his internal energy was all but depleted, and both mind and body were pushed to their limits.

On top of that, he had given much of his energy to Hong Seolhwa to ease her suffering—making the journey even more difficult.
Still, he had made it.
They had arrived safely, and his wife was still sleeping peacefully.

As he walked up to the overwhelming front gate, the guards stationed there approached him.
“I don’t see a Mushincheon insignia. Are you not affiliated with Mushincheon?”
“I… am from the Namgung Clan.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, one of the guards momentarily showed a startled expression—then offered a respectful martial salute.
“It’s an honor to meet a martial artist of the famed Namgung Clan.”
“Merely a glory of the past.”

“I’ve always admired the Namgung Clan. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word.”
“Thank you.”