The Martial God with Psychic Powers

The fight settled, and Yeon Woo Jin spoke to Yi Hwa Woon.
“For now, let’s keep today’s events known only to those present here.”
“Understood. I will gradually make the people around here your subordinates, my lord.”

Yeon Woo Jin nodded at Yi Hwa Woon’s words.
If he were to suddenly command all of Nokrim’s people to serve Yeon Woo Jin as their lord, chaos would break out.
Thus, they decided to quietly convert those nearby into Yeon Woo Jin’s people, one by one.

It didn’t matter how long it would take.
“My lord currently operates a pyo-guk. It’s best that rumors of ties to Nokrim do not spread.”
Yi Hwa Woon was being cautious so that no harm would come to the Sincheon Pyo-guk.

The King of Nokrim—the Nokrim Daeje himself—had completely transformed into Yeon Woo Jin’s vassal.
Yi Hwa Woon handed something to Yeon Woo Jin.
“There may be Nokrim disciples who have not yet received orders or might choose to ignore them. If that happens, show them this token—they will yield the way on their own.”
It was a plaque crafted from lustrous green jade, radiating a brilliant glow.

“This is the Nokrim Plaque, symbol of the Nokrim Lord.”
Yeon Woo Jin nodded and accepted it.
Yi Hwa Woon beamed with genuine joy as Yeon Woo Jin accepted his loyalty without resistance.

“Where do you head next? If you’re crossing the Guihua Mountains, that would be towards Yunnan. Is that your destination?”
“Correct. I’m headed to the Dian Cang Sect.”
“Ah! So, you're going to Dian Cang. In that case, following the Guihua Mountain Range will be the fastest route. I’ll assign someone familiar with the path to guide you tomorrow.”

As he said this, Yi Hwa Woon glanced around.
“But many of your pyo-sa are severely injured. Judging by their condition, they’ll need at least a month of rest. Shall I lend you some of our Su-sin Guards instead?”
“No need. I brought them to train, and leaving them behind defeats the purpose.”

“Training is good and all, but they’re in no state to travel.”
“They’ll all be treated today.”
Yi Hwa Woon tilted his head, as if he’d misheard.

“Even if you start treating them today, recovery will take considerable time. For a pyo-guk, time is life. Delay will erode trust.”
Yi Hwa Woon assumed he’d simply misheard Yeon Woo Jin saying they would begin treatment today.
“No, not ‘start’ treatment today. I’m saying they’ll all be completely healed today.”

“Pardon?”
What nonsense was that?
There was no way that could be possible.
Unless one was a Daerashinseon, how could shattered limbs be fully healed in a single day?

“Do you mean emergency treatment?”
“No. Full recovery.”
Yi Hwa Woon looked at Yeon Woo Jin with clear confusion.

Full recovery?
How?
Everyone’s curious gazes locked onto Yeon Woo Jin as he began treatment.

 
****
Time passed, and by the next day—shock.

It was real.
Yeon Woo Jin had completely healed all the pyo-sa overnight.
Not only Yi Hwa Woon but the Su-sin Guards, who rushed over upon hearing the news, stood dumbfounded, staring at the fully recovered pyo-sa.

They had seen the severity of the injuries firsthand—they had been serious wounds, yet now, all of them were healed within a single day.
The looks directed at Yeon Woo Jin carried a dangerous intensity.
That gaze… it seemed all too familiar.

There was a crazed gleam in their eyes.
And sure enough—
“My lord! Y-you are incredible! You are undoubtedly a divine being!”

“Indeed! We thought only your martial arts reached the heavens, but your medical skills, too, transcend the mortal plane. It is our eternal honor to serve you!”
“We shall devote our lives to your cause, my lord!”
Having witnessed Yeon Woo Jin’s mystical medical prowess, their loyalty soared to its peak.

 
****
The Sincheon Pyo-guk set off for the Dian Cang Sect in Yunnan.

All the captured bandits were left to Yi Hwa Woon.
Yi Hwa Woon promised to personally train them thoroughly before sending them to the Sincheon Pyo-guk.
After all, they were to serve his lord—he would spare no effort in their training.

Naturally, using them as mere porters would be a waste.
They were to be trained as proper pyo-sa.
And so, leaving all the bandits to Yi Hwa Woon, Yeon Woo Jin crossed the Guihua Mountains and headed toward Yunnan.

Beyond the Guihua Mountain Range, the towering peaks of Yunnan welcomed them.
The harsh, barren terrain unsuitable for human habitation greeted the Sincheon Pyo-guk members.
Steep, unending mountain paths exhausted even the horses, and one by one, the animals began to collapse from fatigue.

The horses needed rest, but doing so would delay their schedule, that much was certain.
Fortunately, having crossed the Guihua Mountains, they had gained some leeway.
“We should rest here for the day. The horses are too exhausted. If we push them any further, they’ll collapse.”

“We should let the horses rest, then.”
“I’ll find a campsite.”
“No. You’ll pull the wagons yourselves.”

Jang Woon stared at Yeon Woo Jin, his expression full of disbelief.
“On second thought, I can’t think of better training than this. Tell everyone to prepare.”
“E-even using internal energy, this will be exhausting…”

“Exhaust yourselves. Draw out every last drop of your internal energy if you must.”
Jang Woon turned to the pyo-sa.
They all had the same expression, as if questioning whether they’d heard correctly.

Jang Woon nodded.
“Well? Let the horses rest… Grab the wagons.”
The pyo-sa moved with miserable faces.

Jang Woon cautiously asked,
“By chance… you planned this from the start, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. I heard the terrain was harsh, figured it’d be perfect.”

His suspicion was confirmed.
That explained the suspiciously small number of horses for such a journey.
It had all been part of the plan.

The supplies once loaded onto the horses were transferred onto the backs of the pyo-sa.
The compressed tea bricks were heavy.
Was this still better than climbing cliffs with boulders strapped to their backs?

That thought occurred, but looking ahead, the endless peaks pierced the sky like blades.
They had to cross those.
Everyone cursed the Dian Cang Sect for choosing such a location.

The Central Plains were vast—why settle in such a place?
Thus unfolded the bizarre spectacle of humans dragging wagons and carrying heavy loads across the mountains, not horses.
 

****
Dian Cang Sect, Yunnan.
In Sangcheon Pavilion, where the Sect Master resided, the upper echelon of the Dian Cang Sect gathered with grim faces.

The reason for the gathering was the Sect Master Mu Yoja’s recent reading of the Heavenly Signs.
“Sect Master, is the situation truly so dire?”
“It is. I questioned myself, thinking perhaps I misread the omens. But no matter how many times I checked, the heavenly signs were warped.”

The Dian Cang Sect Master was famed for his ability to read the heavens.
So much so, the world called him the Heavenly Signs True Man.
That the heavenly signs were warped meant the world’s chaos would soon make the future impossible to predict.

It had happened only once before.
When the Heavenly Demon of the Demonic Realm led the demonic race to invade the mortal world.
The Heavenly Demon, who styled himself the God of Heavenly Demons, had demanded worship and established the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.

Even now, in the shadows, there remained those who secretly followed him.
But they no longer operated openly.
If they stirred again, where would it begin?

If they rose anew, they had to prepare thoroughly to avoid repeating the past.
The last time the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect rose, half of the Central Plains had been lost.
If they surfaced now?

“At least, unlike the past, we have the Mushincheon now.”
The difference this time was the existence of the Mushin—Yeon Cheon Baek—and the mighty force he led.
“We should inform Mushincheon of this.”

“I will personally deliver the message. Send me.”
“Will they believe us?”
“We must make them believe. Waiting until they resurface would be too late.”

“Indeed. It may already be too late. We must prepare to overcome the looming crisis immediately.”
“What are you all saying? Are we Mushincheon’s lackeys now? No wonder people disrespect the Gu Pae Il Bang.”
“Exactly! We should resolve this with our own strength. Only then can we restore our former glory!”

“Is glory more important than the imminent sword calamity threatening the martial world? Whether Gu Pae Il Bang or Mushincheon, we must unite to face this calamity!”
“Panicking over uncertain omens and running to Mushincheon first—that's cowardice!”
“Cowardice? Is that what you say to your senior?”

“Have I spoken falsely?”
Emotions flared, voices rose.
The Heavenly Signs True Man slammed the table.

Bang, bang, bang.
“Silence! What foolishness is this!”
The chaos in the hall calmed under his reprimand.

“Sect Master, what is your decision?”
The Heavenly Signs True Man contemplated, then spoke with a heavy expression.
“It seems I must open the Twelve Zodiac Heavenly Signs Array.”

The crowd’s eyes widened with shock.
Then, they all tried to dissuade him.
“You mustn’t! Using that array will consume your life force!”

“Think of your age, Sect Master! Activating it could be catastrophic!”
The Twelve Zodiac Heavenly Signs Array forcibly reveals the heavens’ secrets.
But the price is the user’s life force.

More precisely, it consumes the user’s innate true qi.
The degree of consumption depends on how much of the heavens they read.
The Heavenly Signs True Man was over eighty years old.

The concern was warranted.
“It’s fine. I merely intend to confirm whether the Demonic Sect has truly revived. There’s no need for excessive worry.”
“But…”

“If a small sacrifice from me can save countless lives, then so be it.”
“Sect Master…”
“We are Taoists. It is our duty. Now, make preparations.”

Reluctantly, they answered.
“Understood, Sect Master.”
 

****
While chaos erupted within Sangcheon Pavilion—
The Sincheon Pyo-guk’s procession became visible near the Dian Cang Sect grounds.

Taoists patrolling the area gathered upon seeing the scene.
Humans dragging wagons and hauling cargo—a rare spectacle.
“What is this? Who are those people?”

“Why are they carrying their own cargo instead of using horses?”
“They’re dragging wagons by hand?”
“Their attire is unusual. What’s going on?”

“Their flag says Sincheon Pyo-guk.”
“Never heard of them.”
“Wait, is that this region’s incoming delivery?”

“Huh? Isn’t that supposed to be from Changcheon Pyo-guk? Why are they here?”
As they whispered, the Sincheon Pyo-guk procession arrived at the mountain gate of Dian Cang Sect.
“What brings you here?”

A Taoist guarding the gate asked, and Yeon Woo Jin replied.
“We’re delivering goods for the Changcheon Trading Group.”
As expected—it was a shipment from Changcheon.

“I see. Never heard of your pyo-guk before. Must be new.”
“That’s right.”
“It’s your first time in this area. You arrived right on time despite the terrain.”

“Yes. The landscape is harsher than expected.”
“Hahaha! Everyone says the same. Well then, come in.”
As they hauled their cargo inside, a Taoist asked Yeon Woo Jin,

“Are those porters?”
“They’re pyo-sa.”
“No porters among you?”

“No, all pyo-sa.”
“The horses must be exhausted, judging by your people ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ hauling the goods.”
“We’ve been doing this since the snow mountains.”

“Pardon?”
“The mountains were taller and rougher than expected. It was a tough crossing.”
What was he saying?

There was only one snow mountain nearby.
The Mei Li Snow Mountain, called the Sacred Spirit Mountain.
Most people avoided it entirely.

Yet this man claimed they crossed it.
Judging by the battered, worn-out appearance of the pyo-sa, they truly had risked their lives.