"What a strange group."
Moon Eun-ji quietly looked around her surroundings and could only come to that conclusion. She had heard that the ruffians of the martial world enjoyed mingling with each other without propriety or rules, and this place was exactly like that.
'I can't believe it.'
These people were clearly not in their right minds.
Even after receiving orders from His Imperial Majesty, instead of moving immediately, they leisurely finished what they were doing before departing. And despite heading to Beijing under His Majesty's secret orders, they were as relaxed as if they were going on a trip.
Of course, the horses pulling the carriage were undoubtedly the finest steeds under heaven, and the stamina of those following the carriage was abnormally strong, so they did make steady progress. Certainly.
Since they covered in less than half a day what would have taken other groups three full days to travel, it was hard to criticize them for going leisurely and slowly.
'And they have no manners!'
Furthermore, she had thought until now that Wei Yan-ho was the rudest person in the world. Having been thoroughly educated in a strict noble family where etiquette was ingrained into her very being, she had rarely encountered ruffians like Wei Yan-ho.
But every single one of these people was just as rude as Wei Yan-ho.
Moon Eun-ji could understand why so many people called martial artists scoundrels and looked down on them.
What irritated her most among all this was…
"Some water."
"Yes."
Following the gesture of Wei Yan-ho, who was lying sprawled on top of the goods piled high on the carriage roof, a beauty she had never seen before in her life was moving about.
As soon as Wei Yan-ho finished speaking, the beauty quickly got down from the carriage, took out water from the back and poured it, then climbed back onto the carriage and respectfully offered it to Wei Yan-ho.
"Here."
"Thanks."
Wei Yan-ho took the water the beauty offered, drank the cold water refreshingly, then went 'Kaah!' and held out the empty bowl to the beauty. The beauty smiled sweetly and took the bowl Wei Yan-ho offered.
'What, what kind of behavior is that!'
Moon Eun-ji could list ten more reasons why that behavior was wrong.
First of all, men and women should be kept separate, yet here were unmarried men and women riding together on the same carriage, which was already problematic. Wei Yan-ho's parents were also here—how could they watch such a scene without a single word of rebuke for such impropriety?
And while Wei Yan-ho was also a problem, that woman was even more problematic.
'What could she possibly lack!'
What kind of person was Wei Yan-ho?
He was a scoundrel under heaven, someone unmatched in his ability to turn people's insides upside down.
Of course, his martial prowess was somewhat remarkable, but compared to those who knew scholarship and understood principles, wasn't his ability nothing particularly special?
Yet what was so good about such a person that she would put herself in such a position?
"The end times! The end times!"
Moon Eun-ji felt her insides boiling with anger.
'It's already been two days!'
Since that day of their dramatic reunion, Wei Yan-ho hadn't even glanced at Moon Eun-ji.
'A person should have some courtesy.'
Normally, after such a reunion, shouldn't he ask 'Was there any trouble?' or 'How have you been?' or at least 'How did you come to receive imperial orders and come here?' He should ask! He should!
"Why aren't you asking!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Moon Eun-ji jumped up and pointed accusingly at Wei Yan-ho on the carriage.
"What?"
"Why aren't you asking how I got here! Why!"
Wei Yan-ho replied indifferently.
"I'm not curious."
"..."
"And pointing at someone who's just sitting quietly. If Grand Scholar Moon Yu-hwan knew, he would beat the ground and wail."
Moon Eun-ji's hand slowly lowered. Certainly, if Moon Yu-hwan saw her current state, he would have sighed 'I raised my child wrong' and taken out his switch.
"...No. I was just frustrated."
Wei Yan-ho looked at Moon Eun-ji with pitying eyes and asked.
"Why? What's frustrating?"
"...Why don't you ask?"
"Because I'm not curious."
"Still, you should be curious. A person should be curious. How can you live without any interest in worldly affairs?"
"Is there anything that would change if I showed interest?"
"Still..."
"Obviously the old man sent you."
Moon Eun-ji flinched.
'How did he know?'
Come to think of it, that man had some unusually sharp aspects.
"It's obvious. Scholar Moon wouldn't have sent you, and the only person who could send you is the old man."
"Ugh..."
"That old man is really strange too. When did he tell me to look around the martial world, and now why is he telling me to come to Beijing? Bothering a busy person."
"How, how utterly disrespectful! To the Inspector General!"
"What's so surprising about that."
That was true.
Wei Yan-ho was originally this kind of person. What was she expecting all of a sudden?
"But!"
"Hm?"
"Who is that...person over there?"
Moon Eun-ji glanced at Jin Ye-ran.
'Is she human?'
Having grown up in Hanrim Grand Academy, she hadn't had many opportunities to see girls her age. But this was certain: even if you searched all of the Central Plains, such a beauty would not be common.
'But why is such a person of all people!'
Why was she stuck by Wei Yan-ho's side doing nothing?
If a person had any sense, shouldn't Wei Yan-ho be filtered out!
"I was too busy to properly introduce myself."
"Yes? Ah... Yes."
At Jin Ye-ran's words as she approached, Moon Eun-ji unconsciously bowed her head deeply. Somehow it felt like her inner thoughts had been discovered. She hadn't committed any crime, yet she felt guilty for no reason.
"I'm called Jin Ye-ran. Though I'm humble, I work as a physician."
"The Sacred Maiden of Nashan?"
"Yes?"
"By any chance, did you treat patients at... Nashan?"
"Ah... Yes, there was such an incident."
Moon Eun-ji covered her mouth.
'Heavens!'
One of the most famous people under heaven right now was the Sacred Maiden of Nashan. She was said to possess deep character, excellent medical skills, and stunning beauty that made eyes spin, all at the same time.
Despite having such outstanding beauty and medical skills, she was said to be a true physician who never elevated herself and didn't hesitate to get blood and pus on herself for the sake of patients.
'They said there's even a movement of people following her.'
Since the appearance of the Sacred Maiden of Nashan, people in the medical world who wanted to follow her will had begun to emerge. Those who had learned medicine under the value that medical arts are humanitarian arts were feeling disgusted with the current medical world's trend of prioritizing money above all.
How bitter it must have been for those who learned that medical arts are humanitarian arts to face the reality of a world where medical arts became mere skills.
Thus, centered around young physicians, a movement was arising to rediscover the true nature of physicians.
The imperial palace was also closely watching this movement, and her father was also evaluating Sacred Maiden of Nashan Jin Ye-ran very highly, saying it was a very welcome phenomenon.
'But why is such a person doing this here?'
Such an tremendous person was doing nothing more than serving water to Wei Yan-ho.
Moon Eun-ji couldn't understand it at all.
Of course, of course! Wei Yan-ho was a big shot.
When she first saw him, Wei Yan-ho was no different from a neighborhood loafer, but now he was flying such fame that anyone with even the slightest interest in the martial world couldn't help but hear his name.
But no matter what, the Sacred Maiden of Nashan's reputation surely wouldn't fall behind his....
"Sister!"
At that moment, Jin So-ah crawled up onto the carriage.
"What is it?"
"At the fork in the road ahead, I think I should return to the hall."
"Already?"
"Yes. If I go further, I'll have to take a long detour. It's regrettable, but I think it's right to go back now."
Regret bloomed on Jin Ye-ran's face.
No matter how they were now going separate ways, where would the affection of blood relatives go? They merely acknowledged their differences; they hadn't changed their family bond.
"Are you planning to walk?"
"The General Manager sent people. I should be able to return by following the escort."
Jin Ye-ran quietly nodded.
"Yes. It's regrettable, but if the Hall Master leaves the medical hall for too long, there will surely be trouble. A physician is only a physician when at the medical hall. Hurry back."
"Yes, Sister."
Just as Jin So-ah was about to say something, Jin Ye-ran straightened her posture.
"So-ah."
"Yes."
"No, Hall Master. I have something urgent to tell my Hall Master."
"Please speak."
"Whether the name of Sacred Hand Hall, passed down through generations, will shake the Central Plains again or disappear as it is depends entirely on the Hall Master's shoulders. As family and blood relative, I'm sorry that I cannot share that heavy responsibility."
"Please don't say such things, Sister. I'm always sorry that I cannot lead Sacred Hand Hall in the direction you wish."
Jin Ye-ran smiled brightly.
"A woman's opinion cannot dictate the path a man should take. I hope you trust your own path and move forward. Our late father would want that too."
Jin So-ah quietly bowed her head.
Even while joining hands with Wei Yan-ho to rebuild Sacred Hand Hall, there had been an uncomfortable feeling in one corner of her heart. The thought that perhaps the path she was taking might not be the right direction.
While such thoughts had always lingered, when Jin Ye-ran acknowledged her path like this, she felt somewhat moved.
"I won't think that the path I'm taking will necessarily be right. However..."
Jin So-ah raised her head and spoke with a determined face.
"I will promise to do my best on my path. Even when the day comes to meet our late father again, I will work and work again so that our father will acknowledge my efforts."
"That's a good mindset."
Jin Ye-ran smiled brightly.
'You've grown up.'
As Wei Yan-ho said, like a child in one's arms, Jin So-ah was someone who could walk her own path. If she wanted something, she had to achieve it herself, and Jin So-ah should be allowed to walk Jin So-ah's path.
Though their directions were different, she sincerely supported her younger sister.
Just as emotions were about to surge like waves, a very spiteful voice flowed out.
"You're going to properly make money, right?"
"..."
"For me!"
Jin So-ah's face contorted.
"Mo, money isn't the problem!"
At that moment, Wei Yan-ho bolted upright.
"What kind of talk is this?"
"...Yes?"
"You, why do you practice medicine?"
"Hu, humanitarian arts. Saving people..."
Thwack!
A powerful flick struck Jin So-ah's head.
Thump!
Looking at Jin So-ah who fell sideways, Wei Yan-ho's face contorted.
"This guy still hasn't come to his senses! If you're going to spout humanitarian arts like that, why do you take money, you hypocrite!"
The fallen Jin So-ah flinched.
"Don't spout nonsense about humanitarian arts while taking money for treatment! Either practice humanitarian arts without taking money, or take money decisively to make money—do one of the two! Which is it!"
"I'll make money!"
"Yes, that's the right mindset!"
Wei Yan-ho grabbed Jin So-ah's shoulder tightly, pulled him up, and spoke with murderous eyes.
"The world is money! Money! You need money to buy needles and medicinal materials!"
"Th, that's right!"
"Earn it! Earn it like a dog! For me!"
Jin Ye-ran resolved to send Jin So-ah back to Sacred Hand Hall as quickly as possible.
If he stayed next to that man, there was no telling what might happen to Jin So-ah. Jin Ye-ran got goosebumps, wondering if she herself had been tainted by Wei Yan-ho.