The Previous Story – The Guests from Tianshan
The visitors from Tianshan entered the clan estate in the afternoon, after the Baekryong Three Units had already departed.
Jin Musik recognized them belatedly and ushered them inside.
He had no idea what had taken place.
The men of Tianshan, embarrassed, did not speak of it first.
They merely stood with hardened expressions, unable to fully suppress the anger still simmering within them.
With guests frowning before him, Jin Musik felt deeply troubled.
Not knowing the cause, he was at a loss as to how to receive them properly.
"How may I assist you?"
He asked politely, and a blunt reply returned.
"We have come to see General Jin Mugwang."
"I see. You have traveled far, but there is some difficulty. My younger brother is gravely ill and cannot receive visitors."
"That is precisely why we have come. We heard he was ill."
The old man raised his voice unnecessarily.
They had come to help, only to be struck and then denied even an audience—his indignation flared at the thought.
His temper was quick, and his face flushed red and blue in agitation.
Jin Musik responded even more courteously, and very slowly.
"Have I, perhaps, committed some error in receiving you? Your tone suggests displeasure. If I have done wrong, please tell me."
Jin Musik was no martial artist, but he understood the temperament of martial artists well.
When they grew angry, it was because they desired something or were troubled by some grievance.
They would not speak of it plainly.
Still, he believed it was his duty as host to soothe their anger.
At that moment, a child standing to one side of the reception hall pointed at the group.
He was Jin Musik's cherished great-grandson.
Though young, he came and went freely in the reception chamber, which was as much Jin Musik's office as any study.
Doted upon and always by his side, the boy had become a little mouth that reported all he saw and heard.
The child had gone out early that morning to watch the Baekryong Unit depart.
He had witnessed the entire scene from beginning to end.
He was the very one who had handed Jeonbyeong to Soun.
In his clumsy but earnest speech, he explained everything to Jin Musik without omission.
"Those uncles got hit earlier…"
His small index finger rose awkwardly.
He pointed from one Tianshan disciple to another.
His eyes were wide, his voice unconcerned.
He spoke as if recounting something amusing.
"What? By whom?"
Jin Musik turned sharply at the word "hit."
"The Baekryong uncles were leaving, but they blocked the gate and didn't move. So the Young General hyung hit them…"
The boy clenched his fist and swung it at empty air.
"Thud!" he cried, then threw himself backward.
"Whack!"
"Whoosh— and then… Aaaah!"
He mimicked the slicing of wind.
He twisted his face dramatically as if struck.
He stuck out his tongue, flailed both arms, and even let his mouth hang open as though drool might spill.
He toppled flat to the floor to complete the performance.
"This uncle blocked them first!"
His finger jabbed accusingly toward the Tianshan men.
He leapt up again, swung an imaginary punch, then staggered back as if receiving it himself.
His arms became swords, his palms shields, his mouth the drumbeat of battle and the cry of pain.
Who had blocked the path, who had pushed first, who had been struck and fallen—every detail flowed from the boy's small body in vivid reenactment.
The air in the reception hall stiffened.
The faces of the Tianshan guests slowly reddened.
A flush spread beneath their beards.
Their gazes dropped to the floor.
Lips tightened.
One cleared his throat.
Another fussed pointlessly with his sleeve.
The anger they had borne moments ago now transformed into a different heat, climbing up their faces.
The child's reenactment held no falsehood.
That made it impossible to escape.
"The Young General… Ah, Scholar Yu…"
Truth complicates relationships.
Jin Musik's mind turned rapidly.
He was almost relieved he had not witnessed it himself.
He worried how the martial men might react.
How deep would their embarrassment run?
If the clan's own youth had been at fault, matters would have been far more troublesome.
But the name of the Young General changed the tone of things.
It was the Tianshan guests who were truly startled.
So it had been the Young General.
The very youth who had slain the barbarians.
A flicker of relief crossed their faces.
At least they had not been beaten by some ignorant child, but by a warrior of renown.
There was no shame in losing to such a figure.
Failing to recognize him, however, was another matter.
Understanding dawned, and their expressions shifted.
"Ah… In my haste I failed to observe properly and caused discomfort to our hosts. I offer my sincere apologies."
Jin Musik rose and cupped his fist.
The elder of Tianshan stood as well and returned the gesture.
"So it was the Young General? It was nothing of consequence. We wished to enter, and the Baekryong wished to depart. We merely collided in passing. Please do not take it to heart."
The old man spoke lightly.
The title "Young General" seemed to have softened him.
At least some measure of dignity had been preserved.
"I thank you for your broad-mindedness. Our clan has been in some turmoil. I should have gone out personally to receive you, but I was occupied seeing off those departing for war. Once more, I apologize. The morning was most chaotic."
"No, Clan Lord, do not trouble yourself. But what was that army? Was there a military force within the estate?"
"There were circumstances. Urgent ones… and…"
Jin Musik trailed off.
There was no need to reveal something that might invite suspicion of rebellion.
That was not the heart of the matter.
The solemn departure scene flickered in his mind, but he let it pass.
He straightened and asked instead,
"May I ask what brings you here on such a long journey? My brother's breathing is shallow. Internal and poison injuries compound his state. He cannot receive guests. Though it is discourteous, might I hear your purpose in his stead?"
"That is precisely why we have come. I am Joo Gwangsik, known by the sobriquet 'Immortal Physician of Tianshan.' I cannot disclose everything, but at someone's request we were asked to treat the General. I have come with disciples from our mountain. It is but a modest skill, though I bear the name 'Immortal Physician.'"
The word physician snapped Jin Musik fully alert.
Who had made the request no longer mattered.
If they could save his brother, that alone was enough.
"I do not know how to express my gratitude. If you can heal him, I would repay the debt by any means."
He sent for Lee Sogun.
"Since we come at another's request, do not burden yourself. What is the General's condition?"
"I do not know the details. I lack medical knowledge. It seems he was attacked by palace masters on the road. Sword wounds, internal injuries, poison—all together. Not from one assailant, but many. He could not properly recover before fighting again. The external wounds have been treated, but the internal and poison injuries are beyond us. Even with physicians in the household, we are helpless. I beg you—help him."
They were martial men who had brought a martial physician.
They had arrived proudly, only to be humbled once.
They had witnessed the formidable departure of the Baekryong Unit.
Though gone, the remaining men's preparations along the estate perimeter spoke plainly.
The General lay grievously wounded, and the clan stood under threat.
"May I ask who requested my brother's treatment?"
"We do not know the details. It was decided in Tianshan. We are not in a position to question why. An elder long established gave the order. And Tianshan owes the General a debt from long ago. Our sect lies within the ravines of Tianshan…"
"I see. You have labored on behalf of one with no prior bond to you. I am ashamed."
"Not at all. To treat the hero who saved the nation is honor enough."
Lee Sogun entered and bowed.
Being of the martial world himself, he recognized the Immortal Physician of Tianshan at once.
He bowed deeply and led him inside.