When the academy's rest period begins, all facilities, including the dormitories, become deserted.

Except for the few people who remain at the academy, it is practically empty.

The instructors and drill instructors also leave for their respective vacations, and the campus dining hall takes a long rest period with only a minimal number of personnel remaining.

If one had to pick the place that becomes the most deserted among them, it would be the Medicine Hall.

There are barely any people who visit the Medicine Hall during periods when there are no exams or sparring matches.

Furthermore, the personnel who do remain train alone in a manner close to closed-door training, so there is no reason for them to get seriously injured.

However, in preparation for unforeseen circumstances, half of the female physicians, including the Medicine Hall Leader, had to stay behind, and thus the Medicine Hall opened its doors every day even if there were no guests.

Today, too, Medicine Hall Leader Sama Jeong reported to work early in the morning and looked around.

Before he knew it, snow had piled up heavily in the Medicine Hall's courtyard.

The female physicians and servants tried to clear the snow, but he stopped them.

Since there were no guests coming anyway and nothing to do, he wanted to look at the piled-up snow to his heart's content.

'It is a lonely landscape.'

He didn't think it felt like this when he looked at the snow in the past.

The snow this year felt noticeably lonelier than ever before.

"Should I just quit everything..."

Sama Jeong absentmindedly mumbled as he watched the heavily falling snow, and the female physician cutting herbs next to him cried out in surprise.

"What are you saying, Hall Leader!"

"Huh? Ah... did you hear that?"

"Do not say such things even by chance. Do you know how many physicians want to enter here at the Murim Alliance, and specifically the Medicine Hall?"

Sama Jeong chuckled at the female physician's reproach.

She was right.

He was indeed occupying a position that everyone desired.

"Lady Physician. By any chance, do you know how many people die of frostbite in this winter?"

"... Pardon?"

"It was during the time I was studying. When winter came, I would always be drenched in sweat all day long because of the overflowing patients."

The female physician, who could not understand the context of Sama Jeong's words for a moment, nodded in hasty assumption.

"So you rose to such a good position after all that hardship."

Sama Jeong chuckled without giving a definitive answer of yes or no.

"That is right."

Abundant medical herbs and relaxed treatment times.

During the winter or summer rest periods, no one came to visit, making it perfectly suited to do separate research.

If his master saw it, it would be an environment worthy of great praise.

Because his master always used to say, 'You should do things like this.'

However.

Perhaps that was why he wanted to do it even more.

Of course, he had no intention of just watching patients die in poor environments like his master did.

Watching a person die just because they could not obtain a single common medicinal herb, how much helplessness had he felt?

That was why he came to the Murim Alliance.

Because he wanted to build up his skills and reputation here, and then treat the poor with the medical fees received from the rich.

Because he thought he could save more people if only that happened.

However.

"This place makes me feel exactly as if I have become a resident physician for a wealthy family."

The Medicine Hall's personnel do not treat outsiders.

No, to be precise, it would be correct to say they cannot. After all, outsiders cannot enter the Murim Academy in the first place.

At some point, he felt as though he had drifted too far away from the journey he had envisioned.

The female physician who had been cutting herbs stopped her hands and made a fuss as she looked at Sama Jeong.

"Isn't that great, then, Physician? Make sure you keep this job for a thousand, ten thousand years! Because we like you so much too."

"... I should. Haha. Thank you."

Sama Jeong swallowed a bitter smile at the innocent reaction.

If only he hadn't made that item back then.

He repeated to himself time and again how nice it would have been if he hadn't been greedy about giving a gift to the promising children.

'Can I ever escape this place?'

He liked watching the snow leisurely, but he wanted to be someone who worked while being struck by that snow.

But how freezing cold must it be to step barefoot on those snowflakes that look so beautiful?

He was not sure if he was the kind of person who possessed that level of resolve.

He felt that he had become too weak before he knew it.

Just then.

STEP, STEP, STEP.

There was a figure approaching while walking over the paper-clean snow.

"Huh?"

The female physician stared at the man with surprised eyes.

Then, Sama Jeong's eyes also widened.

"You are..."

"It has been a long time."

The figure who had previously come to the Medicine Hall with a very impressive appearance was smiling while receiving the falling snow as it was.

"That tea looks delicious. May I get a cup?"

* * *

Snow continued to fall in the Medicine Hall's courtyard.

Jin Sowoon and Sama Jeong sat side by side with a brazier between them and watched the snowy landscape for a long time.

Around the time the snow piled on Jin Sowoon's shoulders and head turned into water droplets and disappeared.

Sama Jeong spoke first.

"What brings you here? By the looks of it, you do not seem sick... and you couldn't possibly have come all the way here just to get a cup of tea."

"What do you do in the winter?"

"In the winter?"

Sama Jeong stared piercingly at Jin Sowoon at the unexpected question.

One could only converse if they knew the other's intentions.

But Sama Jeong could not guess the intention behind that question just now.

"Well, I just kill time like this and let the days pass by. Did you really come here to ask that?"

"Do you not go out to provide relief aid?"

"..."

Sama Jeong's face stiffened hard.

"What are you talking about?"

"I heard that you used to go out to provide relief aid every vacation period when you were at the Murim Alliance's Divine Physician's Pavilion. ... Could it be that you came here to the academy because you fell out of their favor?"

Sama Jeong's face distorted unpleasantly.

Generally speaking, the status of an academy student was a position that those active in Jianghu could not help but be mindful of.

However, Sama Jeong was someone who didn't care much about such things in the first place.

"Did you investigate my background? Is there something you want to extort from me? I am sorry, but things will not go the way you want."

Did it seem funny to see a mere physician growling?

Jin Sowoon smiled gently.

"Of course not. I only asked because I wanted to know what kind of person you are."

"..."

"Members of the Divine Physician's Faction have traditionally occupied most of the key positions in the Divine Physician's Pavilion, haven't they? I've also heard they had considerable influence when the Pavilion was named."

"..."

Those from the Divine Physician's Faction mainly took up positions in the Divine Physician's Pavilion, securing their faction's strength solidly by leading and pushing each other forward.

No matter how much Sama Jeong tried, he could not blend in among them.

In the first place, he couldn't possibly associate with people who placed their medical arts on the same level as their wealth, could he?

'It became an opportunity for me to realize anew just how incredible my master was.'

Sama Jeong, who had calmed down a little, spoke.

"Since I did not mingle with them at the brothels and instead spent my own money to treat the poor, it was more than enough to fall out of their favor."

He spat out the frustration he hadn't been able to confide in anyone until now, placing it upon the calmly falling snowflakes.

"Because in their eyes, I was someone who helped just anyone, someone who made the medical arts seem trivial."

"Hmm... Then were you chased out to the Medicine Hall because of that?"

Sama Jeong slowly shook his head.

"That wasn't it. I made a spiritual pill for the prospective academy students, and that became the problem."

"Are you talking about the Jeongsimdan?"

"... You know about that?"

"Yes. I ate it, after all."

The corners of Sama Jeong's eyes drooped.

"How was it?"

"It was excellent."

Excellent, he said.

Recalling the past for a moment, Sama Jeong let out a quiet chuckle.

"Do not speak empty flatteries. Like I said earlier, there is nothing for you to extort from me."

He didn't know the reason why.

But without realizing it, he was calmly spilling the story he hadn't been able to tell anyone to this academy student in front of him.

"The medicinal efficacy was terrible compared to the herbs used and the cost of preparation. I received disciplinary action for that matter."

"You have it pretty good for someone facing disciplinary action."

Sama Jeong slowly looked around the courtyard.

Snow that looked cozy and piled up on the surface. But if stepped on, it would surely be incredibly freezing.

"... Could it not be that what feels like a warm haven to someone could feel like a suffocating prison to another?"

"Is that so?"

After thinking for a moment, Jin Sowoon nodded his head.

"I think the Hall Leader was in the wrong."

"... What are you talking about?"

"I am talking about the relief aid. From their perspective, you sold out the medical arts they paid a high price to learn for cheap, so wouldn't you have looked like a hypocrite to them?"

Sama Jeong's brow distorted heavily.

"Do you know how many people are dying outside those gates right now because they cannot afford a single packet of medicine? And the people who have to cut off their fingers and toes every time it snows? Are you someone who only swings a sword to kill people?"

As he spoke, his face gradually flushed red.

He cornered Jin Sowoon as if pouring out all the rage he had built up so far.

"Medical arts belong to everyone. If we are only going to treat those with money, power, and strength, then what reason is there for medical arts to advance! Those with strength will also lose their strength one day, so I suppose we can just ruthlessly chop their heads off then!"

After his shout echoed in all four directions, silence fell once again.

Puffing and panting after pouring everything out, Sama Jeong thought he had unnecessarily unleashed his excitement.

Because Jin Sowoon was quietly drinking his tea without even a change in expression.

"If that is what you think, shouldn't you leave the Murim Alliance?"

"..."

"You should go out to the streets and save people this very instant."

And soon, he realized that he had fallen into a self-contradiction with his own logic.

Seeing the speechless Sama Jeong, Jin Sowoon smiled gently.

"It seems the weather is too cold to do that."

"..."

Sama Jeong's face flushed red with shame as he rose from his seat.

"Right. Just as you said, I am someone who is all talk, a hypocrite. Are you satisfied now? If you feel better, please go back."

Despite the obvious order to leave, Jin Sowoon leisurely stroked his teacup.

"I am not finished talking yet."

"Is there more to say in this situation?"

"It is exactly because of this situation that I have something to say."

"Say it quickly."

Sama Jeong pressed him while barely suppressing his anger.

He wanted to get rid of this guy from his sight even a little bit faster...

"How about coming to the Taiyi Sect?"

"What?"

What did I just hear?

Sama Jeong's eyes were dyed with confusion.

* * *

In the first place, it was unexpected that the Cheonmyo Divine Physician was here at the academy.

And upon hearing that the reason was because of the Jeongsimdan I ate in the past, it felt like the missing pieces of the story I hadn't known were finally falling into place.

'Because later on, even when the Murim Alliance begged and pleaded, he refused to make the Jeongsimdan for them.'

The Cheonmyo Divine Physician, who was briefly active in the Murim Alliance, somehow quit the Murim Alliance—known as the best workplace for a physician—and went out into the secular world.

It was exactly ten years later when he made a name for himself.

It started when those who had eaten the Jeongsimdan freed themselves from qi deviation.

Afterward, Sama Jeong was revered enough to be called the Cheonmyo Divine Physician, but he never made spiritual pills for anyone.

No, even when countless sects and families came seeking him with bags of money, he did not make spiritual pills for them.

Those ten years of time were more than enough to turn the Murim Alliance into enemies for Sama Jeong.

"Hahaha... hahahahaha!"

Sama Jeong burst into laughter for a long time.

Hmm, was what I said that funny?

I didn't know I had a talent for making others laugh, honestly.

"Pfft..."

He, who had been laughing while his shoulders shook, finally stopped laughing and asked me.

"Are you saying I should go to the Taiyi Sect?"

"Yes."

"Do you know how the physicians of the Murim Alliance are treated?"

"I know that they start out as Seventh-class and receive a higher monthly salary than ordinary warriors."

As I answered fluently, the sneer hanging on his face grew even deeper.

"And you are telling someone like me to come to the Taiyi Sect?"

"We have a fairly decent amount of money."

"Hehe... You cannot be reasoned with. Please go back now. My head hurts just from talking to you."

The reason I deliberately provoked him a little was to check if the current him held the same thoughts as the Cheonmyo Divine Physician from my past life.

Because if his efforts in relief aid and helping the poor started only after he was chased out of the Murim Alliance, he wouldn't come now no matter what conditions I offered.

'However, it seems he is originally someone with that kind of nature.'

In that case, winning him over is not a problem at all.

Because in this world, people who cannot be moved by money will eventually be moved by something else.

"We will open an independent clinic for you. You can work for our Taiyi Sect and do relief work at the same time. The Taiyi Sect will cover all the expenses."

FLINCH.

Sama Jeong, who had been about to leave his seat, sat back down.

He takes the bait right away, just as expected. Good.

"Do you think I will believe such a far-fetched story?"

"Why do you think it is a far-fetched story?"

"Because it is a promise that is difficult to put into practice in the first place."

"..."

Why is this old man so suspicious?

Well, it is a hundred times more trustworthy than someone who would just readily accept it, though.

"Anyone can talk with plausible words. But it is human nature to quickly feel it's a waste when you actually try to spend money on those who have absolutely nothing to do with you."

"That can be true."

"And you are telling me to trust those few words of yours and go to the Taiyi Sect?"

In front of him, who still couldn't cut off his suspicion, I took out the book I had prepared.

"How about this?"

"What is this?"

"You have seen me treat Yayul Geuk in the past, haven't you?"

"..."

His face stiffened hard.

In the first place, I didn't sit down at a threat... no, negotiation table without something to back me up either.

Look at that sound of swallowing saliva echoing in all four directions. He's already a fish in my palm, I tell you.

I calmly revealed the book's identity.

"It is a medical book regarding that."

Soon, Sama Jeong opened the medical book with trembling hands.

One of the three divided parts of the Ten Thousand Herbs Record.

He frantically examined the Ten Thousand Herbs Record, forgetting even the fact that I was in front of him.

"T-This is..."

"Yes. It is a record of treatment methods using inexpensive medicinal herbs."

"..."

"I heard it is called the Ten Thousand Herbs Record."

Sama Jeong, who had been constantly flipping through the book in excitement, asked me with a stiff face.

"You're... giving this to me?"

"Yes. If you want, all the latter parts as well."

"Why?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Well, let's consider it the price to invite you to the Taiyi Sect."

"..."

Sama Jeong stared piercingly at me with a gaze that said he couldn't understand.

"This is... this is an absurd medical book. Even if only half of what is in here is actually realized, it will change the landscape of the medical arts."

I thought so too.

Perhaps the Murim Alliance had hidden this book tightly because they feared such chaos.

But what was the use of all this if such good medical arts weren't directly put to use?

Furthermore, if it was going to be completely destroyed during the Orthodox-Demonic Great War anyway, it was truly a case of saving it until it turned to shit.

I looked straight into Sama Jeong's eyes.

"You just have to do that yourself, Physician."

"... It really does not matter if I use this?"

"Yes. Because I am giving it to you so you can do so. Ah, of course, you must proceed slowly, revealing it to the world little by little. If you unleash it all at once, places like the Divine Physician's Faction or the Tang Clan will not stay still."

Sama Jeong kept his mouth tightly shut for a long while.

Then he carefully asked me.

"In exchange, is what you want from me the position of physician for the Taiyi Sect?"

Hey, there's no way that's the only thing.

"There is one more thing."

Sama Jeong made an expression saying he couldn't figure it out at all.

"Um, you know that spiritual pill that got you chased out of the Divine Physician's Pavilion?"

"Huh?"

I smiled brightly as I looked at him.

"Please make some more of that."

As soon as my words ended, Sama Jeong made a completely flabbergasted expression.

Hey, what's there to be so surprised about?