Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 179

The two stood in the training ground. They were there to practice together.

Jin Cheonhee was learning at least fragments of the Mind Martial Ultimate Technique while training with Cheon-woo.

‘Cheon-woo really grasps qi quickly.’

That was the greatest advantage he felt while training together.

When it came to sensing and handling qi, Cheon-woo was unrivaled.

“Brother, I noticed something distorting in your sword strike just now.”

“It was distorted? Then it means it flowed as I intended.”

Those words made him happy.

Jin Cheonhee was a transcendent master.

Of course, a transcendent master was undoubtedly an excellent swordsman in the martial world, but he was absolutely no match for Master, Grandfather, or Bloodborne Eccentric.

‘Not to mention the Heavenly Demon.’

Now he could understand a little about Yeo Ha-ryoon’s realm.

Thanks to the blessing of the Heaven-Killing Star, Yeo Ha-ryoon was instinctively approaching the Realm of the Mind Martial.

It meant that even without reaching the Profound Realm, his sword path was instinctively pursuing it.

Although the side effects of murderous impulses were severe, the Heaven-Killing Star was a great talent to that extent.

The more he gauged Yeo Ha-ryoon, the more distant he felt.

‘I miss him. I wonder if he’s doing well. Ha-ryoon.’

Whenever he felt a surge of longing, he would send a letter. However, this was Wudang, which could be called the heart of the righteous path.

Jin Cheonhee wasn’t bold enough to send a letter from here to where Ha-ryoon was.

‘He must have become incredibly strong by now.’

For such a Jin Cheonhee to be able to refract space was a big step forward.

“It seems I’ve become capable of doing it to a limited extent while learning the Dual Mind-Intention Technique and the Taiji Wisdom Sword.”

“To grasp even fragments of it and make it your own is an amazing level. Normally, one couldn’t even attempt it unless they reached the Profound Realm, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But why do you look like you’ve just taken one step, brother?”

The level Jin Cheonhee had just shown was enough to make one weep while embracing their sword.

Fragments of the Realm of the Mind Martial.

However, Jin Cheonhee looked as if he had accomplished something obvious.

“Hahaha, that’s true. The higher you climb, the more you see above you.”

“You’re scary, brother.”

Cheon-woo grumbled sincerely.

Even though he had become this strong, Jin Cheonhee was never satisfied.

“I’m not sure what to call this move I just used.”

He was able to use internal energy to slightly bend an opponent’s attack.

Some might wonder what’s so great about simply bending it. However, its utility was limitless.

‘For example, if you twist an enemy’s straight attack by just about 10 degrees, interesting things happen.’

The range was about 1 chi (25cm) based on the blade of the sword.

Rather than completely deflecting the force, it was merely a slight twist, but when used with swordsmanship, the opponent’s sword strike couldn’t reach Jin Cheonhee.

“Even among transcendent masters, you’d have an overwhelming technical advantage, so your desire to ‘subdue without killing’ would be possible, right?”

“Yes. As long as they’re alive, even with a limb flying off, they’re still alive.”

Jin Cheonhee nodded solemnly.

“Plus, it works incredibly well with the Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique.”

Using thought acceleration, Jin Cheonhee was bound to have a strategic advantage when exchanging offense and defense with an opponent. In scientific terms, having such a technically superior function would make it easier to neutralize the opponent.

Cheon-woo narrowed his eyes and grumbled.

“Brother, you have internal energy, thought acceleration, and technical superiority, so there’s practically no one who could beat you among transcendent masters.”

“That’s a good thing. It can bring peace through quick subjugation. Killing doesn’t suit my temperament.”

“Somehow, you seem more like a Taoist than actual Taoists, brother.”

“I said I wouldn’t kill, but I didn’t say I’d let them go.”

At those words, Cheon-woo burst into laughter.

“That’s why I say you’re more like a Taoist. Than someone like me.”

Instead of answering, Jin Cheonhee ruffled Cheon-woo’s hair.

“Don’t say things like that. Sometimes, to save a thousand people, you might have to kill one wicked person. There are no absolutes.”

Still, he didn’t want to get blood on his hands if possible.

For someone with a modern sensibility, unlike those who had lived in the martial world since childhood, killing was an incredibly heavy matter.

‘To avoid suffering from war PTSD in my old age, I should live moderately.’

The quality of life of villains wasn’t his concern, but shouldn’t he look after his own quality of life?

“By the way… it’s about time.”

Jin Cheonhee suddenly looked up at the sky.

Looking at the sky with the setting sun, Jin Cheonhee was reminded of a saying well-known in the martial world.

“You’re right. It’s already tomorrow.”

Cheon-woo answered with a slightly gloomy face.

Jin Cheonhee smiled seeing that expression.

“Those who meet must part, and those who part must meet again. No need to look so gloomy.”

“Those who meet must part, and those who part must meet again… It’s from the Lotus Sutra, isn’t it? But brother, that scripture doesn’t mention ‘when’.”

The Lotus Sutra. One of the Buddhist scriptures. The phrase originally represented the core Buddhist doctrine of reincarnation.

However, in the martial world, it was often used to describe fateful encounters. And such things actually happened frequently.

People in the martial world meet and part, but eventually meet again.

Even if it’s in the form of life and death.

“We each have our own lives, so it can’t be helped. Still, we know that we’re living healthily and well, so we should be satisfied with that.”

Cheon-woo frowned slightly with one eyebrow, looking a bit dissatisfied.

Seeing Cheon-woo’s expression, Jin Cheonhee smiled even more and picked up his sword.

“Well, since today is the last day. Shall we have one last sparring match with our Cheon-woo?”

Cheon-woo picked up his sword at that sight.

“Then, I’ll take you up on that offer, brother.”

“Good.”

Jin Cheonhee smiled and took his stance.

The sun is setting. The sky is red. Clouds are drifting.

Time doesn’t wait for people. The sun rises and sets, and life ultimately flows on.

In this sentimental mood, Jin Cheonhee recalled the events that had occurred on Mount Wudang.

He had gained a lot from coming to Mount Wudang.

He had gained a second master, learned Wudang’s martial arts, deepened his Dual Mind-Intention Technique, and even learned the fringes of the Taiji Wisdom Sword.

Though brief, it had been enjoyable, and he knew that someday he would long for this encounter.

So Jin Cheonhee extended his sword towards Cheon-woo standing opposite him.

After time passes. To remember this moment more fondly.

Chaeng.

The swords clashed.

Though they hadn’t sharpened the edges, being practice swords made of metal, they had the same weight as real swords.

These two swords danced in the air. The sword Jin Cheonhee extended flowed along the sword path of the Minor Clarity Sword Technique.

The sword path of the Taiqing Sword Technique is grand and bold.

Like that, the Minor Clarity Sword Technique also follows such a sword path, making the trajectory of the sword refreshing.

Although it might seem to make the sword path easy to read, the reason it’s recognized in the martial world is that unlike the sword, the body’s posture moves in a way that pressures the opponent’s movements.

Because swordsmanship isn’t just about moving the sword, the movement of the body is also determined along with the sword.

Its power is evident.

And when the swords of two people who had learned such Minor Clarity Sword Technique harmonized, their movements looked so beautiful that it seemed like a dance.

Jin Cheonhee moved by calculating the sword path with thought acceleration, and Cheon-woo followed with his ghostly intuition.

It was guidance.

Through sparring, Jin Cheonhee taught what he had analyzed about the Minor Clarity Sword Technique.

And Cheon-woo’s intuition quickly absorbed it.

As the dance-like movements continued, Jin Cheonhee saw a smile forming on Cheon-woo’s face.

Could learning martial arts be that enjoyable?

Although he was a martial arts maniac, for Jin Cheonhee, martial arts were something to be learned out of necessity.

What Cheon-woo was feeling was a sensation difficult for Jin Cheonhee to understand. But seeing Cheon-woo so happy made him very pleased as an older brother.

However, just as there’s a beginning to everything, there’s an end, and their dance-like harmony eventually came to an end.

Slowly, the movement of the swords slowed down and finally stopped.

“Haa… haa…”

“Well done. Your sword path itself is perfect. Plus, your improvisation and variations are excellent. You blocked very well even when I tried to shake you. You quickly grasped everything I wanted to teach you. Excellent.”

“You’re… exaggerating, brother. Haak… You’re… not even… phew… out of breath.”

“Well, my internal energy is robust. And despite appearances, I am a transcendent master after all.”

At Jin Cheonhee’s words, Cheon-woo took a deep breath and finally composed himself.

“Thank you for your teachings.”

“It’s nothing much.”

“No, it is. The debt I owe you… is immeasurable. You saved my life, after all. You were the one who recommended me to Wudang Sect.”

“Anyone else would have done the same if they saw your situation.”

“That’s not true. If anyone could have done it, there would be many people like me in this Wudang Sect.”

Jin Cheonhee smiled softly at Cheon-woo.

“No, Cheon-woo. You’ve just had too much bad luck until now.”

“……”

Cheon-woo shook his head again.

“When I was young, I thought every day that I might die next week, or the week after. When the children beat me, I sometimes slept in a dog house. Having no name means having no meaning. Having no meaning means having no value.”

To such a Cheon-woo, Jin Cheonhee was the only person who had saved his life, given him a name, and told him he had talent.

Cheon-woo habitually stroked his eye patch.

“I think it’s fortunate that I lost one eye. If I hadn’t had that disease, I wouldn’t have met you.”

“Cheon-woo.”

Despite Jin Cheonhee’s voice, Cheon-woo just smiled with a dejected expression.

“I can’t even imagine it now. My body has grown so much, and the scars from back then have almost all disappeared.”

“Yes, you’ve grown well. You’ve become handsome.”

“It’s all thanks to you, brother. Thanks to you grabbing and lifting me up back then.”

Cheon-woo lay down on the training ground and looked at the sunset.

He gazed at the sky, now almost devoid of red, with regret.

“I don’t want to part from you, brother.”

“I’ve already stayed too long.”

“I know.”

For people in the martial world, parting was always a common occurrence. Yet, it was never without regret.

As the sun completely set, Cheon-woo finally got up.

“Brother, how strong is that person called Yeo Ha-ryoon?”

“Hmm… extremely strong.”

“What if I were to master everything Wudang has to offer?”

“Then you’d be at least in the Profound Realm. Why? Why not say you’ll become the best under heaven?”

“Hahaha.”

Cheon-woo’s clear laughter filled the training ground.

“Actually, it doesn’t matter much whether anyone acknowledges it or not. In my heart, you’re my brother. Still, I’d really like to cross swords with that Yeo Ha-ryoon person.”

“……”

“Though you seem to dislike it very much.”

“……”

“It’s okay to postpone it. I can wait as long as it takes. Because I can wait.”

Cheon-woo murmured lowly with earnestness.

Jin Cheonhee said,

“Next time, I’ll send you a bigger scarf. I’ll write letters often too.”

“Yes, brother.”

They smiled and bumped fists.

Tak.

That’s how the parting came.

***

The next day at noon. Jin Cheonhee, after eating a late breakfast, started walking to leave Mount Wudang.

Cheon-woo followed Jin Cheonhee to Sword Testing Cliff to see him off.

“Ugh, it’s killing me to have to send you off like this.”

“We’ll be able to meet sooner next time.”

It had been years since they last met.

Once when they were young, and once after becoming adults by martial world standards.

When would the next time be?

It was natural to feel impatient.