The Martial God with Psychic Powers

The sound of laughter, growing louder and louder, as if he’d lost his mind.

“Kuahahahaha!”
At the same time, a sinister energy began to surge and swirl from the body of the council physician.
“Kukuku. I said I’d kill you without pain…”

“You bastard! Y-You’ve been cultivating martial arts?!”
“That’s right. Why? Is there a law that says I can’t cultivate?”
“What the hell are you scheming?”

“I did all this for you.”
“What?”
“To make you happy. And to make the Sword Pavilion even greater. Yet you can’t even appreciate that, and now you say you’ll kill me without pain. I’m hurt.”

“What nonsense is this!”
Whooong—
The energy rippling off the physician’s body thickened, surging outward in all directions.
“I was so close to finishing everything… Who the hell treated you?”

“Our Nanhyang brought back a divine physician from outside—someone whose medical skill touches the heavens.”
“A divine physician? When…? Don’t tell me—was it during that time when no one was allowed to approach you?”
“That’s right.”

“Damn it! My complacency ruined everything!”
The physician’s eyes darted back and forth.
He was searching for that so-called physician.

But he couldn’t see him.
Of course—there was no reason he’d have come here with them.
What now?

Facing both Yeo Hwarin and Baek Nanhyang at full recovery was far too risky.
Tsk. It’s a shame… but there’s no choice.
He had absolutely no intention of dying here.

Even if he had to sacrifice the children he’d painstakingly raised, he would escape this place.
The council physician sent a sound transmission to his subordinates.
—Take those two down first. When I make my move, attack them both at once.

Then, without hesitation, he drew hidden weapons and hurled them toward Yeo Hwarin and Baek Nanhyang.
Pipiping—!
The throwing needles sliced through the air, and at the same moment, the physician’s subordinates all charged at once.
Tititing—!

“Khuk!”
The force behind the slender projectiles was no joke.
Just when had they grown so powerful?

First, she needed to deal with the attackers swarming in.
Yeo Hwarin’s sword began to move swiftly.
As she slashed through the ones rushing at her like moths to flame, her eyes searched for the council physician.

These were bait.
He would attack through a gap in the defense.
But she couldn’t sense his presence.

“That filthy rat! He threw these children at us and ran!”
That someone calling himself a physician could pull something like this—
It was utterly unforgivable.

“Nanhyang! You hold things down here! I’m going after that council bastard!”
“Yes!”
Baek Nanhyang, convinced that Yeo Hwarin wouldn’t lose to the council physician, replied boldly and cut down the physician’s underlings.

Ta-at—
Whiirik—
Yeo Hwarin launched herself off the ground, soaring high into the sky.
She glanced around quickly, then spotted the council physician fleeing in the distance.

Paaang—!
Stepping into midair, Yeo Hwarin hurtled herself in the direction of his escape.
 

****
Shuaaak—
The sound of the air being sliced caused the fleeing council physician to whip his head around—only to flinch and dive sideways in alarm.

Kwa-kwa-kwang—!
A powerful explosion erupted where he had just been, gouging the earth apart.
Flutter— Flutter—

Yeo Hwarin descended slowly through the sky.
Seeing her, the council physician let out a smirk.
“I knew you’d follow me, but I didn’t think you’d catch up this fast.”

His posture was as if he’d lured her here on purpose—to a place devoid of people.
“Did you pretend to flee just to lure me out here?”
At her words, the physician chuckled.

“No matter how strong I’ve become, I can’t face both you and Baek Nanhyang at the same time.”
Yeo Hwarin’s brows twitched at his response.
“What are you saying? That you could win if Nanhyang wasn’t here?”

“Exactly.”
The council physician answered with pride, and Yeo Hwarin recalled the ominous energy she had sensed from him earlier.
It wasn’t something to take lightly.

The physician shrugged.
“Shouldn’t have said that, huh? I just made you even more fired up.”
“Why are you doing this?”

To her question, he responded,
“Because I want you.”
“…What?”

“And here and now, I’m going to subdue you and take you with me.”
“You think that’s possible?”
“Who knows? Let’s find out.”

Pipiping—
The council physician spat out needles like hidden weapons, aiming them straight at Yeo Hwarin.
Kakakang—!

Though they were thin as hair, the impact they made on her blade was considerable.
That alone was enough to tell just how far his martial arts had progressed.
When had he grown so powerful?

And how had she failed to notice?
“What martial art is that?”
“Kukuku. Curious? Try and guess.”

“Fine! I’ll start by slicing off your legs so you can’t run!”
Like a water snake gliding through a stream, her sword shimmered and shot straight for his legs.
Drdrdrk—

At that moment, the ground heaved up, blocking her sword path.
Puh-puh-puhk—!
Not only did it block her attack—it exploded.

The shards burst toward Yeo Hwarin.
Tatatatang—!
“Khuk!”

Just fragments—yet the impact was tremendous.
That meant he’d imbued each shard with powerful energy.
And he wasn’t done yet.

Drdrdrk—
Nearby rocks began to tremble, then shot toward her as well.
Whooong—

Sseog—
Yeo Hwarin sliced through the flying rocks, sending a wave of sword energy back at the council physician.
Shugak—!

Tititing—!
She saw something invisible blocking her sword strike.
Focusing her eyes, she caught sight of thin threads.

Threads had blocked her sword energy?
Wait—what martial art uses threads?
As she racked her brain, she heard the faint sound of threads slicing through the air.

Lifting rocks and tearing up the ground had all been to launch those threads at her.
“Hmph! Threads? I’ll cut right through them!”
Wung-wung—

Her sword glowed red.
Then she unleashed a crimson wave of energy toward the council physician.
“Blood-Slaying Heavensteel (Jeoksal Cheongang)!”

It was the strongest form of energy projection, one only a Hwagyeong-level master could perform.
The council physician swiftly wove the threads between his fingers, layering them.
He coiled the oncoming energy strike in a net of thread, then flung it back at her.

“Hahaha! Here—take it back!”
The attack she had just unleashed was now coming right back at her.
Taaang—!

After parrying her own sword energy, Yeo Hwarin stared at the council physician in disbelief.
With just that one move, she realized what martial art he’d learned.
“N-No way… is that the Silken Conversion Canon?”

“Keukekeu. Correct.”
“W-Where did you get that?!”
“I was out gathering herbs when I stumbled upon a hidden cave. It just so happened to house a martial art that suits someone without… male essence.”

The council physician spoke as he looked straight at Yeo Hwarin.
“And it’s a technique that directly counters your Nine Heavens Divine Sword (Gucheon Singeom). Now you understand, don’t you? Why you can’t beat me. No matter how much you attack, you won’t land a decisive blow.”
So that was it.

That was why he had neutralized her attacks so easily?
Unable to believe it, Yeo Hwarin lunged again.
Her sword filled the skies, every afterimage a real, lethal strike.

“Keukuk! Still in denial? Then allow me to show you.”
Gugugung—
A tremendous surge of energy exploded from the physician’s body, forming a barrier of qi that blocked all of Yeo Hwarin’s attacks in an instant.

Ttodeodeodeong—!
At the same time, a barrage of needles came flying toward her.
Kakakang—!

Puff—!
She tried to block them, but there were far too many.
In the end, several needles pierced Yeo Hwarin’s body.

Clenching her teeth against the pain, she tried to strike again.
But her qi refused to gather.
“Really now. Did you forget I used to be a physician?”

The council physician grinned and began walking slowly toward her.
Seeing her flustered expression only delighted him more.
“My, my. Even your panic-stricken face is lovely.”

“Don’t come any closer!”
“Keukekeu. No can do.”
So this was the end?

She thought she’d done her best without arrogance—but it seemed a sliver of pride had still crept in without her knowing.
“My, my. You’re trembling in fear. How pitiful.”
His voice was strange—a blend of both a man’s and a woman’s tone, twisted and unnatural.

“Don’t worry. I won’t ruin the Sword Pavilion you so love and cherish. Keukekeu. Only the pavilion master will change. The spirit of the Sword Pavilion will carry on, so there’s no need to fret.”
“Only a woman can be the Pavilion Master!”
“Keukekeu. No, no. I suppose I shouldn’t laugh so menacingly anymore. Hohoho! No need to worry. I’ll soon become a woman.”

So the legend was true—those who mastered the Silken Conversion Canon (Gyuhwa Bojeon) became women?
It was revolting.
The way he looked at her—disgusting.

Paat—!
She yanked the needles out of her body and tried to force her energy to rise again—but it was no use.
“Even if you somehow restore your qi, you can’t defeat me. My cultivation is at the Fifth Star of the Hwagyeong level. My technique counters yours, and I’m stronger than you. You never stood a chance to begin with.”

“How could you grow this powerful so quickly?”
“There was a Divine Pill where the Silken Canon was hidden. I’m a physician, after all—I understood its effects perfectly and absorbed it with meticulous care. That allowed me to take in all of its energy, and now… here I am.”
The council physician stepped up to her.

And leaned in close.
“Now, be obedient. If you do, I’ll treat you with honor—as the Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion.”
“Ptooey! You really think I’d follow the likes of you?!”

“Keukeu… no, no—Hohoho! Your spit is no different from holy water to me. Spitting on my face? That’s like giving me a blessing.”
“You sick bastard!”
What kind of perverted freak was this?

“Don’t worry. You’ll be mine soon enough. I’ll always keep you happy.”
Papapat—
In a flash, the physician sealed her acupoints.

“Keukeu… hohoho! Now, back to the Sword Pavilion. Time to make it fully mine.”
The moment he reached out to touch her—
“…What the hell? Is that a woman or a man?”

A strange man’s voice.
The council physician frowned and turned his head.
There stood a tall, striking man, looking at him with an expression like he’d just witnessed something grotesque.

“What? You got a death wish?”
“You… are you a man or a woman?”
“That’s your final question before you die?”

“It’s not a final question. Just curiosity.”
At that moment, Yeo Hwarin shouted out:
“Run! He’s strong!”

The physician’s face twisted into something monstrous.
“What? You know this guy? Were you seeing a man behind my back?”
He glared at the man, eyes burning with jealousy.

The man chuckled.
“So what if she was? I’ve already touched her body.”
With that, killing intent erupted from the council physician’s body.

“You just… made a fatal mistake. I’ll make you beg me to kill you, and then I’ll ask again what you mean to her.”
“Will you, though?”
Piping—

Rather than answering, the physician launched a needle.
Papat—!
The man caught it effortlessly.

Then examined it and said,
“A Wolli Needle. Something meant to heal lives—used as a weapon? You’re too far gone.”
“So it’s you… the so-called divine physician who treated my Hwarin.”

The moment he recognized the type of needle, the physician realized the man’s identity.
That man was none other than Yeon Woo Jin.
“Did you think I only treated her? I’m the one who proposed the trap that lured you out.”

Grrrk—! “Fine! I’ve always been curious about human anatomy. Let me dissect you thoroughly.”
Papat—!
In that instant, Yeo Hwarin lunged from behind and grabbed the physician.

“What?! I sealed your acupoints!”
Yeo Hwarin gritted her teeth and clung tightly to him.
“Run! Now!”

Her resistance made the physician’s expression go cold.
“Tsk tsk. That’s troublesome. Don’t keep provoking me.”
Papat—

He sealed her acupoints again and gently sat her down off to the side.
Even now, he handled her with disturbing tenderness, and Woo Jin couldn’t help but click his tongue.
“You really do care for her, don’t you?”

At °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° that, the council physician gave a soft laugh.
“Of course I do. I’ve never been anything but sincere. Why do you think I cut off my manhood and joined the Sword Pavilion? It was all so I could stay by her side.”