The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Namgoong Hwan felt his respect for Yeon Woo Jin growing more and more with each passing moment.
His medical skills were extraordinary, his martial arts were formidable, and he seemed to possess exceptional intelligence.
And the more they conversed, the more Namgoong Hwan could sense the staggering depth of Woo Jin’s knowledge.

As expected of a man from Mushincheon.
While marveling at Yeon Woo Jin, a sudden memory surfaced—the Creation Elixir he had given out for sampling.
News had come from the subordinates who had gone out to sell it.

The response, they said, was explosive.
There was chaos now, with people offering extra gold just to get their hands on it.
Namgoong Hwan relayed the news to Yeon Woo Jin.

“Oh, right! Word just came in—the entire batch of Creation Elixir you gave us has sold out.”
“Is that so? That’s good to hear.”
“Of course it sold out. People started paying extra just to buy it, and the profit turned out to be enormous.”
“That’s certainly good news.”

Yeon Woo Jin smiled with visible delight, and Namgoong Hwan felt happy as well.
It felt like he’d finally managed to repay his benefactor, if only a little.
“I’ll have to make more when we return.”

“I believe you should. I’ll make sure to settle accounts as soon as we’re back.”
Yeon Woo Jin gave a small nod.
“Then shall we head back quickly?”

“Yes!”
 
****

Creation Elixir .
It was the pill currently shaking the entirety of the Central Plains.
A universal spiritual elixir effective for any type of internal energy.

What drew the most enthusiasm was the fact that, before being sold, a sample the size of a pinky nail was offered for tasting.
Martial artists who tasted the sample immediately realized just how extraordinary this elixir was and tried to purchase as much as they possibly could.
But the Changcheon Trading Group had limited sales to two per sect, making that impossible.

The problem was that even with the two-per-sect limit, only fifty sects were able to make a purchase, leaving many others desperate.
Had they never experienced its effects firsthand, they might have let it go. But now that they knew...
Eventually, some even offered more money to persuade others to sell to them instead, and the price of the elixir soared from ten gold taels to thirty.
Once the entire batch of Creation Elixir sold out in a flash, the sects that failed to purchase any began pleading to reserve future batches, placing deposits in advance.

Even those who tried to buy from sects that had succeeded found it impossible to track down who had acquired them.
This was because Changcheon Trading Group delivered the elixirs in strict secrecy.
The reason was simple: to prevent conflict.

A powerful sect could target a weaker one just to seize the elixirs.
If that happened, the martial world would descend into chaos.
To prevent this, the elixirs were sold under the utmost confidentiality.

Naturally, those who failed to buy Creation Elixir began searching for the one who had created it.
So they could bring that person into their own sect.
Although Changcheon Trading Group kept everything strictly secret, countless sects were attempting to identify the creator.

Among them was the Imperial Sword Sect.
Their reason for seeking the creator of the Creation Elixir was not merely to obtain the elixir.
It was to restore their long-lost divine pill, the Universal Heaven Elixir .

They believed that whoever had created the Creation Elixir would be fully capable of recreating the Universal Heaven Elixir.
Thus, they began gathering every scrap of information regarding Changcheon Trading Group’s recent activities.
What they focused on most were the servants of the Trading Group.

Large-scale information was out of reach anyway, so they aimed to gather even the smallest of clues from the low-ranking staff.
The fragments of information they gathered, when viewed individually, amounted to little more than trivial chatter.
But Sect Leader Jeong So Hong of the Imperial Sword Sect didn’t dismiss any of it.

“Sect Leader, aren’t we just wasting money and effort? Other sects are also searching far and wide for the creator of the elixir, but no one has uncovered a single piece of solid information. Meanwhile, we’re collecting gossip from servants.”
His steward, clearly frustrated, voiced his concern.
“Chief Steward, sometimes it’s those very small clues that lead to the answers.”
He was always like this.

“And what if we do find them? What if the person refuses to help us? Isn’t that why they’re selling in secret through the Changcheon Trading Group in the first place?”
“Then we must ask sincerely. If we approach them with true heart, they may respond.”
The steward understood.

He knew well just how much effort the Sect Leader had invested in trying to restore the declining Imperial Sword Sect.
But with their financial state being what it was, it was frustrating to see money continually spent in vain.
Wouldn’t it be better to use that money to buy Creation Elixir and invest in the promising youths who would lead the sect’s future?

Still, knowing his words would fall on deaf ears, the steward simply cut costs wherever he could and tried to keep the sect afloat.
Jeong So Hong, too, understood the steward’s thoughts.
But he couldn’t let this go.

To rebuild the sect, he needed the Universal Heaven Elixir.
He had even tasted one of the smaller elixirs provided by Changcheon Trading Group.
And he had been stunned.

It radiated an energy uncannily similar to that of the Universal Heaven Elixir.
Whoever this person was, he was convinced they could recreate it.
But first, he had to find them.

Placing a hand on his forehead, Jeong So Hong began reviewing the information he had compiled so far.
Then his eyes stopped on a piece of data he had previously dismissed.
“A once-abandoned manor has finally found a new owner...”

He stared blankly at that line, then shot up from his seat.
Rummaging through his papers again, he searched for anything about that manor.
There was nothing.

This was it.
Why had he overlooked this until now?
If he went there, he was certain he would find a real clue.

Clenching his fist tightly, Jeong So Hong hurried outside.
 
****

Jeong So Hong arrived at the gates of Sincheonjang.
“What brings you here, sir?”
“I am Jeong So Hong, Sect Leader of the Imperial Sword Sect. I wish to see the Master of /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Sincheonjang.”

“Do you have an appointment with the Master?”
“No. I came unannounced.”
“In that case, I’m afraid it will be difficult. The Master does not meet with outsiders. I apologize.”

The guards standing at the gate bowed respectfully to Jeong So Hong.
The fact that a sect leader was treating mere gatekeepers with such courtesy left them with a good impression of him.
But there was nothing they could do.

“No need to apologize. I understand. I was in the wrong for coming without notice. Then, may I wait out front until the Master comes out?”
“And how will you know who the Master is when you see them?”
“I won’t. But if I’m waiting here, perhaps someone will at least ask why.”

The guards nodded at his words.
“Then please do as you wish. Though it may be rather uncomfortable.”
“Haha! I did a fair bit of sleeping rough in my youth. I’ll trouble you for a short while.”

With that, he settled down to the side, placing his hands respectfully together, and began his silent wait.
 
****

Time passed just like that.
It was the day Yeon Woo Jin was returning from Sword Hall.
“What are you talking about? Someone’s been standing and waiting for me all day?”

That was the news he heard on the way back.
Someone had been standing in front of the main gate all day, waiting for him, and left only in the evening.
“The Sect Leader of the Imperial Sword Sect?”

“The Sect Leader of the Imperial Sword Sect has been standing out there all day waiting for you?”
Namgoong Hwan, who was walking beside him, looked stunned.
“The Imperial Sword Sect was once a famed sword sect that rivaled our own Namgoong Clan. Though they’ve declined now, they’re still a renowned sect. And the Sect Leader himself came and waited all day? He must’ve figured out your identity, Benefactor.”

“It’s the Creation Elixir, isn’t it?”
“My apologies. I gave strict orders to maintain secrecy, but it seems word must’ve leaked somehow.”
Yeon Woo Jin shook his head.

“I don’t think the secret was leaked. If it truly had been, there wouldn’t be just one man standing outside.”
He was right.
If the secret had gotten out, the area in front of Sincheonjang would be flooded with people, like a marketplace in chaos.

“He seems like a rather capable man.”
Yeon Woo Jin had a particular fondness for talent.
A gleam sparked in his eyes.

“Well then, shall we go meet this remarkable fellow?”
A smile tugged at his lips, brimming with anticipation.
 

****
Once again, like a stone awaiting its master, Jeong So Hong stood in front of the gate, hands politely folded, waiting in silence.
Even in foul weather, he never missed a day—always standing there, waiting.

The guards who saw him daily genuinely wanted to help, to connect him with their Master.
But Yeon Woo Jin was not currently present at Sincheonjang.
So no matter how long he waited, it would be in vain.

Still, they couldn’t tell him that the Master was absent.
That, too, was a strict secret.
All they could do was watch him in silent sympathy.

Then it happened.
From the distance, they spotted the figure of their Master, Yeon Woo Jin.
Should they announce it?

Or pretend not to know?
As they hesitated in confusion, Yeon Woo Jin began walking toward Jeong So Hong.
Standing before him, he asked calmly,

“And who might you be, waiting here like this?”
At his question, Jeong So Hong bowed deeply and replied with solemn grace,
“I am Jeong So Hong, Sect Leader of the Imperial Sword Sect. I have been waiting here in hopes of meeting the Master of Sincheonjang.”

“Well now, what sort of person is this Master of Sincheonjang, to leave someone standing outside like this?”
Jeong So Hong shook his head and said firmly,
“Please do not speak carelessly. The Master of Sincheonjang bears no fault in this. I am here entirely of my own volition. It was thoughtless of me. I failed to consider that simply standing here might cause trouble for Sincheonjang. Thank you for awakening this fool to that fact.”

And with that, he quietly moved to a corner, finding a place out of sight.
Yeon Woo Jin chuckled softly at the sight.
They hadn’t exchanged many words, but this didn’t seem like a bad man.

Stepping closer, Yeon Woo Jin asked,
“And why do you wish to meet the Master of Sincheonjang?”
“It’s a personal matter.”

“Would you tell me? I happen to be somewhat acquainted with the Master of Sincheonjang.”
Jeong So Hong smiled and shook his head.
“I appreciate your kindness, but I must decline.”

“And if the Master of Sincheonjang never agrees to meet you? Will you continue waiting here like this?”
“Yes. Only he can fulfill the longstanding wish of my clan.”
“A longstanding wish?”

“I’m sorry. I cannot say more.”
“You certainly know how to make a man curious.”
Jeong So Hong smiled.

“Very well. Let’s go inside and talk.”
“…Pardon?”
When Jeong So Hong looked surprised, Yeon Woo Jin grinned and said,

“I’m the Master of Sincheonjang. When I heard someone was waiting for me, I came out to see who it was.”
Even at his words, Jeong So Hong hesitated.
“You mean to tell me… you’ve been waiting for the Master of Sincheonjang while not even realizing you were speaking to him just now?”

“Th-That… Is it true?”
“It is. Now come along.”
Yeon Woo Jin smiled and turned to lead the way, and Jeong So Hong followed behind, flustered but obedient.

Yeon Woo Jin walked confidently through the main gates of Sincheonjang.
And at once, the guards standing at the entrance saluted him in unison.
“Master! You’ve returned!”

“Welcome back, Master!”
The word “Master” clearly rang from the mouths of the guards.
There was no doubt.

The young man standing before him truly was the Master of Sincheonjang.
Jeong So Hong was stunned.
So young, and already the head of a major force?

He was no ordinary man.
The anxiety that had clouded Jeong So Hong’s face bloomed now into quiet hope.
 

****
Jeong So Hong had finally achieved what he’d so desperately sought: a private audience with the Master of Sincheonjang.
“Now then, shall we hear what brought you here?”

At Yeon Woo Jin’s question, Jeong So Hong rose from his seat and bowed deeply as he made his request.
“I have a sincere plea to make, Master.”
“You say that as if you know who I am. Do you truly have a request to make of me?”

“The Creation Elixir! Was it not made by you, Master?”
“Oh? And what makes you think that?”
“In truth, I did not come here with absolute certainty. I came here based on one small clue.”

“A small clue?”
“Yes. The rumor that a vacant manor near the Namgoong Clan was recently sold.”