Qi flows through the human body, and the paths through which it flows—the meridians—exist within everyone.
If qi is water, then meridians are waterways.
When the waterways are blocked, the water pools.
In the early stages of severed meridian syndrome, the pooled energy can sharpen the mind or heighten the senses, but stagnant water rots in the end.
The true qi pooling inside Jeong So-ryong's body was turning to poison.
"Severed meridian syndrome."
"H-how did you......"
"I thought there was something peculiar about him for his age. Let me try to calm the flare-up first."
"P-please!"
HUMMM!
Jin Cheong-un pushed his energy in and nibbled away at the wall of turbid qi.
WHOOOOSH.
A small opening bored through the meridian, and the pooled energy began to flow like a thin stream of water seeping through a crack.
"Hoo."
Jin Cheong-un withdrew his hand and smacked his lips. The taste of blood rose in the back of his throat.
'My body isn't what it used to be, and my hands moved before I could think.'
Meanwhile, Jeong So-so had been beside herself, and she finally could not hold back.
"Is he going to be okay?"
"For now."
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
Jeong So-so's eyes reddened as she bowed over and over.
"It's only a stopgap, so there's no need for that much gratitude."
"What?"
"It's progressed too far. At this rate, he'll probably......"
Her heart plummeted.
'That can't be!'
She wanted to deny it so badly, but the words would not leave her lips.
No improvement in his condition. Flare-ups growing more frequent.
How could she not know? She had known. She had known and looked away.
"How bad is it?"
Jeong So-so's voice trembled.
"Should I...... prepare myself for the worst?"
"No, it's not that bad."
"I've known, deep down. So please, just tell me the tru...... What?"
Jin Cheong-un replied matter-of-factly.
"It's an extremely rare condition, but there is a cure. No need to prepare for the worst."
Her expression flooded with confusion.
So right now, what he was saying was......
'Our So-ryong's illness can be cured?'
She cried out in a rush.
"Please! Please cure So-ryong!"
"Hm? Me?"
"I'll repay this debt however I can. Please!"
"Well, I do know the method, but it takes time and a lot of preparation......"
"Are you saying you can't do it?"
"No, that's not it, but."
Jin Cheong-un shifted his gaze with an uneasy look.
'Do I really have to?'
His body was not in great shape, and he had a mountain of things to do. Going through that ordeal for a child he had just met today was a bit......
'Yeah, I should introduce her to someone I know.'
Close your eyes and do it.
It was a pity, but he had his own problems to worry about.
But......
"Haa. Haa."
The rasping, labored breathing of Jeong So-ryong kept catching his eye.
Jin Cheong-un sighed.
'......Still, a kid being sick is just......'
Right. A kid being sick is just......
It would be a bit of a hassle, but if he took it slowly, there should be no problem.
But just then.
Jeong So-so, who had interpreted Jin Cheong-un's sigh quite differently, cried out in a panic.
"I'm begging you. Anything—I'll do truly anything if it's within my power!"
Jin Cheong-un paused.
"Anything?"
"Anything!"
Jeong So-so's eyes glistened with tears.
Jin Cheong-un seemed to radiate a divine glow.
She should never judge a person by first impressions.
Perhaps he was a benefactor sent by the heavens themselves, taking pity on the two siblings......
"Ah, then how about selling me the land deed?"
......Or perhaps not?
"Why is the conversation going in that direction......"
"Well, you said anything."
Jeong So-so narrowed her eyes with suspicion.
"You can cure him, can't you?"
"Of course."
"......Fine. If it means my brother's illness can be cured...... what couldn't I do?"
"Trust me."
Jin Cheong-un's demeanor changed in a flash, and he spoke with the utmost gravity in his eyes.
"I swear it. I will do everything in my power to cure your brother's illness."
"Ah, yes......"
Thrown by the sudden shift, Jeong So-so answered awkwardly—then a belated wave of dread crashed over her.
'Is this a scam?'
Could this man really cure the illness? Was he not just saying whatever came to mind?
'Can I really trust someone I just met today?'
Yet no one before him had identified the illness at a glance like this, nor calmed a flare-up in an instant. And her brother truly did look better right now than he had in a long time.
'Right, worst case, if it's a lie, I just don't sell. That's all.'
The property dispute conveniently gave her a reason to keep an eye on him from close quarters.
She was not trusting him.
She merely wanted to believe.
It had been...... so hard for so long.
"I'm sorry for being so rude today, in so many ways. I never imagined you might be a physician......"
Jeong So-so dipped her head.
But then.
"A physician?"
"......?"
"I never said I was a physician."
Jeong So-so blinked.
"You're not?"
"I've examined plenty of patients, but I'm no physician."
"If you're not a physician, how have you been examining patients?"
"Let's just say I was on the side of creating them rather than curing them...... Opposites attract, as they say, so you could call it roughly similar. Hm."
What kind of insanity is that?
The flash of indignation Jeong So-so felt was barely tamped down.
'L-let's just hear him out first.'
This was a rare illness that even physicians could not cure. Come to think of it, some physicians in the past had mentioned bringing in a martial arts expert from the martial world.
"If, um, I may ask just one thing."
"Of course."
"What kind of treatment would it be......?"
Jin Cheong-un answered as if it were nothing.
"There are several methods, but the best and most reliable one is simple."
Then, with a brimming look of confidence, he said.
"He just needs to learn martial arts."
"Martial arts......?"
"As it happens, I came to Yinghua Village to open a martial arts school. If he learns the martial arts I teach, toxins will be flushed from his body, his skin will clear up, his mind will sharpen—all sorts of benefits."
I've seen this somewhere before.
Those people who go from town to town peddling snake oil talked exactly like that.
"And this might be awkward for me to say myself, but I was actually a quite remarkable master back in the day, known only to those in the know."
"......"
"Have you heard of the Martial Arts Alliance? I sparred with the Alliance Leader himself, dined with him, did pretty much everything together. I'm that kind of capable person, so you can trust me. Something along those lines."
"......"
"Learning martial arts and getting your body healed, all from someone like me? Two birds with one stone—a once-in-a-lifetime, heaven-sent opportunity. Chances like this don't come around often."
"......"
Silence hung in the air.
Jeong So-so pressed her lips shut and sighed.
Then.
"Well, since it's best to have things in writing, shall we draw up a contract?"
"You......"
"Come to think of it, would he be student number one? In that case, I'll make a special exception on the tuition...... What's wrong?"
"You......"
Jin Cheong-un's relentless pitch had set her face ablaze, as red as if it might burst at any moment.
"You swindler!!"
She finally erupted.
***
The next day.
Stepping out onto the street early in the morning, Jin Cheong-un glanced over his shoulder.
"Why do you keep following me?"
Jeong So-so flinched and smiled awkwardly.
"I-I thought you might need a guide......"
"......"
The previous night.
After a calm conversation, Jeong So-so had been able to clear up the misunderstanding.
Of course, it took about an hour, and there was a minor commotion, but it was a calm conversation all the same—she thought.
She did feel a bit wronged, if she were being honest.
'Anyone would've thought he was a swindler.'
Still, the fact that he had not said much about her apology suggested he might be a surprisingly broad-minded person......
"A swindler?"
"......"
"I don't know what's so great about a swindler that you'd follow one around. What if you get stabbed in the back?"
Never mind.
He held grudges.
"I said I was sorry......"
"I heard you. Now go on and get to work. As if I'd get lost in my own hometown."
"But you said it's been ages since you came back. What if you wander around lost? Let me show you around to make up for it! No—please let me!!"
Jin Cheong-un whipped his head away without a word.
'He says that, but I think he's gotten over it......?'
Jeong So-so was privately relieved.
There had been a small misunderstanding, yes, but he truly did not seem like a bad person.
That very morning, he had risen at the crack of dawn to check on her brother.
Perhaps he really was someone she could trust.
"Ask me anything! There's nothing about Yinghua Village I don't know!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Of course!"
"Then is there a place that sells liquor around here?"
Jeong So-so hesitated.
"......That inn over there should be open at this hour, but why do you ask about liquor......"
Before she could finish, Jin Cheong-un was already there and back with two bottles.
GLUG, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG.
"Ahh, now that's good liquor."
"......"
"So this is what daytime drinking tastes like. I can't believe I've been missing out......"
Whether she could trust him might need a bit more observation.
The two walked in silence for a moment.
Watching Jin Cheong-un from the corner of her eye, Jeong So-so cautiously spoke up.
"I was surprised to hear you came here to open a martial arts school."
"Why?"
"The thing is...... I used to attend a martial arts school myself. Our family even ran one, later on."
A wistful expression crossed Jeong So-so's face.
The memories were so old they were nearly hazy, but thinking of those days still brought nothing but happiness.
"Used to?"
"All the students left when I was very little. My father, who had been a student there, stayed behind and kept the school going, but......"
Her expression clouded at that point before she brightened again and continued.
"Anyway, it's been closed for a while now. I just go in and clean it from time to time."
"......"
"But someday, once I've paid off all the debts and So-ryong gets better...... I'll revive that school."
Jeong So-so clenched her fist tight.
"Technically, it's never been officially closed. It just doesn't have any students."
"Hm."
"What is it?"
"If there are no students, isn't that just closed?"
"That's not......"
Jeong So-so's mouth hung open, lost for words.
Meanwhile, Jin Cheong-un's eyes had narrowed.
'She's in the same trade.'
He had found it strange that two children were living in the house alone, but there was a story behind it, it seemed.
"That must be why you studied external arts."
"So you did know."
Jeong So-so let out a wry smile.
"I barely remember, but...... I was three? Four? I learned from the students who were there before the school went under. They all doted on me."
"Hmm."
When Jin Cheong-un wore a disinterested expression, Jeong So-so glanced at him.
"What is it?"
"Your family's in a bad way, and at such a young age you're clinging to one childhood memory to keep a school alive—I'm wondering if there's some other reason."
Jeong So-so answered without hesitation.
"It's my school."
"......"
"Do I need another reason?"
Jin Cheong-un was momentarily speechless.
Because it was her school.
Yes, that alone was reason enough.
"I believe it. I believe the people who left will come back someday. And even if they don't, I'll find a way to rebuild it with my own hands."
Her voice was unwavering, far beyond her years. But a bitter expression soon followed.
"It's a bit funny, isn't it? The household's falling apart, I barely know any martial arts, and yet I'm going to revive a school."
Saying that, Jeong So-so turned to look at Jin Cheong-un—and stopped.
What she saw was Jin Cheong-un wearing a look of sincerity she had never seen from him before.
"I'm in a similar boat, so it's hardly funny."
"What?"
"I came here trying to revive a ruined school too. You're better than I am. I threw all of that away and lived my life."
Hearing the unreadable regret woven through his words, Jeong So-so fell silent.
'What kind of story does he have?'
So the school he said he was opening was not a new one, but one he was bringing back?
Was this what they called the fellowship of shared misfortune? Suddenly he felt familiar, like someone she had known for years.
Jeong So-so gave a bashful grin.
"Now that I look at it, we have a surprising amount in common."
"You can say that again."
From losing their homes and land to the martial arts school—how could there be so many parallels?
Jin Cheong-un and Jeong So-so both chuckled.
"......"
"......"
And almost at the same time, they clamped their mouths shut.
In that moment, both were thinking the exact same thing.
'But...... isn't this a little too similar?'
A short while later.
The two stood before a fork in the road.
"There used to be just one path here......?"
"See? I told you you'd need a guide. Just tell me roughly what you remember and I'll point you the right way."
"It was near the top of a slope, I think, and there was a path that led to the cliffs behind the mountain...... Ah, and I think there was an inn just a bit further out."
Jeong So-so paused.
"......The cliffs behind the mountain?"
"What is it?"
"N-nothing. If it's that direction, it should be this way."
Following Jeong So-so's lead, Jin Cheong-un soon found his bearings.
"Ah. I know where I am from here."
From that point on, Jin Cheong-un strode ahead with long, confident steps.
But at the sight of him, Jeong So-so grew visibly flustered.
"W-wait. Why are you going that way?"
Jin Cheong-un tilted his head.
"Why am I going that way? What do you mean?"
"N-no, it's just......"
Jeong So-so said, deeply shaken.
"Down this road...... is where our school is."
"......?"