06

#6 “You Want to Be Stabbed or Poked?”

In front of the Yoo-ha Pavilion of the Iron-Sick Cheol Family,
Doctor Yun Nok-san sighed deeply and shook his head.

“Go back.”

Yun Nok-san was short and scrawny, with a wiry beard that made him look like an irritable old man. Despite his unimpressive appearance, his sharp eyes told a different story. He glanced at the elderly woman and her young maid, shaking his head again.

“You must have known this wouldn’t work before coming here.”

“It won’t work,” the maid blurted out before the elderly woman could speak. She stepped forward, straightening her tattered maid’s uniform as she looked up at the doctor.

Unfortunately, her round, dumpling-like face lacked any real intimidation. Still, the boldness of a child barely reaching his chest startled Yun Nok-san.

“The Young Master ordered you to treat our grandmother properly!”

“The Young Master? You mean Cheol Gun-ak?”

For a moment, the elderly woman’s eyebrows twitched. Hearing the doctor casually call the Young Master by name irritated her.

But once again, the young maid was quicker. She thrust forward a pair of chopsticks she’d been clutching tightly.

“Watch your words carefully. The Young Master is extremely scary, you know.”

“Scary? What nonsense! Everyone knows he’s just a spineless heir that even the Patriarch ignores─”

Yun Nok-san frowned as he spoke dismissively—until he noticed something on the tip of the chopstick.

He reached out to touch it and felt a sticky residue. Fresh blood, no older than an hour. Judging by the marks on the chopstick, it had been stabbed into someone’s body and then pulled out.

“The Young Master said if Grandmother’s face scars, he’ll stick chopsticks into every hole in your body.”

“……”

“So please hurry and treat our grandmother’s face!”

Yun Nok-san blinked.

He knew all too well how passive Cheol Gun-ak usually was. Unlike Second Young Master Cheol Wi-gyeok, who trained obsessively, or Third Young Master Cheol Wi-gyeok, who occasionally visited, the eldest son had never set foot in the Yoo-ha Pavilion.

Believing that Cheol Gun-ak would send such a chilling threat seemed impossible. But survival instincts kicked in. Reluctantly, he examined the elderly woman’s wound.

“……”

Yun Nok-san dreaded being dragged off to the Extreme North. That’s why he chose to become a doctor instead of a martial artist—he thought it would keep him safe. Managing the Peerless Armory’s infirmary had seemed like a peaceful retirement. If he’d known he’d get caught up in the Cheol Family’s power struggles, he would’ve fled long ago.

Still, he wasn’t cunning enough to abandon his duties as a doctor. After carefully inspecting the wound, he sighed deeply.

“If left untreated, this will definitely fester badly.”

“……”

“I don’t know who did this, but let me be blunt. Right now, Lady Yi and her two sons hold all the power in the Cheol Family.”

It was undeniable. Especially since Second Young Master Cheol Wi-gyeok became the youngest squad leader of the Green Flame Squad, Lady Yi Myeong-hwa’s influence soared. Even the Patriarch treated her and her sons favorably while ignoring the eldest son entirely. Other family members followed suit, tiptoeing around them.

“I don’t want to get on their bad side.”

Yun Nok-san shook his head repeatedly.

Lady Yi Myeong-hwa, originally from the Golden Nine Pavilion, was relentless and meticulous—a true terror. Her sons at least pretended to be respectable martial artists, but Lady Yi herself was notorious for digging into even the smallest details.

If the elderly woman’s life were truly in danger, Yun Nok-san might have intervened. But this wound? He didn’t want to risk drawing Lady Yi’s ire.

“I’ll give you some medicine and ointment. It should prevent further infection.”

“…Thank you.”

The elderly woman bowed her head.

But the young maid, oblivious to the situation, tugged at her sleeve.

“Grandma! The Young Master said there shouldn’t be even a single scar!”

The elderly woman patted the maid’s head gently and shook her own.

“The doctors here have their own difficulties. Besides, we don’t want to interfere with the Young Master’s plans.”

“But…”

The maid stared at the elderly woman’s wound. Though shallow, it had already turned slightly purple—an ominous sign. And no matter how old she was, a woman’s face was still precious. The maid didn’t want to see such a large cut leave a scar.

Yun Nok-san felt the same way, so he sighed heavily.

“I’ll do my best to minimize the scarring.”

“Thank you.”

“Just don’t tell anyone I helped you─”

Whoosh—.

A gust of wind interrupted him. Both the elderly woman and the maid’s eyes widened.

“Young Master!”

It was Cheol Gun-ak. His clothes were torn to shreds, soaked with blood from countless cuts. He looked like he’d just returned from a battlefield.

“Do you want to be stabbed or poked?”

Creak—.

Cheol Gun-ak pressed a chopstick against Yun Nok-san’s throat.

“Heal my grandmother’s face properly.”

It was the same chopstick that had been pressing down on Lady Yi Myeong-hwa’s lifeline earlier. Trembling, Yun Nok-san couldn’t help but ask:

“Are you really the Young Master?”

Yun Nok-san blinked several times. This wasn’t the weak, slouching Cheol Gun-ak he knew. This man radiated menace, like a demon freshly escaped from hell.

“My grandmother’s wound is getting worse.”

“…That’s…”

“So I’ll say it one more time.”

The tip of the chopstick dug into Yun Nok-san’s skin. As a doctor, he instinctively knew that just a little more pressure would draw his own blood.

“Do you want to live or die?”

—

### Inside the Infirmary

The elderly woman sat patiently while Yun Nok-san worked.

“It’s going to hurt a lot. If you flinch, dirt might get pushed deeper inside. Stay as still as possible.”

Listening to this, Cheol Gun-ak asked:

“No anesthesia?”

“That weakens blood flow. To prevent scarring, we need to clean the wound thoroughly. Lying down isn’t an option either.”

Yun Nok-san dabbed white powder onto a cloth and carefully pressed it against the elderly woman’s wound. Surprisingly, black gunk began oozing out along with red blood.

The elderly woman didn’t flinch once. Her calm demeanor reminded Cheol Gun-ak of Guan Yu playing chess while Hua Tuo treated his arm.

‘Was Grandma always this strong?’

Leaning against a pillar, Cheol Gun-ak crossed his arms, gripping the chopstick tightly in his right hand. Most of the sweat trickling down Yun Nok-san’s neck was because of him.

‘I really was just a clueless kid.’

With that thought, Cheol Gun-ak opened his left palm. Resting there was the glowing fragment of the Zhongyuan Seven Treasures, the Time-Reversing Jade Seal.

At first, he’d thought of it only as a tool to stop the Dark Emperor’s resurrection. But living through time reversal had shown him how unfamiliar everything felt. He’d assumed he’d ace life the second time around, but reality proved far tougher.

Grip—.

Cheol Gun-ak clenched the glowing jade seal. His dark eyes shifted between the elderly woman and the maid.

‘But not anymore.’

Starting with removing the scar from Grandma’s face, he’d dismantle Lady Yi Myeong-hwa, the Golden Nine Pavilion, and the Green Flame Squad.

Though the Northern Heavens appeared strong on the surface, its rapid collapse during his past life suggested it was already riddled with spies from the Dark Emperor Sect.

‘Before the Dark Emperor ascends, I’ll stop him here.’

As Cheol Gun-ak quietly planned his next moves, Yun Nok-san stood up.

“I’ve removed all the impurities from the wound.”

He tilted the basin in front of him. Floating in the water were red, white, and black substances extracted from the elderly woman’s wound.

“I’ll also give you ointments and medicine. With consistent use, scarring should be minimal.”

“Not bad.”

Yun Nok-san hesitated, unsure if Cheol Gun-ak’s comment was praise or sarcasm. Eventually, he decided to respond honestly.

“At the Peerless Armory, most wounds are severe and laced with fire toxins. They don’t require extraordinary skill—just persistence. I’m used to it.”

Cheol Gun-ak nodded at the mention of fire toxins. The flames of the Peerless Armory were notoriously hot enough to cause such effects.

“Good.”

“…Excuse me?”

Cheol Gun-ak waved his hand dismissively at Yun Nok-san’s confusion.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

Initially, he’d thought Yun Nok-san was just another lackey sucking up to Lady Yi. But seeing him work diligently, Cheol Gun-ak realized the man was thorough in his craft.

This raised questions: Was Yun Nok-san’s refusal to treat the elderly woman due to Lady Yi’s influence? Or was it because the Patriarch ignored the family’s dysfunction altogether?

Turning to the elderly woman, Yun Nok-san asked:

“She’s no ordinary servant, is she?”

“Why do you ask?”

“The treatment I just performed would make even seasoned martial artists scream. Yet she endured it so calmly.”

The elderly woman gave a bitter smile. She gripped the young maid’s hand tightly and replied:

“A lifetime of enduring hardship makes this feel manageable.”

Her words carried weight. Yun Nok-san felt a pang of shame for having considered turning her away earlier.

“When I was younger, I joined the Extreme North Expedition.”

Everyone turned to her in shock. Yun Nok-san’s jaw dropped.

“You were a survivor of the Extreme North Expedition!?”

“Only as a servant, but yes.”

“If you’d mentioned that earlier…”

Yun Nok-san trailed off. Many in the Northern Heavens had lost loved ones during that expedition—including himself.

“I’ve never heard about this before?”

Cheol Gun-ak stared at her in disbelief.

“Well, you never asked, Young Master.”

“Still, something like the Extreme North Expedition seems worth mentioning─”

To the north of the Northern Heavens lay the Extreme North—a hellish land where the Dark Emperor was sealed and the Moon Legion lurked. The Blood Moon Squad, Green Flame Squad, and Black Moon Squad guarded the northern frontlines.

After years of defending, restless voices called for an offensive.

“How long must we keep defending?”

“We march into the Extreme North and wipe out the Moon Legion and Ten Night Generals!”

Warriors from across the Northern Heavens gathered under Lord Bukri Mu-gyeok’s banner. Naturally, servants like the elderly woman followed to handle logistics.

“It wasn’t exactly something to brag about.”

She cut off the topic sharply. Cheol Gun-ak nodded.

The results of the expedition spoke for themselves: out of a thousand soldiers, fewer than sixty returned. Afterward, Lord Bukri secluded himself in the Northern Heavens Palace, leaving a leadership vacuum.

The Eight Great Families squabbled among themselves, allowing the Dark Emperor Sect to infiltrate further.

‘Perhaps the Dark Emperor’s resurrection began with that expedition.’

Cheol Gun-ak was astonished to learn the elderly woman had been part of such a pivotal moment. Yun Nok-san slipped out discreetly, leaving the three alone.

Once he was gone, the elderly woman fixed Cheol Gun-ak with a worried gaze.

“Young Master.”

“Yes?”

“What about Lady Yi?”

Cheol Gun-ak recounted killing Sudeok, exposing him as a member of the Dark Emperor Sect, and facing off against the Patriarch and Third Son. Finally, he explained how Lady Yi summoned the Green Flame Squad Leader.

The young maid’s jaw dropped again. The elderly woman sighed deeply, placing a hand on her forehead.

“You certainly caused quite the commotion.”

“Commotion? This is heroic work.”

“…How did you become so shameless?”

“If there’s an enemy, I fight. That’s what men of the Northern Heavens do.”

The elderly woman closed her eyes, exasperated.

“So… what now?”

Cheol Gun-ak casually twirled chopsticks in both hands.

“In my own way.”

“More killing?”

“In the Northern Heavens’ way.”

“Hmm… sigh.”

The elderly woman found herself struggling to adapt to Cheol Gun-ak’s sudden transformation into a true Northern Heavens warrior. But if forced to choose between good or bad, she’d pick good. After all, she was a Northern Heavens grandmother too.

“I’ll contact someone I know for help.”

“You have someone like that, Grandma?”

“Yes, it’s been a while since the expedition, but… they’ll help.”

The man she thought of—the bravest in all the lands—had stayed buried in her heart all these years. For her sake, he’d remain hidden forever. But for Cheol Gun-ak, he’d do anything.

She fidgeted with a green jade pendant she always carried, hidden in her sash.