'You insane demon!'
Jang Sam screamed inwardly, his fury boiling over.
'He annihilated an entire demonic sect—just to lure a few medical apprentices!'
Yes, that's exactly what had happened.
As one might have guessed, the Black Ghost Sect's assault on the Three Tiger Sect was all because of Wi Jicheon.
And the truly absurd part?
Wi Jicheon really had wiped them out—effortlessly, as if twisting the head off a chicken.
'He's not human. He's a demon.'
Jang Sam trembled as he recalled the events of the previous night.
Wi Jicheon had disguised himself and joined the Black Ghost Sect as a low-ranking disciple.
Then, with that innocent face, he'd subtly interfered in the battle—just enough to turn the tide.
That alone had been enough to collapse the Three Tiger Sect completely.
And the most terrifying thing?
No one had noticed what he'd done.
Not a single soul.
He'd even looted the enemy's hidden treasures in the midst of the chaos—right under their noses.
'The Three Tiger Sect's master didn't even realize he'd been killed by that monster. And to think, that man was stronger than me!'
Jang Sam couldn't begin to fathom what level of power Wi Jicheon had reached.
Peak Master?
Even that seemed too low.
At his age, to have reached such a stage was unheard of in the history of the martial world—but Jang Sam was certain.
Wi Jicheon was beyond the Peak.
Among all the dark masters he'd encountered in his life, none had ever been like him.
'And my stupid subordinates are celebrating without knowing a thing.'
"We always believed in you, Sect Master!"
"When you suddenly claimed enlightenment, we thought you'd gone mad—but you were reborn!"
"All hail our new ruler of South Street—Sect Master Jang Sam!"
They had even given him a new title: The Southern Tyrant of Namyang (Namyang Nampa).
It meant "The Overlord of Namyang's Southern Streets."
The Black Ghost Sect was no longer just another petty demonic faction—it now ruled an entire quarter of Namyang.
It was a dream come true.
So why did it feel like a nightmare?
'Namyang Nampa?' Wi Jicheon had clicked his tongue at the name. 'Too small. At least "Namyang's Black Tyrant"—no, "Henan's Black Tyrant"—would suit you better.'
The memory sent shivers crawling down Jang Sam's back.
Wi Jicheon had meant to make him the ruler not only of Namyang but of the entire Henan province.
Jang Sam had pretended not to hear.
Because such a thing was—
'Impossible… except that demon could actually do it! Damn it! How long is he going to torment me?!'
That was how Jang Sam ended up standing before Aseop with the expression of a man chewing dung.
Still, he bore Aseop and the other apprentice candidates no ill will.
'The demon's got me by the throat, and those poor bastards are strangled by debt. Not so different, really.'
Creak—
He opened the door to find Wi Jicheon waiting inside the teahouse.
Every time Jang Sam saw that pure, smiling face, veins bulged on his forehead.
"I've brought… Mr. Aseop," he said through clenched teeth.
He realized too late that he'd failed to mask his anger.
Fortunately, Wi Jicheon didn't seem to mind.
"Welcome," he said pleasantly. "I am Wi Jicheon of the Divine Healer Clan. You must be Mr. Aseop?"
"Y-yes, that's me! Please, there's no need for honorifics, young master Wi Jicheon. But… why have you called me?"
"I asked you here to discuss your debt with the Three Tiger Sect. Do you have any means to repay it?"
Why was he, a scion of a healer house, asking that?
Still, Aseop answered honestly.
"…I don't. I can barely manage the interest."
"Oh dear."
Wi Jicheon's face filled with gentle sympathy.
Anyone who looked at him would have thought he truly pitied the young man.
'That… that fake expression!'
While Jang Sam silently screamed, Wi Jicheon continued smoothly.
"After Mr. Jang asked me to review your contract, I noticed several unfair clauses. However, since the Black Ghost Sect has become the new creditor, it would be difficult for them to cancel the debt entirely. They did, after all, pay a considerable price to acquire it during the merger."
"…That makes sense."
When one sect conquered another, they didn't simply plunder everything—property and contracts had to be formally transferred.
Of course, the victor always dictated the terms.
"How about this, then?" Wi Jicheon said with a smile. "Our Divine Healer Clan will purchase your debt."
"Wh-what? Wouldn't that be a loss for your clan?"
"I see it as an investment—in you, Mr. Aseop."
"!!"
"I inquired about your reputation. Everyone spoke highly of you. They said that, given the chance, you would become a true physician—one who treats patients with compassion."
Aseop's chest tightened.
That had once been his dream.
To be a physician who healed for the sake of others.
Wi Jicheon gently clasped his hand.
His touch was warm.
"As a healer myself, I cannot stand by and watch your potential fade away. So, I wish to offer you a new path. There is only one condition—you must become a disciple of our Divine Healer Clan."
"Yes! I'll join the Divine Healer Clan! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Tears welled up as he spoke.
How foolish he'd been—to care about prestige or titles.
The Divine Healer Clan was the true healer's path.
Then—
"Please stamp your seal on this contract. The ink is ready."
"Yes, of course—"
But before pressing his thumb down, Aseop hesitated.
'…Mandatory service for fifteen years after passing the Medical Exam?'
That seemed… a bit long.
"That clause is nothing to worry about," Wi Jicheon said smoothly. "It only reflects our hope for a long and fruitful relationship. Once your debt is repaid, we can end the term by mutual agreement."
"…I see."
"And don't worry about your wages. Once the debt's cleared, you'll receive full payment."
Aseop nodded blankly.
'…Should I really trust this? But it's the Divine Healer Clan—they wouldn't cheat me, right?'
Fifteen years was a long time, but the terms were fair.
The loan's annual compound interest—originally a staggering twenty percent—was now reduced to zero.
At first, he thought he'd misread it.
But no—it was truly interest-free.
'Even if they deduct it from my wages, isn't the Divine Healer Clan taking a loss?'
Just then, Wi Jicheon grasped his hand again.
"I may have been reckless," he said with a smile, "but I truly wish to work alongside you. I want you to help me realize the Divine Healer Clan's dream."
"!!"
Tears brimmed in Aseop's eyes.
"Yes…! I'll dedicate my life to the Divine Healer Clan!"
"From this day forth, you are family."
"Yes! I am family of the Divine Healer Clan!"
"Let us walk together, forever."
"Forever!!"
'…Unbelievable.'
Jang Sam grimaced as he watched the absurd scene unfold.
'He practically got the debt for free, and now he's acting like he's doing charity. "Interest-free," my ass.'
In truth, Wi Jicheon had acquired Aseop's debt for nothing—and now had a loyal servant working for no pay.
'And even after the debt's gone, that demon won't pay him a single coin. Poor fool. He just signed his own ticket to hell.'
But Jang Sam was wrong.
Wi Jicheon had no intention of exploiting his new disciples.
Quite the opposite.
He planned to show them the taste of gold.
'Once the Divine Healer Clan rises, money will flood in.'
So why the fifteen-year contract?
'Because once the workload gets unbearable, they might try to run.'
The Divine Healer Clan was destined to thrive—
and that meant endless patients, endless exhaustion.
Better to chain them early.
'A little gold here and there will keep them happy. Heh heh.'
Aseop shivered, feeling a strange chill down his spine.
A few days later.
"Who are we?"
"We are family of the Divine Healer Clan!!"
"We pledge our loyalty!!"
Wi Jicheon had reeled in a large group of new disciples—debt-ridden medical apprentices who had once suffered under their creditors.
They were overflowing with gratitude and devotion, like men reborn.
And they had something the previous batch lacked—
willpower.
Having failed the Medical Exam once, they had tasted desperation.
Now, they were ready to claw their way to success.
'They're far more capable than the old disciples. I got lucky thanks to the Southern Heavy House's downfall.'
Tuition scams were common among healer families—but only scum like the Southern Heavy House went so far as to collude with loan sharks.
"From now on," Wi Jicheon said, "you may call me Senior Brother."
"Yes, Senior Brother!!"
Though he was the youngest in age, no one objected.
He had saved them from debt, after all.
But then—
"I refuse to acknowledge you as my senior!"
"…And you are?"
"My name is Danyeo, a newly accepted disciple!"
'Oh?'
Wi Jicheon's eyes gleamed with interest.
Unlike the others—who were all well past twenty—Danyeo was about his own age.
And her background was… special.
'A former inner disciple of the Blossom Healer House.'
For reasons unknown, she had left her clan and, unable to find another house willing to take her, had ended up here.
"In a healer family, ranks are decided by one's Medical Exam results, not the order of joining! If you fail the exam, you have no right to call yourself our senior!"
A murmur swept the room.
The other disciples looked at her as if she were insane.
'Who does she think she is?'
'She's going to get herself killed.'
Wi Jicheon folded his arms.
'Just as the rumors said.'
Danyeo was infamous among Namyang's healer circles—
not for brilliance alone, but for her temper.
She had been hailed as a prodigy, yes.
But she'd also been expelled from the Blossom House after brawling with her own senior—
hair-pulling, fists flying, the works.
Unheard of behavior in a healer family.
But Wi Jicheon didn't mind.
'She can be fixed.'
And besides, he'd been looking for a chance to establish authority among the new recruits.
Danyeo would serve as the perfect example.
Of course, others might have wondered how he intended to "discipline" a former inner disciple.
In martial sects, seniority came from martial prowess.
In healer families, it came from medical skill.
And Wi Jicheon was younger than her—
how could he prove superiority?
'Oh, there's always a way.'
"Then let's test that," he said smoothly. "Tell me—what are the four states of Qi movement? Qi Rising, Qi Relaxing, Qi Fading, and Qi Descending—define them."
It was something he'd skimmed in a medical text that morning.
"Hah! You're asking me something that basic?"
Danyeo smirked and began to recite fluently from memory.