readsfreenovel Chapter 279 : Troublesome Old Men
Chapter 279 : Troublesome Old Men
As Jin Seong-un walked alongside the Divine Physician, the latter suddenly spotted someone in the distance and brightened.“Oh ho, I get to meet that man before leaving.”
Considering that the Divine Physician disliked people—especially those of the Imperial Palace—it was a rare reaction.
Jin Seong-un also turned his gaze toward where he was looking.
An elderly man with neatly groomed white hair and beard approached with calm steps and greeted the Divine Physician.
“Haha, I heard you had come. Thanks to you, His Majesty has awakened. I do not know how to repay this favor.”
“What favor? I barely did anything. More importantly, Grand Scholar, how long do you intend to remain in office?”
Grand Scholar Kang Sa-yul.
As the head of the Hanlin Academy, he was the greatest scholar in the Imperial Palace and known as the teacher of all.
Though the position itself was not high in rank, his authority rivaled that of the Eastern Depot Admiral and the Commander of the Imperial Guards, as he was the Emperor’s teacher.
The Divine Physician did not treat palace officials.
Not out of malice, but because he felt he would have no face to meet his late father if he did.
However, there was one exception—Kang Sa-yul.
He was a scholar worthy of respect, a true master of all disciplines, even compiling medical texts.
As both a fellow human and a scholar, the Divine Physician admired him.
“Haha, not yet. The affairs of the state grow more chaotic by the day. How could I step down?”
Jin Seong-un found the man’s gaze strangely familiar.
Lee Seo-won… and Chief Strategist Sama Baek.
Though their ages differed, the sharp intellect in a scholar’s eyes was unmistakable.
Even his weary, detached tone resembled theirs.
After speaking with the Divine Physician, Kang Sa-yul turned to Jin Seong-un.
“So you are the rumored Inn Dragon.”
“That is correct.”
Jin Seong-un was now fully accustomed to the title.
The Grand Scholar stared at him intently.
His gaze was deep and sharp—like it could see not only what was visible, but what lay beneath.
“My grandson is about your age.”
“I see.”
“He is quite clever.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Silence followed.
Jin Seong-un then realized—
the Grand Scholar had just been bragging about his grandson in the driest, most rigid tone imaginable.
His lukewarm reaction made the Grand Scholar cough awkwardly.
“Ahem. In any case, you have worked hard. I will ensure you are no longer entangled with the Imperial Palace.”
It was both consideration and a warning.
Kang Sa-yul was a strict man of principle.
He disliked outsiders interfering in palace affairs.
Of course, he knew the Princess and the Admiral were threats.
But he also knew Jin Seong-un’s actions stirred powerful forces everywhere.
Thus, both kindness and warning.
Jin Seong-un, however, simply nodded sincerely.
“Thank you.”
Seeing such pure sincerity, the Grand Scholar—who had spent his life among scheming officials—was instead taken aback.
“…Hmm.”
He soon left, as he was one of the busiest men in the palace.
Watching him go, Jin Seong-un said,
“He reminds me of Chief Strategist Sama Baek. Though that man feels more like a kind old grandfather, while this one is colder.”
The Divine Physician snorted.
“What nonsense.”
“Pardon?”
“Sama Baek is kind? Do you know his title?”
“No.”
“Bright Mirror. Have you ever seen a mirror laugh or cry? That is him. A cold mirror that reflects only right and wrong—not human sentiment.”
Jin Seong-un’s eyes widened.
That was completely different from the Sama Baek he knew.
“That cannot be.”
“And what about Divine Wood or the White Cloud Sword? All feared figures. They only treat you kindly because it’s you. They are not gentle by nature.”
The Divine Physician paused.
Come to think of it—
he himself was the same.
Others feared him.
Yet with Jin Seong-un, he felt relaxed… even fond.
He narrowed his eyes.
“Have you learned some kind of demonic art?”
“…What?”
Jin Seong-un flinched slightly.
After all, he *had* learned the Blood Demon’s martial arts.
“You know, the kind that charms people. Usually used to seduce the opposite sex… but did you learn one that seduces old men?”
Otherwise, it made no sense.
Why did all these “troublesome old men” dote on him?
Even the Emperor himself seemed desperate to recruit him.
Jin Seong-un blinked in disbelief.
“What nonsense.”
“I am joking. It simply means you are blessed. Especially…”
The Divine Physician pointed at himself.
“I am particularly fond of you.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
“Heh, I was not asking for thanks.”
Yet he looked quite pleased.
---
When they exited the palace, the leaders of the three sects were also present.
Jin Seong-un respectfully greeted them.
Seeing this, they nodded in satisfaction.
The Divine Physician clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Definitely a demonic art…’
Abbot Myeongwon of Shaolin—symbol of the righteous martial world.
Abbess Jeonghye of Mount Emei—strict and unyielding.
The Wudang Sword Immortal—feared even by the White Cloud Sword.
Yet all of them treated Jin Seong-un favorably.
The Wudang Sword Immortal even spoke.
“You have worked hard, Divine Physician. Thanks to you, His Majesty has awakened.”
Everyone believed the Divine Physician had saved the Emperor.
He simply nodded.
“Well, treating patients is my duty.”
They walked through the streets, chatting casually.
Then—
they saw a man slurping noodles at a street stall.
All of them stopped at once.
‘He should not be here…’
The man finished his bowl and laughed.
“Even street noodles in Beijing taste this good?”
“Ha! Anything tastes good to a country bumpkin from Hubei!”
“Haha! Wuhan is not that rural!”
Soon, he noticed them and approached.
Abbot Myeongwon scolded him.
“Alliance Leader, do not tell me you ran away again without informing the Chief Strategist?”
Abbess Jeonghye and the Wudang Sword Immortal also began scolding him.
The Alliance Leader waved his hands.
“No, no! I came with proper permission!”
Then he looked at Jin Seong-un.
“Haha, you looked mature before, but now you are spending time with old men?”
Jin Seong-un coughed awkwardly.
“…That is not the case.”
The Alliance Leader laughed and paid the vendor.
Returning, he said,
“Since we are all here, let us have tea. I have something to discuss.”
They all agreed.
The Divine Physician quickly excused himself.
“I will leave.”
“Please take care of the Chief Strategist sometime.”
“…That is because of you.”
He left hurriedly.
Jin Seong-un also bowed.
“I have urgent matters as well—”
“You must join.”
Before he could leave—
the Alliance Leader grabbed his wrist.
He could not escape.
“…Hmm.”
Then the Alliance Leader said seriously:
“This concerns you. It seems we must kill the Death-Calamity Ghost.”