Chapter 183

Taoist Woon-jeong also tensed up seeing Jin Ja-gang’s condition and asked.

“Was Poison Dragon benefactor unable to move against some master?”

However, Jin Ja-gang nonchalantly handed the medicine he had brought to Soso.

“I got into a dispute with Tibetan people on the outskirts of the village.”

Taoist Woon-jeong was shocked.

“Did you kill them all!”

“No. As you can see, I was the one who got beaten.”

“What? Poison Dragon benefactor?”

Bian Bu nodded his head.

“He deliberately took a beating to avoid causing trouble. As expected, his thinking is deep…”

Jin Ja-gang wore a slight smile.

There was no feeling of being wronged in his smiling expression at all.

Gulp.

Bian Bu and Taoist Woon-jeong felt uneasy. That expression looked exactly like someone who was going to seek revenge… no, like someone who had already finished taking sufficient revenge and returned.

Well, if Poison Dragon had been beaten, there must be a reason.

It was hard to imagine him taking a beating somewhere and just leaving it at that.

“I was pickpocketed and lost money. Sorry, Soso. I’ll go get the money back.”

Bian Bu stopped him.

“Hey hey, I don’t think you need to go get that money back.”

Soso also shook her head left and right with a worried expression. Jin Ja-gang said.

“Important medicinal materials are missing. Sea horse and field snails.”

Sea horse was difficult to obtain because the sea was far away, and field snails were hard to see in winter.

“Field snails would be pond snails then. So what?”

“I need medicinal materials that can substitute for them.”

Bian Bu, who traveled around selling medicine, roughly knew the various uses of sea horse and field snails.

“But sea horse and field snails have quite diverse uses, so it would be difficult to find substitute medicinal materials… They’re used for damaged cartilage or fractures, bleeding, or when the liver is bad, and also for pneumonia and jaundice.”

“That’s why I couldn’t obtain substitutes. I thought I should ask Soso what they’ll be used for.”

Soso wrote the characters ‘swelling poison’ on the table with water. Bian Bu slapped his knee.

“Ah, that’s right. Sea horse and field snails are good for treating boils when taken orally or ground into powder and applied.”

Soso nodded her head.

The Non-Killing Sword had old blood stuck to it, naturally generating poison energy. Because of that poison energy, Taoist Woon-jeong and Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s wounds kept festering and wouldn’t heal. She was thinking of using it to treat that.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“Without that, the wounds will keep burrowing inward. It’s absolutely necessary for traveling a long distance. Let me wash up a bit and then go.”

Soso had already brought a basin and towel.

Jin Ja-gang smiled awkwardly.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to do this.”

But Soso insisted on wiping Jin Ja-gang’s face. Jin Ja-gang was more surprised that this situation didn’t feel awkward to him. Perhaps it was because he had already received nursing care from Soso before.

Maybe it was time to overcome his fear of becoming accustomed to someone.

* * *

While passing through the corridor after leaving the room, Jin Ja-gang briefly stopped.

It was in front of the door to the adjacent room.

“Do you have something to say?”

It was Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s voice from inside the room.

Jin Ja-gang asked in a low voice.

“What is your relationship with Mang Ryo?”

“…”

“That man is my mortal enemy. He was at the forefront of trampling my sect Hundred Flower Valley and destroying Yunnan’s Medicine Sects. I thought he was dead.”

“Mang Ryo is an advisor under the Martial Arts Alliance’s Governor’s Office and was someone who served as Indestructible Heavenly Sword’s hands and feet. It’s said he made considerable contributions to Indestructible Heavenly Sword rising to the position of Azure Dragon Great Sword Pavilion Master.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong regulated her breathing slightly as she answered.

“But in fact, he had one foot in the dark path while continuously trading information. He also provided a considerable amount of information to our side.”

Jin Ja-gang listened silently then asked.

“Then was your visit to find me at Yunnan’s Poison Valley also through that connection?”

“I rushed there after receiving information that Indestructible Heavenly Sword was paying particular attention to young hero. The matter about the Zhuge family’s daughter was learned through a different route, not Mang Ryo.”

“Then indeed, the story about that man you told me at that time was…”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t continue his words. Dan Ryeong-gyeong also didn’t drag out the conversation further.

That was probably a painful past that was difficult for Dan Ryeong-gyeong to bring up.

Jin Ja-gang could understand.

The Jade Void Nine Light Five Thunder Toad Technique was probably the secret manual that Dan Ryeong-gyeong had mentioned. The man Dan Ryeong-gyeong had spoken of was probably Indestructible Heavenly Sword Baek Li-jung.

For Jin Ja-gang too, Baek Li-jung was the final target of revenge who had to be killed along with Mang Ryo.

After briefly hearing rough breathing sounds from inside the room, Dan Ryeong-gyeong said.

“My condition is quite serious, so I can’t guarantee I’ll recover. Therefore, there’s something I want to ask of you.”

“Please speak, even if I can’t fulfill it.”

“When young hero returns, I’ll transmit the remaining oral instructions.”

Jin Ja-gang thought for a moment then answered.

“If it’s a request, I’ll fulfill it.”

“Haha…!”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong burst into laughter as if finding it absurd.

“I can’t match young hero’s endless audacity. Perhaps transmitting martial arts while making a request is…”

However, Dan Ryeong-gyeong suddenly stopped laughing.

She had realized the meaning of Jin Ja-gang’s words about the request.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong spoke in a gentle but serious tone.

“I understand. This is my request. Will that do?”

Jin Ja-gang smiled.

“I will definitely fulfill your request.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong fully understood the meaning of Jin Ja-gang’s words.

In the distant future… if you survive until then, even if it’s someone you must kill, if I request it, please spare them just once.

That had been Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s request to Jin Ja-gang in the past.

With Jin Ja-gang’s current abilities, he wasn’t at a level where he could leisurely face Baek Li-jung while sparing him.

So Dan Ryeong-gyeong transmitting martial arts wasn’t ultimately for Jin Ja-gang’s sake but for her own sake.

Nevertheless, even though it was presented under the pretext of a request… in any case, Jin Ja-gang had reminded her once again of his promise to fulfill Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s past request.

“Thank you for not forgetting.”

Jin Ja-gang bowed his head slightly and passed by the room door.

* * *

Jin Ja-gang returned to the neighborhood where he had been pickpocketed earlier. The Tibetan people who recognized Jin Ja-gang glanced at him sideways.

Jin Ja-gang paid no attention and went around the nearby pharmacies. Most pharmacies also served as medical clinics. As expected, he found the men from earlier at one of them.

The men were receiving treatment at the pharmacy when they were startled.

“Eek! Th-that b*st*rd!”

Jin Ja-gang calmly entered the pharmacy.

The man with his fist wrapped in bandages, the man with a splint on his shin, the man with his collapsed nose and face wrapped, and finally the man whose foot had been stepped on. And there was also the man who had tried to threaten Jin Ja-gang with a knife.

“How dare you show up here again when this is…!”

Jin Ja-gang stared intently at the shouting man. When the man met Jin Ja-gang’s eyes, his body stiffened. Even though Jin Ja-gang hadn’t particularly emanated killing intent, he was intimidated by his gaze alone.

Jin Ja-gang hadn’t gotten angry even while being beaten by the men earlier. The weak killing intent the men emitted and their crude punches were too trivial compared to what Jin Ja-gang had experienced. So trivial that they didn’t seem worth dealing with.

However, he couldn’t just leave the pickpocketing and violence alone.

So Jin Ja-gang had taken revenge by inflicting various injuries on the men that could be treated with sea horse and field snails. He had damaged the tendons in their fingers, caused different fractures to their fists and legs, and inflicted cartilage damage and bleeding to the nose.

Particularly, he had slightly coated his front teeth with Clear Blood Gland Snake poison before being stepped on by the foot. The foot would probably soon develop sores and swell up.

Moreover, since he had mostly injured their legs, they wouldn’t be able to run far. Then naturally they would have no choice but to receive treatment at a nearby pharmacy.

“So you were here.”

Though the men were clearly the perpetrators who had committed assault, they couldn’t move when they saw Jin Ja-gang entering the pharmacy. From the outside, it looked completely opposite as to who was the perpetrator and victim.

Jin Ja-gang unhesitatingly walked toward the man who had bandages wrapped around his foot. The pharmacy owner blinked as he looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang unwrapped the bandages tied around the man’s foot again. The foot was swollen blue with pus coming out, and some crushed herbs had been applied to it.

“What kind of medicinal herb is this?”

“This is fritillaria that grows abundantly in this area. It’s good for drawing out swelling poison…”

Jin Ja-gang tasted the fritillaria.

It seemed like it could be used as a substitute for sea horse and field snails in a pinch.

“Could you package some for me?”

The pharmacy owner wrapped up dried fritillaria.

“For payment… Oh right. I forgot that I was pickpocketed by a pickpocket who’s in cahoots with these guys.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the uninjured man who had threatened him with a knife. He had deliberately left one person intact to go get his money back.

“Let’s go.”

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

“To get my money back.”

Jin Ja-gang grabbed the man’s collar and tried to drag him outside. The man cursed and drew his knife.

Jin Ja-gang didn’t hesitate to use his hands. He kicked the man’s knee, and when the man staggered, he grabbed his arm and twisted it.

Crack.

“Aaaaah!”

As his shoulder dislocated, the man’s arm hung limply.

“Next is the opposite arm. And after that will be your neck.”

“Ugh…”

Jin Ja-gang dragged the man outside.

But he didn’t need to go far. The boy pickpocket from earlier was outside.

The boy pickpocket threw the money pouch to Jin Ja-gang with a wronged expression.

Jin Ja-gang opened the money pouch to check the amount, then threw a silver coin to the boy.

“That’s for the medicine.”

The moment the boy tried to catch the silver coin, Jin Ja-gang approached him. The boy exclaimed ‘Ah!’ in surprise but instinctively reached for the silver coin in the air.

Jin Ja-gang, who had rushed over, tried to snatch the silver coin first using Grappling technique. However, the boy was no pushover either. Though not Grappling, he used pickpocket techniques to display unique hand movements and flicked the silver coin. The silver coin hit the boy’s finger and bounced upward.

Jin Ja-gang grabbed the boy’s wrist with hook-like fingers. The boy twisted his wrist and forearm in reverse and slipped out like an eel. Even though Jin Ja-gang’s Grappling technique wasn’t exceptional, the fact that he escaped immediately showed remarkable skill.

The boy caught the silver coin with his index and middle fingers. Jin Ja-gang inserted his fingers between the boy’s fingers to prevent him from grasping it. The boy flicked with his pinky to make the silver coin rise again. The boy caught the silver coin with his opposite hand. Jin Ja-gang also straightened his opposite hand and pressed the boy’s palm with his fingertips to interfere with catching the silver coin.

Tap tap, tap.

The boy slapped Jin Ja-gang’s hand as if slapping his face. While doing so, he grasped Jin Ja-gang’s thumb in his grip and caught the silver coin with his own thumb and index finger.

Jin Ja-gang applied force to his thumb and pressed firmly. The boy’s palm center was pressed by Jin Ja-gang’s thumb. The palm center point was one of the vital points.

The boy made a low groaning sound ‘Agh!’ Then he gritted his teeth and bent his wrist inward to try to break Jin Ja-gang’s grasping thumb. Just restraining the thumb could bind the entire body. Jin Ja-gang’s body also naturally twisted as his thumb was bent. Jin Ja-gang twisted his body a full circle more to return it to normal, then grabbed the boy’s wrist with his opposite hand. The boy and Jin Ja-gang’s hands became intertwined in the shape of the character for well (井). In that state, the boy put strength into his arms and jumped up to bite the silver coin with his mouth.

In terms of Grappling technique, Jin Ja-gang would be tied or winning, but if it was just about catching the silver coin, it was the boy’s victory.

Only then did Jin Ja-gang release his grip. Actually, he had wanted to see the boy’s pickpocket skills properly once more.

The boy panted while transferring the silver coin from his mouth to his hand.

Jin Ja-gang nodded to the boy in greeting, then also paid the pharmacy owner for the fritillaria and came out.

Behind Jin Ja-gang, the boy and the men stared at Jin Ja-gang for a long time with strange expressions.