The villagers fell silent.

From Gyo-ha’s reaction, they sensed there was something they didn’t know.

And at what Gyo-ha said, even the herbalist showed surprise.

“…He was able to tell just by touching you?”

“Yes.”

“Hah, your master’s no ordinary man.”

“His temper’s not ordinary either. Heh-heh.”

Saying so, Gyo-ha swiped beneath his nose.

The cheeky words about his master, paired with his smug face, made the herbalist snort.

It told him plainly what Gyo-ha thought of his master.

“So, what will you do?”

At the question, Gyo-ha scratched his cheek.

There was a reason for why the herbalist was asking. Martial artists don’t entrust their bodies lightly to others.

An extraordinary master can tell how someone lived their life just by sensing their internal energy.

But that wasn’t why Gyo-ha hesitated.

Showing him wasn’t hard, and the herbalist interested him.

Gyo-ha glanced to the side.

Worried looks came not only from the room but from beyond the door.

After a beat of doubt, he spoke.

“Then… could you not just take a look at the sisters, but the others, too?”

At that, a furrow creased the herbalist’s brow.

Those beside him looked at Gyo-ha and were moved. They hadn’t thought he’d look out for them.

“Tsk. That was my plan from the start, you brat.”

At the curt reply, Gyo-ha hee-hee’d and grinned.

By the time all the villagers had been treated, dusk had fallen.

After a day of wandering the village on fingertip handstands, even Gyo-ha was allowed inside.

Knowing their presence wouldn’t help, people gave them space.

Only Noh-sam sat beside Gyo-ha.

Examining him, the herbalist let out a sigh.

“Any bears or tigers in your ancestry?”

“…I’m an orphan, so I wouldn’t know.”

Gyo-ha scratched his head; the herbalist sighed.

He hadn’t meant it literally.

“Amazing. Skin thick as a bear’s hide, muscles springy as a tiger’s.”

“…….Um, is that good?”

At Gyo-ha’s innocent blink, the herbalist snorted again.

“It means you could beat a bear to death bare-handed, you monster. Your body is the best I’ve ever seen.”

“Hee-hee.”

Only then did Gyo-ha smile, bashful.

The herbalist studied him, then asked:

“How old are you?”

“Probably around fifteen.”

That was what his master had said, of course.

“What!”

It wasn’t the herbalist, but Noh-sam who exclaimed from beside him.

He stared at Gyo-ha in disbelief.

But the herbalist only nodded, as if he’d expected it.

“Was your dantian like that from birth?”

“I think so.”

“Then you met heaven’s favor.”

He meant his master. Gyo-ha nodded.

He’d never doubted his master—but hearing it confirmed felt new.

“Don’t show that body around. I’ll let it pass because I’m good-natured, but others would cut you open alive to see what’s inside.”

In a calm tone, the herbalist said something chilling.

His self-praise was dubious, but the warning was too grim to ignore.

Noh-sam ventured in, cautious.

“Aw, surely no one like that really exists.”

“They do.”

He frowned, as if recalling someone specific.

At that reaction, Noh-sam shut his mouth.

Gyo-ha only chuckled, “Heh.”

Seeing it, the herbalist gave a thin smile.

“You’ll manage. Here—take this.”

“What’s this?”

What he handed over was a small wooden token.

Gyo-ha tilted his head, and the herbalist explained.

“Show that at the Continental Merchant Guild and they’ll tell you where to find me. Come if you need help.”

At the sudden words, Gyo-ha blinked.

“Even those called master physicians won’t be able to handle your body.”

“Ah.”

“No need for thanks. I’m curious about your body too. Still growing, are you?”

His eyes gleamed. He was looking forward to what came next.

Gyo-ha edged back.

Amused, the herbalist clicked his tongue and stood.

“Ah—I’ll see you out.”

Gyo-ha and Noh-sam jumped up, but the herbalist waved them off.

“No need. I’m not that old yet.”

With that, he left the room.

When they stepped out, he was already far down the path.

The image of him was like that of an immortal walking on clouds.

Noh-sam’s eyes went round, but Gyo-ha only waved as if he’d expected it.

“Grandpa. Thank you!”

At his shout, the herbalist glanced back and vanished.

Noh-sam, staring, breathed a sigh.

“…So he was a man of the martial world.”

Unlike bandits, a man of the martial world.

They were said to fly the skies and overturn the earth.

The herbalist, too, was one of them.

‘He was not just an elderly man.’

Noh-sam glanced sideways.

Gyo-ha grinned goofily. He didn’t look like a Martial Artist at all.

He looked like any simple country boy.

Of course, that was only his face.

Soon his gaze went to the wooden plaque in Gyo-ha’s hand.

‘Sun… Eui-gyeong?’

Noh-sam cocked his head.

The name was oddly familiar…!

Lightning struck his mind.

“…Medicine Immortal!“

At the sudden shout, Gyo-ha blinked in surprise.

Noh-sam cried out, looking at him:

“It’s the Medicine Immortal! The Medicine Immortal Sun Eui-gyeong!”

It could be no one else.

The Continental Merchant Guild wasn’t the very greatest in the Central Plains, but it was always among the top ten.

If such a place knew him, he was no ordinary man.

“So he’s famous?”

“Famous doesn’t cover it. He’s one of the Three Great Physicians!”

Noh-sam’s eyes trembled as he stared at the wooden plaque.

He’d grasped its value.

The Medicine Immortal was not someone one could meet by wanting to.

But Gyo-ha only went, “Heh,” mouth open.

No—he was thinking something else.

‘If he’s that famous… should I have asked for a match?’

But he shook his head.

Even if he asked, the man didn’t seem the type to fight. Besides—

‘Something about him is… ambiguous.’

His skill was clear, but he didn’t feel “strong.”

‘Well, true.’

A man famed for medicine wouldn’t also be a great fighter.

With that, Gyo-ha let the notion go.

After a night passed and Gyo-ha finished preparing to leave, the old woman and Noh-sam approached.

“Take it.”

Her tone was curt, but her eyes held warmth and thanks.

Gyo-ha’s eyes widened at what she handed him.

“Waa—are you giving this to me?”

“Who else here would it be for? If you don’t want it, forget it.”

“Of course I want it!”

When she moved to take it back, he snatched it quickly.

What she gave him was a sky-blue martial robe.

Unlike before, it fit him perfectly, and its wide sleeves hid his iron shackles.

He moved about, pleased, and smiled.

“Thank you, granny!”

“Enough. We’re the ones who should thank you.”

“That’s right. If not for the grea— the young hero, we’d still be suffering under bandits.”

Noh-sam almost said ‘great hero,’ then remembered Gyo-ha’s age and corrected himself.

He didn’t want it to sound like teasing.

“No! Thank you, truly!”

Gyo-ha was genuinely happy.

Aside from his master, Yun Heo, no one had ever given him a gift.

Watching him swish about, the old woman hesitated, then spoke.

“Then… shameless as it is, may I ask one more favor?”

Her voice, for once, was careful.

“Of course! What is it?”

Gyo-ha blinked; the old woman looked to Noh-sam.

“Could you take this one along with you?”

“Mother, what are you saying!”

Before Gyo-ha could answer, Noh-sam cried out in alarm.

Judging by his reaction, he hadn’t known.

Ignoring him, she continued.

“He has many talents, so he’ll be useful.”

“If I go, you’ll be alone. My brothers are gone.”

“That’s nothing. I’ve managed alone till now. I won’t be minding you again at my age.”

“Minding me, you say…”

Noh-sam sounded hurt.

He was mid-thirties. He was old enough to have had a family long ago.

She looked at him, eyes earnest.

“You don’t fit this village. You know it. That’s why you’ve always wandered outside.”

Noh-sam fell silent.

He was different from his brothers, who left to earn and succeed.

He’d left simply because the village stifled him.

He’d never said it aloud, but she’d always known.

“Take him along, and if he’s lacking, cast him off.”

“…Cast me off? Mother, do you know how old the young hero is?”

For all his size, he was only fifteen.

The old woman barked:

“Quiet! Age isn’t what matters.”

Scolding Noh-sam, she bowed to Gyo-ha.

“I beg this of you.”

“Mother!”

“Granny!”

Startled, they tried to raise her, but she didn’t straighten.

“All right! I understand.”

Only after Gyo-ha agreed did she stand.

He scratched the back of his head.

“I also only slipped out for a bit. I can’t decide what happens after. That’s not up to me.”

He would need his master, Yun Heo’s permission.

But the old woman nodded as if that was enough.

Noh-sam sighed, but she didn’t even glance his way.

Instead, Gyo-ha looked to him.

“We’re leaving now, do you need to prepare anything?”

Before he could answer, she handed him a bundle.

“When did you…?”

Shaking his head, Noh-sam shrugged at Gyo-ha.

“I guess not.”

It meant preparations were done.

There was no reason for any further delay.

Gyo-ha grinned and set off.

Noh-sam’s lips lifted too—he didn’t seem to mind.

But they had to stop before leaving the village.

A crowd had gathered at the gate.

Not only villagers, but the rescued women.

They had come to see Gyo-ha off.

As he walked, they parted to make a path and bowed, one by one.

There were no words of farewell.

Just deep bows.

Awkward, Gyo-ha rubbed beneath his nose.

For some reason, his chest tingled. It was a strange feeling to him.

Noh-sam looked at them anew.

Mother had been right.

What did age matter?

To the village, Gyo-ha was already a hero, a chivalrous hero.

Perhaps he was witnessing the birth of a hero.

‘…The Hero of Jang Family Village, huh.’

Not bad at all.

Gyo-ha and Noh-sam passed through the crowd.

Only long after the two had gone did the villagers finally lift their heads.