A group of individuals entered the Golden Wall Estate.
There were thirteen of them, and the estate's general manager greeted them with utmost respect.
"We've been expecting you. Thank you so much for coming to visit us."
"It's merely a matter of fate. I'd like to see the patient first. Could you guide me?"
"As expected… Understood. I'll take you there immediately."
Gamujin, the general manager of the Golden Wall Estate, carefully led the Heavenly Divine Healer and his party inside, thinking to himself that the healer's renowned reputation wasn't unfounded.
"This manor is truly splendid," the healer murmured in admiration as he glanced around.
"The Family Head has put a lot of effort into it. In fact, this place shares its history with the Golden Wall Merchants," Gamujin explained.
The general manager and the healer exchanged light conversation as they continued walking.
The manor's sheer size required them to walk for quite some time.
Eventually, they arrived at the pavilion where Byeok Taesan, the second young master of the Golden Wall Merchants, resided.
The healer took in the sight of the pavilion and its surrounding scenery with another note of admiration.
"Hoho, this place feels more refined than the rest."
"This pavilion is among the top three in the estate."
Passing through a gate nestled between low walls surrounding the pavilion, they stepped into a spacious garden.
The garden was exquisitely landscaped and meticulously maintained.
Within it were two men diligently working on its upkeep and a woman giving them instructions.
They were Black Two, Black Three, and Dan Yeong.
The Heavenly Divine Healer's eyes widened when he saw them—or more precisely, when he saw Dan Yeong.
"Who is that?"
"Ah… She is a maidservant attending our second young master."
"I see. She doesn't seem like an ordinary maidservant."
"Her beauty is remarkable, isn't it? She's a former courtesan of some renown from Wuhan. There are a few others like her as well, all of whom came forward on their own to serve the second young master."
Gamujin glanced at the healer, puzzled.
The Heavenly Divine Healer couldn't take his eyes off Dan Yeong.
This behavior was unexpected, especially given the healer's reputation, causing Gamujin to feel a tinge of doubt.
"Oh, my. I seem to have shown poor manners. My apologies."
"No, no. I completely understand."
After all, it was only natural for a man's eyes to be drawn to a beautiful woman.
"Ah… You seem to misunderstand. My interest in her isn't because of her appearance."
"Pardon?"
"It's her constitution."
"Her constitution?"
"It's rare. Truly, I find it fascinating."
For a moment, Gamujin thought he saw a glimmer of greed in the healer's eyes.
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
The Heavenly Divine Healer was known for shunning worldly desires, especially those related to women.
It couldn't be what he imagined.
"As expected of a divine healer, you can discern someone's constitution just by looking."
"Of course, observation has its limits. To confirm properly, I'd need to feel her pulse. However, when it's this apparent, there's no need for that."
The healer remained in place, continuing to fix his gaze on Dan Yeong.
"She's… like a newborn baby. She seems to be in her twenties, yet her purity is astonishing. Maintaining that level of untainted nature at her age is extraordinary. Honestly, I'm envious."
"Envious, you say?"
"If it wouldn't be inappropriate, could I take her as my disciple?"
Gamujin's eyes widened.
"Does she possess the qualities of a physician? Can such potential even be judged by constitution?"
The healer chuckled softly.
"That's precisely why I said she's someone to covet. Her constitution is akin to pristine snowfields—so pure and easy to mold. In other words, she has boundless potential, no matter what she learns."
Gamujin's astonished gaze shifted between Dan Yeong and the healer.
"What do you think? Would you entrust her to me? I assure you, my gratitude would know no bounds."
Gamujin's jaw nearly dropped.
For the healer to mention gratitude—this implied a continued relationship with the Golden Wall Merchants in the future.
Such a relationship with someone of the healer's caliber was equivalent to securing a second life.
Furthermore, the Heavenly Divine Healer didn't travel alone.
The people accompanying him were also physicians of remarkable skill, practically his disciples.
Together, they cooperated in treating patients, forming an unparalleled team of healers.
The healer's expression was devoid of doubt. He was confident that his proposal would be accepted.
However, Gamujin's response differed significantly from his expectations.
With a deeply regretful yet slightly hopeful expression, Gamujin replied.
"That maidservant is exclusively assigned to our second young master. She wasn't accepted by the Golden Wall Merchants; she pledged herself directly to the young master. Thus, we'd need his approval."
The healer gave a faint smile.
"Would you be willing to assist me in seeking the second young master's consent?"
"Would there be any reason not to? I will cooperate as much as possible. Honestly, with an opportunity like this, wouldn't the Second Young Master naturally give his permission as well?"
The general manager, his expression brimming with delight, led the Heavenly Divine Healer and his party further inside.
The Heavenly Divine Healer followed the manager while occasionally glancing at Dan Yeong, clicking his tongue quietly.
As soon as the Heavenly Divine Healer stepped into the hall, he stopped abruptly, standing in a daze.
'What is this? What kind of place is this?'
The sight that greeted him inside the hall was unexpected—three maids were cleaning.
But what stood out was not their task but their exceptional beauty.
Although not quite at Dan Yeong's level, they were still rare beauties, not easily encountered elsewhere.
However, beauty wasn't the issue.
'There are three more with the same physique?'
Their physiques were identical to the woman outside.
It was the rare constitution that the Heavenly Divine Healer, or rather his master, had named Pure Physique.
A person with Pure Physique could be utilized in countless ways.
First, they could excel in almost any field.
Additionally, they could be instrumental in altering others' constitutions.
"This way, please," the general manager said, pulling the Heavenly Divine Healer out of his daze with a wry smile.
He could fully understand the healer's reaction.
After all, when he had first come here, his own reaction was exactly the same.
"Are they also under the care of the Second Young Master?"
"Yes, that's correct. There is one more, though she's not here right now, and her affiliation is a bit ambiguous. Still, you can consider her part of the Second Young Master's people."
"There's another person like them?"
"The last one isn't quite as beautiful."
"That's not what I meant…"
The Heavenly Divine Healer trailed off, shaking his head.
What would the manager think if he brought up their constitutions now?
It was better to save his words and directly negotiate with the Second Young Master instead.
"I am eager to meet the Second Young Master."
"Perfect timing. Please, follow me."
Byeok Taesan sat across from the Heavenly Divine Healer.
Although it was just the two of them now, the room had been bustling with people not long ago.
Among them, the one who spoke the most had undoubtedly been the general manager.
He had showered the Heavenly Divine Healer with so much praise that anyone overhearing might have thought he was the healer's disciple rather than the manager of the Golden Wall Merchants.
The reason for his attitude became clear in his parting words before he left.
Now, Byeok Taesan stared directly at the Heavenly Divine Healer.
"You seem quite interested in my maids."
"That's correct."
The Heavenly Divine Healer looked at Byeok Taesan with curious eyes.
Strictly speaking, Byeok Taesan's demeanor was rude.
No one had ever spoken to the Heavenly Divine Healer so casually.
Yet, he didn't feel offended.
It was as if Byeok Taesan's behavior was natural, making it easy to accept.
This wasn't the first time the Heavenly Divine Healer had experienced this sensation.
'It's happened a few times before.'
Byeok Taesan asked again.
"You seem to have more than ten disciples already. Adding four more—isn't that a bit greedy?"
"The physicians who accompanied me today are not my disciples. They are merely colleagues assisting me."
"Doesn't seem that way."
The Heavenly Divine Healer's expression stiffened slightly as he looked at Byeok Taesan.
"Just from their attitudes, it's clear. The hierarchy between you is firmly established. That makes them either disciples or subordinates, wouldn't you agree?"
Byeok Taesan smirked, as if daring him to deny it, which only made the healer's expression harder.
'He's nothing like what I heard.'
From what the Heavenly Divine Healer had gathered, Byeok Taesan was supposed to be unremarkable.
People with Severed Meridians Syndrome often had extraordinary talents, but Byeok Taesan supposedly wasn't one of them.
Investigations rarely matched reality perfectly, but this much discrepancy was a first.
"In any case, what matters is whether I can treat the Young Master's illness."
"No, that's secondary."
The Heavenly Divine Healer's eyebrow twitched.
A man on the brink of death due to Severed Meridians Syndrome thought treatment was secondary?
"What truly matters is that you're after what's mine."
Byeok Taesan grinned.
It was a savage smile, one that made the Heavenly Divine Healer instinctively gulp.
"It's an opportunity for them as well. Learning my medical skills is no ordinary chance."
Byeok Taesan tilted his head slightly.
"Why would they learn your medical skills?"
The healer opened his mouth to respond, but Byeok Taesan cut him off.
"Let's be honest. You're not taking them to teach medicine."
"What do you mean by that? Don't insult me further."
Byeok Taesan chuckled softly.
"Those are my people. Do you really think I wouldn't know their constitution?"
The Heavenly Divine Healer's expression hardened instantly.
"Could it be… you accepted them knowing their constitution? From what I heard, they came to you willingly to pledge their service."
Byeok Taesan shook his head dismissively.
"Does that even matter right now? What's more important is what you plan to do with them, isn't it?"
"I'll say it again. If you continue to insult me…"
"The material is exceptional, isn't it?"
At Byeok Taesan's words, the healer pressed his lips together tightly. His eyes momentarily flickered with shock, unable to hide his dismay.
But he quickly composed himself.
"I have no idea what you mean. Material? How could you refer to people as materials?"
"I never said I'd use people as materials. I simply asked if the material was good."
The healer's face contorted with suppressed anger.
"Young Master, even jokes have their limits."
"A joke? Does this look like a joke to you?"
The healer clenched his mouth shut, anxiety creeping into his demeanor.
What exactly did Byeok Taesan know?
What was he trying to achieve with this confrontation?
His mind swirled in chaos.
'I can't kill him here. Should I return at night to handle him quietly? No… there's no way he wouldn't anticipate that. If I get caught, the situation would only escalate.'
The calculations didn't add up.
This was uncharted territory—he had never been faced with such a predicament and hadn't thought of contingency plans for this kind of scenario.
'Of all times, why now…!'
The timing couldn't have been worse.
Had this happened a year ago, he wouldn't have hesitated or overthought.
But now, things are different.
As the healer wrestled with his thoughts, Byeok Taesan spoke calmly.
"It's been bothering me, you see. These people pledged themselves to me, so they're mine now. It'd be a nuisance if someone tried to take them away. I prefer a quiet life, after all."
With those words, Byeok Taesan glanced the healer up and down.
"Your martial arts skills seem mediocre. The ones outside too… other than medicine, you don't appear to have much to offer."
At his muttering, the healer felt a chill crawl over his skin.
'This man is truly dangerous.'
He was hiding something—something profound and terrifying.
The healer didn't know what it was, but he instinctively understood that acting recklessly would lead to disaster.
"Then… May I take my leave now?"
Byeok Taesan grinned wickedly.
"Why pretend to play dumb? When the cards are revealed, you have to see it through."
The healer tensed, his gaze locked on Byeok Taesan.
"What do you mean by seeing it through?"
"The easiest solution would be to kill you. Simple, clean. Though the cleanup afterward would be a bit of a hassle."
Byeok Taesan clenched and unclenched his fist as he spoke, his tone casual.
"Still… I'd say killing thirteen people shouldn't be too much of an issue."
Unless they were elders of the Murim Alliance, there wouldn't be significant resistance. His body had recovered somewhat, though the aftereffects of any action would still be severe.
The healer suddenly felt his entire body constrict, paralyzed by an overwhelming sense of dread.
He couldn't move.
It was as if he had turned into a helpless puppy in front of a tiger.
And it wasn't difficult to understand why.
'Is this… killing intent?'
The healer stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.
This man exuded a murderous aura so intense that it felt like he had killed tens of thousands to cultivate it.
The healer was suffocating under its pressure.
He had encountered such killing intent only once in his life.
The memory of that moment flooded his mind, choking him with terror.
Without realizing it, he dropped to his knees.
"Please… spare me."
Byeok Taesan scratched his cheek nonchalantly.
"I've never let anyone who coveted what's mine walk away alive…"
Cold sweat poured down the healer's body.
He had a faint recollection of a similar moment from his past.
The memory of it made him feel as though he might wet himself.
Back then, he hadn't been the target—he had merely been a witness.
And the person in question had met a brutal, horrifying death, a scene so terrifying that it had nearly made him lose control of his bladder.
But this time, it was his life on the line.
He didn't want to die.
He'd do anything to survive.
"Well, it's always useful to have someone around to take on the troublesome tasks."
As the suffocating aura lessened, the healer cautiously raised his head.
Byeok Taesan was smiling.
But that smile was so fearsome that the memory of the past moment stayed vividly imprinted in the healer's mind.
'What the hell is this? Even his smile feels the same.'
He tried convincing himself that it was all in his head, a trick of his fear.
Otherwise, he might faint on the spot.