At last, the Little Heavenly Lord contest had begun in Martial Deity Heaven.When the candidates heard how the contest would be run, they felt a hollow pang.Why had they spent all that time in seclusion?To grow stronger.Strength was the first virtue of the Heaven Lord of Martial Deity Heaven.So they had expected the strongest to take the Little Heavenly Lord’s seat.They were wrong.Strength was merely a basic qualification.The candidates weren’t fools.They understood why these were the terms.To become Heaven Lord, one must in the end be acknowledged by the sects within Martial Deity Heaven.Forcing an opponent to bow with power isn’t hard.Making them yield in earnest is.Thinking it through, the Little Heavenly Lord contest wasn’t easy at all.They wouldn’t be recruiting sects alone—five other rivals were competing at the same time.One of those rivals was a name they were hearing for the first time.The Strategist’s disciple.Had he grown greedy in his later years?All at once he’d shoved his own disciple into the contest.The candidates were offended.They had bled to crawl their way here, and someone became a candidate simply for being the Strategist’s disciple?Part of them wanted to rush over, intimidate him, and make him withdraw.They’d even been told they could do exactly that.Yet now that permission had been granted, their hearts weren’t in it.They had no time to spare for the brat.The other clans would already be on the move.They were told to recruit using only the candidates’ own power, but was there a sect that would actually stick to that?Whether openly or not, people were already moving to bring sects into their orbit.The high-ranking sects were a tough ask, so they began with low-ranked sects.Which gave those low-ranked sects a headache.There were too many choices.They had to pick the one who would be most advantageous to them—a tricky calculus.Most low-ranked sects crossed out Yeom Woo Jin, the Strategist Sama Cheon’s disciple.He had the weakest support base.True, he had the Strategist for backing, but given Sama Cheon’s age, that wouldn’t last long.Without Sama Cheon, that support base would crumble like a sandcastle.Perhaps for that reason, most sects didn’t think much of Yeom Woo Jin.What they didn’t know—Many sects were already moving for Yeom Woo Jin.Seventh in rank: the Shindo Clan.Clan Head Shindo Gwang, wearing a pleased expression, was conferring with his retainers.“Judging from how things are unfolding, the contest is recruitment of sects.”At his words, the gathered retainers nodded.“We think the same. According to incoming reports, low-ranked sects have already received visits from people of the Five Guardian Clans. What else could that mean?”“It’s not unexpected. With candidates of similar strength, we anticipated a different kind of contest.”Shindo Gwang nodded at their words and asked,“Has our lord made any special move?”“It appears our lord isn’t paying the contest much mind.”Shindo Gwang let out a small laugh.“Of course. His measure is not ordinary. Such a trifling contest won’t satisfy him.”“Which is why we must move. Must our lord worry about matters this petty?”“Agreed. We should move on our lord’s behalf.”“Our lord already has many allied sects. We should rally them and recruit others in turn.”Shindo Gwang nodded.He was of the same mind.One name rose first in his thoughts.Eighth in rank: Yanghwa Palace.Its Palace Lord had been his friend and friendly rival since childhood.Not a devour-or-be-devoured rivalry—true close friends.If the Shindo Clan were in danger, Yanghwa Palace would arrive before Martial Deity Heaven itself.Shindo Gwang decided Yanghwa Palace must be first.“Good! We move. You all will visit our lord’s allied sects, convey our view, and recruit any sects you can.”“Yes, sir!” ****Shindo Gwang ended the meeting and headed straight for Yanghwa Palace.“How long has it been, my lord?”Yanghwa Palace’s strategist, Seon Dohyeon, welcomed him.“Heh heh. Have you been well? Nothing troubling the palace lately?”For a moment, Seon Dohyeon’s face dimmed—then brightened again.“Haha! In such peaceful times, what could trouble us? All is well.”“Is that so.”The strategist’s initial shadowed look snagged in Shindo Gwang’s mind.Something’s up.He felt it.“Is the palace lord inside?”“He stepped out, but he’ll return shortly. Allow me to host you in the meantime.”“Much obliged.”“Please, inside.”Following the strategist’s lead, Shindo Gwang stepped in.Inside, the air felt… heavy.“Are you sure nothing’s wrong in the palace?”He asked again.The strategist hesitated.“Something is wrong, isn’t it? Speak. You know the bond between Yeohae and me.”“W-well…”“Tell me. Is there something I can do?”Pressed by Shindo Gwang, the strategist hesitated, then spoke.“In truth… the grandson born to the young palace lord is in poor condition. The palace lord has been personally scouring the land for rare medicines.”“How poor a condition?”“I don’t know. Even after summoning every famous physician, none can name the illness.”“I see.”As the two spoke—“Strategist, aren’t you saying a bit too much?”Startled by the voice behind him, the strategist bowed his head.Palace Lord Dong Yeohae was standing there.“M-my apologies. I only thought there might be help to be had.”“That’s enough. You may go.”“Yes.”When the strategist withdrew, Dong Yeohae smiled at Shindo Gwang.“Long time.”“Indeed. I heard.”Dong Yeohae nodded.“You don’t know what it is?”He shook his head.“We don’t. Still, there is one thing those physicians all said… the heart is weak.”“The heart?”“Yes.”“And the treatment?”“Sigh… rebirth—remolding the bones and renewing the body.”“That’s a treatment?”“It is. So I’ve been searching everywhere for miraculous medicine, but it’s not easy.”“Shall I help?”At Shindo Gwang’s offer, Dong Yeohae smiled.“Your words alone mean much.”“Not just words. I know someone—an extraordinarily famous divine physician. I’ll ask him.”Dong Yeohae looked at him with eyes full of hope.“T-truly? A divine physician?”“Yes. His medical skill reaches the heavens. I vouch for him. If it’s him, he’ll save your grandson.”When Shindo Gwang spoke with such confidence, Dong Yeohae clasped his hands tight.“Please! Introduce him to me!”“I will.”“F-forgive me, but could you do it now?”Urgency tightened ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ his voice.“To be frank, we don’t know when the boy’s heart might stop. I beg you.”“Understood. Then wait here. I must go to Martial Deity Heaven.”“Martial Deity Heaven? Why there?”“That’s where he is.”“Let me come.”“No. I’ll bring him. You wait.”“Thank you! Truly, thank you!”“We’re friends. Don’t mention it. Do me a favor someday, instead.”“I will! Whatever you ask—I’ll do it.”“Then I’ll be quick.”“Please. I’ll prepare to receive the divine physician.”Shindo Gwang nodded and sped off toward Martial Deity Heaven. ****“My lord!”Shindo Gwang bowed low before Yeon Woo Jin.Yeon Woo Jin greeted him warmly.“Clan Head Shindo, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”“Yes. Thanks to your concern, I’ve been safe and sound.”“I’m glad to hear it. What brings you here? Business in Martial Deity Heaven?”“I’ve come to see you, my lord.”“Me?”“Yes, my lord—there’s something I must ask.”At his grave expression, Yeon Woo Jin took a seat.“Tell me.”“I have a close friend—the Palace Lord of Yanghwa Palace, Dong Yeohae.”“I’ve heard of him.”“His grandson is on the brink right now. My lord, please help.”Yeon Woo Jin rose at once.“Of course. When one of mine pleads so earnestly, I can’t turn away.”One of mine.Shindo Gwang’s chest tightened and trembled.“Thank you, my lord! I will repay this grace until the day I die.”“Grace? We’re saving a life. It’s what we do. Let’s go now.”“I beg your pardon, my lord. In the midst of the Little Heavenly Lord contest, for me to make such a request…”“It’s fine. I meant to visit Yanghwa Palace anyway. This is convenient.”“Was the purpose of that visit perhaps to bring Yanghwa Palace under your banner?”“Even without adding them as subordinates, I intended to make them a supporting force.”“So the win condition of this contest is just that—amassing support to the utmost.”Yeon Woo Jin smiled.Seeing that smile, Shindo Gwang knew his guess had hit home.“That’s a secret.”“If the child is cured, I will persuade the palace lord to become your supporter.”Yeon Woo Jin shook his head.“I should do that.”“I am your man. Leave that kind of work to me.”“Hm. Alright. Then I’ll entrust it to you.”With his lord’s permission, Shindo Gwang beamed.“I will not fail your expectations!”“Let’s hurry. You said the child is critical.”“Y-yes. I’ll lead the way.” ****Meeting Yeon Woo Jin left Dong Yeohae at a loss.Hadn’t he said divine physician?He was far too young to be called that.He’d assumed, hearing the extreme deference, that the man would be older than Shindo Gwang.A disciple of the divine physician?Sent ahead to assess the state of the patient?He looked at Shindo Gwang with an expression that asked what on earth was going on.“Mind yourself. He’s someone we brought with great difficulty. Don’t be rude.”At Shindo Gwang’s words, Dong Yeohae’s eyes widened.He was still using the most respectful address.“I-it’s an honor. I—I am Dong Yeohae, Palace Lord of Yanghwa.”“Pleased to meet you. I’m Yeom Woo Jin.”A name he’d never heard.He racked his memory, but there was no famed physician by that name.Which only made him more anxious.“May I see the patient first?”When he asked to examine the boy, Dong Yeohae asked, face tight with worry,“A-are you truly a divine physician?”“I’m not at the level to be called divine.”Shindo Gwang bristled at that.“What do you mean, my lord? The whole world knows your medical art reaches the heavens. He is a divine physician!”Was that really something to get so worked up about?More than that—what was this?He acted less like a peer than a subordinate serving his lord.It was confusing.“What are you doing? Didn’t you hear him? Take him to the patient. Quickly.”Prodded by Shindo Gwang, Dong Yeohae reluctantly led Yeon Woo Jin to where his grandson lay.As they entered the room, a somber air closed in.A child panted raggedly while several physicians hovered around, tending him.On one side, the young palace lord, Dong Baekdan, rose when he saw Dong Yeohae, sorrow etched across his face.“Father, you’re here.”“How is he?”“Worse by the moment. Even the Heaven-Bright Life-Giving Pill—that’s said to raise the dead—did nothing, Father.”Head bowed, voice steeped in despair, Dong Baekdan spoke.“I know… which is why I’ve brought a new physician.”

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