Chapter 67. I Will Find It

[Hero’s Return]

- Collected Names: 2

- Siwelin the Saintess of Sacrifice

- Jecheon Seong the Heavenly Demon

“I can’t believe my eyes! Is everyone in your world capable of such things?” Jecheon Seong marveled as he looked around the basement of the store. When he first heard the explanation, he still couldn’t believe he could be summoned to another world.

Yet, he found himself in Kim Do-Joon’s world.

“No, most of them are just ordinary people,” Kim Do-Joon said, shaking his head.

Then, he opened the basement door and climbed the stairs. Jecheon Seong followed, hands clasped behind his back.

“Daddy!”

Kim So-Eun called out as they emerged, with Siwelin by her side. Both were smiling as usual.

However, their smiles faltered when they saw the unfamiliar old man behind him.

“Who... is he?” Kim So-Eun asked hesitantly.

— Is he a guest?

Siwelin wondered.

Clearing his throat, Kim Do-Joon introduced Jecheon Seong.

“This is Jecheon Seong.

Umm...

” Kim Do-Joon hesitated a bit, phrasing his words in an easy to comprehend manner. “He’s here to help with... So-Eun’s illness.”

“Help me? Are you a doctor, Grandpa?” Kim So-Eun asked.

“I’m not a doctor, but I’m knowledgeable about your illness,” Jecheon Seong replied, crouching down to Kim So-Eun’s level with a warm smile. “I had the same illness when I was young.”

“Really?” Kim So-Eun’s eyes widened in surprise, but it was Siwelin who was truly shocked.

Kim So-Eun didn’t know her illness was fatal. However, Siwelin knew that it was incurable and would likely claim her life before adulthood.

— Is that true?

Siwelin tugged at Kim Do-Joon’s sleeve, seeking confirmation.

“Yes, it’s true. And... he’s someone I brought from the labyrinth, just like you,” Kim Do-Joon explained with a serious expression.

Siwelin looked at Jecheon Seong with newfound understanding. Knowing that he was summoned just like her eased her wariness. At least, she believed he wouldn’t harm Kim Do-Joon or his daughter, Kim So-Eun.

“Let’s not stand around here. Please, come in,” Kim Do-Joon invited.

Jecheon Seong nodded. Kim So-Eun ran to cling to Kim Do-Joon’s arm. Then, they all moved into the room.

The first order of business was to examine Kim So-Eun.

“May I see your arm for a moment?” Jecheon Seong asked.

Kim So-Eun, who sat on Kim Do-Joon’s lap, looked up at her father for confirmation. Kim Do-Joon nodded reassuringly. Then, she extended her arm toward Jecheon Seong.

It’d been a long time since anyone other than her regular doctor examined her, so Kim So-Eun felt a bit nervous and awkward. Jecheon Seong gently held her wrist and felt her pulse, subtly infusing a bit of his energy into her.

Kim So-Eun’s eyes widened.

“Does it hurt?” Jecheon Seong asked.

“No,” she replied, shaking her head.

It didn’t hurt, but rather, warm. Kim So-Eun, who was always cold due to her condition, found the warmth comforting. No matter how many layers she wore or how close she stayed to the heater, she was always cold inside. As such, this warmth was something entirely new to her.

She stared at Jecheon Seong’s wrinkled hand in awe.

“Does it usually hurt during a pulse check?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

“It can if one isn’t cautious. I’m using my energy to examine all her pulses. For someone with a normal constitution, this wouldn’t be an issue, but for someone with her condition, it can be painful,” Jecheon Seong explained.

Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon asked Jecheon Seong various questions about his daughter’s illness. Given the opportunity to learn more, he didn’t hesitate to ask anything that came to mind. Jecheon Seong patiently answered, understanding Kim Do-Joon’s concerns. Such conversations didn’t distract the old man, a testament to the depth of his training.

In fact, Jecheon Seong was speaking from experience. During his childhood, the Demon Healer’s examination was incredibly painful, as if his veins were twisted and torn. Although Demon Healer didn’t seem to care, Jecheon Seong didn’t want Kim So-Eun to go through the same. So, he was as gentle and thorough as possible.

“How is she?” Kim Do-Joon asked anxiously.

“I’m still examining her. Please be patient.”

Given the complexity of her blocked and twisted pulse, diagnosing Kim So-Eun’s condition required precision and care. Such an examination was impossible without Jecheon Seong in the first place. Because he had the same illness, Absolute Meridians, he was interested and had more knowledge about it compared to anyone else.

Suddenly, Jecheon Seong said, “Did you know that someone with Absolute Meridians cannot learn martial arts?”

“What?” Kim Do-Joon asked, puzzled.

Hadn’t Jecheon Seong come to teach Kim So-Eun martial arts to help with her condition?

“Those with this condition have their main blood vessels blocked by intense yin energy. It also affects the surrounding vessels, and will eventually twist the entire network of veins in the body,” Jecheon Seong explained. “Hence, she can’t learn martial arts, since they rely on the flow of internal energy.”

Kim Do-Joon understood immediately. Had he not been learning about the importance of mana and pathway in mana control from Karlish? He’d experienced how vital they were.

“But then...”

"Don't worry. Your daughter has me," Jecheon Seong reassured him.

The pulse check was finished, and Jecheon Seong released Kim So-Eun's wrist. She quickly buried her face in Kim Do-Joon's chest, but soon peeked out to look at Jecheon Seong. Jecheon Seong smiled gently at her, before turning to Kim Do-Joon.

"Let me tell you what will happen next."

Kim Do-Joon listened intently, like a guardian eager to hear the results.

"First, we will slowly correct her twisted and broken meridians. Instead of being in a shredded state, we will create a pathway, even if it’s thin. That's the first step," Jecheon Seong began.

"Next, with my guidance, we will start circulating her internal energy using Nine Yang Demon Art. We will maintain the repaired meridians to prevent them from breaking again, while gradually building up her Yang energy. After a few years, her body will be somewhat restored."

By this stage, the preparations would be complete. The final step was to give her an elixir to supplement her yang energy. Then, once she’d accumulated enough, they would break through the blocked meridians in one go.

Jecheon Seong said, "That's the plan for now. Of course, unexpected events might arise, but we’ll deal with them as they come."

“...”

Kim Do-Joon was silent, processing everything.

"Is something wrong?" Jecheon Seong asked, noticing his expression.

Finally, Kim Do-Joon spoke, bowing his head deeply. "Thank you."

For the first time, he saw a clear path forward. It wasn’t a vague hope of finding a miraculous golden elixir, but a concrete, realistic plan. He’d been wandering alone in a dark cave, clinging to a single point of light. Now, that light had grown brighter, and he was no longer alone. He had Siwelin and Jecheon Seong by his side.

"You don't need to bow. I’m merely offering some help. Don’t forget the most important task," Jecheon Seong reminded him.

"...The elixir?"

"Yes. Without the elixir, you won’t be able to accumulate enough Yang energy to break through her meridians. Finding it is your duty as her father.”

Kim Do-Joon nodded in response. His immediate task remained unchanged: honing his skills in the labyrinth and exploring dungeons. He had to be ready to seize any elixir that might appear!

Moreover, it was much more plausible than finding the Golden Divine Elixir.

"I will find it, no matter what," Kim Do-Joon vowed, his eyes burning with determination.

***

The next morning, Jecheon Seong woke up earlier than anyone else.

“...”

Yesterday, he had examined the child's condition. They also had various conversations before retiring for the night. A feeling of curiosity naturally surfaced. He’d always been a scholar at heart, passionate about learning. The prospect of exploring a new world was simply irresistible.

Soon, he vanished without a sound.

“The morning air is refreshing,” Jecheon Seong remarked.

It wasn’t quite as refreshing as the air back home in Zhongyuan, but it was still pleasant. He wandered around, taking in the early morning sights.

As time passed, more people started to appear. There were office workers on their way to work, students in school uniforms, and shopkeepers diligently cleaning their stores. It had been so long since he experienced the ordinary bustle of life.

Amidst this, Jecheon Seong, dressed in traditional martial attire, stood out. Yet, no one seemed to notice him. He was adept at concealing his presence, a skill that could rival even the best assassins.

“Is that a hill?” Jecheon Seong muttered.

After wandering for a while, he found a small hill with trees and greenery. It was too small to be called a mountain, but too high to be just a hill.

Climbing to the top, he surveyed the city. Gray buildings stretched out before him, with the sun rising high above them.

I guess the sun rises the same way here too.

In this unfamiliar world, the sun was the one constant that mirrored Zhongyuan.

Suddenly, he remembered.

— Live your own life.

The words of his older brother echoed in his mind. He had failed to follow these words due to his own desires.

Brother.

In Zhongyuan, he had lived under his brother's name, following his brother’s life. Although it had motivated him to live, in the end, it also became a shackle in his later years.

It was during this time of confusion that he met Kim Do-Joon, a man whose child suffered from the same condition he once had, Absolute Meridians. That connection had somehow brought him to this new land, far from Zhongyuan.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Are you giving me a chance to live my own life here?

It felt as if his brother was giving him one more opportunity. Though he doubted it, the thought persisted.

This place was far from Zhongyuan. There was neither the Divine Sect nor the Martial Alliance. No one even knew the name of Heavenly Demon Jecheon Kang. Thus, he could finally live his own life. Perhaps, this was the only way to dispel his lingering doubts.

He muttered to himself, “I am Jecheon Seong.”

He spoke of the name he couldn’t reclaim in Zhongyuan out loud.

“

Ha

.”

He chuckled softly at himself. Standing in the early morning breeze, muttering alone—it was almost ridiculous.

Time to head back.

He made his way back to Kim Do-Joon's house. He navigated without a single wrong turn, having memorized the route perfectly. Upon arriving, instead of going inside, he settled in a corner outside the store and started his usual morning exercises. He moved slowly to loosen his body.

“

Hmm?

”

Then, Jecheon Seong sensed someone watching him. Turning, he saw Kim Do-Joon’s daughter, Kim So-Eun, peeking at him from behind the door.

“Good morning,” Kim So-Eun said shyly.

“Good morning to you too. Did you sleep well?” Jecheon Seong replied.

His gentle tone seemed to reassure her, and she stepped outside, albeit keeping a slight distance.

"What are you doing?" asked Kim So-Eun.

"I’m just stretching a bit. It’s good for your health," replied Jecheon Seong, moving slowly and controlling his breath to absorb the energy of nature.

Of course, for someone like Jecheon Seong, this exercise had real effects on energy flow. For an ordinary person, it’d just be a regular warm-up.

"If it’s good for your health, can I do it too?" Kim So-Eun’s interest was piqued.

It wasn’t a typical interest for a child her age, but So-Eun was far from ordinary.

"Do you want to be healthy?"

"Yes, because when I’m sick, Daddy looks like he’s going to cry.”

Jecheon Seong paused, her words stirring his memories. When he had a seizure as a child, his older brother would wipe his sweat while in tears.

With a smile, he said, "Then follow along. I’ll do it slowly."

"Okay!"

Jecheon Seong began to move again. From a short distance, Kim So-Eun watched and imitated his movements. Her actions were clumsy, but her expression was earnest.

Jecheon Seong found himself enjoying this. However, his movements gradually became slower. What started as slow practice now seemed like he was barely moving at all.

"Grandpa, why are you standing still?" Kim So-Eun asked, puzzled.

Realizing he got too absorbed, Jecheon Seong chuckled. Of course, she wouldn’t understand the subtleties of movement and stillness.

"I’m not standing still. I’m moving very slowly," Jecheon Seong explained, this time moving a bit faster so she could see.

"

Wow!

You’re like a turtle!" Kim So-Eun exclaimed.

Though a martial artist from Zhongyuan would have paid quite an amount to witness these movements, to Kim So-Eun, it was simply fun.

Jecheon Seong smiled, seeing her bright laughter.

"Do you want to try it yourself?" Jecheon Seong offered.

***

On days Kim Do-Joon returned from the labyrinth, he usually slept deeply, shaking off accumulated fatigue. Sometimes, he’d sleep past noon. However, today, he woke up early for some reason.

Yawning, he stepped outside with a broom, only to be greeted by a surprising sight.

Jecheon Seong and Kim So-Eun were doing what looked like Chinese martial arts in slow motion.

"What are you doing?" Kim Do-Joon asked.

"Daddy! Good morning!" Kim So-Eun greeted him cheerfully.

"Did you sleep well?" asked Jecheon Seong.

"Yeah, I guess..." Kim Do-Joon replied, still puzzled.

Was Jecheon Seong teaching his daughter some martial arts in front of the store?

"Come on, Dad! Join us! It’s good for your health!" Kim So-Eun urged, pulling his hand.

"Perfect timing. You should join us. This exercise will surely be beneficial," Jecheon Seong added confidently.

While Kim Do-Joon didn’t think Jecheon Seong would lie, he was still unsure. However, not long after, he found himself participating. With Kim So-Eun in the middle, he stood on the right while Jecheon Seong was on the left.

"So, what exactly is this?" Kim Do-Joon asked.

"It’s good for you. Just focus on your breathing while at it," Jecheon Seong instructed.

Realizing it was some sort of training, Kim Do-Joon's demeanor shifted. He stopped questioning and concentrated on his breathing and movements, following Jecheon Seong's lead.

— What are you three doing?

Their peculiar exercise was interrupted by Siwelin. She came to look for Kim Do-Joon who never returned after leaving with a broom.

Seeing her, Kim Do-Joon awkwardly cleared his throat. Jecheon Seong chuckled, and Kim So-Eun giggled, their bond noticeably stronger than before.

***

Meanwhile, inside the store, a phone on the table buzzed.

It was Kim Do-Joon’s phone.