BAG 4

BAG

Posted by Mona, Released on October 12, 2025

Chapter 4

The man who found Mugang brought his hands together respectfully.

“I greet my benefactor.”

“Benefactor? I’m merely a humble physician.”

“I may know nothing of medicine, but even I could tell that Iron man wouldn’t survive. Yet you saved him. How could I not call you my benefactor?”

The warrior’s tone was calm and firm, his conviction unshakable.
Mugang sensed the man’s stubborn sincerity, nodded, and followed him into the recovery room.
When Iron man saw the warrior, his face brightened.

“Deputy Leader!”

“You look healthier. I take it you’re feeling better?”

“It’s just swelling. I told you to avoid salty food, and yet you snuck into the kitchen last night with that body of yours—”

“……”

Realizing he had said too much, Mugang stopped mid-sentence, but it was too late.
The Deputy Leader gave Iron man an incredulous look. Even for him, sneaking into the kitchen while half-dead was a bit much.
After a sigh, he turned to Mugang with a slight bow.

“My apologies.”

“It’s fine.”

“Thank you. May I ask… when will Iron man be able to move?”

“Hmm. He’ll need at least a month of rest.”

The Deputy Leader’s expression turned grim.
He needed to return to the main sect as soon as possible, but a delay of over a month was far too long.

“Is there truly no faster way?”

“Even just walking will take seven days, minimum.”

“I see… very well.”

As the conversation drew to a close, Iron man cautiously interjected.

“Deputy Leader, do you still have that thing with you?”

The Deputy Leader tilted his head, not quite following.

“You know, the item that was issued to me.”

“Ah.”

He reached into his robes and pulled out a small pouch, which Iron man accepted and immediately offered to Mugang.
Now it was Mugang’s turn to look puzzled.

“What is this?”

“A token of gratitude. You saved my life.”

“That’s unnecessary. I’ve already been paid for the treatment.”

“If you were paid in a few coins, I’d say my life isn’t that cheap. I have four mouths to feed—children, not yet grown. You didn’t just save one life, but five. I only wish I had more to offer.”

Mugang insisted that saving lives was his duty as a healer, but both warriors were deeply moved.
Iron man refused to take back the pouch, and Mugang eventually accepted it out of courtesy before leaving the two to talk.

Once inside his quarters, he opened the pouch—and broke into a wide grin.

“A spirit pill? What luck!”

Inside was a small, low-grade spirit elixir.
Such elixirs were commonly used to restore inner energy—about five years’ worth per pill.
But even a “low-grade” elixir from the Ilwol Divine Cult was of the purest quality and incredibly expensive.

“This thing alone could be worth at least ten gold pieces.”

To Mugang, whose total inner strength was barely ten years’ worth, this was a treasure beyond price.
That night, he consumed the elixir and began meditating.

[Your Inner Power has increased by 5.]
[Soul-Absorbing Qi Technique (F) has ranked up to (E).]

His internal energy expanded like a swelling tide, and his core technique advanced a full rank.
But what truly astonished him wasn’t the improvement—it was that he’d absorbed all five years’ worth of inner energy from the pill.

“How did I absorb it all?”

Ordinarily, such perfect absorption required a high-grade cultivation method and external assistance.
Mugang’s Soul-Absorbing Qi was a beginner-level art, and his natural talent was mediocre at best.
Even absorbing a single year’s worth would’ve been a miracle.

After some thought, realization dawned.

“It’s because I’ve awakened.”

That explained everything.
His body, senses, and energy affinity had all evolved since awakening.
His hearing caught subtler sounds, his sight pierced through the dark, and even faint traces of qi became perceptible.

“If this continues… I might even cure my lack of martial talent.”

Two days later, Iron man began walking with crutches.
Given how severe his wounds had been, the recovery was astonishingly fast.
Mugang stroked his chin, impressed.

“I thought it would take at least a week before he could walk.”

Another day passed—iron man was walking unaided.
The next day, though still limping, he could move freely.

“I think I can manage daily activities now.”

“So long as you don’t strain your abdomen. The scar isn’t fully healed. Avoid martial training or anything strenuous.”

“Understood.”

Iron m then announced his intent to return to the main sect.
After some hesitation, Mugang agreed.

The next morning, Iron man departed, bowing deeply before leaving.

“I’ll repay this life debt one day.”

“The elixir was more than enough.”

“Truly… you’re a man of great humility.”

“……?”

In the days that followed, Mugang’s life returned to normal—except for two things.
The number of patients doubled, and their attitude toward him had completely changed.

They now regarded him not as a simple physician, but a living legend.

“Doctor, this isn’t some deadly illness, right?”

“You just drank too much. Take this galgeun-tang twice a day after meals.”

“Ah! As expected of a divine healer!”

The increase in patients wasn’t bad for Mugang.
He needed the income to pay rent—and more importantly, each treatment granted him experience points.
While minor illnesses didn’t give much, treating ten or more patients a day added up.

During a break, he opened his status window.

“Almost Level 5.”

Once he reached Level 5, he could learn a new skill.
This time, he intended to choose differently from his previous life.

“That world had science. This one doesn’t. The same path won’t work.”

“The past is the past.”

He looked forward to the day eagerly—and it came sooner than expected.
After a few days, as he treated a patient, a familiar chime echoed in his mind: he had leveled up.

Finishing his shift, he went to speak with Physician Geum.

“If anyone needs me, call for me.”

“Understood, Chief! It’s an honor to serve such a great physician!”

“…Right.”

Suppressing a sigh at the man’s sycophantic grin, Mugang went to his quarters and reclined on the bed.
He opened his skill menu.

In his previous life, his first skill had been Body Modification.

“Body Modification… not bad, but…”

The ability strengthened or reshaped muscles, skin, even organs—but it consumed enormous amounts of mana, requiring potions for recovery.

“And those potions cost a fortune… not worth it here.”

Even the cheapest spirit elixir cost ten gold pieces, and low-ranked skills barely produced noticeable effects.
He scrolled further.

“Rapid Recovery could work.”

That skill healed wounds instantly, increasing a patient’s survival rate.
However, it came with a terrifying side effect: unbearable pain that could lead to shock and death.

“Maybe the luck-boosting prayer is safer…”

As he debated, a frantic voice came from outside.

“Chief! Oh, most admirable and respected Chief!”

Mugang frowned and opened the door. Geum burst in, panting.

“The warriors of the Ilwol Divine Cult—they’re here!”

“Understood!”

“Wait—Chief, please don’t—!”

Mugang was already running. His unbuttoned robe fluttered as he rushed out.
When the cult’s warriors came into view, he immediately dropped to his knees and shouted at the top of his lungs:

“Sun and Moon, saviors of the prosperous world!
All things revolve under divine guidance!
Glory to the Holy Sun and Moon!”

Silence.

“……”

He stayed bowed so low his nose nearly touched the ground, yet no one answered.
That was… unusual.
No true follower of the Ilwol Cult would ignore the sacred chant.

“Wait… are they impostors?”

Cautiously, he lifted his head.

The men looked bewildered, exchanging uncertain glances.
A few turned toward the back of their group—where a woman stood, bound and gagged, her hair disheveled.

“Mmph! Nngh!”

“Kidnappers?”

Mugang’s mind raced. Could these be bandits impersonating cult warriors?

“I am Hyukho, Captain of the Moonlight Unit .”

“The Moonlight Unit!”

Mugang gasped.
In the Ilwol Cult, the words Sun and Moon were sacred—reserved only for the elite divisions.
Even a lowly village healer like him knew that much.