Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 11. The Clue
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Jeong Rip, the Demon Subduing Division Leader, was a cautious man.
Until his condition had fully recovered, he did not reveal to anyone that it was improving.
He had only informed his direct superior, the Murim Alliance Leader. The man had been greatly pleased and urged him to focus on his treatment.
'My condition is improving day by day, and the White-Clothed Physician is doing his utmost. It won't be long before I'm cured. If that happens, I'll owe him my life. That grace must be repaid over a lifetime. No, even now, I've already regained a significant amount of my lifespan, so I've received a tremendous favor.'
During this time, on the day Jeong Rip visited Yuseong for treatment, he noticed there was already a patient in Yuseong's consultation room and intended to wait patiently.
That is, if he hadn't overheard their conversation by chance with his sharp hearing.
"Be honest with me. Is the Demon Subduing Division Leader's treatment really going well? Of course, I trust you, but earlier Jo Physician was telling the other physicians that you're deceiving the Division Leader to get something out of it."
"The treatment is progressing well. He can be fully cured within two months. And what does it matter what Jo Physician says? This is between the Division Leader and me."
"Oh my, aren't you resentful of Jo Physician, who goes around badmouthing you at every turn? Even the attendants know that you two don't get along."
"I'm human too, so it's frustrating, but what can I do? He's much older than me and has deep connections with the Murim Alliance people. I'm not going to get into a brawl with him."
"That's true, but..."
Jeong Rip pondered for a moment before quietly turning back.
"Eh, where are you going?"
Ignoring the attendant's words, he headed straight to Jo Physician's consultation room.
He had always been cautious by nature and careful not to judge based solely on others' words, but hadn't Yuseong himself admitted to feeling frustrated?
That was enough.
It was reason enough not to tolerate hearing that Jo Physician was slandering his benefactor, Baek Yuseong.
'I heard the White-Clothed Physician hasn't been at this medical hall long. Even if he's wronged, it wouldn't be easy for him to stand up to Jo Physician, who's been here for years. But I'm different. I have the power.'
After waiting briefly in front of Jo Physician's consultation room, an attendant notified him inside, and a surprised Jo Physician rushed out.
"Oh, what brings the Demon Subduing Division Leader here? Please, come inside."
"No need to go in. I came because I have something to say."
"Of course. Please speak freely. I'll listen attentively."
Jo Physician's face lit up with what seemed like eager anticipation.
Did he think Jeong Rip had realized he'd been fooled by Baek Yuseong and come crawling back?
Already intending to give a stern warning, Jeong Rip felt his disgust toward Jo Physician intensify at the sight of this man's scheming expression, as if he had sent Jeong Rip to Yuseong himself.
Of course, thanks to that, he had met Yuseong and was being treated, but the impure intentions left no room for gratitude toward Jo Physician.
"Jo Physician, do you think I'm some kind of fool?"
As a Peak Realm expert unleashed an icy killing intent, Jo Physician's legs trembled uncontrollably, his own mediocre martial arts no match for it.
"W-What do you m-mean by that?"
The people waiting in front of the consultation room buzzed in alarm at the commotion, turning to watch.
The old Jeong Rip would never have done something that might damage his dignity, but he wanted to resolve his benefactor's worries.
"You used your petty tricks to make a fool of me, and I let it slide, but now you're going around slandering White-Clothed Physician Baek Yuseong? Saying that I was duped by him and delusionally believe he can cure me?"
"T-That's... N-No, I never..."
Jo Physician desperately tried to defend himself despite the overwhelming terror from the Peak Realm expert's onslaught.
But in his flustered state, he couldn't hide his lies from Jeong Rip, who had spent a lifetime dealing with the cunning of the unorthodox sects.
His shaking eyes and false gestures betrayed him.
Now that he knew Jo Physician had truly done this, any hesitation vanished.
"You're spouting lies with that treacherous tongue again. You sent me to White-Clothed Physician Baek Yuseong because you lacked the skill to treat me and wanted to commit murder by proxy, then told the other physicians that I was idiotically deluded into thinking he could cure me!"
"Eek...!"
He hadn't used such extreme language, but the content was similar enough.
As Jeong Rip intensified his pressure, Jo Physician paled to the point of collapsing to the ground, wetting himself in terror.
His light gray trousers darkened and soaked through.
Jeong Rip turned to look behind him.
The onlookers whispered about the Demon Subduing Division Leader and Jo Physician.
Most were shocked that Jo Physician would do such a thing, though some thought Jeong Rip had gone too far.
He might have lost a bit of face brawling with a commoner for his benefactor's sake, but he felt no regret.
In fact, he felt relieved.
'I've been avoiding even trivial situations like this all this time. What was so important about face anyway?'
Having done it, he realized it was utterly insignificant compared to his benefactor's distress.
At that moment, a stir came from his dantian.
Something was about to change.
'No way... The clue I've sought so desperately through all my efforts...!'
A martial artist's enlightenment could come in a life-or-death crisis on the edge of the blade or from something trivial.
Born of lowly origins, Jeong Rip had risen to the high position of Demon Subduing Division Leader through a stroke of fortune and great achievements.
Fearing scorn for his humble birth after becoming an expert, his constant emphasis on proper conduct and dignity had been blocking his enlightenment.
Stepping forward to resolve his benefactor's frustration had unexpectedly become the trigger for the enlightenment he'd longed for. Life was unpredictable.
He felt the need to enter closed-door training immediately.
He had to seize the clue while it was clear.
Miss this moment, and it might fade, requiring much more time.
"I'll let it pass with a warning this time, but if that treacherous tongue wags once more, I won't hold back next time. Remember that!"
"I-I'm sorry..."
After coldly glaring down at Jo Physician, who kept his head bowed and repeatedly apologized, Jeong Rip hurriedly went to find Yuseong.
And there, he declared the treatment suspended.
It was only natural that Yuseong, unaware of the incident at Jo Physician's room, was bewildered.
"What do you mean? You know better than anyone that the treatment is going well. Stopping now will make it deteriorate again gradually."
"I suppose I jumped straight to the point. It's not that—I've grasped a clue to enlightenment and wish to enter closed-door training."
"A clue... You mean enlightenment?!"
"Yes. I'm sorry, but I want to seclude myself for this reason. It won't take long."
Yuseong was delighted as if it were his own achievement.
'I was puzzled by the massive surge in Divine Power just now, but this is what happened. If he reaches the Transformation Realm...!'
"Of course you should. If it takes longer than expected, come back for treatment anytime. Challenge it as much as you want!"
Jeong Rip's eyes moistened, but he desperately held back with his inner power control. He couldn't hide his trembling voice, though.
"You are already my benefactor. Even if I don't achieve great success, that fact remains unchanged."
Without hesitation, Jeong Rip left the medical hall, reported to the Murim Alliance Leader, and entered seclusion.
***
Yuseong later heard about the incident between Jo Physician and the Demon Subduing Division Leader.
'The Division Leader stood up for me. Jo Physician will keep quiet for a while. Patients have been leaving him over it, and he even wet himself in front of everyone.'
He felt satisfied, frankly.
He wasn't some saintly paragon, so how could he not be pleased that Jo Physician, who had constantly envied and obstructed his successes, had suffered such humiliation?
He merely restrained himself from clapping in delight, knowing that self-control in such moments would earn greater respect from others.
Yuseong's thoughts turned to the Demon Subduing Division Leader's enlightenment.
'I don't know what led him to it, but I'm envious. When will I recover my dantian?'
His Divine Power was growing faster than during his priest days in Virtual Fantasy, but he was still far from a skill that could restore his dantian.
Moreover, it was common knowledge that the earlier one began cultivating martial arts, the better.
Even with his legendary Ultimate Martial Body, recovering his dantian too late might mean his muscles and bones had stiffened, leading to hardship.
And that hardship was the kind for facing the final boss.
'I'm living as the character I created, so there's no doubt this is a game world. There must be a final boss, and I have to defeat it. Whether to return to reality or enjoy wealth and glory here, everything depends on overcoming the final boss.'
For now, there was no sharp solution. He could only accumulate Divine Power day by day.
"I hope a lot of people show up tomorrow too."
***
The physicians at Luoyang Medical Hall took turns having days off.
Treating patients from morning to evening was mentally exhausting, and without proper rest, they couldn't last long.
Yuseong, blessed with stamina and where medical acts directly built his Divine Power, hated even rest days and worked through his off days.
On Yuseong's day off, he headed to Luoyang's slums.
The slum dwellers had no money.
Many couldn't even rest properly, let alone afford treatment, and they were among the common folk who gave the most Divine Power.
'Doctors who volunteer in impoverished areas earn greater respect and gratitude.'
It started as a calculated move, but nowadays Yuseong found fulfillment in the thanks from those he treated.
"White-Clothed Physician, you've come again! We feel so guilty making you work without rest after your shifts."
A burly man in ragged clothes spotted Baek Yuseong and hurried over to stand by his side.
He was trying to act as a guard, in his own way.
Even without martial arts, Yuseong could easily handle a few third-rate warriors, but he appreciated the man's goodwill.
"I'm doing this because I enjoy it. Have many people gathered?"
"Oh yes, of course. Everyone's been expecting you."
"Let's hurry then."
Guided by the man, Yuseong arrived at an open lot where many people had gathered.
They lit up with joy at the sight of him. Some were repeat patients from previous visits, others new ones drawn by word of mouth in the slums.
As Yuseong set up and began treating them, a commotion erupted from behind, and the crowd parted.
A man carrying a boy came running frantically.
"White-Clothed Physician! Please save this person!"
Yuseong saw that the boy, who appeared to be around seven or eight and drenched in sweat, had a broken sword embedded in his chest, his clothes soaked in blood.
It was a grave injury that needed no further inspection.