Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 27. Once-in-a-Century Prodigy
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The Murim Alliance's interrogation room has a notorious reputation.
Even the most vicious demonic cultists enter it, and after just a few days, they beg for their lives while spilling everything they know.
A fellow torture expert had gone in first to interrogate the assassin, while the other torture expert, Bu-ryeong, leaned back in his chair and rested deeply since he would need to relieve his colleague later.
Switching off between experts to torture the subject without letting them sleep even for a moment was a highly effective method.
This was because a person goes mad with torment if they can't sleep.
The one inside was suspected to be an assassin, so he might have undergone training to withstand torture.
It could turn into a prolonged battle, so he was taking a rest.
Then someone came rushing to him urgently.
'Did they catch someone else?'
Bu-ryeong, who had opened the door, was startled.
Unlike usual, a beauty with slightly disheveled clothes poured out questions.
Her face was pale.
"The assassin who infiltrated Baek Yuseong Physician's residence last night is inside?!"
It was Jegal Yeongyeong, who had rushed over upon hearing the news in the morning.
"Uh, how did the Chief Strategist come all the way here... Yes, he's the one handed over by the Beggars' Sect. He's currently being interrogated."
"Is the White-Clothed Physician safe?!"
When Jegal Yeongyeong asked with an anxious expression, Bu-ryeong told her what he knew.
"Since we received him as a failed assassin, it seems there was no threat to the target's life."
"What about injuries?!"
"I'm not sure about that either... He might have been a bit startled, but a few days of good rest should fix that, right?"
"Oh, no...!"
Jegal Yeongyeong hadn't been able to check on Yuseong's safety today because it was his day off.
'A real assassin! I should have been by his side! He isn't badly hurt, is he?'
The time Oja-seong had scaled the wall for the assassination was at dawn.
Unless one knew in advance that an assassination would occur, it was a time when even a lover would find it hard to be by their side.
As she turned and dashed off again using her lightness skill, Bu-ryeong watched her strangely.
Then the next person arrived at the interrogation room.
He was a middle-aged man wearing a fearsome expression.
"Gasp, what brings you here?"
He was someone who hadn't even shown his face once, even when the Assassins' Sect was wiped out and a large number of assassins were captured in the past.
Bu-ryeong had thought it would be nice if his unit could help with the overwhelming workload back then.
Now, the Demon Subduing Division Leader, who had reached the Transformation Realm and hadn't shown the slightest interest before, had come in person.
'Just whose life was this assassin after!'
Bu-ryeong tensed up.
He had heard that when demonic cultists were dragged to the Demon Subduing Division, they came out dead in a state more mangled than from the interrogation room.
He couldn't afford any slip-ups.
"You've had a hard time. Interrogating a failed assassin, right? Have you found out who's behind it?"
"Ah, not yet. We just received him and started moments ago."
"I see. Let me know as soon as the backer is revealed. And if possible, keep the assassin alive and hand him over to the Demon Subduing Division."
Killing intent poured fiercely from the Demon Subduing Division Leader's eyes.
Even though it wasn't directed at him, Bu-ryeong's legs trembled.
"I'll make sure he stays alive!"
After Jeong Rip left, Bu-ryeong caught his breath for a moment.
'The Demon Subduing Division Leader must harbor deep grudges against assassins. I need to interrogate him for information and keep him alive for handover.'
At the pounding sound, Bu-ryeong raised his head again.
'Who else is coming? It's rare for so many people to visit the interrogation room like this...'
The next visitor was a middle-aged man who appeared with a flushed red face.
"Is there such a bastard worth tearing apart!"
He seemed extremely agitated and was about to barge into the interrogation room.
"The Division Leader is here too."
"I'll just—!"
Bu-ryeong desperately blocked him as he drew his sword and grabbed the door to the interrogation room.
"You can't go in, White Tiger Division Leader! We're in the middle of uncovering the backer!"
Fortunately, at Bu-ryeong's persuasion, he regained his senses.
"I was starting to live decently thanks to the physician lately, and now some assassin scum shows up!"
The White Tiger Division Leader, who had been huffing, calmed his excitement slightly and said,
"Let me know as soon as the backer is revealed. If the Alliance doesn't step up, I'll call my friends and make sure he doesn't get away with it. Got it?"
"Understood. Please head back for now, Division Leader."
"Argh, my mood's ruined today. Guess I need a drink."
For reference, the White Tiger Division Leader had also gotten thoroughly drunk with his drinking buddies the previous day.
Afterward, Bu-ryeong had to deal with visits from various Murim Alliance members without a moment to breathe.
They were all people who had received favors from Yuseong.
'The physician's connections are no joke!'
***
At the same time, Yuseong, enjoying his day off, headed to the largest bookstore in Luoyang.
As one of the great cities of the world, Luoyang was a place where everything from basic books to rare ones passed through.
Many people came to bookstores and bought the books they wanted.
Yuseong had the same intention.
Before heading to the slums to treat patients, he planned to check if any new medical texts had come out and buy them.
A few days ago, the Murim Alliance had announced they would select one physician for the 'Medical Pavilion.'
The position was provisional Pavilion Leader.
Depending on the situation, they might hire more physicians below and promote to full Pavilion Leader.
It was a position that physicians seeking fame or big money were vying for.
Great renowned Divine Physicians wouldn't bother, but other physicians could aim for fame through it.
Even the Luoyang Medical Hall had declared that their Yang Physician would take the Medical Pavilion exam.
Yuseong also needed to study hard for the exam.
It would be great if all exams were practical only, but like when entering the Luoyang Medical Hall, they graded both written and practical.
Yuseong couldn't confidently say he surpassed Yang Physician in theory.
Because he had learned through basic medical texts circulating in the market, he didn't know the better prescriptions handed down in medical families.
'I wonder if there's any new medical text...'
There were neatly shelved books and others roughly piled after someone read them.
After thoroughly searching them, Yuseong found a medical text with a title he hadn't seen before.
He skimmed it joyfully, but disappointment returned.
'This is just a patchwork of prescriptions from other medical texts with a changed title. Shameless.'
Most medical texts were like that.
He occasionally found a few new prescriptions, but no major gains.
Just then, a clerk was passing by, so Yuseong asked.
"Are all the medical texts over here?"
"Yes. If you don't find what you're looking for, please visit again later. Books come and go several times a day, so what you want might be here then."
As Yuseong finished his business and was about to head to the slums,
"Baek Yuseong Physician, right? I've wanted to meet you, and here we are."
A woman's voice, smooth like rolling jade beads, rang out.
Yuseong turned around.
'It's that woman from before...?'
He had met junior disciples from the Murim Academy at a tavern while cooling his head with Cha Physician.
The woman who had been with that group was delighted to see Yuseong.
Around eighteen years old?
Unlike the other junior disciples who were elated or dejected by Paeng Jisan and Jin Yeongho's words, she had kept sparkling eyes at Yuseong, leaving an impression.
Unlike Jegal Yeongyeong's intellectual and seemingly cold gaze, she was a beauty with sparkling large eyes that suited her blue martial robes well.
"I think we met at the tavern before. You were with the Murim Academy junior disciples..."
"Your memory is good. I'm Nangong Yurin."
Hearing the woman's name, Yuseong suddenly realized anew that this was a game world.
In games, unless there was a special intent, major characters being beauties was the unwritten rule.
'My hypothesis that pretty women are mostly from prominent families was correct. But I didn't expect her to be the Sword King's granddaughter.'
Her background was the Nangong Family too.
Bigger deal than expected.
"You're Nangong Young Lady. Do you have business with me by any chance?"
She smiled slightly.
It looked like a smile to gain favor.
"Actually, I've visited the Luoyang Medical Hall a few times before, but our timings never matched, so I couldn't meet you. I was planning to visit again soon since I have something to ask."
"I see. What is it?"
Yuseong could guess what Nangong Yurin wanted to ask.
And his guess hit the mark exactly.
"Have you heard any rumors about my older brother, White-Clothed Physician?"
Baek Yuseong's starting point and hometown Hunan was treated as a backwater.
In central murim, it was often disregarded, and rumors of someone being exceptionally talented were dismissed as exaggerations.
No matter how renowned in Hunan, without visible achievements, fame wouldn't spread to the center.
Conversely, central murim rumors reached via merchants traveling north almost daily.
Among them, naturally, rumors about Nangong Yuhyeon, the once-in-a-century prodigy.
The future of the Nangong Family, certain to succeed the Sword King with his extraordinary martial talent!
However, during Yuseong's time in Luoyang, the additional rumors he heard were different.
The added rumors weren't pleasant.
"You're talking about... the incident where he was badly injured?"
Asking about other rumors would be rude.
He asked cautiously, and Nangong Yurin nodded.
"Yes. My brother lost his sight to an assassin's ambush. What I want to ask is, could the White-Clothed Physician treat my brother?"
"..."
Despite being a Peak Realm expert, Nangong Yuhyeon couldn't dodge the ambush when a servant he trusted since childhood turned assassin.
He had no weapon in hand and was caught off-guard perfectly, from what he heard.
Even injured, Nangong Yuhyeon succeeded in killing the assassin, but suffered severe damage to his eyes from the ambush.
What happens when you get severe damage to the eyes, which can't be trained and are most important to everyone?
'A genius swordsman who lost his sight and fell from grace due to a moment's carelessness.'
That was the most recent rumor about Nangong Yuhyeon.
Just hearing about the eye condition, Yuseong currently had no way to treat it.
With basic healing skills, unless treated immediately, he couldn't heal wounds that left disabilities.
Like his own dantian.
Yuseong shook his head.
"It's beyond my current abilities, Young Lady."
"Ah... I see..."
Had she expected Yuseong to be able to treat Nangong Yuhyeon?
Nangong Yurin bowed her head deeply, as if completely betrayed in her hopes.
"I-I'm sorry for the rudeness."
Her voice trembled slightly as she bowed.
Even with her head down, her eyes visible were moist.
The beauty's tears made his heart weaken a bit unnecessarily.
Moreover.
'If this damn game is like a virtual fantasy, this Nangong Yurin likely has some significant role too.'
Similar to Jegal Yeongyeong, whether in brains, martial arts, or wealth, she probably had considerable weight in the original story.
No harm in helping. He decided to leave some room.
Just keep the detailed method secret.
People here had surprisingly shallow knowledge of medicine, and mystical powers like divine arts existed.
"Of course, that's based on my current abilities."
Whoosh!
Nangong Yurin, who had been about to pass by, quickly raised her head.
Her eyes were indeed moist. She sent Yuseong an intense gaze.
"Does that mean... it might be possible to treat him later?"
"Not right now, but there is definitely a possibility."