Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Chapter 29 - 29. 심문
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Translator: crow
Chapter 29: Interrogation
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Having confirmed Yuseong's safety, Jegal Yeongyeong returned to the Murim Alliance to handle urgent matters.
Yuseong parted ways with Nangong Yurin and completed his volunteer service in the slums without incident.
There, he reunited with Soun after a long time and caught up.
Despite the short period, Soun's posture had become quite refined. It was clear he was diligently training in martial arts.
Just when he thought everything was proceeding smoothly, a few days passed.
A Beggars' Sect disciple came looking for Yuseong.
"White-Clothed Physician, I'm sorry, but the assassin we captured last time absolutely refuses to reveal his backer. Aside from identifying him as the owner of Zaseong Inn by his face, we've gotten nothing else."
"You mentioned the Murim Alliance's interrogation room has a fearsome reputation. Was he that resolute?"
"Actually, there was a mistake in the interrogation room."
When torturing someone to extract information, it's better to promise sufficient rewards.
Of course, for an assassin like Oja-seong, a painless death might be that reward.
However, among the interrogators was a torture expert who had lost family to assassins from the Assassin Sect in the past, and he let slip things to Oja-seong that he shouldn't have.
"I absolutely hate scum like you assassins. Whether you spill everything here or not, it makes no difference to me.
My goal is to inflict the maximum pain on you. And if it turns out you're an Assassin Sect assassin, I'll make sure your lover pays the price too."
Oja-seong clamped his mouth shut at the words spilled by the madness-filled torture expert.
It was a fate of painful death anyway.
To uphold his loyalty to Jo Physician and protect his beloved from potential harm, he decided to bear everything alone.
Having undergone training to withstand torture during his assassin days, he summoned desperate willpower.
The torture expert's solo act was discovered too late, and he was removed from duty, but Oja-seong was an assassin resolute enough to honor a promise from ten years ago.
And finally, after enduring all torture without a word, the moment of death arrived.
Torture cannot last a lifetime.
Eventually, the body reaches its limit, and upon hitting that limit, death is inevitable.
'It was tough; there were moments I nearly broke and confessed everything, but in the end, I held out. I'll probably meet my end in a day or two at most.'
Oja-seong actually felt at peace.
"This bastard, smiling?"
Even as the sweating torture expert mangled his body, Oja-seong now had the leisure to mock his efforts.
That was when the unexpected happened.
Knock knock—
Someone knocked on the interrogation room door, and the torture expert went outside.
'Is it shift change already? It feels like this guy just came in, but now I can't even tell how time's passing.'
Soon, someone entered the interrogation room.
"...!"
Even with blurred vision, Oja-seong recognized him.
He had surveilled his every move before being dragged here.
He could tell just from his standing posture.
This sorry state was the result of failing to kill him.
"Even in this state, you haven't spilled anything? Impressive."
Are you here to mock my final moments?
He tried to speak, but no voice came out.
"I heard you were threatened that your lover wouldn't be spared. Is that why you won't talk, or is there another reason?"
"..."
"Well, fine. I've got plenty of time anyway. But I need your confession."
Plenty of time...? I'll be dead in a day or two. You'll have to come to hell to hear it.
"I can guess what you're thinking. Just hold out a bit longer, right? Wrong. My investigations show I'm a physician. But a bit special."
My body's condition is beyond even a divine immortal's saving. No one knows it better than me.
"Your senses are probably dulled, but it might sting a little."
Oja-seong inferred from the gleam reflecting off the interrogation room lantern that Baek Yuseong had pulled out a long needle.
'What can a single needle do?'
But moments later.
As the long needle pierced his chest, Oja-seong sensed something was wrong.
"...!"
The chest tightness from blood buildup eased into comfort, and vitality began surging through the body he thought would fail him soon from inexplicable creaking.
Yuseong inserted needles not just in the chest, but also the abdomen, arms, legs, and even the head.
"What in the world are you...!"
He could speak again.
"If you want to see this face again next time, keep holding out. It might be the last face you see for life, so next time, greet me nicely."
Tap—
After Yuseong left the interrogation room, a howl erupted inside.
"No!!!!!"
Yuseong had no desire to proactively make enemies, but he was merciless toward clear foes.
The torture experts, seeing Oja-seong suddenly revitalized despite his outwardly wretched state, were puzzled.
But realizing he wouldn't die easily for a while, they gritted their teeth in determination.
The torture experts, having overcome a major crisis and gained enlightenment, improved their skills.
Baek Yuseong, the enlightenment generator, had accomplished another feat today.
***
Less than three days later, Yuseong received another visit from the Beggars' Sect disciple.
His expression was subtle.
Last time, when Oja-seong hadn't confessed, he looked apologetic, but today he was hesitating.
"White-Clothed Physician, the backer has been revealed."
"...!"
Oja-seong had spilled everything.
With the hope of dying if he endured gone, he had no choice but to submit.
"It was Jo Physician. He hired the assassin to kill you."
The rumor that an assassin targeted Baek Yuseong had spread widely after many in the Murim Alliance learned of it.
Lately, Jo Physician's darkened expression had already raised suspicions.
Now, it was confirmed he was the backer.
"You're certain?"
"Of course. We interrogated him thoroughly in various ways, and all circumstances match."
"...You said you were surveilling Jo Physician, so you should know. Where is he now?"
He might have to kill for the first time in a while.
But.
"The Demon Subduing Division just took him."
"What? Why the Demon Subduing Division? Don't they only act in cases involving demonic cultists?"
"The Demon Subduing Division Leader suspects Jo Physician has been colluding with the Demonic Cult. They took him for a thorough investigation."
"..."
"Oh, and they took the assassin too."
"..."
Afterward, Yuseong was summoned to the Demon Subduing Division several times as a reference witness.
There, he encountered Jo Physician in a wretched state.
Even in this situation, Jo Physician burned with will to live upon seeing Yuseong.
Unable to walk properly, he crawled to Yuseong.
"B-Baek... White-Clothed Physician. I-I'm sorry! P-Please, spare me. Just say a word to them. If you speak, the Demon Subduing Division Leader might let me go? I beg you...!"
Yuseong smirked bitterly at the man whose skin was thinly sliced all over, drenched in blood.
"Did you think you could mess with me just because I stayed quiet? Our Jo Physician, your body's in bad shape. I'll come again, so take good care of it."
[Healing]
He treated only the internals enough to preserve life, ignoring the exterior.
"Will you come again?"
"Yes, I'll be visiting frequently for a while."
Answering the Demon Subduing Division Leader's question thus, Yuseong left.
After that, no one saw Jo Physician or Oja-seong except the Demon Subduing Division and Yuseong.
***
For a while, the Luoyang Medical Hall was abuzz.
Everyone was shocked to hear Jo Physician had hired an assassin to kill Baek Yuseong.
"Jo Physician—no, how could that man do such a thing? Envying a fellow Medical Hall physician enough to hire an assassin..."
"That guy was too greedy for patients. Before, when I accidentally took one of his by mistake, he pointed fingers at me. We nearly came to blows over it."
"You're lucky."
"Lucky?"
"Try grabbing him by the collar for real. Who knows if he'd have hired an assassin for your head?"
One physician paled and clutched his neck.
"You're right. Better steer clear of shit even if it's dirty."
"White-Clothed Physician has incredible connections. Jo Physician had some pull in the Murim Alliance too, but apparently the Beggars' Sect, the Chief Strategist, and even the Demon Subduing Division Leader helped him."
"White-Clothed Physician's skills are just that outstanding. What was I doing at that age?"
"Same here. By the way, who will be the Murim Alliance Medical Pavilion physician? I heard both Physician Yang and White-Clothed Physician applied."
"I've never seen Physician Yang so motivated. They say the exam's tough. I think Physician Yang will win."
***
Meanwhile, a visitor came to see Yuseong.
She was a middle-aged woman of considerable refinement.
"I am Seo Wanjeong, sect leader of the Qinggang Sect. I inquired at the Murim Alliance and learned that you, Baek Yuseong, captured the last assassin of the Assassin Sect."
"It was luck. Strictly speaking, it wasn't just me. What brings you here?"
"Ten years ago, the assassin who killed my husband was the one you captured."
"...!"
The Murim Alliance interrogation room had uncovered every detail of Oja-seong's past.
Including how Jo Physician had treated him during his escape after killing a peak realm expert.
Seo Wanjeong revealed she was the wife of that deceased peak realm expert and the current Qinggang Sect leader.
"I see. My condolences for your husband."
"No. We never found the true culprit, but I desperately wanted to catch that assassin at least. Thanks to you, White-Clothed Physician, I've avenged a portion of it now. I came today to deliver the promised bounty."
"Bounty?"
"Yes, ten years ago, I placed a huge bounty on that assassin. If you hadn't captured him, I'd have returned to my hometown without even partial vengeance for my husband."
Seo Wanjeong revealed she was planning to disband the Qinggang Sect soon and return home.
"After losing my husband, the sect's fortunes declined greatly, so I lack the funds to pay the promised bounty in cash. However, my husband collected many antiques, so I ask you to visit the Qinggang Sect."
"There's no need to go that far."
"No, they're his belongings, which I haven't touched, so I don't know them all, but I've heard there are many valuables.
You can bring an expert in antiques, and take appropriate compensation—it would ease my mind."
Yuseong liked money too.
Though he received a good salary, he volunteered for free in the slums on days off.
To conserve divine power, he sometimes gave out money and helped buy herbs, so he wasn't flush with cash.
Having gone through the trouble of capturing Oja-seong, claiming a few antiques as bounty was a fine opportunity.
"...Since you insist, I understand. I'll make time to visit."
"Thank you."
After Seo Wanjeong left, Yuseong considered his connections.
Someone of decent age would be good for appraising antiques.
Cha Physician, White Tiger Division Leader, and a few others.
"I know nothing about that. Why not find a professional appraiser?"
Though he planned to heed the advice, an unexpected person showed confidence.
"Antiques? My grandfather has a hobby of collecting them, so I know a bit. Shall I go with you?"
"No, you're busy with Murim Alliance duties. No need to go that far."
"That day, I'm not busy at all. I can go."
Yuseong hadn't even mentioned an exact date yet.