Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Results
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Jegal Yeongyeong had, of course, visited Yang Physician before going to Jo Physician for her headache treatment.
He was known as the most skilled among those she could meet.
But.
"There's no special remedy for this. You'll just have to reduce your workload and get plenty of sleep. If it becomes truly unbearable, take the medicine I've prescribed."
She only heard the standard advice.
She already knew there was no real solution.
She had visited several other physicians, and their prescriptions were all much the same.
Jo Physician was simply the kindest, which was why she frequented him.
One day, by chance, she witnessed the new physician Baek Yuseong revive a girl she thought was as good as dead.
'He reveals his secret techniques without hesitation. What an impressive man. Should I have a chat with him?'
Out of curiosity, she paid him a visit.
'And it doesn't hurt at all?'
It wasn't some pain relief that lasted a few hours.
A perfect cure!
Jegal Yeongyeong had always felt a heaviness in her head since childhood because she loved books.
The refreshment she felt after Yuseong's treatment was a level she'd never experienced in her life.
Her mind worked sharply again, allowing her to cut back on overload from work, and she could finally start studying *Comprehensive Analysis of Celestial Divination Formations*, which she'd barely touched due to Murim Alliance duties.
She could never go back to life without Yuseong.
On top of that, her life in the Murim Alliance had become a bit easier thanks to him.
Specifically, thanks to Demon Subduing Division Leader Jeong Rip.
As people in the Murim Alliance said,
"It's hard to get close to the Demon Subduing Division Leader. He just sticks to his duties. Even those eager to build ties with a Transformation Realm expert were all turned away."
Yet such a Jeong Rip had approached Jegal Yeongyeong first.
After lavishly praising Yuseong, who had treated him,
"If you ever need my strength, just say the word, Chief Strategist."
He offered reliable support and left.
She was bewildered, but after that, she felt her life in the Murim Alliance become much smoother.
This happened after Jegal Yeongyeong visited Yuseong's home following his trip to Shaolin Temple.
She didn't know it, but that day, Jeong Rip had also visited Yuseong's house.
It was the day he emerged from seclusion upon reaching the Transformation Realm, to express his gratitude to Yuseong.
He sensed from the presence inside that Yuseong already had a visitor.
Jeong Rip tended to lose his usual composure when it came to Yuseong.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he focused his internal energy.
"Ecstasy... It's the best, White-Clothed Physician... Haah... So good..."
A massive misunderstanding arose.
'Oh no. I just wanted to figure out who it was from their normal conversation. My mistake.'
Jeong Rip hurriedly left the scene.
'You denied the rumors, but... I'll keep your secret, Chief Strategist.'
It was a story unknown even to the Beggars' Sect informants—known only to Jeong Rip.
In any case, to Jegal Yeongyeong, Yuseong was the greatest living physician.
'As long as there's no dirty trickery, White-Clothed Physician must pass the Medical Pavilion exam!'
Unwavering trust.
That was why she kept a close eye on Elder Moyong Rim and rushed to the examiner.
"You seem troubled. What's the matter?"
"Th-the Chief Strategist suddenly... why did she come?"
"If there's any difficulty, I've come to help. With me and Elder Moyong Rim here, feel free to speak openly."
"Well..."
The examiner clutched the paper with the results and glanced at Elder Moyong Rim.
Moyong Rim quickly scanned the surroundings.
The other Murim Alliance elders and physicians seemed to be growing suspicious.
'Nothing goes right.'
He muttered a word to the examiner and returned to his seat.
"Ahem. If the results are out, announce them as they are—what's the holdup?"
"Ah, yes. Then I'll announce them."
Since even Moyong Rim, with whom he'd shared a secret drink, said so, the examiner calmly revealed the results.
"Very well, the announcement. The passer is... the passer is Physician Baek Yuseong. Congratulations!!"
As the results were declared, Yuseong clenched his fist triumphantly.
'I did it!'
He had wanted to join the Murim Alliance badly.
Now he could form direct connections with its warriors without needing Luoyang Medical Hall as a bridge.
Moreover, instead of being scattered among various physicians like before, he could monopolize most Murim Alliance warriors.
With Baek Yuseong in the Medical Pavilion, few would bother going to Luoyang Medical Hall to avoid him.
He could still dodge military service.
Being directly affiliated made his position even more secure.
As Yuseong pumped his fist, the physicians he'd just exchanged names with amid the earlier incident rushed to congratulate him.
"I'm truly grateful! Thanks to you, that bastard Heo got his nose flattened—"
A physician named Magusang spat as he poured out incomprehensible words.
Among them was Yang Physician.
Even in defeat, his expression was brighter and more relieved than before.
"Congratulations, White-Clothed Physician."
"No need. I was lucky. The written exam was brutally tough."
"I knew it. My practical was flawless, so it must've been the written that decided it. How many did you miss?"
"I missed four in total. Couldn't touch two properly, but I took a shot at the other two my way."
"I see... So you even got two unknowns right. I missed three."
Yang Physician nodded vigorously.
If Yang Physician had been bitter about losing, it would've been hard to chat casually, but since he was relaxed,
Yuseong could speak freely.
"If they were on the exam, there must be right answers, and I'm curious. Once I officially work in the Medical Pavilion, I might learn treatments for those diseases. Are you interested too, Yang Physician?"
Yang Physician shook his head.
A physician uninterested in new treatments?
Perhaps the type who stubbornly stuck to what his master taught?
As Yuseong puzzled over it, Yang Physician smiled warmly.
"If you're free tonight, shall we have a drink? No need to wait until you start at the Medical Pavilion—I can tell you those treatments you're curious about today."
"Yes...? What do you—"
Doubt crossed Yuseong's face.
How could Yang Physician reveal answers to questions whose correct responses weren't public?
"See you shortly then. I need to check on that poisoned patient."
They set a meeting spot in front of the Murim Alliance, and Yang Physician left to tend to the poisoned warrior.
***
Meanwhile, as the exam results were announced, Moyong Rim took advantage of the attention on Baek Yuseong to approach the examiner.
"Let's talk for a moment."
"Yes, Elder."
"What happened? No grading errors? How could Baek Yuseong score higher?"
"I haven't checked the exam papers yet, but White-Clothed Physician was one point higher."
"That can't be. Let me see the papers. If there's a mistake, we need to fix it now."
It was incomprehensible by Moyong Rim's logic.
He'd even sent someone to Yang Physician with the booklet.
No way Yang Physician would've gotten them wrong over a few word differences, right?
Moyong Rim and the examiner fetched Yang Physician and Baek Yuseong's exam papers from the assistants and reviewed them together.
"Hmm..."
Moyong Rim let out a groan.
There were five questions on rare diseases.
Yuseong had attempted all, but Yang Physician hadn't.
Three had not a single character written.
'No wonder the score was low. He kicked away his own fortune.'
It was to spite the Chief Strategist pushing Baek Yuseong and to favor the disciple of the physician who'd helped him, but it all fell apart.
"Now that you've seen them, may we preserve the papers, Elder?"
"Yes, do so."
He chose any means for his goals, so Yang Physician's actions baffled him, but there were others more infuriating.
The ones who'd forced him to apologize before all the elders.
"Chief Strategist, and that bastard Baek Yuseong—"
Moyong Rim unwittingly spat the suppressed words, then flinched.
He glanced around frantically.
'No one's here...? Still, better be careful.'
He hunched his neck.
Repeatedly checking for anyone while fearing a life-or-death duel with a Transformation Realm expert was terrifying.
***
Yuseong received a detailed explanation from the Medical Pavilion staffer about its operations and his schedule.
"They even provide lodging?"
"You can commute, but since it's built for the warriors' convenience, staying at the Medical Pavilion would be better. Were you planning to commute?"
"No. I was hoping for that. Looking forward to working with you."
"Oh, and we're planning to hire servants to assist the Medical Pavilion, so keep that in mind. Anyone in particular?"
No one from the medical hall except Cha Physician or Yang Physician, but they weren't servants.
"No one. But those with relevant experience would be ideal."
"Understood."
As Yuseong finished, Jegal Yeongyeong approached.
She hadn't earlier amid the crowd of physicians.
"Too bad. We should've had a celebratory meal, but an emergency meeting's been called. It'll run late tonight."
From the looks of it, the poisoned warrior had awakened and relayed something crucial.
"Now that I'll work at the Medical Pavilion, we'll see each other often. Anyway, I already planned drinks tonight, so it wouldn't have worked."
"Drinks?"
"Yes."
A brief silence passed, then Jegal Yeongyeong blurted,
"With a woman?"
"Huh? Why bring up a woman... It's with Yang Physician."
"Oh."
Silence again.
"Well, you'll be working separately soon, so you should get acquainted. Anyway, I have that meeting. Oh, I'm late."
Despite the cool weather, Jegal Yeongyeong fanned her face as she turned.
She slapped her forehead, shook her head, and vanished with lightness skill.
So fast.
Unaware she'd skipped her formation studies today on purpose, Yuseong thought,
'Come to think of it, I didn't treat her with acupuncture because of the exam. No wonder she seems off.'
Perhaps tomorrow's session would bring another delightful sight.
Imagining her disheveled state, Yuseong smiled unwittingly and left the Murim Alliance.
To meet Yang Physician.
'Working at the Medical Pavilion means seeing more critical patients like today. I'll build up more Divine Power. And they provide lodging inside—perfect.'
As he planned his near future,
Yang Physician came into Yuseong's view, walking a bit ahead.
He must've wrapped up the poisoned patient easily after the crisis passed.
"Yang—"
As he moved to call out,
"Oh dear, you look so bright-faced, Yang Physician! What did I tell you? Eat the delicious passing rice cakes I brought, and bam! One shot—congratulations on passing! Walk the flower path from now on!"
Cha Physician appeared like a bullet from nowhere, shoving a bouquet and large bundle into Yang Physician's hands while shouting.
Even from a distance, it rang clear to Yuseong.
"..."
Yang Physician and Cha Physician conversed.
Cha Physician snatched the bouquet and bundle from Yang Physician's hands, bowing his head three times or so.
He looked up and glanced around.
His eyes met Yuseong's.
"Oh dear, our White-Clothed Physician! What did I tell you! The rice cakes I brought—now the flower path—"
Seeing Cha Physician charge over with a beaming smile, Yuseong thought,
"...He won't starve out there, that's for sure."
All he could muster was admiration for the man's shamelessness.