Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Invitation
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The three of them headed to a tavern that Yuseong had visited once before.
The place where he had first met the later-generation disciples of the Murim Academy.
There had been some unpleasant moments in the middle, but the meal they'd enjoyed at the end with the White Tiger Division Leader had been quite satisfying.
The food was delicious, and after the troublemakers were gone, the view from the third floor had felt pretty impressive.
He also understood why Cha Physician had suggested going there.
The reason their group consisted of three people was.
"Aigoo, White-Clothed Physician. What am I to do with this overly generous gift you've prepared? I'll hold onto it, so just pretend I'm not here and enjoy your conversation with the two of you!"
Because Cha Physician had eagerly picked up the gift bundle Yuseong had given him and tagged along.
"I can carry it myself. I was planning to have a drink with Yang Physician today anyway.
Since Yang Physician called this meeting because he had something specific to say, dragging Cha Physician along might make him uncomfortable.
"I'm fine with it. Come along."
"Ah, in that case, please join us."
"Aigoo, Yang Physician. Thank you! I'll treat you both today! White-Clothed Physician, thank you too!"
Ever since learning of his success in the Medical Pavilion exam, Cha Physician had been using honorifics with Yuseong, which made him uncomfortable.
Even as a physician and servant, the servant used honorifics, but Cha Physician was a fellow physician from the Luoyang Medical Hall.
"And please drop the honorifics and treat me like before."
"How could I use informal speech with my future superior..."
"Superior? That's far from certain. And it makes me uncomfortable."
"If it bothers you, then I won't. Ahem, back to normal it is. White-Clothed Physician, congratulations once more! Though it stings a bit that you say it's uncertain—"
"Let's head up."
Yuseong cut him off.
Cha Physician was led to the third floor, where he boldly called out to the server.
"Today, it's on me, so bring out the best appetizers and liquor this place has!"
He earned good money, so treating them to one meal was no issue.
Especially since he insisted on it himself.
Yang Physician smiled and asked.
"Is this your celebration drink, White-Clothed Physician, or a consolation for me?"
"Pardon? Well..."
"I'm joking. I'll enjoy it."
Yang Physician, who usually showed little change in expression, seemed in high spirits today and tossed out a casual joke.
After a few rounds of drinks, Yuseong asked the question on his mind first.
"What did you mean earlier when you said you'd tell me the treatment method?"
Yang Physician glanced at Cha Physician.
"Cha Physician, try not to repeat what I say today elsewhere, if possible. It's for your own good."
"Of course. Everything I hear today will stay confidential."
After Cha Physician's straightforward reply, Yang Physician revealed something shocking.
"In truth, I knew all the answers to today's exam questions in advance."
Yuseong was startled.
"What do you...! Then shouldn't you have been the one who passed, Yang Physician?"
Cha Physician rolled his eyes.
'What? Why is the conversation turning this way? Does that mean if we file an objection, Yang Physician could become the inaugural Medical Pavilion Leader? Did I rashly back the wrong horse? No, it's not too late—I can pledge my loyalty to Yang Physician now and play it by ear...'
Yang Physician calmly shook his head.
"It happened a few days ago."
The incident where he received a precious book from a patient he'd never met before.
How thrilled he was at the many rare diseases described within.
How flustered he was when nearly identical questions appeared on the exam.
How he agonized, suspecting it was deliberately sent to propel him forward.
Compared to the gravely serious Yuseong and Cha Physician listening, Yang Physician's expression as he confessed seemed far too relaxed.
"So I took the exam using only the knowledge I had before receiving that book. Even if I accepted it and won, it would only tarnish my master's reputation. Perhaps that's why my master appeared in my dream."
"I see. It must have been hard to resist the temptation. You're remarkable."
"I wasn't planning to throw the match, of course. Among the five rare diseases on the exam, two were ones I'd learned directly from my master.
Since you mentioned studying from a medical text you obtained on the streets, White-Clothed Physician, I did some calculations.
Such rare diseases wouldn't appear in common medical texts available in the markets, so if I answered only with what I knew, I might win.
But you solved three on your own, so it's my complete defeat."
Yuseong was impressed.
In a situation where he desperately wanted to join the Murim Alliance's Medical Pavilion.
Had he been in Yang Physician's position on that exam stage, he couldn't say what choice he would have made without experiencing it.
"Aigoo, Yang Physician, you're truly conscientious and admirable. The Divine Physician would praise you if he knew. Here, have a drink."
Cha Physician appropriately broke the silence.
And then.
"And our even more remarkable White-Clothed Physician deserves a drink too. To think you got the treatments right without knowing anything about them? You're truly born for medicine. The inaugural Medical Pavilion Leader has to be someone like you."
More rounds of drinks followed as Yang Physician revealed the treatment methods for the exam questions.
"Whew, worth buying the drinks today. I learned a few precious prescriptions."
Ignoring Cha Physician's banter, Yuseong asked Yang Physician's thoughts.
"Have you any guess who might have sent that book?"
"I pondered it long after receiving the exam paper. But no one who would send me such a thing came to mind. It must have been someone from inside the Murim Alliance, right? Related to the exam proctors, no doubt."
"That makes sense."
"So my conclusion is this: It seems someone in the Murim Alliance dislikes you, White-Clothed Physician. From the atmosphere at the exam hall today, there were definitely suspicious figures."
Yuseong agreed.
Elder Moyong Rim.
His actions today had been the most suspicious.
Cutting off the shifting momentum among the physicians at the right moment, the hand signals exchanged with the proctor, and the subtle conversation with the proctor after the results were announced—something others might not have noticed.
Yang Physician hadn't mentioned it, but he seemed to share the same suspicion.
"Whoever the bastard is, he deserves heavenly punishment. If you find out who, be sure to tell me. If he comes my way, I'll stick him with needles that cause months of agony."
Cha Physician, absent from the scene, burned with enmity toward an unknown foe.
A moment later.
Kuhhh—
Cha Physician, weak to liquor, passed out quickly.
Even when drinking with the White Tiger Division Leader before, he'd been on the verge of collapsing.
Today, with one celebratory shot here and a consolatory one there, he'd gotten drunk even faster.
He'd offered to carry the large gift bundle in place, but now he'd become an even bigger burden.
"You're really strong with liquor."
"Ah, I don't get drunk easily. Yang Physician seems fine too."
"I drank slowly on purpose. I knew Cha Physician was weak to it, and I had one more thing to say to you."
Yuseong wondered what it could be and listened closely.
"Have you heard that I exchange letters frequently with my master?"
"Yes, I have."
"I've written about you a few times. I told him about the heart compression technique you shared, and about treating the Demon Subduing Division Leader."
"I see."
"And this time, I plan to write about your miraculous divine arts used in medicine."
Yuseong was puzzled as to why Yang Physician was bringing these things up.
"Perhaps my master will want to meet you. I couldn't be of help, but maybe you could assist him."
"Does this relate to why the Divine Physician went into seclusion?"
"I'm not certain, but I suspect so."
Even his disciple didn't know the details.
Whatever it was, the Divine Physician's situation seemed complicated.
"I'd like to meet the Divine Physician if the opportunity arises."
The drinking session ended there.
Now, one last matter needed handling.
The large lump sprawled over the table.
'What to do with this baggage now?'
Even though he'd boasted about covering the bill, it felt off to leave an unconscious drunk to foot it alone.
***
Passing the Medical Pavilion exam didn't mean starting work there immediately.
The pavilion's renovations weren't complete yet, servants needed hiring, herb suppliers had to be arranged, and systems put in place.
Yuseong announced he was leaving the Luoyang Medical Hall soon, and right as he began treating patients, he received an unexpected request.
"The owner of the Luoyang Medical Hall wishes to see me this evening?"
"That's correct."
Before him sat a woman in her early thirties, elegantly adorned in finery.
She was a beauty even without makeup, but her expert styling made her radiant.
Yuseong had seen this woman named So-ok once before, when he first passed the Luoyang Medical Hall's exam and entered.
'The proxy for the Luoyang Medical Hall's owner.'
The hall's owner, who had sent only a proxy without showing her face initially, now wanted to meet Yuseong.
'Right after I announced my resignation—surely not trying to sway me?'
It wasn't baseless confidence.
From what he'd heard from other physicians, even in this short time since joining, sales had doubled or more.
A famous physician directly boosted the hall's revenue, so he worried the owner might step in to dissuade him from going to the Murim Alliance.
"Any idea what it's about?"
"It's not about holding you back, so rest easy."
"...Understood. But who exactly is the owner of the medical hall?"
He asked in hopes of basic information.
"A merchant."
After So-ok finished her business and left, a second guest arrived.
Thanks to her Murim Alliance privileges, she rarely missed being first.
"Did you enjoy yesterday's drinks with Yang Physician?"
Jegal Yeongyeong, here for a headache treatment.
"Please, come in. Thanks to you, it was enjoyable. Ah, how's the headache? I felt bad for not treating it yesterday."
Jegal Yeongyeong touched her head.
Yuseong's gaze drifted to the crown of her head.
He wanted to poke it quickly.
To see her disheveled again.
Such desire slowly welled up.
"Oh? You're worried about me? I deliberately took a study break yesterday, so it was fine. It hurts today, but not as bad as last time."
"Ah, so it only hurts on days you study intensely?"
"Yes. Now that you're officially with the Murim Alliance, White-Clothed Physician, if you just give me your exact schedule, I won't have to show such an unsightly side again."
It wasn't unsightly.
He wanted to record it and treasure it forever.
He suppressed his regret.
After treating her headache, Jegal Yeongyeong asked.
"What are you doing this evening? If nothing much, how about a celebratory dinner?"
"Can't tonight—another appointment. Tomorrow?"
"Always so busy. Who is it this time?"
Yuseong honestly shared that he'd been invited by the Luoyang Medical Hall's owner.
"She called herself a merchant. Honestly surprising. Didn't expect a merchant running a medical hall."
"That's how she introduced herself. Not wrong."
"Seems General Staff Officer knows the owner. I've only dealt with the proxy until now."
Jegal Yeongyeong left a cryptic remark.
"You know, but since you've been invited, better to meet her yourself. Curious, though—you haven't met anyone in a while."
Clearly no ordinary merchant.