Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 41. The Last Day
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Jeong Yeon had decided to step down to the position of Supreme House Leader and focus on recuperation.
Thanks to Yuseong, her dementia had now been cured, but in the past, she had considered it senility and desperately wanted to keep it hidden from others.
Martial artists in particular had gone to great lengths to avoid it, and she had only occasionally met with a few ordinary folk like Yuseong for business reasons.
It had been embarrassing.
From the moment her senility symptoms appeared, Jeong Yeon had kept an eye on So-ok and Bang Hyeok regarding the matter of succession.
Contrary to Bang Hyeok's guesses, even after So-ok became her disciple, he still had a chance.
However.
'It seems So-ok will lead the House of Revelry toward a brighter path.'
Jeong Yeon's heart had gradually leaned toward So-ok, who resembled her even more.
Simply because he looked exactly like her son, if the incompetent Bang Hyeok became House Leader, the House of Revelry wouldn't even remain in the gray area between righteousness and evil like it was now.
It would devolve into a righteous faction sellout, peddling information to anyone with enough coin, heedless of the world's well-being.
Even after firmly deciding in her heart to pass the sect to So-ok, Jeong Yeon couldn't easily cast Bang Hyeok aside.
'I clung too much to Bang Hyeok because he looks just like my son. I'm getting old now.'
That mistaken judgment had nearly brought a great crisis upon the House of Revelry.
A few elders had shown suspicious behavior too, so without Yuseong's help, it surely would have happened.
'Before I retire as Supreme House Leader, the last thing I must handle is exposing everyone colluding with Bang Hyeok. I need to hand over a clean House of Revelry to So-ok.'
When she first brought it up, So-ok had jumped up insisting it couldn't be.
"The illness is cured, but I've lost some important memories. It's too difficult for me in this state. I'll help you, so give it a good try."
And so, the youngest House Leader in the House of Revelry's history was born.
Of course, the absolute youngest; So-ok was a full twelve years older than Yuseong.
The cradle-robbing woman smiled warmly.
"You're helping us today and wasting your precious day off—what are we to do? I've just become the owner of the Luoyang Medical Hall too, so how about I give you a few days off to rest properly? What do you say?"
On days off, he could treat the slums' residents.
The slums' people granted a lot of divine power.
A lot of divine power means...
The chain of thoughts halted as a certain face floated into his mind.
"I'm grateful for the offer, but I'll pass."
"You don't have to. I'll pay you full anyway."
"No, thank you."
A lot had happened, and it was already night.
If he took the day off without a word to Jegal Yeongyeong...
'It might cause a fuss.'
Not just granting him a medical hall holiday equivalent, So-ok wanted to keep rewarding him.
Yuseong suddenly remembered something he wanted to ask her.
"Then, could you help me procure Heavenly Fortune Stones?"
"Heavenly Fortune Stones? You collect those too?"
"Yes, the more the better, but there's a limit for an individual."
"Leave it to me. We don't have any in stock, but I'll put out feelers nationwide."
"Ah, and if you know any skilled blacksmiths who can refine Heavenly Fortune Stones, I'd appreciate an introduction."
***
After finishing up at the House of Revelry.
Yuseong walked under the moonlight with Jeong Rip.
"Where will you sleep tonight?"
"It's too late today, so I'll stay at an inn and head to the Murim Alliance at dawn to pack my things."
Yuseong felt grateful yet sorry for Jeong Rip's loyalty.
Come to think of it, hadn't he quit the Murim Alliance with just a single sword to help him?
A Demon Subduing Division Leader could stay in fine lodgings at the Alliance, yet here he was, unaffiliated and crashing at inns.
He should at least keep him company with drinks so he wouldn't be bored.
"Shall we have that drink you mentioned—tonight?"
"I'm fine with it, but it's so late. You have clinic duties tomorrow as planned, right?"
"This much is nothing."
Jeong Rip nodded readily too.
Coincidentally, the tavern Yuseong knew also ran an inn.
"Young Master, welcome back. This way, please."
The waiter, having memorized Yuseong's face by now, naturally led him to the third floor.
"You come here often, I see."
"No, just the third time, but the waiter has a good memory."
"The White-Clothed Physician is such a striking figure, after all."
He could say things like that too?
Yuseong was seeing new sides to Jeong Rip today.
Yuseong took a seat and exchanged some light talk.
"Before returning to the Murim Alliance, have you thought about what you'll do, Jeong Rip?"
He pondered for a moment.
The House of Revelry issue was resolved now, but the Murim Alliance was still a stuffy place.
If word spread that Jeong Rip had pretended to resign and intervened in House of Revelry affairs just to cover eyes, he couldn't avoid the world's finger-pointing.
He planned not to return to the Alliance for a few months.
"Do you need my help in the meantime, by any chance?"
"No, I'll enter the Alliance's Medical Pavilion, so I won't need any particular assistance. Don't worry about me—do whatever you want. You've never even taken a vacation."
"Then I do have something in mind."
"What's that?"
Yuseong was curious what someone as unflappable as Jeong Rip might want to do.
'He's not really planning to wander as a ronin, is he?'
Jeong Rip's revealed plan was just like him.
"I'm thinking of embarking on a martial tour. Visiting the righteous faction's masters, that is."
Righteous faction masters meant Transformation Realm experts.
Aside from training under the Murim Alliance Leader, Jeong Rip had never clashed with a Transformation Realm master.
With no reason to be tied to the Alliance anymore, it was a perfect chance to seek out Transformation Realm masters and raise his realm further.
"All wanderers are like that to some extent, but you have an incredible passion for martial arts, Jeong Rip."
He downed a cup of liquor.
"...Would you like to hear about my childhood?"
Yuseong wasn't one to pry into others' pasts.
He thought it rude to ask unless they offered first, but if they wanted to share, that was different.
'What kind of past does a Transformation Realm master have?'
It had to be an intriguing tale.
Yuseong nodded lightly.
"...That's how I lost my entire family to Demonic Cultists."
"..."
"Even as a ronin, I had one goal: grow strong somehow and get revenge. I joined the Demon Subduing Division for that reason."
Yuseong learned why Jeong Rip harbored such deep grudge against the Demonic Cult.
And why, even after reaching Transformation Realm—the dream of all wanderers—he ceaselessly pursued growth.
The mood grew a bit heavy.
"...I'll cheer you on."
All he could do was wish him success.
"Ah, I've brought the mood down. How have you been lately, White-Clothed Physician? Seeing any women?"
With the story over, he changed the subject.
'Why women out of nowhere?'
It didn't seem the most fitting topic for a sudden shift.
"There's no one I'm seeing in particular."
Jeong Rip nodded emphatically.
"I understand."
"...?"
Yuseong had no idea what he understood, but he drank with Jeong Rip until dawn before heading home.
Even Jeong Rip, who hadn't expelled the alcohol with his inner power, got quite drunk, but Yuseong wasn't intoxicated at all.
***
The Murim Alliance's Medical Pavilion was soon to officially open.
Meaning Yuseong's time at the Luoyang Medical Hall was racing toward its end.
The line of people was longer than ever, hearing they wouldn't get treatment from him anymore.
"You're really leaving—such a shame. Thanks to you, White-Clothed Physician, I've had no worries all this time."
Some regretted Yuseong's departure.
"Going to a great place—congratulations. I wish you only good fortune ahead, Physician."
Others blessed his future.
And.
"Oh dear, our White-Clothed Physician. Last day today—must have a drink, right? On me, of course. Like brothels too? They say a stunning new beauty arrived at Plum Blossom House down there."
Some were still busy sucking up to Yuseong.
The hand-rubbing one was, of course, Cha Physician.
"Sorry, but I've been invited by Yang Physician today."
"Yang Physician? Mind if I tag along?"
"That might be tough."
"Ah, why? We've had cozy drinks as a trio before. Or should I ask Yang Physician myself? He won't refuse, I bet."
"...Do that."
Yuseong thought of Yang Physician, who had earnestly wanted him to make time today.
He showed no sign of wanting company.
Unsure, Yuseong left Cha Physician to Yang Physician.
A bit later, the dejected Cha Physician returned from "visiting" Yang Physician.
He carried a tray instead.
"He says circumstances prevent it today. Have this drink at least."
Yuseong accepted the herbal soup wafting a faint medicinal scent.
"What's this?"
"Hangover soup. Felt bad about getting smashed first last time and neglecting you, so I prepared it. Drink without worry today."
"You prepared even this?"
"Of course I should. Oh, right—coming out of my pay, so keep that in mind."
Cha Physician bragged as he provided hangover relief soup.
Yuseong didn't need it since he didn't get drunk, but he gratefully accepted the sentiment.
"I'll enjoy it."
"Have a good time then. Don't forget me once you're at the Murim Alliance. Let's meet often."
And so Yuseong wrapped up his time at the Luoyang Medical Hall.
Having moved most belongings ahead, he only had a bedding roll and small bundle to take.
As he stepped out, Yang Physician was already waiting.
A moment later.
Yuseong met an elderly man and a young woman in a large inn's annex with Yang Physician.
The elder had clear eyes but a quite gaunt face.
He seemed to have barely slept recently.
The young woman unusually had her eyes covered with red cloth.
Even excluding her eyes, she was clearly a stunning beauty.
The elder spoke.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm the master of Jiheon here. This is my granddaughter."
The Divine Physician had appeared before Yuseong.