Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Isolation
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Yuseong had left holy water with the Yang Physician, which possessed a healing effect on par with the [Healing] skill.
Like [Healing], it was only effective against illnesses and freshly inflicted wounds.
In the meantime, the holy water had been depleted treating severe injuries, and with Yuseong absent,
many patients in the Murim Alliance had been awaiting his touch.
The first patient after Jegal Yeongyeong departed.
The warrior who returned on crutches had half his right calf sliced off, the wound festering.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead from the intense pain.
His name was Ma Cheol.
He was a patient Yuseong had seen even before departing for Sichuan.
"Ma Cheol, what happened to your leg?"
"Ugh... A few days ago during a mission, a Black Path scum who pretended to be dead swung his sword and nearly severed my leg. It was coated in poison, and while the Yang Physician detoxified it, he said amputation was necessary. But then the Medical Pavilion Leader arrived just in time."
"Amputation..."
It had started with half the calf being cut, but the rot had spread considerably.
The bleeding had been well staunched, likely by pressing acupoints, but with the wound in this state, neither the [Healing] skill nor holy water could recover it—the critical window had passed.
"Can... can this be fixed?"
Ma Cheol gazed at him with anxious eyes.
If even Yuseong couldn't heal it, he would have agreed to amputation before it rotted further.
"Fortunately, there's no need to amputate."
"R-really? The Yang Physician clearly said it had to be cut off...! Ah, no. I'm not doubting the Medical Pavilion Leader—it's just hard to believe."
Ma Cheol hurriedly made excuses, fearing he might offend him, but Yuseong just smiled.
A short while later, Ma Cheol walked out of the consultation room, carrying both crutches in one hand, his steps steady.
"How?!"
Grinning at his astonished comrades, Ma Cheol shouted,
"The Medical Pavilion Leader fixed my rotting leg!"
Even Ju Osang, who had entered on crutches with a grim face, was stunned to see Ma Cheol walk out.
He had gone in clinging to one last hope before amputation.
Not only did it not seem treatable at all, but Yuseong hadn't even had time for a cup of tea before he emerged perfectly fine—something Ju Osang hadn't dreamed of.
"See? The Medical Pavilion Leader can even fix shattered dantians. This is nothing. I believed in him."
"No way the Medical Pavilion Leader could heal a leg that's already been cut off, right?"
"Nah, that's going too far. His was still attached, at least."
"Yeah... that might be too much. I wonder if he could heal my burns?"
Ju Osang's hideous burns covered most of his face.
Because of those burn scars, he had no luck with women. He had come for a hand injury but harbored a small hope that the scars might be erasable too.
Of course, when he'd asked before, he'd been told it was still too difficult to treat...
"Hey, you and that again? He already said it's untreatable. You asked a few months ago and now you're gonna bother the Medical Pavilion Leader again?"
"No... he didn't say it was impossible—just not yet."
"Same difference."
"Sigh... How would you understand my feelings?"
Lately, the guy had been bragging about a girl he was seeing.
His smugness was infuriating.
'I was popular in the neighborhood when I was young too...'
Sighing deeply, it was finally Ju Osang's turn.
"Don't waste the Medical Pavilion Leader's time—get treated and come out quick."
"..."
Leaving his irritating comrade behind, Ju Osang entered the consultation room and greeted Yuseong.
"Medical Pavilion Leader, I heard you returned from Sichuan. They say you accomplished great feats."
"There might be some exaggerations in the rumors. Osang, good to see you again. What's troubling you today?"
He had suffered a fracture in his finger.
As he unwound the bandages to show the wound,
"You've injured your finger. I've been thinking of you a lot lately—perfect timing."
"Me? My thoughts?"
***
The consultation room door opened.
After Ju Osang entered, his friend waiting outside stared in bewilderment at the person who emerged.
He was dressed in the same uniform, yet it was a face he'd never seen.
He had a hunch.
'Is that the new recruit who just joined? Why does he look like a gigolo?'
Ju Osang was still being treated and hadn't come out, yet the newbie emerged first.
Had he gone in right as the Medical Pavilion Leader started consultations, and now the treatment was done?
But then,
the newbie smirked at him?
Hierarchy mattered greatly to him, so he couldn't hold back.
"You punk! Can't even greet your senior and you smirk? You're that new guy who just came in, right?"
The other's smile deepened.
"Hey, don't you recognize my face?"
"..."
It was a familiar voice.
The guy he'd mocked for his burn scars.
"N-no way... Ju Osang?"
"Yeah, that's me. See? I was right."
Whether it meant Yuseong could heal the burns as he'd said, or that Ju Osang had always been told he was handsome,
one thing was clear.
He could no longer mock Ju Osang.
***
After Yuseong returned to the Murim Alliance, the Medical Pavilion buzzed with energy.
"No, Medical Pavilion Leader! What happens if your skills improve even more there?!"
Despite the scolding tone, the Cha Physician couldn't hide his smile.
They had managed the pavilion together with just the Yang Physician in the meantime, but Yuseong's absence had been keenly felt.
Today was proof.
People who had thought it hopeless left fully satisfied after his treatment.
"I got lucky. Cha Physician, Yang Physician—you've worked hard. I could step away because I trusted you both."
The Yang Physician shook his head.
"No. Detoxifying the Yucheon Immortal wouldn't have succeeded without you anyway. You had to go. Even the Tang Clan of Sichuan struggled with it, didn't they?"
It had turned out that way, but Yuseong believed Dang Harin could have solved the Yucheon Immortal's poison too.
'She's never exaggerated about poisons. And she kept regretting it, so she'd have found a way on her own.'
During their joint research on the Poison Person, such topics had come up.
About how long Yuseong could keep traveling to detoxify personally.
Yuseong agreed they ultimately needed an antidote.
There were limits to him wandering the vast Central Plains detoxifying people himself, so Dang Harin had declared that once the Poison Person research concluded and she had time, she'd develop antidotes for the poisons afflicting the Dao King and Yucheon Immortal.
Things had rushed ahead with the Poison Blood Pool saturation, but now as a Poison Person, Dang Harin would keep her word.
'If we stock antidotes at Murim Alliance branches in major cities, experts poisoned by the same toxins could detoxify without my help.'
Accumulating divine power was important, but so was protecting the lives of experts who could lend strength.
After the Cha Physician left, only the Yang Physician remained to chat with Yuseong.
"I'm sorry. My skills were lacking, and I used up all the holy water."
"Why apologize? Without you, I couldn't have been away this long. And I gave it to you to use on patients—you did well."
Frequent battles erupted everywhere.
With Yuseong away, casualties were inevitable.
But thanks to the Yang Physician and the holy water, countless lives had been saved.
"Still, whenever I used the holy water, I always made sure to mention it was medicine made by the Medical Pavilion Leader."
As expected of the Yang Physician.
Yuseong felt grateful toward him.
Even in unseen places, people supporting him allowed his divine power to grow steadily.
"And a few days ago, a letter arrived from your master inquiring after the Medical Pavilion Leader's well-being."
"Oh? I'll reply."
The Yang Physician handled communications between the Divine Physician and Yuseong.
The Divine Physician seemed curious when his granddaughter's treatment might be possible.
Acquiring the [Purification] skill would take more time.
***
While Yuseong built divine power with his new achievements,
the Murim Academy students couldn't hide their awe watching Nangong Yurin spar with instructors who were Peak Realm experts.
Many were drawn to her mysterious aura, but they were martial artists.
Attention shifted to her skills.
"Nineteen and already Peak Realm? Is she really that talented?"
"Yeah. I always beat her in spars— what happened in Sichuan?"
"There are rumors she briefly manifested sword force with the Nangong Family's secret arts."
"Born into the Nangong Family, huh... Life sure is unfair..."
"So she's returning to the Nangong Family now? When she left for Sichuan, the Sword King came looking for her and caused a fuss. Why send the heir apparent to Sichuan?"
"Who knows? They say the Medical Pavilion Leader can heal Nangong Yuhyeon now. Wouldn't that make him the heir? He's the eldest son."
Originally, Nangong Yuhyeon was the Nangong Family heir.
But after he became crippled, the Sword King said Nangong Yurin would succeed him.
Women becoming family heads was rare but not unheard of.
Speculation arose about the future Nangong Family succession.
However,
one person couldn't join their conversation at all.
'Damn, damn, damn! So the Medical Pavilion Leader was that bastard!'
Unable to approach the chatting Murim Academy students, he barely eavesdropped from afar—his name was Baek Jinseong.
Eldest son of the Baek Family Manor in Hunan and Yuseong's half-brother.
Baek Jinseong ground his teeth watching Jin Yeongho, his old friend leading the discussion among the students.
'You rotten punk... Pretending not to know me right away...'
Before Baek Jinseong entered the Murim Academy, tales of his feud with Yuseong had spread widely here.
Most came from what he'd told Jin Yeongho himself, so Jin Yeongho must have spread them.
From snippets he'd overheard, Jin Yeongho had wronged Baek Yuseong too and was trying not to fall out of favor.
He'd entered the Murim Academy to build connections rather than hone skills.
'Ha... Connections my ass...'
Who could've guessed his trusted friend Jin Yeongho would actively isolate him?
The gift his father had packed to give the Medical Pavilion Leader rotted in his dorm.
From day one at the academy, he'd been thoroughly ostracized.
'What the hell do I tell the family?!'