Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Day Off
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The Medical Pavilion Leader's skills have advanced even further!
He even treated someone who was blind!
The rumor started from the Murim Alliance's Sichuan Branch.
Though it's said that a word has no wings yet travels a thousand li, Sichuan and Anhui Province were too far apart for the news to spread that quickly.
However, before the rumors about Yuseong could naturally flow into Anhui Province,
the Nangong Family had already learned of his prowess.
Thanks to the messenger pigeon Nangong Yurin had sent ahead to the Nangong Family.
"Tch, that brat."
A low mutter escaped the lips of the elderly man clutching the letter.
Yet a pleased smile graced the mouth of the Sword King who had spoken those harsh words.
He had been annoyed that his granddaughter, whom he had told to wait briefly at the Murim Academy while he handled some business, had instead volunteered for a mission to Sichuan and left.
But she had awakened during the Demonic Cult's assault and become a Peak Realm expert?
'I was agonizing over how to fix her...'
Even in the past, it had been hard to judge precisely, but his granddaughter's martial talent was never poor.
And yet, she had always been pushed back by opponents of the same first-rate warrior level.
To think she had overcome her habit of hesitating to attack foes and made a decisive contribution to capturing a Peak Realm expert.
A few months ago, when he heard the news from the Murim Alliance, he could hardly believe it.
Nangong Yurin had reached the Peak Realm at nineteen.
Excluding Baek Yuseong, who had now lost his martial arts, she possessed talent on par with the greatest in history.
The last time he saw her at the Murim Academy, there wasn't even a sign of her reaching the Peak Realm's threshold—how had she attained such a realm in so short a time?
It didn't make sense by the Sword King's common knowledge.
But still.
Everyone was saying the same thing.
Nangong Yurin had become a Peak Realm expert.
The Nangong Family's future remained bright.
When people mentioned her using qi reinforcement, he briefly suspected she had used the latter half of the Emperor Sword Form.
'If that were the case, Yurin wouldn't have survived. She must have comprehended some other secret technique.'
Even though the Sword King had personally taught her the latter half of the Emperor Sword Form, he dismissed that possibility.
Without reaching the Transformation Realm, deploying the latter half would cause one's body to collapse entirely, leading to death—there had to be another reason.
In fact, among the Nangong Family ancestors, one who hadn't reached the Transformation Realm had used the latter half of the Emperor Sword Form and met a gruesome end.
In any case.
The contents of the messenger pigeon sent by his commendable granddaughter were simple.
'Formally request that the Medical Pavilion Leader be dispatched to the Nangong Family to treat Nangong Yuhyeon...'
Of course, that was only natural.
The Medical Pavilion Leader belonged to the Murim Alliance and was a singular existence called the Divine Physician.
Those once known as the Three Great Physicians of the World had become the Four Great Physicians, and now the three were considered beneath Yuseong.
'He's already shown so much...'
Even as the Sword King, he was no longer someone to be treated lightly.
He had considered taking his grandson to the Murim Alliance as soon as possible to have Nangong Yuhyeon treated.
But traveling a long distance with Nangong Yuhyeon, who couldn't even see, would be quite burdensome.
Nangong Yurin also seemed to want the Medical Pavilion Leader invited here.
'I can't fathom the intent behind requesting the finest chef in Anhui Province who excels at spicy and stimulating dishes.'
Though there was some incomprehensible content, he decided to heed his pretty granddaughter's words.
The Nangong Family formally sent a messenger pigeon to the Murim Alliance requesting the dispatch of the Medical Pavilion Leader.
***
Upon returning to the Murim Alliance, Yuseong was spending such a busy time that he felt he needed two bodies.
It was only natural that seriously injured patients who had accumulated in his absence flocked to him,
and the fact that he could treat old burns, scars, and even disabilities drew countless people to the Medical Pavilion.
The work at the Murim Alliance wasn't the end of it.
Even on his day off, there was no rest.
Though he had started it voluntarily, it had now become an obligation.
"It's been a while. I wanted to visit So-ok and thank her once more for procuring the Heavenly Fortune Stone for me."
"The House of Revelry Leader will be overjoyed. She said she wants to see the actual needles made with the Heavenly Fortune Stone now that the Medical Pavilion Leader has used it for acupuncture. She's very busy these days, but if I say the Medical Pavilion Leader wishes to meet, she'll definitely make time—so I'll invite her."
"Thank you."
The House of Revelry, with whom he had spent a long time in a master-disciple-like relationship, had splendidly returned to the orthodox faction under the efforts of Supreme Leader Jeong Yeon and Leader So-ok.
They were engaging in various activities with the Murim Alliance, so they must be incredibly busy without a moment to breathe.
After conversing with So-ok's confidant, he headed to the annex they had provided.
The courtesans affiliated with the House of Revelry were already gathered.
They had come for treatment from the returned Yuseong, and there seemed to be five or six times more than usual.
Not only had he been unable to provide regular check-ups during his trip to Sichuan, leading to many courtesans contracting venereal diseases,
but Yuseong had also asked them to gather as many patients as possible this time, having obtained Heavenly Fortune Stone needles.
"But is it really alright to see so many patients like this?"
"Yes, it's more than manageable. I've gained some things of my own, after all."
"Amazing. So medical skills advance by leaps and bounds as well. As expected of the Divine Physician."
Divine Physician.
Having actually used the power of a god, it was a fitting title.
'A bit embarrassing, though...'
He took a seat in the treatment room and waited, when one courtesan entered.
A face he hadn't seen before—her skin was fair, and she was quite pretty.
"This humble girl is Yeongok. But... Young Master Baek is far more handsome than the rumors suggested?"
Yeongok flashed a seductive smile.
Yuseong had often encountered such situations before.
Courtesans who dealt with men habitually threw flirtatious glances at him.
He felt no particular excitement.
Thanks to the women he had spent time with, his standards had risen to the utmost.
"There are many more waiting for treatment afterward, so please come quickly, miss."
"Oh dear. You're in such a hurry. Do you so badly want to see this girl's intimate places?"
This woman was just a patient, nothing more.
Repeating that to himself, he picked up the needle.
"Aaak!!"
Outside the treatment room, two courtesans were chatting.
"Still the same, huh? The one who just went in—is she a new girl from your place?"
"Yeah."
"You should've warned her. Young Master Baek hates flirtatious advances. He deliberately makes the needles hurt for that reason. I was shocked the first time I got one. I heard he places them painlessly for the other girls, and I resented him for a while because of it."
"I just didn't tell her."
One corner of her friend's mouth curled up.
"Ah~"
The courtesan who had asked realized her friend disliked the new girl and shut her mouth.
'They say she stole all the customers as the youngest and prettiest in their brothel—must be jealousy.'
Even to the courtesan's eyes, Yeongok who had just entered was excessively beautiful.
After treating the courtesans, Yuseong treated the people from the slums who arrived right on time.
They were poor.
Unlike the House of Revelry courtesans, these were people without money who couldn't receive proper treatment and were still dying.
But those fortunate enough to be treated by Yuseong could save their lives.
Divine Power accumulated.
Even after returning home in the evening, he didn't rest.
He needed to practice the [Healing: Sustained Effect] skill.
For the experiment, he intentionally injected Divine Power back into his own body through the needles.
While using the Healing skill, he deliberately increased the amount of Divine Power automatically infused.
He tested whether he could control the amount of Divine Power converted into Healing.
Increasing the infused Divine Power intentionally was easy,
but adjusting the conversion amount didn't happen all at once.
'Still, I can move it a little by my will. I've got the knack.'
It was a positive change.
A few more days of practice should suffice.
***
While Yuseong was practicing his skill.
Jegal Yeongyeong also returned home late and lay down on her bed.
The headaches that had tormented her for months still throbbed, nagging at her nerves.
Was that all?
The black道 forces widespread south of the Yangtze had begun organized movements,
and recently, there had been many attacks on orthodox faction experts. The Demonic Cult was the prime suspect.
With all these headaches piling up at once, there were more than one or two things demanding her attention.
Not just Murim Alliance matters, but personal issues as well.
How to get closer to Yuseong, who seemed to have grown much closer to Nangong Yurin.
Jegal Yeongyeong had only focused on studies and knew next to nothing about romance.
As these things accumulated,
she couldn't even sleep properly, her nerves became sharp, and her appetite plummeted.
'Still, I should at least change clothes.'
Letting out a deep sigh, Jegal Yeongyeong suddenly felt a tightness in her abdomen.
"What's wrong with this...?"
Uncomfortable, she felt her lower right abdomen.
She had skipped dinner, but...
When she couldn't pinpoint the cause, she thought of seeking Yuseong, but it was his day off.
The on-duty physician at the Medical Pavilion today was Cha Physician.
She decided to endure until morning when she could visit Yuseong.
'Lying down should make it better.'
But as time passed, the symptoms didn't improve.
She finally changed her mind.
'I can't take it. Let's go to the Medical Pavilion now.'
Determined, Jegal Yeongyeong tried to get up from the bed.
"Hk!"
In that instant, a twisting pain like her intestines were wrung shot through her, and a scream burst out.
Cold sweat flowed, her lips trembled.
"What was that just now?"
She lay still for a moment, and it improved again.
She tried to get up once more.
"Haa...!"
This time, a squeezing pain surged from her lower abdomen.
Thinking to alleviate it, she reflexively bent at the waist,
"....!"
A fainting-level agony assaulted her, and she couldn't even bend properly.
Far from getting up, she couldn't move at all.
"I-is anyone outside?"
Jegal Yeongyeong called out loudly.
"Young Lady! What's wrong?"
A maid brought from the Zhuge Family rushed in and asked urgently.
There was no time to worry about days off or anything now.
To be freed from the pain instantly rather than treating it with medicine, she needed the most reliable person.
Fortunately, both she and he were staying at the Murim Alliance.
"P-please call the Medical Pavilion Leader. It hurts so much I can't move."
"Yes! Just hold on a moment, Young Lady!"