Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Hope
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Jeong Rip couldn't hide his trembling heart.
He had let go of everything, yet vain hope was trying to bloom once more.
'Reviving someone whose heart had stopped... If that's true, it might be worth trying. I have nothing left to lose anyway.'
Jeong Rip immediately summoned a servant and asked to be guided to the White-Clothed Physician's clinic.
The servant led him to Baek Yuseong's clinic.
"A Murim Alliance warrior is receiving treatment inside, so please wait just a moment."
"Very well."
As the servant who had guided Jeong Rip turned to leave, Jang Chil, the White-Clothed Physician's attendant, grabbed him.
Jang Chil whispered, struggling to conceal his excitement over the fresh gossip.
"Isn't that the Demon Subduing Division Leader who just arrived? Did he personally request to come here?"
"Of course. Otherwise, why would I bring Jo Physician's patient to the White-Clothed Physician? Jo Physician despises the White-Clothed Physician, as everyone knows. The Demon Subduing Division Leader came out of Jo Physician's clinic and specifically asked me to guide him here."
"Oh, so he came from there? I got excited thinking he'd recognized like the others."
"Excited?"
"If that were the case, Jo Physician would throw a fit. 'That Baek Yuseong stole my patient again! I won't let him get away with it!'—shouting something like that."
"Heh heh, you too."
Few could eavesdrop on whispers exchanged from afar, cautious of being overheard.
Only those deemed superhumans might manage it.
Yet at that very spot stood a Peak Realm expert on the cusp of Transformation Realm. The Peak Realm was indeed worthy of the superhuman label.
'So that's how it was. Who would have thought the world's Demon Subduing Division Leader would end up a pawn in physicians' scheming.'
Jo Physician's polite demeanor had felt oddly off—he had sent Jeong Rip to this Baek Yuseong with some agenda in mind.
Jeong Rip let out a self-deprecating laugh.
He had no intention of holding Jo Physician accountable. Recommending another physician wasn't wrong in itself; escalating it would only leave an ugly stain in the end.
Disillusioned, Jeong Rip suppressed the urge to turn on his heel and waited.
His plan was to get a strong painkiller prescribed and leave without attachment.
The glimpse of Baek Yuseong's strikingly young face peeking from the clinic only reinforced that resolve.
'Reviving someone whose heart stopped? Probably an exaggeration. Politics was never for me after all. The Demon Subduing Division Leader's role—focused solely on slaying demons without overthinking—suited me best.'
Lost in reflection on his life, Jeong Rip snapped back at a murmur near his ear.
It was the waiting patients chatting.
"You hyped him up so much your ears might sprout scabs—can I really believe it?"
"Have I lived a life of nothing but deceit? I was right there. Saw it clear as day with my own eyes."
"I just can't wrap my head around it. How does anyone bring back the dead?"
One of the men shook his head.
"After the White-Clothed Physician treats you, get ready to call me 'brother.'"
Some patients had come alone, but those with companions were all sharing tales of Baek Yuseong's exceptional skill.
'It wasn't a lie after all?'
As ripples stirred in Jeong Rip's chest, the patient emerging from treatment appeared.
Rubbing his chest with utter bliss, he was someone Jeong Rip knew very well—and coincidentally so.
The man, scarred long across his cheek, spotted him first and exclaimed in surprise.
"Whoa! Division Leader—what a surprise!"
Having rushed first to secure painkillers, even the Demon Subduing Division's own subordinates were unaware he had ended his seclusion.
"What brings you here?"
"Internal injuries from sparring. What would've taken a full month is nearly healed. A few days' rest, and I'll be good as new."
Jeong Rip's eyebrow twitched.
"That severe, and already?"
Without premium tonic pills, even minor internal injuries demand at least a week of rest. Unlike accessible trauma salves, quality tonic pills were exceedingly rare.
"White Tiger Division Leader swore by this physician—said to come no matter what if injured. It's miraculous. I was even thinking of recommending it to you, Division Leader. Looks like you've heard the rumors already."
With a loyal subordinate singing praises, Jeong Rip's trust in Baek Yuseong ticked upward.
'Full recovery might be out of reach, but life extension could be possible. One more year, and I could hurl myself at the Transformation Realm wall with everything I've got.'
As their exchange wound down, the attendant waiting ahead ventured cautiously.
"Can you go in now?"
"Ah, I've kept you waiting. My apologies."
Yuseong had assumed another Murim Alliance warrior upon seeing the recently treated patient chatting outside the clinic.
The entering man startled him, however.
Deprived of internal energy, Yuseong couldn't sense aura, but the man's posture and battle-hardened physique screamed elite martial artist.
Among those he'd observed since possessing this body, this one topped the list.
'Seen plenty of Peak Realm experts, but he's a cut above. Undoubtedly a big name.'
"I'm Jeong Rip."
The name, paired with the elite aura, let Yuseong piece together his identity.
"So you're the Demon Subduing Division Leader."
"Correct. No small talk—down to business."
Impatient, or pressed for time, without doubt.
"As you wish."
"Years ago, diagnosed with inoperable malignant tumors throughout my body. Every other physician said impossible. The agony still devours me."
Yuseong nodded gravely. Jeong Rip paused, then pressed on.
"But word is you're a miracle worker who revives even the heart-stopped. Can you cure me?"
Yuseong's mind whirred at full speed.
Malignant tumors meant cancer in modern terms—metastasized across organs for years; the Division Leader teetered on the brink.
Yuseong had treated crowds lately but never cancer—yet confidence surged.
Divine power's healing wreaked havoc on diseases.
'Problem is full metastasis might demand more divine power than I've got. Rationing it now for natural recoveries amid the patient surge.'
Jeong Rip appeared composed, yet a flicker of anxiety lingered. Yuseong vowed to save him.
'Treating Murim folk usually spikes divine power sharply, bar exceptions. For an expert this caliber, success could mean a massive surge.'
Treatment method mapped out, Yuseong concluded his thoughts.
"Pulse diagnosis and exam first, but yes—it's possible."
"You're serious?"
"Let me examine briefly."
Jeong Rip extended his wrist readily. Yuseong's pulse read fainter, more erratic than feared—gravity set in.
'On death's door any second. Must be sheer internal energy and inhuman will keeping him upright. Treatment will guzzle divine power. And the longer it drags, the more it'll demand.'
Jeong Rip watched Yuseong's expression harden; his fragile hope dimmed.
"Too much, as expected. Duties remain. Strong painkillers suffice—a few days' endurance needed, nothing more."
Done. Precious time squandered, but painkillers would let him fulfill his final charge.
Yuseong prescribed none, however.
"Demon Subduing Division Leader, want to live? Obey me to the letter. Acupuncture incoming—lie there."
"..."
"Now. Every second counts."
Since attaining Peak Realm and the Division Leadership, no one had commanded him so imperiously.
Not even the Murim Alliance Leader—whose orders came as polite requests.
Jeong Rip glimpsed ironclad certainty in Yuseong's gaze. Its basis, soon revealed.
Yuseong exhaled relief as Jeong Rip stared long, then reclined—but the crux remained.
He grasped a custom long needle, chopstick-thick, designed to pierce internals.
"Acupuncture with that? Don't needles target acupoints?"
"Tumors too widespread—standard won't cut it. My proprietary method. Trust it."
"...Very well."
Jeong Rip surrendered, eyes closing. Yuseong plunged the needle dead-center into his chest.
Skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, intercostals, pleura—it pierced through. Divine power flowed.
Mastering control, Yuseong visualized organs as if CT-scanned.
Dire straits compared to prior patients: metastasis blanketed every inch, no refuge.
'No quick fix, as feared. Quell the blaze first.'
Healing activated.
***
"No—really?"
"Cha Physician, I told you already. Treatment's underway."
Cha Physician thumped his chest in exasperation.
"Can't swallow it. The Division Leader's illness—curable? You weren't around years back: after he visited, Luoyang Medical Hall's physicians convened on it. Yang Physician wrote the Divine Physician. Consensus? Only pray for his triumph."
"I can."
Having grilled Yuseong relentlessly on the Division Leader's prognosis, Cha Physician slid to his angle.
"Then... mind sharing the method? You broadcast that heart-compression trick to all once."
Yuseong shot a glare at the shameless Cha Physician.
CPR? Shared freely. This? Not a word. No one else could mimic it anyway, he figured.
Later, reality forced revision.