Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: Securing the Pill Refiner
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“Whew! Side quest cleared!”
Namgung Hyeok stretched languidly as he sauntered back to his quarters.
With the azure spirit oil secured, it was time to gather the remaining materials for the Golden Immortal Pills one by one.
A few key ingredients were still outstanding, but he couldn’t just twiddle his thumbs until they were all in hand, could he?
He’d run into Pang Cheon-wi, who ran a trading company, and made good use of the opportunity.
“The Northern Hebei Pang Family runs trading caravans, so what the hell have the Namgung Family been doing?”
Wealth fueled martial prowess, shooting up like bamboo shoots after rain.
With money, you could buy fine weapons, top-grade medicines, superior techniques, and skilled warriors. How could a clan not grow mighty?
“Merchant houses.”
The Namgung Family did operate a few merchant houses, but they were nothing compared to the Northern Hebei Pang Family’s operations.
“Hmm…”
Namgung Hyeok pondered for a moment before clicking his tongue in annoyance.
He shook his head at the sight of Namgung Wi-gyeong, dead drunk and being carried away.
“Kuahaha! Our main house is the world’s greatest sect! Uhahaha!”
“E-Elder! Please calm down!”
“Our main house took first, and runner-up spots too! Who’d have thought this day would come? Haha!”
As Namgung Wi-gyeong flailed wildly in his palanquin, the warriors rushed to restrain him in alarm.
“No regrets! Those Five Great Clans can go fuuuck theeeeeir moooootheeeers…!”
Uh… someone shut that mouth.
He’s gonna cause a scene.
‘Kids these days get drunk way too young.’
Namgung Hyeok tutted as he gathered his thoughts.
‘The materials are starting to come together, so now I need to find someone to refine them.’
Pill refining was a complex and profound art.
It ran parallel to medicine yet followed an entirely different path.
That was why he hadn’t touched the Grandscale Pill Manual’s arts himself.
‘Amateurs won’t do.’
The refiner needed deep knowledge of pill arts and medicine alike.
And ideally, someone who’d serve the Namgung Family for life(?).
This was the Grandscale secret art, after all.
He couldn’t leak it carelessly or entrust it to some halfwit.
‘Any suitable candidates? Someone perfect…’
…Huh?
Namgung Hyeok tilted his head at the sight of a familiar-robed physician pacing in front of his quarters.
“Why’s that guy here?”
Ha Baek, head physician of the Righteous Heaven Alliance’s Medical Division, was loitering about.
* * *
Ever since Namgung Hyeok’s visit to the Medical Division, a burning question had plagued Ha Baek.
‘How the hell did he heal her?’
It was clear Namgung Hyeok had cured So Hye-yeon’s internal injuries.
But how he’d done it so thoroughly remained a mystery.
Whether spirit pill or true qi infusion, something had worked its magic—and whatever it was, it was bizarre.
If a pill, which one? If qi transfer, how? The curiosity gnawed at him.
Ha Baek couldn’t stand mysteries; after stewing alone, he’d dragged himself here.
Ha Baek scanned the depths of Namgung Hyeok’s quarters, stroking his chin.
“Where the hell is everyone? Not a soul in sight.”
The courtyard was deserted.
“Sheesh.”
He’d only learned around the tournament semifinals that Namgung Hyeok was the Namgung Family’s Second Young Master.
When a bloodied Mount Hua disciple was brought in, the physicians had made such a fuss about how Namgung Hyeok— who’d visited days prior—must’ve done it.
‘…Real orthodox righteous sect, huh?’
That’s what had shocked Ha Baek.
Namgung Hyeok was from a true orthodox righteous sect!
“…His face didn’t look the part.”
“What’s an orthodox righteous face supposed to look like?”
“You know, exactly like a proper young hero…”
“Me?”
Ha Baek froze like stone at Namgung Hyeok pointing at his own face.
“…”
“What’re you doing? Skulking around like a thief.”
“…I-I-I…”
“Stammering makes you look even more suspicious.”
“S-So…”
“Come here, come here.”
Namgung Hyeok grabbed Ha Baek by the scruff and hoisted him up.
Ha Baek gaped, mouth agape at the bizarre sensation of being lifted like a chopstick.
Namgung Hyeok’s eyes narrowed as he glanced around.
“You… don’t tell me.”
“S-So…”
“You here to steal my azure spirit oil?”
“Pardon?”
“This little punk!”
What the hell? Out of nowhere?
How’d the conversation jump there?
Namgung Hyeok clenched his fist and raised it high.
“Daring to touch my azure spirit oil?”
“M-Misunderstanding!”
“Misunderstanding?”
“I-I just came because I had a question for Young Hero!”
“What question?”
“…P-Put me down first. My throat’s closing up; I’m about to pass out.”
“So?”
“…I-I’m gonna die.”
“You won’t. If you pass out, I’ll just needle you awake.”
“Passed out how am I gonna—?”
“That’s your problem.”
This guy!
Ha Baek glared at Namgung Hyeok with a rotten expression.
Only then did Namgung Hyeok release him.
Coughing and hacking, Ha Baek faced Namgung Hyeok’s question.
“If you’re not after the azure spirit oil, then why’re you here?”
“…So.”
Ha Baek collected his thoughts.
“I want to know how you healed that young lady.”
“Oh.”
“How’d you cure her internal injuries in that brief pulse diagnosis? It’s been eating at me so bad I can’t sleep!”
Ha Baek’s eyes sparkled as he stared at Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok smirked.
“Curious, huh?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
Why?
Ha Baek replied matter-of-factly.
“Isn’t it natural curiosity for a physician? You treated my patient, but if I—the doctor—don’t know how, what’s more ridiculous? If it’s a good method, I learn it; if not, resolving the mystery satisfies me.”
Resolve burned in Ha Baek’s eyes, fierce and unrelenting.
Namgung Hyeok’s gaze swept over him.
His eyes lit up.
“Hey, follow me.”
“Huh? Where to all of a—?”
“Follow!”
“Eek!”
Namgung Hyeok snatched Ha Baek and dragged him inside.
Geon Cheon-hwi, watching from afar, offered a silent prayer.
“There goes another talent.”
“A physician’s talent?”
Tak Hyeok-dong beside him asked.
“If he’s head physician in the Righteous Heaven Alliance’s Medical Division, he’s got skills.”
“Kuahaha, tough luck running into the Second Young Master.”
“Yeah.”
Geon Cheon-hwi tilted his head.
“But what’s he dragging a physician off for?”
“What’ll you do if you know?”
“…Nothing.”
Who were they to stop Namgung Hyeok?
Not them, nor anyone in the Namgung Family.
Even Namgung Ryong, who’d once reined him in, had flipped to his side. No one could control Namgung Hyeok now.
Blink, blink.
Ha Baek, hauled in by Namgung Hyeok, blinked dazedly.
“Name.”
“Ha Baek.”
“Age.”
“Twenty-eight.”
“Position.”
“Head physician of the Righteous Heaven Alliance’s Medical Division.”
“Master-disciple ties?”
“My master passed early; now I learn medicine from the division head… Wait! Why the interrogation all of a sudden?!”
Namgung Hyeok ignored the outburst, nodding as he muttered.
“No living ties, huh? Nothing holding him back?”
“…”
“Curious type. Decent medical knowledge too.”
“…What’ve you been mumbling since earlier? You even listening?”
Frustrated, Ha Baek prodded—only for Namgung Hyeok’s eyes to flash open.
“Last question.”
The sudden glint made Ha Baek catch his breath.
‘What kind of eyes…’
Gulp.
Ha Baek swallowed dryly, tensing up despite himself.
What’s he getting at?
Namgung Hyeok asked quietly.
“Interested in pill refining?”
“Any physician would be…”
“Pass.”
“…Pass?”
“You’re the talent I’ve been looking for.”
“What’re you on about? I just…”
Namgung Hyeok wasn’t listening anymore.
He just grinned ear to ear, nodding in satisfaction.
“Perfect. And he walked right into my lap.”
“…”
“Head physician in the Righteous Heaven Alliance? Must be skilled. Into pill refining, no ties…?”
Totally ideal!
Namgung Hyeok cackled, beaming at Ha Baek.
Ha Baek looked utterly baffled.
Namgung Hyeok addressed the dazed man.
“Ever thought about learning pill refining?”
The abrupt offer left Ha Baek puzzled at first—then he chuckled.
“No thanks. My late master was one of the world’s top three refiners.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yep. I trained under him for years.”
“You know a bit, then?”
Ha Baek laughed heartily.
“A bit? In pill refining, I’ve got nothing left to learn. I inherited it pure and proper.”
“Heh, heh heh.”
“…Young Hero?”
“Uhahaha!”
“…Hey?”
Ha Baek stared blankly as Namgung Hyeok’s low, rumbling laughter built.
Is he nuts?
Then.
“Even better.”
“Huh? Better how?”
“With azure spirit oil, we can refine pills, right?”
“…What?”
“Azure spirit oil.”
Ha Baek blinked at Namgung Hyeok’s casual toss.
Then he shot to his feet, shouting.
“With azure spirit oil?!”
Namgung Hyeok pushed the looming, eager face back down and nodded.
“Yeah.”
“N-No, wait—azure spirit oil?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Az-Are you refining… azure spirit oil?”
“Sheesh.”
Namgung Hyeok scowled and clicked his tongue; Ha Baek shut his mouth.
But his eyes still wandered blankly.
Refine azure spirit oil? In this world?
It wasn’t just warriors who coveted it.
Merchants eyed its value; physicians, its properties.
“Az-Azure spirit oil isn’t something to handle lightly. Botch the refining, and you ruin its effects, waste its power.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Just eating it raw would be…”
“Why dodge?”
“It’s… too daunting. Not just any ingredient—azure spirit oil…”
Screw up the potency, and he’d be the one choked out.
Ha Baek added hastily.
“I’ve heard azure spirit oil doesn’t grant decades of cultivation per drop like the legends say. But raw still beats losing years to unproven refining…”
“I know. That’s why we’re refining it. You think I’d guzzle azure spirit oil just for a few years’ worth of qi?”
“That’s your call; I wouldn’t know…”
Namgung Hyeok’s eyes gleamed maniacally.
Whoa, those eyes.
Ha Baek flinched, scooting his chair back.
“Everyone in medicine knows refining azure spirit oil is a nightmare. And I’ve never heard of anyone succeeding. Even my master said just drink it raw! It’s not some cold remedy…”
“It exists.”
“You keep saying that—huh? It does?”
“Yep.”
Sniff.
Ha Baek’s eyes bulged; snot dripped from his nose.
He wiped it hastily.
“R-Really?! How?!”
Maximizing azure spirit oil’s innate energy without damaging it was insanely tough.
A near-perfect liquid elixir—tamper clumsily, and you wrecked it.
But a refining method existed?
“Liar!”
“What if it does?”
“I’ll kowtow at a temple!”
“For real?”
“On my physician’s honor…”
Thud.
Huh?
Ha Baek gawked at the Grandscale Pill Manual dropped before him.
Clearly ancient, weathered by time.
As he stared blankly, Namgung Hyeok said.
“Research later. This is your sample.”
Thwack!
Namgung Hyeok placed a small wooden jar on the table.
Ha Baek peered down with trembling eyes.
Then, ever so carefully, he cracked the lid.
Whoosh!
“Gasp!”
The overwhelming aroma hit like a wave; Ha Baek’s jaw dropped.
He’d never smelled such an intense medicinal scent.
Just inhaling felt like it purged the filth from his veins.
Even the world’s greatest wonder pills didn’t compare!
Ha Baek inhaled sharply at the Golden Immortal Pill’s presence inside.
“Th-This… what is it? Is this really a spirit pill from azure spirit oil?”
“Yep.”
“This? Really?”
In this world…
For real?
As Ha Baek gaped mutely, Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“What’re you waiting for? Kowtow.”
“…Huh?”
Click.
Namgung Hyeok sealed the jar, smirking.
‘Pill refiner secured.’
Thus, Namgung Hyeok captured his patsy(?) for pill production.