Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Hao Gate Connections
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I spoke to Na Ho-pyeong, who seemed slightly tense.
"I told you I already knew you were from the Hao Gate."
"That's true. But how did you know?"
I glanced at Seong Chu and Chu Man-seok nearby before replying.
"I had a hunch when I saw these two coming and going from the Ten Thousand Winds Inn. But I was certain when you knew Choi Cheol-bo's name exactly earlier."
"As expected, Physician Jang's keen eye is impressive. I thought maybe the young lady from the Sichuan Tang Family had told you."
Huh? Did Dang Seol-yeong already know?
Dang Seol-yeong, standing beside me, jumped in surprise as if the fire had suddenly turned her way.
"You still haven't told Physician Jang?"
Dang Seol-yeong panicked at Na Ho-pyeong's question.
"Ah, no, it didn't seem necessary to mention..."
"It's fine. Tell him now, young lady Dang. We're going to be working together anyway."
Dang Seol-yeong looked at me cautiously and explained.
In fact, she had poisoned Seong Chu's right arm herself and commissioned the Hao Gate to find a physician who could detoxify it.
So that's what happened. Even I hadn't known about that.
Thinking back, after I treated Na Ho-pyeong with acupuncture, everything had clicked together like perfectly meshed gears.
I spoke casually to the tense Dang Seol-yeong.
"What's the big deal? It just happened to coincide with when I was looking for an apprentice anyway."
"Still, it feels like I lied to you..."
"Lied? Anyway, the fact that you came to me means I've earned some recognition."
I patted Dang Seol-yeong's shoulder and added,
"It's okay. Don't worry about it."
Dang Seol-yeong looked up at me, her bright eyes shining with emotion.
"...Physician."
Where else am I going to find high-caliber talent from the Sichuan Tang Family?
To survive in this harsh martial world, Dang Seol-yeong was an indispensable asset.
'Honestly, it doesn't really matter to me.'
It was just her personal situation, after all.
Na Ho-pyeong, who had been sitting on the treatment bed, quietly stood and approached, pointing at himself cautiously.
"What about me? Do I not need to worry either?"
"About what?"
"Hiding that I'm from the Hao Gate."
"Don't Hao Gate members usually keep their identities secret anyway?"
"True, but it makes me seem too heartless."
"It's fine. We've helped each other out plenty of times already, big brother."
Then a question occurred to me. Na Ho-pyeong had sent not only his Hao Gate people but even Choi Cheol-bo to my clinic.
"But why have you helped me so much?"
"You made me burp more refreshingly than anyone else in my life. How could I not help?"
I recalled treating his stomach pain with the Fire Needle in his office.
I smiled, remembering that time.
"You're right. Well, let's keep looking out for each other."
"Same here."
Na Ho-pyeong then grabbed his outer robe and said,
"I should head back now. My family's probably waiting. And sometime, come visit my home."
Inviting me to his house meant he saw me as even closer now.
"Sure. Just let me know."
"Our daughter Sang-a will be thrilled. She loves when guests visit."
With that, Na Ho-pyeong left.
As he departed, Chu Man-seok and the other Hao Gate members came over to thank me.
"As expected of Physician Jang. Thank you for treating our Branch Chief."
"Herb Fragrance Hall, Famous Physician Tower—none of them worked. Good call bringing him to Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"I'd heard some rumors lately, but I didn't expect the physician here to be this skilled."
"From now on, I'll come to Clear Seclusion Clinic too."
I felt proud. I was steadily making inroads among the established physicians in Deokyang Medical District.
As I suppressed a leaking smile, the term "Branch Chief" suddenly hit me.
'I knew Na Ho-pyeong was important, but he's even higher up than I thought.'
As I was about to leave, Chu Man-seok approached and discreetly handed me something.
It wasn't silver pieces—it was full silver taels.
Two of them, no less.
Even combining house call fees, night visit charges, morning closure, and decoction costs, it was far more than enough.
"The Branch Chief said to settle accounts properly."
Na Ho-pyeong was meticulous about payments. Refusing would just mean he'd find another way to pay.
I smiled and accepted the silver taels.
"Got it."
I returned to Clear Seclusion Clinic with Dang Seol-yeong.
"We posted a closure notice today, so no patients, huh."
"Might as well rest up for once."
"You've rested plenty even when there were no patients?"
"..."
I almost retorted that I had been cleaning and organizing Clear Seclusion Clinic instead, but let it go.
As we entered the courtyard, Dang Seol-yeong pointed toward the waiting area.
"Ah! There's a patient!"
A lone patient sat on a stump under the shade awning. A familiar face.
Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So—the regular who often came for Generate Pulse Powder.
I unlocked the door to Clear Seclusion Clinic, and Hyeong So stood and followed us in.
As I opened the door, I asked him,
"We posted a closure notice today. Didn't you see it?"
"I did."
But when I turned as if to ask why he waited anyway, he continued.
"It was different from usual, so I waited."
What was this?
Did he worry because the door stayed closed?
Hyeong So then looked around the courtyard and said,
"The waiting area's in pretty bad shape."
It was a makeshift setup. Even the shade awning I'd put up was torn. The light stump was uncomfortable to sit on too.
Hyeong So's critiques continued as he surveyed Clear Seclusion Clinic.
"The building's old—lots of spots need repairs."
Why was he picking on everything today?
Forcing a customer-service smile, I asked,
"Is that why you're here?"
"Just give me the Generate Pulse Powder."
So he was just here for that after all.
Hyeong So drank the Generate Pulse Powder Dang Seol-yeong brought, made his usual ecstatic face, then paid with silver pieces and sauntered off.
Watching his retreating figure, Dang Seol-yeong put her hands on her hips.
"What a funny guy. Not like he's going to fix it himself. But... he's not wrong."
Dang Seol-yeong looked around.
"The waiting area needs fixing, and the building too. If the rainy season hits, it'll leak like crazy."
Dang Seol-yeong subtly glanced my way.
That look meant she wanted me to handle it.
Honestly, I had no confidence in repairs or carpentry. I'd mostly just studied in my past life.
"Better to call experts than ruin it myself. I'll look into it."
It needed improving anyway.
'I obsessed over the interior design even in my past life.'
Comfort was paramount for a Korean medicine clinic. The waiting area differed from other clinics.
Middle-aged patients and older often saw it as a place to nurture the body, not just a hospital.
So I'd aimed for emotional comfort over cold, mechanical vibes.
'I put so much effort in back then—I can't neglect it here.'
I'd need to find a proper expert soon.
The martial world had countless minor sects.
And not all were focused on fighting.
There were sects of blacksmiths, or wandering troupes doing acrobatics and performances.
Naturally, there were also sects of carpenters and craftsmen handling construction.
Deokyang's Unit Stone Guild was one such group of carpenters.
A sharp-eyed warrior arrived at the Unit Stone Guild.
Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So.
A young apprentice carrying goods during odd jobs approached and asked,
"What brings you here?"
"Looking for someone. Seok Jung."
"Ah, Master Seok? Got it."
Soon after Hyeong So waited, Seok Jung appeared.
Seok Jung eyed the unexpected visitor curiously.
"Mad Drunk Guest coming here? What's up?"
"Got a favor to ask."
"Haha, you personally asking? That's rare. What is it? If it's for a friend, I'll hear you out."
Hyeong So stared intently at Seok Jung's right arm and said,
"Can't use your right arm."
"This? Yeah. Shoulder acting up bad."
"Status?"
"Stiff and aching, heavy pain even at rest. Sharp, stabbing pain when lifting the arm. Can't do fieldwork, so I'm just supervising for now."
"Physician?"
"Going to Famous Physician Tower. But it'll take time."
Hyeong So pondered briefly before speaking.
"Go to Clear Seclusion Clinic."
Seok Jung tilted his head, then nodded as it clicked.
"Clear Seclusion Clinic? Oh, the place handing out Generate Pulse Powder? I'm already going to Famous Physician Tower fine—why bother there..."
Hyeong So frowned.
"Go once and then decide."
"Haha, your expression changing is pretty rare. Alright, I'll check it out. But you said a favor? What?"
"We'll talk after your shoulder heals."
With that, Hyeong So turned and left the Unit Stone Guild.
Seok Jung watched his friend's back oddly.
As I started treating patients that day, Dang Seol-yeong said in surprise,
"Lots of people waiting today."
"Probably because of yesterday's closure."
Stepping outside Clear Seclusion Clinic, the waiting patients had indeed doubled.
"Physician Jang, what happened yesterday?"
"Ah, I did some house calls."
"You do house calls? Sign me up too."
"Me too!"
"It's so much easier with Physician Jang coming!"
"House calls are two silver taels."
"..."
Everyone fell silent when I mentioned Na Ho-pyeong's payment.
The patients then looked around and changed the subject.
"The waiting area's gotta get fixed, though."
"Yeah, not enough seats."
"The shade awning doesn't block the harsh sun properly."
The talk was spreading among patients now. Definitely time for an expert.
I went back inside and treated the patients.
By afternoon, a new patient entered.
'A first-time patient?'
New patients always lifted my spirits. It meant Clear Seclusion Clinic was gaining recognition.
The new patient's name was Seok Jung, from the Unit Stone Guild.
'Unit Stone Guild? Sounds like a construction-related sect.'
As I checked the treatment record, Seok Jung sat and said,
"I used to go to Famous Physician Tower."
Switching from another clinic doubled my joy. Poaching one from the old guard.
"Good choice coming here. From your right arm's movement, shoulder issue, right? Probably can't lift it without severe pain."
Seok Jung's eyes widened.
"Y-Yes, exactly. Came on recommendation—spot-on diagnosis."
A recommendation? Even better.
"Oh, a recommendation? From whom?"
"Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So."
I expected one of my regulars, but this was completely unexpected.
That prickly guy recommended me?