Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Of Course, We're All Going Together
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Of course we're all going together.
A ways off, I spotted Cho Jeong-yak sprinting toward us.
He came to a halt right in front of us, having run at a breakneck pace.
The first person Cho Jeong-yak greeted was me.
"Jang Physician, good to see you!"
And next, naturally, came Dang Seol-yeong.
"Miss Dang, I hope you've been well. Those methods you told me about were astonishing. I never would have dreamed of approaches like that. Who knew you could study medicinal herbs and toxic plants that way?"
The length of his greetings to me and Dang Seol-yeong differed noticeably.
Dang Seol-yeong shot me a triumphant smile, her face beaming with pride. It was the kind of look that screamed, I win.
Na Sang-a and So Hong-ryeo used to give me that expression all the time too.
But we weren't really competing or anything.
Cho Jeong-yak, chattering excitedly for a good while, finally asked,
"So what brings the two of you here?"
He wasn't even paying attention to the others, so I introduced the physicians.
"Ah, let's make proper introductions first. This is Song Heon-ro from the Famous Physician Tower."
Once I'd introduced the rest, Cho Jeong-yak finally approached them.
"Physicians from Deokyang Medical District, I presume. I've seen you around a few times in passing."
Song Heon-ro smiled warmly.
"Indeed. Folks from the same Deokyang Medical District already know each other by sight, but it's a shame our formal greetings are coming so late."
"By the way, do the three of you know much about poisons?"
Cho Jeong-yak cut straight to the chase with a question about toxins.
Song Heon-ro and the others shook their heads with awkward smiles.
"A little."
"I see."
And that was that.
The moment he realized they weren't deeply versed in poisons, Cho Jeong-yak lost all interest.
With greetings out of the way, it was time for the main topic. I asked Cho Jeong-yak,
"Does White Herb Hall's herb garden happen to have any snow lily flowers?"
"Snow lily? Sure do."
I was genuinely startled by his response.
Snow lilies in a vegetable patch on the plains of Sichuan Province?
Snow lilies were a real medicinal herb even in the modern world.
In China, they were treated as exceedingly rare.
In our country, they were sometimes called by the same name as resurrection lilies and used interchangeably, but strictly speaking, they were different flowers from China's snow lilies.
Snow lilies typically grew in the harsh, cool environments of rocky high mountains, so their presence in this hot, humid plain was shocking.
Cho Jeong-yak must have read the surprise on my face.
"That look says you're wondering how they grow here. I tweaked the breed a bit. The survival rate's less than ten percent, though."
At that, Dang Seol-yeong stepped forward.
"What luck that White Herb Hall has them. Could we possibly buy three roots?"
Cho Jeong-yak's voice rose in pitch.
"What? You want to buy snow lilies?"
Song Heon-ro and the others, standing behind, grew tense.
"Improved rare snow lilies must cost a fortune."
"He said the survival rate for the tweaked breed is under ten percent."
"He might not sell them at all."
As Song Heon-ro and company murmured worriedly,
"Buy them? Why buy when three roots for Miss Dang is no big deal? I can just give them."
Song Heon-ro and the others were stunned by Cho Jeong-yak's straightforward declaration.
"You'd just give away those snow lilies?"
And true to his word, Cho Jeong-yak sent a servant to fetch them.
Moments later, the servant returned with three snow lily roots wrapped in paper.
"Here are your three snow lily roots. But it looks like the patient's cough runs deep."
Dang Seol-yeong accepted them with a smile.
"As expected of Physician Cho. You saw right through it."
"A decoction mixed with snow lilies should cure any cough patient."
I asked Cho Jeong-yak, who wasn't taking any money,
"Is it really okay to just accept these?"
"Haha, no worries. I've received plenty from you and Miss Dang already. Consider this my way of paying it back—no need to feel burdened."
His generosity was palpable.
"Thank you."
We bid Cho Jeong-yak farewell and returned to Herb Fragrance Hall.
"Could we use the decoction room?"
Sa Gong-yak nodded eagerly.
"Of course! Use it as long as you need! Help yourself to any herbs too!"
Jong Ri-soong, standing nearby, chimed in.
"If anything's in short supply, just say the word! We'll bring over herbs from Esteemed Benevolence Clinic!"
"Short supply? What could we possibly lack? This is Herb Fragrance Hall for a reason."
The two physicians' attitudes had completely flipped from earlier.
Dang Seol-yeong unpacked the snow lilies and herbs and began preparing the decoction.
"You're substituting snow lilies for lily bulbs in the Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve Metal and Fluids."
"Exactly. The snow lily's potent effects will maximize the decoction's efficacy."
The Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve Metal and Fluids treated coughs and hemoptysis from lung ailments.
Dang Seol-yeong boiled the snow lilies with prepared rehmannia, fresh rehmannia, and more, soon completing the decoction.
She carried the pungent, spicy-scented brew to the treatment room and carefully fed it to No Jeon-do, who writhed in agony on the sickbed.
"Cough, cough!"
He coughed some midway and spilled a little, but No Jeon-do mustered his strength and finished it all.
To ensure the medicine circulated properly and to replenish his lung qi, I inserted a few fire needles.
With Dang Seol-yeong's decoction enhanced by my fire needles, No Jeon-do's breathing quickly stabilized.
Moments later, as I struck the needles...
He's fully cured. And for a mission prompt like this to appear means No Jeon-do and I are fated to cross paths.
Soon, No Jeon-do sat up, touching his chest in astonishment.
"...No way, the cough..."
"Congratulations on your full recovery."
Dang Seol-yeong added from the side,
"Keep taking the remaining decoction for two days, and there won't be any aftereffects."
No Jeon-do looked at us gratefully.
"Truly, thank you. I've suffered from this cough for years..."
He took a deep, full breath and continued,
"Breathing this freely is such a blessing—I feel it anew thanks to you two."
I waved it off and glanced at Sa Gong-yak and Jong Ri-soong.
"Physician Sa and Physician Jong handled the initial care so well that our treatment could succeed."
Sa Gong-yak and Jong Ri-soong coughed awkwardly, embarrassed.
"Ahem. We didn't do much..."
No Jeon-do shook his head, eyes misty.
"No, the young physician here is right. You two took me in when I arrived coughing up blood, without turning me away. I'm truly grateful to you as well."
"Heh heh, well, as long as you're better, that's what matters."
"I have urgent business, so I must go. I have something to deliver. One day, I'll repay this grace."
No Jeon-do paid with silver coins, took the decoction from Dang Seol-yeong, and headed out.
I pushed through the crowd, caught up to him, and said,
"In the future, wear a face mask when traveling desert regions. Fine desert sand accumulates in the lungs easily and could trigger another episode."
No Jeon-do stared at me blankly, stunned.
"...How did you know?"
"Your symptoms and desert traveler's garb made it clear enough."
No Jeon-do gazed at me steadily and asked,
"Come to think of it, I never got your honorable name."
"Jang Wol of Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"I'm No Jeon-do. I make my living finding treasures, missing persons, and such. I won't forget Jang Physician's honorable name."
No Jeon-do leaped away. Impressively swift lightness skill.
Now I'm even hearing 'honorable name'.
A swell of pride had me grinning as I reentered Herb Fragrance Hall's treatment room.
Inside, Sa Gong-yak and Jong Ri-soong were grinning too.
"Feels like my heart's burning with passion again after so long."
"Right? Lately, treating patients felt so rote."
The two approached me and asked,
"Jang Physician, could we collaborate with Clear Seclusion Clinic too?"
What was there to refuse?
"Of course. Every extra hand helps in treating patients."
No Jeon-do left Herb Fragrance Hall and headed straight for Gold Flower Merchant Group.
He had to meet the caravan leader, Byok Geum-seok.
Guided by a servant, No Jeon-do met Byok Geum-seok.
"You're back! I was worried—you're later than scheduled."
"Sorry. An old ailment flared up; I spent a few days at a clinic."
"Old ailment? You should have gone to a renowned one."
"I stopped at Herb Fragrance Hall, one of the famous ones."
Byok Geum-seok jumped up.
"Herb Fragrance Hall? You're new in town and don't know better. You should have gone to Clear Seclusion Clinic!"
No Jeon-do stared blankly at him and said,
"...Clear Seclusion Clinic? You mean where Physician Jang Wol is?"
"Oh? You knew that?"
No Jeon-do explained what happened at Herb Fragrance Hall. Byok Geum-seok clapped in surprise.
"Heh heh, fate works in mysterious ways."
No Jeon-do pulled an oil-paper-wrapped book from his bosom and handed it over.
"Here's the manual you requested."
"Oh, is this it? You worked hard. The reward's already been sent to your home—don't worry."
"The reward doesn't matter. Without you, Leader, my family and I wouldn't be here."
Byok Geum-seok tried to keep No Jeon-do a few days for hospitality, but No Jeon-do insisted he had to go and left.
Byok Geum-seok let him go, then summoned the recipient of the manual.
Soon, Choi Cheol-bo arrived at Gold Flower Merchant Group.
"Brother, you called?"
"You're here. Take this."
Choi Cheol-bo tore open the oil paper, revealing a worn booklet inside.
His eyes widened.
"...This is the Five Righteous Fist Manual, said to contain the enlightenments of Sichuan's Greatest Fist?"
"You and Jang Physician saved us from that recent raid. I promised Jang Physician repayment someday, but I've done nothing for you."
Choi Cheol-bo started to demur but stopped. It was a gift from the heart.
"Thank you so much."
"Don't thank just me. Thank the man who fetched this manual—and Jang Physician too."
"What? Jang Physician?"
Byok Geum-seok laughed heartily at Choi Cheol-bo's rounded eyes.
"Haha, that's right."
"Yes. I won't waste this gift from you, Brother. I'll train hard."
"Good. Train diligently, protect our caravan, and someday safeguard our little Gyo-gyo too."
Byok Gyo-gyo was Byok Geum-seok's younger sister.
At her mention, Choi Cheol-bo stiffened. He bowed hastily and leaped away.
"I'll take my leave for today!"
After Choi Cheol-bo vanished, a woman emerged from behind Byok Geum-seok, opening the door.
Byok Geum-seok's sister, Byok Gyo-gyo.
"He gone?"
"Yeah. Pretty embarrassed, huh?"
"Still no straight answer from him, though."
"Well, little brother Choi shows it through actions, not words."
"Congratulations on your full recovery. Don't overdo lightness skill on the way back—your qi and blood could twist again. Go carefully."
"Th-thank you so much!"
The patient dashed out and unleashed lightness skill exuberantly, vanishing.
I'd told him not to overdo it.
Today's last patient was done. Then Bae Seon-u came running from Clear Seclusion Clinic's main gate, holding a letter.
"Jang Physician! A letter from Deokyang So Family!"
I opened and read it. Dang Seol-yeong and Bae Seon-u crowded close, staring expectantly.
Their eyes plainly said, Spill it.
One more person communicating with eyes.
"Deokyang So Family is hosting Emei Sect guests for a grand three-day banquet. All Deokyang City's notables will attend."
Bae Seon-u's eyes went wide.
"So Jang Physician got an invite too?"
"Yes. From Family Head So Mu-jin and Na Ho-pyeong."
"Wow! That's huge! With all Deokyang's elites there, and Jang Physician attending."
Dang Seol-yeong asked,
"So, are you going?"
"Of course. When invited, you go."
It was a three-day event, but Deokyang So Family was close by. Coming and going evenings after clinic hours would suffice.
There'd be good food, and it'd been ages since I'd see Na Sang-a and So Hong-ryeo.
Hope both are doing well and healthy.
Truth be told, I was curious about the Emei Sect folks too.
In that wuxia novel I read, a woman who couldn't forget the protagonist founded the Emei Sect.
Though opinions varied on her feelings for the protagonist.
Then I felt Dang Seol-yeong and Bae Seon-u's gazes.
Eyes asking plainly, Going alone?
I smiled and told them,
"Of course we're all going together."
With the two spinning excitedly, we headed to Deokyang So Family.
The sun was setting dimly. Far off, a grand manor bathed in brilliant lights came into view.
That must be Deokyang So Family.
Indeed it was. Lanterns adorned walls and eaves, bright as day.
Bae Seon-u's eyes bulged in awe.
"Deokyang So Family wasn't this festive last time."
He asked Dang Seol-yeong, who surveyed it all impassively,
"Not impressed, Senior Dang?"
"Eh, they spruced it up a bit?"
Made sense—she was from Sichuan Tang Family; this was hardly dazzling.
A maid approached politely.
"May I ask who you are?"
"From Clear Seclusion Clinic."
Showing the letter,
"This way to the inner courtyard, please."
We followed her to Deokyang So Family's inner courtyard.
Already packed with people.
Deokyang City's elites. Some faces I knew, some not.
Most were chatting with women in white daoist robes.
Dang Seol-yeong whispered, eyeing them,
"That's Emei Sect. And nearby is Physician Yu Ja-gyeom, the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand."
We were led to one side of the inner courtyard.
A bit removed from the Emei Sect group.
Dang Seol-yeong put hands on hips, cheeks puffed.
"This feels kinda sidelined..."
Then I spotted two figures rushing toward us from afar: Na Ho-pyeong and Family Head So Mu-jin.
"...Never mind."
No way they'd ignore us.