Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Big Trouble
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Big trouble.
Yu Ja-gyeom couldn't just snap at him out of anger.
He might have lost his temper back in the day, but things were different now.
'Besides, it was just him mumbling to himself.'
He'd simply muttered that he wanted to go to Clear Seclusion Clinic. It wasn't even rude.
'But why Clear Seclusion Clinic? Is he close with Jang Wol?'
There was no way to know right now, and he didn't particularly want to ask outright.
'They say he's unflappably cool-headed no matter the situation, and the rumors were spot on.'
Yu Ja-gyeom had heard plenty about Hyeong So.
No matter how desperately someone begged for their life, he never let emotions sway him—he just killed. That was the word on this ruthlessly cold expert.
'If I show him medical skills profound enough to shake even that iron heart, he'll respect me.'
Respect from the Mad Drunk Guest, Hyeong So.
Yu Ja-gyeom felt a grin tugging at his lips just imagining it, but he held it back and focused intently on treating Seo Jin-myeong.
He grasped the Fire Needle embedded in Seo Jin-myeong's body and gently manipulated it to stimulate the point.
"How does it feel?"
"It's like something's pressing down, with a sense of compression."
"In medicine, that's called 'attaining qi,' and specifically, the heavy type."
Seo Jin-myeong nodded.
"I see."
"'Heavy' means the acupuncture's effect is steadily circulating deep into the meridians. And..."
Yu Ja-gyeom channeled his internal energy into Seo Jin-myeong's body through his hand and the Fire Needle.
"...infusing it with qi like this doubles the effect."
A sharp glint of vitality began to flicker in Seo Jin-myeong's eyes. Moments later, awe spread across his face.
"As expected, Physician Yu's internal energy is profoundly deep yet purely refined."
"Haha, it's nothing special. It's just the heart method passed down in our Immortal Spirit Pharmacy."
Soon after, Yu Ja-gyeom withdrew the needle and asked,
"How do you feel now?"
"My mind has settled quite a bit."
"Good. Next, I'll prescribe you Generate Pulse Calming Decoction with even finer herbs."
"Yes. Thank you."
As Seo Jin-myeong expressed his gratitude and straightened his clothes, Yu Ja-gyeom offered some advice.
"Don't get anxious. Always keep your mind calm and grounded. You're none other than the senior disciple of Qingcheng Sect—you can do this."
Sincere counsel.
But at those words, Seo Jin-myeong's expression darkened for a moment. It passed quickly, though, and he bowed politely.
"I'll keep that in mind."
After finishing the treatment, Yu Ja-gyeom glanced subtly at Hyeong So.
Astonishing acupuncture, profound internal energy, and the perfect herbal prescription to boot.
He was sure it had impressed him, but no—not at all.
Hyeong So showed zero interest, busying himself preparing to leave with Seo Jin-myeong.
Seo Jin-myeong bowed first.
"Then we'll be off."
Hyeong So gave a curt nod of acknowledgment and swept out of the consultation room.
Once they were gone, Yu Ja-gyeom clicked his tongue.
"Tch tch, what a filthy cold bastard. The rumors are true."
Far from discouraged, though, fighting spirit surged in Yu Ja-gyeom.
"Next time, I'll make that body of his respect me for sure."
As he tidied up his tools, he muttered to himself.
"That said, Seo Jin-myeong's mind isn't fully calming down. I need to really clamp down on that impatience and anxiety."
The Generate Pulse Calming Decoction he was prescribing soothed anxiety and restlessness.
He figured it was time to swap in some rarer ingredients.
'Guess I'll have to visit the White Crane Scholar.'
Seo Jin-myeong and Hyeong So walked side by side, steps in sync.
As Seo Jin-myeong visited Deokyang more often, their sparring sessions continued.
Kindred rivals of near-equal skill—their martial arts naturally progressed swiftly.
They arrived at the Qingcheng Sect sub-branch construction site, filled with the sounds of hammers on wood.
Most of the Unit Stone Guild workers greeted Seo Jin-myeong, clad in his Qingcheng Sect robes.
"Hello there, Senior Seo."
"Off to the training ground again today, eh?"
"Hoho, never slacking on training. True to form as Qingcheng Sect's senior disciple."
Seo Jin-myeong returned their greetings politely as he passed.
"Yes. Hello."
The Unit Stone Guild folk mostly recognized Hyeong So and gave him a wide berth.
But one person greeted him anyway.
Seok Jung of the Unit Stone Guild.
"Oh, if it isn't Hyeong So."
Hyeong So replied indifferently.
"Good to see you."
"Sparring again today, huh? Tough luck."
A nod.
Watching the exchange, Seo Jin-myeong asked Hyeong So,
"A friend of yours?"
"Yeah."
Seo Jin-myeong smiled faintly.
"I see."
They soon reached the outskirts of the under-construction sub-branch.
A spacious training ground paved with flagstones.
Already complete, it was where Seo Jin-myeong and Hyeong So often came to spar.
But someone was already there, swinging a sword.
Seo Jin-myeong recognized him and approached.
"Junior Brother Gong was here too."
It was Gong Mun-yak, the junior who'd helped him find Hyeong So before.
"Ah, Senior Brother!"
Gong Mun-yak spotted Hyeong So and bowed.
"First time meeting you. I'm Gong Mun-yak of Qingcheng Sect."
Hyeong So nodded in greeting, and Seo Jin-myeong said to Gong Mun-yak,
"We're about to spar for a bit. Mind giving us the space?"
"Of course! The elders have been taking notice of your rapid progress lately, Senior Brother. I always root for you. I'll head out then."
Seo Jin-myeong chuckled as Gong Mun-yak left the training ground.
Then Hyeong So muttered,
"He looks like him."
"Hm? Like who?"
"Clear Seclusion Clinic apprentice."
Seo Jin-myeong had met the apprentice too—a round-faced young man named Bae Seon-u.
A smile crept onto his lips again.
"Now that you mention it, yeah."
Now alone on the training ground, the two drew their sword and saber, taking positions.
Their distance closed.
Seo Jin-myeong's sword moved first.
Qingcheng Sect's signature wind-like swordsmanship flowed soft and natural, curving like a breeze before stabbing sharply in an instant.
Hyeong So's saber, by contrast, cut straight. A stroke without hesitation or return.
Its heavy trajectory was rough and overwhelming, crashing mercilessly down on the flowing sword.
But the sword evaded the clash and slipped past; the saber slashed to block the flow and shatter its center.
The sword scattered to probe for gaps; the saber pivoted without error to counter.
Lightness versus weight, speed versus power—they clashed head-on, yet neither yielded fully.
And today, as always, the match ended in a draw, swords and saber parting.
Their breathing matched—steady and even.
Seo Jin-myeong sheathed his sword with a smile.
"A fine spar today."
Hyeong So sheathed his saber promptly.
"Same here."
With that, he staggered off the training ground.
Left alone, Seo Jin-myeong gazed up at the sky. Yu Ja-gyeom's words from earlier echoed in his mind.
- You're none other than Qingcheng Sect's senior disciple.
And Gong Mun-yak's words just now.
- The elders have been taking notice of your rapid progress, Senior Brother.
The weight of expectations all around.
But the feeling that he couldn't live up to them welled up.
His heart began to boil over, bit by bit.
To quell it, Seo Jin-myeong closed his eyes and regulated his breathing.
Whispering to himself endlessly that he was fine.
I headed to White Herb Hall, home of the White Crane Scholar Jo Jeong-yak, with Dang Seol-yeong.
"Coming along again today?"
"Yeah. I love checking out the herbs."
White Herb Hall dealt mostly in raw herbs, but there were plenty of processed ones too.
'I always enjoyed visiting the herbal markets back in the modern day.'
The prime spot for Korean herbs was Seoul's Herbal Medicine Market. Near Cheongnyangni's Gyeongdong Market, it handled 70% of the country's supply—a massive hub.
Streets thick with the scents of ginseng, licorice, astragalus, and more.
The firm texture of wild ginseng, the smooth surface of white atractylodes, the crisp dryness of licorice—all yours to touch.
Elders spinning tales as they explained the herbs.
I frequented that market for all those experiences.
Smiling fondly at the memories,
"I had no idea you loved herbs that much."
"Haha, comes with the physician territory."
Dang Seol-yeong pouted.
"If Physician Jang liked poisons too, it'd be perfect."
"Poisons, huh. Still learning, but thanks to you, I've picked up a lot. Like that Bloodthorn Herb recently."
Her eyes sparkled like stars.
"Right? So toxic, but properly processed, it stimulates qi and blood and purifies the circulation! Isn't it the most fascinating poison?"
Talk of poisons lit her up differently.
I nodded with an awkward smile.
"Yeah. The world of poisons seems as endless as herbs."
"Glad you think so. I have something to tell you too."
"You've been extra into poison research lately."
"I'll be meeting some family soon."
"From Sichuan Tang Family?"
"Yep."
A faint, unreadable smile played on Dang Seol-yeong's face.
No sense prying into a staff member's family matters.
'I'll find out after they meet.'
We arrived at White Herb Hall soon enough.
Normally, a servant would announce us, and Jo Jeong-yak would rush out beaming.
But today,
"The physician is meeting with the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand right now."
Dang Seol-yeong asked,
"Can't we see him?"
"No, that's not it. He said to bring you both in when you arrive."
We followed the servant inside.
And reached White Herb Hall's famous vast herb field.
'Always a breathtaking sight, this open herb field.'
Nothing like the horizons back in modern Seoul.
Jo Jeong-yak and Yu Ja-gyeom were chatting in the field.
"Visitors from Clear Seclusion Clinic."
The servant announced and left.
Jo Jeong-yak spotted us and came running over delightedly.
"Oh, Physician Jang, Miss Dang—come in, come in!"
He'd greeted us just like that last time too.
"Hello."
As we exchanged greetings with Jo Jeong-yak, Yu Ja-gyeom approached with feigned dignity.
"Ahem, Physician Jang. Long time no see. Doing well?"
"Of course. And you, Physician Yu?"
"Hoho, I've been fine. Ah, I'll finish up with Physician Jo first."
"By all means."
Then Yu Ja-gyeom turned to Jo Jeong-yak.
"That Qingcheng Sect senior disciple's condition is poor. I'm thinking of making Generate Pulse Calming Decoction with added Azure Spirit Sap."
Azure Spirit Sap was new to me, so I asked Dang Seol-yeong,
"What's Azure Spirit Sap?"
"A type of White Atractylodes. Made from rarer, older trees than regular."
I knew White Atractylodes from the modern day too.
'Suppresses anxiety and calms the mind.'
Qingcheng Sect senior disciple—had to be Seo Jin-myeong, who'd come with Hyeong So recently.
This decoction was clearly for him.
I gathered my thoughts and said to Yu Ja-gyeom,
"Big trouble."
"Huh? What's that suddenly?"
"Isn't that senior disciple showing signs of heart demons?"
Yu Ja-gyeom's eyes went wide.
"Wh-what? How did you know?"