Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Dongju
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Wi Sowol was immediately seized by a peculiar sense of déjà vu upon hearing Jin Damsun's introduction.
A name that felt somehow familiar, like she'd heard it somewhere before.
'From my past life?'
Wi Sowol's memory far surpassed that of ordinary mortals, but it fell short of perfect recall.
Moreover, she had never made any particular effort to commit things to memory.
To be precise, that applied only to the memories she'd gained after regaining consciousness amid the rampage of her Nine Yang Absolute Meridian.
The memories before that, she had desperately strived never to forget.
In any case, if it was a name she'd learned after the rampage, she might have forgotten it without even realizing.
"I'm Wi Sowol from Gansu."
Even if she hid her face, she had no intention of concealing her name.
Perhaps someone who knew her mother would seek her out upon hearing it.
Of course, the fellow beside her was currently deep in the midst of deploying his alias.
"I'm Hwang Yul—bodyguard, friend, debt collector, and wandering knight known as the Golden Justice Knight."
Gilguman.
Hwang Bo-yun proudly puffing out his chest as he boasted.
Did he even realize?
That the one he was bragging to was a boy several years his junior?
'All greenhorns debuting in the jianghu are like that.'
He'd earned his first respectable nickname.
Defeated in succession the Demonic Cult's branch leader and the infamous outer path and unorthodox masters of the Gye Won Eight Swords.
It would be stranger if his head hadn't swollen.
Yet instead of scoffing at Hwang Bo-yun's words, Jin Damsun chimed in with admiring praise.
"Ah, I've long heard of your famed exploits. Your feats in Shaanxi were remarkable."
"Really? You know about them?"
Hwang Bo-yun was purely delighted that his name was recognized, but Wi Sowol's gaze sharpened perceptibly.
'He knows about Shaanxi from all the way in Hubei?'
The war with the Demonic Cult had indeed been a massive incident in the relatively peaceful jianghu.
Three orthodox sects had mobilized, after all.
But learning the details from the distant Hubei martial world would be difficult without a profound interest in jianghu affairs overall.
'If he knows Bo-yun, then he knows about me too.'
Could he have approached them precisely because he knew?
'But anyone like that would have been blocked by the Hao Gate.'
This ship's owner was connected to the Hao Gate.
Not a disciple, but in a collaborative relationship.
Yet if they'd permitted contact regardless, it meant either backing stronger than the Hao Gate or someone utterly unknown in the martial world.
"This friend speaks so well! Sowol, what do you say? He's heading to Wuchang—shall we make a quick stop too?"
Perhaps because Hwang Bo-yun hailed from a prestigious house.
They seemed to hit it off remarkably; Hwang Bo-yun had already fallen under Jin Damsun's sway.
Wi Sowol pondered what to do with this good-natured fool while addressing Jin Damsun.
"So. What's the reason you're seeking me out?"
Wi Sowol gave Jin Damsun's full figure a once-over through her veil.
"Doesn't seem like you're the patient."
"Correct. It's not me."
Jin Damsun admitted calmly.
"But there are plenty in Wuchang."
"A major hub like Wuchang surely has its share of physicians."
"No. It doesn't."
Jin Damsun stated flatly.
Yet with an air of discomfort, as if somewhat embarrassed, he continued.
"Wuchang is the seat of the Paegeuk Sect. And the Paegeuk Sect has virtually monopolized the medical trade there."
"Because of their Poison Control Court?"
"...You know of it, then. Yes."
The Paegeuk Sect was a rather unique faction in structure.
Not originally a single unified sect, but one born from the merger of three separate groups.
The Poison Control Hall, the Ink Black Faction, and the Heavy Dark Gate.
With the Heavy Dark Gate at the center, they formed an alliance, eventually fusing into the Paegeuk Sect.
Here, the Poison Control Hall was the precursor to the Poison Control Court.
A mysterious poison arts sect renowned alongside Sichuan's Tang Clan and Yunnan’s Thunder Valley as one of the Three Great Poison Sects.
And as everyone knew, poison was merely medicine in another form.
Handling poison equated to handling medicine—and those who handled medicine were pharmacists, physicians.
"With the Paegeuk Sect monopolizing the medical trade in Wuchang, all other physicians were driven out."
"Expensive or not, they wouldn't outright refuse patients."
Otherwise, the imperial court would have cracked down long ago.
Truth be told, the current dynasty was sorely weakened, but surely they could still eradicate a single martial sect.
But moments later, Wi Sowol slightly revised her thinking.
'No. If it's the Paegeuk Sect, dubbed the foremost unorthodox sect, who knows.'
The present imperial court effectively outsourced domestic policing to the martial world.
They had far greater foes to contend with.
Northern barbarians and southern Japanese pirates.
With existential threats shaking the nation's foundations, the court made its choice.
Affirm the martial world's necessity for the state, accept the court's existence in turn—and redirect their spared strength against the foreigners.
And the martial world showed no particular disregard for imperial authority.
As the court needed the martial world for internal order, so too did the martial world need the court for defense against external invaders.
The martial folk affirmed the court's existence and supported their rule.
Simple reason.
They had experienced it.
The era without a 'nation.'
The catastrophe when the nation became the martial world's enemy.
Thus, outwardly proclaiming "non-interference between court and jianghu," they covertly colluded behind the scenes, maintaining a symbiotic bond.
"They're turning Wuchang County into their private estate, eh?"
Hwang Bo-yun, who had been listening quietly, remarked.
Wi Sowol thought anew that yes, he truly was the young heir of the Hwangbo Clan.
Wow, you nailed it.
She ought to respond along those lines.
The medical trade was inseparable from humanity, inescapable as long as there was birth, age, sickness, and death.
If the Paegeuk Sect truly aimed to transform Wuchang County into their manor, few means would serve better.
"But... the penniless poor are excluded in the process."
"So you want me to treat them?"
"Impertinent as it is... yes."
"It'd just be a stopgap measure at best."
Wi Sowol was ultimately a traveler who would depart.
She had no intention of settling in Wuchang, competing with the Paegeuk Sect, and providing free care to the destitute.
Of course, it would accumulate considerable merit.
But there would come an end—and at that end, not only merit, but the Paegeuk Sect viewing her as an enemy.
For Wi Sowol, who pursued her mother's past even as she built merit, it wasn't ideal.
"I'll resolve that somehow. If you'd provide even temporary relief as a bandage, I'd ask for nothing more."
Jin Damsun pleaded sincerely apologetic yet without groveling.
Wi Sowol first glanced at Hwang Bo-yun, her traveling companion.
As her gaze reached him, he shrugged casually.
"That's what he says. I don't particularly mind."
"Really?"
She had initially sought to avoid Huguang out of consideration for this clueless pup.
If the person himself was fine with it, she had no reason to evade.
Judging by Hwang Bo-yun's antics, he needed some real-world tempering to wise up.
With her around, he wouldn't die. Probably.
'Well then, shall I rack up some merit while I'm at it.'
And so, the detour to Wuchang was settled.
Parting from Wi Sowol and Hwang Bo-yun, Jin Damsun entered his cabin—where a figure abruptly emerged from his shadow.
A spectral manifestation in what had seemed an empty space.
An art of concealment honed to the pinnacle.
"Young master... why reveal your name?"
"Baek Pa."
At his call, the one who had appeared from behind bowed deferentially.
A white-haired old woman.
Jin Damsun's bodyguard—and formerly his mother's wet nurse—she had long served mother and son.
Thus, she was permitted even to question her master.
Even absent that, Jin Damsun would have answered regardless.
"For some reason. It felt like I had to."
"...Young master now stands on the cusp of manhood. Pretty enough to warrant a veil. As the Weird Physician's disciple, her skills won't be lacking."
Rumors spoke of decent martial prowess, but seeing for herself, it seemed exaggerated.
Likely, her striking beauty led witnesses to inflate even minor feats.
"However, young master is destined to unify the unorthodox martial world and ascend as its supreme sovereign. Pray heed the lesson of 'flowers bloom but eleven days.'"
The idiom originally meant power's transience—but here, the "flower" referred to Wi Sowol's beauty.
Masters of high cultivation aged slowly, yet none remained eternally youthful.
Even transcendent experts grew old.
Even without embracing nature's flow like the Pure Void Daoist, wrinkles formed at that age inevitably.
And if Wi Sowol's martial arts weren't so formidable, she'd age all the sooner.
"Got it."
In truth, that wasn't the vibe Jin Damsun had gotten.
Of course, he'd studied eye techniques and glimpsed her face through the veil.
He'd been frankly curious.
And upon seeing, he was awestruck.
Truly a breathtaking beauty.
Even after beholding countless beauties.
Few in the realm matched his refined aesthetic sense.
Yet Wi Sowol stood apart.
Not merely her features, but the fragile aura she exuded—like she might melt at a touch—heightened her icy allure.
Strangely, though, it stirred no such impulses in him.
Despite nearing manhood and newly sensing the heedlessness of youth.
Baek Pa's misunderstanding was a touch embarrassing, but Jin Damsun opted not to divulge his true sentiments.
It simply felt right that way.
"Don't worry. If she truly treats the people of Wuchang, I'll let her proceed to her intended destination."
He meant it sincerely.
Thus, Baek Pa felt regret.
Not an ideal match for his eyes, but still—a rare specimen to squander...
"...Isn't it high time you learned of women properly..."
"Baek Pa. Enough. I'm not seeking a woman—I'm seeking a physician."
"This old servant overstepped. Rest well."
Baek Pa made her withdrawal evident.
For one who could conceal herself utterly undetected by Jin Damsun, deliberately revealing her presence meant she had truly vanished from sight.
She'd return if she caught his breathing in sleep.
"Hoo."
Even a sheltered life had its burdens.
Jin Damsun let out a stifled sigh.
Since Hwang Bo-yun still refused to abandon his male disguise, their cabins were separate.
Thus, Wi Sowol dragged the reluctant Hwang Bo-yun—en route to his own quarters—into hers.
"Sit."
A sign the talk would drag on.
Hwang Bo-yun activated his internal "Wi Sowol translator" and took a seat.
"First off, that boy from earlier."
"Damsun-ie?"
What the hell kind of "Damsun-ie" was that?
Did he even know who he was talking about?
This frustrating blockhead, Wi Sowol sighed deeply.
"Nine times out of ten... no, without a doubt, he's Paegeuk Sect."
And she added,
"A highborn young master at that. He had a hidden bodyguard trailing him."