Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Flower Vase's Secret
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Possible.
Wi Sowol carefully reviewed the situation.
Who here could she count on as reliable allies?
'Me. Huangboyun. Nangong Shin. Seon Woo Hyun. Everyone else is suspect.'
Even Ryu Yeonseo was under suspicion.
The most certain ally was Huangboyun.
Along with Nangong Shin and Seon Woo Hyun, whose trustworthiness was verified by memories of her past life.
'But even in my past life, the Nangong family never fell.'
No matter how much Wi Sowol might have overlooked things she hadn't personally experienced.
Rumors about a massive power like the Nangong family were impossible to ignore.
In Wi Sowol's past life, the Nangong family had survived to the end.
'In other words, even if the Reverse Heaven Alliance and Mijin Fragrance teamed up to scheme against them, the Nangong family endured. That means they have that kind of foundation.'
There was no need for Wi Sowol to step in; the Nangong family had weathered the threat on their own.
So even if Wi Sowol pretended not to know, the Nangong family wouldn't truly be destroyed.
'Is that really true?'
Wi Sowol had witnessed how her actions changed reality.
Back in her hometown.
She had seen the horrific aftermath of the Rampaging Demon Heaven's aimless rage, frustrated at failing to catch her.
Could she be so sure it would be different this time?
'Good karma...'
The next thought that surfaced was, predictably, good karma.
The scales of merit and demerit warned:
Accumulate merit by saving lives from death, and do not rack up sin by ignoring evil deeds.
'...No helping it.'
She didn't know what bizarre scheme Mijin Fragrance was plotting.
In her past life, Wi Sowol had clashed with Mijin Fragrance before.
But that didn't mean she knew everything about them.
Those she had conflicted with were just a faction within Mijin Fragrance, and as unorthodox folk, they knew of grotesque things unknown to the world.
"Hmm... this one's pretty impressive too..."
Wi Sowol inwardly clicked her tongue at Nangong Ji's mutterings.
Entrusting such an event to Mijin Fragrance.
Their judgment was rock bottom.
"Eldest Princess."
At Wi Sowol's call, Nangong Ji snapped out of her trance, having been staring at the white-haired woman before her.
"Ah, did you call me?"
"It'd be best to talk after seeing the Moon Flower Robe..."
The Moon Flower Robe that Nangong Ji praised so highly.
Wi Sowol intended to first confirm if it was truly a divine weapon made of heavenly silk that could block swords, or some ritual implement imbued with special powers.
But to Nangong Ji, it just sounded cute.
Pretend all you want, you're still a girl at heart.
It's fine.
Nangong Hwan might be different, but Nangong Ji could understand.
Of course.
"Sure. But first, let's exchange greetings. Elder Jang brought you?"
At Nangong Ji's words, the white-haired woman bowed her head.
"I am Baek Ha. Greetings to the Phoenix of the Southern Palace."
"A fitting name. I'm Nangong Ji. Elder Jang must have explained the situation, but I have someone else I'm sponsoring too. It might be hard to give you an answer right away. Sorry for making you wait."
"It's fine. Please, take your time."
Baek Ha withdrew after the brief exchange.
Her pitch-black eyes, contrasting her snow-white hair, glanced at Wi Sowol.
"She doesn't seem interested in the Young Moon Rite."
That had bothered Nangong Ji a bit too.
But since she wanted to see the Moon Flower Robe, she wasn't entirely uninterested.
'Maybe have them compare dances.'
With such thoughts, Nangong Ji led Wi Sowol to the room where the Moon Flower Robe was prepared.
The white garment hanging in the center of the room.
It was no wonder Nangong Ji had praised it so thirstily.
Even Huangboyun, who preferred men's robes, let out an exclamation of admiration upon seeing it—the aesthetic depth woven into the fabric was profound.
Just as Nangong Ji had said.
How much blood and sweat must countless artisans have poured into crafting that single garment?
The color shifted gracefully from a soft, warm white to a subtle, distant azure blue.
Anyone wearing it—even an ugly woman—would become a moonlit beauty under the night sky.
However.
'No.'
That was it.
Just a pretty dress.
Wi Sowol's impression was that it was merely finely woven scraps of cloth, however pleasing to the eye.
'Troubling.'
This made it hard to uncover their plans.
All she could guess was that they were targeting the Plum Moon Festival, specifically the Young Moon Rite.
"What do you think? It's the gown for the woman playing the vase in the Young Moon Rite. It needs some tailoring to fit perfectly, but we've accounted for that and made it adjustable."
Even if the sleeves were a bit loose, it didn't matter.
In this era, ample sleeves were considered beautiful.
Using such expensive fabric so generously was a display of wealth.
That was why martial artists and warriors wore tight-sleeved uniforms for ease of movement, despite their practicality.
"You want me to play the vase role?"
"Exactly. In my eyes, you're the perfect fit for it, Lady Wi. That Baek Ha girl is elegant too, but... how should I put it? She lacks a bit of vitality..."
Even rotten fish has its appeal.
No eye for quality, but decent instincts.
"Could I have some time? It won't be long. About an hour."
"Hmm... Sunset's still a ways off, so that's fine. I'd love to entrust it to you, Lady Wi, but with another candidate, I suppose we should compare..."
They'd have her don it and perform the Young Moon Rite dance for observation.
Wi Sowol's expression twisted subtly.
'For good karma... for good karma.'
"Understood. And that woman Baek Ha—we should investigate her more thoroughly ourselves."
"Elder Jang is trustworthy."
This one's no good.
Wi Sowol tried another angle.
"Which side is Elder Nangong Su on?"
"Suddenly? Well, Elder Nangong Su is neutral. Loyal only to the family head."
That reduced reasons to suspect Nangong Ji by one, at least.
Wi Sowol bid Nangong Ji farewell and moved quickly.
Baek Ha silently watched Wi Sowol leave the room and head out of the estate.
"Sowol, you're really doing it? I didn't ask earlier 'cause you looked so serious, but were you always into this stuff?"
The moment they left the Nangong family estate, Huangboyun's barrage of questions poured out.
It was still within the Nangong grounds, and with so many people around, Huangboyun—as the young lady of the Huangbo family—had been forced into prim restraint.
But the backlash hit Wi Sowol's transmission head-on.
[That white-haired girl from earlier. She's unorthodox.]
[Huh?]
[Mijin Fragrance. Something's brewing in Namchang County.]
[Suddenly? Why? What?]
[We'll find out starting now.]
Seon Woo Hyun joined immediately.
Didn't matter where he was.
Wi Sowol had Huangboyun emit her aura.
Seon Woo Hyun, sensing it, came on his own.
"Shall we head to the Jade Maiden now?"
"Yes. But first, one test."
With that, Wi Sowol abruptly grabbed Seon Woo Hyun's wrist.
Before he could ask what was happening as she took his pulse, Wi Sowol infused a certain energy.
And that energy was promptly buried and vanished in the fierce inner heat coursing through Seon Woo Hyun's body.
"...Lady."
"Good. My hunch was right."
"It's not poison qi."
"Exactly."
Even after being injected with poison qi out of nowhere, Seon Woo Hyun calmly and politely inquired.
"May I ask why?"
"A test. That poison qi I just used resists my inner energy strongly. It's yin poison, I suppose. No matter how cold, the toxin at its core doesn't vanish. At best, it can be stalled briefly."
But yang heat was the opposite.
With poison qi that potent, the heat would incinerate the toxin along with it.
"I can cure it. Syphilis."
"Really?"
Huangboyun, who had felt deep pity for the syphilis patients at Ryu Yeonseo's house, brightened at the words.
As expected of Wi Sowol!
Disciple of the Weird Physician, master perfumer and healer, pride of Gansu Province!
"And with this, we blackmail Ryu Yeonseo."
But why does it end like that?
Upon arriving at Ryu Yeonseo's house, Wi Sowol immediately sought her out.
Ryu Yeonseo was in the rear treatment room.
Not content with bringing an outsider man into the women's quarters without the hostess's permission, Wi Sowol boldly escorted Seon Woo Hyun even into the back garden, typically off-limits to men.
Sensing their approach, Ryu Yeonseo emerged from the rear room to greet them.
"You're early. And... who's that man?"
Not hating men per se, but clearly uncomfortable, Ryu Yeonseo narrowed her eyes at Seon Woo Hyun.
But Wi Sowol had no time for leisurely introductions.
Instead of a tedious, pedantic, time-wasting bad answer, she gave a simple, factual good one.
"Syphilis cure."
"What did you say?"
"This man can cure syphilis. I stake my master's name on it. Let's see it through to full recovery."
Ryu Yeonseo's hands trembled faintly.
She had hoped, clutching at straws.
Not the Weird Physician himself, but still his disciple—maybe she could pull off a miracle with that vague hope.
She'd only managed a peaceful night's sleep for the first time in ages, and now a solution already?
"So, if you truly want to heal them, answer me without lies."
"......Alright."
"Are you with Mijin Fragrance?"
Even at that question, Ryu Yeonseo's response remained composed.
"You knew that much."
"Tell me. What's Mijin Fragrance's goal?"
Ryu Yeonseo smiled bitterly.
She couldn't give an answer.
"I don't know."
Truly, she knew nothing.
"I only told them the herbs needed to treat these people."
"They must have demanded something in return."
Ryu Yeonseo shook her head.
"Nothing."
At first, she thought the same.
That later they'd demand her yin arts as payment.
But years passed, and their request never changed.
What herbs are needed to treat syphilis patients?
"Nothing. They never demanded anything from me."
"...But you knew the herbs were from Mijin Fragrance."
"I did. I was once with the Haomen. After your master left... I left Haomen too. But I still have connections."
Ryu Yeonseo sat on the small stool where she prepared medicines.
And began decocting more doses for the patients.
"As you know, Mijin Fragrance is unorthodox. Rebels by the state's decree, an evil cult by Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist standards. But they help the common folk. That's all they have left."
The White Lotus Cult had begun among the people.
A scattered faith without vertical hierarchy, sprouting haphazardly everywhere—that was the White Lotus Cult.
That's why it survived state persecution.
Though fractured and dispersed.
It was a crow flock without a true center to begin with, so it merely returned to its original form.
Among them were those who posed as physicians or apothecaries, sharing folk remedies from their gatherings.
They formed the seed of Mijin Fragrance.
When Emperor Taizu Hongwu expelled the noble houses to spread medicine nationwide, it might have been to root out the White Lotus after sensing their movements.
But Taizu failed, and fleeing the pressure, they reunited.
Thus Mijin Fragrance was born.
"Using these herbs will make me a rebel too. I know. But I used them anyway."
"Why?"
"If death is inevitable either way, better the less painful one."
Die as a traitor or die of syphilis.
Either way, death.
So at least let them suffer less while alive.
"Mijin Fragrance is plotting something in this city."
"Yes. Probably something tied to the Young Moon Rite. Ultimately, the fire will turn toward the Nangong family. They hate the imperial court."
Among the righteous murim, the Nangong family had the closest ties to the court.
So those who loathed the court would strike them first.
The Nangong family served as a breakwater.
Knowing this, the court turned a blind eye even when they acted like kings in Namchang County.
"What must I do to heal these poor souls?"
Ryu Yeonseo was desperate.
She truly devoted herself to caring for the syphilis patients.
A physician's duty.
And a bond from her own past as a courtesan.
Ryu Yeonseo's dedication came from heart and mind as one.
Before answering, Wi Sowol surveyed Ryu Yeonseo's house.
This space, severed from the outside by architectural means.
"You'll have to come out. Hiding away isn't viable anymore. From quelling Mijin Fragrance's plot to the aftermath—help me treat the wounded."
"Is that enough?"
"And..."
Hmm, should she say this?
It wasn't necessary to play the vase role to foil their scheme.
Maybe another way.
But the saying "enter the tiger's den to catch the tiger" held her back.
To utterly crush their goal, she'd have to occupy the very spot they aimed for.
"...For this Young Moon Rite, I'm thinking of taking the vase role briefly. Teach me a few things."
Bang!
At Wi Sowol's hesitant words, the rear treatment room door suddenly flew open.
The figure who appeared was someone Wi Sowol had never seen.
A new patient in just one day? Unlikely.
That presence was in Wi Sowol's memory.
The one patient who hid under blankets to her crown, insisting only on Ryu Yeonseo.
"The vase... the vase role?"
Ryu Yeonseo sighed.
Those words were that woman's reverse scale.
"...That girl was the one originally set for the vase role."
Those who saw the woman burst from the rear room showed strong pity on their faces.
Huangboyun, who had already witnessed the syphilis patients' plight, and Seon Woo Hyun, dragged along to meet the Jade Maiden out of nowhere.
Both grew cautious, at a loss for words or reactions at her appearance.
It couldn't be helped.
The woman had no nose.
Syphilis had advanced to its tertiary stage, causing necrosis that destroyed her nose.
The moment Wi Sowol saw her, she inferred the disease's progression in that woman.
She must have thought it cured during latency.
A syphilis patient could never dream of the vase role, so she hid it somehow.
Like Nangong Hee, who hid for the family's honor.
But the latency was mere respite; the syphilis resurfaced, and neglected, it spread uncontrollably, snatching her nose in an instant.
Those unaware of the process felt pity for her.
Huangboyun let out a low sigh, grieving as if sharing her pain.
Even Seon Woo Hyun, meeting her today and unable to fully empathize, hardened his expression and offered silent condolences for her loss.
On the other hand, what surfaced in Wi Sowol's mind was something entirely different.
Not shallow pity or sympathy.
The spirit of challenge.
And the responsibility as a physician, as a surgeon.
'At that stage... it's worth a shot.'
The title of Volume 3 of the White Infant Manual's Outer Scripture.
Reconstruction.
And within it was recorded a certain surgery.
Its name: plastic surgery.