Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Plastic Surgery
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Wi Sowol had no idea that rumors about her were spreading like wildfire.
Or more precisely, she wasn't even thinking about checking on them. She was simply preparing diligently for what she had to do.
"Can't you take a little break? If the syphilis is fully cured, it won't get worse, right?"
Hwangbo Yun said this, propping his chin on his clasped hands as he watched Wi Sowol.
Without even glancing at him, Wi Sowol replied.
"I stayed in Namchang too long."
Wi Sowol's journey had a clear purpose.
Finding traces of her mother.
Of course, spreading her medical practice as a physician and accumulating good deeds was important too.
But that didn't mean she forgot her core goal.
"I asked the Celestial Eye Pavilion if a pregnant woman had left fifteen years ago. They said no."
"...Sowol. I'm not trying to tease you at all. Really, I'm not... But can you really find her that way?"
It was a sharp point.
Wi Sowol did feel a bit of frustration herself.
So she explained in more detail, hoping Hwangbo Yun might offer a fresh perspective. He might look clueless, but he was the young master of the great Hwangbo family, with their Heavenly Physique.
"My master said my name seems like an alias. There's no Wi clan. They saw Sowol as a childhood or birth name. Master speculated it probably holds some special meaning."
"Yeah? Sowol... it's pretty common."
"Knowing the characters and assigning special meaning implies a certain level of education. We can assume it was a high-status family with ample wealth."
"That makes sense. So breaking it down: False Little Moon. What does that mean?"
Hwangbo Yun scratched his head, genuinely puzzled.
Figures he's no help here, Wi Sowol thought, letting go of her expectations.
"I let the Celestial Eye Pavilion know too. They can't track every person's movement, but they have a good grasp on major families."
"Doesn't the Celestial Eye Pavilion cover all of Jiangxi Province, not just Namchang?"
"Pretty much. But not the entire province. South of Ji'an Prefecture is the Investigation Bureau's territory."
"Oh, right. But why didn't the Investigation Bureau join the raid this time? I thought they clashed a lot with the Nangong family."
"The Ten Great Outlaw Sects have weaker ties than the Twelve Black Seats of the unorthodox factions. It's more surprising that Reverse Heaven Alliance and Beautiful Progress Fragrance moved together."
The Ten Great Outlaw Sects were just ten groups labeled as such for their public misdeeds.
They had even less unity than the Twelve Black Seats, who shared a bare minimum consensus as leaders of the unorthodox world.
At least the Twelve Black Seats didn't outright ignore each other.
Like when the Nether Luo Sect Lord faced Jang Rok and gave the Assassins' Gate Lord face by hesitating an extra beat before his technique.
But the outlaws? Nothing like that.
"Reverse Heaven Alliance and Beautiful Progress Fragrance have deep grudges against the imperial court, so that makes sense. The Investigation Bureau doesn't."
"Surprising. I figured all outlaws were the type to rampage and tear the world down."
"Not wrong."
Of the outlaw groups she'd encountered so far, there were three.
Bright Quarrel Cult, Beautiful Progress Fragrance, Reverse Heaven Alliance.
Among outlaws, these were the aggressive ones meddling in the world, hell-bent on creating their ideal order.
But not all outlaws were like that.
Some practically begged: Please ignore us.
They were still outlaws because their hidden deeds harmed the world.
Truly reclusive groups wouldn't even be known to get lumped into the Ten Fiends.
"There's one that doesn't cause harm... or do they?"
Wi Sowol paused, tilting her head in confusion.
Hwangbo Yun asked.
"What?"
"The Order Society."
"Ah..."
Hwangbo Yun let out a subtle groan, instantly understanding.
Order Society (秩敍會).
Rank (秩) and Sequence (敍).
Homophones for "order" (秩序), but different characters change the meaning.
Order (秩序) means the smooth sequence of things without chaos.
Order (秩敍) means bureaucratic hierarchy.
A blatantly hierarchical name, declaring their intent to rank everything.
The Order Society didn't cause physical harm to the world.
But in a way, they were more vicious than any outlaw.
Their goal was simple.
Just playing ranking games.
That's it.
'So who's number one among the Eight Great Families? Seonwoo or Nangong?'
'Who's the fairest in the martial world? Tang Family Peaches are above the rest, IMO.'
'So who's the supreme under heaven? I say Paeguk Sect Lord.'
These trivial questions, spread by enthusiasts, gossips, and debaters, shook the world profoundly.
Like the idiom: The mouth is the gate that invites disaster.
The whirlwinds from their words dragged everyone—orthodox and unorthodox—into fights, without discrimination.
Worse, half their members were commoners who didn't even practice martial arts.
Hard to catch them.
Yell "Order Society!" and they'd slip away: "I'm just an innocent enthusiast who knows nothing of martial arts."
If they stuck to commoner realms, they might not be branded criminals.
But their weirdo experts boldly challenged ranking lists with duel invitations or sneaked into sects for secrets.
Hence, outlaws.
Yet even the martial artists who labeled them were swayed.
Who wouldn't be curious?
Tempting to verify rankings with your own eyes and body.
No matter how hard martial artists tried to ignore it, the influence was too strong.
Rivers and Mountains Poetry King, Top Hundred Masters, Nine Dragons of the Orthodox, Black-White Five Peaks, Four Flowers of the World, Six Great Physicians...
All titles they coined.
Once trends took root, martial artists used them as if their own, denying ties to the Order Society with averted eyes.
"So won't the Order Society come sniffing around you later?"
"Why me?"
"Plenty of reasons. To rerank the Six Physicians. Or check Four Flowers and Five Peaks memberships. You're probably Flowers material?"
Phoenix titles marked rising stars.
Men unified under phoenixes, based on martial prowess.
Women had an extra criterion.
Beauty.
Thus, female rising stars split into Four Flowers and Five Peaks.
"Not interested."
"They'll be interested in you."
"Worry about yourself first."
"Me? Why?"
"Might not make Flowers, but Peaks for sure."
Nangong Ji got "Sword Peak" for reaching pinnacle young.
Hwangbo Yun, younger still, with superior skill? No way he skips Peaks.
And Wi Sowol had tougher puzzles than childish rankings.
"Looks about right."
Wi Sowol stopped her hands and spoke. Hwangbo Yun sneaked closer, peeking over her shoulder.
"Oh..."
An exclamation escaped him.
Wi Sowol shrugged at his reaction.
"Shall we try it? The surgery."
Shed spent too long on internal medicine, ill-suited to her temperament.
Time to return to surgery.
Dan Hyeran took a tense breath.
She tried calming herself, but it was no use.
She couldn't avoid it.
Nor should she.
No matter what was said, she wouldn't show disappointment.
Vowing not to let it show, Dan Hyeran parted her lips.
"Physician. It's Dan Hyeran. I've come as summoned."
"Come in."
Wi Sowol, already sensing her at the door, replied immediately.
Entering, Dan Hyeran saw Wi Sowol waiting.
Nearly a month apart.
Dan Hyeran, first syphilis patient treated, had returned home. Wi Sowol stayed busy with more patients.
She wouldn't demand a nose job while syphilis sufferers waited; she wasn't that shameless.
"How's your health? I heard from Ryu Dae-go, but better from you."
"Too good. Just not hurting feels like a new life."
Even cured, the stigma lingered.
Marrying into a fine family like before? Unlikely now.
Still, Dan Hyeran was happy.
To be alive.
"Glad to hear it."
Wi Sowol smiled.
Seeing Wi Sowol smile for the first time, Dan Hyeran forgot all her prepared thanks.
"Now, about your nose."
"...Ah! Yes!"
"No need to tense up. Not doing it today."
Wi Sowol stood and approached Dan Hyeran.
Dan Hyeran held her breath, swallowing dryly.
Wi Sowol's faint body scent melted her brain.
Only her pounding heart roared.
"...What's wrong? Can't breathe through your nose that badly?"
"N-no! It's just... hard to breathe... y-you're too close..."
Wi Sowol sniffed her own sleeve.
"No smell. Bathed this morning."
"N-not that... anyway, breathing itself is fine..."
"Got it for now."
That aside, Wi Sowol seated Dan Hyeran.
She touched her face, measuring with moving fingers.
Dan Hyeran's thoughts froze again.
"Good angle."
"Y-yes..."
Leaving the dazed Dan Hyeran, Wi Sowol returned to her seat.
Tsking at her state, Wi Sowol drew a thread of Great White Light True Qi.
The cold energy snapped her awake.
"Eek! P-physician's qi..."
"No time, so straight to it. Reconstructive rhinoplasty has two methods."
At "nose," Dan Hyeran focused sharply.
"Two?"
"Western Regions style and Tianzhu style. The former takes longer and is inconvenient but used there for syphilis noses. The latter's simpler but older."
"Then the Western..."
"Hear me out."
"S-sorry."
The prototype in the Weird Physician's White Shadows Manual described them.
Western: Slice forearm flesh, suture to face for graft.
Arm raised, head gripped to press forearm to nose site—for two weeks straight.
Waiting for graft to take.
Movement risks tearing, so fix with external device.
"S...ounds really uncomfortable."
"No time for custom rig; cloth bindings work. With Ryu Dae-go's sound technique treatment, can shorten to under two weeks."
Tianzhu style was direct.
Flap from face to rebuild nose shape.
Started with cheek, shifted to forehead.
Local to face, so more freedom than Western.
"Whichever you prefer."
First time either way, no big difference.
But plenty of practice.
After listening intently, Dan Hyeran pondered, then realized it wasn't her call.
The one who best understood and could perform it was the physician before her.
"Wh... what do you recommend, Physician? I'll follow your lead."