Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Heavenly Family
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Creak—.
Not even ten seconds had passed before the door quietly opened. It was the expected visitor, my master Im Hyehyang. She was dressed in her neat physician's robes, holding her signature white jade flute in her hand. The figure of her standing against the blue moonlight exuded a different kind of intimidation from Cheonha Young.
"I sensed demonic energy in this room."
Her eyes scanned every corner of the room, as if tracking the faint traces left by the Black Elder. Eventually, her gaze turned to me.
"What happened?"
Her nose twitched ever so slightly.
"And... the scent of a woman... Two of them."
Her eyes narrowed.
"One is... Soso's. The other is unfamiliar. A scent I've never smelled before."
I sighed inwardly. As expected, it was impossible to deceive Master. Her senses weren't human. Making up a clumsy lie here would only make things worse. I steadied my breathing for a moment and honestly recounted what had happened just before. About the woman named Cheonha Young who had come after hearing rumors of the Silkworm Devouring Poison, and her monstrous bodyguard, the Black Elder.
Im Hyehyang listened silently as I spoke. Her expression didn't change, but the air in the room grew colder and colder. When I finished, she remained silent for a long while. I couldn't read what she was thinking at all.
"......A child of the Heavenly Family."
After a long pause, she murmured softly. It was a name I'd never heard before, but the faint wariness in her voice alone told me just how dangerous they were.
"Now that you've caught their eye, they'll come back soon enough."
Im Hyehyang nodded as if convinced. She didn't press me for more details.
Instead, she pulled a letter from her bosom and tossed it to me.
"Read it."
I unfolded the letter. It bore the clear seal of the Murim Alliance headquarters. The content was simple: praising my achievement in resolving the Silkworm Devouring Poison and inviting me as a physician to the 'Azure Dragon Squad', the Murim Alliance's elite force unit.
"What... is this?"
"It seems your reputation has reached the Murim Alliance. The letter came directly from the Azure Dragon Squad."
My head throbbed. I'd begged them to keep it a secret, but in the end, the news had spread everywhere. Come to think of it, there had been more than a few people at the clinic that day. Even if Master and I kept quiet, we couldn't seal the mouths of everyone there.
"That woman, Cheonha Young, will come back. She's the type with a strong possessiveness over talent. Staying here at the Healer Immortal Sect any longer is dangerous."
Master's voice was more serious than ever. She presented me with two options.
"How about going to the Azure Dragon Squad? It's the heart of the Murim Alliance. Even a child of the Heavenly Family wouldn't dare touch you there. If you want, I can arrange it—as a temporary dispatch."
Her proposal was reasonable. But she didn't stop there.
"......If you don't like that."
She hesitated for a moment, averting her gaze. Then she looked straight at me again.
"You can stay in my room. I'll protect you personally."
A chill ran down my spine. Sleeping together with the terrifying Master. Just imagining spending time alone with her in her room made it hard to breathe. Her protection would certainly be reassuring. But I knew exactly how I'd be treated under that protection. It would be like escaping one tiger only to enter another's den.
I answered without a moment's hesitation.
"I'll go to the Azure Dragon Squad."
Im Hyehyang's eyebrow twitched faintly at my immediate reply.
"Very well. Prepare accordingly."
I cautiously added one more thing.
"Um... Master. Could I bring Soso along, by any chance? It'll be lonely on my own... and I need someone to attend to me."
Im Hyehyang looked at me as if surprised by the question. She pondered for a moment, then unexpectedly nodded readily.
"Do that. It'll be better for you to have her by your side."
Her permission came so easily that I was the one caught off guard.
"Then rest now. I'll prepare for departure within a few days."
With her business done, Im Hyehyang turned and left the room. Once she was gone, only perfect silence and I remained.
I collapsed weakly onto the bed. Cheonha Young, the Black Elder, Im Hyehyang, and now the Azure Dragon Squad. Too many things had stormed through my life in a single night. My mind was a tangled mess.
"Haa...."
A deep sigh escaped me naturally. I pulled the blanket over my head. Right now, I didn't want to think about anything. All I could do was try to sleep again.
.
.
.
The next morning, I clutched my throbbing head and rose from the bed. Last night's events weren't a dream. The faint lingering scent of an unfamiliar woman in the room and the remnants of the Black Elder's killing intent proved it all too real.
Cheonha Young. The bewitching eyes gleaming with possessiveness sent shivers down my spine just thinking about them.
'Damn it....'
How had I ended up targeted by such a terrifying monster? I'd braced myself for something like this ever since my hypnosis secret got out. Treating the Silkworm Devouring Poison had changed my reputation, but it had also exposed me to dangerous predators.
Going to the Azure Dragon Squad was the best choice. Master's suggestion was cold but realistic. The Healer Immortal Sect was a safe haven, but it might not hold against an unknown force like the Heavenly Family. In the heart of the Murim Alliance, even that arrogant woman wouldn't dare reach out recklessly.
A bright voice came from outside the door—Soso's.
"Senior Brother! You're awake? Soso brought a yummy breakfast!"
Soon the door cracked open, and Soso entered, balancing a tray with a steaming bowl of porridge. Her face was beaming as always. Her ample breasts swayed enticingly with each step. It was a peaceful morning scene, utterly at odds with last night's tension.
"Senior Brother, you look pale. Did something happen yesterday?"
Soso set the tray on the table and placed a worried hand on my forehead. Her soft, cool touch eased my tension a bit.
I told her about heading to the Azure Dragon Squad. I left out Cheonha Young and the Black Elder—I didn't want to worry her unnecessarily. I said it was a special invitation from the Murim Alliance for treating the Silkworm Devouring Poison, a great chance to practice medicine on a bigger stage.
Soso's eyes went wide.
"Wow! The Azure Dragon Squad? Isn't that an amazing place, Senior Brother?"
She seemed stunned for a moment, then her face broke into a huge grin.
"Does that mean we're going together? Yay, this is exciting!"
Soso hugged me tightly like a child, thrilled. Caught off guard, I froze for a second. Her soft, massive mounds pressed against my chest. A faint soap scent and sweet body fragrance wafted from her, as if she'd just washed up. The tension and fear from last night melted away in her embrace like snow.
"We're going on a trip together, Senior Brother! I love it!"
She nuzzled her face against my chest, genuinely delighted. Her innocent reaction brought a wry smile to my lips unbidden. To me, it was an escape for survival, but to her, it was just a fun trip with me.
'Yeah... maybe this is for the best.'
A few days passed like that. Preparations to leave the Healer Immortal Sect proceeded smoothly. Through Master, I received the temporary dispatch token and letter for the Azure Dragon Squad. The process was handled more swiftly than expected—likely thanks to Master's influence as an elder.
Packing was mostly Soso's job. She hummed cheerfully while organizing my clothes and medical tools.
"Senior Brother, should I pack this outfit too? You'd look so handsome in it."
"This herb is rare, so I have to pack it carefully!"
She fussed more over my luggage than her own. Then, as if struck by a thought, she rummaged in her own box and pulled something out. It was a thin silk nightgown, sheer enough to see through, with a deep plunge at the chest.
"Senior Brother, what do you think of this? I got it new... I thought you might like it if I wore it at the Azure Dragon Squad."
Soso blushed slightly and held the nightgown against her body. The outline of her full breasts showed clearly through the thin silk. The seductive pose contrasting her innocent face ignited a fire in my lower belly.
I swallowed dryly and forced my gaze away.
"Uh... ahem! Why pack something like that? Just bring comfortable clothes."
"Aw, Senior Brother likes it though."
Soso giggled at my reaction, clearly amused, and tucked the nightgown back into the box. Each of her innocent actions slowly unraveled my weary heart.