Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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I was able to enter Kaesong soon after. Since escorting most of the prisoners had become my responsibility, I first took the pre-selected Goryeo captives to the kingdom's high-ranking official in charge.
The somewhat stern-faced official glanced at the roster I handed him and said,
"What is this? So what do you expect me to do about it?"
"Please help these people return to their hometowns."
"Your Goryeo is fluent."
The official beat around the bush with unnecessary chatter.
"I'd love to do that, but I'm not exactly idle. Aside from three or four names on this list, the rest are all commoners or lowborns..."
"..."
"You need to show some sincerity. Right? Without sincerity, I can't move."
I stared at him in disbelief. The Great Dragon Merchant Leader, standing beside me, whispered and pulled me aside.
"Come here for a moment."
We moved to a secluded spot, and the Great Dragon Merchant Leader spoke.
"I knew it would turn out like this. That guy's asking for a bribe."
"A bribe? These are poor souls who had their entire lives stolen by pirates. Why demand a bribe to help them?"
"Of course, you're right, Baek Woong. But that's how the world works. Without enough money, he won't budge."
"Hmm."
I frowned. I hadn't expected to hit a wall here. After a moment's thought, I said to the Great Dragon Merchant Leader,
"I'd like to speak with Jeong Cheol-uk, the family head. Can you arrange it?"
"Hm? Of course I have connections to him, but what do you plan to do?"
"Just one conversation. Please."
"Very well."
The Great Dragon Merchant Leader agreed to my request. I knew his favors so far came with calculations, so I understood I'd have to repay him someday to avoid future troubles.
I had gold, silver, jewels, and even gold bars seized from the pirates, but handing them to that corrupt high official felt like a waste. Besides, releasing that much into circulation here might cause unmanageable repercussions.
The meeting he arranged was set for two days later. Jeong Cheol-uk, the family head, greeted me in the guest hall.
"Welcome. It's an honor to meet the young hero who achieved such great feats with my own eyes."
"The honor is mine to meet you, Family Head Jeong."
When I spoke politely following Goryeo customs, Jeong Cheol-uk's eyes lit up.
"Are you from Goryeo by any chance? Your speech is remarkably fluent, and you're well-versed in etiquette. It's like you've been trained in a prestigious house for years."
"Not quite. I just lived here briefly."
"I see..."
Jeong Cheol-uk chuckled heartily. As he poured tea into his cup, he said,
"So, Baek Woong, what brings you to see me?"
"It's about your family physician, Elder Hwa Seomyeong. I'd like to speak with him."
"What? You know him?"
Jeong Cheol-uk seemed somewhat flustered. It made sense—his secret aid in the Hwa family's relocation wasn't widely known, nor was Elder Hwa Seomyeong's reputation as one of the Five Great Physicians of the Central Plains, revered as a paragon of virtue.
I bowed respectfully with clasped hands and continued.
"My master was Elder Hwa Seomyeong's close friend. In truth, I've come to Goryeo lands to meet him. Please grant my request."
"Hmm... The Central Plains are vast, so such connections happen... Do you perhaps know medicine?"
"A little."
"Ho."
After a moment's thought, Jeong Cheol-uk said,
"Very well. Follow my guard unit. I'll inform Elder Hwa immediately."
Under their guidance, I headed to the elder's residence. Upon arrival, the guard captain went inside to speak. Soon after, I entered the annex where Elder Hwa lived.
A familiar scent of medicinal herbs filled the air. It stirred memories of the decade I'd spent honing medical arts. Standing in the center, moved, I heard a sharp voice.
"My friend's disciple? Who the hell are you?"
Elder Hwa glared at me with unfriendly eyes. He clearly wasn't welcoming an unexpected visitor from the Central Plains. Given how his entire Hwa family had relocated after being scorned there, it was understandable.
I smiled and spoke in the Han tongue.
"Calm down. That was a lie, but from now on, we can help each other."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I know the Hwa family's predicament. With my help, you could relocate all your clan's medical knowledge to Goryeo within a few years."
"......!!"
Elder Hwa's eyes widened. He stopped glaring and began examining me calmly.
"I can't believe it."
"Take this first."
I pulled out a gold bar from the chest. Elder Hwa Seomyeong stared at the gleaming bar in a daze, unable to believe I'd offer it out of nowhere.
"That should cover moving most of your retainers."
"Wh... who are you? How do you know my situation so well?"
"I'm Baek Woong. I trained in a branch of the Hwa medical lineage and came to Goryeo upon hearing the main house was in peril."
"A branch family! Then you learned medicine too?"
"See for yourself."
I approached a nearby human anatomical model and slowly began demonstrating the Hwa Clan's 108 Needles. After the basic forms and acupoint techniques, I showed the Hwa Ta Golden Needles. Watching it all, Elder Hwa Seomyeong collapsed to the floor.
"This can't be... Is it real? Can a branch really master Hwa arts to this level? How did I not know about someone like you?"
"......"
"This is undoubtedly the true Hwa Clan's 108 Needles and Hwa Ta Golden Needles...!!"
Tears burst from his eyes as he embraced my shoulders.
"Kuhk... Thank you so much. I'll never forget this grace...!! This cuts a decade off our timeline..."
"Now, you'll help me with the family head."
I offered the last gold bar.
"With this too, you can relocate every physician. But I'm in a bind myself, so I need the Hwa family head's aid. Help me, and it's yours."
"Tell me! I'll do anything."
I explained the prisoners from the pirate island suppression and how the Goryeo high official was dragging his feet demanding bribes. Stroking his beard as he listened, Elder Hwa Seomyeong said,
"What a vile scum."
"Can you help me?"
"Of course. I have the family head's trust. I'll speak to him directly. He'll listen to me, so it'll help you."
"Thank you."
"I'm the one more grateful..."
Elder Hwa Seomyeong wiped his reddened eyes.
"Who would've thought a branch member would come from afar to aid the main house... and with such outstanding medical skill. Who is your master? I must meet him."
I flinched but sighed.
"He's passed away..."
"Ah, I see..."
We talked for about two hours afterward. Mostly trivial medical topics, with him occasionally marveling at my skills. He kindly answered my lingering questions.
"Then I'll be counting on you."
"Take care."
It was the day after I returned to my lodgings when a Goryeo guard unit arrived.
"The family head wishes to see you. Come with us."
"Understood."
Following them back to Jeong Cheol-uk, I found someone beaten bloody, bound with ropes, kneeling in the guest hall. Elder Hwa Seomyeong stood there too. Seated Jeong Cheol-uk welcomed me.
"Welcome, Baek Woong."
"This man is..."
"The one who demanded a bribe from you. For him to be so rude to a righteous man of the Central Plains—my face burns with shame."
Sure enough, it was the high official I'd met. His face was swollen from interrogation and beatings, utterly drained. Seeing me, he cried desperately.
"N-No! I was trying to accommodate as best I could... It was just a misunderstanding! Clear it up!"
What misunderstanding?
I gave him a cold glance and bowed to the family head.
"Baek Woong is moved by Family Head Jeong's righteousness."
"Now my face can stand upright. Ha ha."
Jeong Cheol-uk smiled wryly and continued.
"I'll personally resolve the issue of your Goryeo prisoners. We'll conceal they were pirate captives, provide settlement funds, and care for the unfortunate women as much as possible."
"Thank you again."
With Jeong Cheol-uk's word, there was no more worry. When a family head of Goryeo's two great noble houses—who shared power with the king—stepped in, failure was impossible. He issued the final order.
"Guards! Behead this man and demote his entire clan to lowborn status."
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
Perfect.
I left Jeong Cheol-uk's mansion savoring the corrupt official's gut-wrenching screams.
Returning to my lodgings, I found Seomun Hye, daughter of the Shadowless Gate Master, waiting outside my room. She greeted me happily.
"Ah, you're back?"
"What is it?"
"I was wondering if your errand went well..."
"It did. We can depart tomorrow with the caravan."
"I see."
"Anything else?"
Seomun Hye hesitated, then said,
"I have something important to tell you alone."
"Alright."
We entered my room. She gazed at me steadily and said,
"Physician Baek, you're not just skilled in medicine—you're outstanding in martial arts too."
"Not a level I can boast about."
"Before you arrived, I talked with my sisters. We wondered how to repay you and reached our own conclusion."
"...The gold and treasures from the pirates settled that."
"No. That can't repay a life debt."
Seomun Hye shook her head and gripped my hand tightly. Her delicate jade hands felt exquisite.
"Baek Woong, become my husband. Please."
".......!!"
I was stunned. Was she serious?
Her eyes showed no jest. This peerless beauty with silver hair held my hand, her face inches away, breath warm.
"Can't you accept my heart?"
"It's so sudden... What made you think of this?"
She sighed and said,
"I've never met anyone like you. Young, yet with peerless medicine, righteous heart, and incredible martial prowess. You hide your inner energy, but I can tell it's immense."
"Hm."
"Yet you don't lust after women and uphold justice. You've inspired me. You're the ideal partner I've always imagined."
Only then did I realize Seomun Hye was smitten. With eyes, she'd know my future growth would yield a below-average, ugly appearance. Yet she proposed first!
Burdened, I cleared my throat.
"As you see, I'm quite ugly. I don't match a beauty like you."
Her pale hand gripped mine tighter.
"What does a man's looks matter? Raised as the Shadowless Gate's precious pearl, I've seen men as handsome as jade inlaid with treasures. But they had only appearances. I can love all of you, Baek Woong."
"......"
She was utterly sincere.
I pondered. Accepting her would make me Shadowless Gate's heir, gain its supreme master as an ally—one of the Eight Demonic Sects' strongest. Plus a world-class beauty. An incredible choice.
But I couldn't decide rashly.
Marrying her would add another inescapable karmic tie from my reincarnation. Before achieving my goal, it could shatter my resolve. Why else had I rejected Hwa Ryeon, Han Ji-hwa of the Luoyang Han family, or Miho's temptations?
I sighed.
"You're deciding too hastily. You haven't truly learned who I am."
"You're... refusing my proposal?"
"No. I like you too. We just need more time to know each other."
I crossed my arms.
"If you insist, travel with me to Shadowless Gate. If your feelings hold, I'll accept you as my wife."
She beamed.
"Yes!"
Complex emotions swirled in me.
And an immense sense of injustice.
'This is my first confession from a girl since birth...'
I wanted to live happily with her, but sacrificing everything for one goal felt unfair. Countless men would kill for a beauty like Seomun Hye.
But I steeled myself. Memories of Mangnyang and Miho resurfaced. As long as I owed them, I couldn't waver. This was atonement for past foolishness.
' Demon Horse Hall, I will crush you.'
My resolve strengthened.
For a smooth life plan, I had to swiftly eliminate those bastards and send back the otherworldly being summoned in the imperial palace.
The ship set sail the next day.
That night, Seomun Hye entered my cabin unannounced.
"Baek Woong."
In the darkness, fabric rustled softly. She slipped under my covers, and I panicked. It was her naked body pressing against me. I'd hoped for restful sleep, but this was a bolt from the blue.
"What are you doing?"
"I want to know you better."
Her bare skin embraced me tightly. A pleasant fragrance wafted; soft flesh brushed my arms. Like with Hwa Ryeon, but different—she was an innocent virgin ignorant of passion.
She clung with eyes tightly shut, as if anything was fine. Her unique allure made me swallow hard. Few men would refuse such a feast.
But I said,
"Light the lamp."
"Baek Woong..."
"And put on your clothes."
Seomun Hye said,
"Even without marriage vows, I can give myself to you. Am I so repulsive?"
"That's not it..."
"Hic..."
She sniffled. Troubled, I picked up her clothes from the floor and handed them over. As she dressed sobbing, I stepped outside.
'Ha... Think I don't suffer?'
Just sighs escaped.
Then—
"Baa—bo!! Lewd bones! Idiot!"
"......?"
In the dim cabin corridor stood a young girl, glaring with a pouty, furious face. She yelled shrilly.
"You ignore my help to mate like beasts?! Argh, annoying!!"
"Huh?"
"Eat rice cakes for a hundred, thousand years! Idiot! Hmph! Dummy jellyfish!!"
Spouting childish insults, she vanished in a flash.
'What?'
I tilted my head. It was advanced sorcery, and she felt familiar, but that was all. Checking the ship later, no one had seen a girl.
============================ Author's Note ============================
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