Chapter 37
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: A Calculated Affront
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"If you mean the bed made of blue silver jade..."
At Namgung Baek's signal, a subordinate fetched the warehouse inventory and confirmed.
"It's in the second warehouse to the north."
"Let's go."
As soon as he had his answer, Namgung Baek led Dan Ak-seon and his party toward the warehouse.
Upon entering the warehouse, a flicker of disappointment crossed Cho Ak-ryang's face. He had expected a Martial Alliance warehouse to be filled with rare treasures and elixirs, but what was this? All sorts of junk, covered in a thick layer of dust, lay scattered about haphazardly.
At Namgung Baek's command, the warrior in charge of the warehouse guided the group to the bed in storage.
"Are you saying this is the cause?"
In response to Namgung Baek's question, Dan Ak-seon brushed the dust off the bed, lay down on it, and said,
"I'll have to check."
Then he closed his eyes and focused on something.
While Namgung Baek waited with a tense expression, Cho Ak-ryang looked around.
'Those must have come in recently.'
Unlike the other items, they weren't covered in dust.
Judging by the notes attached with the word "Evidence" written in red, they seemed to be items confiscated from hostile forces.
Dan Ak-seon opened his eyes.
"I can definitely feel a peculiar energy."
Dan Ak-seon, who had been carefully observing the bed, suddenly started looking around.
A moment later, he nodded as if he had realized something.
"What is it, Physician Dan?"
At Beom Gye-wi's question, Dan Ak-seon pointed at the bed.
"There are no cobwebs near the bed."
"Huh? Now that you mention it..."
Dan Ak-seon looked at Beom Gye-wi with a troubled expression.
"I'd like to cut this part."
It was a necessary step to easily confirm the cause. But he couldn't reveal Beom Gye-wi's martial arts in front of Namgung Baek.
Just then, Namgung Baek stepped forward.
As Dan Ak-seon got off the bed, a streak of milky-white light flashed like a cluster of stars.
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi's eyes met.
An undeniable astonishment appeared in their eyes.
*—Wasn't that sword aura just now?*
At Beom Gye-wi's telepathic message, Cho Ak-ryang gave a faint nod.
It happened in a flash, so it was too soon to be certain, but given the circumstances, it was undoubtedly sword aura.
'This bastard is truly cunning.'
He was like a thousand-year-old serpent.
Until now, Namgung Baek's image in the martial world had focused more on his political acumen and bold actions as the Alliance Leader than on his martial arts. But now, it seemed the man had been hiding another sharp weapon.
The jade stone was sliced without a sound.
Its smooth, cut surface was a warning that he was a very dangerous man.
'One sword to cleave a hill, one sword to sever a river.'
The title "Hill-Cleaver, River-Severer," which he had thought was a gross exaggeration, now seemed almost an understatement.
Just then.
"Do you see this?"
Dan Ak-seon, who was carefully examining the cut surface of the bed, pointed to a spot.
Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
Amidst the bluish jade, flecks of a grayish-white mineral were scattered about.
Dan Ak-seon looked up at Namgung Baek.
"Could you separate just this part?"
Namgung Baek's sword gently dug into the jade stone.
*Clink, clatter.*
Dan Ak-seon picked up the grayish-white mineral that had fallen out, thought for a moment, and then ran outside.
"I need two small bowls of honey and a beehive."
Though he didn't understand why, Namgung Baek gave the order to his subordinates.
A short while later, one of his subordinates brought a beehive wrapped in a net.
Dan Ak-seon placed the bowls of honey far apart.
Then, he put the mineral fragment into one of the bowls and removed the net covering the beehive.
A moment later, bees emerged from the hive, flew around, and then headed for the bowls of honey.
However, they didn't go anywhere near the bowl containing the mineral fragment.
"Just as I thought..."
Dan Ak-seon placed the mineral fragment on his palm and held it out to Namgung Baek.
"It's emitting an aura of death."
Dan Ak-seon continued his explanation.
"I thought it was strange. The symptoms were typical of severed meridians, but her energy channels were fine. I can see why the other physicians were confused."
"So you're saying it's not severed meridians?"
"That's right, there's nothing wrong with the energy channels themselves. However, her blood is impure and severely imbalanced. Because of that, her true energy lacks strength and can't extend through her channels. The cause is this death aura."
Normally, the body should constantly produce new blood, but she had lost that ability, preventing new blood from being formed.
"And so, the impurities kept accumulating and turned into a poison."
Namgung Baek let out a sigh.
The bed that had caused his daughter's illness was originally a gift he had received. He had given it to his cherished daughter himself, and that choice had brought Namgung Hyang to this state.
Though unintentional, it was clearly his mistake.
"It can be treated, can't it?"
"I'll do my best."
"That's not good enough!"
Namgung Baek revealed his intense emotions.
"My best," "my best." Hearing that damned phrase again, the same one countless physicians had spouted, he felt an uncontrollable surge of anger.
"Save her! By any means necessary!"
Dan Ak-seon met Namgung Baek's gaze, which was so intense it was almost chilling, without flinching.
"Are you threatening me?"
In the instant Namgung Baek's gaze wavered,
"Pressuring me like this won't improve the patient's condition."
Dan Ak-seon continued calmly.
"Actions like this will only hinder the patient's treatment."
Faced with Dan Ak-seon's resolute attitude, Namgung Baek inwardly swallowed a groan.
'What a disgraceful display...'
As shame washed over him, leaving him speechless, every nerve in his body suddenly tensed, and a powerful shiver ran down his spine.
It was the instinct he had naturally honed over long years as a martial artist, warning him of danger.
"...!"
The moment Namgung Baek turned in surprise, he was met head-on with a terrifying killing intent.
The scholar and the giant accompanying Dan Ak-seon.
Their cold gazes pierced his heart like daggers.
It was a hostility so fierce that for a moment, he even forgot he was in the Martial Alliance headquarters. Startled by their aura, Namgung Baek unconsciously released his own.
That was how extraordinary their atmosphere was.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Dan Ak-seon's shout from the side snapped Namgung Baek back to his senses.
"Is this how you treat someone who came to help?"
"Th-that's..."
Namgung Baek was genuinely flustered.
He had flinched for a moment at the spirit unbecoming of a child. Namgung Baek hastily dispersed the true energy he had gathered.
"It seems what the Alliance Leader wants are people who are obedient and follow orders well."
Dan Ak-seon said, turning sharply.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm that kind of person. We'll be leaving now."
Dan Ak-seon's cold attitude made Namgung Baek's heart sink. After enduring countless quacks, he had finally found a physician who could treat his daughter. He couldn't let go of this thread of hope he had just grasped.
"Please, wait a moment!"
Namgung Baek spoke hastily, blocking Dan Ak-seon's path.
"I apologize. I was hasty because of my daughter's condition and made a mistake."
Casting aside all face, Namgung Baek apologized once more.
"Not for my sake, but for my daughter Hyang—for that pitiful child—please, just this once, quell your anger."
*—See? Medical skill is the ultimate power.*
At Beom Gye-wi's sudden telepathic message, Cho Ak-ryang snorted. But he was soon filled with a strange, indescribable sense of being moved.
It was because of what Dan Ak-seon said to Namgung Baek.
"Alright. But don't you ever treat my uncles disrespectfully again!"
Namgung Baek had a bitter taste in his mouth, but he had no other choice.
"I will keep that in mind."
For now, he could only bow his head.
"From now until the treatment is over, no one associated with the Martial Alliance is to approach the annex. That includes you, Alliance Leader."
"What? But..."
Dan Ak-seon frowned.
Namgung Baek sighed and nodded.
"I will do as you say."
"And you are not to interfere with us in any way until we leave this place."
"Understood. I will not interfere with whatever you and your companions do, Physician."
Namgung Baek accepted all of Dan Ak-seon's demands.
He was a man who valued honor, but he pursued practical benefits even more.
That was how he had been able to rise to his current position.
His pride had already been bruised once; for the sake of saving his daughter, he could cast it aside as many times as needed.
Having settled the matter, Dan Ak-seon left the Hall of Righteous Governance.
As they moved away from the hall, Dan Ak-seon let out a big sigh.
"Physician Dan, have you cooled down a bit?"
At Beom Gye-wi's question, Dan Ak-seon grinned sheepishly.
"I wasn't angry in the first place."
"...?"
"It's natural for a patient's guardian to become extremely sensitive when the patient's condition is poor."
This time, Cho Ak-ryang asked.
"If the Alliance Leader hadn't apologized, were you really going to leave?"
"Of course not. If I leave, the patient will die. How could I do that?"
Beom Gye-wi burst into hearty laughter.
"Our Physician Dan, at times like this, you've got nerves of steel, don't you? Tricking the leader of the entire Martial Alliance."
"I couldn't stand seeing the two of you be insulted, if nothing else..."
For a moment, a look of deep appreciation flashed in the two men's eyes.
"Thinking about it again is making me mad. Should I just go kill him?"
Beom Gye-wi enthusiastically agreed with Cho Ak-ryang.
"Yeah! Physician Dan, forget the treatment! Just say the word, and I'll go smash that Alliance Leader's head in and burn this whole place to the ground!"
"Haha. Even if you don't mean it, thank you."
"Huh? I'm not just saying that."
Dan Ak-seon looked up at Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi and responded with an innocent smile.
"I don't know how I'd manage without you by my side. I feel so secure."
His mood completely lifted, Dan Ak-seon walked on with a light step. Just then, Cho Ak-ryang discreetly fell back.
"Where are you going?"
At Dan Ak-seon's question, Cho Ak-ryang gave a meaningful smile.
"I'm going to see if that Alliance Leader keeps his promise. I'll be right back, so don't worry."
***
After Dan Ak-seon's group left, Namgung Baek sank into his grand armchair and replayed the recent events in his mind.
The two men's actions weren't a simple threat.
Their aura was so terribly powerful that his instincts had reacted first.
"That wasn't the kind of level a mere physician could display..."
If he had his way, he would investigate their identities and backgrounds immediately.
But it hadn't even been a moment since he made the promise.
If the boy held him accountable for breaking his promise, this time, it might truly be irreversible.
He was not an opponent who would yield to threats or appeasement.
"Do I have no choice but to watch until Hyang's treatment is over?"
Struggling to control his boiling anger, Namgung Baek gave an order to his nearby subordinates.
"Under no circumstances are you to interfere with their affairs."
"No matter what happens?"
"Yes. No matter what."
Having made his point unequivocally, Namgung Baek rubbed his tired face with his palms.
It was then.
"Alliance Leader!"
A man with a bewildered expression approached Namgung Baek. It was the captain of the Blue Sky Unit, who had been secretly guarding him.
"What is it?"
The Blue Sky Captain, Yang Bul-wi, hesitated for a moment. But he soon sighed and spoke.
"That physician, the one they call Ak-gong, is urinating."
Namgung Baek was inwardly dumbfounded.
Why would someone of the Blue Sky Captain's stature be reporting something so trivial?
But his expression hardened at Yang Bul-wi's next words.
"On the pillar at the entrance to the Hall of Righteous Governance, sir."
"What?"
Namgung Baek couldn't believe what he had just heard.
Just then, a clear, ringing voice came from outside the hall.
"Ahh! That's a relief! Where's the outhouse around here? This place is so big I can't find it."
Namgung Baek's eyebrow twitched.
Seeing this, Yang Bul-wi spoke.
"What should we do? If you give the order, I will..."
"Leave them be."
"...!"
"Did I not say not to interfere in their affairs? Are you trying to make me a petty man who goes back on his word?"
At that moment, a thunderous sound echoed from outside the hall.
*Pffffft!*
Simultaneously, Yang Bul-wi's face turned beet red. It was because of a telepathic message he received from a subordinate waiting outside.
"What was that sound?"
"Th-that is..."
At Namgung Baek's question, Yang Bul-wi couldn't bring himself to answer right away.
Even he found it hard to believe the message he had just received.
"The man called Ak-il..."
Namgung Baek recalled the giant who was with Dan Ak-seon.
"What about him?"
At Namgung Baek's pressing, everyone's eyes focused on Yang Bul-wi.
"Haaah..."
Letting out a long sigh, Yang Bul-wi squeezed his eyes shut as if it was disgraceful even to speak the words.
"He has... defecated at the entrance of the Hall of Righteous Governance."
"Hah!"
"Gasp!"
Sharp intakes of breath could be heard from all around the hall.
"Those crazy bastards?"
Someone cursed on behalf of the speechless and dumbfounded Namgung Baek. But he had to quickly shut his mouth.
It was due to another telepathic message from a subordinate outside.
"The Ice Jade Fairy is on her way."
"...!"
Namgung Baek's face turned pale.
"What?"
"No way."
"Come on... It can't be, right?"