Chapter 28
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Preparations for Xi'an
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In the Central Plains, every province had a branch of the Medical Alliance.
Henan Province had the Kaifeng branch, but the closest one to Nanyang was in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.
"Xi'an? But..."
Wi Ji-seon's face darkened.
He was worried about sending his youngest, who was only fifteen, on such a long journey.
Even though it was the closest, it was still over ten days away on foot.
What if that sweet boy runs into a band of brigands and gets hurt?!
"You don't have to go in person just to receive an academic award, do you? Your uncle can pick it up later when he has business in Xi'an."
"But this is an award from none other than Teacher Bing Hak. It's only right that I go myself. More importantly, I want to see Xi'an."
"You want to see it?"
"Yes. They say Xi'an has many large medical houses. I heard their medical practices are far more advanced than ours in Nanyang, so it will be an enlightening experience."
Xi'an's nickname was the "Thousand-Year-Old Capital."
Nanyang was not a small city, but it couldn't compare to Xi'an.
With its long history, the martial sects there were far more influential than those in Nanyang, and it boasted many prominent medical houses.
It's not a lie that I want to broaden my horizons. I do plan on checking out the medical arts of other houses.
An unexpected thought.
He said he was going to make money, but now he wants to observe medical arts?
To collect money from my 'target' as planned, I'll need to use other medical houses.
Wi Ji-cheon thought grimly behind his smiling face, and a chill ran down Jang Sam's spine as he watched.
That little devil! What kind of terrible things is he planning to do in Xi'an?!
He didn't know what Wi Ji-cheon was plotting, but one thing was certain.
A storm was about to hit the peaceful(?) city of Xi'an. A storm named Wi Ji-cheon.
Still, at least Nanyang will have some peace for a while. Don't you ever come back, you devil!
However.
"Don't worry. Great Warrior Jang Sam here has agreed to go with me."
"...M-me...? Yes, yes, that's right! As it happens, I, Jang, had some business in Xi'an anyway! What a coincidence! It seems heaven itself has decreed that I should escort Young Master Wi Ji-cheon!"
Receiving a sharp glare from Wi Ji-cheon that said, 'Can't you take a hint?', Jang Sam swallowed his tears and frantically played along.
You rotten bastard! You son of a bitch!
What made Jang Sam even more frustrated were Wi Ji-cheon's family members.
"Great Warrior Jang Sam, thank you so much! How can we ever repay this kindness? As you know, our Ji-cheon has been raised with such care that he is incredibly fragile."
"Young Master Wi Ji-cheon is... fragile, yes. Very... fragile. Ha... ha."
"Haa. If we had sent Ji-cheon alone, I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night. I'm still so worried, even now. What would we do if something happened to that poor child on such a long journey? Sniffle, I must have gotten some dust in my eye, why am I crying!"
"Ji-cheon, you rascal. Xi'an is dangerous, so make sure you stick close to Great Warrior Jang Sam. Great Warrior, if this boy acts up, feel free to give him a kick in the rear."
"You fool, Ji-gang! If you're worried about Ji-cheon, just say so!"
"You should be the one to stop crying, Father! Ji-cheon will return safely!"
"If anything happens to Ji-cheon, we'll just have to 'take care' of Great Warrior Jang Sam first."
"Father, brothers, sister. Please don't worry! I'll be careful and come back safely!"
"Ji-cheon! No! You can't go!! Waaaah."
...What a bunch of drama queens.
The family, fussing over their precious youngest son as if he were made of gold and jade, and Wi Ji-cheon, responding with spirited confidence.
It was truly a maddeningly perfect performance.
And so, with Jang Sam wearing an expression like he'd just chewed on dung, Wi Ji-cheon's trip to Xi'an was decided.
They decided to depart after some simple preparations.
Since the official purpose was to receive an award from the Medical Alliance branch, there was no need to pack heavily, but there were still a few things to take care of.
"You want me to grant you the authority of an Acting General Manager for your trip to Xi'an?"
"Yes. I'd like to visit the various merchant guilds and apothecaries in Xi'an. There are far more of them there than in Nanyang. But since I'm so young, I don't think anyone will take me seriously without a proper title."
"Hmm. Well, I suppose that's fine. It will be a good opportunity for you."
Wi Ji-mu nodded without any particular suspicion.
Unlike Wi Ji-seon, who worried over Wi Ji-cheon as if he were a precious jewel, Wi Ji-mu knew his nephew was no ordinary boy.
He was, after all, capable of swallowing the Namjung Medical House whole.
Ji-cheon has decided on a path as an External Physician, handling outside affairs. Broadening his experience in Xi'an will help him grow into that role.
In truth, considering the talent Wi Ji-cheon had shown during the Medical Examination Ceremony, it might have been better for him to become an Internal Physician focused solely on treating patients, but his genius wasn't limited to the medical arts.
His business acumen is incredible, too. It's almost a waste to keep him in a medical house. If Ji-cheon had been born into a merchant family, he would have become a great magnate. His weakness with paperwork is a flaw, though... a rather significant one.
For that reason, Wi Ji-mu's eyes dripped with honey as he looked at Wi Ji-cheon.
"In that case, would it be all right if I initiated some deals with apothecaries or merchant guilds if I find any with favorable terms?"
"Hmm?"
"Since I'm going to Xi'an anyway, I want to contribute to the family as much as possible. Oh, and you don't have to worry about me making any deals that would strain the family's finances."
Wi Ji-cheon said, his eyes sparkling.
It was a look of pure, selfless devotion to the family that anyone could see, and Wi Ji-mu nodded in satisfaction.
"You rascal. Alright. Here is the general manager's seal. Do as you see fit. But you are aware of our family's financial situation, aren't you?"
"Of course. We're beggars."
"...'Beggars' is too heartbreaking a term. Let's just say we have many burdens on our shoulders. You must not make any reckless deals."
"Yes, don't worry."
However, Wi Ji-mu couldn't have imagined.
How the seal he had just handed over would be used in Wi Ji-cheon's hands.
Next, Wi Ji-cheon attended to other matters.
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
The junior apprentices treating patients in the Pavilion of Living Medicine looked at Wi Ji-cheon in surprise.
Did I do something wrong?
Senior Brother, please spare me. Spare me.
Look at his clear eyes. Gyaah! So scary!
It wasn't that Wi Ji-cheon was a harsh disciplinarian with his juniors.
This wasn't a martial sect, and he believed that pointless hazing was of no help in treating patients.
From the very beginning, Wi Ji-cheon had been consistently good to his juniors.
It was just that his way of being "good" to them was a little twisted.
-Junior Brother A-seop, that treatment you just performed...
-I was wrong! It was due to my inexperience.
-It's alright. Doctors are human, too; we all make mistakes. Especially since we're just apprentice physicians. In fact, I'm the one who should be sorry. You made a mistake because I, as your Senior Brother, didn't teach you properly.
-...Senior Brother?
-So you don't make this kind of mistake again, shall we 'review' what we learned last time?
A thrilling education session with Senior Brother!
I'd rather spend a brief stint in the Heavenly Demon Cult's Hall of Endless Hell or the Blood Cult's kill-or-be-killed assassin training facility than receive Senior Brother's 'special education'!
But they couldn't protest, for a few reasons.
First, the lessons were remarkably effective.
One special lesson from their Senior Brother was more effective than practicing a hundred times on their own.
Thanks to this, everyone's skills were improving by leaps and bounds, to a degree unimaginable for apprentice physicians who had only recently passed the Medical Examination Ceremony.
The second reason wasn't the slave contracts they had signed... but Wi Ji-cheon's sincere desire to help them.
Senior Brother isn't doing this out of malice; it's all for our own good.
I pride myself on being a good judge of character, and I know Senior Brother genuinely cares for us!
And that's what makes it even scarier!
They'd heard he was going to Xi'an and thought they were free for a while, so why was he here?
Wi Ji-cheon approached these juniors one by one.
"Junior Brother A-seop, you're working hard. Your acupuncture posture has improved a lot."
"Th-thank you!"
"Junior Brother Jong-geum, is your cold any better?"
"I'm all better after drinking the tonic you prescribed, Senior Brother!"
"I was worried. That's a relief."
"Thank you!"
He checked in on each of them warmly.
That's right.
Wi Ji-cheon wasn't just scary. Just when they were about to forget, he would do something touching like this.
It was why none of them could bring themselves to hate him.
Even as they shuddered in fear, their thoughts would turn to, 'Our Senior Brother might be crazy, but he's a gentle and kind person.'
Of course, it was all just Wi Ji-cheon's clever brainwashing.
The carrot and the stick are essential for managing people. I have to treat them well so they don't run away.
In any case, he hadn't come to give them a carrot this time.
Quite the opposite.
He was here to tighten discipline before his long absence.
"Junior Sister Dan Yeo."
"What?"
Dan Yeo replied sullenly.
Among the juniors, Dan Yeo was the only one who didn't fear Wi Ji-cheon.
And she still harbored a burning sense of rivalry.
Good. I need at least one talent like her.
Wi Ji-cheon intended to groom Dan Yeo into a core talent of the Medical Immortal Medical House.
All his juniors would become excellent physicians who could hold their own anywhere, but Dan Yeo, in particular, would become an outstanding master doctor.
Because Wi Ji-cheon would make it so.
Wi Ji-cheon knew exactly how to handle someone like Dan Yeo.
"It's a shame. I'm the only one receiving the First Place Award of the Hundred Schools. It would have been nice if Junior Sister Dan Yeo could have come along this time."
"Hah?"
Dan Yeo's eyebrow twitched.
Dan Yeo had placed second in the Medical Examination Ceremony.
However, she was a second-place finisher whose score was far behind the first-place winner, Wi Ji-cheon.
Before Dan Yeo could snap back, Wi Ji-cheon said with a smile.
"Still, personally, I'm relieved that you're staying. I know I can trust you to look after the other juniors."
"...You're trusting me with them?"
"Yes. You know you're the one I trust and rely on the most, don't you, Junior Sister?"
"......"
Dan Yeo's face turned red.
Dan Yeo's weakness.
Was praise.
"While I'm gone, could I ask you to handle the juniors' training?"
"I-It's not like I needed you to ask! I-I was going to do it anyway!"
Adding a subtle spoonful of provocation to her pride was the perfect finishing touch.
"You don't have to overdo it. I'm worried about putting too much of a burden on you."
"Hmph! A burden! Just you wait. You'll be in for a surprise when you get back from Xi'an. All juniors under me, assemble in the back courtyard of the Pavilion of Living Medicine!"
For reference, Dan Yeo was second in seniority among Wi Ji-cheon's generation.
There was no reason.
It just happened that way.
"Until Senior Brother returns, everyone will have special training with me after our daily duties are finished!"
"Y-yes, ma'am."
"I can't hear you!"
"Yes, ma'am!!"
"Let's knock our Senior Brother down a peg!"
"Knock him down!!"
"Louder! Knock him down!!"
"Knock him down!!!!!!!!!"
Watching his juniors, Wi Ji-cheon smiled with satisfaction before departing for Xi'an with Jang Sam.
But before they arrived in Xi'an.
Wi Ji-cheon and Jang Sam had an unexpected encounter.
It was the Mount Hua Sect.