Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: A Hero's Welcome
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Afterward, Seo Geum had a deep 'discussion' with Wi Ji-cheon.
You can't do it? You don't have the will? You think you'll fall back into gambling? It's fine. I'll solve everything for you.
How?
Simple. Here, take the medicine in this bottle, and your weak will will be fixed in one go. I went through a lot of trouble to get it from the black market in Xi'an.
Seo Geum's face turned pale.
The black market? What on earth kind of medicine is it? Is it poison again?!
Nah, it's not something like that. It's a Gu poison.
What?
Ah, you don't know? A Gu poison is
I know! You want me to eat something so horrible?!
Ugh, persuading you is a hassle. Just eat it.
Swish!
After paralyzing his body by striking his pressure points, he shoved the Gu poison into his mouth and made him swallow.
Mmph!! You bastard!! Arrrgh!
The Gu poison works well. I was worried it might be a scam. There, your weak will is solved. Easy, right?
Jang Sam looked on, aghast.
That devil Wi Ji-cheon's wickedness was like an onion; you could peel and peel, but there was no end to it.
Jang Sam vowed to be completely loyal before Wi Ji-cheon decided to feed him a Gu poison too.
Th-then, what about running the merchant guild?
I don't know either.
What?
I'm a physician. What would I know about a merchant guild's affairs? You have to handle the business yourself, brother.
B-but
You have plenty of people to help you. The general manager seems quite loyal too.
That's true, but.
Seo Geum trailed off, lacking confidence.
It's okay if you're not good at it.
What did you say?
How could you be good from the start? What's important is to take one step forward at a time, correctly, even if you make mistakes.
In truth, Wi Ji-cheon didn't have high expectations either.
How well could Seo Geum, who was a scoundrel until yesterday, possibly do?
He was only giving him a chance because of their past connection.
Well, the former head, Seo Ho, laid a solid foundation, so it's unlikely anything will go wrong with the Seo Family's business.
The biggest risk was Seo Geum failing to abandon his old roguish ways and squandering his fortune, but now that he'd been fed a Gu poison, there was no need to worry about that.
You're infuriating. You're thinking I can't possibly pull this off, aren't you?
Hmm.
Just you watch. I'll definitely succeed, grow the Seo Family's business to several times its current size, and knock you down a peg.
Seo Geum fumed, and Wi Ji-cheon smiled.
He had decided to give him some help.
Do you know of the Youth-Retaining Arts?
Of course I do. It's a martial art that makes you look younger.
Soon, the Youth-Retaining Arts will become fashionable among high-ranking officials and nobles.
Seo Geum blinked, as if asking what he was talking about.
One of the things the wealthy and the nobility envy most about martial artists is their youth. For warriors at the peak level or higher, aging slows down significantly.
Living long and looking young is a privilege unique to martial artists.
One that even those with immense wealth and power cannot enjoy.
The longing of the powerful for youth and longevity is beyond imagination. Why else do you think Emperor Qin Shi Huang searched so desperately for the elixir of life?
So? Why are you suddenly talking about that?
The White Immortal Medical House has developed an elixir of youth.
What?!
It's true.
To be precise, it's a medicine that makes you look younger.
It works by aiding the circulation of ki to smooth out wrinkles, brighten the complexion, and fade age spots.
That alone will make it explosively popular. The White Immortal Medical House is going to be sitting on a mountain of gold because of this elixir.
It was a story that made his stomach churn just thinking about it.
The White Immortal Medical House had a long history of treating the wealthy, giving them an unparalleled position in this kind of life-nurturing medicine.
No matter how outstanding the Medical Immortal Medical House was, it was impossible to catch up to the White Immortal Medical House in that area right away.
However.
I could either ruin their finished meal or just add my own spoon to the table.
According to the information I've obtained, that medicine requires a massive amount of Seokryeonghwang. They say they need to refine several sacks of it for just one dose.
Seokryeonghwang?
Yes, it's a specialty product of Xi'an.
The look in Seo Geum's eyes changed.
He understood what Wi Ji-cheon was implying.
But how can I trust your words?
A good attitude.
What?
Not blindly trusting someone else's words is a fundamental quality for a merchant. The Seo Family's business should have connections in the Medical Alliance, so check it out for yourself.
Don't you dare lecture me! You, a bedwetter who used to piss on my back!
Wi Ji-cheon chuckled.
There's a condition for giving you this information.
What is it?
Once you monopolize the Seokryeonghwang, dispose of most of it, leaving only a small portion.
What do you mean? Don't tell me
Yes. Things always fetch a higher price when they're rare, don't they?
Wi Ji-cheon said with a bright smile.
We should aim for a profit of at least a hundred times the cost.
The thought of fleecing the White Immortal Medical House excited him.
And so, his trip to Xi'an concluded.
It was a trip where he had gained much.
He had raised the name of the Medical Immortal Medical House by resolving the Seo Family incident and had also formed a connection with the Mount Hua Sect. As a bonus, he had obtained the Violet Elixir Pellet.
I also made money.
He hadn't picked the Seo Family's business clean to the bone as he had originally planned.
Still, he had arranged to receive enough in 'donations' to pay off the loan for their new estate in one lump sum.
Finally, he returned to Nanyang.
Smack!
He was struck on the back.
Sister!
You did something dangerous. You need to be punished.
As they say, a word without feet travels fasternews of Wi Ji-cheon's exploits had already spread like wildfire throughout the Medical Immortal Medical House.
Sang-ah, don't be too hard on him. Didn't Cheon raise the family's name?
Should I give Brother Gang a beating in Cheon's place?
Cheon, you rascal! Do you have any idea how worried your sister was?!
For reference, Wi Ji-gang was a frail physician who had never learned any martial arts.
He was no match for Wi Ji-sang-ah, who had mastered first-rate martial arts.
Brother cried every day worrying about Cheon.
Wh-when did I ever do that?!
I saw you making a wish to the full moon, worried about Cheon.
I-I was just looking at the moon because it was bright! Hmph, Cheon, you're all grown up now, so of course you should have returned safely! If you had gotten hurt, you would have been in big trouble! You look like you've lost weight from the hardship, so I'll tell the kitchen to prepare a boiled pig, eat it or don't! Blah, blah, blah, blah!!
Wi Ji-cheon wore an awkward expression as Wi Ji-gang's nagging went on endlessly.
Seeing his family after so long, even that nagging sounded affectionate... actually no, it was just tiring.
It felt as though the realm of Wi Ji-gang's nagging divine arts was getting deeper and deeper.
Everyone, be quiet. You must be tired from your long journey.
It was Wi Ji-seon!
But his expression was strange.
It was stiffly set.
It didn't seem to be merely out of worry; there looked to be another reason.
Wi Ji-mu, beside Wi Ji-seon, had a similar look on his face.
Cheon, follow me.
Yes.
Wi Ji-cheon had rarely seen his father like this, so he followed nervously.
Soon, they entered the Medical Immortal Hall, the family head's office.
Suddenly.
Ah, Father?
Wi Ji-seon pulled Wi Ji-cheon into a tight embrace!
Wi Ji-cheon, flustered, struggled.
Wh-why is he doing this?
Although Wi Ji-cheon was young, he was still at the age of learning (fifteen). He was long past the age for such hugs.
The reason was soon revealed.
You rascal, Cheon. Did you want to resolve the deep sorrow in your father's heart that much?
Ah.
I wondered why you insisted on going to Xi'an yourself, and it was all for your father.
Beside them, Wi Ji-mu spoke with reddened eyes.
Cheon is truly deeply filial. Cheon, thanks to your filial piety, my brother has been able to release the sorrow pent up in his heart.
No, I went to Xi'an for money... hmm.
Well, it wasn't as if he had no intention of resolving his father's sorrow, so they weren't entirely wrong.
Having calmed himself, Wi Ji-seon released Wi Ji-cheon and let out a sigh.
Seo Ho, did my friend depart peacefully?
Yes, he closed his eyes in peace.
It wasn't a peaceful death, but since his eldest son, Seo Geum, had come to his senses, Seo Ho had at least avoided the worst possible outcome.
I am grateful for your feelings toward your father, but it was too dangerous! Promise me. That you will never again undertake such a dangerous journey into the martial world.
Well, that was a bit much.
No matter that Wi Ji-cheon was the youngest, his family's overprotectiveness was severe.
Father, please listen. In gratitude for the grace I bestowed upon the Seo Family's business, the new head, Brother Seo Geum, has decided to sponsor our Medical Immortal Medical House.
Hmph, you were in danger, so what does some paltry sponsorship money matter?! How much is it?
Well
When Wi Ji-cheon stated the specific amount, the room fell silent.
H-how much did you say?
This is the initial sponsorship amount, and they've agreed to continue providing funds based on a percentage as the business prospers.
G-gasp. Suddenly, my heart!
Brother, no matter how happy you are, you can't suddenly ascend to immortality!
Wi Ji-mu abruptly grabbed Wi Ji-cheon's shoulders.
When is your next trip into the martial world?! You can leave right now! I'll pack your bags for you! You treasure, you! You're Treasure-Cheon from now on!
No, changing my name is a bit much
Then change your name to Wi Ji-geum (Gold)! You golden boy!
Wi Ji-cheon chuckled.
Receiving such a boisterous welcome, he once again felt that he had truly returned to the heart of his family.
It was good.
This clamor.
Thus, Wi Ji-cheon made a triumphant return as the filial son who went to Xi'an for his father's sake, a hero who raised the family's name, and a treasure who brought back a great fortune.
For a long while, Wi Ji-cheon was busy being doted on by his family.
A few days later, after things had returned to normal.
Wi Ji-cheon noticed that something was wrong with the family.
The number of patients at the Medical Immortal Medical House had dropped precipitously.
Wi Ji-cheon asked Wi Ji-gang.
Why has the number of patients decreased so much?
They're growing pains.
What do you mean by that?
Look at our medical house.
??
While Wi Ji-cheon was in Xi'an, the Medical Immortal Medical House had moved to a new location.
It was large and respectable in appearance, so that even wealthy patients could visit.
Hasn't it gotten much better?
That's the problem.
Pardon?
The estate's appearance has become so respectable that the poor seem to feel intimidated about coming. But it's not as if wealthy patients are visiting either. Don't worry too much. Things will settle down with time.
However, contrary to his words, Wi Ji-gang's face was filled with worry.
It meant the situation was not favorable.
What about the movements of the Hwajung and Cheolma Medical Houses?
I told you not to worry about it.
Wi Ji-gang avoided the question, but Wi Ji-cheon could roughly guess what was happening.
The other two medical houses are taking advantage of our instability to snatch away patients. The Hwajung Medical House is absorbing the wealthy patients, while the Cheolma Medical House takes the poor ones.
If they did nothing, not only would they fail to be selected as an Earth-grade medical house, but the Medical Immortal Medical House would also suffer a massive blow.
It's fine. I have a plan.
Wi Ji-cheon recalled the 'Treasure Map Plan,' which would be the grand finale of the Earth-grade medical house selection.
If the plan succeeded, the Medical Immortal Medical House would be screaming, unable to handle the flood of patients.