Chapter 6
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Trouble Comes Knocking
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Of course, you cant know everything just from a look in someones eyes.
Just as a virtuous person doesn't always perform good deeds, a wicked person doesn't always commit evil acts.
Even the most wicked of men could come to a medical house for treatment without any particular ill intent.
Of course, it was best to avoid such individuals if possible, but one couldn't simply turn away a patient based on the look in their eyes.
"Greetings, Great Warrior Jang Sam. I am Wi Ji-cheon, the third son of the Medical Immortal Medical House."
"Hoh."
A flicker of interest crossed Jang Sam's eyes at Wi Ji-cheon's composed greeting.
Jang Sam, the master of the Black Ghost Sect, had heard of Wi Ji-cheon.
Hes different from the rumors. They said the third son of the Medical Immortal House was a complete good-for-nothing. He seems perfectly fine.
However, that was the extent of Jang Sam's impression of Wi Ji-cheon.
The spirit shimmering in Wi Ji-cheon's eyes.
Jang Sam's own level of mastery was too shallow to perceive the ferocity that lay in their depths.
And he had little interest in doing so.
After all, Jang Sam had come with other malicious intentions.
He simply said this.
"To not be intimidated even by a warrior of the underworld like myself. You have great courage."
"What courage is there to speak of when you have not come with ill intent, Great Warrior? You have come as a patient, so I will simply fulfill my duty as a physician's son."
Jang Sam's brow furrowed slightly.
Something about the words felt pointed.
As if the boy had somehow sensed his wicked intentions.
What a foolish thought.
Jang Sam chuckled and looked at Wi Ji-cheon again.
He didn't seem as incompetent as the rumors suggested, but he gave off no sense of threat whatsoever.
If anything, his kind and gentle appearance was exactly what one would expect from a child of a medical house.
"Let us go, Great Warrior."
Wi Ji-seon, uneasy about the underworld warrior showing interest in his son, urged him on, and Jang Sam nodded.
As the two headed toward the Medical Immortal Hall, Wi Ji-cheon crossed his arms.
This is unsettling.
Just in case, he lingered around the Medical Immortal Hall.
However, as if his worries were unfounded, the treatment concluded without any issues.
"My back feels so refreshed. How can it be so miraculous? The reputation of the Medical Immortal of Nanyang was not false."
"The Medical Immortal of Nanyang... Please, refrain from such an undeserved title. I am glad you are feeling better."
"I have received a great favor, so I must repay you. Please accept this."
Wi Ji-seon's eyes widened as he opened the silk pouch.
It contained not coins, but a saddle-shaped silver ingot.
A sycee!
It was worth a staggering fifty taels of silver, enough to buy several plots of farmland.
"It is a token of my gratitude, so please accept it."
"I cannot. This is too much..."
"I, Jang, may be a man of the underworld, but I have always admired the Medical Immortal Medical House. Isn't there a saying, 'Earn like a dog to spend like a lord?' The money was earned through rough means, but I hope it can help with the running of your house."
Wi Ji-seon's eyes wavered.
The Medical Immortal Medical House was poor. It had many debts.
The moneylenders will be coming in a few days. That money would be enough to put out the most urgent fire.
It wasn't uncommon to receive such 'donations'.
All medical houses were sustained by such contributions, large and small.
He swallowed hard.
"Thank you for your generosity. However, our ancestors taught that excessive wealth invites disaster, so I will accept only the sentiment."
"!!"
Jang Sam and Wi Ji-seon turned their heads in surprise.
It was Wi Ji-cheon!
"What is it, Cheon?"
"Did you not teach me that I must not be blinded by wealth, Father?"
"Well, that is... I did, but..."
"You also said that if we walk the righteous path under heaven, heaven will naturally provide what we need, so we should not worry."
"Heaven, what... If heaven were watching over us, we wouldn't be living in such poverty... No, never mind. Hmph."
Wi Ji-seon couldn't easily let go of his attachment, as if the glistening silver sycee was still shimmering before his eyes.
But it was only for a moment.
He quickly came to his senses.
Even Wi Ji-seon felt that something was amiss.
"My apologies, Great Warrior. As my son said, it is difficult for us to accept such an excessive amount of money."
"Is it because I am a warrior of the underworld?"
"Of course not. It is because I have not done anything to deserve such a sum. I merely applied a few needles. Please give me this sycee later, should an occasion arise where I save your life. Of course, I hope such an event never befalls you, haha."
As Wi Ji-seon let out a hearty laugh, Jang Sam could not insist further. He snatched the pouch and strode out of the estate.
"Well, even if you don't accept the sycee, he should at least pay the consultation fee. How can he just leave? Tsk."
"Are you disappointed?"
"Ahem, disappointed? I'm not disappointed. One sycee is worth how many silver coins... No, I was just thinking aloud. It's been so long since I've even touched a sycee. A sycee, a sycee..."
His face was dripping with lingering attachment.
"Don't be disappointed. I'll get you plenty of those worthless sycees."
"My filial son who loves his father so much. The thought alone is kind."
"I'm serious."
"You? How?"
"Opportunities to make money will come."
Wi Ji-cheon watched Jang Sam's receding figure.
He looked angry, so it seemed Wi Ji-seon wasn't the only one with lingering feelings.
As he watched Jang Sam, who looked as if he might cause trouble soon, Wi Ji-cheon's eyes deepened imperceptibly.
"Perhaps in the not-too-distant future."
Wi Ji-cheon said in a low, sunken voice.
Wi Ji-cheon immediately consumed the elixir.
He had a bad feeling.
That man from before. He definitely harbors malicious intent. He won't back down like this.
No, it wasn't just about that man.
Wi Ji-cheon recalled the events the Medical Immortal Medical House would face in the future.
Countless calamities were on their way.
This was no time to be intoxicated by the peace and happiness his family provided.
He had to become stronger, as quickly as possible.
Only then could he protect this happiness.
Upon consuming the Taeso Pill, its energy began to be absorbed into his body.
It was only a few years' worth of energy.
It couldn't compare to a 'true' elixir that could grant decades' worth of power.
Such true elixirs had not only complex recipes but also required rare ingredients that were incredibly difficult to obtain.
It was fine.
The Heavenly Immortal Divine Arts allow me to achieve several times the efficiency with even a small amount of internal energy.
The perfect reception and control of energy was the hallmark of the Heavenly Immortal Divine Arts.
Thus, he could absorb the internal energy without any waste.
Fwaaa.
It didn't take long for the internal energy to be stored in his dantian.
It was still only the size of a bean, but it was a denser and more refined internal energy than any gathered through other arts.
A little more.
Wi Ji-cheon closed his eyes and continued to circulate his true qi.
Just as streams of water gather to form a more powerful current, the flow of his qi became much stronger than before.
It flowed through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians to the crown of his head. Since the Conception and Governor Vessels had already been opened during his previous metamorphosis, the Microcosmic Orbit continued without obstruction.
An auspicious aura slowly began to form around Wi Ji-cheon's body as the night deepened.
Wi Ji-cheon's eyes snapped open.
How much time has passed?
He had become too engrossed in his cultivation method, entering a state of selfless immersion.
He had clearly started in the early evening, but looking outside, the sun was already high in the sky.
"You're awake, Young Master?"
It was Jang-bok, a young servant who did odd jobs at the Medical Immortal Medical House.
"What time is it?"
"It is the hour of the Goat (1 PM to 3 PM). You've been waking up so early these days, why did you sleep in so late today?"
"I was studying late last night. I'm hungry, so if you could bring me some lunch..."
Wi Ji-cheon yawned and stretched, then tilted his head.
The estate was strangely quiet.
This time of day should be bustling and noisy.
It wasn't that there was no one around.
There were patients, and disciples were moving about.
But the atmosphere was somehow subdued.
"Did something happen?"
"S-S-Something happen? N-Nothing of the sort!"
Jang-bok waved his hands frantically, jumping back.
It was a suspicious reaction to anyone's eyes.
Wi Ji-cheon's eyes narrowed.
"Will you not speak the truth?"
"Oh, it's not that the master told me absolutely not to tell you, Young Master, but I really don't know anything. I swear."
"It seems your memory has worsened. If I were to report to the steward that you sneak into the kitchen every night to steal leftovers, I believe your memory would improve. What do you think of my prescription?"
"Oh dear. The master really did tell me not to tell you, Young Master."
Jang-bok glanced around nervously before lowering his voice.
"This morning, Master Jang Sam of the Black Ghost Sect came to visit."
"That scoundrel? Why?"
"He claimed the spot where he received acupuncture yesterday had gotten worse. He went on a rampage, demanding to know how we would take responsibility for his condition worsening, not just in his back but his legs too, and then he left."
"!!"
Wi Ji-cheon clenched his fists.
Just as he had feared, the man had caused trouble.
"And Father? Is he alright? Did that lawless brute harm him in any way?"
Sssss.
Wi Ji-cheon's aura settled into a quiet calm.
If that man had touched a single hair on his father's head, he would tear him to shreds. He would make him writhe in a pain that would have him begging for death.
Thus, the ferocity of the Fiend Demon sleeping within Wi Ji-cheon stirred, and Jang-bok shivered, not understanding the reason for the sudden chill that washed over him.
"Fortunately, he didn't harm him or anything. However..."
"However?"
"Oh no, I can't. The master really, absolutely, positively told me not to tell you, Young Master. He made me promise!"
A sense of dread washed over Wi Ji-cheon.
He felt his patience wearing thin as he spoke.
"I told you to speak."
"!!"
Jang-bok swallowed hard.
Whats wrong with the Young Master?
He was supposed to be unremarkable and incompetent.
Gentle and kind, not at all scary.
That was why he was often subtly looked down upon by both disciples and servants.
But now, he was different.
Meeting Wi Ji-cheon's gaze, Jang-bok's mouth went dry.
Just then, Wi Ji-cheon smiled as he usually did.
"I'm just worried about my father. I'd appreciate it if you told me what happened."
Jang-bok glanced furtively at Wi Ji-cheon.
As if the fear he had just felt was a lie, his face was still gentle, his eyes clear.
Was I mistaken?
In any case, Jang-bok could no longer defy Wi Ji-cheon's words.
"Well..."
And then.
At Jang-bok's next words, Wi Ji-cheon's expression hardened like stone.