Chapter 48
Chapter 48
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: A Wager is in Order
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, Seo Munjihak, Guyang Su, and Chu Yeonghak boarded a ship back to their families.
Considering their shared journey so far, Yeon Harin was there to see them off.
And next to Yeon Harin stood Byeok Taesan. With a very meaningful expression.
The three men stood on the deck, quietly gazing toward Yeon Harin. Their faces were a mixture of regret, fear, and misery.
Their gazes suddenly shifted to Byeok Taesan.
At that moment, Byeok Taesan pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then turned them to point at the men.
It was a hand signal meaning 'I'm always watching.'
Seeing this, the three men shuddered violently. It was obvious they were clenching their buttocks tightly.
It was a reflexive action, born from having suffered twice already.
"How unfortunate for them."
Byeok Taesan smirked at Yeon Harin's words.
She could say such a thing only because she didn't know what they had tried to do to him.
Had she known, Yeon Harin would have been the first to raise hell.
"The rumors will spread, won't they?"
Byeok Taesan nodded.
"Of course."
Even if he said nothing, the Divine Doctor of the Ages would spread the rumors himself.
It was one of his hobbies.
"We should get going too."
At Byeok Taesan's words, Yeon Harin looked at him with a joyful expression.
The journey here had been hellish, but she couldn't hide her anticipation that the rest of the way would be paradise.
They boarded a rather large ship at the dock.
It was a vessel that the Divine Doctor of the Ages and Cheon Gyeongwan had gone to great lengths to arrange.
Though it was rented, the cost was enough to buy a small ship.
It was a ship with a modest exterior and a lavish interior.
It was also incredibly fast for its size. And of course, its movements were stable and balanced.
In short, it was worth every penny.
Byeok Taesan's group and Seo Mundeok's party, who now had to return to the Hubei Martial Alliance, boarded the ship together.
Seo Mundeok had requested this in advance, and Byeok Taesan had readily agreed.
Soon, the ship departed.
* * *
Until they reached Yichang, where the Hubei Martial Alliance was located, there were no major incidents.
The ship was so fast that two days were enough to reach their destination.
How much could possibly happen in such a short time? Unless, of course, they encountered river pirates.
But no river pirates were bold enough to mess with a ship flying the flag of the Hubei Martial Alliance.
Seo Mundeok and the others from the Hubei Martial Alliance didn't step out of their cabins for the entire journey.
When they rented the ship, they had also hired a crew and workers, who took care of all the chores.
Steering the ship, preparing meals, cleaning, and even running small errands.
So everyone could relax in both body and mind.
However, not everyone felt that way.
There was one person who was extremely uncomfortable: Soso.
On the night Byeok Taesan had told her to come to him, Soso ultimately couldn't go.
That day, Soso had spent nearly the entire night in Yeon Harin's room.
Yeon Harin, brimming with curiosity about Byeok Taesan, had bombarded her with all sorts of questions.
As the person who had served Byeok Taesan the longest, Soso was naturally the one who knew him best.
Lately, however, Soso couldn't confidently say that she knew Byeok Taesan well.
In any case, from the day after she had diligently told Yeon Harin everything she knew, she found herself unable to look Byeok Taesan straight in the eye.
But traveling together on the same ship, she kept running into him.
This was one of those moments.
On her way to ask for a meal to be prepared, she ran right into Byeok Taesan on the deck.
Soso was frantically trying to avoid his gaze.
Seeing her, Byeok Taesan clicked his tongue.
"You have a guilty conscience, don't you?"
"Th-That's not it!"
Even as she said it, her gaze remained fixed to the side.
"If th-that's not it, why are you stuttering?"
Soso's cheeks puffed out slightly at Byeok Taesan's teasing. How could he do this when he was the very reason she was so distressed?
Byeok Taesan, for his part, found it strange.
He wasn't normally like this. He wasn't the type to banter with and tease a servant girl. In his past life, it would have been unimaginable.
But now, it felt so natural, and even fun.
He still didn't know if it was because he was in Byeok Taesan's body, or if his soul had been purified, allowing a new personality to emerge.
"Why? You didn't come that day, and I didn't summon you again. Were you disappointed?"
Soso jumped, startled.
"Wh-What are you talking about! Of course not!"
Byeok Taesan grinned and walked past Soso.
"It's difficult on the ship, so come find me on the night we arrive."
Soso stared blankly for a long time at Byeok Taesan's back as he walked away after leaving her with those words.
Her face crumbling, Soso ruffled her own hair in frustration.
"What am I going to do?"
It seemed there was no avoiding it this time.
* * *
"Hoh. So this is the Hubei Martial Alliance."
Byeok Taesan was slightly impressed as he surveyed the full view of the Hubei Martial Alliance.
Honestly, he had looked down on it a little, thinking of it as just a union of Hubei martial families.
The Heavenly Demonic Cult had contended with massive organizations like the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance.
Their networks dominated the world.
You could say they competed with them for control of the world.
So how could a bunch of squabblers from mere Hubei possibly catch his eye?
But now that he was actually here, its scale was far grander than he had imagined.
"This is easily half the size of the Martial Alliance, if not quite as big."
Hearing Byeok Taesan's murmur, the Divine Doctor of the Ages, who was standing beside him, spoke.
"Well, it is the Hubei Martial Alliance, after all. They call it a union of Hubei martial families, but in reality, they've extended their reach to the surrounding areas of Hunan, Jiangxi, and Anhui. In terms of scale, they're about half the size of the Martial Alliance."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. And they also have one foot in the Martial Alliance, actively engaging with them, so you could call them a smaller version of it."
"I'd heard they were formidable, but I never imagined it was to this extent."
Byeok Taesan meant it.
In his days as the Heavenly Demon, he'd had no reason to pay attention to the likes of the Hubei Martial Alliance.
Nevertheless, considering that a few reports had reached him, it was clearly no ordinary organization.
He briefly recalled the reports he had received back then.
As expected, the memories were etched vividly in his mind.
"So, you can think of it as a league created by martial families that have difficulty exerting direct influence within the Martial Alliance."
The content of the report he just recalled was exactly that. There were more details, of course, but the gist was precisely what the Divine Doctor of the Ages had said.
Byeok Taesan looked at the Divine Doctor of the Ages with new eyes.
"Why are you looking at me with such a burdensome gaze?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages wore a reluctant expression.
"Surely... you're not thinking of calling for me tonight as well? How about you go with that old needle-pusher over there today?"
"Hoo. I want to sew his mouth shut."
From a distance, the One-Needle Eccentric clenched his fists and muttered.
"Aigoo, Young Master. Please, spare me. That old geezer constantly threatens me; I can't live like this. Perhaps... if you could just summon him for five days in a row, that should do it."
"Hey!"
The One-Needle Eccentric yelled at the Divine Doctor. He was just starting to feel alive again, and now this guy was trying to push him back into that pit of hell. A surge of anger welled up inside him.
"You two sort it out yourselves. I have no intention of calling either of you today."
Both of their faces brightened.
Seeing this, Byeok Taesan asked.
"And have you looked into finding a physician?"
In an instant, both their faces stiffened.
"A-An incompetent physician won't do, I suppose?"
Byeok Taesan smirked and walked toward the main gate of the Hubei Martial Alliance.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric watched his retreating back, the gears in their minds already turning.
"Start looking today."
"You want me to do it alone?"
"It won't work for me. Physicians run away the moment they see me."
"Are you bragging about that right now?"
"Bragging? I'm about to go mad with regret over my past. Damn, how can I not know a single physician?"
"Instead of that, let's just canvas all the clinics in this area. I'll find their locations, and we can split them between us."
"So what, you're suggesting we kidnap the physicians?"
"Why is it that every time you open your mouth, something absurd comes out? This is the Hubei Martial Alliance's territory. Do you think those guys would just stand by if we did something like that?"
"Then what do you suggest?"
"We have more than enough money, don't we? Let's hire them."
"Hire them?"
"It's just a one-day house call. What's so difficult about that?"
The One-Needle Eccentric's eyes widened. He looked at the Divine Doctor of the Ages with new eyes.
"You're no ordinary man, are you?"
"I suppose I am. Aigoo, the life of a sharp mind is truly tiring. Talent just can't be hidden."
"Alright. Let's start today. We can make the rounds, pick out some decent physicians, and then summon them one by one."
"Remember, no incompetent ones."
"My eye for physicians is far better than yours. You're the one who should be worried."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages grinned.
"This... sounds like a situation that calls for a bet on who can find a more competent physician."
The One-Needle Eccentric scoffed, as if finding the idea ridiculous.
"I've been a physician for how many years now? Let's do it, a bet. But we have to share the clinic locations. A coward's only reward is retribution. Just make sure I don't have to sew your mouth shut."
"What are the stakes?"
"What are you putting up?"
"Well, is there something you want?"
The One-Needle Eccentric glared at the Divine Doctor with an intense gaze.
"Your identity."
"You already know that, don't you? I'm the Divine Doctor of the Ages. The Divine Doctor of the Ages who ranks just above the One-Needle Eccentric."
The One-Needle Eccentric's face twisted in annoyance.
Whenever things started to get serious, this bastard always had to stir things up like this.
"Not that, your real identity. The true identity you're hiding. From the looks of it, the Young Master seems to know, and since we're destined to be together for life, you can at least tell me that much, can't you?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages snickered.
"Can you handle it?"
"That's my problem. So, what's it going to be?"
"Fine. It's a bet. Then I'll have to set a condition of similar weight... Ah, that should do."
"What is it?"
"The One-Needle Arts."
The One-Needle Eccentric's face contorted beyond belief.
"Are you insane? You're asking for what is essentially my everything?"
The One-Needle Arts were the reason the One-Needle Eccentric was called as such; they were his everything.
It was an acupuncture technique, a lethal martial art, and an internal energy cultivation method all in one.
"I'm not asking for all of it, just the secrets of the acupuncture technique. Is that too much to ask?"
The One-Needle Eccentric's face turned red, then pale. But soon, he nodded.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages grinned slyly and said.
"To be fair, we'll need a judge..."
"Let's ask the Young Master."
"The Young Master, you say?"
The Divine Doctor's eyes went wide as he looked at the One-Needle Eccentric. But soon, he nodded.
He thought that perhaps the Young Master was indeed the one who could judge most fairly.
'Still, I'm really curious.'
Byeok Taesan's reason for seeking physicians was probably no different from his reason for visiting the brothels.
That meant he was doing something with the physicians to cure his severed meridians, but he had no idea what or how.
That was true even after experiencing it firsthand.
But he didn't dare try to peek secretly. He couldn't imagine what would happen to him if he did.
In any case, the bet was on.
The two men glared at each other, sparks flying from their eyes.
The standoff was broken in an instant.
"What are you doing, not coming?"
By Byeok Taesan's shout from the distance.
"Aigoo, we're coming, Young Master."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages scurried over. And the One-Needle Eccentric hurried to follow.
Byeok Taesan's party had finally arrived at the Hubei Martial Alliance.
* * *
"Wow, this place is huge!"
Soso exclaimed excitedly as soon as they arrived at the lodgings assigned by the Hubei Martial Alliance.
She was strangely excited. Of course, beneath that excitement lay a thick layer of nervousness, but not many people noticed.
A warrior from the Hubei Martial Alliance, who had been watching her with a pleased expression, explained to the group.
"It's because the members of the Seo Mun Family, Guyang Family, and Chu Manor, who were originally supposed to come, didn't show up. And we also have another important guest over there."
We made some adjustments to the accommodations, but because they canceled so suddenly, we couldn't reassign everything perfectly.
That's why Byeok Taesan's party was assigned such large and fine quarters.
Of course, it was also because the One-Needle Eccentric was part of their group.
Everyone found a suitable room.
And Byeok Taesan, brushing past the excited Soso, said.
"Tonight. Don't forget."
Soso flinched.
And she unconsciously glanced toward Yeon Harin.
Yeon Harin was looking their way with a very peculiar expression.
Soso's face fell.