Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Just Because
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The Leader of the Hubei Martial Alliance decided to arrange a private meeting with the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric.
It seemed necessary to hear the details of this matter in full. He also judged it best to prevent the story from leaking out.
He wanted to hear their story immediately, but the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric had other things to attend to.
The two of them sought out people living near the Black Iron Clan who complained of excessive fatigue and examined them carefully.
They would have done it anyway, even without a request from the Hubei Martial Alliance. Byeok Taesan had ordered them to.
After splitting up to investigate the area, the two met again at the main gate of the Black Iron Clan.
"Do you know anything about poisons?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages answered the One-Needle Eccentric’s question with some reluctance.
"Just the basics. To be honest, this sort of thing is my master’s specialty."
"Master? You have a master?"
"Did you think a talent like me just fell from the sky?"
"Who is he? Is it someone I might know?"
The only person from the Heavenly Demonic Cult that the One-Needle Eccentric might know was the Demonic Doctor.
The Demonic Doctor was a physician considered to be on par with the Divine Healer. His medical skills and martial arts were both of a formidable level.
But the Divine Doctor of the Ages shook his head.
"You probably wouldn't know him. My master is very shy around strangers, so he rarely goes out."
"What kind of physician is shy around strangers?"
"My master is allowed to be. He's truly an incredible person."
"More so than the Demonic Doctor?"
"Hmm… maybe about the same? It’s hard to say who’s better. Their fields are so different…"
The One-Needle Eccentric tilted his head.
"Different fields? Is he an expert in poisons, then? If you learned from a master like that, why are you so lacking? How can you say you don't know about poisons?"
"Who said I don't know anything? I just said my skills are much lower compared to my medical arts. And why do you assume my master is an expert in poisons? Well, he is an expert, but that's not what makes him truly incredible."
"Then what is?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages frowned.
"Why are you so curious? That’s not what’s important right now, is it? Did you look around?"
"It seems to be poison. Honestly, if the Young Master hadn't been so certain it was poison, I don't think I would have discovered it. It’s very subtle."
"I came to the same conclusion. Does this mean the Poison Demon is really involved?"
"I don't know. I don't know anything about the Poison Demon. Do you?"
"Of course not."
The One-Needle Eccentric nodded as if he'd expected as much.
"Have you managed to identify the symptoms?"
"After examining those complaining of fatigue, I found it wasn't exhaustion, but that their body's basic regenerative ability had been depleted."
"Exactly. They complain of fatigue because they can't recover. Then they just waste away."
"Anyway, that’s the conclusion… but the symptoms manifested in various ways."
"It seemed so. That's why I treated a few of them."
At the One-Needle Eccentric's words, the Divine Doctor's eyes lit up.
"I did the same. As long as the final stage hasn't been reached, treatment isn't too difficult. The problem is that it requires a precise diagnosis and proper treatment, which would be difficult for anyone of average skill."
"My thoughts exactly."
As they said this, both of their eyes widened simultaneously.
"The physicians!"
The two of them had visited every clinic in Yichang because of a bet. And they had checked the skill level of the physicians.
But there were no highly skilled physicians in Yichang.
Not just a few, but none at all.
They had thought it was a bit strange, but at the time, they just assumed that was how things were.
But now, they realized it was all part of a premeditated plan.
"The problem is, we don't know the full effects of this poison that drains one's regenerative ability."
"I believe it’s a poison that has no effect on its own and requires another poison to be truly effective."
The One-Needle Eccentric nodded at the Divine Doctor's words.
It was plausible. In fact, quite a few poisons worked that way.
"Anyway, according to the Young Master, everyone in the Black Iron Clan was wiped out…"
"Shouldn't we take action before someone pulls another trick? At this rate, everyone in Yichang will be annihilated."
"Right, let's go."
"I'll report to the Young Master. You go to the Alliance Leader, big brother."
"Who's your big brother?"
"If not 'big brother,' then it's 'sir.' Well, take your pick."
"Ugh. Fine, 'big brother' it is."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages grinned.
"Should have just agreed from the start."
The One-Needle Eccentric clenched his fists and trembled with irritation.
Seeing this, the Divine Doctor quickly ran off.
"Let's hurry! Hahahaha!"
* * *
The Leader of the Hubei Martial Alliance sat facing his general manager with a grave expression.
"I don't know who it is, but they're dead set on this."
"Yes. If not for the Divine Doctor and the Eccentric, we would have been caught completely off guard."
The mere thought was horrifying.
"Being attacked is one thing, but our Hubei Martial Alliance's reputation was nearly ruined."
"In any case, it's a relief that we have a way to respond."
"What's the status on securing physicians?"
"We are currently looking into all possible avenues. We are also investigating where the skilled physicians of Yichang went and who approached them."
"We must find out for certain."
"Yes. Do not worry. We've deployed the entire Red Command Unit."
"By the way, doesn't this all feel a bit clumsy?"
"Sir? What do you mean?"
"Isn't it too obvious? Deliberately spiriting away skilled physicians and using a poison that has a definite cure. Ah, have they found out anything about the poison?"
"The Divine Doctor and the Eccentric are currently researching it. It seems they will figure it out soon."
"Is that so? As expected of the best physicians in the land. Truly remarkable. So much so that I'm tempted to recruit them."
The general manager said in a suggestive tone.
"Why not try to recruit them?"
The Alliance Leader shook his head.
"It's difficult for now. They're completely smitten with that fellow, Byeok Taesan."
"Then why not recruit Byeok Taesan?"
Hearing this, the Alliance Leader's face twisted in frustration.
"Yes, that would solve it, but it's not as easy as it sounds."
"Sir? I did some investigating on the second young master of the Golden Jade Trading Company... It doesn't seem like he's in a position to refuse an offer from us."
"Offer or not, I have to actually meet him to even bring it up."
"Sir?"
"He's an utterly infuriating fellow."
The general manager couldn't understand the Alliance Leader's reaction and words.
"Shall I try to make it happen, then?"
The Alliance Leader looked at the general manager with a sullen expression.
"Go ahead and try, if you think you can."
Although the Alliance Leader's reaction was lukewarm, the general manager bowed his head slightly and replied.
"Yes. Then I will give it a try."
The Alliance Leader waved his hand dismissively.
"You handle that as you see fit... Let's get back to what we were discussing."
"Now that you mention it, Leader, there does seem to be such a tendency. Perhaps there's an ulterior motive."
"An ulterior motive..."
"If we struggle to solve this and the situation escalates, and then someone steps in to resolve it perfectly, wouldn't that make them look magnificent? Well... for now, it's just a possibility."
The Alliance Leader shook his head.
"No, I think that's probably it. If it weren't for the Divine Doctor and the Eccentric, it would have been a perfectly viable scheme."
"That is certainly true."
The Alliance Leader's expression hardened.
"So, what will they do now? Once they realize their plan has failed."
The atmosphere grew tense.
"They'll either disappear quietly... or attempt something more dangerous, or if not that, they'll just go wild. It will be one of the three."
"It would be better if they just disappeared. The problem is if they decide to go wild. Isn't it?"
The general manager bowed his head and said.
"I will take precautions."
* * *
The Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric were putting their heads together, researching the poison that had annihilated the Black Iron Clan.
They had considerable knowledge of poisons, but recreating a poison made by someone else was no easy task.
However, that was not the case this time.
Because they had started their research already knowing the answer.
"Are you done yet?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages snapped in response to Byeok Taesan's question.
"No, Young Master. How do you expect us to work if you ask every fifteen minutes? We need some time to actually complete or analyze anything!"
Byeok Taesan stared blankly at the Divine Doctor.
The Divine Doctor stealthily averted his gaze.
"I mean, it was just a figure of speech. We're almost done now. Please wait just a little longer."
"I gave you the ingredients and the formula. What on earth is taking so long?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages clenched his teeth.
"Ith becauth ith a diffewent poithon."
"What was that? Speak clearly. You aren't grinding your teeth, are you? Be careful. You'll break them all."
"My goodness, Young Master. Why would you say something so frightening? What I meant to say was that the poison you told us about and the one these bastards used are different…"
"Different?"
"Yes. How should I put it… They used a less refined version of the poison. These guys."
The One-Needle Eccentric looked up and glared at the Divine Doctor.
"Keep your hands moving even if you're talking. Don't you realize you're the one slowing us down?"
"Don't take it out on me. If you have something to say, tell the Young Master directly."
"I have nothing to say."
The task the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric were currently engaged in was very simple.
It was to figure out the exact poison their enemies had used by slightly altering the ingredients and formula.
And now, that work was nearing its end.
Some time passed like that.
The work was finally finished after Byeok Taesan had hurried them along thirteen more times and the One-Needle Eccentric had glared at the Divine Doctor about five times.
"It's done."
"The antidote?"
"We can make it anytime."
"Good. Make a lot of the antidote. I have a feeling we'll need it in large quantities soon."
"Yes. Leave it to us. We can do that quickly. We just need to brew a large batch at once."
It was difficult to identify the exact poison and create an antidote, but once the formula was secured, mass-producing it by simply increasing the ingredients was no trouble at all.
Of course, if the quantity became too large, it could be a problem, but they could make enough for the Hubei Martial Alliance's immediate needs at any time.
"Um... but, Young Master."
"What is it?"
"How in the world do you know about this poison? Didn't you say it was one the Poison Demon uses?"
"It's a poison the Poison Demon created. It's one of his favorites, too. As you can see, it leaves no trace."
"So how do you know that? It's not like the Poison Demon told you himself."
Byeok Taesan didn't bother to answer.
"Huh? Don't tell me what I just said was the right answer?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages stared at Byeok Taesan with horrified eyes.
"Stop with the nonsense and figure out why that bastard used such a clumsy poison."
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Obvious?"
"This is the only way they could make it."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means the one who used the poison isn't the Poison Demon."
"Not the Poison Demon?"
"Yes. The person who used this poison clearly doesn't know the proper formula."
"How can you be so sure?"
"The mixture is crude. In fact, that's why it took us so long to figure it out."
"Crude?"
"Yes. Honestly, if it had been made properly, the entire city of Yichang would be suffering from the poison by now."
"What's the possibility they did this on purpose?"
"Even if they intentionally tried to limit the effect like this, it wouldn't make sense. There are ways to achieve the same effect while saving a lot more on ingredients. There's no reason to do it this way."
"Is that so? Then if it's not the Poison Demon, is it one of his disciples?"
"The Poison Demon has disciples?"
"Few raise as many disciples as the Poison Demon. Though it would be more accurate to call them slaves who attend to his needs."
"S-slaves?"
"He takes young people as disciples, regardless of gender, makes them serve him in bed and do chores, and in return teaches them a secret technique or two. That's his way."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages' jaw dropped.
"How many of those are there?"
"How should I know? Several die and are replaced every day."
Byeok Taesan stroked his chin in thought for a moment before continuing.
"I think there were twelve of them the last time I saw. Still, it's strange. He never lets a disciple go once he's taken them in."
The One-Needle Eccentric, who had been silent until then, asked cautiously.
"But, Young Master. Why have you taken an interest in this matter?"
"Just because."
"Pardon?"
"Do I need a reason? I said, just because."
The One-Needle Eccentric closed his mouth.
On second thought, it was a very Byeok Taesan-like reason.