Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Never Apart
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The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion turned pale upon receiving the report from the warrior who had rushed to her, out of breath.
It was a clear mistake.
Why had she come all this way? It was all because of Byeok Taesan.
She had come to support him directly, hearing that he was heading this way.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
Strengthening the Underworld Sect's branch in Yichang was also one of her objectives.
The Hubei Martial Alliance was located here. It was only natural to fortify a branch near such a powerful organization.
Though it was only a small fraction, she had obtained the Dark Shadow Tome and planned to use it to gradually strengthen the branch.
And this was the first step.
In truth, she should have prioritized the Underworld Sect branches established near the Martial Alliance or the Black Alliance, but she had come to the Hubei Martial Alliance first upon hearing that Byeok Taesan was on his way.
She hadn't expected Byeok Taesan to visit in person like this, so she hadn't had a chance to instruct the members of the Underworld Sect about him.
Her original plan was to tidy things up here and then contact Byeok Taesan separately.
Byeok Taesan visiting only after she had done so was the scenario the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion had envisioned.
But he had come and gone before she could even send word, so now she had no choice but to go to him herself.
"What am I to do..."
Byeok Taesan was staying at the Hubei Martial Alliance.
And the Hubei Martial Alliance was not a place a courtesan could enter and exit freely.
She would need to do a lot of groundwork to get in there and meet him.
It seemed meeting Byeok Taesan right away would be difficult.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion grew anxious.
And watching her was the Master of the Golden Jade Pavilion, the branch manager of the Underworld Sect in Yichang.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion looked at the Master of the Golden Jade Pavilion and asked.
"How many contacts do we have with connections to the Hubei Martial Alliance?"
"Many. Shall I bring the list?"
"Please. This is very important."
The Master of the Golden Jade Pavilion gave a slight bow and went outside.
With a determined expression, the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion clenched her fists. She would mobilize every contact she had and meet Byeok Taesan today, no matter what.
***
"Hey, did you not call your subordinates?"
the One-Needle Eccentric asked, looking at the Divine Doctor of the Ages with a weary expression.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages, wearing the exact same expression, looked back at him and listlessly shook his head.
"I didn't. Besides, even if I did, wouldn't the work be done by the time they arrived?"
"Well... I suppose so."
The expressions of the One-Needle Eccentric and the Divine Doctor of the Ages soured.
"I don't know why I have to do something I've never done in my life. I'm a man who's never diagnosed or treated more than one person a day."
"Come on, at that rate, even if you saw a patient every day, that's only a little over three hundred a year. Is that all the experience you have?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages gently prodded him again, but the One-Needle Eccentric just shook his head, as if he didn't even have the energy to retort.
"Before I became skilled, I saw a hundred a day. I worked incredibly hard to become a physician."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages smirked and let out a short laugh.
"Only a hundred? I've seen two hundred."
"It's easy to say a hundred, but do you think that's all? I've seen three hundred."
"Let's not make claims we can't prove. How could you possibly see three hundred people in a day?"
"And what about you? Does seeing two hundred make any sense?"
"I merely spoke the truth. Well, to be precise, it was three short of two hundred, but it's basically the same, isn't it?"
"What? You saw one hundred and ninety-seven people? In one day?"
"Hah, even now, just thinking about that day makes my arm tremble like this. It was truly exhausting."
He said it with such conviction that the One-Needle Eccentric was half in doubt.
"Why would you do such a thing? That's not good for the patients, either. A shoddy treatment is worse than no treatment at all."
"I didn't want to do it either. But what could I do when my master ordered it? My master isn't as fearsome as the Young Master, but he's still terrifying in his own right. When he gives an order, you have no choice but to obey without a peep."
"Who in the world is your master? I feel like I might know him..."
"Oh? We're already here? Let's hurry and report to the Young Master so we can get some sleep."
"This rascal is changing the subject again."
"Ah!"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages was about to enter the Hubei Martial Alliance when he suddenly jumped as if struck by lightning.
"What is it now? If you don't want to talk, then don't. Stop trying to distract me with such antics."
"No, it's not that. We forgot something really important, didn't we? What should we do?"
"What? Forgot something impor—!"
The One-Needle Eccentric's face turned pale. They had indeed forgotten something crucial. They hadn't brought any physicians for the day.
"Sh-should we go back now and grab a few guys?"
"You think that's possible? The sun set ages ago."
In the end, the two men shuffled inside like cows being led to a slaughterhouse.
They prayed that Byeok Taesan had grown tired of waiting for them and had simply gone to sleep.
It felt like they had only taken a few steps, but they had already arrived at their quarters.
The two tiptoed inside.
"Fuck. It's bright."
The inside of the residence was brightly lit. It seemed no one had gone to bed yet.
Moreover, Byeok Taesan's room was also lit.
They couldn't just brush this off.
The two walked with extreme caution. It was late, after all. Maybe it would be okay to sneak in and go to sleep?
Just as the two were crossing the middle of the residence, Byeok Taesan's door swung open.
"Ugh!"
The two men started, their eyes widening as they stared at Byeok Taesan.
But there was someone else standing next to him.
"Huh? The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion?"
the Divine Doctor of the Ages muttered blankly. It was unmistakably the same Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion he had seen at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in Wuhan.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion was the branch manager of the Underworld Sect in Wuhan.
But why was someone who should be in Wuhan here? And this was the Hubei Martial Alliance, no less.
Even if she was a branch manager for the Underworld Sect, her public identity was merely that of a courtesan.
The Hubei Martial Alliance was by no means a place that a courtesan could frequent so easily.
"Greetings, Divine Doctor."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion greeted him politely. Then she turned slightly and bowed respectfully once more to the One-Needle Eccentric standing next to him.
For some reason, it felt even more courteous than her greeting to the Divine Doctor of the Ages.
"Greetings, esteemed Eccentric. Please be sure to visit the Hundred Flowers Pavilion later. I will serve you with the utmost sincerity."
"Ahem. Well, I shall do so if I find the time."
He had been slightly miffed that she greeted the Divine Doctor first, but her subsequent politeness and gentle demeanor actually put him in a better mood.
"Brother, that woman is a nine-tailed fox. If you keep smiling like that, she'll have your liver out before you know it."
"Who's smiling like a fool!"
"Oh, my. I'm not that kind of woman. I'm just a simple courtesan trying to make a living, so you don't need to be so wary."
"See? She says so herself. Honestly, how do you plan to get anything done being so timid? Tsk, tsk."
"Do as you please. You'll only realize it after you've been kicked out, stripped bare and weeping, thinking, 'Ah... I should have listened to my younger brother and treated him like an elder back then...'"
Just as the One-Needle Eccentric was about to shout in annoyance, Byeok Taesan stepped in.
"But for some reason, the people who should be here are nowhere to be seen."
At Byeok Taesan's words, the atmosphere instantly froze.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric simultaneously shut their mouths, their eyes darting about anxiously.
Seeing their reaction, the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion's eyes filled with surprise.
'Why are they acting like that?'
The emotion etched on their faces and in their eyes was, to anyone, fear.
They were currently watching Byeok Taesan's expression, trying to gauge his mood.
Of all people, the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion looked at Byeok Taesan with renewed interest.
'What is his true identity?'
The desire to investigate him grew stronger and stronger. But she had to suppress it.
'If I can't handle the consequences, I shouldn't even start.'
"Aren't you leaving?"
Lost in thought, the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion was jolted back to her senses by the sudden question.
"Ah, yes, I should be going now. I would love to impose for the night, but my work has suddenly piled up, so I have no choice."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion gazed at Byeok Taesan with seductive eyes.
She was older than other courtesans, but still not yet thirty.
The ripened allure that came with age made her appear all the more charming.
She drew upon all her charms, staring at Byeok Taesan as if to seduce him.
Of course, it had no effect whatsoever.
"Handle your work properly. I don't want to be disappointed again."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion flinched at his words.
It felt as if he was saying that if she disappointed him again, that would be the end.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion bowed respectfully to Byeok Taesan.
"I will take it to heart."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion left without a backward glance, carefully holding the piece of paper she had tucked into her clothes.
Today, she had obtained the second piece of the Dark Shadow Tome.
Now, the Underworld Sect would grow a little stronger.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric watched her leave with blank expressions.
And Byeok Taesan simply stared at the two of them.
As if sensing his gaze, the two men broke out in a cold sweat and slowly turned to face him.
"Uh... why are you looking at me like that?"
the Divine Doctor of the Ages asked. For some reason, Byeok Taesan's eyes seemed to be sparkling more than usual.
"Now this is rather interesting."
"Pardon?"
Byeok Taesan looked back and forth between the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric.
Every time Byeok Taesan's gaze fell on them, they felt a searing energy pierce through their bodies.
"You were very busy today, weren't you?"
At Byeok Taesan's question, the two nodded with bewildered expressions.
"Yes. We were... a little."
Byeok Taesan nodded emphatically.
"You'll be busy tomorrow too, won't you?"
"I-I suppose so?"
"I like that. There's no need to bring other physicians tomorrow either."
"What?"
The two men's eyes shook uncontrollably.
No need to bring other physicians? What on earth did that mean?
"Follow me."
With expressions of utter despair, the two followed Byeok Taesan into the room.
***
The Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric left the Hubei Martial Alliance early in the morning.
They had a great deal of work to do again today.
That morning, the two had received new instructions from Byeok Taesan.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages spoke to the Hubei Martial Alliance warrior who had come with them.
"We need to see even more patients today than yesterday. So do your best. You said we don't have to move around today, right?"
"Yes, that is correct. We have secured the cooperation of a manor with a large number of patients."
The Hubei Martial Alliance warrior replied respectfully, his expression full of admiration.
He looked at the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric with new eyes.
Honestly, he had heard many rumors about the two of them. But not many of them were good.
This was especially true for the One-Needle Eccentric.
But one should never judge a person by rumors alone.
The two he had experienced firsthand were the finest physicians in the world.
What physician in the world would care for so many patients for free? And on top of that, they were even making such requests to see even one more patient.
The Hubei Martial Alliance warrior quickly took the lead and guided the two men.
Following behind him, the Divine Doctor of the Ages asked the One-Needle Eccentric.
"Brother, how are you feeling?"
"About what?"
"Your body. I feel incredible right now. It's as if all the fatigue that had unknowingly built up has vanished."
"It's the same for me."
Moreover, it hadn't been that painful yesterday. It wasn't completely painless, but compared to the first time they had been treated by Byeok Taesan, it was more than bearable.
No, more than the pain, a feeling of comfort and ease remained.
It was far less painful, their bodies felt better, and they even felt a baseless confidence that with just a little training, they could break through their previous blockages.
It was obvious, without needing to investigate or ask, that all of this was thanks to Byeok Taesan last night.
Frankly, they didn't know what Byeok Taesan was doing to them, but they weren't anxious about it.
"Let's give it our all today."
"I was going to do that even if you hadn't said anything. You just worry about yourself."
The One-Needle Eccentric, in particular, was burning with enthusiasm.
It was because he felt as though Byeok Taesan had gone easy on him because of his hard work.
The two men walked with vigorous steps.
Now, all that remained was to see how the ones who caused this incident would react.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric exchanged a meaningful glance.
Today, the two of them would absolutely not be separated.