Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Medicine King
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Medicine King.
One sentence was enough to describe him.
The pinnacle of all physicians.
He had come to visit Won-gak Pavilion.
* * *
The Death-Evading Ghost Sword whispered to Jeong-a.
“Is that really him? The one who can save anyone, even the dead, as long as they can swallow medicine or drink a tonic?”
“Yes. That’s what I’ve heard.”
The Death-Evading Ghost Sword whispered again.
“The one bestowed the title of Medicine King by the imperial court itself?”
“Yes.”
The Death-Evading Ghost Sword shook his head.
“…To me, he just looks like a doddering old fool haunted by delusions.”
His gaze fell on an old man who was busy teasing the twin maids guiding the way.
“Hey now, hey now. The Medicine King himself offers to examine you, and you refuse?”
“…Touch my backside one more time, and I’ll cut that hand off.”
“Oh dear, oh dear. This is trouble, real trouble. What about the young lady up ahead? Any chest pains lately? Let me just give it a feel, and I’ll fix you right up.”
Jeong-a turned and smiled.
“My health is always checked by my master, so no need to worry.”
The disheveled old man with the ruddy nose jumped up and down.
“What?! That bastard checks your big, soft-looking breasts himself?! Have you ever seen such a shameless, enviable cur?!”
Jeong-a burst into laughter.
The Death-Evading Ghost Sword sighed.
He had no idea about the man’s medical skills, but his mental state was clearly unhinged.
* * *
The old man, who had been spouting vulgarities nonstop, suddenly stopped at the end of the forest path.
Where the woods gave way, the scenery of Won-gak Pavilion unfolded like a Peach Blossom Paradise.
It was a breathtaking vista that made anyone who set foot there pause in awe.
The twin maids snickered inwardly at the Medicine King.
‘Hmph. Old man, what do you think of our Won-gak Pavilion’s beauty?’
She herself had only arrived half a day earlier and was already acting superior.
She looked up to check the Medicine King’s expression, then turned away.
“……”
In the eyes of the old man gazing at the landscape burned regrets and longing so profound that a mere child like her could scarcely fathom.
“…Do you know?”
Rubbing his flushed nose, he continued.
“This Won-gak Pavilion was originally Lady Soyu’s residence.”
Something clicked in Jeong-a’s mind, and she asked.
“Lady Soyu… Do you mean the Medicine Immortal Fairy, mother of the Eldest Young Master?”
Answering her was the Death-Evading Ghost Sword.
“That’s right. I’ve heard the Eldest Young Master was born here, which is why Won-gak Pavilion still belongs to him to this day.”
The Medicine King quietly stepped forward.
The others followed silently behind him.
Every sight that met his eyes bore the touch of mother and son.
Not a single cedar tree or flower petal had sprung up without their hands.
Everyone wondered what connection the Medicine King had to the Eldest Young Master and his mother.
But no one dared speak.
Without any guidance, he walked straight to Yeon So-hyeon’s quarters.
The old man paused, as if taking in every detail of the building.
Just as a pang of bittersweet sorrow tugged at everyone’s hearts,
The old man bellowed loudly.
“You brat! Your master’s come all this way, and you won’t even step out because your legs are too precious?!”
One mystery was solved.
He was Yeon So-hyeon’s teacher.
“What did you say?”
The door slid open with a rattle, revealing Yeon So-hyeon in his usual scholar’s robes.
He continued indifferently.
“Who’s my master? All my medical knowledge I figured out on my own.”
The mysteries began anew.
The old man hopped mad.
“I taught your mother, and you learned from her, didn’t you?! Plus, you studied my medical texts?!”
Unknown to most, Lady Soyu—the incarnation of the Medicine Buddha—had been the Medicine King’s disciple.
And Yeon So-hyeon’s medical arts came from his mother.
While the others scrambled to piece it together, Yeon So-hyeon scoffed again.
“Don’t make me laugh. My mother never taught me medicine. And your books? So subpar, I skimmed them once and used them in the outhouse.”
The listeners’ heads spun.
“Here we go again! You insolent whelp!”
“You’re the one who started it again! You old coot!”
The Medicine King, face flushed with rage, shouted at Jeong-a.
“Bring every drop of liquor in the place, right now! Today, I’ll show this arrogant punk who his real master is!”
Yeon So-hyeon sneered coldly.
“Probably just here to guzzle the liquor my mother brewed again.”
“You stingy miser! Your master comes to honor his departed disciple, and you grudge him a single cup?!”
“You useless drunkard. Even a cup of water’s too good for you.”
Jeong-a giggled at the shouting Medicine King bouncing around and the uncharacteristically lively Eldest Young Master.
“What a warm and affectionate bond.”
The twin maids and Death-Evading Ghost Sword gave Jeong-a strange looks.
Ignoring their stares, Jeong-a instructed the twin maids.
“Go fetch the rest and prepare a proper drinking spread. I’ll handle the liquor. I have a good idea where it’s stashed.”
The twin maids nodded and asked.
“Then what about serving tea?”
Jeong-a shrugged.
“Master will probably prepare it himself.”
“Think so…?”
The twin maids glanced at the two.
“You lecherous old goat.”
“You halfwit brat?!”
Yeon So-hyeon said coolly.
“Come inside. It’s cold arguing out here.”
“Fine! I brought some fine tea leaves. Out of pity for you, I’ll let you enjoy the aroma!”
“Ha, trying to paint me as a cheapskate who doesn’t even offer tea to guests!”
Watching the two enter amiably together, the twin maids looked baffled.
Jeong-a shot her a ‘see what I mean?’ expression and left.
“Utterly incomprehensible.”
The twin maids muttered as she departed too.
Left alone, the Death-Evading Ghost Sword mumbled.
“…What about me?”
* * *
As Jeong-a poured liquor into the Medicine King’s empty bowl, she said.
“So, you two are evenly matched rivals in the realm of medicine, complementing each other perfectly?”
The Medicine King downed the bowl and snapped.
“What nonsense?! I’ve placed billions more needles than that punk! You think he can compare to the Medicine King?!”
Yeon So-hyeon scoffed and tossed back the cup Jeong-a poured him.
“It’s about doing it right the first time, not how many times you do it.”
“Ah, so you two fill each other’s weaknesses and bring out the best in one another!”
“No!”
“Absolutely not!”
The twin maids, bringing fresh snacks, stuck out her tongue inwardly at Jeong-a’s words.
‘How does she keep twisting it to fit like that?’
Yeon So-hyeon’s eyes gleamed as he provoked the Medicine King.
“If you’re so confident in your skills, take this girl’s pulse and diagnose her constitution!”
“Ha! If you thought I’d get hung up on some rare body type, you’re dead wrong, you brat!”
The Medicine King grabbed Jeong-a’s proffered wrist and began taking her pulse.
“Oh ho, this is…”
He smacked his lips.
“Overall, the meridians look like Severed Pulses. Hmm, but it’s been treated once.”
He nodded repeatedly.
“This handiwork belongs to that dimwitted disciple of mine.”
“I’m not your disciple.”
Truly, the Medicine King lived up to his name.
Jeong-a was impressed.
“But this…?”
His eyes flew wide open.
Strong doubt filled those deep, profound eyes.
“To bear a dragon in a human body—what in the world are you?”
At that moment, Yeon So-hyeon swiftly pulled Jeong-a into his arms.
“Ha! Knew you wouldn’t figure it out, old man.”
The Medicine King leaped in place.
“What?! Stealing the patient mid-pulse diagnosis—what kind of decency is this in the Central Plains?!”
Holding the blushing Jeong-a, Yeon So-hyeon said to the Medicine King.
“Well? Don’t you want to try curing this girl’s Severed Pulses?”
He flashed a thick smile.
“Curious what happens to the dragon she bears if you fix those Severed Pulses?”
The Medicine King trembled with rage.
The man could never resist his curiosity.
“Y-You… Fine, you win. Let me pulse her again.”
Yeon So-hyeon grinned like a villain.
“If you’re asking that, grant me one request first.”
“What?!”
Ignoring the old man’s outburst, Yeon So-hyeon stated his demand.
“Provide information or leads on my mother’s acquaintances.”
The old man yelled in frustration.
“You brat! You know they’re all at the Medicine Immortal Sect!”
Yeon So-hyeon shook his head.
“No. Not those worthless pretenders who use her name for trash.”
“……!”
Unlike before, Yeon So-hyeon’s face was deadly serious.
“Not the scum who parade as kin while doing filthy deeds—her true friends.”
The old man swallowed dryly.
“What… What are you plotting?”
Yeon So-hyeon chuckled.
“Sick of this life, that’s all. Plus, all the ‘Swordless One’ nonsense has me fed up.”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
The old man turned grave.
“You, who preached inaction and natural flow like some Laozi day and night, no matter who came to persuade you?”
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.
“I’m not some moody teenager anymore, am I? Just want to try living a new way.”
The old man set down his bowl.
“Cut the crap and talk straight. What are you really thinking?”
Yeon So-hyeon gently released Jeong-a to the side.
“…I just want to take responsibility.”
The old man’s eyes deepened.
“You serious?”
“Dead serious.”
After long hesitation, the old man spoke.
“…You know better than anyone what sacrifices your mother made.”
Yeon So-hyeon’s expression hardened.
He fetched a bundle of documents from a corner of his room.
“This should answer it.”
The old man unrolled and read.
“Report on the newly emerged Heavenly Killing Star in the True North Position…!”
It was a report from the Sword Clan’s Astronomy Pavilion astronomers to their overseer, Yeon So-hyeon.
The old man read the report again and again in disbelief.
“This…!”
He opened his mouth several times, only to close it.
Closing his eyes, he pondered deeply before nodding.
“Very well. I’ll tell you what I know about them.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“But first, I have a condition!”
The old man’s voice rose.
Yeon So-hyeon’s brow twitched.
“Name it.”
Staring at Yeon So-hyeon, the old man said.
“First, let me take your pulse.”
His face showed not a trace of drunkenness.
Those deep eyes, brimming with profound insight, wavered.
“So-hyeon. What the hell have you done to your body?”
At his words, Jeong-a beside him gasped.
