Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Part 5: Medical Personnel
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In a place where everyone else had left, two elders faced each other.
"Have you heard, old man?"
"Of course I have, old lady."
The two burst into loud laughter.
The old physician raised his trembling hand and clenched it into a fist.
"That lord is finally about to make his move."
"He certainly said he'd be much busier from now on. My ears are going deaf bit by bit, but I heard those words crystal clear."
The old woman, a shaman of the Fairy Faith Cult, gave a meaningful smile.
"The time of the prophecy is approaching."
The old physician slapped his knee.
"All of Luoyang will behold that lord's true face!"
* * *
A warrior of the Fourth Young Master on guard duty stuck out his tongue in admiration.
"Impressive."
His partner nodded in agreement.
"Those must be the Eldest Young Master's maids."
Their gazes fell upon the Triplet Maids.
Without the slightest hesitation, the girls disinfected a fracture patient's wound, applied a splint, and wrapped it in bandages.
They drained the pus, carefully examined the wound, and applied ointment.
Even when blood splattered their faces or pus soiled their clothes, they didn't so much as blink.
The experienced female healers here couldn't hide their awe at the maids' precise and swift treatment.
"Judging by the swords at their waists, they must be martial artists."
"Has to be. They've been at it for nearly an hour straight without a break. Excellent stamina."
"And besides..."
The warrior's face flushed slightly.
"They're incredibly beautiful young ladies too..."
Had they known the Triplet Maids' inner thoughts, their assessment might have differed a bit.
'Hee-hee. We're drawing some attention.'
'I'm the one who even got an award in field first-aid training from the elite special unit.'
'And I've completed basic training alongside the main family's apprentice healers.'
His partner elbowed him in the side.
"Hey, come on. If we're talking beauty, isn't that head maid even more stunning?"
His gaze turned toward Jeong-a.
Blood had burst from the wound, making it hard to even see, yet she precisely located the blood vessels to staunch the bleeding and swiftly removed tiny bone fragments that could cause inflammation.
Even the physicians treating alongside her were in awe.
"No, that one... I can't even bring myself to look straight at her."
The warrior chuckled at his innocent comrade's reaction and stroked his chin.
"But that head maid's wearing a sword too. Are all the Eldest Young Master's maids martial artists?"
"...Doesn't the sword make those young ladies look even more beautiful?"
"You're totally smitten, buddy."
The warrior looked in another direction.
His expression soured a little.
"By contrast, our people..."
His partner followed his gaze and scratched his head.
There, the Fourth Young Master's scholars couldn't restrain a thrashing patient in pain and were tumbling about on the ground.
They were the lucky ones.
Those with weak stomachs were simply vomiting in the corners, faces pale as they stared blankly at the sky.
The Fourth Young Master's maids, surrounded by blood, pus, and screams on all sides, were performing odd jobs with pallid faces.
At least the Fourth Young Master's head maid was assisting the female healers with skilled hands.
"Hmm..."
"Mm..."
The two warriors shook their heads in unison.
"Well, that's probably the normal reaction."
"Yeah."
It was undoubtedly true that the Eldest Young Master's maids were the exceptional ones.
"Still..."
The warrior pointed in one direction.
"The most amazing is over there."
Their eyes turned toward where the severely injured patients were gathered.
On a makeshift outdoor bed lay a patient whose condition looked dire at a glance, unconscious.
His leg was twisted and half-torn off, his body covered in blood when he was carried in.
When that patient had first been brought through the main gate, they had shaken their heads.
Unless he was a martial artist with internal energy whose body had reached superhuman levels, there seemed no hope.
The three physicians who first attended him appeared to share that opinion.
But now, they stood around the bed, not daring to intervene.
"I'd heard the Eldest Young Master was skilled in medicine before, but..."
Whenever Yeon So-hyeon's hands moved dazzlingly, the patient's condition improved rapidly—obvious even to their eyes.
The golden needles in his hand sparkled in the sunlight without pause, dazzling enough to hurt the eyes.
"...That's a level of skill even the main family's Medical Arts Institute hasn't seen, right?"
The warriors were frequent visitors to the Medical Arts Institute, getting injured all the time.
"No, it's not just unseen..."
The warrior shook his head.
"That's divine skill."
All the physicians with even a moment's spare gathered around Yeon So-hyeon.
They gasped in admiration, jotted down notes furiously, and didn't take their eyes off his movements.
Their ears were attuned to the words flowing from Yeon So-hyeon's mouth.
He was delivering a lecture while simultaneously completing a time-critical procedure flawlessly, without a single disruption.
"As our lord always says, he's no one to be gossiped about behind his back."
"Right. Seeing him in person today, he's nothing like the rumors."
"Indeed, rumors are..."
A cheer erupted then.
The Fourth Young Master's shout, guarding beside his eldest brother, rang loudest.
The patient who had seemed beyond saving had stabilized.
"...Incredible."
* * *
Yeon So-hyeon was washing his hands at the well behind the Benevolent Aid Clinic.
The blood rinsing from his hands mixed with the water and flowed down the drain.
"Hoo..."
A sigh escaped his lips.
No matter that the Jeam Jincheon Gyeong had granted him a superhuman body, the drain on his concentration was unavoidable.
'Killing was so easy, but saving lives is still so hard...'
Each time Dark Heaven Venerable shook his hand, flesh tore and bones shattered.
His commands had instantly dragged over a hundred souls to death.
But what of Yeon So-hyeon?
He looked down at his own hands.
"..."
Sensing a presence, his gaze turned behind him.
Two figures cloaked entirely in worn, oversized cloaks stood there.
Meeting his eyes without hesitation, they approached.
"Renowned as expected. Truly superb skill."
The one who lifted her hand to reveal her face was a beauty whose eyepatch over one eye did nothing to diminish her allure.
"My lord."
She knelt.
"Just some minor tricks."
Yeon So-hyeon smiled.
"It's been a while since I've seen your face in person, not just reports. Crescent Moon Pavilion Master."
It was none other than Se-ah.
Deeply bowing beside her was Gyu, Se-ah's bodyguard warrior.
* * *
Once they moved to a secluded spot, Se-ah spoke first.
"As you commanded, I informed the person in charge here in advance of your arrival."
The Crescent Moon Pavilion had, per Yeon So-hyeon's orders for some time, investigated all matters related to the Fourth Young Master's businesses.
"Well done. The theatrics were a bit over the top, though."
Se-ah waved it off at his words.
"Theatrics? I was surprised by the residents' reaction too. When those two elders announced your coming, the people poured out into the alleys..."
Gyu took over with a reluctant expression.
"Even I was a little scared."
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.
"It's the power of faith."
Se-ah shook her head.
"I knew you were running the Benevolent Aid Clinic and soliciting donations from famed scholars you know. But seeing it in action... it's tremendous. I'm impressed."
It wasn't mere words.
It was hard to imagine the Swordless One, who back then spent his days holed up reading books, silently accomplishing such feats.
"What of the underworld expert?"
Se-ah nodded.
"Made contact. It was tough. She's so elusive, always being hunted by the underworld..."
"Not just hunted, I assume?"
"Of course. The underworld bosses she's hunted number more than she can count on two hands. And they were all heavy hitters."
Yeon So-hyeon nodded.
"Good. Bring her."
"I'll arrange for her to meet you as soon as possible."
Yeon So-hyeon turned away.
"See you then."
"Oh, we just received some urgent intel."
Yeon So-hyeon's steps halted.
"Sword Clan Elder Yeom has left the Luoyang Sword Clan's main gate. Destination unknown, but direction is this way."
He turned back.
"Elder Yeom? With his subordinates?"
Se-ah shook her head.
"Hard to track a master of that caliber without detection. We're questioning eyewitnesses along his route, but that's all for now."
Yeon So-hyeon stroked his chin.
"Elder Yeom..."
What could bring him here?
After a moment's thought, he said to Se-ah,
"He'll arrive soon enough. We'll find out then."
Whether with a horde of subordinates for some hostile purpose, or...
"Yes. That's the report."
"Then, see you la—"
Gyu cut in urgently.
"I have business too."
"What is it?"
Gyu spoke with a serious face.
"About what you mentioned last time to me, the offer of defection is still va—"
Se-ah grabbed her by the scruff and dragged her out.
"We'll see you later, my lord."
"Let go! This is employer abuse!"
"Quiet! I'm truly embarrassed..."
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.
The two were still on good terms.
* * *
The Fourth Young Master's warriors at the main gate spotted him first.
Amid their surprise, they greeted him with precise, courteous form.
"We see the main family's elder!"
Their booming voices drew all eyes to the gate.
A Fourth Young Master scholar rushed forward upon seeing him.
"We see the main family's elder."
The man, towering two heads taller than any laborer and suited to the word "giant," looked down at him.
Did he seem even more colossal because he held the position of Luoyang Sword Clan elder?
"Elder. If I may be so bold, what brings you here?"
Elder Yeom's eyebrows rose.
"Did I come to mooch a meal?"
Cold sweat beaded on the young scholar's face.
"N-No, that's not what I—"
Elder Yeom said,
"Is the Eldest Young Master present?"
The scholar nodded hastily at his question.
"Yes. He is currently tending patients over there."
Yeon So-hyeon, looking their way just then, met his eyes.
"I'll guide you to the Eldest Young Master."
"No need."
He cut him off firmly.
He took his place at the very end of the line of patients leading to the Eldest Young Master.
"I've come to receive treatment myself, so I'll wait like the rest."
"E-Elder?"
A glint entered Yeon So-hyeon's eyes as he watched.
On Elder Yeom's massive back rode a girl who appeared to be in her mid-teens, meekly clinging.
Her frail, sickly demeanor was evident, and her gaze was fixed on Yeon So-hyeon.