Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Sima Family
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The man who had followed Sima Yugong was plump all over, appearing to be a little over thirty years old.
Dang Mujin asked Sima Yugong in a reluctant tone.
"Who is this person? Where did you bring him from?"
The plump man answered in place of Sima Yugong.
"I am a small merchant from near the southern Ru River. I have long suffered from a chronic illness, and through connections with the Sima Family's trading caravan, I came here."
"Isn't the Ru River quite far away?"
"It's still in Henan at least. I know the Sima Family's caravans trade not only in Henan but also in Anhui and Hubei."
Sima Yugong interrupted the plump man's story.
"Young Master Dang. I didn't intend to burden you like this... but after hearing his pitiful circumstances, what could I do? He seemed like he wouldn't last long if left as is, so I couldn't ignore him. But you have your own situation, so if you refuse, I'll tell him to leave."
The plump man jumped in shock upon hearing Sima Yugong's words.
"Sir! Does that mean you're telling me to die?"
"That's not it. I'm not much, but I've received some teachings, so I can try treating him. Of course, I won't be as skilled as the Divine Dragon, but I can manage at least that much."
In ordinary dealings, one might let it slide, but when life was at stake, desperation was inevitable.
Rather than trusting Sima Yugong's skills, the plump man chose to cling to Dang Mujin.
"Divine Dragon? Is this the Divine Dragon senior? I heard the Divine Dragon never turns away from the sick! Please!"
It felt strange to be called "senior" by someone at least a dozen years older.
While Dang Mujin hesitated, the plump man rummaged around his waist and pulled out a gold ingot and a few silver pieces, offering them to Dang Mujin. For a small-time merchant, this must be a huge expense.
"I'll pay! Please think of it as saving the life of a pitiful wretch and help me just this once..."
Dang Mujin pressed his throbbing temples. Treating one more person would only take time; it wasn't difficult.
What bothered him was one thing. The unusual number of severed meridian syndrome patients brought by Sima Yugong.
'Severed meridian syndrome patients might be more common than I thought. I haven't checked every unhealthy person. Still, them popping up like this is strange.'
No matter how he thought about it, the situation felt off. But he had no intention of abandoning someone whose life hung in the balance.
Tsk. In the end, Dang Mujin clicked his tongue and replied.
"First, let me check if it's really severed meridian syndrome. Since you've examined him, Senior Sima, it probably is, but as a physician, I can't feel at ease without seeing for myself."
Seeing Dang Mujin's positive attitude, the man prostrated himself flat on the dirt ground, slamming his head down.
"Aigoo, aigoo, thank you!"
"Get up. People are staring."
"Yes!"
"Let's go inside first."
"Understood!"
Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong took the man into the inn. Just as they had over the past month.
*
It took nearly another fortnight to complete the man's treatment.
Once again, no problems arose, and the middle-aged man was saved.
"Thanks to you, I lived. Divine Dragon senior! I'll spread word of your good deeds far and wide!"
Dang Mujin quickly waved his hands. If this man blabbed and patients swarmed, who knew when he could return home.
"Whew. It's fine. Keep what happened here buried in your heart, go back home, and take good care of yourself."
"Understood!"
The third severed meridian syndrome patient bowed repeatedly to Dang Mujin and left. Now, only Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong remained in the inn.
Dang Mujin eyed Sima Yugong closely.
'He'll probably bring the fourth patient soon.'
But Sima Yugong did not mention a fourth patient. Instead, he clasped his hands in a fist salute and slightly lowered his posture toward Dang Mujin.
"I've received so much help. It was great fortune that allowed me to broaden my understanding. I don't know when I'll fully grasp Young Master Dang's teachings..."
"It won't take long. You're already an excellent physician. By the way, no fourth patient, I suppose?"
When Dang Mujin probed lightly, Sima Yugong smiled sheepishly.
"I'm a physician too, you see. From now on, if new patients appear, I must treat them with my own abilities. After watching similar treatments not once or twice, but three whole times, I can at least imitate them decently."
Seeing Sima Yugong's warm smile, Dang Mujin's suspicions eased a bit.
Come to think of it, the Sima Family gained nothing by lavishing money to treat outsiders. Perhaps, like his father or the Strange Physician, he was the type who couldn't pass on a patient even at a loss.
"I'm glad I could help."
"Help? It's more than that. You're too modest."
"Haha. Is that so."
Sima Yugong asked Dang Mujin casually.
"By the way, what are your plans now, Young Master Dang?"
"I suppose I'll head home soon and work at the clinic."
"Sichuan Province?"
"Yes."
"That's quite a long journey. Are you thinking of leaving today, by any chance?"
Dang Mujin looked outside the inn. The sun hung over the rooftops of buildings, scattering a reddish dusk.
If they left now, they'd have to find another inn before even leaving Luoyang.
"I need to discuss the exact schedule with my friends. But I think we'll depart after breakfast tomorrow morning."
"I see. I hope we meet again. Have a pleasant night."
Sima Yugong flashed a meaningful smile and left the inn.
*
That evening.
Dang Mujin's group ate their fill of their last desired dishes, drank until their faces flushed red, and dispersed to their rooms.
Until they arrived in Sichuan Province—at least until they reached the Yangtze and boarded a boat—they wouldn't enjoy such luxury again, so they had to make the most of it now.
Unlike when they first arrived at the inn, the four weren't crammed into one or two rooms. A few days ago, Sima Yugong had rented out the entire inn for Dang Mujin's group of four.
Considering that renting the whole inn would even affect the business of the tavern right next door, Sima Yugong must have paid a considerable sum.
Dang Mujin lay down in the dark room and closed his eyes.
His friends in other rooms seemed already asleep; the inn was dead silent.
Soon, Dang Mujin drifted off to sleep as well.
How much time passed? Dang Mujin heard footsteps stealthily stepping on the inn's wooden floor, muffling their presence.
It wasn't Hong Geolgae or Hyun Gong's footsteps. Those two weren't the types to tiptoe while minding a sleeping friend.
'Must be Namgung Myeong.'
Ever since getting used to playing the refined gentleman, Namgung Myeong habitually muffled his steps wherever he went.
He must have gone for another nighttime stroll today, unable to break the habit.
'And after drinking too.'
Since learning the Golden Staff Master wasn't searching for him, Namgung Myeong had been boldly wandering Luoyang's night streets.
Spouting nonsense like how experts could pop out anywhere, heightening the tension.
'Hope he doesn't complain tomorrow about being too tired to walk.'
Dang Mujin thought sleepily and rolled onto his side.
But the next moment, Dang Mujin heard the door creak faintly. The sound of it opening. Not from Namgung Myeong's adjacent room, but from Dang Mujin's own guest room door.
A small footstep followed into the room, and soon the door closed.
Dang Mujin's sleepiness vanished completely at what he assumed was Namgung Myeong's bold move.
'This Namgung Myeong bastard. Trying to pick my pockets too?'
Dang Mujin nearly burst out laughing inwardly but kept his eyes shut, feigning deep sleep. Waiting for Namgung Myeong to make his move.
'I won't go down easy.'
The moment Namgung Myeong touched his neatly packed luggage, Dang Mujin planned to spring up like lightning and pounce. Material for a lifetime of teasing would be born tonight!
However, the presumed intruder merely closed the door and stood still, not moving.
Dang Mujin cracked his eyes slightly but couldn't see the figure. The room was dark, and he was lying on his side.
Instead, Dang Mujin sharpened his senses throughout his body, scrutinizing any movement from the opponent.
Then, among his five senses, his sense of smell detected the anomaly first.
If Namgung Myeong, who had been roaming the night streets, had entered, the musty male body odor and sweat should waft in.
But there was no sweat smell—only a strangely sweet, sticky fragrance.
This went beyond whether it was Namgung Myeong or not; it wasn't a man's scent.
Realizing that, Dang Mujin's heart nearly stopped in terror.
From the distant past when his mother passed away until now, only one person had the reason to enter Dang Mujin's bedroom.
'Subdue first.'
Dang Mujin sprang up, kicking off the bedding, and snatched the sword by his bedside.
In barely one breath, he thrust it toward the opponent's nape.
The opponent reacted with a start just before the sword touched, jumping in surprise.
'Reaction speed is slow, movements inefficient. Low martial prowess.'
Strength drained from Dang Mujin's sword-holding right hand. He felt confident he could subdue even if trouble arose.
Of course, that didn't mean letting the opponent go free.
Dang Mujin reached out with his left hand, grabbing the opponent's long hair tightly, and pressed the sword from his right hand to the nape. The opponent froze like stone at the cold sensation on their neck.
"Hic!"
A hiccup sound.
Dang Mujin made two judgments.
First. The opponent was indeed a woman.
Second. The opponent wasn't an assassin sneaking in to kill him. There were inept assassins in the world, but none who hiccuped in surprise.
Yet Dang Mujin didn't relax, speaking in a low voice.
"Your next words decide if you live. Who are you, and why sneak in? Explain in one sentence."
The opponent trembled faintly, pondered briefly, then spoke.
"Sima... Hic!"
The woman, forgetting the blade at her throat, reflexively covered her mouth with both hands. As if the hiccup was some grave sin.
Dang Mujin judged quickly.
'Connected to the Sima Family.'
Using the Empty Air Grasping technique, Dang Mujin slightly opened the window, then held the gripped hair under the moonlight.
The moonlight wasn't bright, so he couldn't discern the exact color, but it seemed to shimmer with a faint red hue.
'No matter how I look, doesn't seem here to harm me.'
Dang Mujin whispered lowly still.
"Don't resist."
The nameless woman trembled faintly. Fearing some horrific ordeal.
But contrary to her imagination, Dang Mujin had no intention of subjecting her to anything harsh.
Instead, he brusquely shoved her out of the room. Then positioned himself inside the door.
Unlike the dark room interior, the inn corridor had faint lighting, allowing Dang Mujin to examine her appearance clearly.
The long hair he had gripped roughly was slightly disheveled.
But it seemed well-maintained normally, flowing softly without much tangling. Under the light, the reddish tint shimmered more vividly.
'Looks like she's from the Sima Family after all.'
Age around twenty. Petite even for a woman, but her features were delicate and clear-cut. Ten passersby asked would all call her a beauty.
Moreover, unsuited to the cold winter night air, her clothing was oddly thin and sloppy. As expected of someone from the Sima Family, famed for Heat Yang Skill, resistant to cold.
'...But why is she here?'
As Dang Mujin stared with a sullen expression, the woman squirmed like someone desperate to relieve herself.
"Um... Can't I come inside? I want to talk in there..."
Of course, Dang Mujin cut off the request sharply.
"No."
"Yes?"
The woman was startled. Apparently not expecting refusal.
Dang Mujin let out an incredulous chuckle at her reaction.
'What an clueless person. Why assume she can naturally enter my room?'
Frowning, Dang Mujin said.
"Strangers—especially women—don't enter my bedroom. Stand there and answer. Why sneak in secretly? Depending on your answer, your head might fly."
As if to emphasize no joke, Dang Mujin's right hand still held the sword, exuding a chilling aura ready to swing any moment.
The woman desperately stifled her hiccups and spoke.
"My name is Sima Rin."
"Telling me your name doesn't help; I don't know you."
"My uncle is Senior Sima Yugong."
That wasn't helpful information either.
This Sima Rin girl was Sima Yugong's niece, but a man like him likely had dozens of nieces.
"Not who you are—why you're here."
Sima Rin glanced at Dang Mujin's face and spoke.
"Could you perhaps... create severed meridians for me?"