Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: [Secret Clinic] Taoist Yi Gil-dong
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"Won't you hand it over quietly?"
My words made the two of them flinch.
The masked man and the thief disguised as a waiter.
Their eyes bulged wide as they stared at me. It was hilarious.
A stranger had dropped out of the blue from the sky.
On top of that, in the dead of night, dressed in black plain clothes with a bamboo hat pulled low over my face—a suspicious getup if there ever was one.
No wonder they were startled.
"What? Hand it over?"
The masked man scoffed in disbelief.
"You lunatic. Do you think you've got two lives or something?"
The thief pulled a dagger from his bosom and grimaced.
"Deal's done, and here comes some fly buzzing around. Hey, brother. Let's just clean this up and go. Feels fishy."
"Yeah, better no witnesses."
The masked man's eyes flashed as he drew a short sword from his bosom.
They exchanged glances, then charged at me together.
Cute.
This world was a purely realistic historical drama—no fantasy elements like martial arts or inner energy.
Which meant even the fastest or strongest were just unawakened human levels.
Me? Most of my stats had long surpassed human limits, and as a C-rank hunter, I could enhance my body with mana to boot.
No inner energy like in wuxia novels—just a world where people barely trained their bodies. No one here could beat me.
I was basically the strongest in this world.
As they closed in, I extended my right hand into the air.
"Come forth."
No need to say it, but it looked cooler that way.
Shring.
A black handle appeared in my empty hand.
The collapsible baton I'd stashed in my inventory from the real world—for self-defense.
Clang!
I flicked my wrist, extending it fully.
"...?!"
"...What?!"
Their eyes nearly popped out as they lunged.
A weapon appearing from an empty hand—one they'd never seen before.
Felt like they'd been possessed by a ghost.
But the real shock was just beginning.
Body Reinforcement (E)
Muscle expansion, heightened senses, world slows
My heart pumped like a machine, mana surging through my circuits, flooding my body. Muscles swelled, senses sharpened.
The whole world slowed to a crawl.
"Too slow."
I stood my ground and smacked the masked man's wrist with the baton as he charged.
Crack!
"Gahhh!"
His short sword flew into the air. He clutched his wrist and rolled on the ground. The thief slipped in from the side, stabbing at my ribs.
"Die!"
The glinting dagger crawled toward me—yawn-inducingly slow.
"Too late, punk."
I twisted aside effortlessly and kicked his ankle.
Thud!
"Urk!"
The thief crumpled like a sack.
I swung the baton at his skull but pulled back—couldn't kill him. Tapped his shoulder instead.
"Guhk!"
Tap? With strength over 30 plus body reinforcement, it was devastating.
He slammed into the ground, splayed like a frog.
Took less than ten seconds total.
"Ow, I'm dying... My arm, my arm!"
"Ughhh..."
I collapsed the baton with a click, grabbed the masked man's collar, and hoisted him up.
"Now, let's talk."
"S-Spare me! Money—I'll give you all the money you want!"
"Don't need money. I want your boss."
I nudged the red cloth bundle on the ground with my toe.
"Who told you to steal this? Who was that 'client' you mentioned?"
"I-I can't say! I'm just a runner...!"
He clamped his mouth shut.
Loyalty? Or scared of his boss?
Expected that.
I turned to the groaning thief.
"Hey."
"Eek! Y-Yes!"
"You know, right? Who sent you?"
"I-I-I...!"
He glanced between me and the masked man, swallowed hard, then yelled.
"This guy's Jang Tae-su, bodyguard of the Chief State Councillor!"
"Chief State Councillor? His bodyguard?"
Chief State Councillor.
A name I hadn't even considered.
In Korea terms, like prime minister. In Joseon, second only to the king.
But didn't this guy just brag about being the tightest-lipped in Hanyang?
Spilling like that after a little beating? Mouth too loose.
"Y-You rat! Cheon-bong, you traitor! Selling out the client? No honor?"
The masked man—bodyguard Jang Tae-su—screamed in shock.
Cheon-bong, the thief, shot back indignantly.
"Shut your ignorant trap! You think we can fool the Taoist by hiding it?"
Taoist? Me?
"You saw it too! He's no mortal! Pulling an iron rod from sleeve-less robes, leaping from the roof like a flying squirrel! Only sorcery explains it! What're we gonna do, lie to a Taoist?"
"Ah..."
"And look at that extending rod! Like the legendary Ruyi Jingu Bang from Journey to the West!"
Ah, that explained it.
To these no-superpower folks, inventory and body enhancement were otherworldly.
Pulling stuff from thin air, superhuman feats—they saw me as some Jeon Woo-chi sorcerer shrinking ground and casting spells.
And baton as Ruyi Jingu? Hilarious.
Taoist, huh.
Not bad.
Fits my near-divine physique here.
Why not play the part?
I cleared my throat.
"Ahem. True, I've cultivated the Way a bit. Don't try fooling my eyes. I see right through your hearts."
"Eeeek! Knew it!"
Cheon-bong banged his head on the ground.
"Forgive my deathly sin, Taoist! Spare my life! I just took the job from the Chief State Councillor!"
Mood set.
I slammed Jang Tae-su down and asked.
"Your turn. The Chief State Councillor?"
"..."
He bit his lip.
But with Cheon-bong spilling, no point resisting. He got it.
"...Yes. By the Chief State Councillor's order."
"Why does he want an eunuch's stuff? What's inside?"
"T-That's... royal secret herbs."
"I know that. Why steal them?"
He hesitated, but my glare made him spill.
No reason to cover alone now.
"Her Majesty the Queen is gravely ill. Born with excessive yin energy, her body's frail. It's worsened lately."
"So?"
"The herbs in this box are for her medicine. Without them... no cure."
"Aha."
Puzzle solved.
The Chief State Councillor's daughter was in the palace harem.
If the Queen died, she'd likely be next.
Steal the medicine, let her die. Classic.
Typical court intrigue.
In the original, it was just the eunuch losing it, master in trouble. This backstory hidden.
Good thing they substituted and saved her.
Wait.
[Reward 3: 'Trait: Royal Physician']
[Condition: Treat the Queen's secret illness (court secret) and uncover the culprit.]
That's it.
Uncover the culprit.
Chief State Councillor confirmed.
Left: Treat the Queen's illness.
Late in the original comic, protagonist sneaks into the Queen's chamber.
Pretending treatment: intense sex scene.
Funny part? The Queen—king's wife—was a virgin.
Whatever, it's smut.
Master's line was...
'Too much yin freezing her body. Must melt it with my potent yang.'
Thought smut line, but real lore.
Excess yin causes wasting illness.
Cure: strong yang—man's essence.
Via herbs and sex.
So this box has yang boosters?
100% chance of Yang Restoration Pills or ingredients.
Grin crept up.
Plan working.
"T-Taoist? You listening?"
Cheon-bong eyed me nervously.
"Yeah. I heard."
What to do with these guys?
Kill 'em?
Hand to authorities?
Nah, both suck.
Corpses messy, authorities mean box theft exposed.
I need the box.
Kill cleanest.
Then Cheon-bong grabbed my pant leg.
"Taoist! Please spare me! I'm top thief in Hanyang! Faster over walls than cats, locks like ghosts!"
"So?"
"I-I'll be your dog! Anything you command! Steal, spy—whatever! Please...!"
He begged pathetically.
Actually useful.
Can't lurk forever gathering intel.
Handy minions nice.
Thieves know gossip everywhere.
"Hmm."
I pondered. Jang Tae-su caught on, bowed low.
"M-Me too! I'll serve loyally!"
"You're the Chief's man. Where's your loyalty?"
"Nothing heavier than life!"
He bashed his head, wailing.
"Spare me, I'll fetch all the Chief's secrets! Hidden funds ledger, dirty laundry—everything!"
Oho.
Tempting.
Hold his weakness, useful for royal physician reward.
Proof against culprit.
Or double agent under me.
"Fine."
I nodded. Their faces lit up.
"But conditions."
"N-Name them!"
"One: This stays secret to the grave. No word of meeting me or losing the box. If you think otherwise..."
I extended the baton with a clang, smashed a nearby rock.
Boom!
Rock shattered. They gulped.
"Your heads too. This Ruyi can take 'em from miles away."
"Eek! Got it!"
"Two: Be my eyes and ears. Come when called."
"Yes, sir!"
"Three: My name is Yi Gil-dong."
"Y-Yi Gil-dong the Taoist... Cool name!"
Hong Gil-dong knockoff, but whatever.
Flash here, flash there—close enough.
"Meet here every half month. If I'm not, leave notes in that jar. Got it?"
"Yes! Loyalty forever!"
Cheon-bong rubbed hands, hesitant.
"T-Taoist... Later, teach a little sorcery? Just a bit... like ground-shrinking..."
...
This punk swore loyalty for spells?
Whatever.
"Depends on your work."
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"Now scram and do your jobs."
They vanished into the dark without looking back.
"Whew."
Just me now.
Stowed the baton, sat on the porch, placed the red bundle—spoils—on my lap.
Finally mine.
Royal medicine box.
Quick. Quick.
Slide.
Red silk fell away, revealing a black lacquered box with antique patterns.
Royal quality shone through.
Locked, but I jammed my finger in the keyhole, twisted hard.
Crack. Click.
Joseon locks? Paper to me.
Slowly opened the lid.
"Whoa, fuck."
I swallowed hard at the sight.
And then, reading the system message info, I froze in shock.