Dokmaeuiseon - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 57

 

 

Had her interest waned?

She waved her hand dismissively as if annoyed.

Swoosh—

The thick killing intent that had gathered also disappeared as if washed away.

 

“Wouldn’t you be at a loss if I gave in easily?”

“You’re the one causing me all sorts of losses.”

“As you know, these aren’t losses I wanted to cause you.”

“…Tsk. I don’t like that I can’t say otherwise.”

 

She clicked her elegant tongue.

If left like this, she would have to retreat bearing only losses.

Regardless of profit and loss, it wasn’t something he could do.

Even if Gyeom Gwang-ja was the direct cause.

In any case, the fact that she had gotten him out of prison didn’t change. Nor did the reality that he needed her capabilities.

 

‘I should retreat appropriately at this point. There’s no need to earn her enmity.’

 

Perhaps feeling he had gained the initiative.

Jung Myeong offered her a reasonable compromise.

 

“Still, I personally won’t forget.”

“What?”

“The favor Hao Gate showed me. Even if the intention wasn’t for my sake, it’s true that it benefited me.”

“Not a debt of gratitude, but a favor?”

“Exactly that.”

 

He knew it wasn’t entirely for his sake.

However, he accepted it as a favor.

It was a much better result than when she had initially tried to put him in debt.

How could she not know this?

 

“…Physician, you’re really playing me like a fiddle.”

“Let’s say I repaid a thousand jeon debt with words?”

“A thousand jeon debt. Fine. Let’s do that.”

 

Her expression relaxed comfortably.

It meant she was satisfied with the new line Jung Myeong had drawn.

 

‘Good.’

 

In any case, she was also an important card for him.

The position of Hao Gate Branch Leader in Hangzhou was quite significant.

Having managed her emotions, now it was time for serious discussion.

 

“Anyway, let me ask one thing. How exactly is the current situation unfolding?”

“Well…”

 

Just why had things turned out this way?

 

 

* * *

 

 

‘Ha, as I told Gyeom Gwang-ja, I should have expected this. But the more I hear, the more absurd it gets.’

 

This was Jung Myeong’s assessment after hearing the situation.

And rightfully so.

 

‘I didn’t expect even professional solidarity from those who pick and choose their patients.’

 

The cause of the trouble was as he had expected.

It was the physicians.

 

‘More precisely, the physicians moved as a group. Not individuals, but a collective, right?’

 

Their reason for moving was simple.

Jung Myeong was a thorn in their side.

 

‘Clear Intestine Decoction and cheap medical fees were the reasons.’

 

Especially, Clear Intestine Decoction was what bothered them most.

The greatest effect of Clear Intestine Decoction was preventing the very reason to visit medical clinics.

Due to its efficacy, patients themselves had drastically decreased, burning them up inside.

So they stepped forward and manipulated the County Magistrate.

It was a move possible because physicians, unlike Martial Artists, belonged within the institutional system.

 

‘They used the connections built while treating High Officials and Nobles against me, right?’

 

What had they planned to do after confining him with those connections?

Jung Myeong could tell without seeing.

They intended to torture him under the pretext of interrogation.

 

‘They’d probably cut off my wrists as an aftereffect so I couldn’t even perform acupuncture.’

 

He couldn’t avoid it even before being tortured.

If he had attempted to escape prison, they would have been even happier. They could have put out a wanted notice using that as an excuse.

No matter how much he had reached Peak Level, it would be difficult to survive easily once wanted by Government Forces. Government Forces swarming in groups could bring down even Super Peak Level masters.

It would be different if he reached Harmony Realm, though.

 

‘Reaching Harmony Realm right now is completely impossible.’

 

Hao Gate was what first blocked this.

They were thinking of moving the prefecture.

But seeing Black Point’s Gyeom Gwang-ja move, they directly moved Inhwa County’s County Magistrate. They wanted to quickly change it to house arrest at least.

Thanks to that, he was able to get out before the torture disguised as interrogation could take place.

But the County Magistrate was quite reluctant to let him out.

 

‘He must have felt like he was being dragged around here and there.’

 

Not according to his own intentions. He probably didn’t like being dragged around by either the Medical Clinic or Hao Gate.

Still, since there was a debt that Hao Gate had created before, he had no choice but to bail him out.

For Jung Myeong, who had all sorts of hardships planned ahead, this was fortunate.

 

‘From what I can see, it seems less like a debt and more like they caught the County Magistrate’s weakness and exploited it.’

 

Whatever the means, it wasn’t his concern.

The problem was what came next.

 

“What will you do now? Even if you remain under house arrest, they won’t just sit back and watch.”

“They certainly won’t.”

“In this situation, you can’t sell Clear Intestine Decoction either… Your source of funds must be cut off too. Opening the Medical Clinic is also problematic for now, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. There’s the Government’s reputation to consider, so it’s hard to sell openly.”

“I don’t know for sure, but Constables will probably be patrolling around. To see whether you’re selling medicine while under house arrest or not.”

“They’re conducting surveillance?”

“Wouldn’t it be strange if they weren’t?”

“Hmm…”

 

Both selling Clear Intestine Decoction for Common People and Medical Treatment were blocked.

For him, it was like being completely trapped.

 

‘This is really… I only worried about Martial Artists and this is the result.’

 

If he had been purely a Martial Artist, this wouldn’t have happened.

This happened because he was both a Martial Artist and a Physician.

If he had established a Great Family, it might be different.

But that was a distant prospect for now.

 

“If there’s no other way, shall I make a suggestion?”

“Please go ahead.”

“If we use our influence, we can resolve this matter at the Prefecture level.”

“The Prefecture… You seem to have quite considerable influence.”

“It’s one of the cards we hold. They’ll try to shake the Prefecture too, but we can handle that much.”

“That sounds like a good card. However, it’s not necessarily required that Hao Gate move the Prefecture, is it?”

“If not Hao Gate, are you planning to offer your Head to Baekyang Escort Agency?”

“Going to Baekyang Escort Agency seems better for me than Hao Gate.”

“This is disappointing.”

“It seems like Hao Gate would demand a higher price than the Escort Agency.”

“I can’t deny that.”

 

It didn’t matter if it wasn’t the method the Branch Leader suggested.

And it wasn’t like there were no methods at all.

The problem was that whatever move he made, he would incur a large debt.

 

Hao Gate. Or Baekyang Escort Agency.

If not those, there was also Gyeom Gwang-ja.

 

‘Not one of them is easy to deal with.’

 

The problem was that none of them would be easy.

Among them, if there was a relatively easier option, it would lean toward Baekyang Escort Agency.

 

‘But that’s also something I can’t do.’

 

When he thought of Namgung Yeon, he really didn’t feel like it.

She would try to get a leash on him using this opportunity.

He had told Hao Gate that option would be cheaper.

Whether that would really be the case remained to be seen.

 

‘Gyeom Gwang-ja would definitely be worse.’

 

Either way, the price would be high.

It was really difficult to choose.

 

“You’ll have to make a choice either way, won’t you? We can’t keep you under house arrest forever.”

“So there’s a time limit.”

“Yes. Goodwill can’t last forever.”

“Hmm…”

“So you’ll need to move quickly.”

“Well, choosing any of the three would probably solve it…”

“Then isn’t that settled?”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

 

The reason those choices didn’t appeal to him much was

because whichever he chose, he couldn’t completely solve this problem.

 

‘It would just be getting through this time. Leaving the essence unchanged.’

 

He wanted to go beyond just solving the immediate problem.

 

‘The best thing would be to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. In other words, I need to make it so the Government can’t easily touch me either. But how?’

 

He needed to tear up and fix the root cause.

Also, what bothered him most was something else.

 

“The justification they used to pick a fight with me really doesn’t sit well with me.”

“That selling medicine carelessly to Common People is deceiving and misleading the people. That one?”

“That’s exactly what bothers me most.”

 

The ridiculous justification they had created.

He didn’t want to run away with that justification right in front of him.

 

‘I want to give those bastards spouting nonsense a proper blow.’

 

Hadn’t they already gotten a proper blow?

For Jung Myeong, it was hard to let go of the thought of paying them back two or three times over.

The problem was the means.

No matter what immediate measures were presented, it was their exclusive barrier that wielded power through connections with the government.

The fact that he couldn’t break through it didn’t sit well with him.

 

“I want to smash it so they can never pull that bullshit on me again.”

“…You know it’s impossible, don’t you.”

“Impossible. That’s right. It certainly seems that way.”

 

The reality was that this possibility was close to impossible.

The barrier they had built without Jung Myeong was nothing but solid.

And yet.

 

‘I want to smash it to pieces.’

 

He wanted to destroy it.

If it couldn’t be done in one go, then he’d attack it twice, three times.

He wanted to show them what happens when they mess with him.

Just as he had finished off the already dead Donghwa Guild Leader, he wanted proper revenge so they wouldn’t dare touch him easily.

How could he resolve these feelings?

 

‘What bothered me most was my Clear Intestine Decoction. Medicine… medicine…’

 

The Branch Leader silently watched Jung Myeong as he agonized over this.

It wasn’t because she expected what kind of move he would make.

 

‘If he thinks about it, he’ll realize there’s no answer.’

 

She was simply acting leisurely, hoping that after his agonizing he would realize there were no other means and choose them.

Even this small silence wasn’t really consideration.

Just as that deliberate silence was about to grow longer.

 

“Ah…! That’s it!”

 

Jung Myeong, who had been racking his brains so hard a mouse could fly, found his answer.

 

“You said wielding power in the government is quite difficult. Getting me out was also a very difficult task.”

“That’s correct, but?”

“How about trying to build up influence in the government while we’re at it?”

“That’s out of nowhere?”

“If you listen to what I have to say, the story will change.”

 

Just like when he first enticed Hao Gate.

Jung Myeong spoke of an unexpected method.

Hearing this, the Branch Leader had to acknowledge once again.

 

“…I can’t handle this.”

 

That this crazy bastard had pulled out another unexpected move.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“You’re late.”

“Oh my. You all came first?”

“I’ve been craving alcohol today, so how could I not come!”

“Hehe. I’ve been craving alcohol too!”

 

Physician Jang from Hwal Medical Clinic visited Hwae Pavilion with a joyful heart.

As soon as Physician Jang entered, physicians from Cheongpung Medical Clinic and Baegun Hall welcomed him warmly.

They must have been there for a while, as their faces were already flushed red.

All of them were in high spirits.

 

“Haven’t you been busy lately?”

“Busy indeed!”

“Of course! Too busy, far too busy! Hehe. We’re short-handed again! Short-handed!”

 

It was because they had found their desired position.

They didn’t voice all the reasons out loud.

Since Jung Myeong’s Medical Clinic had closed its doors as if sealed, Clear Intestine Decoction sales were no longer happening.

Everyone knew they had found the position they spoke of.

However, revealing this would be something only amateurs would do. Everyone was busy gilding each other’s faces and lifting each other up.

And so, several days had passed since the atmosphere had heated up.

It meant they had been having drinking sessions, wildly gilding each other for quite some time.

Just as they were about to wrap up their self-congratulations.

 

“Physician! Physician!”

“Why are you making such a fuss again?”

“Well, I think you should come out and hear this!”

 

New tidings came to the Medical Clinic.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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