The Genius Doctor of the Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Hwasan Sect’s Genius Physician — Episode 26

“What brings the elder of Gaebang to this place?”
Cho Woo-jin’s voice cut sharp as a blade.
His expression bristled with wariness.
Had even a hint of displeasure come from the answer, his hand would have been on his sword hilt in an instant.
“Ha, I simply came because I had business with a disciple staying here. But I’m curious why you, of all people, are present.”
Oh Sung smiled pleasantly even as his eyes bore into Cho Woo-jin.
“Mujeong-geom Cho Woo-jin—why are you emerging from inside our Bang-do’s quarters? Surely you haven’t….”
Oh Sung’s eyes narrowed as his hand found the staff at his waist.
“You haven’t harmed him, have you?”
The air between them crackled with the imminence of violence.
Even against Gaebang’s elder, Cho Woo-jin would not be easily defeated—but that was precisely the problem.
A fight here would solve nothing.
It would cast Hwasan in an unfavorable light as well.
Baek Hyun stepped forward to defuse the tension.
“That’s not the case.”
“And you are?”
“I’m Baek Hyun, Second Disciple of Hwasan Sect.”
“Hwasan Sect?”
Oh Sung’s eyes widened with surprise.
“How does a disciple of Hwasan travel with Mujeong-geom? And why did you emerge from our Bang-do’s quarters?”
“Nothing extraordinary. I simply disciplined one of our Gaebang members who was inside.”
“Disciplined?”
Oh Sung’s brow furrowed at Baek Hyun’s directness.
Even Cho Woo-jin hadn’t expected such bluntness and gave Baek Hyun’s shoulder a light tap.
—Benefactor, are you certain about this?
Cho Woo-jin’s voice reached him through sound transmission.
But Baek Hyun maintained his composure regardless of what they might say.
“Allow me to explain the situation.”
Baek Hyun recounted everything that had transpired.
How he worked at Hwasan Medical Hall, which received support from Hwasan Sect; how he had met the sisters Song Ha and Song Yeon by chance and treated them, forming a bond; and how Wang Woo, a Gaebang member here, had struck Song Ha and stolen rice from her.
He laid out the entire story without omission.
“…….”
“So I came here to discipline that Wang Woo and retrieve the rice. This is it.”
Baek Hyun held up the sack of rice. Oh Sung’s expression grew conflicted, his thoughts clearly churning.
“Did you injure Wang Woo?”
“I didn’t injure him. In fact, I noticed his liver and lower back were in poor condition, so I treated them. Though I’ll admit the method was rather… forceful.”
“Well, I’d best have a look inside. I’m afraid I must ask you to come with me.”
Baek Hyun nodded and followed Oh Sung. After a moment’s hesitation, Cho Woo-jin fell in beside Baek Hyun.
“Y-you! Lord—Elder!”
As the group entered, Wang Woo—finally free from pain and back to himself—cried out in delight.
He stood before Oh Sung like a man greeting his savior, then began to speak, his words tumbling out with spittle.
“Thank heavens you’ve come, Elder! These vicious brutes tortured me and tried to kill me! You must punish them for daring to lay hands on a Bang-do of the great Gaebang!”
“Show me your hand.”
“What? I—”
“Your hand. Give it here.”
Wang Woo, startled by the sudden command, meekly offered his hand. Oh Sung infused his own energy into it through the contact, feeling Wang Woo’s pulse and internal condition, then released a long breath.
“They really did treat you. Not a single injury left—in fact, the toxins in your liver have cleared and your spine has straightened.”
“I told you so, didn’t I?”
“W-what? Elder, no! These men tortured me—”
“Silence!”
Bang!
Oh Sung’s fist came down hard on Wang Woo’s head with a resonant crack.
Wang Woo didn’t even have time to cry out before consciousness fled him entirely. When a master brings true force to bear, resistance is impossible.
“You believe my account, then?” Baek Hyun asked quietly.
Oh Sung’s expression turned troubled. He sighed and nodded.
“Truth be told, there’s little to believe or disbelieve. I came here because I received a report that this Wang Woo had committed similar misdeeds multiple times.”
“So you came to punish him.”
“But if you’d wounded him before I had the chance, it would’ve complicated matters considerably. After all, he’s Gaebang’s Bang-do. Instead, far from injuring him, this one treated his wounds.”
“It must have hurt, but the treatment would’ve been effective.”
“Ha! A punishment only a skilled physician could administer. In any case, on behalf of Gaebang, I apologize for this Bang-do’s transgression. Stealing rice meant for a sickly child… it’s conduct unbecoming of the principles we uphold.”
“Your apology should go to the children themselves, not me.”
Baek Hyun spoke with Song Ha and her brother in mind. The children were the victims; they were the ones who deserved the apology.
“You’re a good person.”
Oh Sung smiled faintly at that. Yet his expression still held an unresolved question as he asked:
“Still, you haven’t explained why Mujeong-geom is traveling with you. Why do the two of you move about together?”
“This child is my benefactor.”
“Your benefactor?”
“I was on the verge of becoming a Gwang-in, but this child treated me and pulled me back from the brink. That’s why I agreed to guard the Hwasan Medical Hall for three years to repay that debt.”
“I see.”
Was this such surprising information?
Oh Sung’s mouth fell open. He seemed to consider something for a moment, then nodded slowly.
“Well enough then. If that’s how it stands with you two, so be it.”
“Are all your questions answered now?”
“More or less. There are still things I’d like to know, truth be told… but there’s much work to be done at present.”
Oh Sung said this while moving toward Wang Woo.
“I mean to take this one with me. He’s committed a crime and brought shame to Gaebang’s name—he’ll be punished properly.”
“I’d prefer he not show his face to Song Ha and her brother again.”
“He won’t. He’s being transferred far from here to face his sentence.”
Baek Hyun didn’t press further about the nature of that punishment. For now, what mattered was that Wang Woo would no longer be part of their lives.
“Now then, you’re a disciple of the Hwasan Sect and a physician, you said? A capable one too, it would seem. Is that correct?”
“I’m confident there’s no one in this region who surpasses me.”
Baek Hyun spoke with certainty. It was the truth. Finding a physician to rival him would require searching not merely this locality, but all of Jungwon.
‘At best, only the Five Greatest Physicians of the Land would be my equal.’
Oh Sung nodded deeply at Baek Hyun’s words, seeming genuinely impressed. His confident tone clearly inspired trust.
“Well-timed then. If that’s the case, might I impose one request upon you?”
“What sort of request?”
“One of the younger members of Gaebang’s Bun-ta branch was bitten by a dog. But he hasn’t received proper treatment.”
“You’re asking me to treat him?”
“I’m asking. There’s no one else I can trust with this but you.”
Oh Sung’s expression was grave. After a brief hesitation, Baek Hyun accepted the request.
“Very well. Please show me the way at once.”
Wounds from dog bites grow more dangerous the longer they’re left untreated.
Having heard there was a patient, there was no reason to refuse.
‘Besides, if I handle this well, I could forge a strong bond with Gaebang.’
He could save a life and gain Gaebang’s goodwill in one stroke.
Baek Hyun had no intention of letting such an opportunity slip away.

* * *

Before departing for Gaebang’s Bun-ta branch, Baek Hyun entrusted rice and money to Cho Woo-jin.
“Can you deliver this to Song Ha and her brother?”
“I’m your guard, not your errand boy.”
“But you’re the only person I can trust with this.”
“…….”
“By now those children must be anxious about our departure. They’ve had their rice stolen, so they’ll be hungry. At the very least, they need to know what’s happened.”
“Sigh.”
Cho Woo-jin exhaled deeply.
He reluctantly accepted the rice and money Baek Hyun offered.
“Just prepare a meal and come back?”
“Yes, please.”
“Understood. I’ll be back shortly.”
Cho Woo-jin nodded and vanished like the wind.
Oh Sung, standing nearby, watched with evident fascination.
“So the notorious Mujeong-geom, cold-hearted as they say, actually listens to reason… What trick did you use on him?”
“He simply has a kind heart. He feigned indifference, but his concern for those children drove him to check on them.”
“Remarkable indeed.”
“In any case, we should hurry to the patient. A dog bite wound can be dangerous if neglected.”
“I understand. Follow me.”
Oh Sung hoisted Wang Woo onto his back and began deploying the Gyeong-shin-beop at tremendous speed.
It was the kind of pace that could easily leave someone behind.
Whoosh!
But Baek Hyun could use the Gyeong-shin-beop as well.
The Hwasan Sect’s An-hyang-pyo.
Ordinarily, a Second Disciple of Baek Hyun’s age wouldn’t be able to learn such an advanced martial art, but Chung In had taught him this movement technique, impressed by how thoroughly he’d mastered the foundational disciplines.
‘It’s taxing to maintain for long, though.’
Fortunately, their destination wasn’t far.
“Here we are.”
The moment Oh Sung arrived at Bun-ta, he set Wang Woo down and spoke.
“Oh, Elder!”
At that, several beggars came rushing out from within Bun-ta to greet him. They appeared to be members of the Gaebang under Oh Sung’s command.
“Step aside. I’ve brought a physician.”
“A, a physician?!”
“But Elder, the only one who came with you is a child…….”
“Surely not that boy?”
“Yes. A physician. And a skilled one at that—skilled enough to have treated the Mujeong-geom. Now stand aside.”
Oh Sung brushed past the Gaebang members and led Baek Hyun deeper into Bun-ta.
‘This place isn’t sanitary at all.’
Baek Hyun frowned at the sight of the Gaebang’s lair. Beyond the stench, the damp and filth made it seem hardly the place to house an injured person.
Yet here they’d left the wounded man in such conditions…….
“Why didn’t you call for a physician sooner?”
“We did call. The physicians simply refused to come. Ah, they assumed we couldn’t pay them since we’re beggars, and didn’t bother showing up. You were the only one we could ask—being fellow members of the martial world and all…….”
“I understand. Let me examine the patient first.”
Baek Hyun gazed at a beggar lying in the room.
“Urgh…….”
The man was groaning, sweat pouring down his face in evident pain.
Baek Hyun’s brow furrowed as he took in the sight.
‘They’ve wrapped the wound in filthy cloth!’

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