The Terminally Ill Youngest Daughter of a Medical Dynasty Is a Genius Physician - Chapter 60

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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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Chapter 60
I opened my eyes a fraction wider.
At that, Byeok Cheong-yeon cleared his throat once more.
“But aren’t you exhausted? You haven’t slept properly in days.”
‘Ah, he’s changing the subject.’
And quite brazenly at that.
I shot him a disapproving look.
But if I started lecturing him about it now, the conversation would drag on interminably, so I decided to let it pass for the moment.
‘We’ll settle this later.’
“But you’ve been watching me not sleep this whole time?”
“I couldn’t help but notice. You haven’t let go of that book for a second.”
I felt oddly embarrassed and hugged the Red Ancient Text a little tighter to my chest.
“W-well, at least I slept well last night for once, so I’m fine.”
Byeok Cheong-yeon studied me for a moment, then spoke.
“Can you walk for a bit, then?”
It was an unexpected suggestion.
I blinked once before nodding.
“Of course. I was meaning to check on the Branch Family Head’s condition anyway.”
“Even now you’re thinking about medical examinations.”
Byeok Cheong-yeon laughed softly.
“You’re incorrigible. Come on.”
He set off first, and I followed him toward the Back Garden.
It was that time of day when the sun had begun its descent.
Over the Pond, a crimson twilight spread gently across the water, and each time the wind stirred, the reeds at the water’s edge swayed with a soft rustling sound.
I stole a cautious glance at his arm.
Byeok Cheong-yeon’s right arm, which had hung limp and useless just a fortnight ago, now moved quite naturally with each step he took.
He had clearly improved considerably since the beginning.
But he was not yet fully recovered.
“Why do you keep staring?”
“It’s the arm I’m treating. I need to make sure it’s moving properly.”
“You speak of someone else’s arm as though it were your own possession.”
“I’ve looked after it for more than a fortnight—I think I’ve earned the right.”
Byeok Cheong-yeon looked down at me in exasperation, but he offered no further protest.
After a moment, he spoke again.
“Now that you’ve identified the poison, can you find a way to treat it?”
“That is……”
I looked down at the Red Ancient Text in my arms.
The records on the Red Vein Herb were quite detailed, but there was no information on how to achieve Detoxification.
Still, it was premature to assume there was no solution.
The text had been written long ago, and moreover, the Red Vein Herb grew nowhere else but in the lands of the Jeok-hyeon Family.
“I haven’t found a definitive Detoxification method yet.”
I answered honestly.
“But the Jeok-hyeon Family may well have additional records on this toxic plant. A method of treatment may have been discovered after this text was written.”
At the meeting just now, Grandfather had ordered inquiries made to the Jeok-hyeon Family regarding the poisonous plant that had poisoned Byeok Cheong-yeon.
If a response came, we would know far more than we do now.
“So please wait just a little longer. Yes?”
……
Byeok Cheong-yeon did not answer.
I studied his expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”
After a brief silence, Byeok Cheong-yeon spoke quietly.
“That won’t be possible. I must leave Yak Ryeong-ga soon.”
“What?”
I stopped walking.
“Where to?”
“I can’t say.”
“……Is it a secret?”
Byeok Cheong-yeon did not answer.
But that silence was answer enough. It seemed to be some sort of secret mission.
I did not press further.

But on one point, she was adamant.
“Even so, I can’t go yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re not fully recovered.”
I gestured toward his right arm.
“Even if you look fine on the surface, the poison hasn’t left your body completely.”
“In my current state, there’s no real problem with moving about.”
At his careless words, I tightened my grip on the arm cradling the Red Ancient Text.
“That’s not something the patient gets to decide.”
“Then who does?”
“The physician, of course!”
I planted my hand on my hip as though it were obvious, then suddenly froze.
‘…Ah.’
I was still only a medical apprentice.
As I slowly lowered my hand, the corner of Byeok Cheong-yeon’s mouth lifted faintly.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I said nothing.”
“Your face is laughing.”
“You’re mistaken.”
Infuriating, truly.
I thrust out my lip in a pout.
“In any case, stay quietly at Yak-ryeong House until your treatment is complete. And don’t go sneaking out at dawn with your sword.”
“….”
“Well? Your answer?”
“I’ll consider it.”
“What kind of answer is that!”
It was then.
Whoosh—
A sudden cold wind swept across the pond.
“Brrr.”
I hunched my shoulders involuntarily against the chill that bit into the base of my neck.
At midday, summer’s heat still lingered, but for the past few days, once the sun set, the wind’s edge had turned decidedly cool.
Yet soon a shadow fell across the space above me.
“…?”
Something warm settled around my shoulders.
When I looked up, Byeok Cheong-yeon was draping his own outer robe around me.
“Put it on.”
“But what about you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Still—a patient shouldn’t be giving away his clothes.”
“Better than watching a physician huddle and shiver.”
“I’m not a physician yet… if you’re going to tease me about that…”
“You saved my life, so to me, you are a physician.”
At those words, I blinked.
Caught off guard, my cheeks tingled strangely. So I quickly pulled the collar of the robe closer around me.
His warmth still lingered in the fabric.
It was comforting, and soft.
Suddenly, I remembered something from days ago.
The day I had fallen asleep bent over my desk, watching over Byeok Cheong-yeon through the night.
When I woke, a single quilt had been draped across my shoulders.
I glanced up at Byeok Cheong-yeon surreptitiously.
“Now that I think of it…”
“What now?”
“A few days ago, when I fell asleep at my desk…”
His gaze flickered almost imperceptibly.
“There was a quilt covering my shoulders.”
“…And?”
“Did you put it there?”
Byeok Cheong-yeon’s eyes slid away with deliberate evasion.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“It must have blown in on the wind.”
“What kind of wind blows so perfectly inside a closed room!?”
“You talk a lot for someone who was supposed to be ignorant.”
He was being so obviously evasive that I nearly laughed aloud—barely catching myself in time.
“Why not? You’re right about one thing. A quilt doesn’t just fly across a room and land on someone by itself. That’s completely unreason—”
I trailed off mid-sentence, my mouth suddenly going dry.
Byeok Cheong-yeon didn’t answer.
“Branch Family Head?”
When I looked up, his eyes were fixed blankly ahead.
“……Branch Family Head?”
At my second call, his pupils finally moved—slowly, sluggishly.
“What’s wro—”
I didn’t finish the question.
Byeok Cheong-yeon’s body lurched violently to one side.
“Oh!”
Instinctively, I threw out my arms.
“Branch Family Head!”
Thud!
One of his knees struck the ground as his body crumpled toward me.
I caught him reflexively, my hands shaking.
“Branch Family Head, stay with me. Can you hear me?”
He gave no response.
His head drooped lifelessly onto my shoulder.
I immediately seized his wrist.
Thump, thump-thump—!
‘What’s wrong with his pulse?’
It was far too rapid and utterly irregular.
My hand shot up to his forehead and the back of his neck.
The moment my fingertips touched him, they stiffened.
‘He’s cold.’
Unnaturally cold. Just moments ago he’d been fine.
Whoooosh—
Another gust of chill wind swept through the Back Garden.
In that instant, something crystallized in my mind.
‘No. It can’t be.’
I frantically rolled up the right sleeve of his robe.
“…!”
The Dark Blue-Red Veins that had been fading reappeared—vivid and pronounced.
More so than before, even.
The poison was spreading again.
Holding his now-frigid hand, I looked around desperately.
The air had grown sharp and cold.
Reeds trembling in the wind.
And Byeok Cheong-yeon—who had been perfectly well moments ago.
A chill raced down my spine.
‘Could it be…… the cold itself?’

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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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