The Terminally Ill Youngest Daughter of a Medical Dynasty Is a Genius Physician - Chapter 61

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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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Episode 61
‘Could it be… the cold?’
The thought had barely crossed my mind when I hastily unwound the outer robe draped across my shoulders.
“Branch Family Head, wait a moment.”
I wrapped the garment around Byeok Cheong-yeon’s frame, securing it closely.
But that alone wasn’t enough. His fingertips, his face—both had already gone deathly cold.
“Is anyone there!”
I raised my voice toward the edge of the Rear Garden.
Before long, a servant passing nearby came rushing over in alarm.
“Oh, young lady! What is the matter?”
“Fetch people. We need to move the Branch Family Head to the Separate Pavilion.”
The servant’s eyes went wide.
“And prepare a brazier and warm water. Quickly!”
“Yes!”
The servant spun on his heel and dashed away.
I grasped Byeok Cheong-yeon’s wrist again.
Thump, thump-thump—
His pulse still raced, its rhythm jagged and erratic.
‘I need to stay calm.’
Just moments ago, he’d seemed fine.
There was nothing wrong with his gait, and his right arm moved far more naturally than it had at first.
If anything had changed, it was one thing alone.
The temperature.
The moment the cold wind began to blow, Byeok Cheong-yeon’s body temperature plummeted, and the blue-green veins that had lain dormant darkened sharply once more.
The transformation was too distinct to be mere coincidence.
‘The Jeok-maek Herb grows in cool places where sunlight scarcely reaches.’
I recalled what I had read in the Red Ancient Book.
Of course, there had been no record anywhere suggesting that cold affects toxicity.
I too had only assumed it was the environment in which the Jeok-maek Herb thrived.
But what if that environment itself bore some relationship to the nature of the poison itself?
‘The cold has awakened the toxicity again.’
It was then that urgent footsteps sounded in the distance.
“Yeong-hwa!”
I looked up to see Father rushing toward us.
Heo Jin-byeok and several servants followed at his heels.
The moment Father caught sight of Byeok Cheong-yeon collapsed on the ground and me kneeling beside him, his face hardened.
“What has happened?”
“The Branch Family Head collapsed suddenly.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes. His body temperature dropped sharply. The poison is spreading again.”
Father immediately examined Byeok Cheong-yeon’s right arm.
At the sight of the dark blue-green veins risen prominently beneath the skin, his eyes narrowed.
“Move him at once.”
“Yes, sir.”
Heo Jin-byeok carefully lifted Byeok Cheong-yeon into his arms.
I followed close behind.
“Father, we need to keep the room as warm as possible.”
“Understood.”
“And inform Grandfather as well. Elder Heo Un-baek too.”
Father gave a curt nod.
“I’ll send word immediately.”
We hurried toward Yang-saeng Hall.
Before long, three braziers had been brought into the room.
The door and windows were sealed tight.
Thick quilts lay in layers over Byeok Cheong-yeon’s form on the bed.
I positioned myself beside the bed and felt for his pulse once more.
Thump, thump.
‘Thank goodness. It’s returning bit by bit.’
The frantic racing of his pulse was gradually settling into a steadier rhythm.
Warmth, faint though it was, had begun to return to his fingertips.
Only after confirming his condition could I finally let out a breath I hadn’t known I was holding.
“Yeong-hwa.”
Grandfather’s voice came from across the room.
Having heard the news, Grandfather had come with Father and Elder Heo Un-baek to examine Byeok Cheong-yeon’s condition.
“Tell me everything from the beginning.”
“Yes.”
I explained what had happened in the Rear Garden, step by step.
Byeok Cheong-yeon had shown no apparent abnormalities at first.
But shortly after a cool wind began to blow, he suddenly collapsed, unable to steady himself.
“His body temperature dropped dramatically. Even the blood vessels that had been nearly invisible grew dark again.”
Elder Heo Un-baek examined Byeok Cheong-yeon’s right arm.
“They certainly have grown darker.”
I opened the Red Ancient Book at the bedside.
“The texts say that Jeok-maek Herb grows in cool places where sunlight doesn’t reach well. There’s no record of cold affecting its toxicity, but…….”
I looked at Byeok Cheong-yeon.
“Since we warmed his body, his pulse and body temperature have stabilized again.”
Elder Heo Un-baek took his pulse and nodded.
“Miss Yeong-hwa speaks truly.”
Father’s expression grew grave.
“Then you’re saying the cold is reactivating the poison?”
“It’s quite likely.”
The room fell silent.
We had only just entered autumn. The weather would grow colder still.
“Then he must be completely detoxified.”
I spoke with conviction.
“Merely suppressing the poison as we’ve been doing isn’t enough.”
Grandfather nodded silently.
Then a faint sound came from the direction of the bed.
“……Yeong-hwa.”
“……!”
My head snapped up.
“Branch Family Head?”
Byeok Cheong-yeon’s eyelids moved slowly as they lifted.
A moment later, hazy blue eyes appeared.
I quickly moved to the side of the bed.
“You’re awake?”
“……Rather noisy.”
“Pardon?”
And that’s what he says the moment he opens his eyes.
“All of us came here because of you!”
Byeok Cheong-yeon’s brow furrowed faintly.
“My ears are ringing.”
“Then you shouldn’t have collapsed so suddenly.”
I quickly grasped his wrist.
His pulse was far steadier than before.
“You’re not dizzy, are you? No difficulty breathing or blurred vision?”
“Aside from some dizziness, I’m well enough.”
“I can’t trust that assessment anymore.”
The corner of Byeok Cheong-yeon’s mouth twitched very slightly.
“Mm.”
Just then, Grandfather let out a deliberate cough.
“Ah.”
I only then became aware of the others in the room.
Father was looking back and forth between Byeok Cheong-yeon and me with an oddly knowing expression.
I felt a flush of embarrassment and quietly withdrew my hand from his wrist.
Grandfather addressed Byeok Cheong-yeon.
“Branch Family Head Byeok. Have you experienced similar symptoms before after exposure to cold air?”
Byeok Cheong-yeon fell silent for a moment, thinking.
“……Yes, I have.”
My eyes widened.
“When was that?”
“On my way to Yak Ryeong-ga, I was caught in the rain. That night, my right arm felt duller than usual.”
So this was not the first time.
Grandfather spoke quietly.
“If that’s the case, your theory that cold stimulates the toxicity gains more weight.”
“Yes.”
I nodded at once.
Grandfather fell silent for a moment, then looked toward Father.
“We’ll need to add this to the message we sent to the Jeok-hyeon Family.”
“Of course.”
“Please ask them how the toxin in the Jeok-maek Herb responds to cold energy, and whether there’s a way to achieve complete detoxification.”
Father rose from his seat.
“If the messenger hasn’t gone far, I’ll send someone to catch up with him.”
He stopped at the doorway and turned back to me.
“You should rest a little too.”
“I’m fine.”
Father gestured toward the bed with his chin.
“That one kept saying he was fine too, right up until a moment ago.”
……
There was nothing to say.
‘Really…….’
It was then.
“I don’t think that will be necessary.”
An unfamiliar voice came from beyond the open door.
I froze.
Father and Grandfather turned toward the doorway at the same moment.
It was a voice that was quiet yet gentle.
And yet, strangely.
Every hair on my body stood on end the moment I heard it.
‘……What is this?’
From beyond the pillar at the end of the corridor, someone slowly emerged into view.
The first thing that caught my eye was the hair.
A vivid crimson red, as if a living flame had been transplanted there.
Whenever light touched it, gold gleamed between the scarlet strands.
And below.
Eyes of a narrow, curved red gazed toward me.
……
My blood ran cold in an instant. Strength drained from my fingertips.
I stepped back instinctively.
‘No. It can’t be.’
My breath caught.
Suddenly everything before my eyes vanished. In its place, a floor stained crimson.
Blood bubbling up in my throat with every breath I drew.
A body that could not move a single finger.
And beyond my dimming vision, what I saw until the very end…….
Red hair.
My hand moved toward my throat without my will.
The sensation of a blade piercing my neck came flooding back, vivid as life.
‘Jeok Yeon-hu…….’
How could I ever forget?
The man who killed me.
The young man regarded me for a moment.
His red eyes moved ever so slightly.
But then, as if he had noticed nothing at all, he placed one hand across his chest and bowed formally to Byeok Cheong-yeon.
“I offer my respects.”
Red hair fell softly across his alabaster cheeks.
“I am Jeok Yeon-hu, Branch Family Head of Jeok Hyeon.”
He lifted his head again.

Then, slowly turning her gaze toward me, she smiled softly.

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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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