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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Celestial Pure Jade Milk (1)
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Early in the morning, the four siblings and Cheol Woo headed first to the Clear Heart Clinic near the south gate.
It was to meet the physician who had prevented the worst possible situation by prescribing treatment based on the closest approximation of Sima Jin's condition.
Sima Hyeon had tried to dissuade them, saying they still had medicine left and should rest a day or two before going slowly, but Sima Geon, whose heart was in a rush, had no intention of delaying even a moment.
The Clear Heart Clinic was larger than expected.
Even early in the morning, patients were lined up in a long queue. There were even three or four men visible maintaining order.
Seeing this unfamiliar sight for the first time, Sima Geon began to trust the physician treating Sima Jin a little more.
"The line's pretty long. Looks like we came too late."
Sima Geon looked regretful at the long line stretching out.
"It's famous around here. Just wait a bit."
Sima Ho tapped Sima Geon's arm and stepped forward with a somewhat smug air. He approached the men who were shouting at people to line up properly and making various excuses.
Unlike his bold stride, once in front of the men, Sima Ho hurriedly bowed his waist in greeting.
"What are those guys?"
Cheol Woo asked with a dumbfounded look.
"Guys from the Neighborhood Justice Society."
Sima Hyeon said bitterly.
"Ah!"
"They take money under the pretext of maintaining order. Not just here, but at various establishments around."
"They call it their way of keeping the peace. But why's he acting so subservient? Last night he was talking about being a pillar or something."
At Cheol Woo's words, Sima Hyeon let out a deep sigh.
"Pillar, my ass! It's just talk—he's a low-level grunt."
"Hahaha! Well, everyone starts that way."
Unlike Sima Hyeon, who looked disdainful, Cheol Woo didn't seem to think much of it. If anything, his eyes held a hint of admiration.
After finishing his talk with the men, Sima Ho returned with his shoulders shrugged back as if he'd never bowed.
"All sorted. Let's go that way."
Sima Ho ignored Sima Hyeon's displeased glance, took Sima Jin's hand, and moved to the left.
Sima Geon followed without a word, Cheol Woo grinned and trailed behind, and Sima Hyeon, sighing, had no choice but to follow as well.
Rounding the left wall, they found a side door.
It would normally be firmly shut, but a rough-looking man had already opened it.
"Thank you, brother."
Sima Ho bowed politely, and the man patted his shoulder.
"Get in quick."
"Thank you."
"Hey, good work."
Cheol Woo brushed past, tapping the man's shoulder with a palm the size of a pot lid.
The man winced as if hammered by a mallet and stared at Cheol Woo's back with a twisted face.
Passing through the side door, the group headed straight for the treatment hall where the physicians tended to patients.
"Lots of patients, but plenty of physicians too."
Sima Geon marveled at the number of busy physicians moving about.
"Not just in Sohung—there's no larger clinic in the surrounding areas. There's one in Hangzhou, but that's for government officials and the rich."
Sima Hyeon, who had broadened his knowledge escorting, spoke knowledgably.
"What's amazing is how quickly it grew to this size. When we first came for Jin'er's treatment, there was only one treatment hall, and just the Smiling Hemp Robe Physician as the sole doctor."
"Smiling Hemp Robe Physician?"
"The physician treating our youngest. People call him that because he always has a smile."
"Doesn't look like a quack, boss."
Cheol Woo said, glancing around.
"He'd better not be."
Sima Geon nodded heavily.
Putting together all the stories and circumstances, the Smiling Hemp Robe Physician was undoubtedly an exceptional doctor. What bothered him, though, was that even such a physician couldn't properly diagnose Sima Jin's condition.
As the group entered the treatment hall, Oh Hwan, who had been sorting and guiding patients, hurried over.
"Ah, you're here? But it's not the appointed day—what brings you?"
Sima Ho stepped forward.
"Circumstances changed. Tell the physician."
"Understood. This way, please."
Oh Hwan led them to a special guest room prepared for VIPs.
"Please wait a moment. I'll fetch Master right away."
After Oh Hwan left, about half an hour passed.
"Coming in."
With a low voice, Hwang Jeong, the owner of Clear Heart Clinic and the Smiling Hemp Robe Physician, entered the room slowly.
Sima Geon was surprised twice looking at him.
First, by how young he appeared, and second, by realizing he wasn't just an ordinary physician. He wasn't a master-level expert, but he clearly knew martial arts.
'A doctor with martial arts?'
Not just Sima Geon—Cheol Woo eyed him curiously too.
[Not bad for a doctor, boss.]
Sima Geon nodded faintly at Cheol Woo's transmission as the Smiling Hemp Robe Physician greeted them with a gentle smile.
"I was startled to hear you'd come. With medicine left from last time, I worried if her condition had worsened. Fortunately, it doesn't seem so."
The Smiling Hemp Robe Physician was already examining Sima Jin.
"Yes, nothing like that. My brother just wanted to see you urgently, so we hurried."
"I see."
The Smiling Hemp Robe Physician glanced at Sima Geon and Cheol Woo before fixing his gaze on Sima Geon.
"I'm Sima Geon."
Sima Geon bowed politely, and the Smiling Hemp Robe Physician returned the courtesy.
"Hwang Jeong."
'Good impression. Looks frugal too.'
Sima Geon felt affinity seeing Hwang Jeong in worn hemp robes despite his evident wealth.
"I've treated the family for years but never knew there was an eldest brother."
"There were circumstances. But coming home, I heard Jin'er was very ill. Hearing you were treating her, I rushed here."
Sima Geon spoke with utmost politeness.
"Well, 'treating' might be too much.... Anyway, welcome."
Straightening his posture, Hwang Jeong continued calmly.
"Your sister's illness weighs heavily on me. It also makes me reflect on my own inadequacy."
At Hwang Jeong's self-deprecating words, Sima Hyeon protested.
"What are you saying? Jin'er can live like this thanks to you."
"I'm grateful, but I still haven't pinpointed her illness. Far from a cure, I'm barely staving off the worst."
"I heard using better herbs would be more effective."
Hwang Jeong nodded gravely at Sima Geon's words.
"The current herbs show some effect, so superior ones might help more. It's my hope."
"What herb?"
Sima Geon asked immediately.
"Well...."
Hwang Jeong hesitated, glancing at Sima Hyeon, Sima Ho, and the others. The current herbs weren't cheap, and he knew how hard the siblings worked to afford them.
The problem was the superior herbs cost several times more.
"To neutralize the Yin energy dominating her body, we've used strongly Yang herbs. Fire Spirit Grass is the mainstay."
Sima Geon and Cheol Woo nodded. The name alone evoked surging Yang energy.
"What's better?"
"Fire Spirit Grass has grades. The top is Millennium Fire Spirit Grass. Similar are Gold Spirit Fruit, 300-year-old wild ginseng. Superior effects from Snow Mountain Flower Carp inner core, Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root, Celestial Pure Jade Milk—but they're exorbitantly priced and nearly impossible to obtain."
Sima Geon's face hardened at the spirit medicines Hwang Jeong named.
He didn't know the others well, but Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root and Celestial Pure Jade Milk's value was legendary. Even small amounts were worth millions in gold, and incredibly hard to find.
"I won't guarantee, but since Fire Spirit Grass works somewhat, these likely would too. The issue is the cost—astronomically higher."
Seeing no reaction from Sima Geon, Hwang Jeong added cautiously.
"Of course, the best would be the last ones mentioned...."
"Can they be obtained? I don't know Snow Mountain Flower Carp, but I've heard of Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root and Celestial Pure Jade Milk. Spirit medicines that revive the dead. But as you said, like picking stars from the sky."
"You know well. Yes, difficult. I've never even seen Snow Mountain Flower Carp, Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root once. But Celestial Pure Jade Milk...."
Hwang Jeong clamped his mouth shut, realizing his slip.
Sima Geon caught it.
"Can Celestial Pure Jade Milk be obtained?"
"Th-that...."
Hwang Jeong looked troubled, unable to continue.
Convinced Hwang Jeong knew a way, Sima Geon pleaded earnestly.
"Please tell me, Physician. Is there a way to get Celestial Pure Jade Milk?"
"N-no, I...."
Hwang Jeong waved it off but sighed suddenly. Sensing the ominous mood, Sima Hyeon and Sima Ho bowed quickly.
"Please teach us, Physician."
Sima Jin, clutching Sima Geon's hand, teared up with her pale face—even Cheol Woo bowed. Hwang Jeong could no longer evade.
"It's not entirely impossible."
"That means...."
Sima Geon saw hope in his words.
"Yes. Celestial Pure Jade Milk can be obtained. A tiny amount, but definitely."
Sima Geon's heart pounded at Hwang Jeong's assertion.
"Does Clear Heart Clinic have it?"
Sima Geon asked urgently.
"Heavens, no. No clinic could hold such a treasure. Too dangerous, honestly."
Celestial Pure Jade Milk could treat Sima Jin but was a spirit medicine martial artists would kill for. Rumors of it at Clear Heart Clinic would reduce it to ashes overnight.
Sima Geon, tense, asked.
"Then where?"
After long silence with a troubled face, Hwang Jeong sighed deeply and spoke.
"Heard of Water Dragon Merchant Association?"
Sima Geon shook his head; Sima Hyeon, listening intently, interjected carefully.
"The one in Hangzhou, perhaps?"
"Yes. One of the Central Plains' giants. Recently, the young master had tricky malaria; they urgently summoned me. I treated him in time and learned they possess Celestial Pure Jade Milk. The Chairman showed it as a potential aid—stunned me."
"Did you use it?"
Sima Geon asked in a trembling voice.
"No. It's a heavenly elixir; effective, sure, but using it for malaria? Physicians worldwide would laugh."
Everyone sighed in relief as Hwang Jeong shook his head.
"How much?"
Sima Geon slapped the table.
"Well...."
Hwang Jeong couldn't answer easily.
"How much for Celestial Pure Jade Milk?"
Sima Geon pressed.
"Didn't ask directly, but the Chairman joked once. An unimaginable sum, though...."
"Just say it."
Sima Geon raised his voice; startled, Hwang Jeong whispered.
"Th-three hundred...."
"Pardon?"
"Three hundred gold nyang."
The room froze at Hwang Jeong's answer.
One silver nyang fed a family of three or four for a month leisurely.
Twenty silver nyang per gold nyang—three hundred gold was inconceivable.
Sima Geon turned to Cheol Woo.
Cheol Woo, frowning and calculating on his fingers, nodded.
"Cash we brought won't cut it, but selling that thing might."
"What thing?"
Sima Hyeon asked cautiously.
"Got something by chance doing mercenary work at Mandeok Mountain. Thought it was just a shiny rock, but it fetched a fortune."
Sima Geon grinned brightly at Cheol Woo's nonchalant words, nodding.
"Yeah, they nearly fainted."
Sima Geon recalled the Night-Luminescent Pearl from destroying the Demon Buddha Temple at Mandeok Mountain.
A bit small, but priceless to the right buyer.
"Don't worry. Big brother will get it somehow. Physician."
"Yes."
"I'll buy the Celestial Pure Jade Milk. Can you arrange a meeting?"
Hwang Jeong gaped unwittingly at Sima Geon's words.
The Water Dragon Chairman's plea to forget the Celestial Pure Jade Milk was long gone from his mind.
Springing up unconsciously, Hwang Jeong nodded frantically.
"Y-yes, I'll contact them right away."