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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Celestial Pure Jade Milk (3)
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While Yu Sa Ha blocked the enemies' attacks, Gok Ja Yu moved, targeting Ga Deung.
"Too bland."
Gok Ja Yu's sword, which had sliced through several foes blocking his path in the blink of an eye, wasn't stained with a single drop of blood.
"You should have fled when the young lady showed mercy. You might have lived then. But this situation is far more interesting."
Ga Deung tasted a heart-shrinking terror at Gok Ja Yu's cold smile. Yet the man who had dominated Hangzhou's nights for nearly a decade had the guts to transmute that fear into rage.
Before Gok Ja Yu could finish speaking, Ga Deung launched himself forward, swinging his blade down with all his might.
"Ho! Not bad."
Sensing the formidable momentum, Gok Ja Yu immediately raised his sword to meet it.
The blade and sword clashed in midair, producing a deafening clang.
Gok Ja Yu's knee buckled slightly under the full-force strike.
Ga Deung, however, reeled from the impact, unable to withstand it. His hands gripping the sword burst open, blood streaming down.
"Kraaaah!"
Swallowing the blood surging up his throat, Ga Deung charged like a wild beast, his eyes blazing with murderous fury.
His movements and the energy in his blade were even more ferocious than the first assault.
Gok Ja Yu discarded any underestimation and responded with utmost caution to Ga Deung's life-or-death onslaught.
Ga Deung's attacks pressed on relentlessly.
They seemed wild and indiscriminate, yet sharp enough that Gok Ja Yu had to step back momentarily to assess them.
But that was the extent of it.
There was no need to seek out weaknesses.
Every motion laid his flaws bare.
Gok Ja Yu drew a short breath and thrust his sword forward.
Despite the simple action, Ga Deung recoiled in alarm, forced to retreat.
Gok Ja Yu's blade had bypassed his sword, aiming straight for his heart.
Gok Ja Yu had no intention of letting Ga Deung pull back.
Considering it a disgrace that the fight hadn't ended sooner, he pressed the attack mercilessly.
With each sword stroke, wounds bloomed on Ga Deung's body, blood spraying everywhere.
Ga Deung struggled desperately to turn the tide, but there was nothing he could do.
A searing pain shot through him as his left arm flew off.
'Damn it! Celestial Pure Jade Milk...'
He had confirmed by sheer coincidence that the Water Dragon Merchant Association possessed the Celestial Pure Jade Milk and had poured every effort into obtaining it.
He dreamed a modest dream of escaping Hangzhou's underworld, no longer anyone's puppet, but roaring toward the world on his own terms.
He realized far too late that it was all in vain.
'It was greed...'
The thought didn't continue.
Ga Deung's head soared into the air on Gok Ja Yu's sword.
Gok Ja Yu turned slowly, glancing indifferently at the head rolling limply to the ground.
By then, Yu Sa Ha had finished mopping up the surroundings and spoke with a bored expression.
"What took you so damn long?"
"The boss was a boss, after all."
Yu Sa Ha looked surprised at Gok Ja Yu's reply.
"He was that decent?"
"He had some spirit, at least. But looks like we've got prisoners."
Gok Ja Yu pointed to a few thugs kneeling with heads bowed.
"A few dropped, and the rest threw down their weapons on their own. I wanted to cut them all down, but the young lady said to spare them."
"Yeah, that's our young lady."
Gok Ja Yu smiled naturally at Hwang Yeong's kind heart.
"Thank you. You've saved our lives."
Sima Geon expressed his gratitude to Hwang Yeong.
"No, it's only natural. I'm just glad we could help."
A faint smile touched Sima Geon's lips as he took in Hwang Yeong's bright smile.
'Even caught up in this mess, she says she's glad to help. What an interesting young lady.'
Sima Geon regarded Hwang Yeong with renewed curiosity.
She looked a bit weary from the long journey, with faint dust on her clothes, but it did nothing to dim her beauty. Her bright, clear eyes were especially captivating, drawing one in with just a glance.
'Whew! A true beauty.'
As the thought of her loveliness crossed his mind, Sima Geon noticed the chilling stares from Yu Sa Ha and Gok Ja Yu and quickly bowed his head.
"We should properly thank our benefactors, but we have urgent business..."
"Benefactors? No, no. Please, go on ahead. We'll handle these thugs."
Hwang Yeong maintained her perfect manners to the end.
"I'm Sima Geon. If the chance arises, I will repay this grace."
Suddenly revealing his name, Sima Geon spun on his heel while Hwang Yeong was slightly taken aback. Without a hint of lingering, he strode away.
Cheol Woo hurried after him, chuckling.
"'If the chance arises, I will repay this grace'? Boss, that sounds kinda itchy."
"Shut up."
Sima Geon waved him off dismissively and picked up his pace, as if reluctant to banter.
He wasn't showing his full speed since Hwang Yeong and the others were watching, but it was still plenty fast.
"Strange fellows."
Gok Ja Yu watched the two disappear into the distance, his face puzzled.
Yu Sa Ha agreed.
"Rude ones, too. No matter how urgent, they caused this mess—they should clean it up before leaving."
Yu Sa Ha clearly wasn't thrilled about handling the remaining prisoners.
"They did ask permission. I agreed. Honestly, I was so scared..."
Hwang Yeong's smile faded abruptly as she consoled Yu Sa Ha.
"What's wrong, young lady?"
Gok Ja Yu and Yu Sa Ha asked in unison.
"They weren't scared. Those two."
"Pardon?"
"Not even a little."
Hwang Yeong surveyed the corpses strewn about as she continued.
"So many lives lost, blood everywhere, yet they showed no agitation."
Hwang Yeong whipped her head toward the direction Sima Geon had vanished.
"That attitude, as if it had nothing to do with them... Yes, it was like they were just casual onlookers."
A chill ran over Hwang Yeong's body as she murmured.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Please wait a moment. Master will be here soon."
Oh Hwan said as he set down the tea. Before he finished, the door burst open.
Hwang Jeong had rushed over upon hearing Sima Geon had arrived, abandoning his patient.
"Did you get it?"
No sooner had he flung open the door than he shouted. Sima Geon pulled a small jade box from his bosom and showed it.
"Yes. Fortunately, we retrieved it safely."
Hwang Jeong slumped into a seat, his tension draining at the sight of the box.
"That's wonderful. I was so anxious it might go wrong."
Sima Geon felt Hwang Jeong's heartfelt concern for his patient.
"Thank you. Did you welcome the guest who was coming?"
Sima Geon asked with a bright smile.
"Thanks to you. I'm truly ashamed. I should have gone myself instead of just delivering a letter."
"What are you saying? Telling us how to obtain the Celestial Pure Jade Milk was more than enough. Besides, with so many patients relying on you, how could you cater only to our selfishness?"
"Thank you for understanding. But the young companion who was with you..."
Hwang Jeong eyed the absence of Cheol Woo, who was always at Sima Geon's side, with curiosity. Sima Geon set down his teacup and explained.
"I sent the youngest to fetch her. I told him to hurry, so he'll arrive soon."
"Ah, I see."
Hwang Jeong's demeanor seemed a touch awkward.
Sensing some unspoken discomfort in his attitude, Sima Geon felt apologetic for prioritizing their convenience and added a few words.
"I'm sorry. With the Celestial Pure Jade Milk in hand, I thought we should start treatment right away, so I rushed. We'll visit again at your convenience."
"Oh no, you've misunderstood. It's not that I'm short on time or inconvenienced."
The flustered Hwang Jeong waved his hands hurriedly.
"Do you remember me mentioning a guest was coming?"
"Yes."
Sima Geon nodded matter-of-factly. That's why Hwang Jeong, who had agreed to accompany them to Hangzhou for the Celestial Pure Jade Milk, had stayed in Shaoxing.
"They were from my home clan."
"Your home clan...?"
Hwang Jeong paused before asking cautiously.
"Have you heard of the Living Immortal Medical House?"
Sima Geon stared at Hwang Jeong in surprise.
The Living Immortal Medical House, said to revive even the dead through medicine alone, was a renowned family whose fame shook the world.
Though their paths differed, Sima Geon, immersed in the martial world, certainly knew of them.
"I didn't realize you were from the Living Immortal Medical House. I suspected as much when you treated my youngest sister, whom no one else could, but you're truly remarkable."
As Sima Geon marveled openly, Hwang Jeong blushed with embarrassment.
"You're too kind. Far from curing her, I've barely maintained the status quo."
Hwang Jeong lamented his failure to fully master the Living Immortal Medical House's arts due to his own shortcomings. Had he done so, he could have cured Sima Jin's condition.
"Honestly, I consulted the clan several times about your sister's illness and even requested a physician. They showed great interest due to its uniqueness, but regrettably, with plagues raging across the Central Plains these past few years, they couldn't spare anyone. However..."
The excited Sima Geon cut in eagerly.
"A physician from your clan has come."
"Yes. They finished business in Nanchang and were returning home when urgent matters arose in Hangzhou. Since Shaoxing is on the way, they stopped by. I discussed your sister's condition with them."
Sima Geon, who maintained composure before thousands of foes, swallowed hard, unable to hide his tension.
"They'll finish in Hangzhou and return here to examine her."
"Ah!"
An exclamation escaped Sima Geon.
"This physician is one of the clan's finest. Not comparable to me, who only learned on the side. Rather than me attempting treatment with the Celestial Pure Jade Milk, I'd prefer entrusting it to them. Their success rate is far higher."
Handing over his patient to another might wound a physician's pride. Yet Sima Geon was moved once more by Hwang Jeong's prioritization of the patient's life over ego.
"Thank you. Thank you, Physician. I don't know how to repay this grace."
Sima Geon bowed deeply with utmost sincerity.
"Grace? It's just a physician's duty. If anything, I apologize for my inadequacies leading to this. Anyway, I appreciate your understanding. They said they'd finish quickly and return, but I can't say exactly when. It might take some time."
"Don't worry. If she can be cured, what's waiting? I can wait days or months."
Sima Geon buzzed with excitement, as if Sima Jin's recovery was imminent.
"No, it's not that..."
Hwang Jeong, all too aware as a physician of the dangers in promising cures, wanted to caution that results weren't guaranteed but fell silent. He couldn't bring himself to dampen Sima Geon's hopes, with his eyes reddening in joy and gratitude.